CNMSports

Aditya Birla Group: A consortium led by Aditya Birla Group and the Times of India Group has acquired the defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for USD 1.78 billion (Rs 16,725 crore approx), a news report claimed on Tuesday. Bolt Ventures (Bolt) and Blackstone's perpetual private equity strategy (BXPE, Blackstone) are the other members of the consortium that have jointly bought the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, one of the eight original franchises of the

District Panchayat Raj Officers: Welcoming the Uttar Pradesh Governments decision to appoint India star Rinku Singh as the Regional Sports Officer, his coach Masooduzzafar Amin expressed gratitude and optimism, saying the move will inspire young cricketers to take up the sport while strengthening the overall sporting ecosystem in the state. The UP government has given him the job, and I thank the government for this. The decision will help young cricketers come into the sport and will motivate t

ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup: Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have named Rinku Singh as their vice-captain for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Rinku Singh has been a key performer for KKR with his explosive batting and sharp fielding. The 28-year-old brings leadership experience from domestic circuits and previous IPL stints. On behalf of everyone in the franchise, were really delighted to announce that Rinku Singh will be the Vice-captain of the team. Rinku

ICC Champions Trophy: England mens cricket director Rob Key has responded to recent criticism from all-rounder Liam Livingstone, saying the player remains firmly in contention for national selection despite a disagreement over communication and team environment. Livingstone, who has been out of the England setup since last years ICC Champions Trophy, had criticised the team management for avoiding difficult conversations and suggested his future depended on changes behind the scenes. He also cla

Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth: The Karnataka government-owned Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) said on Tuesday that its flagship dairy brand 'Nandini' has collaborated with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as the official dairy partner for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. The IPL 2026 Twenty 20 tournament is scheduled to begin on March 28. The RCB, which enjoys a large global fan base, enters the IPL season as the defending champions after winning the IPL 2025 title

Indian Premier League: Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Delhi Capitals opener Ben Duckett has pulled out of the tournament. A source in the Delhi Capitals confirmed to IANS that England batter Duckett informed them about pulling out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Yes, Duckett told us he won't be available to play this season. A search for his replacement is on and will be conveyed in due course of time, further said the source. Duckett was bought for Rs 2 crore at the auc

Lucknow Super Giants: Bharat Arun shaped India's fast-bowling unit across two stints as the sides bowling coach and helped them achieve memorable Test wins, especially in overseas conditions. As the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 begins on March 28, Arun has now taken on a new challenge as the bowling coach of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Drawn to join LSG by a pace bowling attack that has an exciting Indian presence, Arun feels they are good enough to represent the country. In an exclusive con

TATA Indian Premier League: Five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have roped in Australian pacer Spenser Johnson as a replacement for Nathan Ellis, who has been ruled out of the whole tournament due to a hamstring injury. Earlier, Johnson had signed for the Quetta Gladiators for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026 season, but he pulled out just before the tournament. The news was made official on March 15, and Johnson cited personal reasons for leaving the PSL. Johnson, who has played 1

Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemath Kumar: Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemath Kumar Singh on Tuesday said elaborate security and traffic arrangements have been put in place for the upcoming cricket matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, scheduled to begin on March 28, with another match on April 5. Addressing a press conference, the Commissioner said the arrangements have been made in accordance with the committee's recommendations to ensure safety and the smooth conduct of the matches. He str

ICC T20 World Cup: The 19th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to commence on March 28 with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opener at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Ahead of the tournament, many players are either injured or unavailable for the early matches, which has rung alarm bells for the franchises and propelled them to make changes in their plans at the last moment. This has been a hectic year as the T20 World Cup 2026

Motor City Golf Club: In a landmark development for the Indian Premier League (IPL), a US-based consortium led by tech entrepreneur Kal Somani has reportedly agreed to acquire a 100% stake in Rajasthan Royals for a record $1.63 billion ( 13,500 crore). The deal represents the largest ownership transaction in the leagues history, further reinforcing the IPLs stature as a global sporting powerhouse. The Royals are the first IPL team to be sold for over USD 1 billion, but the change in ownership, h

The Indian Premier League: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to be played under stricter operational rules as the governing body, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has introduced new regulations to improve team conduct and logistics during the tournament. According to a report by Cricbuzz, these updated guidelines build on earlier directives issued on March 12. The focus now includes tighter controls on player movement, access rules, and match-day discipline. The new rules

Motor City Golf Club: Indian Premier League's (IPL) inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) have been sold to the Kal Somani-led consortium for USD 1.63 billion. Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle shared a post on X, Rajasthan Royals is sold for 1.63 billion USD. Purely for comparison, London Spirit, the most expensive team, was valued at USD 370 million when there was a stake sale in The 100. Somani is a US-based entrepreneur who has held a minority stake in Rajasthan Royals. Over the past 15

Lucknow Super Giants: As the countdown to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 begins, Lucknow Super Giants are banking on a refreshed squad, revamped support staff, and a more settled leadership group to script a turnaround. Head coach Justin Langer expressed optimism about the teams preparation, highlighting a strong auction strategy and improved balance within the squad. LSG, one of the few franchises yet to win an IPL title, endured a disappointing 2025 season, finishing sixth with six wins

Adani Ahmedabad Marathon: Adani Sportsline revealed the official jersey for its flagship athlete program, Garv Hai, crafted by award-winning designer Aaquib Wani. This jersey will function as the standard official kit for all athletes part of the 'Garv Hai' initiative across various sports. Designed by Aaquib Wani, who previously created official sports kits for the India national cricket team and Indian delegations for the Summer 2024 Olympics and the 2022 Asian Games, the Garv Hai jersey captu

Gujarat Titans Shubharambh: Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill emphasised clarity and composure in leadership as the team prepares for IPL 2026, building on a strong and consistent foundation established over the past seasons. Speaking at Gujarat Titans Shubharambh 2026 in Ahmedabad, Gill highlighted the importance of staying true to oneself and maintaining calm in pressure situations. I think Im just being myself, and the calmness comes from a sense of belief and security that I have within my

When Cricket Australia: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) director of cricket Mo Bobat has said that Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood will join the squad for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) only after Cricket Australia is satisfied with his recovery. Bobat also said that the franchise is closely coordinating with CA and medical teams as the fast bowler continues his return-to-play programme in Australia. Hazlewood, who played a crucial role in RCB's tr

ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup: For Vidarbha pacer Saurabh Dubey, the wait has finally been worth it. Dubey, the left-arm fast bowler with a height of six feet and five inches, arrived at the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) camp as a net bowler when the three-time champions began their preparations for the ten-team competition. Cut to now, he now finds himself in the main squad as a replacement for injured India pacer Akash Deep, who has been ruled out of IPL 2026 with a stress reaction in his lower ba

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Gujarat Titans have outlined their clear strategy ahead of IPL 2026, with head coach Ashish Nehra emphasising that the team remains committed to competing and winning and does not plan to alter their current style of play. Since joining the IPL in 2022, Gujarat Titans have been one of the most consistent teams, reaching the playoffs in three of their first four seasons and winning the title in their inaugural campaign in 2022. Speaking at Shubharambh 2026, a landma

ICC Emerging Player: The latest update to the ICC Womens T20I rankings has brought significant movement across both batting and bowling charts, with Australias rising opener Georgia Voll breaking into the top 10 of the batting rankings for the first time in her career. Her quickfire 39 in the second match against the West Indies proved pivotal in boosting her position, underlining her growing importance at the top of the order. Meanwhile, New Zealand captain Sophie Devine has also made progress,

Indian Premier League: Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes that the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, which will start on March 28, could be the last season for Chennai Super Kings (CSK )'s most experienced player, MS Dhoni, as Sanju Samson is ready to be his heir. Chopra also said that veteran should consider retirement if he continues only as an Impact Player for Chennai Super Kings this season. You dont run the team from the dugout, its not football. In cricket, you need to be on t

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been dealt a blow ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 as the franchise confirmed on Tuesday that the fast bowler Yash Dayal will miss the entire tournament due to personal reasons. Dayal's absence from the training sessions and his not featuring on the team bus poster had already sparked rumours over his absence, with many wondering where the bowler was. Now RCB's director of cricket, Mo Bobat, has

RCB CEO Rajesh Menon: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) CEO Rajesh Menon said that throughout all domestic and internationals games at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, 11 seats will be kept empty to honour the lives of those who died in the stampede following their title victory last season. Menon also said that players will wear jersey No. 11 in practice matches throughout the season and don black armbands in all their matches in this edition. In memory of the 11 fans who we lost

ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup: Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed Vidarbhas left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Dubey as a replacement for injured India pacer Akash Deep, who has been ruled out of the IPL 2026 due to a lumbar stress injury. Further, England cricketer David Payne has replaced the injured Australian cricketer Jack Edwards in the Sunrisers Hyderabad squad. Payne has played only one ODI for England, having mostly played domestic cricket. He has 233 T20s under his be

Former South Africa: Former South Africa player has opposed the idea of sending Chennai Super Kings (CSK) stalwart MS Dhoni up above the batting order in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, which will commence on March 28, stating that the former captain's strength lies in making the best use of death overs. Dhoni, who will be the oldest player in the IPL 2026, is practising hard ahead of the tournament. He had a poor season last year, batting at the 8th position and not

South Africa: New Zealand batter Tom Latham has been ruled out of the fifth and final T20I against South Africa at the Hagley Oval on Wednesday with a thumb injury. Latham was struck on his left thumb by South African fast bowler Nqobani Mokoena during the third T20I at Eden Park on Friday. NZC said that scans revealed a minor fracture to the tip of his thumb, and he is expected to return to training in two-to-three weeks time. Tom Blundell, who came into the squad as top-order batting/wicketkee

Karnataka State Cricket Association: As defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) prepare to start their IPL 2026 campaign at home in the opening match, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has teamed up with the franchise to honour the lives of those who died in the stampede following their title victory last season. Before Saturdays game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, officials will place a memorial plaque near the stadium's inner entrance to provide a dedicated space for r

Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr: As Hockey India gears up to host the Hockey India Annual Awards 2025 on 27 March in New Delhi, Indian hockey stars Hardik Singh and Navneet Kaur expressed their gratitude and motivation after being nominated for the prestigious Hockey India Balbir Singh Sr. Award for Player of the Year 2025, saying it feels like their hardwork is being recognised. In addition to the top honour, Hardik Singh has also been nominated for the Hockey India Ajit Pal Singh Award for Midfie

Miami Open QF: Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka continued her dominant run at the Miami Open, booking a place in the quarterfinals with a straight-sets win over Zheng Qinwen. Sabalenka took an hour and 25 minutes to seal a 6-3, 6-4 victory, maintaining her strong head-to-head record against Zheng. Although the Chinese star produced moments of brilliance, the Belarusian consistently absorbed the pressure and reasserted control at crucial junctures. With the result, Sabalenka reached her 15th co

Captain Sophie Molineux: Australia completed clean sweep in the three-match T20I series with a rain-affected 40-run victory over the West Indies in the third anf final match at Kingstown, powered by a stunning century from Georgia Voll. Asked to bat, Australia piled up an imposing 211/7, built almost entirely around Volls explosive maiden T20I hundred. The 22-year-old opener produced a fearless display, reaching the triple-figure mark in just 52 deliveries, one of the fastest centuries by an Aus

South Africa WODIs: Kayley Knight has been included in the 13-strong squad to take on South Africa in the ODI series starting on Sunday. Amelia Kerr will lead a similar looking squad with the exception of Suzie Bates, Flora Devonshire, and Georgia Plimmer, who have each returned from injury and will replace Emma McLeod, Polly Inglis, and Bella James, while Knight comes in for Molly Penfold. Knight made her T20 international debut last month against Zimbabwe taking 2-25 on debut just a week after

England coach Brendon McCullum will keep his job despite the team's Ashes debacle, with cricket chief Richard Gould insisting he can adapt and evolve. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) promised a thorough review after Ben Stokes's team were demolished 4-1 on their five-Test tour of Australia, which ended in January. In addition to their poor performances on the pitch, there were reports of excessive drinking by players while they were on a break, raising concerns about the dressing-room

South Africa T20Is: India have named a Harmanpreet Kaur-led 15-member squad for the upcoming T20I away series against South Africa, starting from April 17, with Anushka Sharma getting a maiden call-up. The five-match T20I series will get underway with two games at Durban on April 17 and 19. The action will then move to Johannesburg, which will host back-to-back matches on April 22 and 25, before the series concludes with the fifth and final T20I at Benoni on April 27. The 22-year-old all-rounder

Chief Operating Officer Colonel Arvinder: Gujarat Titans marked the beginning of their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 journey with Shubharambh 2026, a landmark evening in Ahmedabad that brought together the full squad, franchise owners, partners, and fans. The evening reflected on the teams five-year journey while setting a clear, forward-looking tone for the season ahead. Showcasing the unity, ambition, and Gujarat-first ethos that continues to define the franchise, the evening blended reflec

Lucknow Super Giants: Lucknow Super Giants tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav, who made the world sit up and take notice two seasons ago, has opened up on his fitness journey, his childhood inspirations as a fast bowler, and his bond with India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. Mayank Yadav spoke about his early inspiration for fast bowling, When I used to play in the streets, I didn't know how to bowl spin. So I used to bowl only fast bowling. My craze for fast bowling began in childhood. My father also

Indian Premier League: For most of his career, left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Axar Patel did what was asked of him - bowl when called upon and bat when needed to bail the team out of trouble. In going from junior cricket to the Indian Premier League (IPL) and now being a mainstay in the Indian white-ball side, Axar was the embodiment of a cricketer who did the hard work, trusted the process, and stayed in his lane. It worked handsomely starting Test career with a bang, while bagging the 2024

Indian Premier League: In crickets ever-expanding T20 universe, comparisons are inevitable. But some debates feel forced and the one between the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Pakistan Super League (PSL) is firmly in that category. On the surface, both leagues share similarities: packed stadiums, passionate fans, and a pool of international talent. But scratch a little deeper, and the gap becomes too wide to ignore making the comparison less of a contest and more of a mismatch. The IPL to

Indian Premier League: Former India captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has sparked a debate over the naming of Riyan Parag as captain of Rajasthan Royals for the 2026 season, saying he is treated like a king there. In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth suggested that Parag may have received special support in the franchise. He noted that the decision seemed surprising, especially with more experienced players in the squad. He pointed out that while the franchise can make such decisions

Emirates ICC International Panel: The West Indies team has been fined 10 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first Womens T20I against Australia in St. Vincent on Friday. As per Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which states that for minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. Captain Hayley Matthews pleaded guilty to the

Indian Premier League: The emotions of Indias T20 World Cup triumph are yet to fully sink in, but the cricketing calendar waits for no one. In just five days, the spotlight will shift to the grand spectacle of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, ushering in another season of high-octane action, star power, and unmatched fanfare. The transition from national glory to franchise frenzy is seamless, and fans are already gearing up for what promises to be a blockbuster edition. The IPL remains the most

Indian Premier League: Rajasthan Royals have announced Sri Lankan all-rounder and T20I captain Dasun Shanaka as the replacement for Sam Curran for the Indian Premier League 2026 season after an injury ruled the English all-rounder out of the tournament. Curran, who was a part of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025, was traded to RR along with Ravindra Jadeja as the five-time champions acquired Sanju Samson from the inaugural winners. We are disappointed to lose a player of Sams calibre so

The Indian Premier League: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season will proceed as planned, with the availability and participation of certain overseas players to be determined by the franchises, a league official told IANS. The statement comes amid uncertainty surrounding the participation of some foreign recruits ahead of the tournament. While a few international players are yet to link up with their respective squads due to injuries, others may skip the tournament as part of workload mana

New International Cricket Stadium: Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting set the tone for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season with a clear message to his players: embrace mistakes, but stay committed to the process. Addressing the squad at the start of their training camp in New Chandigarhs Mullanpur, Ponting emphasised preparation, clarity of roles, and belief in the teams approach. The team began its camp at the New International Cricket Stadium with an intense opening session, as p

Indian Premier League: Delhi Capitals (DC) skipper Axar Patel said he is personally not in favour of the Impact Player rule in the Indian Premier League (IPL), saying that it reduces the role of all-rounders in the ten-team tournament, whose 19th edition starts on March 28. The Impact Player rule, introduced in 2023, allows all ten IPL teams to substitute either a batter or bowler in any innings of the match. I don't like this rule, honestly, because I am an all-rounder. Earlier, you would pick

Lucknow Super Giants: Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani has insisted that the franchise has found an answer to their top-order woes by bringing in fresh options like Prithvi Shaw, Ben Duckett and Pathum Nissanka through the auction ahead of the IPL 2026 season starting on March 28. DC posted the second-lowest run rate and batting average in the batting powerplay during IPL 2025. Opening partnerships were a major concern, as DCs opening stands averaged just 21.8 runs the lowest among all t

T20 World Cup: Having impressed in Australia's T20 World Cup run, batter Matthew Renshaw said that returning to the Test team remains his top priority despite having a career-best year in the limited-overs formats. Renshaw, who made his Test debut in 2016, became the 63rd man to represent Australia in all three formats after making his ODI debut against India in last October and his T20I debut against Pakistan in January. His last outing in Baggy Green came during Australia's tour to India in 20

Pakistan Cricket Board: After the Pakistan Cricket Boards (PCB) announced to hold the Pakistan Super League (PSL) behind closed doors due to the West Asia conflict, a Pakistan militant group warned the overseas players to withdraw from the league, claiming their security cannot be guaranteed as the current environment is currently unfit for any peaceful sporting activity. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the governments directive of on Sunday, that PSL will begin as scheduled on March 26, but

DC Captain Axar Patel: Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani said the franchise is awaiting the arrival of Australia left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc ahead of IPL 2026, saying that they are also waiting for him to get the No-Objection Certificate (NoC) from Cricket Australia. Starc, 36, is set to miss at least the opening phase of IPL 2026 due to Cricket Australia monitoring his workload ahead of a hectic international season. His absence will mean that DC will have to rejig their bowling plans,

T20 World Cup: India seamer Arundhati Reddy has been named the ICC Womens Player of the Month for February 2026 for the first time in her career, thanks to her exceptional performance that played a key role in Indias memorable victory in Australia. Its a real honour to be named ICC Player of the Month, and even more special knowing I was able to contribute to a T20I series win in Australia. Beating Australia on their home turf is never easy, which makes this award even more meaningful. This seri

T20 World Cup: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has bagged the ICC Mens Player of the Month for February 2026 after his stunning ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in Sri Lanka, where he was the highest run-getter with 383 runs in seven matches (six innings) at an average of 76.60 that included two hundreds and as many half centuries. The right-hander had a superb run at the global event, boasting a strike rate of 160.25 while breaking Virat Kohli's longstanding record of most runs at the T20