Aiden Markram is set to make his return to international cricket in South Africa’s second ODI against Australia at the Wanderers on Sunday, September 27. The Proteas hold a 1-0 series lead after winning the first ODI in Durban by 67 runs last Thursday. The match forms part of Pink Day, raising awareness for breast cancer.

Markram’s absence from international cricket stretches back to South Africa’s T20 World Cup semifinal loss to New Zealand in Kolkata in March. He has not played a cricket match since returning from The Hundred in early August, having stepped away due to personal reasons. During his preparation for the comeback, Markram trained with provincial union Titans and spent hours in the nets at Tshwane University.

Markram acknowledged that match practice offers preparation unlike any other form of training. He recognised the significance of his extended absence from competitive cricket and how that reality would shape his approach to the contest.

“You’ll have to spend a bit of time out there. It might feel a bit ‘French’ at the start, but hopefully if I get through that initial period, I can get a bit of a flow from there.” Markram was quoted as saying by Times Live.

“There is no prep like match practice. I realise I’ve not played a cricket match in some time. One is excited, but it’s also about respecting that that is the case, which will affect my approach tomorrow,” Markram said.

Markram’s record against Australia provides encouragement for his return. In ODI cricket, he averages 38.15 across 14 matches against Australia, slightly better than his overall ODI average of 37.09. In Test cricket, Markram averages over 60 against Australia, having scored three of his eight Test centuries against them.

Markram views the Australian team as a worthy opponent that brings out the best in both sides. He emphasised the competitive intensity that characterises matches between the two nations and the value of testing himself against such opposition.

“Australians are similar to us in terms of character and presence, both teams like to feel as if they are in a battle, to feel the heat, the competition … it brings out the best in both teams. It makes for a pretty good spectacle to watch and from a player’s point of view a very exciting game and series to be a part of,” Markram said.

The challenge of facing Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins remains Australia’s official ODI captain, though he did not feature in the first ODI in Durban. If Cummins plays at the Wanderers, it would be just his third ODI since the 2023 World Cup final. Markram acknowledged the sustained threat posed by the Australian pace attack, particularly Cummins, whose intensity rarely diminishes throughout a match.

“He never goes away. Sometimes you feel with bowlers that as you spend a bit of time at the crease, the third or fourth spell, especially in Test cricket, they might start to labour, but with Pat it always feels the same. There is skill behind that character … there’s a lot of energy on the ball and he bashes away at a good spot and if there is anything in the wicket he will certainly find it,” Markram said.

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Markram recognised that playing against Australia offers a valuable opportunity to assess his form and readiness after his extended break from international cricket. He noted that the ODI series could provide confidence for players who would transition to the Test format later in the tour.

“For the guys who will carry over to the Test format, there might be confidence to take,” the 31-year-old mentioned.

BCCI has finalised a title sponsorship arrangement with Muthoot Fincorp for Indian cricket’s next two home seasons, with the agreement running through March 31, 2028. The deal is structured at a base price of INR 4.85 crore per match and spans approximately 35 home internationals across the two-season window.

Branded as ‘Blue Muthoot’, the sponsorship covers a schedule of 10 Tests, 12 ODIs and 13 T20Is. The first assignment under the new arrangement is the ODI series against West Indies, which gets underway on September 27, 2026, in Thiruvananthapuram. Alongside the title deal, SBI Life, Campa and ChatGPT have been confirmed as Associate Partners for the same two-season period through March 2028.

The BCCI confirmed the development on Saturday, September 26, on the eve of the first ODI between India and the West Indies, through a media advisory in the evening.

How did the BCCI arrive at this deal?

The route to this agreement was not straightforward. BCCI had floated a tender for the title sponsorship rights with a submission deadline of August 13, but no bids were received by that date. The board then moved to direct negotiations with Muthoot Fincorp, a process that ultimately produced the current arrangement.

The outgoing title sponsor, IDFC First Bank, had held the rights at INR 4.2 crore per match. At the reported base price of INR 4.85 crore per match, the new deal represents a step up from that figure. However, reports from Storyboard18 indicate the final concluded price may be lower than the base price, and no official figure has been confirmed by BCCI.

What is the estimated total value of the Muthoot Fincorp sponsorship?

Applying the base price of INR 4.85 crore across the full slate of approximately 35 home internationals produces a headline figure in the region of INR 150 crore to INR 171 crore for the two-season period. However, different portals have suggested different figures, and speculation might go on until a confirmation comes from the BCCI.

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The two-season schedule through March 31, 2028 gives Muthoot Fincorp prominent visibility across all three formats of the game on Indian soil, with the West Indies ODI series in late September 2026 serving as the immediate launchpad for the partnership.

Canada’s professional T20 franchise tournament, NCL GT20 Canada, will relocate to the the West Indies for its 2026 season. The tournament is scheduled to take place in St. Vincent and the Grenadines during the October-November window, marking a significant shift from its traditional Canadian base. The move represents a one-year partnership between the league and the West Indies cricket community, with the tournament set to return to Canada in 2027.

NCL GT20 Canada brings together leading international, Canadian and emerging cricket talent in a competitive franchise format. The 2026 Caribbean edition has been arranged in collaboration with Cricket West Indies, which will take an ownership stake in the league and acquire a franchise within the competition. This partnership underscores the growing connection between Canadian and West Indian cricket development.

“NCL GT20 is fundamentally a Canadian tournament, and the Caribbean provides a special home for our 2026 edition. This is about much more than taking a tournament to another country for one season. It is about building a bridge between Canadian and West Indies cricket, connecting players, administrators, fans and commercial partners. We thank Cricket West Indies for their support in delivering this tournament in the Caribbean. When NCL GT20 returns to Canada next year, we want to bring those relationships with us and create a lasting pathway between the Caribbean and Canada,” Arvinder Khosa, President of Cricket Canada, said in a press release from Cricket West Indies.

Why the Caribbean for 2026?

Working collaboratively with Cricket Canada and Cricket West Indies (CWI), the 2026 tournament will bring together Canadian, Caribbean and international talent on one platform. It provides an opportunity to strengthen player pathways between Canada and the Caribbean while building relationships that can continue when the tournament returns to Canada next year.

“NCL GT20 Canada, together with the deep cricketing tradition of the West Indies, creates an exciting opportunity for collaboration. Hosting the 2026 tournament in the Caribbean before its return to Canada next year marks the beginning of a partnership that can facilitate the continued development of Canadian cricket while showcasing our region as one of the great cricketing regions of world cricket,” Chris Dehring, Chief Executive Officer of Cricket West Indies, said.

“As the only full member of the ICC in the hemisphere, we believe it is important to forge mutually beneficial relationships with ICC Associate Members across the region, for the health of the game and, indeed, for the continued development of West Indies cricket,” he added.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines welcomes the tournament

Under the collaborative framework, CWI will play an important role in governance, compliance, and regulatory coordination and will also hold a direct franchise investment.

“We welcome the opportunity to host the NCL GT20 League in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Bringing world-class sporting events to our shores is a major part of my mandate, and I am delighted that we can respond favourably to the request to host this historic event in the Caribbean. We look forward to working with the NCL GT20 and all stakeholders to deliver an outstanding event and a memorable experience for players, fans and visitors alike,” Hon. Kaschaka Cupid, Minister of Youth, Sports, Culture and Creative Industries for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, said.

Further details on the tournament schedule and participating teams are expected to be announced in due course. The 2026 edition will serve as a bridge year before NCL GT20 Canada resumes operations in its home country in 2027.