Team India‘s hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 final suffered a major jolt after their shocking 30-run defeat to South Africa in the first Test at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Chasing a modest 124, the hosts crashed under pressure as Simon Harmer dismantled the middle order with his disciplined spin bowling. The unexpected collapse has not only dented India’s campaign but has also placed them in a tight corner for the remainder of the WTC cycle.

India slide to fourth as Points Percentage takes a hit

The defeat against the defending WTC champions proved costly for Shubman Gill‘s men in the points table. India have now completed eight matches in the cycle, registering 4 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw, which has dragged their Points Percentage (PCT) down to 54.17%.
This slump has pushed them to fourth place, leaving little breathing room as other contenders tighten their grip on top-two positions. With several challenging away tours still lined up, India must treat every match as a virtual knockout to resurrect their campaign.

India’s qualification scenario: What Shubman Gill-led side must do to reach the WTC Final

Target: Reach above 65% PCT

Historically, teams finishing above 65% PCT have safely qualified for the WTC final. For India to breach that mark this cycle, their remaining fixtures must yield a near-flawless run. With 10 Tests still remaining, the equation is tough but not impossible.

Win-at-all-costs approach required

India must maximise points from here on, with minimal room for more defeats. The following scenarios outline their path:

• Best-Case Route: Win 8 of the remaining 10 Tests

If India secure eight wins, even with two draws, their PCT will comfortably climb above 65%. This would place them in direct contention for a top-two finish.

Also READ: Gautam Gambhir shuts down pitch debate after India’s shock defeat in Kolkata Test against South Africa

• Balanced Route: Six wins and four draws

A scenario of 6 wins and 4 draws ensures a PCT of around 68.52%, keeping India above the qualification threshold. However, this leaves no scope for defeats.

• Risky Route: Two losses and one draw

If India end their remaining matches with 2 losses and 1 draw, their PCT drops to 64.81%, leaving them borderline but still in the race depending on other results.

• Worst-Case: Three losses and one draw

Any combination that results in three defeats drags India below the 60% mark. In such a case, qualification becomes extremely unlikely unless major upsets occur involving other teams.

Also READ: Fans erupt as South Africa end 15-year drought with stunning win over India in the first Test

Australian batting great Steve Smith has discussed regarding his potential return to the Indian Premier League (IPL) during the upcoming 2026 mini-auction. Smith, widely celebrated for his incredible achievements in Test cricket, made the comments during a conversation with former IPL teammate Kevin Pietersen on the latter’s YouTube channel.

Steve Smith addresses speculation about his entry into IPL 2026 Auction

Smith openly conveyed his strong wish to return to the IPL, emphasizing the unmatched quality and competitive environment the tournament offers. The Australian great confirmed his participation in the forthcoming auction, telling Pietersen, “I’ll be in the auction. Yeah, and we’ll see how we go. [Base price?] Max.”

This declaration confirmed that Smith intends to set his base price at the highest possible bracket, signaling his commitment to being part of the league once again. He explained that all international players enjoy playing in the IPL because it features the best global talent, noting that Indian players, in particular, do not participate in any of the other worldwide T20 leagues.

Smith highly regards the IPL as “still the premier T20 tournament,” highlighting his motivation for seeking a comeback. During his discussion, he also explained his preference for batting at the top of the order in T20I cricket, stating that this position is generally enjoyed by most players due to the favorable batting conditions, including flatter pitches and field restrictions available early in the innings.

Also READ: IPL 2026: Robin Uthappa reveals his choices for CSK’s top 3 in the upcoming edition

Smith’s extensive IPL career for various franchises

Smith’s desire for an IPL return is rooted in an already extensive history in the league, where he has featured for multiple franchises over the years. Over the course of his IPL career, Smith has accumulated 2,485 runs in 93 innings, a tally that includes one century. He has previously held leadership roles within the tournament, captaining both the Rajasthan Royals and the defunct Rising Pune Supergiants.

Beyond his captaincy stints, the Australian has also had playing stints with the Pune Warriors India and, most recently, the Delhi Capitals. The star batter, recognized as one of the best Test batters of the 21st century, is currently in a phase of his career where he is prioritizing his T20 involvement, particularly with an eye on the LA Olympic Games 2028. His plan to enter the IPL 2026 mini-auction follows weeks of speculation and shows his determination to secure an IPL contract for the next season.

Also READ: KKR’s most expensive players at each IPL Auction: From Gautam Gambhir to Mitchell Starc

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made significant moves ahead of IPL 2026 auction by carefully balancing player retentions, releases, and bidding events strategies to reshape their squad.

Key retentions strengthen KKR core ahead of IPL 2026 auction

KKR retained 12 players, focusing heavily on a blend of consistency and youth. Notable retentions include experienced campaigners like Ajinkya Rahane and Manish Pandey, as well as promising talents such as Umran Malik, Harshit Rana and Ramandeep Singh. The retention of overseas stars like Rovman Powell and Sunil Narine provides all-rounder depth and spin bowling strength, essential for varying pitch conditions.

In a bold cleanup move, KKR released big names such as Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer and Quinton de Kock to free up overseas slots and a substantial auction purse. They also parted ways with Moeen Ali, Anrich Nortje and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, signalling a strategic reset to rebuild the squad with fresh energy. This aggressive release strategy yielded them the highest purse among all teams at approximately ₹64.3 crore for the IPL 2026 mini-auction.

KKR’s strategy for IPL 2026 auction

With 13 remaining slots, including six for overseas players, KKR are positioned to be a major spender and talent acquirer in the IPL 2026 auction. Their strong financial flexibility allows targeting high-impact international players and potential young Indian prospects to address balance and bolster their lineup.

KKR’s retention strategy reveals a focus on developing young talent supported by experienced veterans. By creating a lean yet powerful core, the franchise aims to rebuild and contend strongly in the upcoming IPL auction.

Also READ: IPL 2026 Trade – Delhi Capitals make last-minute call to retain KL Rahul, preventing his shift to KKR

Kolkata Knight Riders: Retention, Release, Trade and Purse

Players released: Andre Russell, Venkatesh Iyer, Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Andre Nortje, Spencer Johnson, Chetan Sakariya, Luvnith Sisodiya, Mayank Markande (traded to MI)

Players retained: Ajinkya Rahane, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Harshit Rana, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy

Purse remaining: INR 64.3 cr

Slots remaining: 13 (6 overseas)

Also READ: KKR’s most expensive players at each IPL Auction – From Gautam Gambhir to Mitchell Starc

Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament match between India A and Pakistan A on November 16 turned controversial during a thrilling fielding moment involving Nehal Wadhera and Naman Dhir, leaving Indian players and fans perplexed. The incident centered around a relay catch of Pakistan’s Maaz Sadaqat, who was batting strongly, and a recent change to cricket’s boundary fielding rules by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

India A players stunned after controversial catch overruled in Asia Cup Rising Stars match

Sadaqat was dominating the chase with a 31-ball fifty as Pakistan A sought to overhaul India A’s modest total of 137. The wicket seemed certain in the 10th over when Suyash Sharma induced Sadaqat to lift the ball towards the boundary. Nehal Wadhera sprinted after the lofted shot, leaped near the boundary rope, and flicked the ball back into the field.

Naman Dhir then completed what looked like a textbook relay catch inside the boundary. Sadaqat headed towards the boundary, assuming he was dismissed, but the umpires asked him to wait. The third umpire then ruled the catch not out, shocking the Indian team and leaving many questioning the legality of the catch. Captain Jitesh Sharma immediately sought the rule clarification from match officials.​

Here’s the video:

It was all happening in Qatar 👀 And things got pretty heated in the middle…

Watch India A take on Pakistan A in #AsiaCupRisingStars2025 – LIVE NOW on #SonyLIV and #SonySportsNetwork TV channels 📺 pic.twitter.com/OZ56KQYxf0

— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) November 16, 2025

Also READ: “Kuch pressure nahi feel hota…”: Vaibhav Suryavanshi after smashing 32-ball century for India A vs UAE in Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

The rule change behind the controversy

This controversial overturn was a result of a significant rule change in cricket’s boundary fielding laws introduced by the MCC in June 2025. The amendment to Law 19.5.2 was aimed at clarifying and tightening the conditions under which airborne fielders can touch the ball near the boundary, particularly during relay catches. Under the former rule, only the first fielder’s position when grounding mattered, allowing multiple airborne returns outside the boundary. The updated law now requires any fielder who touches the ball while airborne outside the boundary to land inside the field of play and remain inside until the ball is dead, or else the ball is considered to have crossed the boundary.

In Wadhera and Dhir’s case, Wadhera was airborne beyond the boundary line when he made initial contact with the ball and flicked it back into the field, but then landed outside the boundary again. According to the new Law 19.5.2.1, this rendered the ball as having reached the boundary despite Dhir’s clean catch inside the field. Therefore, the third umpire’s “not out” decision was legally accurate under the updated rules, although it sparked debate over whether Wadhera briefly controlled the ball while still inside the boundary.​

Despite the disappointment for India A, the reprieve proved costly as Maaz Sadaqat capitalized on his stroke of luck to guide Pakistan Shaheens to a comfortable eight-wicket victory. The win secured Pakistan A’s spot in the semi-final, marking a significant achievement that their senior team has struggled to accomplish since 2022. The tense encounter also featured heated exchanges between players and umpires and added to the drama of this rising stars fixture, underscoring the impact of rule changes on modern cricket.​

Also READ: Fans react as Maaz Sadaqat’s all-round performance propels Pakistan A to a dominant win over India A in the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025

The IPL 2026 retention deadline on November 15, 2025, officially locked in each franchise’s list of retained and released players, resetting salary purses and shaping the core of every squad ahead of the Abu Dhabi mini-auction. But even as teams finalised their retention strategies, questions quickly emerged among fans: Does the action stop here? Can teams still trade players after the retention lists are out?

The short answer is yes—and the post-retention phase is often where some of the biggest tactical moves take place.

Can players still be traded after IPL 2026 retentions?

The retention deadline marks only the first major checkpoint in a franchise’s squad-building journey. According to IPL regulations, the trading window functions independently of the retention process, allowing teams to negotiate and swap players right up until a specific cut-off date before the auction.

For the IPL 2026 season, the trading window—opened on June 4, 2025, a day after the IPL 2025 final—remains active until one week before the mini-auction, which is scheduled for December 16, 2025. This gives teams until around December 9, 2025, to strike last-minute deals, adjust purse balances, and plug gaps in their line-ups.

Once this window closes, it will reopen immediately after the auction, enabling teams to continue fine-tuning their squads until roughly one month before the 2026 season begins. The only restriction is clear: players bought at the mini-auction cannot be traded in the post-auction window.

Why this window matters for franchises

The continuous trading period gives teams additional flexibility that the retention deadline alone cannot offer. Franchises often opt to release players and then attempt to re-sign or trade for them at adjusted values. The active trade period also helps teams balance different needs—overseas combinations, Indian depth, uncapped talent, leadership experience, or specific role players.

With the auction purse being a critical factor, teams frequently negotiate trades to free up funds or acquire a strategic player without entering a bidding war. This element of planning is crucial because even a single smart trade can dramatically alter a side’s trajectory.

Also READ: IPL 2026 Retentions: Team-wise available slots and Purse remaining ahead of mini-auction

Blockbuster trades already shaping IPL 2026

The lead-up to the 2026 mini-auction has been nothing short of dramatic. Several major trades have already stunned fans and reshaped the balance of power across the league.

The biggest headline-grabbing move was the three-way blockbuster swap involving Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, and Sam Curran—one of the most significant player exchanges in IPL history. Samson joined Chennai Super Kings, signalling a major shift in CSK’s leadership and batting core. Jadeja and Curran moved to Rajasthan Royals, giving RR a formidable all-round unit and adding tremendous experience to their middle order.

Similarly, Mumbai Indians strengthened their squad by securing Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford, adding depth to both seam bowling and finishing options. Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants landed Mohammed Shami, a trade that immediately boosts their powerplay and death-overs potency.

Also READ: Aakash Chopra predicts the most expensive player in the IPL 2026 auction