Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma (Image credit: Instagram)

NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli welcomed the New Year by sharing a special moment with his wife Anushka Sharma, posting a picture on social media that instantly caught the attention of fans. The photograph, shared on New Year’s Day, showed the couple in a glamorous setting, reflecting a warm and personal start to 2026. Kohli did not add a lengthy caption to the post, instead opting for a simple star emoji that spoke volumes.

Earlier, the former India captain had also shared another post offering a glimpse into his New Year celebrations with Anushka. In that image, both were seen wearing masks, with Kohli’s mask playfully resembling Spider-Man, adding a light-hearted touch to the moment. The post highlighted the couple’s understated yet intimate way of ringing in the New Year.Kohli later shared another photograph on Instagram, again featuring the couple wearing masks. Alongside the image, Kohli wrote, “Stepping into 2026 with the light of my life.” The post received an overwhelming response from fans and well-wishers, with the comments section flooded with messages wishing the couple happiness and success in the year ahead.

Away from social media, Kohli continues to enjoy a prolific phase on the cricket field, particularly in One-Day Internationals, following his retirement from T20 Internationals and Test cricket. Now 37, he recently made a return to India’s premier domestic one-day competition for the first time in 15 years and made an immediate impact. Kohli struck scores of 131 and 77 in successive innings, reaffirming his class and enduring hunger for runs.Those performances also saw him create history in List A cricket, as he became the fastest batter to reach 16,000 runs, eclipsing a long-standing record held by Sachin Tendulkar. His strong domestic showing followed a stellar ODI series against South Africa, where Kohli registered two centuries and a fifty to help India secure a 2-1 series victory.India’s squad is set to assemble in Vadodara on January 8 ahead of the home ODI series against New Zealand. The three-match series begins on January 11, followed by a five-match T20I series later in the month.

Travis Head’s rise as an all-format force has made him one of Australia’s most reliable match-winners and one of the most recognisable faces in world cricket. Set to feature in all five Ashes Tests, the left-hander has topped the run charts and heads into 2026 after an especially demanding 2025, a workload that could see him step back from parts of the domestic calendar as the year progresses. The Big Bash League is the first commitment Head appears likely to sacrifice. The Australian batter has admitted that January may need to be reserved for recovery, with the T20 World Cup in India looming next month and the IPL scheduled soon after. That combination of major tournaments has prompted him to reassess how much cricket his body and mind can realistically absorb.

Head has acknowledged that being fully involved throughout the Ashes, even with Australia’s dominance early in the series and relatively short matches, has taken its toll both physically and mentally. “Probably unlikely with the emotional drain of an Ashes series, and what’s coming up in terms of the World Cup,” Head told the Daily Telegraph when asked about turning out for the Adelaide Strikers this BBL season. The Strikers have made a steady start to their campaign with two wins from four matches, but the absence of their marquee batter would still be a blow. Head’s experience and aggression at the top of the order would have been invaluable, yet with the T20 World Cup approaching and a key role awaiting him at the top alongside captain Mitch Marsh, international priorities appear to have taken precedence. Reflecting on his Ashes performances, Head underlined the emotional intensity of the series. “You go into every series wanting to have a good contribution. I felt like I’ve been close to that and played really well. And the emotional drain of actually being in an Ashes series and playing it is always tough,” he said. After beginning the series batting at number five, Head has since moved to the top of the order alongside Jake Weatherald, a shift that has done nothing to slow his scoring rate. He has already piled up 437 runs in the series, highlighted by centuries in Perth and at his home ground, the Adelaide Oval. Beyond his own schedule, Head also raised broader concerns about player workload as the calendar becomes increasingly congested due to the expansion of franchise cricket and shrinking windows for international fixtures. “So I think it’s important to go into a World Cup fresh, but we’ll see where we get to though. It’s a concern with how much we’ve already been playing and how much time we’ve got on the road,” he said. Looking ahead, Head is keen to spend some time at home before an extended stint in India with both Australia and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Family considerations are becoming more central as well, particularly with another ODI World Cup cycle approaching in 2027. “You look at that year with the young family as well … my mind’s more so with my family. How can I make that year work?” Head said, underlining the balancing act facing modern-day cricketers.

England’s captain Ben Stokes shakes hands with teammate Shoaib Bashir (AP Photo/Gary Day)

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has described England’s Boxing Day Test victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground as a “lottery”, insisting the result should not be used as a benchmark for judging the success of the current Brendon McCullum–Ben Stokes regime. Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Vaughan said England must now avoid a heavy defeat in the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney if the leadership group is to emerge from the tour without serious scrutiny. England had already conceded the Ashes after losing the first three Tests of the series before producing a surprise win in Melbourne. The match, however, was played on a highly bowler-friendly surface, saw all 36 wickets fall to pace, and was wrapped up inside two days, prompting Vaughan to question its value as a proper Test contest.

Josh Tongue starred for England at the MCG, finishing with match figures of 7 for 89, including 5-45 in the first innings. His effort made him the first England bowler in the 21st century to claim a five-wicket haul in a Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. The victory also ended England’s long wait for success in Australia, marking their first Test win Down Under since 2011 and snapping a drought that stretched beyond 5,000 days. Under head coach Brendon McCullum, England have now won 25 Tests and lost 17 from 45 matches. Despite acknowledging the significance of the Melbourne result, Vaughan said the upcoming Sydney Test carries far greater weight, arguing that England must prove they can win a full, competitive game of Test cricket. “I think it’s a massive game for England [in Sydney]. It’s nice to win a game of cricket, but let’s be honest, it was a complete lottery in Melbourne. It wasn’t a proper game of Test match cricket. For the future and for this management in particular, they need to win a strong game of cricket here … that’s not a two-dayer,” Vaughan said, as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald. Vaughan suggested that while Stokes and McCullum are likely to continue in their roles, a strong showing in Sydney is necessary to remove any lingering doubt. He warned that a heavy loss would trigger difficult internal discussions. “For this management to carry on, the likes of Ben and Baz – I’m pretty sure they will carry on – but I think they need a good week for that to be absolutely rock solid. There’s a huge appetite within the group to keep [McCullum] on. But fundamentally, if they get pummelled in Sydney, there needs to be some honest conversations,” he added. The former skipper also urged England to avoid knee-jerk changes after the tour but stressed the importance of owning up to their mistakes. According to Vaughan, denying flaws would pose a greater long-term problem than poor results. “I think chopping and changing is not necessarily the right thing for English cricket. Whatever happens at the end of this tour, they’ve got to accept that they got a lot of things wrong. If they’re going to be so stubborn to think that they were a bit unlucky, or things didn’t quite go the way they wanted … well, we have a problem going forward. The key is maturity and that’s the one thing that I think this team can be a lot better at, in terms of the way they play and talk. If they can accept that, I have no problem with the management staying the same,” Vaughan said.

Aryna Sabalenka (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)

World number one Aryna Sabalenka has signalled that she is eager for a rematch against Nick Kyrgios after being beaten by the Australian in their widely discussed “Battle of the Sexes” exhibition match. The high-profile clash took place in Dubai on Sunday, where Kyrgios claimed a 6-3, 6-3 win in a contest that drew significant attention for its intensity and entertainment value. The match, however, was played under modified conditions, with the court reduced by nine per cent to balance differences in movement and speed between male and female players. Looking back on the encounter, Sabalenka admitted she would approach a second meeting differently, especially when it comes to the format. Speaking on Thursday ahead of her Brisbane International title defence, the Belarusian said she would favour a full-sized court and adjusted serving rules if the matchup were to be repeated. “I think I would definitely do it again. I love revenge, and I don’t like to leave it the way it is. I think for the next match we will come up with a different format. Before the match I didn’t realise I would have to adjust, and it was a bit tricky for me. I think I would keep the full court, but I would take two serves. That would even our level a lot more,” Sabalenka said. She explained that the experience, despite ending in defeat, helped her understand Kyrgios’ game better and left her confident that she could improve in a rematch. “I always say that when you are losing, you are learning and I learned a lot about his game. I know Nick as a player and a person better and I feel I know how to play against him. I would do it again. I need revenge,” she added. Sabalenka also reflected positively on the contest, saying she was pleased to have tested Kyrgios physically and mentally. She described the match as an enjoyable challenge and wished him well ahead of his upcoming appearances in Brisbane and at the Australian Open. “I am happy that I was able to challenge him, make him work and make him physically get tired and mentally get tired. I felt really excited to see a man getting tired and going for his full game. It was a really cool experience and I really hope he will do well here in Brisbane and play incredible tennis in the Australian Open,” she said.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli (ANI)

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has raised serious doubts over the long-term future of One-Day International cricket, warning that the format could struggle to survive beyond the 2027 World Cup once Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma step away. Ashwin acknowledged the excitement generated by Kohli and Rohit’s recent appearances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy but pointed out that the growing dominance of T20 leagues, coupled with Test cricket’s enduring value, is steadily squeezing the space available for 50-over cricket.

“I am not sure about future of ODI after 2027 World Cup. I am a little worried about it. Of course, I am following Vijay Hazare Trophy but the manner in which I followed SMAT, I am finding slightly difficult to follow,” Ashwin said on his Hindi YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat. He stressed that audience preference can no longer be ignored while shaping the game’s future. “Also, we need to know what audience wants to watch. I feel Test cricket still has space but ODI cricket, I truly feel it doesn’t have the space,” he said, offering a blunt assessment of the format’s current standing. Ashwin, India’s second-highest wicket-taker across formats with 765 dismissals, underlined how heavily ODI cricket still leans on the presence of its biggest stars. With Kohli and Rohit sharing 86 ODI centuries between them, their influence remains central to the format’s relevance. “Look, Rohit and Virat came back to Vijay Hazare Trophy and people started watching it. We have known that sport is always bigger than individuals but at times these players need to come back to make the game relevant,” he observed. Referring to domestic one-day cricket, Ashwin added, “Vijay Hazare Trophy, of course, is a domestic competition that not a lot of people follow, but they did because Virat and Rohit were playing. Even then, what happens when they stop playing ODIs?” Ashwin also spoke about how the nature of ODI batting has shifted dramatically under the influence of T20 cricket. He recalled a time when the format allowed players to build innings patiently, citing MS Dhoni as the perfect example. “One-day cricket, once upon a time, was an amazing format because it gave a player like MS Dhoni who would take singles for 10-15 overs before he went berserk at the end,” he said. According to Ashwin, that style has all but disappeared. “You don’t have players like that anymore and there isn’t any requirement to play like that, as you are playing with two new balls and five fielders inside circle,” he said, describing modern ODIs as being played in just two extremes, either all-out attacking or complete collapse on tougher pitches. Turning his attention to the international calendar, Ashwin urged the ICC to rethink its approach, while acknowledging the importance of revenue for the sport’s sustainability. “The ODI format has become redundant and to top it, ICC needs to see how they are conducting these World Cups. Every year, there is an ICC tournament for revenue generation pattern, but then look at how FIFA is doing it,” he said. He compared cricket unfavourably with football’s global structure. “There are leagues happening and they do their World Cup once in every four years. The World Cup is having value as it’s a marquee tournament. Too many bilaterals, too many formats, too many World Cups, so it’s a little bit of an overkill,” Ashwin added. Ashwin also suggested that certain match-ups in the upcoming T20 World Cup, such as India facing USA or Namibia, could risk alienating viewers rather than attracting them. When asked about possible solutions, Ashwin offered a stark proposal for preserving ODI cricket’s relevance. “If you really want to make ODI cricket relevant, then just play these leagues and play ODI World Cup once in four years, so when people turn up for events, there will be sense of expectation,” he said. Summing up his concerns, Ashwin concluded with a grim warning for the format’s future. “I feel it is going towards slow death.”

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma (Photo by Ayush Kumar/Getty Images)

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have injected new life into ODI cricket, turning the format into a must-watch whenever they feature. Recent bilateral series against Australia and South Africa sparked an unusual level of excitement, echoing the atmosphere seen during the 2023 ODI World Cup. With both players having stepped away from T20Is and Tests, their appearances are now limited, making every ODI feel like a marquee event. That rarity has worked in favour of 50-over cricket, pulling back crowds and attention at a time when interest in the format had started to fade. Their selective presence has also reinforced their standing as the biggest attractions in the global game. By continuing to commit to ODIs, Kohli and Rohit have helped restore relevance, anticipation and value to the format, ensuring each contest carries added weight.

Amid this renewed buzz, Irfan Pathan called for stronger scheduling to fully capitalise on their impact. Speaking on Star Sports, the former all-rounder pushed for longer series and multi-team tournaments to sustain fan engagement. “That’s why I am repeatedly saying one thing. Why can’t we have five ODIs instead of three? Why can’t we have a triangular or quadrangular series? Why can’t we arrange that, because these two greats play only one format? It won’t be wrong to say that if a lot of interest has returned to ODI cricket, these two have brought it,” Pathan said. The influence of the two stalwarts is also reflected in the ICC ODI batting rankings, with Rohit sitting at number one and Kohli close behind in second, underlining their consistency and dominance in the format. Pathan further stressed that the appeal is not just about star power but also performance. With the next World Cup still some way off, he argued that regular match exposure is essential to maintain rhythm and keep the momentum alive. “The biggest thing is that they are also performing. The World Cup is far away. You will definitely want to think about it, but I am also thinking that the more we get to see them, that these two players should keep playing, keep representing India, and when they are not playing for India, they should keep playing domestic cricket because the more they play, the better it is,” he observed.

Australia cricket team (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Australia have named a 15-member squad for the fifth and final Ashes Test against England, set to begin on January 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as confirmed by cricket.com.au. Steve Smith will continue to lead the side in the absence of Pat Cummins. The regular captain missed the opening two Tests of the series after failing to recover in time from a lower back injury. Cummins returned for the Adelaide Test, where he resumed captaincy and helped Australia secure the Ashes on home soil. However, the team management has now opted to rest the fast bowler for the remainder of the series.

The decision has been taken to carefully manage Cummins’ workload and ensure he remains fully fit ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Cummins has been named in Australia’s provisional squad for the global tournament. Usman Khawaja has also retained his place in the squad despite ongoing speculation surrounding his Test future. The 39-year-old began the series as Australia’s established opener but has endured a disrupted campaign. He was unable to bat in the second innings of the Perth Test due to back spasms, missed the Brisbane Test altogether, and was initially left out for Adelaide before being recalled to bat at number four following Steven Smith’s illness. In the fourth Test, Khawaja continued in the middle order alongside Travis Head and Jack Weatherald, scoring 29 in the first innings before being dismissed for a duck in the second. Across the series so far, he has accumulated 153 runs from three matches and five innings at an average of 30.60, with his only half-century coming in Adelaide.Australia squad for fifth Ashes Test:Steve Smith (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster. Australia head into the Sydney Test looking to respond after a four-wicket defeat to Ben Stokes’ England in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne.

Sikandar Raza (Image credit: Zimbabwe Cricket)

NEW DELHI: The cricket fraternity in Zimbabwe has been left deeply shaken following heartbreaking news shared by the family of national T20I captain Sikandar Raza. In a tragic development that has resonated across the global cricketing community, it has been confirmed that Raza’s younger brother, Muhammad Mahdi, passed away earlier this week.Zimbabwe Cricket took to their social media and issued an official statement.

“Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) extends its heartfelt condolences to Zimbabwe T20I Captain Sikandar Raza and his family in light of the untimely passing of his cherished younger brother, Muhammad Mahdi, who departed this life on 29 December 2025 in Harare, at the tender age of 13.“Muhammad Mahdi was born with the serious medical condition haemophilia, and unfortunately lost his life due to recent and severe health complications. He was laid to rest on 30 December 2025 at Warren Hills Cemetery located in Harare. The entire ZC Board, Management, Players, and Staff stand united in unwavering solidarity with Sikandar Raza and his grieving family during this profoundly challenging time. We pray that Allah grants them comfort and strength to endure this loss, and may Muhammad Mahdi’s soul rest peacefully in eternal tranquility,” the statement read.

Raza himself responded to the tragic news on social media, sharing a broken heart emoji beneath Zimbabwe Cricket’s condolence message.The personal loss comes at a demanding phase in Raza’s professional career. He was last seen in action for the Sharjah Warriorz during the ILT20 2025, where he featured in 10 matches, scoring 171 runs and picking up 10 wickets.His performances in the UAE further reinforced his reputation as one of the game’s most reliable all-rounders, particularly in the shortest format. Even as he copes with immense personal grief, attention remains on Raza as he prepares for one of the biggest assignments of his career — the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to begin in February.As the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s side, Raza’s leadership will be vital on the world stage. While the loss of his brother, who battled haemophilia from birth, is a significant emotional blow, the thoughts and prayers of the global cricketing community remain with Sikandar Raza and his family during this difficult time.

Sarfaraz Khan (Image credit: X)

NEW DELHI: As Sarfaraz Khan continues his rich vein of form in domestic cricket, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed the right-hander to become a regular batter for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.Ashwin’s endorsement comes after Sarfaraz smashed a blistering 157 off 75 balls against Goa in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT), an innings that included nine boundaries and 14 sixes and underlined his power-hitting prowess.

Sarfaraz brought up his hundred in just 56 balls in what was a breathtaking knock. Ashwin also highlighted the batter’s performances in the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), where he amassed 329 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 203.08 and an average of 65.80.In a post on X, Ashwin wrote, “100*(47), 52(40), 64(25), 73(22) in the SMAT. That form’s transitioned seamlessly into the Hazare with scores of 55(49) followed by a blistering 157(75) today with 14 sixes. It’s particularly impressive how he murders spin in the middle overs with his sweeps and slog sweeps. ‘Avan kadhava thattala, idichi odachitu irukaan.’ ( He is not knocking on the door, he is breaking it open ) CSK should look at riding his purple patch by slotting him into the Playing XII surely? A genuine problem of plenty with the bat for the men in yellow this season! Can’t wait for IPL 2026.”

Following his exploits in the SMAT, five-time IPL champions CSK secured the services of the right-handed batter for Rs 75 lakh at the IPL 2026 mini-auction earlier this month.Chennai Super Kings Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad, MS Dhoni, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Urvil Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Gurjapneet Singh, Jamie Overton, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Noor Ahmad, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Gopal, Khaleel Ahmed, Sanju Samson Akeal Hosein, Prashant Veer, Kartik Sharma, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Sarfaraz Khan, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar, Zak Foulkes.

Paarl Royals captain David Miller pulls a delivery during match 7 (SA20)

Paarl Royals captain David Miller spoiled the Sunrisers Eastern Cape’s New Year’s Eve celebrations with a captain’s knock that delivered his side their first win of SA20 Season 4 at St George’s Park on Tuesday.Chasing a modest target of 150, the Royals found themselves in serious trouble early as Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje tore through the top order. Jansen reached a milestone during the spell, becoming the first bowler to claim 50 wickets in SA20 history. Paarl slipped to 35 for four, with Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Asa Tribe, Rubin Hermann and Kyle Verreynne all dismissed cheaply.

With the chase threatening to unravel, Miller produced a masterclass in composure and controlled aggression. The left-hander anchored the innings with an unbeaten 71 off just 38 balls, timing his acceleration to perfection. He found a reliable partner in rising star Keagan Lion-Cachet, who played a crucial supporting role with a mature 45 off 40 deliveries.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The pair stitched together a match-turning 114-run partnership for the fifth wicket, steadily draining the pressure from the Sunrisers. Lion-Cachet fell late in the chase, but Miller ensured there were no further hiccups.Drama lingered until the final moments, with the St George’s Park crowd hoping for a Super Over. Those hopes were dashed when Lewis Gregory bowled a costly wide, sealing the Royals’ victory with two balls to spare.Earlier, Paarl’s bowlers had laid the platform, led by teenage sensation Nqobani Mokoena. In just his second SA20 appearance, the 19-year-old seamer delivered career-best figures of 4/34, including the prized wicket of Quinton de Kock during the Powerplay. Ottneil Baartman complemented him well, returning figures of 3/36 against his former side.

Jonny Bairstow (33) and Jordan Hermann (47) offered resistance for the Sunrisers, but regular wickets restricted them to 149 all out. Despite the loss, Sunrisers remain top of the table on 10 points, while the Royals climbed off the bottom with a timely win.Brief Scores Sunrisers Eastern Cape: 149 all out in 19.4 overs (Jordan Hermann 47; Nqobani Mokoena 4/34, Ottneil Baartman 3/36) Paarl Royals: 150 for 5 in 19.4 overs (David Miller 71 not out, Keagan Lion-Cachet 45; Anrich Nortje 2/21, Marco Jansen 2/25)