NEW DELHI: Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma dominated the headlines at the 2026 WPL mega auction, emerging as the most expensive signing of the day. UP Warriorz used their Right to Match (RTM) card to retain her for Rs 3.20 crore, making her the second-highest-paid Indian in WPL history, just behind Smriti Mandhana.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Other World Cup performers also cashed in. Shree Charani and Laura Wolvaardt secured significant deals following their impressive international seasons.Mumbai Indians made a major move by signing New Zealand star Amelia Kerr for Rs 3 crore, reinforcing their core after her successful stints in their 2023 and 2025 title-winning campaigns.UP Warriorz surprised many by spending Rs 2.40 crore on veteran India seamer Shikha Pandey, who hasn’t featured for India since 2023.

Delhi Capitals were active and aggressive, securing Charani for Rs 1.30 crore, after a tense battle with Warriorz, and adding South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt (Rs 1.10 crore), Chinelle Henry (Rs 1.30 crore) and Sneh Rana (Rs 50 lakh).With the largest purse—Rs 14.5 crore—UP Warriorz remained one of the most influential teams in the room. They used RTM cards to bring back Kranti Gaud (Rs 50 lakh) and world No. 1 spinner Sophie Ecclestone (Rs 85 lakh).The franchise further strengthened its lineup by signing Asha Shobhana (Rs 1.10 crore) and Harleen Deol (Rs 50 lakh), while also adding young Australian talent Phoebe Litchfield (Rs 1.20 crore) and India batter Pratika Rawal (Rs 50 lakh).Among other major moves, Gujarat Giants secured Renuka Singh (Rs 60 lakh), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru picked up Nadine de Klerk (Rs 65 lakh) along with India all-rounders Arundhati Reddy (Rs 75 lakh) and Radha Yadav (Rs 65 lakh).Meanwhile, marquee names Meg Lanning and Sophie Devine were also snapped up, with Giants securing Devine for Rs 2 crore, while Lanning moved to UP Warriorz for Rs 1.90 crore after an intense bidding contest with Delhi Capitals.The biggest surprise of the day came early, as Australian captain Alyssa Healy went unsold after being the first name called. Fellow Australian Alana King also remained without a bidder, even in the accelerated round.By the end of the auction, 67 players were bought across 77 available squad slots.

DELHI CAPITALS

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BENGALURU

GUJARAT GIANTS

UP WARRIORZ

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) auction in New Delhi on Thursday opened up with a crackle and quickly turned into a blaze as Asha Sobhana became the first Malayali cricketer to breach the Rs 1-crore mark. In a pulsating, seesawing bidding war, the UP Warriorz snapped up the 34-year-old leg-spinner from Thiruvananthapuram for a staggering Rs 1.1 crore, capping one of the most dramatic tussles of the evening.The action began innocuously, after the Delhi Capitals kicked things off at the base price of Rs 30 lakh. But the tempo surged swiftly as Delhi and UP Warriorz traded bids up to Rs 55 lakh.

Delhi bowed out, only for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) — Asha’s former home franchise — to storm in at Rs 60 lakh, determined to reclaim the leggie who had helped power through their title charge in the 2024 season.But the Warriorz refused to blink. The bids climbed into uncharted territory, and when the hammer finally came down at Rs 1.1 crore, UP Warriorz had clinched one of the most compelling stories from Kerala at the auction.For Asha, the moment was surreal.“I was watching the auction at my home in Thiruvananthapuram, glued to the television,” she tells TOI. “I got nervous during the bidding war…very happy with the result.”The milestone is a natural culmination for the player built on persistence and doggedness.RCB had first signed Asha in the inaugural 2023 WPL season for just Rs 10 lakh — a modest sum for the bowler who went on to claim 12 wickets and finish joint second-highest wicket-taker. Her unforgettable five-wicket haul against the UP Warriorz remains one of the defining spells of that year. Incidentally, she is the only Indian to claim a five-for in the WPL.“It was against the Warriorz two seasons back that I bagged my first five-for in WPL, and now to play for them is incredible. Too many things happening at the moment,” she chuckles.The RCB contract came to her at the right time as she was toying with the idea of quitting the game because of the lack of recognition after toiling away in domestic cricket for over a decade.A die-hard fan of former Australian legspinner Stuart MacGill, Asha’s WPL heroics earned her a long-awaited India call-up in April last year for the Bangladesh tour, followed by her T20I debut in May.In October, she ticked off another dream, when she made her ICC T20 World Cup debut in Dubai, and started in India’s opener against New Zealand.But the journey has hardly been linear. A knee injury forced her out of the last WPL season and sidelined her for nearly a year.Far from dimming her spark, the layoff seemed only to sharpen her resolve. On her return to domestic cricket for Kerala, she struck immediately, delivering a Player-of-the-Match performance in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy game against Vidarbha last month.Her career has been as itinerant as it has been inspirational: stints with the Railways, Kerala, Pondicherry, and then back to Kerala, all while juggling her employment with the South Central Railways in Hyderabad.With the WPL beginning in January next year, Asha stands on the cusp of a luminous chapter — proof that perseverance, patience, and craft can script a heartwarming tale in Kerala cricket.

NEW DELHI: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has offered a sharp critique of Rishabh Pant’s batting approach following India’s crushing 408-run defeat to South Africa in the second Test, a loss that sealed a 0–2 home whitewash and marked one of the national team’s lowest moments in recent years.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on his YouTube show Ash ki Baat, Ashwin praised Pant’s natural ability but said his reckless shot selection continues to let the team down at crucial moments.

“My heartbeat used to go fast in the dressing room when Rishabh Pant batted. He has a superb game and defence, so I always wonder why he would get out to shots like these,” Ashwin said. “I will still say he is a very good player, and the day he takes responsibility, things can start changing. I don’t deny the X-factor he brings.”Ashwin compared Pant’s approach to former New Zealand batter Nathan Astle’s iconic double-hundred in Christchurch — an innings he said cannot be used to justify ultra-attacking play in every match. “Astle once smashed 200-odd runs, but he didn’t play the same way in every Test. Similarly, batters cannot play the same way every time. I have said it in the dressing room, but it cannot change until he realises it.”

Pant, who captained in the absence of an injured Shubman Gill, endured a disappointing series with just 49 runs across four innings. Ashwin warned that leadership magnifies responsibility: “If you are a captain today, 10 others will follow in your footsteps. Responsibility is a must.”Ashwin also expressed deep disappointment with India’s overall performance, saying the defeat did not hurt as much as the lack of fight shown by the team. He felt the Guwahati pitch was “of Test quality” and said India should at least have taken the match into the final session.“I wasn’t sad about losing the Test, but there was no fight,” he said. “In the dressing room, everyone should raise their hands individually and take accountability.”He added that the current Test side remains “way behind in terms of experience” and will take time to evolve.

Pratika Rawal is helped off the pitch during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup India 2025 match between India and Bangladesh at DY Patil Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Navi Mumbai, India. (Photo/Getty Images)

MUMBAI: After the historic 2025 ODI World Cup win by the Indian women’s team on Nov, the excitement for the upcoming Women’s Premier League season 4 -likely to be held from Jan 7 to Feb 3 in Navi Mumbai and Vadodara (a final decision will be taken by the WPL Governing Council in its meeting in Delhi today) is slowly building up. However, player injuries remain a definite headache for the five WPL franchises, hurting their plans for the WPL player auction in Delhi on Thursday and the season ahead. During the recently-held World Cup, opener Pratika Rawal, who forged a successful opening partnership with India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, was sidelined due to a hairline fracture in the ankle as he fell awkwardly while fielding in India’s last league game against Bangladesh at the DY Patil Stadium, forcing dashing opener Shafali Verma to be included as her last-minute replacement for the semifinal and final of the tournament.

Opener Yastika Bhatia had to miss the tournament as she picked up an injury (hurt her left knee) at the pre-World Cup camp in Vizag.Women’s cricket has seen remarkable improvement in recent years, thanks to BCCI’s efforts towards it and the introduction of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in early 2023. Playing alongside world-class players in WPL teams has helped India’s women cricketers gain exposure and awareness about fitness and nutrition. Yet, injuries continue to cast a shadow over many talented Indian players’ careers.As franchises make last-minute preparations for the WPL auction, the fitness of certain Indian and overseas players will be a critical factor in their buying decisions. “Many of the Indian players have struggled with recurring injuries, raising concerns about their long-term career,” said a franchise official. The franchises feel that the BCCI may need to implement a structured rehabilitation and fitness program to ensure that India’s players can sustain peak performance and longevity. “With the WPL becoming a marquee event, player fitness is no longer just an individual concern—it’s a strategic priority for franchises and the BCCI. A comprehensive injury management program could be the difference between short-lived careers and sustained excellence in women’s cricket,” a franchise official felt.TOI takes a look at the players under the injury scanner for WPL-4…

Kashvee Gautam (pacer)

A promising 22-year-old pace bowling all-rounder whose fitness has been a major concern. Bought by Gujarat Giants for a record ₹2 crore in Season 2 with much fanfare, Kashvee missed the entire season due to injury. Though she featured in Season 3, her performance indicated she wasn’t fully fit. Post-season, she suffered a similar injury and is currently undergoing rehab at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Her return to full fitness remains uncertain.

Priya Mishra (leg-spinner)

The young leg-spinner showed great potential but suffered a shin injury that has kept her out of action. While she attended World Cup practice sessions, her fitness and fielding remain areas of concern. Her comeback timeline is unclear.

Pratika Rawal (opener)

A key contributor to India’s successful World Cup campaign in the league stage, Pratika, who has displayed amazing consistency in the ODI since her debut against West Indies at Vadodara in Dec last year, missed the semifinals and final due to a fractured ankle, suffered while she feel awkwardly while fielding in the deep in India’s last league match against Bangladesh at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Pratika, who went unsold in WPL-2025 is likely to miss the WPL season due to her injury.

Pooja Vastrakar (pace bowling allrounder)

A key all-rounder for India and the Mumbai Indians in the WPL in the past, Vastrakar has had a history of injuries, including knee and hamstring issues. While she missed WPL-2025 due to injury, the 26-year-old pacer played a crucial role in MI’s title triumph in the inaugural season in 2023. The pacer is currently undergoing rehab at the BCCI’s CoE in Bengaluru.

Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper-batter, India)

A top-order batter and wicketkeeper, Yastika was ruled out of the World cup after she suffered a knee injury in the pre-tournament camp at Vizag. Yastika eventually underwent a surgery in Mumbai. The 24-year-old left-handed opener is currently undergoing rehab at CoE.

Asha Sobhana (Leg-spinner, India)

The 34-year-old Royal Challengers Bengaluru leg-spinner, who has played two WODIs and six WT20Is for India, has been dealing with recurring shoulder issues. The veteran tweaker has been out of action since the Women’s T20 World Cup in UAE in Oct last year due to a knee injury. A key bowler for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who was the tournament’s second-highest wicket-taker (12 scalps) in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s WPL triumph in 2024, Asha missed WPL-2025 due to an injury. If Asha is fit again and available for the full season, she could be a hot buy for the teams.

Kate Cross (pace-bowling allrounder, England)

The vastly-experienced England pacer, who was overlooked for the World Cup, has had intermittent injuries, including a back injury during England’s tour of South Africa last year . Her participation will depend on medical clearance by the England & Wales Cricket Board and her workload management. She was a part of the Northern Superchargers side that won The Women’s Hundred crown and the Lancashire side which won the inaugural Metro Bank One Day Cup Women’s title this summer.

Sophie Molineux (left-arm spinner, Australia)

Known for her all-round abilities, Sophie has battled multiple injuries over the years, including shoulder and foot problems. Franchises will weigh her fitness before making big bids. Captain of the defending champions Melbourne Renegades in the Women’s Big Bash League, the 27-year-old missed the start of the tournament due to a minor quad strain, though she has played three matches after her return to action.

Alyssa Healy

The Australian captain and star wicketkeeper suffered a calf injury during the World Cup, which forced her to miss her team’s league stage wins over England and South Africa. She has also suffered from a bad finger injury in the past. The franchises are unsure about her fitness status for the WPL. Her experience and class makes her a valuable asset, but her fitness will be a key factor in determining whether the franchises will gun for her. There is a strong possibility that the UP Warriorz will try to buy her back through the Right-to-Match card.

South Africa’s Marco Jansen (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan)

South Africa’s dominant tour of India found its perfect symbol in Marco Jansen, who walked away with the Player of the Match award after a brilliant all round display that shaped the 408 run win in Guwahati. The tall left arm quick produced a sensational 6 for 48 in the first innings and then added a vital 93 with the bat in South Africa’s imposing total of 489. His effort set the tone for a victory that completed a 2 0 series sweep and delivered South Africa their first Test series win in India since 2000.Jansen said the win felt extra special because of where it came. “Winning any game is a nice feeling and winning in India is special. It’s a team performance. We spoke about sticking to our own things. If it works it works,” he said after the match. He also credited head coach Shukri Conrad for giving him confidence at a time when he felt nervous. “Got to give credit to Shuks, he told me to go out and play my game, I was nervous in the first Test,” he admitted.

South Africa’s performance across the two Tests was built on collective clarity. Jansen said the team left nothing to chance in their preparation. “Everyone is working hard, our prep as a team and in an individual capacity. We see where we can get better and on the field we give our best.”Jansen was part of a complete team effort that overwhelmed India from the start. Senuran Muthuswamy struck his maiden Test hundred, Tristan Stubbs played two mature innings including a gritty 94 in the second dig, and Simon Harmer dominated with the ball to finish with 6 for 37 and the Player of the Series award. The visitors posted 489 in the first innings and then bowled India out for 201 before choosing not to enforce the follow on. Their second-innings 260 for 5 declared set India a target of 549. India folded for 140 on the final day, with Ravindra Jadeja’s fighting 54 offering the only resistance.The win marked many historic milestones. It was South Africa’s biggest victory over India by runs, India’s heaviest defeat in Test cricket and the first time in 25 years that the Proteas have won a Test series on Indian soil. It was also India’s second home whitewash under Gautam Gambhir after last year’s 0 3 loss to New Zealand.Jansen’s rise continues to be one of South Africa’s finest stories. In Kolkata he looked nervous, unsure and still searching for rhythm. In Guwahati he looked like a complete force: tall, fast, confident and destructive. He leaves the Test series with the biggest prize of all, having delivered one of the most decisive match winning performances by a South African in India.

Rishabh Pant & Kuldeep Yadav

Rishabh Pant’s first outing as India’s Test captain has been anything but smooth in the second Test in Guwahati, and tensions spilled over on Day 4 when he snapped at left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav for repeatedly delaying his overs. With South Africa continuing to extend their dominance and India’s bowlers looking increasingly ineffective, Pant’s irritation grew as Kuldeep’s slow approach attracted warnings from the umpires. Former India head coach Ravi Shastri later backed Pant’s reaction, saying the spinner’s sluggishness risked putting India in trouble over their over-rate.Click here to watch: Pant shouts at Kuldeep Yadav after repeated over-rate warnings The flashpoint arrived when Kuldeep was handed the ball for the 48th over of the South African innings. The wrist-spinner took an unusually long time sorting out his field before delivering the first ball, prompting a visibly annoyed Pant to intervene. As picked up by the stump microphone, Pant told him: “Pehla ball daal de yaar… aisa mat kar. Baar baar nahi bolunga (Just bowl the first ball. Don’t do this. I won’t keep repeating myself).”

Under ICC regulations, teams must be ready to bowl the next over within 60 seconds. Two breaches trigger warnings, while a third leads to a five-run penalty — something India could ill afford as the innings dragged on. Commentating at the time, Shastri immediately pointed out that Pant’s frustration was justified. “You can hear Rishabh Pant from the back,” he said. “It is completely understandable. They’ve already been warned for taking too long between overs.” Shastri added that a bowler at this level must be aware of his field placements before starting an over. “You can’t walk in and begin moving fielders every couple of balls. One glance should tell everyone where they need to be. Once a warning comes, that first ball needs to be delivered quickly — and that’s exactly what Pant was asking for.” This was not an isolated incident. Pant had also chastised Kuldeep on Day 1 for the same issue, again caught clearly on the stump mic. “Yaar, 30 seconds ka timer hai. Ghar pe khel rahe ho kya? Ek ball daal jaldi (There’s a 30-second timer. Are you playing in your backyard? Bowl quickly),” Pant told him earlier in the match. He then reminded the bowler of the consequences: “Yaar Kuldeep, dono baar warning le li (We’ve already got two warnings).” Pant’s exasperation was evident as he added: “Pura ek over thodi na chahiye. Mazak bana rakha hai Test cricket ko (You don’t need an entire over to move around. You’re turning Test cricket into a joke).”

Smriti Mandhana-Palash Muchhal (X)

Indian women’s cricket vice-captain Smriti Mandhana’s wedding celebrations in Sangli, Maharashtra, were abruptly halted on Sunday when her father, Shrinivas Mandhana, fell seriously ill. Hospitalised immediately, his condition forced the couple to postpone the much-anticipated ceremony. Mandhana’s business manager, Tuhin Mishra, confirmed that the decision to halt proceedings was made by the cricketer herself, prioritising her father’s recovery. “Smriti is very close to her father. She decided that until her father gets well, this marriage… is indefinitely postponed,” Mishra said.Medical clarification on father’s health Initially feared to be a heart attack, Mandhana’s father was later diagnosed with angina. Dr Naman Shah, the family physician, explained that Shrinivas experienced left-sided chest pain, with elevated cardiac enzyme readings and high blood pressure prompting hospital observation. “If the situation exacerbates, we will have to do angiography,” Dr Shah noted, adding that his condition was being closely monitored.Fiance Palash Muchhal also hospitalised In a stressful turn, Mandhana’s fiancé Palash Muchhal was also admitted to a hospital shortly after her father’s illness. He was treated for viral symptoms and acidity issues, though his condition was not serious. Following initial treatment in Sangli, Palash has been moved to Mumbai for rest and recovery, under the watchful eye of his family.Social Media cleanup sparks curiosity Following the events, Mandhana deleted all wedding-related posts from her Instagram, including her proposal video. Her teammates and close friends, including Jemimah Rodrigues, Shreyanka Patil, and Radha Yadav, also removed or unfollowed related content, fueling speculation among fans. Mandhana’s older casual posts featuring Palash remain unaffected.Family statements highlight emotional toll Palash’s sister, singer Palak Muchhal, requested privacy for the families during this difficult time. Meanwhile, Palash’s mother, Amita Muchhal, revealed the depth of her son’s bond with Mandhana’s father. “Palash is extremely attached to Smriti’s father, even more than Smriti herself. When he fell ill, Palash immediately insisted that the wedding be postponed until he recovered,” she explained. Amita also described Palash’s brief hospitalisation, where he received an IV drip, ECG, and other tests after stress took a toll on his health.No rescheduled date yet As of now, neither Smriti Mandhana nor Palash Muchhal has confirmed a new wedding date. Both families remain focused on Shrinivas Mandhana’s recovery and the couple’s emotional well-being.

Chelsea’s Estevao, second right, celebrates with his teammates (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)

A night marked by wholesale rotations, defensive mistakes and a moment of teenage brilliance saw both Manchester City and Barcelona fall to damaging Champions League defeats on Tuesday. While 18-year-old Estevão lit up Stamford Bridge with a stunning solo effort, lapses at the back hurt both European heavyweights. Pep Guardiola’s 100th Champions League match in charge of City turned sour as Bayer Leverkusen punished a heavily changed side with a 2-0 win. Guardiola rested almost his entire starting XI from the weekend loss to Newcastle, including Erling Haaland, but the reshuffle backfired. Alejandro Grimaldo put Leverkusen ahead in the 23rd minute with a precise low finish, before Patrik Schick doubled the lead with a well-placed header in the 54th. “It feels wonderful and we gave everything till the last second,” Schick told DAZN. Barcelona’s night was even more chaotic. Chelsea cruised to a 3-0 victory at Stamford Bridge, helped by Jules Koundé steering the ball into his own net after a defensive mix-up in the 27th minute. Things worsened when Ronald Araújo collected a second yellow just before half-time for a reckless challenge on Marc Cucurella. Chelsea took full advantage. Estevão shrugged off two defenders to score a superb solo goal in the 55th, and Liam Delap added a third from close range in the 73rd. Barcelona have now lost four of their last 10 matches across competitions, leaving coach Hansi Flick under mounting scrutiny. The results left the top end of the table unchanged. A City win would have pushed them higher, but Wednesday’s fixtures featuring Bayern Munich, Arsenal and Inter Milan will now shape the standings. Borussia Dortmund climbed to fourth, Chelsea moved into fifth, and both clubs sit level with City on 10 points. Barcelona slid to 15th, while Juventus rose to 21 points as their revival continued. There was better news for José Mourinho, who finally secured his first Champions League victory with Benfica. Samuel Dahl smashed in a sixth-minute volley and Leandro Barreiro sealed a 2-0 win at Ajax, who remain winless after five games and have managed just one victory in their last 10 overall. Elsewhere, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struck twice in four minutes to lead Marseille to a 2-1 comeback win over Newcastle. Dortmund snapped a three-game winless stretch with a commanding 4-0 victory over 10-man Villarreal, powered by a brace from Serhou Guirassy. Juventus edged Bodo/Glimt 3-2 in the Arctic Circle, needing a stoppage-time finish from Jonathan David after the hosts equalised late. Substitute Kenan Yildiz was involved in all three goals. Union Saint-Gilloise edged Galatasaray 1-0 through Promise David, with the Turkish side missing injured top scorer Victor Osimhen and ending the match with 10 men after youngster Arda Ünyay was dismissed. Scott McTominay continued his scoring run by netting the opener in Napoli’s 2-0 win over Qarabag. Qarabag’s Kevin Medina was briefly knocked unconscious after being struck by another McTominay effort but was later replaced. Napoli supporters also marked the fifth anniversary of Diego Maradona’s passing. Finally, Athletic Bilbao’s goalless draw with Slavia Prague kept both teams outside the qualification spots with five matches played.

Pressure has been mounting on Gautam Gambhir after the Test side has been struggling in the Test series against South Africa. (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)

Virat Kohli’s elder brother, Vikas Kohli, stirred fresh conversation around India’s red-ball struggles with a sharp post on Threads, landing right in the middle of a tense fourth day of the Guwahati Test. As India chased an improbable 589 and slipped to 27 for 2 by stumps, his message added another layer to the ongoing scrutiny over the team’s choices and direction. In his post, Vikas suggested that the recent shift in approach had unsettled a system that once delivered results.

Without naming anyone, he hinted at interference under the current setup. “There was a time that we played to win even in overseas conditions. Now we are playing to save the match.. even in India.. This is what happens when u try to boss around and change things unnecessary which were not broken,” he wrote.

Vikas Kohli on threads

Vikas Kohli on threads

The comment has been widely interpreted as a reference to head coach Gautam Gambhir’s leadership and India’s recent run of inconsistent performances.While the original post was shared widely as screengrabs on X, the post is no longer seen on his handle. On the field, the situation remained grim. South Africa, the defending WTC champions, declared at 260 for 5 earlier in the day, putting India under pressure with a target that had no real precedent in home conditions. India lost both openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul before settling at 27 for 2, leaving the middle order to hold off a spirited South African attack. This phase has come during a transformative period for Indian cricket. The team is still finding its way after the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket. With India now on the brink of defeat and South Africa dictating terms in Guwahati, the final day holds more uncertainty than optimism. Whether the team can steady themselves or slip further will shape not just the match, but the wider conversation that has only grown louder. Day 5 will also determine whether South Africa can bowl out the hosts to secure a clean sweep or whether India will hold on to salvage a draw.