Wednesday, May 06
With a 50-day countdown to the 2026 T20 World Cup, India’s think-tank has made workload management its top priority, ring-fencing Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. Bumrah will skip the New Zealand ODIs, while Pandya’s domestic appearances will be carefully rationed, as the management prioritises peak fitness and continuity in T20Is over all other formats.
Lionel Messi's event organiser, Satadru Dutta, revealed the footballer disliked physical contact, leading to his early departure. Dutta claimed an influential person disrupted crowd control plans, allowing unauthorized access. Messi reportedly received Rs 89 crore for the tour, with Rs 11 crore paid in tax. Investigations into security lapses and financial dealings are ongoing.
Shubman Gill's absence from the 2026 T20 World Cup squad surprises Sunil Gavaskar. Recent form issues are cited as a key reason. Ishan Kishan returns to the T20I side after a stellar domestic season. Rinku Singh is included to bolster the middle order. Jitesh Sharma is left out. These selections reshape India's T20 plans.
Despite doing everything asked of him, Jitesh Sharma has paid the price for India’s muddled selection calls. In the World Cup Playing XI plans a few days ago, the 32-year-old finisher was quietly dropped at the last moment, exposing a deeper lack of clarity in the team’s thinking and leaving a team man heartbroken.
India's 2026 T20 World Cup squad is announced. Ravichandran Ashwin shares his enthusiasm for the team's prospects. Shubman Gill and Jitesh Sharma are notable omissions. Ishan Kishan returns after strong domestic performances. Rinku Singh is also back. The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. India begins its campaign against the USA.
