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Screenshot of the deleted messages in Pakistan Media Whatsapp Group.  Day before yesterday, a message was leaked from the Pakistan camp which made it clear that they were all set to travel for the T20 World Cup. The message, sources say, was sent by the media manager to all selected Pakistan players, informing them of the World Cup travel plan. However, shortly afterwards, it was deleted. Pakistan clearly did not want the world to know that they had decided to participate — that all the false bravado had come to nothing and that they have no leg to stand on in the issue. And yet, they want to keep the ICC and the cricketing world hanging. In what can be considered the worst form of administrative intrigue, they want to hold the tournament to ransom. Clearly, the media manager would not have deleted the message had he not been instructed to do so, once again exposing the acutely political nature of Pakistan’s stand. Mohsin Naqvi was on record suggesting that Pakistan would ann...

Suryakumar_Yadav (PC: Surya Kumar Yadav/X) India’s wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan shared his thoughts on his prolific innings, which was instrumental in India’s 46-run victory in the final T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony after being adjudged Player of the Match, Kishan said: “I felt the ball was doing a bit early on, but batting alongside Abhishek Sharma really helps. You see his intent, you understand the momentum the team needs, and then you just try to watch the ball and play accordingly. That approach worked well for me today. I still feel I’m not there yet. Yes, I’ve done well and I’m getting these awards, but my focus is firmly on the World Cup. That’s where the extra effort is needed. What’s important is carrying this form forward and continuing to contribute there.” Kishan came to the crease after India lost Sanju Samson early in the innings. The wicketkeeper-batter stitched together a 137-run partnershi...

Shivam Dube (BCCI) Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has praised Shivam Dube for showing fearless intent against New Zealand in the ongoing series. During the fourth T20I at Visakhapatnam on January 28, India were chasing a big target of 216. Dube added 65 runs off 23 balls in a pressure situation after India lost early wickets. Although his knock couldn’t save India, his efforts earned him praise from many experts. Speaking after the match to Star Sports, Gavaskar highlighted Dube’s mindset and said, “I thought he grabbed the opportunity really well. As you said, when you bat at six or seven, you’re probably only getting three or four overs with a strong India batting line-up. But this time, India lost early wickets and he had to come in sooner. He showed intent from the very first ball – that first-ball six was one of the longest you’ll see, right into the second tier.” Dube reached his half-century in just 15 balls in the fourth T20I, making him the third-fastest Indian to ac...

Sanju Samson(left) Ishan Kishan(right) Images: Revsportz While returning from the Greenfield stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, the first thing to notice was a huge banner of Sanju Samson. Even inside the stadium, the local hero was clearly the most sought after player when it came to media houses. It says enough for us to imagine the fans thronging the stadium to watch Samson bat in the final game of the T20I series between India and New Zealand. Unfortunately, the fluent shot-maker hasn’t looked anywhere near his best over his last 10 T20Is. Although, in Samson’s defence, he was demoted in the batting order during the Asia Cup last year. Subsequently, he was also dropped from the T20I set-up before regaining his place at the top of the order. So, it might have just affected his batting rhythm as he seemed to be in a zone of his own in the T20Is versus South Africa and Bangladesh. On a brighter note, Samson looked in fine touch in the net session, smacking some powerful shots down th...

  Mohsin Naqvi(left), Pakistan cricketers(right) Images: X Pakistan, sources suggest, are all set to fly to Sri Lanka on February 2 on an Air Lanka flight. The Australian team is also expected to be on the same flight. And yet, there is no formal announcement from Pakistan confirming participation in the World Cup. The intrigue continues, with no end to the posturing. This is where things go wrong for a sports body like the PCB. Its chairman has to separate his political self from his role as a cricket administrator; failing which, this is the inevitable outcome. Pakistan has no support within the echelons of the ICC, and all its posturing is out in the open. Pakistan is caught between the devil and the deep sea. They need to humour Bangladesh and keep their support base intact in Dhaka. Having egged Bangladesh on, this becomes a requirement. The only way to do so is to try to harm the tournament and continue to show solidarity. On the other hand, they stand to alienate the IC...

Georgia_Wareham (PC: BCCI_WPL) Gujarat Giants (GG) skipper Ashleigh Gardner praised Georgia Wareham for her all-round performance that was instrumental in GG’s 11-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 19th match of WPL 2026. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Gardner said: “We know the world-class player Georgia is. We’ve seen it in the Big Bash back home, where she led from the front for the Renegades with both bat and ball. I’ve played a lot of cricket with her for Australia, so we know her capabilities. It’s about giving her the best opportunity to play the role we want her to play — coming in through the middle, taking the game away from the bowlers. And she’s one of the best leg-spinners in the world, so giving her the freedom to attack and take wickets in that middle phase was key. She did that brilliantly today.” GG won the toss and elected to bat. Gardner and Wareham stitched a partnership of 71 runs off 43 balls to take GG to 167/4 in their 20 overs. Gard...

GG vs MI_WPL 2026 (PC: WPL_BCCI) Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have secured their place directly in the final of the WPL 2026. However, the two teams that will contest the eliminator are yet to be confirmed. To gain more clarity on that front, a massive clash awaits as Gujarat Giants (GG) take on Mumbai Indians (MI) on January 30 in Vadodara. A win for GG will guarantee a place in the eliminator, while a win for MI will almost qualify them due to their superior net run rate (NRR) compared to others. However, a loss for either team will complicate the qualification scenario. In that case, the result of the remaining Delhi Capitals (DC) vs UP Warriorz (UPW) clash will become crucial, with NRR playing a decisive role. MI come into this match after a 15-run win over RCB, while GG are riding on momentum after winning their last two games on the trot. In the reverse fixture in Navi Mumbai earlier this season, the defending champions, MI, defeated GG by seven wickets. Standings Guj...

Pakistan Team. (PC: PCB) The T20 World Cup is exactly a week away, and we still do not officially know if Pakistan will be playing. This is what can only be described as irresponsible behaviour. Pakistan are welcome to withdraw if they choose to, and if they wish to continue with their posturing, they are more than entitled to do so. However, as a member of the ICC Board, they cannot hold the tournament to ransom. They ought to communicate clearly, as responsible members are expected to do. Keeping people guessing is neither good governance nor best practice. Sources tell me Pakistan will play. From what I have been told, they will at best wear black armbands during their match against India as a mark of solidarity with Bangladesh. In sum, they will play the India match under protest. A second school of thought suggests Pakistan might still consider boycotting the India game. They would play the World Cup but boycott the India match. While this seems increasingly unlikely, with Pak...

Smriti Mandhana (Image: WPL) Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Smriti Mandhana praised her bowlers after registering a comprehensive eight-wicket win against UP Warriorz (UPW) in the 18th match of the WPL 2026. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Mandhana said: “It was brilliant. They started really well with the bat, almost 60–70 without loss, and from there the bowlers made a strong comeback. A special mention to Grace, who came in to bowl for the first time in the tournament and picked up two crucial wickets. Nadine bowled really well again, and honestly, everyone just chipped in and bowled extremely well. When the team bowls like that, it’s a very pleasing sight to watch. Over the last two games, we’ve told ourselves not to think emotionally or dig a hole for ourselves. We’ve played really good cricket in the first five matches.” UPW were playing very well until their first wicket fell at 74. However, apart from their openers, none of the other batters c...

Molineux has played 58 international matches for Australia since her debut in 2018. (PC: Cricket Australia) Spin-bowling all-rounder Sophie Molineux has been appointed all-format captain of the Australian women’s team. She will replace Alyssa Healy, who will play her final series at home against India. Tahlia McGrath, who served as Healy’s deputy, has not been promoted to lead the team and will continue in her role as vice-captain. Ashleigh Gardner, another contender, has been named second vice-captain. “It’s a real honour to be named Australian captain and something I’m incredibly proud of, especially following on from Alyssa, who’s had such a huge impact on this team and the game,” Molineux said. “We’ve got a really strong group with plenty of natural leaders, alongside a lot of exciting talent coming through, and I’m really looking forward to working together as we keep evolving and pushing ourselves to the next level, while staying true to the identity that makes this team so ...

Sanju_Samson (PC: BCCI/X) Does Sanju Samson have talent? Yes. Does he merit a place in the side? Yes. Was it a tad unfair on him when India brought Shubman Gill back at the top while Samson was doing well as an opener? Yes. But now that he isn’t performing, is it fair to include Ishan Kishan, who is in stellar form, in the T20 World Cup side? Also yes. Will that be unfair on Samson? The jury is out. The Samson case is a very difficult one to deal with. You want him to get a few more opportunities and re-establish himself as India’s go-to opener. And yet, there simply isn’t the luxury of time, with the World Cup round the corner and Ishan breathing down his neck. Samson hasn’t scored heavily, and the pressure must be mounting. Ishan, on the other hand, has seized his chances, adding further complexity to the situation. Samson’s inconsistency — in many ways the story of his career — could come back to haunt him as T20 World Cup preparations hit the home stretch. The truth is that I...

Jones unlikely to play the T20 World Cup. (PC: ICC) In a major blow to the USA team ahead of the T20 World Cup, star batter Aaron Jones has been provisionally suspended from all forms of cricket with immediate effect. The 31-year-old cricketer has been charged with five counts of breaching the anti-corruption codes of the ICC and Cricket West Indies (CWI). According to the ICC, three of the charges against Jones relate predominantly to his participation in the 2023–24 Bim10 tournament in Barbados, which falls under the jurisdiction of CWI. The remaining two charges concern international matches, bringing the total to five. Jones has been given 14 days to respond to the charges. “These charges are part of a wider investigation, which is likely to result in further charges being issued against other participants in due course,” the ICC said in a release. “Jones has been provisionally suspended from all cricket with immediate effect and has 14 days from 28 January 2026 to respond to...

Suryakumar_Yadav (PC:X) India captain Suryakumar Yadav feels that if one or two batters had supported Shivam Dube, they might have avoided the 50-run defeat against New Zealand in Visakhapatnam in the fourth T20I of the five-match series. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Suryakumar said: “At the end of the day, it was a good learning experience. With the heavy dew, I think one or two partnerships here and there, like the way Dube batted, would have made a lot of difference if he had a partner with him. We lost by 50 runs, but it’s okay. As I said, one or two partnerships like this in a run chase might make a difference.” India won the toss and opted to bowl. A niggle forced Ishan Kishan to sit out. Opener Tim Seifert scored a brilliant 36-ball 62, while Devon Conway and Daryl Mitchell contributed 44 and an unbeaten 39 respectively, as New Zealand set a target of 216 for India. Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets each. In reply, except for Dube (65 ...

KL_Rahul (PC: BCCI/X) Team India batter KL Rahul believes that his retirement decision will not be hard for him to take, as he does not want to unnecessarily stretch his career. Speaking on former England batter, Kevin Pietersen’s YouTube channel, Rahul said: “I’ve thought about it. I don’t think it’s going to be that difficult…If you’re honest with yourself, when it’s time, it’s time. And there’s no point dragging it. Obviously, I’m some time away. Just quit. Just enjoy the stuff that you’ve got and you have your family and just do that. That’s the hardest battle. So I try and tell myself that I’m not that important. Cricket in our country will carry on. Cricket in the world will carry on. There are more important things in life. Ever since I’ve had my first baby, the way you look at life is completely different.” India’s next big assignment is the T20 World Cup, starting in a few weeks, but Rahul is not part of that squad. However, he remains an integral part of the Test and ODI...

      Jasprit Bumrah in Guwahati. Image: Debasis Sen What would make a perfect fast bowler? Probably one who approaches the crease with fluid, long strides. The rhythmic run-up is followed by a wreaking finish, sending shivers down the spine of a batter. In this modern age of limited-overs cricket, you may not necessarily find a bowler with such characteristics. Yet, there is Jasprit Bumrah, who has turned into a complete pace bowler in a format where the batting tribe is chasing down scores of 150 in a mere 10 overs. In the third T20I against New Zealand, Bumrah showcased that he had lost none of his ability. The context here is that ever since Bumrah returned from his latest back problem, there have been murmurs that he has lost a hint of nip. But in that third game, Bumrah’s quickest delivery clocked just over 90mph. He also extracted nifty movement off the seam, helping him castle Tim Seifert with a nip-backer. Later, the graphic showed that the ball had swung...

  Abhishek Sharma. Images: X, Abhishek Sharma I have watched and studied cricket for close to 30 years. I have seen many exceptional players, each with their own uniqueness: the obsession for excellence of Sachin Tendulkar, the intensity of Virat Kohli, the grit of Rahul Dravid, the hunger of Steve Smith. Each of these greats brings a distinct quality to the game. It is through this lens that I studied Abhishek Sharma’s playbook. What does it take to hit sixes from the very first ball? How can someone consistently score fours or sixes? What enables him to do so, and what is going on in his mind? In Guwahati, Abhishek danced down the pitch to the very first ball he faced and sent it soaring over midwicket for six. And then he did not stop. It was as if every ball were the last of the game, and he was taking guard to finish in style. For him, every ball tells a story. He isn’t concerned with the previous delivery; there is no conventional thinking of taking a single after hittin...

Gujarat_Giants (PC: BCCI_WPL) Gujarat Giants (GG) skipper Ashleigh Gardner described their thrilling three-run win against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the ongoing WPL in Vadodara as nothing short of a rollercoaster. Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, Gardner said: “It’s definitely been a bit of a rollercoaster. At the end of the day, we’re in the entertainment industry, and I think we certainly did that for the fans here at the venue and watching on TV. We did our job in that sense, but my heart rate was probably through the roof in that last over.” DC won the toss and sent GG to bat first. Beth Mooney’s 58 off 46 balls and Anushka Sharma’s 39 helped GG reach 174/9 in their 20 overs. Tanuja Kanwer also chipped in with a crucial 21 off 11 balls. For DC, Shree Charani was the standout bowler with four wickets. In reply, Niki Prasad (47) and Sneh Rana (29) fought hard for DC and took the match down to the final over. At one stage, DC needed just five runs from four balls....

L-R: IND vs BAN (Image: BCCI)/IND v PAK (Image: Debasis Sen) Over the last few days, I have seen a number of pieces suggesting that the India–Pakistan and India–Bangladesh situations are similar – that if neutral venues could be arranged for India and Pakistan, why not for Bangladesh? Some have even suggested this is an example of the ICC’s double standards. The truth, however, is very different. Those equating the Bangladesh situation with Pakistan’s manoeuvring are either ignorant of the facts or being wilfully obtuse. What happened with Bangladesh was largely triggered by a BCCI–IPL decision, itself the result of months of political turmoil across the border. Had security assessments suggested that Bangladesh’s cricketers and support staff were in grave danger in India, their matches would indeed have been rescheduled, regardless of the inconvenience. But once experts concluded that the security threat was slim to non-existent, there was no justification for overhauling the enti...

Natalie Sciver-Brunt. Image: WPL A valiant effort from Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Richa Ghosh went in vain as Mumbai Indians bounced back after three consecutive losses, with Nat Sciver-Brunt becoming the first player to score a century in WPL history. RCB won the toss and put MI in to bat. MI scored 199/4 in their 20 overs and RCB faltered, managing to reach 184/9 in their 20 overs, in what was their second consecutive loss in this WPL after five straight wins. MI, for the first time this WPL, fielded their core overseas players, Hayley Mathews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Amelia Kerr and Shabnim Ismail. And it was vintage MI batting. While the opening combination of Sajana Sajeevan and Hayley Mathews failed again, Mathews and Sciver-Brunt got together and blew the RCB bowlers away. Mathews looked in sublime touch, scoring 56 runs off just 39 balls, hitting nine boundaries. Historically, MI have been successful almost every time Sciver-Brunt’s bat has spoken, and today it made historic ...

Sanju Samson in Guwahati. Image: Debasis Sen With a logjam of players waiting for a place in the squad, and then the XI, India’s high-flying T20 side doesn’t give you the luxury of taking your place for granted, as Shubman Gill found out when the World Cup squad was announced. Sanju Samson is the latest in the firing line, after a third consecutive failure in the ongoing series against New Zealand. Has he gone off the boil at just the wrong time, and what will the think tank do? Is it conceivable that he could miss out on playing in front of his home crowd in Thiruvananthapuram later this month? Around 11 years ago, Samson made his T20I debut in Zimbabwe. Since then, the wicketkeeper-batter has featured in 55 T20Is, averaging just over 24. On the positive side, his strike-rate stands at a creditable 147.60. On paper, however, these are not exactly the numbers of a top-tier T20I batter. There are two ways to look at these figures. One is that he has been in and out of the side over...

  Mohsin Naqvi is a politician first and a sports administrator later. We saw this clearly during the Asia Cup in Dubai. It therefore came as no surprise when Mr Naqvi told the press in Lahore that Pakistan had not yet decided whether they would participate in the T20 World Cup, and that the final call would be taken by the Prime Minister. He also referred to the India–Pakistan skirmish in May 2025 and then ended the briefing, leaving behind a cloud of intrigue. The truth is that Mr Naqvi said nothing of substance. Yet he managed to placate Bangladesh. Like a seasoned politician, he played his cards. So what if the game is harmed? So what if Bangladesh lose out after being misled? So what if Pakistan ultimately doe not withdraw? He always has the fallback: “I never said we would — it was always a government decision.” In reality, Pakistan have no grounds to withdraw. What exactly has happened that would justify pulling out? Pakistan wanted their matches to be played in Sri Lank...

Bumrah_celebrating_after_taking_a_wicket (PC: BCCI/X) Team India pacer, Jasprit Bumrah said that he wants to be flexible and bowl wherever the team needs him, be it with the new ball or at the death. Bumrah was adjudged the Player of the Match for his three-wicket spell for 17 runs at an economy rate of 4.25 against New Zealand in the third T20I of the five-match series in Guwahati.   At the post-match presentation ceremony, Bumrah said: “Yeah, I was keeping an eye when Harshit and Hardik bowled, what is the best option over here. Obviously when I came, the ball had become a little scuffed up. So the ball usually, the white ball doesn’t swing for long. So what was my best option, how I wanted to try. So I tried to do that. I’m happy as far as I’m able to contribute. So if the team wants me to bowl with the new ball I’m more than happy, if they want me to bowl in the end, I’m happy to do that. I did that in Asia Cup as well. That was a new role for me. I’ve never done that...

Mhatre blasted a quickfire fifty against NZ U-19. (PC: ICC) India U19 captain Ayush Mhatre explained how he countered New Zealand U19’s short-ball ploy to rediscover his form, smashing a quickfire fifty in the team’s seven-wicket win at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Mhatre had registered two low scores in the first two games of the tournament against the USA and Bangladesh. In both matches, he was dismissed by the short ball. In the first game, he got out while attempting a hook shot, and in the next, the right-handed batter failed to keep the ball down against a rising delivery. Batting first, New Zealand could only manage to post 135 in a match that was reduced to 37 overs. A small target gave the Indian batters the license to go after the bowling. “Basically, I just wanted to see the ball and play,” Mhatre said after the match. “The ball was coming on to the bat really well, so it was a simple plan. (On New Zealand’s plans) Yeah, they came in with the plan to bowl bounce...

Bangladesh Cricket Team. Image :X As the dust settles on the Bangladesh-T20 World Cup fiasco, one has to say the entire episode was unnecessary. Bangladesh overreacted to the Mustafizur Rahman situation, were successfully provoked by Pakistan into doing so, and tried to play to the local political constituency by showing how tough they could be and attempting to teach India a lesson. In all this, they forgot a basic democratic principle: the majority always wins, and you need to be smart when you don’t have the numbers in the boardroom. Bangladesh were outvoted and outdone, outthought and outplayed. Now, they do not have a leg to stand on, and their cricket is in complete disarray, with the possibility of losing several hundred crores in the process. The sports adviser, with due respect, did more harm than good to his own cause with his pronouncements. He proudly declared that it was the government taking all these calls. In international sport, the sanctity of national federations...