Sports

With just four group-stage matches remaining in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, the race for the playoffs is heating up. So far, only Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have secured a spot, leaving two playoff positions up for grabs among four teams. Playoff Format ExplainedThe WPL’s top-ranked team after the group stage earns a direct entry to the final. The second and third-placed teams face off in an eliminator match, with the winner advancing to the final. Therefore, finishing in the top three is crucial for all teams still in contention. Remaining Group Matches: Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Giants – January 27 RCB vs UP Warriors – January 29 Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Giants – January 30 Delhi Capitals vs UP Warriors – February 1 Team-by-Team Scenarios: Mum...

Scotland will replace Bangladesh in the 2026 T20 World Cup, with the full squad now officially announced. The team features an Afghanistan-born player making his debut, as well as a former New Zealand international. Scotland Gets a World Cup SpotScotland missed out on direct qualification after an underwhelming performance in the qualifiers. However, with Bangladesh excluded from the tournament, Scotland was granted a place based on their superior ranking among the non-qualifying teams. Leadership and Key PlayersRichie Berrington will captain the side, with 11 players from the 2024 World Cup squad retained. In the previous T20 World Cup held in the USA and West Indies, Scotland won two of their four matches but missed the Super 8 stage due to a poor net run rate. Tom Bruce, Finlay...

Karnataka have made a surprising decision to remove Mayank Agarwal as captain of their Ranji Trophy side mid-season. Ahead of their final league match against Punjab in Mohali, the captaincy has been handed over to young opener Devdutt Padikkal. Karnataka’s Ranji Season So FarKarnataka’s performance in the 2025-26 Ranji Trophy has been underwhelming. In Elite Group B, they have won only two out of six matches, while suffering a defeat against Madhya Pradesh. A win against Punjab is crucial for Karnataka to stay in contention for the knockout stage. Devdutt Padikkal Takes the ReinsPadikkal, 25, who plays for RCB in the IPL, has previously represented India in two Test matches. He impressed in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, helping Karnataka reach the semifinals. This match will mark his fir...

Italy created a sensational upset in T20 International cricket ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup by defeating Ireland. This marks Italy’s first-ever victory against a Test-playing nation in international cricket. Although Ireland won the three-match series 2-1, Italy’s win is a historic milestone for the team. Ireland Set a TargetBatting first in Dubai, Ireland posted a total of 154 runs. Captain Paul Stirling provided a strong start with 45 runs, but wickets fell regularly at the other end. Ross Adair managed only 6 runs, star batsman Harry Tector scored 13, and wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker failed to open his account. Benjamin Calitz contributed 22 and Mark Adair added 25 runs to take Ireland past the 150-run mark before being bowled out in 19.4 overs. Italy Chase Down in Thrilling Fini...

Mumbai’s final league match in the Ranji Trophy against Delhi will see the team without opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal. Despite not being part of India’s T20 World Cup squad, many expected Jaiswal to feature in the Ranji Trophy, but he has been excluded from the playing XI. Why Was Jaiswal Left Out?According to officials from the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), Jaiswal’s exclusion stems from his inconsistent communication with the selectors. An MCA official told PTI, “Before the selection meeting for the previous match against Hyderabad, he often did not respond. It appeared he was picking and choosing which matches to play.” The official added that attempts to contact Jaiswal before selecting the team for the Delhi match were unsuccessful. “As we did not receive any response, he...

As the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on February 7, cricket fans are eagerly anticipating outstanding individual performances that could help teams clinch victories and secure Player of the Match (POTM) awards. India will enter the tournament as the defending champions, aiming to become the first team to win three T20 World Cups on home soil. Virat Kohli Leads the PackAt the top of the all-time list for most POTM awards in T20 World Cup history is Indian batsman Virat Kohli. Between 2012 and 2024, Kohli played in 35 T20 World Cup matches and won the Player of the Match award 8 times, more than any other player. Second Place – Four Players with 5 Awards EachThe second spot is shared by four players, each winning the POTM award five times: Chris Gayle (West Indies) – 33 ma...

In a high-scoring thriller of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, Mumbai Indians defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 15 runs in the 16th match of the tournament, played at the BCA Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara. This marks RCB’s second consecutive loss, while Mumbai Indians’ win has made the points table more intriguing. Points Table UpdateDespite the defeat, RCB remain at the top of the points table with 10 points from 7 matches. Mumbai Indians move to second place with 6 points from 7 matches, aided by a superior net run rate. Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Giants are in third and fourth positions respectively, both with 6 points, separated only by net run rate. UP Warriors sit fifth with 4 points, keeping the knockout race highly competitive, with the top three teams yet to be ...

In a historic performance during the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt became the first player ever to score a century in the tournament. The feat came in the 16th match of the WPL, played on January 26 at the Kotambi Cricket Stadium in Vadodara, between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Sciver-Brunt, playing for Mumbai Indians, smashed an unbeaten 100 runs off just 57 balls, featuring 16 fours and one six, at a strike rate of 175.44. Until now, no player had reached a century in WPL history. Top Five Highest Individual Scores in WPL History: Nat Sciver-Brunt – 100* (Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2026) Georgia Voll – 99* (UP Warriors vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2025) Sophie Devine – 99 (Royal Challengers Bangalo...

Bihar showcased their supremacy in domestic cricket by defeating Manipur in a one-sided Ranji Trophy Plate final and securing promotion to the Elite Group. The match was held at the Moinul Haque Stadium in Patna from January 22 to 26. Bihar achieved a massive victory by 568 runs, demonstrating exceptional batting performances across both innings. Manipur Opt for Bowling FirstManipur won the toss and elected to bowl first. Bihar posted a formidable total of 522 runs in their first innings, with wicketkeeper-batsman Vipin Saurabh scoring 143 and captain Sakibul Gani contributing 108. Lower-order batsman Suraj Kashyap added an invaluable 83 runs at number ten. Manipur was bowled out for 264 in reply, giving Bihar a first-innings lead of 258 runs. Bihar Continue Their Dominance in Second...

In a meeting regarding the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to discuss whether the national team should participate in the tournament. However, following the meeting, Naqvi made a notable blunder. The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has already been surrounded by controversies even before it has begun. Bangladesh, citing security concerns after Mustafizur Rahman was released from the IPL, refused to travel to India. The ICC subsequently removed him from the World Cup squad and replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament. During the meeting on January 26, Mohsin Naqvi provided an update on Pakistan’s participation in the World Cup. In a tweet summarizing the discussion, Naqvi mistakenly referred...