Sports

New Delhi: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has formally requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to reconsider the venue for its T20 World Cup matches in India, citing security concerns. The board has clarified that it is not in communication with the BCCI, stating that the event is under ICC jurisdiction. This development comes after Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was withdrawn from the IPL 2026 following protests over his participation, triggered by reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The BCB expressed that the safety of its players is the top priority as the T20 World Cup, hosted by India and Sri Lanka, approaches next month. BCB waits on ICC responseBCB President Aminul Islam told reporters on Monday that the board had convened two meetings wit...

Centurion: The Pretoria Capitals continued their disappointing run in the SA20 League, suffering a crushing 10-wicket loss to Sunrisers Eastern Cape in their fifth match of the season. The match, played at the SuperSport Park, Centurion, saw opener duo Quinton de Kock and Jonny Bairstow dominate with a sensational unbroken 177-run partnership, sealing the victory for Eastern Cape by the 15th over. With this win, Eastern Cape consolidated their position at the top of the table with 17 points, while Pretoria Capitals remain fifth, having managed only one win in five matches. The Capitals are coached by former India captain Saurav Ganguly. Capitals’ batting falters againAfter winning the toss, Pretoria Capitals chose to bat first. Conor Esterhuizen provided a solid start, but the team l...

Bengaluru: India’s cricketing superstar Virat Kohli will not feature in Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy clash against Railway. The announcement was confirmed by Delhi’s head coach Sarnadeep Singh. Kohli, making a domestic return in this premier Indian one-day tournament, had played two matches scoring 131 and 77 runs, showcasing his continued form. Earlier, it was expected that he would take the field against Railway, but now he will instead join the Indian national team for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11 in Vadodara. Sarnadeep Singh confirmed that pacer Harshit Rana and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will be available for selection in the Delhi side for this match. He said, “Virat is unavailable. Pant and Harshit will play tomorrow.” The Delhi &am...

New Delhi: One of cricket’s most iconic figures, Kapil Dev, turns 67 today. Born on January 6, 1959, in Chandigarh, Kapil Dev not only led India to its first Cricket World Cup victory but also transformed the way cricket was played and perceived in India. From Struggling Team to World ChampionsWhen India first entered the One-Day International (ODI) scene, the team was considered average. India won only one match in the first two World Cups. But in the 1983 World Cup, under Kapil Dev’s captaincy, India stunned the cricketing world. India’s campaign began with a shocking victory over the West Indies, the champions of the previous two tournaments. Wins against Australia and critical victories in the semifinals against England and the final again against West Indies cemented India’s place ...

Sydney: Australia’s explosive opener Travis Head continued his superb form in Test cricket, scoring a scintillating century in the final Ashes Test against England. On the third day at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Head reached his hundred in just 105 balls, dominating the English attack with precision and power. Head’s 12th Test CenturyHead had been unbeaten on 91 at stumps on Day 2, and came out with a composed start on Day 3. In the 40th over of Australia’s innings, a well-timed boundary took him past the three-figure mark. This was Head’s 12th Test century and his first at the SCG. Remarkably, he became the first Australian opener since Matthew Hayden in the 2002-03 Ashes to score three centuries in a single Ashes series, having already reached triple figures in Perth and Adelaid...

Cricket history is dotted with controversies, but few have rattled the game like the Monkeygate scandal during the Sydney Test between India and Australia, which concluded on January 6, 2008. The incident, triggered by sledging between India’s off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and Australia’s aggressive batsman Andrew Symonds, escalated to a level where the Indian team almost abandoned the tour. The situation became so critical that a New Zealand judge was called to oversee a fair hearing, and the BCCI had to send a senior lawyer to Australia. The Spark: Controversial Umpiring in SydneyIndia returned from a crushing 337-run defeat in the Boxing Day Test, and the New Year Sydney Test began on January 2. On the first day, umpire Steve Bucknor missed a crucial edge from Symonds off the ball of H...

The third season of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) is set to begin on January 9, 2026, with a blockbuster opener between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). This season, all 22 matches will be hosted across Navi Mumbai and Vadodara, with the final scheduled at Vadodara’s BCA Stadium, Kotambi. Cricket fans’ attention will be firmly on RCB captain Smriti Mandhana and Delhi Capitals’ new skipper Jemimah Rodrigues, promising an intense battle of runs and leadership. Smriti Mandhana: The Run Machine and Experienced LeaderRCB’s Smriti Mandhana has left an indelible mark in WPL cricket. In 26 matches, she has amassed 646 runs at an average of 24.84 with a strike rate of 128.68. Mandhana particularly excels against Delhi Capitals, scoring 242 runs at an impressive 34.57 aver...

The Indian Under-19 cricket team secured a convincing victory in the second ODI against South Africa, taking an unassailable lead in the three-match series. Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi stole the show with a blistering 68 off just 24 balls, helping India register an eight-wicket win under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. Suryavanshi’s Explosive InningsChasing a revised target due to rain interruptions, Suryavanshi attacked from the outset, completing his fifty in only 19 deliveries. His innings included 10 towering sixes and a boundary, setting the tone for India’s commanding performance and putting South Africa out of contention. The young prodigy had earlier made headlines by scoring the fastest century for India U-19 against England in just 52 balls. Weather Challe...

After returning from the challenging South Africa tour, Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir has spent some quality time with his family before arriving in Delhi. Meanwhile, former selector Krishnamachari Srikkanth has expressed his displeasure over the exclusion of Ruturaj Gaikwad from the squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand. Shreyas Iyer has made a comeback from injury and has been appointed as the team’s vice-captain. Gautam Gambhir Returns Home After South Africa TourFollowing the recently concluded South Africa series, Gambhir, India’s head coach, returned home to Delhi with his daughters after celebrating New Year in London. He is expected to join the Indian squad shortly for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, beginning January 11 in Vadodara. I...

India’s fast bowler Mohammad Siraj has been left out of the T20 World Cup 2026 squad, sparking widespread discussion among fans and analysts. In the midst of the debate, South African cricket legend AB de Villiers came forward to support Siraj, calling him “unlucky” and explaining that the decision was strategic rather than performance-related. Strategy Over Performance Speaking on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers explained that India’s T20 team has opted for batting depth over selecting an additional specialist fast bowler. He noted:"India already has Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh as the main seamers. Harshit Rana was preferred as the third seamer because he can contribute with the bat as well. Siraj is an excellent bowler, but he is purely a bowler. The team’s decision is st...