Team India's star batsman KL Rahul admitted that the thought of retirement did cross his mind, but he also said that it is still some time away. In an interview with former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, Rahul said that the decision to step away from the sport won't be difficult for him. "I've (thought about it). I don't think it's (retirement) gonna be that difficult. If you're honest with yourself, when it's time, it's time. And there's no point dragging it. Obviously, I'm some time away," he said. The Bengaluru-born cricketer also said that he doesn't consider himself important and stated that there are different things in life which need attention. "Just quit. Just enjoy the stuff that you've got and you have your family and just do that. That's the hardest battle. So I try and tell myself that I'm not that important. Cricket in our country will carry on. Cricket in the world will carry on. There are more important things in life and I think this mindset I've always had, but ever since I've had my first baby, it's just like, the way you look at life is completely different," said the 33-year-old cricketer. He also mentioned about the "hardest battle" that a sportsperson faces when he is injured. "There have been times when I'm injured and I've been injured so many times and that's the hardest battle that you have to face. It's not the pain that the physio puts you through or the surgeon puts you through. It's the mental battle where your mind just gives up. When it happens so many times, your mind is just like, you've done enough. You've been lucky enough that cricket's given you enough money. You can survive for the next how many ever years," he concluded. KL Rahul's statistics in international cricket So far, KL Rahul has represented India in 67 Tests, 94 ODIs, and 72 T20I matches. In the longest format of the game, the right-hander has garnered 4053 runs, with a top score of 199 runs. In the 50-over format, he has smashed 3360 runs, with a career best score of an unbeaten 112 runs. Rahul also has 2264 runs in the shortest format, with a top score of an unbeaten 110 runs. (With PTI Inputs)
27 January,2026 04:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Pakistan government has given a go-ahead to the national team to play against India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Colombo, sources said, adding that the decision was arrived at after a meeting between Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday. Though PCB Chairman Naqvi wrote in a social media post that a final decision on this matter will be announced by Friday or Monday, sources told IANS that Pakistan will play India in the T20 World Cup. "Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him in detail about the ICC T-20 World Cup and the current situation regarding the Bangladesh Cricket Board," a source told IANS. There were reports that Pakistan are likely to boycott their match against India if not the entire tournament to show solidarity with Bangladesh, who have been replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup schedule after they refused to travel to India for their matches citing security fears. In a post on X, the PCB Chairman said that he had a "productive meeting" with the Prime Minister. "Briefed him on the ICC Matter, and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table. It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday", Naqvi wrote in the post on X. Though the Pakistan government has given its nod to play the ICC T20 World Cup and India match, reports said they could make some form of protest before that. "The team could wear black armbands in the match or issue a statement in support of Bangladesh before it," sources told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net). Naqvi is also Pakistan's Interior Minister, and thus the second-in-command after PM Sharif, and by leaving the decision to him and the PCB, the Pakistan government is hoping to pile on the pressure on the ICC. Sources also told IANS that PM Shehbaz Sharif has also directed the PCB to write a letter to the ICC on the Bangladesh issue. Pakistan is the only board among the top affiliated national associations to come out in support of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) during the ICC board meeting at which the global governing body for cricket decided to reject Bangladesh's request for a venue change. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 January,2026 09:37 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSIndian all-rounder Hardik Pandya reflected on completing 10 years in international cricket, saying that it is "merely the beginning" and he is only "getting started on the path I truly wish to walk". Hardik made his international debut against Australia in an ODI at Adelaide on the Republic Day in 2016. Taking to Instagram, Hardik wrote, "10 years of this journey, the year I turn 33. It is one thing to play the sport I love with all my heart, and it is another to be able to serve my country through it. I love you all, thank you for everything. Thankyou god for the trials and tribulations that got me here... The chances that so many people took... The opportunity to live this life." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hardik Pandya (@hardikpandya93) "This year has taught me that this is merely the beginning... I am only just getting started on the path I truly wish to walk." Hardik also said that if he may look back at a "young Hardik running an extra few miles to get to play from Baroda - a batsman bowling extra balls in the nets to bowlers who never got to practice batting, becoming an all rounder at 19, and from getting noticed and getting rejected" - getting to play for my desh has been the most worthwhile journey for me". "God had great plans for me when he let me debut on the 26th of January. I have become a man while playing this sport, and I will grow old playing it too," he concluded. Since his debut, Hardik has been a contributor to India's white-ball success and has won the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy with the Men in Blue, delivering clutch performances in crucial matches over the years. His best performance came during the 2024 T20 WC in which he scored 144 runs in six innings at a strike rate of over 151 and an average of 48.00. He took 11 wickets at an average of 17.36, with best figures of 3/20. In the final, he bowled the final over and took the match-sealing wicket of David Miller, with Suryakumar Yadav pulling off a catch for ages. In 94 ODIs, he has scored 1,904 runs in 68 innings at an average of 32.82 and a strike rate of 110.89, with 11 fifties and a best score 92*. He has also taken 91 wickets at an average of 35.50, with best figures of 4/24. In 127 T20Is, he has scored 2,027 runs at an average of 28.54, with a strike rate of over 143, with seven fifties and a best score of 71*. In Tests, he has scored 532 runs in 18 innings at an average of 31.29, with a century and four fifties and best score of 10. He has taken 17 wickets at an average of 31.05 and best figures of 5/28 to his name. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 January,2026 09:24 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIShai Hope will lead two-time title winners West Indies in next month's T20 World Cup with the Caribbean squad also featuring rookie batter Quentin Sampson and pacer Shamar Joseph. Former skipper Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd and Rovman Powell also returned to the West Indies' side after missing their three-match series against Afghanistan -- which they lost 1-2 -- due to T20 commitments. Hope did not feature in the series against Afghanistan as he was busy playing in the recently concluded SA20. As many as 11 players from the last T20 World Cup, which was held in the Americas, were retained in the squad for the competition that features 20 teams and starts on February 7. West Indies have won the T20 World Cup twice, in 2012 and 2016, under the captaincy of Daren Sammy, who is now their head coach. The Caribbean side are placed in Group C along with former champions England, debutant Italy and Nepal, and Scotland, who have replaced Bangladesh after their refusal to travel to India for the tournament. West Indies will take on South Africa in an away three-match T20I series to bolster their preparations for the T20 World Cup from January 27-31. Their opening match in the T20 World Cup will be against Scotland in Kolkata on February 7. West Indies squad: Shai Hope (c & wk), Johnson Charles (wk), Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hossein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 January,2026 09:20 AM IST | St John's (Antigua and Barbuda) | PTIA Baggy Green cap worn by Australia batting legend Don Bradman during a home Test series against India in 1947-48 and gifted to opponent player Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni was on Monday sold for a whopping USD 460,000 at an auction here. Sohoni's family preserved the cap for the last 75 years, never exhibited publicly, before it was sold on Monday by Lloyds Auctions. The baggy green is adorned with the Australian cricket coat of arms, with "1947-48" embroidered underneath. The 1947-48 contest against India was Bradman's final home Test series before retiring in 1948 with a career batting average of 99.94, earning him the reputation as cricket's greatest batter. The series marked India's first Test tour of Australia as an independent nation. Led by Lala Amarnath, the Indian team faced a formidable Australian side captained by Don Bradman. Australia dominated, winning 4-0 with one match drawn. Terming the cap a "holy grail of cricket" during the auction, Lee Hames, the chief operating officer of Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers, said that Sohoni's "dying wish was to have the cap return to Australian shores", reported The Guardian newspaper. "It has been hidden for 75 years, that's over three generations under lock and key," Hames was quoted as saying in the report. "If you were a family member you were only allowed to look at it when you were 16 years old for five minutes." A spokesperson for Lloyds Auctions said the cap would now remain in Australia and "will be put on display at a prominent museum". On the inside of the cap, the names "D.G. Bradman" and "S.W. Sohoni" are inscribed. The report said bids for the baggy green started at USD 1, garnering significant interest from buyers in person and online from around Australia, India and the UK -- ultimately selling for USD 460,000 before the addition of a 16.5% buyer's premium. "Cherished in the family collection ever since, this cap links you to Don Bradman's invincible era and a memorable exchange with the Indian squad," the cap's auction description said, according to the report. "A baggy green he personally gifted, carefully preserved by the same family for 75 years and still in remarkable condition, is a piece of history with genuine national importance and one rarely seen outside private hands." There are 11 known Bradman baggy greens in existence -- from an era when Test cricketers wore a different cap for each series, unlike modern Australian players. Bradman's first cap, from his 1928 debut season, sold for USD 450,000 in 2020. The baggy green he wore on his last tour, to England in 1948, went for USD 425,000 in 2003 later resold for about USD 400,000 in 2008. In 2024, his "sun faded and worn" baggy green sold at auction for USD 479,700 -- a record high for a cap worn by Bradman. The record price for a baggy green belongs to Shane Warne, which raised USD 1,007,500 for the Australian Red Cross bushfire appeal in 2020. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 January,2026 09:18 AM IST | Gold Coast | PTIDevdutt Padikkal on Monday replaced Mayank Agarwal as Karnataka skipper ahead of their last Ranji Trophy league match against Punjab, beginning at Mullanpur from January 29. Agarwal was retained in the role of a senior batter in the 15-man squad which also featured India players KL Rahul and Prasidh Krishna. This will be Rahul's first Ranji match after playing against Haryana in January 2025. Agarwal endured a middling season so far, scoring 298 runs in nine innings at an average of 33, with a century and two fifties. Devdutt made 96 and 15 in the season's first match against Saurashtra at Rajkot before moving away for national duties. But his return to Ranji circuit was less than delightful, making two ducks against MP at Alur last week. However, he did have a wonderful run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, making 725 runs from nine innings at a stunning average of 90.62. Ravichandran Smaran, who missed the previous league game against Madhya Pradesh here because of a shoulder niggle, has made a comeback. However, senior batter Karun Nair will miss the contest after suffering a webbing injury during the match against Madhya Pradesh. Nair did not bat in Karnataka's second innings as Nikin Jose came in as a concussion substitute in the match which the hosts lost by a whopping 197-run margin. Karnataka (21 points) are placed third in Group B behind Maharashtra (24) and MP (22), and need to beat Punjab to enter the knockout phase without going through the agony of mathematical calculations. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 January,2026 09:12 AM IST | Bengaluru | PTIFormer Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Inderjit Singh (IS) Bindra passed away at the age of 84 in New Delhi on Sunday. The BCCI confirmed the demise of one of the most influential administrators of Indian cricket through a post on its official X handle. "The BCCI mourns the passing of former BCCI President - Mr IS Bindra. The Board's thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones," the statement read. BCCI expresses its deep sorrow at the passing of Former President of the BCCI Mr Inderjit Singh Bindra.Mr Bindra was one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket administration, whose vision and leadership helped shape the way the game is governed in the country and… pic.twitter.com/sOafsmiGYM — BCCI (@BCCI) January 26, 2026 Current International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah also expressed his condolences. "Deepest condolences on the passing of Mr I.S. Bindra, former BCCI president and a stalwart of Indian cricket administration. May his legacy inspire future generations. Om Shanti," Shah posted on X. Deepest condolences on the passing of Mr. I S Bindra, former BCCI president and a stalwart of Indian cricket administration. May his legacy inspire future generations. Om Shanti 🙏 — Jay Shah (@JayShah) January 25, 2026 Bindra served as BCCI president from 1993 to 1996 and played a pivotal role in shaping modern Indian cricket administration. He was also a towering figure in Punjab cricket, having served as the president of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) for an unprecedented 36 years, from 1978 to 2014, as per ESPNCricinfo. One of his most enduring legacies was the development of the PCA Stadium in Mohali, which was later named after him. The venue has hosted several iconic matches in Indian cricket history, including the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup semifinal between arch-rivals India and Pakistan, in which Sachin Tendulkar scored a memorable 85. It also staged the virtual knockout group match of the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup between India and Australia, where Virat Kohli's brilliant unbeaten 82 guided India to a dramatic run chase against Australia to seal a semifinal berth. Bindra, along with former BCCI presidents NKP Salve and Jagmohan Dalmiya, played a crucial role in bringing the 1987 ICC Cricket World Cup to the subcontinent (co-hosted by India and Pakistan) after the first three editions were held in England. This particular moment, coming after India's landmark 1983 World Cup win, marked a massive shift in cricket's ecosystem and power centre as the grip of England and Australia over the sport loosened and the Asian trio of India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka emerged as a massive cricketing market and voice in the years to come. Pakistan went on to win the 1992 World Cup, while Sri Lanka won the 1996 edition, co-hosted by this aforementioned trio. The effects would be felt in the 21st century as well, with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh hosting the 2011 World Cup and India hosting the 2023 World Cup in its entirety. Also coming to the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka (2012), Bangladesh (2014) and India (2016) would take turns hosting the tournament and the upcoming edition will also be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February. Former Team India manager and BCCI official Amit Mathur recalled that during security concerns raised by Australia and England ahead of the 1986 World Cup amid India-Pakistan tensions, it was Bindra who suggested that Pakistan's then military ruler General Zia-ul-Haq visit India, helping break the impasse. Despite differences with Jagmohan Dalmiya at various points, Bindra later joined hands with him to successfully bring the 1996 World Cup back to the subcontinent. In later years, when Sharad Pawar served as ICC president from 2010 to 2012, Bindra was his principal advisor, extending his influence across the PCA, BCCI and ICC. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 January,2026 08:31 AM IST | New Delhi | ANIMumbai Indians held off a stunning late assault from Richa Ghosh to beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 15 runs in a thrilling 2026 Women's Premier League (WPL) clash at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Monday. Chasing 200, RCB collapsed to 35/5 in the powerplay as Hayley Matthews and Shabnim Ismail tore through the top order, leaving the side in huge danger of suffering a big hit to their net run rate. But Richa had other ideas, as she launched a breathtaking counter-attack, smashing 90 off 50 balls with 10 fours and six sixes to nearly pull off an improbable victory. After crawling to 55 off 40 balls in 18 overs, Ghosh exploded in the final two, plundering 35 runs to give MI a genuine scare before falling agonisingly short of a win by being dismissed on the last ball, as RCB ended up making 184/9. Apart from those last two overs, it was a commanding performance from MI, who have kept their playoff hopes alive. Hayley returned with figures of 3-10, as the win lifted MI back to second place on the points table. Nat Sciver-Brunt had earlier struck the first century in WPL’s history to propel MI to a formidable 199/4. After Hayley and Shabnim did the early damage, Richa found support from Nadine de Klerk and Arundhati Reddy in the middle order, but the early damage proved to be too severe despite her late heroics. The defeat marks RCB's second consecutive loss after winning their opening five matches. For MI, the victory provided a crucial confidence boost in a must-win encounter, with their senior players delivering when it mattered most despite the late wobble. The game will find a special mention in the history books, as batting all-rounder Nat etched her name into the record books by becoming the first batter to score a century in the WPL. After 1059 days and 82 matches, the WPL finally witnessed its first centurion, and fittingly, it was achieved by Nat, who also registered her maiden T20 hundred. Walking in early, she absorbed the pressure before shifting gears with sublime strokeplay and sizzling timing to dismantle the RCB attack in an unbeaten 57-ball century laced with 16 fours and a six. Partnering with Hayley, who made a 39-ball 56, Nat ensured MI surged past the previous highest total at the venue this season. The duo stitched a 131-run stand, with boundaries flowing freely once they settled in. Though Hayley departed after getting her fifty, Nat carried on to reach the magical three-figure mark in the final over. RCB’s bowling unit endured a tough outing, with only Lauren Bell managing some control and picking 2-21 in her four overs. The rest of them struggled with their lengths, either too full or too short, and were punished accordingly by MI’s batters. Sent in to bat first, Sajeevan Sajana struck an early boundary but was trapped lbw by Lauren Bell in the third over. Nat then joined Hayley, and the pair stitched together a commanding stand. The duo took time to settle before opening up in the middle overs. Sciver-Brunt’s fluent strokeplay, especially through the leg-side, and Hayley’s acceleration saw MI surge past the 100-run mark in the 12th over. Hayley completed her half-century but was bowled by Lauren for 56, ending a fine partnership that had put MI firmly in control. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur kept the tempo high with a brisk 20 off 12 balls, striking two fours and a six, before falling to Nadine de Klerk. Amanjot Kaur chipped in briefly, but the spotlight remained on Sciver-Brunt, who continued to dominate the RCB attack. Boundaries flowed freely as Sciver-Brunt raced into the 90s. She brought up her maiden T20 hundred and the first-ever century in WPL history in the penultimate over with a single through long-off and finished unbeaten on 100 off 57 balls. Though Amanjot was castled by Shreyanka Patil, MI closed on 199/4, the highest total at the venue this season. MI struck early with the ball when Shabnim had Grace Harris, who earlier hit Sciver-Brunt for a hat-trick of fours, in the third over, by having caught behind by Rahila Firdous. Hayley compounded RCB’s woes by dismissing skipper Smriti Mandhana and Georgia Voll in quick succession. More cheer was in store for MI when Gautami Naik was bowled by Shabnim, while Radha Yadav fell for a two-ball duck to Hayley, as RCB were five down in power-play. Nadine de Klerk attempted a fightback with 28 off 20 balls, striking a six and three boundaries, but was undone by Amelia Kerr’s googly in the 11th over. When Arundhati Reddy and Sayali Satghare departed in successive deliveries from Amanjot Kaur, it left RCB at 129/8. At the other end, Richa fought a lone battle. She began cautiously but accelerated after the halfway mark, cutting and lofting for her boundaries. She reached her half-century with a six over sweeper cover off Nat and then launched a stunning counterattack in the death overs. Ghosh smashed three consecutive sixes off Amanjot Kaur in the 18th over, followed by two more maximums and a four off Kerr in the penultimate over, raising hopes of an improbable win. But she was eventually caught by Sanskriti Gupta off Amelia for a magnificent 90, as RCB’s challenge resulted in another defeat for them. Brief scores:Mumbai Indians 199/4 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 100 not out, Hayley Matthews 56; Lauren Bell 2-21, Shreyanka Patil 1-34) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru 184/9 in 20 overs (Richa Ghosh 90, Nadine de Klerk 28; Hayley Matthews 3-10, Shabnim Ismail 2-25) by 15 runs This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
27 January,2026 03:01 AM IST | Vadodara | IANSChennai Super Kings (CSK) superstar MS Dhoni has started his batting practice ahead of the upcoming IPL 2026. The official social media handle of the CSK shared a video of him during the practice session, in which he has been seen focusing on defence and playing shots on the back foot. "A treat, every time he bats. Superfans, you know what time it is," read the post's caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chennai Super Kings (@chennaiipl) CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is also in red-hot form in domestic cricket. Dhoni, along with CSK, will be aiming to make their title tally six ahead of the IPL 2026. In the previous edition of the cash-rich league, the Chennai-based franchise ended up at the bottom of the points table, with just four victories in 14 matches. The 44-year-old cricketer managed to score 196 runs in 13 innings with an average of 24.50 and a strike rate of 135.17. His best score in the IPL 2025 was an unbeaten 30 runs. Dhoni also led the team in the absence of skipper Gaikwad, who sustained an injury. Fans would be hoping that the 'Finisher Thala' will unleash his fury after a tough 2025 season, with the arrival of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson in the franchise in a trade with Rajasthan Royals (RR), putting Dhoni's future in the spotlight. So far, having played 278 matches in the cash-rich league, Dhoni has garnered 5439 runs and also has 24 half-centuries. His career best score in the tournament is an unbeaten 84 runs. The likes of swashbuckling Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre and Urvil Patel were the best performers for the franchise in the previous season. Ahead of the upcoming season, they got two record-breaking buys in UP all-rounder Prashant Veer and Rajasthan wicketkeeper Kartik Sharma, each for Rs 14.20 crores, making them the most expensive uncapped players in the tournament's history. Chennai Super Kings' full squad for the IPL 2026 Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Jamie Overton, MS Dhoni, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Sarfaraz Khan (Rs 75 lakh), Kartik Sharma (Rs 14.20 Cr), Prashant Veer (Rs 14.20 Cr), Matthew Short (Rs 1.50 Cr), Aman Khan (Rs 40 lakh), Zak Foulkes (Rs 75 lakh), Akeal Hosein (Rs 2 Cr), Rahul Chahar (Rs 5.2 Cr), Matt Henry (Rs 2 Cr). (With ANI Inputs)
26 January,2026 08:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the WPL 2026 match against the Mumbai Indians (MI), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Kotambi. After winning the toss, RCB skipper Mandhana said the dew has been a major factor and also stated that the batting unit is aware of their responsibilities. Further speaking, she said that the team will be aiming to rectify the small mistakes they have made in the previous game. She also added that a team cannot enter the match with a hope of wicket favouring them, and also noticed that the pitches have appeared different in all the matches so far. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur said she too would have opted to bowl had she won the toss, citing the conditions and the pattern seen in previous matches. She said that the team will be focused on playing with a positive approach. The captain also added that all the players have spent quality time together during the break and is hopeful that they execute their plans well tonight. Mumbai Indians have entered the clash with just one change, where Amelia Kerr has come in place of Nicola Carey, as she misses out due to injury. So far in the ongoing WPL 2026, RCB has played six matches and has secured victories in five games. The side has suffered one loss and is topping the WPL 2026 points table with 10 points and a net run rate (NRR) of +1.236. The "Paltan" is placed in the fourth position with four points and a net run rate (NRR) of +0.046. Having played six games, MI registered wins in two matches and has lost four clashes. WPL 2026, MI vs RCB: Confirmed Playing XI Mumbai Indians: Sajana Sajeevan, Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Sanskriti Gupta, Rahila Firdous (WK), Poonam Khemnar, Shabnim Ismail, Vaishnavi Sharma. Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (C), Georgia Voll, Gautami Naik, Richa Ghosh (WK), Radha Yadav, Nadine De Klerk, Arundhati Reddy, Sayali Satghare, Shreyanka Patil, Lauren Bell.
26 January,2026 08:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Team India cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that Ishan Kishan is on a roll as he is showcasing his batting skills with the willow in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. He also highlighted that Sanju Samson, who is being preferred ahead of Kishan for the wicket-keeper's role, is struggling to deliver performances with the bat. "Sanju Samson got out off the first ball. He got out in the last two matches as well, and Ishan Kishan is playing well, however much he is playing," he said. "Ishan Kishan played a short but destructive knock this time too. He batted incredibly well, and by the time his wicket fell at 53, he had made his runs, and he is not stopping anytime soon. So who is ahead in this race?," added the former cricketer. Chopra then pointed out that Team India's management dropped Shubman Gill and opted to go ahead with Samson. He also said that considering Samson's recent outings, the Team India's think tank won't be able to stay with him for long. "You will have to ask a question. We dropped Gill because there was a new philosophy or ideology, and went towards Sanju Samson, but it seems like you won't be able to stay with him for long. If you see their numbers lately, they seem identical," he said. Currently, the "Men in Blue" have already sealed the series by taking a lead of 3-0 against the "Black Caps". The fourth T20I match between the teams is scheduled to be played on January 28 at the ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. Suryakumar Yadav-led men will soon engage in the T20 World Cup 2026, starting from February 7. They will open their global showpiece campaign by playing a clash against the United States of America (USA) on the same date at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. They are placed in Group A of the tournament along with teams such as Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States of America (USA). India's updated T20I squad Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (VC), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (WK), Ravi Bishnoi. (With ANI Inputs)
26 January,2026 08:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
