The Times of India

IPL 2026 Akeal Hosein speaks to media after 417 in CSK vs MI

We havent played good cricket - Mahela Jayawardene after MIs biggest IPL loss vs CSK

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.

ISL Full Highlights: Punjab FC vs Inter Kashi on April 20

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.

Justin Langer on LSG batting failure and opens up on the team's bowling

Ravindra Jadeja picks the key turning point in Rajasthan Royals win

This Is What My Mother Wanted: The Story Behind Lokesh Sathyanathans 8.21m Leap

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.

Chelsea FC has sacked head coach Liam Rosenior after less than four months following a historic run of five consecutive Premier League defeats without scoring. The decision comes after a 3-0 loss to Brighton, with the club citing performances falling below necessary standards. Assistant coach Calum McFarlane takes interim charge as Chelsea seeks to salvage European qualification.

Rajasthan Royals pacer Nandre Burger has been fined 10% of his match fees and received one demerit point for a send-off gesture towards Rishabh Pant. This disciplinary action occurred during RR's dominant 40-run victory over LSG, where their bowling attack restricted the opposition to 119.

MS Dhoni's return for Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians on April 23, 2026, hinges on his fitness after a calf strain. He has been training intensely, showing progress, with a final decision to be made before the toss. If fit, he's likely to feature as an Impact Player, bringing crucial experience to the struggling CSK side.

Venkatesh Iyer, now with Royal Challengers Bengaluru after a significant price drop, embraces a team-first approach despite limited game time. He understands the settled combination of the defending champions and credits the coaching staff for clarity on his role. Iyer remains mentally prepared, focusing on improving his red-ball bowling with the ambition of winning the Ranji Trophy for Madhya Pradesh.

Indian women's boxing sees a surge of young talent alongside concerns over seasoned stars Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain's form. Head coach Santiago Nieva highlights the team's strong Asian Championship performance, emphasizing quality wins and composure, while acknowledging the need for faster progress ahead of major events like the CWG and Asian Games.

Abhishek Sharma's explosive 135 not out against Delhi Capitals showcased a significant tactical shift. Instead of forcing square shots, he unleashed a powerful straight-bat game, reclaiming the long-on and long-off corridors. This recalibration, marked by improved footwork and a more patient approach, dismantled opposition plans and powered SRH to a commanding victory.

Mumbai Indians' Hardik Pandya and Chennai Super Kings' Ruturaj Gaikwad face immense pressure captaining their respective franchises, stepping into the shoes of legends Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. Both captains are struggling for form, with Pandya's batting and bowling effectiveness declining, while Gaikwad navigates leadership challenges. Their performances are under scrutiny as their teams seek to revive their IPL campaigns.

Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz faces an anti-doping probe after a reported positive test for a banned recreational substance during the T20 World Cup. The ICC has tasked the PCB with a swift investigation, with potential consequences ranging from a warning to a six-month ban. The outcome hinges on substance quantity and usage circumstances.

Sanjiv Goenka, owner of Lucknow Super Giants, was seen smiling warmly while interacting with captain Rishabh Pant after their 40-run loss to Rajasthan Royals. This contrasts with his previous intense post-match demeanor, sparking varied reactions online. Despite the defeat, Goenka's calmer approach was noted, though some speculated he was suppressing his true emotions.

Rishabh Pant expressed deep disappointment after Lucknow Super Giants' batting collapse, admitting his team had no answers in their 40-run IPL 2026 defeat. He called for introspection, stating the batting unit, including himself, failed to adapt to the challenging pitch. Rajasthan Royals, anchored by Ravindra Jadeja's unbeaten 43, successfully defended their modest total.

Following their T20 World Cup win, selectors are prioritising the World Test Championship and 2027 ODI World Cup, focusing on managing Jasprit Bumrah's workload. Bumrah is expected to play all nine upcoming WTC Tests, with potential rest from ODIs. Middle-order prospects like Padikkal, Jurel, and Gaikwad are also being considered.