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SunRisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) latest recruit, and perhaps their most attacking one, Liam Livingstone, cannot wait to wear the team jersey and go about his business in IPL 2026. Out of the England cricket circuit for over a year now, Livingstone aims to have a blockbuster IPL 2026, somewhat similar to his maiden season with Punjab Kings (PBKS), while eyeing an improbable comeback to the national side.&nbsp;In an exclusive chat with ESPNcricinfo, Livingstone dropped a bombshell on his fallen relationship with England’s current coaching regime, and how challenging it is for him to make a comeback as long as those in charge are holding their respective positions. However, his only chance is through performances, and he seeks IPL 2026 as the perfect opportunity to make a return to England’s white-ball teams, with the 2027 ODI World Cup looming. &nbsp;Speaking highly of the cash-rich league, where he was part of the title-winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) last year, and bought by SRH for $1.4m (INR 13 crore) ahead of this season, Livingstone labels IPL a very different experience to anything else across the year.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Hopefully, I can have a season like the season I had in my first year at Punjab [Kings, in 2022], where I felt like I was playing really well and won loads of games from No. 4.&nbsp; &nbsp;“[The IPL] is a very different experience to anything else throughout the year - it's a long time away from home - but if you give it everything you've got, it can repay you very nicely,” Livingstone said. &nbsp;SRH will play the tournament opener this time against the defending champions at the M Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bengaluru-m-chinnaswamy-stadium-cleared-to-host-ipl-2026-matches-after-expert-committee-approval-karnataka-government-ksca-safety-measures-1773660270558">Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy cleared to host IPL 2026 matches after expert committee approval</a><h3>‘Fallen relationship with ENG coaches’</h3>Livingstone last featured for England during their forgettable Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, himself calling it ‘the worst experience of his career’.&nbsp; &nbsp;Detailing more on his fallen relationship with England's head coach and other top brass members, Liam reveals that when he asked them about assisting him with his form, they told him that he cares too much and that he needs to chill a bit. &nbsp;"I was asking for help, and pretty much all I got was that I care too much and I need to chill out a little bit, and everything will take care of itself," Liam said.&nbsp; &nbsp;That’s not even it. &nbsp;After England dropped him from their white-ball teams last summer, Livingstone approached ECB Director Robert Key and even McCullum, with his phone calls with the two lasting less than a minute.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I don't think it [the call] would have reached a minute. I asked why (dropping Liam for ENG’s home series against WI in May last year), they said they wanted to try someone else. That was off Baz. Wrighty [outgoing selector Luke Wright] didn't reach out, and Brooky [captain Harry Brook] sent me a text.&nbsp; &nbsp;"That probably sums that group up as a collective. Keysy said nothing - [he] said I'll speak to you in the summer. I actually rang him one day, and he said he was busy at a Test camp at Loughborough. And then I didn't hear off him until the end of September. &nbsp;"That was a bit of an eye-opening experience about the group and the regime: if you're in, you're in, and if you're not in, no one cares about you. That put my mind at ease that my cricket was going to be more enjoyable going forward,” he revealed.&nbsp;

"It's a very different experience." Liam Livingstone eyes a blockbuster IPL 2026 with SRH after exposing a "fallen relationship" with England's coaching regime.

SunRisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) latest recruit, and perhaps their most attacking one, Liam Livingstone, cannot wait to wear the team jersey and go about his business in IPL 2026. Out of the England cricket circuit for over a year now, Livingstone aims to have a blockbuster IPL 2026, somewhat similar to his maiden season with Punjab Kings (PBKS), while eyeing an improbable comeback to the national side. In an exclusive chat with ESPNcricinfo, Livingstone dropped a bombshell on his fallen relationship with England’s current coaching regime, and how challenging it is for him to make a comeback as long as those in charge are holding their respective positions. However, his only chance is through performances, and he seeks IPL 2026 as the perfect opportunity to make a return to England’s white-ball teams, with the 2027 ODI World Cup looming. Speaking highly of the cash-rich league, where he was part of the title-winning Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) last year, and bought by SRH for $1.4m (INR 13 crore) ahead of this season, Livingstone labels IPL a very different experience to anything else across the year. "Hopefully, I can have a season like the season I had in my first year at Punjab [Kings, in 2022], where I felt like I was playing really well and won loads of games from No. 4. “[The IPL] is a very different experience to anything else throughout the year - it's a long time away from home - but if you give it everything you've got, it can repay you very nicely,” Livingstone said. SRH will play the tournament opener this time against the defending champions at the M Chinnaswamy in Bengaluru. Also read | Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy cleared to host IPL 2026 matches after expert committee approval ‘Fallen relationship with ENG coaches’ Livingstone last featured for England during their forgettable Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, himself calling it ‘the worst experience of his career’. Detailing more on his fallen relationship with England's head coach and other top brass members, Liam reveals that when he asked them about assisting him with his form, they told him that he cares too much and that he needs to chill a bit. "I was asking for help, and pretty much all I got was that I care too much and I need to chill out a little bit, and everything will take care of itself," Liam said. That’s not even it. After England dropped him from their white-ball teams last summer, Livingstone approached ECB Director Robert Key and even McCullum, with his phone calls with the two lasting less than a minute. "I don't think it [the call] would have reached a minute. I asked why (dropping Liam for ENG’s home series against WI in May last year), they said they wanted to try someone else. That was off Baz. Wrighty [outgoing selector Luke Wright] didn't reach out, and Brooky [captain Harry Brook] sent me a text. "That probably sums that group up as a collective. Keysy said nothing - [he] said I'll speak to you in the summer. I actually rang him one day, and he said he was busy at a Test camp at Loughborough. And then I didn't hear off him until the end of September. "That was a bit of an eye-opening experience about the group and the regime: if you're in, you're in, and if you're not in, no one cares about you. That put my mind at ease that my cricket was going to be more enjoyable going forward,” he revealed.

"It's a very different experience." Liam Livingstone eyes a blockbuster IPL 2026 with SRH after exposing a "fallen relationship" with England's coaching regime.

‘Very different to anything else’: Liam Livingstone eyes ‘blockbuster’ IPL 2026 with SRH

IPL 2026 is 12 sleeps away, and plenty continues to happen on the sidelines. In the latest development surrounding two former champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has named former England keeper James Foster as their new fielding coach, and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have decided against replacing the injured pace duo of Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana for the upcoming season.&nbsp;Foster has joined CSK’s coaching staff and will work under the head coach, Stephen Fleming. A seasoned coach in the franchise T20 circuit, Foster will bring his experience to the CSK camp, which plays their tournament opener against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in an away clash on Sunday (Mar 29). &nbsp;Having represented England 23 times during 2001 and 2009, Foster took up a coaching post after his retirement in 2018. Foster helped Desert Vipers lift the ILT20 title last year as the head coach. Recently, Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred appointed him as the assistant coach, while Foster has also worked with both England and New Zealand on an international scale. &nbsp;Foster is, however, not new to IPL coaching, having previously worked as a fielding and assistant coach with the KKR for several seasons. At CSK, Foster will work closely with Michael Hussey (CSK’s batting coach) and Eric Simmons (CSK’s bowling coach).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Say Yellove to our fielding coach James Foster! 💛💪🏻 Former England wicketkeeper and a coach with experience across teams worldwide, he now kicks off this new chapter with the Pride. 🦁<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dencoming?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dencoming</a> <a href="https://t.co/hXkWDBiqEX">pic.twitter.com/hXkWDBiqEX</a>&mdash; Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/2033527695653445934?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>No need for replacements</h3>On the other hand, the 2024 IPL champions, KKR, decided against replacing the two injured first-team quicks in Rana and Pathirana. Rana, who withdrew his name from India’s T20 World Cup squad at the last minute due to a knee injury, will remain unavailable for KKR this season, as he needs time to recover after undergoing surgery.&nbsp; &nbsp;The KKR management, however, believes they have enough Indian bowlers in the squad, including Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik, Kartik Tyagi and Akash Deep, and find no reason to replace Rana. &nbsp;Pathirana was also part of Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup campaign, but was ruled out midway through the tournament with an injury. Bought for INR 18 crore at the last IPL auction, Pathirana is likely unavailable for the first half of IPL 2026.&nbsp; &nbsp;KKR, however, expects him to attain full fitness and announce his availability at some point during this edition; as a result, they ruled out replacing him with an overseas quick. &nbsp;IPL 2026 begins on March 28. <a href="Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy cleared to host IPL 2026 matches after expert committee approval">RCB will host SRH in the tournament opener at the M Chinnaswamy</a>.&nbsp;

CSK appoints James Foster as fielding coach for IPL 2026, while KKR decides against replacing injured stars Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana. Get the latest details!

IPL 2026 is 12 sleeps away, and plenty continues to happen on the sidelines. In the latest development surrounding two former champions, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has named former England keeper James Foster as their new fielding coach, and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have decided against replacing the injured pace duo of Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana for the upcoming season. Foster has joined CSK’s coaching staff and will work under the head coach, Stephen Fleming. A seasoned coach in the franchise T20 circuit, Foster will bring his experience to the CSK camp, which plays their tournament opener against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in an away clash on Sunday (Mar 29). Having represented England 23 times during 2001 and 2009, Foster took up a coaching post after his retirement in 2018. Foster helped Desert Vipers lift the ILT20 title last year as the head coach. Recently, Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred appointed him as the assistant coach, while Foster has also worked with both England and New Zealand on an international scale. Foster is, however, not new to IPL coaching, having previously worked as a fielding and assistant coach with the KKR for several seasons. At CSK, Foster will work closely with Michael Hussey (CSK’s batting coach) and Eric Simmons (CSK’s bowling coach).

CSK appoints James Foster as fielding coach for IPL 2026, while KKR decides against replacing injured stars Harshit Rana and Matheesha Pathirana. Get the latest details!

IPL 2026: CSK name James Foster as fielding coach; KKR opt against replacing injured Rana, Pathirana

Virat Kohli is a cricket giant, perhaps the best of his time for India and his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), with whom he won his maiden league title in 2025. Having played for just one team across 18 editions, Kohli has rubbed shoulders with the who’s who of world cricket. Upon being asked to name his all-time RCB XI, Kohli recalled each of the top stars he shared the dressing room with in the IPL, picking the obvious ones – Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, but missed out on a title-winner, Josh Hazlewood and ex-RCB teammate and close pal, Mohammed Siraj.&nbsp;In a video released by the franchise on Monday (Mar 16), Kohli named his all-time RCB XI.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Top-order 💀💀💀 Middle-order 👊👊👊👊 Pace attack ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 Spin-twins 🌪🌪 Find out who breaks into King Kohli’s all-time RCB XI 👀 This is <a href="https://twitter.com/bigbasket_com?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bigbasket_com</a> presents RCB Bold Diaries. 📹 PS: This video was recorded at the start of the IPL 2025 season. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayBold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayBold</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E0%B2%A8%E0%B2%AE%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%AERCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ನಮ್ಮRCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/6uVeCFjegR">pic.twitter.com/6uVeCFjegR</a>&mdash; Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) <a href="https://twitter.com/RCBTweets/status/2033385264693805325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The veteran opener started with the legendary Gayle and himself at the top, with his dear friend and RCB legend AB de Villiers at three. Kohli wasted no time in filling his overseas quota first by naming the remaining two foreign players. Without thinking twice, he first named Mitchell Starc, who played only one season for the RCB and cricket bowling great Dale Steyn.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bengaluru-m-chinnaswamy-stadium-cleared-to-host-ipl-2026-matches-after-expert-committee-approval-karnataka-government-ksca-safety-measures-1773660270558">Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy cleared to host IPL 2026 matches after expert committee approval</a> &nbsp;With four foreign players sorted, he went back to the drawing board and began picking players for the remaining positions.&nbsp; &nbsp;“AB, Chris, Mitchell Starc, because he played for us…I think Dale, because I would like the bowling to be even stronger in that XI. So yeah, you got two seamers. You got Chris, myself and AB,” Kohli said before progressing. &nbsp;Choosing batters for the middle and lower order, Kohli picked his former RCB teammate KL Rahul to bat at number four, followed by RCB’s IPL-winning captain Rajat Patidar, whom Virat picked because he plays spin better than others. At six, Kohli was quick in naming his keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik.&nbsp; &nbsp;“At four, I would have KL. He had an amazing season, I think, batting at four for us. Five, I would say…give five to Rajat, maybe, because he plays spin amazingly well, and he’s one of the best Indian talents that we’ve had. Six would be Dinesh, for sure.” &nbsp;With three spots remaining, Kohli went for two leg-spinners and a pace-bowling all-rounder. After jokingly explaining Yuzvendra Chahal’s inclusion (at number 11 for his batting), Kohli next picked veteran Anil Kumble, while naming Harshal Patel to fill in at number seven.<h3>Virat Kohli’s All-Time RCB XI –</h3>Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, KL Rahul, Rajat Patidar, Dinesh Karthik, Anil Kumble, Harshal Patel, Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn and Yuzvendra Chahal

Virat Kohli reveals his star-studded all-time RCB XI. While icons Chris Gayle and ABD lead the charge, 2025 title-winner Josh Hazlewood and close pal Mohammed Siraj miss out. See the full list!

Virat Kohli is a cricket giant, perhaps the best of his time for India and his IPL franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), with whom he won his maiden league title in 2025. Having played for just one team across 18 editions, Kohli has rubbed shoulders with the who’s who of world cricket. Upon being asked to name his all-time RCB XI, Kohli recalled each of the top stars he shared the dressing room with in the IPL, picking the obvious ones – Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, but missed out on a title-winner, Josh Hazlewood and ex-RCB teammate and close pal, Mohammed Siraj. In a video released by the franchise on Monday (Mar 16), Kohli named his all-time RCB XI.

Virat Kohli reveals his star-studded all-time RCB XI. While icons Chris Gayle and ABD lead the charge, 2025 title-winner Josh Hazlewood and close pal Mohammed Siraj miss out. See the full list!

Virat Kohli picks his all-time RCB XI: Gayle, De Villiers in, but no place for title-winner Hazlewood

Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium will host IPL 2026 matches, including the tournament opener against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28, one of the playoff matches and the final, maintaining the tradition of defending IPL champions hosting the title match. A state government-appointed expert committee approved the venue for use for the upcoming season on Monday (Mar 16).&nbsp;Formed by Karnataka's Home Minister, G Parameshwara, the committee conducted a thorough review of the stadium premises last week. The day-long audit involved several checks for structural compliance, alongside desired measures taken to improve crowd control around the stadium. The expert committee gave a green signal on Monday, allowing M Chinnaswamy to host IPL matches amid venue cancellation over last year’s stampede episode that killed 11 fans.&nbsp;See Pics | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/ruturaj-gaikwad-to-michael-hussey-top-5-batters-with-most-runs-for-csk-in-a-single-ipl-season-chennai-super-kings-1773654479989">Gaikwad to Hussey: Top 5 batters with most runs for CSK in a single IPL season</a> &nbsp;While the M Chinnaswamy will host five RCB home matches in IPL 2026, Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Stadium will stage their remaining two home games, as per a pre-arranged agreement between the IPL franchise and the Chhattisgarh government.<h3>What are the safety measures?</h3>The IPL franchise has committed its engagement with the state association to roll out digital QR-coded tickets as part of several measures taken to avoid overcrowding around the venue. RCB, however, has also partnered with the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) to ensure hassle-free travel for the travelling fans.&nbsp;&nbsp;The metro services on match days will be extended until 1 am, while all parties concerned are currently working on the ticketing formalities. It’s also likely that ticket pass holders could be allowed to travel free of cost on the match days, with the BMRCL likely to increase the frequency of metro trains on all routes to prevent overcrowding. &nbsp;On structural measures, the KSCA have increased the entry points by constructing six new gates around the stadium, while also widening existing entry gates.&nbsp; &nbsp;Moreover, the state police and the association are also working to ensure that the Cubbon Road, which runs alongside the venue’s main entrance, will be cleared for vehicular movement at specific intervals during match days. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the BCCI announced the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule on March 12, with Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy scheduled to host the opener and the marquee clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday (Apr 5). The board will announce the second leg of the IPL schedule in the meantime.&nbsp;

The decks are cleared for IPL 2026 in Bengaluru. Following a high-level review on March 16, the Karnataka government has formally approved M Chinnaswamy Stadium to host RCB's home games and the season opener.

Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium will host IPL 2026 matches, including the tournament opener against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on March 28, one of the playoff matches and the final, maintaining the tradition of defending IPL champions hosting the title match. A state government-appointed expert committee approved the venue for use for the upcoming season on Monday (Mar 16). Formed by Karnataka's Home Minister, G Parameshwara, the committee conducted a thorough review of the stadium premises last week. The day-long audit involved several checks for structural compliance, alongside desired measures taken to improve crowd control around the stadium. The expert committee gave a green signal on Monday, allowing M Chinnaswamy to host IPL matches amid venue cancellation over last year’s stampede episode that killed 11 fans. See Pics | Gaikwad to Hussey: Top 5 batters with most runs for CSK in a single IPL season While the M Chinnaswamy will host five RCB home matches in IPL 2026, Raipur’s Shaheed Veer Narayan Stadium will stage their remaining two home games, as per a pre-arranged agreement between the IPL franchise and the Chhattisgarh government. What are the safety measures? The IPL franchise has committed its engagement with the state association to roll out digital QR-coded tickets as part of several measures taken to avoid overcrowding around the venue. RCB, however, has also partnered with the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation (BMRCL) to ensure hassle-free travel for the travelling fans. The metro services on match days will be extended until 1 am, while all parties concerned are currently working on the ticketing formalities. It’s also likely that ticket pass holders could be allowed to travel free of cost on the match days, with the BMRCL likely to increase the frequency of metro trains on all routes to prevent overcrowding. On structural measures, the KSCA have increased the entry points by constructing six new gates around the stadium, while also widening existing entry gates. Moreover, the state police and the association are also working to ensure that the Cubbon Road, which runs alongside the venue’s main entrance, will be cleared for vehicular movement at specific intervals during match days. Meanwhile, the BCCI announced the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule on March 12, with Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy scheduled to host the opener and the marquee clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday (Apr 5). The board will announce the second leg of the IPL schedule in the meantime.

The decks are cleared for IPL 2026 in Bengaluru. Following a high-level review on March 16, the Karnataka government has formally approved M Chinnaswamy Stadium to host RCB's home games and the season opener.

Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy cleared to host IPL 2026 matches after expert committee approval

After being out of the team for more than two years, Ishan Kishan made a strong comeback to the India squad following his impressive performances for Jharkhand in the 2025 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was selected ahead of Jitesh Sharma for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in Jan 2026 and also for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Many people were surprised by this choice because Jitesh had been part of India’s title-winning team in the Asia Cup the previous year. However, India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav said the decision was on his gut feeling.&nbsp;In an interview with Press Trust of India (PTI), Surya said it was a difficult call because Jitesh had been with the team for about a year and a half and had been playing regularly. He admitted he felt bad about leaving him out.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/people-are-treating-pakistan-like-zimbabwe-ahmed-shehzad-tears-into-men-in-green-for-bangladesh-drubbing-odi-series-loss-shaheen-mike-hesson-1773651636067">‘People are treating Pakistan like Zimbabwe’: Shehzad on ODI series loss to BAN</a>&nbsp;“It (Ishan’s selection) was completely on gut and a little bit on data as well because it was very harsh on Jitesh Sharma at that time because he was with the team for the last 1-1.5 years and he was playing as well. It’s not like he was not playing. If he was not playing, the story would have been different. I was very sad when we had to pick Ishan over Jitesh. But then if we had to bring some firepower in the top, if we had to do the openers left-right or if we had to pick the top two wicketkeepers, someone had to miss out," Surya said.&nbsp;Surya also shared that he personally called Ishan and asked him if he could help India win the World Cup and Ishan replied that Surya should trust him and the captain agreed. Surya later said that Ishan’s performances proved that the decision was right.&nbsp;&nbsp;“So, I just called him (Ishan) and asked, “will you win the World Cup?, so he just replied, ‘just trust me.’ I said, "okay, I trust you, and the way he played – it was amazing," he added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afc-general-secretary-iran-still-slated-for-fifa-world-cup-2026-participation-despite-withdrawal-rumors-us-president-donald-trump-iran-israel-war-usa-1773648150617">AFC: Iran still slated for World Cup participation despite withdrawal rumours</a>&nbsp;According to Surya, he always believed Ishan could bring something special to the team. After being dropped earlier, Ishan returned home, thought about what went wrong and worked hard in domestic cricket. He played practice matches across India, performed well in domestic tournaments and the IPL and eventually earned his place back in the team. &nbsp;&nbsp;“I mean, the way he started from the bilaterals (five-match T20I series against New Zealand), I always knew that he was bringing an X-factor to the side because he had no baggage. When he went out of the team 1-1.5 years ago, he went back home; I think he must have sat, analysed what had happened to him, and gone on to play domestic cricket. He told me his entire journey, where all he went to play; he played practice matches in every corner of India. And then the way he played domestic cricket, he performed in the IPL; I think he deserved that spot completely," Surya said.

After being picked ahead of Jitesh Sharma for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Ishan Kishan delivered strong performances, scoring 317 runs in nine matches.

After being out of the team for more than two years, Ishan Kishan made a strong comeback to the India squad following his impressive performances for Jharkhand in the 2025 edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter was selected ahead of Jitesh Sharma for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in Jan 2026 and also for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Many people were surprised by this choice because Jitesh had been part of India’s title-winning team in the Asia Cup the previous year. However, India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav said the decision was on his gut feeling. In an interview with Press Trust of India (PTI), Surya said it was a difficult call because Jitesh had been with the team for about a year and a half and had been playing regularly. He admitted he felt bad about leaving him out. Also Read - ‘People are treating Pakistan like Zimbabwe’: Shehzad on ODI series loss to BAN “It (Ishan’s selection) was completely on gut and a little bit on data as well because it was very harsh on Jitesh Sharma at that time because he was with the team for the last 1-1.5 years and he was playing as well. It’s not like he was not playing. If he was not playing, the story would have been different. I was very sad when we had to pick Ishan over Jitesh. But then if we had to bring some firepower in the top, if we had to do the openers left-right or if we had to pick the top two wicketkeepers, someone had to miss out," Surya said. Surya also shared that he personally called Ishan and asked him if he could help India win the World Cup and Ishan replied that Surya should trust him and the captain agreed. Surya later said that Ishan’s performances proved that the decision was right. “So, I just called him (Ishan) and asked, “will you win the World Cup?, so he just replied, ‘just trust me.’ I said, "okay, I trust you, and the way he played – it was amazing," he added. Also Read - AFC: Iran still slated for World Cup participation despite withdrawal rumours According to Surya, he always believed Ishan could bring something special to the team. After being dropped earlier, Ishan returned home, thought about what went wrong and worked hard in domestic cricket. He played practice matches across India, performed well in domestic tournaments and the IPL and eventually earned his place back in the team. “I mean, the way he started from the bilaterals (five-match T20I series against New Zealand), I always knew that he was bringing an X-factor to the side because he had no baggage. When he went out of the team 1-1.5 years ago, he went back home; I think he must have sat, analysed what had happened to him, and gone on to play domestic cricket. He told me his entire journey, where all he went to play; he played practice matches in every corner of India. And then the way he played domestic cricket, he performed in the IPL; I think he deserved that spot completely," Surya said.

After being picked ahead of Jitesh Sharma for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Ishan Kishan delivered strong performances, scoring 317 runs in nine matches.

'It was completely on gut...': Suryakumar Yadav on selecting Ishan Kishan over Jitesh Sharma

From Abhishek Sharma to Sanju Samson, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with highest strike rates in T20Is. This list also includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh and SuryaKumar Yadav

From Abhishek Sharma to Sanju Samson, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with highest strike rates in T20Is. This list also includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh and SuryaKumar Yadav

Meet top 5 Indian batters with highest strike rates in T20Is

Following a shattering T20 World Cup campaign, where they failed to reach the semis despite favourable playing conditions, Pakistan just lost an away ODI series to Bangladesh, their second overall and a new low in their cricket history. Failing to chase a mammoth 292 in the deciding ODI in Dhaka on Sunday (Mar 15), Pakistan narrowly fell shy of the target by 11 runs, conceding the One-Day series to a lower-ranked Bangladeshi side. Former Pakistan cricketer, Ahmed Shehzad, tore into the team’s tactics, captain’s ploy and management’s decision-making, saying people now consider Pakistan to be at Zimbabwe’s level in the One-Dayers.&nbsp;Although with no offence to Zimbabwe, who raised their levels over the years and recently made headlines for beating star-studded Sri Lanka and Australia in their T20 World Cup group stage, they are placed 11th in the 50-over team rankings, with Pakistan sitting in fourth place. While they continue to find their mojo in the ODIs, Pakistan has lost theirs, and Shehzad was in no need to keep it subtle in his assessment on his YouTube channel after the 3rd match.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-pehla-hi-uda-denge-sanju-samson-reveals-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-s-chat-with-rahul-dravid-1773640779103">‘Pehla hi uda denge’: Sanju Samson reveals Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s chat with Rahul Dravid</a> &nbsp;“After the pathetic T20 World Cup campaign, you did not make any changes. You brought youngsters out of nowhere. Now you have lost the series, and you are giving excuses of having youngsters in the playing XI,” Shehzad said on his YouTube channel. “When you don’t accept your mistakes, you will never move ahead in life.” &nbsp;Pakistan was without their star batters, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, for the Bangladesh ODIs. While team skipper Shaheen Afridi claimed that neither got dropped and rather rested for this away tour, Aaqib Javed, the chief selector, made contrary statements, saying the duo missed this series due to injuries sustained during the T20 World Cup. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Shehzad questioned the team’s tactics, asking why you (Shaheen) would bowl first after winning the toss. Bangladesh hammered a match-winning 290 for five batting first, later reducing Pakistan to 17 for three in the second innings. Although T20I captain Salman Ali slammed a gritty 106 off 96 balls, he failed to guide his team past the winning line.&nbsp; &nbsp;“When you won the toss, why did you decide to bowl? It was a good pitch. You should have batted and put runs on the board, then bowled under lights,” Shehzad said. “When your senior players behave like this, what do you expect from the youngsters?”&nbsp; &nbsp;Wrapping up on the harshest note for his team, Shehzad said, “You are becoming an associate team. People are now treating Pakistan like Zimbabwe. And then you say we crashed out of the World Cup due to the run rate. Have some shame.”

Ahmed Shehzad slams "Associate-level" Pakistan after a historic ODI series loss to Bangladesh. From tactical blunders to Zimbabwe comparisons, read the full fallout here.

Following a shattering T20 World Cup campaign, where they failed to reach the semis despite favourable playing conditions, Pakistan just lost an away ODI series to Bangladesh, their second overall and a new low in their cricket history. Failing to chase a mammoth 292 in the deciding ODI in Dhaka on Sunday (Mar 15), Pakistan narrowly fell shy of the target by 11 runs, conceding the One-Day series to a lower-ranked Bangladeshi side. Former Pakistan cricketer, Ahmed Shehzad, tore into the team’s tactics, captain’s ploy and management’s decision-making, saying people now consider Pakistan to be at Zimbabwe’s level in the One-Dayers. Although with no offence to Zimbabwe, who raised their levels over the years and recently made headlines for beating star-studded Sri Lanka and Australia in their T20 World Cup group stage, they are placed 11th in the 50-over team rankings, with Pakistan sitting in fourth place. While they continue to find their mojo in the ODIs, Pakistan has lost theirs, and Shehzad was in no need to keep it subtle in his assessment on his YouTube channel after the 3rd match. Also read | ‘Pehla hi uda denge’: Sanju Samson reveals Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s chat with Rahul Dravid “After the pathetic T20 World Cup campaign, you did not make any changes. You brought youngsters out of nowhere. Now you have lost the series, and you are giving excuses of having youngsters in the playing XI,” Shehzad said on his YouTube channel. “When you don’t accept your mistakes, you will never move ahead in life.” Pakistan was without their star batters, Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman, for the Bangladesh ODIs. While team skipper Shaheen Afridi claimed that neither got dropped and rather rested for this away tour, Aaqib Javed, the chief selector, made contrary statements, saying the duo missed this series due to injuries sustained during the T20 World Cup. Meanwhile, Shehzad questioned the team’s tactics, asking why you (Shaheen) would bowl first after winning the toss. Bangladesh hammered a match-winning 290 for five batting first, later reducing Pakistan to 17 for three in the second innings. Although T20I captain Salman Ali slammed a gritty 106 off 96 balls, he failed to guide his team past the winning line. “When you won the toss, why did you decide to bowl? It was a good pitch. You should have batted and put runs on the board, then bowled under lights,” Shehzad said. “When your senior players behave like this, what do you expect from the youngsters?” Wrapping up on the harshest note for his team, Shehzad said, “You are becoming an associate team. People are now treating Pakistan like Zimbabwe. And then you say we crashed out of the World Cup due to the run rate. Have some shame.”

Ahmed Shehzad slams "Associate-level" Pakistan after a historic ODI series loss to Bangladesh. From tactical blunders to Zimbabwe comparisons, read the full fallout here.

‘People are treating Pakistan like Zimbabwe’: Shehzad tears into Men in Green for BAN drubbing

Iran will feature at the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) general secretary Windsor Paul John said, dismissing talks around Iran’s potential boycott amid the raging conflict with the US and Israel in West Asia. Despite Iran’s sports minister’s claims on the state television of its men’s team's withdrawal from the 48-team tournament to be held in North America, and also US President Donald Trump’s ‘warning’, Iran would continue to go ahead with its participation. The Asian football body said they haven’t received any notification of them pulling out yet.&nbsp;American President Trump warned Iran on Thursday that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-us-president-donald-trump-warns-of-life-threatening-risks-for-iran-football-team-on-us-soil-iran-israel-war-1773331731117">their ‘life and safety’ could be at risk</a> should they attend the summer’s football extravaganza.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Iran National Soccer Team is welcome to The World Cup, but I really don’t believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP (TS: 12 Mar 11:00 ET)​​​‍​​‌‍​​‌‍​​​​​​​‌‍​​​‌‍​​‌‍…&mdash; Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) <a href="https://twitter.com/TrumpTruthOnX/status/2032111623020986631?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, the ongoing war in the Middle East, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on February 28, has thrown into doubt Iran's participation.&nbsp;"As far as we know, Iran is playing," said Windsor Paul John, the Asian Football Confederation's general secretary. "We are monitoring whether they are playing or not, but at the moment they are. There is no official information that they are not playing," he told a press conference at the AFC's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.&nbsp;Windsor stressed that the AFC wanted Iran, a "top team", to play in the global showpiece.&nbsp;"So, we hope that they will solve their issues... and be able to participate in the World Cup," he said.&nbsp;Earlier, Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, said the Iranian team was welcome, "but I really don't believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety."&nbsp;On the other hand, the captain of the Iranian women's football team, which played in the Asian Cup in Australia, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/3-more-iranian-women-footballers-leave-asylum-in-australia-amid-threat-back-home-iran-israel-war-national-anthem-traitors-1773554319180">withdrew her bid for asylum</a> on Sunday. Seven members of Iran's visiting football delegation competing in the Women's Asian Cup had sought sanctuary in Australia after they were branded "traitors" at home for refusing to sing the national anthem.&nbsp;Following the captain's reported move to go back on her asylum request, only two of them are now set to remain in Australia.&nbsp;A former player and a Persian-language TV channel based outside Iran said the players had been pressured to reverse their stance through threats against families.&nbsp;Iranian authorities accused Australia of pressuring the players to stay.&nbsp;The players returning to Iran were at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur awaiting their onward travel.&nbsp;Asked about the women's immediate future, Windsor said the AFC was waiting for word from the team "when they want to leave."&nbsp;"It's their decision, and we will support that," he said.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

AFC General Secretary Windsor Paul John confirms Iran is still slated for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite withdrawal rumours and warnings from Donald Trump.

Iran will feature at the FIFA World Cup 2026, the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) general secretary Windsor Paul John said, dismissing talks around Iran’s potential boycott amid the raging conflict with the US and Israel in West Asia. Despite Iran’s sports minister’s claims on the state television of its men’s team's withdrawal from the 48-team tournament to be held in North America, and also US President Donald Trump’s ‘warning’, Iran would continue to go ahead with its participation. The Asian football body said they haven’t received any notification of them pulling out yet. American President Trump warned Iran on Thursday that their ‘life and safety’ could be at risk should they attend the summer’s football extravaganza.

AFC General Secretary Windsor Paul John confirms Iran is still slated for the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite withdrawal rumours and warnings from Donald Trump.

AFC: Iran still slated for FIFA World Cup participation despite withdrawal rumours

Jannik Sinner finished a strong campaign at the Indian Wells by beating Daniil Medvedev 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in an exciting final on Sunday to win his first title in the California desert. The Italian world no. two made an impressive comeback in the second-set tiebreak, coming back from 0-4 to win seven points in a row and secure the win. Sinner also became the champion without dropping a single set throughout the tournament.&nbsp;This win also showed Sinner’s recent dominance over Medvedev, as it was his ninth victory in their last ten meetings. Medvedev had reached the final after upsetting top seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, giving the Spaniard his first loss of the season at the BNP Paribas Open.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-pehla-hi-uda-denge-sanju-samson-reveals-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-s-chat-with-rahul-dravid-1773640779103">‘Pehla hi uda denge’: Sanju Samson reveals Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s chat with Rahul Dravid</a>&nbsp;After the match, Sinner spoke about a great day for Italian sport and praised young Formula One driver Kimi Antonelli for winning the Chinese Grand Prix.&nbsp;“It’s been a special day for Italy,” Sinner said. “I’m a huge Formula One fan and seeing such a young Italian win is amazing.”&nbsp;In the women’s final, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka won her first Indian Wells title after defeating Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) in hot conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;Sabalenka showed strong determination in the deciding set. She was broken while serving for the match at 5-4, but stayed calm in the tiebreak even when Rybakina had a championship point. Sabalenka answered with a brilliant backhand winner and then finished the match with a powerful serve that Rybakina sent long.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-great-opportunity-for-us-shubman-gill-opens-up-on-india-s-plans-for-2027-odi-world-cup-1773638797980">‘Great opportunity for us’: Gill opens up on India’s plans for 2027 World Cup</a>&nbsp;“I wanted to stay mentally strong no matter what,” Sabalenka said. “I tried to show through my body language that I’m here to fight.”&nbsp;The win gave Sabalenka a 9-7 lead in her head-to-head record with Rybakina. It also came during a memorable period for the 27-year-old, who recently got engaged to Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis.&nbsp;Sabalenka, who will defend her title at the upcoming Miami Open, said she would celebrate briefly before heading to Florida to continue her good form at the next major event on the tour.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Jannik Sinner claimed his first 2026 title with a win over Daniil Medvedev at the Indian Wells, while Aryna Sabalenka snapped her losing streak against Elena Rybakina in a thrilling women’s final.

Jannik Sinner finished a strong campaign at the Indian Wells by beating Daniil Medvedev 7-6(6), 7-6(4) in an exciting final on Sunday to win his first title in the California desert. The Italian world no. two made an impressive comeback in the second-set tiebreak, coming back from 0-4 to win seven points in a row and secure the win. Sinner also became the champion without dropping a single set throughout the tournament. This win also showed Sinner’s recent dominance over Medvedev, as it was his ninth victory in their last ten meetings. Medvedev had reached the final after upsetting top seed Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, giving the Spaniard his first loss of the season at the BNP Paribas Open. Also Read - ‘Pehla hi uda denge’: Sanju Samson reveals Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s chat with Rahul Dravid After the match, Sinner spoke about a great day for Italian sport and praised young Formula One driver Kimi Antonelli for winning the Chinese Grand Prix. “It’s been a special day for Italy,” Sinner said. “I’m a huge Formula One fan and seeing such a young Italian win is amazing.” In the women’s final, world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka won her first Indian Wells title after defeating Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(6) in hot conditions. Sabalenka showed strong determination in the deciding set. She was broken while serving for the match at 5-4, but stayed calm in the tiebreak even when Rybakina had a championship point. Sabalenka answered with a brilliant backhand winner and then finished the match with a powerful serve that Rybakina sent long. Also Read - ‘Great opportunity for us’: Gill opens up on India’s plans for 2027 World Cup “I wanted to stay mentally strong no matter what,” Sabalenka said. “I tried to show through my body language that I’m here to fight.” The win gave Sabalenka a 9-7 lead in her head-to-head record with Rybakina. It also came during a memorable period for the 27-year-old, who recently got engaged to Brazilian businessman Georgios Frangulis. Sabalenka, who will defend her title at the upcoming Miami Open, said she would celebrate briefly before heading to Florida to continue her good form at the next major event on the tour. With inputs from agencies

Jannik Sinner claimed his first 2026 title with a win over Daniil Medvedev at the Indian Wells, while Aryna Sabalenka snapped her losing streak against Elena Rybakina in a thrilling women’s final.

Jannik Sinner triumphs over ‌Daniil Medvedev to secure maiden Indian Wells title

India's star opener Sanju Samson shared a story about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s conversation with coach Rahul Dravid during the Indian Premier League 2025. Last year, in an match against Lucknow Super Giants, Sooryavanshi created history by becoming the youngest player to debut in the IPL at just 14 years and 23 days, representing Rajasthan Royals.&nbsp;Samson said Dravid called the young batter for a discussion before the game and wanted to guide him because he was so young. During the meeting, Dravid asked Sooryavanshi about his plan for the match and the youngster replied very casually, saying he would just play his natural game. He added that if the first ball came in his hitting area, he would try to hit it in the air.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-great-opportunity-for-us-shubman-gill-opens-up-on-india-s-plans-for-2027-odi-world-cup-1773638797980">‘Great opportunity for us’: Shubman Gill opens up on India’s plans for 2027 ODI World Cup</a>&nbsp;Samson explained that Sooryavanshi seemed completely relaxed and confident, almost as if he was playing a video game in his own world. Dravid had asked him about his game plan, but the teenager simply said he would play his shots and not think too much.&nbsp;“I meant I was there in the meeting. So, Rahul Sir invited him to the room. Sir said, ‘Sanju, we need to talk to him. He’s a very young kid; we have to tell him how to go about it’,” Samson said at the Naman Awards in New Delhi.&nbsp;“So, Rahul Sir asked him, ‘Vaibhav, what’s the plan?’ Vaibhav said, “There’s nothing special, Sir. I’ll play, that’s it”. Dravid asked ‘What’s your game plan?’&nbsp;“Vaibhav said, “if I get the first ball in my zone, I’ll take the aerial route”. That’s exactly what he did actually. He’s playing a video game of his own,” Samson added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ban-vs-pak-3rd-odi-salman-ali-agha-s-106-in-vain-as-bangladesh-defeat-pakistan-by-11-runs-win-series-2-1-1773594553242">Salman Ali Agha’s 106 in vain as BAN defeat PAK by 11 runs, win series 2-1</a><h3>Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s performance in IPL 2025&nbsp;</h3>Sooryavanshi was bought by Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 mega auction for INR 1.10 crore when he was only 13. During the 2025 season, Sooryavanshi played seven matches, scoring 252 runs at an average of 36 and an impressive strike rate of 206.55, with a highest score of 101. His performances quickly marked him as one of the most promising young talents in world cricket.&nbsp;The left-handed batter also made history by scoring 101 off just 38 balls against Gujarat Titans at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. This knock became the fastest IPL century by an Indian and the second-fastest overall in the league.

Sooryavanshi was bought by Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 mega auction for INR 1.10 crore when he was only 13. During the 2025 season, he played seven matches and scored 252 runs at an average of 36 and an impressive strike rate of 206.55.

India's star opener Sanju Samson shared a story about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s conversation with coach Rahul Dravid during the Indian Premier League 2025. Last year, in an match against Lucknow Super Giants, Sooryavanshi created history by becoming the youngest player to debut in the IPL at just 14 years and 23 days, representing Rajasthan Royals. Samson said Dravid called the young batter for a discussion before the game and wanted to guide him because he was so young. During the meeting, Dravid asked Sooryavanshi about his plan for the match and the youngster replied very casually, saying he would just play his natural game. He added that if the first ball came in his hitting area, he would try to hit it in the air. Also Read - ‘Great opportunity for us’: Shubman Gill opens up on India’s plans for 2027 ODI World Cup Samson explained that Sooryavanshi seemed completely relaxed and confident, almost as if he was playing a video game in his own world. Dravid had asked him about his game plan, but the teenager simply said he would play his shots and not think too much. “I meant I was there in the meeting. So, Rahul Sir invited him to the room. Sir said, ‘Sanju, we need to talk to him. He’s a very young kid; we have to tell him how to go about it’,” Samson said at the Naman Awards in New Delhi. “So, Rahul Sir asked him, ‘Vaibhav, what’s the plan?’ Vaibhav said, “There’s nothing special, Sir. I’ll play, that’s it”. Dravid asked ‘What’s your game plan?’ “Vaibhav said, “if I get the first ball in my zone, I’ll take the aerial route”. That’s exactly what he did actually. He’s playing a video game of his own,” Samson added. Also Read - Salman Ali Agha’s 106 in vain as BAN defeat PAK by 11 runs, win series 2-1 Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s performance in IPL 2025 Sooryavanshi was bought by Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 mega auction for INR 1.10 crore when he was only 13. During the 2025 season, Sooryavanshi played seven matches, scoring 252 runs at an average of 36 and an impressive strike rate of 206.55, with a highest score of 101. His performances quickly marked him as one of the most promising young talents in world cricket. The left-handed batter also made history by scoring 101 off just 38 balls against Gujarat Titans at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. This knock became the fastest IPL century by an Indian and the second-fastest overall in the league.

Sooryavanshi was bought by Rajasthan Royals in the IPL 2025 mega auction for INR 1.10 crore when he was only 13. During the 2025 season, he played seven matches and scored 252 runs at an average of 36 and an impressive strike rate of 206.55.

‘I’ll take the aerial route’: Sanju Samson reveals Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s chat with Rahul Dravid

From KL Rahul to Virat Kohli, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 5000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes David Warner, AB de Villiers and Shikhar Dhawan

From KL Rahul to Virat Kohli, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 5000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes David Warner, AB de Villiers and Shikhar Dhawan

Meet top 5 batters fastest to 5000 runs in Indian Premier League

India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill has expressed that the team’s main aim is to win the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, admitting that he often thinks about it, especially after India narrowly missed out on the title in the 2023 World Cup. India enjoyed an excellent campaign in 2023, winning every match on their way to the final before losing to Australia in the title clash. Speaking at the BCCI Naman Awards in Mumbai on Mar 15, Gill said the team remains motivated after coming so close to lifting the trophy.&nbsp;“Definitely, it does. That is the ultimate goal,” Gill said on Star Sports when asked if he thinks about the next ODI World Cup.&nbsp;Gill said that lifting a World Cup for the country is the biggest dream for any player. He explained that the team felt they were just one step away from victory in the last tournament and are now eager for another chance. He added that the next World Cup will give them a great opportunity to achieve that goal.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ban-vs-pak-3rd-odi-salman-ali-agha-s-106-in-vain-as-bangladesh-defeat-pakistan-by-11-runs-win-series-2-1-1773594553242">BAN vs PAK, 3rd ODI: Salman Ali Agha’s 106 in vain as Bangladesh defeat Pakistan by 11 runs, win series 2-1</a>&nbsp;“We felt like we were so close last time when we were here in the final in India. To be able to get another crack at it in South Africa, it's going to be a great opportunity for us,” Gill said.&nbsp;“Winning a World Cup in any format for the country is the ultimate goal so obviously, that is something that sometimes runs in my mind,” he added.&nbsp;The 2027 ODI World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and it is expected to take place in October and November.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-letting-shreyas-iyer-and-phil-salt-leave-anil-kumble-on-kkr-s-ipl-retention-calls-1773570620739">‘Letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt...’: Kumble on KKR’s IPL retention calls</a>&nbsp;India are currently going through a very successful phase in ICC tournaments, as they won the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and then claimed the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The team also defended their T20 World Cup title in the 2026 edition, becoming the first side to win it back-to-back.&nbsp;Now, India have the chance to achieve a historic milestone. If Gill’s team wins the 2027 ODI World Cup, they could complete a rare white-ball treble by holding the three biggest ICC limited-overs titles at the same time. If that happens, India would become the first team in history to achieve this feat in one cycle.

After India missed out closely on winning the title in 2023, captain Shubman Gill said lifting the ICC ODI World Cup next year remains the team’s ultimate goal.

India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill has expressed that the team’s main aim is to win the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, admitting that he often thinks about it, especially after India narrowly missed out on the title in the 2023 World Cup. India enjoyed an excellent campaign in 2023, winning every match on their way to the final before losing to Australia in the title clash. Speaking at the BCCI Naman Awards in Mumbai on Mar 15, Gill said the team remains motivated after coming so close to lifting the trophy. “Definitely, it does. That is the ultimate goal,” Gill said on Star Sports when asked if he thinks about the next ODI World Cup. Gill said that lifting a World Cup for the country is the biggest dream for any player. He explained that the team felt they were just one step away from victory in the last tournament and are now eager for another chance. He added that the next World Cup will give them a great opportunity to achieve that goal. Also Read - BAN vs PAK, 3rd ODI: Salman Ali Agha’s 106 in vain as Bangladesh defeat Pakistan by 11 runs, win series 2-1 “We felt like we were so close last time when we were here in the final in India. To be able to get another crack at it in South Africa, it's going to be a great opportunity for us,” Gill said. “Winning a World Cup in any format for the country is the ultimate goal so obviously, that is something that sometimes runs in my mind,” he added. The 2027 ODI World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and it is expected to take place in October and November. Also Read - ‘Letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt...’: Kumble on KKR’s IPL retention calls India are currently going through a very successful phase in ICC tournaments, as they won the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and then claimed the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The team also defended their T20 World Cup title in the 2026 edition, becoming the first side to win it back-to-back. Now, India have the chance to achieve a historic milestone. If Gill’s team wins the 2027 ODI World Cup, they could complete a rare white-ball treble by holding the three biggest ICC limited-overs titles at the same time. If that happens, India would become the first team in history to achieve this feat in one cycle.

After India missed out closely on winning the title in 2023, captain Shubman Gill said lifting the ICC ODI World Cup next year remains the team’s ultimate goal.

‘Great opportunity for us’: Shubman Gill opens up on India’s plans for 2027 ODI World Cup

Salman Ali Agha’s fighting century went in vain as Pakistan suffered an 11-run defeat to Bangladesh in the deciding third ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday (Mar 15). With this win, Bangladesh secured the three-match series 2-1. Batting first, Bangladesh made 290/5 in their 50 overs. The highlight of the innings was a superb hundred by Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who played an impressive knock and helped his team reach a strong total. Litton Das supported with 41 runs, while Towhid Hridoy contributed 48 to keep the innings steady during the middle overs.&nbsp;For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 52 runs in his 10 overs. Captain Shaheen Afridi (1/55) and Abrar Ahmed (1/49) picked up one wicket each, while the rest of the bowlers failed to make much impact.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kimi-antonelli-sets-record-as-f1-s-second-youngest-race-winner-1773580415113">Kimi Antonelli sets record as F1’s second-youngest race winner</a>&nbsp;Chasing 291, Pakistan fought hard but were eventually bowled out for 279. Salman Agha was the top scorer with 106 runs from 98 balls, hitting nine fours and four sixes. Saad Masood scored 38 and Shaheen Afridi contributed 37. However, Bangladesh bowlers took important wickets at key moments, restricting Pakistan from reaching the target.&nbsp;For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed led the bowling attack with four wickets for 49 runs in 10 overs, while Mustafizur Rahman claimed three wickets. Nahid Rana also played a key role, taking two wickets for 62 runs.&nbsp;Also Read -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sa-vs-nz-1st-t20i-south-africa-beat-new-zealand-by-seven-wickets-lead-series-1-0-1773571007815"> NZ vs SA, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by 7 wickets, lead series 1-0</a>&nbsp;Reflecting on the win, Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said, “It was definitely an excellent match. I was also a bit nervous, especially in the last over when 14 runs were required. Everyone feels that pressure. The wicket played well, and although 300 would have been ideal, 290 was still competitive. Amim, Shankal, and Tawhid played really well, and the boys executed brilliantly under pressure.”

Salman Ali Agha’s fighting century went in vain as Pakistan were bowled out for 279 while chasing 291 in the ODI series decider against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Salman Ali Agha’s fighting century went in vain as Pakistan suffered an 11-run defeat to Bangladesh in the deciding third ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday (Mar 15). With this win, Bangladesh secured the three-match series 2-1. Batting first, Bangladesh made 290/5 in their 50 overs. The highlight of the innings was a superb hundred by Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who played an impressive knock and helped his team reach a strong total. Litton Das supported with 41 runs, while Towhid Hridoy contributed 48 to keep the innings steady during the middle overs. For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 52 runs in his 10 overs. Captain Shaheen Afridi (1/55) and Abrar Ahmed (1/49) picked up one wicket each, while the rest of the bowlers failed to make much impact. Also Read - Kimi Antonelli sets record as F1’s second-youngest race winner Chasing 291, Pakistan fought hard but were eventually bowled out for 279. Salman Agha was the top scorer with 106 runs from 98 balls, hitting nine fours and four sixes. Saad Masood scored 38 and Shaheen Afridi contributed 37. However, Bangladesh bowlers took important wickets at key moments, restricting Pakistan from reaching the target. For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed led the bowling attack with four wickets for 49 runs in 10 overs, while Mustafizur Rahman claimed three wickets. Nahid Rana also played a key role, taking two wickets for 62 runs. Also Read - NZ vs SA, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by 7 wickets, lead series 1-0 Reflecting on the win, Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said, “It was definitely an excellent match. I was also a bit nervous, especially in the last over when 14 runs were required. Everyone feels that pressure. The wicket played well, and although 300 would have been ideal, 290 was still competitive. Amim, Shankal, and Tawhid played really well, and the boys executed brilliantly under pressure.”

Salman Ali Agha’s valiant century in vain as Pakistan were bowled out for 279 while chasing 291 in the ODI series decider against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

BAN vs PAK, 3rd ODI: Salman Ali Agha’s 106 in vain as Bangladesh defeat Pakistan by 11 runs, win series 2-1

Kimi Antonelli claimed an emotional maiden victory at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday (Mar 15), finishing ahead of his teammate George Russell, while Lewis Hamilton came third to secure his first podium for Ferrari. With the win, Antonelli became the second-youngest race winner in Formula One history. At 19 years, six months and 18 days, he is only behind Max Verstappen, who won the Spanish Grand Prix in 2016 at the age of 18 years, seven months and 15 days.&nbsp;Antonelli had already made history on Saturday (Mar 14) by becoming the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One and converted that pole position into victory after both McLaren cars failed to start the race in Shanghai.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-letting-shreyas-iyer-and-phil-salt-leave-anil-kumble-on-kkr-s-ipl-retention-calls-1773570620739">‘Letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leave...’: Anil Kumble on KKR’s IPL retention calls</a>&nbsp;At the beginning of the race, Antonelli briefly lost the lead, however, once he moved back to the front, he managed the race well and comfortably drove to victory. Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari.Hamilton also made a great start and had taken the lead by the time the teams emerged from the first complex of turns.&nbsp;The Italian driver also became the first winner from Italy in Formula One since Giancarlo Fisichella won the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2006.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-1-cancel-bahrain-and-saudi-arabian-grands-prix-amid-west-asia-conflict-1773568483747">Formula 1 cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid West Asia conflict</a>&nbsp;Leclerc also launched brilliantly and managed to get past Russell, who started second on the grid.The top four swapped places multiple times before a safety car on lap 11 brought them all into the pits.Once the dust settled and they went racing again, Antonelli led from Hamilton, with Leclerc third and Russell fourth.&nbsp;By lap 29 Russell had got past both Ferraris and up to second and set off trying to catch his young Italian teammate, who was by now more then seven seconds up the road.&nbsp;Four-time world champion Max Verstappen continued Red Bull's poor start to the new season when he was told to retire his car on lap 46. Antonelli was in tears at the end as he soaked up victory.<h2>Youngest race winners in F1 history</h2><ul><li>Max Verstappen - 18 years, seven months and 15 days</li><li>Kimi Antonelli - 19 years, six months and 18 days</li><li>Sebastian Vettel - 21 years, two months and 11 days</li><li>Charles Leclerc - 21 years, 10 months and 16 days</li><li>Fernando Alonso - 22 years, 26 days</li></ul>&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Antonelli had already made history on Saturday (Mar 15)  by becoming the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One and converted that pole position into victory after both McLaren cars failed to start the race in Shanghai.

Kimi Antonelli claimed an emotional maiden victory at the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday (Mar 15), finishing ahead of his teammate George Russell, while Lewis Hamilton came third to secure his first podium for Ferrari. With the win, Antonelli became the second-youngest race winner in Formula One history. At 19 years, six months and 18 days, he is only behind Max Verstappen, who won the Spanish Grand Prix in 2016 at the age of 18 years, seven months and 15 days. Antonelli had already made history on Saturday (Mar 14) by becoming the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One and converted that pole position into victory after both McLaren cars failed to start the race in Shanghai. Also Read - ‘Letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leave...’: Anil Kumble on KKR’s IPL retention calls At the beginning of the race, Antonelli briefly lost the lead, however, once he moved back to the front, he managed the race well and comfortably drove to victory. Charles Leclerc finished fourth for Ferrari. Hamilton also made a great start and had taken the lead by the time the teams emerged from the first complex of turns. The Italian driver also became the first winner from Italy in Formula One since Giancarlo Fisichella won the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2006. Also Read - Formula 1 cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid West Asia conflict Leclerc also launched brilliantly and managed to get past Russell, who started second on the grid. The top four swapped places multiple times before a safety car on lap 11 brought them all into the pits. Once the dust settled and they went racing again, Antonelli led from Hamilton, with Leclerc third and Russell fourth. By lap 29 Russell had got past both Ferraris and up to second and set off trying to catch his young Italian teammate, who was by now more then seven seconds up the road. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen continued Red Bull's poor start to the new season when he was told to retire his car on lap 46. Antonelli was in tears at the end as he soaked up victory. Youngest race winners in F1 history Max Verstappen - 18 years, seven months and 15 days Kimi Antonelli - 19 years, six months and 18 days Sebastian Vettel - 21 years, two months and 11 days Charles Leclerc - 21 years, 10 months and 16 days Fernando Alonso - 22 years, 26 days With inputs from agencies

Antonelli had already made history on Saturday (Mar 14) by becoming the youngest pole-sitter in Formula One and converted that pole position into victory after both McLaren cars failed to start the race in Shanghai.

Kimi Antonelli sets record as F1’s second-youngest race winner

Former India spinner Anil Kumble believes that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made a major mistake by releasing Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt, who were key players in their IPL 2024 title-winning team. Despite Iyer captained the team to the championship, KKR allowed him to leave and he later joined Punjab Kings and led them to their first IPL final in 2025. While, Salt moved to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and helped them win their first IPL trophy last season.&nbsp;Kumble pointed out that when KKR won their third IPL title two years ago, Iyer and Salt were very important members of the squad. However, the franchise did not keep them, which showed a lack of consistency in their player retention strategy. According to him, letting both players go was a poor decision because it left the team without a captain who has already won the IPL.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-pakistan-captain-sarfaraz-ahmed-announces-retirement-from-international-cricket-1773573145499">Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed announces retirement from international cricket</a>&nbsp;“Two years ago, KKR won the IPL and lifted their third trophy. Two important cogs in that wheel were Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt. Both played crucial roles in helping them win but KKR let both of them go. There is no consistency from them in terms of player retention. KKR took the wrong decision by letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leave and that has left them without an IPL-winning captain, Kumble said as per a JioHotstar release.&nbsp;He also mentioned that Ajinkya Rahane is an experienced player who has captained Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. However, Rahane has not yet won the IPL as a captain. Kumble added that having a captain who has already won the tournament can give a team a strong advantage and KKR lost that benefit by releasing Iyer. &nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sa-vs-nz-1st-t20i-south-africa-beat-new-zealand-by-seven-wickets-lead-series-1-0-1773571007815">NZ vs SA, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by 7 wickets, lead series 1-0</a>&nbsp;He further suggested that the franchise needs to do a better job of keeping its key players, otherwise, it may continue to struggle and will not be seen as a strong contender for the title.&nbsp;“Yes, Ajinkya Rahane is an experienced campaigner. He has led Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. But he has not lifted the IPL title as a captain yet. Having a skipper who has won the trophy gives you an advantage. KKR let go of that advantage. They need to learn how to keep hold of their key players. Otherwise, they will keep struggling and cannot be considered favourites to win the trophy,” the legendary spinner added.&nbsp;KKR will begin their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29. After the opening match, they will play three consecutive home games at Eden Gardens in April against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

KKR will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on Mar 29. After the opening match, they will play three consecutive home games at Eden Gardens in April against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

Former India spinner Anil Kumble believes that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made a major mistake by releasing Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt, who were key players in their IPL 2024 title-winning team. Despite Iyer captained the team to the championship, KKR allowed him to leave and he later joined Punjab Kings and led them to their first IPL final in 2025. While, Salt moved to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and helped them win their first IPL trophy last season. Kumble pointed out that when KKR won their third IPL title two years ago, Iyer and Salt were very important members of the squad. However, the franchise did not keep them, which showed a lack of consistency in their player retention strategy. According to him, letting both players go was a poor decision because it left the team without a captain who has already won the IPL. Also Read - Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed announces retirement from international cricket “Two years ago, KKR won the IPL and lifted their third trophy. Two important cogs in that wheel were Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt. Both played crucial roles in helping them win but KKR let both of them go. There is no consistency from them in terms of player retention. KKR took the wrong decision by letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leave and that has left them without an IPL-winning captain, Kumble said as per a JioHotstar release. He also mentioned that Ajinkya Rahane is an experienced player who has captained Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. However, Rahane has not yet won the IPL as a captain. Kumble added that having a captain who has already won the tournament can give a team a strong advantage and KKR lost that benefit by releasing Iyer. Also Read - NZ vs SA, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by 7 wickets, lead series 1-0 He further suggested that the franchise needs to do a better job of keeping its key players, otherwise, it may continue to struggle and will not be seen as a strong contender for the title. “Yes, Ajinkya Rahane is an experienced campaigner. He has led Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. But he has not lifted the IPL title as a captain yet. Having a skipper who has won the trophy gives you an advantage. KKR let go of that advantage. They need to learn how to keep hold of their key players. Otherwise, they will keep struggling and cannot be considered favourites to win the trophy,” the legendary spinner added. KKR will begin their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29. After the opening match, they will play three consecutive home games at Eden Gardens in April against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

KKR will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on Mar 29. After the opening match, they will play three consecutive home games at Eden Gardens in April against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

‘Letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leave...’: Anil Kumble on KKR’s IPL retention calls

Wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed, who led Pakistan to the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy title and remains the only captain to have won ICC trophies at both junior and senior levels, announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on a career spanning nearly two decades. The 34-year-old represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 61 T20 Internationals, scoring 6,164 runs, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, he recorded 315 catches and 56 stumpings. His last appearance came in a Test against Australia in Dec 2023.&nbsp;Sarfaraz captained Pakistan in 100 international matches across formats and under his leadership, Pakistan also reached the No. 1 position in the ICC T20I rankings. Currently, he is working as the coach of Pakistan’s Under-19 team, having started in November last year.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sa-vs-nz-1st-t20i-south-africa-beat-new-zealand-by-seven-wickets-lead-series-1-0-1773571007815">SA vs NZ, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by seven wickets, lead series 1-0</a>&nbsp;The former captain said that playing for Pakistan was the greatest honour of his life. He remembered key moments of his journey, including leading the team to victory in the 2006 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and winning the Champions Trophy in 2017. He said becoming the captain of Pakistan was a dream come true and that he is proud to have helped young players grow into match-winners.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It has been the greatest honour of my life to represent Pakistan. From leading the U19 team to a world title in 2006 to lifting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, every moment in Pakistan colours has been special. I am grateful to my teammates, coaches, family and the fans for their unwavering support throughout my career," Sarfaraz said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-1-cancel-bahrain-and-saudi-arabian-grands-prix-amid-west-asia-conflict-1773568483747">Formula 1 cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid West Asia conflict</a>&nbsp;He further thanked his teammates, coaches, family and fans for their support throughout his career. Sarfaraz also said he always tried to play fearless cricket and build a strong and united team. He added that seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan develop into top performers during his captaincy is one of his proudest achievements.&nbsp;“Captaining Pakistan across all formats was a dream come true. I always tried to play fearless cricket and build a united team. Seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali,Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and others grow into match-winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest achievements,” Sarfaraz added.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Sarfaraz Ahmed represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 61 T20 Internationals, scoring 6,164 runs, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed, who led Pakistan to the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy title and remains the only captain to have won ICC trophies at both junior and senior levels, announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on a career spanning nearly two decades. The 34-year-old represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 61 T20 Internationals, scoring 6,164 runs, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, he recorded 315 catches and 56 stumpings. His last appearance came in a Test against Australia in Dec 2023. Sarfaraz captained Pakistan in 100 international matches across formats and under his leadership, Pakistan also reached the No. 1 position in the ICC T20I rankings. Currently, he is working as the coach of Pakistan’s Under-19 team, having started in November last year. Also Read - SA vs NZ, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by seven wickets, lead series 1-0 The former captain said that playing for Pakistan was the greatest honour of his life. He remembered key moments of his journey, including leading the team to victory in the 2006 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and winning the Champions Trophy in 2017. He said becoming the captain of Pakistan was a dream come true and that he is proud to have helped young players grow into match-winners. “It has been the greatest honour of my life to represent Pakistan. From leading the U19 team to a world title in 2006 to lifting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, every moment in Pakistan colours has been special. I am grateful to my teammates, coaches, family and the fans for their unwavering support throughout my career," Sarfaraz said. Also Read - Formula 1 cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid West Asia conflict He further thanked his teammates, coaches, family and fans for their support throughout his career. Sarfaraz also said he always tried to play fearless cricket and build a strong and united team. He added that seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan develop into top performers during his captaincy is one of his proudest achievements. “Captaining Pakistan across all formats was a dream come true. I always tried to play fearless cricket and build a united team. Seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali,Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and others grow into match-winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest achievements,” Sarfaraz added. With inputs from agencies

Sarfaraz Ahmed represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 61 T20 Internationals, scoring 6,164 runs, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries.

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed announces retirement from international cricket

South Africa produced a strong all-round performance to defeat New Zealand by seven wickets in the first match of the five-game T20I series at Bay Oval on Sunday (Mar 15). With this comfortable victory, South Africa went 1-0 up in the series. New Zealand, who batted first, were bowled out for just 91 runs in 14.3 overs after an excellent bowling effort from the visitors. From New Zealand, all-rounder James Neesham was the top scorer with 26 runs from 21 balls, hitting two fours and one six. Captain Mitchell Santner scored 15 from 19 balls with two fours, while Cole McConchie made 15 from 11 balls. Bevon Jacobs added 10 runs from seven balls, including one six, but none of them could turn their starts into bigger scores.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jasprit-bumrah-is-usman-tariq-of-fast-bowlers-pakistan-selector-aaqib-javed-bizarre-comparison-goes-viral-1773551700406">‘Bumrah is Usman Tariq of Fast Bowlers’: PAK selector makes bizarre comparison</a>&nbsp;South Africa’s bowlers dominated the innings, as nineteen-year-old debutant Nqobani Mokoena impressed with three wickets for 26 runs. Gerald Coetzee (2/14), Ottneil Baartman (2/22) and captain Keshav Maharaj (2/25) each took two wickets.&nbsp;South Africa comfortably chased down the target of 92 in 16.4 overs, finishing with 20 balls to spare. Wicketkeeper-batter Connor Esterhuizen led the chase with an unbeaten 45 off 48 balls, including two fours and two sixes, while Dian Forrester contributed an unbeaten 16 off 25 balls.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-1-cancel-bahrain-and-saudi-arabian-grands-prix-amid-west-asia-conflict-1773568483747">Formula 1 cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid West Asia conflict</a>&nbsp;For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner (1/8), Zakary Foulkes (1/8) and Kyle Jamieson (1/28) picked up one wicket each.&nbsp;South Africa will now look to carry this winning momentum into the upcoming matches of the series. The second T20I will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Mar 17.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

South Africa will now look to carry this winning momentum into the upcoming matches of the series. The second T20I will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Mar 17.

South Africa produced a strong all-round performance to defeat New Zealand by seven wickets in the first match of the five-game T20I series at Bay Oval on Sunday (Mar 15). With this comfortable victory, South Africa went 1-0 up in the series. New Zealand, who batted first, were bowled out for just 91 runs in 14.3 overs after an excellent bowling effort from the visitors. From New Zealand, all-rounder James Neesham was the top scorer with 26 runs from 21 balls, hitting two fours and one six. Captain Mitchell Santner scored 15 from 19 balls with two fours, while Cole McConchie made 15 from 11 balls. Bevon Jacobs added 10 runs from seven balls, including one six, but none of them could turn their starts into bigger scores. Also Read - ‘Bumrah is Usman Tariq of Fast Bowlers’: PAK selector makes bizarre comparison South Africa’s bowlers dominated the innings, as nineteen-year-old debutant Nqobani Mokoena impressed with three wickets for 26 runs. Gerald Coetzee (2/14), Ottneil Baartman (2/22) and captain Keshav Maharaj (2/25) each took two wickets. South Africa comfortably chased down the target of 92 in 16.4 overs, finishing with 20 balls to spare. Wicketkeeper-batter Connor Esterhuizen led the chase with an unbeaten 45 off 48 balls, including two fours and two sixes, while Dian Forrester contributed an unbeaten 16 off 25 balls. Also Read - Formula 1 cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid West Asia conflict For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner (1/8), Zakary Foulkes (1/8) and Kyle Jamieson (1/28) picked up one wicket each. South Africa will now look to carry this winning momentum into the upcoming matches of the series. The second T20I will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Mar 17. With inputs from agencies

South Africa will now look to carry this winning momentum into the upcoming matches of the series. The second T20I will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Mar 17.

NZ vs SA, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by seven wickets, lead series 1-0

From Shaun Marsh to Lendl Simmons, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 1000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes Devon Conway, Matthew Hayden and Sai Sudharsan

From Shaun Marsh to Lendl Simmons, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 1000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes Devon Conway, Matthew Hayden and Sai Sudharsan

Meet top 5 batters fastest to 1000 runs in Indian Premier League

Formula 1’s 2026 season has faced an unexpected setback after races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the West Asia involving the United States and Iran. The announcement was made early Sunday in Shanghai ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, confirming that the two Grands Prix scheduled for April will not take place because of safety concerns. Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One, said the decision was difficult but necessary given the current situation.&nbsp;“While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East,” Domenicali said.&nbsp;FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the governing body had to put the safety of everyone involved first.&nbsp;“The FIA will always place the safety and well being of our community and colleagues first,” Ben Sulayem said. “After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/uninstalled-social-media-after-my-second-zero-abhishek-sharma-on-gambhir-surya-advice-that-saved-his-t20-world-cup-1773563327234">‘Uninstalled social media after my second zero’: Abhishek on Gambhir-Surya advice that saved his T20 WC</a>&nbsp;Formula 1 also said that it looked at different options but could not find a way to replace the races in April.&nbsp;“Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April,” the statement read. “While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April.”<h3>Why were the races cancelled?</h3>The decision comes as tensions in the West Asia rise after Iran carried out retaliatory attacks following strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets. The effects of the conflict have been felt in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, creating serious security concerns for a global event like Formula 1.&nbsp;Organising a Grand Prix weekend requires moving hundreds of tonnes of equipment and large teams of staff across countries weeks in advance. With travel uncertainty and safety risks in the region, Formula 1 decided it could not take the chance.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/3-more-iranian-women-footballers-leave-asylum-in-australia-amid-threat-back-home-iran-israel-war-national-anthem-traitors-1773554319180">More Iranian women’s footballers leave asylum in Australia amid threat back home</a><h3>Have F1 races been cancelled before?</h3>Race cancellations are uncommon in Formula 1 but they have happened before. In 2023, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Italy was cancelled after severe flooding hit the region.&nbsp;Earlier, in 2022, Formula 1 ended its deal for the Russian Grand Prix after Russia invaded Ukraine. Interestingly, that same year the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix still went ahead even after Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacked an oil facility near the circuit in Jeddah during practice, with smoke visible from the track.&nbsp;Bahrain had already hosted two F1 pre-season tests earlier this year before tensions increased, however, a planned wet-weather tyre test was later cancelled soon after the strikes on Iran.

Formula 1 canceled April’s Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the ongoing conflict in the West Asia following US-Israel strikes on Iran.

Formula 1’s 2026 season has faced an unexpected setback after races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were cancelled due to the ongoing conflict in the West Asia involving the United States and Iran. The announcement was made early Sunday in Shanghai ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, confirming that the two Grands Prix scheduled for April will not take place because of safety concerns. Stefano Domenicali, CEO of Formula One, said the decision was difficult but necessary given the current situation. “While this was a difficult decision to take, it is unfortunately the right one at this stage considering the current situation in the Middle East,” Domenicali said. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the governing body had to put the safety of everyone involved first. “The FIA will always place the safety and well being of our community and colleagues first,” Ben Sulayem said. “After careful consideration, we have taken this decision with that responsibility firmly in mind.” Also Read - ‘Uninstalled social media after my second zero’: Abhishek on Gambhir-Surya advice that saved his T20 WC Formula 1 also said that it looked at different options but could not find a way to replace the races in April. “Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East region, the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April,” the statement read. “While several alternatives were considered, it was ultimately decided that no substitutions will be made in April.” Why were the races cancelled? The decision comes as tensions in the West Asia rise after Iran carried out retaliatory attacks following strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets. The effects of the conflict have been felt in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, creating serious security concerns for a global event like Formula 1. Organising a Grand Prix weekend requires moving hundreds of tonnes of equipment and large teams of staff across countries weeks in advance. With travel uncertainty and safety risks in the region, Formula 1 decided it could not take the chance. Also Read - More Iranian women’s footballers leave asylum in Australia amid threat back home Have F1 races been cancelled before? Race cancellations are uncommon in Formula 1 but they have happened before. In 2023, the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Italy was cancelled after severe flooding hit the region. Earlier, in 2022, Formula 1 ended its deal for the Russian Grand Prix after Russia invaded Ukraine. Interestingly, that same year the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix still went ahead even after Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacked an oil facility near the circuit in Jeddah during practice, with smoke visible from the track. Bahrain had already hosted two F1 pre-season tests earlier this year before tensions increased, however, a planned wet-weather tyre test was later cancelled soon after the strikes on Iran.

Formula 1 canceled April’s Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix due to the ongoing conflict in the West Asia following US-Israel strikes on Iran.

Formula 1 cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid West Asia conflict

Abhishek Sharma entered the T20 World Cup as the ranked number one batter in the format, and although he retained his spot after India's triumphant campaign, what happened in between did put him under pressure. Abhishek got off to the worst possible start to his maiden ICC event, securing three successive ducks in his first three matches. And if his poor shot selections or lapse in concentration weren’t enough, suffering food poisoning midway through the first half made things worse for him. Who came to his rescue? His head coach Gautam Gambhir, team captain Suryakumar Yadav and senior teammate Hardik Pandya.&nbsp;Fortunately, Abhishek’s poor run at the top didn’t hurt India much, as they won most of their matches, barring the one against South Africa in Super 8; however, he still needed some words of wisdom to maintain his confidence and hunger for runs. While he must have received plenty on the technical front, what helped him maintain his mind’s sanity was the installation of his social media accounts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/abhishek-sharma-is-brave-but-his-early-stardom-invited-jealousy-indian-team-sanju-samson-t20-world-cup-2026-india-vs-new-zealand-ahmedabad-1773558463003">‘Abhishek is brave, but his early stardom invited jealousy’: Sanju Samson</a> &nbsp;Abhishek explains how it did wonders for him. &nbsp;“Slowly, you get used to it (criticism and emotional breakdown amid poor form). But it does feel bad (when there is criticism). That is going to happen in India because people have a lot of expectations from you. After I scored three ducks, Surya, GG sir and Hardik Pandya came to me and said, ‘Phone pakad, social media hata abhi ke abhi [take your phone and uninstall social media right now]'," Abhishek revealed during a chat on India Today enclave.&nbsp; &nbsp;“That was the first thing I did after my second zero. That actually helped me a bit. I was getting a lot of suggestions and comments from people.&nbsp;That’s how a cricketer’s life is. You have to listen, and you will be criticised. All you can do is listen and ignore. That is because they have a lot of expectations from you. Sometimes you deliver, and sometimes you don’t. I expected this,” he continued. &nbsp;Although he scored his first runs against South Africa, Abhishek slowly roared back to form against Zimbabwe, slamming his first ICC event fifty. Having struggled against the West Indies and England during the fag end, Abhishek kept his best for the last against New Zealand in the final, where he hit an 18-ball fifty to help India start brilliantly. &nbsp;India eventually won the game and defended their T20 crown.&nbsp;

"Uninstall it right now!" Abhishek Sharma reveals the blunt advice from Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav that saved his T20 World Cup after three straight ducks. From social media blackout to an 18-ball fifty in the final—read his incredible redemption story.

Abhishek Sharma entered the T20 World Cup as the ranked number one batter in the format, and although he retained his spot after India's triumphant campaign, what happened in between did put him under pressure. Abhishek got off to the worst possible start to his maiden ICC event, securing three successive ducks in his first three matches. And if his poor shot selections or lapse in concentration weren’t enough, suffering food poisoning midway through the first half made things worse for him. Who came to his rescue? His head coach Gautam Gambhir, team captain Suryakumar Yadav and senior teammate Hardik Pandya. Fortunately, Abhishek’s poor run at the top didn’t hurt India much, as they won most of their matches, barring the one against South Africa in Super 8; however, he still needed some words of wisdom to maintain his confidence and hunger for runs. While he must have received plenty on the technical front, what helped him maintain his mind’s sanity was the installation of his social media accounts. Also read | ‘Abhishek is brave, but his early stardom invited jealousy’: Sanju Samson Abhishek explains how it did wonders for him. “Slowly, you get used to it (criticism and emotional breakdown amid poor form). But it does feel bad (when there is criticism). That is going to happen in India because people have a lot of expectations from you. After I scored three ducks, Surya, GG sir and Hardik Pandya came to me and said, ‘Phone pakad, social media hata abhi ke abhi [take your phone and uninstall social media right now]'," Abhishek revealed during a chat on India Today enclave. “That was the first thing I did after my second zero. That actually helped me a bit. I was getting a lot of suggestions and comments from people. That’s how a cricketer’s life is. You have to listen, and you will be criticised. All you can do is listen and ignore. That is because they have a lot of expectations from you. Sometimes you deliver, and sometimes you don’t. I expected this,” he continued. Although he scored his first runs against South Africa, Abhishek slowly roared back to form against Zimbabwe, slamming his first ICC event fifty. Having struggled against the West Indies and England during the fag end, Abhishek kept his best for the last against New Zealand in the final, where he hit an 18-ball fifty to help India start brilliantly. India eventually won the game and defended their T20 crown.

"Uninstall it right now!" Abhishek Sharma reveals the blunt advice from Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav that saved his T20 World Cup after three straight ducks. From social media blackout to an 18-ball fifty in the final—read his incredible redemption story.

‘Uninstalled social media after my second zero’: Abhishek on Gambhir-Surya advice that saved his T20 WC

Recently crowned T20 World Cup-winning pair Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson wreaked havoc during the finale against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, smashing respective fifties and adding 92 runs for the first wicket inside the Powerplay, a record feat. While Samson top-scored with a match-winning 89, his partner Abhishek, who was out of touch for most of the tournament, slammed an 18-ball fifty, helping India post a gigantic 255 for seven in the first innings.&nbsp;Speaking at the India Today conclave, the pair shared their on-field camaraderie, with Samson not stopping but praising India’s newest cricket sensation. However, Sanju also dropped a bombshell around the dressing room environment, considering Abhishek’s steep rise in T20 cricket.&nbsp; While he broke this notion of being labelled a calmer player of the two, as the narrative sells on the internet, Samson admitted that Abhishek’s rise to fame invited jealousy within the group.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jasprit-bumrah-is-usman-tariq-of-fast-bowlers-pakistan-selector-aaqib-javed-bizarre-comparison-goes-viral-1773551700406">‘Bumrah is Usman Tariq of Fast Bowlers’: Pakistan selector’s bizarre comparison goes viral</a> &nbsp;"We are not ice and fire, we are fire and fire. Sometimes he fires, sometimes I do. We have that kind of combination going. We have done this since 2024; we have a Kerala-Punjabi friendship in the middle. Everything comes pretty naturally to us, so we do not complicate it. &nbsp;“He asks me, 'How is the ball coming?' I tell him that the ball is coming normally, and hit it for a six. It is really simple with him. Abhishek is very brave and collected. I love his character. I really love the partnership with him on and off the field," Samson said at the India Today Conclave. &nbsp;Speaking of growing insecurities among the players with Abhishek’s unusual success rate, Samson said, "Earlier, the boys used to get jealous because of the cheers for Abhishek.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It was Abhishek, Abhishek everywhere. We were like, ‘Do people only see him or what? But yes, he is the superstar of the team now. Get married soon, bhai," he added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, despite a shallow run at the top in his maiden ICC tournament, Abhishek retained his place at the top-ranked T20I batter in the world, with Ishan Kishan, who had a breakthrough run in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup and even during it, has climbed two places to the second spot on the rankings.&nbsp; &nbsp;Samson also jumped 18 spots to sit in the 22nd position, attaining his highest rating points (637) in this format.&nbsp; &nbsp;The two, however, will return to action for their respective IPL teams when the 19th edition gets underway later this month. While Abhishek’s SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) will be in action against the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the tournament opener (Mar 28), Samson, who switched sides ahead of this season, will feature for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals at their second home venue in Guwahati on Sunday (Mar 29).&nbsp;

Sanju Samson reveals the truth behind his "fire and fire" partnership with Abhishek Sharma at the India Today Conclave. Discover how the duo’s record-breaking Powerplay fueled India's T20 World Cup win and why Abhishek remains the World No. 1 T20I batter.

Recently crowned T20 World Cup-winning pair Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson wreaked havoc during the finale against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, smashing respective fifties and adding 92 runs for the first wicket inside the Powerplay, a record feat. While Samson top-scored with a match-winning 89, his partner Abhishek, who was out of touch for most of the tournament, slammed an 18-ball fifty, helping India post a gigantic 255 for seven in the first innings. Speaking at the India Today conclave, the pair shared their on-field camaraderie, with Samson not stopping but praising India’s newest cricket sensation. However, Sanju also dropped a bombshell around the dressing room environment, considering Abhishek’s steep rise in T20 cricket. While he broke this notion of being labelled a calmer player of the two, as the narrative sells on the internet, Samson admitted that Abhishek’s rise to fame invited jealousy within the group. Also read | ‘Bumrah is Usman Tariq of Fast Bowlers’: Pakistan selector’s bizarre comparison goes viral "We are not ice and fire, we are fire and fire. Sometimes he fires, sometimes I do. We have that kind of combination going. We have done this since 2024; we have a Kerala-Punjabi friendship in the middle. Everything comes pretty naturally to us, so we do not complicate it. “He asks me, 'How is the ball coming?' I tell him that the ball is coming normally, and hit it for a six. It is really simple with him. Abhishek is very brave and collected. I love his character. I really love the partnership with him on and off the field," Samson said at the India Today Conclave. Speaking of growing insecurities among the players with Abhishek’s unusual success rate, Samson said, "Earlier, the boys used to get jealous because of the cheers for Abhishek. "It was Abhishek, Abhishek everywhere. We were like, ‘Do people only see him or what? But yes, he is the superstar of the team now. Get married soon, bhai," he added. Meanwhile, despite a shallow run at the top in his maiden ICC tournament, Abhishek retained his place at the top-ranked T20I batter in the world, with Ishan Kishan, who had a breakthrough run in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup and even during it, has climbed two places to the second spot on the rankings. Samson also jumped 18 spots to sit in the 22nd position, attaining his highest rating points (637) in this format. The two, however, will return to action for their respective IPL teams when the 19th edition gets underway later this month. While Abhishek’s SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) will be in action against the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the tournament opener (Mar 28), Samson, who switched sides ahead of this season, will feature for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals at their second home venue in Guwahati on Sunday (Mar 29).

Sanju Samson reveals the truth behind his "fire and fire" partnership with Abhishek Sharma at the India Today Conclave. Discover how the duo’s record-breaking Powerplay fueled India's T20 World Cup win and why Abhishek remains the World No. 1 T20I batter.

‘Abhishek is brave, but his early stardom invited jealousy’: Sanju Samson

Three more members of the Iranian women’s football team have changed their minds and left their asylum in Australia to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement on Sunday (Mar 15). More than half a dozen players of Iran’s visiting delegation at the Women’s Asian Cup sought refuge in Australia after their government labelled them as ‘traitors’ for refusing to sing the national anthem.&nbsp;Only three players are left now after another member of the group left to rejoin the Iranian women’s team earlier in the week. &nbsp;Detailing the latest developments, the Home Affairs minister said the relevant authorities had given them repeated opportunities to reconsider their final call, adding that the players faced an incredibly difficult time making their decisions.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/amid-chaos-five-iranian-women-s-football-players-given-asylum-in-australia-1773102820461">Amid chaos, five Iranian women's football players given asylum in Australia</a> &nbsp;"Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women's Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran," Tony Burke said. "After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options," he said.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the football drama has unfolded against a backdrop of war in the Middle East, unleashed by US-Israeli air strikes on Iran. Rights groups have repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives or with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic Republic.&nbsp;"The Australian Government has done everything we could to make sure these women were provided with the chance for a safe future in Australia," Burke said. "Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced a nation presenting them with genuine choices and interacted with authorities seeking to help them."&nbsp;Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said on Saturday that three team members -- two players and one member of the technical staff -- had withdrawn their asylum applications and were currently en route to Malaysia.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Three more Iranian women’s football team members have withdrawn their asylum bids in Australia to return to Iran. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the players chose to rejoin their team despite being labeled "traitors" and facing potential threats at home.

Three more members of the Iranian women’s football team have changed their minds and left their asylum in Australia to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran, Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said in a statement on Sunday (Mar 15). More than half a dozen players of Iran’s visiting delegation at the Women’s Asian Cup sought refuge in Australia after their government labelled them as ‘traitors’ for refusing to sing the national anthem. Only three players are left now after another member of the group left to rejoin the Iranian women’s team earlier in the week. Detailing the latest developments, the Home Affairs minister said the relevant authorities had given them repeated opportunities to reconsider their final call, adding that the players faced an incredibly difficult time making their decisions. Also read | Amid chaos, five Iranian women's football players given asylum in Australia "Overnight, three members of the Iranian Women's Football Team made the decision to join the rest of the team on their journey back to Iran," Tony Burke said. "After telling Australian officials they had made this decision, the players were given repeated chances to talk about their options," he said. Meanwhile, the football drama has unfolded against a backdrop of war in the Middle East, unleashed by US-Israeli air strikes on Iran. Rights groups have repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives or with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic Republic. "The Australian Government has done everything we could to make sure these women were provided with the chance for a safe future in Australia," Burke said. "Australians should be proud that it was in our country that these women experienced a nation presenting them with genuine choices and interacted with authorities seeking to help them." Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said on Saturday that three team members -- two players and one member of the technical staff -- had withdrawn their asylum applications and were currently en route to Malaysia. (With inputs from AFP)

Three more Iranian women’s football team members have withdrawn their asylum bids in Australia to return to Iran. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the players chose to rejoin their team despite being labeled "traitors" and facing potential threats at home.

More Iranian women’s footballers leave asylum in Australia amid threat back home

Jasprit Bumrah is the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers. It’s not us saying this, but the former Pakistan speedster and PCB’s senior selection committee member, Aaqib Javed, who made this bizarre comparison while defending Tariq's under-par showing at the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026. While Bumrah finished with 14 wickets in Team India’s historic triumphant campaign, the joint-most alongside compatriot Varun Chakaravarthy, Usman Tariq picked up 10 in five innings, including one against India in the marquee Group A game.&nbsp;Tariq was all over the headlines ahead of the first showpiece event of the year for all the right and wrong reasons. While his unique bowling action made him an x-factor and a bowler to look out for in those favourable conditions, several opposition players and even commentators urged the ICC to check on his action for a potential ‘throwing’. Having faced several allegations over his ‘suspected action’, Tariq has been cleared by the ICC previously.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-a-dream-turned-into-reality-suryakumar-yadav-reflects-on-completing-five-years-in-international-cricket-1773488954234">‘A dream turned into reality’: Suryakumar Yadav reflects on completing five years in international cricket</a> &nbsp;Defending Tariq’s shallow show at the World Cup, where he failed to make inroads with his ‘unusual’ bowling action, Javed brought Bumrah into the picture, comparing each other’s common traits.&nbsp; &nbsp;“You look at this entire T20 World Cup—there is only one bowler, Bumrah, who is also now going for runs. Because he doesn’t have a normal action and has a different bowling action, he doesn’t allow batters to gain rhythm or get into a flow. I would say he is fast bowling’s Usman Tariq,” Javed said. &nbsp;Meanwhile, unlike Tariq, Bumrah performed in crucial moments and matches for India in the tournament, delivering match-winning performances up until the final, where he made history by picking up 4/15 against New Zealand.&nbsp; &nbsp;Even against England in the semifinal in Mumbai, Bumrah dismissed their captain Harry Brook on the first ball of his spell, similarly accounting for Kiwi youngster Rachin Ravindra in the finale. &nbsp;While Bumrah is a veteran across formats, having picked 121 wickets in 95 T20Is, Tariq has featured in only nine international matches, picking up a mere 18 wickets.&nbsp;

"He is the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers." Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed sparks a massive social media storm after comparing Indian legend Jasprit Bumrah to the "mystery" spinner. Read why the bizarre analogy has fans calling it "Ferrari vs. Bicycle" following India’s T20 World Cup triumph.

Jasprit Bumrah is the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers. It’s not us saying this, but the former Pakistan speedster and PCB’s senior selection committee member, Aaqib Javed, who made this bizarre comparison while defending Tariq's under-par showing at the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026. While Bumrah finished with 14 wickets in Team India’s historic triumphant campaign, the joint-most alongside compatriot Varun Chakaravarthy, Usman Tariq picked up 10 in five innings, including one against India in the marquee Group A game. Tariq was all over the headlines ahead of the first showpiece event of the year for all the right and wrong reasons. While his unique bowling action made him an x-factor and a bowler to look out for in those favourable conditions, several opposition players and even commentators urged the ICC to check on his action for a potential ‘throwing’. Having faced several allegations over his ‘suspected action’, Tariq has been cleared by the ICC previously. Also read | ‘A dream turned into reality’: Suryakumar Yadav reflects on completing five years in international cricket Defending Tariq’s shallow show at the World Cup, where he failed to make inroads with his ‘unusual’ bowling action, Javed brought Bumrah into the picture, comparing each other’s common traits. “You look at this entire T20 World Cup—there is only one bowler, Bumrah, who is also now going for runs. Because he doesn’t have a normal action and has a different bowling action, he doesn’t allow batters to gain rhythm or get into a flow. I would say he is fast bowling’s Usman Tariq,” Javed said. Meanwhile, unlike Tariq, Bumrah performed in crucial moments and matches for India in the tournament, delivering match-winning performances up until the final, where he made history by picking up 4/15 against New Zealand. Even against England in the semifinal in Mumbai, Bumrah dismissed their captain Harry Brook on the first ball of his spell, similarly accounting for Kiwi youngster Rachin Ravindra in the finale. While Bumrah is a veteran across formats, having picked 121 wickets in 95 T20Is, Tariq has featured in only nine international matches, picking up a mere 18 wickets.

"He is the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers." Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed sparks a massive social media storm after comparing Indian legend Jasprit Bumrah to the "mystery" spinner. Read why the bizarre analogy has fans calling it "Ferrari vs. Bicycle" following India’s T20 World Cup triumph.

‘Bumrah is Usman Tariq of Fast Bowlers’: Pakistan selector’s bizarre comparison goes viral

Arsenal’s teenager, Max Dowman, at 16 years and 73 days, became the youngest-ever goal-scorer in Premier League and Gunners’ history, helping his side beat Everton on Saturday (Mar 14) and take a nine-point lead against Manchester City, who stumbled in a 1-1 draw at West Ham. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is chasing its first Premier League title in 22 years, and with nine points and one game in hand over their closest rivals, they have a chance to realise their dream this season. Meanwhile, City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted that the title race is not over yet, adding that the former champions will do everything possible to chase another PL trophy.&nbsp;Arsenal struggled to break down obdurate Everton until the teenage substitute turned the game in the final moments. Viktor Gyokeres finally found a way through in the 89th minute, with a helping hand from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who flapped at Dowman's cross. The ensuing scenes of delirium on the pitch and in the stands underlined the significance of a fourth successive league win.&nbsp;There was still time for Dowman to run the length of the pitch and slot into an empty net with Pickford nowhere to be seen after coming up for an Everton corner in stoppage time.&nbsp;Watch Dowman's goal vs Everton -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Max&#39;s magic moment ✨ <a href="https://t.co/TauqiaH7zO">pic.twitter.com/TauqiaH7zO</a>&mdash; Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/2032940081636585597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"He changed the game every time he got the ball. He made things happen, and we looked like more of a threat," Arteta said of the 16-year-old. "To do it at that age, in this context, with the pressure and expectations to win the game, it's just not normal."&nbsp;Arsenal, trophyless since 2020, remain in the hunt for a quadruple.&nbsp;The leaders rode their luck to beat a depleted Everton, adding to the mounting feeling that they will be one of the least stylistically impressive champions in recent memory if they do take the crown.&nbsp;But Arteta and company won't care about that ahead of a huge week.&nbsp;The Gunners have a Champions League last-16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen next week, with the tie level at 1-1, before heading to Wembley to face City in the League Cup final.<h3>Man City, down but not out!</h3>On the other hand, City's season is in danger of coming off the rails as West Ham clung on for a point that lifted them out of the relegation zone for the first time in three months. Pep Guardiola's men were thrashed 3-0 by Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in midweek and have dropped four points to sides battling relegation in their last two Premier League outings.&nbsp;Bernardo Silva's attempted cross floated in at the far post to give City the lead at the London Stadium. But the advantage lasted less than four minutes before Konstantinos Mavropanos headed in from a corner.&nbsp;City dominated the second half but failed to find a way through as Erling Haaland's barren spell in front of goal goes on.&nbsp;"It's not over. Who said that? We didn't lose. We will continue," Pep said of City’s title chances this season. "Nine points is a lot against Arsenal, but it happened. We have the game at home, so we have to try until the end.&nbsp;"When it is not possible, then we congratulate the champion, but we have to try,” he continued.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Max Dowman makes history! At 16, the teenager becomes the youngest-ever Premier League scorer as Arsenal beat Everton to go 9 points clear of Manchester City. Watch the record-breaking goal and see how Mikel Arteta’s side moved one step closer to their first title in 22 years.

Arsenal’s teenager, Max Dowman, at 16 years and 73 days, became the youngest-ever goal-scorer in Premier League and Gunners’ history, helping his side beat Everton on Saturday (Mar 14) and take a nine-point lead against Manchester City, who stumbled in a 1-1 draw at West Ham. Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal is chasing its first Premier League title in 22 years, and with nine points and one game in hand over their closest rivals, they have a chance to realise their dream this season. Meanwhile, City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted that the title race is not over yet, adding that the former champions will do everything possible to chase another PL trophy. Arsenal struggled to break down obdurate Everton until the teenage substitute turned the game in the final moments. Viktor Gyokeres finally found a way through in the 89th minute, with a helping hand from Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who flapped at Dowman's cross. The ensuing scenes of delirium on the pitch and in the stands underlined the significance of a fourth successive league win. There was still time for Dowman to run the length of the pitch and slot into an empty net with Pickford nowhere to be seen after coming up for an Everton corner in stoppage time. Watch Dowman's goal vs Everton -

Max Dowman makes history! At 16, the teenager becomes the youngest-ever Premier League scorer as Arsenal beat Everton to go 9 points clear of Manchester City. Watch the record-breaking goal and see how Mikel Arteta’s side moved one step closer to their first title in 22 years.

Dowman, 16, makes Premier League history as Arsenal move 9 points clear; Pep insists title race isn't over

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting praised the leadership of India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav during his first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as skipper and said that although Suryakumar did not perform very well with the bat, but he still did an excellent job leading the team. During the tournament, the 35-year-old scored 242 runs in nine innings and his best performance was an important unbeaten innings of 84 runs from 49 balls against the United States, which helped save the match for India.&nbsp;Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting explained that leadership is not only about what happens on the field. He added that a captain’s work off the field, including communication and supporting teammates is equally important.&nbsp;Ponting added that it can be very difficult to captain a team when a player is not in top batting form. On the other hand, when a captain is scoring runs consistently, leading the team becomes much easier.&nbsp;“It’s about a lot more about what they do off the field, the things that people don’t see and how they interact with their players,” Ponting said, on The ICC Review.&nbsp;&nbsp;“He didn’t have a great time himself as a player, but still he’s standing at the end holding up a World Cup trophy. I know as a former captain, when you’re not batting at your absolute best, captaincy can become really difficult. And when you are batting well, captaincy can become really easy.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/delhi-capitals-kevin-pietersen-steps-down-as-mentor-ahead-of-ipl-2026-1773494646375">Delhi Capitals’ Kevin Pietersen steps down as mentor ahead of IPL 2026</a>&nbsp;He also said that the true example of Suryakumar’s leadership would be seen in how he supported players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in recent weeks. According to Ponting, leadership is not only about guiding the team’s main players but also about helping younger or struggling players regain confidence and improve their form.&nbsp;“It would have been really interesting to see how Surya has interacted with Abhishek and Sanju Samson over the last few weeks. That’s where the real stories will come out on true leadership.”&nbsp;“You don’t have to worry about the staples, it’s more the guys on the fringe and the younger guys going up and down with their emotions and battling with their form, the ones you have to spend the most time with,” said Ponting.

Apart from an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls against the United States in the opening game in Mumbai, the Suryakumar Yadav managed only 158 runs across his remaining eight innings.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting praised the leadership of India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav during his first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as skipper and said that although Suryakumar did not perform very well with the bat, but he still did an excellent job leading the team. During the tournament, the 35-year-old scored 242 runs in nine innings and his best performance was an important unbeaten innings of 84 runs from 49 balls against the United States, which helped save the match for India. Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting explained that leadership is not only about what happens on the field. He added that a captain’s work off the field, including communication and supporting teammates is equally important. Ponting added that it can be very difficult to captain a team when a player is not in top batting form. On the other hand, when a captain is scoring runs consistently, leading the team becomes much easier. “It’s about a lot more about what they do off the field, the things that people don’t see and how they interact with their players,” Ponting said, on The ICC Review. “He didn’t have a great time himself as a player, but still he’s standing at the end holding up a World Cup trophy. I know as a former captain, when you’re not batting at your absolute best, captaincy can become really difficult. And when you are batting well, captaincy can become really easy.” Also Read - Delhi Capitals’ Kevin Pietersen steps down as mentor ahead of IPL 2026 He also said that the true example of Suryakumar’s leadership would be seen in how he supported players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in recent weeks. According to Ponting, leadership is not only about guiding the team’s main players but also about helping younger or struggling players regain confidence and improve their form. “It would have been really interesting to see how Surya has interacted with Abhishek and Sanju Samson over the last few weeks. That’s where the real stories will come out on true leadership.” “You don’t have to worry about the staples, it’s more the guys on the fringe and the younger guys going up and down with their emotions and battling with their form, the ones you have to spend the most time with,” said Ponting.

Apart from an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls against the United States in the opening game in Mumbai, the Suryakumar Yadav managed only 158 runs across his remaining eight innings.

'When you’re not batting at your best...': Ricky Ponting reflects on Suryakumar Yadav’s T20 World Cup captaincy

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has stepped down as mentor of Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season. The 45-year-old had joined the Capitals as a mentor before the 2025 season, marking a return to the franchise where he once played during his cricket career. The 19th edition of the IPL is set to begin on Mar 28, but Pietersen announced that he cannot continue in the role because he does not have enough time to fulfil the responsibilities.&nbsp;In a post on X, he said he would not be able to serve as Delhi’s mentor this season and wished the players good luck. However, he confirmed that fans will still see him during the tournament as part of the commentary team.&nbsp;“I will not be able to serve as a mentor for Delhi Capitals in this IPL season. I cannot commit the time that the role requires,” Pietersen wrote on X.&nbsp;“Wishing all the players the very best for this season! However, you will see me back in the commentary box! IPL is the best league in the world, and I can’t wait to see all of you very soon!” Pietersen added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-a-dream-turned-into-reality-suryakumar-yadav-reflects-on-completing-five-years-in-international-cricket-1773488954234">‘A dream turned into reality’: Suryakumar Yadav reflects on completing five years in international cricket</a>&nbsp;In the 2025 IPL season, Delhi Capitals had a mixed campaign, as the team finished fifth in the league stage and just missed out on the playoffs. They earned 15 points after winning seven matches, losing six and having one match washed out.&nbsp;KL Rahul was the team’s top scorer with 539 runs, while spinner Kuldeep Yadav took the most wickets with 15. Even though the team showed good form at times, they struggled to stay consistent in important games.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chinese-gp-kimi-antonelli-sets-new-record-as-youngest-pole-sitter-1773487273694">Chinese GP: Kimi Antonelli sets new record as youngest pole sitter</a>&nbsp;Before the 2026 auction, the Capitals decided to keep their main players, including Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc. They also added new players such as David Miller, Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi and Kyle Jamieson to strengthen their batting and pace attack.&nbsp;Delhi Capitals will start their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Delhi Capitals will start their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has stepped down as mentor of Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season. The 45-year-old had joined the Capitals as a mentor before the 2025 season, marking a return to the franchise where he once played during his cricket career. The 19th edition of the IPL is set to begin on Mar 28, but Pietersen announced that he cannot continue in the role because he does not have enough time to fulfil the responsibilities. In a post on X, he said he would not be able to serve as Delhi’s mentor this season and wished the players good luck. However, he confirmed that fans will still see him during the tournament as part of the commentary team. “I will not be able to serve as a mentor for Delhi Capitals in this IPL season. I cannot commit the time that the role requires,” Pietersen wrote on X. “Wishing all the players the very best for this season! However, you will see me back in the commentary box! IPL is the best league in the world, and I can’t wait to see all of you very soon!” Pietersen added. Also Read - ‘A dream turned into reality’: Suryakumar Yadav reflects on completing five years in international cricket In the 2025 IPL season, Delhi Capitals had a mixed campaign, as the team finished fifth in the league stage and just missed out on the playoffs. They earned 15 points after winning seven matches, losing six and having one match washed out. KL Rahul was the team’s top scorer with 539 runs, while spinner Kuldeep Yadav took the most wickets with 15. Even though the team showed good form at times, they struggled to stay consistent in important games. Also Read - Chinese GP: Kimi Antonelli sets new record as youngest pole sitter Before the 2026 auction, the Capitals decided to keep their main players, including Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc. They also added new players such as David Miller, Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi and Kyle Jamieson to strengthen their batting and pace attack. Delhi Capitals will start their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Delhi Capitals will start their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Delhi Capitals’ Kevin Pietersen steps down as mentor ahead of IPL 2026

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Delhi Capitals’ Kevin Pietersen steps down as mentor ahead of IPL 2026