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WI vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Possible 11 Pitch Report – T20 World Cup 2026 2nd Match

Robin Kumar Sharma
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WI vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Possible 11 Pitch Report – T20 World Cup 2026 2nd Match

West Indies will take on Scotland in the 2nd game of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The game will be played at 3 PM IST on 7th February 2026. The venue for this game will be the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

The West Indies always look very solid on paper in the shortest format, but their on-field performance has been very different from that in the last few years. The likes of Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Johnson Charles, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, and Akeal Hosein form a very strong core, and a strong start is vital. 

Matthew Forder, Roston Chase, Gudakesh Motie, and others are also very capable players in the shortest format. The biggest challenge for the two-time champions will be consistency and performing as a unit in this tournament. The conditions at Eden Garden will suit their explosive batting style. 

Scotland, meanwhile, joined the tournament late and had to scramble to get everything ready. However, they are a promising side capable of defeating any team on their day. The likes of Brendon McMullen, Richie Berrington, George Munsey, Mark Watt, Bradley Currie, and Bradley Wheal are some of their key players. They have good batting depth, and the bowling is also good, but they’ll have to be their best throughout the tournament if they are to do well. 

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 2nd Match: WI vs SCO Probable Playing XIs

West Indies: 1. Shai Hope (c & wk), 2. Brandon King, 3. Shimron Hetmyer, 4. Roston Chase, 5. Rovman Powell, 6. Sherfane Rutherford, 7. Romario Shepherd, 8. Jason Holder, 9. Matthew Forde/Gudakesh Motie, 10. Akeal Hosein, 11. Jayden Seales

Scotland: 1. George Munsey, 2. Michael Jones, 3. Brendon McMullen, 4. Richie Berrington (c), 5. Tom Bruce, 6. Matthew Cross (wk), 7. Mark Watt, 8. Michael Leask, 9. Chris Greaves, 10. Bradley Wheal, 11. Safyaan Sharif

Eden Gardens Kolkata Pitch Report and Weather

A belter of a track with small boundaries will await both teams for this game. But since it’s a day game, there could be some turn and grip for the spinners.

Overall, the batters should dominate this game. Scores in the range of 160-180 are expected. Teams will opt to chase if they win the toss. 

The temperature will be around 25-26 degrees Celsius at the start of the game. It will be a sunny day with no chance of rain.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for WI vs SCO 2nd Match of T20 World Cup 2026: Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:  

  • Shai Hope was in decent form in the recently concluded SA20 2025/26, and he’s been the best batter for the Windies in white-ball cricket for the last 12-18 months. He will open the innings and can score big in this match. Hope will be a good captain choice.

Key batter picks: 

  • Shimron Hetmyer was in excellent form in the recent series against South Africa. He is in great touch at the moment and is attacking from the word go. Hetmyer’s hitting sixes for fun and will be a top C/VC option while batting first.
  • George Munsey is another batter who likes to take on the bowlers from the first ball. He’s one of the best batters for Scotland and will be a must in your fantasy teams.

Top all-rounder picks: 

  • Brendon McMullen is arguably Scotland’s most important player. He will bat at three and bowl his full quota. He scored 95 runs in the warmup game against Namibia. He’s a top C/VC option too. 
  • Jason Holder will bowl in the powerplay and then towards the end of the innings. He’s been in top batting form lately and will be a must pick in your fantasy teams. Holder will fetch points from both bat and ball. 
  • Romario Shepherd may not get enough opportunities to contribute with the bat, but he’s a key all-rounder for the West Indies. He’s a brute hitter and can change the course of the game on his own. Another good C/VC choice. 

Key bowler picks: 

  • Akeal Hosein may trouble Scotland’s top order with the new ball. He is a wicket-taker and can go through the Scottish lineup if he gets going. Akeal played well in the SA20 2025-26. 
  • Mark Watt can bowl in any phase of the innings, and he’s a capable batter. He opened the innings in the warmup game against Namibia and scored 33 runs. Watt will be a key bowler for his team, especially against the right-hand-heavy West Indies lineup. 

Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Team 

  • Sherfane Rutherford
  • Bradley Currie
  • Matthew Forde
  • Brandon King

Other Matchups and Facts 

  • Head-to-Head: Scotland 1, West Indies 0 (only one match between the two teams).
  • Chasing sides have won 6 of the 11 T20Is played at Kolkata in the last 5 years.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 2nd Match: WI vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Possible XIs, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Kolkata Pitch Report & Dream11 Prediction for the 2nd Match of the T20 World Cup 2026: WI vs SCO Today
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 2nd Match: WI vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Today

Option 2:

Screenshot from Dream11 app. Possible XIs, Fantasy Cricket Tips, Kolkata Pitch Report & Dream11 Prediction for the 2nd Match of the T20 World Cup 2026: WI vs SCO Today
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 2nd Match: WI vs SCO Dream11 Prediction Today

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 2nd Match: WI vs SCO Match Prediction: Who will win?

The West Indies will start as the favourites, but they’ll have to be on their toes considering Scotland defeated them in the ICC T20 World Cup 2022.

West Indies have better quality in their side compared to Scotland, but they’ll still need to perform on the field. 

West Indies to win.

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.

Sri Lanka asks Pakistan to consider its stance on not playing against India in T20 World Cup

Yash Mittal
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Sri Lanka asks Pakistan to consider its stance on not playing against India in T20 World Cup

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup gets underway on February 7, but there is no guarantee that Pakistan will play India in the marquee clash at the historic R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on February 15.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) initially threatened to boycott the biennial 20-team tournament as a mark of protest against Bangladesh’s removal from the competition. Later, the Pakistan government allowed the 2009 T20 World Cup champions to participate in the tournament but barred them from locking horns with their archrivals, India.

Sri Lanka Cricket write to Pakistan Cricket Board requesting they reconsider the boycott

As the deadlock continues, newswire.IK is reporting that Sri Lankan Cricket (SLC) has urged their Pakistani counterparts to reconsider their stance as the island nation faces financial ramifications in case the match is not played.

SLC President Shammi Silva highlighted the negative impact Pakistan’s boycott would have on the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup from a commercial and sporting dynamic standpoint. 

Should Pakistan not budge from its stance, Sri Lanka will face the immediate financial impact due to cancelled flights and hotel bookings. 

SLC secretary Bandula Dissanayake confirmed to The Indian Express that the board has indeed sent a letter to PCB, requesting it to consider its stance and highlighting what Sri Lankan cricket has done for Pakistan in their difficult times in the past.

The decision will hurt Sri Lanka’s tourism and its economy, Bandula highlighted.

“Yes, we have written a letter to the PCB. We tried to highlight things we have done for Pakistan cricket in their difficult times in the past. We expressed our concerns over their decision, as all the preparations have been done here for the match.

Sri a They are hurting Sri Lanka’s economy. It will hurt tourism here in the country. Our economy will take a hit because of this one decision,” he said, as quoted by Firstpost.

Sri Lankan cricket has notably played a key role in restoring international cricket in Pakistan over the last seven to eight years. The SLC famously refused to call off the tour of Pakistan this past winter, even as several members of the touring party refused to continue playing in the wake of a terror attack near the tourists’ hotel in Islamabad.

PAK vs NED Dream11 Prediction Possible 11 Pitch Report – T20 World Cup 2026 1st Match

Charbel Coorey
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PAK vs NED Dream11 Prediction Possible 11 Pitch Report – T20 World Cup 2026 1st Match

With much of the build up to the T20 World Cup dominated by off-field headlines, attention turns to the cricket as Pakistan and Netherlands kick off the tournament in Colombo.

As things stand, Pakistan’s boycott of their match against India means they have little room for error in Group A. However, they come into this World Cup with plenty of confidence after reaching last year’s Asia Cup Final and thumping Australia 3-0 last week.

Also, Pakistan’s spin attack can be a huge point of difference in Sri Lanka, while the attacking intent of their top order in particular can hold them in good stead. A strong start to the campaign will be just what they’re after.

The Netherlands, however, can never be taken lightly. They have a number of players who have World Cup experience and T20 know-how, so the Dutch will be hopeful of causing an upset and breaking Group A wide open.

Preparation is the key question for the Netherlands after their warm-up match against Australia was abandoned. Two days earlier, Logan van Beek’s 40* (31) and 3/22 was the standout against Zimbabwe, but a number of low scores in the top seven is something they need to avoid here.

2026 T20 World Cup 1st Match: PAK vs NED Possible Playing XIs

Pakistan: 1. Sahibzada Farhan, 2. Saim Ayub, 3. Salman Agha (c), 4. Babar Azam, 5. Khawaja Nafay/Usman Khan (wk), 6. Shadab Khan, 7. Mohammad Nawaz, 8. Faheem Ashraf, 9. Naseem Shah, 10. Shaheen Shah Afridi, 11. Abrar Ahmed

Netherlands: 1. Michael Levitt, 2. Max O’Dowd, 3. Bas de Leede, 4. Zach Lion-Cachet, 5. Colin Ackermann, 6. Scott Edwards (c & wk), 7. Noah Croes, 8. Roelof van der Merwe, 9. Logan van Beek, 10. Aryan Dutt, 11. Kyle Klein/Timm van der Gugten

Sinhalese Sports Club Ground Colombo Pitch Report and Weather

The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo has hosted just two T20Is, both way back in February 2010. Canada (176/3) beat Ireland (172/8) by four runs and Afghanistan (143/5) beat Canada (140/6) by five wickets.

The 2026 T20 World Cup warm-up match between Ireland and Pakistan was washed out on February 4.

In three women’s T20Is since 2023, pace bowlers took 10 wickets at an average of 20.3 and economy of 7.17. Spinners had more of a say, taking 22 wickets at an average of 24.73 and economy of 6.17.

The concern in Colombo is the weather. AccuWeather forecasts “cloudy conditions with a shower or two in the afternoon.” Given this match starts at 11:00am local time, there is hope of a full match before those showers begin.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for PAK vs NED 2026 T20 World Cup 1st Match: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicketkeeper picks:

  • Scott Edwards is likeliest to get an extended opportunity with the bat, especially if Netherlands bat first. Since the start of 2024, Edwards has scored 426 runs at an average of 28.4 and strike rate of 140.1 when batting first in all T20s. In the same period, he averages 18.9 with a strike rate of 118.3 batting second.

Key batter picks:

  • Agha Salman has looked outstanding at number three. He smashed 120 runs in the recent T20I series against Australia at a strike rate of 171.42. Since the start of 2025, Salman has struck 333 runs at number three in all T20s at an average of 37 and strike rate of 164.9.

Top allrounder picks:

  • All-rounders provide the most value for the Netherlands. Bas de Leede typically bats in the top three and contributes overs. Logan van Beek was excellent in the warm-up against Zimbabwe and is one of the Netherlands’ key bowlers.
  • Saim Ayub is a top captaincy choice in Dream11. He won man of the series in the recent series against Australia. He struck 119 runs at a strike rate of 170.00 and took three wickets.
  • Shadab Khan took 3/22 against Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup, and won the man of the match award. Shadab also showed excellent signs with bat and ball in the Australia series.

Key bowler picks:

  • Abrar Ahmed will test the Netherlands’ lineup with his variations. Consider him as a c/vc in Dream11. Since the start of 2025, Abrar has taken 54 T20 wickets at an average of 17.7 and economy of 6.72.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

  • Shaheen Shah Afridi hasn’t been in the best of form lately, but he bowls in the crunch overs which provides wicket-taking potential.
  • After Salman Agha, Babar Azam is the next-best fantasy option among batters. babar is a solid option especially if Pakistan bat first.
  • Aryan Dutt is a key cog in the Netherlands’ bowling attack. The offspinner went well in the warm-up against Zimbabwe, taking 1/22 off four overs.
  • Mohammad Nawaz took a five-wicket haul in Pakistan’s last T20I against Australia. He is picked in 53% of Dream11 teams at this stage so he can be a strong differential pick.
  • Roelof van der Merwe can be another good differential pick at 36.11% selection. His spin could be a key factor in these conditions.

Other Stats and Facts

  • Head-to-head: Matches 2, Pakistan 2, Netherlands 0.
  • Pakistan (95/4) beat Netherlands (91/9) by six wickets with 37 balls to spare in the 2022 T20 World Cup.
  • Max O’Dowd vs left-arm seam in T20s since 2022: 149 runs, avg. 37.2, SR 118.3.
  • Scott Edwards averages 19.2 with a strike rate of 120.6 against left-arm orthodox in T20Is. Mohammad Nawaz and Saim Ayub are good matchups for Pakistan. Edwards’ corresponding numbers against legspin are 30/134.3.

T20 World Cup 2026 1st Match: PAK vs NED Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Screenshot from Dream11 app. Possible XIs, Fantasy Cricket Tips, SSC Colombo Pitch Report & Dream11 Prediction for the 1st Match of the T20 World Cup 2026: PAK vs NED.
T20 World Cup 2026 1st Match: PAK vs NED Dream11 Prediction Today

Option 2:

Screenshot from Dream11 app. Possible XIs, Fantasy Cricket Tips, SSC Colombo Pitch Report & Dream11 Prediction for the 1st Match of the T20 World Cup 2026: PAK vs NED.
T20 World Cup 2026 1st Match: PAK vs NED Dream11 Prediction Today

T20 World Cup 2026 1st Match: PAK vs NED Match Prediction – Who will win?

Can the Netherlands pull off an upset? You never know, but Pakistan’s spin attack should be too strong. Pakistan to win.

Disclaimer: The fantasy cricket stats, tips and predictions provided on CricBlog are intended for informational purposes for Dream11 free contests in line with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. The stats and writer’s views are in place to guide fans in creating their teams. While we strive to offer accurate and insightful advice, CricBlog does not guarantee success or winnings in any fantasy contests. Users are encouraged to make their own informed decisions and play responsibly.

All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.

Josh Hazlewood ruled out of T20 World Cup as Australia injury concerns continue

Charbel Coorey
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0
Josh Hazlewood ruled out of T20 World Cup as Australia injury concerns continue

Australia’s concerns continue to grow with Josh Hazlewood ruled out of the T20 World Cup. Hazlewood missed the entire Ashes series due to hamstring and achilles injuries, and the latter has not healed in time even for an appearance later in the tournament.

Why is Josh Hazlewood out of the 2026 T20 World Cup?

Selector Tony Dodemaide, who was previously hopeful that Hazlewood would make it for the Super 8 stage should Australia qualify, said the pace bowler still has a lot of rehabilitation to go through.

“We were hopeful Josh would be back to match fitness by the Super Eights stage but the latest indications (are) he is still some time away. Trying to accelerate his program will carry too much of a risk,” he said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.

“We will not be naming a replacement player immediately. We feel we are well covered for the initial games so will make any later decisions based on priority need at the time.”

Hazlewood’s injury is another episode in Australia’s shaky build up to the tournament. Pat Cummins has also been ruled out due to his back injury, leaving Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis as the only two fit frontline pace bowlers currently in the squad.

Also, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis and Adam Zampa are all managing injury concerns. However, Zampa is declared fit for Australia’s opener against Ireland.

All of Australia’s Group games will be held in Sri Lanka. They take on Ireland (February 11) and Zimbabwe (February 13) in Colombo before heading to Pallekele to play Sri Lanka (February 16) and Oman (February 20).

Assuming all the seeded teams qualify for the Super Eight stage, Australia will be grouped alongside India, South Africa and West Indies. The top two teams will then progress to the semi-finals.

In Sri Lankan conditions, Australia can afford to go spin-heavy. In India, quality pace bowling will be vital, especially at the death. Sean Abbott, who is currently the travelling reserve, seems likeliest to join the main squad.

“RCB Heritage!” Twitter Reactions to RCB beating DC in the WPL 2026 Final

Charbel Coorey
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“RCB Heritage!” Twitter Reactions to RCB beating DC in the WPL 2026 Final

The good times continue for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), with their magnificent women’s team sealing their second Women’s Premier League (WPL) title. A Smriti Mandhana masterclass led the way as they achieved a magnificent run chase of 204 with two deliveries to spare against Delhi Capitals (DC).

The outstanding Mandhana slammed 87 off just 41 balls, combining with the talented Georgia Voll (79 off 54 balls) to break the back of the run chase with a 165-run stand off just 92 balls. By the time Voll was dismissed, RCB needed 30 off 21 deliveries with eight wickets still in hand.

DC managed to fight back and restrict RCB to 22 off the next 17 deliveries, leaving them with eight needed off the final four balls. Radha Yadav produced two magnificent shots over cover to seal the victory and spark huge celebrations.

Earlier, Lauren Bell produced a magnificent bowling display. The opening bowler went wicketless, but conceding just 19 from her four overs in a 200 vs. 200 match proved pivotal. Mandhana was full of praise for Bell, along with Voll.

“Of course, 200-plus in the final is definitely a good score. I thought that in the last four overs, we definitely bowled well and pulled it [back] a little better. Again, credit to Lauren Bell. I mean, 400 [runs scored] in a match and she goes for like four overs, 20-odd runs. That, for me, is a match-winning spell,” Mandhana said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“Volly led the way. She had almost all the strike in the powerplay, but her intent was really spot-on. And I remember telling the girls 10 or 15 days back that I have a feeling that Volly will get a match-winning knock in the final and [I’m] really happy, really happy for her.

“She’s been working extremely hard on her game. I saw her practicing extra in the last two-three days. So I’m happy that it came, it paid off for her.”

For DC, it is yet another case of wasn’t meant to be. Incredibly, this is now the fourth-straight final they have lost. They would have been feeling mighty positive at the innings break, but they had to make inroads into the RCB top order. They dismissed the dangerous Grace Harris early, but couldn’t land a punch for a long time afterwards.

DC will now need to pick themselves up for the next season. Captain Jemimah Rodrigues was extremely proud of her team.

“I think I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” she said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “It wasn’t easy for us, but the kind of character our girls showed for us to just make it to the finals is something I’m so proud of. And you know, I couldn’t ask for anything better.

“Hats off to the way we played as a team. I think we’ve been great. You know, if ever you wanted our team to fire and click, it was today. And I think we did that really well. There’s always, you know, ‘okay, we could have done this better, that better.’ But I think everyone fought hard, everyone gave their all, and sometimes that’s all that’s important.”

Reactions to WPL 2026 Final: RCB become first team to win WPL title twice

It is another great day in what has been an outstanding few years for RCB and their passionate fans. They have become the second team to win the WPL title twice, and first team to hold both the IPL and WPL titles at the same time.

“RCB were just too good throughout the tournament Feel for DC , 4 finals on the trot , that’s an amazing achievement in itself and they’ve found a long term leader in JEMI. But more importantly this is a win for WOMEN’S cricket. The standards have gone through the roof,” wrote Dinesh Karthik on X (formerly Twitter).

DC had contributions right down the order in their score of 203/4. Laura Wolvaardt’s 44 came at a strike rate of 176 – the best of DC’s top four. Chinelle Henry then finished the innings superbly, smashing an unbeaten 35 off 15 balls.

RCB, however, who finished top of the WPL 2026 table, showed their class en route to their second WPL title. They were outstanding throughout the tournament and thoroughly deserve their win.

Another wild day at the MCG: 17 wickets fall on day of Shield match between Victoria and Queensland

Charbel Coorey
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Another wild day at the MCG: 17 wickets fall on day of Shield match between Victoria and Queensland

There was another remarkable day of red-ball cricket at the MCG, this time in the Sheffield Shield as 17 wickets fell on day one of Victoria’s clash with Queensland. This has once again put the MCG pitch in the spotlight a little over a month after the Boxing Day Test finished inside two days.

Hosts Victoria finished 61/7 in reply to Queensland’s 149 on a pitch that offered assistance for the seam bowlers. They had remarkably fell to 11/5 although there were a couple of loose shots and very questionable umpiring decisions.

Michael Neser (3/9 off nine overs) and Tom Straker (2/24 off 11 overs) were the chief destroyers for Queensland after Sam Elliott (4/43), David Moody (3/24) and Fergus O’Neill (2/25) starred for Victoria.

This makes it 53 wickets in the last three days of First Class cricket at the iconic venue.

Peter Handscomb defends MCG pitch after 17 wickets fall on day one of Shield match

Victoria captain leapt to the defence of the MCG pitch and curator Matt Page. Handscomb, who came in at number four, remained unbeaten on 25 off 67 balls.

“I still think it’s a good wicket,” said Handscomb, as quoted by cricket.com.au.

“I back Pagey (Matt Page) in with what he’s done here over the last four or five years. I think the wicket has been really, really good.

“Even that Test wicket, I still think was a good wicket. I think we can maybe jump at shadows a little bit here and blame it all on the wicket. Generally, an MCG wicket when you (bat) on day one, if you score 200 runs, you’re happy.”

Michael Neser echoed similar thoughts. The Queensland opening bowler said the surface – which had 3mm less grass than the Boxing Day pitch – wasn’t doing too much.

“I don’t think it was doing as much,” said Neser. “The (Shield) wicket actually looks half decent but it did do a bit when we were out there. It’s tricky one. I think we’ll judge how it pans out tomorrow.

“It was obviously tricky (to bat on). It was doing a bit here and there. But then there were moments where you felt actually quite comfortable and you could score.”

Curator Page faced the media on what was meant to be day three of the fourth Ashes Test between Australia and England; a match that left fans very frustrated. The ICC gave the pitch an “unsatisfactory” rating.

Victoria will begin day two seeking to get as close as possible to Queensland’s first innings total. Peter Handscomb’s team currently sit top of the Sheffield Shield table with five wins in six matches. Queensland are second with two wins, two draws and two losses from their six games.

MS Dhoni confident of India’s chances at T20 World Cup but wary of two factors

Yash Mittal
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0
MS Dhoni confident of India’s chances at T20 World Cup but wary of two factors

Former Indian skipper MS Dhoni has described the Suryakumar Yadav-led Men in Blue as one of the “most dangerous teams” ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

The defending champions walk into the home World Cup far and away the best side in the world. India have lost just eightt matches and won 51 since October 2023. This includes an unbeaten World Cup campaign in the Caribbean and United States of America during the summer of 2024 and a spotless Asia Cup campaign last September.

MS Dhoni believes India have all bases covered for the T20 World Cup but must overcome two factors

Also, they are coming off series wins over Australia (2-1 in Australia), South Africa (3-1), and New Zealand (4-1). Speaking to Jatin Sapru at a recent event, MS Dhoni said that India boasts plenty of experience in all facets of the game to get the job done in front of their home fans in the coming six weeks.

“What all is needed in a good team, everything is there. They have the experience, especially when it comes to this format, the experience is vast. They have played under pressure. Whoever is playing whatever roles they are playing in the team, they have been in that situation for a considerable period of time,” Dhoni said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

But T20 remains a fickle format, and a combination of dew and an opposition player having a day out can send an otherwise strong team packing. Dhoni found that out when he captained India to a semi-final defeat against the West Indies in dewy conditions in Mumbai 10 years ago.

And these factors, according to the 2007 World Cup-winning captain, can spoil India’s part at the showpiece event.

“What worries me, again, I hate dew. Dew changes a lot of things. Even when I was playing, something that really scared me was dew, where the toss becomes crucial and all of that,” he said.

“If we are playing ten matches against some of the best teams, we will come out as winners more often than not, if the conditions are neutral and all of that. The problem is when some of your players have a day off, and somebody from the opposition has a brilliant day, and it can happen in T20 cricket.

“So that’s the time – whether in the league stage or the knockout stage, that’s where all the praying is needed. You know, nobody should get injured. Whatever roles are given, people should accomplish their roles for the team. And if that’s the case, I don’t want to jinx it, but it’s one of the most dangerous teams,” Dhoni said.

India are up against history, as neither a defending champion has been able to retain the title nor has a home team ever won a T20 World Cup. Will history repeat itself this March or will India script their own history? We’ll soon find out.

Nasser Hussain poses question of ICC in India-Pakistan-Bangladesh situation

Charbel Coorey
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0
Nasser Hussain poses question of ICC in India-Pakistan-Bangladesh situation

Nasser Hussain has asked a question of the International Cricket Council (ICC) after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

On January 4, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) wrote to the ICC requesting that their World Cup matches be played in Sri Lanka due to security concerns. However, the ICC rejected those requests, even offering an ultimatum on January 21.

“The decision was taken after considering all security assessments conducted, including independent reviews, all of which indicated there was no threat to Bangladesh players, media persons, officials and fans at any of the tournament venues in India,” the ICC said in a statement following a board meeting where members voted 14-2 in favour of keeping Bangladesh’s fixtures in India.

“The ICC Board noted that it was not feasible to make changes so close to the tournament and that altering the schedule under the circumstances, in the absence of any credible security threat, could set a precedent that would jeopardise the sanctity of future ICC events and undermine its neutrality as a global governing body.”

Nasser Hussain asks whether ICC would have shifted the tournament had India been in Bangladesh’s position

However, Hussain was not so convinced. The former England captain questions whether the ICC would have been as firm had it been India in Bangladesh’s position.

“In the future, if India, a month before a tournament, say their government didn’t want us to play in that country for a World Cup, would the ICC really be so firm, and said ‘you know the rules bad luck, we’re knocking you out’?,” he said on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.

“That is the only question. All sides ask for is consistency. You have to treat Bangladesh the same as you treat Pakistan the same as you treat India.

“Now India fans will say ‘cry more’, ‘we have the money’, but with power comes responsibility. If you are constantly knocking Bangladesh or Pakistan, their cricket diminishes and hence those great games we’ve seen in the past between India and Pakistan or India and Bangladesh become one-sided as they have done.”

Hussain also mentioned that Mustafizur Rahman’s removal from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ squad was the catalyst for this flow of events.

“You have to remember where this recent crisis started,” Hussain said. “[Mustafizur] Rahman is playing for Kolkata in the IPL, or he’s in the squad, and inexplicably, the BCCI say ‘no, we’re going to take him out of that squad’ because of the ongoing situation with Bangladesh and India.

“Everything after that one decision snowballed.”

Michael Atherton, however, believes it goes back to the 2025 Champions Trophy.

“Well actually, you need to go back further to the Champions Trophy because India not going to Pakistan who were the hosts, they then are given dispensation to play all their games in Dubai, which was a dispensation not given to other sides in the past who’d stepped away from international games,” Atherton said.

“Then when the Mustafizur thing happened and Bangladesh say ‘well our government say we can’t go to India’, they’re demanding the same kind of treatment, albeit this is on the eve of the tournament rather than months in advance.

“So you start from the Champions Trophy, you go through to the Mustafizur decision and then the decisions Bangladesh and Pakistan make… they’re not taken in isolation, there’s context to the whole thing.”

At the time of writing, Pakistan remain firm in their stance to boycott their group match against India on February 15.

You can watch or listen to the discussion below at the six-minute mark.

Brendon McCullum labels constant spotlight on Harry Brook nightclub incident “annoying”

Yash Mittal
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0
Brendon McCullum labels constant spotlight on Harry Brook nightclub incident “annoying”

England head coach Brendon McCullum has labelled the media’s trial of Harry Brook’s nightclub incident as “annoying.”

McCullum believes that the issue has been handled “pretty well,” and he sees no reason why the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) should release any more findings “every time something arises.”

Brendon McCullum calls on media to support Harry Brook and England players

“I don’t think we need to release all of those findings every time something arises to the media. Others will have their own opinions…The process was done internally at the ECB, which we were all a part of. The boys were under no uncertain terms of how we felt about it, but now our job is to support them,” McCullum said after England’s victory over Sri Lanka in the T20I series, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

“And, to be honest, I find it quite annoying that we keep going on and on about it, because these are young men who are under immense pressure and they’ve put their hand up for something they’ve been disciplined for, and piling onto them is not helpful for anyone.”

The incident in question dates back to England’s tour of New Zealand before the Ashes. White-ball captain Harry Brook was punched by a bouncer at a Wellington nightclub after being refused entry. The event happened on the eve of the third ODI and was first reported by The Telegraph after England’s 1-4 drubbing at the hands of Australia.

Brook initially said that he was alone that night but has since admitted that fast bowler Josh Tongue and top-order batter Jacob Bethell were there with him. McCullum said he wasn’t aware of Brook’s initial comment and that the English white-ball captain was trying to protect his teammates. The former New Zealand skipper also revealed that he was made aware of the incident when the third ODI in Wellington was in progress, adding that the players involved were “highly embarrassed.”

McCullum gives strong defence of Harry Brook

“Brooky obviously was trying to protect his other players when he made that comment, I wasn’t aware of that comment until I was told, because I don’t read the media personally. I think he was quite keen to put his hand up when the information came that it was going to land in the media. He was hopeful that it had been dealt with internally, as we all were.”

Brook’s intelligence has often been under spotlight due to his poor decision making on field. However, McCullum launched a strong defense of his captain, stating that he believes that the young dynamic batter has a “very good head on his shoulders.”

“He is a strong leader, he’s a young man, but he’s got a very good head on his shoulders, and I know people will say he’s not that clever. I couldn’t disagree with that more. He wears his intelligence lightly, and he’s a very strong leader, and he’s someone that they play for in their dressing-room as well, and our job is to just keep looking after him because he is still young.”

Brook now heads to India for his first big assignment as England’s white-ball captain. The two-time T20 World Champions are coming off a morale-boosting 3-0 series win over Sri Lanka and will now look to hit the ground running as they aim for a historic third title. 

For Brook, it will be a stern test both on and off the field. His individual performance, decision-making, and leadership skills will be tested. But there lies an opportunity to redeem himself after what has been a winter to forget for the Yorkshireman.

Ricky Ponting asked Delhi Capitals to keep Abhishek Sharma in 2018

Charbel Coorey
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Ricky Ponting asked Delhi Capitals to keep Abhishek Sharma in 2018

Ricky Ponting has revealed that he pleaded with Delhi Capitals (DC) to keep Abhishek Sharma in 2018. Ponting, coach of DC from 2018 to 2024, said he saw something “extra special” in the then 17-year-old.

“I was his first IPL coach,” Ponting said on the ICC review. “He debuted with me, I think as a 17-year-old at Delhi and made an immediate impact. I think he hit his first ball for four or six straight back over the bowler’s head with that classical sort of straight bat and held the pose.

“And you could just see then as a 17-year-old that there was something extra special.”

Ricky Ponting tried convincing Delhi Capitals not to trade Abhishek Sharma

DC traded Abhishek Sharma to Sunrisers Hyderabad. The youngster played a terrific knock of 46* off 19 balls on IPL debut, which caught attention.

“We ended up trading him away from Delhi, but I pleaded and pleaded and pleaded and said, please don’t do this,” Ponting said.

“We’ve got to [keep him], there’s an absolute superstar in the making here. And that’s what it’s turned out to be. I’ve got really high hopes for him this time.”

Ponting predicts Abhishek will have a huge 2026 T20 World Cup campaign. The opener is unarguably the premier T20 batsman in the world, and if he continues his magnificent run of form, India will be even harder to beat.

“[It’s] a real positive to be honest. He can be the leading run-scorer and potentially the Player of the Tournament. That’s how good I think he is,” Ponting said.

“And if he does, that makes India even harder to beat. If he doesn’t, then they’re as vulnerable as anybody else. So that’s how important I think he is to this World Cup for India.”

As of February 4 2026, Abhishek’s 1,297 T20I runs come at an eyewatering strike rate of 194.74.

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