New Zealand’s Nensi Patel, Izzy Sharp named in T20 World Cup squad

Off-spinning all-rounder Nensi Patel and batter Izzy Sharp are set to make their Women’s Twenty20 World Cup debuts after being named in the New Zealand squad for the tournament in England in June, the country’s cricket board announced on Wednesday.

Sophie Devine, Lea Tahuhu and Suzie Bates were also named in the defending champions’ squad with the trio set to call time on their international careers after the tournament. forestarrow.help

The 15-woman squad, led by Amelia Kerr, will defend the title they won in 2024.

BlogVignesh Puthur Shines in the 2026 Indian Premier LeagueVignesh Puthur: A Rising Star in the Indian Premier League Vignesh Puthur represents one of the most intriguing stories to emerge from the Indian Premier League in recent years.Open →

Before the tournament begins in England in June, the team will play a three-match T20I series against the hosts in late May as part of their World Cup build-up.

“It’s going to be an extra special time for Izzy and Nensi with it being their first World Cup," head coach Ben Sawyer said.

“To have our three most senior players all finishing their careers at the same tournament is a rare and special occasion. There’ll be a time at the end of the tournament to further acknowledge and celebrate the trio." New Zealand have been drawn in Group B alongside England, Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, and will open their campaign against the West Indies in the 12-team tournament on June 13.

The tournament runs from June 12 to July 5.

Squad

Amelie Kerr (C), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Lea Tahuhu. Reuters (Reporting by Suramy

New Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], April 29 (ANI): Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has scripted history in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 by becoming the fastest player to reach 400 runs (in terms of balls) in a single season, achieving the milestone in just 167 balls, according to ESPNcricinfo.

The 15-year-old sensation achieved this historic feat during his side’s clash against the table-toppers Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Tuesday night.

The record-breaking feat puts Sooryavanshi ahead of some of the most explosive batters in the tournament’s history. Former record-holder Andre Russell reached the landmark in 188 balls during the 2019 season.

India’s Abhishek Sharma follows in third place, having taken 195 balls in the 2024 edition, while Nicholas Pooran (197 balls in 2025) and Glenn Maxwell (200 balls in 2014) complete the top five.

In the ongoing IPL 2026, the left-handed batter became the first player to breach the 400-run mark. In nine matches, Sooryavanshi has smashed 400 runs at an outstanding average of 44.44 and an astounding strike rate of 238.09.

The 15-year-old has hammered two half-centuries and one century, which came against the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Jaipur.

Sooryavanshi’s remarkable consistency and aggressive approach have been key highlights of the ongoing season, with the young batter dominating bowling attacks and maintaining an exceptional strike rate.

Coming to the match, table-toppers Punjab suffered their first loss in the IPL 2026. Put to bat first, PBKS reached 222/4 courtesy half-centuries from Marcus Stoinis (62* in 22 balls, with four boundaries and six sixes) and Prabhsimran Singh (59 in 44 balls, with six fours and a six).

But during the chase, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (43 in 16 balls, with three fours and five sixes) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 in 27 balls, with seven fours and a six) started with a 51-run stand.

A fifth-wicket stand of 77 runs between Donovan Ferreira (52* in 26 balls, with six fours and three sixes) and Shubham Dubey (31* in 12 balls, with three fours and two sixes) sealed the win with four balls left.

PBKS stay at the top despite the loss, with 13 points after six wins, a no result and a loss. RR rise to third spot, with six wins and three losses, giving them 12 points. (ANI)

(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)

Despite being just 26, India’s ODI and Test skipper Shubman Gill has an extremely strong head on his broad shoulders. He has seen fame at a very young age, but has handled it with utmost ease. In an interview with GQ India magazine’s April-May edition, Gill reveals exactly how he does this.

“I’m overwhelmingly grateful for all the love and support I get from fans. I like to keep my personal circle very small, and within my circle, I’m not the most famous person. I have friends in that group who are more famous. They keep me in check, and humble,” Gill, who is currently captaining the Gujarat Titans in the IPL, told the magazine.

“I [also] love having my family around. During matches, their presence lightens the atmosphere, which I really appreciate,” added the swashbuckling batter.

The right-hander also emphasised that he prefers to focus on the controllables and this helps him deal with the extremely high pressure of expectations from a billion-plus nation. “It’s important to identify what is in your control, and what is not. As long as I’m focused on dealing with things in my control, it eases a lot of pressure. If I know I’m doing all the right things, working as hard as I can, and that my intent is right, I don’t think about anything else,” he added.

Whether a struggling Mumbai Indians (MI) will bounce back in IPL-19 or not is totally dependent on how they negotiate Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) in-form batters in tonight’s encounter at the Wankhede Stadium.

The Hardik Pandya-led MI have managed to win just two out of seven games while Pat Cummins’s Hyderabad outfit, who have won five out of eight matches so far, are enjoying the momentum at the halfway stage of the tournament.

Opener Abhishek Sharma (380 runs), Heinrich Klaasen (349) and Ishan Kishan (312) have already showcased their potential while SRH’s Sri Lankan pacer Eshan Malinga is their most successful bowler, claiming 14 scalps.

SRH assistant coach James Franklin has backed key batter Abhishek and his preparation for this next game. “He [Abhishek] likes to have conversations around the different bowlers that he’s going to be coming up against in the next game. So, he’ll be well aware of how they [MI bowlers] might come at him,” Franklin said during the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

The former NZ all-rounder in fact emphasised that the attacking batter is looking forward to the challenge posed by Jasprit Bumrah & Co. “Abhishek is very detailed with how he plans and prepares for oppositions. He’ll know what MI’s bowlers will try and present to him, particularly in the Powerplay,” added Franklin.

Meanwhile, MI’s batting worries persist as Suryakumar Yadav, who has scored 157 runs in seven games, continues to be their leading run-getter, while opener Rohit Sharma’s recovery from a hamstring injury is still a mystery.

It was carnage in the capital on Monday night. It started with the second ball of the first innings when 18-year-old Sahil Parakh, making his debut for Delhi Capitals, had his middle stump flying off, courtesy a swinging Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivery. What followed was a stupendous display of swing and pace bowling by Bhuvneshwar and Josh Hazlewood leaving DC shell shocked, reducing them to eight for six in just 3.5 overs. At the end of the six overs, DC were 13-6 — the lowest Powerplay score in IPL history.

Between the two pacers, Bhuvneshwar picked three for five in three overs while man of the match Hazlewood, took four for 12 in 3.3 overs, as DC were skittled for 75 (16.3 overs).

Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya

Hazlewood was a tad modest after his display. “There was a little bit there in the first six overs, which we maximised. There was a little bit up and down, maybe a bit of sideways [movement], so there was enough there to work with. The ball seemed to be skidding on quite quickly from short of a length in particular,” said the Aussie.

RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya was all praise for their pace pair. “It was unbelievable. Again, world-class bowlers. Seeing them operate from both ends, they bowled 18-18 balls in the Powerplay. In the league, we talk a lot about how batters are making 200-250 runs, sixes and fours are being hit everywhere, and suddenly a match comes where you see two world-class bowlers doing their thing, where the wicket was not that bad,” said Krunal.

RCB skipper Patidar also praised his pacers. “The way they hit those areas and got that bit of swing earlier, I think that was tremendous to see,” he said.

DC skipper Axar Patel was understandably distraught after suffering yet another big loss, following their six-wicket defeat to Punjab at the same venue two days ago, where the visitors comfortably chased down a massive 265-run target with seven balls to spare. “Honestly, two days ago the wicket looked similar, so our batters felt it would play the same. But today, with the wind and the day-night conditions, there was more swing,” said Axar.

13-6
DC’s score in the Powerplay — the lowest in IPL history

Three
No. of wickets claimed by Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood in the Powerplay — the first time two bowlers have taken three each in the first six overs of an innings

81
No. of balls remaining in RCB’s chase — the second highest in a successful IPL chase behind 87 balls in MI’s win over KKR in 2008