The Economic Times

Virat Kohli advised young cricketers to focus on long-term commitment to the sport. He highlighted the allure of instant fame and money from T20 cricket. Kohli stressed the importance of developing a drive to become true all-format players. He noted that modern players possess advanced power-hitting skills.

Chief selector Ajit Agarkar confirmed KL Rahul's appointment as Test vice-captain is due to his experience and past leadership, not a succession plan. Agarkar emphasized Rahul provides crucial stability and leadership support for captain Shubman Gill, highlighting the need for an experienced deputy following recent injury concerns.

India has selected new talent for the upcoming Test against Afghanistan. Spinners Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey, along with pacer Gurnoor Brar, receive their first Test call-ups. Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja are rested. KL Rahul is named vice-captain. Prasidh Krishna also returns to the squad. The Test is scheduled for June in Mullanpur.

Rishabh Pant is no longer the Test vice-captain. He has also been dropped from the ODI squad for the upcoming series against Afghanistan. KL Rahul will now be the Test vice-captain. Shubman Gill continues to lead the Test side. The selections were made by the BCCI senior mens selection committee. Ravindra Jadeja is rested for the Test.

Mumbai Indians have announced that Quinton de Kock and Raj Angad Bawa will miss the remainder of the IPL 2026 season. De Kock suffered a wrist tendon injury before the Sunrisers Hyderabad match. Bawa sustained a thumb ligament tear during the Punjab Kings game. Both players will undergo rehabilitation at home with franchise support.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Aaron Finch support Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. They acknowledge the pressure of leadership in the IPL. The team is in a transition phase after MS Dhoni's captaincy. Patience is urged for rebuilding the team. Gaikwad needs to rediscover his batting form. Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain are praised.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru maintains a hunter mindset after their IPL title win. Director of Cricket Mo Bobat emphasizes this approach to avoid complacency. The team is performing strongly in the current IPL season, aiming to finish at the top of the points table.

As the countdown to the T20 World Cup begins, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana says that the Indian women's cricket team is in peak form. With their training camp successfully completed, they're eager to hit the pitch in England, she adds.

Sunrisers Hyderabad secured a playoff spot with a five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings. Assistant coach James Franklin lauded Ishan Kishan's match-winning 70 off 47 balls. Kishan's innings, alongside Klaasen's 47, proved crucial on a difficult pitch. Their partnership steadied the innings after early wickets. The bowlers conceded runs, but the batting partnership altered the game's momentum.

Chennai Super Kings coach Stephen Fleming stated Ruturaj Gaikwad is developing as captain. The team's playoff hopes are slim after a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. CSK faces Gujarat Titans in a must-win match. Fleming mentioned squad changes and injuries impacted the season. He also highlighted MS Dhoni's continued influence despite not playing.

Sunrisers Hyderabad clinched an IPL 2026 playoff berth. They defeated Chennai Super Kings by five wickets. Ishan Kishan scored 70 runs. Pat Cummins took three wickets. This victory propels SRH into the knockout stages. Other teams now face crucial matches to secure their playoff chances. The playoff race intensifies for several franchises.

Chennai Super Kings fans experienced significant disappointment as their team suffered a crucial defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. This loss at their home ground has undoubtedly left the CSK faithful disheartened.

IPL 2026 Playoffs tickets will be available from May 20. RuPay cardholders receive a 24-hour priority access. Sales begin for Qualifier 1 and Eliminator on May 20. Qualifier 2 and the Final priority access starts May 22. Tickets can be bought on the official IPL website and District by Zomato.

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has allayed concerns about private investment in the Big Bash League. He stated that fears of Indian Premier League franchise owners taking control are overblown. Greenberg emphasised that Cricket Australia is seeking valuable partners, not selling the game to India. The decision on partners rests with the states.

Dhoni, who was ruled out for two weeks due to a calf strain before the season, has not shown up the entire season and has not featured in any competitive cricket for an year as an IPL-exclusive player. With CSK having two matches against SRH and later GT as crucial to their playoff chances, it would be interesting to see if Dhoni comes into the playing XI or does not disturb the combination at all.

Rajasthan Royals need a strong performance against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur. Their playoff chances are slim. The Royals have not won at their home ground this season. Lucknow Super Giants have won their last game against CSK. They will aim to finish their season on a positive note.

KL Rahul reached a significant milestone with his 50th fifty-plus score and eighth 500-run season in the IPL. His performance was vital in Delhi Capitals securing a win against Rajasthan Royals. This victory keeps Delhi Capitals' playoff aspirations alive. The team ended their home run with a memorable win.

Will MS Dhoni play today? MS Dhoni's recent training session at Chepauk has ignited intense speculation about his potential return for Chennai Super Kings' crucial final home game. Fans are eagerly anticipating his comeback, hoping it will be his last appearance in Chennai.

Chelsea has appointed Xabi Alonso as their new manager. He will start his four-year contract next season. Alonso returns to coaching after a brief stint at Real Madrid. He replaces Liam Rosenior, who was sacked last month. This marks the fifth permanent coach under the current American ownership since 2022.

A total of 39 players and staff with North Koreas Naegohyang Womens FC arrived at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, aboard a plane from China. They didn't make any comments, though some activists shouted Welcome! Welcome! and citizens used their mobile phones to film their arrival.

Jannik Sinner has made history by winning the Italian Open. He is the first Italian man to achieve this in 50 years. Sinner has also become only the second man to win all nine Masters 1000 events. He is on a remarkable winning streak. His victory sets the stage for the French Open. Elina Svitolina won the women's singles title.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India is considering a significant change to its Under-23 men's cricket. The national 50-over tournament may be transformed into a T20 format starting from the 2026-27 domestic season. The BCCI will consult with state associations and other stakeholders before finalizing this decision. This move aims to adapt to the evolving landscape of cricket.

Indian badminton stars Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty fought hard in the Thailand Open Super 500 men's doubles final. They saved four championship points against Indonesia's Leo Rolly Carnando and Daniel Marthin. The Indian pair ultimately finished as runners-up after a close contest. This marks another strong performance for the consistent Indian doubles duo.

Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Cameron Green stated the team took time to identify player roles. The team has since found balance and is on a strong winning streak. This has kept their playoff hopes alive in IPL 2026. Green contributed with an unbeaten fifty against Gujarat Titans. The team is now seventh in the standings.

Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill pointed to dropped catches as the reason for their 29-run defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders. The team's fielding faltered, allowing KKR to post a massive 247. Finn Allen capitalized with a blistering 93. Gill stated the team did not deserve to win due to the fielding lapses.

Kolkata Knight Riders secured a vital 29-run victory against Gujarat Titans. Finn Allen and Angkrish Raghuvanshi powered KKR to a massive 247. Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler fought back for Gujarat Titans but fell short. This win keeps Kolkata Knight Riders' playoff aspirations alive in the IPL.

Aronimink Golf Club transformed from inviting to brutal for the PGA Championship, with challenging pin placements and thick rough turning the course into a test of accuracy and nerve. The compressed leaderboard reflects a demanding setup that prioritizes strategic play and putting over raw power, promising a compelling weekend finish.

GT vs KKR Pitch Weather Report: Gujarat Titans, on a five-match winning streak, meet Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. GT leads the points table, aiming for a top-two finish. KKR, defending champions, need wins to keep playoff hopes alive after a mixed season. The Eden Gardens pitch is expected to favor batters. Kolkata weather will be hot and humid.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the interior minister, has received an invitation to attend the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Board meeting and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final, both scheduled to take place in Ahmedabad later this month, Geo TV reported.

India and Pakistan are set to clash in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup opener on June 14 at Edgbaston. Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, India faces Pakistan, captained by Fatima Sana, who has announced a 15-member squad featuring five debutants. Both teams aim to advance from Group 1 to the semifinals.