Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi continued his fairytale rise in youth cricket with another stunning performance during India’s ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 encounter against Bangladesh in Bulawayo. Asked to bat first at the Queens Sports Club after Bangladesh opted to bowl on a damp surface, India stumbled early. The top order was rattled inside the first few overs, and by the third over the scoreboard already showed two wickets down. With pressure mounting, Suryavanshi walked in and instantly changed the mood. Suryavanshi Turns the MomentumWalking in with India wobbling, Suryavanshi refused to play within a shell. Instead, he counter-attacked with confident strokeplay, driving through covers and pulling with authority. His intent was clear from the outset. The teenager sprinted to his half-century in just 30 balls, instantly changing the tempo of the match. Vaibhav eventually scored 72 from 67 deliveries, laced with six fours and three sixes. Though he fell short of a century, his innings provided stability after the early collapse and gave India a fighting platform against a disciplined Bangladesh bowling unit. The knock was historic in more ways than one. At just 14 years and 296 days, Suryavanshi became the youngest cricketer to register a 50-plus score in a Men’s Under-19 World Cup match. He surpassed Afghanistan’s Shahidullah Kamal, who held the previous record at 15 years and 19 days, while Pakistan great Babar Azam now sits third on the list. For a player barely into his teens, joining such elite company underlines how quickly Vaibhav is fast becoming the face of India’s youth campaign and the youngest half-centurion in U-19 World Cup history. Surpassing Kohli, Chasing the GreatsSuryavanshi also crossed another landmark during the Bangladesh clash. In only 20 Youth ODIs, he has gone past the 1,000-run mark, overtaking Virat Kohli’s tally of 978 runs in the format. With over 1,040 runs already, Vaibhav is rapidly climbing India’s list of top Youth ODI run-getters and is now closing in on names like Vijay Zol and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Consistency at such a young age has become his biggest asset, making him one of the most watched prospects of the tournament. A Match with Edge and Emotion The contest carried tension even before the first ball. India captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh’s Tamim skipped the traditional pre-match handshake, hinting at the competitive mood between the sides. Bangladesh’s decision to bowl first after the rain delay added further intrigue to the contest.But amid all the off-field narratives and early setbacks, the spotlight remained firmly on Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Calm under pressure, fearless by nature and historic by achievement, the 14-year-old once again proved that India’s Under-19 World Cup journey is being shaped by a prodigy who already looks destined for bigger stages
17 January,2026 06:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMumbai’s schools are witnessing a trend, where students representing school cricket teams are opting for homeschooling, thereby raising concerns about its impact on local talent and academic standards. While renowned cricket-playing schools like VN Sule and Swami Vivekanand prioritise traditional schooling, many others are open to flexible arrangements. The issue at hand is that while homeschooling gives students flexibility to balance sports and studies, it also raises questions about fairness and academic authenticity. There’s a risk that students from other states might come to Mumbai, enroll in schools with lax homeschooling norms, and dominate local cricket tournaments like the Giles Shield and Harris Shield. Local students could thus be discouraged from playing cricket, as they may feel they can’t compete with students from other states, who have come here, taken up homeschooling and now have more time to dedicate to the sport. Academic standards might suffer too and players from schools with strict academic policies might be at a disadvantage. In Maharashtra, homeschooling norms are a grey area, especially for children between six and 14. The Right to Education Act (RTE) makes formal education compulsory, but homeschooling isn’t explicitly regulated. Clear homeschooling norms, a centralised monitoring system for academic progress and prioritisation of local students for inter-school tournaments is needed. Also, all schools should offer flexible scheduling and academic support for their young sportspersons else the future of Mumbai’s cricket and education might well hang in the balance. Jagdish Achrekar was MCA’s Treasurer before the 2022 elections The views expressed in this column are the individual’s and don’t represent those of the paper
17 January,2026 09:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Jagdish AchrekarLeg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi was on Friday added to India’s T20I squad for the five-match series against New Zealand in place of injured all-rounder Washington Sundar, who will miss the rubber starting January 21 in Nagpur. Seasoned batter Shreyas Iyer too has been drafted in for the first three T20Is against the Kiwis after Tilak Varma was ruled out because of a side strain. “The all-rounder (Washington) has been ruled out of the upcoming IDFC First Bank T20I series against New Zealand. The Men’s Selection Committee has named Ravi Bishnoi as his replacement,” the BCCI said in a release. Bishnoi has taken 61 wickets from 42 T20Is, and the last of which came against England in February 2025. “Washington Sundar underwent scans after reporting an acute onset discomfort in his lower rib area while bowling during the first ODI against New Zealand at the BCA Stadium, Vadodara, on 11 January,” the BCCI added. Washington will now head to the BCCI Centre of Excellence for recuperation. “This was followed by an in-person consultation with an expert. He has been diagnosed with a side strain and has been advised rest for a few days,” it added. India T20I squadS Yadav (captain), A Sharma, S Samson (wk), S Iyer, H Pandya, S Dube, A Patel (vc), R Singh, J Bumrah, H Rana, A Singh, K Yadav, V Chakaravarthy, I Kishan (wk), R Bishnoi 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
17 January,2026 08:23 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIIn the WPL 2026 match against Gujarat Giants, Royal Challengers Bengaluru emerged victorious by 32 runs at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Having put to chase a target of 183 runs, Gujarat Giants were bowled out for 150 runs in 18.5 overs. Opening the innings for GG, Sophie Devine managed to score just eight runs in 12 balls, including a boundary. Fellow opening batswoman Beth Mooney accumulated 27 runs off 14 balls, with the help of four boundaries and a maximum. Bharti Fulmali emerged as the top scorer for Gujarat as she scored 39 runs in 20 balls, including three boundaries and three maximums. RCB's Shreyanka Patil registered a five-wicket haul by conceding 23 runs in 3.5 overs. Lauren Bell also bagged three wickets and gave away 29 runs in four overs. Arundhati Reddy and Nadine de Klerk registered one wicket each. Linsey Smith and Radha Yadav went wicketless in the WPL 2026 match against the Gujarat Giants. Earlier, having put to bat first, Royal Challengers Bengaluru's opening batswoman Grace Harris scored 17 runs in eight balls, with the help of four boundaries. Fellow opening batswoman Smriti Mandhana departed after scoring just five runs in eight balls. Dayalan Hemalatha and Gautami Naik returned to the pavilion on four and nine runs, respectively. Hemalatha's innings ended in eight balls, whereas Naik smashed two boundaries in her six-ball knock. Later, Radha Yadav played a crucial role and smashed 66 runs off 47 deliveries. Her knock also included four boundaries and two maximums. Richa Ghosh scored 44 runs in just 28 balls, and also smashed four boundaries and two maximums. Nadine de Klerk, in her cameo of 12 balls, garnered 26 runs, with the help of two boundaries and two maximums. With this, Bengaluru posted 182 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Gujarat Giants' Kashvee Gautam bagged two wickets by conceding 42 runs in her spell of four overs. Renuka Singh and Georgia Wareham also registered one wicket each to their names. Sophie Devine returned with the figures of three wickets for 31 runs in four overs. Skipper Ashleigh Gardner went wicketless in the WPL 2026 match against RCB.
16 January,2026 11:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTiigers of Kolkata registered their first win of ISPL Season 3 with a disciplined all-round performance against Bengaluru in their second league encounter at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium. After winning the toss and opting to bat, the Tiigers posted a competitive 77 for 5, a total that proved just enough on a surface where bowlers who hit the right lengths were always in the game. At the heart of Kolkata’s innings was Rajat Mundhe, the Gully to Glory Award winner, who once again showed maturity beyond numbers. His steady 35 off 28 balls, which included a six and a crucial nine-run hit, anchored the innings as wickets fell around him and ensured the Tiigers had something to defend. The turning point, however, came with the ball, courtesy of Man of the Match Saroj Paramanik, who delivered a spell defined by control and nerve. Saroj conceded just 9 runs in his two overs, but it was the 7th over that changed the course of the match. Tasked with defending 10 runs to prevent Bengaluru from gaining a 50% bonus, he gave away only 6, effectively pulling back three crucial runs from the opposition and swinging momentum firmly in Kolkata’s favour. The spell marked Saroj’s first Man of the Match award since the league’s inaugural season. For Saroj, the moment was a reward for years of quiet persistence. Born and raised in Kolkata, his cricketing life began in street cricket and local money matches, long before the idea of professionalism took shape. After turning professional at 22, he carved a sustainable career in tennis-ball cricket, choosing consistency over glamour. At 33, Saroj is known across Bengal’s circuit for reliability rather than headlines, having featured in major tournaments such as the AGSC Cup, Rajnandini Cup, Durgapur Big Bash and Sangeet Cup, often reaching the finals. Backed by a close-knit family and grounded by experience across three ISPL seasons — including an Icon Player stint with Hyderabad — Saroj continues to focus on performance, longevity and making the most of the opportunities the format offers. Reflecting on the win, Saroj said, “This is my third season, and this is my first Man of the Match. After losing our first match, I focused on motivating the team. I reminded everyone to look ahead and not dwell on what had already happened. We believed we could win, and I had complete faith in myself and the team. That belief helped us get the result. Vivek unfortunately got injured while trying to catch the ball, and I sincerely hope it isn’t too serious.” 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.
16 January,2026 09:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the U-19 World Cup match against the USA, Team India emerged victorious by six wickets through DLS method at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. During the match, India's Henil Patel played a crucial role. In his spell of seven overs, he registered a five-wicket haul by conceding just 16 runs. The pacer revealed that he draws inspiration from South Africa's legendary fast bowler Dale Steyn. "What I get from Dale Steyn is that I like his aggression a lot. His bowling was so good that there was no batter who could play against him easily because he was so tough to face," he told ICC Digital. Further speaking, he revealed his mindset by saying that he looks to dismiss the batsman in the first three to four deliveries. "I have a mindset to get the batter out within three to four deliveries. I go into training with a proper mindset, I get my body ready and it's the same in a match. It's all about taking early wickets, I go with the same mindset and I stay calm," said the 18-year-old cricketer. In the match, India opted to bowl first and produced a disciplined bowling performance, bundling out the USA for 107 in 35.2 overs. Nitish Sudini top-scored for USA with 36 off 52 balls, but the innings never really gained momentum due to the lack of meaningful partnerships. Chasing a revised target of 96, India suffered early setbacks. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was dismissed for 2, followed soon by Vedant Trivedi, who also managed 2 runs. Both wickets were taken by Ritvik Appidi. Captain Ayush Mhatre then departed for 19, leaving India at 25/3 in 5.2 overs. Vihaan Malhotra and Abhigyan Kundu steadied the innings with a crucial 45-run partnership. Malhotra scored 18 before being dismissed, but Kundu stood firm in the chase. He was well supported by Kanishk Chouhan, and the pair ensured there were no further hiccups. India eventually crossed the line in 17.2 overs. Kundu remained unbeaten on 42 off 41 balls, which included five boundaries and a six, while Chouhan remained not out on 10. (With ANI Inputs)
16 January,2026 08:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the WPL 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Gujarat Giants skipper Ashleigh Gardner won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. So far, the Smriti Mandhana-led RCB has secured two victories in as many matches. Currently, they are topping the table with four points and a net run rate (NRR) of +1.964. They will look to continue on their winning momentum in the tournament. On the other hand, placed in third position, the Giants have won two matches out of three games. They will be entering the clash on the back of a defeat in their previous game against Mumbai Indians (MI). Lanning and her women will be eager to secure another victory to take an edge in the competition. After winning the toss, skipper Gardner said that spinners will get help from the used pitch at the venue. She also feels that her side has been showcasing a good batting display. The skipper said that they will look to restrict RCB to as low a total as possible. Shivani Singh is set to make her debut for the Giants. Despite losing the toss, RCB skipper Smriti Mandhana feels that the venue provides fair chances for both teams, irrespective of the dew. She also revealed that the reason behind her team's success is that the players are doing basic things, and their work ethics are pretty strong. The skipper is also hopeful of the side following the same procedure till the end of the season. The 29-year-old cricketer also said that RCB want to play an aggressive and positive brand of cricket. They will enter the clash with the unchanged playing XI from their previous match. WPL 2026, RCB vs GG: Confirmed Playing XI Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Grace Harris, Smriti Mandhana (C), Dayalan Hemalatha, Gautami Naik, Richa Ghosh (WK), Nadine De Klerk, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell. Gujarat Giants: Beth Mooney (WK), Sophie Devine, Kashvee Gautam, Ashleigh Gardner (C), Shivani Singh, Georgia Wareham, Kanika Ahuja, Bharti Fulmali, Tanuja Kanwer, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Renuka Singh Thakur.
16 January,2026 07:26 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the WPL 2026 match against Mumbai Indians, UP Warriorz emerged victorious by seven wickets at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai. Meg Lanning-led side chased the target of 162 runs in 18.1 overs by losing just three wickets. Harleen Deol played a crucial role in the run chase. Facing just 39 deliveries, she smashed an unbeaten 64 runs, which was laced with 12 boundaries. Reflecting on her knock, Deol expressed happiness for the team. "Feels good, happy for the team for the first win. Actually yesterday too I was batting well. As you saw today, how Chloe (Tryon) can change the scenario. I just took it that way. She's someone who can hit big but that didn't go our way. That's how I look at it," she said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. This also marked UP Warriorz's first win in the ongoing tournament. Currently, having played four matches, the side has registered one win and three losses. She also said that it was just normal preparations for her and was well aware of the pitch in Navi Mumbai. "Nothing different today. I just got a few boundary balls, sometimes it's just your day. Normal prep for me, I was batting well yesterday also, no point to keep stressing on that thing (retired out). First two games didn't go my way. I was overhitting earlier. This wasn't the wicket to do that," added Deol. Skipper Lanning heaps praise on Deol for her match-winning knock Following the victory, skipper Lanning said that the side played good cricket, but was not consistent enough. She also said that Deol showcased what she can do in the format and is hopeful that her knock gives the cricketer the required confidence. "Lots of positives in the first three games, not as consistent. Bounced back well tonight to beat a good MI (Mumbai Indians) team. It's been a learning curve for me and the team. We've played good cricket but not as consistently. We've had chats on our approach. The belief and confidence was there. I had a quick chat to Deol, she took yday really well. Showed what she can do in the format, hope it gives her confidence," said the 33-year-old cricketer. (With ANI Inputs)
16 January,2026 06:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Team India cricketer Aakash Chopra heaped praise on the current form of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs). He said that Kohli is in the best ODI form of his life and also expressed his desire to see Rohit smash a century in the third ODI. Considering that the next ODI series is six months away, Chopra said that Rohit has nothing to prove to anyone. "There's no doubt that he (Rohit Sharma) is batting well. He batted well in Adelaide, scored a century in Sydney, and made fifties in the South Africa series. In the ongoing series as well, he has looked good for the time he batted. I don't think it is logical to judge Rohit Sharma at the moment, given the next ODI (after the New Zealand series) is about six months away. He doesn't have to prove anything. Let's hope we get to see Rohit score a century at Indore in the last match of the ongoing series," he told ANI. "You would not be asking me this had the World Cup been tomorrow. My perspective is that questions about his participation in the 2027 ODI World Cup should wait till 2027. However, the way he is playing currently, I don't think we have ever seen him bat this well in the ODIs," the former cricketer said about Kohli. Aakash Chopra's views on Team India players' injuries ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 Additionally, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Team India's Tilak Varma and Washington Sundar have sustained injuries and will not be available for the T20I series against New Zealand, which is scheduled before the global showpiece. Chopra is hopeful that the injuries don't become an issue for the "Men in Blue" leading to the marquee tournament. "It is a little concerning, of course, but today is January 15, and our first T20 World Cup match is on February 7. So, let's hope the injuries don't become an issue and the team is all ready by the time the World Cup is here," said the 48-year-old former cricketer. Team India will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against the USA on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. (With ANI Inputs)
16 January,2026 04:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSwami Vivekanand International School (SVIS), Borivli, produced a composed and clinical performance to defeat Rizvi Springfield High School (Khar) by 47 runs and secure a place in the final on Day Three of the Dream Sports Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) inter-school Giles Shield semi-final at the MCA-BKC ground on Thursday. Holding a first-innings lead of 103 runs, the SVIS boys made decisive use of their second-innings, batting on the final day. Prajwal Taware anchored the effort with a patient 41 off 86 balls (4x4). He found solid support from Sanchit Gawade, who scored a brisk 40 from 46 balls (4x4, 1x6) Their contributions helped SVIS post 128-8 in the allotted 40 overs. Pranav Paswan (3-36 in 11 overs) was the pick of the Rizvi bowlers, while Siddhant Desai took 2-8 (off seven overs) and Abdullah Khatri claimed 2-72 off his 20 overs. Chasing 231 in 40 overs, Rizvi failed to sustain momentum despite Siddhant Desai’s 90 off 75 balls. Sujal Khot added 30, but with wickets falling at regular intervals the Bandra boys were bowled out for 184 in 38.1 overs. Daivat Kawali starred with the ball for SVIS, claiming 5-76 in 19 overs, while Kartik Chhajer provided strong support with 3-67 (off 14.1 overs). Chhajer’s all-round performance (77 and match haul of seven wickets) earned him the Player of the Match award. SVIS will face Dnyandeep Seva Mandal (Nerul) in the final, which will be played at Brabourne Stadium, from January 20 to 22.
16 January,2026 09:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Rufus VedanayagamThe crisis-ridden Bangladesh Cricket Board stared at the prospect of the Bangladesh Premier League coming to a halt after senior national players revolted against it for not sacking director Najmul Islam for his disparaging comments against them even though the BCB removed him as head of its finance committee. Najmul remains a Board director, a position that can be taken from him on disciplinary grounds. The furore started after Najmul, while reiterating Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India for next month’s T20 World Cup on account of “security worries”, rejected concerns surrounding players’ remuneration should the country withdraw. 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
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