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Ahmedabad: After India’s crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa in the Super-8 of the T20 World Cup 2026, captain Suryakumar Yadav broke his silence, acknowledging that early batting failures were the main reason behind the loss. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Yadav admitted that the team’s collapse in the powerplay overs set the tone for the defeat. “When you are chasing 180–185 runs, you cannot win the match in the powerplay, but you can certainly lose it. We lost too many wickets in the first six overs. After that, we couldn’t form the small partnerships we needed. This is part of the game. We will learn from it and come back stronger,” he said. Praise for Bowlers: Bumrah-Arshdeep Duo Despite the loss, Yadav showered praise on India’s bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumra...

Ahmedabad: India endured a crushing 76-run defeat against South Africa in their Super-8 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium, marking the largest margin of defeat by runs in T20 World Cup history for the team. Chasing a challenging target of 188, India’s batting lineup collapsed like a house of cards, with the entire team bowled out for just 111 runs. A Historic Low in T20 World Cup The previous worst T20 World Cup defeat for India was in 2010 against Australia, when they lost by 49 runs. South Africa’s 76-run triumph in 2026 has now surpassed that, dealing a severe blow to India’s confidence and significantly damaging the team’s net run rate (NRR) in the race for the semifinals. Other notable losses include a 47-run defeat to New Zealand in Nagpur in 2016. Second Biggest Loss in Ov...

Ahmedabad: Team India began the Super-8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 with a heavy defeat against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium. This loss ended India’s 1,200-day unbeaten streak in T20 World Cup matches, dating back to the 2022 semifinals. While the setback complicates India’s path, the team can still qualify for the semifinals. India Must Win Both Remaining Matches In the Super-8 group, each of the four teams plays three matches, and the top two teams advance to the semifinals. India’s remaining matches are against Zimbabwe and West Indies. To secure a semifinal berth, India must win both matches, ideally by a significant margin. A single loss will make the path extremely challenging. If India wins only one match, the team will have to rely on a strong net run rate...

Dhaka: In a landmark and stringent decision, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday imposed a lifetime ban on former national cricketer and ex-women’s team manager Manzurul Islam. The move comes following allegations of sexual harassment made by former women’s captain Jahanara Alam. Allegations Lead to Strict Action Jahanara Alam had accused Manzurul Islam of inappropriate behavior and sexual harassment during the 2022 Women’s World Cup. An independent inquiry committee appointed by the BCB conducted a thorough investigation into the matter. The committee’s report concluded that Manzurul Islam’s conduct was not only against professional standards but also fell under the category of sexual harassment. Based on these findings, the BCB has barred him from participating in any cric...

India suffered a heavy 76-run defeat against South Africa in their Super-8 opener of the T20 World Cup 2026. The match, played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, saw several Indian players fail under pressure, handing South Africa a dominant victory. Batting first on a challenging wicket, South Africa posted 187 runs. India’s response fell flat as the team was bowled out for just 111 runs. Here are the five key players who struggled in this crucial encounter: 1. Abhishek Sharma Abhishek Sharma, who had failed to open his account in the first three matches of the tournament, showed little improvement. Though he hit a boundary on the first ball, he struggled to find rhythm, scoring just 15 runs off 12 balls, including 8 dot balls. 2. Varun Chakravarthy India’s premier ...

New Delhi: Pakistan may have secured their place in the Super-8 stage of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, but questions surrounding former captain Babar Azam refuse to fade. The star batter’s prolonged lean patch has now become a central talking point — and even head coach Mike Hesson has publicly acknowledged concerns over his strike rate. Pakistan registered a commanding 100-plus run victory over Namibia in their final group-stage fixture, finishing with 199/3. However, Babar did not get a chance to bat and was not promoted at No. 4 either, raising further speculation about his role in the side. Hesson’s Candid Remark on Strike Rate Ahead of Pakistan’s Super-8 clash against New Zealand on February 21, Hesson addressed the media and spoke frankly about Babar’s performances. “Babar ...

Ahmedabad: As India prepare for their crucial Super-8 clash against South Africa in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, the biggest concern for the team management appears to be the alarming dip in form of young opener Abhishek Sharma. Once hailed as India’s “destructive missile” at the top of the order, Abhishek has endured a nightmare start to his World Cup campaign. The left-handed batter has been dismissed for three consecutive ducks in his debut T20 World Cup appearances. Despite retaining the No.1 spot in the ICC T20I batting rankings, his current form has sparked serious deliberations within the Indian camp. Strategic Shift in the Making? During Friday’s practice session at the Narendra Modi Stadium, subtle but significant hints suggested that the Indian think tank could be contemp...

New Delhi: Although Australia crashed out of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in the group stage, the team ended its campaign on a winning note with a dominant nine-wicket victory over Oman on February 20. The match proved historic for veteran leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who etched his name into the record books with a sensational performance. Australia had already been eliminated from the Super-8 race following defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. However, against Oman, they delivered a commanding display — powered largely by Zampa’s brilliance with the ball. Four-Wicket Haul and Player of the Match Zampa returned figures of 4 wickets for 21 runs in 3.2 overs, dismantling Oman’s batting lineup. For his match-winning spell, he was awarded the Player of the Match — a recognition that helped hi...

The 2026 ICC T20 World Cup has already witnessed 12 teams bowing out before the Super-8 stage. While team performances drew attention, several senior players also endured disappointing campaigns — raising serious questions about whether they will still be around for the 2028 edition. Here is a look at five cricketers whose chances of playing the next T20 World Cup appear slim. 1. Glenn Maxwell – Australia At 37, Glenn Maxwell is approaching the twilight of his international career. Once regarded as one of the most destructive T20 batters in the world, Maxwell struggled to make an impact in the 2026 tournament. Since the previous T20 World Cup, he has managed just one half-century in international T20 cricket. His off-spin bowling, once a valuable secondary option, has also lack...

Colombo: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has strongly defended Babar Azam’s role in the middle order despite continued criticism over the former captain’s strike rate in T20 cricket. The clarification comes ahead of Pakistan’s Super-8 fixture against New Zealand national cricket team at the R. Premadasa Stadium in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup. Babar, currently batting at No. 4, has faced scrutiny for maintaining a powerplay strike rate below 100 in the tournament. His approach has drawn debate among fans and analysts who question whether his tempo aligns with modern T20 demands. “The Team Needs Him in This Role” Addressing the media before the Super-8 stage begins, Hesson made it clear that Babar’s position in the lineup is strategic rather than incidental. “The team requires him...