T-20 World Cup: Kishan back, Gill out from Indian team
Ishan Kishan returned to the Indian team for the forthcoming T-20 World Cup after a gap of more than two years. The T-20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in February next year. BCCI announced the team on Saturday. Kishan, whose last T20 international was against Australia in 2023, has proved his mettle in domestic and first-class cricket. Ishan Kishan had an outstanding performance in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he was the highest scorer with 571 runs, guiding Jharkhand to clinch the title. The 15-member squad, announced for the T20 World Cup 2026, will also feature in the five-match T20I series against New Zealand in January. However, Shubman Gill has missed out on a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad, with his recent numbers in the format weighing heavily against him. The India Test captain has gone 18 T20I innings without a half-century, a prolonged drought that has weakened his case in a format driven by output and immediacy. The recently concluded T-20I series against South Africa did little to change perceptions. Gill managed scores of 4, 0 and 28, reinforcing concerns over his impact and reliability at the top of the order.
Journey of IPL’s new sensation Kartik Sharma: Father slept hungry, and mother sold jewellery!
The journey of the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) new sensation Kartik Sharma is a story of sacrifice, spirit, and indomitable mental strength. Once forced to sleep hungry and stay in night shelters due to lack of money, Kartik is India’s most expensive IPL buy after being picked for Rs. 14.20 crore in the auction on Tuesday. After the selection, Kartik returned to his hometown, Bharatpur, with his parents. Members of the Bharatpur District Cricket Association (BDCA) gathered to honor the young cricketer whose rise made the entire Bharatpur proud. Kartik’s father, Manoj Sharma, who earns a modest living, recalled the hardships behind his son’s success. While speaking to IANS, he revealed, “Our income was low. But my wife, Radha, and I used to have a dream of making Kartik a cricketer, at any cost. The family sold their plots and farmland in Bahnera village. Kartik’s mother sold her jewellery. Manoj added, “It was a challenging phase of our lives, but we never made Kartik feel that it would not be possible fulfill the dream. One of the most defining moments of Kartik’s journey came during a tournament in Gwalior. Manoj accompanied his son, expecting the team to be eliminated within four or five matches—the only time they could afford to stay. But Kartik’s performance pushed the team into the final, and with no money left, father and son were forced to stay in a night shelter. “There was a day when we had to sleep hungry,” Manoj recalled. “Only after winning the final and receiving the prize money were we able to return home.” Kartik’s cricketing talent was evident early. At only two and a half years old, he picked up a bat and hit a ball so hard that it broke two photo frames at home. “That moment made us believe he was special,” his father said. Interestingly, Manoj himself was once a cricketer, but an injury ended his playing days. “I couldn’t complete my dream, so I decided my child would,” he said — a dream now fulfilled beyond imagination. Despite early promise, Kartik’s journey was far from smooth. He played at the Under-14 and Under-16 levels, but then went four years without selection. Many would have quit, but the youngster didn’t. “I just kept playing,” Kartik told IANS. “My father kept training me. Eventually, I got selected for Under-19, then the Ranji Trophy.” His strong performances at the domestic level finally opened the doors to the IPL. Despite his sudden fame, Kartik stays grounded. He completed Class 12 this year and intends to pursue his graduation alongside his cricket career. “My studies are important to me,” he said. His youngest brother plays cricket, while his middle brother is focused on academics — a reflection of the family’s belief in discipline and balance. Kartik’s story is now a symbol of hope for countless young athletes from small towns and financially challenged backgrounds. From selling land and jewellery to sleeping hungry in night shelters, his family’s sacrifices have culminated in a moment that has rewritten their destiny.
Stomach cramps force Yashasvi Jaiswal to get admitted to the hospital!
Indian cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal had to be admitted to a hospital after suffering from stomach cramps during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match between Mumbai and Rajasthan in Pune. It is believed that the cramps increased after the game, and that was the reason he was rushed to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis. He was given an IV medication and diagnosed using an ultrasound and a CT scan. According to hospital sources, Jaiswal has already been advised by the doctors to follow medication and rest. The young left-hander had a few good weeks with the bat, both for the Mumbai team and the Indian national team. In a recent match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, while playing for Mumbai, he smashed a 48-ball century to help the Mumbai team to a four-wicket victory over the Haryana team in a high-scoring Super League B game in Pune. That knock from Jaiswal, in which he scored 101 off 50 balls, had helped Mumbai chase down Haryana’s 235-run target in just 17.3 overs. At the start of the month, when Jaiswal was with the Indian national team, he had played a pivotal role in the Indian team sealing the ODI series against South Africa. In the third and final ODI of the series at Visakhapatnam, Jaiswal had cracked an unbeaten century for India as they had defeated the visiting side. Jaiswal was only drafted into the ODI team because the captain, Shubman Gill was out injured. And Jaiswal made the most of his chances with a century.
The cricketer of Rs 23.75 crores sold at Rs 7 crore for this IPL!
India all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer on Tuesday witnessed a dramatic turn at the ongoing IPL auction. The bidding began with Iyer going under the hammer at his base price of Rs 2 crore. Lucknow Super Giants initially raised the paddle for him. After a brief pause, Gujarat Titans joined the race. The bidding intensified as Royal Challengers Bengaluru then superseded Kolkata Knight Riders. Iyer, who fetched INR 23.75 crore in last year’s mega auction in Jeddah, was snapped up for INR 7 crore this time, marking a steep 71 per cent pay cut. The batting all-rounder scored 141 runs in nine matches with a strike rate of over 105.22 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26. The 30-year-old has only played for one IPL franchise, the Kolkata Knight Riders. In the most recent season, he scored 142 runs at an average of 20.29 and a strike rate of 139.22.
Ahead of the third test, Pat Cummins says he is anguished, being a resident of Sydney
Australian skipper Pat Cummins says, being a resident of Sydney, he is anguished about the Bondi Beach terror attack before the forthcoming third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval, starting Tuesday. An attack by a father and son on a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday killed 15 people, leaving dozens injured. It was the worst mass shooting attack in Australia in the last 29 years since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. “Like most other Aussies, I was just horrified watching on,” Cummins said. “I would just put the kids to bed and flick on the news as that was coming through. My wife and I were kind of watching in disbelief. “It’s a place that’s just around the corner from where we live, and we take the kids there all the time. Cummins’ young family are eastern suburbs locals in Sydney. The pacer’s wife and two children are with him in Adelaide for this Test. “It hit home pretty hard. I really feel for the Bondi community and the Jewish community in particular. Seeing the kind of scenes over the last couple of days has been pretty powerful as well,” Cummins added. The third Test will mark the first major sporting event in Australia since the attack, with the country still in mourning. Flags will also be flown at half-mast, and the players will wear black armbands.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi breaks Youth ODI world record! Strikes a blistering 56-ball century in the Under-19 Asia Cup
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s authoritative batting form continues in other formats of the game as he smashed a blazing 56-ball century in India’s Under-19 Asia Cup opener against the United Arab Emirates at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday. Opening the batting after the UAE chose to field, Suryavanshi went on his usual prowess, powering the ball to all parts of the park. The dashing opener stormed to his century in only 56 balls on the back of a feast of boundaries. Suryavanshi then broke another world record, hitting his 13th six as he approached the 150-run mark, the most sixes ever hit by a batsman in a Youth ODI innings. He surpassed the previous record of 12 sixes, held by Michael Hill for Australia U-19 against Namibia U-19 in 2008. The 14-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar, also became the first batter in history to amass over 50 Youth ODI sixes in their career as he waltzed past his 150 in only 84 balls. Suryavanshi recently broke several records in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s domestic T20 tournament. Recording his maiden SMAT ton in only 17th T-20 innings, Suryavanshi became the first teenager in the world to record three T-20 centuries during his young career. Only his U-19 teammate Ayush Mhatre, who struck two successive centuries in the ongoing SMAT edition, and France’s Gustav Mackeon have recorded two T-20 centuries before turning 20.
Two Indian-origin cricketers included in the Australia Under-19 World Cup squad
Two Indian-origin players — Aryan Sharma and John James — have been selected in Australia’s 15-member squad for the men’s Under-19 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6. Aryan, an all-rounder who is an effective batsman and a slow left-arm spinner, and James, a right-arm medium pace all-rounder, were both part of the squad that played against India in the youth Tests and one-day internationals in September. Besides cricketers of Indian heritage, the squad features two players of Sri Lankan (Naden Cooray and Nitesh Samuel) and one of Chinese Origin (Alex Lee Young). Australia enters the tournament as defending champions, with Oliver Peake as captain. “We’re delighted to announce a strong and well-balanced squad for the ICC Under-19 World Cup. Our focus has been on selecting a group with complementary skill sets that provide the best chance of success in the tournament,” head coach Tim Nielsen said in a release. “The players named have impressed with their performances during the U19 series against India in September and at the recent National U19 Championship in Perth. “It’s an exciting group; some have already experienced senior training environments, while others are progressing rapidly through our pathway.” Australia is placed in Group A alongside Ireland, Japan, and Sri Lanka. The team will reach Namibia in early January and play warm-up matches from January 9–14. “The World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for these young cricketers to showcase their talent and test themselves against the best in the world,” Nielsen said.
Is BCCI planning to deduct Rs 2 Crore each from Virat and Rohit’s salaries?
There is a buzz already floating in the country’s cricket fraternity that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is mulling over deduction of Rs 2 crore each from the annual salaries of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma! The central contracts for players across 4 categories annually. These contracts are the official retainers that bind the nation’s elite cricketers to the national team. The nature of the contract and the remuneration that comes with it, however, depend upon the contribution of the player in the three formats of the game. The BCCI last awarded the central contracts to its players in April 2025, but the news of stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma facing a pay cut in the next cycle has already started buzzing. The central contracts are a carefully calibrated mechanism designed to reward performance, incentives for participation, especially in the Test format, while also maintaining the highest standards of professionalism within the squad. The BCCI’s contract system is divided into four distinct grades — A+, A, B, and C — each carrying a fixed annual salary, known as the retainership. This amount is paid to the player regardless of how many matches they play throughout the year, standing separate from their match-fee earnings. The allocation of grades, however, is an annual exercise undertaken by the BCCI, working in close consultation with the selection committee, head coach and the team captain. Here’s how the grades are decided: Placed in the A+ category at present, both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma may be demoted to ‘A’ category as they are no longer active players in the Test and T-20I format. Rabindra Jadeja retired from T20Is too, might remain in the A+ category as he is still an active member of India’s Test team. If Kohli and Rohit do get dropped to the A category, they would each earn Rs 2 crore less in the ‘A contract’ (Rs 5 crore), in comparison to the ‘A+ contract’ (Rs 7 crore).
Three cricketers assault the U-19 coach brutally! Police in search of the accused
India’s cricket fraternity has been shocked and stunned by a horrible incident that took place on Monday afternoon at the nets of the Cricket Association of Puducherry (CAP) ground. An under-19 cricket coach, S. Venkatraman, was viciously assaulted inside the grounds, allegedly by three local cricketers who suspected him of influencing their non-selection for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Hyderabad. The incident took place when the coach was supervising other batsmen at the nets. Police have issued a ‘search warrant’ for the trio as the case has now been registered as an attempted murder. According to investigators, the accused, identified as Karthikayan, Arvindraj, and Santosh Kumaran, met head-on with the coach over their exclusion from the tournament squad. In a sudden escalation, the three allegedly assaulted him with a cricket bat, delivering multiple blows before fleeing the scene. As reported by NDTV, a senior police officer revealed that the assault was planned and extremely violent. The officer also informed that the suspects remain at large. “We are on the lookout for all three”, the officer said. Venkataraman suffered fractures to his shoulder and rib cage, along with a deep gash on his forehead that required 20 stitches, authorities confirmed. He is currently undergoing treatment. The police have registered an attempt-to-murder case. Surprisingly, according to the investigators, CCTVs at the CAP ground are non-functional! The shocking incident has sparked outrage in local cricketing circles, with several officials condemning the attack as a dangerous sign of rising pressure and indiscipline among young players. CAP sources said the association would fully cooperate with the investigation and take internal action once the police complete their inquiry. The violent assault inside a premier cricket facility has raised serious questions about player management, security at training venues, and the stresses surrounding state-level selections. For now, Puducherry Police says the priority is to arrest the accused and ensure accountability for the assault that has left the coaching fraternity shaken.
BCCI says Rohit and Virat were not forced to play domestic tournament!
The BCCI has revealed that it had never forced India’s two key batsmen Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, to take part in the forthcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. According to a website report, a BCCI official, who revealed on condition of anonymity when asked about the BCCI dictum that the national stars must participate in the domestic cricket tournaments, stated, “BCCI never forced them to play in Vijay Hazare Trophy. It was purely their decision.” Interestingly, according to media reports across the country, BCCI selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar and chief coach Gautam Gambhir, both have been repeatedly asking players to return to domestic cricket whenever they have time off. It was also reported that due to the unofficial ‘dictum’ set by the chairman and the chief coach Kohli and Rohit played the Ranji Trophy after returning from the unsuccessful Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour Down Under. However, in the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa, both Rohit and Kohli have shown their consistency and proved indispensible once again in India’s batting line-up. Even coach Gambhir said that he is hoping that Kohli and Rohit continue doing the same in the format, though he refused to give any hint about the 2027 ODI World Cup make-up. “They (Rohit and Kohli) are world-class players and their experience is important in the dressing room. They have been doing it for a long time. Hopefully, they can continue doing the same, which is going to be important in the 50-over format,” Gambhir said at the post-match presser after India beat South Africa 2-1 in the ODI series.
