CNMSports
Elections 2026Cricket / CNMSports
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) enter their fifth Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season with a grand makeover a logo change, jersey colours and design refurbished, and support staff having fresh faces in Bharat Arun, Carl Crowe, and Tom Moody. Having reached the playoffs in each of their first two years before back-to-back seventh-place finishes, LSG responded with an aggressive off-season strategy -- trading in Mohammad Shami, acquiring Anrich Nortje at auction, and reinf
MCA President Ajinkya Naik: Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) President Ajinkya Naik said it was content to host matches in the city despite Wankhede Stadium not being allocated an IndiaAustralia Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in 2027. The BCCI had earlier announced that Nagpur, Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi, and Ahmedabad will host the five Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2027. It meant that Mumbais wait to host an India-Australia Test after 2004 continues. All matches are important -- whether i
Indian Premier League: Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill said his sides focus in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season will be on consistently posting big totals, as the 2022 champions look to clinch another title when the ten-team competition begins on March 28. At the end of the day, you have to score more runs than the other team. Whether its by four runs or 150200 runs, the goal is to win. We are not chasing the glory of scoring 300350 in a single match. We want to be a team
Emerging Off Spinners: Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has conducted a specialist camp for emerging off-spinners at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), where the aim was to sharpen skills and share tactical insights with young players. IANS had reported on March 2 that Harbhajan would conduct a camp for off-spinners at the CoE after former India left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan led a fast-bowling camp for India A and U19 pacers earlier this month. One of India's greatest spinners, Harb
Karnataka State Cricket Association: The issue of tickets for Karnataka MLAs for IPL matches at Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium was raised in the Assembly on Thursday, with Speaker U.T. Khader urging the government to take up the matter with the authorities concerned. Khader said that MLAs are currently being issued only one ordinary ticket, reportedly due to concerns that legislators often pass on their tickets to others, leading to overcrowding and management issues in the VIP gallery. He p
For Lucknow Super Giants, the IPL 2026 is the season for redemption under Rishabh Pant. The costliest IPL franchise is yet to see any significant success in the IPL: lost in the Play-Offs in the first two seasons and then finished in the seventh position in the last two seasons. Naturally, in the new season, the focus is primarily on current captain Pant for his leadership as well as batting. He ended the last season with 118* off 61 balls against Gujarat Titans, but before that had scored only
India will host Australia in a high-profile five-Test series starting January next year to end the 2026/27 home season, the country's cricket board announced on Thursday. The season will culminate with the prestigious and much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, featuring a five-match Test series against Australia, beginning on January 21, 2027, in Nagpur, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said. The contest will then move to Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad, the board said. India
Indian Premier League: Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill said he feels no pressure to prove himself in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, adding that his focus is on making his team win another title this year rather than chasing personal milestones. Gill, Indias captain in Tests and ODIs, was left out of the T20I team to make room for Sanju Samson in the top order. It proved to be a move that paid off really well as India claimed a record third Mens T20 World Cup title at t
County Championship Division One: India leg-spinner Rahul Chahar will return to Surrey for their final eight matches in the upcoming County Championship season, the club said on Thursday. Chahar, 26, made a stunning debut for Surrey last year, claiming 10 wickets in a victory over Hampshire, including second-innings figures of 8/51. They are also the best figures by a debutant bowler in the clubs history, breaking William Mudies 166-year-old record of figures of 7/61 in 1859. Chahar has represen
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Thursday that a game between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals on April 13 will begin the second phase of the 2026 season. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said venues for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs will be announced later. Earlier, the BCCI announced the IPL 2026 schedule for the first 20 games due to elections in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu. But once the Election Com
Indian Premier League: Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes that Rohit Sharma should remain on the field for the entire duration of a T20 match instead of being used as an Impact Player by the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Rohit, who tops the list of batters with most runs for MI in IPL history, was often used as an Impact Player in the last season, which, according to Kaif, was wrong as Hardik needed his help, especially during the second qualifier played
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders, with a new head coach in Abhishek Nayar, along with Shane Watson and Tim Southee joining in, are building up to Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 with a curious look the batting riches look formidable on paper, yet their fast-bowling department looks a touch weak. The retirement of Andre Russell - the heartbeat of their middle-order and death-bowling plans - has created a void that the management has attempted to fill with the
The Indian Premier League: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been pivotal in transforming modern franchise cricket, influencing not only India but also the international scene. Besides its commercial achievements, it serves as a significant platform for showcasing new talent, enhancing the reputation of domestic players, and making many of them well-known worldwide. Every season, a few high-profile players are absent due to injuries or dips in form. This year, too, many players have been ruled
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Gujarat Titans head into the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season carrying both the weight of high expectations and the fuel of unfinished business after bowing out of the competition in the Eliminator stage last year. Winners in their debut season in 2022 and runners-up in 2023, the franchise will pin its hopes for another title on big names led by Shubman Gill and a batting core that has some vulnerabilities. IANS takes a look at how GT are shaping up ahead of a cru
Indian Premier League: Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara is likely to miss out on the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) refused to give him a No Objection Certificate (NOC), following the implementation of a strict new fitness policy, a news report claimed on Thursday. Under the revised regulations, SLC has made it mandatory for players to meet newly introduced physical performance benchmarks before being cleared to participate in overseas franchise leagues, i
Chennai Super Kings: Following a significant squad overhaul and a strategic tilt toward youth, five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) enter IPL 2026 seeking to achieve their success just like the good old times after finishing at the bottom of the points table last season. The CSK team management moved swiftly to address the failings of 2025, overhauling the squad with a clear eye on both the present and the years beyond after years of wearing the Dads Army tag. The biggest statement of i
T20 World Cup: Englands young batter Jacob Bethell has expressed admiration for the passionate fan base of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), revealing that he could hear chants for the team even during a tense moment in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal against India at the Wankhede Stadium. Bethell, who represents RCB, said the chants stood out during a quiet phase in the stadium when England were pushing hard in the chase. I definitely heard a few RCB chan
Indian Premier League: Banking on a mix of familiar players and fresh recruits, Delhi Capitals look stronger than ever to end their long wait for an Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Despite a strong start last year by winning their first four matches, DC faltered in the second half of the campaign and finished fifth to miss out on the playoffs for the fourth successive time. When the 2026 season gets underway on March 28, DC will be aiming to finally break their playoffs hoodoo and go all the
Indian Premier League: Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has picked his playing 12 for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is set to commence on March 28. LSG, which finished in seventh position last season, made a lot of changes to their squad ahead of IPL 2026. LSG improved their bowling, which was under attack in IPL 2025, by adding Mohammad Shami and Arjun Tendulkar through trade and purchasing Wanindu Hasaranga and Anrich Nortje in the Auction. Despite reports c
The Karnataka State Cricket Association: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the schedule for senior mens international home matches for the 2026-27 season, which features an exciting, action-packed schedule with four visiting teams, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Australia, across multiple formats. The Men in Blue will play 22 international matches across 17 cities, giving fans nationwide the chance to see top-tier international cricket. Notably, the M Chinnasw
New Zealand Cricket Awards: New Zealand womens captain Amelia Kerr and mens fast bowler Jacob Duffy took the top honours at the 2026 New Zealand Cricket Awards on Thursday. While Amelia won an unprecedented fourth straight Debbie Hockley Medal, Duffy claimed the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal. Amelia led her side to a third straight Super Smash crown and topped New Zealands T20I run charts with 354 runs at an average of 70, also finishing second in wickets. She was also named Womens T20I Player of the
Barsapara Cricket Stadium: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the schedule for Indias (Senior Men) international home matches for the 2026-27 season, with the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru set to host international games for the first time since the October 2024 Test against New Zealand. Additionally, the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati will be hosting a Border-Gavaskar series Test for the first time. The upcoming home season features an exciting, action-pa
Yatra Pratibha Avsara Prapnotihi: Since its inception in 2008, the Indian Premier League (IPL) has evolved into more than just a cricket tournament; it embodies the intersection of talent, ambition, and opportunity. The IPL trophy has an inscription on it in Sanskrit, Yatra Pratibha Avsara Prapnotihi, which translates to where talent meets opportunity. The motto represents the tournament's purpose of providing a platform for talent to thrive. The tournament throws up new talents every season; IA
T20 World Cup: Indian all-rounder Shivam Dube said on Thursday that his train journey back home after winning the T20 World Cup 2026 with his family was exciting but also quite tough, as he had to take extra precautions to avoid being recognised. Dube had to take an unusual route to get back home from Ahmedabad after the historic win. Unlike most Indian cricketers who travel by chartered or private flights, he couldnt find any available flights from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, as they were fully booked
Lucknow Super Giants: Sanjiv Goenka, owner of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), dismissed rumours about Rishabh Pants captaincy following fake reports that suggested the wicketkeeper-batter was losing his leadership role at the franchise ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season and wished the 28-year-old luck for the tournament. The LSG captain faced intense scrutiny for his subpar performances during IPL 2025. There were high hopes for the left-handed player after he was bought for an imp
Major League Cricket: Australia captain Pat Cummins has acknowledged the growing strain between international commitments and franchise cricket, warning that the balance may become harder to sustain for future players, even as he remains determined to represent Australia across all formats for as long as possible. Several of Cummins long-time teammates, including Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis, have already stepped away from ODIs, while Mitchell Starc has given up T20Is in an eff
The IPL roars back into action on Saturday super-charged by India's home T20 World Cup triumph, but with sombre memories of the 11 fans who died in a stampede celebrating Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title last season. The richest league in cricket launches with RCB hosting Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where June's title party turned to tragedy a day after Bengaluru's first IPL crown. Eleven supporters aged between 14 and 29 died outside the stadium in a cr
Chennai Super Kings: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain Ruturaj Gaikwad dropped a hint about the team's opening combination for the Indian Premier League edition, revealing he, along with wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson, will open the innings in IPL 2026. CSK who had a dismal campaign last year and their top order was a major weakness. They had tried multiple combinations, but all led to disaster. The five-time winners then tried Ayush Mhatre at the top, and he provided some brisk starts. But wi
Indian Premier League: David Warner, the former Australian opener, has revealed that he worked really hard to keep himself motivated and fit after retiring from the Indian Premier League (IPL) two years ago, as he reaches Pakistan and gets ready to captain the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), a news report said on Wednesday. The 39-year-old Warner, who has represented Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals in a stellar 15-season career in the IPL before joining the neighbouring
Kolkata Knight Riders: Three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have picked Navdeep Saini as a player replacement for the injured Harshit Rana for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, whereas Gujarat Titans have replaced Prithviraj Yarra with Kulwant Khejroliya. Rana was previously ruled out of the tournament because of a ligament strain in his right knee that he got during the T20 World Cup, further weakening KKRs bowling unit. Akash Deep and Matheesha Pathirana are also out with injurie
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Delhi Capitals (DC) opener Prithvi Shaw says he is treating the upcoming Indian Premier League season (IPL) as a fresh start for himself in the set-up, adding that his focus is firmly on contributing for the team and then working his way back into the Indian team. It's always a new start, hundred percent. There are a lot of memories, but its history and things can't be repeated. It's a fresh start. There's a fresh team, a lot of new things have happened. I was not here l
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Delhi Capitals (DC) fast bowler Mukesh Kumar said he is focused on contributing to the teams success in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season rather than chasing personal targets. Mukesh made his IPL debut in 2023 after being picked up for Rs 5.5 crore. He was retained for the 2024 season and finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker for DC with 17 scalps. His price rose to Rs 8 crore in 2025, as DC retained him via the RTM option. In IPL 2025, Mukesh claimed
Jimmy Neesham: Stand-in skipper Jimmy Neesham admitted that New Zealands below-par performances in the final games cost them the T20I series against the South Africa cricket team, after the hosts went down by 33 runs in the decider at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday. Chasing 188, New Zealand could only manage 154/8 despite brief resistance in the middle overs, as South Africa sealed the five-match series 3-2. Reflecting on the campaign, Neesham said the team did well to bounce back afte
T20 World Cup: South Africa skipper Keshav Maharaj lauded the efforts and the hunger of young players as the team registered a 33-run win against New Zealand in the final T20I to seal the five-match series by 3-2 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Wednesday. Batting first, South Africa posted 187/4 on the scoreboard from 20 overs, with Esterhuizen leading the charge with the bat. In reply, New Zealand were bundled out for just 154 runs in 20 overs and lost the match by 33 runs. The Proteas were l
Lucknow Super Giants: With a renewed squad and clear lessons from the past, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has outlined the franchises evolution heading into the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 and has said that having made it to the playoffs twice is not good enough as the team now aims at winning their first trophy. Reflecting on IPL 2025, Goenka pointed to the teams resilience despite significant injury setbacks, particularly within the bowling department. The positive was th
ODI World Cup: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said the teams triumph in last years home Womens ODI World Cup has given them the belief to succeed in any showpiece event in the world, adding that preparations were in full swing for the upcoming Womens T20 World Cup, to be played from June 12 to July 5 in England. Before taking part in the mega event, Harmanpreet will lead India in a five-match T20I series in South Africa from April 17-27, before squaring off against England in a three-game series
The Delhi High Court: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said it will pass orders directing social media intermediaries and e-commerce platforms to take down online content unauthorisedly using the name and images of former India cricketer and current head coach Gautam Gambhir for commercial gains. A single-judge Bench of Justice Jyoti Singh observed that directions would be issued to tech platforms, including Meta and Google, to remove objectionable links flagged on behalf of Gambhir and to furn
Indian Premier League: Indias pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has reportedly checked into the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru as part of a structured workload management programme ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Bumrahs stint at the CoE is primarily focused on strength and conditioning, with the programme designed by the BCCIs medical team keeping Indias white-ball tour of England in July as a key priority. The tou
Connor Esterhuizen: Wicketkeeper batter Connor Esterhuizen's half-century, followed by a scintilating effort from the bowlers, helped South Africa register a 33-run win against New Zealand in the fifth and final T20I to seal the five-game series 3-2 here at the Hagley Oval on Wednesday. Batting first, South Africa posted 187/4 on the scoreboard from 20 overs, with Esterhuizen leading the charge with the bat. In reply, New Zealand were restricted to 154 in 20 overs. Coming to bat first after losi
ODI World Cup: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said living through the change in visibility and recognition of womens cricket after winning the 2025 Womens ODI World Cup triumph was a great feeling, adding that she and her team knew change would arrive in the country once they had a big trophy against their name. Since the time India won the 2025 Womens ODI World Cup at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, it had transformed the visibility of womens cricket in the country, with tons of accolades
Indian Premier League: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) stand-in captain Ishan Kishan has spoken about his leadership approach ahead of the 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is set to commence on March 28. SRH will start their IPL campaign against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28. Kishan, who made a surprise return to the Indian T20I side ahead of the T20 World Cup, will lead the team for the first time in his career in the
Madhya Pradesh T20 League: Before Mangesh Yadav ever pitched a ball in professional cricket, his father Ramavadh Yadav worked overnight, contemplating how he would secure funds for his sons dream. He invested all his resources in a boy who initially played cricket in a modest courtyard with his mother. Today, Mangesh Yadav has a contract worth Rs. 5.2 crore with the reigning champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Reflecting on their financial woes, Mangeshs father said, I had to struggle a lot
History will always remember that Rajat Patidar was appointed as RCB captain on February 13, 2025, and by June 3, 2025 he had led the team to its maiden and most awaited IPL title. For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, defeating Punjab Kings by six runs in the final at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad was the culmination of the ups and downs, seen in the 18 seasons of the IPL. For skipper Rajat Patidar, it was a history-making moment because he had achieved something which some other big names, whi
T20I Bowling Rankings: A strong showing from New Zealands pace attack has headlined the latest update to the ICC Mens T20I Bowling Rankings, with four seamers from New Zealand making notable gains. The ongoing T20I series between New Zealand and South Africa has delivered fluctuating results, and performances across the first four matches have led to significant movement in the rankings for players from both sides. Experienced quick Lockie Ferguson was one of the biggest beneficiaries. His match
ICC T20 World Cup: Indian men's cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir is enjoying a well-deserved vacation in Singapore with his family, including his wife Natasha and their two daughters Aazeen and Anaiza. Gambhir travelled to the Asian country after leading India to a historic victory in the recently concluded ICC T20 World Cup 2026. India sealed the title with a commanding 96-run win over New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. The victory made India the first team t
New International Cricket Stadium: Punjab Kings have received a timely boost ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026, with Australian duo Marcus Stoinis and Cooper Connolly joining the squad in Mohali. The pair linked up with their teammates at the New International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, where they were greeted warmly by the franchise. Both players appeared relaxed and upbeat as they integrated into the camp. Their arrival significantly strengthens the Punjab lineup, adding a blend of pr
Aditya Birla Group Kumar Mangalam: Aryaman Vikram Birla will become the new chairman of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru after a consortium led by the Aditya Birla Group and Times Internet Limited acquired the defending Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women's Premier League champions for Rs 16,660 crore. Bolt Ventures (Bolt) and Blackstone's perpetual private equity strategy (BXPE, Blackstone) are the other members of the consortium that have jointly bought the RCB, one of the eight original fran
Lucknow Super Giants: Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra believes that India's wicketkeeper batter and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant is a prisoner of his own reputation of playing unorthodox shots and needs to reassess his approach especially in the white-ball format as he gears up for the 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which will commence on March 28. Chopra pointed out that Pants tendency to play risky shots has often worked against him and recommended that h
Amelia Kerr: A brilliant all-round display, led by Amelia Kerrs 105-run knock and a two-wicket haul, guided New Zealand to a commanding 92-run victory over South Africa in the fifth WT20I here at Hagley Oval, sealing the five-game series 4-1. Batting first, riding on Amelia's 105 off 55, the hosts posted 194/6 in their allotted 20 overs, their fourth-highest team total. In response, the Proteas were restricted to 102/9 in front of sensational New Zealand bowling, suffering their third-worst loss
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: When Yash Thakur talks about bowling in the death overs in T20s, he does not talk about variations first - he speaks about the clarity in mind and plans before turning his attention to execution. The clarity in his words mirrors Thakurs reputation as an end-overs specialist in IPL - 13 of his 25 wickets have come in the crunch 1720 overs phase. I feel that death overs are the most challenging. So I always try to do my best for the team in the most challenging situations.

23 C