In the fifth T20I match against New Zealand, Team India emerged victorious by 46 runs at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. With this, the hosts have sealed the five-match T20I series by 4-1 against the Kiwis. Having put to chase a target of 272 runs, the "Black Caps" were bowled out for 225 runs in 19.4 overs. New Zealand's opening batsman Finn Allen emerged as the highest run-scorer for the side. Facing 38 balls, he played a knock of 80 runs, which also included eight boundaries and six maximums. Ish Sodhi scored 33 runs in 15 balls, with the help of a boundary and three maximums. Rachin Ravindra also accumulated 30 runs after facing 17 balls. His knock was laced with two boundaries and the same number of maximums. Daryl Mitchell returned to the pavilion after registering 26 runs off 12 balls, and also smashed two boundaries and the same number of maximums. Team India's Arshdeep Singh returned with the figures of five wickets for 51 runs in four overs. Axar Patel bowled four overs and bagged three wickets by conceding 33 runs. Varun Chakaravarthy and Rinku Singh also chipped in with one wicket each. Earlier, having opted to bat first, Team India's swashbuckling opening batsman Abhishek Sharma smashed 30 runs off just 16 deliveries, with the help of four boundaries and two maximums. Fellow opening batsman Sanju Samson continued his low string of scores as he departed on six runs in six balls, including a boundary. Ishan Kishan, who missed out on the previous clash due to injury, delivered a big knock. Facing just 43 balls, the left-handed batsman garnered 103 runs, which was laced with six boundaries and 10 maximums. The knock also marked his first century in the shortest format of the game. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav also registered a score of 63 runs after facing 30 balls. His knock also included four boundaries and six maximums. Premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya played a fiery knock of 42 runs in just 17 balls, with the help of a boundary and four maximums. Rinku Singh and Shivam Dube stayed unbeaten on the scores of eight and seven runs, respectively. With this, the "Men in Blue" posted a total of 271 runs for the loss of five wickets in 20 overs. New Zealand's Lockie Ferguson managed to pick up two wickets by conceding 41 runs in four overs. Skipper Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, and Jacob Duffy also picked up one wicket each.
31 January,2026 10:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentLegendary Team India cricketer Kapil Dev feels that the current national side is one of the strongest teams in the shortest format of the game. He also stated that, along with T20, Test and One-Day cricket should also be considered as important formats. "I think there are two ways of looking at it. In T20 cricket, no doubt our team is one of the best, you can always have a bad day. But if you are talking about cricket, you have to talk about Test cricket," he said. "One-day cricket should also not be ignored. I understand that T20 is thrilling, but the base of the game is Test cricket, and we should be investing more time in it, along with one-day cricket as well," added the former cricketer. Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, the "Men in Blue" are all set to clash against arch-rivals, Pakistan, on February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. When asked if two teams should play against each other, given the political tensions, the former cricketer said that it should be the government or the cricket board's call. "It's not fair for people like me to make statements on this. It is the government's call or the cricket board's call. Whatever decision they take, I will stand by it because I prefer to stand by my country and not make loose statements. Many cricketers across the border like to do that-I don't. I choose to stand with my country, and whatever policy they have, I am with them," he said. "I think it's not fair for me to give an answer like that. Whatever decision is taken, it should lead to the best result. The people who are sitting there and making decisions about Test cricket, One-Day cricket, and T20, that is their job," added Dev. T20 World Cup 2026: Team India's opening match's date and venue The T20 World Cup 2026 is all set to kick off from February 7, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Team India will begin its campaign on the same date by playing a clash against the United States of America (USA) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. (With PTI Inputs)
31 January,2026 09:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTiigers of Kolkata produced a statement performance in their eighth ISPL fixture against Srinagar, cruising to a commanding 93-run victory after choosing to bat first. In the process, the Tiigers shattered their own team record of 136, piling up a formidable 149 runs in just 10 overs. The 93-run margin stands as the largest victory by runs in the history of the India Street Premier League, underlining Kolkata’s complete dominance and marking the contest as one of the most one-sided displays the tournament has witnessed. The win lifts Tiigers to third place on the points table, leapfrogging Ahmedabad on net run rate (Tiigers: 1.401, Ahmedabad: 1.211) as the league heads into a decisive phase. At the heart of this statement win was a performance for the ages from Krushna Gawali, who announced himself to the ISPL with authority in his debut season. Named Man of the Match, Krushna smashed a breathtaking 74 off just 26 balls — the highest individual score of ISPL history— laced with four towering nine-run hits, four sixes and a boundary. It was not just with the bat that he made his presence felt. Krushna was electric in the field, saving crucial runs at the boundary and pulling off the Best Catch of the Match, making him a constant force throughout the contest. Supporting the onslaught was skipper Bhavesh Pawar, who lived up to his Gully to Glory reputation with a blistering cameo in the middle overs. Bhavesh struck a rapid 34, peppered with a nine-run hit, two sixes and two boundaries, before making an equally telling impact with the ball. His two-over spell cost just 12 runs and yielded two key wickets, further tightening Tiigers’ grip on the match. Mahesh Nangude added late fireworks with an explosive 11 off just 3 balls, while birthday boy Rajat Mundhe marked the occasion with a miserly spell, picking up a wicket and conceding only 8 runs in his two overs. For Krushna Gawali, this night was more than just a breakout innings — it was the culmination of a journey that began far away from floodlights and packed stadiums. Born and raised in Tuljapur, a small village in Maharashtra with little access to organised cricket, Krushna’s early relationship with the game was built from the fringes. With no academies, no coaches and no clear pathway, he started by fielding outside the boundary, returning tennis balls to senior players and quietly learning the game by watching. A local senior, Avesh Mamu, noticed his hunger and gave him his first real chance — a small opening that changed his life. With no financial backing and no sporting background at home, Krushna played on borrowed bats and pure belief. Over time, persistence turned into progress, and progress into opportunity. The 2026 season marks his first appearance in the India Street Premier League (ISPL), and on this night in Tiigers colours, the boy who once stood outside the ropes owned the stage. From Tuljapur to ISPL, Krushna didn’t just arrive — he belonged 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.
31 January,2026 09:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the fifth T20I against New Zealand, Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to bat first at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Team India's management will be expecting wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson to deliver a big knock tonight. Also, in-form Ishan Kishan, who missed out on the previous clash due to injury, has made a return to the side. Additionally, Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy have also returned to the playing XI. The match will be the last clash for both teams before entering the T20 World Cup 2026. The marquee tournament is scheduled to begin from February 7 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. After winning the toss, the hosts' skipper Suryakumar said, "We’ve decided to bat first as there was heavy dew last night, and we want to put our bowlers under a proper test. The curator feels the pitch will stay true across the full forty overs, even without much grass on it. Axar, Ishan, and Varun return to the XI, and it’s great to have Sanju Samson playing here in Trivandrum. Tilak is very close; he’s taking his time through practice games, and once he’s back, we’ll be a stronger unit. This series has pushed us in different conditions and situations, which is exactly what we want at this stage. Each game has offered a new lesson, and the focus has been on carrying those learnings forward". On the other hand, New Zealand's skipper Mitchell Santner said, "There’s a bit more wind around tonight, so conditions could behave slightly differently from the last game. Bowling first has been a strong area for us in this series, and we’re happy to take on that challenge again. We’ve made four changes: Finn comes in for Conway, Jacobs replaces Chapman, KJ returns, and Lockie comes in for Matt Henry. A couple of these moves are precautionary, with minor niggles we’re keen to manage carefully. Matt Henry’s workload is being monitored, so rotation is important with bigger games coming up. Having Finn and Lockie back adds quality, and this match is another step in building toward the business end". IND vs NZ 5th T20I: Confirmed Playing XI India: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah. New Zealand: Tim Seifert (WK), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Bevon Jacobs, Mitchell Santner (C), Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson, Jacob Duffy.
31 January,2026 06:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSouth Africa's star batsman David Miller on Saturday received medical clearance to join the national squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. The global showpiece tournament is set to kick off from February 7, and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The first match of the tournament is scheduled to be played between Pakistan and the Netherlands at the Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka. Earlier, Miller had sustained a muscle strain during the SA20 tournament. He will now depart along with the South African squad on Sunday for Mumbai, Cricket South Africa said. "Proteas Men's batter David Miller has been medically cleared for next month's ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. Miller successfully underwent a fitness test this week following an adductor muscle strain sustained while playing for Paarl Royals during the SA20," CSA said in a social media post. "He will join the squad on Sunday when they depart for Mumbai from OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg," it added. The Proteas have been placed in Group D along with teams such as Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). South Africa will begin its campaign by playing a clash against Canada on February 9 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Earlier, the International Cricket Council (ICC) pushed Bangladesh out of the upcoming T20 World Cup, bringing in Scotland after the BCB refused to let its team travel to India, citing security concerns in the wake of Mustafizur Rahman’s ouster from the IPL. Scotland’s entry ended the month-long suspense after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) repeatedly insisted that their matches be shifted to Sri Lanka and even suggested that their group be swapped with Ireland. The Irish Cricket Board, however, categorically dismissed the suggestion. At the ICC Board meeting, Bangladesh was taken to the cleaners with an overwhelming 14-2 verdict in favour of the Tigers travelling to India for their games. South Africa's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje. (With PTI Inputs)
31 January,2026 06:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPunjab Kings' newest addition, Vishal Nishad, is all set to make his mark in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, according to a release. While speaking during the pre-season camp in Udaipur, Nishad said that Team India stalwart Virat Kohli inspired him to take up the sport. "My idol is Virat Kohli. I am inspired by his attitude and his drive; he's my favourite," he said. When asked how he would celebrate his wicket if he manages to dismiss him during the cash-rich league, replying to it, the 20-year-old cricketer said that he would touch Kohli's feat. "If I take his wicket, I'll touch his feet because he's my idol," he replied. The youngster then recollected the time when he used to help his father with the work and also mentioned the sacrifices made by his family. "There were tough times. I used to go with my father and help him [with work]. I even thought I'd quit cricket. My mother told me to leave it and learn something else because becoming a cricketer is so difficult. But I didn't give up. I told her, 'Mom, I will definitely do it.' Once they saw my resolve, my family stood behind me," he recalled. Nishad also shared how he managed to get picked by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) after playing a local T20 tournament in Uttar Pradesh. "Initially, I played tennis-ball cricket. A friend watched me throw and suggested to try the leather ball because he liked my action. After that, I decided to practice seriously. That's how it all started," he said. "My coach didn't charge me fees for three years. Eventually, I played in a local T20 tournament in Uttar Pradesh and performed well. After two years of playing in the tournament, I landed up here (with Punjab Kings)," the cricketer added. Explaining his choice to become a bowler, Nishad noted how his background in tennis-ball cricket played a pivotal role: "As I was practising with the tennis ball initially, I got used to making it spin. I adapted my tennis-ball skills to the leather ball, which played a major role in my becoming a bowler". (With ANI Inputs)
31 January,2026 04:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Australian men's cricket team has suffered a massive blow as star pacer Pat Cummins was ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 due to injury. They announced their 15-member squad for the global showpiece, which will be led by Mitchell Marsh. The pacer has not yet fully recovered from the back injury and will miss out on the tournament, according to the ICC. The Aussies have also not included Matthew Short in the squad. Ben Dwarshuis and Matthew Renshaw have been included in Australia's squad. Speaking about Dwarshuis, Australian selector Tony Dodemaide said that his ability to swing the ball with a good pace will be well-suited to the conditions. "With Pat needing more time to recover from his back injury Ben is a ready replacement who offers a left-arm pace option as well as dynamic fielding and late-order hitting. We believe his ability to swing the ball at good pace along with clever variations will be well suited to the conditions we expect and overall structure of the squad," he said. "Matt (Renshaw) has impressed in all formats of late, including in multiple roles in white ball formats for Australia, the Queensland Bulls and the Brisbane Heat. With the top order settled and spin heavy conditions expected in the pool stages in Sri Lanka, we also feel Matt provides extra middle order support, with Tim David completing his return to play program in the early phase of the tournament," added the selector. Australia has been placed in Group B of the T20 World Cup 2026 along with teams such as Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe. The global showpiece is scheduled to kick off from February 7 and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Australia will begin its campaign by playing a clash against Ireland on February 11 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Australia's squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa. (With ANI Inputs)
31 January,2026 04:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Friday announced a one-time financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to the widows of former Mumbai players, who are not covered under the BCCI pension scheme. The Ajinkya Naik-headed MCA also formally requested the BCCI to extend its pension coverage to widows of former domestic players. “The decision was taken by the MCA [Apex] Council in recognition of the invaluable contributions made by past players who have served Mumbai cricket with distinction and dedication over the years. The funds for this assistance will be drawn from the proceeds received from exhibitors participating in the recently concluded Cric-Kit Fair,” a media release said.
31 January,2026 08:51 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentRoyal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) skipper Smriti Mandhana revealed that her message to the team ahead of their crucial Women’s Premier League clash against UP Warriorz (UPW) was no different from the one delivered in their previous games, a reminder that they were “just one win away from the final.” RCB cruised to an eight-wicket win on Thursday to become the first team to qualify for the final. “Honestly, the message was the same as the last few matches — we kept saying we’re just one win away from the final, and nothing changed. For the last three matches, it was always about being one win away.” 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
31 January,2026 08:50 AM IST | Vadodara | IANSRiding on stand-in skipper Siddhesh Lad’s unbeaten century (102 not out, 12x4), Mumbai took a 45-run first innings lead against Delhi on Day Two of their Elite Group ‘D’ Ranji Trophy match at the MCA-BKC ground on Friday. In reply to Delhi’s 221 all out, the hosts were at 266-5 at stumps.Mumbai’s top run-getter this season (with 736 runs so far), Lad’s fifth century of the season came with a patient approach. After overnight unbeaten batsman Akhil Herwadkar’s (12) departure at 11.11 am, Lad came to the crease with the scoreboard reading 44-3 in the 22nd over and batted till stumps (4.50 pm) — a four-and-a-half-hour-plus stay at the wicket. Musheer Khan scores 57 Batting at No. 5, he shared a 63-run stand with No. 4 batter Musheer Khan (57, 7x4) followed by an unbeaten 130-run sixth-wicket partnership with Suved Parkar (53 not out, 4x4, 2x6). “The wicket for this match is a bit different. It’s helping the seamers, so it was very important that I spend as much time as I can on this wicket. It was my responsibility as captain and also being the man-in-form, to ensure I played out the good spells, first against the fast bowlers and then against the spinners,” Lad said after day’s play. In the process, Lad equalled the Mumbai record of scoring five first-class centuries in one season. Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar scored five centuries in the 1994-95 Ranji season, while Rusi Modi had a similar performance in 1944-45. Mumbai-born Amol Muzumdar also had five centuries in 2012-13, but while playing for Andhra. The record for most centuries in one season belongs to VVS Laxman, who scored eight tons in 1999-2000. Lad, 33, who has scored over 5400 runs in 80 first-class games, wants to keep up the good work. “My first goal is to win the Ranji Trophy for Mumbai. Ever since I returned after playing for another state [Goa in 2022-23], the Mumbai Cricket Association has shown faith in me, so I just want to keep doing well,” he said. Thakur nears comeback Meanwhile, Test pacer and Mumbai skipper Shardul Thakur, who suffered a calf injury during the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Jaipur last month, is likely to make a comeback to the Mumbai team for their Ranji Trophy quarter-final at the MCA-BKC ground from February 6. He was seen doing strength training drills at the MCA-BKC ground on Friday. FiveNo. of centuries by Siddhesh Lad this season, joint-most by a Mumbai batter in a single first-class season 105.14Siddhesh Lad’s average in the ongoing Ranji season; the stand-in Mumbai skipper has scored 736 runs in 7 games Brief scoresDelhi 221 all out vs Mumbai 266-5 (S Lad 102*, M Khan 57, S Parkar 53*; D Mehra 2-38, M Grewal 2-59)
31 January,2026 08:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureIn the WPL 2026 match against Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Giants emerged victorious by 11 runs at the Vadodara International Cricket Stadium in Kotambi. Having needed to chase a target of 168 runs, Mumbai Indians managed to score 156 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Opening the innings for the "Paltan", Sajeevan Sajana scored 26 runs after facing 25 balls, including four boundaries and a maximum. Fellow opening batswoman Hayley Matthews departed after scoring six runs in eight balls, including a boundary. Nat Sciver-Brunt was dismissed for two runs in six balls. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur played an unbeaten knock of 82 runs off 48 deliveries, which was laced with eight boundaries and four maximums. Amelia Kerr returned to the pavilion after scoring 20 runs in 16 balls, with the help of two boundaries. Amanjot Kaur also registered 13 runs off 12 balls, which also included two boundaries. Gujarat Giants' Sophie Devine and Georgia Wareham bagged two wickets each. Kashvee Gautam, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and skipper Ashleigh Gardner registered one wicket each to their names. Renuka Singh Thakur and Tanuja Kanwar went wicketless in the WPL 2026 match against MI. Earlier, having opted to bat first, Gujarat Giants' wicketkeeper-batswoman Beth Mooney scored just five runs in eight balls. Fellow opening batswoman Sophie Devine accumulated 25 runs off 21 balls, with the help of three boundaries. Anushka Sharma played a knock of 33 runs after facing 31 balls. Her knock was laced with four boundaries and a maximum. Skipper Ashleigh Gardner returned to the pavilion after scoring 46 runs in just 28 balls, including seven boundaries and a maximum. Georgia Wareham played an unbeaten knock of 44 runs, which came in just 26 deliveries, including four boundaries and two maximums. Along with Wareham, Bharti Fulmali stayed unbeaten on five runs in six balls. With this, Gujarat Giants posted 167 runs for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs. Mumbai Indians' Amelia Kerr bagged two wickets by conceding 26 runs in four overs. Having bowled four overs, Shabnim Ismail also claimed one wicket for 29 runs, followed by Nat Sciver-Brunt, who also registered one wicket by giving away 36 runs in four overs.
30 January,2026 11:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
