Australia's title bid will be tested by injuries and Asian conditions at the T20 World Cup.
Mumbai Indians, struggling in the current IPL season, will face Lucknow Super Giants, hoping for key players like Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav to perform well. Both teams are grappling with batting failures, impacting their chances of reaching the playoffs.
Pakistan steamrollered Australia by 111 runs in the final Twenty20 International to complete a 3-0 series sweep on Sunday, signalling their preparedness for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup.
Abhishek Sharma continues to lead the IPL 2026 MVPI table, highlighting a worrying trend where batters overwhelmingly dominate the top positions and only one bowler features in the top 20. Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2026 after Game 54.
Australia have tried and tested five openers in the format since David Warner had his last dance after last year's Caribbean World Cup. Marsh remained tight-lipped about the appearance of the rest of the batting unit but confirmed there were discussions about Tim David's place.
Kolkata Knight Riders edged Lucknow Super Giants in a tense Super Over finish in Lucknow on Sunday, surviving a major batting collapse before holding their nerve in the decider to snatch a dramatic win in a clash between two struggling sides.
Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer has compared the Ekana pitch to the Perth track, admitting that the home team has been unable to adapt to the pace and bounce on offer. LSG have lost all three matches at home.
Steve Smith becomes the most expensive player in Pakistan Super League history after being signed by Sialkot Stallions for PKR 14 crore.
Sameer Rizvi's unbeaten 70 powers Delhi Capitals to a remarkable comeback win over LSG after early collapse, sealing the chase with a 119-run stand with Tristan Stubbs.
Pakistan grabbed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Twenty20 series against Australia after skipper Salman Agha led by example to secure their comprehensive 90-run victory in the second match in Lahore on Saturday.
Saim Ayub produced a brilliant all-round display to power Pakistan to a 22-run victory against a largely second-string Australia in the first Twenty20 international between the teams in Lahore on Thursday.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2026 after Game 38.
The duo also scored half-centuries in the opening game against Delhi Capitals and shared the highest stand (for second wicket) in both games.
A versatile and dynamic Australian unit, without key pacer Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who is likely to miss the early stages of the tournament, will be going into the T20 World Cup with hopes of going deep in the tournament.
Sooryavanshi fastest to reach 1,000 T20 run mark in terms of balls; rewrites records with 2nd IPL ton in the IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday.
Lucknow Super Giants wasted a strong bowling effort as a batting collapse handed them a 40-run defeat against Rajasthan Royals.
Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2026 after Game 29.
Mitchell Marsh will captain Australia from a distance when they take on West Indies in the first of three Twenty20 internationals on Friday.
Marsh, cracked up the audience, including the great Allan Border, at the Australian Cricket Awards 2025 on Sunday night in Melbourne, with a hilarious anecdote.
Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer believes Rishabh Pant will excel as captain in IPL 2026 if he plays with joy.
Mitch Owen has been rewarded for his fine form in his first five Twenty20 internationals by being named in both of Australia's squads for short-format series against South Africa in the far north of the country next month.
On Friday, in the second T20I against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Suryakumar Yadav lost yet another toss as Mitchell Marsh called correctly and opted to bowl first.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins' chances of playing at next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka are "quite grey at the moment" as he battles a back stress issue that has affected his participation in the ongoing Ashes series against England.
Lucknow Super Giants defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets in an Indian Premier League match here on Thursday. Opting to bowl, LSG restricted KKR to 181 for four.
Nicholas Pooran led the charge, dishing out a taste of SRH's own medicine with his ferocious hitting, while Mitchell Marsh provided perfect support.
Australia host the next T20 World Cup in 2028 but will be eyeing a bigger prize a few months before that when cricket is reintroduced to the Olympics in LA.
The all-rounder could feature in only four games this season for DC, scoring 61 runs in three innings and getting a wicket. His highest score was 23.
Marsh saw the funny side of Afghanistan all-rounder Gulbadin Naib's theatrical complaining of cramps
Mitchell Marsh says he is ready to bowl in the Super Eight phase of the T20 World Cup after a gradual recovery from a hamstring strain.
'With ETPL, we hope we can bring the magic of cricket euphoria to mainland Europe.'
The Aussie all-rounder scored a blazing 117 off 64 balls. Not only was his innings decorated with 10 fours and 8 sixes, his two massive partnerships put LSG in the driver's seat.
Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis, Glenn Maxwell and hTim David will also be rested from the three-match T20I series against Pakistan, starting on January 29.
'Australia skipper Marsh not ready to bowl for start of World Cup'
Formidable India have their tails up as they head to the gargantuan MCG for the second T20I against Australia here on Friday, thanks to the influx of young talent and the return to form of skipper Suryakumar Yadav.
Marsh's fitness has been a major concern for the hosts in the lead up to the pink ball Test, starting Friday.
Suryakumar Yadav-led India ready for Aussie challenge as T20 World Cup preparation begins.
I don't want to feel any pressure about not bowling a certain ball because it's first ball: Ellis
Australia began their T20 World Cup campaign with a thumping 67-run victory over Ireland, in Colombo, on Wednesday.
Despite the heavy defeat, Australia are unlikely to make wholesale changes to their playing eleven and have retained the same squad for the Adelaide fixture.
Australia Test captain Pat Cummins expects greater workload with the ball for all-rounders Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh against India
