Author: Raghav Singh

Abhishek Sharma played a stunning innings, scoring 84 runs, while Rinku Singh contributed an impressive unbeaten 44 as India posted 238/7 in 20 overs against New Zealand in the T20I series opener at the New VCA Stadium on Wednesday.

Dominant Batting Performance

Abhishek took charge of the innings, hitting 84 off 35 balls with five fours and eight sixes at a remarkable strike rate of 240. Rinku finished the innings strongly with a 20-ball 44 not out, including four boundaries and three sixes, helping India surpass the 230-mark after New Zealand won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya made quick contributions of 32 and 25 runs, respectively, aiding India in achieving their highest total in T20I history against New Zealand. Before the match, there was much speculation about what would constitute a good score, particularly since it had been a while since a T20I was held in Nagpur.

Execution of Ultra-Attacking Style

India remained true to their aggressive batting approach, amassing a formidable score. Sanju Samson started promisingly with a quick 7-ball 10, striking Kyle Jamieson for two boundaries before he was dismissed.

Ishan Kishan, returning to international cricket for the first time since 2023, showcased his talent with a brilliant straight drive and a lofted shot over mid-wicket, but was ultimately caught off Jacob Duffy’s slower delivery.

Suryakumar, aiming to make an impact after a lean patch, opened his account with a crisp back-foot drive. Abhishek, on the other hand, was relentless, hitting sixes effortlessly while also finding gaps for fours.

Suryakumar exhibited his signature pick-up shot for a six, while Abhishek raced to a 22-ball fifty, marking his seventh in T20I cricket. Soon after, Mitchell Santner made a comeback for New Zealand, dismissing Suryakumar, who was caught at long-on.

Late Flourish and Final Over Explosion

Abhishek struck a couple more boundaries before miscuing a shot to long-on off leg-spinner Ish Sodhi. Hardik Pandya attacked quickly against Jamieson and Santner but was caught at mid-wicket off Duffy, while Shivam Dube fell early to a caught-and-bowled dismissal by Jamieson.

Despite Axar Patel’s cheap dismissal, Rinku continued to display his prowess, exploiting the bowlers’ weaknesses, especially targeting Santner and Daryl Mitchell. Rinku plundered 21 runs off Mitchell in the final over, pushing India past 230. For New Zealand, chasing down the target would require a remarkable effort, especially considering India’s strong middle-overs bowling.

Brief Scores:

India: 238/7 in 20 overs
(Abhishek Sharma 84, Rinku Singh 44 not out; Jacob Duffy 2-27, Kyle Jamieson 2-54) against New Zealand.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has appointed Troy Cooley as the men’s elite national pace bowling lead coach. The Australian will oversee the development of fast bowlers across England’s senior men’s and pathway teams.

Cooley’s responsibilities include coaching pace bowlers in the England men’s side, as well as the England Lions and Young Lions squads. At 60 years old, Cooley returns to a role he previously held from 2003 to 2006, which included England’s Ashes victory at home in 2005. He also served as England’s pace bowling coach during the Ashes and Lions squads in Australia in 2021.

Before this appointment, Cooley spent 15 years with Cricket Australia’s National Performance Programme in Brisbane. He recently finished a stint as the fast-bowling coach at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (COE) in Bengaluru, where he began his work in 2021. Additionally, Cooley was the bowling coach for the Indian women’s team during the T20 World Cup in South Africa in February 2023, and he played a similar role for the India men’s A team during their England tour in May-June 2025.

“I am proud of the foundation built in recent years and grateful to the BCCI team, led by VVS Laxman, for their support. Joining the ECB is an exciting opportunity to help shape the next phase of England’s pace‑bowling future – bringing together the art of performance and the science of long‑term development,” Cooley stated.

“England’s pace‑bowling talent and identity are world‑class. My focus is to continue strengthening pathway alignment — technical standards, coaching language, performance expectations — by blending practical coaching with evidence‑based development so bowlers and coaches can progress with clarity and confidence,” he added.

Cooley’s return to England’s setup comes as the side is currently in Sri Lanka for a white-ball series, preparing for the Men’s T20 World Cup scheduled from February 7 to March 8.

“Troy is one of the very best coaches in the world whose record over more than two decades speaks for itself. He has coached and developed the best pace bowlers in all conditions, and his vast experience and knowledge will not only benefit the England Men’s team but also help to nurture the next wave of fast-bowling talent,” said Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket.

“This role will see him work with pace bowlers and coaches at all levels of the men’s professional game as we look to build a structure for sustainable success,” Key added.

Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) President Venkatesh Prasad stated that the decision regarding the return of IPL 2026 games to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium now lies with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), mentioning that “the ball is in their court.”

The stadium has not hosted any competitive cricket since June 4, when 11 fans tragically died in a stampede during RCB’s IPL 2025 victory celebrations. This conditional clearance comes amidst discussions about RCB potentially moving their home matches to Navi Mumbai or Raipur.

“First to think, we are aiming to get back IPL games and all up to RCB. It’s left to them – they have to come back and be in sync with KSCA and the government of Karnataka. The ball is in their court now. There’s nothing concrete that has come up and we have been talking. So it’s now for them to come back to us,” Prasad said.

He expressed gratitude to various stakeholders for the conditional clearance to host games again. “There is still a lot of work to be done. The job is half done, I should say. We have got the conditional letter, for which I am extremely thankful to the government of Karnataka, including the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, and the Home Minister, who has been very supportive, as he is a keen sports enthusiast.”

Prasad mentioned that there have been several meetings and phone calls with the Honorable Home Minister. “I think he’s been amazing and constituted a committee that visited to see the progress and what we need to be doing. Everything is now in place for sure,” added Prasad, the former India pacer.

He also discussed the infrastructure work that still needs to be completed and expressed hope of finishing it by the end of February. “Yes, it’s about the entrances and exits, spectators holding areas, and services like the fire department, BESCOM, and others, which have mostly been completed.”

“Just a few things are still pending, with entry and exit being one of the most important aspects and ensuring that fire engines can access the ground. We are trying to see how we can accommodate that.”

“We have provided a timeline based on the recommendations given to us. Hopefully, by the end of February, we should be able to complete everything,” he concluded.

The first gold medal of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026 was decided at the Nawang Dorjan Stobdan (NDS) Stadium in Leh, Ladakh, on Wednesday. Of the four gold medals awarded, all in figure skating, Haryana secured two, while Uttarakhand and Kerala each bagged one. Haryana currently leads the medal standings with a total of five medals, including one silver and two bronze.

Figure Skating Highlights

Figure skating made its debut at the Ladakh leg of the Khelo India Winter Games (KIWG) 2026. Twenty figure skaters from five states and two Union Territories participated in two categories: novice free skating and advanced short programme. The first gold was claimed by Hiya Adlakha from Haryana, with Stanzin Khando and Tenzin Kunzin from Ladakh winning silver and bronze, respectively.

Fifteen-year-old Hiya comes from a sports-loving family; her mother is an international gymnastics judge. She opted for the challenging sport of figure skating, often training alone due to limited coaching resources. Hiya was selected for an Olympic Council of Asia training camp in China and won a national gold medal in 2025. Competing in the Intermediate Novice category globally, she aspires to represent India at World Cups and the Olympics.

The performances of the figure skaters were judged on composition, presentation, and skating skills by a referee and a technical controller from Taipei.

The Khelo India Winter Games is organized by the Youth Services and Sports department of Ladakh in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India, with technical conduct overseen by National Sports Federations.

Novice and Advanced Competitors Shine

Adarsh Singh Rawat won the novice boys’ gold, while the advanced boys’ and girls’ categories attracted significant attention. Haryana’s Gauri Rai, dressed in turquoise blue, claimed the gold medal, though Kerala’s Abhijith Amal Raj showcased superior quality in all three judging aspects. There were nine competitors in the advanced boys’ section.

Gauri, a class XII student at Manav Rachna International School in Gurugram, demonstrated her expertise at the NDS Stadium. She has won ten national medals and has represented India.

“This gold medal is not just a win for me; it is a reward for years of discipline, early mornings, falls on ice, and never giving up. Every competition teaches me something new, and this victory motivates me to work even harder for my country,” she shared with SAI Media.

“When I am on ice, I feel fearless and free. I dream of representing India on the biggest global platforms and inspiring young girls to believe that with dedication, even the coldest ice can turn dreams into reality.”

To young skaters, Gauri advised: “Believe in yourself, respect your coaches and parents, and stay focused. Success comes to those who are patient, consistent, and honest with their hard work.”

Thrilling Ice Hockey Match

Ice hockey, a favorite sport in Ladakh, attracted large and enthusiastic crowds. The men’s group B match between Ladakh and ITBP was a thrilling encounter. Hosts Ladakh triumphed 3-1 in a contest marked by aggressive play. Stanzin Angchol opened the scoring in the first minute, putting Ladakh in the lead.

In the 10th minute of the second period, ITBP equalized with Nawang Zangpo’s goal, injecting fresh energy into the team even though they were a man down.

The third period was fiercely contested, with both teams attacking the goals. However, Ladakh scored two goals from Tsering Angchuk to secure a decisive victory.

Luke Mudgway of Li Ning Star, China, successfully challenged Alan Carter Bettles of Roojai Insurance Winspeed, Thailand, to maintain the Yellow Jersey at the Pune Grand Tour 2026 following the conclusion of the Second Stage—the Maratha Heritage Circuit. This stage covered a distance of 105.3 kilometres in Pune district on Wednesday.

Second Stage Overview

The second stage lived up to its promise, testing the riders’ endurance, teamwork, and resolve. The Maratha Heritage Circuit featured a landscape rich with forts, steep gradients, and challenging descents. Starting from the Ladies Club in Camp at 12:30 PM, the race concluded along Sinhagad Road at Nanded City, pushing the peloton both physically and mentally.

By the end of this grueling stage, Luke Mudgway (02:31:49) stood out once again. After winning Stage One, Mudgway reinforced his dominance by securing victory on the Maratha Heritage Circuit and retaining the Yellow Jersey. His consecutive wins place him firmly atop the general classification as the race progresses through Maharashtra’s testing terrain.

Competitive Highlights

Mudgway faced stiff competition. Alan Carter Bettles finished second, while Yorben Lauryssen of Tarteletto–Isorex, Belgium, took third place. This marked Lauryssen’s second consecutive podium finish, following his third-place result on the opening day.

Due to his top finish, Mudgway earned a 10-second bonus, Bettles received a six-second bonus, and Lauryssen was awarded a four-second bonus. The race was intensely competitive, with the top six riders finishing at the same time of 02:31:49. Clement Alleno and Jambaljamts Sainbayar of Burgos Burpellet BH, Spain, finished fourth and fifth respectively, while Stefan Benett of Eurocyclingtrips – CCN, Guam, placed sixth. The rankings were determined through a photo finish.

Mudgway’s Reflections

After the race, Mudgway acknowledged the challenge presented by the heat and constant climbing, stating, “It was a hot day, lots of mountains, but yeah, I survived to the finish, and again I got to do a sprint from a small group. So, that’s what suits me well. I’m glad I could execute it again today.”

He also credited his teammates for their significant contributions, saying, “My teammates did an amazing job today. We came here with one less rider; we only had five riders, so we knew today was going to be tough to control. We had to control our two sprinters so that we three climbers could rest, and then they brought it back to a close enough time before the second-to-last climb.”

Deciding Moments

The crucial moment unfolded on the final climb, a demanding second-category ascent, recognized as the steepest of the day. Riders launched attacks to maintain their positions as they reached the crest, followed by a rapid, narrow descent fraught with peril. It was on this stage, lauded as the queen stage of the race, that Mudgway solidified his status as the one to beat.

“Teams started attacking us, but I managed to keep it under control, and then we just followed and followed. I had one of my teammates with me after the first climb; he rode me to the finish, and then I got to sprint again, and I was happy I could finish it off for my team,” Mudgway explained.

Classifications Update

While Mudgway retained the yellow jersey, other classifications shifted following a tough day in the hills. Stefan Benetton of Eurocyclingtrips – CCN, Guam, excelled in the climbs, claiming maximum points in the King of the Mountains competition and earning the ‘Polka Dot’ Jersey.

The Orange Jersey for the ‘Best Asian Rider’ remains with Jambaljamts Sainbayar of Burgos Burpellet BH, Spain, showcasing his consistent performance. Dutch rider Tijssen Viego of Wielerploeg Groot Amsterdam, Netherlands, won the White Jersey as the ‘Best Young Rider’, while Sarda Manav of the Indian Development Team topped the domestic rankings, claiming the Blue Jersey as ‘India’s Leading Performer’ for the day.

Looking Ahead

With the Maratha Heritage Circuit completed, the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour now enters its longest and most tactically complex segment. Stage Three, the Western Ghats Gateway, covers 134 kilometres from Purandar to Baramati and ascends to an elevation of 1,024 metres. The combination of rolling terrain, exposed roads, and potential crosswinds promises a unique challenge ahead.

After two days of rigorous competition, one fact is clear: the Bajaj Pune Grand Tour demands more than just speed. For now, Luke Mudgway is rising to every challenge it presents.

India wrist-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy expressed that his focus remains on excellence and contributing to the team’s success as it begins the final stages of preparation for the Men’s T20 World Cup. This comes ahead of the series opener against New Zealand at the New VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Wednesday.

Chakaravarthy’s Commitment to Excellence

“It’s obviously a good feeling when that’s a validation of what you get from the external world, but that’s not what we go and fetch for. What we strive for is excellence and victory for the country that we play for. So, that’s what we are looking for, and things have been set in the right place, and we are all ready for what’s happening,” said Chakaravarthy during a pre-game discussion with broadcasters.

Currently ranked as the top men’s T20I bowler, Chakaravarthy had a challenging time during the 2021 T20 World Cup. However, his resurgence since 2024 has solidified his position within the team.

Adapting and Evolving

“I would say I had to change my routine and change my skill in certain ways. As I already mentioned, I was more of a side-spin bowler before. But right now, I’m bowling more of over-spin, and including that, I have to spend more time in the gym, training, and all those things. So I changed my routines a bit, and that has worked for me,” he added.

Welcoming the Challenge

When asked about the challenge of batters looking to attack him, Chakaravarthy responded, “That generally plays into my favour. So, I want that to happen. I want them to take me on, and that’s when I can create possibilities of them making a mistake. So, I’m happy with that.”

Chakaravarthy concluded by discussing his practice regimen before a game. “Basically, I do try to keep it as real as possible to the match. If I bowl a no-ball in practice, my next ball will be a free hit. So, I just don’t go and bowl—I try to make it as close to the match as possible. So, that’s my only goal.”

Tilottama Sen continued her excellent form at the start of the season, winning back-to-back Women’s top spots in 50m Rifle 3 Positions in the National Selection Trials for Group A shooters at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.

In the men’s 50m Rifle 3P, Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, who finished third in T1 on Tuesday, secured the top spot in T2, while Manu Bhaker dominated the T1 finals in the 25m Pistol Women event.

Tilottama Sen’s Outstanding Performance

Tilottama made it two wins in a row in the 50m Rifle 3P event with a composed performance in the finals, scoring 361.5 after 35 shots. This was 3.1 points more than Ayushi Podder of Railways, who finished second with a score of 358.4. Surabhi Bharadwaj Rapole secured the third position with a score of 348.3.

Manini Kaushik, who finished third in T1, took the fourth spot with a score of 336.3. The final lineup was completed by Ashi Chouksey (326.4), Nupur Kumrawat (315.6), Anjum Moudgil (305.0), and Vidarsa K. Vinod (302.8).

Men’s T2 Highlights

In men’s T2, Aishwary posted a comfortable win, shooting 359.7 in the final. Paris bronze medallist Swapnil Kusale finished in second place with a score of 357.7, while former 10m World Champion Rudraankksh Patil took third with a score of 347.5. T1 winner Niraj Kumar finished fourth with a score of 336.3. The other finalists included Akshil Sheoran (326.5), Adriyan Karmakar (314.6), Nishan Budha (303.2), and Chain Singh (302.0).

Manu Bhaker’s Commanding Win

Manu Bhaker secured the top spot in the 25m Pistol event T1 finals with a score of 37, six points ahead of Vibhuti Bhatia of Haryana, who scored 31 and finished in second place. Divya T.S of Karnataka finished third with a score of 28.

Tejaswani Singh was fourth with a score of 26 after being eliminated in a shootout against Vibhuti. Rahi Sarnobat (22), Chinki Yadav (17), and Rhythm Sangwan (12) were the other finalists. Esha Singh did not start the final despite qualifying in the top eight.

The 10m Air Rifle T1 finals for both men and women will be held on Thursday, alongside the T2 finals of the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol for men.

Congress MP and noted author Shashi Tharoor recently shared warm words of appreciation for Gautam Gambhir, head coach of the Indian men’s cricket team, after meeting the former India batter in Nagpur ahead of the first T20I of the five-match series against New Zealand at the New VCA Stadium in Jamtha.

Sharing a photograph of their meeting on the social media platform X, Tharoor described Gambhir as a man entrusted with one of the toughest roles in the country, highlighting the immense scrutiny that comes with leading the Indian cricket team. He also referred to Gambhir as his old friend.

“In Nagpur, I enjoyed a good and frank discussion with my old friend Gautam Gambhir, the man with the hardest job in India after the PM’s!” Tharoor wrote in his post. The senior parliamentarian acknowledged the constant pressure faced by the former Indian opener, noting that Gambhir is subjected to relentless public judgment daily.

“He is being second-guessed by millions daily but stays calm and walks on undaunted,” Tharoor said, praising Gambhir’s calm attitude in handling the pressure. Tharoor also lauded Gambhir’s leadership style, describing it as quietly determined and effective, and wished him success as India begins a crucial phase in their white-ball calendar.

“A word of appreciation for his quiet determination and able leadership. Wishing him all success, starting today,” he added.

The five-match T20I series against New Zealand will be crucial for Team India’s preparation ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, which will start on February 7. India will enter the tournament as the defending champions. The team won the trophy in 2024, and if they secure another title in 2026, the Men in Blue will become the first team to win back-to-back T20 World Cup titles.

New Zealand comes into this match after winning their first ODI series in India, where they defeated the hosts 2-1. Mitchell Santner’s team will now hope to carry this momentum into the shortest format of the game.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that Bangladesh’s matches in the upcoming 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup will be held in India, in accordance with the original schedule.

This decision followed an ICC Board meeting, conducted via video conferencing, where all members were present. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had requested a relocation of its fixtures to Sri Lanka, attributed to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directing Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to remove Mustafizur from its IPL 2026 squad amidst escalating tensions between the two countries.

The ICC stated that their decision is based on security assessments, including independent reviews, which identified no threats to Bangladesh players, officials, media, or fans at any tournament venues in India. An ICC spokesperson remarked, “Over the past several weeks, the ICC has engaged with the BCB in sustained and constructive dialogue, with the clear objective of enabling Bangladesh’s participation in the tournament.”

The ICC asserted, “During this period, the ICC has shared detailed inputs, including independent security assessments, comprehensive venue-level security plans, and formal assurances from the host authorities, all of which consistently concluded that there is no credible or verifiable threat to the safety or security of the Bangladesh team in India.”

Despite these communications, the BCB upheld its stance, consistently linking its participation in the tournament to a single, isolated, and unrelated issue regarding one of its players’ involvement in a domestic league. The ICC spokesperson added, “This linkage has no bearing on the tournament’s security framework or the conditions governing participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”

Bangladesh’s current itinerary includes matches against West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9, and England on February 14 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, followed by a game against Nepal on February 17 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The ICC also emphasized that changes to the tournament schedule were not feasible so close to the event. It cautioned that altering the schedule without a credible security risk could set a concerning precedent that undermines future ICC events’ neutrality.

The global governing body highlighted its extensive dialogue with the BCB, sharing detailed security plans and assurances from host authorities. This included an in-person meeting held in Dhaka on January 17, led by Andrew Ephgrave, ICC’s General Manager in the Integrity Unit, and Gaurav Saxena, General Manager, Events and Corporate Communications, who participated virtually.

“ICC’s venue and scheduling decisions are guided by objective threat assessments, host guarantees, and the tournament’s agreed terms of participation, which apply uniformly to all 20 competing nations. In the absence of any independent security findings that materially compromise the safety of the Bangladesh team, the ICC is unable to relocate fixtures,” the spokesperson added.

The ICC further warned, “Doing so would carry significant logistical and scheduling consequences for other teams and fans worldwide, and would also create far-reaching precedent-related challenges that risk undermining the neutrality, fairness, and integrity of ICC governance. The ICC remains committed to acting in good faith, upholding consistent standards, and safeguarding the collective interests of the global game.”

Should Bangladesh withdraw from the mega event, Scotland is expected to step in, being the 14th-ranked team in T20Is and the highest-ranked side not already qualified.

Ben Mayes made history by setting the highest individual score by an England player at the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, scoring 191 runs from only 117 balls against Scotland on Wednesday in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Mayes’ score is also the joint second-highest of all time in U-19 World Cup history, tying with Sri Lanka’s Hasitha Boyagoda and just one run short of the world record set by Viran Chamuditha earlier in the tournament against Japan.

Coming in to bat after England lost Ben Dawkins early, Mayes quickly began to attack the opposition. He formed an aggressive partnership with Joe Moores, putting together an 188-run stand in roughly 22 overs.

The 18-year-old played a crucial role in the partnership, consistently overpowering the Scottish bowlers. During his innings, he struck 18 boundaries and eight sixes, thoroughly dismantling the Scottish bowling attack.

His performance helped England reach a total of 404/6 against Scotland, marking the sixth-highest score in ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup history and the highest of the tournament so far.

“I wasn’t quite sure what was going to happen this morning. I just tried to take it a ball at a time. Really well helped by Morsi (Moores), and people chipping in with Rew and Caleb as well. It helped, kept me in the moment,” Mayes said after England’s innings.

Reflecting on his record knock, he stated, “No other words for it. It feels amazing. As a team, we’ve tried to identify areas where we can score best, bowlers we can target. The whole team did that well today, not only me. Strong wind, short boundaries. We used that to our advantage. It’s brilliant.”

When discussing his notable partnerships in the middle, Mayes said, “He (Moores) and Rew are my favourite two people to bat with. You see all the shots he plays. I’m down the other end going, mate, it’s unbelievable. It’s really fun. We try to keep it light, pretty jokey, and have a good time. Even though we lost the toss, it’s quite a good wicket to bowl second on. There’ll be a bit of turn in the second innings, like there was when we played Zimbabwe on it.”

He added, “It’s the same message as always – hit the stumps as much as possible with a bit of variable bounce. That should help us defend the score,” referring to the bowlers who now look to defend the 405-run target set by the English side.