India’s Jasprit Bumrah hugs teammate Sanju Samson (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has lavished praise on star pacer Jasprit Bumrah following his decisive spell in India’s thrilling semi-final victory over England cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan described Bumrah as a rare talent and said India should consider themselves fortunate to have a bowler of his calibre. The former pacer highlighted Bumrah’s complete skill set and his remarkable ability to deliver under pressure in the biggest moments.

“I have spoken about Bumrah many times before and I will say it again. We are lucky that a bowler like Jasprit Bumrah plays for India. India has never had a bowler like him before. Perhaps the world has rarely seen a bowler like him. He has everything including yorkers, slower balls, outswing, inswing, and bouncers. He also knows very well how to bowl under pressure,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel.India had earlier piled up a massive 253/7 after being put in to bat, largely thanks to a blistering 42-ball 89 from Sanju Samson. However, England remained firmly in the chase for most of the innings, powered by a superb century from Jacob Bethell.With England still eyeing the target late in the innings, Bumrah produced a decisive moment in the 18th over. At the start of the over, England required 45 runs from the final three overs, but Bumrah conceded just six runs while delivering four pinpoint yorkers. The pressure was then amplified by Hardik Pandya, who bowled an excellent penultimate over that cost just nine runs and also accounted for Sam Curran. England eventually finished on 246/7, falling seven runs short of India’s total.Earlier in the innings, Bumrah had also delivered a tight 16th over, giving away just eight runs and further tightening India’s grip during the closing stages.Pathan felt Bumrah’s effort deserved the Player of the Match award, particularly because he bowled the toughest overs on a batting-friendly surface where runs flowed freely.“According to me, Jasprit Bumrah should have been the Player of the Match. If you watched the game, you would have noticed that every other bowler had an economy rate of around 10. Some were even above 10 or close to 15. On such a flat pitch, 500 runs were scored. The one who performs the difficult job in such conditions is the real Player of the Match. The kind of work Jasprit Bumrah does, he bowls the tough overs,” he said.Pathan also highlighted Bumrah’s tactical awareness, pointing to how the pacer outthought Harry Brook with clever variation rather than pace.“Once again, when he came to bowl, the first batter he faced was Harry Brook. He did not try to bowl fast because he has a brilliant cricketing mind. He trapped Harry Brook with a slower ball right away. Bumrah could have bowled a yorker or a bouncer on the first delivery and played on his ego thinking, ‘I am Jasprit Bumrah.’ But he does not do that. He understands the pitch, the conditions, and he reads the batter very well. He knew Harry Brook likes pace. So instead of giving him pace, he trapped him with a slower delivery, which eventually led to Axar Patel taking the catch.”India’s innings was built around Samson’s explosive knock of 89 off 42 balls, which included eight fours and seven sixes. Valuable contributions also came from Shivam Dube (43 off 25), Ishan Kishan (39 off 18), Pandya (27 off 12) and Tilak Varma (21 off seven) as India posted a formidable 253/7 in their 20 overs.England were once struggling at 95/4 before Bethell’s aggressive 105 off 48 balls, along with a 77-run stand with Will Jacks (35 off 20), brought them back into the contest. A brief four-ball blitz worth 19 runs from Jofra Archer nearly turned the match in England’s favour, but India managed to hold their nerve in the closing moments.With the win, India secured a place in the tournament final, where they will face New Zealand national cricket team at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8 as they aim to capture another major ICC title.

India’s Abhishek Sharma (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has urged the team management to persist with young opener Abhishek Sharma for the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against New Zealand national cricket team in Ahmedabad. At the same time, Ashwin did not shy away from criticising the left-hander’s approach, saying the batter needs to better understand match situations.The 25-year-old has struggled to find rhythm in the tournament. Apart from one half-century, Abhishek has endured a difficult run with three ducks. His troubles continued in the semi-final against the England cricket team at the Wankhede Stadium, where he briefly looked aggressive before throwing away his wicket.

Abhishek began confidently by hitting two boundaries off Will Jacks in the second over. However, an attacking intent soon led to his dismissal. Jacks tossed the ball up, tempting the left-hander into a big shot. The attempt did not come off as planned, with the ball flying off the lower part of the bat before Phil Salt completed a simple catch.Notably, this marked the fourth occasion in the tenth edition of the T20 World Cup that Abhishek had fallen to spin. Earlier in the tournament, he had been dismissed by Salman Ali Agha of Pakistan, Aryan Dutt of the Netherlands and Akeal Hosein.Despite the setbacks, Ashwin believes Abhishek should still be backed for the title clash. Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, the veteran spinner said the youngster has proven ability against quality bowling and should not be discarded because of a lean patch.“Abhishek Sharma has that factor. In the series against New Zealand, he was in top form. He has batted well against Mitchell Santner and Matt Henry in the past. So I wouldn’t be too fussed about Abhishek. But I would like to have a conversation with him. I would tell him, ‘Listen, there’s a plan against you.’ So don’t try hard to hit the ball,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’.Ashwin also pointed out that Abhishek’s dismissal in the semi-final came from poor decision-making rather than lack of ability.“In the semi-final against England, I think it was headless batting from him. I am a big fan of his gameplay. He scored eight runs against Jacks, but he intended to score 30 runs against him. Sometimes, you have to leave the ball. Sanju Samson is going so well at the other end, so you just need to take the single and get to the other end. You will get your tee time,” he added.The former spinner further advised India’s leadership group, including head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, to ensure that Abhishek is not burdened with excessive pressure ahead of the final.“Abhishek is a damn good talent, but I just want to know what sort of conversations are being had with him. Is he coming under too much pressure? If you give him more pressure, then he will look to hit the ball harder. He is a fluent player who relies on timing. You have to keep him in good space, and I will continue with him,” said Ashwin.India eventually sealed their place in the final with a thrilling seven-run win over England after defending a formidable 253/7. The contest at the Wankhede turned into a run-fest, with both teams combining for nearly 500 runs in a high-scoring semi-final.

Jacob Bethell has been trending on social media after a video of him watching the 2022 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup semifinal between India and England posted by ICC went viral. In the video, Bethell is seen watching the match with his close friend Tom Prest, who captained England Under‑19 cricket team. England won that semifinal by 10 wickets, and Bethell said the moment felt “surreal.” He also said he hopes England can recreate that moment. The video gained attention shortly after Bethell played a brilliant innings for England in the semifinal of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. England were chasing a huge target of 254 runs set by defending champions India.

Bethell played a fearless knock, scoring 105 runs and keeping England in the game almost single-handedly. However, despite his efforts, England lost the thrilling match by seven runs.With this innings, Bethell became the fourth England player to score centuries in all three formats of international cricket. He joined the list that includes Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan, and Harry Brook.His century also became the second-fastest hundred in T20 World Cup history, reaching the milestone in 45 balls. The fastest century in the tournament was scored by Finn Allen of New Zealand national cricket team, who hit a 33-ball century against South Africa national cricket team in the first semifinal.Bethell is only the second player to score a century in a T20 World Cup knockout match, and his 105 is the highest score in a knockout game in the tournament’s history.

Watch the viral video here:

In the ongoing World Cup, Bethell has scored 280 runs in eight innings at an average of 35 and a strike rate of 152, including one century and one half-century. Despite England’s defeat, his outstanding performance showed why he is considered one of the team’s most exciting young players.

Afghanistan have announced their squads for the upcoming white-ball series against Sri Lanka, with a significant leadership change in the T20I format. The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) confirmed on Thursday that opening batter Ibrahim Zadran will lead the national team in T20 Internationals. The announcement came alongside the unveiling of both the ODI and T20I squads for the limited-overs tour scheduled later this month.

The decision marks a new chapter for Afghanistan’s T20I setup, as Zadran replaces star leg-spinner Rashid Khan as captain. The move comes after Afghanistan’s disappointing campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where the team failed to progress to the Super Eights stage.

Ibrahim Zadran handed leadership role in T20Is

Afghanistan board has placed its faith in the young opener by elevating him to the captaincy role. Zadran previously served as the vice-captain of the T20I side and has been one of Afghanistan’s most dependable batters across formats in recent years.

ACB had reportedly been reviewing the team’s leadership structure following the T20 World Cup. With the Sri Lanka series approaching, the board decided to make the change official, handing the responsibility to Zadran while Rashid remains a key member of the squad.

The decision signals the board’s intention to build a fresh leadership structure while maintaining continuity within the team. Zadran’s calm temperament and consistent performances with the bat are believed to have played a key role in the board’s decision.

Several changes in squad composition

Along with the leadership change, Afghanistan have also made a few notable adjustments to their squad for the upcoming series. Fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi, all-rounder Gulbadin Naib, and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Ishaq have not been included in either the ODI or T20I squads despite being part of the team during the recent T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, several players have earned opportunities in the T20I setup. Top-order wicketkeeper-batter Noor Rahman, left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Sharafuddin Ashraf, and left-arm pacer Fareed Ahmad Malik have been included in the T20I squad.

Fareed Ahmad Malik has also made a return to the ODI squad, adding experience to Afghanistan’s pace department for the 50-over matches.

Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi receives maiden ODI call-up

One of the most notable selections is that of Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, who has earned his maiden call-up to Afghanistan’s ODI squad. Sharifi had featured in three of Afghanistan’s four matches during the T20 World Cup and impressed the team management with his performances.

His inclusion in the ODI squad reflects the selectors’ desire to gradually expand Afghanistan’s talent pool and give opportunities to emerging players on the international stage.

The white-ball series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will consist of three T20 Internationals followed by three One-Day Internationals. The T20I matches are scheduled to be played on March 13, March 15 and March 17, while the ODI series will take place on March 20, March 22 and March 25.

With a new captain at the helm in the shortest format and several fresh faces in the squad, the series could mark the beginning of a new phase for Afghanistan cricket.

Also READ: Afghanistan Cricket Board announces schedule for historic white-ball series against Sri Lanka

Afghanistan squads for Sri Lanka series

T20I: Ibrahim Zadran (c), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Noor Rahman (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai.

ODI: Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Rahmat Shah (vc), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Bilal Sami.

Also READ: BCCI unveils fixtures for India’s home series against Afghanistan

Mumbai Indians team (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians have revealed their new jersey ahead of the highly anticipated Indian Premier League 2026 season, introducing a fresh design centred around a repeating ‘M’ motif that symbolises the franchise’s identity and philosophy.While the previous season’s kit retained the traditional blue and gold colours associated with the team, the 2026 version takes the visual concept a step further. The new jersey prominently features the letter ‘M’ arranged in a repeating pattern across the fabric, creating a sense of rhythm and continuity throughout the design. Despite their five championship titles, the jersey still does not display five stars above the team logo.

Explaining the concept behind the design, the franchise said the repeated ‘M’ reflects the mindset and collective energy that define the team.“The design of the Mumbai Indians’ jersey, edition 2026, is inspired by the letter ‘M’ developed as a repeating pattern to create rhythm and continuity across the print. The ‘M’ represents the MI mindset, mentality and momentum, reflecting focus and a forward-driving spirit. Transforming a single letter into a unified pattern expresses the collective strength that emerges when the team and its supporters come together,” the team said in a statement.The franchise also emphasised that the familiar colour scheme remains central to the jersey’s identity.“MI’s signature blue and gold define the visual identity of the jersey. The deep blue reflects the spirit of Mumbai, strong, energetic, and constantly in motion, while the bold, flowing gold waves introduce energy and movement into the design. Gold represents success, victory, and legacy, reinforcing the Mumbai Indians’ identity and enduring passion for the game,” the statement added.The team will once again be captained by all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been in impressive form during the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.Mumbai Indians endured an inconsistent start to the 2025 season before staging a strong comeback to reach the playoffs. Their campaign eventually ended in Qualifier 2, where they were defeated by the Punjab Kings.The franchise has not lifted the IPL trophy since their triumph in 2020 and will be eager to end that drought in the 19th edition of the tournament. A title in 2026 would also make Mumbai Indians the first team in IPL history to claim six championships.