Mumbai Indians will kick start their Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) campaign on Sunday (Mar 29) as they take on three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The contest, however, will come early for some of MI’s key players with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Will Jacks and Mitchell Santner out of contention. The trio was not part of the mandatory training session on Friday, indicating they will all but miss the opening clash. ‘<h2>Bumrah, Jacks to miss KKR clash</h2>According to prominent cricket website Espncricinfo, Bumrah is still undergoing rehabilitation and was recently spotted at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. It is likely that Bumrah will be rested for a few matches in the early stage of the tournament. While the injury is not serious, the MI team management is not risking Bumrah’s availability and maintains a long-term vision.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Santner is yet to arrive in India for the IPL 2026, having traveled to New Zealand to face South Africa in a five-match T20I series. Santner led New Zealand to the final of the T20 World Cup 2026 earlier in the month.<h2>MS Dhoni will also miss IPL opener</h2>Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Indian cricketing icon MS Dhoni is likely to miss the first two weeks of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 due to a calf strain, announced the franchise on Saturday. A statement issued by the Yellow franchise said, "MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain. As a result, he is likely to miss the first two weeks of the TATA IPL 2026. Get well soon, Thala!"&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;CSK will be starting the season on March 30 against the 2008 champions, Rajasthan Royals, at Guwahati, with the former RR player Sanju Samson now having joined the Yellow franchise, and the veteran CSK, India legend Ravindra Jadeja getting a homecoming to RR after a trade ahead of the auction. The trade also involved English all-rounder Sam Curran being traded from CSK to RR, but the pace bowling all-rounder will miss out on the tournament due to injury.

According to prominent cricket website Espncricinfo, Jasprit Bumrah is still undergoing rehabilitation and was recently spotted at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. It is likely that Bumrah will be rested for a few matches in the early stage of the tournament. 

Mumbai Indians will kick start their Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) campaign on Sunday (Mar 29) as they take on three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The contest, however, will come early for some of MI’s key players with the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Will Jacks and Mitchell Santner out of contention. The trio was not part of the mandatory training session on Friday, indicating they will all but miss the opening clash. ‘ Bumrah, Jacks to miss KKR clash According to prominent cricket website Espncricinfo, Bumrah is still undergoing rehabilitation and was recently spotted at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. It is likely that Bumrah will be rested for a few matches in the early stage of the tournament. While the injury is not serious, the MI team management is not risking Bumrah’s availability and maintains a long-term vision. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Santner is yet to arrive in India for the IPL 2026, having traveled to New Zealand to face South Africa in a five-match T20I series. Santner led New Zealand to the final of the T20 World Cup 2026 earlier in the month. MS Dhoni will also miss IPL opener Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Indian cricketing icon MS Dhoni is likely to miss the first two weeks of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 due to a calf strain, announced the franchise on Saturday. A statement issued by the Yellow franchise said, "MS Dhoni is currently undergoing rehabilitation for a calf strain. As a result, he is likely to miss the first two weeks of the TATA IPL 2026. Get well soon, Thala!" ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL CSK will be starting the season on March 30 against the 2008 champions, Rajasthan Royals, at Guwahati, with the former RR player Sanju Samson now having joined the Yellow franchise, and the veteran CSK, India legend Ravindra Jadeja getting a homecoming to RR after a trade ahead of the auction. The trade also involved English all-rounder Sam Curran being traded from CSK to RR, but the pace bowling all-rounder will miss out on the tournament due to injury.

According to prominent cricket website Espncricinfo, Jasprit Bumrah is still undergoing rehabilitation and was recently spotted at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru. It is likely that Bumrah will be rested for a few matches in the early stage of the tournament.&nbsp;

IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians to miss key players including Jasprit Bumrah, Will Jacks for KKR clash

From Jasprit Bumrah to Rashid Khan, here's a look at the top five bowlers fastest to 150 wickets in Indian Premier League. This list also includes Lasith Malinga, Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal

Meet top 5 bowlers fastest to 150 wickets in Indian Premier League

Lucknow Super Giants's speedster Mayank Yadav has gone through a very difficult phase over the past two years, as the 23-year-old faced several serious injuries that could have ended his career. However, with IPL 2026 approaching, he has returned stronger and says he is now much more careful about his fitness. The pacer suffered a major injury during IPL 2024, followed by a significant back issue that ruled him out of IPL 2025. He later underwent surgery and completed his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, where Jasprit Bumrah played a key role in supporting and guiding him.&nbsp;Mayank admitted that earlier he did not take proper care of his body and often skipped recovery sessions. But after surgery, his mindset changed and now he focuses on recovery, good food and proper sleep. He believes that if he takes care of his body, it will help him perform better on the field.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ecb-decides-to-not-sack-mccullum-after-ashses-debacle-review-and-stokes-f-g-love-it-1774330362059">ECB decides to not sack McCullum after Ashses debacle review and Stokes is ecstatic</a>&nbsp;“Everything has changed for me post-surgery. Earlier, I never used to take care of myself. Whenever I had to do a recovery session, I used to avoid it and neglect many aspects. But after the surgery, I paid a lot of attention to recovery, nutrition and sleep. The more I respect my body, the more my body respects me on the field," Mayank said.&nbsp;He also said that talking to Bumrah during rehab helped him a lot. Since the Indian pacer had gone through a similar injury and recovery, he shared useful advice about handling the body.&nbsp;&nbsp;“When I was in rehab at the NCA, Bumrah bhaiya (brother) was also there. I have a very good bond with him. He is like a teacher to me. He also had the same surgery, the same scenario," he said.&nbsp;“Bumrah bhaiya shared his experience of how to come back after surgery and what things to pay attention to. He told me how the body will be during recovery, how it will react. Sometimes it will feel good, sometimes not. Whenever we talk on the call or messages, he shares his experience as much as possible," added Mayank.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/los-angeles-dodgers-eye-threepeat-as-robot-umpires-make-way-in-mlb-1774321512395">Los Angeles Dodgers eye threepeat as robot umpires make way in MLB</a>&nbsp;The 23-year-old first realised his bowling speed when trainers measured it with a speed gun in the IPL; that’s when he understood his talent and decided to value it more. He added that fast bowling is always challenging because it puts a lot of pressure on both the body and mind.&nbsp;&nbsp;“When I came to the IPL for the first time, our trainers used to measure our bowling speed with a speed gun. At that time, I came to know that I have this talent, I have this gift. So now I have to respect it," said Mayank.&nbsp;“With fast bowling, things are always a little dicey, whether you can do it or not. There is a lot of stress on the body, physically and mentally," he added.

After being ruled out of IPL 2025, Mayank Yadav underwent surgery and completed his rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru, where Jasprit Bumrah played a key role in  guiding him.

Lucknow Super Giants's speedster Mayank Yadav has gone through a very difficult phase over the past two years, as the 23-year-old faced several serious injuries that could have ended his career. However, with IPL 2026 approaching, he has returned stronger and says he is now much more careful about his fitness. The pacer suffered a major injury during IPL 2024, followed by a significant back issue that ruled him out of IPL 2025. He later underwent surgery and completed his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, where Jasprit Bumrah played a key role in supporting and guiding him. Mayank admitted that earlier he did not take proper care of his body and often skipped recovery sessions. But after surgery, his mindset changed and now he focuses on recovery, good food and proper sleep. He believes that if he takes care of his body, it will help him perform better on the field. Also Read - ECB decides to not sack McCullum after Ashses debacle review and Stokes is ecstatic “Everything has changed for me post-surgery. Earlier, I never used to take care of myself. Whenever I had to do a recovery session, I used to avoid it and neglect many aspects. But after the surgery, I paid a lot of attention to recovery, nutrition and sleep. The more I respect my body, the more my body respects me on the field," Mayank said. He also said that talking to Bumrah during rehab helped him a lot. Since the Indian pacer had gone through a similar injury and recovery, he shared useful advice about handling the body. “When I was in rehab at the NCA, Bumrah bhaiya (brother) was also there. I have a very good bond with him. He is like a teacher to me. He also had the same surgery, the same scenario," he said. “Bumrah bhaiya shared his experience of how to come back after surgery and what things to pay attention to. He told me how the body will be during recovery, how it will react. Sometimes it will feel good, sometimes not. Whenever we talk on the call or messages, he shares his experience as much as possible," added Mayank. Also Read - Los Angeles Dodgers eye threepeat as robot umpires make way in MLB The 23-year-old first realised his bowling speed when trainers measured it with a speed gun in the IPL; that’s when he understood his talent and decided to value it more. He added that fast bowling is always challenging because it puts a lot of pressure on both the body and mind. “When I came to the IPL for the first time, our trainers used to measure our bowling speed with a speed gun. At that time, I came to know that I have this talent, I have this gift. So now I have to respect it," said Mayank. “With fast bowling, things are always a little dicey, whether you can do it or not. There is a lot of stress on the body, physically and mentally," he added.

After being ruled out of IPL 2025, Mayank Yadav underwent surgery and completed his rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru, where Jasprit Bumrah played a key role in guiding him.

‘He is like a teacher to me’: LSG youngster credits Jasprit Bumrah for injury comeback

India won the record third T20 World Cup by beating New Zealand on Sunday (Mar 8). India played near-perfect final but were patchy in their performance in the matches prior to that including losing to SA in Super 8.

From SKY's rescue act vs USA to Axar's twin catches: India's Top Moments in Historic T20 World Cup 2026 Win

From Jasprit Bumrah to Varun Chakaravarthy, here's a look at the top five bowlers with most wickets in T20 World Cup 2026. This list also includes SC van Schalkwyk, Blessing Muzarabani and Adil Rashid

Meet top 5 bowlers with most wickets in T20 World Cup 2026

India's Sanju Samson won the Player of the Series, Jasprit Bumrah was POTM in Final, Pak's Sahibzada Farhan scored 383 runs - the most in the tournament and India's Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy took 14 wickets each - the most in the tournament.

T20 World Cup 2026 Awards List: Player of the Match in Final, Player of the Series, best batter, bowler and more - Check Full List Inside

From Jasprit Bumrah to Yuzvendra Chahal, here's a look at the top five Indian bowlers with most T20I wickets against New Zealand. This list also includes Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh

5 Indian bowlers with most T20I wickets against New Zealand

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis praised India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a “superpower” for any captain after he played a key role in India’s thrilling semi-final win over England in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday (Mar 5). In a high-scoring contest where both teams crossed the 240-run mark, Bumrah produced an outstanding spell that helped India seal a dramatic seven-run victory and book a place in the final.&nbsp;Praising Bumrah’s ability to deliver under pressure, Du Plessis said India is very fortunate to have a bowler like him. He explained that giving Bumrah the ball in crucial moments is like having a special weapon that every captain dreams of.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-is-finalissimma-2026-argentina-vs-spain-match-fate-on-march-27-in-qatar-hanging-in-balance-amid-us-israel-iran-war-1772773885610">Finalissimma 2026 | Argentina vs Spain match fate on March 27 in Qatar hanging in balance amid US-Israel-Iran war</a>&nbsp;“Team India doesn't understand how lucky they are to have him in their ranks. It is just proven time and time and time again, regardless of the format, you just give him the ball and he wins you games. It's a superpower that any captain will dream of; it's like having a genie, you just rub the lamp and out comes Bumrah," Du Plessis told ESPNcricinfo. &nbsp;&nbsp;In the run-fest where 499 runs were scored across both innings, Bumrah conceded just 33 runs at an economy rate of just 8.25 while picking up a crucial wicket. His disciplined spell came at key stages of England’s chase, with the pacer bowling in the fifth, 11th, 16th and 18th overs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/harry-brook-takes-blame-for-england-heartbreaking-loss-says-dropping-sanju-samson-catch-was-a-big-mistake-t20-world-cup-semifinal-mumbai-india-1772736091688">Brook takes blame for England’s loss, says dropping Samson was a big mistake</a>&nbsp;Du Plessis also pointed out that Bumrah’s unusual bowling action makes him difficult for batters to read. Even when his delivery is slightly off, batters often struggle to react in time. He compared Bumrah’s unique style to that of former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who also troubled batters with his distinctive action.&nbsp;&nbsp;“His action is so unique that you struggle to pick up how quickly the ball comes out of his wrist. It's a skill, but it is also to do with the mystery of his action, almost like what Lasith Malinga did back in the day. The point of difference makes it really hard to line him up in terms of if he misses,” the former South African player added.&nbsp;&nbsp;India will now face New Zealand in their second consecutive T20 World Cup final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

India will now face New Zealand in their second consecutive T20 World Cup final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis praised India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, calling him a “superpower” for any captain after he played a key role in India’s thrilling semi-final win over England in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at Wankhede Stadium on Thursday (Mar 5). In a high-scoring contest where both teams crossed the 240-run mark, Bumrah produced an outstanding spell that helped India seal a dramatic seven-run victory and book a place in the final. Praising Bumrah’s ability to deliver under pressure, Du Plessis said India is very fortunate to have a bowler like him. He explained that giving Bumrah the ball in crucial moments is like having a special weapon that every captain dreams of. Also Read - Finalissimma 2026 | Argentina vs Spain match fate on March 27 in Qatar hanging in balance amid US-Israel-Iran war “Team India doesn't understand how lucky they are to have him in their ranks. It is just proven time and time and time again, regardless of the format, you just give him the ball and he wins you games. It's a superpower that any captain will dream of; it's like having a genie, you just rub the lamp and out comes Bumrah," Du Plessis told ESPNcricinfo. In the run-fest where 499 runs were scored across both innings, Bumrah conceded just 33 runs at an economy rate of just 8.25 while picking up a crucial wicket. His disciplined spell came at key stages of England’s chase, with the pacer bowling in the fifth, 11th, 16th and 18th overs. Also Read - Brook takes blame for England’s loss, says dropping Samson was a big mistake Du Plessis also pointed out that Bumrah’s unusual bowling action makes him difficult for batters to read. Even when his delivery is slightly off, batters often struggle to react in time. He compared Bumrah’s unique style to that of former Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who also troubled batters with his distinctive action. “His action is so unique that you struggle to pick up how quickly the ball comes out of his wrist. It's a skill, but it is also to do with the mystery of his action, almost like what Lasith Malinga did back in the day. The point of difference makes it really hard to line him up in terms of if he misses,” the former South African player added. India will now face New Zealand in their second consecutive T20 World Cup final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. With inputs from agencies

India will now face New Zealand in their second consecutive T20 World Cup final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

'He is a superpower...': Faf du Plessis praises Jasprit Bumrah after T20 World Cup semifinal heroics

From Rachin Ravindra to Jasprit Bumrah, here's a look at the top five bowlers with most wickets in T20 World Cup 2026 (Super Eight stage). This list also includes Varun Chakaravarthy, Liam Dawson and Corbin Bosch

Meet top 5 bowlers with most wickets in T20 World Cup 2026 (Super 8 stage)

Jasprit Bumrah proved once again why is he treated like a royalty in India's fast bowling histoy. On a day when every India fast bowler went for a minimum of eight runs per over, Bumrah bowled a spell of 3/15 in four overs against South Africa in T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match on Sunday (Feb 22) in Ahmedabad. Minus Bumrah's figures, South Africa scored 157/4 in 16 overs at nearly 10 runs per over. During his spell, Bumrah also became the highest wicket-taker for India in T20 World Cups - 33 in 22 innings - going past Ravi Ashwin's record of 32 wickets in 24 innings in the tournament history.<h2>Bumrah now India's highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cups</h2>Bumrah's 33 wickets in T20 World Cups have come at an average of just 13.36 and a strike rate of 14.78. His economy of 5.42 is the lowest among all bowlers with 30 or more wickets in T20 World Cups - a testament to his skills of drying up runs while ensuring wickets keep tumbling. While Bumrah's has never taken a five-wicket haul or even a four-wicket haul in T20 WC history, it is more to do with the respect he gets from batters while bowling as they are more cautious when playing him and just let him complete his quota instead of trying to whack him to increase his wicket tally.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/el-mencho-death-football-matches-postponed-in-fifa-world-cup-co-host-mexico-following-violence-after-drug-lord-killed-1771819647066">Football matches postponed in Mexico following drug lord El Mencho's death</a>Behind Bumrah, Arshdeep stands tall alongside Ashwin at 32 wickets. The left-arm pacer, however, has taken the wickets in just 18 innings including a two-fer in the Sunday's match against South Africa. All-rounder Hardik Pandya comes at number 4 with 29 wickets and Ravindra Jadeja, now retired from T20s like Ashwin (all format), with 22 wickets.<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-win-vs-zim-wi-and-how-can-india-qualify-for-semis-after-loss-vs-sa-in-super-8-1771811600396">How can India qualify for semis after loss vs SA in Super 8</a></h2>The loss has left India in do-or-die territory at the World Cup they are defending with no scope for another bad day if they are to become the first team to win back-to-back T20 titles. With two more matches left - vs Zimbabwe (Feb 26) and vs West Indies (Mar 1), India must not only win but also hope for a loss for other teams if they are to advance to the semis.&nbsp;

Bumrah is now the highest wicket-taker for India in T20 World Cups - 33 in 22 innings - going past Ravi Ashwin's record of 32 wickets in 24 innings in the tournament history. His economy of 5.42 is the lowest among all bowlers with 30 or more wickets in T20 World Cups.

Jasprit Bumrah proved once again why is he treated like a royalty in India's fast bowling histoy. On a day when every India fast bowler went for a minimum of eight runs per over, Bumrah bowled a spell of 3/15 in four overs against South Africa in T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match on Sunday (Feb 22) in Ahmedabad. Minus Bumrah's figures, South Africa scored 157/4 in 16 overs at nearly 10 runs per over. During his spell, Bumrah also became the highest wicket-taker for India in T20 World Cups - 33 in 22 innings - going past Ravi Ashwin's record of 32 wickets in 24 innings in the tournament history. Bumrah now India's highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cups Bumrah's 33 wickets in T20 World Cups have come at an average of just 13.36 and a strike rate of 14.78. His economy of 5.42 is the lowest among all bowlers with 30 or more wickets in T20 World Cups - a testament to his skills of drying up runs while ensuring wickets keep tumbling. While Bumrah's has never taken a five-wicket haul or even a four-wicket haul in T20 WC history, it is more to do with the respect he gets from batters while bowling as they are more cautious when playing him and just let him complete his quota instead of trying to whack him to increase his wicket tally. Also Read - Football matches postponed in Mexico following drug lord El Mencho's death Behind Bumrah, Arshdeep stands tall alongside Ashwin at 32 wickets. The left-arm pacer, however, has taken the wickets in just 18 innings including a two-fer in the Sunday's match against South Africa. All-rounder Hardik Pandya comes at number 4 with 29 wickets and Ravindra Jadeja, now retired from T20s like Ashwin (all format), with 22 wickets. How can India qualify for semis after loss vs SA in Super 8 The loss has left India in do-or-die territory at the World Cup they are defending with no scope for another bad day if they are to become the first team to win back-to-back T20 titles. With two more matches left - vs Zimbabwe (Feb 26) and vs West Indies (Mar 1), India must not only win but also hope for a loss for other teams if they are to advance to the semis.

Bumrah is now the highest wicket-taker for India in T20 World Cups - 33 in 22 innings - going past Ravi Ashwin's record of 32 wickets in 24 innings in the tournament history. His economy of 5.42 is the lowest among all bowlers with 30 or more wickets in T20 World Cups.

T20 World Cup 2026 | Bumrah's magic vs SA in Super 8 earns him another crown in Indian bowling history

Hitting Bumrah is a luxury for batters, but just a handful of them have found ways to do it. With the T20 World Cup going on, let’s look at batters who have scored the most runs against the Yorker king. Check where Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan stands. 

5 batters to score most runs against Bumrah in T20Is: check where PAK's Farhan stands

From Haris Rauf to Hardik Pandya, here's a look at the top five bowlers with most wickets in India vs Pakistan T20Is. This list also includes Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umar Gul and Jasprit Bumrah

Meet top 5 bowlers with most wickets in IND-PAK T20Is

India made two key changes to their Playing XI for the Namibia match in the T20 World Cup as Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson returned. Playing at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, the changes were confirmed by Indian captain Suruyakumar Yadav at the toss, where Namibia decided to bowl first, winning the flip of the coin. On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj missed out while Abhishek Sharma was yet to recover from his recent health issues.<h2>Samson, Bumrah in; Siraj, Abhishek out</h2>Having struggled with a fever during the opening match against the USA, things did not go well for Abhishek after arriving in Delhi and he was rushed to the hospital. Although he was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, Abhishek was not able to make the match-day squad, with Samson coming in. Samson has been struggling with form in recent times, and the opportunity to play in the Namibia match came as a welcome addition to regain his form.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;However, Samson failed to make the most of the chance as he was dismissed for 22 off 8. He did score three sixes and a four but was dismissed by Ben Shikongo, having failed to put away a ball in the mid-wicket region. The opportunity means Samson will likely be dropped in favour of Abhishek once he is fit.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;Other change in the Indian team saw Bumrah come into the team while Siraj missed out in a rotational change for Team India.&nbsp;<h2>India Playing XI vs Namibia</h2>India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

Playing at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, the changes were confirmed by Indian captain Suruyakumar Yadav at the toss, where Namibia decided to bowl first, winning the flip of the coin. 

India made two key changes to their Playing XI for the Namibia match in the T20 World Cup as Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson returned. Playing at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, the changes were confirmed by Indian captain Suruyakumar Yadav at the toss, where Namibia decided to bowl first, winning the flip of the coin. On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj missed out while Abhishek Sharma was yet to recover from his recent health issues. Samson, Bumrah in; Siraj, Abhishek out Having struggled with a fever during the opening match against the USA, things did not go well for Abhishek after arriving in Delhi and he was rushed to the hospital. Although he was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, Abhishek was not able to make the match-day squad, with Samson coming in. Samson has been struggling with form in recent times, and the opportunity to play in the Namibia match came as a welcome addition to regain his form. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds However, Samson failed to make the most of the chance as he was dismissed for 22 off 8. He did score three sixes and a four but was dismissed by Ben Shikongo, having failed to put away a ball in the mid-wicket region. The opportunity means Samson will likely be dropped in favour of Abhishek once he is fit. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli Other change in the Indian team saw Bumrah come into the team while Siraj missed out in a rotational change for Team India. India Playing XI vs Namibia India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.

Playing at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, the changes were confirmed by Indian captain Suruyakumar Yadav at the toss, where Namibia decided to bowl first, winning the flip of the coin.&nbsp;

T20 World Cup 2026: Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson return to Playing XI; Abhishek, Siraj miss out

Team India readies for its second league game against Namibia at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Delhi on Thursday (Feb 12). After opening its account against the USA in its tournament opener, the co-host faces another associate nation, with several changes in the playing XI looming. Opener Abhishek Sharma remains highly unlikely to feature in the XI despite getting discharged from the hospital for a stomach infection, with backup opener Sanju Samson likely to replace him in the playing XI. Ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the USA match due to illness, will also return to the side for India’s second match.&nbsp;On the other hand, Team India escaped an injury scare as in-form opener Ishan Kishan suffered a blow to his ankle while batting on the match eve in Delhi. Facing Jasprit Bumrah in the nets, Ishan endured a painful Yorker off the ace seamer, struggling to even stand for some time after that.&nbsp;However, the BCCI hasn’t made any official announcement about his injury, indicating Ishan could regain full fitness in time for the Namibia game.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-make-of-that-what-you-want-namibia-skipper-slams-no-night-training-session-before-india-match-1770873142244">T20 World Cup 2026 | 'Make of that what you want:' Namibia skipper slams no night training session before India match</a><h2>Team India’s predicted playing XI for the Namibia game –</h2>Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy &nbsp;Playing conditions and weather report –&nbsp; &nbsp;The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi could provide a banger wicket, a paradise for the batters, also considering its smaller dimensions. However, naturally slow and low in nature, the surface on offer is likely to have something for everyone. &nbsp;Weather conditions -&nbsp; &nbsp;The rain Gods would stay away for the India vs Namibia tie as the temperature would drop (from 21 degrees to 17 degrees) during the match time, and with clearer skies, it would become a perfect stage for this Group A game. &nbsp;Check our Namibia’s predicted playing XI –&nbsp; &nbsp;Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heingo &nbsp;Meanwhile, India won its previous match against the USA, and Namibia is entering this contest on the back of a loss to the Netherlands in its tournament opener. A win here for India would strengthen its position on the points table, with the Pakistan game looming next.&nbsp;

India and Namibia will face off for the second time in T20 World Cup history, having earlier clashed in the 2021 edition, where Team India emerged victorious with nine wickets. 

Team India readies for its second league game against Namibia at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Delhi on Thursday (Feb 12). After opening its account against the USA in its tournament opener, the co-host faces another associate nation, with several changes in the playing XI looming. Opener Abhishek Sharma remains highly unlikely to feature in the XI despite getting discharged from the hospital for a stomach infection, with backup opener Sanju Samson likely to replace him in the playing XI. Ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the USA match due to illness, will also return to the side for India’s second match. On the other hand, Team India escaped an injury scare as in-form opener Ishan Kishan suffered a blow to his ankle while batting on the match eve in Delhi. Facing Jasprit Bumrah in the nets, Ishan endured a painful Yorker off the ace seamer, struggling to even stand for some time after that. However, the BCCI hasn’t made any official announcement about his injury, indicating Ishan could regain full fitness in time for the Namibia game. Also read | T20 World Cup 2026 | 'Make of that what you want:' Namibia skipper slams no night training session before India match Team India’s predicted playing XI for the Namibia game – Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy Playing conditions and weather report – The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi could provide a banger wicket, a paradise for the batters, also considering its smaller dimensions. However, naturally slow and low in nature, the surface on offer is likely to have something for everyone. Weather conditions - The rain Gods would stay away for the India vs Namibia tie as the temperature would drop (from 21 degrees to 17 degrees) during the match time, and with clearer skies, it would become a perfect stage for this Group A game. Check our Namibia’s predicted playing XI – Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heingo Meanwhile, India won its previous match against the USA, and Namibia is entering this contest on the back of a loss to the Netherlands in its tournament opener. A win here for India would strengthen its position on the points table, with the Pakistan game looming next.

India and Namibia will face off for the second time in T20 World Cup history, having earlier clashed in the 2021 edition, where Team India emerged victorious with nine wickets.&nbsp;

India vs Namibia in T20 World Cup: Abhishek out, Samson to open and Bumrah returns; check India’s potential XI

Team India receives a massive boost ahead of its second T20 World Cup game against Namibia on February 12, as all-rounder Washington Sundar is set to link up with the side in Delhi, T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed after the USA win. On the other hand, the tournament’s co-host was without their premier quick, Jasprit Bumrah, who was down with illness and didn’t even train with the team ahead of its opener. Besides him, opener Abhishek Sharma, who got out on a first-ball duck, is also under the weather, as confirmed by SKY.&nbsp;"Washy [Washington] is joining us in Delhi," Suryakumar said after India's 29-run win over the USA in the T20 World Cup 2026. "He is good, everything is fine." &nbsp;Washington has been away from competitive cricket since suffering a side strain after the first ODI against New Zealand last month, with several reports suggesting the worst for him and Team India, considering the showpiece event was just around the corner. While Delhi captain Aayush Badoni replaced him for the NZ ODIs, India opted against replacing him in their T20 WC squad. &nbsp;Bumrah, on the other hand, was suffering from a high fever and thus missed the USA game, with India playing Mohammed Siraj in his place, who returned to the T20I side for the first time since July 2024.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/madrid-tourist-to-wankhede-hero-mohammed-siraj-incredible-48-hours-in-t20-world-cup-india-vs-usa-1770522096089">From Madrid tourist to Wankhede hero: Siraj’s incredible 48 hours in T20 World Cup</a> &nbsp;"He was having a high fever because of the weather, like how Abhishek [Sharma] was under the weather. But the rest everything is good,” Suryakumar said of his players’ health update.<h3>SKY rescues India in Mumbai</h3>Batting first against the USA, India lost six wickets for 77 runs at one stage, with captain SKY holding fort at one end. Stitching little partnerships with each of the batters, mainly with Axar Patel for the eighth wicket, the right-handed batter powered India to a fighting first-inning total (161 for nine), courtesy of his fierce display in the death overs. He remained unbeaten on 84 off 49 balls, including four sixes and ten fours. &nbsp;"Only I can tell how much pressure I was feeling," Suryakumar said. "But at the same time, I had the belief that I had batted in similar situations. And I have played a lot of cricket in the maidans of Mumbai, so I knew if I bat till the end, I can make a difference.”

Team India revived from a shaky start to post a fighting total against the USA, eventually beating them by 29 runs in Mumbai. 

Team India receives a massive boost ahead of its second T20 World Cup game against Namibia on February 12, as all-rounder Washington Sundar is set to link up with the side in Delhi, T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed after the USA win. On the other hand, the tournament’s co-host was without their premier quick, Jasprit Bumrah, who was down with illness and didn’t even train with the team ahead of its opener. Besides him, opener Abhishek Sharma, who got out on a first-ball duck, is also under the weather, as confirmed by SKY. "Washy [Washington] is joining us in Delhi," Suryakumar said after India's 29-run win over the USA in the T20 World Cup 2026. "He is good, everything is fine." Washington has been away from competitive cricket since suffering a side strain after the first ODI against New Zealand last month, with several reports suggesting the worst for him and Team India, considering the showpiece event was just around the corner. While Delhi captain Aayush Badoni replaced him for the NZ ODIs, India opted against replacing him in their T20 WC squad. Bumrah, on the other hand, was suffering from a high fever and thus missed the USA game, with India playing Mohammed Siraj in his place, who returned to the T20I side for the first time since July 2024. Also read | From Madrid tourist to Wankhede hero: Siraj’s incredible 48 hours in T20 World Cup "He was having a high fever because of the weather, like how Abhishek [Sharma] was under the weather. But the rest everything is good,” Suryakumar said of his players’ health update. SKY rescues India in Mumbai Batting first against the USA, India lost six wickets for 77 runs at one stage, with captain SKY holding fort at one end. Stitching little partnerships with each of the batters, mainly with Axar Patel for the eighth wicket, the right-handed batter powered India to a fighting first-inning total (161 for nine), courtesy of his fierce display in the death overs. He remained unbeaten on 84 off 49 balls, including four sixes and ten fours. "Only I can tell how much pressure I was feeling," Suryakumar said. "But at the same time, I had the belief that I had batted in similar situations. And I have played a lot of cricket in the maidans of Mumbai, so I knew if I bat till the end, I can make a difference.”

Team India revived from a shaky start to post a fighting total against the USA, eventually beating them by 29 runs in Mumbai.&nbsp;

Suryakumar Yadav confirms Washington Sundar's return as Bumrah among key players down with illness| details inside

India’s preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 have been hit by another fitness-related setback, as star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is expected to miss the opening match against the USA on Saturday after being affected by a viral fever. According to media reports, Bumrah was present at Friday’s training session at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai but did not participate.&nbsp;Bumrah’s absence leaves India with only 13 fully fit players ahead of the start of their title defence. All-rounder Washington Sundar is yet to join the squad, as he is still in Bengaluru at the BCCI Centre of Excellence waiting for medical clearance.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-first-time-i-ve-heard-that-pakistan-sourav-ganguly-on-ind-vs-pak-t20-world-cup-match-1770435184804">'First time I’ve heard...': Sourav Ganguly on IND vs PAK T20 World Cup match</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, on Friday, the BCCI confirmed that Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the World Cup. The pacer picked up a knee injury during India’s warm-up match against South Africa earlier this week.&nbsp;“Team India pacer Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after sustaining a knee injury during the warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4th 2026. Following consultations with a specialist and subsequent scans, the BCCI medical team deemed him unfit to participate in the tournament. The team management wishes him a speedy recovery," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement. Mohammed Siraj has been named as Rana’s replacement and is expected to feature in India’s playing XI if Bumrah is unavailable.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rana was seen in discomfort during the warm-up game against the Protaes at the DY Patil Stadium. He bowled only one over, conceded 16 runs and then left the field due to his knee problem.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/u-19-odi-world-cup-wanted-to-carry-forward-legacy-india-skipper-mhatre-remembers-rohit-s-t20-wc-and-harman-s-women-s-wc-win-1770394577569">U-19 ODI World Cup: India skipper Ayush Mhatre reacts to 6th title win</a><h2>India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026</h2>Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar and Mohd. Siraj

The upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 will be the 10th edition of the tournament, which takes place in every two years. India are placed in Group A with Pakistan, the Netherlands, Namibia and the USA.

India’s preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 have been hit by another fitness-related setback, as star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is expected to miss the opening match against the USA on Saturday after being affected by a viral fever. According to media reports, Bumrah was present at Friday’s training session at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai but did not participate. Bumrah’s absence leaves India with only 13 fully fit players ahead of the start of their title defence. All-rounder Washington Sundar is yet to join the squad, as he is still in Bengaluru at the BCCI Centre of Excellence waiting for medical clearance. Also Read - 'First time I’ve heard...': Sourav Ganguly on IND vs PAK T20 World Cup match Meanwhile, on Friday, the BCCI confirmed that Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the World Cup. The pacer picked up a knee injury during India’s warm-up match against South Africa earlier this week. “Team India pacer Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after sustaining a knee injury during the warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4th 2026. Following consultations with a specialist and subsequent scans, the BCCI medical team deemed him unfit to participate in the tournament. The team management wishes him a speedy recovery," BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said in a statement. Mohammed Siraj has been named as Rana’s replacement and is expected to feature in India’s playing XI if Bumrah is unavailable. Rana was seen in discomfort during the warm-up game against the Protaes at the DY Patil Stadium. He bowled only one over, conceded 16 runs and then left the field due to his knee problem. Also Read - U-19 ODI World Cup: India skipper Ayush Mhatre reacts to 6th title win India’s squad for T20 World Cup 2026 Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Washington Sundar and Mohd. Siraj

The upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 will be the 10th edition of the tournament, which takes place in every two years. India are placed in Group A with Pakistan, the Netherlands, Namibia and the USA.

T20 World Cup 2026: Jasprit Bumrah likely to miss India’s opener against USA - Report

Former India fast bowler S Sreesanth believes the key to India’s success at the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup lies not in defensive bowling, but in belief, intent, and attacking for wickets, especially in the powerplay. Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing World Legends Pro T20 League, Sreesanth praised the competitiveness of the tournament, calling it “the best legends tournament I’ve played till now”, before turning his attention to India’s current white-ball setup.&nbsp;With flat pitches, 200-plus scores becoming routine, and the impact player rule altering T20 dynamics, Sreesanth feels fast bowlers must resist the temptation to merely restrict runs. “My request to the entire fast bowlers will be, go for wickets upfront. You should get wickets if you can. You want to have a belief system.” Addressing whether modern Indian pacers have become too defensive, Sreesanth pointed to the leadership group, particularly head coach Gautam Gambhir, but stressed personal conviction over passive execution.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ao-2026-and-then-him-cramping-zverev-shares-biggest-regret-from-loss-vs-alcaraz-1769778734295">AO 2026 | 'And then him cramping': Zverev shares biggest regret from loss vs Alcaraz</a>&nbsp;“Gautam Gambhir is the coach, so he must have some plans. Hear the coach, but listen to your heart.” Sreesanth emphasised that India today boasts enviable fast-bowling depth, across what he described as “team A, team B, team C”, and urged bowlers to trust their skills rather than bowl with hope. “People always end up hoping for the best. Hope is begging. If you believe in your ability, things change.”&nbsp;On Jasprit Bumrah, Sreesanth was unequivocal. He called Bumrah’s fitness vital not just for India, but for world cricket itself. “It is very important, not just for Bumrah, but for the entire cricket fraternity and fans across the globe.” Calling Bumrah one of India’s greatest-ever white-ball bowlers, Sreesanth said the World Cup should belong to India this time. “The World Cup should be in our hands. I keep my fingers crossed for Bumrah. If not the best, he is among the best India has ever seen.” While Bumrah remains central, Sreesanth also sees the tournament as a platform for other pacers to rise, reinforcing his belief that India’s fast-bowling future is secure, provided it is fearless.

Former India pacer says India’s pacers must attack for wickets, trust their instincts, and keep Bumrah fit to give India the edge at the upcoming T20 World Cup

Former India fast bowler S Sreesanth believes the key to India’s success at the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup lies not in defensive bowling, but in belief, intent, and attacking for wickets, especially in the powerplay. Speaking on the sidelines of the ongoing World Legends Pro T20 League, Sreesanth praised the competitiveness of the tournament, calling it “the best legends tournament I’ve played till now”, before turning his attention to India’s current white-ball setup. With flat pitches, 200-plus scores becoming routine, and the impact player rule altering T20 dynamics, Sreesanth feels fast bowlers must resist the temptation to merely restrict runs. “My request to the entire fast bowlers will be, go for wickets upfront. You should get wickets if you can. You want to have a belief system.” Addressing whether modern Indian pacers have become too defensive, Sreesanth pointed to the leadership group, particularly head coach Gautam Gambhir, but stressed personal conviction over passive execution. Also Read: AO 2026 | 'And then him cramping': Zverev shares biggest regret from loss vs Alcaraz “Gautam Gambhir is the coach, so he must have some plans. Hear the coach, but listen to your heart.” Sreesanth emphasised that India today boasts enviable fast-bowling depth, across what he described as “team A, team B, team C”, and urged bowlers to trust their skills rather than bowl with hope. “People always end up hoping for the best. Hope is begging. If you believe in your ability, things change.” On Jasprit Bumrah, Sreesanth was unequivocal. He called Bumrah’s fitness vital not just for India, but for world cricket itself. “It is very important, not just for Bumrah, but for the entire cricket fraternity and fans across the globe.” Calling Bumrah one of India’s greatest-ever white-ball bowlers, Sreesanth said the World Cup should belong to India this time. “The World Cup should be in our hands. I keep my fingers crossed for Bumrah. If not the best, he is among the best India has ever seen.” While Bumrah remains central, Sreesanth also sees the tournament as a platform for other pacers to rise, reinforcing his belief that India’s fast-bowling future is secure, provided it is fearless.

Former India pacer says India’s pacers must attack for wickets, trust their instincts, and keep Bumrah fit to give India the edge at the upcoming T20 World Cup

'Hear to coach, but...', 2007 T20 World Cup winning bowler's advice Indian pacers

Abhishek Sharma was hot on his heels on Sunday (Jan 25) as India beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the third T20I of the five-match series. Playing at the Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, it was Abhishek’s 12-ball fifty that sealed the deal for the hosts as they won the series 3-0 with T20 World Cup less than two weeks away. India also had captain Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah to thank as they contributed to the winning cause.<h2>Abhishek reigns supreme</h2>Tasked to chase 154 runs to win, India made the worst possible start as they lost Sanju Samson (0) on the first ball of the innings. However, that did not make a huge difference for India as Ishan Kishan (28 off 13) and Abhishek scored runs left, right and centre. &nbsp;The pair stitched a stand of 53 runs for the second wicket before captain Suryakumar Yadav joined the party.&nbsp;Abhishek, with his exploit, scored the second-fastest T20I fifty for India as he brought that tally in just 14 balls. He narrowly missed out on breaking Yuvraj Singh’s record for fastest T20I fifty for India, with the former batter doing so in 12 balls against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a><h2>Quickest 50 against a FM team (by balls)</h2>12 balls Yuvraj Singh vs Eng Durban 200713 balls Jan Frylinck vs Zim Bulawayo 202514 balls Colin Munro vs SL Auckland 201614 balls Abhishek Sharma vs NZ Guwahati 2026 *15 Quinton de Kock vs WI Centurion 2023&nbsp;In the end, an unbeaten 68 off 20 for Abhishek and 57 off 26 for captain Suryakumar Yadav saw India win the match with 10 overs to spare. They also pocketed the series 3-0 with two matches still to go in the series.<h2>What happened in New Zealand innings?</h2>On the first ball of the sixth over, Bumrah’s perfectly delivered ball got the better of Seifert as he was dismissed for 12 off 11. It was New Zealand’s third wicket, having already lost Devon Conway (1) in the first over, while Rachin Ravindra (4) was swept by Hardik Pandya in the next over. Interestingly, Conway was dismissed for the fifth time by Harshit Rana, gaining the upper hand on the batter. However, it was Burmah’s delivery against Seifert that made the headlines.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;After Seifert’s dismissal, New Zealand were34/3 in 5.1 overs, Glenn Phillips (48 off 40) and Mark Chapman (32 off 23) stabilising the innings. Chapman was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi as he produced the breakthrough for the Men in Blue. New Zealand would soon go from 86/3 to 112/6, losing key wickets in the middle overs.&nbsp;Ultimately, the Kiwis were restricted to 153/9 in their 20 overs, with captain Mitchell Santner playing a key knock of 27 runs.&nbsp;For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 17/3 in four overs, while Hardik Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi bagged two wickets each.

Playing at the Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, it was Abhishek Sharma’s 12-ball fifty that sealed the deal for the hosts as they won the series 3-0 with T20 World Cup less than two weeks away. 

Abhishek Sharma was hot on his heels on Sunday (Jan 25) as India beat New Zealand by eight wickets in the third T20I of the five-match series. Playing at the Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, it was Abhishek’s 12-ball fifty that sealed the deal for the hosts as they won the series 3-0 with T20 World Cup less than two weeks away. India also had captain Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah to thank as they contributed to the winning cause. Abhishek reigns supreme Tasked to chase 154 runs to win, India made the worst possible start as they lost Sanju Samson (0) on the first ball of the innings. However, that did not make a huge difference for India as Ishan Kishan (28 off 13) and Abhishek scored runs left, right and centre. The pair stitched a stand of 53 runs for the second wicket before captain Suryakumar Yadav joined the party. Abhishek, with his exploit, scored the second-fastest T20I fifty for India as he brought that tally in just 14 balls. He narrowly missed out on breaking Yuvraj Singh’s record for fastest T20I fifty for India, with the former batter doing so in 12 balls against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds Quickest 50 against a FM team (by balls) 12 balls Yuvraj Singh vs Eng Durban 2007 13 balls Jan Frylinck vs Zim Bulawayo 2025 14 balls Colin Munro vs SL Auckland 2016 14 balls Abhishek Sharma vs NZ Guwahati 2026 * 15 Quinton de Kock vs WI Centurion 2023 In the end, an unbeaten 68 off 20 for Abhishek and 57 off 26 for captain Suryakumar Yadav saw India win the match with 10 overs to spare. They also pocketed the series 3-0 with two matches still to go in the series. What happened in New Zealand innings? On the first ball of the sixth over, Bumrah’s perfectly delivered ball got the better of Seifert as he was dismissed for 12 off 11. It was New Zealand’s third wicket, having already lost Devon Conway (1) in the first over, while Rachin Ravindra (4) was swept by Hardik Pandya in the next over. Interestingly, Conway was dismissed for the fifth time by Harshit Rana, gaining the upper hand on the batter. However, it was Burmah’s delivery against Seifert that made the headlines. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli After Seifert’s dismissal, New Zealand were34/3 in 5.1 overs, Glenn Phillips (48 off 40) and Mark Chapman (32 off 23) stabilising the innings. Chapman was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi as he produced the breakthrough for the Men in Blue. New Zealand would soon go from 86/3 to 112/6, losing key wickets in the middle overs. Ultimately, the Kiwis were restricted to 153/9 in their 20 overs, with captain Mitchell Santner playing a key knock of 27 runs. For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 17/3 in four overs, while Hardik Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi bagged two wickets each.

Playing at the Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, it was Abhishek Sharma’s 12-ball fifty that sealed the deal for the hosts as they won the series 3-0 with T20 World Cup less than two weeks away.&nbsp;

IND vs NZ: Abhishek's blitzkrieg sweeps New Zealand in Guwahati, India pocket T20I series 3-0

Jasprit Bumrah made a hallmark return to the Playing XI on Sunday (Jan 25) against New Zealand as he scalped Tim Seifert on the first ball of his spell. Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Bumrah was right on the money as he made his return to the side, having skipped the Raipur T20I. The moment went quickly viral with netizens in awe of the Indian speedster ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Jasprit Bumrah into the attack... ..And he starts off with a beauty 🤩🎯 Updates ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/YzRfqi0li2">https://t.co/YzRfqi0li2</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvNZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvNZ</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/IDFCFIRSTBank?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IDFCFIRSTBank</a> <a href="https://t.co/CtrzYiAXgA">pic.twitter.com/CtrzYiAXgA</a>&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCCI/status/2015424510456102924?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Bumrah on the money</h2>On the first ball of the sixth over, Bumrah’s perfectly delivered ball got the better of Seifert as he was dismissed for 12 off 11. It was New Zealand’s third wicket, having already lost Devon Conway (1) in the first over, while Rachin Ravindra (4) was swept by Hardik Pandya in the next over. Interestingly, Conway was dismissed for the fifth time by Harshit Rana, gaining the upper hand on the batter. However, it was Burmah’s delivery against Seifert that made the headlines.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;After Seifert’s dismissal, New Zealand were34/3 in 5.1 overs, Glenn Phillips (48 off 40) and Mark Chapman (32 off 23) stabilising the innings. Chapman was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi as he produced the breakthrough for the Men in Blue. New Zealand would soon go from 86/3 to 112/6, losing key wickets in the middle overs.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;Ultimately, the Kiwis were restricted to 153/9 in their 20 overs, with captain Mitchell Santner playing a key knock of 27 runs.&nbsp;For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 17/3 in four overs, while Hardik Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi bagged two wickets each.&nbsp;India were given a target of 154 runs to win the match and therefore the series, as they already lead 2-0. A win in Guwahati also means India build perfect momentum for the T20 World Cup, which starts on February 7.

On the first ball of the sixth over, Jasprit Bumrah’s perfectly delivered ball got the better of Tim Seifert as he was dismissed for 12 off 11.

Jasprit Bumrah made a hallmark return to the Playing XI on Sunday (Jan 25) against New Zealand as he scalped Tim Seifert on the first ball of his spell. Playing at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Bumrah was right on the money as he made his return to the side, having skipped the Raipur T20I. The moment went quickly viral with netizens in awe of the Indian speedster ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.

On the first ball of the sixth over, Jasprit Bumrah’s perfectly delivered ball got the better of Tim Seifert as he was dismissed for 12 off 11.

Watch: Jasprit Bumrah makes hallmark return, scalps Tim Seifert on first ball in Guwahati

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