The Economic Times News

The IPL 2026 mini-auction is set for Abu Dhabi on December 16. 359 players are available as franchises rebuild their squads. Teams are targeting batters to strengthen their lineups. Key Indian batters like Sarfaraz Khan, Rahul Tripathi, Prithvi Shaw, Abhinav Manohar, and Venkatesh Iyer are expected to attract significant interest and high bids. The auction promises intense bidding wars.

IPL Auction 2026 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) top players KKR is expected to targetKolkata Knight Riders enters the IPL 2026 auction with the biggest purse. After a poor 2025 season, the team released several key players. They aim to rebuild their squad by acquiring new talent. KKR needs to strengthen its wicket-keeping and pace bowling departments. The auction will be crucial for their comeback.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner is not scheduled to play serious football on the 'G.O.A.T. India Tour 2025'. It is a fully promotional, and commercially-curated event which will begin on Saturday here and wind up on Monday in New Delhi.

2026 IPL Auction: Top 5 Indian bowlers in focus. The IPL 2026 auction is heating up with a focus on five Indian bowlers. Teams with large purses are expected to aggressively bid on specialists like Ravi Bishnoi and Akash Deep, filling crucial gaps in pace and spin departments. This shift is driven by new overseas player fee caps, highlighting the value of domestic talent.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a 14-year-old Indian opener, has impressed in the U-19 Asia Cup. He scored a rapid century against the UAE. Suryavanshi and captain Ayush Mhatre are in strong form. Their performance makes India a favorite for the title. The team faces Pakistan next in a highly anticipated match.

Indian assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate urged Shubman Gill to play freely in T20s, like he does in the IPL, as the batsman has been too tight trying to justify his place. The team management also backed captain Suryakumar Yadav, despite his lean run, believing in his class and ability to attack.

Quinton de Kock is back playing for South Africa with a fresh perspective. He feels fitter and more motivated than ever. The break from the game helped him rediscover his passion for winning. De Kock is now focused on white-ball cricket and aims to play for as long as possible.

South Africa dominated India in a T20 International, with Quinton de Kock's explosive 90 off 46 balls leading the charge. Despite De Kock's bizarre run-out, late hitting from Donavan Ferreira and David Miller propelled South Africa to a commanding 213/4. India struggled to chase the total, with their bowlers conceding heavily.

PGTI has brought in experienced administrators to steer the league. Veteran sports administrator Amrit Mathur will serve as Commissioner of 72 The League. Amitabh Kant, PGTI board member, and Joy Bhattacharjya, senior advisor for strategy and expansion at Game of Life Sports, will also contribute to the initiative.

The ICC has launched ticket sales for the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with entry-level prices starting at an historic low of Rs 100 in India and LKR 1,000 in Sri Lanka. This initiative aims to make the marquee event more accessible to fans globally, with over 2 million tickets available.

IPL auction: The IPL 2026 mini-auction is set to be a high-stakes event with teams looking to fill crucial vacancies. This year's auction features several powerful overseas batters, including Cameron Green, Rachin Ravindra, David Miller, Devon Conway, and Steve Smith, all bringing a mix of firepower, experience, and proven match-winning abilities to the table.

IPL Auction 5 likely most expensive players: The IPL auction in Abu Dhabi is approaching, with 10 teams holding a combined Rs 237.50 crore to fill 77 slots. Several players, including Cameron Green, Ravi Bishnoi, Venkatesh Iyer, Liam Livingstone, and Matheesha Pathirana, are likely to attract significant bids due to their all-round abilities and wicket-taking potential. However, IPL auctions are full of surprises and there may be other players who get biggest bids.

IPL franchises are expanding their commercial strategies beyond the cricket season by venturing into physical fan touchpoints like cafs and sports bars. This move aims to build sustainable, year-round businesses and deepen fan loyalty, mirroring global sports club models. While digital remains key, these offline formats foster community and brand engagement throughout the year.

India vs South Africa 2nd T20I Pitch Report: India faces South Africa in the second T20I with Shubman Gill under pressure to regain form. Despite a strong opening win, Gill's struggles since September persist, though management backs him. Captain Suryakumar Yadav's inconsistent form is also a concern as India prepares for the World Cup.

India vs South Africa 2nd T20I Live Streaming: India aims to extend their series lead against South Africa in the second T20I tonight at Mullanpur. Following a dominant win in the first match, fans can catch the action live on Star Sports and stream it on JioHotstar. The match begins at 7:00 PM IST.

India vs South Africa 2nd T20I Playing 11 Prediction: India carries strong momentum into the second T20I against South Africa in New Chandigarh. Following a commanding 101-run victory in the first match, India's team appears settled and confident. South Africa faces challenges and needs to recover form. The selection of the playing XI will be interesting to watch.

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers shared his views on ODI batting orders. He agreed with India coach Gautam Gambhir that these orders are overrated. De Villiers emphasized the need for teams to balance flexibility with clear player roles. He also praised the Indian team's consistent performance in T20 cricket, attributing it to the depth of Indian cricket.

IPL 2026 auction uncapped players: As the IPL 2026 mini auction approaches, several uncapped Indian players are drawing significant attention following strong performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Pacers Auqib Nabi Dar and Ashok Sharma, along with dynamic batters Kartik Sharma, Tushar Raheja, and Anmolpreet Singh, are poised to trigger competitive bidding due to their recent form and valuable skill sets.

Shubman Gill seeks a significant knock at home in the second T20I against South Africa, aiming to improve his T20 record. India, after a dominant win, faces scrutiny on Suryakumar Yadav's form. South Africa aims for a better batting performance after a dismal first T20.

The BCCI apex council will meet online on December 22 with key discussions focussing on contract revisions for Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Their current contracts will be reviewed as they now play only ODIs. Women cricketers' domestic contracts will also be addressed. Shubman Gill may move to the A-plus category. Umpire and match referee payments will be revised.

IPL teams have finalized their player lists for the upcoming mini-auction. A total of 237.55 crore rupees is available across all franchises. Teams will use this budget to fill 77 open slots. Kolkata Knight Riders have a large budget for a major rebuild. Mumbai Indians face purse constraints and need to target value.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met with the Karnataka State Cricket Association president. A decision on allowing IPL matches at Chinnaswamy stadium will be made in the upcoming cabinet meeting. The government is committed to cricket and cricket fans. International cricket and IPL matches will return to Bengaluru.

India vs South Africa 2nd T20I, date, time, probable playing 11 and squads, key players to watch: India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, aims for a 2-0 lead against Aiden Markram's South Africa in the second T20I. Following a dominant 74-run victory in the first match, where Hardik Pandya starred with bat and ball, India will look to replicate their performance. The match is scheduled for Thursday in New Chandigarh.

Over 24 nations will participate in the inaugural Commonwealth Kho Kho Championship in India next year, from March 9-14. This event, featuring 16 men's and 16 women's teams, is seen as a crucial step towards Kho Kho's inclusion in major international games like the Doha Asian Games and Brisbane Olympics.

Virat Kohli has climbed to second in the ICC ODI batting rankings, just eight rating points behind leader Rohit Sharma, following a stellar series against South Africa. Kuldeep Yadav also made significant gains, reaching third in the ODI bowling chart. Indian bowlers Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, and Jasprit Bumrah saw rises in T20I rankings after a recent win.

The Indian Street Premier League concluded its Season 3 Player Auction in Mumbai. Eight franchises invested nearly Rs 10 crore in 144 players. Vijay Pawle became the league's highest-ever buy at Rs 32.50 lakh. Two new teams, Ahmedabad Lions and Delhi Superheros, joined the competition. The auction showcased emerging talent and attracted cricket and Bollywood personalities.

Ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya revealed a positive mindset fueled his return to cricket stronger and more confident after injury-induced self-doubt. His impactful performance against South Africa, including an unbeaten 59 and a wicket, propelled India to a significant victory. Pandya emphasized trusting his skillset and internal belief as key to his resurgence.

Under-pressure Real Madrid coach Xabi Alonso remains confident ahead of a crucial Champions League tie against Manchester City, despite recent poor form. Alonso emphasized unity and responsibility, stating that situations can change quickly in football. The team is reportedly convinced they can secure a victory at the Bernabeu.

India secured a commanding 101-run victory over South Africa in the first T20I, taking a 1-0 series lead. Hardik Pandya's explosive unbeaten 59 powered India to 175/6, a total their bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, defended brilliantly to bowl out the Proteas for a mere 74.

India's Women's squad for the upcoming five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka has been announced, led by Harmanpreet Kaur. This series marks the team's first international engagement since winning the 2025 ODI World Cup and serves as preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup in England.

India vs South Africa 1st T20I Pitch Report: India begins a five-match T20I series against South Africa on December 9. Fresh from an ODI series win, India is confident and unbeaten in T20Is since 2024. South Africa aims to bounce back. The Barabati Stadium pitch favors batting, with dew expected to assist the chasing team. Weather conditions may influence the game.

India vs South Africa 1st T20I Playing 11 Prediction: Indian team's strength has got a booster with return of key players. With the batting order, wicket-keeping role, and bowling combinations all under review, the management will use this series as a test run to lock its T20 blueprint before shifting full focus to the global event.

India vs South Africa 1st T20I Live Streaming: India faces South Africa in the first T20I today in Cuttack, marking a crucial start to their preparations for the T20 World Cup 2026. Following a Test series loss and an ODI series win, India aims to settle combinations and build momentum. South Africa also seeks to refine their squad ahead of the global tournament.

IPL 2026 Auction List: The final auction list brings together a mix of returning internationals, domestic performers, and uncapped prospects. Teams will enter the auction with different purse strengths, setting the stage for competitive bidding, especially for experienced names placed in the top price brackets.

IPL 2026 Auction List: The TATA IPL 2026 auction is scheduled for December 16 in Abu Dhabi. 350 players will go under the hammer. Teams have 77 squad spots to fill, including 31 for overseas players. Cameron Green and Venkatesh Iyer are among those with a Rs 2 crore base price.

Rajasthan Royals is on the hunt to offload a majority stake in its IPL franchise. They've enlisted the expertise of Raine Group to navigate the sale. With numerous interested parties stepping forward, this comes at a time when the IPLs allure to investors is soaring. The valuation for the team is anticipated to be quite impressive.

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is set to reach a significant milestone. He is just 140 runs shy of 2,000 T20I runs and two wickets away from 100 T20I wickets. Pandya's return after injury is crucial for India's upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa. The series begins on December 9.

In a thrilling climax to the season, Lando Norris has achieved his first Formula One world championship, triumphing at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. This remarkable victory interrupted Max Verstappen's four-year reign, as he crossed the finish line in third place.

Chasing an improbable 531, West Indies, who were bundled out for 167 in their first innings, displayed remarkable character to reach 457-6, the second highest fourth-innings total in test match history, when players shook hands at Hagley Oval.

Asian Games discus throw champion Seema Punia has been suspended for 16 months by NADA after failing a dope test. This marks her third doping violation, with her most recent appearance being a bronze medal win at the Hangzhou Asian Games in October 2023. Several other athletes also received bans in NADA's latest offender list.

Indian bowlers face challenges in Visakhapatnam ODIs due to dew affecting ball grip and skidding, making it difficult to defend scores. Captain KL Rahul acknowledges the bowlers' efforts but highlights the need for improvement in all aspects of the game. The team's bowling attack is settled, but Prasidh Krishna's economy rate is a concern, with Mohammad Siraj's absence noted.

Australia has taken a significant 44-run lead against England in the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. Opener Jake Weatherald and Steve Smith led the charge for the hosts. By the end of day two, Australia reached 378 for 6. This lead is crucial as the pitch is expected to deteriorate.

Grandmaster Arjun Erigaisi has clinched the Jerusalem Masters title. He defeated five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand in an all-Indian final. Erigaisi secured the win in the blitz tie-break matches. He pocketed USD 55,000 for his victory. Anand received USD 35,000. Peter Svidler secured third place.

Virat Kohli's second consecutive ODI century against South Africa was deemed inevitable by Sunil Gavaskar, who highlighted the batsman's confidence from the first match. Kohli's 102, coupled with Ruturaj Gaikwad's 105, set a new record for India's third-wicket stand. Despite their efforts, South Africa chased down 358 to level the series, with Aiden Markram scoring a crucial maiden century.

Reliance Industries has acquired a significant stake in The Hundred's Oval Invincibles. The team will be known as MI London starting in 2026. This move expands Reliance's global cricket presence. Other franchises have also seen new ownership and investment. The Hundred league continues to grow in value.

England's Bazball strategy faces a stern test at the Gabba. The team confronts its pink ball weaknesses and the prospect of a two-nil Ashes deficit. Australia holds a strong record in day-night matches. England needs a significant turnaround to compete in the series. The match begins on Thursday.

Young footballer Suhana Mandal will meet Lionel Messi thanks to the Maharashtra government's 'Maha Deva' project. This initiative provides scholarships and training to 60 talented children from across the state. The program aims to develop future Indian football stars and contribute to India's Olympic medal aspirations by 2036. Corporates are funding this ambitious sports development plan.

Australia vs England 2nd Test Day 1 Live Streaming: The Ashes series moves to Brisbane for the second Test. England has announced its team, but Australia's playing XI is not yet final. Pat Cummins' participation remains uncertain. The Gabba pitch is expected to favor fast bowlers. The match is scheduled from December 4 to 8, 2025. Fans can watch the live action on JioHotstar and Star Sports.