How can Australia seal Super 8 spot after shock Sri Lanka defeat?
India Today
T20 World Cup 2026: Australia's Super 8 hopes hang by a thread after Sri Lanka's win, with Mitchell Marsh admitting they now need "the luck of the Irish" to stay alive.
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh admitted his side will be hoping for a favour from Ireland after Sri Lanka’s dominant win left their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign hanging in the balance.
SL vs AUS: Full Scorecard | Highlights
Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten 100 powered Sri Lanka into the Super 8s with an eight-wicket win in Pallekele, while Australia’s qualification prospects now depend on other results. If Zimbabwe defeat Ireland, Australia could be knocked out in the group stage for the first time since 2009.
Marsh conceded that the situation is now out of their hands.
“I dare say we’ll all be watching it,” he said at the post-match press conference regarding the Zimbabwe-Ireland clash. “The luck of the Irish. Right now it’s out of my control, it’s out of our control, so we’ll wait and see.”
Australia began strongly against Sri Lanka. Marsh, returning from a groin injury, and Travis Head added 104 runs in just 51 deliveries. Head smashed 56 off 29 balls with three sixes and seven boundaries before falling at long-off.
Anil Kumble believes Kolkata Knight Riders weakened their own title-winning core by releasing Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt after their 2024 triumph. The former India captain criticised the franchise's inconsistent retention strategy.
Rohit Sharma believes India's recent success in ICC tournaments could be the start of a strong phase for the national teams. The India captain praised both men's and women's teams and hopes the winning run continues.
Suryakumar Yadav revealed how a phone call and a little faith helped Ishan Kishan stage a sensational comeback, earning him a spot in India's Men's T20 World Cup squad. Kishan capitalised on the opportunity, scoring 317 runs in nine matches.
Indian cricketer Kuldeep Yadav married his childhood friend, Vanshika Singh, on March 14 in a grand ceremony held in Mussoorie. The celebrations were even more special for Kuldeep, coming shortly after India's T20 World Cup 2026 triumph.
AIFF deputy secretary general M Satyanarayan says the federation replaced the Indian women's team's ill-fitting AFC Women's Asian Cup kits within seven hours, but the effort went unrecognised.
Pakistan national selector Aaqib Javed believes that the country and the country's cricket board need to move on from scapegoating culture to move forward in international cricket.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave in New Delhi, Abhishek Sharma revealed how his father and family helped him overcome a difficult T20 World Cup campaign, during which he battled poor form before scoring a match-winning 18-ball fifty in the final against New Zealand.
Kevin Pietersen has stepped down as Delhi Capitals mentor ahead of IPL 2026, saying he could not commit the time required, though he confirmed he will return to the commentary box during the tournament.
The PCB has denied reports that Pakistan players were fined PKR 5 million each for their T20 World Cup exit, with spokesperson Amir Mir clarifying that no penalties have been imposed, though the board is considering a performance-based accountability formula.
Salman Ali Agha has been given a reprimand and a demerit point following his outburst after the controversial run out during the second ODI against Bangladesh on Friday, March 13.
On this day on March 14, 2001, India overcame a massive first-innings deficit to script a remarkable 171-run victory against Australia in the 2001 Kolkata Test, powered by the record-breaking partnership of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman and a dominant display by Harbhajan Singh on the final day.
Rahul Dravid, Roger Binny and Mithali Raj headline the BCCI Naman Awards 2026 in New Delhi, as Indian cricket celebrates its legends and a historic run of ICC trophy wins.