The T20 World Cup 2026 is underway. Suryakumar Yadav and Romario Shepherd were the main men in focus on the opening day. The ICC has written to the PCB regarding the whole boycott matter. A KKR fast bowler will undergo surgery soon. BCCI has rewarded Ayush Mhatre’s team. And which players have been promoted and demoted in BCCI’s central contracts?
India win sans Bumrah
India has commenced their T20 World Cup with a win. Despite Jasprit Bumrah being unavailable for selection, the Men in Blue were able to beat the USA by 29 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. But the victory wasn’t exactly straightforward. Had Suryakumar Yadav not saved India from 77/6 by scoring 84 (49), the USA might have caused an upset.
PCB vs ICC & SLC
PCB is in a tough spot. The ICC has questioned their decision to boycott the India vs Pakistan match, asking why they are skipping just one match and not the others. The SLC, which has historically supported the PCB, is also miffed since they are expected to suffer major financial losses if the game doesn’t go ahead.
BCCI central contracts
BCCI has reported finalised central contracts for 2026-27 season. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be demoted from the A+ category to B. Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja are in the highest category, A. Washington Sundar has been promoted from Grade C to B. Sai Sudharsan has received a Grade C contract. Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar, Sarfaraz Khan, and Rajat Patidar’s contracts haven’t been renewed.
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Harshit Rana out of IPL 2026?
Harshit Rana will undergo surgery after injuring his knee during the India vs South Africa warm-up match on February 4. The tall pacer had delivered just one over before he hobbled off the field at the DY Patil Stadium. Harshit could very well miss the initial matches or the entire IPL 2026, which will be a huge concern for KKR.
RCB all-rounder takes hat-trick
Romario Shepherd has become just the 9th bowler and first West Indian to take a hat-trick in the T20 World Cup. The all-rounder bagged a 5-wicket haul against Scotland in Kolkata, which included a hat-trick in the 17th over of the second innings. Romario’s efforts saw Windies win by 35 runs.
BCCI rewards players
India’s men’s under-19 cricket team has been granted a cash prize of INR 7.50 crore by the BCCI after they won the Under-19 ODI World Cup. The ICC doesn’t have allocated prize money for the development tournament, but the BCCI has decided their performance is worth a monetary reward.
