The Times of India

Cricketer Harbhajan Singh has officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, concluding his association with the Aam Aadmi Party. The former World Cup winner, who was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by AAP in 2022, now shifts his political allegiance.

Pakistan batter Khushdil Shah, after a match-winning 44 not out in the PSL, voiced his frustration over his exclusion from the national team. He highlighted his consistent domestic performances, including significant runs at lower middle-order positions, questioning the selectors' decisions. Shah expressed feeling overlooked despite his contributions.

Pandit, who was KKRs head coach when the franchise released Iyer, reflected on the move after the batters strong run with Punjab Kings. Since joining Punjab for Rs 26.75 crore, Iyer led the team to the IPL 2025 final, and PBKS have also remained unbeaten in their first six matches of the IPL 2026 season.

India beat Canada 3-1 in their Thomas Cup opener after recovering from Lakshya Sens loss to Victor Lai. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty levelled the tie, before Ayush Shetty and the pair of Hariharan Amsakarunan and M R Arjun sealed victory. Kidambi Srikanth was set for a dead rubber, while the womens team next face Denmark.

Praful Hinge impressed on his Indian Premier League 2026 debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad, dismissing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi early with a planned bouncer after a tactical tweak from coaches. He went on to take multiple wickets but stayed grounded, focusing on training. Hinge credited team support and inspiration from Pat Cummins, with guidance from Glenn McGrath and Varun Aaron shaping his growth.

Khushdil Shah starred with a stunning unbeaten 44 off 14 balls as Karachi Kings chased 200 to beat Lahore Qalandars. Anchored by David Warners 63, the chase looked tough until Khushdil smashed Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf late. His fearless finish highlighted T20s unpredictability and proved impact matters more than reputation.

Anshul Kamboj reclaims the Purple Cap with 14 wickets after CSK's dominant win over Mumbai Indians. Sanju Samson's second century propels him to third in the Orange Cap race, trailing Sunrisers Hyderabad's Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen. Upcoming matches offer opportunities for other top performers to ascend the leaderboards.

Ravichandran Ashwin criticised Hardik Pandya for giving rookie Krish Bhagat the death overs in Indian Premier League 2026 against Chennai Super Kings, where he conceded 31 runs. Ashwin felt Pandya should have taken responsibility, citing his experience. He also highlighted the pressure of replacing Rohit Sharma. Despite Pandyas poor form, coach Mahela Jayawardene backed him ahead of the next game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Both Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans seek a rebound after recent defeats in IPL 2026. RCB, third in the standings, hosts GT, who are seventh, in a crucial encounter. Key player battles, including Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli vs. Kagiso Rabada, are set to influence the outcome.

Sara Tendulkar and sister-in-law Saaniya Chandhok drew attention at a Mumbai event, showcasing their growing public presence and close bond. While Sara is already well-known, Saaniya is easing into the spotlight. Meanwhile, Arjun Tendulkar, now with Lucknow Super Giants for IPL 2026, shared that Saaniya has been quietly supportive as he balances cricket, personal life, and expectations.

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Rajat Patidar, an explosive batter and steady captain for RCB, faces Shubman Gill, whose Gujarat Titans are wobbling despite his individual run-scoring. Patidar's fearless batting has been a season highlight, while Gill's inconsistent form mirrors his team's struggles. Both captains lead teams on the back of losses, setting up a crucial clash.

12-year-old Aarav Sarbalia is gaining recognition as a rising chess talent. Alongside his on-board progress, his structured social media content has attracted prominent followers, including Judit Polgar and D Gukesh's coach, Vishnu Prasanna. Supported by his family and guided by top coaching, Aarav is building momentum toward his long-term goal of achieving the Grandmaster (GM) title.

Marco Jansen's cricket journey, from rugby to a consistent performer for South Africa and Punjab Kings, is remarkable. Inspired by Josh Hazlewood's metronomic bowling, Jansen has embraced his unique strengths, focusing on hard lengths. He's adapted his game, particularly for bowling with the older ball, proving effective even without new-ball swing.

Arjun Tendulkar shared a funny birthday wish for Sachin Tendulkar, saying, Happy Birthday, I am not going to eat this because I don't eat sugar very often. I will see you soon. As Sachin turned 53, fans celebrated his legendary career, highlighted by 34,357 international runs, most centuries, and a lasting legacy as one of crickets greatest icons.

Sunrisers Hyderabad's Praful Hinge, a 24-year-old pacer, became an instant star with a remarkable debut, taking a wicket on his second ball and two more in his opening over. Despite the whirlwind success, Hinge remains grounded, focusing on training and crediting senior players, coach, and captain for their support.

Nausheen Naz, a 15-year-old hockey prodigy, trains for the Under-18 Asia Cup. Hailing from Seoni, she overcame poverty and used a broken stick to hone her skills. The MP Hockey Academy provided her with training and equipment. Naz is now India's exciting women's hockey forward prospect. Her journey highlights talent emerging from humble beginnings.

Bangladesh have prioritised player fitness after the ODI series against New Zealand, ruling Mustafizur Rahman out of PSL 2026 due to injury and sending him for scans and rehab. Nahid Rana has also been held back to prepare for the Pakistan Tests. With key pacers rested, Bangladesh named a fresh T20I squad for the New Zealand series, handing debut call-ups to Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and including Ripon Mondal to test new talent.

Rafael Nadal returned for a special exhibition on a temporary court at Santiago Bernabeu, teaming with Thibaut Courtois against Jannik Sinner and Jude Bellingham. It was very special to enjoy this unique court at the Bernabeu, Nadal said. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Rafael Jdar impressed at the Madrid Open, celebrating his win with Bellinghams gesture. I didn't know that he was going to be here, it meant a lot to me, he said after meeting the football star.

Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad dedicated their 103-run victory over Mumbai Indians to teammate Mukesh Choudhary, who played despite his mother's recent passing. Gaikwad praised Choudhary's courage, while Sanju Samson's unbeaten 101 powered CSK to 207/6. Spinners Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad then restricted MI to 104, securing a dominant win.

Chennai Super Kings fans are still waiting for MS Dhonis return in IPL 2026 as he continues to recover from a calf injury. Despite training regularly, he has missed nearly a month. Batting coach Michael Hussey dismissed rumours of Dhoni playing only as an impact sub, saying he will keep wickets. I'm pretty sure he'll be behind the stumps, Hussey said, adding Dhoni is progressing well but will return only when fully fit.

A pre-match mascot scuffle at the Pakistan Super League's Karachi Kings vs. Lahore Qalandars clash provided hilarious entertainment, with commentator Ramiz Raja's witty narration stealing the show. Later, Khushdil Shah's explosive 44 off 14 balls, including 37 in the last 10 deliveries, powered Karachi to a thrilling five-wicket victory chasing 200, keeping their tournament hopes alive.

Islamabad United coach Luke Ronchi lost his temper during a PSL 2026 press conference after his teams six-wicket defeat to RawalPindiz. Interrupted mid-answer, he snapped, He can ask me a question, I don't give a s**t. RawalPindiz secured their first win after eight losses, while Islamabad United remain in playoff contention with two matches left.

Mumbai Indians faced controversy in their IPL 2026 loss to Chennai Super Kings after using Shardul Thakur as a concussion substitute for Mitchell Santner. Coach Mahela Jayawardene defended the decision, citing a head injury, though Santner later wore a shoulder sling. The debate overshadowed MI's continued struggles on the field.

A heated on-field exchange between MI's Tilak Varma and CSK's Jamie Overton, with Suryakumar Yadav intervening, marked the IPL clash between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Despite the mid-game drama, the players reconciled post-match. However, CSK dominated the game, securing a commanding 103-run victory powered by Sanju Samson's century.

The defeat was also the biggest margin for MI in IPL by runs.

Interestingly, Shardul Thakur was not part of the Mumbai's starting XI and even not the impact player. Mumbai had already used opener Danish Malewar as its impact player in place of Allah Ghazanfar.

Sanju Samson completed his century on the last ball of the innings with a four off Krish Bhagat's bowl. That was his second century of the season, his second for CSK and his fifth in the IPL history.

The player will undergo conservative treatment. Lamine Yamal will miss the rest of the season and is expected to be available for the World Cup, which runs from June 11-July 19 this year.

While conducting the toss, Shastri introduced Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya but stopped briefly before naming Gaikwad.

MS Dhoni's highly anticipated return to IPL 2026 action was not to be, as he remained sidelined due to a calf strain. While Dhoni was seen engaging with a robotic dog during practice, fans continue to await his comeback. Mumbai Indians won the toss and chose to field against Chennai Super Kings.

Mayank Yadav's much-anticipated IPL 2026 return for Lucknow Super Giants saw him clocking over 150kph despite a tough outing, conceding 56 runs without a wicket. Facing criticism, former West Indies cricketer Ian Bishop defended the young pacer, highlighting his career-threatening injury and urging patience for his comeback. LSG suffered their fifth loss.

The moment came on the third ball of the 17th over of the first innings when Amir bowled a slow bouncer to Faheem Ashraf. Faheem tried to play an upper-cut but edged it to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan.

Talking about his bowling, Jadeja said the ball was holding a bit, which helped him change his pace.

MS Dhoni, recovering from a calf strain, was seen practicing and playfully interacting with a robot dog at the Wankhede Stadium. His return to the field for Chennai Super Kings' clash against Mumbai Indians is highly anticipated, with former cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin confident in his fitness and ability to bolster CSK's finishing power.

Chennai Super Kings face a significant blow as top-order batsman Ayush Mhatre is out with a hamstring tear. His absence at number three creates a void ahead of their clash with Mumbai Indians. The team is now considering options like Urvil Patel, Sarfaraz Khan, or Kartik Sharma to fill the crucial batting position.

Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has ended his legal dispute with Sri Lanka Cricket. He withdrew his case against the board regarding his participation in IPL 2026. Thushara had challenged the denial of a No Objection Certificate due to fitness standards. The case was dismissed after his request. Thushara has also apologized to SLC.

Inter Kashi manager Antonio Habas expressed frustration after a 0-3 loss to Punjab FC in the ISL, citing deep club issues and potential unpaid salaries. Club insiders denied financial trouble, pointing instead to ongoing legal battles with Churchill Brothers over last years I-League title. Inter Kashi currently sit eighth in the ISL standings.

Kevin Pietersen has hit back at Alastair Cook's suggestion that Jacob Bethell should leave the IPL for county cricket. Cook argued Bethell is losing development time on the bench, but Pietersen countered that the IPL environment offers invaluable learning from top players, even without playing.

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Mitchell Starc is set to join Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026 on Friday after Cricket Australia clearances, targeting a May 1 return against Rajasthan Royals. The injured fast bowler's arrival presents a selection dilemma for the Axar Patel-led side, which needs strong performances in upcoming matches to boost playoff hopes. Starc's gradual return will be managed carefully.

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Jofra Archer has made history for Rajasthan Royals, becoming their top wicket-taker. He joins an elite group of bowlers who have achieved significant milestones for their franchises. Sunil Narine is nearing a historic 200 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders. Jasprit Bumrah also features prominently for Mumbai Indians. Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar lead the overall IPL wicket charts.

Rohit Sharma's availability for Mumbai Indians' clash against Chennai Super Kings on April 23, 2026, remains uncertain due to a hamstring injury. While seen batting in nets, his participation will be a last-minute decision. If fit to bat only, he could feature as an Impact Player, given his significant record against CSK.