Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to decide on their participation in the marquee event or risk being replaced by another team. Despite holding a meeting, no solution was found for the crisis that was triggered after the removal of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The move came after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release the pacer ahead of the upcoming season. "The BCB officials have been told to decide on the participation by January 21. If they refuse to travel to India, then they should be ready to be replaced by another team as per rankings," said an ICC source. Earlier, the BCB had urged the ICC to shift their T20 World Cup 2026 from India to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns and national pride. However, considering that the tournament's schedule is already finalised, the ICC has shown reluctance to move Bangladesh's World Cup matches out of India. In case Bangladesh decide to pull out of the tournament, the replacement team would likely be Scotland based on the current rankings. The Bengal Tigers are scheduled to play their league matches in Mumbai and Kolkata. The BCB has remained adamant on either a change of venue or a change of groups to facilitate its games in Sri Lanka. Currently, Bangladesh is placed in Group C along with the West Indies, Italy, England and Nepal. While the BCB considers it unsafe for its players to travel to India, ICC's risk assessment report does not flag any specific or direct threat to the team if it participates in the tournament. The T20 World Cup 2026 tournament will kick off from February 7, with the first game scheduled to be played between Pakistan and the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka. As of now, Bangladesh will also begin its campaign on the same day with a clash against the West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. (With PTI Inputs)
19 January,2026 09:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the third ODI match against New Zealand, Team India stalwart Virat Kohli played a knock of 124 runs off 108 deliveries, including 10 boundaries and three maximums. Despite his century, Team India suffered a loss by 41 runs at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. Following his century, former cricketer Irfan Pathan heaped praise on Kohli by saying that the right-handed batsman has scored runs under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill. "Virat Kohli once again showed why he is such a great player. Back in 2013, when I was also playing, people used to say Virat Kohli is the best batter in the Indian team currently. In 2016, people also used to call him the best batter in the Indian team. Now, 10 years later in 2026, people are still calling Virat Kohli the best batter in India's ODI side. There's no doubt about it. He scored runs under MS Dhoni's captaincy, under his own captaincy, under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, and now under young Shubman Gill's captaincy too," he said. The former cricketer also hailed the Delhi-born cricketer for maintaining his fitness and labelled his century as "magnificent". "Another 100 for Virat 'Run Machine' Kohli. When we saw Virat Kohli's fitness, the way he runs, there's absolutely no change in his fitness. In fact, it looks like he has only gotten better. He plays, scores runs and repeats. Unfortunately, the century came in the losing cause, but it was a magnificent century, nonetheless," added the 41-year-old former cricketer. The ton also helped Kohli register his 85th century in international cricket. This was also his fourth century in the last eight ODI innings, including one in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT). The "Men in Blue" also lost the three-match ODI series by 1-2 against the "Black Caps". T20 World Cup 2026: First match's date and venue Team India will now engage in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The contest will also serve as the preparatory series for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. The marquee tournament will kick off from February 7, with the first game scheduled to be played between Pakistan and the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka. (With ANI Inputs)
19 January,2026 08:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the WPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Giants skipper Ashleigh Gardner won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Kotambi. After winning the toss, Gujarat captain Gardner expressed excitement to play in front of the home crowd, but she is also aware that the RCB will be getting a lot of support. The skipper also said that batswomen need to step up and score runs, as she believes that it will be a high-scoring game. The side will enter the clash with two changes, where Anushka Sharma will return to the playing XI after recovering from her hand injury, and Happy Kumari is set to make her debut for GG. On the other hand, when asked the reason for RCB's success in the ongoing marquee tournament, skipper Smriti Mandhana said that it is about doing the simple things right. She also credited her bowlers by saying that they gave a good start in the match, and also heaped praise on the batswomen. Mandhana also expressed happiness with a new player stepping up in every match. If Bengaluru manage to secure a win in tonight's match, they will then qualify for the playoffs of the WPL 2026. Speaking on the potential qualification, the skipper said that her team will be taking one match at a time. She also added that, considering the likes of young players, the energy has been high and will be looking to show the same intensity consistently. So far, RCB has played four matches and is unbeaten in the tournament. The team is enjoying the top spot on the points table with eight points and a net run rate (NRR) of +1.600. Gujarat Giants are placed in the third spot with four points and a net run rate (NRR) of -0.319. WPL 2026, GG vs RCB: Confirmed Playing XI Gujarat Giants: Ashleigh Gardner (C), Beth Mooney (WK), Anushka Sharma, Sophie Devine, Georgia Wareham, Kanika Ahuja, Bharti Fulmali, Kashvee Gautam, Tanuja Kanwer, Happy Kumari, Renuka Singh Thakur. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (C), Georgia Voll, Gautami Naik, Richa Ghosh (WK), Nadine De Klerk, Radha Yadav, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Prema Rawat, Lauren Bell.
19 January,2026 07:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the recently concluded three-match ODI series against New Zealand, India’s batting performances once again underlined the team’s heavy dependence on its two senior stalwarts — Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. While the pair has carried the batting unit for over a decade across formats, the series reignited questions over whether Team India is adequately prepared for a future where both are no longer at the helm. Virat Kohli: How will India find a replacement for a modern-day great? Virat Kohli has been a consistent top performer for the Men in Blue over the years. Whether it is setting a target or chasing a daunting total, Kohli has delivered with remarkable ease. From producing match-winning performances at the highest level to absorbing pressure in marquee tournaments, the Delhi-born cricketer has repeatedly underlined his value to the team. He has been an indispensable part of Team India, particularly in high-stakes matches against arch-rivals Pakistan. Kohli’s crucial knocks have helped India secure victories on numerous occasions. Across social media, fans often troll the Pakistan team for lacking a premier batsman capable of matching Kohli’s calibre in critical games. However, the stalwart has only a few years left in him, after which he will hang up his boots from the game. Team India stalwart Virat Kohli (Pic: AFP) After Kohli, the question arises: does India have a batsman it can truly rely on? Several players, including Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, and Abhishek Sharma, have delivered in big matches, but whether any can match Kohli’s consistency over the years remains uncertain. Rohit Sharma: Filling the void at the top of India’s batting Fans often troll Rohit Sharma for the failure of India’s opening batting pair. But who will they blame once the 38-year-old steps away from the game? So far, having played 282 ODI matches for Team India, Rohit has scored 11,577 runs. He also has 33 centuries and 61 half-centuries to his name in the format. The right-handed batsman also holds the record of the highest individual score in the format's history, which is 264 runs. Cricket fans across India know that once both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retire, the team will face a major transition. A cautionary example is West Indies cricket, which dominated the world during the era of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, and Darren Sammy. Today, however, West Indies cricket is struggling to maintain its former glory. Similarly, is India ready to bid adieu to its ‘Chase Master’, Virat Kohli? And is the country’s opening slot in safe hands once Rohit Sharma announces his retirement? Hopefully, the young players will step up and shoulder the responsibilities that these two modern-day greats have carried for years.
19 January,2026 06:07 PM IST | Mumbai | Sujay ShivalkarAtharva Taide’s century of rare brilliance in alliance with a disciplined bowling effort powered Vidarbha to a facile 38-run win over Saurashtra, and to their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title here on Sunday. Once Vidarbha posted a daunting 317-8, riding on Taide’s 128 (118 balls), the task was cut out for Saurashtra and they failed to cross the line, ending up with 279 all out in 48.5 overs. Saurashtra though fought gamely for a large part despite slipping to 30-2. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 January,2026 08:55 AM IST | Bengaluru | PTIRoyal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Sayali Satghare made her dream debut for the team as she clinched three crucial wickets (3-27) against Delhi Capitals at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday in the team’s eight-wicket victory. Following a stellar performance, she expressed her love for the 2024 champions and praised the team’s environment, attributing her success to it. “Still, it has not sunk in yet, but dream debut, definitely. Since IPL started in 2008, I have been an RCB fan, and when WPL started, I always wished that someday I would get the chance to play for RCB,” she said in a video shared by the franchise. Sayali went unsold at the WPL-4 mega auction, but got an opportunity with RCB when their star all-rounder Ellyse Perry withdrew from the tournament, citing personal reasons. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 January,2026 08:52 AM IST | Navi Mumbai | IANSVirat Kohli’s magnificent, combative century, forged with trademark resolve under mounting pressure, proved heartbreakingly insufficient as India slumped to their first-ever bilateral ODI series defeat at home against New Zealand, losing the decider by 41 runs at the Holkar Stadium here on Sunday. Kohli’s 124 off 108 balls was a study in controlled aggression and steely temperament. The chase master shouldered the responsibility almost single-handedly, counter-punching a disciplined New Zealand attack with crisp drives, well-judged pulls and calculated risks over the ropes. As wickets tumbled regularly at the other end, Kohli dug in, refusing to let the chase drift away, but once he fell late in the innings, India’s resistance finally collapsed at 296 in 46 overs while chasing a stiff 338. Virat Kohli after scoring his 85th international century The defeat not only handed New Zealand a 2-1 series win but also marked a historic first — India had never before lost a home ODI series to the Kiwis.Earlier, Daryl Mitchell’s second consecutive hundred and Glenn Phillips’s blistering century powered New Zealand to a competitive 337-8 despite early jolts from India’s pace attack. Mitchell (137) and Phillips (106) stitched together a 219-run partnership for the fourth wicket that turned the innings on its head. India were controlling the innings at one stage, having reduced the visitors to 58-3, but Mitchell and Phillips made it a contest. OneMitchell is the only batter to record five consecutive scores of over 80 in ODIs against India in India 219No. of runs put on by Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips for the fourth wicket — the highest partnership by a New Zealand pair in ODIs against India in India OneNo. of times two New Zealand batters (Mitchell and Phillips) have scored centuries in the same ODI innings against India OneNo. of centuries for Kohli in Indore. His previous best score here was 36 in four ODIs 12,676No. of runs scored by Virat Kohli batting at No. 3 in ODIs — the most by a player, surpassing Australia’s Ricky Ponting (12,662) This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 January,2026 08:48 AM IST | Indore | PTIIn the third ODI match against Team India, New Zealand emerged victorious by 41 runs at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. With this, the "Black Caps" clinched the three-match ODI series by 2-1. Having put to chase a target of 338 runs, Team India was bowled out for 296 runs in 46 overs. Opening the innings, Rohit Sharma scored 11 runs in 13 balls, including two boundaries. Skipper Shubman Gill departed after scoring 23 runs off 18 balls, with the help of four boundaries. Stalwart Virat Kohli registered 124 runs in 108 balls, which was laced with 10 boundaries and three maximums. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul returned to the pavilion on low scores. Iyer managed to score just three runs in 10 balls, whereas Rahul's innings ended with just one run in six balls. Nitish Kumar Reddy accumulated 53 runs off 57 balls, including two boundaries and the same number of maximums. Harshit Rana also scored 52 runs after facing 43 balls. His knock included four boundaries and four maximums. Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed on 12 runs in 16 balls. Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav registered a duck and five runs, respectively. Kuldeep's innings included a boundary. Arshdeep Singh stayed unbeaten on four runs in two balls. He also smashed a boundary. New Zealand's Zakary Foulkes and Kris Clarke claimed three wickets each. Jayden Lennox and Kyle Jamieson registered two and one wickets to their names, respectively. Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips went wicketless in the third ODI match against Team India. Earlier, having put to bat first, New Zealand's opening batsman, Devon Conway, departed after scoring five runs in four balls, with the help of a boundary. Fellow opening batsman Henry Nicholls was dismissed on the first ball duck. Will Young accumulated 30 runs in 41 balls. His knock also included five boundaries and a maximum. Later, in-form batsman Daryl Mitchell slammed another century. Facing 131 deliveries, the right-handed batsman accumulated 137 runs, which was laced with 15 boundaries and three maximums. Shouldering Mitchell was Glenn Phillips, who delivered a knock of 106 runs in just 88 balls. During his knock, he also smashed nine boundaries and three maximums. Skipper Michael Bracewell gave the finishing touches to New Zealand's innings. He faced 28 balls and accumulated an unbeaten 28 runs, including a boundary and three maximums. With the help of their knocks, the "Black Caps" posted a total of 337 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs. Team India's Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana registered three wickets to their names. Having bowled 10 overs, Arshdeep conceded 63 runs, whereas Harshit leaked 84 runs in his spell of 10 overs. Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav also chipped in with one wicket each. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja went wicketless in the third ODI match against New Zealand.
18 January,2026 09:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the T20 World Cup 2026, former cricketer Dinesh Karthik spoke about Team India's solid form in the format. While speaking, Karthik noted that the "Men in Blue" have won 29 out of 36 T20I matches they have played after their T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. He also pointed out that the side tasted success in the Asia Cup 2025, where they defeated arch-rivals, Pakistan, thrice in the continental tournament. "The Indian team is in a very strong position at the moment. As we sit here, they have won 29 out of the 36 matches they have played in T20 cricket post the World Cup, which is a phenomenal record to have. In a very fickle format like T20, where upsets are the norm, this level of consistency is remarkable. Winning 29 out of the last 36 games they have played is, I feel, very hard to replicate. For starters, it tells you about the strength of the team. They have also played a very good Asia Cup in the recent past and went past Pakistan in the final, beating them three out of three times," he said. Team India is placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup 2026 along with teams such as Pakistan, Namibia, the USA, and the Netherlands. Further speaking, the former cricketer said that considering that the other three nations are still hunting their way to prove themselves in international cricket, India and Pakistan should be able to defeat them. He then explained the nature of the shortest format of the game. "If you look at the depth of this group, there's India, there's Pakistan, and then there are three associate nations who are still finding their feet at the international level. You would expect India or Pakistan to beat them, but the beauty of this format is that you cannot walk into any game thinking it is going to be easy. You lose the toss, you are bowling, and suddenly, you are thinking this could be challenging at the back end. You need to get an above-par score to give yourself a chance to defend under dew. So, I would say India are in a very good place," Karthik explained. He then feels depth bowling can be a concern for the Suryakumar Yadav-led men in the global showpiece. "Death bowling is a concern. I think it's a challenge because of the way they stack up their eleven. When they have played in the subcontinent, they have gone with (Jasprit) Bumrah, Hardik (Pandya) as the second pacer, and Shivam Dube as the third, while backing their spinners heavily. At times, when the game goes deep, especially when they are defending a total, the back end can become a challenge," said the 40-year-old former cricketer. The "Men in Blue" will kick off their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign by playing a clash against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. India's squad for T20 World Cup 2026 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-capt), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar, Ishan Kishan (wk). (With ANI Inputs)
18 January,2026 06:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTiigers of Kolkata delivered their most dominant performance of ISPL Season 3, registering a commanding win over Srinagar in their third league match at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium. Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Tiigers put up a record-breaking 136 for 4, the highest team total of the season so far, setting the tone early and never letting Srinagar settle into the contest. Leading the charge was Gully to Glory Award winner Saif Ali, who played a fiery knock in every sense. Saif hammered 58 off just 33 deliveries, striking two towering nine-run hits and two sixes, anchoring the innings while accelerating when it mattered most. His knock ensured Kolkata not only posted a defendable score, but one that put the opposition under pressure from the outset. Saroj Paramanik provided the momentum in the middle overs, following up his heroics from the previous game with another match-winning contribution. Promoted up the order, Saroj smashed 34 off 15 balls, including three nine-run hits in a single over, injecting urgency into the innings and shifting momentum decisively in Kolkata’s favour. The knock proved crucial in pushing the scoring rate at a key phase of the innings. This marked Saroj’s second consecutive Man of the Match award in Season 3, a remarkable turnaround after going winless in the category since the league’s inaugural season. Kolkata’s bowlers then ensured there was no way back for Srinagar. A crucial maiden 50:50 over by Vivek Mohanan choked the chase at a vital stage, while Krushna Gawali produced the catch of the match, pulling off a stunning effort in the field that summed up the Tiigers’ overall intensity. For Saif Ali, the innings was another milestone in a career defined by resilience rather than smooth progression. From leaving college to pursue cricket full-time, piling up runs in Bengal’s U23 circuit without getting the breakthrough he hoped for, to walking away from leather-ball cricket altogether in 2020, Saif’s journey has been one of reinvention. Tennis-ball cricket gave him a second innings, and ISPL became his stage — from Chennai to Srinagar, and now Kolkata. The highest run-scorer of the 2025 season and Player of the Tournament, Saif continues to play with the hunger of someone who knows what it means to start over. Backed by a close-knit family and now motivated further by fatherhood, he balances ambition with perspective, chasing stability as much as success. Speaking after the match, Saif said, “This innings means a lot to me. I would like to thank Aksha Kamboj ma’am and the entire team for backing me and creating a carefree environment where I can express myself. When you’re given responsibility at the top, your only focus is to make it count. I wanted to bat deep, give confidence to the boys around me, and make the best use of the conditions. Records are nice, but what matters most is that the team keeps winning and moving in the right direction.” Tiigers skipper Bhavesh Pawar praised the impact of the senior players, placing special emphasis on Saif Ali’s role at the top. “We had a lot of faith in Saif, and the way he batted gave the entire team confidence. He took responsibility, stayed till the end, and set the tone for the innings. Saroj Dada also played a very important knock in the middle, which helped us push the momentum. This format can change anytime, so we’re not thinking too far ahead. We’re just trying to win the matches in front of us and play our normal game,” Bhavesh said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
18 January,2026 05:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Mumbai-born cricketer Saurabh Netravalkar, who now represents the USA, expressed his feeling on being able to play at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The USA will open their global showpiece campaign by playing a clash against Team India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on February 7. Ahead of the game, the pacer stated that it is going to be an emotional moment for him and also said it is a kind of full-circle moment for him. "I wouldn't know how I would react there. But it is an emotional moment, for sure. Kind of like a full circle moment because I started playing cricket in Mumbai and gave up on the sport and moved to the US and never even expected to play cricket again. International (cricket) wasn't even a thought," he said. "So, it's like a second innings, that cricket gave me that chance and brought me back to Mumbai. So, in that sense, it's nostalgic and emotional, but it's not playing on my mind per se," added Netravalkar. Back then, while representing Mumbai, he played a first-class match along with Suryakumar Yadav and Shardul Thakur in 2013. He has also represented India in the 2010 U-19 World Cup. When asked if he visualised playing at the venue in front of his family and friends. "Kind of, yes. I wouldn't say in this particular way, but as a kid, obviously, growing up in Mumbai, I have always, since I started playing cricket, dreamt about playing for the country and hopefully at Wankhede. We've been training at Wankhede since our under-15 days," he said. "Very grateful that this opportunity has come about whilst playing for the USA. My family and friends will be there. So yeah, I am looking forward to giving my best effort," added the 34-year-old USA pacer. The USA has been placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup 2026 along with the teams such as India, Pakistan, Namibia and the Netherlands. The marquee tournament will kick off with the first game scheduled to be played between Pakistan and the Netherlands on February 7 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka. (With PTI Inputs)
18 January,2026 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
