Out of the blue, he appeared - dressed to the nines in a sports coat, with a splendid red handkerchief perfectly positioned, and his signature black hair absolutely slicked back. Jay Shah, the topmost cricket authority globally, was moving like a ruler through the puny crowd in Windhoek, where the fans ceremonially opened the way for him to pass, just to gather in a few seconds for taking pictures together. Well, it is certainly not each and every day the ICC chairman pays a visit to Namibia.

Shah inspects 2027 World Cup plans and visits Namibia’s new international venue

Shah was in the capital of Namibia to evaluate the arrangements made for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, which Namibia will be the third co-organizer along with South Africa and Zimbabwe. His visit also attracted the delegation of high-ranking officials from the Africa Cricket Association, who gathered in Windhoek for talks that revolved around infrastructure, development pathways, and Africa's expanding role in the global game.

Moreover, during his visit, Shah was present at an ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 match held at the Namibia Cricket Ground, which is the country's new international venue. He was quite impressed with ground’s picturesque location and potential while watching the young players on the field and also mentioned ICC’s plan of raising the venue’s capacity by 5,000 from the current 5,000 to about 10,000 through temporary infrastructure in preparation for the 2027 World Cup.

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Watch the video:

@JayShah visited Namibia this week to catch #U19WorldCup future stars in action at Cricket Namibia's NCG venue.

The ICC Chairman also met with Africa Cricket Association leaders, with the growth of the sport in the region high on the agenda. pic.twitter.com/pCiSyl6QSr

— ICC (@ICC) January 22, 2026

Windhoek visit highlights Namibia’s rise on the world cricket stage

Communicating via X platform, Shah called the day a fruitful one, and he specifically mentioned the meetings with the African cricket officials and the thrill of seeing the game’s future stars in the new Namibian facility. His presence was an indication of the ICC’'s major objective to reinforce the sport in the new areas of the world.

The visit coincided with a critical phase in Namibian cricket's history. The South African national team was recently shocked by a last-ball defeat in a T20I match at Windhoek, which was the first-ever victory of Namibia over an ICC full member and a milestone in the progress of the country.

Shah’s stop at Windhoek was brief, and that was why it had such a strong impact; it was an indication of Africa's growing importance in world cricket, with Namibia asserting itself as a responsible global host.

Team India arrived at Vadodara International Cricket Stadium to begin training for the first ODI against New Zealand; however, he would not attend training because senior opener Rohit Sharma would not be in attendance. His absence immediately became a topic of conversation with fans and supporters closely following the preparation stage for what is expected to be a critical ODI series for Team India.

Rohit was last seen at the ‘United By Triumph’ event hosted by Reliance Foundation in Mumbai, where he celebrated India’s WCC captains. At this event, Rohit shared the limelight along with Harmanpreet Kaur, and Indian Blind Women’s Team Captain Deepika TC, a demonstration of a celebration of the many accomplishments through leadership and success in multiple formats and categories of all those who have accomplished much representing Indian Elite Cricketers on the World Stage now faces additional challenges in developing the next crop of elite performers while facing international exposure.

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Photos released by BCCI show many of the Indian players training hard in the nets, including captain Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Washington Sundar, and Head Coach Gautam Gambhir. Along with Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant were not present for the session. Both players participated in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, playing for Saurashtra and Delhi respectively; this was probably the reason they were absent from the first practice.

Photos issued by BCCI

New year, fresh start 💪

📸 Glimpses from #TeamIndia's first training session in Vadodara ahead of the #INDvNZ ODIs 👌@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/itTwA5fKDF

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 9, 2026

Our captain is sitting here: Jay Shah

An endearing moment during the Mumbai event has also become a sensation, with Jay Shah being one of many that called Rohit Sharma "India's captain" on stage with Nita Ambani, even though the veteran has since given up that role. This was said as a comment regarding India's World Cup wins in men's cricket and brought a smile to Rohit's face. In terms of cricket, the upcoming ODI Series vs. New Zealand will be India's first international series of 2026, starting on 11 January at the BCA Stadium in Kotambi.

"Our captain is sitting here. I will call him captain only, as he has led the team to two ICC trophies. During the 2023 World Cup, after winning ten successive matches, we could only win hearts but could not lift the trophy," Shah said while speaking at the United in Triumph event.

At a recent public event, Indian batter Rohit Sharma attracted attention when he responded positively to a statement by ICC Chairman Jay Shah, referring to him as captain of India, even though Rohit is not currently in that position. The moment was recorded on video, with Rohit smiling at the comment, leading to conversations among fans. The video highlights that Rohit commands respect in Indian cricket, despite no longer being in a leadership role.

Rohit was replaced by Shubman Gill as India’s ODI captain in anticipation of the Australia tour in October 2025 as the selectors transitioned their focus toward long-term planning for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Rohit, who is now 38 years old, will only play as a specialist 50-over batter, as he has already retired from both Test and T20I cricket. While he is no longer captain, he is still influential within the team given his leadership experience and composure.

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Jay Shah addressed Rohit Sharma as the captain of India during the ‘United in Triumph’ event. Jay stated that leadership does not come from a title, but comes from accomplishments made as a leader. He credited Rohit for leading India to two historic Titles with the ICC and reinforced that he was a driving force behind India’s success on the world stage. Jay’s comments reminded everyone that Rohit has had a great legacy in Indian cricket and will continue to be remembered as a leader.

Watch the video;

Jay Shah 🗣️: “our captain Rohit Sharma is sitting here. I am still calling you captain because under you, we won two ICC trophies”.

Jay Shah is grateful to Rohit Sharma for ending the drought of ICC trophies for India 🥹🇮🇳pic.twitter.com/7xjVZdjkwQ

— Kusha Sharma  (@Kushacritic) January 8, 2026

Our captain is sitting here: Jay Shah

Jay went back to explain that India disappointment at the 2023 ODI was also a decisive win because they dominated the tournament, but missed the mark in the final. However, he highlighted how Rohit led India by fulfilling promised to win the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. Rohit was appointed India’s full-time ODI Captain in December 2021. He has a record of winning 42 of 56 matches. He was also a runner up at the 2023 ODI World Cup, and he is India’s most successful T20I captain ever.

“Our captain is sitting here. I will call him captain only, as he has led the team to two ICC trophies. During the 2023 World Cup, after winning ten successive matches, we could only win hearts but couldn’t lift the trophy. In February 2024, I had said in Rajkot that in the next World Cup, we will win both hearts and the cup,” Shah said at the United in Triumph event.

The former Indian captain and current opening batter, Rohit Sharma, was visibly elected after the former BCCI secretary and the current ICC chairman, Jay Shah, called him the Indian captain during a recent event on Reliance Foundation, as the video has gone viral on social media.

Shah’s comment came despite Rohit being replaced by Shubman Gill as India’s ODI captain ahead of the Australia tour in October 2025, as the Nagpur bond decided to retire from the longest format in June 2025, having already taken the same decision from T20Is, having won the T20 World Cup 2024.

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“Our captain is sitting here. I will call him captain only, as he has led the team to two ICC trophies. During the 2023 World Cup, after winning ten successive matches, we could only win hearts but could not lift the trophy. Our captain is sitting here. I will call him captain only, as he has led the team to two ICC trophies.” Shah expressed in the function as the video goes viral.

Jay Shah calls Rohit Sharma Indian captain in viral video

Despite the change, Rohit has enjoyed a successful stint as captain, leading India in consecutive titles in the ICC T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy 2025, having finished as the runners-up of the ODI World Cup at home in 2023, where they won all the clashes, including the semifinal against New Zealand.

Watch the video here: 

Jay Shah Said - “Our Captain Rohit Sharma is sitting here. I am still calling you captain because under you, we won two ICC trophies”. ❤️🥹🫂 pic.twitter.com/7hOrlpiSuf

— Dr Mamta Jaipal  (@ImMD45) January 8, 2026

“During the 2023 World Cup, after winning ten successive matches, we could only win hearts but could not lift the trophy.” Shah shed light on Rohit Sharma, who made a special body transformation to keep an eye on the upcoming ODI World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Since the Australia tour, Rohit has celebrated three half-centuries and one century in the last six innings. His unbeaten century came at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) while he looked in sublime touch in the two half-centuries against South Africa in Ranchi and Vizag. He hopes to start 2026 in the same fashion against New Zealand. 

On Sunday, the chairman of the ICC, Mr. Jay Shah, laid down an ambitious plan for Indian athletics by encouraging Indian athletes to both plan to host a future Olympic Games in the year 2036 and Mr. Shah made this statement while addressing an audience during an event held in Surat and credited the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, for achieving the goal of hosting the Olympic Games after bringing the Commonwealth Games to India in 2030.

In reference to the 2024 Olympic Games, Mr. Shah stated that the eight medals won by Indian athletes are encouraging to see, as it demonstrates how Indian athletes can win medals at the Olympic Games. However, there are not enough medals won by Indian athletes, and from this, Mr. Shah stated that Indian athletes should target a minimum of 100 medals if the country is to successfully host the Olympic Games in the year 2036. Mr. Shah is confident that the state's capabilities of achieving a total of 10 medals will only be through Gujarat's cooperation.

The chairman of the ICC has also reinforced the importance of long-term commitments, building a robust sports infrastructure, and developing grassroots support to support the sporting vision. By bringing together Indian athletes to compete on a global scale, Mr. Shah believes that it will inspire future generations to pursue sport and support a sustainable sporting ecosystem throughout the nation.

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🚨 Jay Shah sets the bar high: CWG 2030 to India, Olympics 2036 next. Says 8 medals won’t cut it, target is 100 medals, with 10 from Gujarat alone👏

Remember, he predicted the 2024 T20 WC and it happened. Vision or prophecy? Time will answer 🔥
pic.twitter.com/8okWfNhdPs

— The Analyzer (News Updates🗞️) (@Indian_Analyzer) January 4, 2026

Jay Shah Looks Back On India's Success In Recent Cricketing History

Jay Shah, as he reflects on India, discussed their progress in competitive international cricket. He was disappointed about how well they performed during the 2023 ODI World Cup but ultimately did not win. But privately he predicted there would be a turnaround for the team in 2024.

His prediction came true when India won the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 and subsequently the Champions Trophy. Jay believes that these recent successes show that Indian sports are going in a positive direction and that we have great confidence in our ability to continue setting high expectations for ourselves over the next several years.

The International Cricket Council has announced Hyundai Motor Company as a Premier Partner for ICC events from 2026 to 2027. This multi-year deal marks Hyundai’s return to top-level ICC sponsorship ahead of a busy international schedule that includes the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.

The partnership was officially revealed at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The announcement was made in the presence of ICC Chairman Jay Shah, ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta, and Hyundai Motor India Managing Director and CEO-designate Tarun Garg.

With this deal, Hyundai becomes one of only four Premier Partners under the ICC’s highest commercial category. This completes the Premier Partner lineup just months before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka starting February 7. Recently, the ICC has also added global brands like AB InBev, Sobha Realty, Unilever, and Google to its partnership portfolio.

Hyundai Secures Global Rights Across ICC Events

As a Premier Partner, Hyundai will enjoy exclusive worldwide rights across the ICC’s full international events calendar. This includes both men’s and women’s tournaments, along with high-visibility matchday moments such as the coin toss, strong in-stadium branding, and premium fan engagement opportunities.

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Hyundai will also work closely with the ICC on new fan-focused initiatives. These include venue activations, interactive fan zones, vehicle displays, and digital campaigns designed to improve the overall matchday experience for cricket fans around the world. This partnership covers the major cricket tournaments spread across different formats and various regions of the world, thus putting Hyundai in the spotlight in front of more than two billion fans worldwide. According to the ICC, the collaboration fits perfectly with its strategy of partnering with well-known global brands to deepen fan engagement and grow the game.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah welcomed Hyundai’s return and said, “We welcome Hyundai as a Premier Partner and look forward to delivering outstanding events together. Hyundai is a global brand that has long supported sports, and we look forward to maximizing our combined strengths at these events.”

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta also praised the partnership, stating, “We are proud to welcome Hyundai to the ICC’s global commercial program as a worldwide partner. The collaboration between ICC and Hyundai will strive to grow global cricketing culture with shared values of inclusivity, innovation and progress at the heart of our ambition.”

Lionel Messi's 'GOAT tour of India' came to an end through a star-studded programme at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Monday, December 15. During the event, ICC chairman Jay Shah presented the legendary footballer a special bat, autographed by some of the legends of Indian cricket, and an Indian cricket team jersey with his name and iconic no. 10 printed on the back.

Along with that, Messi received a ticket for the India vs USA match for the T20 World Cup 2026 trophy, which will be played next year during February-March. Messi's Inter Miami teammates, Rodrygo De Paul and Luis Suarez, also presented customised Indian jerseys.

Before the felicitation programme, the football maestro spent a significant amount of time in the venue. Messi, along with his teammates, received a warm reception at the jampacked Arun Jaitley Stadium. The football magician kicked some balls into the gallery and showed his dribbling skills as well.

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Jay Shah presented Lionel Messi some gifts in Delhi

लियोन मेसी को टी20 क्रिकेट विश्व कप की टिकट के साथ साइन किया हुआ बल्ला और क्रिकेट की जर्सी देते आइसीसी चेयरमैन जय शाह pic.twitter.com/UyDaOTMIZ2

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) December 15, 2025

The Argentine footballer shared the pitch with a host of kids playing football. It was a lifetime achievement for those kids who were fortunate enough to share the same field with one of the best footballers of all time. The children, a mixed group of boys and girls, all wore the Argentina national jersey, while Messi sported a pink t-shirt.

During the felicitation programme, along with Shah, there were Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Rohan Jaitley, the president of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA). On Sunday, Messi met with the Indian 'G.O.A.T.' footballer Sunil Chhetri, and in Delhi, he met with another Indian football legend, Bhaichung Bhutia. The former Indian footballer went to meet with Lionel Messi with his wife and daughter.

Another achievement for former India captain Rohit Sharma. On Tuesday, November 25, the International Cricket Council (ICC) named the brand ambassador for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The next T20I WC is all set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8 next year. From an event in Mumbai, ICC chairman Jay Shah announced the decision to designate Rohit Sharma as the brand ambassador of the elite tournament.

Under Sharma's leadership, Team India won the 2024 T20 World Cup. As a player, the Mumbaikar first tasted victory in the summit clash when MS Dhoni was the skipper of the Men in Blue. In 2007, Dhoni guided India to their first T20 International title. After that, almost after 17 years, the Indian cricket team claimed their second T20 silverware. The first time, Rohit was an emerging player; in 2024, he was the leader of the team.

The announcement by ICC has made Sharma naturally emotional and dragged him into the memory lane. For the ICC title, Sharma and his boys had to toil a lot. He still can remember those days when everyone was trying very hard for years, but success remained distant.

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"From the bottom of my heart, I’d like to thank the ICC and Jay Shah. It’s a huge honor to be an ambassador of an ICC event. I was just told that no active player has ever been announced as an ICC ambassador, so this is a big privilege for me and a great honor as well. I’m very thankful and very grateful," Rohit Sharma said, thanking the ICC and Jay Shah.

The ICC announcement makes Rohit Sharma emotional

"Winning an ICC trophy is a huge challenge. I’ve seen that personally over the years—I’ve completed 18 years in international cricket. I’ve been fortunate to win two recently and two early in my career. But in the middle, there was a long drought where we couldn’t win an ICC trophy, and I know how desperate we were as players, as a team, and as management to get our hands on one. To finally come out and win those trophies felt really good. You can see the amount of happiness it brings to the country with the sport we play," he added. 

Sharma already retired from the format. So, he will not be part of the team. But he did not forget to wish for the best, hoping for another glorious moment.  

Pratika Rawal, one of India’s young stars in the Women’s World Cup 2025, was first denied her winner’s medal because of an injury that forced her to miss the knockout matches. The talented opener had played a big part in India’s road to victory but was left out of the final celebrations. Thankfully, after Jay Shah’s personal intervention, Rawal will now receive her well-earned winner’s medal.

The confusion began because, under ICC rules, only the final 15-member squad at the end of the tournament is eligible for medals. Since Rawal was replaced by Shafali Verma after her injury, she was not listed in the final squad. Even though she had helped India reach the knockout stage with important performances, she didn’t qualify under the rules.

During the team’s official celebration, Rawal joined her teammates in a wheelchair but did not receive a medal. Later, when she was seen wearing a support-staff medal while meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, people began asking questions about why a key player had been left out. The incident quickly sparked debate among fans about how players should be recognized for their efforts, even if they miss the finals due to injury.

Jay Shah Steps In to Help

To clear the matter, Pratika Rawal spoke to CNN News18 and shared that Jay Shah, ICC Chairman and former BCCI secretary, stepped in to fix the issue. “Jay Shah intervened and told us he wants to make sure I get a medal of my own. It is on the way. I will get it soon,” Rawal said. His action ensured that her contribution would not be forgotten.

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Before her injury, Rawal had an amazing tournament, scoring 308 runs in six innings with an average of 51.33. Her 122-run knock against New Zealand was one of the highlights of the World Cup. She also became the joint-fastest woman to reach 1,000 ODI runs. Now, with her medal on the way, Pratika Rawal finally gets the recognition she truly deserves.

Just after Harmanpreet Kaur grabbed the final catch of the Women’s World Cup 2025 against South Africa at the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, India won their maiden women’s World Cup on the third attempt after missing the last two previous seasons in 2003 and 2017 against Australia and England, respectively. The celebration began as Kaur rushed towards the dug-out, and the celebration extended far beyond the boundary ropes.

As Harmanpreet Kaur stepped up to the podium at the ground to receive the Women’s World Cup trophy from the International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman, Jay Shah, a beautiful scene took place. It just encapsulated the spirit of Indian culture as the video went viral on various social media platforms.

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After shaking hands, Kaur started to bow down to touch Shah’s feet. It’s a traditional Indian sign of showing respect and gratitude. Shah gently stopped her with a smile and declined the gesture. This moment hardly lasted a few seconds, but it deeply resonated with millions watching.

Watch: Harmanpreet Kaur touches Jay Shah’s feet after winning Women’s World Cup 2025 trophy

The emotion gave way to celebration as Harmanpreet turned to her teammates, holding the trophy. The captain playfully teased the teammates in a unique way of handing the title. Later in the evening, the former players, Anjum Chopra, Mithali Raj, and Jhulan Goswami, also shared the emotional moment by celebrating the trophy with the current Indian women’s side.

So Harmanpreet was trying to touch Jay Shah's feet...

Some people mock Jay Shah but the fact is he has done tremendous work for women cricket team, and these players understand it well....pic.twitter.com/oTaWu3o3FQ

— Mr Sinha (@MrSinha_) November 3, 2025

The Blue Brigade batted first to post 298/7 in their allotted 50 overs. Shafali Verma smashed 87 runs in 78 balls at a strike rate of 111.54 with the help of seven boundaries and two sixes. Deepti Sharma cracked 58 runs at a strike rate of 100 with three boundaries and one six. Richa also smashed 34 runs in 24 balls at a strike rate of 141.67, riding on three boundaries and two sixes.

In reply, the Proteas got bundled out for 246. Apart from Laura Wolvaardt’s 101 in 98 balls at a strike rate of 103.06 with 11 boundaries and one six, none of the batters could spend much time in the middle.