📢MLC 2026: Match 1, TEX vs SEA Match Prediction – Who will win today’s MLC match between Texas Super Kings vs Seattle Orcas?

Texas super kings vs seattle orcas (Source : texassuperkings on IG/mlcseattleorcas on IG)

Texas Super Kings (TEX) take on Seattle Orcas (SEA) in match No. 1 of the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Friday, June 19.

Faf du Plessis-led Texas Super Kings finished second on the points table last season, only behind Washington Freedom. They won seven out of their 10 league matches. In the Challenger, they lost to eventual champions MI New York. The Super Kings would want to go the distance this season, and they have the team to do so.

Meanwhile, Seattle Orcas have made wholesale changes to their side after finishing fifth last year. They only managed to win three matches and lost seven. Only the Los Angeles Knight Riders finished below them in the standings. Marcus Stoinis will look to lead the Orcas from the front this year. He will be facing up against his former team on Friday.

TEX vs SEA: Match Details

Match

Texas Super Kings vs Seattle Orcas, Match 1 , Major League Cricket 2026

Date and Time (IST)

Friday, June 19, 6:00 AM (IST)

Venue

Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas

Broadcast and Live Streaming

JioStar Network Channels and JioHotstar (App & Website)

Grand Prairie Stadium, Dallas: Pitch Report

The Grand Prairie Stadium is generally a great venue for batters. While the new ball can swing around for a few overs, once the shine is gone and the pitch settles down, batters can play aggressive shots even on the up. Chasing is the preferred option for captains at this venue. Nine out of the 15 games hosted by the venue last season in the MLC were won by chasing teams.

TEX vs SEA: Head-to-Head T20 Record

Matches Played

5

Won By TEX

3

Won By SEA

2

No Result

0

First Meeting

July 22, 2023

Most Recent Meeting

July 6, 2025

TEX vs SEA: Predicted Playing XIs

Texas Super Kings:

Faf du Plessis, Smit Patel (WK), Rilee Rossouw, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Shubham Ranjane, Donovan Ferreira, Milind Kumar, Calvin Savage, Akeal Hosein, Nandre Burger, Adam Milne.

Seattle Orcas:

Shayan Jahangir, Tim Seifert (WK), Matthew Breetzke, Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis (C), Harmeet Singh, Shehan Jayasuriya, Cameron Gannon, Adam Milne, Jasdeep Singh, Lungi Ngidi.

TEX vs SEA: Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Faf du Plessis

Faf du Plessis had a brilliant campaign last year in the MLC. The former South African captain finished as the second-highest run-getter, only behind USA captain Monank Patel. Du Plessis slammed 468 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 170.18. He will enjoy batting in Dallas as the ball comes onto the bat nicely. The veteran will look to get his team off to a fiery start.

Probable Best Bowler: Lungi Ngidi

Lungi Ngidi has vastly improved his T20 credentials in recent times, adding a deceptive slower delivery to his repertoire, which flummoxed many batters during the T20 World Cup and the IPL this year. The South African speedster will be one of the bowlers to keep an eye on in this tournament. If he is in form, he can make a difference for the Orcas.

Today's Match Prediction : Chasing team to win the match

📢APL 2026: Match 16, SVL vs ROR Match Prediction – Who will win today’s APL match between Simhadri Vizag Lions vs Royals of Rayalaseema?

Simhadri Vizag Lions vs Royals of Rayalaseema (Source : simhadri.vizag.lions on IG/royalsofrayalaseema on IG)

Simhadri Vizag Lions take on the Royals of Rayalaseema in Match No. 16 of the Andhra Premier League 2026 on June 19 at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.

This is the Lions' sixth game of the season. They have played four matches, having won one and lost three. They will be looking to pick up a win against the Roytals to get their season back on track.

This is the Royals' fourth game of the season. They recorded their first win of the season in their previous match against the Kakinada Kings, where they chased down a total of 212.

SVL vs ROR: Match Details

Match

Simhadri Vizag Lions vs Royals of Raayalseema, Match 16 , Andhra Premier League 2026

Date and Time (IST)

Friday, June 19, 2026, 6:30 PM (IST)

Venue

ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam

Broadcast and Live Streaming

JioStar Network Channels and JioHotstar (App & Website)

ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam: Pitch Report

The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam is one of the batting-friendly venues in the country. The red-soil wicket is flat, and the ball comes onto the bat quite nicely. The proximity to the sea means dew can play a significant role in the evening games. Bowlers can get lateral movement due to the sea breeze, and spinners can get grip off the surface. Multiple games of the season have seen games with totals over 200 chased and defended successfully.

SVL vs ROR: Head-to-Head Record

Matches Played

01

Won By SVL

00

Won By ROR

00

No Result

01

Only Fixture

August 15, 2025

SVL vs ROR: Predicted Playing XIs

Simhadri Vizag Lions:

M Hemanth Reddy (c), Bendalam Satvik, Bailapudi Yeswanth, Chennupati Raviteja, Challarapu Siva, Revanth Reddy (wk), Mycherla Dheeraj Kumar, Mopada Ravikiran, Bhupathiraju Munish Varma, Satyanarayana Raju, Thota Sravan

Royals of Rayalseema:

Kodavandla Sudharsan, Yadla Girish Vasu, Garimella Teja, Vamsi Krishna M (wk), Dhruva Kumar Reddy (c), Karthik Raman, Cherukuri Surya, GG Pardha Sardhi, Ganesh Sathivada, Sandeep Ch, Y Teja Reddy

SVL vs ROR: Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Vamsi Krishna M

Wicketkeeper-batter M Vamsi Krishna has been the highest run-scorer for the Royals in the 2026 season. He has scored 119 runs in 3 matches at a strike rate of 180.3. He scored an unbeaten 107 off just 59 balls in the first game against the Bhimavaram Bulls, and will be looking to add more runs to his record.

Probable Best Bowler: Pardha Saradhi GG

Paradha Saradhi GG has been the best bowler for the Royals, picking up six wickets in the three matches they have played, with best figures of 3 for 37 against the Bhimavaram Bulls, and has been in the wickets in all three games.

Today's Match Prediction : Chasing team to win the match

APL 2026: Match 16, SVL vs ROR Match Prediction – Who will win today’s APL match between Simhadri Vizag Lions vs Royals of Rayalaseema?
Simhadri Vizag Lions take on the Royals of Rayalaseema in Match No. 16 of the Andhra Premier League 2026 on June 19 at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.

📢'I'm sure he'll be playing for at least four years' - RCB CEO Rajesh Menon sheds light on Virat Kohli's IPL future

Virat Kohli (Photo Source: IPL)

Virat Kohli is the only player to have spent 19 seasons in one franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has become synonymous with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and his loyalty and commitment to the franchise almost seem like an anomaly in the modern era of professionalism.

Kohli had to wait 18 years before he could add the coveted IPL title to his decorated trophy cabinet. However, he won the Player of the Match award in this year's IPL final and helped RCB become only the third team after the Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to defend the title.

The legendary batter and former India captain is 37 years old now. He has already retired from Tests and T20Is and only plays ODI cricket for India. His target is the 2027 ODI World Cup, but how long will he continue as a player in the IPL? This is one question that keeps coming up every year. However, according to RCB CEO Rajesh Menon, fans could be able to witness Kohli's greatness in the cash-rich league for at least four years.

"RCB and Virat are different sides of the same coin. He's been the constant factor for RCB throughout. We've not seem him not being part of RCB even if he moves out of his cricketing career. We've to figure out that. That said, next three-to-four years, I'm sure he'll be playing for at least four years," Menon told CNBC TV18.

Kohli hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. His fitness is right up there with some of the greatest athletes in the world. He has reinvented himself as a T20 batter in the last couple of seasons. The right-handed batter has played the aggressive role inside the power play, even when he has batted with the destructive Phil Salt. In IPL 2026, he amassed 675 runs in 16 matches at an average of 56.25 and a strike rate of 165.85, his best in a particular season of the league.

'I'm sure he'll be playing for at least four years' - RCB CEO Rajesh Menon sheds light on Virat Kohli's IPL future
Virat Kohli is the only player to have spent 19 seasons in one franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

‘He’s got his visa already’ - Sunil Gavaskar backs Ishan Kishan for 2027 World Cup
Ishan Kishan scored 125 in 79 balls against Afghanistan in the second ODI.

📢‘He’s got his visa already’ - Sunil Gavaskar backs Ishan Kishan for 2027 World Cup

‘He’s got his visa already’ - Sunil Gavaskar backs Ishan Kishan for 2027 World Cup (Photo Source: BCCI)

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has thrown his support behind Ishan Kishan as a strong contender for India’s squad at the 2027 ODI World Cup, describing him as a complete player who has become increasingly difficult to ignore.

Gavaskar’s praise comes after Kishan produced a stunning innings of 125 runs from just 79 balls, registering his second ODI century. The knock marked a significant milestone in his comeback, arriving nearly four years after his memorable maiden ODI double century.

The left-handed batter’s return to form has strengthened his standing among the selectors, earning him a place in India’s upcoming ODI squad for the Afghanistan series ahead of rivals Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant.

Speaking after Kishan’s match-winning performance, Gavaskar suggested that the 27-year-old has already made a compelling case for inclusion in India’s plans for the next World Cup cycle, stating that his all-round abilities make him one of the most valuable options in the limited-overs setup.

"I think he's got his visa already. Somebody else has to really play out of their skin to keep Ishan Kishan out of the team. He's such a big contributor in the T20 format and he's batting so well,” said Gavaskar as quoted by India Today.

Gavaskar highlighted the significant improvement in Kishan’s technique over the last 18 months, noting that the flaws that once affected his batting have largely been eliminated. According to the former India captain, Kishan has worked hard on his game, becoming a more complete and reliable batter while retaining the aggressive stroke play that makes him such a dangerous limited-overs player.

"Look at that shot Graham [Swann] was talking about, the lofted extra-cover drive. He's got a very good defence as well. Anything short, he's quick to go on to the back foot and pull it away for sixes. He's just a complete player now, and he's become a complete player over the last year and a half. Earlier, you thought maybe around the off stump he was a little vulnerable. He didn't quite have that lofted extra-cover drive. That's what he's got now, and it's so hard to keep him quiet,” said Gavaskar.

Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: ‘We’ve shown we can compete’ - Ireland coach Lloyd Tennant finds positives despite England defeat
Ireland Women will take on New Zealand Women on June 19.

IND vs AFG 2026: Harshit Rana makes surprise comeback to ODI squad ahead of Chennai clash
He underwent his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru

📢IND vs AFG 2026: Harshit Rana makes surprise comeback to ODI squad ahead of Chennai clash

Harshit Rana.(Photo by Ayush Kumar/Getty Images)

Ace pacer Harshit Rana has fully recovered from his hamstring injury and has now joined the Indian squad ahead of the third and final ODI of the ongoing series against Afghanistan. Rana had torn his hamstring during a warm-up match of the T20 World Cup 2026 and had to continue being away from the main event as well as the subsequent IPL season for the Kolkata Knight Riders.

He underwent and successfully completed his rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, where he had spent a lot of time with the Sports & Science as well as the Medical team to get fitness clearance before taking part in high-level cricket once again. The BCCI confirmed the development via a press release on Friday.

Now that Rana is back, he is expected to walk right in to the playing XI for the third ODI, with Prince Yadav likely to sit out. Rana's incoming can also be sought as a replacement for the injured Hardik Pandya , for whom the BCCI had not named a replacement. It is understood that the board was waiting for Rana's comeback to add him to the squad ahead of naming a replacement.

The third and final ODI of the series is slated to be played at the historic venue of the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai, on Saturday, June 20. The game is a dead rubber for the Indian team , as they already have a 2-0 lead in the three-match assignment. However, with Rana back to the squad, the Men in Blue will look to assert dominance over the Afghans by completing a whitewash.

India's updated ODI squad for 3rd ODI vs AFG

Shubman Gill (Captain), Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain), KL Rahul (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar, Harsh Dubey, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Harshit Rana

Women's T20 World Cup 2026: SCO W vs WI W Today's Match Highlights: Unmissable video recap, POTM, match analysis, stats and more
The last-over thriller went in favour of the Caribbeans.

📢Women's T20 World Cup 2026: SCO W vs WI W Today's Match Highlights: Unmissable video recap, POTM, match analysis, stats and more

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How did Match 12 of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 go between Scotland Women and West Indies Women?

A last-over thriller was witnessed by cricket fans on Thursday, June 18, as the West Indies Women clinched a dramatic seven-run win over Scotland Women in Match 12 of the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.

Playing at the iconic venue of Headingley in Leeds, Scotland bowled first after winning the toss and dominated right away. Against the might of the Windies side, the Scots conceded only 33 runs and also accounted for the fall of Qiana Joseph in the powerplay. Skipper Hayley Matthews tried to hang in but fell cheaply after a 22-ball 14. However, Shemaine Campbell upped the ante with a 26-ball 36, batting at four.

Scotland had to eventually chase down 154, for which they had an exceptional start, putting up a 51-run opening stand in just five overs. The next thirteen balls, though, resulted in four wickets, as the Caribbeans pulled things back in their favour. Alisa Lister tried to play a rescue act with her 33 off 25, but it wasn't enough as the Scottish side was bundled out for 146 on the last ball of the innings.

Best Batting Performance of the Match: Stafanie Taylor

While the majority part of the Windies innings had runs being scored at a sluggish rate, the arrival of Stafanie Taylor at the crease saw a shift in the flow of boundaries. With four boundaries and three huge sixes in a perfect rescue act, Taylor not only made a quickfire 47* off just 19 balls but also took her team to a respectable total, which proved to be the difference at the end.

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Best Bowling Performance of the Match: Hayley Matthews

While the things started getting out of hands for the West Indies, skipper Matthews brought herself into the attack at the right moment and gave the side their first breakthrough during the defence. She took two further scalps during her exceptional four-over spell, giving away only 19 runs. Her victims of the evening were Katherine Fraser (20 off 11), Kathryn Bryce (0 off 2), and Megan McColl (1 off 2).

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Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved?

299 runs were scored in total in the match; This is the highest match aggregate for WT20Is involving Scotland and West Indies

Who won the Player of the Match?

For scoring runs at a blazing fast pace on an evening where boundaries were hard to come by, Stafanie Taylor truly stood out and was handed the Player of the Match award, as the West Indies also got their second consecutive win of their Women's T20 World Cup campaign.

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When is the next match?

As the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 moves forward, the next encounter will see Ireland Women and New Zealand Women fight it out in Match 13 at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. The West Indies will be playing their next game against Sri Lanka on June 21, while Scotland have their challenge scheduled against England for June 20.

Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Injured Shreyanka Patil gets replaced by Prema Rawat in Indian squad
The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup has approved the replacement.

📢Women's T20 World Cup 2026: Injured Shreyanka Patil gets replaced by Prema Rawat in Indian squad

Shreyanka Patil (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

Bowler Shreyanka Patil sustained an ankle injury while fielding during India's ICC Women's T20 World Cup match against the Netherlands on June 17, 2026, and has been ruled out of the tournament.

The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup has approved her replacement. Accordingly, the Women's Selection Committee has named leg spinner Prema Rawat in India's squad for the remainder of the World Cup.

Prema, who has been a part of India A Women, picked up eight wickets in five matches during India's victorious campaign in the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament. She was also the joint-leading wicket-taker on India A's tour of Australia last year, claiming seven wickets in three matches.

India's updated squad for the ongoing World Cup:

Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Nandni Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Radha Yadav, Prema Rawat.

Following Prema's inclusion in the national squad, the Women's Selection Committee has made the following additions to the India A squads for the upcoming series against England A:

Niki Prasad has been added to the India A T20 squad.

Minnu Mani has been added to the India A One-Day squad.

Updated India A squad for T20s against England A:

Anushka Sharma (C), Vrinda Dinesh (VC), G Kamalini (WK), Uma Chetry, Vaishnavi Sharma , Purvaja Verlekar, Jintimani Kalita, Saima Thakor, Simran Bahadur, Shweta Sehrawat, Deeya Yadav, Minnu Mani, Shabnam Shakil, Tanuja Kanwer, Niki Prasad

Updated India A squad for One-Days against England A:

Harleen Deol (C), Pratika Rawal (VC), Priya Punia, Tanisha Singh, G Kamalini (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Tejal Hasabnis, Niki Prasad, Tanuja Kanwer, Vaishnavi Sharma, Shabnam Shakil, Sayali Satghare, Jintimani Kalita, Saima Thakor, Minnu Mani

(Inputs: BCCI)

📢IND vs AFG 2026: 3rd ODI Match Preview

IND vs AFG 2026: 3rd ODI Match Preview (Source: BCCI)

The stage is set for the final encounter of the tour, as Afghanistan (AFG) will be hosted by India (IND) for one last time during the third ODI of the series on Saturday, June 20 , in a contest which will be played at the historic venue M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai .

India have already gained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and will now be looking to complete a clean sweep against their neighbours. The Men in Blue have shown clinical performances in both the matches thus far to show how strong a team they are. They have also welcomed the addition of Harshit Rana into the squad, and the pacer is expected to walk right in to the playing XI in Chennai.

Afghanistan , on the other hand, have had their set of positives in both the matches played so far. However, the only problem is that they have not been able to compile them into winning performances. With a point to prove in the last dance of the Indian tour, the Hashmatullah Shahidi-led side will be looking to register a consolation win on Saturday.

IND vs AFG: Match Details

Match

India vs Afghanistan, 3rd ODI , Afghanistan Tour of India, 2026

Date and Time (IST)

Saturday, June 20, 1:30 PM

Venue

M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Broadcast and Live Streaming

JioStar Network Channels and JioHotstar (App & Website)

M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai: Pitch Report

One of the most iconic landmarks in the country for the game of cricket, the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, located in Chennai, is set to host its first ODI match after its recent renovation. The venue held the reputation of being a bat-first surface, but in the five most recent encounters played here, the teams chasing have emerged victorious, indicating a shift in the nature of the wickets.

While spinners are expected to dominate at Chepauk, there will most likely be a batting-friendly track dished out for the series finale.

IND vs AFG: Head-to-Head ODI Record

Matches Played

06

IND Won

05

AFG Won

00

Tied / No Results

01

First-ever Fixture

March 05, 2014 (IND Won)

Most Recent Fixture

June 17, 2026 (IND Won)

IND vs AFG: Probable Playing XIs

India

Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma , Ishan Kishan (WK), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Harshit Rana, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediq Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Azmat Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar, Ziaur Rahman, Mohammad Saleem

IND vs AFG 2026: 3rd ODI Match Preview
Harshit Rana has been added to India's squad for this encounter. He is expected to walk right into the playing XI.

‘The reason I didn't kill myself’ - Sreesanth makes stunning revelation about spot-fixing ordeal
Sreesanth remains one of the few Indian cricketers to have been part of two World Cup-winning squads.

📢‘The reason I didn't kill myself’ - Sreesanth makes stunning revelation about spot-fixing ordeal

‘The reason I didn't kill myself’ - Sreesanth makes stunning revelation about spot-fixing ordeal. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Former India pacer S Sreesanth has opened up about one of the darkest phases of his life, revealing how the unwavering support of his wife, Bhuvneshwari Devi, helped him survive his time in jail during the 2013 IPL spot-fixing controversy.

Sreesanth remains one of the few Indian cricketers to have been part of two World Cup-winning squads, featuring in India's victorious campaigns at the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup and the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. However, despite his achievements on the field, his career took a dramatic turn when he was arrested in connection with the alleged IPL spot-fixing case in 2013.

The former Rajasthan Royals pacer spent nearly a month in Tihar Jail alongside fellow cricketers Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan. Although he was acquitted of all charges in 2015, the episode remains one of the most challenging periods of his life.

Speaking in an interview, Sreesanth reflected on how his relationship with Bhuvneshwari evolved over the years before they eventually got married. He revealed that they first met in 2007 and remained in touch throughout the years leading up to his arrest.

"First meeting was in the school where I had gone as a guest, second meeting the very next day on the ground, third meeting after three years poolside with uncle, fourth meeting in Indore, fifth meeting we got engaged when I was out on bail," Sreesanth said while in conversation with Lallantop.

The 42-year-old also spoke candidly about the emotional toll of the controversy and credited Bhuvneshwari for helping him stay strong during that difficult period.

"When I was there, one of the main reasons I didn't kill myself is her. I had promised her in 2010 that if we won the 2011 World Cup, I will marry her. I met her when she was in 10th grade in 2007, and we were in touch till 2013. She is the main reason I got bail," he continued.

Sreesanth further revealed that Bhuvneshwari played an active role in coordinating with lawyers and supporting him throughout the legal proceedings. He also praised her family, saying they stood firmly by his side at a time when public perception had turned heavily against him.

The Kerala-born cricketer admitted that his stint in police custody and later in Tihar Jail changed his perspective on life. According to him, the experience made him mentally stronger and gave him a deeper understanding of the hardships faced by undertrial prisoners.

"Those 12 days in Delhi Police cell and 27 days in Tihar jail made me realise that the problems we face in normal life are nothing. I used to hear that years pass on for a trial. That incident made me strong. At that time I was thinking about my mother and father, about the niece and nephew. I didn't let them go to school back then," Sreesanth said.

Sreesanth represented India in 27 Tests, 53 ODIs and 10 T20Is during his international career, claiming 169 wickets across formats. While his cricketing achievements remain significant, his latest revelations shed light on the personal battles he fought away from the game and the role his family played in helping him overcome them.

Retired Indian wicketkeeper KS Bharat gets selected in UAE local squad
Bharat might soon be seen playing cricket for the United Arab Emirates.

📢Retired Indian wicketkeeper KS Bharat gets selected in UAE local squad

Retired Indian wicketkeeper KS Bharat gets selected in UAE local squad (Source: K S Bharat/Instagram)

Indian wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat may soon be seen donning the United Arab Emirates (UAE) jersey. Bharat, who recently made headlines for taking a retirement from international cricket on June 04, has now been picked for the training camp of the UAE side. While the selection has been evident, the opportunity to play for the UAE will require him to wait for at least February 2027.

According to the ICC ruling, moving on from a full-member nation to an associate nation requires a player to have at least three years of cooling-off period. Since Bharat played his last international match for India against England in February 2024, there is some time before the cricketer can represent the UAE in internationals, according to a report by Sportstak.

Bharat's international career has been marred with warming the bench. However, he could not prove his worth while he was in the playing XI. Playing seven Tests for India, Bharat scored only 221 runs at an underwhelming average of 20.09, which does not include a single half-century. He mostly featured for the side in the absence of regular wicketkeepers like Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan before being discarded.

The most notable match of Bharat's career was when he played for the Rohit Sharma -led side in the World Test Championship final in 2023 against Australia at the Kennington Oval and could not do much to help India's cause as Pat Cummins' team lifted the crown. He was once again picked for the five-match series at home against England, and the Test at Vizag, his home ground, became Bharat's last red-ball appearance.

If a UAE call-up eventually materialises, Bharat will become the first cricketer in the 21st century and fourth overall to play international cricket for two countries. Before him, Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Amir Elahi, and Gul Mohammad have played for two countries, with all of them having represented both India and Pakistan in international cricket.

India vs Afghanistan Match Prediction, 3rd ODI – Who will win today’s match between IND vs AFG?
It rained in Chennai two days prior to the game, but bright sunshine was on offer a day ahead of the series finale.