Cricket

T20WC: Still conservative with bat, Pakistan spin in focus

Pakistan's preparation for the T20 World Cup has been a rollercoaster ride both on and off the field. Controversies such as 'handshake gate' with Team India during the Asia Cup or the government's boycott of group stage clash against defending champions India or poor performances of their superstar batter Babar Azam, known as the 'King' to the country's cricket die-hards, have kept Pakistan in the news for all the wrong reasons. But on the other hand, some recent encouraging results against Australia at home and performances by spinners/all-rounders have given them something to rejoice about and be positive about.

2026-02-06T14:22:36.444881+00:00 IST

Suryavanshi's coach Manish hails pupil's 175 in U19 WC final

Suryavanshi's 80-ball 175, decorated with 15 fours and 15 sixes, not only shattered records, but also powered India to a mountain-like target of 412 runs in the final of the U19 World Cup against England.

2026-02-06T14:18:20.847929+00:00 IST

BCA president, Bihar CM applaud Vaibhav's fearless knock

The 17-year-old left-handed batter produced a sensational performance in the finals of the Under-19 World Cup 2026 against England. He produced a sensational performance, hammering a breathtaking century. He completed his hundred in just 55 balls, making it the fastest century ever scored in an Under-19 World Cup final.

2026-02-06T12:56:12.352294+00:00 IST

Varun, Kuldeep's foxy spin key to India's T20 WC success at home

When Team India starts their campaign against the USA at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, all eyes will be on the pairing of Varun, who has looked absolutely unplayable and Kuldeep, who has made the most impact in the limited opportunities he has received. Both have proven to be excellent in conditions that assist spin even slightly and with their ability to craft a versatile over with their line-lengths, flights, dips and bounce, they have ability to bamboozle the world's best.

2026-02-06T12:53:11.131589+00:00 IST

Former cricketers praise Sooryavanshi’s 175 in U19 WC final

The 14-year-old destructive batter hammered the fastest 150 of the tournament to set the Indian team in the driving seat as they look to defend a big total of 411 runs in the title clash.

2026-02-06T12:51:55.516734+00:00 IST

"Definitely": Skipper Suryakumar on possibility of Ishan opening

The Sanju Samson-Ishan Kishan debate could finally be headed towards a solution. While Samson managed an awful 46 runs in five match series against New Zealand before the World Cup, Ishan outbatted him by a country mile in the series, scoring 215 runs in four innings at an average of 53.75 and a strike rate of almost 231 with a 42-ball century and a fifty. During the warm-up game against South Africa, he opened the innings, scoring a 20-ball 53 with two fours and seven sixes, indicating that the debate has seemingly finally shifted in Ishan's favour.

2026-02-06T12:33:06.539986+00:00 IST

Sooryavanshi’s big knock helps IND U19 set mammoth 412-run target

The 14-year-old Sooryavanshi targeted Alex Green in the next over and hit his first boundary. Green got the first breakthrough when he dismissed George for just nine runs in the fourth over of the innings.

2026-02-06T12:01:21.479239+00:00 IST

Abhishek Sharma enters T20 WC with all focus, expectations

From a young all-rounder who could tonk a few sixes, it has been quite a journey for the youngster from Punjab towards the number one T20I batter ranking. The last time he was at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, he produced a mesmerising 54-ball 135, India's highest T20I score, with seven fours and 13 sixes to announce his arrival as country's next sensation after a shaky start to his career. Now, going into the T20 World Cup, the expectations, lights, camera, and focus are on Abhishek, just as they used to be on legends Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in their days as T20I superstars.

2026-02-06T12:00:02.751251+00:00 IST

Rahane picks India to register T20WC's first score of 300 or more

Team India, unbeaten and unconquered under skipper Suryakumar Yadav and powered by 'SKYball', will be starting their title defence against the USA from Saturday at Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium. Having hit 359 sixes so far and having a second-best top-seven strike rate of 158.21, the expectations of touching the 300-run mark in the tournament's history for the first time ever rest on the Men in Blue. Abhishek Sharma and a red-hot Ishan Kishan's explosive starts could very well help them get to the mark on their day. India's highest T20I total is 297, against Bangladesh at home in 2024.

2026-02-06T11:46:30.027972+00:00 IST

"Losing an important player like Perry..": Mithali hails Mandhana

Following Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) second Women's Premier League (WPL) title win, former Indian captain Mithali Raj praised the franchise for clinching the trophy despite losing star all-rounder Ellyse Perry, crediting skipper Smriti Mandhana for keeping the team focused and composed throughout the season.

2026-02-06T11:39:28.328500+00:00 IST

Siraj likely to replace Harshit Rana in India's T20 WC squad

Rana has been ruled out of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 due to an injury, said sources. Harshit Rana was injured during Team India's T20 WC 2026 warm-up match against South Africa on Wednesday.

2026-02-06T11:24:04.048310+00:00 IST

T20 World Cup: Paul Stirling’s Ireland look to leave a mark

The 35-year-old Stirling, who holds the record for the most T20I appearances by any international cricketer with 161 matches, will once again spearhead Ireland's campaign as they look to build on recent performances and improve consistency on the global stage.

2026-02-06T11:07:51.194186+00:00 IST

"We saw very best of Smriti": Ex-NZ star hails RCB skipper

Skipper Smriti came in clutch during the record chase of 203. Despite the early wicket of Grace Harris, she and Georgia Voll posted a record-breaking partnership that helped RCB to their second WPL title and a historic double of holding the IPL and WPL titles at the same time.

2026-02-06T10:31:56.633516+00:00 IST

Suryavanshi goes berserk in U19 WC final, shatters record books

In the title clash against England, Vaibhav tortured the bowlers with his unreal hitting, smashing 175 in just 80 balls, with 15 fours and 15 sixes, and ran away with the runs at a strike rate of 218.75. This is the highest score in the final of the U19 WC final, outdoing former Indian U19 captain Unmukt Chand, who had hit 112* against Australia in 2012.

2026-02-06T10:19:28.406075+00:00 IST

Harshit Rana ruled out of T20 World Cup 2026: Sources

Team India all-rounder Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 due to an injury. Harshit Rana was injured during Team India's T20 WC 2026 warm-up match against South Africa on Wednesday.

2026-02-06T09:39:35.823087+00:00 IST

HPCA welcomes Supreme Court’s order to lift ban on Anurag Thakur

The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) has welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to lift the ban on Anurag Thakur, allowing him to participate in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) affairs again.

2026-02-06T08:45:13.631062+00:00 IST

Tiigers of Kolkata storm into the ISPL final

Tiigers of Kolkata produced a composed, all-round performance under knockout pressure to defeat Ahmedabad in Qualifier 2 and seal their place in the ISPL Final.

2026-02-06T08:23:42.933343+00:00 IST

“U-turn can happen anytime:” Pathan on Pakistan’s boycott

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said that Pakistan can make a "U-turn" any time regarding their decision to boycott their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 group-stage match against India, scheduled for February 15 at Colombo.

2026-02-06T07:58:15.355591+00:00 IST

India opt to bat first against England in U19 World Cup final

India Under-19 captain Ayush Mhatre won the toss and opted to bat first against England Under-19 in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 final on Friday at the Harare Sports Club, Harare.

2026-02-06T07:12:05.056161+00:00 IST

India Legends crowned Asian Legends Cup 2026 champions

India Legends were crowned champions of the inaugural Asian Legends Cup 2026 after defeating Bangladesh Legends in the final BCA Thailand Ground in Bangkok, delivering a composed and clinical performance to lift the title.

2026-02-06T06:39:17.191292+00:00 IST

Dinesh Karthik, Rajat Patidar, others congratulate RCB on WPL win

Indian cricket fraternity, including Dinesh Karthik, Yuzvendra Chahal, Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, Mithali Raj and others, alongside the former chief minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy, congratulated the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) women's team on clinching their second Women's Premier League (WPL) title on Thursday.

2026-02-06T06:20:45.347221+00:00 IST