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Steve Smith ton, Shreyas Iyer return and BPL resumes – January 16 Cricket highlights

Aakash Saini

Steve Smith and Shreyas Iyer [Source: @BBL/x, AFP]Steve Smith and Shreyas Iyer [Source: @BBL/x, AFP]

Steve Smith hammered down a record-shattering century against Sydney Thunder towards the fag end of the BBL 2025-26 season in Sydney. Shreyas Iyer made his return to India’s T20I squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand. In other news, the BPL 2025-26 season resumed after Bangladesh players ended their nationwide cricketing boycott. 

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 Friday, January 16.

Steve Smith blasts second fastest BBL century

Steve Smith smeared 100 runs from just 42 balls with five fours and nine huge sixes against Sydney Thunder in match number 37 of the BBL 2025-26 season at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). The legendary Australian batter and Sydney Sixers opener raced to his hundred from just 41 balls to record the joint-second fastest century in the history of BBL.

Steve Smith also hammered 32 runs off a single Ryan Hadley over as Sydney Sixers made lightwork of Sydney Thunder’s 189-run total by securing an easy five-wicket win in just 17.2 overs.

MI London name Pollard, Keightley as new coaches

The MI London franchise, formerly known as the Oval Invincibles, named former West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard and ex-Australian cricketer Lisa Keightley as the new head coaches of their men’s and women’s teams respectively for the upcoming The Hundred 2026 season. Notably, both Pollard and Keightley are no stranger to the MI brand.

Kieron Pollard has previously represented Mumbai Indians for over ten years in the IPL, and currently plays for MI Emirates in ILT20 and MI New York in USA’s MLC. Lisa Keightley is also serving the Mumbai Indians Women’s team as head coach in the ongoing WPL 2026 season.

BPL 2025-26 resumes as players end boycott

The BPL 2025-26 season resumed on January 16, i.e., a day after getting halted on the opening day of the Mirpur leg of the tournament. Earlier this week, Bangladesh players had imposed a nationwide cricketing boycott as part of their protest against BCB president M Nazmul Islam following his controversial remarks against legendary opener Tamim Iqbal as well as against Bangladesh cricketers.

While M Nazmul Islam was relieved of his duties by the BCB on January 15 itself, the boycott showed no signs of easing as the two matches scheduled for the day were both postponed by the board, since none of the four teams arrived to the stadium.

Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi added; Sundar ruled out of T20I squad vs NZ

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) made a couple of changes to the Indian squad for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand at home. Star all-rounder Washington Sundar has been ruled out of the squad after suffering an injury during India’s series-opening first ODI match against New Zealand last Sunday.

Senior batter Shreyas Iyer has been called up to the team for the first three T20Is as a replacement of injured Tilak Varma. Ace spinner Ravi Bishnoi also made his return to the national side, albeit as Sundar’s replacement.

Riyan Parag still recovering, closer to fitness at CoE

Indian all-rounder and Rajasthan Royals star Riyan Parag is inching towards his full recovery. The cricketer is currently at the BCCI CoE in Bengaluru as part of his rehabilitation program. Interestingly, there have been calls for Riyan Parag to make his return to the Indian T20I squad for the upcoming 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, especially after the recent injury of fellow spin-bowling all-rounder Washington Sundar.

However, Riyan Parag last played an international match for Team India back in October 2024, and his return for the showpiece event remains an unlikely possibility.