Coaching women has 'not been easy' - Nayar learns on the job at UP Warriorz
In women's cricket, I think the attention to detail is a little more, Abhishek Nayar, who is coaching a women's team for the first time, says
Boycott off, BPL expected to resume on Friday
The BCB officials have assured us that they will fulfil our demands as early as possible, players' association chief Mohammad Mithun says
BBL finals race goes down to the wire; hosting rights also on the line
Heat and Sixers will chase the final spot in the top four while the route for defending champions Hurricanes is out of their hands
Australian Open tennis: Excited Alcaraz hungry to break title drought
The world number one from Spain is the title favourite along with two-time defending champion and great rival Jannik Sinner
Baartman hat-trick sets up Royals' bonus-point win
After Baartman's 5 for 16 skittled out Capitals, Hermann's boundary-laden knock helped Royals to a thumping win and go on top
RCB-W vs GG-W, Match 9, Cricket Tips :Royal Challengers Bengaluru have had a great start to the WPL 2026, as they have been at the top of the table with two consecutive games. Smriti Mandhana and her team will aim for another win as they take on Gujarat Giants Women on Friday at Dr. DY Patil Stadium at 7:30 PM IST. RCB-W have been successful in restricting the opposition to a below-par score in both games. Their bowlers have done well. Especially Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, and Shreyanka Patil. With the bat, Grace Harris, Mandhana, and De Klerk have contributed. GG-W have been pretty good with the bat as well, but their bowlers have leaked runs in all three games, which resulted in a defeat against MI-W. RCB-W vs GG-W: Match Details Date : January 16, 2026 (Friday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai RCB-W vs GG-W Live Streaming Details In India the live telecast of the WPL 2026 will be available on Star Sports Networks. Fans can also watch the match on the Jio Hotstar streaming platform. RCB-W vs GG-W: Head-to-Head in WPL Total Matches : 6 Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women : 3 Gujarat Giants Women : 3 No-Result : 0 RCB-W vs GG-W: Ground Pitch Report It is batting paradise in Navi Mumbai, where if you miss your length, batters will hit you out of the park. You have to be very smart as a bowler. Though the new ball will swing, it won't do much, and batting will be easier with time. RCB-W vs GG-W: Possible XIs Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women : Grace Harris, Dayalan Hemalatha, Smriti Mandhana (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Nadine de Klerk, Gautami Naik, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell Gujarat Giants Women : Beth Mooney (wk), Ashleigh Gardner (c), Sophie Devine, Bharti Fulmali, Georgia Wareham, Ayushi Soni, Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwer, Kashvee Gautam, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh Thakur RCB-W vs GG-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Grace Harris is our pick from RCB-W. She scored a blistering fifty in the last game. Sophie Devine will be key for GG-W. She is in good form and has played for RCB-W for three seasons. Probable Best Bowler Lauren Bell bowls a very crucial spell with the new ball. If she can manage a couple of early wickets, RCBW will be on top. For GG-W, Renuka Thakur has bowled well with the new ball so far. Today Match Prediction : Both teams have their own strengths, but for us, RCB-W are looking good because of their bowling unit, which has performed well. RCB-W vs GG-W Match 9, WPL 2026, Today Match RCB-W vs GG-W, RCB-W vs GG-W Prediction, RCB-W vs GG-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update of the match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru Women vs Gujarat Giants Women 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
Shaheen Afridi Back In Nets To Boost Pakistan's T20 World Cup Hopes: Report.
T20 World Cup: Pakistan spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi has started training after an injury break, sending a sigh of relief for the teams Twenty20 World Cup chances, with the medical officer confident he will be at his best by next week, according to a news report on Thursday. Shaheen Afridi returned to the nets on Thursday with a 15-minute bowling spell and as much batting, and he remained on course for anearly return after reports claimed that he might miss the T20 World Cup after suffering an injury while playing in the Big Bash League (BBL), Telecom Asia Sport reported. Shaheen bowled for a good 15 minutes with a full run-up and showed no signs of discomfort in the nets, which is a good sign for Pakistan because he is a vital cog in Pakistans bowling attack for the coming World Cup, sources in the PCB medical panel told www.telecomasia.net on Thursday. Earlier, there were fears that Shaheen Afridi might miss next months T20 World Cup with the recurrence of a knee injury, which ended his participation in Pakistans matches in 2022, especially in the final of the Twenty20 World Cup against England at the MCG. His rehab is complete, and now he is bowling, which means that he can feature in the three-match series against Australia later this month, but the management may not want to risk him before going to Sri Lanka, the source told Telecom Asia Sport. Pakistans newly appointed medical panel head, Dr. Javed Mughal, supervised Shaheens rehab and showed satisfaction over the fitness process, and has suggested some precautionary measures for the pacer. The medical panel has suggested some exercises for Shaheen and will guide him to bowl for 15 minutes to 25 minutes and then for a longer period. Understandably, the medical panel would suggest not to play him against Australia and instead play him in the warm-up matches before the World Cup, the report quoted the source as saying. The 25-year-old damaged his left knee during the Big Bash League in Australia during his not-so very successful maiden appearance for Brisbane Heat, taking just two wickets in four matches at a costly average of 76.5 per wicket. He was also suspended from bowling after two beamers in the opening match against the Perth Scorchers. The MRI done in Brisbane had shown no serious injury, but the Pakistan Cricket Board deemed it wise to withdraw Shaheen from the Big Bash League and recalled him to Lahore. According to the report, sources close to Shaheen Afridi told www.telecomasia.net that they had denied reports and showed confidence that the fast bowler will be ready for the start of the T20 World Cup. Pakistan have included Shaheen Afridi in the preliminary 20-man squad for the World Cup, subject to fitness. The 15-member squad will be finalised by head coach Mike Hesson. The MRI done in Brisbane had shown no serious injury, but the Pakistan Cricket Board deemed it wise to withdraw Shaheen from the Big Bash League and recalled him to Lahore. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Pakistan will play its opening match against the Netherlands in Colombo on February 7 and then against the USA three days later. Their high-profile match against India will be on February 15. Pakistan will wrap up their Group A match against Namibia on February 18. Article Source: IANS
Deol, Tryon power Warriorz to first win of season
Barely 24 hours after she had been contentiously retired out, Deol struck an unbeaten 64 off 39 balls to consign MI to their second loss in four games
WPL 2026: Deol, Tryon End UPW's Winless Run With Seven-wicket Victory Over MI (ld)
Mumbai Indians Match: Harleen Deol struck a fabulous 64 not out off 39 balls as UP Warriorz ended their winless streak with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians in Match 8of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. Deol, who was controversially retired out the previous night on 47, dominated MI's bowling attack with clinical strokeplay on the off-side. She carved out cuts, drives, and late-cuts with such authoritative precision and flawless timing that MI appeared helpless despite adjusting their field placements. Deol's timing was flawless throughout, making fielding positions irrelevant as she pierced gaps at will. Phoebe Litchfield provided steady support with 25, while Chloe Tryon hit an unbeaten 27 to ensure there were no late jitters, as UPW secured their first win of the season with 11 balls to spare, thanks to an offside masterclass from Harleen. UPWs chase began with Kiran Navgire surviving an lbw appeal off Nicola Carey, as the review went in the batters favour on umpires call, while Shabnim Ismail kept things tight. Meg Lanning found her boundaries through a square drive and cut, while Kiran joined in with backtoback fours off Shabnim. Nat SciverBrunts introduction saw Meg pull her first ball for four, and then sweep a slower offcutter for six. A dropped chance of Meg at point-position added to MIs frustration. But the game turned sharply in the first over after Power-play, when Nat had both Meg and Kiran caught by Sajeevan Sajana at deep squareleg while trying to pull. Harleen, looking to prove a point after being retired out for 47, struck four fours in her first six deliveries, with a classy steer in the gap through the off-side against Nicola being the standout shot. Phoebe got going with her inside-out and square drives, before smacking Amelia over long-on for six. Harleens onslaught continued with three boundaries off Shabnim square drive through point was followed by a drive and a deft late cut guided past third man. Even as Harleen got more boundaries via drive and pull, Phoebe miscued a hoick to square leg and became Amelias first scalp of the game. Harleen raised a fluent half-century off 32 balls with a slog sweep through square leg off Sanskriti Gupra, and followed up with drives to get two more boundaries. With Chloe hitting crucial boundaries via lofts, sweep, pull, and short-arm jab, UPW finally managed to get their first win of the competition. Previously, SciverBrunt smashed 65 off 43 balls while Nicola remained unbeaten on 32 off 20 deliveries as Mumbai Indians recovered from a slow start to post 161/5. MI flexed their batting depth in a brutal final seven overs, fetching them 83 runs after finding themselves at a precarious 78/3 in 13 overs. While SciverBrunt hit nine fours and a six in her knock, where she toyed with fields and timed the ball beautifully, Nicola hit five quickfire boundaries, as UPW were unable to contain the late onslaught after maintaining control through the middle overs. MIs innings had a stuttering start as Amanjot Kaur, promoted to open the batting in the absence of Hayley Matthews, and G Kamalini struggled to get going against UPW's new-ball attack, leaving MI with their lowest powerplay score of the season 32/0. In a bid to up the ante, Amanjot went for a slog-sweep, but holed out to deep mid-wicket off Deepti Sharma, while Kamalini holed out to long-off against Sophie Ecclestone. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur provided brief resistance with an 11-ball 16 before falling to a spectacular catch by Chloe Tryon off Asha Sobhana Joy. The match shifted decisively when Nat and Nicola combined for a devastating 85-run partnership off 43 balls. The pair launched a calculated assault on the UP bowling, hammering 33 runs from the 15th and 16th overs combined to wrest control of the innings, followed by plundering 11 and 15 runs from overs 17 and 18 respectively. Despite managing just one boundary in the final two overs, Nat and Nicola had already inflicted sufficient damage to help MI reach a competitive total. But that was inadequate to stop UPW and a rampaging Harleen to get their first win of the competition. The match shifted decisively when Nat and Nicola combined for a devastating 85-run partnership off 43 balls. The pair launched a calculated assault on the UP bowling, hammering 33 runs from the 15th and 16th overs combined to wrest control of the innings, followed by plundering 11 and 15 runs from overs 17 and 18 respectively. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Mumbai Indians 161/5 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 65, Amanjot Kaur 38; Shikha Pandey 1-25, Sophie Ecclestone 1-26) lost to UP Warriorz 162/3 in 18.1 overs (Harleen Deol 64 not out, Chloe Tryon 27 not out; Nat Sciver-Brunt 2-28, Amelia Kerr 1-42) by seven wickets Article Source: IANS
In MP's 'mini-Brazil', Cambodian Coach Trains Local Youth In Football Skills
Prime Minister Narendra Modi: The Shahdol district in Madhya Pradesh, often referred as 'mini Brazil' is in high spirits. The reason behind is a celebrated footballer from Cambodia arriving in the city for handholding the new and emerging talent and honing the skills of football players with latest techniques. Charlie Pomeroy, the international football coach, has introduced the football players from the village to international-level football techniques. He is counselling the young as well as experienced footballers, getting them mentally and physically prepared to enhance their game and also enlightening with the techniques employed by successful players during major tournaments. Speaking about his visit to Madhya Pradesh, Charlie Pomeroy said that he heard a lot about 'Mini Brazil' of Shahdol district and harboured a desire to nurture grassroots talent into international level players. Sharing his first-hand assessment of the game and sporting spirit in the village, he said that Shahdol is continuously evolving in the field of football and the players need to continue working hard despite challenges as long-drawn endeavour would eventually earn them big results. Notably, Madhya Pradesh's 'Mini Brazil' and the football players' passion and dedication spanning across generations, were mentioned in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme and also in a podcast during his visit to the US. Inspired by this broadcast and social media content, Charlie Pomeroy, the technical head coach of the Cambodian-based FC NGO and an international football coach, arrived in Vicharpur village, where he has been training local players on new skills, improved techniques, fitness, etc. Charlie Pomeroy says that through this project, he has learned that the football community in India is quite large. There are a huge number of people who love football and India is not just a cricket-playing nation, he added. Just as India produces excellent cricket players, it can also produce excellent footballers, Coach Pomeroy told IANS. There are a huge number of people who love football and India is not just a cricket-playing nation, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He met with the local players, including those who had returned from Germany after receiving modern football training. Article Source: IANS
Men's U19 World Cup: Windies Make Winning Start With Win Over Tanzania
SCOTLAND ABANDONED WITHOUT TOSS: The 2016 winner, the West Indies, made a winning start, beating Tanzania by five wickets in their opening match of the ICC Men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup at the High Performance Oval in Windhoek, Namibia, to go top of Group D. Meanwhile, the match between Zimbabwe and Scotland in Harare was abandoned without a ball being bowled. At the High Performance Oval in Windhoek, Tanez Francis was the star with the bat for the Windies, having scored a fine half-century after Vitel Lawes-led bowling effort restricted Tanzania to a very chaseable score of 121. Windies had opted to bowl first after winning the toss. Dylan Thakrar and Darpan Jobanputra gave Tanzania a solid start with a 53-run opening stand. Jonathan van Lange gave West Indies the breakthrough that triggered a Tanzanian collapse. Lawes led the charge for the Windies, picking up three wickets as the Tanzanian innings folded for just 121 in 34 overs. Francis then took charge with the bat in Windhoek as he stitched an 80-run stand with Jewel Andrew after seeing opening partner Zackary Carter depart early to put the Windies on the cusp of victory. Andrew and Francis fell in quick succession, either side of the half-century mark, as Tanzania picked up four wickets in quick succession to put Windies 114/5. However, it wasn't enough to prevent them from losing the game as the Windies eased to the target to pick up their first win of the tournament. Windies take on Afghanistan in their next match in Group D on Sunday, before Tanzania face South Africa on Monday. Both matches will be held at the High Performance Oval in Windhoek. ZIMBABWE-SCOTLAND ABANDONED WITHOUT TOSS Windies take on Afghanistan in their next match in Group D on Sunday, before Tanzania face South Africa on Monday. Both matches will be held at the High Performance Oval in Windhoek. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The hosts face England in their next match on Sunday, while Scotland take on Pakistan on Monday, with both games taking place at Takashinga Sports Club in Harare Article Source: IANS
Aman Mokhade equals record for quickest 1000 runs in List A cricket
He reached the landmark in just 16 innings and is the quickest Indian to achieve the record
Nalkande, Mokhade knock Karnataka out to propel Vidarbha into successive finals
Nalkande's five-wicket haul would have been the most impactful performance on another day if not for Mokhade's masterful century in the Vijay Hazare Trophy semi-final
Naveen-ul-Haq ruled out of T20 World Cup; Rashid Khan leaves SA20 for national duty
Afghanistan are yet to announce a replacement for Naveen, while Rashid has linked up with the national team
DY Patil Stadium: Gujarat Giants (GG) all-rounder Sophie Devine has thrown her weight behind the recent surge in retire out dismissals, which allows teams to strategically withdraw batters during an innings, adding that the rule should be viewed as a legitimate tactical weapon for teams to gain momentum in the match. The Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 has seen GG batter Ayushi Soni and UP Warriorz's Harleen Deol being retired out. In 2026, eight retire-outs have been recorded across mens and womens T20 leagues so far. It's going to spark a fair bit of debate in terms of how people view it. For me, it's just another tool and another strategic option to use to be able to retire people out. At the end of the day, those decisions are always made with the team coming first and what's going to be best for the team to be able to gain momentum. So some people will love it, some people will hate it. I think it's a great option to be able to use, Devine told reporters in a virtual interaction on Thursday. She also emphasised the importance of players understanding the team-first philosophy behind such decisions. I hope that players who do get retired out can see that and see it in a positive light that they want to be able to contribute to the team, and they're doing what's best for the team. So it's a really tricky one because I guess it's never nice, but we will see more of it. We're obviously starting to see a little bit more in the men's game as well, and I think the women's game will follow suit. In saying that, if players are able to play at a good strike rate, you probably don't need to use it as much. So it is really interesting to see how different teams will use it, but I think to have that as an option is something that should only be seen as a positive, she said. Acknowledging that not every retire out decision would prove to be correct, Sophie said, You're not always going to get it right, and that's just like any decision in cricket, whether that be the bowler that you bring on or the shot that you choose to play, there's always going to be times where it comes off and it doesn't come off, and that's I guess just part and parcel of playing a game. We will see it come into the game more and more. But that's the great thing in seeing how teams use it and how they see it being of benefit to them is going to alter slightly, and that's, I guess, the exciting thing is how teams want to use it. Sophie further revealed her preference for the retire-out rule over the Impact Player rule used in mens T20 leagues. We don't have the impact player, which I'm probably more of a fan of being able to retire people out rather than having an impact player, because I like the idea that you can do all skills, or certainly bat, and still be able to go on the field. So it will be something that will become more and more common. When asked about the best approach to handling players who are retired out, Sophie stressed the critical role of clear communication before and after such decisions are taken. If I knew the best way to do it, I'm sure there'd be a lot of other people who would take it up absolutely. I think communication is really important, and understanding the reasoning behind why you would have retired someone out. I think that's what Maxy Klinger did, go up and speak to Ayushi about the reasoning why he made that decision. For me, as I said earlier, it's for the benefit of the team and putting the team first and what the team requires. So I think that needs to be really well communicated and making sure that there's some follow-up later on after the game or the next day, to explain again what can be done differently and opportunities to continue to be better. But I just think communication is so key, and it's not just in retiring players out. There are a lot of areas where I feel like clear communication can certainly help players have clarity around their role and what's required for them at different game situations, she said. Sophie also made a compelling case for adjusting fielding restrictions and boundary dimensions in women's cricket, arguing that current conditions have tilted the balance too far in favour of batters. There needs to be a serious look at the four fielders out rule. We are pretty close to going in line with the men and having five fielders out on the boundary. We've all seen the power that the women's game has now, and that I don't think having five fielders out would be a hindrance to the possibility and opportunities to score more runs. I also think the same about boundary sizes. Here they're fractionally too small. I mean, people are clearing the road by a long, long way, and the balance is distorted towards batters, especially when you're playing on wickets that are so flat and offering not too much for the bowlers. Acknowledging her dual perspective as both batter and bowler, Devine feels the aforementioned specific changes would benefit the format. So it's a hard one because I'm an all-rounder and as a batter, I love it - short boundaries and only four fielders out playing on absolute roads. But as a bowler, it's extremely challenging. So I do think that there needs to be a shift, and there are really easy wins that you can get there in terms of the five fielders out making a minimum boundary size, which should be around at least the 60-yard distance for me. Acknowledging her dual perspective as both batter and bowler, Devine feels the aforementioned specific changes would benefit the format. So it's a hard one because I'm an all-rounder and as a batter, I love it - short boundaries and only four fielders out playing on absolute roads. But as a bowler, it's extremely challenging. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It sort of just becomes a bit of a highlights reel. So, there are some real opportunities there to make a little bit of a shift and ensure that it's still something that people want to watch. Yes, scoring boundaries is exciting, but I think cricket's a bit more nuanced than that, she concluded. Article Source: IANS
Henil Patels Five-For Powers India to Six-Wicket Win Over USA in ICC U19 World Cup Opener
Henil Patel bagged the first five-wicket haul of the tournament and helped multiple-time champion India make a winning start to their campaign in the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup with a six-wicket victory (via DLS Method) over the USA at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Thursday. Five-time winners India inserted in the USA after winning the toss, and Henil Patel instantly validated that decision by delivering a fiery opening spell that broke the resistance of the USA top order. The right-arm pacer picked up three wickets inside the first 12 overs as the USA were reduced to 35/4. The Indians then tightened the screws on the USA middle-order to pick up wickets at regular intervals as Deepesh Devendran, Ambarish RS, Khilan Patel, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi all picked up a wicket each. Patel then returned to clean up the tail and bag the first fifer of the tournament to bowl USA out for just 107 inside 36 overs. SOORYAVANSHI SETS RECORD The USA made a good start to proceedings with the ball, dismissing early Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who set a world record by making his debut in the U19 World Cup at the age of 14 years and 294 days, breaking the 18-year-old record held by Indian-origin player Nitish Kumar, who made his debut for Canada at the age of15 years and 245 days. Just when skipper Ayush Mhatre and Vedant Trivedi appeared to steady the innings, the game was halted because of the lightning protocols. Rain followed and ensured the game was suspended for long enough for it to be reduced to 37 overs when it resumed after a long break. Chasing a revised target of 96, India were rocked by two quick wickets as skipper Mhatre (19) and Trivedi (2) were dismissed, leaving India struggling at 25/3. But Abhigyan Kundu and Vihaan Malhotra weathered the storm and slowly turned the tables on the USA bowlers, stitching together a counter-attacking 45-run partnership that got India closer to the target. Malhotra's dismissal didn't prevent the five-time winners from cruising home and putting their first points on the board. India will be back in action against Bangladesh for their second game in Group A on Saturday. The USA will take on New Zealand on Sunday, with both matches set to take place at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. But Abhigyan Kundu and Vihaan Malhotra weathered the storm and slowly turned the tables on the USA bowlers, stitching together a counter-attacking 45-run partnership that got India closer to the target. Malhotra's dismissal didn't prevent the five-time winners from cruising home and putting their first points on the board. Also Read: Live Cricket Score USA U19 107 all out in 35.2 overs (Nitish Sudini 36; Henil Patel 5-16) lost to India U19 (revised target 96 - Abhigyan Kundu 42 not out; Ritvik Appidi 2-24) by 6 wickets (DLS method). Article Source: IANS
Mandhana vs Gardner adds spice to RCB's contest against Gujarat Giants
The Mandhana-Gardner battle will be one to look out for as both sides look for ascendancy
Bangladesh players ready to end boycott if BCB director makes public apology
BCB president reportedly disagreed with the players' demand that director Nazmul Islam make a public apology
WPL 2026: Devine Credits Match-up Awareness And Execution In Smashing Rana For 32 Runs
DY Patil Stadium: Gujarat Giants (GG) all-rounder Sophie Devine has attributed her record-breaking smash of Delhi Capitals (DC) off-spinner Sneh Rana for 32 runs in the 2026 WPL to favourable match-ups and keeping things simple. In the WPL 2026 match between DC and GG at the DY Patil Stadium, which the latter won narrowly, Sophie smacked Sneh for two fours and four sixes to claim the record for the most expensive over in WPLs history. Incidentally, Sophie herself had scored 32 runs in an over off Sneh back in a T20I in Bengaluru in 2015. No, not at all. I think we've spoken a bit as a group around match-ups and who our best targets are. For me, off-spin was certainly the case. I guess the way that we started the innings and being able to be really aggressive and take them on, there was no set plan prior to that that we were going to have a real crack. I think that's the thing -- when I know I'm batting well, there's probably not too much thinking going on. So it's a plain thing of playing each ball on its merit. The over obviously went for a few, but for me, it's keeping things really simple. I know off-spin's a better match-up for me than it is to Beth, obviously, as a left-hander and the ball turning away. So unfortunately, it's as simple as that. There's no great magic trick to it. It was literally just a good match-up, and it came off on the day, said Sophie, while replying to a query from IANS, in a virtual roundtable by the franchise on Thursday. Sophie's impact wasn't limited to her explosive 95 off 42 balls with the bat. She returned to bowl the final over with DCC needing just seven runs, and took two crucial wickets to seal a thrilling victory for GG. You've always got to believe that you can achieve that and defend any total. For me, I felt like the pressure was probably not on us. I thought the game was in the bag for them, the way that they chased and got so close that they were the ones who needed to score the run. So for me, I knew if I kept things really simple -- attacking the stumps, taking pace off, and we were in with a shot. Obviously, a full toss first ball wasn't probably what I initially intended, trying to go for a yorker. But again, that's where it's so awesome, these competitions and being put in pressure situations, being able to work with Ash and having really clear plans of what we wanted to try and do. At the end of the day, I mean, you can plan, and you can try and do things, but unless you execute it. So I guess I was just really fortunate that I was able to execute that day. I mean, I was in a similar position last game and wasn't able to do it, and I think that's the great thing about cricket. It's a real leveller and can humble you pretty quickly. So it was certainly an exciting game for us. I mean, it would have been nice to have wrapped it up a little bit sooner, but I'm sure everyone hopefully enjoyed the entertainment, she explained about her mindset in that final over. Despite falling five runs short of what would have been the WPL's first century for the second time in the competition, Sophie remained characteristically focused on team objectives rather than personal landmarks. For me, milestones aren't as important as putting the team in a strong position to win. It doesn't make sense to slow down and play for numbers; it's about doing what's best for the team in that situation, she said. Sophie, who has scored 141 runs and picked up five wickets in GGs opening three matches, further praised several Indian players stepping up to be match-winners for the franchise in the ongoing competition. Franchise cricket is so fantastic for the world game. Overseas players love coming and experiencing, particularly here, the WPL, the conditions, and I guess the challenges that present themselves over here. But equally, the domestic and, I guess, the international players are key to it. In any franchise, it's the domestic players that can really make the difference. Overseas players cancel each other out; it's the local players who can be match-winners. Back to the game, Anushka and that brilliant piece of fielding, for her to be able to do that was, I think, a match-winning moment for us. So the importance of local players is huge. You've seen over the course of the WPL, not just this year, but the last couple of years, as the standard continues to improve. The domestic players have got the most room to grow and to be able to rub shoulders with overseas players. That's one of the great things about these tournaments, everyone is here to learn. It's not just experienced players sharing knowledge; it works both ways. A lot of these players have played far more cricket in Indian conditions than I have, she said. So the importance of local players is huge. You've seen over the course of the WPL, not just this year, but the last couple of years, as the standard continues to improve. The domestic players have got the most room to grow and to be able to rub shoulders with overseas players. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Renuka is world-class. She brings so much control and clarity with the new ball and in pressure overs. When you have someone like her leading the attack, it gives the rest of the bowling group a lot of confidence. She's calm, she understands her plans really well, and she's been a huge asset for us. Article Source: IANS
England Spinner Shoaib Bashir Joins Derbyshire On A Two-year Deal After Ashes Snub
England Spinner Shoaib Bashir: England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has signed a two-year contract with Derbyshire for the 2026 season, seeking to revitalise his domestic career after limited opportunities at Somerset. The 22-year-old, who has become a part of Englands Test squad over the past two years, moves to Derbyshire in search of consistent red-ball cricket. Despite taking 68 wickets in 19 Tests since his debut in 2024, Bashir struggled to displace Jack Leach at Somerset. His lack of match practice became a concern for the national selectors, particularly after he remained an unused squad member during the recent 2025-26 Ashes tour of Australia, where England preferred all-rounder Will Jacks in the playing XI. Bashir's county record has not matched his international success. He leaves Somerset with just 21 wickets in 23 matches across formats. In the County Championship, he averaged 74.78 for his 14 wickets. Derbyshire head coach Mickey Arthur, whose side finished third in Division Two last season, played a key role in the recruitment. Derbyshire has a really exciting project going on, and working with Mickey Arthur, one of the best coaches in the world, is a great opportunity. I'm keen to play more red-ball cricket, continue my development, and challenge for promotion, Bashir said. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been actively involved in managing Bashir's development. Following the advice of Managing Director Rob Key to prioritise playing time, Bashir has also flown to Zimbabwe for a week of specialist coaching with former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed ahead of the pre-season. Derbyshire has a really exciting project going on, and working with Mickey Arthur, one of the best coaches in the world, is a great opportunity. I'm keen to play more red-ball cricket, continue my development, and challenge for promotion, Bashir said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Our recruitment is all about bringing in quality players. To be able to bring in a current England international is really exciting. He will bring great energy and experience into our dressing room. Arthur said in a statement. Article Source: IANS
Unchanged UP Warriorz bowl; MI bring back Sciver-Brunt for Matthews
UPW have lost their three consecutive games and another loss will seriously hamper their playoffs qualification chances.
WPL 2026: Unchanged UP Warriorz Elect To Bowl First Against Mumbai Indians, Sciver-Brunt Comes In
Unchanged UP Warriorz: An unchanged UP Warriorz have won the toss and elected to bowl first against defending champions Mumbai Indians in the 2026 Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 clash at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. MI have steadied their WPL campaign with back-to-back wins after a narrow defeat in their opening game. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has been central to the turnaround by striking consecutive half-centuries. Meanwhile, UPW remain winless after slipping to another close defeat last night to Delhi Capitals (DC). After winning the toss, UPW captain Meg Lanning said, Bowling first seems to have worked pretty well through this tournament because it gives us a good chance to get out there with the ball and hopefully put Mumbai under some pressure early. We feel like that (same playing eleven) gives us the best chance on this wicket in these conditions. Obviously, we haven't quite hit our straps yet, but we get another opportunity tonight. There's a lot of talent within this group. It's just, I guess, the challenge with anything you come into is trying to bring it all together and identify what their strengths are, and when you can use them best and how to get the best out of them. So that's been a challenge for me, but there's been a lot of learning for myself and the team. Tonight, we get the opportunity to go out there and hopefully improve on those. Just the usual -- go out there, enjoy yourselves, and back your skills. We've done a lot of things right. Obviously, we just haven't put it together for long enough. So hopefully tonight's the night, she said. MI skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said Nat Sciver-Brunt returns in place of a rested Hayley Matthews. It's a great feeling, and hopefully keep it going in cricket the way we did in the World Cup. She (Carey) is someone who is contributing with both bat and ball; she is in form and should continue playing. Throughout this tournament, we have seen everybody scoring close to 180. This pitch, we played on, we played our first game. So that time, for six over or something, the ball was seaming up, hopefully it plays better, and we put up a total on the board, she said. Playing XIs: Throughout this tournament, we have seen everybody scoring close to 180. This pitch, we played on, we played our first game. So that time, for six over or something, the ball was seaming up, hopefully it plays better, and we put up a total on the board, she said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score UP Warriorz: Kiran Navgire, Meg Lanning (captain), Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Shweta Sehrawat (wk), Chloe Tryon, Deepti Sharma, Sophie Ecclestone, Asha Sobhana Joy, Shikha Pandey, and Kranti Gaud Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: GT Camp In Nathdwara Crucial kickstart From A Cricketing Perspective, Says COO
Madan Paliwal Miraj Sports Centre: Gujarat Titans (GT) have begun their IPL 2026 preparations with an ongoing camp led by head coach Ashish Nehra and assistant coach Parthiv Patel at the Madan Paliwal Miraj Sports Centre in Nathdwara, Rajasthan. Colonel Arvinder Singh, the franchises Chief Operating Officer (COO), said the ongoing camps purpose is to serve as a crucial cricketing kickstart for coaches and players free from their Vijay Hazare Trophy commitments. The likes of R Sai Kishore and Ashok Sharma have been spotted putting in the hard yards at GTs camp. That is purely a camp for our cricketers, like whoever was available at this point. We had 13 players available from teams who either did not qualify for the later stages of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, or after having finished that, came for the camp, maybe even just for a day or two. This is like the kickstart from a cricketing perspective for the team - the coaching staff and players getting together, and trying to get them to start thinking as GT all over again, Singh told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Thursday. GT sprung a surprise by winning the IPL in their debut season in 2022 and have established themselves as a consistent side, as seen from their entering the playoffs three times. The sides relaxed team environment has earned praise from former and current players, who have noted it as a refreshing change compared to the set-ups of other teams. GT came into being 14 years after the original eight franchises were already in place. Whether it's me, others, and on the management side, and even on the coaching side, we have a whole host of experienced people who have seen how this ecosystem called the IPL has grown from the beginning itself. Part of our learning was the fact that every team is good and everybody has the same amount of money to spend in the auction. Everybody tries to do their best on the field once you have a team in place. But how do you get the best out of these players, or at least create the conditions where they have nothing else to look at? The fact that they need to go out, practice, play, practice, play, repeat, play, and try and win for the franchise - in so doing, our collective intention as a franchise is to ensure that we make them feel a part of Gujarat Titans. Now, some call it, like we pamper them or things like that. But I can assure you, there's nothing like that. We just like to make them feel part of the franchise by taking care of anything big or small, which creates the right conditions for them not to have to worry about anything else. But also, make them be motivated enough to ensure that they're putting their best foot forward. Beyond that, there are no guarantees in sport; you can only create those conditions and put together a group of like-minded players and people to try and get the best out of them, explained Singh. He further spoke about the never give up attitude, defining GTs play in the IPL so far. Again, at the cost of being a little boastful, GT has been the most consistent team in the last four seasons. If you look at it from the time we came into being, we made the playoffs thrice, including being runners-up and champions once. We missed out on the playoffs only once in the last four years. There is no other franchise that has been as consistent as GT during this period. Again, it only speaks volumes of how the franchise conducts itself, and the players become part of the ecosystem of Gujarat Titans, as well as the entire support staff - that's all you can do at the end of the day. He further spoke about the never give up attitude, defining GTs play in the IPL so far. Again, at the cost of being a little boastful, GT has been the most consistent team in the last four seasons. If you look at it from the time we came into being, we made the playoffs thrice, including being runners-up and champions once. Also Read: Live Cricket Score That's how we also look at it - it's never over till it's over. So you put in your best and then, fortunately, this system has worked for us, and I see no reason why it should not continue to work for us, concluded Singh. Article Source: IANS
U-19 World Cup: Belle, Francis and Andrew help WI beat Tanzania comprehensively
Zimbabwe U-19 and Scotland U-19 shared points after a washout in Harare
BCB removes Nazmul Islam as director after player boycott halts BPL matches
Two BPL matches and four games in the Dhaka Cricket League did not begin on Thursday
AJ Tye severs ties with BBL as he signs two-year deal with Yorkshire
Death-bowling specialist signs as locally registered player for Vitality Blast
Allen blasts 101 as explosive Scorchers end Renegades' slim final hopes
As a result of the win, Scorchers and Melbourne Stars will battle for top spot that secures two home finals
BBL to introduce 'designated hitter' for batter who won't have to field
The new rule will come into effect for the 2026-27 season and will see sides nominate one player who only bats and another who only fields
Bhubaneswar To Host Womens National T20 Cricket Tournament For The Blind 2026 From January 17
Tech Medical College Cricket Ground: The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) and Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled will host the Womens National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2026 from January 17 to 22 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, with a total of 18 teams, grouped into five pools, competing in a high-energy battle for the championship. The league matches will commence on January 17 and culminate in the grand final on January 22. The tournament will be formally inaugurated on January 16 with a grand opening ceremony scheduled at 7:30 PM at the Hi-Tech Medical College Auditorium. The Honble Minister for Sports, Government of Odisha, along with distinguished guests from corporate organisations and political representatives, are expected to grace the occasion. Dr. Mahantesh G. Kivadasannavar, Chairman of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI), said, Over the past year, there has been tremendous momentum around womens cricket, and national-level tournaments play a crucial role in identifying and nurturing new talent to represent India. The Indian Womens Teams World Cup victory has made the nation proud, and all 16 players from the World Cup squad are participating in the nationals, representing their respective states. They showcased their skills at the national level before earning their place in the Indian team. This championship provides a vital platform for players to give their best and demonstrate their cricketing talent. The support from IndusInd Bank has been instrumental and is a key driver behind the growth of womens cricket for the blind in India. Their continued commitment has made a meaningful difference in empowering women and transforming lives through cricket for the blind, he added. The league stage and quarterfinals will conclude on January 20, after which the four qualifying teams will compete in the semi-finals on January 21 for a place in the final. The grand finale will be held on January 22 at the Hi-Tech Medical College Cricket Ground. A total of 31 matches will be played in the IndusInd Bank Womens National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2026. The winning team will receive a cash prize of INR 1,50,000, while the runners-up will be awarded INR 1,25,000. Three players, representing three different sight categories, will be honoured as Players of the Series with a cash award of INR 15,000 each. Additionally, 31 Players of the Match will receive INR 5,000 each, and every player will be paid a match fee of INR 1,000 per match, said G. Sridhar, Chairman of Womens Cricket and Treasurer of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI). The President of the Cricket Association for the Visually Impaired in Odisha (CAVI), Md. Jafar Iqbal said, CAVI is delighted to host 18 womens teams, and this marks the first time a Womens National Cricket Tournament for the Blind is being held in Odisha. Womens cricket has witnessed significant growth over the years, and we are proud that cricket for the blind continues to empower and transform the lives of women cricketers. I would like to thank the Government of Odisha and the Department of Sports & Youth Services for their overwhelming support over the years in promoting cricket for the blind. The Government of Odisha has always been proactive in providing employment opportunities, cash awards, and recognition to the players. I also extend my sincere gratitude to all our partners for their continued support of the Womens National Tournament. The 18 teams have been grouped based on their performances in the previous National Tournament. This edition marks the 6th Womens National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind. Madhya Pradesh emerged as the champions of the 5th edition, and all eyes will be on the top teams to see if a new champion will rise in the 6th edition of the Womens National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2026. Odisha has claimed the title three times in the last five editions, while Karnataka secured the championship in 2022. The participating teams have been divided into the following groups: Group A: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala Group B: Karnataka, Jharkhand, Delhi, Gujarat Group C: Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chandigarh Group B: Karnataka, Jharkhand, Delhi, Gujarat Also Read: Live Cricket Score Group E: West Bengal, Haryana, Assam Article Source: IANS
Laura Wolvaardt Named Player Of The Month For December Ahead Of Shafali Verma
Cricket World Cup: South Africa's captain, Laura Wolvaardt, has bagged the Player of the Month award for December after her remarkable performance in the last month of the year 2025, which helped the team register series victories against Ireland in T20I and ODI formats. Fresh off a commanding campaign in the ICC Womens Cricket World Cup 2025, Wolvaardt continued to showcase her brilliance, rounding off a remarkable year by registering three centuries across formats in just one month. Wolvaardt was at her destructive best in the opening T20I, blasting an unbeaten 115 at a staggering strike rate of 205.35, an innings studded with 15 boundaries and four sixes. Her dominance carried into the ODI series, where she opened the batting and played a key role throughout. After a steady 31 in the first match, she struck back-to-back centuries, hammering 124 off 111 balls in the second ODI before finishing unbeaten on 100 in the final game to seal the whitewash. Across the three ODIs, Wolvaardt accumulated 255 runs at a remarkable average of 127.50 and a strike rate of 111.84. In the T20I series, she scored 137 runs at a blistering strike rate of 190.27, losing her wicket only once. This is Wolvaardt's second Player of the Month Award, having bagged the prize earlier in October 2025, and she felt happy and grateful after receiving the honour. Im delighted to be named the ICC Player of the Month once again. To win it two times in three months is very special and something Ill cherish for a long time. I loved batting throughout Irelands tour of South Africa, and it was hugely rewarding to contribute with runs across both the ODI and T20I formats, the South African said. This is Wolvaardt's second Player of the Month Award, having bagged the prize earlier in October 2025, and she felt happy and grateful after receiving the honour. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Wolvaardt beat teammate Sune Luus, who impressed with her all-round performance scoring 323 runs and picking up eight wickets across formats, in the month and November winner Shafali Verma, who scored 241 runs in five T20I games for India, to bag this honour. Article Source: IANS
Washington Sundar Ruled Out Of NZ T20Is With Rib Injury; Likely To Report To CoE In Bengaluru
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium: India all-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the five-match T20I series against New Zealand, as he is still recovering from a rib injury he suffered during the ODI series opener in Vadodara, sources told IANS on Thursday. The five-match T20I series, which is set to begin on January 21 at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, is part of India's preparation for the T20 World Cup, which starts on February 7. It remains unclear whether the all-rounder will recover in time for the marquee tournament. Washington is ruled out of the T20Is against New Zealand, as he would take at least a few more weeks to recover from the injury suffered in the Vadodara ODI. It is yet to be known if he will be fully fit in time for the T20 World Cup, said a source familiar with the matter to IANS. The source further said, Washington is likely to report to the CoE in Bengaluru on Saturday and will know more about his recovery timeline once he reaches there. This is the second injury blow that India have suffered for the T20I series after Tilak Varma, who underwent surgery for a groin injury, was ruled out of the first three T20Is of the five-game series. Earlier, Sundar was also ruled out of the ongoing ODI series after he reported an acute onset discomfort in his left lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium last Sunday and underwent further scans. This is the second injury blow that India have suffered for the T20I series after Tilak Varma, who underwent surgery for a groin injury, was ruled out of the first three T20Is of the five-game series. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma (unavailable for first three games), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vc), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan (wk) Article Source: IANS
Shoaib Bashir joins Derbyshire after struggling to break through at Somerset
England's out-of-favour spinner heads for new county after struggling to secure game-time at Taunton
Players' Boycott Delays BPL Match, Referee Stands Alone At Toss
Bangla National Cricket Stadium: The toss for the Bangladesh Premier League's match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express was delayed on Thursday after players refused to show up at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium following a humiliation by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) finance committee chairman Najmul Islam. The match was scheduled for a 1:00 pm start, with the toss slated for 12:30 pm and the match alone stands alone in the middle after both captains decided not to appear for the toss. This came after Najmul insulted the cricketers, stating that only the players stood to lose out if Bangladesh didn't play the T20 World Cup and that the BCB wouldn't compensate the players for the earnings loss. The players felt humiliated by Najmul's remark, following which the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) on Wednesday announced that players would not take part in the BPL if Najmul did not resign before the opening game. CWAB has also called a press conference at a city hotel to outline its position, after discussions between BCB officials and player representatives failed to produce a breakthrough. The talks were held just hours after CWAB had issued an ultimatum, as reported by Cricbuzz. Islam had earlier described former captain Tamim Iqbal as an Indian agent after the former Bangladesh skipper suggested dialogue with the ICC and BCCI over the T20 World Cup venue row. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) released a statement on Wednesday evening, saying that Islams comments do not align with their values. The Bangladesh Cricket Board wishes to address recent comments made by a member of the Board that have generated concern. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) released a statement on Wednesday evening, saying that Islams comments do not align with their values. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Bangladesh Cricket Board also makes it clear that it will take appropriate disciplinary action against any individual whose conduct or comments show disrespect towards cricketers or cause harm to the reputation and integrity of Bangladesh cricket, the statement added. Article Source: IANS
Washington ruled out of New Zealand T20Is as well
Washington is recovering from the side strain he suffered during the first ODI
Hopefully In Future We Will Share Dressing Room: Gill, Arshdeep Rally Behind U19 Stars For WC
Cricket World Cup Zimbabwe: As Indias Under-19 team gears up for the ICC Under-19 Mens Cricket World Cup 2026, senior Indian cricketers and former champions have rallied behind the youngsters, urging them to embrace the experience and play fearless cricket in pursuit of a record-extending sixth title. India begin their U19 World Cup campaign against the USA on Thursday. Indias ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill said he is looking forward to watching the next generation represent the country on the global stage. I want to wish the Under-19 cricket team all the very best. I am very excited to watch you all perform in the ICC Under-19 Mens Cricket World Cup Zimbabwe and Namibia 2026. Have fun, Gill told JioStar. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh highlighted the importance of the Under-19 World Cup as a stepping stone to higher honours and encouraged the players to enjoy the journey without pressure. The ICC Mens Under-19 World Cup Zimbabwe and Namibia 2026 is a very good platform. Hopefully in the future we will share the dressing room with each other. All the best to the Under-19 Indian team for the World Cup. Enjoy these moments; they will not come again and again in your life. There is no pressure; just bring the cup home, Arshdeep said. Wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel, who was part of Indias Under-19 squad in 2020, reflected on his own experience and stressed the lasting memories the tournament creates. It is a very special moment when you represent your country at the highest stage in Under-19 cricket. I played in the 2020 edition and still remember the final against Bangladesh, even though we lost. These are days you will remember forever, no matter where your cricket takes you, Jurel said. Former U19 World Cup champion Shreevats Goswami added, All the best guys, the whole country is supporting you. Enjoy the game, do not take much stress, stay happy and win the trophy. It is a very special moment when you represent your country at the highest stage in Under-19 cricket. I played in the 2020 edition and still remember the final against Bangladesh, even though we lost. These are days you will remember forever, no matter where your cricket takes you, Jurel said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The ICC Under-19 Mens Cricket World Cup 2026 is being jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia, with five-time champions India entering the tournament as one of the favourites. Article Source: IANS
England Spin Duo Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed Face Visa Delay For T20 WC In India
T20 World Cup: England spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed are reportedly facing unexpected delays in procuring visas for their travel to India for the T20 World Cup, starting from February 7. The delay hampered the chances for the spin duo to travel with the rest of the squad this weekend for six warm-up games against Sri Lanka, and it is unclear when they will join their teammates. England will begin its T20 World Cup campaign on February 8, when they face Nepal in Navi Mumbai. As per The Guardian report, the ECB is confident that the visas will be issued in time for Rashid and Ahmed. But the timing of visa clearance remains uncertain, and the ECB has sought assistance from the UK government to help expedite the process. Notably in 2024, Shoaib Bashir was forced to fly home to resolve visa complications which prevented him from joining the England squad in India for the Test series, while the rest of the team travelled to Hyderabad. England will play three ODIs and as many as T20Is in Sri Lanka, beginning January 22, in the lead-up to the T20 mega spectacle, with Harry Brook leading the side for the Sri Lanka tour and the subsequent T20 World Cup. After their opener against Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium, England will take on two-time champions (2012 & 2016) the West Indies on February 11 at the same venue, before travelling to Kolkata for their clash against 2022 winners England at the iconic Eden Gardens on February 14. They will wrap up their group-stage campaign against Italy on February 16. England will play three ODIs and as many as T20Is in Sri Lanka, beginning January 22, in the lead-up to the T20 mega spectacle, with Harry Brook leading the side for the Sri Lanka tour and the subsequent T20 World Cup. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England (Provisional Squad): Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood Article Source: IANS
Harmanpreet and Nandani lead Orange Cap, Purple Cap tables
DC's Lee sits behind Harmanpreet in second place, whereas three bowlers tied for second place with six wickets each
WPL 2026: Delhi Bowlers Claw Back After LanningDeol Stand Lifts UP Warriorz To 154/8
DY Patil Stadium: After absorbing strong pressure from a fluent partnership between skipper Meg Lanning and Harleen Deol, Delhi Capitals produced a disciplined bowling performance to claw their way back and restricted UP Warriorz to a competitive but less than commanding total of 154 for 8 in the seventh match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The innings suggested more than it delivered, as UP sailed along for a long time before Delhis bowlers tightened their grip at the end. Marizanne Kapp set the tone early by taking out Kiran Navgire for a duck in the first over, highlighting Delhis intent with the new ball. Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield responded calmly, mixing caution with good timing to guide Warriorz to 47 for 1 by the end of the Power-play. Sneh Rana removed Litchfield soon after the powerplay for 27. Lanning then teamed up with Harleen Deol, and the two raised the tempo while avoiding risks. At the first strategic timeout, UP was 76 for 2 after nine overs, clearly in control. The partnership thrived from overs 11 to 14, with the hundred reached in 11.2 overs and Lanning scoring a stylish 32-ball fifty, featuring nine fours and a six. At 125 for 2 after 14 overs, UP Warriorz looked set for a much bigger total. Thats when Delhi turned the game around. Shafali Verma put on an impressive spell of off-spin, giving away just 16 runs and taking two key wickets in her four overs. Nandini Sharma then provided the crucial breakthrough by dismissing Lanning for 54, ending the dangerous 85-plus third-wicket partnership and starting a collapse. The final overs belonged to Delhi. Harleen Deol was retired out at 47 in an effort to add power, but the strategy backfired when Chloe Tryon fell cheaply, leading to panic. Delhi seized the chance and executed perfectly, taking six wickets for just 24 runs in the last five overs. From a strong position of 138 for 3, UP Warriorz fell to 154 for 8, scoring only 27 runs in the final six oversa dramatic turnaround driven by disciplined bowling and smart play from the Capitals. Thats when Delhi turned the game around. Shafali Verma put on an impressive spell of off-spin, giving away just 16 runs and taking two key wickets in her four overs. Nandini Sharma then provided the crucial breakthrough by dismissing Lanning for 54, ending the dangerous 85-plus third-wicket partnership and starting a collapse. Also Read: Live Cricket Score UP Warriorz 154/8 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 54, Harleen Deol 47; Shafali Verma 2/16, Marizanne Kapp 2/24) against Delhi Capitals Article Source: IANS
BCB issues show cause notice to Nazmul Islam but Bangladesh players firm on boycott
The Bangladesh cricketers had demanded that the BCB director resign for his derogatory comments against them
Pakistan to Host Australia for Three T20Is Ahead of World Cup Preparations
Former champions Pakistan and Australia will face off in three Twenty20 internationals to wrap up their preparations for next month's World Cup, the Pakistani cricket board said on Wednesday. India and Sri Lanka are co-hosts of the Twenty20 World Cup, which runs from February 7 to March 8. Pakistan will play Australia in three Twenty20 internationals in Lahore which serves as crucial game time for both sides ahead of the World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement. They will play at the Pakistani city's Gaddafi Stadium from January 29 to February 1, it added. Australia's T20I squad will arrive in Lahore on January 28. Pakistan are placed in Group A of the 20-team World Cup along with arch-rivals India, the United States, Namibia and the Netherlands. Australia are placed in Group B with Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman. The top two teams from each of the four groups will qualify for the Super Eight stages. PCB chief operating officer Sumair Ahmed said fans were looking forward to Australia's visit. We are excited and look forward to hosting Australia to mark a blockbuster beginning of the year for Pakistan cricket fans, he said. Pakistan v Australia series schedule in Lahore: January 29: 1st T20I January 31: 2nd T20I Also Read: Live Cricket Score February 1: 3rd T20I
Pathway For Future Stars...': ICC Chief Jay Shah Wishes Luck To Teams For U19 World Cup
The International Cricket Council: The International Cricket Council (ICC) chair Jay Shah extended his best wishes to the U19 stars for kickstarting their World Cup campaign in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The 16th edition of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup begin on Thursday with the match between India and the United States on at Bulawayo. Wishing all the teams and players best of luck in the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup starting on January 15 across host countries Zimbabwe and Namibia. Our youth events have long been the pathway for some of cricket's biggest stars, and am sure that will be the case again, the ICC chief shared on X. Led by Ayush Mhatre, India have been placed in Group B alongside New Zealand, USA, and Bangladesh. Talented batting all-rounder Vihaan Malhotra will serve as Mhatre's deputy at the tournament. Australia are the defending champions having won the 2024 edition with a victory over India in the final and have won the title four times, just behind India who have lifted the trophy on five occasions. Pakistan are the only other team with multiple titles to their name with successive victories in 2004 and 2006 with West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh and England to have claimed one triumph each. The tournament is set to be played across five venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia with the former hosting 25 matches including the semi-final and final, and Namibia hosting 16 games. Pakistan are the only other team with multiple titles to their name with successive victories in 2004 and 2006 with West Indies, South Africa, Bangladesh and England to have claimed one triumph each. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Queens Sports Club and the Harare Sports Club will host the two semi-finals on February 3 and 4 with the Harare Sports Club playing host to the final on February 6. Article Source: IANS
Dilpreet Bajwa to lead Canada at T20 World Cup
This will be Canada's second appearance at a T20 World Cup, having participated in the 2024 edition
'Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't' - Sthalekar on UPW retiring Deol out
UP Warriorz's late gamble to retire Deol out in search of extra firepower backfired, triggering a collapse and a below-par finish against Delhi Capitals
Problems aplenty for winless Warriorz as they face mighty Mumbai
UPW have three defeats in three games, while MI are chasing their third successive victory
Mumbai Indians vs UP Warriorz, Match 8, WPL 2026, Who will win today MI-W vs UPW-W match?
MI-W vs UPW-W, Match 8 , Cricket Tips :The defending champion, Mumbai Indians, have started the WPL 2026 on a positive note. They lost the opening game by a close margin but have bounced back well to win the next two games. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur has played a crucial role in both wins. Now, MI-W will be in action as they take on UP Warriorz Women on January 15. This contest will start at 7:30 PM IST in Navi Mumbai. MI-W are placed second on the table, and they will move to the top with a win here. UPW-W have lost three consecutive games and are one defeat away from getting eliminated. MI-W vs UPW-W: Match Details Date : January 15, 2026 (Thursday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai MI-W vs UPW-W Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the live action of the MIW vs UPW on the Star Sports Networks. Fans can also watch the game on the live stream on the Jio Hotstar app or website. MI-W vs UPW-W: Head-to-Head in WPL Total Matches : 7 UP Warriorz Women : 2 Mumbai Indians Women : 5 No-Result : 0 MI-W vs UPW-W: Ground Pitch Report All the games played at this venue have been high-scoring. The average score this season has been around 170-175. The wicket is flat, and batters have enjoyed their time here. The toss will be important as there will be dew in the second innings. MI-W vs UPW-W: Possible XIs UP Warriorz Women : Meg Lanning (c), Harleen Deol, Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Navgire, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sehrawat (wk), Chloe Tryon, Sophie Ecclestone, Shikha Pandey, Asha Sobhana Joy, Kranti Gaud Mumbai Indians Women : Gunalan Kamalini (wk), Hayley Matthews, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Amelia Kerr, Sajeevan Sajana, Nicola Carey, Amanjot Kaur, Poonam Khemnar, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti Gupta, Triveni Vasistha MI-W vs UPW-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Meg Lanning scored a crucial fifty in the last game and is in good form. For MI-W, captain Harmanpreet Kaur has scored two half-centuries and will look to play another important game here. Probable Best Bowler Amelia Kerr has struggled with the bat, but her bowling form is brilliant, and she has taken the most wickets for her team. For UPW-W, Deepti Sharma is the key; with her experience, she is very important for UPW-W. Today Match Prediction : Mumbai Indians have been in great form and have players doing well for them. Hence we predict MI-W to win this game on Thursday. MI-W vs UPW-W Match 8, WPL 2026, Today Match MI-W vs UPW-W, MI-W vs UPW-W Prediction, MI-W vs UPW-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update of the match between Mumbai Indians Women vs UP Warriorz Women 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.
Coles shines with bat and ball to secure Sunrisers' playoff qualification
De Kock, Muthusamy and the seamers also contributed to their victory over JSK
Amidst T20 WC Impasse, Bangladesh Players Threaten Boycott After Board Directors Remarks
Amidst T20 World Cup: Amidst the impasse around the venues of their T20 World Cup games, Bangladeshs cricketers have threatened to boycott Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) matches in protest against comments made by a senior board official. The Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) said the remarks by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Finance Committee chairman M. Nazmul Islam were unacceptable and undermined players dignity. Islam had earlier described former captain Tamim Iqbal as an Indian agent after the former Bangladesh skipper suggested dialogue with the ICC and BCCI over the T20 World Cup venue row. On Wednesday, Islam told reporters the board would not lose much if Bangladesh did not feature in the T20 World Cup, for which they are unwilling to travel to India. The board has no profit or loss here. Whether Bangladesh plays here or not, there is no profit or loss for the board at least for this World Cup, he said. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) released a statement on Wednesday evening, saying that Islam's comments do not align with their values. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wishes to address recent comments made by a member of the Board that have generated concern. The Board expresses its sincere regret for remarks that may be deemed inappropriate, offensive, or hurtful. Such comments do not reflect the values, principles, or official position of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, nor do they align with the standards of conduct expected from individuals entrusted with the responsibility of serving Bangladesh cricket. The BCB reiterates that it does not endorse or take responsibility for any statement or remark made by any director or Board member unless issued formally through the Boards designated spokesperson or the Media & Communications Department. Any statements made outside these authorised channels are personal in nature and should not be interpreted as representing the views or policies of the Board, it said. The BCB also warned that it would take appropriate disciplinary action. The Bangladesh Cricket Board also makes it clear that it will take appropriate disciplinary action against any individual whose conduct or comments show disrespect towards cricketers or cause harm to the reputation and integrity of Bangladesh cricket. The BCB reiterates that it does not endorse or take responsibility for any statement or remark made by any director or Board member unless issued formally through the Boards designated spokesperson or the Media & Communications Department. Any statements made outside these authorised channels are personal in nature and should not be interpreted as representing the views or policies of the Board, it said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The BCB remains committed to protecting the interests, dignity, and well-being of its players and to upholding professionalism, accountability, and mutual respect across all levels of the game, it said. Article Source: IANS
WPL 2026: UP Skipper Lanning Praises Bowlers For Pulling Game Till Last Over
DY Patil Stadium: Skipper Meg Lanning praised her bowlers for dragging the contest down to the final delivery after Delhi Capitals survived a last-ball thriller to beat UP Warriorz by seven wickets in Navi Mumbai. Lizelle Lees (67) commanding strokeplay, backed by Shafali Vermas (36) all-round impact, laid the foundation for Delhi Capitals first win under captain Jemimah Rodrigues, as they survived another last-over scare. Lanning acknowledged Delhi Capitals smart use of slower balls while lauding her teams fight until the very end. I thought it was an excellent effort from our bowlers to pull it back and take the game right down to the final ball. It definitely became harder to bat first, especially once the pace was taken off the ball. That was something we learned from how the Delhi Capitals bowled, and I thought they executed that plan extremely well. We always felt we were in the game if we could bowl well, and the team deserves a lot of credit for fighting it out until the very end, said UP Warriorz captain Meg Lanning. Lanning had lost the toss and led her team best with 54 runs while Harleen Deol scored 47 runs off 36 balls. The UP captain was pleased to contribute runs at the top but admitted she would have liked to bat longer, expressing hope of building on the innings in the matches to come. It was nice personally to get a few runs and contribute. I wouldve liked to keep going a bit longer, but it always feels good to put something on the board for the team. Hopefully, there are a few more of those to come. UP Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar made a mistake by retiring Deol after the 17th over of the game. That decision ultimately backfired spectacularly, as UP leapt into a massive collapse after that point and did not have strong enough momentum to generate enough runs to be competitive. Lanning explained the tactical thinking behind Deols retirement, stating the decision was aimed at maximising the death overs and, while it did not work on the night, remained one she stood by in the teams best interests. On Deols retirement, there was definitely a method behind that decision. With the death overs coming up, we felt we needed to maximise that phase. Deol batted extremely well, but it was getting tougher out there, and we felt she had got a little stuck towards the end - something I experienced as well. These decisions are always about whats best for the team. I stand by it - it didnt work today, but sometimes it does, and sometimes it doesnt. She clarified that Dottins absence was a purely tactical call, made to suit specific match-ups, and felt Chloe Tryon fulfilled her role effectively in her first WPL appearance. Deandra Dottin's absence was purely a tactical call. We felt Chloe Tryon was a good match-up against one of Delhis batters, and I thought she did her role really well in her first game of the WPL. That was the balance we felt suited this game best. She clarified that Dottins absence was a purely tactical call, made to suit specific match-ups, and felt Chloe Tryon fulfilled her role effectively in her first WPL appearance. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Theres not much time to dwell on this with another game coming up quickly, and thats probably a good thing. There are plenty of positives to take from tonight, along with areas we know we need to improve. Well take confidence from how we finished the game and look forward to tomorrow against the Mumbai Indians, who have some world-class players. Were really excited for that challenge. Article Source: IANS
Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee hand Delhi Capitals first win in thriller
UP Warriorz meanwhile were consigned to their third straight loss this season
Mens T20 WC: Demand For India V Pakistan Clash Crashes Ticketing Platform In Second Phase Of Sales
T20 World Cup: The second phase of ticket sales for the 2026 ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026 opened on Wednesday, but overwhelming demand for the marquee IndiaPakistan fixture caused the ticketing platform to crash within minutes. The high-profile clash, to be held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15, is traditionally the most sought-after contest in the tournament calendar and was included in this round of ticket allocation. But within minutes of going live at 7 pm, the official ticketing agent of the ICC experienced a surge in traffic as users attempted to secure seats for the most sought-after fixture of the tournament. The volume of concurrent requests caused the platforms servers to crash. Though the ticketing agent later said that sales will restart again at 9 pm after users could not complete transactions due to temporary technical difficulties, the India-Pakistan game tickets are still not available for purchase, with a coming soon message being displayed. The 2026 ICC Mens T20 World Cup will return to the subcontinent for the first time since 2016, when the 10th edition of the tournament begins on February 7, with India facing the USA in Mumbai and Pakistan taking on the Netherlands in Colombo in the opening fixtures. Though the ticketing agent later said that sales will restart again at 9 pm after users could not complete transactions due to temporary technical difficulties, the India-Pakistan game tickets are still not available for purchase, with a coming soon message being displayed. Also Read: Live Cricket Score To prioritise fan access, the ICC has introduced record affordable ticket prices, starting at Rs 100 in India and LKR 1000 in Sri Lanka. India, co-hosts of the upcoming competition with Sri Lanka, will defend their crown on home soil after winning the previous edition in 2024, which was held in the USA and the West Indies. For Sri Lanka, it will be their second time hosting the tournament, having last staged it in 2012. Article Source: IANS
WPL 2026: Lee, Verma Shine As Wolvaardt Secures Victory In Last-over Thriller For Delhi Capitals
Dr DY Patil Stadium: Lizelle Lees commanding strokeplay, backed by Shafali Vermas all-round impact, laid the foundation for Delhi Capitals first win under captain Jemimah Rodrigues, as they survived another last-over scare to beat UP Warriorz by seven wickets in the seventh match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and open their account on the points table. Laura Wolvaardt's nerve-wracking finish proved ultimately calming, as she capped off the dramatic final ball of the chase with victory for Delhi. Delhis previous win came as a result of a disciplined bowling display this evening. Shafali Verma (2-11), Marizanne Kapp (2-14), and Shree Charani (1-29) performed exceptionally well in limiting UP Warriorz to just 154 for 8 runs. Meg Lanning, captain of Warriorz, had lost the toss, led her team best with 54 runs, while Harleen Deol scored 47 runs off 36 balls. Notably, UP Warriorz head coach Abhishek Nayar made a mistake by retiring Deol after the 17th over of the game. That decision ultimately backfired spectacularly, as UP leapt into a massive collapse after that point and did not have strong enough momentum to generate enough runs to be competitive. The Delhi Capitals came out firing in their chase of 155 runs. Both Lee and Verma wasted no time dismantling UP's new-ball bowlers and adding 94 runs in just over 11 overs before UP was left reeling. Verma scored a fast 36 off 32 balls, while hitting six fours, before Asha Shobana took her wicket in the 12th over after a fantastic catch by Deepti Sharma. Lee continued dominating the game, earning her half-century in just over 31 balls, but fell for an astonishing 67 off 44 balls after miscuing a delivery from Deepti Sharma to Kiran Navigire in the 15th over. Laura Wolvaardt took charge at No. 3, leading the chase with calmness. Jemimah Rodrigues added a quick 21 off 14 balls. With seven runs required from eight balls, Rodrigues tried to take on Deepti in the 19th over but ended up hitting a simple catch to Harleen Deol in the deep, pushing the game into another tense finish. Sophie Ecclestone had the final over to defend with six runs on the board. It started with a dot ball, followed by a full toss that Kapp sent to the boundary. Two dot ballsa yorker and a low full tosskept UP in the game, but a failed LBW review resulted in a leg bye that levelled the scores on the second-to-last delivery. With one run needed off the last ball and the field in tight, Wolvaardt remained composed and hit a drive through the covers for four. She finished unbeaten with 25 off 24 balls. The Capitals finally bounced back after another last-over scare, securing a confident seven-wicket win. Sophie Ecclestone had the final over to defend with six runs on the board. It started with a dot ball, followed by a full toss that Kapp sent to the boundary. Two dot ballsa yorker and a low full tosskept UP in the game, but a failed LBW review resulted in a leg bye that levelled the scores on the second-to-last delivery. Also Read: Live Cricket Score UP Warriorz 154/8 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 54, Harleen Deol 47; Shafali Verma 2/16, Marizanne Kapp 2-24) lost to Delhi Capitals 158/3 in 20 overs (Lizelle Lee 67, Shafali Verma 36; Deepti Sharma 2-26, Asha Sobhana 1-20) by seven wickets. Article Source: IANS
ACB limits Afghanistan players to three foreign leagues per year
This means that a sought-after T20 player like Rashid Khan could take financial hits
2nd ODI: Its Pretty Cool Anytime You Get A Chance To Play For New Zealand, Says Mitchell
Niranjan Shah Stadium: New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell said he relished the opportunity to play for his country and contribute to the sides seven-wicket win over India in the second ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, adding that the chance to play international cricket is always pretty cool. Player of the Match Mitchell hit a superb unbeaten 131 off 117 balls to guide New Zealand to a series-levelling seven-wicket victory over India, while sharing a commanding 162-run stand off 152 balls for the third wicket with Will Young, who hit 87. It's really nice to get the win. We haven't won here for a couple of years now. Nice for a younger group to see that you can challenge some of the best in the world. I'm just enjoying doing my job for my country. I love playing for New Zealand, and any time you get the chance, it's pretty cool. Youngy (Will Young), he's a class player, and I love batting with him. It was good fun out there. We had a bit of fun, but we also enjoyed getting the contest as well, Mitchell said in the post-match presentation ceremony. Having scored hundreds against India in losing causes previously, Mitchell ensured his knock carried New Zealand home this time, finishing with a flourish and striking the winning runs to close the chase with 15 balls remaining. His takedown of Kuldeep Yadav was impressive, thus becoming a crucial factor in New Zealands clinical win. I think he's one of the best bowlers in the world. He can turn it both ways. He's got amazing skills. For us, it's trying to read situations and adapt to different situations. We knew, with the balance of their bowling attack, that he's going to be a massive bowler for them. Trying to find ways to put pressure on him - I think he is one of the best in the world, and he's had a lot of success. That's my job as one of the senior batters on the side. Once you get in, you want to make the most of it and help us win games of cricket. So, it's always nice, he added. Young said the partnership with Mitchell was built on communication and timing. It was hugely satisfying, but more satisfying was to get the win and share that partnership with Daryl was great fun. We kept each other going; in the end, we did enough to create a platform to then finish it off, he said. On tackling Indias spinners, Young added, India have two great spinners, Jadeja as well, so the first challenge was against him, Daryl and I got into a bit of a flow, and the rate was around 7 when Kuldeep came on, so we thought there's an opportunity here to score and put some pressure back on them. We backed a few different shots within the partnership, but it came off, and that was pleasing. Young stated the chase was timed well and reflected on the broader significance of the win. We didn't know it was a record chase or anything. After scoring 300 in the first game, we actually thought 285 was a nice number. It gave us the chance to soak up pressure at different times and put it back on India at different times - and in the end, we managed to time the chase pretty well. You go through the different phases of a partnership - sometimes its hard to score, sometimes its slightly easier - but I think you have to be honest with your partner. If you communicate clearly what you want to do, sort of bounce ideas off each other, you normally come to a middle ground somewhere, and thats what Daryl and I managed to do, he said. Young stated the chase was timed well and reflected on the broader significance of the win. We didn't know it was a record chase or anything. After scoring 300 in the first game, we actually thought 285 was a nice number. It gave us the chance to soak up pressure at different times and put it back on India at different times - and in the end, we managed to time the chase pretty well. Also Read: Live Cricket Score If there are runs to my name at the end of it, then brilliant, but as I said before, the partnership with Daryl, which I really enjoyed, and it was nice to be playing in India. Obviously packed crowds, it is the home of cricket in a way, incredibly exciting to be a part of, he said. Article Source: IANS
2nd ODI: It Becomes Very Difficult If You Dont Pick Wickets In Middle Overs, Says Gill
Niranjan Shah Stadium: India captain Shubman Gill admitted his side failed to capitalise in the middle overs during their seven-wicket defeat to New Zealand in the second ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday, adding that things become very difficult if scalps dont come in that phase of the game. We couldn't pick up any wickets in the middle overs. With five fielders in, if you don't keep taking wickets in the middle overs, it becomes very difficult, even if we had added 15-20 more runs. And if you don't pick up wickets in the middle overs, it's very difficult to stop a target, Gill said in the post-match presentation ceremony. On a two-paced pitch, Indias score of 284/7 was built around KL Rahuls composed 112 not out off 92 balls, his eighth century in the format. But New Zealand completed the chase, thanks to Daryl Mitchells 131 not out. Mitchell also shared a commanding 162-run stand off 152 balls for the third wicket with Will Young, who hit 87. On these kinds of wickets, as soon as you have a partnership, the set batsman has to make it big because it's not easy for the batsman coming in to score freely. In the end, we did get a decent target on the board, and we bowled exceptionally well in the first 10 overs. And the kind of start that we got in the bowling, we were trying to squeeze them down, put them under pressure, but I think they batted really well in the middle overs, added Gill. He also acknowledged that batting conditions eased as the game progressed. In the first 10-15 overs that we bowled, the ball was doing a little bit. But I think after the 20-25 overs, the wicket may be settled in a little bit, but I think we could have been a little bit more brave while bowling in the middle overs. We could have taken a little bit more chances. Fielding errors also hurt Indias chances, added Gill. Even in the last match, we let down a couple of chances. It's one thing that we are always, especially with this team, we are always trying to get better at fielding. It's one aspect that we're always trying to get better at. And yes, if you don't take your chances, in this format, it always makes you lose, he concluded. New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell praised his team for putting in a complete performance on the field to get a series-levelling win. It is a complete performance from us, and I am proud of the team. We were very happy at the halfway point. We bowled very well. It was a typical Kiwi performance with the ball. Fielding errors also hurt Indias chances, added Gill. Even in the last match, we let down a couple of chances. It's one thing that we are always, especially with this team, we are always trying to get better at fielding. It's one aspect that we're always trying to get better at. And yes, if you don't take your chances, in this format, it always makes you lose, he concluded. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Asked about Mitchells plan to attack an off-colour Kuldeep Yadav, Bracewell said, The batters read the conditions really well. We pride ourselves on being adaptable and taking the game head-on. He (Jayden Lennox) bowled really well. It's never easy to make your debut in India. He bowled the tough overs. Article Source: IANS
2nd ODI: Mitchell Steals Rahuls Thunder As NZ Register Seven-wicket Win Over India (ld)
Niranjan Shah Stadium: Daryl Mitchells unbeaten 131 overshadowed KL Rahuls 112 not out as New Zealand registered a series-levelling seven-wicket victory over India in the second ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday. On a two-paced pitch, Indias score of 284/7 was built around KL Rahuls composed 112 not out off 92 balls, his eighth century in the format. Chasing 285, the visitors were reduced to 46/2, but Mitchell and Will Young rebuilt the innings with a commanding 162-run partnership off 152 balls for the third wicket. The pair kept the required rate in check, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries to blunt Indias attack on a pitch that eased out under lights after being two-paced. Though Young fell for 87 off 98 balls, laced with seven boundaries, Mitchell pressed on to his eighth ODI century in a knock laced with 11 fours and two sixes, with his dismantling of Kuldeep Yadav being a treat to watch. He also found good support in Glenn Phillips, who remained unbeaten on 32 off 25 balls. Having scored hundreds against India in losing causes previously, Mitchell ensured his knock carried New Zealand home this time, finishing with a flourish and striking the winning runs to close the chase with 15 balls remaining. India's new-ball attack threatened early dominance, as Mohammed Siraj and particularly Harshit Rana exploited seam movement to reduce New Zealand to 46 for 2 in the 13th over. While Devon Conways off-stump was sent on a walk by Rana for 16, Henry Nicholls tendency to pull proved his undoing against Prasidh Krishna, as he chopped onto his stumps for 10. Rana's uncomfortable lengths and extra bounce were troublesome, as Young survived the tough exam. However, he and Mitchell demonstrated exemplary composure to rebuild. The turning point came when Mitchell launched an assault on Kuldeep Yadav, depositing the spinner for a six and four in his opening over, as it set the tone for an off-day for him and Ravindra Jadeja, as the pitch flattened out with the cooling evening temperature. Young reached his first fifty in 12 ODI innings with an elegant punch through point off Krishna, before falling 14 runs short of what would have been a deserved century when he top-edged a pull to the deep off Kuldeep. India's fielding lapses compounded their troubles in the 36th over, Jadeja misfielded a on a reverse-sweep before missing a straightforward run-out opportunity with Mitchell stranded mid-pitch, while Krishna spilt a dolly at long-on off the same batsman. Phillips assured knock ensured there were no late hiccups as Mitchell fittingly sealed victory with an audacious ramp over the wicketkeeper, finishing flat on his back in a clinical triumph for New Zealand. The series now heads to Indore for what promises to be a tantalising series decider on Sunday. Previously, Indias openers overcame a testing new-ball spell from Kyle Jamieson to reach 57 for no loss at the end of the first powerplay. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli couldnt do much, Shubman Gill kept the scoreboard moving by raising a 47-ball half-century. But Jamieson's dismissal of Gill led to India slipping from 99/1 to 118/4 on a two-paced pitch. Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja rebuilt via a cautious 73-run stand for the fifth wicket before the former shifted gears to up the tempo and register his eighth ODI hundred, laced with 11 fours and a six. New Zealands decision to bowl first paid early dividends as Jamieson swung the new ball well to deliver consecutive maidens before Gill and Rohit hit 11 boundaries between themselves in the first 12 overs. But Rohit fell for 24 when he sliced a cross-seam delivery from Kristian Clarke to deep cover. Gill looked more fluent than his opening game knock in Vadodara and reached his 18th ODI fifty. But Jamieson returned to remove him, as Gill was unable to keep the pull down and was caught by mid-on for 56. It sparked a collapse that saw India lose Shreyas Iyer (chipped to mid-off) and Kohli (chopped on to his stumps) off Clarke. Rahul then steadied the innings with his beautiful drives, slices, and pulls, though he lost out on support from Ravindra Jadeja when Michael Bracewells sharp caught-and-bowled ended his stay at 27. With the pitch slowing and boundaries hard to come by, Rahul farmed the strike and accelerated after the second drinks break reaching his fifty through a lucky edge off Jamieson for four and even reverse-swept Bracewell for another boundary. Nitish Kumar Reddy added 20 before pulling to mid-wicket off Zak Foulkes, while debutant spinner Jayden Lennox claimed his first international wicket by having Harshit Rana hole out to long-on. With the pitch slowing and boundaries hard to come by, Rahul farmed the strike and accelerated after the second drinks break reaching his fifty through a lucky edge off Jamieson for four and even reverse-swept Bracewell for another boundary. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India 284/7 in 50 overs (KL Rahul 112 not out, Shubman Gill 56; Kristian Clarke 3-56, Michael Bracewell 1-34) lost to New Zealand 286/3 in 47.3 overs (Daryl Mitchell 131 not out, Will Young 87; Prasidh Krishna 1-49, Harshit Rana 1-52) by seven wickets Article Source: IANS
2nd ODI: Daryl Mitchells Superb 131 Not Out Takes NZ To Seven-wicket Win Over India
Niranjan Shah Stadium: Daryl Mitchell hit a superb unbeaten 131 off 117 balls to guide New Zealand to a series-levelling seven-wicket victory over India in the second ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday. Indias total of 284/7 was built around KL Rahuls composed 112 not out, his eighth century in the format. Chasing 285, the visitors were reduced to 46/2, but Mitchell and Will Young rebuilt with a commanding 162-run stand off 152 balls for the third wicket. The pair kept the required rate in check, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries to blunt Indias attack on a pitch that eased out under lights after being two-paced. Though Young fell for 87 off 98 balls, laced with seven boundaries, Mitchell pressed on to his eighth ODI century in a knock laced with 11 fours and two sixes, with his dismantling of Kuldeep Yadav being a treat to watch. He also found good support in Glenn Phillips, who remained unbeaten on 32 off 25 balls. Having scored hundreds against India in losing causes previously, Mitchell ensured his knock carried New Zealand home this time, finishing with a flourish and striking the winning runs to close the chase with 15 balls remaining. India's new-ball attack threatened early dominance, as Mohammed Siraj and particularly Harshit Rana exploited seam movement to reduce New Zealand to 46 for 2 in the 13th over. While Devon Conways off-stump was sent on a walk by Rana for 16, Henry Nicholls tendency to pull proved his undoing against Prasidh Krishna, as he chopped onto his stumps for 10. Rana's uncomfortable lengths and extra bounce were troublesome, as Young survived the tough exam. However, he and Mitchell demonstrated exemplary composure to rebuild. The turning point came when Mitchell launched an assault on Kuldeep Yadav, depositing the spinner for a six and four in his opening over, as it set the tone for an off-day for him and Ravindra Jadeja, as the pitch flattened out with the cooling evening temperature. Young reached his first fifty in 12 ODI innings with an elegant punch through point off Krishna, before falling 14 runs short of what would have been a deserved century when he top-edged a pull to the deep off Kuldeep. India's fielding lapses compounded their troubles in the 36th over, Jadeja misfielded a on a reverse-sweep before missing a straightforward run-out opportunity with Mitchell stranded mid-pitch, while Krishna spilt a dolly at long-on off the same batsman. Phillips assured knock ensured there were no late hiccups as Mitchell fittingly sealed victory with an audacious ramp over the wicketkeeper, finishing flat on his back in a clinical triumph for New Zealand. The series now heads to Indore for what promises to be a tantalising series decider on Sunday. India's fielding lapses compounded their troubles in the 36th over, Jadeja misfielded a on a reverse-sweep before missing a straightforward run-out opportunity with Mitchell stranded mid-pitch, while Krishna spilt a dolly at long-on off the same batsman. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India 284/7 in 50 overs (KL Rahul 112 not out, Shubman Gill 56; Kristian Clarke 3-56, Michael Bracewell 1-34) lost to New Zealand 286/3 in 47.3 overs (Daryl Mitchell 131 not out, Will Young 87; Prasidh Krishna 1-49, Harshit Rana 1-52) by seven wickets Article Source: IANS
Mitchell upstages Rahul as New Zealand level series
NZ ace chase of 285 to set up a series decider in high-scoring Indore
SACA extends breakthrough initiative into new women's coaching programme
New initiative builds on the success of men's programme which has helped set up 18 professional careers
WPL 2026: Meg Lanning Becomes Third Batter To Cross 1,000 Runs Mark
India Captain Harmanpreet Kaur: Former Australia cricketer and UP Warriorz captain Meg Lanning became the third cricketer in the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 to cross the 1,000-run mark in the tournament in the seventh match against Delhi Capitals at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Lanning is now part of an elite group with her landmark achievement, along with England's Nat Sciver-Brunt and India Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, as these three batters have been the definition of greatness in terms of consistency, impact, and success during the brief but amazing history of WPL (Women's Premier League). Lanning's total of runs (1,050) ranks her amongst the top scorers ever in WPL, with only Sciver-Brunt (1,101) above her and Harmanpreet (1,016) closely trailing behind. Australia's Ellyse Perry(972) and Shafali Verma (887) make up the top five, showing the level of play and talent WPL is becoming known for shortly after its inception. The 33-year-old Lanning, a right-handed batter and a right-handed medium pacer, achieved this milestone through three extremely successful years in charge of the Delhi Capitals (DC) from 2023 through 2025, where she led DC to a record of consistently finishing as runners-up each year. As an individual player, Lanning had an outstanding performance in the first season of WPL, which included 345 runs with a strike rate of 139.11, including two half-centuries, and was one of the major influences in setting up the success of her team, DC. Lanning's total of runs (1,050) ranks her amongst the top scorers ever in WPL, with only Sciver-Brunt (1,101) above her and Harmanpreet (1,016) closely trailing behind. Australia's Ellyse Perry(972) and Shafali Verma (887) make up the top five, showing the level of play and talent WPL is becoming known for shortly after its inception. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The WPL 2026 began on January 9 and will run till February 5, with the summit clash slated to be played at the BCA Stadium (Kotambi) in Vadodara. Article Source: IANS
Twenty20 World Cup: A cricket official from the United States has denied claims that four of their Pakistani-origin players have been denied a visa by India to travel to the country for the upcoming 2026 Twenty20 World Cup, saying the visa is delayed and not denied, a news report has claimed. USA pacer Ali Khan had claimed in a video clip on social media that four Pakistani-origin players, including him, Shayan Jahangir, Mohammad Mohsin, and Ehsan Adil, have been refused visas to travel to India for the Men's 2026 T20 World Cup to be jointly hosted with Sri Lanka from February 7, the Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) said in a report.. I clarify that the visa issue is being handled by the USA cricket association, which is being run by the International Cricket Council (ICC), and it was erroneously conveyed by one player that the visa was rejected, a USA official told www.telecomasia.net on condition of anonymity. As per the report, all four players whose visas have been 'delayed' were born in Pakistan but are now US citizens. However, under Indias visa rules, all Pakistan-born people have to apply for a visa on the passport of their country of birth. One player also named by Ali confirmed to www.telecomasia.net that visas are delayed and are in process, and not rejected. With India and Sri Lanka co-hosting the Twenty20 World Cup from February 7 to March 8, the visa issue is likely to raise headlines in the coming days. Around eight countries will be affected by this problem, as besides the US, players from the UAE, Oman, Nepal, Canada, England, Zimbabwe, and the Netherlands have players of Pakistani origin. Reports said this list could grow as Italy is also likely to have a player of Pakistani-origin. Sources in the ICC also confirmed to www.telecomasia.net that special directives have been sent to all Indian embassies and High Commissions to take the issue as a special case and accommodate the Pakistan-origin players. We have sent special directives to Indian embassies and hope there will be no issues with visas, said sources. The issues have haunted Pakistani-origin players in the past as well, with Zulfiqar brothers - Sikander and Saqib - denied a visa in 2019, while another player, Shiraz Ahmed visa delayed in the 2023 World Cup. Sources in the ICC also confirmed to www.telecomasia.net that special directives have been sent to all Indian embassies and High Commissions to take the issue as a special case and accommodate the Pakistan-origin players. We have sent special directives to Indian embassies and hope there will be no issues with visas, said sources. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sources in the International Cricket Council have said they are helping teams in acquiring visas, but the latest issue has increased their workload. Article Source: IANS
Mumbai Cricket Association To Introduce A Central Contracts System For Its Players
The Mumbai Cricket Association: The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) said on Wednesday that it will introduce a central contracts system for its players. The aim of introducing central contracts is to provide structured support and financial security for the players. The move comes four years after the association had agreed in principle to a graded contract system and referred it to the Cricket Improvement Committee for operational details, but the plan stalled until now. To ensure long-term player development and well-being, the Apex Council has approved central contracts for players, reinforcing its commitment to providing structured support and financial security to emerging talent, said the MCA Apex Council in its statement. MCA also said it will start a T20 scouting tournament, which will serve as a supply line to the Mumbai T20 league, as well as start an inter-collegiate tournament named after former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar. An Inter-College Tournament will be instituted in the name of Dilip Vengsarkar, celebrating excellence, leadership, and the enduring legacy of Mumbai cricket. The tournament will serve as a vital platform for nurturing young talent at the collegiate level. In keeping with the evolving demands of modern cricket, a T20 tournament will be conducted as a dedicated scouting platform for the T20 Mumbai League, creating a clear and merit-based pathway for young players to progress to elite competitive levels, added the MCA Apex Council. An Inter-College Tournament will be instituted in the name of Dilip Vengsarkar, celebrating excellence, leadership, and the enduring legacy of Mumbai cricket. The tournament will serve as a vital platform for nurturing young talent at the collegiate level. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Central contracts are a step towards empowering players with stability and confidence, while the T20 scouting tournament will ensure that Mumbai continues to identify and nurture talent suited for the future of the game, he said. Article Source: IANS
U19 World Cup: Armed With Maturity, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Aims To Shine At The Global Stage
Asia Cup Rising Stars T20: At 14, Vaibhav Sooyavanshi has already rewritten record books across formats. Now, as India prepares to launch its 2026 Mens U19 World Cup campaign against the USA at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, on Thursday, Sooryavanshi aims to shine at the biggest global stage in his cricketing career. The left-hander's resume reads like a career highlight reel compressed into mere months: a 38-ball century in IPL 2025 for Rajasthan Royals, the fastest 150 in men's List A cricket off 59 deliveries, and India's second-highest Youth ODI score of 171 off 95 balls. His 144 off 42 balls against the UAE in the Asia Cup Rising Stars T20 match added more weight to his glittering resume. But beyond the statistics lies a transformation that those closest to him say will prove decisive in the tournament ahead. Manish Ojha, who recognised Sooryavanshi's talent at age 10 and coaches him at Gennex Cricket Academy in Patna, a place 100 km away from his hometown Samastipur, sees him as a player who has evolved rapidly since his IPL breakthrough. I have seen a change in terms of his game sense. He used to be aggressive before, but not in the current way. After his IPL 2025 stint, his confidence has been very high, and he can hit very good balls over the boundary ropes. Right from the very first ball, he's putting the bowler under pressure, and if needed, he can take his time before going aggressive again. He now approaches the game from two to three dimensions and is very optimistic in his mindset like he's aggressive in T20s and 50-over games, while exhibiting patience in red-ball games. His maturity has increased, selection of shots against different kinds of balls has become better, and against which delivery he can hit it over the fence, that judgement has also honed, and even his sixes are going bigger and longer, Ojha told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Wednesday. The upcoming U19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Bulawayo presents conditions that could aid Sooryavanshi in playing his natural game, believes Ojha. It will be a very big plus point for Vaibhav to play on bouncy wickets in the World Cup, as he can adjust his game accordingly to the waist height bounce offered by those pitches. Wherever he's gone, whether it's in India, England, Australia, or South Africa, he's hit a century at least, and between this, his performance in IPL was outstanding. He plays a lot of horizontal bat shots like cut and pull, as well as the upper cut, the slash over cover, and point. He can pull over square leg, mid-wicket, and mid-on fences, while he can execute shots well against deliveries outside off-stump. So he has a good advantage when playing on bouncy wickets, he elaborated. Akash Raj, who made his Ranji Trophy debut for Bihar alongside Sooryavanshi against Mumbai in 2024, has witnessed the teenager's development from close quarters. When we were yet to make our debut in the Ranji Trophy, from that time to now, Vaibhav has been through a lot of changes. His mentality and confidence level are very good now. He backs his game very well. He was a kid when he entered the Bihar team and is still a kid now. But he has matured a lot. Now he sees things from his perspective and still thinks about the team, like how he can help out with his batting in the initial stages, and put pressure on the opposition after that phase is gone, and make things easy for his side. He manages his innings accordingly and plays with a clear plan, he said to IANS. The transformation extends beyond the boundary ropes, pointed out Raj. In off-field things, he's changed a lot. He is very serious about training now and more serious about his diet, like what to eat, and when the right time to sleep. I can see professionalism in every activity he approaches now. He knows how much weight to cut and the optimal calorie intake for him every day. He's going well with good planning around him, he said. For Raj, batting alongside Sooryavanshi offers a ringside view of his audacious strokeplay, as experienced by him when the teenager hit 190 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy clash against Arunachal Pradesh in Ranchi last month. The game becomes very easy for us when he is our batting partner. You get to enjoy seeing his batting from the non-striker's end. It is very good for us, as the pressure goes away, Raj said. Ojha's advice before Sooryavanshi left for captaining India in the Youth ODI tour in South Africa and the U19 World Cup was about the importance of staying at the crease for a long time. The little window we had for conversation before he left was about converting starts into big knocks and playing for as long as possible. It is advantageous for both Vaibhav and the Indian team, as when he plays for a long time, there isn't much pressure, and the run-rate is also high. That helps in the maximum utilisation of power-play and benefits the team in the long run. But when he gets out, all of a sudden the run-rate falls, as other batters can't keep up with the intensity and quick scoring Vaibhav does. In a way, Vaibhav is like the backbone of the team he safeguards them from the pressure of losing wickets in a heap and the scoring rate going down. It is advantageous for both Vaibhav and the Indian team, as when he plays for a long time, there isn't much pressure, and the run-rate is also high. That helps in the maximum utilisation of power-play and benefits the team in the long run. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Raj's parting message to his teammate was simple. I just wished him good luck, while the rest of the Bihar team gave him good wishes. I think Vaibhav will do well in the tournament. He has gone with the mindset that he has to win the World Cup, and he is well prepared to do that, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
WPL 2026: Delhi Capitals Elect To Bowl As UP Warriorz Bring In Tyron In Place Of Dottin
DY Patil Sports Academy: Delhi Capitals won the toss and elected to field against UP Warriorz in the seventh match of the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2026 at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai, on Wednesday. Warriorz have made one change in the playing eleven, with Chloe Tyron coming in for Deandra Dottin, while Delhi have fielded the same eleven as they did in the last match. Delhi Capitals captain Jemimah Rodrigues said, We are going to bowl first because we have seen the pitch gets slightly better with the dew coming in later. Any target is chaseable here. The way we played, we showed some character with both bat and ball. There were many positive moments and many learnings. Nandini is a youngster and a captain's delight. She is so accurate and has the guts to bowl any delivery. It is about keeping things simple, and the results will be our way. Same team. UP Warriorz's captain Meg Lanning said, With the toss, you almost have to reverse your hopes these days. We were actually quite happy as well, because throughout this tournament, teams batting second have done well. But no matter when you do it, you still have to execute properly. Were looking forward to the opportunity to come out and put the Delhi Capitals under some pressure early. Theres been a bit of progression at the top of the order from the first game to the second, and were going back to what we started the WPL with. That gives us a really good chance to take the bowlers on and allows players to operate in roles where theyre at their best. Thats what its all about. We know there are areas to improve from the last game, but weve had some really good discussions, and now its about going out there and doing it. As for team changes, theres one for us tonight - Chloe Tryon comes in for Deandra Dottin, she said. The January 14 and 15 WPL matches will be conducted behind closed doors and without spectators, due to the ongoing elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body for Mumbai, and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) in the state. Playing XIs: The January 14 and 15 WPL matches will be conducted behind closed doors and without spectators, due to the ongoing elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the civic body for Mumbai, and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) in the state. Also Read: Live Cricket Score UP Warriorz Women: Meg Lanning (c), Harleen Deol, Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Prabhu Navgire, Deepti Sharma, Shweta Sehrawat (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Kranti Gaud, Asha Shobana, Shikha Pandey, Chloe Lesleigh Tryon Article Source: IANS
Rahul Becomes First Indian Wicketkeeper To Hit A Century Against New Zealand In ODIs
Niranjan Shah Stadium: Indias dependable batter KL Rahul etched his name in the record books with a magnificent unbeaten century against New Zealand in the second match of the ongoing ODI series at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday, becoming the first Indian wicketkeeper to score a hundred against the Black Caps in the 50-over format. He is also the first Indian to score an ODI century in Rajkot. Rahul achieved the unique feat by sending Kyle Jamiesons full toss into the stands in the 49th over to bring up his eighth ODI century. The wicketkeeper-batter from Karnataka reached his hundred in just 87 balls. The Indian star remained unbeaten on 112 as he hammered 11 fours and one six against the Black Caps. Coming to bat at number five, Rahul started slowly with six dot balls. He finally got off the mark on the seventh ball. As his nerves settled, he lost the support of his partner Virat Kohli, who got out after scoring just 23 runs. In a tense situation, Rahul forged a 73-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, who later got out after scoring 27 runs. The 33-year-old then continued to steer Team Indias innings with support from Nitish Kumar Reddy at the other end. Rahul helped the team post a challenging score of 284/7 to the visitors to chase. Coming to bat at number five, Rahul started slowly with six dot balls. He finally got off the mark on the seventh ball. As his nerves settled, he lost the support of his partner Virat Kohli, who got out after scoring just 23 runs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Rahul recently played a fiery knock in the ODI series opener at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara. He finished the game in style by hitting two fours and a six in the 49th over to help India beat New Zealand by four wickets. Rahul scored 29 runs off just 21 balls, including two fours and a six. Article Source: IANS
Zaman Khan's stunning final over hands Brisbane Heat come-from-behind win
Hobart Hurricanes needed just six runs to win off as many balls in 161 chase, but fell three short
2nd ODI: KL Rahul's Magnificent 112 Not Out Carries India To 284/7 Against NZ
Niranjan Shah Stadium: Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul struck a magnificent unbeaten 112 off 92 balls as India posted 284/7 in the second ODI against New Zealand at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Wednesday. As to bat first by New Zealand skipper Michael Bracewell, Indias openers overcame a testing new-ball spell from Kyle Jamieson to reach 57 for no loss at the end of the first Power-play. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli couldnt do much, Shubman Gill kept the scoreboard moving by raising a 47-ball half-century. But Jamieson's dismissal of Gill led to India slipping from 99/1 to 118/4 on a two-paced pitch. Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja rebuilt via a cautious 73-run stand for the fifth wicket before the former shifted gears to up the tempo and register his eighth ODI hundred, laced with 11 fours and a six. His heroics ensured India posted a competitive total at a venue where all four previous ODIs have been won by sides batting first. New Zealands decision to bowl first paid early dividends as Jamieson swung the new ball well to deliver consecutive maidens before Gill and Rohit hit 11 boundaries between themselves in the first 12 overs. But Rohit fell for 24 when he sliced a cross-seam delivery from Kristian Clarke to deep cover. Gill looked more fluent than his opening game knock in Vadodara and reached his 18th ODI fifty in 47 balls. But Jamieson returned to remove him, as Gill was unable to keep the pull down and was caught by mid-on for 56. It sparked a collapse that saw India lose Shreyas Iyer (chipped to mid-off) and Kohli (chopped on to his stumps) off Clarke. Rahul then steadied the innings with his beautiful drives, slices, and pulls, though he lost out on support from Ravindra Jadeja when Michael Bracewells sharp caught-and-bowled ended his stay at 27. With the pitch slowing down and boundaries hard to come by, Rahul farmed the strike and accelerated after the second drinks break reaching his fifty through a lucky edge off Jamieson for four and even reverse-swept Bracewell for another boundary. Nitish Kumar Reddy added 20 before pulling to mid-wicket off Zak Foulkes, while debutant spinner Jayden Lennox claimed his first international wicket by having Harshit Rana hole out to long-on. But Rahul continued to hit boundaries at will and got his century by thumping a full toss from Jamieson over long-on for six, before collecting two boundaries from Foulkes lifted India past 280, leaving New Zealand with a stiff chase under lights. Nitish Kumar Reddy added 20 before pulling to mid-wicket off Zak Foulkes, while debutant spinner Jayden Lennox claimed his first international wicket by having Harshit Rana hole out to long-on. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India 284/7 in 50 overs (KL Rahul 112 not out, Shubman Gill 56; Kristian Clarke 3-56, Michael Bracewell 1-34) against New Zealand Article Source: IANS
Virat Kohli Becomes India's Highest Run-scorer Against New Zealand In ODIs
Niranjan Shah Stadium: Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli once again etched his name into the record books during the second One-day International (ODI) against New Zealand, becoming Indias highest run-getter in the format against the Black Caps. Kohli needed just one run in the second ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot to go past Sachin Tendulkar's tally of 1,750 runs. Kohli achieved the feat by scoring a power-packed boundary on his first ball of the innings against Kristian Clarke. Kohli has played 35 ODI matches against the Black Caps and scored 1,773 runs before getting dismissed for 23 in the 24th over, trying to release the pressure after a seven-over boundary drought in the ongoing match. Tendulkar, meanwhile, played 42 games against New Zealand in his 24-year-long career and scored 1,750 runs. The overall record for scoring the most runs in ODIs against New Zealand is held by former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting. He played 51 ODIs against the Black Caps from 1995 to 2011 and scored 1,971 runs in 50 innings. Kohli needs to score 198 more runs in the upcoming matches to go past that tally and take the No. 1 position. Kohli is in great form after registering two ducks on the Australia tour. He scored 93 runs in the ODI opener, during which Indias premier batter broke two major records. Kohli surpassed Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-getter of all time in international cricket, behind only the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, who continues to lead the list. Kohli is in great form after registering two ducks on the Australia tour. He scored 93 runs in the ODI opener, during which Indias premier batter broke two major records. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Kohli also completed 28,000 international runs in the first ODI, becoming the fastest cricketer to reach the milestone in just 624 innings. He achieved the feat 20 innings quicker than the previous record holder, Tendulkar, who reached the mark in 644 innings. Article Source: IANS
Ofner Forgets Tie-breaker Rules, Crashes Out Of Australian Open Qualifiers
Australian Open: Austrian tennis star Sebastian Ofner endured a dramatic and embarrassing exit from the Australian Open qualifiers after forgetting the final-set tie-break rules, celebrating prematurely against Nishesh Basavareddy before suffering a stunning defeat. Ofner seemed to be in complete command after taking a 6-1 lead in the deciding-set tie-break against Nishesh. When he extended the advantage to 7-1, the Austrian prematurely assumed the contest was over and began celebrating, walking towards the net and even thanking the fans. However, he forgot a crucial rule: final-set tie-breaks at the Australian Open are played to 10 points, not seven. The mistake affected him badly, and his stunned reaction was evident as he returned to the baseline to continue the match. After the interruption, the tide turned in Basavareddy's favour as he capitalised on the error, winning eight of the next nine points to turn the match around. The American eventually sealed a dramatic 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) victory, leaving Ofner shell-shocked by the abrupt turnaround. Basavareddy marked the win with a pointed celebration, briefly holding his hands to his neck in a choking gesture before pumping his fist in triumph. On the other side, Ofner could only shake hands with his head down as he realised his mistake had cost him an Australian Open spot. After the interruption, the tide turned in Basavareddy's favour as he capitalised on the error, winning eight of the next nine points to turn the match around. The American eventually sealed a dramatic 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (13-11) victory, leaving Ofner shell-shocked by the abrupt turnaround. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The tournament will feature men's world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, who will face stiff competition from 10-time champion Novak Djokovic and defending champion Jannik Sinner. In the womens draw, women's world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face competition from Grand Slam champions such as Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Naomi Osaka. Article Source: IANS
Pakistan call up uncapped Saira Jabeen and Humna Bilal for T20Is against SA
The tour also includes three ODIs, with Fatima Sana retaining the captaincy in both formats
Virat Kohli reclaims No. 1 ODI spot after 4 years, ousts Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli's sensational form in ODI cricket has propelled him back to the top spot in the ICC batting rankings for the first time since July 2021. Kohli, who scored a stroke-filled 93 off 91 balls to set up India's win in the opening match of the three-ODI series against New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday, replaced teammate Rohit Sharma to reclaim the throne.
Kohli displaces Rohit to rise to No. 1 in men's ODI batting rankings
Travis Head, Mitchell Starc and Steven Smith rose in the Test rankings after Australia's 4-1 Ashes win
Everything's Going To Plan: Hazlewood Expresses Confidence Ahead Of T20 WC 2026
T20 World Cup: Australias leading fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has provided an update on his recovery, aiming to return ahead of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026, which is scheduled to take place in the subcontinent starting February 7. Hazlewood, one of the key members of the Australian squad in recent years, has been under scrutiny because of injury concerns. The right-arm pacer was sidelined at the start of the Ashes series with a hamstring strain and later sustained an Achilles injury during his rehabilitation. He will miss the latter stages of the Big Bash League and the late January T20I series against Pakistan. However, he aims to return in a warm-up match ahead of the World Cup early next month. Hazlewood said the extended recovery period has helped him progress steadily, allowing him to resume light bowling and running while continuing his strength programme. Everything is going to plan. We took a few extra weeks once we could not make the Tests. I had a couple of bowls off the half run last week. Running is going well, all the strength stuff is going well, so yeah, on track, the fast bowler told ESPNcricinfo. Hazlewood was in prime form during the white-ball series against India in October last year. He took three wickets in three ODI matches, conceding just 72 runs across his spells. The Australian pacer also played in three T20 matches, conceding only 37 runs in 12 overs and taking three wickets. Everything is going to plan. We took a few extra weeks once we could not make the Tests. I had a couple of bowls off the half run last week. Running is going well, all the strength stuff is going well, so yeah, on track, the fast bowler told ESPNcricinfo. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Mitchell Marsh-led side has been placed in Group B alongside Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. They will play their group-stage matches in Sri Lanka, beginning their campaign against Ireland on February 11 in Colombo. Article Source: IANS
Kohli Dethrones Rohit To Reclaim Top Spot In ODI Rankings
The Black Caps: India batter Virat Kohli regained the No. 1 position, dethroning his teammate Rohit Sharma, who slipped to the No. 3 spot in the latest men's rankings, following India's four-wicket victory over New Zealand in the first ODI. Kohli's score of 93 off 91 balls helped the hosts complete the chase, bringing him closer to India legend Sachin Tendulkar and moving him into second place on the all-time mens international run-scoring list. He has been in excellent form since the 50-over series in Australia, scoring 74 not out, 135, 102, 65 not out, and 93 in his last five matches. The 37-year-old batting stalwart has returned to the top of the batting charts for the first time since July 2021, after his performance helped India chase down New Zealands 300-run target in Vadodara. Kohli first reached the top ranking in October 2013, marking his 11th stint at the top. To date, he has held the position for a total of 825 days, making it the 10th longest overall and the longest for any Indian. New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell moved up in the ODI rankings after scoring a powerful 84 off 71 in the first ODI, achieving his highest rating with only one point behind Kohli. The Black Caps player has been in impressive form, having held the No.1 spot, with three half-centuries in his last five ODIs and a century against the West Indies. Mitchell's teammate Devon Conway moved up three spots to reach 29th position as he maintains his run-scoring at the top. In the ODI bowlers ranking update, Mohammed Siraj's excellent performance helped him ascend five spots to reach 15th place, tying with Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Pacer Kyle Jamieson also benefited after achieving his career-best bowling performance, taking four wickets against India. This performance moved him up 27 spots to share the 69th position with India bowler Arshdeep Singh. Several Australian players improved their positions in the latest Test rankings after the conclusion of the Ashes series, with Travis Head climbing seven spots to reach third place after becoming the top scorer in the high-profile Test series against England, where he scored 629 runs with an average of 62.90, including three centuries. Other Test gainers include Jacob Bethell, who advanced 25 spots to share the 52nd position with Tom Blundell, thanks to his impressive maiden Test century in the final Ashes Test, and Michael Neser, who moved up seven spots to 47th following a strong performance in Sydney. Beau Webster experienced a rise in rankings across all three departments following an outstanding all-round performance in the Ashes finale. His batting ranking improved six places to 58th, his bowling ranking jumped 29 places to 80thalongside Justin Greavesand he climbed 22 places to 26th in the all-rounder rankings, where Simon Harmer is also listed. Wanindu Hasaranga's performance in the series-drawing T20I against Pakistan helped him move up three spots to second place in the latest T20I bowler rankings. Beau Webster experienced a rise in rankings across all three departments following an outstanding all-round performance in the Ashes finale. His batting ranking improved six places to 58th, his bowling ranking jumped 29 places to 80thalongside Justin Greavesand he climbed 22 places to 26th in the all-rounder rankings, where Simon Harmer is also listed. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In the all-rounders list, Saim Ayub dropped one position, allowing Zimbabwe's Sikandar Raza to reclaim the top spot in the latest rankings update. Article Source: IANS
Pakistan To Host Australia For 3 T20Is From Jan 29 Ahead Of T20 WC
PCB COO Sumair Ahmed Syed: Pakistan will host Australia for three T20Is from January 29 to February, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Wednesday, with the series slated to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Australias T20I squad will arrive in Lahore on Wednesday, 28 January. The series provides crucial game time for both sides ahead of the all-important ICC Mens T20I World Cup 2026. The tour marks a blockbuster beginning of the year for Pakistan Cricket fans, and I urge them to turn out in numbers during the series to support both the teams as they put final touches to their T20 World Cup preparations, PCB COO Sumair Ahmed Syed said. This will also be Australias third visit to Pakistan since March-April 2022, when they played a three-match Test and ODI series, followed by a solitary T20I. They also played three of their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 matches in the country. Australia secured a close three-wicket win in the only T20I they played at Gaddafi Stadium in 2022. Im sure the Gaddafi Stadium has become a familiar sight for the Australian cricket team, as they have played a Test, five ODIs and a T20I here since March 2022, he added. Pakistan are placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup alongside India, Namibia, the Netherlands and the United States. They will face the Netherlands in their opening fixture on February 7 in Colombo. Im sure the Gaddafi Stadium has become a familiar sight for the Australian cricket team, as they have played a Test, five ODIs and a T20I here since March 2022, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, Australia are placed in Group B along with co-hosts Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman. Article Source: IANS
Reddy and Lennox come in; New Zealand ask India to bat in Rajkot
Shubman Gill said he would have batted first anyway and that there wasn't much dew at the venue when they trained the night before
2nd ODI: Nitish Comes In For India As NZ Opt To Bowl First; Lennox Handed Debut
Nitish Kumar Reddy: India have brought in seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy as New Zealand won the toss and elected to bowl in the second ODI here at the Niranjan Shah Stadium on Wednesday. India are leading the three-match series 1-0, after winning the series opener in Vadodara. Nitish slots into the playing eleven after off-spin bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar was ruled out of the series due to a left rib injury and will be assessed by the BCCI medical team. We would actually have preferred to bat first, based on the last few games here. Even yesterday there wasnt much dew, and the players feel the surface tends to slow down as the innings goes on, so batting first looked the better option. Personally, I felt really good in the last game - the rhythm and fluency were there, and its always nice to contribute. Hopefully I can build on that and produce a big one today. The middle overs were crucial for us last time. They got off to a decent start, but the way we pulled things back especially with the fast bowlers picking up wickets in those overs made a big difference. Its not always easy in these conditions, but they mixed up their pace and variations really well, said India skipper Shubman Gill. New Zealand, meanwhile, have handed a debut to left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox, who replaces leg-spinner Adithya Ashok in the playing eleven. It looks like a really good surface, and hopefully the dew comes into play later in the evening, which should make things a bit nicer for batting under lights. The last game was a tight one and I was proud of how the boys fought right till the end. We gave ourselves a chance with a couple of late wickets, and today were looking to keep taking wickets through the middle and build that pressure. Weve got a lot of young players in this side, and playing in front of big crowds and all that noise is a great learning experience for them. Its different conditions for us here, especially with 40,000 people backing the home side, but its a challenge were really excited about, said New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell. Playing XIs Weve got a lot of young players in this side, and playing in front of big crowds and all that noise is a great learning experience for them. Its different conditions for us here, especially with 40,000 people backing the home side, but its a challenge were really excited about, said New Zealand captain Michael Bracewell. 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, Jayden Lennox, Kyle Jamieson, and Kristian Clarke Article Source: IANS
PCB puts Multan Sultans up for auction
The PSL is understood to have been buoyed by the high prices at which the two new teams, Hyderabad and Sialkot, were sold last week
Familiar Faces Return As Pakistan Name Women's Squads For South Africa White-ball Tour
Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre: The Pakistan Cricket Board announced the ODI and T20I squads for the womens team for the upcoming South Africa tour, which begins on February 10 in Potchefstroom. Fatima Sana will remain the captain in both formats as Pakistan prepares for the ICC Womens T20I World Cup 2026 in June. Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, and Tasmia Rubab are included in both squads. Meanwhile, uncapped batter Saira Jabeen and right-arm fast bowler Humna Bilal have received their first T20I call-ups. Ayesha and Gull, the opening batters, along with left-arm pacer Tasmia and wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi, have been included in the 15-member ODI squad after not being selected for the ODI World Cup. Diana Baig, Najiha, Sadaf Shamas, and Syeda Aroob Shah are included in the 50-over squad, while Humna, Saira, Tuba Hassan, and Eyman Fatima are part of the T20I squad exclusively. The pre-series training camp will start on Sunday, February 1, at the Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre in Karachi. The T20I matches are scheduled to take place in Potchefstroom, Benoni, and Kimberley from February 10 to 16, with all games played as day-night fixtures. Pakistan's preparations for the ODI series will include a warm-up 50-over match at Kimberley, followed by three ODIs scheduled in Bloemfontein, Centurion, and Durban from February 22 to March 1. The second ODI is scheduled to start in the afternoon and will be played under lights. In contrast, the warm-up, first, and third ODIS will be day games. The Pakistan Womens team will be visiting South Africa again for a bilateral series, their first since January 2021, when they played a three-match ODI series in Durban. In February 2023, they participated in the ICC Womens T20 World Cup held in South Africa, playing matches in Cape Town and Paarl. T20I squad: Fatima Sana (c), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza (wk), Humna Bilal, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Sidra Amin, Tasmia Rubab, and Tuba Hassan T20I squad: Also Read: Live Cricket Score Fatima Sana (c), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali (wk), Najiha Alvi (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah and Tasmia Rubab Article Source: IANS
McGrath and Gardner lead race to replace Healy as Australia captain
Annabel Sutherland and Phoebe Litchfield are emerging leaders but it may be too soon for them
Keys Sets Adelaide QF With Mboko; Cristian Beats Kasatkina
Adelaide QF: Defending champion Madison Keys registered a 6-4, 6-1 win over Tereza Valentova to reach the Adelaide International quarter-finals for the second consecutive year on Wednesday. Keys overcame seven double faults and saved five break points to secure the first set in 49 minutes. Valentova pushed to stay in it, but Keys ripped a forehand return winner off the 18-year-olds second serve to break for a 2-0 lead in the second set. From there, she won four of the final five games to close out a hard-earned victory, according to WTA. Theyre just so young, and they have so much energy, and theyre so excited to be out here. And theyre just so good. So you definitely have to just expect them to play some really great tennis, and like I said, try to lean on experience in those big moments and just kind of hope that that gets you across the finish line, said Keys. Keys will face another teen sensation, Victoria Mboko, in their first meeting on the WTA Tour. The No. 8 seed Mboko saved two match points against Anna Kalinskaya to reach the second round of the Adelaide International in two hours and 22 minutes. Earlier, Jaqueline Cristian defeated Daria Kasatkina for the first time, with a second-set bagel. Cristian survived a chaotic first set before running away with a 6-4, 6-0 win in 1 hour and 31 minutes. This was Cristian's second straight-sets win of the week, following her upset of No. 4 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova in the first round. Earlier, Jaqueline Cristian defeated Daria Kasatkina for the first time, with a second-set bagel. Cristian survived a chaotic first set before running away with a 6-4, 6-0 win in 1 hour and 31 minutes. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Cristian and Birrell have split their two previous meetings, with the Romanian winning a dominant 6-0, 6-1 last year at Roland Garros. Article Source: IANS
WPL: Amanjot Feels Blessed To Witness 'the Harmanpreet Kaur Era'
DY Patil Stadium: Mumbai Indians all-rounder Amanjot Kaur praised her skipper Harmanpreet Kaur after the latters match-winning knock against the Gujarat Giants on Tuesday at the DY Patil Stadium as the two-time champions handed the Ashleigh Gardner-led side their first defeat of the season. Amanjot unleashed the beast within during the clash against GG, notched up a 26-ball 40, and contributed brilliantly during her teams chase before Harmanpreet finished off with an unbeaten 43-ball 71 and took her team over the finish line. The duo put on a 72-run stand and anchored Mumbais innings after G Kamalini and Hayley Matthews were sent packing in the powerplay. I am blessed. In fact, we are all blessed to witness the Harmanpreet Kaur era, Amanjot said about batting with Harmanpreet during the post-match press conference. As long as she is on the ground, nobody feels like switching off even for a second. Last year, she played a superb knock as well. You dont feel the pressure while batting with her. Although I havent batted a lot with Harman di, but I knew that because she was around, I didnt have to worry about boundaries because she would create them. I have learnt a lot of game awareness from here. She hit an inswinger over the covers, which was very difficult. When it hits the middle of her bat, you dont have to look, it is a six for sure, she added. On getting to bat at number three, she stated, Unfortunately, Nat had to miss out because she had food poisoning. I was asked if I wanted to bat at number three, and I said I was happy to bat wherever the team needed me to bat. When asked about her thoughts before going in to bat during a big chase, Amanjot stated, That depends on the situation. We were chasing a big and Kamalini got out early. With Hayley, the discussion was to capitalise on the powerplay. When Harry di (Harmanpreet) came in, we discussed me going after the bat balls. Since it was a big total, we planned that one of us would stay till the end, which she did and finished the game. The all-rounder has been playing a finishers role of late, and she credited the Mumbai Indians for helping her evolve in the role. MI has played a huge role in my role evolving. In domestic cricket, I would always play as an opener. I had never batted at number eight. God has been very kind to me. My debuts have been very good. This was my first World Cup as well. After injuries as well, my comebacks have been really good. It took me some time to get into this role. Before the WPLs, we would have these camps where the coaches would tell us where they see us and what they expect from us. That really helped us. I knew I would get 10-15 balls to face only and I would have to make an impact in that. MI has had a huge role for me, she said. MI has played a huge role in my role evolving. In domestic cricket, I would always play as an opener. I had never batted at number eight. God has been very kind to me. My debuts have been very good. This was my first World Cup as well. After injuries as well, my comebacks have been really good. It took me some time to get into this role. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We have both Shambin (Ismail) and Jhulu di (Jhulan Goswami), both stalwarts of the game. Also with Nat, Amelia and Hayley, we keep having discussions. You can never stop learning in cricket. You have to prove everyday why you are here and playing and not someone else. I am working on my bowling, and I am trying to be consistent, Amanjot said of her bowling. Article Source: IANS
'Can't Say Anything Bad About Our Effort,' GG Coach Klinger Reflects On Dropped Catches Vs MI
After Sophie Devine: Gujarat Giants head coach Michael Klinger admitted his side paid a heavy price for repeated lapses in the field but stressed that the teams overall commitment and preparation remain strong despite defeat against Mumbai Indians. GG suffered their first loss of the WPL 2026 season, with an uncharacteristically untidy fielding display undoing much of the good work they had shown earlier in the tournament. MI skipper Harmanpreet was dropped on three occasions, and several misfields and overthrows compounded their problems, a stark contrast to the sharp standards they had set in their opening two matches. Reflecting on the performance, Klinger noted that the Giants were largely solid for most of the innings before things unravelled late on. We fielded really well in the first couple of games. And probably in the first 14-15 overs we fielded quite well and then all those dropped catches came in the back end in the last five-six overs, Klinger said at the post-match press conference. He acknowledged how costly such mistakes can be against world-class batters, but he was careful not to question his players work ethic. It's difficult when you give a player as good as Harmanpreet three chances, but at the same time, the effort I can't say anything bad about our effort in the field and our work with training. They've been working extremely hard with our fielding coach Sarah Taylor and all the other coaches. So certainly no issue with the effort. It's difficult when you put good players down, catches down, and so it's something we'll keep working on. We've worked on our fielding really hard and we've had two good performances and probably one performance that's not quite at our best. Earlier, GG made a tactical adjustment to their batting order after all-rounder Anushka Sharma was ruled out with a hand injury sustained in the win over Delhi Capitals. With Anushka unavailable, Kanika Ahuja was promoted to No. 3, a significant change given that she had batted as low as No. 8 in the previous match and hadnt featured in the season opener. The decision proved inspired. After Sophie Devines early dismissal, Ahuja counterattacked with a fluent 35 off 18 deliveries, striking four boundaries and two sixes to inject momentum into the innings. Klinger explained the rationale for the move and praised Ahujas execution. We probably had a couple of options in that (No. 3) spot. Once we realised that Anushka was going to be unavailable for a game or two, and we felt Kanika had been training really well. (She's) another left-hander up the top who can play pace and spin well, and I thought she played brilliantly today, Klinger said. He added that clarity about her role had helped her play with freedom. We spoke to her about playing some strong shots, not trying to over-hit the ball, and I felt she did that really well, both to pace and spin, hitting through and over the field brilliantly. She started so well and still had about 19 (17.2) overs left to bat, and I think there's even a lot of upside there and she can get some even bigger scores for us if she gets that opportunity down the track. We spoke to her about playing some strong shots, not trying to over-hit the ball, and I felt she did that really well, both to pace and spin, hitting through and over the field brilliantly. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With Anushka unlikely to return until the Baroda leg begins on January 19, Ahuja is expected to continue in the role for GGs next outing as the Giants look to bounce back and tighten their fielding standards. Article Source: IANS
Hazlewood 'on track' to be part of Australia's T20 World Cup campaign
We're still working on implementing training a different way a little bit, Josh Hazlewood says of his path back to match fitness
Kokkinakis Withdraws From Adelaide International Due To Shoulder Injury
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis withdrew from the Adelaide International on Wednesday due to a right shoulder injury, handing his opponent Valentin Vacherot a walkover. As a result, the 2025 Shanghai champion, Vacherot, advances to the quarter-finals. The Monegasque player will next face either top seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Australian Rinky Hijikata. Davidovich Fokina will play Hijikata on Wednesday evening on centre court. Kokkinakis made his highly anticipated return to singles action on Monday evening, after nearly 12 months away following surgery to address a long-standing pectoral problem. The home favourite suffered a flare-up of his shoulder injury but defied the pain to secure a gallant victory in his first singles match in almost a year at the Adelaide International. In his first singles outing since January 15 last year, the South Australian played through pain to finish his comeback match, battling past Sebastian Korda in a final-set tie-break, but visibly struggled with his right shoulder throughout the match. It's tough. Obviously my right arm caused by serving has plagued me my whole career. There's a lot of what ifs, especially in my mind, if I wasn't struggling with that. I know little niggles are normal here and there, but I feel like kind of what I've gone through is a little bit out of the normal, Kokkinakis said after his match. It's tough mentally. I spent all year rehabbing, trying to get it right. I had a surgery. It was a slightly different pain to last year. I'll see how I wake up tomorrow. But, yeah, it's tough. It puts a dampener on the win for sure, he added. Last February, Kokkinakis had a donor Achilles tendon attached to his right pectoral muscle and shoulder. As the first tennis player to undergo such surgery, he made his competitive return in doubles with Nick Kyrgios last week at the Brisbane International. It's tough mentally. I spent all year rehabbing, trying to get it right. I had a surgery. It was a slightly different pain to last year. I'll see how I wake up tomorrow. But, yeah, it's tough. It puts a dampener on the win for sure, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Kokkinakis has a protected ranking that allows him to enter the Australian Open singles from January 18 and is also scheduled to play doubles with Kyrgios. However, his participation in the season's first major is now in serious doubt. Article Source: IANS
Klinger rues dropped chances after GG's defeat but lauds the effort
It's difficult when you give a player as good as Harmanpreet three chances, he said
R Hermann, Lawrence lift Paarl Royals to No. 2 after last-ball win
Their 106-run stand was the highest third-wicket partnership for Paarl Royals
UP Warriorz vs Delhi Capitals, Match 7, WPL 2026, Who will win today UPW-W vs DC-W match?
UPW-W vs DC-W, Match 7 , Cricket Tips :The WPL 2026 is all set to produce another thrilling game. Delhi Capitals and UP Warriorz will lock horns with each other on Wednesday. This contest will begin at 7:30 PM IST at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy. These two have had a poor start to this season. Both teams have similar starts. They have failed with the ball, and their batting has not been consistent. But with two defeats already under their belts, losing a third consecutive game can hurt their chances for qualification in the next round. So, both sides will put everything to get a win. UPW-W vs DC-W: Match Details Date : January 14, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai UPW-W vs DC-W Live Streaming Details To watch the UPW-W vs DC-W game on TV, fans can switch to the Star Sports Networks. Fans can either catch the live stream of the game on the Jio Hotstar app or website. UPW-W vs DC-W: Head-to-Head in WPL Total Matches : 6 UP Warriorz Women : 2 Delhi Capitals Women : 6 No-Result : 0 UPW-W vs DC-W: Ground Pitch Report As seen in the matches so far, it has been an excellent wicket to bat on. The wicket is flat, and it is a high-scoring venue. Batting conditions will be better in the second innings because of the dew. That is why both teams might look to bowl first. UPW-W vs DC-W: Possible XIs UP Warriorz Women : Meg Lanning (c), Kiran Navgire, Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Shweta Sehrawat (wk), Deepti Sharma, Deandra Dottin, Asha Sobhana, Sophie Ecclestone, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud Delhi Capitals Women : Jemimah Rodrigues (c), Shafali Verma, Lizelle Lee (wk), Laura Wolvaardt, Marizanne Kapp, Chinelle Henry, Niki Prasad, Sneh Rana, Minnu Mani, Nandani Sharma, Shree Charani UPW-W vs DC-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Phoebe Litchfield is among the top scorers this season, and UPW-W will hope that she can play another crucial knock here. For DC-W, Laura Wolvaardt showed that she is in good form and will be a key here. Probable Best Bowler Shikha Pandey has been the best bowler for UPW-W and is someone who can take wickets with the new ball. For DC-W, Nandini Sharma is the leading wicket-taker of this season and is bowling well at different stages of the game. Today Match Prediction : Both teams have struggled so far. DC-W have a strong batting unit, and they did well in the last game but failed to chase down the score. They have a better combination, and we predict DC-W to win this game. UPW-W vs DC-W Match 7, WPL 2026, Today Match UPW-W vs DC-W, UPW-W vs DC-W Prediction, UPW-W vs DC-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update of the match between UP Warriorz Women vs Delhi Capitals Women 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.
India vs New Zealand, 2nd ODI- Who will win today IND vs NZ match?
IND vs NZ, 2nd ODI , Cricket Tips :The first ODI between India and New Zealand ended in favor of the hosts as they registered a four-wicket win in Vadodara. That helped India get a 1-0 win as they move forward towards the second game. The contest will be held at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on January 14 at 1:30 pm IST. Virat Kohli played yet another important knock in a chase and scored 93 off 91 balls. Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer also made a great contribution with the bat. For New Zealand, there were several good performances, which helped the tourists to put India under pressure. Can they bring something to challenge India in the second game? IND vs NZ: Match Details Date : January 14, 2025 (Wednesday) Time : 1:30 PM IST Venue : Niranjan Shah Stadium, Khandheri, Rajkot IND vs NZ: Live Streaming Details The live action of the second ODI will be available on the Star Sports Networks. Fans can also catch the live stream on the Jio Hotstar app or website. IND vs NZ: Head-to-Head in ODI Total Matches : 121 India : 63 New Zealand : 50 No-result : 08 IND vs NZ: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in Rajkot is another batting paradise. It is a high-scoring venue, and batters will love their time at this venue. The average score here is 300+, and chasing is recommended because of the dew in the second innings. IND vs NZ: Possible XIs India : Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Shreyas Iyer, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Md. Siraj, Prasidh Krishna New Zealand : Devon Conway, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (c), Hay (wk), Zakary Foulkes, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Adithya Ashok IND vs NZ: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Virat Kohli showed his form in the first game, and he will be the one to watch out for for India. For New Zealand, Daryl Mitchell is the key, who has two centuries and two half-centuries in the last five ODI innings against India. Probable Best Bowler Kyle Jamieson used his experience and proved to be the best bowler in the first game. For India, Kuldeep Yadav is someone who is a wicket-taker in the middle overs. Today Match Prediction : India are the superior side of the two, and because of their experience, we predict India to win the second game. IND vs NZ Match 2nd ODI, Today Match IND vs NZ, IND vs NZ Prediction, IND vs NZ Predicted XIs, Injury Update of the match between India vs New Zealand Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
WPL 2026: Gujarat Giants Rue 'dropped Catches' After Big Loss To Mumbai Indians
DY Patil Stadium: Gujarat Giants captain Ashleigh Gardner rued missed chances in the field and dropped catches of est player in the world as Harmanpreet Kaur guided Mumbai Indians to a seven-wicket victory at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday. Chasing a daunting target of 193, the Mumbai Indians showed composure and firepower in equal measure, with Harmanpreet (73 not out) finishing the game in style to cap a dominant batting display from the Kaurs Amanjot (40) and Harmanpreet. Harmanpreet, who enjoyed three lives during her innings, went on to register her fifth half-century against the Giants and became only the second player in WPL history, after Nat Sciver-Brunt, to cross the 1000-run mark. Nicola Carey then provided the finishing touches with a fluent unbeaten 38 off 23 balls, laced with six boundaries. Harmanpreet sealed the chase with the winning boundary in the final over, finishing on a superb 71 off 43 deliveries, which included seven fours and two sixes. Yeah, we did. It's a cliche, but catches win you matches. We pride ourselves on how we fielded. And tonight, you can't drop the best players in the world. We have played three close games so far and are disappointed to finish on the losing side, said Ashleigh Gardner, Gujarat Giants Women captain. The Giants captain was candid about her tactical choices, acknowledging Harmanpreet Kaurs dominance against her and reflecting that she could have used herself more with the ball despite having multiple bowling options. I don't have a good match-up over Harmanpreet. She has a wood over me. I thought I under-utilised myself when I'm the captain, and it happens when you have eight bowling options. In hindsight, I was the best option. I can say that standing here. But I could have bowled more overs. But I wasn't a good match against her. Gardner highlighted the Giants middle-order firepower, praising Georgia Wareham and others for consistently delivering at the back end and backing 193 as a total that should have been enough to win. We have a lot of firepower in the middle. Wareham, we have seen what she's been able to do at the back end. It's a pleasing thing to see them do their thing. 193 is a winning target. Gardner highlighted the Giants middle-order firepower, praising Georgia Wareham and others for consistently delivering at the back end and backing 193 as a total that should have been enough to win. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I guess after our batting innings, I walked towards her and said that it was a team play. We needed to find the boundaries, and we wanted someone to run between the wickets well and clear the ropes. It will be disappointing for her. But I think we finished the innings well. Article Source: IANS
CM Yadav Inaugurates Khelo MP Youth Games In Bhopal
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday inaugurated the Khelo MP Youth Games at the Water Sports Academy, Boat Club on Upper Lake in Bhopal. The 19-day event, described as the states own Olympics, will feature competitions in 28 sports disciplines and conclude on January 31. The opening ceremony featured a water projection, a laser show, fireworks, and cultural performances. Addressing the gathering of ministers, MLAs, BJP leaders and government officials, Yadav said the Games reflect the changing times in Madhya Pradesh. The slogan MP Ki Jai will remind us of the glorious history of Madhya Pradesh. Our state is becoming a sports hub. The government is committed to provide all possible help to sportspersons, he said. Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Vishwas Sarang said the Games are being organised for the first time in the country through joint coordination between the Sports Department and recognised sports federations. He added that traditional Indian games such as pittu and tug-of-war will be included alongside mainstream sports like cricket. The prize money has been fixed at Rs 31,000 for first place, Rs 21,000 for second place, and Rs 11,000 for third place. Competitions will be held at both district and state levels. At the district level, athletes from 313 development blocks will participate. In contrast, at the state level, teams from 10 divisions - Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Sagar, Rewa, Chambal, Narmadapuram and Shahdol - will compete. Separate venues have been designated for different sports: Bhopal: Athletics, Fencing, Boxing, Mens Cricket, Rowing, Kayaking/Canoeing, Swimming, Shooting, Mens Hockey, Throw Ball Indore: Basketball, Weightlifting, Table Tennis, Tennis, Swimming Gwalior: Womens Cricket, Womens Hockey, Badminton, Pittu Ujjain: Mallakhamb, Yogasana, Kabaddi, Tug of War, Wrestling Jabalpur: Kho-Kho, Archery Rewa: Football Narmadapuram: Chess, Taekwondo Sagar: Judo Narmadapuram: Chess, Taekwondo Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Khelo MP Youth Games mark the first state-level initiative of its kind, combining modern and traditional disciplines to engage youth across the state of Madhya Pradesh. Article Source: IANS
