The Hong Kong Sixes tournament for the 2026 season is set to take place from October 30 to November 2. A total of 12 countries, including India and Pakistan, are participating in this edition. On Monday, the Hong Kong Cricket Board announced the Indian squad, selecting seven players who had delivered outstanding performances in the IPL. Bhuvneshwar Kumar will captain the team. The squad also includes Krunal Pandya, Shashank Singh, Rahul Tewatia, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, and T. Natarajan. Notably, apart from Shashank, all other players in the squad have previously represented Team India.
Speaking on the occasion, Anurag Bhatnagar, Marketing and Commercial Director of Cricket Hong Kong, China, said, “We are extremely grateful to Indian cricket officials for supporting us in assembling one of the strongest teams to represent India in the history of the Hong Kong Sixes. The team is sure to receive a magnificent welcome from the spectators. This is certainly a major step forward; the presence of such a distinguished team will bring greater recognition to the tournament.”
Previous Season
Last year, Team India participated in the tournament under the captaincy of former cricketer Dinesh Karthik. In that season, Team India played its opening match against Pakistan, securing a victory by two runs via the Duckworth-Lewis method. However, the team subsequently suffered defeats against Kuwait and the UAE, leading to their elimination from the tournament. Pakistan emerged as the champions that season.
What is the tournament format?
The Hong Kong Sixes tournament differs from standard cricket matches. Each team consists of only six players, and the match lasts for six overs per side. With the exception of the wicketkeeper, every player on the fielding team must bowl one over; only one bowler gets the opportunity to bowl two overs. Regarding batting, if a player scores 31 runs, they must retire without being dismissed. Subsequently, the rest of the team bats according to the batting order.
If five wickets fall before the innings concludes, the retired batter returns to bat. A ‘bye runner’ may be stationed at the other end, allowing the batter to bat alone. A two-run penalty is awarded for wides and no-balls; however, no ‘free hit’ is granted for a no-ball. The tournament will span just three days, with the aim of playing fast-paced cricket. Hong Kong’s Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground will host these matches.
