Hardik Pandya (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

Rajkot saw a masterclass from Hardik Pandya as Baroda posted a competitive 293 for 9 against Vidarbha in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The 32-year-old all-rounder took control of the innings when his team was in trouble, turning the game into a spectacle even without a crowd in attendance. Baroda had been struggling at 71 for 5 when Hardik walked in. He started carefully, working with the lower order and picking gaps to keep the scoreboard ticking. The innings built steadily, with singles and boundaries helping Baroda recover from a shaky position.The real fireworks came in the 39th over when Hardik unleashed a staggering sequence: 6,6,6,6,6,4 against Vidarbha spinner Parth Rekhade . He hit five consecutive sixes and finished the over with a four through point, taking 34 runs from just six balls and moving from 66 to a whirlwind century in just 68 balls. Hardik finished with 133 off 92 balls, hitting 11 sixes and 8 fours at a strike rate of 144.57. He virtually carried the Baroda innings, as no other batter crossed even 30, with Vishnu Solanki providing brief support with 26 off 17 balls. The Vidarbha bowlers tried to make breakthroughs, but Hardik’s timing and power proved unplayable. Yash Thakur ended with 4 wickets for 64, but it was Hardik’s innings that dominated the game and lit up the Vijay Hazare Trophy.In the last T20, the fifth match against South Africa, Hardik Pandya played a sensational innings, smashing 63 runs off just 25 balls to help India post a massive total of 231 and seal the series victory. On top of his explosive batting, Hardik also achieved a remarkable milestone, completing 100 wickets in T20 internationals. He became only the third Indian bowler, after Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, to reach this landmark. Pandya now joins an elite group of players with over 2,000 T20 runs and 100-plus wickets, highlighting his status as one of India’s most versatile and impactful all-rounders.

Shashi Tharoor, Mustafizur Rahman

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said cricket should not be dragged into attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, reacting to Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) decision to release Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from its IPL 2026 squad following a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).Sharing a video from Friday, Tharoor made his position clear on the issue. “Recalling my views on the subject, now that BCCI has deplorably pulled the plug on Mustafizur Rahman,” he said. He then questioned the logic behind the move, adding: “And what if the Bangladeshi player in question had been Litton Das or Soumya Sarkar?”

Tharoor raised sharper questions on the wider implications of the decision. “Who are we punishing here: a nation, an individual, his religion? Where will this mindless politicising of sport lead us?” he asked.His comments came after KKR confirmed that Mustafizur Rahman had been excluded from the squad for the upcoming season on BCCI’s instructions. In a media advisory, the franchise said, “Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI/IPL as the regulator of IPL has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season.”“The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control of Cricket in India,” the statement added.The advisory also said, “BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course.”Earlier, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board had directed KKR to release the Bangladesh pacer “due to the recent developments.”KKR had signed the 30-year-old left-arm pacer for Rs 9.20 crore, from a base price of Rs 2 crore, after a bidding contest involving Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at last month’s auction.Mustafizur Rahman has played in eight IPL seasons since 2016, missing only the 2019 and 2020 editions. He has represented Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. The 2026 season was set to be his first with three-time champions KKR.

Mustafizur Rahman (PTI Photo)

Masood Uz Zafar Amini, the coach of Indian batter Rinku Singh, has shared his views on the BCCI’s decision to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the 2026 Indian Premier League season. Amini said that while opinions may differ, the decision taken by the BCCI must be respected by everyone.His comments came after Kolkata Knight Riders confirmed that Mustafizur Rahman was released from their squad following instructions from the BCCI. The decision was taken amid recent developments and growing criticism from several political and spiritual groups.

These groups had questioned KKR and team owner Shah Rukh Khan for signing the Bangladeshi pacer during the IPL auction in Abu Dhabi, especially in the backdrop of reports about attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.Speaking on the issue, Amini stressed that cricket and religion should not be mixed.“If the BCCI has given permission to change the player, then it can be done. But Mustafizur Rahman is a cricketer first; Hindu or Muslim comes later. Other teams in the IPL had also bid for Mustafizur, so as KKR and they eventually took him in. I would like to say that he is a player first and any religion is later. So whatever is the decision of the BCCI, it has to be accepted,” he told news agency IANS. “There should be no politics with players. Playing and politics are different things. People of every religion live and such incidents keep happening. But this should not be associated with the game. However, it’s a decision of the nation and since the BCCI has taken a decision, we have to abide by it,” he further added.Mustafizur Rahman was bought by KKR for Rs 9.2 crore in the December 2025 IPL auction. He has played for several teams over the years. The list includes the likes of Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings.Since making his IPL debut in 2016, the Bangladeshi pacer has taken 65 wickets in 60 matches.

Desert Vipers captain Sam Curran (left) and MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard (right) pose with the DP World International League T20 trophy at the Dubai International Stadium a day ahead of the tournament’s season 4 final. (ILT20)

Dubai: True to their form across the various T20 leagues, the MI Emirates(MIE) — Mumbai Indians’ UAE-based franchise — have had a patchy campaign in the fourth season of the ILT20. They secured two wins in their first five matches before registering five wins on the bounce to secure the playoffs berth. Following a stumble in the first Qualifier, they booked their place in the ILT20 2025-26 final against the Desert Vipers.Meanwhile, the Desert Vipers have been one the most consistent than MIE this season. The now Sam Curran-led franchise started with six consecutive wins, progressing to the playoffs in a jiffy, and maintained that dominance by beating MIE in Qualifier 1.

This journey to the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium is not a first for either team. MI Emirates triumphed in 2024 while the Vipers have reached the final twice already but fell short on both occasions (2023, 2025).Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Curran stepped in as captain following a calf injury to New Zealand’s Lockie Ferguson, whose T20 World Cup appearance is also under threat. Following two finals lost in three years, the England all-rounder hopes Sunday’s final plays out differently.“You take learnings, but it’s a new season, completely different players, of course, but the conditions might be slightly different. I guess you take learnings from it, but we’ve done so many things well this season, so I guess we stick to the process. Last year we lost a close game,” said Curran on the eve of the final.“I think getting to the final is a huge achievement in itself, and there’s one more to go, so let’s hope we see how tomorrow goes,” he continued.“Finals are always different — the pressure, the crowd, the occasion — but that’s what you play for. We’re excited, fully aware of what it demands, and are looking forward to the challenge,” said Curran who has scored 323 runs this season and is the second-highest scorer.MI have tasted success in all the T20 leagues they have a presence in (IPL, SA20, MLC and ILT20) with MIE skipper Kieron Pollard involved in some of them. On Sunday, they will look to increase their tally in the UAE with experience expected to play a key role.“You can say it counts (experience), yes, but again, it’s different players at different times, you do it in different parts of the world with different players. It’s interesting to understand what is needed to win, so again for us, we have lost a lot of players… for us, I’m just happy that the guys have rallied and gotten to this point,” said Pollard.“I want them to just enjoy the experience of playing in a final, and whatever happens, happens, you’re going to play to win, you’re going to do everything you’re looking forward to, but just enjoy the experience,” he continued.

Players to watch out for

Curran, the last year’s Red Belt (MVP) winner, is one of the players to watch out for in the final. Equally impressive has been Andries Gous whose unbeaten knock of 120 in the Qualifier kept MIE at bay.For the locals, the focus will be on UAE international Muhammad Waseem, who currently leads both the Green Belt (most runs) and Blue Belt (best UAE player) standings, having amassed 344 runs this season. The UAE opener is also on track to win the Blue Belt for a fourth consecutive time.

Pollard had positive things to say for the UAE players who have made themselves count this season: “What we’ve seen from the UAE players over the past few seasons has been outstanding, both for the franchise and for UAE cricket. When you give them opportunities, they show real hunger and deliver when called upon.“Rohid [Muhammad Rohid] was a last-minute call-up, but he was outstanding to pick up two wickets in Qualifier 2. Seeing them step up and perform consistently at this level is encouraging, not just for us as a team, but for the future and the growth of UAE cricket.”Head-to-headPlayed: 7MI Emirates won: 3Desert Vipers won: 4

India vs Bangladesh (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. However, this decision applies only to the IPL. No call has been taken yet on Bangladesh’s matches in the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be played in India. This was confirmed by the Indian cricket board chief Mithun Manhas.

Manhas said the matter was discussed in detail before taking a final call. He also made it clear that the World Cup issue is still open. “The BCCI has taken this decision after thorough consultation, and Mr Saikia has already conveyed it to the media. The decision is related only to the IPL; we have not discussed the World Cup yet. We will share details once that is done,” Manhas told IANS on Saturday.This update comes after BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia stated that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) were instructed to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad for IPL 2026. The decision was taken following directions from the BCCI due to recent developments in Bangladesh.Over the past few days, the issue became sensitive after several spiritual and political leaders criticised KKR and its owner, actor-producer Shah Rukh Khan. The criticism followed KKR’s decision to sign Rahman at the IPL auction. This happened amid reports of attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh, which led to public outrage and strong reactions on social media and other platforms.Mustafizur Rahman was bought by KKR at the IPL auction held in Abu Dhabi in December 2025 for Rs 9.2 crore. Since making his IPL debut in 2016, Rahman has taken 65 wickets in 60 matches.Rahman’s exit from IPL 2026 has also raised questions about Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup matches scheduled in India. Bangladesh are set to play West Indies, Italy, and England on February 7, 9, and 14 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. They will then face Nepal on February 17 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. As of now, the BCCI has not made any announcement regarding these matches.

NEW DELHI: India announced their squad for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand on Saturday. Batter Shreyas Iyer’s return to India’s ODI squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand has brought relief to fans, but it comes with an important condition. The right-handed batter has been named in the 15-member squad and will also serve as vice-captain, yet his place in the playing group depends on final fitness clearance from the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (COE).

The three-match ODI series begins on January 11 in Vadodara, followed by matches in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18. India will be led by Shubman Gill, who is also making his return as ODI captain after missing the South Africa series due to injury. If Shreyas Iyer is fully cleared, the New Zealand series could mark the comeback of both India’s ODI captain and vice-captain at the same time.Iyer has been recovering from a serious abdominal injury he suffered during the ODI series against Australia in October last year. The injury forced him to miss several matches, including the South Africa series and domestic tournaments. Since then, he has been working hard on his rehabilitation and recently completed match-simulation sessions at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence.Before his injury, Iyer was an important part of India’s middle order. He brought stability at No. 4 and had a strong ODI record, making him a key player in India’s plans.However, the team management is being careful. They do not want to rush Iyer back and risk another setback. With major tournaments ahead, fitness is being given top priority. For now, Iyer is back in the squad, but all eyes will be on the final medical clearance that will decide whether he takes the field against New Zealand.

Hardik Pandya (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s absence from India’s ODI plans has drawn attention, especially after the squad for the New Zealand series was announced on Saturday. The right-handed batter has not been cleared by the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence to bowl a full 10-over spell in an ODI.

With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup coming up, the team management has decided not to rush him back and instead focus on managing his workload carefully. For the team management, the priority is to keep 32-year-old Pandya fully fit for major tournaments rather than pushing him in bilateral ODIs.India’s selection committee has named a strong squad for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting January 11 in Vadodara. Shubman Gill will captain the side, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returning to the ODI setup. Shreyas Iyer has been named vice-captain, though his availability depends on fitness clearance from the BCCI COE. The squad also includes KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant as wicketkeepers, along with all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy. The bowling unit features Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna and Kuldeep Yadav.“Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in a match, and considering the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to follow, his workload is being managed,” said the statement.While Pandya is missing from ODIs, his form with the bat remains outstanding. On Saturday in Rajkot, he produced a stunning innings for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against Vidarbha. Baroda were struggling at 71 for 5 when Hardik came to the crease. He rebuilt the innings calmly before exploding in the 39th over and smashed five sixes and a four to collect 34 runs in six balls. That blitzkrieg took him from 66 to a century in just 68 balls.Hardik finished with 133 off 92 balls, hitting 11 sixes and 8 fours. Earlier, in India’s T20I series against South Africa, Pandya had played several eye-catching knocks and even completed 100 T20I wickets with his effective bowling.

India’s Sanju Samson (PTI Photo/Shashank Parade)

Sanju Samson’s timing could not have been better. With the Indian ODI squad set to be picked on Saturday, the Kerala batter produced a commanding century against Jharkhand, putting himself firmly back into the selection conversation. Chasing a stiff target of 312, Samson led Kerala’s charge with a fluent hundred, anchoring a massive opening stand of 212 runs with captain Rohan Kunnummal. Kunnummal was equally destructive, smashing 124 with eight fours and eleven sixes before falling, but by then the damage had been done. Samson looked assured throughout, pacing his innings with clarity and intent, exactly the kind of knock selectors tend to notice on the eve of squad meetings.

The innings carries added significance for Samson, who last played an ODI for India in 2023. Since then, he has remained on the fringes despite scoring a memorable century against South Africa in South Africa. His ODI numbers make a strong case. In 16 matches, Samson has scored 510 runs from 14 innings at an impressive average of 56.67, striking at 99.61. In contrast, it was a quieter outing for Ishan Kishan in the same match. Kishan, who recently forced his way back into India’s T20 World Cup plans through strong domestic form and a standout Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, managed just 21 off 21 balls before being dismissed. Across his ODI career, Kishan has played 27 matches, scoring 933 runs at an average of 42.41 with a strike rate of 102, numbers that still keep him firmly in the race. Elsewhere, Rishabh Pant reminded everyone of his white-ball value with a brisk unbeaten 72 off 45 balls for Delhi against Services. Pant’s innings ensured a comfortable chase of 178 and underlined his ability to finish games under pressure. In 31 ODIs, Pant has scored 871 runs at an average of 33.5 and a strike rate of 106, adding another strong performance to his case. With KL Rahul established as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper in ODIs, the battle for the second spot is wide open. Samson’s century, Pant’s fluent knock, Kishan’s overall record and Dhruv Jurel waiting in the wings have given the selectors plenty to think about.