The Economic Times

Mohammed Shami has made waves in his IPL debut with the Lucknow Super Giants, leaving Cheteshwar Pujara thoroughly impressed. Pujara perceives this performance as a promising sign of Shami's resurgence in form. Key moments include Shami's early scalp of KL Rahul and his formidable presence in the powerplay.

Kevin Pietersen has raised concerns over Rishabh Pant's effectiveness in the top order, encouraging the young batsman to channel his energy into savoring the game instead of trying to climb the batting hierarchy prematurely.

Young batter Sameer Rizvi seized his chance at number four for Delhi Capitals. He played a match-winning unbeaten 70 against Lucknow Super Giants. Rizvi and Tristan Stubbs built a crucial partnership. Rizvi emphasized his focus on consistency in upcoming IPL matches. He credited his home ground advantage for his performance.

Spanish football star Lamine Yamal has strongly condemned anti-Muslim chants by fans during a friendly match. The Spanish government and football federation also denounced the behaviour. Police are investigating the incident. This event has cast a shadow on Spain's sporting image, with similar racist incidents occurring previously.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup field is now complete. Iraq and Bosnia and Herzegovina secured the final berths. Italy has been eliminated from qualifying for a third straight World Cup. The tournament begins June 11 and will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Italians will once again be forced to watch a World Cup from the sidelines after another play-off disaster highlighted just how far one of the great footballing nations has fallen. Italy, whose European title defence ended at the last 16 in 2024 with a footballing lesson by Switzerland, for context, the iPhone was introduced to the market one year later.

Delhi Capitals recovered from a top-order collapse as Sameer Rizvi hit an unbeaten half-century to help secure a six-wicket win over the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL on Wednesday. South Africa seamer Lungi Ngidi took three wickets as Delhi bowled out hosts Lucknow for 141, a total the Capitals overhauled with 17 balls to spare.

Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant is uncertain about opening the innings throughout the Indian Premier League season. Pant was run-out in the opening match against Delhi Capitals. He acknowledged extras hurt LSG's defense of a low score. Delhi Capitals' young batter Sameer Rizvi won the game with an unbeaten 70. Coaches backed Rizvi to bat at number four.

Delhi Capitals secured a six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants. Sameer Rizvi's unbeaten 70 guided DC to the target. Earlier, pacers Lungi Ngidi and T Natarajan took three wickets each. LSG were bowled out for 141. DC chased the total with 17 balls remaining. Tristan Stubbs also contributed with a valuable unbeaten 39.

Rishabh Pant's move to open for Lucknow Super Giants ended quickly. He was run out for 7 runs after just three overs. This unusual dismissal gave Delhi Capitals an early advantage. Delhi chose to bowl first after winning the toss. Pant's early exit disrupted Lucknow's plans. Delhi seized control of the opening overs.

JioStar has launched the IPL 2026 season with its most significant opening weekend ever. The tournament saw record viewership and engagement on both television and digital platforms. Over 515 million viewers tuned in, with watch-time increasing by 26%. Connected TV experienced substantial growth. Differentiated viewing experiences, including expert analysis, are enhancing fan immersion.

Hamam Hussain, a milk deliveryman from Jammu and Kashmir, achieved his first national gold medal at the Khelo India Tribal Games 2026 in wrestling. Balancing his family's dairy livelihood after his father's death with his passion for the sport, Hussain's victory highlights his years of dedication and resilience against challenging conditions.

IPL 2026 LSG vs DC head-to-head stats: IPL 2026 begins with Rishabh Pant leading Lucknow Super Giants against Delhi Capitals. Pant aims for a strong impact as captain and player. Delhi Capitals seek consistency after a mixed last season. KL Rahul is expected to open for Delhi. The spin duo of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav are key for Delhi's bowling strength.

Punjab Kings batter Cooper Connolly made a stunning IPL debut scoring 72 not out. Head coach Ricky Ponting encouraged him to dominate. Connolly looked forward to learning from captain Shreyas Iyer. Anil Kumble questioned Gujarat Titans' late use of bowler Prasidh Krishna. Yuzvendra Chahal's smart bowling secured key wickets for Punjab Kings.

Indian batters Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan lead the ICC T20I batting rankings. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav also feature in the top 10. South Africa's Connor Esterhuizen made a significant jump. Afghanistan's Rashid Khan tops the bowling charts. India's Varun Chakaravarthy and Jasprit Bumrah are second and fifth. Sikandar Raza leads all-rounders with Hardik Pandya second.

The Indian Premier League is reinventing its approach to sponsorship. Brands are moving beyond mere visibility, shifting their focus to storytelling and sustaining brand equity over time. High-value assets like front-of-jersey sponsorships are seeing increased demand as established players and innovative sectors such as AI dive in.

India will tour Zimbabwe for a three-match T20I series in July 2026. All matches will be played in Harare. India last visited Zimbabwe in 2024 for a T20I series. Zimbabwe will then travel to India in January 2027 for a three-match ODI series. These ODIs will be held in Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.

Kolkata Knight Riders face Sunrisers Hyderabad today. KKR needs their spinners to find form. This match starts a vital home run for KKR. They play three games in seven days at Eden Gardens. Sunrisers Hyderabad also seeks a win after an opening loss. Both teams have strong batting but vulnerable bowling. The game begins at 7:30 PM.

Punjab Kings began their IPL 2026 campaign with a win against Gujarat Titans. Cooper Connolly guided Punjab to victory. This marks Punjab's sixth consecutive opening-game win. Gujarat Titans face questions about their top order and batting structure. Shubman Gill's captaincy also drew attention. Connolly's mature innings was a highlight for Punjab. Gujarat needs to reassess their strategy.

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has been fined 12 lakh. His team maintained a slow over-rate during their IPL 2026 match against Gujarat Titans. This was Punjab Kings' first offence this season. On the field, Punjab Kings secured a hard-fought win over Gujarat Titans. The team chased down the target to seal a narrow victory.

Tiger Woods has announced he is stepping away from golf to seek treatment following his recent DUI arrest. His attorney entered a not guilty plea to charges of misdemeanor driving under the influence and refusal to submit to a urinalysis. Woods cited prioritizing his well-being and working towards lasting recovery.

The International Olympic Committee has introduced a new gender testing policy for female athletes. Double Olympic champion Caster Semenya criticizes the move, calling it a violation of women's rights. Semenya insists there is no scientific basis for the policy. She states athletes with Differences of Sexual Development were not properly consulted. The policy aims to ensure fairness in women's events.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed Iran will play in the World Cup. Their group matches will be held in the United States as planned. This assurance comes despite the ongoing Middle East war. Iran's participation had been uncertain. The tournament begins on June 11. Iran's first game is against New Zealand on June 15.

PBKS vs GT Live Stream: Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to face the Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 4 of IPL 2026 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. Scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the match will begin at 7:30 PM IST, with the toss taking place at 7:00 PM.

Indian billionaire Anil Agarwals Vedanta is challenging fellow tycoon Gautam Adanis winning bid for bankrupt real estate firm Jaiprakash Associates in the Supreme Court. The $4 billion asset pool includes homes, power and cement plants, and Indias only Formula One track near New Delhi.

IPL 2026 PBKS vs GT Weather Forecast update: Shubman Gill's Gujarat Titans and Shreyas Iyer's Punjab Kings clash in a crucial IPL encounter. Both captains aim for a strong impact, with PBKS relying on their Indian core and facing a challenge from GT's spin attack. The match is expected to be high-scoring on a batter-friendly pitch with clear weather.

Kickstarting IPL 2026, Lucknow Super Giants face off against Delhi Capitals. Led by an energised Captain Rishabh Pant, the Capitals are eager for consistency in their upper batting order. Expect explosive performances from both squads' sharp bowling units. Tune in at 7:30 PM IST for the showdown!

IPL 2026 PBKS vs GT: head-to-head stats: Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans will clash in IPL 2026 Match 4 on March 31. The match takes place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in New Chandigarh. Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer, aim for a strong start. Gujarat Titans, captained by Shubman Gill, seek a new beginning. This encounter promises exciting cricket action.

Canada Super 60: The Canada Super 60 League is set for its second season from September 29 to October 4, 2026, at BC Place Stadium. This T10-format tournament aims to grow cricket in North America by providing opportunities for local players to compete alongside international stars.

Teenage cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is impressing former India stars. Mohammad Kaif and Piyush Chawla believe the 15-year-old is ready for the India T20 squad. Sooryavanshi's recent IPL and Under-19 World Cup performances have drawn praise. Ambati Rayudu also acknowledges his talent but notes the challenge of breaking into the world champion T20 team.

Sourav Ganguly, Cricket Association of Bengal President, supports Test matches at new venues like Guwahati and Ranchi. He is happy to see the traditional format reach more locations. However, former spinner Venkatapathy Raju believes Test matches should return to traditional centres like Kolkata and Chennai. Ganguly also plans a reunion for the 2001 Test team at Eden Gardens.

Italy have one more obstacle standing between them and a return to the World Cup in the shape of Bosnia and Hercegovina, who host the Azzurri on Tuesday in what promises to be a tense qualification play-off final in Zenica. The prize for Italy is a spot in Group B at this summer's finals alongside co-hosts Canada, Switzerland and Qatar, and something to look forward to for a powerful football nation that has fallen behind its rivals since last lifting the World Cup in 2006.

Jammu and Kashmir pacer Brijesh Sharma made his IPL debut for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings. Sharma, bought at his base price, impressed in the Bengal Pro T20 League with his wicket-taking ability. His journey from humble beginnings highlights the growing talent pool from the region.

RR vs CSK Live Stream: Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, both seeking redemption after disappointing last seasons, will clash in their IPL 2026 opener. Key player movements include Ravindra Jadeja returning to RR and Sanju Samson joining CSK in a significant trade. Ruturaj Gaikwad will captain CSK, while Riyan Parag leads RR.

RR vs CSK Pitch Report of Barsapara Stadium: Chennai Super Kings, aiming to rebound from a last-place finish, kick off their IPL campaign against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. A significant pre-auction trade saw Sanju Samson move to CSK and Ravindra Jadeja to RR, intensifying the rivalry. The Barsapara Stadium pitch is expected to favor batsmen, with dew potentially influencing the toss-winning captain's decision.

As Kolkata Knight Riders captain, Ajinkya Rahane takes the field not with the intent to silence his detractors, but rather to carve his own path towards personal evolution. He expresses satisfaction with his batting prowess and growth in white-ball formats.

Anil Kumble is impressed with Rohit Sharma's performance in the IPL opener. He believes Sharma's '2.0 avatar' will worry rival teams. Sharma's innings showed he is ready to dominate again. Kumble also noted KKR's over-reliance on spinners Narine and Chakravarthy. He suggested KKR needs to use their resources better, especially their world-class spinners.

Overlooked on the international T20 stage, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer headline IPL 2026s opening clash in Mullanpur, each with a point to prove as captains of Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings. Gill, despite prolific IPL returns, remains under scrutiny for his strike rate and place in Indias T20 setup, while Iyer continues to be ignored at the national level despite elite IPL leadership and a high-impact 2025 season. Punjab, meanwhile, bank on Iyers leadership and an explosive Indian batting co

IPL 2026 RR vs CSK: head-to-head stats: Sanju Samson faces his former team, Rajasthan Royals, for the first time with Chennai Super Kings. In MS Dhoni's absence, Samson is expected to lead CSK alongside Ruturaj Gaikwad. Ravindra Jadeja also returns to face his former CSK teammates, adding another layer to this anticipated IPL clash.

Mumbai Indians skipper Suryakumar Yadav played as an impact substitute in the IPL opener due to a minor niggle. Head coach Mahela Jayawardene stated this was a precautionary measure. The team secured a six-wicket victory against Kolkata Knight Riders. Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton displayed strong batting performances. Jayawardene also commented on Shardul Thakur's bowling and Rohit's current form.

Lahore Qalandars faced a ball-tampering penalty in the final over against Karachi Kings, leading to a revised target and a shock four-wicket win for Karachi. Fakhar Zaman has been charged with a Level 3 offense and denies wrongdoing, with a verdict expected soon.

Lahore Qalandars batter Fakhar Zaman faces ball-tampering charges. The incident occurred during a Pakistan Super League match against Karachi Kings. Officials awarded five penalty runs to Karachi. Fakhar denied the charge. A disciplinary hearing is scheduled. The outcome could lead to a ban for the player. This follows a past ball-tampering scandal involving Australian cricketers.

MI vs KKR IPL Points Table 2026: Mumbai Indians shattered an opening-day jinx with a thrilling six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, successfully chasing 221 at the Wankhede. Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton's explosive partnership laid the foundation for this record-breaking chase, marking MI's first opening win since 2012 and the stadium's highest successful pursuit.

Mumbai Indians secured a significant victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton's powerful batting performances guided Mumbai to chase down a target of 221. This win marks the end of their long-standing opening match losing streak in the IPL. Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi scored half-centuries for Kolkata.

IPL 2026 KKR vs MI Pitch Report, Weather Forecast: Mumbai is set for clear skies with temperatures in the mid-to-late 20s, ensuring ideal playing conditions. The Wankhede pitch is expected to favour batters, continuing its high-scoring trend. With short boundaries and good bounce, both teams are likely to post big totals in this evening clash.

IPL 2026 KKR vs MI Live Stream: Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders are set to clash in a high-profile IPL 2026 encounter on Sunday, March 29, at the Wankhede Stadium. This early-season fixture offers both Hardik Pandya's MI and KKR a crucial opportunity to build momentum. Fans can catch the 7:30 pm IST match live on JioHotstar.

Virat Kohli's batting has evolved, with former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn noting an improved six-hitting ability post-Test retirement. Steyn also pointed to Sunrisers Hyderabad's bowling strategy as a key factor in their defeat. The team's bowlers lacked plans, making it difficult to defend a high total against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. SRH needs smarter bowling and better resource management.

Ravichandran Ashwin lauded Virat Kohli's enduring energy and commitment on the field. Kohli's performance in the IPL opener impressed Ashwin. Jacob Duffy also made a strong IPL debut for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Duffy's bowling helped contain the opposition's scoring. His tactical execution was noted as a key factor in the match.