Sports

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift their T20 World Cup matches out of India. However, ICC has declined the request, dealing a setback to Bangladesh. According to ICC, there is no significant security threat for the Bangladesh team in India. This independent assessment directly contradicts claims made by Asif Nazrul, advisor to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Sports, who had raised concerns that including Mustafizur Rahman in the squad could pose a security risk. Bangladesh is scheduled to play four league-stage matches in India. An ICC source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told PTI that their independent security report found no grounds to prevent Bangladesh from playing its matches in India. The source also clarified that...

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif has raised questions over the Indian team management’s decision to send Washington Sundar to bat despite being injured. The incident occurred during the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara on Sunday. Sundar had sustained an injury after bowling the first five overs, conceding 27 runs, and had left the field. Despite this, he returned to bat at number eight, facing just seven deliveries, and India went on to win the match by four wickets. Kaif drew parallels with the earlier instance of Shubman Gill, who, despite a high-stakes situation, was not sent to bat during a test match in Kolkata due to fitness concerns. Kaif questioned why similar precautionary measures were not taken in Sundar’s case, highlighting the risk to the player’s health. ...

India and New Zealand will face off in the second ODI of their three-match series on Wednesday, and Indian vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is on the verge of a remarkable milestone. Iyer needs just 34 runs to reach 3,000 ODI runs. Achieving this feat in the second match would make him the fastest Indian to reach 3,000 runs, surpassing legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. Current Indian Record Held by Shikhar DhawanThe record for reaching 3,000 ODI runs in the fewest innings by an Indian currently belongs to Shikhar Dhawan, who achieved it in 72 innings. Virat Kohli reached the mark in 75 innings. Iyer has so far scored 2,966 runs in 68 innings. If he scores the required 34 runs in Wednesday’s match, he will reach 3,000 runs in just 69 innings, breaking Dhawan’s rec...

India will face New Zealand in the second ODI at Rajkot on Wednesday, with a possible change in the playing XI. India had won the first ODI in Vadodara by four wickets, and a victory in Rajkot would give Shubman Gill-led team a commanding 2-0 series lead. Washington Sundar Out, Badoni to ReplaceAll-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the remaining two matches of the series due to a bowling injury sustained in the first ODI. In his absence, 26-year-old Ayush Badoni has been included in the squad and is likely to make his ODI debut on Wednesday. Last year, Sundar had batted at No. 5 during India’s home series against South Africa. In the first ODI against New Zealand, he was also expected to bat in the same position, but the injury led the team management to promote Ravindra J...

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has declined Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) request to move their T20 World Cup matches away from India, meaning the team will have to play their league-stage matches in the host country as scheduled. ICC Security Assessment Clears India as Safe VenueBangladesh had sought a change in venue, citing security concerns, particularly regarding star player Mustafizur Rahman. However, ICC’s independent security assessment found no specific threat to the team in India. The report rated the overall security level for the tournament as “low to moderate,” which is standard for major international sporting events. An ICC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told PTI that there was nothing in the security review to justify relocating Bangladesh’s...

Australian cricket legend Alyssa Healy has announced her retirement from all formats of international cricket. The iconic wicketkeeper-batter will play her final matches during the upcoming multi-format home series against India in February-March 2026. Farewell Series Against IndiaThe 35-year-old Healy, one of the most influential figures in women’s cricket, has chosen the lone Test against India at Perth’s WACA Ground as her final international appearance. She will not participate in this year’s T20 World Cup, stating that it is time for the Australian team to transition to a new leadership and nurture the next generation of talent. In her farewell message, Healy acknowledged that while her passion for the game remains, the moment to step aside has arrived. A Stellar CareerHealy’s c...

Royal Challengers Bangalore all-rounder Nadine de Klerk continues to make waves in the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL), delivering stellar performances with both bat and ball. Early Dominance in WPL 2026In RCB’s fifth match of the tournament, played at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai against UP Warriors, the team recorded a commanding nine-wicket victory. With this win, RCB has now won both of their matches in the league. De Klerk left her mark once again, taking 2 wickets for just 28 runs, adding to her growing tally. Eight Wickets in Three MatchesThe South African all-rounder has taken 8 wickets in her first three WPL matches. She claimed 4 wickets against Mumbai Indians and took 2 wickets on her RCB debut in the previous season. This performance places de Klerk second on the lis...

The Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 season has been a golden run for Karnataka and Royal Challengers Bangalore batter Devdutt Padikkal, who continues to score consistently in every match. In the quarter-final against Mumbai, Padikkal played another match-winning innings, helping Karnataka secure a 55-run victory via the VJD method. He was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 81, which included 11 boundaries. A Record-Breaking Season for PadikkalThe 25-year-old Padikkal has amassed 721 runs in 8 matches this season, becoming the first player in Vijay Hazare Trophy history to score over 700 runs in two separate seasons. In the 2025-26 season alone, he has scored 4 centuries and 2 half-centuries. While players like Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, N Jagadeesan, and Karun Nair have previo...

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) registered a sensational nine-wicket victory over UP Warriors in the 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL), thanks to an explosive display from Grace Harris and a composed captain’s innings from Smriti Mandhana. Harris’ record-equalling 32-run over and RCB’s clinical batting ensured the target of 144 was chased with ease. UP Warriors Struggle Early, Dottin-Sharma Partnership Rescues TotalBatting first after losing the toss, UP Warriors endured a disastrous start, losing five key wickets for just 50 runs. Captain Meg Lanning (14), Harleen Deol (11), and Kiran Navgire (5) were dismissed cheaply, putting the team under immense pressure. In a bid to stabilize the innings, Deepti Sharma and Deandra Dottin stitched together an unbeaten 93-run partnership for t...

The 2026 Women’s Premier League (WPL) witnessed a jaw-dropping display of power-hitting as Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) Grace Harris scored 32 runs off a single over bowled by West Indies all-rounder Deandra Dottin against UP Warriors. This spectacular feat equaled the record for the most expensive over in WPL history, adding yet another thrilling moment to the tournament. Sixth Over Turns Into a Run-FestThe record-breaking over came during RCB’s chase against UP Warriors at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Deandra Dottin, known for her bowling prowess, came on to bowl the sixth over. However, Harris unleashed a relentless assault, hitting boundaries and sixes at will. By the end of the over, 32 runs had been scored, placing Dottin among the bowlers who have conceded the most...