Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen feels Dewald Brevis will be the most impactful player for South Africa in the tournament. Speaking about him, the former cricketer explained a SA20 match scenario in which Brevis helped his team, Pretoria Capitals, come out of a difficult situation. "Dewald Brevis, for South Africa. He again played another incredible innings last night. A couple of days ago, I was calling the game in Johannesburg where his team, the Pretoria Capitals, led by (Sourav) Ganguly, was struggling," he said. "They were 7/5 (against Joburg Super Kings) and Brevis went (in) and batted for 15 overs and they got to a winning total of 140 or 150 (143/6)," added Pietersen. Pietersen said Brevis showed he is more than a one-trick pony of only trying to hit sixes. "(Now) that's something Brevis has always come under criticism for, that he's just a one-trick pony. He stands there, and he just tries to hit six after six after six. I said on commentary, that could be the making of Brevis, so from that point of view, he's in that (list) just because I'm seeing him a lot at the moment," said the former cricketer. Further speaking, Pietersen labelled Abhishek Sharma as the "proper star" in the format. "Remember when Abhishek got that 150 (135 off 54 balls; 7 fours, 13 sixes) against England at the Wankhede (Stadium) last year... We interviewed him after the game. I just put my hand on his shoulder and I said, 'young man, that is the best T20 innings I've ever seen in international cricket'. That kid is a proper star. When you know he's batting, you turn the TV on," said the 45-year-old former cricketer. Pietersen, however, said it will be a "very big shout" to say England would win the T20 World Cup given how they are playing. "The way England is playing, that's a very big shout," he concluded. T20 World Cup 2026: Group D teams Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, South Africa has been placed in Group D along with teams such as Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). (With PTI Inputs)
22 January,2026 10:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the T20 World Cup 2026, former cricketer Ravi Shastri feels that Team India will take off if opening batsman Abhishek Sharma continues his rich vein of form. In the first T20I match against New Zealand, Abhishek smashed 84 runs off 35 deliveries, which was laced with five boundaries and eight maximums. Speaking about him, the former cricketer stated that people will keep a tab on the left-handed batsman, considering his confidence level. "Abhishek, without a shadow of a doubt. (He's the) No. 1 T20 batsman in the world (and is) in a rich vein of form. Last evening (on Wednesday), he took the game away from New Zealand. You've got to watch out for him because his confidence level is high," he said. "He'll be backed by the home crowd and if he takes off, it means India take off," added Shastri. He then explained the nature of being a coach of a national cricket team. Shastri said that players and coaches need to take criticism in a positive manner. "I prefer criticism that is constructive (and) when I became a broadcaster, I said I've divorced the dressing room and I will speak on what I see. It doesn't matter if you were my colleague or you were my friend when I was playing the game," he said. "But that's something you expect. In my tenure, there were good moments and there were rough moments. You just have to take it in your stride because you know there is another game coming up. One day you are in a pole position. The next day you are in a troll position. That can happen. But in a week, you can see all three. You can be in pole, troll, again pole," added the 63-year-old former cricketer. T20 World Cup 2026: Team India's Group, first match's date and venue The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to kick off from February 7. Team India is placed in Group A along with the teams such as Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States of America (USA). The "Men in Blue" will begin their global showpiece tournament by playing a clash against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. (With PTI Inputs)
22 January,2026 08:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi continued his fairytale rise in youth cricket with another stunning performance during India’s ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 encounter against Bangladesh in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Asked to bat first at the Queens Sports Club after Bangladesh opted to bowl on a damp surface, India stumbled early. The top order was rattled inside the first few overs, and by the third over the scoreboard already showed two wickets down. With pressure mounting, Suryavanshi walked in and instantly changed the mood. Suryavanshi turns the momentum Walking in with India wobbling, Suryavanshi refused to play cautiously. Instead, he counter-attacked with confident strokeplay, driving through covers and pulling with authority. His intent was clear from the outset. The teenager sprinted to his half-century in just 30 balls, instantly changing the tempo of the match. Vaibhav eventually scored 72 from 67 deliveries, laced with six fours and three sixes. Though he fell short of a century, his innings provided stability after the early collapse and gave India a fighting platform against a disciplined Bangladesh bowling unit. The knock was historic in more ways than one. At just 14 years and 296 days, Suryavanshi became the youngest cricketer to register a 50-plus score in a Men’s Under-19 World Cup match. He surpassed Afghanistan’s Shahidullah Kamal, who held the previous record at 15 years and 19 days, while Pakistan great Babar Azam now sits third on the list. For a player barely into his teens, joining such elite company underlines how quickly Vaibhav is fast becoming the face of India’s youth campaign and the youngest half-centurion in U-19 World Cup history. Teen surpasses Kohli's feat Suryavanshi also crossed another landmark during the Bangladesh clash. In only 20 Youth ODIs, he has gone past the 1000-run mark, overtaking stalwart Virat Kohli’s tally of 978 runs. With over 1040 runs already, Vaibhav is rapidly climbing India’s list of top Youth ODI run-getters and is now closing in on names such as Vijay Zol and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Consistency at such a young age has become his biggest asset, making him one of the most watched prospects of the tournament. Edge and emotion The contest carried tension even before the first ball. India's captain, Ayush Mhatre, and Bangladesh’s Tamim skipped the traditional pre-match handshake. Bangladesh’s decision to bowl first after the rain delay added further intrigue to the contest. But amid all the off-field narratives and early setbacks, the spotlight remained firmly on Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Calm under pressure, fearless by nature and historic by achievement, the 14-year-old once again proved that India’s Under-19 World Cup journey is being shaped by a prodigy who already looks destined for bigger stages.
22 January,2026 08:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the WPL 2026 match against Gujarat Giants (GG), UP Warriorz (UPW) captain Meg Lanning won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Kotambi. After winning the toss, UPW captain Lanning stated that it would be nice if her team managed to put Gujarat under early pressure, considering the dew already present at the venue. She also said that having a few days off was nice and that all the players in the squad are coming together well. Lanning also compared Navi Mumbai's pitch and said that the bounce isn't quite true in nature in Kotambi. On the other hand, GG skipper Ashleigh Gardner admitted that even she would have opted to bowl first at the venue. She then said that, considering her side's performances in the initial three matches of the tournament, Gujarat has put pressure on their opponent teams while batting first. She also said that batting in Kotambi is a bit tricky and is hopeful of her team adapting to it. She feels that the batswomen should invest themselves in a couple of balls before going for the big runs. Further speaking, Gardner said that her teammates have fallen short for not showcasing their A-games at the venue. She explained that they have three games remaining and would want to win all those games. The skipper also added that it is almost about restarting the tournament. The 28-year-old cricketer will be looking to forget about the table toppers and shift her focus to displaying good cricket. GG will enter the clash by making just one change. Danni Wyatt-Hodge has come in place of Georgia Wareham. Currently, UP Warriorz is placed in third spot with four points and a net run rate (NRR) of -0.483. Gujarat Giants are in the fifth place with four points and a net run rate (NRR) of -0.864. WPL 2026, GG vs UPW: Confirmed Playing XI Gujarat Giants: Beth Mooney (WK), Sophie Devine, Anushka Sharma, Kanika Ahuja, Ashleigh Gardner (C), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Kashvee Gautam, Bharti Fulmali, Tanuja Kanwer, Renuka Singh Thakur, Happy Kumari. UP Warriorz: Meg Lanning (C), Kiran Navgire, Phoebe Litchfield, Harleen Deol, Chloe Tryon, Shweta Sehrawat (WK), Sophie Ecclestone, Deepti Sharma, Asha Sobhana, Shikha Pandey, Kranti Gaud.
22 January,2026 07:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the first T20I match against New Zealand on Wednesday, Team India emerged victorious by 48 runs at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who was struggling to find himself among the runs, delivered a helpful knock during India's batting. Facing 22 balls, he scored 32 runs, including four boundaries and a maximum. Speaking about his knock on 'Ash ki Baat', former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin said that the innings took the monkey off his back. He also noticed that Suryakumar looked in good touch and said this will be a big positive for the batsman. "It is a monkey off the back. A lot of people were talking about Suryakumar's batting and his form and all of that. In all honesty, in T20 cricket, you don't have to aim for consistency," said the former cricketer. "What I liked was that he got those runs; he looked in good touch today. If a batter wants to look to get runs, they would have looked to get a fifty. But Surya did not do that. This team has a theme, they will look to keep scoring and hitting. He looked in his element. He looked good and this is a big positive for him," he added. Ashwin also feels that Team India's management is backing all-rounder Shivam Dube to be handy with the ball as well. "Maybe there will surely be a conversation to bring in a bowler, seeing how (Shivam) Dube's bowling goes. But he got three overs today. So they are backing his bowling, and I think there are conversations around him bowling. This is probably the combination," said Ashwin. Ashwin names his top bowlers for Team India The veteran cricketer also said that he would like to watch Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Kuldeep Yadav to line up for the side. "But I am a big fan (of Kuldeep). You will have to get strong as a pack in T20 cricket and address the strengths somewhere else. If you do not have Jasprit Bumrah or someone else, then you have to address with a bit of batting depth. But in this team, you are getting runs in the powerplay, Hardik (Pandya) is scoring, you have seven bowling options. I would like to play Bumrah, Arshdeep (Singh), Varun (Chakravarthy), and Kuldeep. But if it is like today, then it is absolutely fine," concluded the 39-year-old former cricketer. (With ANI Inputs)
22 January,2026 07:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam Bulbul has confirmed that the board is firm on its decision not to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 in India. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected BCB's request to move its World Cup matches out of India. The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to kick off from February 7, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The BCB chief said the cricket body encountered some “shocking” decisions during its meeting with the ICC. "We will continue to communicate with the ICC. We want to play the World Cup, but we won't play in India. We will keep fighting. There were some shocking calls in the ICC Board Meeting. The Mustafizur issue is not an isolated single issue. They (India) were the sole decision makers in that issue," he told reporters. He added that the sport will soon make its Olympic debut, but said Bangladesh’s absence from the global event would be a failure on the ICC’s part. "ICC had denied us our request to shift our matches away from India. We are not sure about the status of world cricket. Its popularity is going down. They have locked away 200 million people. Cricket is going to the Olympics, but if a country like us is not going there, it is ICC's failure," added Bulbul. The ties between India and Bangladesh worsened after the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Mustafizur Rahman from its squad ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Bangladesh's Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul on Thursday said that the ICC failed to convince them on security concerns in India. "ICC has failed to convince us on the security question. ICC has not taken any stand on our grievances. Even the Indian government did not communicate with us, or try to assuage our fears," Nazrul said. "We haven't lost hope yet. We hope ICC will understand our genuine security risk concerns and allow us to play in Sri Lanka," he added. T20 World Cup 2026: Group C teams As of now, the Bengal Tigers are placed in Group C of the T20 World Cup 2026 along with teams such as England, Italy, Nepal, and the West Indies. (With ANI Inputs)
22 January,2026 07:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the first T20I match against New Zealand, Team India emerged victorious by 48 runs at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. After the victory, Team India's pacer Arshdeep Singh said that he tries to enjoy the game. "I try to be ready all the time. Whenever the team gives me a chance, I try to be ready and give my best. Few things are not in my hands, and I try to enjoy every game," he said. He also revealed that the same bowlers will line up for the "Men in Blue" in the global showpiece. "The team has already been announced. This is the bowling attack for the World Cup," said the pacer. During the match, opening batsman Abhishek Sharma delivered a blistering knock. Facing just 35 deliveries, he smashed 84 runs, with the help of five boundaries and eight maximums. Speaking about his teammate, the pacer said that he is hopeful that the left-handed batsman continues to play well in the remainder of the shortest format series against the "Black Caps". "Abhishek has been dominating, it's great to watch, and I hope he continues to play well in the remaining of the four T20I matches against New Zealand," said Arshdeep. Later, while chasing a massive target of 239 runs, a fighting half-century by Glenn Phillips went in vain as New Zealand suffered a 48-run defeat against Team India in the high-scoring match. Axar Patel took the massive wicket of Phillips during the third ball of the 14th over. The right-handed batter played a fantastic knock of 78 runs off 40 deliveries, including four boundaries and six towering sixes. Daryl Mitchell (28 off 18 balls, including four boundaries) and Mitchell Santner (20* off 13 balls with two fours) tried hard, but New Zealand made 190/7 runs in 20 overs and lost the high-scoring contest by 48 runs. With the ball, Arshdeep Singh (1/31), Hardik Pandya (1/20), Axar Patel (1/42), Varun Chakaravarthy (2/37), and Shivam Dube (2/28) were among the wicket-takers for India. With this win, the Men in Blue took a 1-0 lead in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. (With ANI Inputs)
22 January,2026 04:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAbhishek Sharma sent the New Zealand bowlers on a leather hunt with a scintillating 84 as India beat New Zealand by 48 runs in the first T20I here on Wednesday. Abhishek’s 35-ball knock helped India put up an imposing 238-7. Rinku Singh en route his unbeaten 44 off 20 balls In reply, New Zealand managed 190-7 in the allotted 20 overs. Glenn Phillips top-scored for New Zealand with 78 off 40 balls, while Mark Chapman contributed 39 off 24 balls. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy (2-37) and all-rounder Shivam Dube (2-28) claimed two wickets each for India. NZ’s Glenn Phillips celebrates his 50 in Nagpur. Pic/AFP Earlier, the world’s top-ranked T20I batter Abhishek showed no mercy, making the Black Caps’s fielders look like mere bystanders with eight towering sixes and five fours. Abhishek’s carefree hitting also helped his skipper Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 22 balls) get some runs although he was far from his best. But the young opener’s attack at all costs gave his skipper a chance to play himself in during a 99-run stand off 47 balls for the third wicket. Towards the end, Rinku Singh (44 not out off 20 balls) got to play an innings of substance after a long time with India ending their 20 overs in fantastic fashion. For someone who nowadays can hardly put a foot wrong, it took Abhishek exactly five deliveries to set his eye in against Jacob Duffy (2-27 in four overs) before the first of his eight maximums came out of the closet. It was a lofted six into the sight screen. 238-7No. of runs scored by India on Wednesday, their highest-ever T20I total against New Zealand EightNo. of fifties for Abhishek Sharma in T20Is in 25 balls or fewer — becomes the first player to do so, surpassing Phil Salt, Suryakumar, and Evin Lewis, all tied at seven EightNo. of sixes by Abhishek on Wednesday, the most by an Indian in a T20I innings against NZ 9007No. of runs scored by Suryakumar Yadav in T20s, only the fourth Indian to cross the 9000-plus mark after Virat Kohli (13,543), Rohit Sharma (12,248), and Shikhar Dhawan (9797) 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
22 January,2026 09:29 AM IST | Nagpur | AgenciesRiding on centuries from Anuj Chaudhary and Anup Yadav, Dnyandeep Seva Mandal (Nerul) seized control against Swami Vivekanand International School (SVIS) in the ongoing Dream Sports Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school three-day Giles Shield final at Brabourne Stadium at Churchgate on Wednesday. On Day Two, Dynandeep resumed their innings on an overnight 17-0 in 13 overs. A massive fifth-wicket partnership then tilted the contest firmly in their favour. Dnyandeep went on to post a formidable total of 330-5 in their first innings quota of 80 overs. Anup Yadav anchored the innings with an unbeaten 126 off 123 balls (19x4, 4x6) while Anuj Chaudhary provided some solid support, scoring 102 off 110 balls (7x4)The pair stitched together a decisive 199-run partnership for the fifth wicket while consuming 192 balls, a stand that effectively blunted SVIS’s bowling attack. Support from openers Atharv Kale, who contributed a steady 50 off 126 balls, and Neil Naik’s useful 38 off 95 deliveries ensured the scoring rate remained healthy without the batters taking any unnecessary risks. Left-arm spinner Dalvat Kawali was the pick of the SVIS bowlers with figures of 3-81. In reply, SVIS, who began their second innings trailing by 54 runs, found themselves under early pressure with wickets falling at regular intervals. At stumps on Day 2, SVIS were 58-5 after 17 overs. Atul Chaudhary delivered a tidy spell of 2-28 from nine overs, while Pranav Raje bowled a long and economical spell of 8 overs, returning figures of 2-30 for the Nerul outfit.
22 January,2026 09:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Rufus VedanayagamSteve Waugh has dabbled in business ventures in the two decades since calling time on his international career, but owning a franchise in the European T20 Premier League is a “challenge” the former Australia captain has embraced, with a larger mission of expanding cricket across the continent. The inaugural ETPL marks a significant step for the game in a region long considered underdeveloped in cricketing terms. “To me, Europe is the last frontier of cricket, and that’s why I’m involved. “It’s a new frontier for cricket in Europe — taking the global game there to expand it and find new cricketers. For me, being part of a franchise like the Amsterdam Flames is really exciting,” Waugh told PTI. 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
22 January,2026 09:09 AM IST | Nagpur | PTIMumbai will resume their Ranji Trophy campaign against India pacer Mohammed Siraj-led Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday. After three wins from five matches, Mumbai are on top of Elite Group ‘D’ with 24 points. Left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Shams Mulani, who is Mumbai’s leading wicket-taker with 28 scalps so far, insists the team must concentrate on each session at a time to get the better of the Hyderabad side. “I’m very excited because I love red-ball cricket. I love that grind and that patient battle. We need to focus on each session. And if we win most of the sessions, we will win the game,” Mulani told mid-day over the phone from Hyderabad on Wednesday. When asked how he viewed the team’s battle against Siraj, Mulani replied: “It’s quite normal because we play against India players in different formats. So, it’s just another challenge for us to play against a quality bowler. Obviously, performing well against India’s top bowler will boost our confidence and we need that confidence going forward in the league and probably in the knockouts as well.” Mumbai suffered a nine-wicket defeat to the same Hyderabad team in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Pune last month with Siraj claiming 3-17. However, Mulani reckoned that defeat won’t matter here. “This is a different format. T20 is unpredictable; anybody can beat anybody. But our focus is on ourselves. We have been playing some good cricket so far and must continue that,” Mulani said. Mumbai will be missing the services of experienced players ex-captain Ajinkya Rahane (who has made himself unavailable), Shardul Thakur and off-spinner Tanush Kotian (both injured).
22 January,2026 09:07 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureADVERTISEMENT
