Author: WebDesk

In a big blow to the Gujarat Giants (GG), wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia has been ruled out of WPL 2026 after failing to regain full fitness following ACL surgery in October. Yastika sustained a knee injury during the 2025 World Cup at home. Since then, she has been undergoing rehabilitation, and her return timeline has remained uncertain. Despite this, the Giants secured the injured Yastika at the WPL 2026 mega auction for INR 50 lakh, hoping she would regain full fitness by the start of the season. However, that did not happen, and the capped India player will now miss the…

Amid uncertainty surrounding the participation of the Bangladesh team in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Najmul Hossain Shanto made a stirring revelation, stating that players often pretend off-field issues do not affect them, but in reality, they do. With less than a month to go before the World Cup begins, there remains a question mark over the participation of Bangladesh, a full member of the ICC. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is reluctant to travel to India to play their World Cup matches. According to a BCB media release, due to safety concerns, the board has requested…

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pace-bowling all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar will remain on the sidelines for the first two weeks of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 season due to a hamstring injury. In the season opener at the DY Patil Stadium, RCB pipped Mumbai Indians to kick-start their campaign with a last-ball win. Vastrakar did not take part in the match. Following the victory, head coach Malolan Rangarajan confirmed that she was unavailable for selection and also provided an update on her injury and expected recovery timeline. “Pooja Vastrakar was not available for selection (against Mumbai Indians)” Malolan said at the…

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Nadine de Klerk revealed how she overcame her initial struggles to blast 63 and propel her team to a win against the Mumbai Indians in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 season opener. De Klerk was dropped twice and received a run-out reprieve in the penultimate over of the run chase, bowled by Shabnim Ismail. The South African all-rounder made the most of the missed opportunities to seal the game, which went down to the last ball. “Obviously, I was lucky with a few chances going my way, but I’m just glad we got over…

Tim Tector, Ben Calitz and Matthew Humphreys are the fresh faces included in the 15-member Ireland squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. The three players will be taking part in the global event for the first time in their careers. The remaining 12 players, who featured in the previous 20-over World Cup, retain their places. For the second consecutive time, Paul Stirling is set to lead the Irish team. Wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker has been named Stirling’s deputy. Harry Tector’s brother, Tim, is an all-rounder. Calitz is a left-handed middle-order batter, while Matthew Humphreys is a left-arm spinner. A fit-again…

Former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal has warned the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) about the future consequences of its decision regarding the senior men’s team’s participation in next month’s T20 World Cup in India. Twice, the BCB has requested the International Cricket Council to shift their T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. Bangladesh’s stance of not travelling to India came after the BCCI asked the Kolkata Knight Riders to exclude Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. “The situation is a bit critical at the moment, and making a sudden comment right now is difficult. But one thing you must…

Former India batting coach Vikram Rathour has been appointed as the batting coach of the Sri Lanka men’s team ahead of the home white-ball series and the T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed the short-term appointment on January 8. Rathour will link up with the squad ahead of Sri Lanka’s home white-ball series against England. He will remain with the Sri Lankan team from that point until March 10. The final of the T20 World Cup, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is scheduled for March 8. This is the second high-profile signing made by SLC within…

India batter Tilak Varma has been ruled out of the first three T20Is against New Zealand, and his participation in the final two matches of the five-match series will be determined in due course, the BCCI said in a release on January 8. No replacement has been named by the selectors. Tilak underwent surgery for testicular torsion in Rajkot on Wednesday (January 7) after reportedly experiencing abdominal issues. Following a successful surgical procedure, the 23-year-old batter was discharged from hospital on Thursday morning and is scheduled to fly back to Hyderabad on Friday. As per details shared by the BCCI,…

Former India batter Aakash Chopra suggested that out-of-form Suryakumar Yadav should start batting at number three again in order to regain his mojo with the bat ahead of the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7. Ever since Suryakumar took charge as T20I captain, the Indian team has remained unbeaten. While he boasts a stellar record as captain, his stocks as a batter have declined. “Kudos to him, as the team is doing very well under his captaincy and haven’t lost a series,” Chopra said on RevSportz’s show Back Stage with Boria. Suryakumar sacrificed his position to give Tilak…

England batter Jacob Bethell credited his stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2025 for his growth, saying that he became a better cricketer after taking part in the cash-rich league. Bethell could not take part in the Test series against Zimbabwe as he was plying his trade with RCB. Ollie Pope, who was under pressure, scored a century and secured his position at number three for the home series against India, with Bethell unavailable. However, the 21-year-old batter has no regrets about playing in the IPL. “I wouldn’t say I gave it away for the IPL,” he…