Entering most ICC events, especially T20 World Cups, as pre-tournament favourites, India could not break free from that prison of expectations on a number of occasions despite being armed with star power and depth.
India bowling coach Morne Morkel backs Wankhede and Motera curators amid pitch debate, says preparing 200-plus surfaces late in season is challenging.
Zimbabwe assistant coach Dion Ebrahim said his side has ticked all the right boxes in preparation and is comfortable being labelled the underdogs ahead of their Super 8s clash against India, adding that the key would be to not get overwhelmed by the occasion.
South Africa romped to an eight-wicket win over Pakistan on the fourth day of the second Test on Thursday, claiming victory before lunch to level the two-match series.
The 2026 World Cup will kick off-on June 11 with joint-hosts Mexico playing South Africa at the Azteca Stadium - iconic venue of the 1970 and 1986 finals - followed by South Korea against a play-off winner after the complex draw was made on Friday.
Hockey India dropped Manpreet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak from FIH Pro League probables over disciplinary issues during India's South Africa tour.
Pakistan secured a 93-run victory over South Africa on the fourth day of the first Test, taking the eight wickets needed on Wednesday to go 1-0 up in the two-match series in Lahore.
Pakistan secured a 93-run victory over South Africa on the fourth day of the first Test, taking the eight wickets needed on Wednesday to go 1-0 up in the two-match series in Lahore.
South African bowler Lungi Ngidi attributes his T20 bowling evolution to his time in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he honed his slower ball variations.
Opener Saim Ayub scored a quickfire 71 from 38 balls and seamer Faheem Ashraf took 4/23 as Pakistan cruised to a nine-wicket win over South Africa in the second T20I.
Azmatullah Omarzai delivered a match-winning all-round performance, taking four wickets and scoring an unbeaten 40, to lead Afghanistan to a five-wicket victory over UAE in the T20 World Cup.
A look at some of the major controversies in past World Cups.
Abhishek, Hardik help India pulverise Zimbabwe by 72 runs; stay in semis race
Pakistan cricketers may be overlooked by IPL-linked franchises in The Hundred auction, a report claims, raising fresh questions over fairness and politics in global T20 leagues.
India clarified its absence from a South Africa-initiated naval wargame, stating it was not an institutional BRICS activity. The exercise involved navies from China, Russia, Iran, and others, amid rising tensions in Iran.
Quinton de Kock advises his South African teammates to rely on their strengths and instincts when facing Indian spinner Varun Chakravarthy in their upcoming T20 match, acknowledging Chakravarthy's skill and the pressure of the game.
India face The Netherlands in their final T20 World Cup league match in batting-friendly conditions at the Narendra Modi stadium?
Six different teams have lifted the trophy over the years, with the West Indies, England and reigning champions India the only nations to have won it twice.
Abhishek Sharma has proved to be unstoppable with the bat for India in T20 Internationals, hitting 1297 runs in 33 matches at a strike rate of 194.74.
Namibia pulled off a shock four-wicket win over South Africa in a one-off Twenty20 international on Saturday that marked the opening of the new cricket stadium in Windhoek.
Harry Brook ton leads England to nervy win over Pakistan and T20 World Cup semifinals.
Adani group on Tuesday announced a $100 billion investment to develop hyperscale, artificial intelligence (AI)-ready data centres powered by renewable energy by 2035. The initiative is expected to catalyse an extra $150 billion in investment across server manufacturing, electrical infrastructure, Cloud platforms, and supporting industries over the next decade.
The two four-day games will be held at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru from October 30 to November 9.
Tilak Varma says he is ready to play a cautious, anchoring role alongside Suryakumar Yadav in the T20 World Cup if the situation demands, and confirms Jasprit Bumrah's fitness for the upcoming match against Namibia.
Wolvaardt, Tazmin fire South Africa to 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka in truncated game
India T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav said a short break after the South Africa series last year and a conscious change in his batting approach helped him rediscover his touch.
Will rising tensions between US-Israel and Iran threaten crude oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz, putting India's fuel prices, imports, and economic stability at risk?
The India vs Pakistan match in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 on JioHotstar achieved record-breaking digital reach and consumption, surpassing previous records for ICC events.
On paper, Pakistan are no match for South Africa even though Fatima Sana's team did win an ODI in the bilateral series that served as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup.
Skoda India is focusing on cleaner fuel options, including CNG and EVs, while compact SUV Kylaq drives volumes, expands first-time buyers and strengthens the brand in India's competitive market
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia dismissed reports of a rift between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir, saying the duo share a cordial relationship.
West Indies head coach Daren Sammy believes Zimbabwe's unexpected success in the T20 World Cup was driven by the motivation of being underestimated and grouped with higher-ranked teams.
Babar Azam, playing his first T20 international since December last year, perished for a duck as Pakistan suffered a 55-run thrashing against South Africa, in the first T20 International.
Former India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey praises India's dominant run in the ongoing T20 World Cup, highlighting squad depth and the importance of peaking at the right time.
'The atmosphere he has created in the team -- he has tried to infuse a culture of playing for the team and not focusing on personal milestones.'
Sri Lanka suffered a big blow as their star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a hamstring injury suffered in the opening match against Ireland.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha expressed confidence in his team's spinners after their victory over Namibia in the T20 World Cup, highlighting Sahibzada Farhan's century and Usman Tariq's bowling.
England's Jos Buttler expresses frustration with his T20 World Cup form but remains committed to aggressive batting. Despite achieving milestones, he seeks to convert starts into significant contributions.
Former India hockey captain Manpreet Singh on Friday said he had sought some time away from the sport to rest and spend time with family, dismissing speculation that he was dropped on disciplinary grounds.
Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan welcomes the expansion of the T20 World Cup, highlighting the opportunities it creates for players from more countries to showcase their talent.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances