BCCI instructs, KKR releases Mustafizur!
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has released Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman after receiving the instruction to do the same from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). KKR purchased the 30-year-old fast bowler for Rs 9.5 crore in the auction ahead of the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in December. “Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI, as the regulator of IPL, has instructed the franchise to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season,” said KKR in a statement that came shortly after BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced communicating the instruction to the three-time IPL champions. “The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control of Cricket in India. BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course.” Saikia had earlier said that the BCCI had told KKR to release Mustafizur “due to ongoing political and social chaos where several Hindus are being tortured and even murdered, and as its aftermath, several religious organizations in India started warning the BCCI that they create chaos over the venues for the IPL if Mustafizur is seen in action in the IPL.
Jammu and Kashmir cricketer accused of ‘separatism,’ called for questioning by police!
Jammu and Kashmir cricketer Furqan Bhat has been accused of ‘separatism’ after he was seen sporting a Palestine flag on his helmet during a local cricket match. Furqan Bhat has also been called in for questioning by the J&K Police for sporting the Palestine flag. Furqan Bhat’s action garnered attention after videos and pictures of him batting with a Palestine flag sticker on his helmet during a match in the Jammu and Kashmir Champions League in Jammu went viral. The Jammu police have already sought clarification from the cricketer and the tournament organizers. “One cricket player and organizer of the tournament has been called for questioning by J&K Police regarding the use of the Palestine flag on his helmet during a cricket match at a private tournament in Jammu,” the Police said. The Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) has already distanced itself from the whole incident, claiming that the Jammu and Kashmir Champions League is not an authorised league and that Furqan Bhat is not affiliated with the board. The Jammu police are trying to find out the reason why Furqan Bhat was sporting the Palestine flag. They have not made any official comment on the possible reasons.
Martyn is recovering well, says his friend Adam Gilchrist
Former Australian Test batter Damien Martyn is showing “positive signs” after being hospitalized in an induced coma with meningitis, his former teammate Adam Gilchrist said. The 54-year-old, who played 67 Tests between 1992 and 2006 and 208 one-day internationals, fell ill while lying down last week before being rushed to hospital. He was diagnosed with meningitis—an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. “Thank you, everyone, for the heartfelt love and wishes and care for Damien as he goes through a challenging time,” fellow Test great Gilchrist said during a Big Bash League game broadcast on Thursday evening. “He’s still in the hospital. There’ll be more details coming out as they come to hand, but certainly in the last 24 hours, some positive signs are the indications coming out of the various tests he’s having.” Support and prayers for Martyn are being poured all-over the cricket fraternity across the world. Former and present cricketers also including former England captain Michael Vaughan and Indian greats Ravichandran Ashwin and VVS Laxman are sending prayers through their X-accounts respectively. Known as one of the game’s most elegant stroke-players, Martyn became a key figure in Steve Waugh’s all-powerful Australian side, hitting 13 centuries and averaging 46.37. He was also part of the Australian team that won the 2003 ODI World Cup, cracking 88 not out in the final against India in a match-winning partnership with Ricky Ponting. Martyn retired in 2006 during the Ashes series and had kept a low profile since.
Vengsarkar condemns Agarkar and Gambhir for ignoring Sarafraz
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar has lashed out at the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee for repeatedly ignoring Sarafraz Khan, despite the Mumbai batsman’s consistent performances in domestic cricket. Sarfaraz recently hit 157 off 75 balls for Mumbai against Goa in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, helping Mumbai surpass 400 runs. While speaking to The Times of India, Vengsarkar expressed shock over the decision to leave out Sarfaraz from all formats, highlighting his contributions whenever given a chance by the selectors. “You know, the thing is, it’s really shocking for me that he is not picked up in any format for India, when he has been doing so consistently, even for India, also when he got an opportunity. I watched him and Devdutt Padikkal batting together against England in Dharamshala. It was a crucial session. They batted beautifully and forged together an important partnership, which ultimately helped India win the Test match,” said Vengsarkar. The 69-year-old also criticized the team management for not giving Sarfaraz a single opportunity during the 2024/25 tour of Australia, describing the decision as a “real shame.” “And after that (home series against England), he didn’t get an opportunity (to play another Test). Of course, he was on the tour of Australia (the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy), but he wasn’t given a chance at all, and that really baffles me, because he’s a good enough player to play in all formats of the game. Such a talent has been ignored and neglected. It’s a real shame!” the former India selector added. In 2024, Sarfaraz made his Test debut under Rohit Sharma’s leadership at home against England in February. Since then, he has made 371 runs in six Tests at an average of 37.10, striking at a healthy 74.94, with a century and three fifties in 11 innings and a best score of 150.
Ahead of the ODI series against New Zealand, Rishabh Pant fails in the Vijay Hazare!
India keeper Rishabh Pant, the center of attention ahead of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand at home, managed just 24 runs as his Delhi side suffered a 79-run defeat to Odisha in the Vijay Hazare Trophy’s fourth-round Group-D match on Wednesday. The Delhi batting faltered, managing just 193 in 43.3 overs while chasing Odisha’s 272 for 8, and were all out despite the target being within reach. Delhi’s innings have largely been built around one solid batting performance so far this season. But the absence of one on Wednesday cost them not just the match but also their top position on the points table, which could come back to haunt them as the tournament progresses. It was also the first time so far this season that Delhi could not cross 200, something which looked so easy when Virat Kohli slammed a century against Andhra in the opener, and opener Priyansh Arya scored a fine 78 in the previous game against Saurashtra. Pant has so far scored only 5, 70, and 22 in the tournament. He was dismissed by pacer Debabrata Pradhan (3/28), who, along with young right-arm pacer Sambit Baral (3/34), hastened Delhi’s collapse.
Now Gill, Jadeja, and Rahul will play the Vijay Hazare Trophy in January
After being snubbed in the T-20 World Cup, India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and star batter KL Rahul are all set to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in January. The trio will join their respective teams ahead of the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, beginning on 11th January. According to Cricbuzz, Shubman Gill is expected to feature in Punjab’s matches on January 3 and 6 against Sikkim and Goa in Jaipur. Punjab, grouped with powerhouse Mumbai in Group C, currently sits fourth with two wins from three games. After playing two games, Gill will leave his state side to join the Indian team, which is set to assemble in Baroda on 7th and 8th January before the first ODI against New Zealand. Ravindra Jadeja has also informed the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) that he will play the January 6 and 8 fixtures against Services and Gujarat. Saurashtra are playing their league matches in Alur, Karnataka, and currently have one win from three games, placing them sixth in the eight-team group. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has not confirmed KL Rahul’s participation, but he’s likely to play in the January 3 and 6 games against Tripura and Rajasthan in Ahmedabad. Karnataka is second in Group A, maintaining a 100% win record from three matches. Only fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has been exempted from the mandatory commitments as the BCCI is managing his workload carefully.
Australian great Damien Martyn is battling for life against Meningitis!
Former Australian cricketer Damien Martyn is in an induced coma, battling life-threatening meningitis. He was rushed to a Brisbane hospital in serious condition after falling ill on 26 December. The 54-year-old has meningitis, which inflames the membranes around the brain and spinal cord and can cause brain swelling. Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist, a close friend of Martyn, informed the public on behalf of his family that Martyn is receiving treatment in a hospital. “He is getting the best of treatment, and (Martyn’s partner) Amanda and his family know that many people are sending their prayers and best wishes,” Gilchrist was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg also sent his best wishes for Martyn’s speedy recovery. “I’m saddened to hear of Damien’s illness. The best wishes of everyone at Cricket Australia and in the wider cricket community are with him at this time,” Greenberg said in a statement. Martyn made his debut in international cricket during a Test against the West Indies in Brisbane in 1992, scoring 36 and 15 in two innings. Then, he established himself as one of the most elegant stroke-players in Australia and went on to play 67 Tests and 208 ODIs for Australia.
Bradman’s ‘Baggy Green’ cap, gifted to Indian all-rounder, will now be auctioned!
A ‘Baggy Green’ cap worn by Sir Donald Bradman during the 1947-48 Test series against India will be auctioned next month. For the first time, it will be available to the public in the last seven decades. More significantly, the cap has a historical value as Bradman finally gifted it to Indian all-rounder Sriranga Wasudev Sohoni during a series that was India’s first overseas tour after Independence. Auctioneers expect strong interest from collectors and institutions worldwide due to the item’s rarity and provenance. Unlike most surviving caps from Bradman’s era, many of which are preserved in museums or held in closely guarded private collections, this Baggy Green cap has never been displayed publicly or offered for sale. It has remained in continuous family ownership for more than 75 years, according to the Australian Associated Press (AAP). The 1947-48 cap comes from a series in which Australia completed a 4-0 sweep over India. During Bradman’s era, players were issued a new cap for each Test series, increasing the individual historical value of every surviving example. This cap is further distinguished by its direct association with a defining chapter in cricket history and the personal connection between Bradman and Sohoni. Lee Hames of Lloyds Auctions described the item as “a genuine piece of cricket history that Sir Donald Bradman personally gifted.” The direct handover from Bradman to Sohoni during such a significant period adds to its appeal among collectors and historians.
The CSK scout joins the list of elites with seven wickets in VHT!
He was an uncapped cricketer in the IPL. Still, the Chennai Super Kings, who scouted him last year, decided to retain him for the IPL this year. The 28-year-old Maharashtra pacer Ramakrshna Ghosh justified his presence, becoming the first pacer from Maharashtra to have scalped seven wickets for only 42 runs against Himachal Pradesh in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Monday. He was the country’s 12th bowler to have claimed seven wickets in VHT. Ghosh recorded figures of 7/42 from 9.4 overs as Maharashtra bowled out Himachal Pradesh for 271 in the first innings of the match. The right-arm quick cleaned up the Himachal Pradesh top-order, claiming four wickets in the opening seven overs. Ghosh returned for a late spell to claim his maiden List A five-wicket haul and added two more scalps. Ghosh had begun the VHT 2025-26 campaign by claiming three wickets each against Sikkim and Punjab. Two bowlers have registered eight-wicket hauls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy so far. They are Arpit Guleria of Himachal Pradesh, who captured 8 wickets for 50 runs against Gujarat in 2023, and Jharkhand’s Shabhaz Nadeem, who picked up 8 wickets for only 10 runs against Rajasthan in 2018. Journey of Ghosh was established as a key man for Maharashtra in the Ranji Trophy when his bowling prowess was on full display in the last season. He took 11 wickets in just six matches, showcasing an average of 41.45 and an economy rate of 3.70. His best performance came against Odisha, where he claimed 3-50, demonstrating his knack for breaking partnerships and providing crucial breakthroughs. At the same time, Ghosh’s journey in the domestic T-20 circuit was significant. In the Maharashtra Premier League last year, he emerged as a standout performer, taking 20 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 17.20.
BCCI likely to send Bumrah and Pandya to a ‘rest’ in ODI series against Kiwis!
Both Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to be rested from India’s first assignment of 2026, a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against New Zealand. However, the duo will play the five T-20 Internationals that will start from 21st January. New Zealand will play India in the three-match ODI series starting from 11th January 11 as the matches are scheduled in Baroda, Rajkot, and Indore. According to a report from a national website, the key reason behind resting Bumrah and Pandya is to give them time for the preparation of the T-20 World Cup, to be held in 2026. The decision resembles BCCI’s decision of resting them from the ODI series against South Africa. But both of them took part in the T-20 Internationals against the team. Both Pandya and Bumrah have proved themselves indispensable for the shortest format of the game. Pandya recently completed a double of 100 T-20I wickets and 1000 runs, and Bumrah has already established himself as a T-20 specialist. So, BCCI feels both these players’ workloads should be managed carefully. Without Pandya in the ODIs, India might try Nitish Kumar Reddy in the role. He was there in the previous ODI series against the Proteas as well, but didn’t get a game. Instead, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar filled two all-rounders’ roles. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, and Harshit Rana took the pace-bowling responsibilities. It must be noted that Pandya hasn’t played an ODI since the Champions Trophy final earlier this year, while Bumrah has been kept away since the infamous November 19, 2023. Following the T20 World Cup 2026 at home, India’s next ODI series will be against England away from home in July. Both Pandya and Bumrah, if fit, will be seen playing there.
