Cricket

New Rules Are Introduced To Maintain The IPL's Transparency: BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla

IPL Operations Team: The BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla said the governing body is rolling out stricter regulations for all IPL players to improve transparency and strengthen security arrangements during the tournament. Shukla stated that fans and outsiders will no longer be allowed to meet players inside team hotels or buses, with the new rules expected to be implemented in the coming days to ensure tighter protocols and better protection for cricketers throughout the league. New rules are in the works, and, according to the news directives, player access will be regulated. Unauthorised individuals will not be allowed to approach players, whether at the hotel or on the team bus. These rules are expected to be implemented within the next few days to ensure that the transparency of the IPL is maintained completely, Shukla said. Earlier on Friday, the BCCI issued seven pages of guidelines for the 10 IPL franchises, warning them about the potential dangers of targeted honey-trapping during the league. The board said it will conduct unannounced surprise checks to ensure strict adherence to the league's extensive regulatory framework and operational guidelines. According to the directive, Saikia noted that no one is permitted to enter a team members room, regardless of their relationship with the player or official, without the prior knowledge and approval of the team manager. In his communication to all the franchises, Saikia has noted that The BCCI / IPL Operations Team may conduct periodic checks to assess adherence to the directives set forth in this Advisory. Team Managers are required to maintain records of all approved guest visits and hotel movements. Last month, Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag was reportedly seen vaping inside the dressing room during the game against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh. The BCCI has come down heavily on the offenders, saying whoever found engaging in such conduct will be liable to a cognisable offence under the applicable statutory framework. Instances of vaping within the dressing room and other restricted areas of tournament venues have been brought to the BCCl's attention. It is pertinent to note that the use of vapes and electronic cigarettes is prohibited under applicable Indian law. Any individual found engaging in such conduct within tournament premises is not only violating BCCI and IPL regulations but may also be committing a cognisable offence under the applicable statutory framework, Saikia stated in the directive. Last month, Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag was reportedly seen vaping inside the dressing room during the game against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh. The BCCI has come down heavily on the offenders, saying whoever found engaging in such conduct will be liable to a cognisable offence under the applicable statutory framework. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The BCCI has instructed franchise owners to avoid any communication with players or coaching staff in the dugout while a match is in progress. Article Source: IANS

Shanto ton, Mominul fifty frustrate Pakistan in second session of Mirpur Test

Shanto made 101 before falling just moments before the tea break

'Pant Rotated The Bowlers Really Well Against RCB: Tare

Lucknow Super Giants: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Aditya Tare praised Rishabh Pant for his bold and effective captaincy, highlighting good bowlers' rotation during Lucknow Super Giants thrilling nine-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Defending 213 in the rain-curtailed 19-overs-a-side contest, LSG survived a late scare from RCB before restricting the visitors to 203/6, with Pants bowling changes and tactical calls proving decisive in the closing stages. Lucknow Super Giants started their bowling innings in incredible fashion. Mohammed Shami has been a master of picking up wickets in the first over this season, and he did it again against RCB, Tare told Jio Hotstar. Tare highlighted how Pant handled a crucial phase of the innings when LSG were yet to use a fifth bowler by the end of the 12th over. Then came a moment where Rishabh Pants captaincy was tested. By the end of the 12th over, he still hadnt used his fifth bowler. That was a risky situation. He turned to Shahbaz Ahmed to fill that role, and that move paid off as Shahbaz picked up two wickets, he said. Pant has been feeling the heat as the captain of LSG this season, but against RCB, he rotated his bowlers smartly and got the best out of everyone, he added. Tare also praised Pants decision to trust Digvesh Singh Rathi with the final over despite the spinner conceding heavily earlier in the innings. In a high-pressure final over, the captains decision can make or break the game, and Rishabh Pant handing the ball to Digvesh Rathi for the final over was a risky move, Tare said. Rathi had gone for 41 runs in his first three overs and was clearly struggling for confidence. But Pant backed him, trusting that Rathis googly could make the difference. And thats exactly what happened. Tare also reserved praise for young pacer Prince Yadav, who dismissed Virat Kohli with a superb delivery and also took three crucial wickets. Rathi had gone for 41 runs in his first three overs and was clearly struggling for confidence. But Pant backed him, trusting that Rathis googly could make the difference. And thats exactly what happened. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, despite the win, LSG are still at the bottom of the points table with six points in ten matches. Article Source: IANS

Wolvaardt Leads ICC Women's Player Of The Month Shortlist

The South Africa: South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt, Sri Lanka batter Imesha Dulani and Brazil all-rounder Laura Cardosa are the nominees for the ICC Women's Player of the Month honour. Wolvaardt, who recently won two awards in the space of three months, is in line once again after fine performances in an ODI series against New Zealand and a T20I series versus India. Dulani stood out on an ODI and T20I tour of Bangladesh, while Cardosa came into reckoning after a purple patch that saw her become the first player ever to take nine wickets in a T20I. The South Africa captain scored 138 runs in two ODIs at an average of 69.00, including back-to-back innings of 69 against New Zealand. She then carried that momentum into the T20I leg, piling up 330 runs in five matches at an average of 82.50 and a strike rate of 168.36. Her crowning moment in the month of April was in the third T20I against India, when she smashed 115 off 53 balls to guide South Africa to a nine-wicket victory chasing down 192. Her knock was laced with 14 fours and five sixes, striking at 216.98 as she took charge for the Proteas. The Sri Lanka opener Dulani was named the Player of the Series in a 2-1 win over Bangladesh in their ICC Womens Championship series for scoring 116 runs. She followed it with 82 runs in two T20Is including a brisk 55 off 40 balls in the first match of the series. Her crowning moment in the month of April was in the third T20I against India, when she smashed 115 off 53 balls to guide South Africa to a nine-wicket victory chasing down 192. Her knock was laced with 14 fours and five sixes, striking at 216.98 as she took charge for the Proteas. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brazil's Laura had a memorable run in T20Is that saw her score 203 runs at a strike-rate of over 130 in seven matches which included half-centuries against Botswana and Zambia. She finished with 17 wickets at an economy rate of just 2.24, recording astonishing figures of nine for four against Lesotho. Article Source: IANS

Nahid, Jatinder Among Men's Player Of The Year Nominees For April

Cricket World Cup League: Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana, Oman captain Jatinder Singh and left-arm seamer Ajay Kumar of the United Arab Emirates have been nominated for the ICC Mens Player of the Month award for April. Rana has made the mens shortlist following his Player of the Series effort in three ODIs at home against New Zealand. Singhs performances in the ICC Mens Cricket World Cup League 2 in Nepal see him make the cut, while Kumar made it after a notable start to his ODI career in the same series. The 23-year-old pace sensation Rana took eight wickets at an economy of 4.46 and was named the Player of the Series as Bangladesh defeated New Zealand 2-1 in a home ODI series. The highlight for Rana was a haul of five for 32 in the second match in Mirpur that Bangladesh won by 55 runs, and finished the series with two wickets in the final match in Chattogram. On the other hand, Oman skipper Jatinder amassed 266 runs across five ODIs at an average of 53.20 and a strike rate above 115 in Omans Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign. He struck 51 against Scotland early in the month and finished off with a superb 139 off 91 balls against Nepal in the ICC Mens Cricket World Cup League 2, which is the highest ODI score by an Oman batter. On the other hand, Oman skipper Jatinder amassed 266 runs across five ODIs at an average of 53.20 and a strike rate above 115 in Omans Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The three nominees are shortlisted based on performances from the first to the last day of each calendar month. The shortlist is then voted on by the independent ICC Voting Academy* and fans around the world. Article Source: IANS

'Prince Yadav Will Make His India Debut Soon': Rayudu

Lucknow Super Giants: Former India batter Ambati Rayudu believes Prince Yadav is not far away from making his international debut after the young pacer produced another impressive spell in Lucknow Super Giants thrilling nine-run win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Prince played a decisive role in LSGs successful defence of DLS target 213 runs in the rain-curtailed 19-overs-a-side contest, finishing with figures of 3-33 and producing a stunning delivery to dismiss Virat Kohli for a two-ball duck. I think he is going to make his debut soon. That guy is a special talent, Prince. The way he runs in, his run-up itself tells you that he is in there for a fight. He bowls a heavy ball, and most of his deliveries hit the stumps. Thats his speciality, Rayudu told ESPNCricinfo. That ball (to get Kohli) was very, very special. The seam stayed up. This is a huge wicket. Its Virat Kohli. Prince Yadav, who too comes from Delhi, plays for Delhi, gets his Delhi team-mate, he added. Princes spell helped put RCB on the back foot early after they lost both openers cheaply in pursuit of a daunting 210-run target. Rayudu also backed the youngster to succeed across all formats, highlighting his fitness, rhythm and consistency as major strengths. I think hell be a treat to stand in the slips. Seriously, to watch this guy bowl is unbelievable. It'll be a total pleasure to stand in first or second slip to him. He is a potential 50-over bowler as well. I think hes an all-format bowler, the way hes looking right now, Rayudu said. The former Indian batter further praised Princes ability to maintain pressure throughout his spells. Also, because hes so fit, hes so agile, and his action is so clean; he has that consistency which most of the bowlers dont have. A lot of bowlers bowl one or two good balls in an over. This guy bowls about four to five. Thats his strength, I feel, he added. The former Indian batter further praised Princes ability to maintain pressure throughout his spells. Also Read: Live Cricket Score RCB fought back through skipper Rajat Patidar, who blasted 61 off 31 balls, and Tim David, who hammered 40 off 17 deliveries, but timely wickets from Prince and Shahbaz Ahmed helped LSG close out a tense victory. Article Source: IANS

'Dev And Rajat Showed Great Character': Mo Bobat After RCB Loss

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru director of cricket Mohammad Bobat praised the fighting spirit shown by his side, lauding the knocks of captain Rajat Patidar and Devdutt Padikkal despite suffering a narrow nine-run defeat against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in a thrilling IPL clash at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Chasing a daunting 213 in the rain-curtailed 19-overs-a-side contest, RCB were rocked early after losing both openers cheaply, including Virat Kohli for a two-ball duck. However, Padikkal and skipper Patidar revived the chase with a counterattacking 95-run partnership before the visitors eventually finished at 203/6. Yeah, obviously disappointing to not be able to pick up the two points. I would say that it was encouraging to see some really brave performances from some of the boys today, Bobat said in a video released by RCB on X. Its not often that well be losing both of our openers as early as we did today. Our top order has been fantastic all season, so a bit of a rarity there, but actually the character that Dev and Rajat showed was fantastic, He added. Bobat credited Padikkal and Patidar for absorbing pressure after the early collapse and then shifting momentum back towards RCB. They absorbed pressure for a period of time, and then actually they put some pressure back on them, and towards the back end of their partnership, we were right in that game, so those two deserve a lot of credit for the way they batted, he said. Patidar led the charge with a blistering 61 off 31 balls while Padikkal contributed 34 off 25 deliveries to keep RCB alive in the chase. Later, Tim David smashed 40 off just 17 balls to take the contest deep. Bobat also praised bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya for their efforts during LSGs innings. I think we did an amazing job to get that close. And also, we must remember that Bhuvi and KP bowled brilliantly, I thought as well, in particular, he said. Looking ahead to RCBs next clash against the Mumbai Indians, Bobat said the team would quickly regroup and focus on improving key areas. I think we did an amazing job to get that close. And also, we must remember that Bhuvi and KP bowled brilliantly, I thought as well, in particular, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So the boys, as they always do, will get their heads together and have a little think about the things that maybe they could have done a bit better. The coaches will do the same. Well travel tomorrow and look to touch base the day before the MI game, and therell certainly be a few areas of the game that we want to tighten up, he added. Article Source: IANS

'I Wanted To Get Us Off To The Best Start Possible': Marsh After Match-winning Ton Against RCB

Opener Mitchell Marsh: Opener Mitchell Marsh said his intent was to give Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) the best possible start in the powerplay after smashing a sensational 111 off just 56 balls in their thrilling nine-run win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Marshs explosive innings powered LSG to 209/3 in the rain-curtailed 19-overs-a-side contest, a total that eventually proved just enough as the hosts restricted RCB to 203/6 while chasing DLS adjusted 213 runs target, despite a fierce late fightback. I wanted to try and get us off to the best start possible. Yeah, I just tried to impact the power play as much as I could. It's probably been an area that weve struggled in this year so far, consistently. So, I wanted to try and get us off to the best start possible, and then once I got in, sort of try and cash in and pretty much just get as many runs as I could, Marsh said in a video released by IPL on X. Marsh dominated the RCB attack from the outset and stitched together a crucial 70-run partnership with Nicholas Pooran despite multiple rain interruptions during the innings. I think like anybody, just try and be really clear, have your plans and try and execute it. It was a bit of a stop-starting night, but I managed to form that partnership with Nicky when we came off a few times and get us to a really competitive total, and we needed all of that 213 or whatever it was, he added. The Australian all-rounder also reserved special praise for young pacer Prince Yadav, who played a decisive role with the ball by finishing with figures of 3-33, including wickets of Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal and Jitesh Sharma. Hes super confident in what he does and wants to bowl all the hard overs. So, hes the joy that you want in your team as a bowler, and its been wonderful to watch him go about his business this year, Marsh said. The Australian all-rounder also reserved special praise for young pacer Prince Yadav, who played a decisive role with the ball by finishing with figures of 3-33, including wickets of Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal and Jitesh Sharma. Also Read: Live Cricket Score However, Prince and Shahbaz Ahmed delivered timely breakthroughs before Digvesh Singh Rathi held his nerve in the final over to seal a tense win for LSG. Article Source: IANS

Patidar: 'It's a new season, we are not playing as defending champions'

The way we bowled, the way we controlled the game... we were two shots behind [in the end], Rajat Patidar says after RCB went down to LSG

'The Way He Took Down Hazlewood Was Brilliant': Chopra Praises Marsh After Century Against RCB

Lucknow Super Giants: Former cricketer Aakash Chopra has heaped praise on Lucknow Super Giants opener Mitchell Marsh, lauding his attacking approach against Australian spearhead Josh Hazlewood after his blazing century helped Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) register a thrilling nine-run win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Marsh played a crucial role in LSG posting 209 runs in a rain-curtailed 19-over-a-side game, as he scored his first century for the side, taking just 49 balls, which is also the fastest by any LSG batter in IPL history. He scored 111 runs in 56 balls, laced wit nine fours and as many sixes. Chopra believes that Marsh has the ability to shift the momentum by taking over the fast bowlers from the onset. Marsh is the only batter in this entire LSG setup who has batted at the same position throughout the tournament. Everybody else has been moved around. Hes got the strength. Hes a very different kind of opener. Hes tall and has long levers and, therefore, goes downtown, he told Jio Hotstar. The moment you start hitting fast bowlers over their heads and into the stands, where do you actually bowl to him? You cant bowl short to him because hes brilliant square of the wicket, and the way he took down Josh Hazlewood was phenomenal, Chopra added. Chopra believes that Marsh has the ability to shift the momentum by taking over the fast bowlers from the onset. Marsh is the only batter in this entire LSG setup who has batted at the same position throughout the tournament. Everybody else has been moved around. Hes got the strength. Hes a very different kind of opener. Hes tall and has long levers and, therefore, goes downtown, he told Jio Hotstar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Its twice in two games now that Josh has leaked a lot of runs. First, it was Shubman Gill, who took him down in Ahmedabad, and this time, it was Mitchell Marsh. RCB have also lost two on the bounce, so there is a correlation because if he goes for runs, then there are problems, Chopra said Article Source: IANS

Shanto and Mominul take Bangladesh past 100 after early losses

Shaheen Shah Afridi and Hasan Ali struck early, but Pakistan lost the initiative as the first session wore on

'World Cup Dream Not Far From Reality For Prince Yadav': Pujara

Lucknow Super Giants: Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes that fast bowler Prince Yadav is not very far from realising his World Cup dream after the youngster played a key role in Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) thrilling nine-run win over the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Prince delivered a match-winning spell under pressure as LSG defended 209/3 in the rain-curtailed 19-overs-a-side contest. The pacer finished with figures of 3-33, including the crucial wickets of Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal and Jitesh Sharma, helping LSG regain control after RCB threatened to chase down the target. Pujara said Prince's performances over the last two seasons show he has both the talent and temperament to aim for bigger honours with India. Not just this season; even last season, he impressed a lot. He bowls in all phases of the game, often in pressure situations. Even in this game, he gave away just two runs in an over and took a couple of wickets, Pujara told Jio Hotstar. He is talented, and that World Cup dream he was talking about, I am sure, will not be far from reality. Yes, he has the dream to represent India at the World Cup, but he also has the ability. Its important to focus on following the right process and keep improving, like he has done from last year to this season, he added. Batting first, LSG posted a massive total courtesy a blazing 111 from Mitchell Marsh and valuable contributions from skipper Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran. Defending a revised target of 213 under the DLS method, LSG struck early when Mohammad Shami set the tone with a wicket in the very first over, dismissing Jacob Bethell, Prince followed it up with an absolute peach to send Virat Kohli back, igniting celebrations. Former New Zealand cricketer Mitchell McClenaghan called Prince wicket ball to Kohli a divine delivery, explaining that he hit the seam, which was enough to beat Kohli. Batting first, LSG posted a massive total courtesy a blazing 111 from Mitchell Marsh and valuable contributions from skipper Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran. Defending a revised target of 213 under the DLS method, LSG struck early when Mohammad Shami set the tone with a wicket in the very first over, dismissing Jacob Bethell, Prince followed it up with an absolute peach to send Virat Kohli back, igniting celebrations. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Weve seen Jitesh Sharma get out this way in this tournament so far, quite regularly, and thats great execution. There would have been a plan before the game to make sure that they tested him upstairs with a short ball, but youve still got to be able to execute it, and the little extra pace that he possesses was able to get the job done, he said. Article Source: IANS

London Spirit Men's Squad & Schedule for The Hundred 2026 Full Players List and Fixtures

London Spirit mens team is a 100-ball cricket franchise based in North London, representing the historic counties of Middlesex, Essex, and Northamptonshire inThe Hundred. Founded for the tournaments inaugural 2021 season, the team plays its home matches atLord's Cricket Ground, widely known as the Home of Cricket. Former Australian spinnerShane Warnewas appointed as the teams first head coach, while early star signings includedRory BurnsandEoin Morgan. London SpiritMen's Squad The Hundred 2026 Liam Livingstone - 350,000 Jamie Overton - 225,000 Adam Zampa - Overseas - 190,000 Dewald Brevis - Overseas - 185,000 Jonny Bairstow - 160,000 David Willey - 120,000 James Coles - 390,000 Mason Crane - 31,000 Adam Milne - 50,000 Adam Hose - 31,000 Tymal Mills - 130,000 James Rew - 31,000 Lhuan-Dre Pretorius - Overseas - 31,000 Matt Fisher - 31,000 Also Read: Live Cricket Score London Spirit Mens Schedule The Hundred 2026 Date Opponent Venue Time (Local) 23 Jul'26 Manchester Super Giants Lord's Cricket Ground 6:30 PM 26 Jul'26 Trent Rockets Trent Bridge 6:00 PM 29 Jul'26 MI London The Oval 6:30 PM 1 Aug'26 Southern Brave Lord's Cricket Ground 6:00 PM 4 Aug'26 Sunrisers Leeds Headingley Cricket Ground 6:30 PM 6 Aug'26 MI London Lord's Cricket Ground 6:30 PM 9 Aug'26 Birmingham Phoenix Lord's Cricket Ground 6:00 PM 12 Aug'26 Welsh Fire Sophia Gardens 3:00 PM Birmingham Phoenix Squad & Schedule for The Hundred 2026 * { box-sizing: border-box; } .schedule-container { max-width: 1000px; margin: 20px auto; padding: 15px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; } .schedule-container h2 { text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 28px; color: #111827; } .responsive-table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background: #fff; } .responsive-table th, .responsive-table td { padding: 14px 16px; border: 1px solid #ddd; text-align: left; } .responsive-table th { background: #111827; color: #fff; font-weight: 600; } .responsive-table tbody tr:nth-child(even) { background: #f9f9f9; } .responsive-table tbody tr:hover { background: #f3f4f6; } /* Tablet */ @media (max-width: 768px) { .schedule-container h2 { font-size: 22px; } .responsive-table th, .responsive-table td { padding: 12px; font-size: 14px; } } /* Mobile Card Layout */ @media (max-width: 600px) { .responsive-table, .responsive-table thead, .responsive-table tbody, .responsive-table th, .responsive-table td, .responsive-table tr { display: block; width: 100%; } .responsive-table thead { display: none; } .responsive-table tr { margin-bottom: 15px; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; overflow: hidden; background: #fff; } .responsive-table td { display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; padding: 12px 15px; border: none; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; text-align: right; font-size: 14px; } .responsive-table td:last-child { border-bottom: none; } .responsive-table td::before { content: attr(data-label); font-weight: bold; color: #111827; text-align: left; } }

BCCI Prohibits Unauthorised Entry To Players' Rooms; To Conduct 'surprise Checks' To Foil honey Trap Risks

IPL Operations Team: The BCCI has issued an seven-page guidelines for the 10 IPL franchises, warning them about the potential dangers of targeted honey-trapping during the league. The board said it will conduct unannounced surprise checks to ensure strict adherence to the league's extensive regulatory framework and operational guidelines. The BCCI draws the attention of all Franchises to the well-documented risks of targeted compromise and honey-trapping that pervade high-profile sporting environments. The possibility of incidents giving rise to serious legal allegations, including those under applicable laws on sexual misconduct, cannot be discounted. IPL franchise management must remain vigilant and proactive in mitigating such risks at all times, Devajit Saikia said in a guidelines issued to the franchises, as quoted by cricbuzz. According to the directive, Saikia noted that no one is permitted to enter a team members room, regardless of their relationship with the player or official, without the prior knowledge and approval of the team manager. (a) No person, irrespective of their identity, relationship to the team member, or stated purpose, shall be permitted entry into a player's or support staff member's hotel room without the prior knowledge and explicit written approval of the Team Manager. Guests and visitors shall be received exclusively in designated public areas of the hotel, such as the lobby or reception lounge. No guest shall be escorted to private hotel rooms unless the Team Manager has specifically authorised the same in writing In his communication to all the franchises, Saikia has noted that, The BCCI / IPL Operations Team may conduct periodic checks to assess adherence to the directives set forth in this Advisory. Team Managers are required to maintain records of all approved guest visits and hotel movements. Any breach of the aforementioned directives must be self-reported to the IPL Operations Team or the relevant IPL Venue Team at the earliest opportunity. The BCCI trusts that all IPL franchises will treat this Advisory with the seriousness it warrants and take all necessary steps to uphold the integrity and reputation of the Indian Premier League, he added. Last month, Rajasthan Royals skipper Riyan Parag was reportedly seen vaping inside the dressing room during the game against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh. The BCCI has come down heavily on the offenders, saying whoever found engaging in such conduct will be liable to cognisable offence under the applicable statutory framework. Instances of vaping within the dressing room and other restricted areas of tournament venues have been brought to the BCCl's attention. It is pertinent to note that the use of vapes and electronic cigarettes is prohibited under applicable Indian law. Any individual found engaging in such conduct within tournament premises is not only violating BCCI and IPL regulations but may also be committing a cognisable offence under the applicable statutory framework, Saikia stated on the directive. The BCCI has asked the owners to refrain from communicating with players/managers in the dugout during the course of the match. Instances of vaping within the dressing room and other restricted areas of tournament venues have been brought to the BCCl's attention. It is pertinent to note that the use of vapes and electronic cigarettes is prohibited under applicable Indian law. Any individual found engaging in such conduct within tournament premises is not only violating BCCI and IPL regulations but may also be committing a cognisable offence under the applicable statutory framework, Saikia stated on the directive. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Specifically, instances have been observed of IPL franchise owners attempting to communicate with, approach, hug, or otherwise physically interact with players and team members during live match situations. Such conduct, however well-intentioned, directly contravenes established protocol and may constitute interference with team dynamics and match proceedings, the BCCI official communicated to the franchises. Article Source: IANS

Prince Yadav rises to third place on IPL 2026 Purple Cap table

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Virat Kohli had the chance to move up their respective tables, but both returned blobs against LSG

Prince Yadav to Virat Kohli, and 'the ball of the tournament'

A lot of bowlers bowl one or two good balls in an over. This guy bowls about four to five. That's his strength, Ambati Rayudu says after Prince Yadav's latest match-winning show at IPL 2026

Bangladesh Eye Historic Double Against Pakistan as Mirpur Test Series Begins (Preview)

Bangladesh and Pakistan open their two-match Test series in Mirpur on Friday, with the hosts aiming to complete a remarkable double after their historic away whitewash in 2024. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto has made no secret of his ambitions, insisting his side must post big first-innings totals to give their potent pace attack the platform to take 20 wickets. Pakistan vs Bangladesh 1st Test SCORECARD The important thing is scoring runs. If we score 400 in 80 overs, no problem. If someone takes 120 overs, I also have no problem, Shanto told a pre-match news conference on Thursday. So the runs are important. The pitch at Mirpur, which carries a grassy tinge ahead of the first day, has set the tone for what promises to be a pace-dominated contest. Shanto believes his fast bowlers hold a slight edge over Pakistan's attack. In the pace bowling department, I would say both teams have good pace attacks, he said. But if you ask me, I would say our pace bowling attack is maybe slightly ahead, if I look at the last few years and how they have been bowling. Pakistan skipper Shan Masood politely pushed back. We're not going to dwell on comparisons. They've got their qualities, we've got our qualities, Masood said, while also acknowledging the quality of the Bangladesh attack. We're relishing the occasion of facing a good attack and hopefully getting some runs against them. Bangladesh have bolstered their batting with the inclusion of attacking opener Tanzid Hasan Tamim, while Taskin Ahmed returns from injury to strengthen an already experienced pace unit alongside the exciting Nahid Rana. Shanto wants Tamim to play his natural game. The way he plays ODI and T20 cricket, I want him to play the same way, Shanto said. Pakistan will take confidence from Babar Azam's rich run of form in the Pakistan Super League, with Masood hopeful that the prolific batter can carry that momentum into red-ball cricket. However, there was uncertainty in Pakistan's camp on Thursday after Babar underwent a scan following the team's practice session, with his fitness for the series opener yet to be confirmed. Pakistan is eager to avenge their 2024 series loss, although Masood rejected the notion of revenge. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We must give credit to the Bangladesh team, the way they came out, they prepared in 2024, he said. So we're not going to take any opposition lightly.

Ben Stokes Set for Durham Return Ahead of Englands New Zealand Test Series

Ben Stokes is expected to bat and bowl for county side Durham as he returns to action for the first time since England's disastrous Ashes campaign. The England captain is set to face Worcestershire in a second division County Championship match starting on Friday. The all-rounder suffered a freak injury when he was hit in the face by a ball during a net session while coaching academy players in February. Stokes, 34, who suffered a groin strain during England's recent 4-1 Ashes humbling in Australia, had to undergo reconstructive surgery. Durham coach Ryan Campbell said Stokes could open the bowling at New Road in the absence of West Indies fast bowler Kemar Roach. He'll be bowling for us, 100 percent, Campbell told Britain's Press Association news agency. In one of the innings he might even go with the new ball, that's in our thinking. We won't expect him to bowl a million overs, it will be probably be around 20 to 25 overs for the game, but once he gets into the battle it's hard to get him out of it. England's international season starts with a three-Test series against New Zealand at Lord's commencing on June 4. Stokes enjoyed a revival as a Test-match bowler last year, taking 33 wickets at just over 23 apiece. England have struggled to fill the position of opening bowler since the retirements of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes but Stokes' recent injury record counts against using him in that slot. Campbell underlined his plan was designed to benefit Durham rather than England. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We've made it very clear, Stokesy is here as a member of our team to help win a game of cricket for Durham, not to get ready for England, he said.

Sinner adds his voice to French Open prize money protests and awaits Wimbledon response

The players have targeted the upcoming French Open for reducing players share of revenue to an alleged 15% compared to the 22% at ATP and WTA events like the Italian Open

Dhumal: IPL's anti-corruption unit has flagged 'anomalies' in a report to BCCI

BCCI secretary also said that in some cases, team owners and officials have been mingling with players in areas where it is not allowed

IPL 2026: Marsh, Prince Power LSG To Thrilling 9-run Win Over RCB In Rain-marred Contest

Lucknow Super Giants: Skipper Rishabh Pant and Mitchell Marsh starred with explosive half-centuries before Lucknow Super Giants bowlers held their nerves to help the side survive a late Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) charge to register a thrilling nine-run victory in a rain-curtailed 19-overs-a-side IPL clash on Thursday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Asked to bat first, LSG piled up a daunting 209/3, riding on a blazing century from Marsh and some fine knocks by Pant and Nicholas Pooran, before restricting RCB to 203/6 despite a valiant counterattack from Rajat Patidar, Tim David, and Romario Shepherd. The win brought smiles back to the LSG camp after a difficult run, with their bowlers holding nerve in the death overs to defend the revised DLS target of 213. RCBs chase suffered an early jolt when Mohammed Shami struck in the opening over to dismiss Jacob Bethell, while Prince Yadav produced a peach to clean up Virat Kohli for a two-ball duck as the visitors slipped to 9/2. Devdutt Padikkal and skipper Rajat Patidar steadied the innings with a brisk partnership. Padikkal mixed elegance with aggression in his 34 off 25 balls, while Patidar launched a calculated assault, especially against spin, to keep RCB in the hunt. Patidar took on Digvesh Singh Rathi and Mayank Yadav with a flurry of boundaries and towering sixes, bringing up a 29-ball fifty in style. The duo added momentum through the middle overs as RCB crossed the 100-run mark in the 10th over. However, LSG hit back strongly through Prince Yadav and Shahbaz Ahmed. Prince removed Padikkal with a return catch before dismissing Jitesh Sharma cheaply in the same over. Shahbaz then delivered the key breakthrough by having Patidar caught at long-off for a scintillating 61 off 31 balls, an innings studded with three fours and six sixes. With the equation mounting, Tim David launched a brutal counterattack. The Australian hammered Mayank Yadav for consecutive sixes, then followed up with another towering hit off Shahbaz to drag RCB back into contention. His 40 off just 17 balls briefly tilted the momentum before Shahbaz trapped him with a sharp catch at backward point. Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya kept RCB alive till the final over, smashing boundaries and sixes against Shami and Prince Yadav. But needing 28 off the last over, Digvesh Singh Rathi held his nerve despite conceding a boundary and a wide, as LSG closed out a tense nine-run victory. Earlier, LSG produced one of their best batting displays of the season after being put in to bat. Mitchell Marsh gave them early impetus with an aggressive knock, while Pant rediscovered his touch with a commanding innings at the top. The duo dominated the Power-play and maintained the scoring rate through the middle overs, taking apart both pace and spin with fearless strokeplay. Marshs clean hitting laid the platform before Pant accelerated brilliantly, finding boundaries at will and rotating strike effectively. Nicholas Pooran then provided the finishing flourish with a quick cameo, ensuring LSG crossed the 200-run mark in the shortened contest. RCBs bowlers struggled for control on a batting-friendly surface, with only sporadic breakthroughs interrupting LSGs relentless charge. Though Patidar and David threatened to pull off a remarkable chase, LSGs bowlers produced timely breakthroughs, and Digvesh Rathi defended 20 in the final over to secure an important victory for the home team. Nicholas Pooran then provided the finishing flourish with a quick cameo, ensuring LSG crossed the 200-run mark in the shortened contest. RCBs bowlers struggled for control on a batting-friendly surface, with only sporadic breakthroughs interrupting LSGs relentless charge. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Lucknow Super Giants 209/3 in 19 overs (Mitchell Marsh 111, Nicholas Pooran 38, Rishabh Pant 32; Krunal Pandya 1-31) beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru 203/6 in 19 overs (Rajat Patidar 61, Tim David 40; Prince Yadav 3-33, Shahbaz Ahmed 2-33) by 9 runs (DLS). Article Source: IANS

LSG overcome drama to keep campaign alive

RCB nearly pulled off a heist but Prince and Co held their nerve to snap LSG's six-match losing streak

IPL 2026: Marshs Ton Powers LSG To 209-3 In Rain-hit Clash With RCB

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Mitchell Marsh produced a breathtaking century while Rishabh Pant added late fireworks as hosts Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) piled up a commanding 209/3 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a rain-curtailed Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 contest at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Thursday. With persistent rain interruptions reducing the match to 19 overs per side, Marsh stood tall with a sensational 111 off just 56 deliveries, hammering nine fours and nine sixes in one of the finest innings of the season. Pant then provided the finishing flourish with an unbeaten 32 off 10 balls as LSG crossed the 200-run mark in style. Put into bat after Rajat Patidar opted to bowl, LSG made a cautious start before Marsh exploded into life against Josh Hazlewood in the second over. The Australian all-rounder launched the RCB pacer for two towering sixes and never allowed the momentum to slip despite multiple rain stoppages. Bhuvneshwar Kumar initially found movement with the new ball, but Marsh counterattacked fiercely, taking on both pace and spin. Krunal Pandyas introduction did little to slow him down as the opener smashed the left-arm spinner for a four and a monstrous six in the fourth over. Rain briefly halted proceedings twice during the Power-play, but Marsh resumed with even greater intensity after every interruption. Rasikh Salam Dar bore the brunt of the assault as Marsh hammered him for two sixes and a boundary in the fifth over, racing to a 20-ball half-century, his fastest in IPL history. LSG finished the Power-play at 68 without loss, their highest opening stand of the season, with Marsh accounting for the bulk of the scoring. Arshin Kulkarni struggled for fluency at the other end but played second fiddle effectively during their 98-run opening partnership. Marsh continued his domination after the restart, punishing Suyash Sharma and Romario Shepherd with clean hitting all around the ground. The landmark finally arrived in the 14th over when he carved Shepherd through point for four to bring up a stunning 49-ball century, the fastest hundred by an LSG batter in IPL history. Krunal finally broke the opening stand by dismissing Kulkarni for 17, while Nicholas Pooran added useful momentum with a brisk 38 off 23 balls that included four boundaries and a six. Hazlewood eventually ended Marshs spectacular knock in the 17th over when Jacob Bethell completed a fine catch at deep point. But Pant ensured there was no slowdown at the death. The LSG skipper smashed Hazlewood for two fours and a six in a costly over before taking apart Rasikh in the final over with three successive boundaries, including an audacious six over backward point off the final ball. Despite disciplined spells in patches from Bhuvneshwar (0-34) and Krunal (1-31), RCBs bowlers struggled to contain Marshs relentless assault as LSG posted a formidable total in the rain-affected encounter. RCB will receive a revised target to chase under the DLS method, which is likely to be 213. The LSG skipper smashed Hazlewood for two fours and a six in a costly over before taking apart Rasikh in the final over with three successive boundaries, including an audacious six over backward point off the final ball. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Lucknow Super Giants 209/3 in 19 overs (Mitchell Marsh 111, Nicholas Pooran 38, Rishabh Pant 32; Krunal Pandya 1-31) against Royal Challengers Bengaluru Article Source: IANS

Babar ruled out of first Bangladesh Test due to left knee injury

PCB did not specify whether he would be ruled out of the series altogether, stating that his condition was being monitored by the team's medical panel

Does DC's middle-order have an answer for KKR's spin twins?

DC have lost four of their last five games, while KKR have scored three wins in a row

BCB Charges Players, Officials, Franchise Owners With Corrupt Practices During BPL 12

Bangladesh Cricket Board Integrity Unit: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has levelled charges on team officials, franchise owners, and some players for participating in alleged corrupt practices or interfering with an inquiry into illegal activities during the 12th edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL T20). The participants have been accused of breaching various provisions of the ICC Anti-Corruption Code for Participants (the Code). The charges arise out of investigations conducted by the Bangladesh Cricket Board Integrity Unit (BCBIU) in relation to alleged corrupt conduct, betting activities, failures to cooperate with anti-corruption investigations, and obstruction of investigations connected to the 12th Edition of the Bangladesh Premier League T20 (BPL T20). The investigations related to alleged betting-related activities, corrupt approaches, failures to comply with Demand Notices issued under Article 4.3 of the Code, concealment and deletion of relevant communications, and failures to cooperate with the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (DACO). Those charged include Md. Lablur Rahman (Team Manager), Md. Towhidul Haque Towhid (Franchise Co-owner), Amit Mojumder (Domestic Cricketer), and Rezwan Kabir Siddique (Team Manager). Md. Lablur Rahman has been charged with Article 2.4.6, which pertains to failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with an investigation carried out by the DACO in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code, including failure to comply with a Demand Notice issued under Article 4.3 of the Code. He was also alleged to be in breach of Article 2.4.7, which is about obstructing or delaying a DACO investigation into possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code, including concealment, deletion, or destruction of relevant communications and information. Franchise Co-owner, MD. Towhidul Haque Towhid has fallen foul of Article 2.4.6 for failing or refusing, without compelling justification, to cooperate with an investigation carried out by the DACO in relation to possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code, including failure to comply with a Demand Notice issued under Article 4.3 of the Code. He has also been found in breach of Article 2.4.7, which relates to obstructing or delaying a DACO investigation into possible Corrupt Conduct under the Code, including concealment, deletion, or destruction of relevant communications and information. Domestic cricketer Amit Mojumder has been alleged to be in breach of Article 2.2.1 for placing, accepting, laying, or otherwise entering into bets in relation to the result, progress, conduct, or any other aspect of cricket matches. Rezwan Kabir Siddique, another Team Manager, is facing charges under Article 2.2.1 about placing, accepting, laying, or otherwise entering into bets in relation to the result, progress, conduct, or any other aspect of cricket matches. The charged participants have been provisionally suspended and have 14 days from receipt of the Notices of Charge to respond to the allegations. The BCB has also issued an Exclusion Order under the BCB Excluded Person Policy (Policy) against Saminur Rahman following an investigation into alleged corrupt activities connected to multiple editions of the Bangladesh Premier League T20 (BPL T20), including the 9th, 10th, and 11th editions. The charged participants have been provisionally suspended and have 14 days from receipt of the Notices of Charge to respond to the allegations. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Following service of a Notice of Intended Exclusion Order, Rahman waived his right to submit a response under the Excluded Person Policy and accepted the imposition of the Exclusion Order. Article Source: IANS

Domestic player among four charged in BCB's corruption probe

One person has also received a lifetime ban as probe into BPL and NCL brings the first charges since the BCB integrity unit was formed in 2025

IPL 2026: We Just Want To Get Back To Winning Ways, Says Marsh, As He Hopes For LSG Turnaround Against RCB

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Mitchell Marsh admitted Lucknow Super Giants have struggled to put together complete performances this season, but remains optimistic that the side can revive its campaign against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their Indian Premier League clash at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Lucknow entered the contest under pressure after six consecutive defeats left them at the bottom of the standings with only two wins from nine matches. Speaking ahead of the game, Marsh said the teams inability to consistently deliver across all departments had hurt them throughout the tournament. Look, we just want to get back to winning ways. It's obviously been a really disappointing stretch for us. And we haven't been able to play 40 overs of cricket throughout the tournament. And in this tournament, especially, two or three bad overs can lose you games. And we've been on the wrong end of that, so hopefully we can get back to winning ways tonight. The Australian all-rounder also spoke about the batting conditions in Lucknow, saying the venue had previously produced high-scoring encounters despite its reputation for assisting bowlers. I think that's very natural as a batsman to know you want to take that Mumbai wicket everywhere you go. But in saying that, I thought last year the wicket, especially, was that we had a lot of 200 scores here. So it can be great here. I haven't seen it tonight, but hopefully there are lots of runs. Marsh, who has shown flashes of form this season, said he still feels a major innings could be around the corner and hopes to lead the sides recovery with a significant contribution. I'm hopeful. I haven't fully got going yet, it feels like. I've made a few small contributions. But yeah, hopefully a big score is around the corner. And as I said, we can get back to our winning ways. The opener is also set for another battle against fellow Australian and RCB pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood, who troubled him during the reverse fixture earlier this season in Bengaluru. That's nothing new. Having faced him in the nets for the last probably 15 years now, I've got a few bruises from Joshy. But hopefully I can get on top of him. Marsh acknowledged the challenge posed by the reigning champions but said Lucknow were looking forward to testing themselves against one of the strongest teams in the competition. The opener is also set for another battle against fellow Australian and RCB pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood, who troubled him during the reverse fixture earlier this season in Bengaluru. That's nothing new. Having faced him in the nets for the last probably 15 years now, I've got a few bruises from Joshy. But hopefully I can get on top of him. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The Australian T20I skipper started on a strong note with the bat and brought up a fiery 20-ball half-century in the powerplay as his side batted first against RCB. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: DC Making Wrong Decisions Under Pressure, Kuldeep's Poor Form A Major Concern, Says Pathan

Chennai Super Kings: Delhi Capitals' poor decision-making when under pressure and Kuldeep Yadav's dip in form have emerged as the two biggest factors behind the franchise's stuttering IPL 2026 campaign, according to former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan, who believes the side has the firepower to finish in the top four but have failed to live up to its considerable potential in the ten-team competition. With the playoff race entering its critical phase, seventh-placed DC find themselves grappling with two stubborn problems chopping and changing in team selection and a baffling inability to win at home. Delhi have used 20 players this season, joint-second most in IPL 2026 alongside Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants. The chopping and changing has been most visible in the middle order, where as many as seven different batters have been tried from four to seven Tristan Stubbs (9 innings), Sameer Rizvi (7), David Miller (6), captain Axar Patel (6), Ashutosh Sharma (3), Karun Nair (1) and Abishek Porel (1) - leaving little room for role clarity or settled batting combinations. I think, last year as well as this year, Delhi was a team that was to be a shoo-in contender for being in the top four. If you look at the players, they are very experienced and well-established players in this team. If you talk about KL Rahul, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mitchell Starc, and even Lungi Ngidi, who did well in the World Cup, we all know that his variation gives a lot of problems to the big players. If you look at Miller this season, hes also there to solve DCs issue with a lack of experience in finishing games last year. But I think that the match against the Gujarat Titans, in which they lost on the last ball, will haunt them big time because, yes, it is not easy to take responsibility for any player and say that I will win the match, and every player wants to do that. But many times you take the wrong decision under pressure, Pathan, an expert on JioHotstar's 'Champions Waali Commentary', told IANS in a virtual interaction on Thursday. The selection inconsistency was on full display in the CSK game, where Karun Nair was drafted in as a replacement for Rizvi, only for the latter to return as the impact player once the former was dismissed. Compounding the selection headache is an alarming home record DC have won just one of their five games at the Arun Jaitley Stadium this season, against the Mumbai Indians last month, and the rot stretches further back. Since IPL 2025, DC have managed only two wins in ten home games, a record that raises serious questions about their reading of home conditions. Adding another layer to their woes is DC losing all three games while batting first, while their record in chasing stands at four wins from seven attempts. Their bowling unit has been the poorest among all teams this season, claiming just 41 wickets so far at an economy rate of 10.2. All of this is something DC urgently needs to address as they prepare to face Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday evening in a bid to keep their playoff hopes alive. See, I think two things have been a big factor for Delhi Capitals - one, I think decision-making could have been better. If we talk about the last game, winning the toss, batting first, and thinking that the conditions would get better later, was an issue. Especially when the match against RCB, a few days ago, on the same ground, they were batting first and were 75 out. That day, there was a weather issue, and in this match against CSK, it also rained, and there was a possibility of the weather being inclement. So you want to chase there, and you had even won the toss too. So, a little decision-making, I think, there was a little problem in that. Then, the availability of Mitchell Starc, not being there at the start of the season, was a problem. But I think they could have used their resources better, added Pathan, who picked 29 wickets in 46 games for DC from 2011-13 IPL seasons. Add to it, Kuldeeps form has emerged as a major concern for DC this season, with the leftarm wrist spinner conceding at 10.4 runs per over, picking only seven wickets and going wicketless in five of his nine outings. His overall economy of 10.4 is the highest in any IPL season, surpassing his previous worst economy rate of 8.7 in 2019 and 2024. The left-arm wrist spinner has conceded at less than 10 runs per over in only two matches (against LSG and RCB), while in seven games, he has gone above that mark. Secondly, Kuldeep Yadav not being in form, this is a big problem for Delhi because you depend on him, right? Especially on a turning track, where there was a little help in the pitch, and if you concede runs and don't even take a wicket, then it's a matter of concern. Look, hes a very good bowler, and there are no two ways about it. But going above 10 runs per over, for any team, you would expect much better performance from your main spinner. So these are 2-3 things, in which Delhi could have been much better. If it had been the case, then maybe their team would have played according to that potential, and they would have seen better results, added Pathan. On his experience with the 'Champions Waali Commentary' - a feed aimed at Hindi-speaking audiences that features more deliberate, in-depth analysis compared to conventional commentary - Pathan said the format was allowing for richer cricketing conversations. I'm absolutely loving it. Our camaraderie, especially with our other co-commentators, is that they have different opinions, and we also have different opinions. So the viewers get a different and fresh perspective, and in comparison to the normal, conventional commentary, theres a slight difference in its pace. On his experience with the 'Champions Waali Commentary' - a feed aimed at Hindi-speaking audiences that features more deliberate, in-depth analysis compared to conventional commentary - Pathan said the format was allowing for richer cricketing conversations. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Champions Wali Commentary is a dedicated digital feed in Hindi on CTV featuring former TATA IPL champions who share never-heard-before tales and an insight into players minds as live action plays out. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Confidence In The Group Is Pretty High, Says Hazlewood As He Backs A Balanced RCB Unit Against LSG

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Josh Hazlewood believes that his side is carrying strong momentum and confidence despite the added pressure of defending their title as they prepare for a crucial IPL clash against Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday. RCB entered the contest placed second on the points table with six wins from nine matches, while Lucknow are desperate to revive their fading playoff hopes after six consecutive defeats. Speaking ahead of the match, Hazlewood said the short gap between fixtures had allowed the side to recover well and return refreshed for the business end of the tournament. We've had a nice little break between games, so it feels like quite a while since we've played a match, but we've had some good training the last few days, so everything's good, Hazlewood told while speaking to the broadcasters. The Australian quick acknowledged that being reigning champions naturally changes the way opponents approach games against RCB, but added that the tag has also boosted belief within the squad. It probably depends on which way you look at it. From my point of view, I feel like it gives us a bit of a boost. At the same time, everyone's probably lifting a gear to play you as well to try and knock you off from last year. So yeah, a little bit of both, but in general, the confidence in the group is pretty high, and then I guess we've got a fair few wins at the start of the tournament. So yeah, things are going pretty well, he said. Hazlewood, who has frequently played at the Lucknow venue, feels the conditions at the Ekana Stadium generally provide assistance to bowlers, though that can sometimes bring additional expectations on the bowling attack. I've played here quite a bit at Lucknow. And yeah, the wicket's not always ideal for batting, which brings us into the game, I guess. But I guess that can add more pressure sometimes, and you're expected to do well and keep the team to a lower total than usual. It's which way you look at it. As a whole group, we've been bowling really well throughout the whole season. And it's a nice balance in our team. We've got sort of nearly every base covered, he mentioned. The pacer also praised Virat Kohli for continually evolving his batting approach and maintaining a strong scoring rate at the top of the order, as he said, Yeah, he's going really well at the top of the order there. We know how important the top three are at setting those foundations and batting. They probably bat the majority of the overs throughout the tournament. So he's seemed to just keep upping that strike rate every year on year and keeping on level terms with some of these youngsters who are smashing it everywhere. So yeah, he's in as good a form as any time. I've played here quite a bit at Lucknow. And yeah, the wicket's not always ideal for batting, which brings us into the game, I guess. But I guess that can add more pressure sometimes, and you're expected to do well and keep the team to a lower total than usual. It's which way you look at it. As a whole group, we've been bowling really well throughout the whole season. And it's a nice balance in our team. We've got sort of nearly every base covered, he mentioned. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We've already played Lucknow this year in Chinnaswamy. I didn't get him out, but I managed to hit him a few times, which was good. Yeah, it's always funny coming up against guys you've played your whole life with. You know, we both know each other inside out, and I seem to find that, you know, with every team you play, there's someone who knows your game really well. So yeah, it's a bit of cat and mouse out there in the middle, he stated. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Kuldeep Is A Match-winner, Important To Have Him Playing Continually, Says Miller

Indian Premier League: Veteran Delhi Capitals batter David Miller on Thursday backed under-fire wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav to come good in the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, describing him as a match-winner whose presence in the playing eleven remains vital for the team despite a recent dip in form. Kuldeeps form has emerged as a major concern for DC this season, with the leftarm wrist spinner conceding at 10.4 runs per over, picking only seven wickets, and going wicketless in five of his nine outings. Kuldeeps economy rate has dipped sharply against righthand batters. While he picked nine right-handed batters' wickets at 6.7 runs per over in IPL 2025, this season he has taken six wickets at 11.1 runs per over from 21.1 overs. His overall economy of 10.4 is the highest in any IPL season, surpassing his previous worst economy rate of 8.7 in 2019 and 2024. He has conceded at less than 10 runs per over in only two matches (against LSG and RCB), while in seven games he has gone above that mark. In wins, he has eight wickets at 6.9 runs per over, but in losses, he has just two wickets at 10.7 runs per over. With someone like Kuldeep, I've always played against him, and don't like facing him. But now I'm with him in the same team and squad, and he adds so much to the team; he's a great character, and for me it's important to have those kinds of guys continually playing, because he is a match-winner, so take the good with the bad. There's been one or two games where he hasn't bowled the best that he could have bowled, but that's the same for everyone - you're not always going to be on. But he prepares really well, he's always up for the game and the battle, and he's really skilful, so bowled means if it was me playing every game, said Miller in the pre-match press conference, ahead of DCs must-win clash against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday evening. Addressing DC's poor fielding record this season - the side has the league's lowest catch efficiency with 64.6 percent and have shelled 17 chances so far, Miller insisted that the team has been putting in the work to improve this aspect of the game. No, there's been no conversation around that. I think we, as Delhi, have really trained really hard in the fielding department - we've put in the hard yards, as a team and individuals. For me, I love fielding, I don't bowl obviously as you all know, but for me, fielding is an attitude - it's about really making sure that you want the ball to come to you. You want to make a difference in the field, whether it's a diving catch, or an easy catch, or a run-out opportunity, always wanting to be in the game, and then generally you get into better positions. So I think maybe that could be something - I mean, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly, because everyone's different and everyone fields in different positions, and it could be lights, it could be whatever, I don't know. So I just think at the end of the day, like with our batting, bowling and fielding departments, we've just got to make sure that we're really on for the next four games, and whatever's happened in the last ten games, we take good with that, but the next four games are huge. Reflecting on the evolution of T20 batting, Miller noted that while fearless players have always existed, the modern youngster is taking the mindset to an unprecedented level. Let me start with the transformation of the game - obviously, you're seeing the youngsters coming through nowadays and playing a fearless brand. I always feel like, for a number of years now, there's been fearless batters, but nowadays, particularly, guys are coming in really early and looking to dominate from ball one, and it's wonderful to see the skills that the batters possess. Regarding his own approach in a rapidly changing landscape of T20 batting, Miller believes sticking to his core strengths is the key. In terms of scooping and playing straight and all these funky shots, I think it becomes very individual as to what your strengths are and what you prefer to do. Some guys like to be funky and change the position of the fielders through certain shots, and I suppose then conditions come into play, whether you can play it or can't play it, all these things, it's very in the air, so it's just about making those decisions along the way. But most certainly with where the game is going, the mindset and mentality around batsmen nowadays has definitely gone to another level. Someone like me - it's just about making sure that my skills and what my strengths are is to keep them really, really strong and back what has worked for a long time, trust myself in that process, and although there's a lot of things going around with where the game is moving, believing that what I have is still very much adding to the team, he explained. He further lauded his South African compatriot, Tristan Stubbs, for his mentality and versatile stroke-play. Great to have someone like Stubbo on the team as well - so enthusiastic and passionate about the game, and hugely competitive as an individual. Even if you're just throwing the ball around in the pool, he wants to beat you at that. But most certainly with where the game is going, the mindset and mentality around batsmen nowadays has definitely gone to another level. Someone like me - it's just about making sure that my skills and what my strengths are is to keep them really, really strong and back what has worked for a long time, trust myself in that process, and although there's a lot of things going around with where the game is moving, believing that what I have is still very much adding to the team, he explained. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Then in T20 cricket, he's got all the shots - the laps, reverses, straight down the ground, and the power. So he's got everything, it's just about, like everyone, trying to be more consistent, really, but hes done phenomenally well, so it's good, Miller concluded. Article Source: IANS

Unchanged RCB bowl; LSG make three changes in Lucknow clash

Arshin Kulkarni will open for LSG for the first time this season with Josh Inglis out injured, while Digvesh Rathi and Shahbaz Ahmed also slotted into their side

IPL 2026: Varuns Ability Was Never In Doubt, Break Helped Him Bounce Back, Says Bravo

Kolkata Knight Riders: Kolkata Knight Riders mentor Dwayne Bravo said the bowling unit has benefited from Varun Chakravarthys return to form, adding that his ability to pick wickets was never in doubt and that a six-day mid-season break helped the wrist-spinner to bounce back. Chakravarthy has turned his campaign around with two threewicket hauls in his last three outings. KKRs fortunes have mirrored his form - they were winless in three games in IPL 2026 when he went wicketless, but have a 31 record when he has picked two or more wickets in this season. Overall, Chakaravarthy has 10 wickets from seven innings at an economy of 8.9, including best figures of 3-14. After going wicketless in his first three matches at an economy of 11.7, he has claimed 10 wickets in his last four games at 7.3 runs per over. I think in sports, especially when you play sports, it's very resultoriented. Sometimes people get very emotional. A player like Varun, who's a worldclass spinner, just came out of the World Cup, which was also a very hectic tournament. So a break at the right time is always important. But no one ever questioned his ability because again, when you're so good, it's only a matter of time before you come back into form. The group is very supportive of him. A mental break is also very needed, especially in a tournament like IPL, where there are so many games, high pressure, and the best versus the best. It doesn't matter who you are as a player. There are so many other quality players struggling this season. I think that's the beauty of the sport. Players have to go through those moments, but eventually they will bounce back, said Bravo in the pre-match press conference, ahead of KKR facing Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday evening. On the availability of Matheesha Pathirana, Bravo said captain Ajinkya Rahane and head coach Abhishek Nayar will decide when he will be fielded in the season. They will always have plans to play someone like him. He is quality, but he's also someone you have to not rush back into anything. His loads are up, his bowling loads are up, and I think he's very close to playing. We leave the coach and the captain to decide that. We all want to see him playing cricket again, but we also want to make sure the timing is right, because someone like that, the type of injury that he had, you don't want to rush him. But it's good to have someone like Pathirana and me amongst the group again, because he's quality, he added. On his impression of young pacers in the KKR set-up, including Kartik Tyagi being impressive, Bravo showered rich praise on him. Kartik Tyagi is a bright prospect, and he's always someone with a lot of potential. Someone India has already had bright hopes of. For us as a bowling group, Southee and myself, we're not only with Tyagi, but with every bowler. Vaibhav is also doing a very good job, especially in the back end. That bowling requires you to be brave and skilful, but it also requires you to put in the work in the nets first. I think with our guidance, we don't allow bowlers to just bowl in the nets for bowling. We allow them to bowl with specific plans, specific field placements, and it's the only phase of the game that is very, very particular. Tyagi is someone who loves to learn. He asks a lot of questions and has a lot of energy. Sometimes we have to tell him as coaches, OK, please rest, take it easy. He says, No sir, no sir, I want to bowl, I want to bowl. But it's a lovely bunch. Umran Malik, someone working very hard as well he wants his opportunity and chance. But unfortunately, he didn't have it this season so far. But it's a group I'm very happy to be working with because they are young and energetic, and they're willing to learn, and you can see the improvement. All these guys needed was guidance, and to feel loved, and appreciated, and that's what my job is, to make sure that these guys are protected and they learn as they go along in the game. On his coaching style, with Delhi Capitals pacer Lungi Ngidi acknowledging that Bravo taught him the mastery of slower balls, the legendary West Indies all-rounder explained, I'm very handson, especially since Lungi talked about that. Everyone wants me to teach them that slower ball so thanks, Lungi. But it's one of my strengths when I used to play, and also my strength was my ability to read and understand the game. But it's a group I'm very happy to be working with because they are young and energetic, and they're willing to learn, and you can see the improvement. All these guys needed was guidance, and to feel loved, and appreciated, and that's what my job is, to make sure that these guys are protected and they learn as they go along in the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I do share it a lot with my bowling group. So as you can see, all these guys use the variations in games Vaibhav, Tyagi, everyone. Yesterday, I had a whole oneonone session with Pathirana because he wanted a specific one to dip. But there's more to a slower ball. The brain is the most important thing, and that's what I try to teach the younger bowling group because if they're able to think the game, I think they're all going to be better bowlers, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Inglis, Mohsin, Avesh Out As Struggling LSG Put To Bat By Unchanged RCB

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won the toss and elected to bowl against hosts Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Thursday. Rishabh Pant and Co. head into their upcoming clash under pressure after suffering six successive defeats in the tournament. Their latest setback came against the Mumbai Indians, where they went down by six wickets. With their playoff chances rapidly fading, Lucknow will be desperate to return to winning ways. The side has managed only two victories from nine matches so far and currently sits at the bottom of the points table with four points. On the other hand, RCB also entered the fixture after a defeat, having lost to the Gujarat Titans by four wickets in their previous game. Despite that result, Bengaluru remain firmly placed in the top half of the standings, occupying second spot with six wins from nine outings. A victory against the struggling Lucknow side would further strengthen their push towards playoff qualification. The two teams last faced each other on April 15 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the Rajat Patidar-led side registered a convincing five-wicket win. Historically, RCB have enjoyed the upper hand in this rivalry, winning five of the seven meetings between the two franchises in the IPL, while Lucknow have emerged victorious twice. With the playoff race heating up, itll be interesting to see what new strategies both sides deploy to win this fixture. Winning the toss, RCB captain Patidar said, We will bowl first. It's not as loud as Chinnaswamy, but it's still loud. The surface looks good, and we'll look to restrict them to a low score. The break was good; everyone is doing well, and we had some hard practice. We are playing with the same team. Meanwhile, LSG skipper Pant said, A few changes in our team. Some injuries - Inglis and Mohsin Khan miss out. The only thing is to move with clarity. We know we're a top team, but the main thing is clarity. We have a few changes in the batting order. Having a stable environment is needed, but we need to make changes at times. Looks like a 180-190 wicket, a better wicket than most of the other games. Playing XIs: Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma Impact substitutes: Rasikh Dar, Jordan Cox, Mangesh Yadav, Vicky Ostwal, Venkatesh Iyer Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma Also Read: Live Cricket Score Impact substitutes: Mayank Yadav, Mukul Chowdhary, Abdul Samad, M Siddharth, Avesh Khan. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Excess Complimentary Ticket Demand Forced BCCI To Shift The Final From Bengaluru, Says Saikia

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia: BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said the decision to move the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 final out of Bengaluru was compelled by Karnataka State Cricket Associations demand for complimentary tickets far in excess of the mandated quota. As per the convention, with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru winning IPL 2025, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru was to host Qualifier 2 and Final. But the BCCI announced on Wednesday that the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad will instead host the final on May 31. The HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala will host Qualifier 1 on May 26, while the new PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh will stage the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 on May 27 and 29, respectively. As per IPL protocol, all state associations receive a 15 percent allocation of their total capacity as complimentary tickets. But we have come to know from various sources that during the hosting of the IPL league matches, the Karnataka State Association is taking much more than 15 percent complimentary tickets. So, we put an email to them requesting them to give us the exact information, and what will be their requirement that we have stated in our email on May 1 in a very specific manner that You are entitled to get the 15 percent of the total capacity tickets as complimentary and nothing beyond can be done and all other tickets has to be sold online for the general public. That is the mandate of the Honourable Supreme Court also because their particular percentage of the tickets must go to the general public so that all common people should get a full opportunity to buy tickets and watch the IPL matches and other BCCI matches, said Saikia on Thursday. Though the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) said they were willing to host the games at the venue, who hosted five league games of RCB this year, and that the BCCI decided without any formal communication, Saikia revealed the demand of giving tickets to MLAs and MLCs meant the governing body asked for tickets beyond its usual brief, thus paving the way for Ahmedabad to host its fourth IPL final in five seasons. However, we were shocked to get an email from Karnataka State Cricket Association on May 2, where they have stated that beyond the 15 percent, and after taking the 15 percent complimentary tickets, they would require another huge chunk of tickets for their members, clubs, various miscellaneous areas, then for their life members and most surprisingly we have to also shell out 900 tickets for their local MLAs and MLCs and also to the Government of Karnataka - 700 number of complimentary tickets. That apart also, a few additional complimentary tickets have to be given to the Cricket Association, to distribute to the persons whom they feel like. So, beyond 15 percent, they were asking about another 10,000 tickets, and as you all know, BCCI is the hosting authority for the playoffs and final matches. However, we were shocked to get an email from Karnataka State Cricket Association on May 2, where they have stated that beyond the 15 percent, and after taking the 15 percent complimentary tickets, they would require another huge chunk of tickets for their members, clubs, various miscellaneous areas, then for their life members and most surprisingly we have to also shell out 900 tickets for their local MLAs and MLCs and also to the Government of Karnataka - 700 number of complimentary tickets. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Consequently, we were compelled to make the difficult decision to relocate the matches from Karnataka, that is Bengaluru, and from BCCIs perspective, Ahmedabad is the most suitable venue theres demand from the general and global public for the tickets to watch the final, as thats a huge capacity ground and as a result, we will host the final there, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

Fast bowling riches in focus as Bangladesh and Pakistan switch to Test mode

The teams reunite in a Test series for the first time since Pakistan stumbled to a 2-0 series loss against Bangladesh at home

Marcus North set to be named as England Men's selector

Former Australia batter and current Durham director of cricket expected to be confirmed ahead of NZ Test series

DC vs KKR Match 51, IPL 2026: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction

DC vs KKR Match 51, Cricket Tips :After a good start to the IPL 2026, Delhi Capitals have lost the plot completely and are struggling to get a win. They have reached very close to elimination, and if they lose one more game, they can be out of the tournament. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders also have a similar issue. They have only three wins under their belts. But their start to the tournament was very poor. These two teams will be facing each other in a do-or-die match on Friday. The match kicks off at Arun Jaitley Stadium at 7:03 PM IST. The team that loses this game will virtually be eliminated from the competition. DC vs KKR: Match Details Date : May 8, 2026 (Friday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : Arun Jaitley Stadium, Kolkata DC vs KKR Live Streaming Details The Indian fans can watch the DC vs KKR game on the Star Sports Network. Fans can also watch the live stream on the Jio Hotstar app or website. DC vs KKR Head-to-Head in IPL Total Matches : 35 DC : 15 KKR : 19 No - Result : 01 DC vs KKR: Ground Pitch Report Arun Jaitley Stadium has a good batting wicket, which is generally flat. However, the bowlers have dominated in the last few matches. Spinners have found turn, and seamers have found movement early on. But in the second innings, the conditions to bat will surely improve. DC vs KKR Possible XIs DC : KL Rahul (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Tristan Stubbs, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Axar Patel (c), Ashutosh Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, T Natarajan KKR : Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Ajinkya Rahane (c), Finn Allen, Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Chakaravarthy DC vs KKR Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter KL Rahul has been in good form, and his runs will be very important for DC. For KKR, Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been scoring runs consistently and scored a half-century in the last game also. Probable Best Bowler Lungi Ngidi is a complete T20 bowler, and he comes with several variations. For KKR, Sunil Narine has looked good in the last few matches. Today Match Prediction : KKR have looked good in recent matches. We predict KKR to beat DC in Delhi on Friday. DC vs KKR Match 51, IPL 2026, Today 2026 Match, DC vs KKR 2026 Prediction, DC vs KKR Predicted XIs, Injury Update for DC vs KKR Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The predictions or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

Marcus North To Replace Luke Wright As Englands National Selector: Report

Wales Cricket Board: Former Australia batter Marcus North is reportedly set to take over as Englands new national selector, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) expected to formalise the appointment in the coming days. The Durham director of cricket has emerged as the frontrunner for the role after the completion of the interview process, edging out former England pacers Steven Finn and Darren Gough. North is likely to step into a position that carries broader responsibilities than the role previously held by Luke Wright, who resigned following Englands Ashes campaign earlier this year, citing family commitments and the demands of extensive travel. The post of national selector has remained vacant since Ed Smith left the ECB structure five years ago. If confirmed, the 46-year-old would become the first overseas appointment tasked with leading Englands selection process. While the national side has previously employed foreign coaches, including current head coach Brendon McCullum, the selectors role has traditionally been held by English cricket figures. According to the Telegraph, Norths extensive involvement in county cricket and his administrative experience were decisive factors in the ECBs thinking. The 45-year-old has spent nearly a decade overseeing cricket operations at Durham and is widely credited with helping stabilise the club after its financial crisis and enforced relegation in 2016. A former Australia international, North played 21 Tests between 2009 and 2010, including two Ashes series. However, his long association with English domestic cricket appears to have strengthened his candidature. Over the years, he has represented multiple counties and built strong ties within the county circuit, both as a player and administrator. According to the Telegraph, Norths extensive involvement in county cricket and his administrative experience were decisive factors in the ECBs thinking. The 45-year-old has spent nearly a decade overseeing cricket operations at Durham and is widely credited with helping stabilise the club after its financial crisis and enforced relegation in 2016. Also Read: Live Cricket Score North has also worked closely with England captain Ben Stokes at Durham and white-ball skipper Harry Brook during his stint with the Northern Superchargers franchise in The Hundred. He is expected to assume duties in time for Englands squad selections for the upcoming home summer, including the Test series against New Zealand and the England Lions fixtures against South Africa A. Article Source: IANS

BAN vs PAK 1st Test Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

BAN vs PAK 1st Test , Cricket Tips: Bangladesh will host Pakistan for a two-match Test series in May. This series will kick off on Friday (May 8) with the first game. This contest will begin at 9:30 AM IST at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Najmul Hossain Shanto will lead the hosts. Shan Masood has been retained as the captain for Pakistan's test team. Bangladesh beat Pakistan 2-1 in the ODI series a month back. The hosts have a strong squad with an excellent pace unit. Pakistan rely mainly on their spin duobecause they have several out-of-form batters in the squad. BAN vs PAK: Match Details Date : May 8-12, 2026 (Friday-Tuesday) Time : 9:30 AM IST Venue : Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka BAN vs PAK: Live Streaming Details The live action of the test will be available on the FanCode mobile app or website for the Indian fans. BAN vs. PAK: Head-to-Head in Test Total Matches : 15 Pakistan : 12 Bangladesh : 02 No result/Tied: 02 BAN vs PAK: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in Dhaka is on the slower side. The bowlers will get good assistance here. Spinners will have a big role as the surface is expected to deteriorate with time. Fast bowlers will be in the game with the new ball. Batting will be better on the first two days. BAN vs NZ: Possible XIs Bangladesh : Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Shadman Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Mominul Haque, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana Pakistan : Shan Masood (c), Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Fazal, Babar Azam, Md. Rizwan (wk), Salman Agha, Saud Shakeel, Noman Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Sajid Khan, Khurram Shahzad BAN vs PAK: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Mushfiqur Rahim is the leading scorer for Bangladesh in tests, and his experience will be crucial for Bangladesh. For Pakistan, a lot will depend on how Babar Azam performs. He is coming off a great PSL 2026. Probable Best Bowler Nahid Rana has troubled Pakistan in recent times, and he has been in good form. For Pakistan, Sajid Khan will be important, because he is expected to get good assistance from this wicket. Today's Match Prediction : Pakistan are good, but Bangladesh are very strong in their own conditions. Hence, we predict Bangladesh to win this game. BAN vs PAK Match 1st Test, Today's Match BAN vs PAK, BAN vs PAK Prediction, BAN vs PAK Predicted XIs, Injury Update for BAN vs PAK Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The predictions or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.

Hollie Armitage named MI London Women's captain

Armitage will recreate 2025 title-winning partnership at Northern Superchargers with Lisa Keightley

The iconic Father Time at Lords celebrates 100 years: A trivia-filled journey through history

The Father Time at Lords has completed 100 years. This iconic weathervane is overlooking crickets home and MCC celebrated 100 years of one of crickets most enduring symbols. It was placed above Lords in 1926 and since then it has been recognized as one of the Grounds most recognizable guardians, silently watching every over, every Test, and every moment of history. Who got it made: In fact, this weathervane was gifted by Sir Herbert Baker, architect of the second Grand Stand at Lords, to MCC, after its completion in 1926. It was then placed above this Grand Stand. Many cricket historians believe that this was given as a part of an apology because the work on the Grand Stand was over running. Where it is located now: Sir Herbert Bakers Grand Stand was demolished and in 1996 it was replaced by a new Grand Stand. At that time, the weather vane, as well as the scorers box, moved to its current location on the opposite side of the ground i.e. above the lift shaft between the Mound and Tavern stands. There is a clock there too, which makes it a highly practical corner of the ground, telling spectators, the time, wind direction, and score. What this figure shows: It depicts the mythical Father Time, compared by many to the Roman God Janus, symbolizing the passage of time. In cricket, its one of the undecided debates as to what this figure is showing? The design shows his right hand holding a bail next to the stumps, causing the debate about whether Father Time is placing the bail on the stumps to start the day, or taking it off to call time. Diana Rait Kerr, MCCs first Curator, is of the opinion that he is removing the bails, citing Law 12.3 of the Laws of Cricket: After the call of Time, the bails shall be removed from both wickets. Many cricket historians go with the more optimistic interpretation that the days cricket is about to begin. Make of the figure: Standing around 6ft 6in tall, the figure itself measures roughly 5ft 4in. Father Time is cast in iron, painted black, and gilded on the wind arrow tip and the end of his scythe. Mishaps for a 100-year journey: It has also faced ups and downs. 1. During the Second World War, a drifting barrage balloon tore him from the Grand Stand roof. He was then kept in the Committee Room during the war years. 2. In 1992, lightning struck the weathervane, damaging its one hand, which required repair. This has remained its first and only trip away from Lords. 3. Heavy winds in 2015 damaged it once again. It was removed from its place for two months, for specialist conservation work. In the meantime, a Test match was played between England and New Zealand, and this remains the only Test not witnessed by Father Time, having seen 112 in a row. Also, the weathervane was rebalanced to allow it to move with the wind more easily. Special Celebration: In a unique gesture, MCC searched for the people who share their 100-year journey with Father Time and found Lt. Col. Anthony Collyns, an MCC Member based in Salisbury. He is a living link to the era Father Time has silently witnessed. MCC also honoured him for completing 100 years on April 28. Mystery of date of installation of Father Time: Most of the cricket history books as well as documents available with MCC indicate that Father Time arrived at Lords in 1926, but before that years Ashes Test, played on June 26. However, the exact installation date always remained a mystery. Then Alan Rees, a member of MCCs archive team, found a long-lost photograph while looking through an old album, which showed a man on the roof, with a cigarette between his lips, giving finishing touches to this most famous weathervane, Father Time at Lords. The date attached to this rediscovered photo was April 29, 1926, and this provided Father Time a birthday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score This year, when England play a Test against New Zealand in June, this shall be the 150th Test at Lords and Father Time has seen 132 Tests, missing just one. He has overlooked an ever-evolving Lords from each side of the wicket. Father Time has become one of the most recognizable images of Lords, but also the game more widely.

IPL 2026: Shreyass Early Dismissal Was The Turning Point Of The Match, Says Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra: Punjab Kings chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad was effectively derailed by the early dismissal of captain Shreyas Iyer, according to former India opener Aakash Chopra, who termed the wicket the turning point of the contest which the visitors lost by 33 runs. In the fourth over of second innings, Iyer miscued a cutter from pacer Eshan Malings and was caught by skipper Pat Cummins, as he made five off as many balls. With him, Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya falling cheaply, PBKS could make only 202/7, despite Cooper Connolly hitting 107 off 59 balls, and suffer their third straight defeat. They had already lost two wickets. Theres a stat that if you lose two or more wickets in the Powerplay while chasing, you are on the back foot in about 70 per cent of matches. And this was the third wicket. It was a slightly slow surface. I know Cooper Connolly played really well, but on such pitches, you expect your experienced Indian batters to take you through when the ball isnt coming onto the bat easily. In that scenario, if Shreyas gets out early, especially in a big run chase, it becomes very difficult. Even against Delhi, despite those big starts from the openers, Punjab might have lost that game if not for those two dropped catches of Shreyas. Without him, it wasnt happening. Once he was out, the game was almost gone, said Chopra on JioHotstar. Former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan hailed Cummins leadership and execution in dismissing opener Priyansh Arya in the opening over. The last time these two teams met, Priyansh got a halfcentury inside the Powerplay. The game was effectively over as they scored nearly 100 runs, which is why those 220 runs were chased down so easily. Even against Delhi, despite those big starts from the openers, Punjab might have lost that game if not for those two dropped catches of Shreyas. Without him, it wasnt happening. Once he was out, the game was almost gone, said Chopra on JioHotstar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He was beaten first ball, and Cummins picked up on that. Knowing Priyansh doesnt play the upper cut, he brought the third man inside the circle and placed a fielder at deep midwicket, and the bluff worked perfectly. Priyansh tried to play a short ball outside off stump towards the leg side, and Cummins executed the line and length to perfection, he added. Article Source: IANS

'Shocked and saddened': Kohli mourns former U19 teammate Amanpreet Gill's demise

Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh among others reacted to the sudden passing of their former teammate Amanpreet Singh Gill, who died in unknown circumstances at the age of just 36. Amanpreet, who used to play as a right-arm medium pacer, represented Punjab in the domestic circuit.

Deep Dasgupta Praises Nitish Reddy, Calls Him 'the Only Proper All-rounder' Of This Season

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta heaped praise on Nitish Kumar Reddy, calling him the only proper allrounder in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 season after his side Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 33 runs. Reddy once again contributed with the ball during SRHs strong bowling effort, striking early to dismiss Prabhsimran Singh in the powerplay as Punjabs chase faltered from the beginning. Thats a very valid point, how we perceive the impact of the allrounder. That is changing, and I hope that keeps changing and next season the role of the allrounder is recognised more as we go forward, Dasgupta said on ESPNcricinfo. What is heartening to see is even though there is this impact sub option, he has kind of found a niche for himself as an allrounder. We dont get to see too many all-rounders in this tournament. I think Nitish is the only proper all-rounder. Bats in the middle order, bowls more often than not for at least three to four overs. So, yeah, a proper allrounder, he added. SRH produced another dominant all-round performance at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, posting 235/4 before restricting Punjab Kings to 202/7 to climb to the top of the points table. SRH's batting unit laid the foundation for victory with aggressive contributions from Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, who smashed half-centuries after Punjab dropped crucial chances in the field. Nitish also played a brilliant knock of 29 runs, which came off just 13 balls. Dasgupta also stressed that Reddys presence gives Hyderabad much-needed flexibility and balance in a format increasingly dominated by high-risk batting. I guess the impact rule, and how much thats taken potentially the allrounder out of it, so hes definitely done a lot of work behind the scenes over the last few months to get everything clicking as it is, Dasgupta said. Dasgupta also stressed that Reddys presence gives Hyderabad much-needed flexibility and balance in a format increasingly dominated by high-risk batting. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So you literally are looking at almost nine batters then. If you start with five bowlers and thats where the allrounders, somebody like Nitish, are so, so important. So you can actually get an extra batter in there knowing very well that this guy can give you four overs, he added. Article Source: IANS

Archery WC Stage 2: Recurve Women's Team Stuns Korea To Enter Final; Compound Archers Falter In Team Events

Archery World Cup Stage: Indian women's recurve team staged an upset with a stunning semifinal win over 10-time Olympic champions South Korea and assured a medal at the Archery World Cup Stage 2 here on Thursday. However, the men's team, comprising Dhiraj Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai and Yashdeep Sanjay Bhoge, suffered an opening-round exit after losing 2-6 against Bangladesh. The women's team of Deepika Kumari, Ankita Bhakat and teenager Kumkum Mohod defeated a Korean team of Lee Yunji, Oh Yejin and reigning world champion Kang Chaeyoung 5-1 in the semifinals to set up a gold medal clash against second seed China on Sunday. The match opened with a dominant performance from the Indian trio, who managed to edge out the Korean team to take the initial lead. Both teams finished the second set with an identical score of 56, resulting in a split of the set points, with India holding a 2-1 lead. In the deciding set, Indias performance was a mirror image of their excellence in set 1. After a steady start with two 9s, they closed with an incredible run of three 10s and an X and sealed a match along with a place in the final. Meanwhile, the compound-mixed team of Ojas and Aditi Gopichand Swami suffered a 156-157 loss in the quarter-final against Alexis Ruiz and James Lutz of the USA. On the other hand, the recurve mixed team of Ankita and Dhiraj fell 5-4 to the Brazilian pair of Ana Luiza Sliachticas Caetano and Marcus DAlmeida in the closely contested opening round match. Earlier in the tournament, world no. 1 Indian compound men's team Ojas Pravin Deotale, Sahil Rajesh Jadhav and Kushal Dalal lost 234-235 to the American team of Gaius Carter, world record holder James Lutz and Louis Price in the semifinal before losing the bronze medal match to China after two shoot-offs. On the other hand, the recurve mixed team of Ankita and Dhiraj fell 5-4 to the Brazilian pair of Ana Luiza Sliachticas Caetano and Marcus DAlmeida in the closely contested opening round match. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The women's compound team of Aditi, Pragati and Jyothi Surekha Vennam bowed out after a 227-233 quarter-final loss to the Turkish trio of Hazal Burun, Defne Cakmak and Emine Rabia Oguz. Article Source: IANS

Australian Players To Prioritise IPL 2026 Over Pakistan ODIs: Report

Indian Premier League: Australia have been dealt a blow ahead of their upcoming three-match ODI tour of Pakistan later this month as their top players, including captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, will reportedly be missing the series as the dates clash with the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 finale, scheduled on May 31. According to the schedule released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Australia's tour will begin on May 30, with the first ODI to be played in Rawalpindi, followed by the remaining two matches on June 2 and 4 in Lahore. The ODI series is clashing with the IPL 2026, whose group stage will end on May 24, and the players except the top four teams will be free and available, but the rest will take part in the playoffs, with the final to be played on May 31. As per the report in Cricbuzz, Cricket Australia (CA) will allow its players to complete their IPL commitments without interruption from the ODI series in Pakistan. Australian players will still be in the IPL and will complete their commitments, a CA spokesperson was quoted in the report. There are currently 13 Australian players involved in the IPL, which include Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, and Matthew Short. Only Starc, Inglis, Green, and Short's IPL sides are not in the top 4 in the IPL, and if the points table remains the same, then Australia will miss many big names on the Pakistan tour. There are currently 13 Australian players involved in the IPL, which include Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, Travis Head, Tim David, Josh Hazlewood, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, and Matthew Short. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Cummins has only played two ODIs since their triumph in the 2023 World Cup. If he misses the Pakistan tour, his next assignment may be the tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa in September. Article Source: IANS

Bringing up Kartik Sharma, with a little 'duty of care' from Dhoni and Fleming

Kartik Sharma has had a rough time of it after joining CSK for a record fee, but finally came good with a match-winning half-century against Mumbai Indians

Shocked And Saddened: Kohli Mourns Former U19 Teammate Amanpreet Gills Demise

The Punjab Cricket Association: India's charismatic batter Virat Kohli expressed grief over the passing of his former India Under-19 teammate Amanpreet Singh Gill, who died at the age of 36 in Chandigarh on Wednesday, leaving the cricket fraternity in mourning. Kohli took to social media to pay tribute to Gill and extend condolences to his family and loved ones. The two had shared the dressing room during their early cricketing days in the India Under-19 setup. Shocked and saddened to hear about Amanpreet Gills passing. Sending prayers and strength to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace. Om Shanti, Kohli wrote in his heartfelt message on X. Gill, a right-arm medium pacer, represented the Punjab cricket team in six first-class matches during his domestic career and was also part of Kings XI Punjab in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Though his playing career was brief, he remained closely connected with cricket and continued contributing to the sport in Punjab after retirement. He represented India in several youth ODIs and a three-day youth Test in 2007, touring England, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka during that period. However, Gill missed out on selection for the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2008-winning India squad led by Kohli. The Punjab Cricket Association mourned his demise in an official statement and remembered him as a committed servant of Punjab cricket. The Punjab Cricket Association deeply mourns the sad loss of Amanpreet Singh Gill, former Punjab cricketer and Member of the Senior Selection Committee, Punjab. He served Punjab cricket with dedication and passion, representing teams like India Under-19s, Kings XI Punjab, and Punjab, the PCA said in its statement. The association also extended condolences to Gills family and prayed for strength during the difficult time. According to the PCA, his cremation is scheduled to take place at the Manimajra Cremation Ground in Chandigarh. Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan also expressed grief over Gills untimely demise and offered condolences to his family and friends. Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of former Punjab cricketer Amanpreet Singh Gill at such a young age. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and everyone who knew him. Om Shanti, Dhawan wrote on X. Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan also expressed grief over Gills untimely demise and offered condolences to his family and friends. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Deeply saddened to hear about Amanpreet Singh Gills passing. Shared the dressing room in our early days, he was a quiet, hardworking cricketer who loved the game. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace. Om Shanti, Yuvraj wrote on X. Article Source: IANS

Birmingham Phoenix Squad & Schedule for The Hundred 2026 Full Players List and Fixtures

Birmingham Phoeni xare one of the most exciting franchises inThe Hundred, representing the historic counties of Warwickshire and Worcestershire. Based in Birmingham, the teamplay their home matches at the iconicEdgbaston Cricket Ground. Heres the complete Birmingham Phoenix squad and full schedule for The Hundred 2026. Birmingham PhoenixMen's Squad The Hundred 2026 Jacob Bethell - 340,000 Rehan Ahmed - 250,000 Donovan Ferreira - Overseas - 210,000 Mitch Owen - Overseas - 130,000 Saqib Mahmood - 150,000 Usman Tariq - Overseas - 140,000 Joe Clarke - 85,000 Will Smeed - 55,000 Jordan Thompson - 60,000 Scott Currie - 210,000 Laurie Evans - 85,000 Chris Wood - 70,000 Ethan Brookes - 70,000 Mustafizur Rahman - Overseas - 100,000 Also Read: Live Cricket Score Birmingham PhoenixMen's Schedule The Hundred 2026 .schedule-table-wrapper { width: 100%; overflow-x: auto; margin: 20px 0; } .schedule-table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; min-width: 600px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; } .schedule-table th, .schedule-table td { border: 1px solid #ddd; padding: 12px; text-align: left; } .schedule-table th { background-color: #f4f4f4; font-weight: bold; } .schedule-table tr:nth-child(even) { background-color: #fafafa; } @media screen and (max-width: 768px) { .schedule-table { min-width: 100%; } .schedule-table th, .schedule-table td { padding: 10px; font-size: 14px; } } Birmingham Phoenix Men's Schedule The Hundred 2026 Date Opponent Venue July 24, 2026 Trent Rockets Edgbaston Cricket Ground July 26, 2026 Manchester Super Giants Old Trafford Cricket Ground July 30, 2026 Southern Brave Utilita Bowl August 1, 2026 Welsh Fire Edgbaston Cricket Ground August 5, 2026 Trent Rockets Trent Bridge August 7, 2026 Sunrisers Leeds Edgbaston Cricket Ground August 9, 2026 London Spirit Lord's Cricket Ground August 12, 2026 MI London Edgbaston Cricket Ground

'The Batters Have Been On Fire': Cummins Hails SRH Batting After Win Over PBKS

Openers Abhishek Sharma: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) skipper Pat Cummins has lavished praise on the team's batting unit for their attacking approach after SRH registered a commanding 33-run victory over Punjab Kings on Wednesday to climb to the top of the IPL 2026 points table. After aggressive half-centuries, mixed with some luck courtesy of crucial dropped catches, from Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan propelled SRH to a daunting 235/4, a disciplined bowling performance led by skipper Pat Cummins ensured victory for SRH despite Cooper Connollys sensational maiden IPL century for PBKS. Lots of experience. The batters have been on fire, so you dont have to do too much. Sit back and everyone kind of looks after themselves, and its a good feeling around the group at the moment, Cummins said in a video released by IPL on X. Openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head provided a rapid start before Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen took charge in the middle overs with attacking half-centuries. Ishan Kishan, who survived multiple chances, including dropped catches and a missed stumping, made full use of the chances to score 55. Klaasen also capitalised on an early lifeline and smashed 69 to take SRH comfortably beyond the 200-run mark. Cummins reserved special praise for Kishan, who was the captain of the team in the first seven matches in his absence. The Australian jokingly said that he had made the plan to come back after SRH started winning under Kishan's leadership, following a poor start. Obviously, Ishan was excellent at the start. I wasnt sure I was going to come back, but then we started winning, so I thought, oh, Id better come back. But no, its been good fun. The bowlings coming out all right. Im feeling fresh. The team looks after itself, he added. Chasing a big total, the Punjab Kings lost early wickets as Cummins and Nitish Kumar Reddy struck inside the power play. Eshan Malinga added further pressure with the wicket of PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer. Obviously, Ishan was excellent at the start. I wasnt sure I was going to come back, but then we started winning, so I thought, oh, Id better come back. But no, its been good fun. The bowlings coming out all right. Im feeling fresh. The team looks after itself, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With this win, SRH have 12 points in 11 matches. The 2016 winners will next face the Gujarat Titans (GT) after a six-day break on May 12. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Cummins Bluff Of Arya, Detailed Planning Gave SRH Early Edge, Says Franklin

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) assistant coach James Franklin credited skipper Pat Cummins tactical nous of bluffing Priyansh Arya and the execution of the detailed planning by the bowling group for playing a vital hand in their 33-run win over Punjab Kings. At the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Cummins set the tone in the powerplay by bluffing Arya with a bouncer outside offstump, with an aim to exploit the batters preference for the pull over the upper cut. Arya duly fell into the trap by pulling straight to Eshan Malinga at deep square leg. Cummins spell of 2-34 eventually played a decisive hand in SRH going to top spot in the points table. I think it was a little bit pre-planned. Obviously the bowlers do a lot of work with Varun Aaron, our bowling coach, pre-games and I think sometimes you don't necessarily have to quite bowl the ball that maybe the field is expecting. I think we saw the ball before that he bowled with a pretty good bounce on the same sort of line and he obviously called the bluff a little bit, executed the same sort of delivery and created the opportunity. So, where the strengths and weaknesses are of the opposition batters, obviously all our bowlers are well across it and Pat was able to expose that and create an opportunity and we obviously got that first breakthrough, said Franklin in the post-match press conference. He added that feedback from SRHs batters after the first innings shaped the bowling plans. I think we found from the feedback from our batters, particularly from the first innings was. As the innings went on, they found that the pitch was slowing down quite a lot and they found that when the Punjab bowlers were bowling off pace cutters into the wicket, it was a little bit harder to hit. So that was the feedback that our bowling group got and obviously we used it a lot throughout that innings when we bowled. So, particularly when you bat first in games, how you then try and execute your bowling plans has a lot to do with obviously the batting feedback on how the pitch is playing so we use that advantage from batting first today to implement into our bowling innings. Franklin highlighted the role of detailed planning SRH bowlers do in stopping opposition batters from making big runs. Again I'm not privy to too much of the in-depth bowling chats because I'm sort of looking after a slightly different space within the group. But all I'll say is that the detail that Varun goes through with the bowling group in conjunction obviously with Pat Cummins and Dan, the head coach, are very detailed and I think you have to be detailed nowadays because of how powerful batting units are, particularly top threes, top fours of all the IPL teams and particularly the power plays. Franklin highlighted the role of detailed planning SRH bowlers do in stopping opposition batters from making big runs. Again I'm not privy to too much of the in-depth bowling chats because I'm sort of looking after a slightly different space within the group. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But on the same note we know as well that a team like Punjab do bat deep and obviously Cooper batted fantastically well for his first IPL 100 which I'm sure he'll be proud of. But our bowling group, I think their execution as a whole group right throughout the 20 overs of us bowling was pretty spot on for what the conditions in the game needed, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

Former India Under-19 cricketer Amanpreet Singh Gill dies at 36

Amanpreet Singh Gill played youth one-dayers and a three-day Test in 2007, touring England, Malaysia and Sri Lanka with the India Under-19 team in that period

T20 Mumbai League 2026, Inaugural Womens League To Be Held From June 1 To 13

The T20 Mumbai League: The T20 Mumbai League season 4 and the inaugural edition of the T20 Mumbai Womens League will be held from June 1 to 13 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced on Thursday. The mens and womens competitions will be conducted simultaneously, marking a significant step in the MCAs vision to create a high-visibility platform for cricketing talent across categories. The mens competition will bring together some of the worlds biggest cricketing names alongside the citys most promising emerging players, including Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube, Sarfaraz Khan, Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Ayush Mhatre, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Musheer Khan, Suryansh Shedge and Abhigyan Kundu, among others. The inaugural womens league will also feature some of the leading names alongside the brightest young prospects in the domestic circuit, including Sayali Satghare, Saima Thakor, Humaira Kazi, teenage batting sensation Ira Jadhav, who became the costliest buy at the auction, Sanika Chalke and Simran Shaikh. MCA President Ajinkya Naik said, The T20 Mumbai League has consistently played an important role in strengthening Mumbais cricketing ecosystem and providing opportunities for emerging players to perform alongside some of the biggest names in the game. Conducting both the mens and womens tournaments at the Wankhede Stadium reflects the MCAs commitment to creating a larger and more inclusive platform for talent development and taking Mumbai cricket to a wider audience. The inaugural womens league will also feature some of the leading names alongside the brightest young prospects in the domestic circuit, including Sayali Satghare, Saima Thakor, Humaira Kazi, teenage batting sensation Ira Jadhav, who became the costliest buy at the auction, Sanika Chalke and Simran Shaikh. Also Read: Live Cricket Score All matches will be telecast live on Star Sports and streamed on JioHotstar. Article Source: IANS

Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood unlikely for Pakistan ODIs as dates overlap with IPL

Australia's three-match ODI tour will begin on May 30 in Rawalpindi before the final two matches are played on June 2 and 4 in Lahore, with the IPL playoffs running until May 31

Virat Kohli Hails Bhuvneshwar Kumar Ahead of Veteran Pacers 200th IPL Match

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) veteran Virat Kohli has heaped praise on Bhuvneshwar Kumar, game awareness and longevity in the shortest format ahead of the pacer's 200th Indian Premier League (IPL) match. Bhuvneshwar has taken 215 wickets in 199 IPL matches at an average of 26.40 and an economy rate of 7.68, including two five-wicket hauls and two four-wicket hauls, with his best bowling figures standing at 5/19. He will play his 200th IPL match against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday. Ahead of the milestone, RCB players, including Virat and Hazlewood, and coach Andy Flower paid tribute to the legendary pacer. In a video released by RCB on X, Kohli described Bhuvneshwar as one of the best bowlers in the tournament. It's a big feat to play 200 games, especially as a fast bowler. I know it's T20 cricket, but that tells you the longevity, and he's played so much cricket over all these years. All kinds of formats, and he's been such a successful bowler, Kohli said in a video. The thing that stands out for me with Bhuvi has always been his understanding of the game and his cricket smarts. He's probably been among the top three pacers in IPL history. If you look at his economy, the number of wickets he's taken, and the amount of dot balls he bowls every game, its remarkable. Hes someone you can trust under pressure every single time. To maintain that level of skill and execution over so many years is a great achievement, he added. Bhuvneshwar's pace-bowling Hazlewood, also talked about his bowling skills and sharp game awareness. The Australian bowler said that the way Bhuvneshwar consistently bowls the right lengths is amazing. I think his skill set is second to none. Swing bowling at its highest level. The lengths he hits consistently, moving the ball both ways, and the way he reads the game are exceptional. For someone who bowls the first over almost every match, his communication and ability to assess conditions quickly are key, Hazlewood said. Bhuvneshwar's pace-bowling Hazlewood, also talked about his bowling skills and sharp game awareness. The Australian bowler said that the way Bhuvneshwar consistently bowls the right lengths is amazing. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Coach Flower described Bhuvneshwar as a master of his craft. It's an absolute privilege to watch him do his thing, Flower said. It's a bit like watching Virat bat and watching Bhuvi bowl. They're masters at what they do. On your 200th, congratulations on the way that you've operated as a man and as a player over all these years, he said. Article Source: IANS

Allrounder Reddy has 'found a niche' despite the impact-player rule

The team functions better when they have an allrounder who's being able to contribute both with bat and ball, James Franklin, SRH's assistant coach, says about Nitish Kumar Reddy

Lawyer Says Warner Accepts 'reckless, Foolish' Drink-driving Decision; Case Adjourned Till June 24

Former Australian Test: Former Australian Test cricketer David Warner will accept responsibility for a eckless, foolish decision to get in his car after sharing a few glasses of wine, which resulted in a mid-range drink-driving charge, his lawyer said. The former Test opener was charged with mid-range drink driving after allegedly blowing more than twice the legal limit in a random breath test after he stopped short of a roadside test in Sydney's east on April 5. He was not required to appear in Waverley Local Court on Thursday when his matter was first mentioned. His lawyer Bobby Hill told the court representations had been made to police and requested the case be adjourned until late June for police to consider them and respond. His matter will return to court on June 24. He knows what he did was wrong. He accepts that was a reckless decision, a foolish decision to get in his car instead of taking an Uber. He had enjoyed three glasses of wine at a friend's apartment before making that decision, Hill was quoted by cricket.com.au. It's not a crime to have a glass of wine on the day of the lord's resurrection. In fact, some would consider that completely appropriate. His crime is choosing a foolish plan A instead of a plan B, he told reporters. Hill further mentioned that Warner's last drink had been 11 minutes before he was pulled over by police, who are accused of taking 52 minutes to administer the second breathalyser. The cricket star is remorseful, which is why he will ask for leniency but expects to be punished as any other NSW citizen would be, Hill explained. It's not a crime to have a glass of wine on the day of the lord's resurrection. In fact, some would consider that completely appropriate. His crime is choosing a foolish plan A instead of a plan B, he told reporters. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Warner was arrested while he was on an Easter trip home from the subcontinent, where he captained the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League. However, the former returned to Pakistan after being charged to resume his PSl campaign. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: If I Bowl A Good Ball, Batter Won't Be Able To Hit It Even 30 Yards, Says Krunal

BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium: Royal Challengers Bengalurus left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya said his bowling plans against quality batters are centered on trusting himself to bowl his best delivery so that batters cant hit him for boundaries on small grounds. Pandya has picked nine wickets in as many games at an average of 26.55 and an economy rate of 8.85 in IPL 2026. He is again expected to play a crucial hand with the ball when defending champions RCB take on the Lucknow Super Giants at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday evening. On grounds like Wankhede or Chinnaswamy, especially Chinnaswamy, the boundaries are small. So, I tell myself that if I bowl a bad ball, it will go for a six, whether it is 80 meters or 50 or 60 meters. Sometimes that creates a negative thought when the boundary is small. So, I take the boundary size out of my mind. I know that if I bowl a good ball, the batter won't be able to hit it even 30 yards. So, I think that way: if I bowl my best ball, they won't be able to hit me even on a small ground, Pandya said on JioStars Superstars episode. Quizzed on his bowling plans against quality batters like Heinrich Klaasen and Shreyas Iyer, Pandya said it hinges on him putting them under pressure with a mix of relentless control and force to make a mistake on ground. My approach depends on the situation. Sometimes I need to attack, other times I need to choke the runs. My main thought is always about bowling the best possible delivery for that moment. Heinrich Klaasen loves taking on spinners. Against batters like him, the better balls you bowl, the more dot balls you create, and the higher your chances of forcing a mistake. You can't just keep attacking mindlessly. Sometimes, when a dangerous batter is at the crease, you have to go for the wicket and take a risk. It all depends on the game situation. Shreyas Iyer is also a very good player of spin. Against quality batters like him, where the margin for error is small, my thinking is always the same: how can I make them hit to their weaker areas? For example, if a batter scores easily over covers, how can I force him to hit over mid-wicket? If he likes to slog sweep, how can I make him hit over long off? That has been my game plan against most batters, including Shreyas, he explained. On adding bouncers and yorkers to his bowling repertoire, Pandya stated that he honed them to stay one step ahead of modern batters. If you follow the IPL closely over the last 10 years, the striking ability of batters has changed drastically. Today, the power-hitting is constantly evolving. The new-age batters coming in have an insane ability to clear the ropes with ease. For example, if a batter scores easily over covers, how can I force him to hit over mid-wicket? If he likes to slog sweep, how can I make him hit over long off? That has been my game plan against most batters, including Shreyas, he explained. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It was a very well thought out plan, understanding what a bouncer does psychologically to a batter. Being a batter myself helps me think like a batter. I always try to stay one step ahead of the batter in terms of thought process and then focus on how to execute my skill, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

Australia To Tour Pakistan For Threematch ODI Series From May 30

Pakistan Cricket Board: The Australias mens cricket team will arrive in Pakistan later this month for playing a threematch ODI series, said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday. The series marks Australias first ODI assignment in Pakistan since their tour in MarchApril 2022, where the hosts won by 2-1. Earlier this year, Australia toured Pakistan for a three-match T20I series, where the hosts completed a 3-0 clean sweep in Lahore. As per a PCB statement, the touring Australian side are scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on May 23, with the opening ODI to be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on May 30. The action will then shift to Lahore, where the Gaddafi Stadium will host the second and third matches on June 2 and June 4, respectively. All three fixtures are set to begin at 4.30 pm local time, with the toss scheduled for 4 pm. The series will also clash with the playoffs stage of 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL), with the opening game to happen a day before the final takes place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With several of Australias leading whiteball players involved in IPL 2026, the squad may arrive in Pakistan without many frontline names. The players whose franchises fail to reach the playoffs could still make it in time for the opening ODI like ODI captain Mitch Marsh, wicketkeeper Josh Inglis and Cameron Green. The likes of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Travis Head may be given rest to focus on the Test series in Bangladesh in August, while Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Ben Dwarshuis, and Matthew Short could be handed some breather with an eye on playing in the white-ball series in Bangladesh in June. Alex Carey, Adam Zampa and Marnus Labuschagne, who recently played in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), are expected to line up in the 50over format, while Nathan Ellis has returned to bowling after a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the IPL and Matthew Renshaw may also land a spot in the team after good showing in his debut ODI series against India last year. Australia, the current Mens ODI World Cup holders, also played in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, registering a fivewicket win against England at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 22. With the next edition of the Mens ODI World Cup set to happen next year, the series presents both teams with another chance to fine-tune their combinations and gain momentum in the 50-over format. Series schedule May 23: Australia arrive in Islamabad May 30: 1st ODI, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium May 23: Australia arrive in Islamabad Also Read: Live Cricket Score June 4: 3rd ODI, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Connolly A Good All-rounder In The Making, Got Good Head On Shoulders, Says Bahutule

Cooper Connolly: Batting all-rounder Cooper Connolly has drawn high praise from Punjab Kings spinbowling coach Sairaj Bahutule, who described him as a very good allrounder in the making and someone who has the right temperament to succeed at the highest level. Connolly, 22, has been the sides most consistent batter this season, much like how his idol Shaun Marsh was for the side in IPL 2008. His unbeaten 107 off 59 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday night underlined his growing stature in the tournament despite PBKS falling short by 33 runs and getting their third straight loss of the season. Connolly, who bowls leftarm spin, has not been used with the ball in IPL 2026 owing to Cricket Australia (CA) saying that hes managing a back issue. He is somebody who's very positive and he's a great potential. Definitely he'll play a long period for Australia. He's a very good allrounder in the making, fabulous fielder and he's got a good head on his shoulders. He's a team man. For conditions here, we knew at some stage (that) it was a losing cause. But he just made sure that the momentum is on and see how we can get closer to the total. Because obviously things like these also help us in our net runrate. That's what he did beautifully. I think he's learning about being in India, playing in the conditions and the way he has adapted as an overseas player has been fabulous to see at that age (22) to come and to really play in different venues, different pitches and perform so well, said Bahutule in the post-match press conference. But dropped catches also cost PBKS dearly against SRH. Connolly himself, along with Shashank Singh and Lockie Ferguson, put down straightforward chances that allowed Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen to capitalise. Kishan went on to score 55 off 32 balls, while Klaasen made 69 off 43 deliveries. Bahutule admitted the missed opportunities in fielding hurt the side. It was very important for us to execute our plans and we did execute them. Unfortunately, catches were dropped and I think that hurt us. It was very important to take those catches because they are such players (Kishan and Klaasen) that if you tend to drop catches they will score and score quickly. I think definitely catching could have changed the momentum of the game. There would have been fresh batters on the pitch and we could have executed our plans more effectively and then ended up maybe giving more than 50 runs less, he added. Bahutule acknowledged the psychological impact of repeated misses but backed his players, especially Shashank, to recover from it. Sometimes a player, for example, is not getting runs, there are a few innings (in) which he doesn't get runs and he starts thinking as to why he's not getting runs; a bowler also starts getting hit and he wonders as to what is the reason why I'm getting hit. Fielding is the same thing - if you keep dropping catches there is a sort of doubt created in the mind in terms of whether I'm catching properly or am I taking the pressure, am I being too anxious things like that come creeping (in). But I think all the players of our team, they are well-equipped in terms of handling pressure and the way they have been doing so well in the fielding in the first half, it has been exceptional. So again, I think it's important that we go back and reflect on things as to how we can have the right person at the right place or tweak it around. Fielding is the same thing - if you keep dropping catches there is a sort of doubt created in the mind in terms of whether I'm catching properly or am I taking the pressure, am I being too anxious things like that come creeping (in). Also Read: Live Cricket Score But being a professional player, you should understand the technique, understand the method in which every ball which goes up has to be caught. So I think players are aware of it is the question of just executing it. Article Source: IANS

Australia A men to tour India in September-October ahead of 2027 Test tour

Australia A women and Australia men's Under-19s will also tour India in September and October

David Warner to Accept Responsibility in Drink-Driving Case, Says Lawyer

Australian cricket star David Warner will accept responsibility for drink-driving, his lawyer told reporters on Thursday after a Sydney court hearing. The 39-year-old faces a middle-range drink-driving charge, court documents showed, after allegedly being more than twice the legal limit in Sydney in April. Warner -- one of Australia's best-known sportsmen -- is accused of being at the wheel of a van and stopping short of a random testing site, before being breath-tested, arrested and taken to a police station. I can indicate that David will be accepting responsibility for drink-driving, defence lawyer Bobby Hill told reporters outside court, according to public broadcaster ABC. So many of us make those poor decisions. I think what's important is accepting and being accountable for those poor decisions, he said. Warner's lawyer argued that the case showed the risk people take when trying to assess whether they have drunk too much. It doesn't matter if you're a tradesman, a doctor or one of the best opening batsmen in the world, that danger exists for every one of us. Former international opener Warner, who captains Sydney Thunder in the domestic Big Bash League, did not appear in court and has not entered a plea, local media said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Court documents showed the next hearing was set for June 24.

Warner was 'reckless and foolish' to drink and drive, according to his lawyer

Warner's drink driving case was adjourned in a Sydney court on Thursday with no plea required, with the case to continue on June 24

Kane Williamson Named in New Zealand Squad for England and Ireland Tests, Eyes 10,000 Runs Milestone

Kane Williamson will continue his pursuit of 10,000 Test runs after being named Thursday in New Zealand's squad to play Ireland and England in May and June. The squad features a shock omission from the England leg of the tour, Will Young left out in favour of Henry Nicholls. The 19-man squad will play a one-off Test against Ireland starting May 27 in Belfast before a three-Test series against England starting June 4. Williamson has 9,461 runs at an average of 54.7 in 108 Test matches, and said in December he was considering retirement. As you get to the latter stages (of your career) those thoughts certainly enter your mind, said Williamson, who added his future commitment to the Black Caps would be series by series. As it turns out the 35-year-old has committed to New Zealand's next four Tests, while New Zealand will also play India at home and Australia away later in the year. Young's omission for the England Tests comes as a shock given he'd been the long-standing preferred back-up to New Zealand's batting group. With limited opportunities, Young had four 50-plus scores in his last nine Test innings, including 74 opening the batting against a fiery spell from fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani on a lively pitch against Zimbabwe. Nicholls, who had earned a recall after 18 months in the international wilderness, came in the next day on a then-placid pitch and scored 150 not out, but having barely faced Zimbabwe's best bowler. Young is part of the squad for the Ireland Test but will head home at its conclusion. Black Caps coach Rob Walter named two potential debutants in seamer Kristian Clarke and spin-bowling all-rounder Dean Foxcroft. To be able to test ourselves against some of the very best Test teams in the world is an exciting challenge and with the added carrot of the fourth edition of the World Test Championship, Walter said. I know it's something the players and staff alike have been looking forward to for some time and we're determined to meet the opportunity head on. New Zealand are bolstered by the return of Kyle Jamieson and Will O'Rourke, while Jacob Duffy will sit out the tour as he awaits the birth of his child. All-rounder Michael Bracewell said he will no longer play Test cricket, instead focusing on limited-overs formats. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand: Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell, Kristian Clarke (IRE only), Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae(IRE only), Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young(IRE only).

Klaasen and Abhishek lead Orange Cap race at IPL 2026

Ishan Kishan, Cooper Connolly and Eshan Malinga also moved up the ladder after SRH beat PBKS by 33 runs in IPL 2026 on Wednesday night

Former Cricketer Shikhar Dhawan Registers Marriage With Sophie Shine In Gurugram

Shikhar Dhawan Foundation: Former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan registered his marriage with Sophie Shine, with whom he tied the knot in February 2026, at the registrar's office in Gurugram on Wednesday. Dhawan, who hails from Delhi, completed the formalities at the marriage registrars office along with his wife, Sophie Shine, signing the marriage documents in the presence of family members and a priest, according to news reports on Wednesday. The 46-year-old Dhawan had tied the knot with Sophie in an intimate ceremony in the Delhi-NCR region on February 21, 2026. The couple, who met in Dubai and dated for over a year, made their relationship public in 2025. Sophie, an Irish professional product consultant, currently leads the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation. The couple had earlier got engaged on January 12 this year. This is Dhawan's second marriage. He was earlier married to Melbourne-based Aesha Mukerji in 2012. Dhawan was granted a divorce on October 5, 2023, on grounds of mental cruelty by his estranged wife, Aesha Mukerji, with whom he has a son named Zoravar. The 46-year-old left-handed batter played for India in all three formats between 2010 and 2022, making his Test debut against Australia on March 14, 2013. He scored 2,315 in 34 Tests at an average of 40.61, scoring seven hundreds and five fifties. He had a top score of 190. This is Dhawan's second marriage. He was earlier married to Melbourne-based Aesha Mukerji in 2012. Dhawan was granted a divorce on October 5, 2023, on grounds of mental cruelty by his estranged wife, Aesha Mukerji, with whom he has a son named Zoravar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He also had a successful career in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from 2008 to 2024, playing for Delhi Daredevils, Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Delhi Capitals, and Punjab Kings. He had represented Delhi at the domestic level from 2004 to 2024. Article Source: IANS

'We dropped too many catches' - Shreyas Iyer rues sloppy PBKS performance

Punjab Kings dropped three catches and missed one stumping chance, as Sunrisers Hyderabad raced away to a 33-run win and the top of the table

Connolly ton in vain as batting muscle fires SRH to top of the table

Both teams missed chances in the field but PBKS' proved costlier

Former Punjab Cricketer Amanpreet Singh Gill Passes Away At 36, PCA, Yuvi Pay Tribute

The Punjab Cricket Association: Former Punjab cricketer Amanpreet Singh Gill has passed away at the age of 36 in Chandigarh, leaving the domestic cricket fraternity in shock and grief. A medium pacer who once shared the dressing room with some of Indias biggest cricketing names, Gill was remembered as a dedicated and humble figure in Punjab cricket. Gill represented Punjab in six first-class matches during his career and was also part of Kings XI Punjab in the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League. Beyond his playing days, he remained closely associated with the game and was serving as a member of Punjabs senior selection committee. The Punjab Cricket Association mourned his demise in an official statement, recalling his long-standing contribution to the sport in the state. The association noted that Gill had served Punjab cricket with dedication and passion, having represented teams such as India Under-19s, Punjab, and Kings XI Punjab. The PCA also extended condolences to his family and loved ones, praying for strength for those grieving his loss. According to the association, his cremation is scheduled to take place at the Manimajra Cremation Ground in Chandigarh. The Punjab Cricket Association mourned his demise in an official statement, recalling his long-standing contribution to the sport in the state. The association noted that Gill had served Punjab cricket with dedication and passion, having represented teams such as India Under-19s, Punjab, and Kings XI Punjab. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh also paid tribute to his former teammate and friend. In a heartfelt message shared on social media, Yuvraj remembered Gill as a quiet, hardworking cricketer who loved the game, adding that they had shared the dressing room during their early cricketing years. He conveyed his condolences to Gills family and prayed for his soul to rest in peace. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: It Was A Bit Too Much Dropped Catches Today, Says PBKS Skipper Iyer

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: Shreyas Iyer was straightforward in his comments after Punjab Kings' 33-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 49th match of IPL 2026. He said, It was a bit too much because we dropped catches at the start. The wicket kept getting slower. They played good cricket and showed us how to win. His remarks highlighted a night filled with missed opportunities and a strong performance from Sunrisers Hyderabad, leading to a 33-run defeat at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal. Punjab's early fielding mistakes set a negative tone for the game. Dropped catches of Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen proved costly, as both batters took advantage and scored crucial half-centuries. SRH started aggressively, with Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head putting pressure on the opposing team during the powerplay. Kishan then anchored the middle phase with a quick 55, while Klaasen's fluid knock helped Hyderabad exceed the 200-run mark, making the chase very difficult for PBKS. Reflecting on his team's performance, Iyer said, I feel we got off to a great start in the tournament, and everyone was in a good space... If we continue with the same form, that wont help us. Despite an encouraging start to the season, this defeat revealed issues that PBKS needs to fix. The chase never really gained traction for Punjab Kings. SRHs bowlers struck early, dismissing both openers within the first seven balls and quickly following up with Iyers key wicket during the powerplay. At 57/3 after six overs, the required run rate had already risen sharply, putting the visitors on the back foot. Reflecting on his team's performance, Iyer said, I feel we got off to a great start in the tournament, and everyone was in a good space... If we continue with the same form, that wont help us. Despite an encouraging start to the season, this defeat revealed issues that PBKS needs to fix. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Connolly went on to score a fantastic unbeaten 107, anchoring the innings until the end, but did not receive enough support. At one point, the requirement grew to 106 runs off 31 balls, making the chase nearly impossible. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: All-round SRH Soar To Top Of Table With 33-run Victory Over PBKS

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: Sunrisers Hyderabad delivered a strong all-around performance to overpower Punjab Kings by 33 runs in Match 49 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Their explosive batting, followed by disciplined bowling, played a key role, while PBKS' poor fielding proved costly in this high-scoring match. Dropped catches off both Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen came back to haunt Punjab. The pair capitalised on important half-centuries, helping SRH secure a commanding total and ultimately take control of the game. Batting first, SRH again showed their aggressive approach right from the start. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head set the pace with a quick beginning, continuing to dominate during the Power-play. They attacked early, pushing SRH forward and putting pressure on the PBKS bowlers. Even after losing an early wicket, the momentum hardly changed. The real damage happened in the middle overs when PBKS let the game slip away. Ishan Kishan, benefitting from numerous lifelinesincluding dropped catches and a missed stumpingmade the most of his opportunities. He scored a brisk 55, shifting gears effectively to keep the scoring rate high. Heinrich Klaasen also benefited from an early reprieve. He made Punjab pay with a fluent half-century, allowing SRH to easily pass the 200-run mark. Their contributions, along with some late acceleration, lifted Sunrisers Hyderabad to a huge total, leaving Punjab Kings with a tough chase. The fielding mistakes, especially the dropped chances of two well-set batters, proved decisive moments that shifted the game solidly in SRHs favour. In response, Punjab Kings struggled to find the sustained momentum needed for such a challenging chase. Although there were brief moments of brilliance, the innings lacked the consistency to challenge SRHs large total. Sunrisers Hyderabad made a dream start with the ball, ripping through Punjab Kings top order inside the first six overs to seize complete control of the chase. The damage was swift and brutal as both openers, Priyansh Arya (1 off 3) and Prabhsimran Singh (3 off 4), were sent back within the first seven balls - marking their lowest combined return in 26 innings together. Pat Cummins set the tone with clever captaincy, deceiving Arya with a short ball after pushing mid-on back, while Nitish Kumar Reddy struck immediately to remove Prabhsimran. Eshan Malinga then piled on the pressure by dismissing Shreyas Iyer, who mistimed a hard-length delivery straight to mid-off. At 57/3 in the powerplay, despite the scoring rate, PBKS were already on the back foot, needing 179 runs off 84 balls. Amid the early collapse, Marcus Stoinis and Cooper Connolly attempted to steady the innings with a counter-attacking 33-run unbeaten stand, both contributing 22 runs each. Stoinis took the aggressive route, smashing Sakib Hussain for 19 in an over, while Connolly found boundaries off Malinga to keep the scoreboard ticking. Their partnership helped PBKS recover to an extent, but with three key wickets already down, the chase remained an uphill task, leaving SRH firmly in command. Cooper Connolly stood out with a steady knock, reaching a well-crafted half-century off 34 balls. He displayed maturity under pressure, trying to anchor the innings and keep PBKS in the game despite the increasing required rate. However, the target continued to rise out of reach. At one point, they needed 106 runs off 31 balls, making the task seem nearly impossible. SRH bowlers maintained control, mixing their lengths well and taking advantage of the slowing pitch. Regular wickets further diminished Punjabs hopes and inhibited any late push. Connollys resistance remained one of the few bright spots in a challenging chase as he brought up his first T20 hundred, ending on an unbeaten 107 as Sunrisers Hyderabad soared to the top of the table with a 33-run victory. However, the target continued to rise out of reach. At one point, they needed 106 runs off 31 balls, making the task seem nearly impossible. SRH bowlers maintained control, mixing their lengths well and taking advantage of the slowing pitch. Regular wickets further diminished Punjabs hopes and inhibited any late push. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sunrisers Hyderabad 235/4 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 69, Ishan Kishan 55; Yuzvendra Chahal 1-32) beat Punjab Kings 202/7 in 20 overs (Cooper Connolly 107 not out, Marcus Stoinis 28; Pat Cummins 2-34, Shivang Kumar 2-45) by 33 runs. Article Source: IANS

Jamieson, ORourke, Sears Return To Tests, Foxcroft Earns Maiden Call-up; Williamson Back For England

Sir Richard Hadlee Medal: The New Zealand selectors have bolstered their pace-bowling unit by deciding to bring back spearheads Kyle Jamieson and Will ORourke for a one-off Test against Ireland in late May and a three-Test series against England in June. The Canterbury quicks will join a large contingent of seam bowlers, with Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Nathan Smith, and Blair Tickner named for both tours, while Michael Rae and the uncapped Kristian Clarke have been included for the Ireland Test only, along with Ben Sears, who will also head to England as the 16th travelling reserve. With the full support of New Zealand Cricket (NZC), reigning Sir Richard Hadlee Medal winner Jacob Duffy will miss the tours to remain in New Zealand as he and his wife await the birth of their first child. Kane Williamson has been included in the 19-strong extended squad as he looks to add to his Test career runs tally of 9461, after last playing for the side in the Test series against West Indies in December. Central Districts batting all-rounder Dean Foxcroft has earned his maiden Test call-up after another solid Plunket Shield season with the bat and impressive recent performances on the Black Caps' white-ball tour of Bangladesh. The selection came as an unexpected and welcome surprise for the 28-year-old. I was blown away, Foxcroft said. Its quite surreal and a dream come true. From a young age, you dream about playing Test cricket or even just being in a Test squad - so Im buzzing, and I cant wait. The tour begins an important period of long-form cricket for the Test side, with the series against England kicking off a run of 13 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) matches from June until March. The Black Caps, who currently sit second on the WTC table, will host India in a two-Test series at the start of the coming summer, followed by four Tests away to Australia in December-January, two Tests at home against Sri Lanka, and two Tests in Pakistan to finish. Head coach Rob Walter said it was a hugely exciting period ahead for the team in the pinnacle format of the game. To be able to test ourselves against some of the very best Test teams in the world is an exciting challenge, with the added carrot of the fourth edition of the World Test Championship, he said. I know its something the players and staff alike have been looking forward to for some time, and were determined to meet the opportunity head-on. The tour will be the first Test involvement for Jamieson since suffering a back stress fracture in February 2024, with his comeback to the national side consisting of 19 T20Is and 10 ODIs since returning last March. The 31-year-old has a sparkling Test resume with 80 wickets from 19 Tests at an average of 19 and holds the New Zealand mens Test record for the fastest to 50 wickets in the format (nine matches). ORourkes rise has coincided with Jamiesons time away from Test cricket, with the 24-year-old claiming 39 wickets from 11 Tests at an average of 24 since his debut against South Africa in February 2024 when he claimed 9-93 the best match figures by a BLACKCAPS Test debutant at the time. The 24-year-old succumbed to a back stress fracture on the Test tour to Zimbabwe last July and spent eight months on the sidelines before returning on the Black Caps' just-completed white-ball tour of Bangladesh, where he claimed five wickets across the three-game ODI series. Wellington Firebirds speedster Sears could make his first Test appearance since his debut against Australia in 2024 when he claimed 4-90 in the second innings as the Black Caps fell just short of victory. Walter said the trios return was an exciting prospect. Its a great privilege to start this next period of sustained red-ball cricket with all our pace bowlers ready to go, he said. Kyles been on a journey of getting his body ready for Test cricket. Hes really fit and strong at the moment and will bring a unique edge to our bowling line-up. Will brings a quality set of skills and physical attributes which make him a hugely exciting addition to any Test team. Ben brings height and good pace, and I love his aggression and whole-hearted approach to his bowling. Walter acknowledged Duffys decision to miss the tour on paternity grounds. Jake has been hugely impressive and influential across all formats, but this is a far more important period of his life coming up, and were fully supportive of him and his wife Tash. Henry, Foulkes, Jamieson, Rachin Ravindra, and Glenn Phillips will join the squad once their respective stints in the Indian Premier League conclude, with the IPL26 finals running throughout the week of May 25 to the final on May 31. All-rounder Michael Bracewell has expressed his desire to step back from Test cricket and focus his time on his young family and limited-overs cricket. The 35-year-old was therefore not available for selection for these tours, but Walter said Bracewell remained an important part of the Black Caps white-ball programme. In-form Canterbury red-ball captain Henry Nicholls has earned a recall for both tours, with Will Young included for the Ireland Test only. Daryl Mitchell is on track to be fully fit for the tour after recently returning home from the Pakistan Super League with a calf injury. Tom Blundell has been selected as the only specialist wicket-keeper in the squad, with captain Tom Latham his immediate back-up if required. Mitchell Santners shoulder injury will continue to be rehabilitated and monitored from New Zealand, with the option to include him later in the series depending on his recovery progress. The New Zealand-based Test players will train at the NZC High Performance Centre at Lincoln University this week and next, ahead of departing on May 22. The one-off four-day Test against Ireland begins at Stormont in Belfast on May 27, with the three Tests against England to be played at Lords (June 4-8), The Oval (June 17-21), and Trent Bridge (June 25-29), respectively - with Sky confirmed to broadcast all four Tests live in New Zealand. The Test series against England will see the Crowe-Thorpe trophy contested for the second time after it was introduced in 2024 to honour the late Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe. New Zealand Test Squad to Ireland and England Tom Latham (C), Tom Blundell (WK), Kristian Clarke, Devon Conway, Zak Foulkes, Dean Foxcroft, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Will ORourke, Glenn Phillips, Michael Rae, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears (IRE only & 16th travelling reserve for ENG), Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young(IRE only) New Zealand's Test Tour Schedule Test v Ireland May 27-30 Stormont, Belfast 1stTestv England June 4-8 Lords, London Test v Ireland May 27-30 Stormont, Belfast Also Read: Live Cricket Score 3rdTest v England June 2529 Trent Bridge, Nottingham Article Source: IANS

Grace Scrivens, Cordelia Griffith boost Essex resurgence

Their 128-run stand overcomes Lancashire for third straight win as in-form Jodi Grewcock chimes in with fifty

Indian Women's Team To Host Zimbabwe For Maiden White-ball Series In October

Sri Lanka Women U19: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday unveiled an expansive home season schedule, headlined by the India women's team hosting the Zimbabwe women's national cricket team in a white-ball series in October 2026. The schedule features a line-up of multi-format contests with India set to host Australia A (Men and Women), England A Women, Zimbabwe Women, Australia U19 Men, England U19 Women and Sri Lanka Women U19 during the upcoming domestic season, BCCI said in a statement. The series comprises three T20Is in Raipur and three ODIs in Baroda and will be a key assignment in the upcoming domestic season. Besides the senior womens fixtures, the calendar is packed with multi-format contests, with India A and U19 teams in both the mens and womens categories. The India A mens cricket team will face the Australia A cricket team in Puducherry. The series will consist of two multi-day matches and three one-day games to be played between September and October 2026. The India U19 mens cricket team will host the Australia U19 cricket team for a five-match tour at the junior level. There are three one-day matches in Rajkot, followed by two multi-day matches in Rajkot and Ahmedabad, respectively. The India A mens cricket team will face the Australia A cricket team in Puducherry. The series will consist of two multi-day matches and three one-day games to be played between September and October 2026. Also Read: Live Cricket Score They will then play the England A womens cricket team in another multi-format contest in Pune and Navi Mumbai. The India U-19 women's cricket team will host the England U-19 women's cricket team for a five-match T20 series in Baroda and Surat in November and December 2026. In June and July, they will play a six-match white-ball series against Sri Lanka's under-19 women's cricket team, to be held across Chennai and Puducherry. Article Source: IANS

Jamieson, O'Rourke return to NZ Test squad for Ireland, England tours

Uncapped allrounder Dean Foxcroft part of jumbo squad for three-match Test series in England

India to host Zimbabwe for maiden women's bilateral series

Tour comprises three T20Is and three ODIs in October

Mady Villiers century delivers Durham victory in brilliant allround display

She also led bowling attack with 3 for 38 amid fifties for Warwickshire's Davina Perrin, Charis Pavely and Nat Wraith

IPL 2026: Klaasen Credits Travishek For Fantastic Start After Guiding SRH To 235/4

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: Heinrich Klaasen praised Sunrisers Hyderabads strong opening pair for giving the ideal start after his impressive innings of 69 helped the team score a huge 235/4 against the Punjab Kings at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday. He said its fantastic to see how openers Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head handle their game. Once again, a fantastic start from Travishek. They make it look so easy. We lost wickets at crucial stages again. It started stopping a little bit. There's not a lot of bounce. It's a fantastic wicket to bat on. The bowling unit just needs to do what they've been doing, Klaasen said during the mid-innings break. Klaasen, who has been in great form this season, once again stepped up under pressure, building on the early success set by the openers. Abhishek and Head maintained their powerful play, reaching 79/1 in the first six overs, with Abhishek leading the charge by dismantling the PBKS opening bowlers. Reflecting on the pitch, Klaasen mentioned that it was not completely easy to bat on despite the high score. The ball got soft and started to stop a little in the middle overs. It is a medium-paced wicket, but still great to bat on, he said, pointing out the need for both aggression and flexibility throughout the innings. After the openers explosive start and Heads dismissal, Ishan Kishan made sure the momentum stayed strong. He took full advantage of a few chances, scoring 55 off 32 balls, including three straight sixes to reach his fifty. His performance kept the scoring rate high and put extra pressure on a struggling PBKS bowling attack. Reflecting on the pitch, Klaasen mentioned that it was not completely easy to bat on despite the high score. The ball got soft and started to stop a little in the middle overs. It is a medium-paced wicket, but still great to bat on, he said, pointing out the need for both aggression and flexibility throughout the innings. Also Read: Live Cricket Score On the bowling approach, Klaasen kept it straightforward: No more game plans. Just do what you normally do on this wicket. With high confidence and momentum on their side, SRH once again proved why they are one of the most dangerous batting teams in IPL 2026. Article Source: IANS

Duanne Olivier fast-tracked to Durham after Kemar Roach injury

Pair were due to swap mid-season but hamstring injury suffered against Middlesex ends Kemar Roach's stint

Phil Simmons: Bangladesh 'want to make new history'

The Bangladesh head coach doesn't want his players to rest on the 2024 laurels

IPL 2026: Klaasen, Kishan Fifties Guide SRH To 235/4 Against Sloppy PBKS

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: Heinrich Klaasens 69 and Ishan Kishans 55 after yet another terrific Power-play from openers helped Sunrisers Hyderabad post 235/4 in 20 overs against the Punjab Kings in the 49th match of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head set a strong tone with another explosive opening partnership as Sunrisers Hyderabad got off to a fast start, continuing their dominance in the powerplay. With an impressive collective strike rate of 210 this season and a Power-play scoring rate of 11.75 - the best in the tournament - the duo wasted no time. Abhishek started with a six off just the second ball he faced, launching Arshdeep Singh over extra cover. There was little movement for the bowlers, and SRH quickly capitalised, racing to 11/0 after the first over. The onslaught intensified in the second over as Abhishek attacked Marco Jansen. He hit a six over long-on, pulled a ball to fine leg, and crushed another six straight down the ground, keeping SRHs pace relentless. By the end of the third over, with Head joining in by pulling Arshdeep for consecutive sixes, SRH had surged to 48/0, leaving PBKS searching for answers. They reached the 50-run mark in just 3.2 overs, highlighting SRHs aggressive strategy. However, Lockie Ferguson provided a key breakthrough. After being hit for a six by Abhishek, Ferguson responded immediately, dismissing him as he popped up a catch. This offered a brief respite for PBKS amid an otherwise unstoppable start. Despite the wicket, Head kept up the offensive, confidently handling both pace and short-pitched deliveries. SRH finished the powerplay at a strong 79/1, scoring at over 13 runs per overwell above their already league-leading average. The momentum briefly shifted after the Power-play when Yuzvendra Chahal struck. The leg-spinner outsmarted Head with a googly, leading to a mis-hit that was safely caught at long-off. Yet, PBKS failed to capitalise on this breakthrough, suffering from a series of costly fielding mistakes. Ishan Kishan, who came in after Heads dismissal, was fortunate during his innings. He was dropped twiceonce by Cooper Connolly and later by Fergusonand even survived a missed stumping chance by Prabhsimran Singh. PBKS fielding issues persisted, bringing their total of dropped catches this season to 16, with a poor catching efficiency of 71.43%. Kishan took full advantage of these chances, scoring a valuable 55 off 32 balls. While not the smoothest innings, he switched gears effectively, hitting Vijaykumar Vyshak for three consecutive sixesover fine leg, straight down the ground, and over wide long-onto reach his half-century in just 28 balls. Even after Kishan's dismissalcaught at deep square legHeinrich Klaasen made sure there was no slowdown in scoring. The South African wicketkeeper-batter kept up the aggressive pace, regularly finding boundaries and punishing any loose deliveries. Klaasen continued his sensational form, notching up yet another fifty - this one off just 32 balls, featuring two fours and three sixes - after being dropped early on 9, making PBKS pay dearly. His consistency this season remains remarkable, with a double-digit score in every game. As SRH surged past the 200 mark in the 18th over, the pressure mounted on the bowlers, especially Marco Jansen, who endured a tough outing, conceding 61 runs in his four overs. This also marked SRHs eighth 200-plus total in IPL 2026, equalling the record for the most such scores in a single T20 competition. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy also continued his assault with big maximums as a late blitz from Klaasen helped Hyderabad reach 235/4 in 20 overs. As SRH surged past the 200 mark in the 18th over, the pressure mounted on the bowlers, especially Marco Jansen, who endured a tough outing, conceding 61 runs in his four overs. This also marked SRHs eighth 200-plus total in IPL 2026, equalling the record for the most such scores in a single T20 competition. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sunrisers Hyderabad 236/4 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 69, Ishan Kishan 55; Yuzvendra Chahal 1-32) against Punjab Kings. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: KSCA Voices Disappointment After Bengaluru Is Stripped Of Rights To Host Final Despite full Preparedness

The Karnataka State Cricket Association: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) is disappointed that Bengaluru will not host the IPL 2026 playoffs and final, even though it was originally named as the venue for the final match. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday announced that the final will take place in Ahmedabad, while Dharamshala and New Chandigarh will host the other playoff games. In an official statement on Wednesday, KSCA said it had formally communicated its willingness to host the important matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya noted that the association worked hard at the highest levels to secure the hosting rights. KSCA President and legendary Indian cricketer Venkatesh Prasad personally contacted the BCCI about this matter and formally expressed KSCAs readiness, eagerness, and strong interest in hosting the IPL Playoffs at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the statement said. KSCA highlighted its successful track record this season by pointing out the smooth execution of matches in Bengaluru. The IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season received positive feedback for the way they were managed, including crowd control, operational efficiency, and overall fan experience. This confirms KSCAs ability to host important events of this scale, it stated. The association explained that its communications with the BCCI were strictly operational, aimed at ensuring transparency about match arrangements. Most of these arrangements and protocols have been consistently followed since the IPL began in 2008. They were also implemented uniformly this season, including during the earlier playoff matches held in Bengaluru, the statement said. The association explained that its communications with the BCCI were strictly operational, aimed at ensuring transparency about match arrangements. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Even though it is disappointed, KSCA recognises the BCCI's authority in making the final decision. Despite our readiness and willingness to host the Playoffs, we understand that the BCCI chose to assign these matches to other venues. While we have not received a formal explanation for this decision, we fully respect the BCCIs right to make it. Article Source: IANS

'Ridiculous Delay': Michael Vaughan Slams ECB Over Late Appointment Of National Selector

Wales Cricket Board: Former England captain Michael Vaughan has strongly criticised the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the delay in appointing a new national selector, calling the situation ridiculous as the team approaches an important Test series against New Zealand. The position has been open since Luke Wright announced he would step down on January 22. He left after the T20 World Cup in March. Even though the vacancy has lasted over four months and the County Championship has already had four rounds, the process to find his successor has just now reached its final stages, with interviews held this week. Vaughan was direct in his comments about the situation. It's ridiculous how they're announcing a selector so late, he said on the Stick to Cricket podcast. He stressed the need for early involvement, saying, I wanted the selector there on 1 April, going out, having a look, gathering information. The former captain also noted that the timeline for finding a replacement had been clear for months. Luke Wright quit at the back end of Australia. We knew, didnt we? Its a long time - four months - to find someone, Vaughan stated, showing his frustration over the drawn-out delay. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), led by chief executive Richard Gould, began a review of the mens national setup after the 4-1 Ashes defeat to Australia. While managing director Rob Key and head coach Brendon McCullum kept their jobs, the selectors position became a key area for restructuring. The job posting for the selector was only published on March 18, with applications open until April 17. In the meantime, the ECB has relied on its current network of scouts to track domestic performances. A new county insight group, which includes county coaches and ECB officials, has also been established to improve the talent identification process. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), led by chief executive Richard Gould, began a review of the mens national setup after the 4-1 Ashes defeat to Australia. While managing director Rob Key and head coach Brendon McCullum kept their jobs, the selectors position became a key area for restructuring. Also Read: Live Cricket Score However, with England set to announce their squad for the first Test against New Zealand in just two weeks, Vaughans concerns underscore a wider worry about preparation and planning at the highest level. Article Source: IANS

Julian Metherell, London Spirit chair, named as next president of MCC

Former Goldman Sachs executive named to succeed Ed Smith when tenure begins in October

Ferguson, Shashank return as Punjab Kings opt to bowl

Nitish Kumar Reddy is back for SRH, replacing Aniket Verma

Mighty RCB face potential banana peel in LSG

RCB are the most complete side of IPL 2026 but LSG's bowlers are demons on home pitches

IPL 2026: Priyansh Arya Sits Out As PBKS Elect To Bowl Against SRH

Rajeev Gandhi International Stadium: Punjab Kings won the toss and elected to field against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 49th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Rajeev Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, in Hyderabad on Wednesday. Sunrisers Hyderabad have opted for a reshuffle, bringing in Nitish Kumar Reddy and Sakib Hussain while leaving out Aniket Verma and Harshal Patel in a bid to freshen up their combination. Punjab Kings have made multiple changes as well, with Shashank Singh, Lockie Ferguson and Vyshak Vijaykumar coming into the XI, replacing Priyansh Arya, Nehal Wadhera and Xavier Bartlett, signalling a tactical rethink as both sides look to strike the right balance. Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer said, We are going to bowl first. So far, so good. We have got amazing learnings from the last 2 games. We have had 2 losses, but we are still happy with being top of the table. There haven't been any complaints. People are putting in the hard yards. You have to keep up and running. We are a bunch of professionals, can't complain. The surface looks beautiful. There isn't a piece of grass. The last game we played against SRH on this wicket, they chased 240. Shashank and Lockie come in. Sunrisers Hyderabad captain said, Yeah, we would have had a bowl as well. But we have won a lot of games batting first, so we aren't very upset. Yes, it has been a really good campaign for us. It wasn't our day in the last game, but we won 5 games on the trot before that. Really positive group. We don't have to look far back. Hopefully, more of the same tonight. They have been awesome for the last few years. They love to see awesome cricket, and hopefully we are bringing in more of that tonight. Playing XIs: Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal Impact substitutes: Priyansh Arya, Harpreet Brar, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Musheer Khan Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal Also Read: Live Cricket Score Impact substitutes: Aniket Verma, Praful Hinge, Liam Livingstone, Harsh Dubey, Harshal Patel Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Pitch Wasnt A Belter, We Adapted Quickly, Says Akeal Hosein After CSK Beat DC

The Chennai Super Kings: The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spinner Akeal Hosein said quick assessment of conditions and effective communication among bowlers played a key role in their comprehensive eight-wicket win over the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday. Despite expectations of a high-scoring surface, Hosein revealed the pitch behaved quite differently, assisting bowlers who adapted early. Both teams saw the pitch and thought it would have been an absolute belter. Thankfully, we got the opportunity to bowl first and realised it was much more on the slower side and on the lower side as well, he said in a video released by CSK on X. CSKs bowlers made full use of the conditions, with Hosein returning 1-19 and Noor Ahmad picking 2-22 to restrict DC to 155/7. Its just about passing on information as quickly as possible and trying to make it as difficult as possible for the batters. For us, it was about staying on the stumps and hitting that good length. Going shorter didnt really work today, Hosein added. Hosein also highlighted the importance of early assessment when opening the bowling for the team in the power play. Getting the opportunity to bowl the first over, it can be challenging. Youre the first person to make the assessment on the pitch. For me, its about doing that quickly and passing on the information so the other bowlers can benefit. The West Indian spinner also credited his on-field communication with Noor Ahmad for immediate success. Case in point with Noor, it was about having that conversation on what lengths to bowl. Thankfully, we had that quick chat, and he got the wicket on the next ball. Its good to have that partnership and see him succeed. Chasing 156, CSK were powered by a superb unbeaten 87 off 52 balls from Sanju Samson, who stitched an unbroken 114-run stand with Kartik Sharma (41*), sealing victory with 15 balls to spare. Hosein heaped praise on Player of the Match Samson, hailing his composure under pressure, which helped the dressing room remain calm during the chase. Chasing 156, CSK were powered by a superb unbeaten 87 off 52 balls from Sanju Samson, who stitched an unbroken 114-run stand with Kartik Sharma (41*), sealing victory with 15 balls to spare. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With this win, CSK stayed in sixth place but moved within touching distance of the playoff spots. They have ten points in five matches and will next face Lucknow Super Giants on May 10. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: 'Not Looking Too Far Ahead,' Says Rangarajan As RCB Face LSG Challenge

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) are all set to take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Thursday at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, with the side staying firmly focused on the immediate task at hand as the race for the playoffs intensifies. Speaking ahead of the fixture, assistant coach, RCB, Malolan Rangarajan stressed that the groups attention remains solely on the clash against LSG and not on the Points Table. We can all see how the table is panning out, but we cant be distracted by whats happening with other teams. We can only focus on what we want to do, and the task we have on our hands as of now is the game against LSG tomorrow, he said. Malolan reiterated that discussions within the camp have revolved around improving as a unit rather than looking too far ahead. Were always looking as a unit at how we can improve and the trends in the tournament, how we can capitalise on those things. Our focus is now on this next game, he added. On conditions in Lucknow and whether the surface could prompt changes in combination, Malolan said, We dont fiddle too much with our combinations. We have Krunal Pandya, whos been doing very well for us; Suyash Sharma is another option, and then we have four pacers. Were happy with the way our squad is right now, and well try to adapt to what we see tomorrow, he said. Malolan reiterated that discussions within the camp have revolved around improving as a unit rather than looking too far ahead. Were always looking as a unit at how we can improve and the trends in the tournament, how we can capitalise on those things. Our focus is now on this next game, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The messaging to Jitesh is that hes very aware of what he can do to help the team in any situation he goes into. Thats all hes been focusing on, and thats what weve been trying to provide for him in training sessions, understanding the situations hes likely to go in and how he can impact the game for us, he added. Article Source: IANS