WPL 2026: DC Will Win Title, Mandhana Might Win Orange Cap, Says Chopra

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Former India opener Aakash Chopra has tipped Delhi Capitals (DC) to clinch the 2026 Womens Premier League (WPL) and suggested Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana could emerge as the tournaments leading runscorer. DC are three-time runners-up in the WPL and are eyeing to break their title jinx under new skipper Jemimah Rodrigues. I think Delhi Capitals will win, this time around. They have put together a very good squad and they have reached the finals all three times. Let them win it once, said Chopra on JioStar. He also felt that apart from Smriti, her opening partner Shafali Verma could be an orange cap contender. I think it could be RCB captain, Smriti Mandhana, to score the most number of runs this WPL season. Smriti Mandhana might be the frontrunner in the race to win the Orange Cap and she might even win it. Alongside her, I feel, Shafali Verma, who will open for the Delhi Capitals, could be a strong contender as well. Chopra further felt both Deepti Sharma and Sree Charani can bag big awards in WPL 2026. I think Deepti Sharma can register a hat-trick of winning the Player of the Tournament award. The form she is in currently, she has been unstoppable and I also think that since she has started doing well in the WPL, there has been a significant improvement in her overall game. He also felt that apart from Smriti, her opening partner Shafali Verma could be an orange cap contender. I think it could be RCB captain, Smriti Mandhana, to score the most number of runs this WPL season. Smriti Mandhana might be the frontrunner in the race to win the Orange Cap and she might even win it. Alongside her, I feel, Shafali Verma, who will open for the Delhi Capitals, could be a strong contender as well. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Chopra signed off by saying who could win the MI-RCB opening game at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on January 9. I will go with Mumbai Indians for this clash. Obviously, very little to choose between the two sides, but Mumbai. Article Source: IANS

ICC Rankings: Brook Becomes No. 2 Test Batter, Starc Inches Closer To Bumrahs Top Spot

Melbourne Cricket Ground: Harry Brooks gritty effort at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has reshaped the Test Rankings, as the England batter moved three places to be ranked second in the latest ICC rankings, while Mitchell Starc edged closer to India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrahs top spot following a standout bowling display throughout the series. Brook, who scored a total of 59 runs in a low-scoring match, has moved to second position. The 26-year-old English star has surpassed the Australian pair of Smith and Travis Head, as well as Kiwi ace Kane Williamson, to grab the spot. He is now only behind his counterpart Joe Root, who stands tall at the top with 867 rating points. England fast bowler Joshua Tongue has also been rewarded in the rankings after a clinical performance in the fourth Test match of the ongoing Ashes, played at the MCG. Tongue, who turned the tide for England at the MCG with career-best performances of 5-45 and 2-44, has moved up 13 places to achieve 30th position. His fellow teammates Gus Atkinson, up four slots to 13th, and Brydon Carse, up six places to 23rd, have also progressed after Englands four-wicket win in the fourth Test. Australias poor display with the willow has hurt their batters ratings, but on the other hand, the bowlers have brought some good news, with the pair of Starc and Scott Boland achieving career-best rankings. Starc has surpassed Australia captain Pat Cummins, who missed the MCG Test, and is now tied at second spot with Pakistan spinner Noman Ali. The 35-year-old fast bowler is also closing in on Jasprit Bumrahs No. 1 crown, with a gap of just 36 rating points between the two. Scott Boland, who took five wickets in the fourth Ashes Test, has attained a career-high ranking. The Australian bowler has moved to seventh spot and crossed the 800 rating mark for the first time in his career. Starc has surpassed Australia captain Pat Cummins, who missed the MCG Test, and is now tied at second spot with Pakistan spinner Noman Ali. The 35-year-old fast bowler is also closing in on Jasprit Bumrahs No. 1 crown, with a gap of just 36 rating points between the two. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Both Starc and Brook will now eye the top position in their respective domains when the fifth and final game of the Ashes series begins on January 4. Article Source: IANS

Get An Amazing Feeling On Listening To Being Leading Wicket Taker In T20Is, Says Deepti

Greenfield International Stadium: Indias off-spin bowling all-rounder Deepti Sharma said listening that shes now the leading wickettaker in womens T20Is gives her an amazing feeling, and added that her focus remains on creating breakthroughs whenever she has the ball in hand. During the fifth T20I against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium, Deepti overtook Australias Megan Schutt to become the highest wickettaker in womens T20Is, by claiming her 152nd scalp in the form of dismissing Nilakshika Silva lbw. Deepti finished with figures of 1-28 as India defended 175 to clinch a 15run win and complete a 50 series sweep. Earlier this year, Deepti won the Player of the Tournament award in India winning the 2025 Womens ODI World Cup. Listening to the leading wicket taker in T20Is, I get an amazing feeling. I feel very good, but whenever I play a match and whenever I have the ball in my hand, I think about how much impact I can make with the ball and how much opportunities I can create for picking wickets against whatever opponent is playing. I always take it as a challenge and whenever I get the ball, I always think about how much breakthroughs I can give for the team, said Deepti in a video posted by the BCCI on their social media accounts on Wednesday. Seam-bowling all-rounder Arundhati Reddy also chipped in with all-round contributions making an unbeaten 27 while picking 1-16. Whatever I do, I want to create an impact, whether I bowl, bat or field. I'm always wanting the ball when I bowl. But I always wanted to bat - this was the first game that I got to bat. I was really happy and really excited for that opportunity because I've been working really hard on my batting. Of course with fielding, I've always been that player who's given her 100% on the field. So that's what I want to be, and that's what I want to continue doing that. I think for me, my hard work is something, and my passion and the fact that I never give up. You can push me to the wall and I'll still keep coming back and that's the kind of player that I've always been and I'll continue to be that till the time I play, she said. I was really happy and really excited for that opportunity because I've been working really hard on my batting. Of course with fielding, I've always been that player who's given her 100% on the field. So that's what I want to be, and that's what I want to continue doing that. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So I said, Harry di, when I take the wicket, should I come to you like this? So she said, yes, let's do it. I had planned for the third match, but I didn't get the wicket and that was left there. But I got the wicket in the fourth match and thats when the celebration was completed, she said. Article Source: IANS

Rashid Khan to lead Afghanistan at T20 World Cup 2026; Mujeeb, Farooqi back in squad

The same squad will play West Indies in three T20Is in UAE ahead of the big tournament in India and Sri Lanka

Vaughan Urges Khawaja To Retire On His Own Terms

The Sydney Morning Herald: Former England captain Michael Vaughan has backed Usman Khawaja to retire on his own terms after playing the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, which starts on January 4. Speculation has been rife about whether Khawajas 88th Test at the SCG against England will be his final game for Australia. Khawaja, who turned 39 during the third Ashes match in Adelaide, has looked assured since moving to the middle order. But with selectors under pressure to refresh an ageing Australian Test side, the Sydney fixture is widely viewed as a possible farewell for Khawaja. I would say to Usman, Dont let them decide. You decide your destiny. When someone has been playing for so long, weve just got to let them decide, Vaughan was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday. Usman has had an incredible career and not many get the chance to say goodbye on their own terms at their own venue. If he doesnt do that, he runs the risk of his career ending not on his own terms. I cant think of a better way to say goodbye than at his home ground in an Ashes series. If Uzzie has got the energy and capacity to really want to fight on, yeah, I could see that happening, but leaving in Sydney in an Ashes series sounds pretty good to me. The likes of Matt Renshaw, Nathan McSweeney, Campbell Kellaway and Ollie Peake, theyre the players weve got to get into the Australian side in the next year or so, he added. England head into the SCG Test under pressure to avoid a heavy defeat, with Vaughan adding that the result is likely to shape the future of the Brendon McCullumBen Stokes leadership combination. For the future and for this management in particular, they need to win a strong game of cricket here thats not a two-dayer. For this management to carry on, the likes of Ben and Baz Im pretty sure they will carry on but I think they need a good week for that to be absolutely rock solid. Theres a huge appetite within the group to keep (McCullum) on. But fundamentally, if they get pummelled in Sydney, there needs to be some honest conversations. England head into the SCG Test under pressure to avoid a heavy defeat, with Vaughan adding that the result is likely to shape the future of the Brendon McCullumBen Stokes leadership combination. For the future and for this management in particular, they need to win a strong game of cricket here thats not a two-dayer. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The key is maturity and thats the one thing that I think this team can be a lot better at, in terms of the way they play and talk. If they can accept that, I have no problem with the management staying the same, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

Gulbadin, Naveen Return As Afghanistan Name Rashid Khan-led T20 World Cup Squad

Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi: Afghanistan have announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in India and Sri Lanka, from February 7 to March 8. Led by Rashid Khan, the squad has been strengthened by the return of experienced all-rounder Gulbadin Naib and right-arm fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who is making his comeback after recovering from a shoulder injury. Left-handed middle-order batter Shahidullah Kamal and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq have retained their places, while young fast bowler Abdullah Ahmadzai has earned a spot in the main squad. Fazal Haq Farooqi, who missed the recent Bangladesh series and featured only in the final T20I against Zimbabwe, has also been named in the 15-player squad for both the West Indies series and the World Cup. Mujeeb Ur Rahmans inclusion is another highlight, resulting in AM Ghazanfar being named among the reserves alongside middle-order batter Ijaz Ahmadzai and emerging fast bowler Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi. Ahead of the global tournament, Afghanistan will take on the West Indies in a three-match T20I series scheduled from January 19 to 22 in the UAE, with the same squad selected for the series. ACB CEO Naseeb Khan stated, AfghanAtalan had a terrific run in the previous edition of the T20 World Cup. We cherish excellent memories from the past and hope for even better results this year, which will be played in Asian conditions. Hosting the West Indies team provides us with an incredible opportunity to fine-tune our combination and prepare adequately for the World Cup. Meanwhile, Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil, ACBs Chief Selector, added, We had good discussions over the past few days and finalised the squad. Gulbadin Naib is a big-match player, and his return boosts our team. We are also pleased to have Naveen Ul Haq back, which enhances the quality of our fast bowling. It was a tough decision to leave AM Ghazanfar out of the main squad, as his place made way for Mujeeb. Shahidullah Kamal performed well in the recent event and provides us with a valuable left-handed option, which is crucial in major tournaments. Afghanistan are placed in Pool D of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026, competing alongside New Zealand, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and Canada. They will play their first match against New Zealand on February 8 in Chennai. In the last 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan caught everyone's attention by qualifying for their first-ever semi-finals, where they lost to South Africa. Afghanistan squad: In the last 2024 T20 World Cup, Afghanistan caught everyone's attention by qualifying for their first-ever semi-finals, where they lost to South Africa. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai and Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi Article Source: IANS