![Suryakumar Yadav and Ellyse Perry [Source: AFP, @WyrdWeaver8/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1772896152298_SuryakumarYadavandEllysePerry.jpg?type=hq)
Suryakumar Yadav and Ellyse Perry [Source: AFP, @WyrdWeaver8/x]
India and New Zealand captains Suryakumar Yadav and Mitchell Santner had a fiery pre-match exchange at the press conference. Ellyse Perry shattered a huge batting record for Australia Women. In other news, the Indian team management is considering to make a huge change in the playing XI for the T20 World Cup 2026 final.
Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Saturday, March 7.
Mitchell Santner fires warning shot at India ahead of final
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has vowed to silence the crowd at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium in the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final against India. Channeling his inner Pat Cummins a day before the final during the pre-match press conference, the all-rounder backed his team to upstage hosts and defending champions, and lift their first-ever T20 World Cup title in the process.
New Zealand recently qualified for the final by blanking South Africa in a lop-sided semifinal earlier this week in Kolkata at the Eden Gardens.
Gautam Gambhir considering to drop Chakaravarthy for final
According to recent reports, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir is considering to drop underperforming leg-spinner Varun Chakaravarthy from the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 final against New Zealand. The report also indicates that the Indian team management is considering to bring senior spinner Kuldeep Yadav back into the playing XI for the big match in Ahmedabad on March 8.
Chakaravarthy has picked up just four wickets in India’s last four matches of the tournament, and is averaging an expensive 46.5. In the semifinal against England, the spinner leaked 64 runs from his four overs with just one wicket to show for.
Matthew Short injures himself, will join CSK for IPL 2026
Australia cricketer Matthew Short sustained an injury just a few weeks prior to the launch of the IPL 2026 season. However, the overseas star will still be expected to join the CSK franchise in the coming days for the tournament.
Short was acquired by the CSK franchise back during the IPL 2026 auction last December for a sum of ₹1.5 crore. As per reports, he is still recovering from his thumb fracture and will soon be taking flight for India.
Ellyse Perry leads Australian command with record knock
Overnight Australia batter Ellyse Perry reached her half-century early on Day 2 and went on to compose 76 runs from 116 balls against India Women in Perth. Batting at number three, the legendary all-rounder smeared 10 boundaries and a six as Australia Women mounted 323 to attain a huge 125-run first innings lead over the visitors.
Perry’s innings also helped her become Australia’s leading run-getter in Women’s Test cricket, surpassing former batter Karen Rolton (1,002 runs) for the all-time national record. The 35-year-old is currently sitting on a pile of 1,006 runs from 24 innings at an average of 59.17.
Suryakumar Yadav hypes up T20 World Cup 2026 final
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav also had his say at the press conference a day before the 2026 T20 World Cup final. Responding to New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner’s claims of ‘silencing the Ahmedabad crowd’, the senior India batter trolled the all-rounder and implied that he is merely trying to imitate Australian skipper Pat Cummins.
Suryakumar also signified the occasion, and claimed that he is very excited for the match even though he is feeling a bit nervous.
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