Sports

New Delhi: Shubman Gill has been left out of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, despite serving as the team’s vice-captain in the format. The young opener, who currently captains India in ODIs and Tests, was widely considered a potential future T20 captain. However, after a series of disappointing performances post-Asia Cup, the selectors decided to drop him from the squad. Michael Clarke’s Take on Gill’s FutureMichael Clarke, former Australian World Cup-winning captain, believes that Gill could return to the Indian T20 team after the World Cup and potentially take over the captaincy. Speaking on the Beyond Cricket Podcast, Clarke said: "Shubman Gill is still very much in contention for leadership. I don’t think much has changed. The squad had to be finalized at a particular t...

New Delhi: Cricket in India is more than a sport—it is a religion, with fans revering their favorite players like deities. Recently, a social media selfie has taken cricket fans down memory lane, featuring some of the iconic members of India’s early 2000s squad. The viral photo showcases Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Ashish Nehra, and Ajit Agarkar together once again, evoking nostalgia for the “golden days” of Indian cricket. The selfie was posted by Bollywood actor Angad Bedi, who is the grandson of legendary spinner Bishan Singh Bedi. Sports anchor Gaurav Kapoor also appears in the picture. Bedi captioned the post “The Boys Club,” highlighting the camaraderie of the legendary players. A Glimpse of Team India’s Golden EraFans were instantly reminded of the Indian cricket team that ...

Vadodara: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 is currently underway in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara. Following the conclusion of the Navi Mumbai leg, the Vadodara leg of the tournament has now begun. RCB Players Spotted on Morning WalkRoyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Women are in sensational form this season under the captaincy of Smriti Mandhana. The team has won all five of their matches so far, accumulating 10 points and sitting at the top of the points table. Ahead of their next game against Delhi Capitals on January 24, some RCB players were spotted enjoying a morning walk in Vadodara. A video circulating on social media shows RCB players Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk, and Georgia Voll walking through the streets of Vadodara, accompanied by two security personnel. Star Performa...

New Delhi: The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) was initially scheduled to take place from March 26 to May 31. However, the official match schedule has yet to be released, as ongoing state assembly elections are affecting the planning process. BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla confirmed that the schedule will only be finalized once the Election Commission announces dates for the relevant states. This delay has raised the possibility that the IPL could be shifted slightly from its original timeframe. Here are the key updates in five points: 1. IPL set to start on March 26While the official schedule is still pending, the BCCI announced tentative dates last December. The tournament is expected to feature 84 matches, with the opening game likely to be between defendin...

Indore: A video circulating on social media shows Indian cricket star Rohit Sharma being approached by a fan who grabs his hand at a team hotel, creating a stir. The incident occurred during the third ODI between India and New Zealand in Indore. Woman Breaks Security to Seek HelpThe woman, identified as Sarita Sharma, reportedly breached the hotel security to reach Rohit Sharma as he was entering the premises. She held his hand and appealed for help, explaining that her daughter, Anika, is suffering from a severe illness. The treatment requires a specialized injection from the United States, costing approximately ₹9 crore. So far, she has raised ₹4.1 crore through small donation drives, but time is running out. Sarita also revealed that she attempted to meet both Rohit Sharma and Vir...

New Delhi: Daryl Mitchell has stunned Indian cricket fans by overtaking Virat Kohli to reclaim the No.1 position in the ICC ODI batting rankings. Mitchell’s rise was anticipated, as he was just one rating point behind Kohli last week. Mitchell Tops Kohli Just 7 Days After Virat’s ReturnMitchell’s stellar performance in India, including two centuries and a fifty in the three-match ODI series, has propelled him past Virat Kohli. Kohli had returned to the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings last week after 1,645 days, but Mitchell claimed the top spot just seven days later. The New Zealand star has now established a substantial lead over Kohli, ensuring he is likely to remain No.1 for a significant period. Meanwhile, Kohli retains a comfortable lead over third-ranked Afghanistan’s Ibrahim ...

Nagpur: The Indian cricket team is set to face New Zealand today in the first T20 match of the five-match series. All eyes will be on India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, who is poised to achieve a significant milestone. A Special Day for Suryakumar YadavSuryakumar Yadav will play his 100th T20 International today, becoming only the fourth Indian to reach this landmark, joining the ranks of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Hardik Pandya. While his captaincy has been exemplary, Yadav’s bat has been relatively quiet over the past year, making this match a particularly important opportunity for him to regain form. Yadav’s Recent StrugglesOnce a dynamic force on the field, Yadav scored only 218 runs in 19 innings last year, averaging 13.62 with a strike rate of 123.16—a surprising dip for a ...

Nagpur: The much-anticipated five-match T20 series between India and New Zealand begins today, with the first match set to be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. The stadium, which has a seating capacity of 45,000, is expected to be packed to the brim with cricket fans. The series also serves as a crucial trial ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, prompting both teams to give their all on the field. Fans can expect a thrilling contest, and with such a large crowd, Nagpur police have made extensive security arrangements to ensure smooth crowd management. AI-Powered Security Deployed for the First Time in IndiaFor the first time in the country, artificial intelligence (AI) is being deployed to enhance security and manage the crowd at a cricket stadium. According t...

A controversy erupted in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) when Delhi Capitals’ wicketkeeper-batter Lizelle Lee was given out stump out during the match against Mumbai Indians. Following the incident, Lee has been penalized by the league. Penalty Imposed on Lizelle LeeLizelle Lee has been fined 10% of her match fee and handed one demerit point for violating the code of conduct during the WPL match. The incident occurred when Delhi Capitals were chasing a target of 155 runs, and Lee was dismissed for 46 runs after a lengthy third-umpire review. Lee accepted a Level 1 offense, which relates to the misuse of cricket equipment during the match. A WPL statement clarified that, in the case of a Level 1 violation, the match referee’s decision is final and binding. Dispute Over the Stumpin...

Bollywood actor and sports entrepreneur Abhishek Bachchan has expanded his footprint in the world of sports by becoming a co-founder of the European T20 Premier League (ETPL), Europe’s first major franchise-based cricket league. Bachchan has expressed his desire to see Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli participate in the league in the future, though current BCCI regulations make such an entry impossible at present. The league was officially launched during an event in Sydney, with Abhishek Bachchan joining hands with Sourav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul, and Dheeraj Malhotra as co-founders. The ICC-recognised league is being seen as a major step towards expanding cricket’s footprint across Europe. Star Owners and Global Appeal The first three ETPL franchises have already been announced, w...