Cricket

IPL 2026: Unbeaten Klaasen Guides SRH To Highest-ever Run Chase At Wankhede Stadium

Unbeaten Heinrich Klaasen: A fierce performance from Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen guided Sunrisers Hyderabad to a remarkable chase of 243 and beat Mumbai Indians by six wickets in the 41st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. What started as a tough target quickly became an exciting display of bold batting. Right from the beginning, SRH showed their determination in chasing 244. Abhishek wasted no time, hitting Trent Boult over covers in the first over before launching a six off T20 World Cup-winner Jasprit Bumrah. Head soon joined in, attacking Boult with a series of boundaries, including a slice over backward point that went through Naman Dhirs hands for six, followed by two more hits over deep point and backward point. SRH dashed to 43 for 0 after three overs. Mumbais attempt to respond with spin didnt work as Abhishek and Head took apart Will Jacks in the fifth over, scoring 19 runs with powerful shots. Even Mumbais powerplay bowler AM Ghazanfar couldnt stop them; Head found the fence repeatedly. SRH soared to 74 for 0 after five overs, then exploded further by hitting Bumrah for 28 runs in his first two overs, including a 99-meter six straight down the ground. By the end of the powerplay, SRH had skyrocketed to 92 for 0 after six overs, the joint-highest MI had ever allowed in this phase. Head was particularly unstoppable, racing to a 20-ball half-century while Abhishek matched him shot for shot. At one point, SRH was scoring at 15.75 runs an over, with the required rate dropping below 10. However, the game shifted momentarily when Ghazanfar took two wickets in two balls, dismissing Abhishek (45) and in-form Ishan Kishan (0). Hardik Pandya then removed Head (76), giving MI a glimmer of hope. But Klaasen made sure there was no lasting comeback. He took control, hitting Ghazanfar over midwicket and deep midwicket before smashing four boundaries off Ashwani Kumar in one over. Continuing his strong season, Klaasen scored a fifty in 22 balls and then hit another 19 runs off another over from Ghazanfar, shifting the momentum back to SRHs side. He finished unbeaten on 65, guided by a small cameo from Salil Arora, who scored 14 off 6 deliveries. Earlier, Mumbai set a strong total of 243/5, built on an impressive century from Ryan Rickelton and a fast start with Jacks. After a cautious start against Pat Cummins, the pair launched a fierce counterattack, reaching 21/0 in two overs and then 78/0 by the end of the powerplaytheir second-highest this seasonat a run rate of 13. Jacks scored 46 off 22 balls with five fours and two sixes, while Rickelton matched him with 37 off 18 with three fours and three sixes. Rickelton then picked up the pace, reaching a fifty in 23 balls and pushing MI past 100 in just 7.4 overs, their fastest this season. Despite losing wickets at the other end, including Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, and Naman Dhir, Rickelton kept going strong. He handled every bowler with ease, particularly hitting 22 runs off just seven balls against Harsh Dubey at a strike rate of 314.3. His incredible innings ended with a 44-ball century the fastest ever by a Mumbai Indians playeras MI raced to 202/3 in 16 overs. Supported by Hardiks 31 off 15 in a 56-run stand, Rickelton carried through to the end, boosting MI to 243/5. On a night when scoring over 200 seemed routine, SRHs outstanding battingled by Head, Abhishek, and Klaasenmade sure that even a giant total of 243 wasnt enough, setting a new standard for T20 chasing at Wankhede. He handled every bowler with ease, particularly hitting 22 runs off just seven balls against Harsh Dubey at a strike rate of 314.3. His incredible innings ended with a 44-ball century the fastest ever by a Mumbai Indians playeras MI raced to 202/3 in 16 overs. Supported by Hardiks 31 off 15 in a 56-run stand, Rickelton carried through to the end, boosting MI to 243/5. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Mumbai Indians 243/5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out, Will Jacks 46; Praful Hinge 2-54, Nitish Reddy 1-31) lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad 249/4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65; AM Ghazanafar 2-51, Hardik Pandya 1-39) by six wickets. Article Source: IANS

'I Think We Are A Very Different Team And We Are Going To Win It,' Says England Women's Head Coach Edwards On T20 WC

U19 T20 World Cup: Charlotte Edwards believes England are a very different team as they head into the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup. She supports her team in making a serious title run while preparing to host the event this summer. The former captain, who led England to victory when they hosted and won the first edition in 2009, noted that the current group is eager to replicate that success on home ground. I think we're a very different team. We're coming here to win it. We know it's going to be really hard, Edwards told Sky Sports. There are some wonderful teams out there. But just thinking that we could play in a World Cup final at Lord's motivates us every day. These events are always special. Being part of a home World Cup with a final at Lord's is an amazing opportunity. This team is really excited about that chance and looks forward to doing something truly special, she said. England, who were eliminated in the group stage of the 2024 tournament, have announced their squad. Eighteen-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman stands out as one of the key selections. The uncapped teenager, who played in last years ICC Womens U19 T20 World Cup, has quickly risen through the ranks. What a rise into professional cricket she has had, Edwards said. A 16-year-old playing in The Hundred and then two years later being selected for England. She has had an incredible two years. She's performed, and that's what we've asked the players to do. Her age hasn't really mattered. She's conducted herself well over the last six months with the squad. She has spent a lot of time with us, and we're confident she can shine on the big stage, she added. Edwards also pointed out the strategic value Corteen-Coleman adds to the squad, especially with her left-arm spin. Statistically, left-arm spinners have been very successful in women's T20 cricket, she said. Edwards also pointed out the strategic value Corteen-Coleman adds to the squad, especially with her left-arm spin. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England is in Group 2 with the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland, and defending champions New Zealand. They will start their campaign against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12, aiming to make the most of home conditions and regain their championship-winning form. Article Source: IANS

Turner, Jonassen centuries highlight thrilling tie

Four run outs, including Rachel Slater trying to sramble a single off the last ball leaves Yorkshire short chasing 291

Grewcock grows in confidence to seal opening Essex win

Somerset post 268 thanks to Jones 79 but maiden hundred seals chase

IPL 2026: Loved Batting With Rickelton - Amazing Innings, Says MI Jacks Of His Opening Partner

Indian Premier League: After a refreshing break, Will Jacks returned with a bang, spearheading a massive total of 243 for the Mumbai Indians against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026 in what he described as a atting paradise. Highlighting a fearless approach, Jacks emphasised the team's commitment to playing with freedom, a strategy that paid off during his explosive partnership with Ryan Rickelton. Buzzing to be here after having some time off. Brilliant pitch, and what we spoke about was playing with freedom. Loved batting with Ryan - amazing innings. Ryan got a late call-up after Quinny was not feeling well. The last few times I have been here, it has been a batting paradise. We know we have our work cut out (even though we have 243). They bowled a lot of slower ball bouncers, and that was probably the hardest ball to hit. It is a big score, but we have seen so many high scores chased down. We are in a good position, but we have to bowl well. (On if he will take the new ball) We will see, said Jacks after the first innings. Mumbai started their innings cautiously against Pat Cummins. He generated early movement and bounce, making things difficult for both Rickelton and Will Jacks. However, Jacks broke the tension by lifting Cummins over mid-on for a boundary, setting the right tone. The real momentum shift happened against Praful Hinge, who was quickly exposed. Rickelton flicked him over deep midwicket for six. Jacks then followed with a sharp square drive and a thin edge for four, pushing MI to 21/0 after two overs. From there on, the pair never looked back. Rickelton and Jacks attacked non-stop, matching each other shot for shot. Rickelton hit back-to-back boundaries off Cummins, while Jacks sliced through extra cover, helping MI race ahead. By the end of the Power-play, MI had scored 78/0their second-highest score in this phase this seasonat an impressive run rate of 13, a big jump from their pre-match powerplay rate of 8.55. Jacks finished the Powerplay with 46 off 22 balls (five fours, two sixes). Mumbai started their innings cautiously against Pat Cummins. He generated early movement and bounce, making things difficult for both Rickelton and Will Jacks. However, Jacks broke the tension by lifting Cummins over mid-on for a boundary, setting the right tone. The real momentum shift happened against Praful Hinge, who was quickly exposed. Rickelton flicked him over deep midwicket for six. Jacks then followed with a sharp square drive and a thin edge for four, pushing MI to 21/0 after two overs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Rickelton finished with 123, forcing MI to 243/5. Article Source: IANS

Wyatt-Hodge threatens heist with another ton, but Hampshire prevail

Fifties for Maia Bouchier and Abi Norgrove prove enough as Bex Tyson wickets consign Surrey to second loss in a row

GT need bowlers and middle order to fire against fearsome RCB

A win for RCB will take them to the top of the table while a GT win will help them break away from a logjam in the bottom half

IPL 2026: We Have An Attack That Can Exploit Different Surfaces, Says Andy Flower Ahead Of Crucial Tie Against GT

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on 2022 winner Gujarat Titans in an away fixture of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. RCB head into the contest on the back of a five-wicket win over GT in Bengaluru earlier this season and a dominant nine-wicket victory against the Delhi Capitals. The defending champions currently sit comfortably on the points table with 12 points from eight games. Ahead of the contest, RCB head coach Andy Flower reflected on the teams mindset heading into a crucial phase of the tournament, stating: Weve moved on from last year and are focused on the new challenges this season brings. The players have been enjoying that journey, and tomorrow should be another great contest, said Flower. Speaking about handling dominant performances and maintaining balance, Flower added: Its important to treat wins and losses with a fair degree of equanimity. You dont want to get too carried away with either. Each game presents a fresh challenge, and thats how we approach it. Highlighting the teams strengths so far, Flower emphasised RCBs effectiveness with the ball in key phases: Weve been very good at taking powerplay wickets and putting opposition under pressure. At the same time, we have strong depth in our batting, which gives the group a lot of confidence. On adapting to conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium, he said, Were comfortable with whatever conditions are put in front of us. We believe we have an attack that can exploit different surfaces and a batting unit that can thrive in any situation. Elaborating on the teams approach heading into the business end of the tournament, Flower noted, Its important not to get into a mindset of trying to hold on to our position. We want to embrace the unpredictability of the game and attack every match with the right attitude. Touching upon the teams bowling unit, Flower highlighted the variety within the attack, Weve got a good mix, experienced swing bowlers, a world-class fast bowler in Hazlewood, and spinners who bring different skill sets. That variety gives us strong options in different phases of the game. On the mental side of the game and handling pressure, Flower offered a nuanced perspective: Fear is a normal human emotion. Instead of trying to ignore it, we encourage players to recognise it and respond well. Thats a healthier way to deal with pressure situations. Touching upon the teams bowling unit, Flower highlighted the variety within the attack, Weve got a good mix, experienced swing bowlers, a world-class fast bowler in Hazlewood, and spinners who bring different skill sets. That variety gives us strong options in different phases of the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With momentum on their side and clarity in approach, RCB will look to complete the double over Gujarat Titans and continue their strong run in the tournament. Article Source: IANS

India Squad For 2026 Womens T20 World Cup To Be Named On Saturday Evening

BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia: India will announce their 15-member squad for the 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup on Saturday evening at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai. The marquee event will be held in England from June 12 to July 5. After the womens selection committee finalises the squad, captain Harmanpreet Kaur, chief selector Amita Sharma, and BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia will announce the squad in a press conference at 5 pm. In addition to the Womens T20 World Cup squad, the five-member selection committee will also select teams for the threematch T20I series against England, which will be held before the mega event from May 28 to June 2. They will also select the team for the oneoff Test against England, to be played at Lords from July 10-13, as well as the India A squads for three oneday and as many T20 matches against England A dates and venues for which are yet to be announced. India are placed in Group 1 of the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup alongside six-time champions Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands. Indias buildup for the mega event recently included a fivematch T20I series against South Africa, which they lost 4-1. They will also select the team for the oneoff Test against England, to be played at Lords from July 10-13, as well as the India A squads for three oneday and as many T20 matches against England A dates and venues for which are yet to be announced. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Previously, hosts and 2009 winners England announced their squad for the Womens T20 World Cup on April 28, while defending champions New Zealand named their 15-member team on Wednesday. The tenth edition of the tournament will see 12 teams play in the competition for the first time and will compete in 33 matches across seven venues. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians Wear Black Armbands In Tribute To Support Staffs Daughter

Indian Premier League: Mumbai Indians players wore black armbands during their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday as a mark of respect and solidarity following the untimely demise of the daughter of a member of their support staff. Dear All, due to the untimely demise of our support staffs daughter, Mumbai Indians players will wear black arm bands today, in remembrance and solidarity with the family, the Mumbai Indians said in a statement. Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bat. Senior batter and former captain Rohit Sharma remains out with a hamstring injury. They have made multiple changes, bringing in Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Robin Minz, and Trent Boult, while Quinton de Kock, Sherfane Rutherford, Shardul Thakur, and Krish Bhagat miss out. Earlier, the Mumbai Indians signed Keshav Maharaj to replace the injured Mitchell Santner. Santner is out for IPL 2026 due to a shoulder injury. Maharaj has limited IPL experience, having played only two matches for the Rajasthan Royals in 2024. However, he has significant franchise experience and leadership skills. Earlier this year, he led Pretoria Capitals to the SA20 title. Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bat. Senior batter and former captain Rohit Sharma remains out with a hamstring injury. They have made multiple changes, bringing in Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Robin Minz, and Trent Boult, while Quinton de Kock, Sherfane Rutherford, Shardul Thakur, and Krish Bhagat miss out. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Mumbai Indians face a big test against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Wankhede Stadium as their IPL 2026 campaign hangs in the balance. Mumbai have won just two of their seven games so far and are on the same points as bottom-ranked Lucknow Super Giants, having won just one of the last five games, and desperately need a change of fortunes to keep their playoff hopes alive. Article Source: IANS

MI bat and bring in Jacks; No Rohit or de Kock

The captain winning the toss had bowled first in the 21 previous IPL games at the Wankhede

IPL 2026: Rohit Sharma Still Unfit As Mumbai Indians Elect To Bat Against SRH

Indian Premier League: Mumbai Indians won the toss and elected to bat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Match 41 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday. Mumbai Indians have made multiple changes to their lineup, bringing in Ryan Rickelton, Will Jacks, Robin Minz, and Trent Boult, while Quinton de Kock, Sherfane Rutherford, Shardul Thakur, and Krish Bhagat miss out. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad have drafted in Travis Head and Harsh Dubey in place of Aniket Verma and Shivang Kumar as they tweak their combination for the clash. Mumbai Indian captain Hardik Pandya said, Ah, we are going to bat first. Looks like a good breezy evening. It's still cold compared to the general weather. So, I don't think dew is something we are going to keep in mind. We will look to bat well and then see how much we can score. I think it was important for all of us to just reset, not get too complicated, just get a good couple of boys' evenings and also a good couple of sessions. We just ticked all the boxes, refreshed ourselves, and now we are excited for the game. On the changes, Pandya said, Yeah, Mitch (Santner) was an unfortunate injury. So Quinny (de Kock) was not well today. He just did something to his wrist. We have a couple of changes for this team. Ryan (Rickelton) comes in place of Quinny. Robin Minz is playing. I will give you the team. On the delay in the return of Rohit Sharma, Pandya mentioned, Ro is going to take a couple of more games. He has been trying, but it's not up to exactly where he would want. So, he is not available for this game. I just want to come out and play my best cricket. That will definitely help the group and the team. Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins said, We would have bowled. A little bit of tackiness in the wicket. So, happy to bowl. I think it's about resetting your expectations each game. This pitch might ask you different questions, and it's about assessing the conditions. On changes, Cummins said, Harsh Dubey comes in place of Shivang. At this stage, this is the only change. On speaking with bowlers when things aren't going their way, Cummins mentioned, Hopefully, they trust me with what I say. I got information on how the pitch behaves because I also bowl. I have gone for runs in the past. Just putting your arm around and giving them the confidence. Playing XIs: Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (c), Harsh Dubey, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga Impact substitutes: Smaran Ravichandran, Aniket Verma, Harshal Patel, Shivang Kumar, Liam Livingstone Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (c), Harsh Dubey, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga Also Read: Live Cricket Score Impact substitutes: Raj Angad Bawa, Shardul Thakur, Raghu Sharma, Mayank Rawat, Krish Bhagat Article Source: IANS

'God Installed It In My Bat': Vaibhav Sooryavanshis Epic Reply To AI Chip Claims

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: Rajasthan Royals (RR) young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has responded to the viral 'AI chip' claims surrounding his bat, delivering a humorous and composed reply that quickly grabbed attention. The young batter joked that whatever power he has comes straight from above, adding that if anything is installed, its by God and hes simply using it. God has given it to me. He himself said something is installed in my bat. I am using that, Vaibhav said in a video released by Rajasthan Royals on X. Vaibhav's comments came after Pakistani analyst Nauman Niaz jokingly questioned the source of Sooryavanshis incredible power. Niaz had playfully suggested that the bat should be tested in a lab, comparing it to doping checks, while expressing amazement at the teenagers shot-making ability. Think about it. What is this kid? Get his bat checked. Like WADA conducts dope tests, send him to a lab. He probably used an AI chip in his bat. He is unreal. What a player, Niaz said during a show called 'Smaash Hit'. When youre 18, your body builds muscle this one is just 16. He doesnt have the power game as much as he has technique he used the full 360 degree, he added. The buzz around Sooryavanshi picked up again following his latest impactful knock against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday. Chasing a challenging total, the young opener blazed his way to 43 runs off just 16 balls, giving his team a flying start. When youre 18, your body builds muscle this one is just 16. He doesnt have the power game as much as he has technique he used the full 360 degree, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The tally includes a century and two fifties, putting him firmly among the leading run-scorers this season. He is currently holding the Orange Cap, staying ahead of big names like Abhishek Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. Article Source: IANS

Urgent Appeal For A-positive Blood As Afghan Cricketer Shapoor Zadran Fights A Rare Disease

Afghanistan Cricket Board: Former Afghanistan pacer Shapoor Zadran, who is fighting for his life at a hospital in New Delhi is in urgent need of blood and Zadran's family has appealed A-positive blood donors to help the 30-year-old as he battles a rare with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a rare and life-threatening immune disorder. Zadran, who played 44 ODIs and 36 T20Is for Afghanistan from 2009 to 2020, is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU) with stage four HLH. Under this condition, a person suffers from hyper-inflammation, which leads to damage in tissues, including the bone marrow, liver, spleen, and lymph nodes. Zadran's younger brother, Ghamai Zadran, shared an emotional message on Instagram appealing to everyone to help the former player and donate the required blood, which will assist in recovery. My brother, national hero Shapoor Zadran, is currently in a concerning health condition, Ghamai wrote. With your prayers, we stand by our national hero. Due to a deficiency and urgent need, he is in critical need of blood. Shapoor first felt unwell in October last year and was advised to seek treatment in India. With support from Rashid Khan and Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) chairman Mirwais Ashraf, Shapoors visa was fast-tracked, and he was admitted to the hospital in New Delhi on January 18. My brother, national hero Shapoor Zadran, is currently in a concerning health condition, Ghamai wrote. With your prayers, we stand by our national hero. Due to a deficiency and urgent need, he is in critical need of blood. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He started getting a fever, and then he tested positive for dengue. His immunity was very weak as the red blood cell count was severely depleted. He doesn't have much vitality. We have hope that he will improve day by day. The steroids Shapoor has been given recently seem to be working, and that has given us hope, added Ghamai. Article Source: IANS

'IPL Is Always Exciting, And It's Just Beginning Of This Season', Says Kiran More

Indian Premier League: Former India wicketkeeper Kiran More believes the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has already lived up to expectations, noting that while the tournament has begun on an exciting note, the second half promises even more intensity with multiple teams in strong contention and no clear favourite emerging yet. It's a good beginning and an exciting one. The first half of this season has already delivered much more than the expectations. We have seen multiple 200+ scores, which makes it more exciting. IPL is always exciting, and you will see that the second half has started. So I don't know who's going to win, but a lot of teams are doing very well, More told IANS. One of the key trends of IPL 2026 has been the sharp rise in scoring. This shows a clear change in batting strategy across teams. After 38 completed matches, not counting the washed-out PBKS vs KKR game, the average first-innings score has risen to 186. This is noticeably higher than the 178 recorded at the same point in IPL 2025. As a result, the average total score per match has also increased from 356 to an impressive 372, showing how teams are consistently pushing for more runs this season. The most significant sign of this batting surge is the number of 200-plus totals. Once seen as a winning score, the 200-run mark has become the new normal. In the first 39 matches of IPL 2026, teams have surpassed 200 runs 31 times, compared to just 21 times at the same stage last season. This change indicates that batting teams are increasingly ambitious, no longer aiming for 170-180 but instead targeting higher totals as the new standard. This is noticeably higher than the 178 recorded at the same point in IPL 2025. As a result, the average total score per match has also increased from 356 to an impressive 372, showing how teams are consistently pushing for more runs this season. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It's a very good league, the EUT20 Belgium League. This is happening for the first time in Europe, so I think it's a start. I'm very excited about this, and the best part of this league is that we have great players who are going to participate, and a lot of current players are also playing, he said. Article Source: IANS

Its A Dream Come True In Many Ways, Says Issy Wong After T20 WC Selection For England

Warwickshire County Cricket Club: Fast bowler Issy Wong described her inclusion in Englands squad for the 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup as a dream come true, especially with the tournament opener set to be staged at her home ground Edgbaston on June 12. Issy debuted for England across formats in 2022, has featured in 17 T20Is, claiming 13 wickets at an average of 29.76. Its very special to be named in the squad, especially with this being a home World Cup. Its a dream come true in many ways, and its something Ive been targeting in recent times. I know the atmosphere around the grounds is going to be great, so itll be amazing to experience that, and particularly the opener at Edgbaston, Issy was quoted as saying by Warwickshire County Cricket Club on Wednesday. England will take on New Zealand for an ODI series, before competing against them in a T20I series. It will be followed by a T20I series against India before heading into the global tournament. Its coming around quickly. Ive got to focus on performing well between now and then, and hopefully I can get out there and experience playing in front of our home fans at a World Cup, he said. England will take on New Zealand for an ODI series, before competing against them in a T20I series. It will be followed by a T20I series against India before heading into the global tournament. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England, the 2009 champions, are placed alongside West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland and Scotland in Group 2 of the 2026 Womens T20 World Cup and will begin their campaign against Sri Lanka in Edgbaston on June 12. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: A 15-year-old Smacks One Of Australia's Best Pacers, Exciting Time For Indian Cricket, Says Irfan Pathan

Indian Premier League: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes the fearless approach shown by the younger generation is ushering in an exciting phase for Indian cricket, highlighting how teenage talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are taking on top international bowlers without hesitation during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Pathans remarks come amid the emergence of young players making an immediate impact at the highest level, reflecting a shift in mindset in which opponents' age and reputation no longer serve as barriers. It's an exciting time for Indian cricket. The way they play fearless cricket, and you know, they don't worry about anything. They don't worry about getting out. They don't worry about, you know, who's bowling in front of them. A 15-year-old boy (Sooryavanshi) goes and smacks one of Australia's best fast bowlers. So, there is no better side, you know, in cricket at the moment, especially from the Indian side, Pathan told IANS on the sidelines of the EUT20 Belgium jersey launch event. Pathan also spoke about his involvement in the upcoming EUT20 Belgium, where he serves as co-owner and brand ambassador of Ghent Gladiators. The tournament, set to take place in June, aims to promote the sport across mainland Europe and provide a platform for emerging talent. Organised in partnership with the Belgian Cricket Federation, the league will feature five franchises representing major cities. It will be held in Brussels from June 6 to 14 at the 12 Stars Cricket Club in Hofstade. Sharing his excitement about the initiative and the opportunities it presents to young players, Pathan pointed to the growing pool of talent in associate nations. Pathan also spoke about his involvement in the upcoming EUT20 Belgium, where he serves as co-owner and brand ambassador of Ghent Gladiators. The tournament, set to take place in June, aims to promote the sport across mainland Europe and provide a platform for emerging talent. Organised in partnership with the Belgian Cricket Federation, the league will feature five franchises representing major cities. It will be held in Brussels from June 6 to 14 at the 12 Stars Cricket Club in Hofstade. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The inaugural edition of the league will feature teams including Lige Red Lions, Ghent Gladiators, Antwerp Anchors, JB Bruges, and Akcel United Brussels, with organisers aiming to create a competitive environment that blends local talent with international experience. Article Source: IANS

'It's A Blunder From The Government': Shakib On Bangladesh Missing T20 WC

ICC T20 World Cup: Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has blamed the Bangladesh interim government for the team's absence from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, terming the decision a blunder and a massive setback for the cricket-loving nation. I think it's a blunder from the government side that they took the decision not to participate in that World Cup, Shakib told reporters on the sidelines of the EUT20 Belgium jersey launch event. He emphasised that missing out on a global tournament hurts both the fans and the players, especially in a country where cricket holds immense emotional value. I think thats a big loss. Great miss as far as Bangladesh cricket is concerned. Because we as a country love watching our players playing World Cups, playing matches, he said. We are a cricket-loving country. And a country like Bangladesh not participating in the World Cup was such a big miss, he added. Bangladesh boycotted the 2026 T20 World Cup in India primarily due to security concerns over hosting matches in the country, officially citing 'national dignity' and safety for their contingent. The decision followed strained diplomatic ties with India and a failed request to shift their games to Sri Lanka, resulting in their replacement by Scotland. Despite Bangladesh players missing the chance to represent the country at the big stage in the recently concluded World Cup, Shakib remains optimistic about the future of the sport in the country, as he feels that many young players are making waves with their performance. I think the team is playing really well at this moment. They just beat New Zealand. They won the first T20 against New Zealand. So they are good teams. Previously, it used to be individuals. Now it's more about the team. And I think that's the better way to go forward, he said. Despite Bangladesh players missing the chance to represent the country at the big stage in the recently concluded World Cup, Shakib remains optimistic about the future of the sport in the country, as he feels that many young players are making waves with their performance. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Speaking about the upcoming EUT20 Belgium tournament, Shakib said, It is always a great opportunity when you play a franchise league where some of the big names of the game are present. The younger players can learn a great deal from them. So I think it will be a great experience for the younger generation and new players. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Boys Should Be Careful, Says Anil Chaudhary On Riyan Parag 'vaping' Row

Indian Premier League: Former international umpire Anil Chaudhary has sent out a stern warning to young cricketers to be careful regarding their off-field or on-field conduct during high-profile tournaments, following the social media storm after Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag caught vaping on camera during his side's IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings. The incident happened during the 16th over of the RR's chase when cameras panned to the dressing room, catching a brief moment where Parag appeared to be using a vape device while being around Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, and Kuldeep Sen. The footage went viral instantly, sparking debates over player discipline and the legality of such devices under Indian law. I do not know the legal aspects, but certainly, government rules and other regulations will be there. Sometimes these cameras can go anywhere, so all players should be very careful. These are young lads; they do not know that sometimes they can be caught anywhere except the toilet, so boys should be careful. I think on TV, good things should be shown, and we should discuss the game rather than other things, Chaudhary told IANS on the sidelines of the EUT20 Belgium jersey launch. The incident happened during the 16th over of the RR's chase when cameras panned to the dressing room, catching a brief moment where Parag appeared to be using a vape device while being around Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, and Kuldeep Sen. The footage went viral instantly, sparking debates over player discipline and the legality of such devices under Indian law. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Although there is no clear public rule against vaping, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has strict guidelines for player behaviour within stadiums. The use of tobacco or related products in dressing rooms or dugouts is generally banned under health and safety protocols, putting Parag at risk of punishment. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: James Hopes Looks To regrouping As PBKS Stay Positive Despite First Loss Of Season

Indian Premier League: Punjab Kings pace-bowling coach James Hopes stressed the need to regroup and recalibrate after the team suffered its first defeat of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season, even as they continue to sit atop the points table. Punjabs unbeaten run came to an end after Rajasthan Royals chased down a daunting 223 in a high-scoring encounter in New Chandigarh. Despite posting 222/4, the Kings were unable to defend the total, marking a rare setback in an otherwise dominant campaign so far. Reflecting on the loss, Hopes termed it a timely reminder for the side as they enter the second half of the tournament. Its a reality check, and thats exactly what it is, said Hopes during the post-match press conference. Weve been flying and winning games, which is great, but youre not going to go through the IPL without a loss. Its about regrouping now. Im not going to sit here and say its doom and gloomits just about getting back to work, ironing out some kinks, and finding the best combinations for the different conditions well face ahead. One of the biggest positives for Punjab was the return to form of all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who powered the side to a strong total with an unbeaten 62 off just 22 balls, providing the late surge in the innings. Hopes highlighted the importance of such contributions from the middle order as the tournament progresses. Our top order has been flying, but we have a lot of power coming behind them. Tonight, Marcus got his opportunity and took it. It was great to see him get into the tournament properly with the bat, and that kind of finishing power is vital for us as the games get more intense, he added. Punjabs top-order combination has been a key strength this season, with youngsters Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh continuing to provide brisk starts. Hopes was full of praise for the duo and their fearless approach. I don't think those two boys realise exactly how good they are. They are a fantastic young pair, and theyre going to be a dominant partnership in the IPL for a long time. Despite the loss, there were encouraging signs with the ball as well, particularly from spinner Harpreet Brar, who delivered a tight spell in a high-scoring game. Looking ahead, Hopes emphasised the importance of adapting to different conditions as the team prepares to shift venues in the coming phase of the tournament. Despite the loss, there were encouraging signs with the ball as well, particularly from spinner Harpreet Brar, who delivered a tight spell in a high-scoring game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Punjab Kings will next face the Gujarat Titans as they aim to bounce back and maintain their position at the top of the standings. Article Source: IANS

BCB Grants NOC To Nahid Rana For PSL 2026 Final

Bangladesh Cricket Board: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has revisited its earlier decision and granted No objection certificate (NOC) to pacer Nahid Rana to allow him to participate in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) T20. The BCB previously granted NOC to Nahid to play in PSL only till April 13 citing international commitment, which includes white ball series against New Zealand. Nahid was pulled out of the tournament to manage his workload on April 13. But he's now set to return to represent his side Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL final to be played on May 3, even as it comes after he was rested for the first two T20Is of Bangladesh's ongoing home series against New Zealand. This decision has been made considering the significance of participating in the final of a major global franchise competition, which is viewed as an important step in the continued development of the player, the BCB said in a statement on Wednesday. More importantly, the team management and BCB medical team has provided clearance, confirming that his participation in the match will not adversely affect his fitness, workload management or availability for national duty, it added. Nahid has been in outstanding form lately. In the four games he played for Peshawar Zalmi before returning for national duty, he picked up seven wickets at an average of 10.85 and maintained an economy rate of just 5.42. One of his best performances came against Karachi Kings, where he took 3 for 7 as Zalmi bowled them out for only 87 after putting up a massive total of 246. More importantly, the team management and BCB medical team has provided clearance, confirming that his participation in the match will not adversely affect his fitness, workload management or availability for national duty, it added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score BCB had initially given Nahid a six-day rest period, which was set to end on Wednesday. After that, he was expected to begin preparations for Bangladeshs upcoming Test series against Pakistan, starting May 8 in Dhaka. Even though the PSL final is scheduled just five days before the first Test, the BCB has confirmed that Nahid is still expected to be available for the match. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Yashasvi Jaiswal Is Showing Great Maturity For Someone Still So Young: McClenaghan

Indian Premier League: Former New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan highlighted the composure and adaptability shown by Yashasvi Jaiswal during Rajasthan Royals successful run chase against Punjab Kings in the ongoing Indian Premier League in New Chandigarh on Tuesday. Chasing a challenging target, Rajasthan got off to a blistering start through young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, but it was Jaiswals measured approach that ensured stability and balance at the top of the order as the innings progressed. McClenaghan pointed out how Jaiswal adjusted his game according to the situation, allowing his partner to play freely before stepping up when required. Yashasvi Jaiswal is showing great maturity for someone still so young. Hes playing like the experienced batter in that partnership, understanding when to step back and let Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play his natural attacking game. What stands out is how he adapts. Once the situation demands, he shifts gears and takes control of the innings. It creates a perfect balance between the two, almost like a yin-yang combination, and that chemistry at the top is working really well for Rajasthan Royals, McClenaghan told JioStar. McClenaghan also turned his attention to the upcoming clash between the Mumbai Indians and the Sunrisers Hyderabad, suggesting a possible tactical adjustment for MI in the absence of key all-round options. Yashasvi Jaiswal is showing great maturity for someone still so young. Hes playing like the experienced batter in that partnership, understanding when to step back and let Vaibhav Sooryavanshi play his natural attacking game. What stands out is how he adapts. Once the situation demands, he shifts gears and takes control of the innings. It creates a perfect balance between the two, almost like a yin-yang combination, and that chemistry at the top is working really well for Rajasthan Royals, McClenaghan told JioStar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Mumbai Indians (MI) will host Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday before heading to Chennai to face their archrivals, Chennai Super Kings. Article Source: IANS

Nahid Rana granted NOC to return for Peshawar Zalmi ahead of PSL final

The BCB had initially granted him NOC only till April 13, after which he was pulled out to manage his workload

IPL 2026: When And Where To Watch GT Vs RCB, Know All Details

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will clash with 2022 champions Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 42nd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday. GT had a mediocre start to their season. In eight matches played, the Shubman Gill-led side has won four and lost as many matches and is currently placed fifth on the IPL 2026 points table. They are coming to the contest after registering a dominating 8-wicket win against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). While RCB are performing to their best in the ongoing season and are placed at the second spot in the points table with six wins in eight matches. They are also coming to the match after an emphatic 9-wicket win against Delhi Capitals (DC). RCB and GT are facing each other for the second time in the season. In their first outing at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the home team dominated completely and beat the visitors by 5 wickets. RCB have a slight edge in the head-to-head record between the sides. In seven matches played so far, RCB have won four games while GT have come victorious on three outings. Their first-ever meeting came on April 30, 2022, which was won by the Gujarat Titans. When: Thursday, April 30, 7:30 PM IST Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Where to watch: The GT vs RCB match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads: Where to watch: The GT vs RCB match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Philip Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam Dar, Venkatesh lyer, Jordan Cox, Kanishk Chouhan, Mangesh Yadav, Jacob Duffy, Swapnil Singh, Nuwan Thushara, Jacob Bethell, Vicky Ostwal, Vihaan Malhotra, Abhinandan Singh, Satvik Deswal Article Source: IANS

Its Pure Cinema Watching Sooryavanshi Bat: Pujara

New Delhi: Veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara praised youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his fearless approach and composure under pressure following Rajasthan Royals thrilling six-wicket win over Punjab Kings in their recently concluded IPL 2026 fixture. Chasing 223, Rajasthan were off to a flying start courtesy of Sooryavanshis explosive innings at the top. The 15-year-olds 43 off just 16 balls laid the foundation for the chase, which was later sealed by an unbeaten partnership between Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey. Reflecting on the young batters impact, Pujara highlighted the clarity and fearlessness in his approach that has made him a standout performer this season. Its pure cinema watching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bat. The way he approaches every bowler with that fearless mindset is remarkable. He simply watches the ball and backs himself to strike it. What stands out is that even when the opposition knows hes going to attack, they still struggle to contain him. That consistency, combined with his fearless intent in the Powerplay, is what gives his team a decisive edge and sets up games like this, Pujara told JioStar. Despite Rajasthans successful chase, Punjab found a way back into the contest during the middle overs, largely due to the efforts of leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, who picked up three crucial wickets and slowed down the scoring rate. Reflecting on the young batters impact, Pujara highlighted the clarity and fearlessness in his approach that has made him a standout performer this season. Its pure cinema watching Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bat. The way he approaches every bowler with that fearless mindset is remarkable. He simply watches the ball and backs himself to strike it. What stands out is that even when the opposition knows hes going to attack, they still struggle to contain him. That consistency, combined with his fearless intent in the Powerplay, is what gives his team a decisive edge and sets up games like this, Pujara told JioStar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Rajasthan eventually chased down the target with four balls to spare, handing Punjab their first defeat of the season. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals Captain Parag Faces Scrutiny After Vaping Incident

Yudhvir Singh Charak: Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper Riyan Parag has come under fire after being caught vaping on camera during his sides IPL 2026 match against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh. Footage of Parag, who hit 29 in Tuesdays game, using a vape device in the dressing room while being around his Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, and Kuldeep Sen. Footage of Parag, who hit 29 in Tuesdays game, using a vape device in the dressing room while being around his Yashasvi Jaiswal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, and Kuldeep Sen. At that time, RR were chasing 223 and visuals of Parag using vape went viral on social media, prompting serious concerns about player conduct in the ten-team competition. As per the Indian legislation, vaping or the use of e-cigarettes is illegal under The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act (PECA) 2019. The Act prohibits the production, sale, purchase, import, export and advertisement of e-cigarettes and vapes in India, and any violations lead to imprisonment and hefty fines. Riyan should be handed a ban for this. If he wants to smoke or vape, he can go and do it in the bathroom or an area away from public viewing. What he did sets a very wrong precedent. Also, this is the second time RR will be facing the music for a non onfield thing after Romis device usage issue, an IPL source told IANS on Wednesday. The incident around Parag comes weeks after Bhinder was fined Rs 1 Lakh and given a stern warning for using a mobile phone in the dugout during clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Guwahati. With the storm brewing around Parag, it leaves the franchise facing a second disciplinary storm unrelated to onfield play. Another IPL official told IANS that awareness of behaviour and actions is of utmost importance from the players in an environment where many broadcast cameras are present and are capturing the smallest of details. When so much cameras are around, you have to be aware that anything can be caught and thats why, its on the players to behave well during matches. Riyan could have been a little more careful, considering hes the team captain and has got a lot of success as an active elite sportsperson at a young age, including playing for India. It's a very big deal for an elite athlete to get caught while doing something like this, said the official. Another IPL official told IANS that awareness of behaviour and actions is of utmost importance from the players in an environment where many broadcast cameras are present and are capturing the smallest of details. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But till now, its unclear what became of those discussions. Having said that, another question to be asked is how did Riyan manage to get a vape inside the dressing room? BCCI will have to tread this very carefully, as the content of those ingredients in vape is still a mystery. Though Nicotine isnt banned, the BCCI still needs to take strict action against Riyan for this incident, said a well-placed source in the tournament. Article Source: IANS

'Watch The Ball And Back Your Skills': Ferreira Reveals Message To Dubey In RR's Thrilling Chase

PCA New International Stadium: Rajasthan Royals (RR) finisher Donovan Ferreira opened up on his on-field conversation with Shubham Dubey, revealing how a simple message of watching the ball properly helped power their match-winning partnership against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the PCA New International Stadium on Tuesday. Chasing a daunting 223, RR were under pressure with the required rate hovering between 10 and 12. However, Ferreira and Dubey stitched together an unbeaten 77-run stand off just 32 balls, dismantling the Punjab Kings bowling attack to seal a six-wicket win in 19.2 overs and hand PBKS their first defeat of the season. Especially with Shubham, I just said to him, you know, hes really talented and really skilful, and it just amazes me how simply he just keeps it out there. So I just kept on telling him to just watch the ball and just back his skills because his boundary-hitting ability is amazing, Ferreira said in a video released by Rajasthan Royals on X. Ferreira also revealed there was little time to prepare mentally before walking in to bat. To be fair, there was no discussion, because I just padded up and then came down, and Sango said Im in next, and then I think like two minutes later, Yashasvi Jaiswal lost his wicket, so there wasnt much time to reflect or to think about it. But yeah, I just know for myself I just need to give myself a bit of time, and the game dictates what needs to happen, he explained. Earlier in the chase, 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gave RR a flying start with 43 off 16 balls, while Jaiswal added a brisk 51. Despite a brief slowdown triggered by Yuzvendra Chahal, the Royals stayed within touching distance of the target. Ferreira emphasised that the chase never felt out of control despite the steep target. No, to be honest, I didnt, because we kept the rate at around 10 to 12 it wasnt like the rate was climbing and climbing and didnt ever get higher than 12, so for us, we didnt really feel like we were behind the ball. I just said we need to keep our intent up; make sure if its a good ball, we could run a two as well. Don't undervalue that, because sometimes in that situation, you lose your shape when you just try and hit sixes the whole time, Ferreira added. Ferreira emphasised that the chase never felt out of control despite the steep target. No, to be honest, I didnt, because we kept the rate at around 10 to 12 it wasnt like the rate was climbing and climbing and didnt ever get higher than 12, so for us, we didnt really feel like we were behind the ball. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As I say, I think it was really controlled; it never felt like we were under pressure that was because the guys were putting the team first. And I think its important that we just keep the momentum going and, you know, when its your day, make sure you put up your hand and win the game for the team, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Dropping Bishnoi For Another Leggie Will Dent His Confidence, Says Mukund

Lucknow Super Giants: Former India batter Abhinav Mukund said the decision from Rajasthan Royals to leave out Ravi Bishnoi in their IPL 2026 clash against Punjab Kings could lead to a massive dent in confidence for the leg-spinner. Bishnoi, who joined RR this season after a difficult spell with Lucknow Super Giants, began strongly with nine wickets in his first four matches. But his returns dipped, as he picked only two wickets in his next four games while conceding 115 runs in 11 overs at an economy rate of 10.45. RR chose to replace Bishnoi with 19yearold wrist spinner Yash Raj Punja for Tuesdays clash, which they won in New Chandigarh by six wickets and gave PBKS their first loss of IPL 2026. I'm not too much in agreement with the Yash Raj call, because I believe firmly that teams who have been successful over a period of time in the IPL have maintained a core of bowlers, or Indian players. And especially when Ravi Bishnoi has bowled well. If you're going to drop him for another leggie, that's going to dent his confidence massively. (LSG) didn't make (a mistake in releasing him), Ravi Bishnoi was bowling badly at that point. But I don't think he's had a bad season this year, said Mukund on ESPNCricinfo. I'm not too much in agreement with the Yash Raj call, because I believe firmly that teams who have been successful over a period of time in the IPL have maintained a core of bowlers, or Indian players. Also Read: Live Cricket Score RR, at third place in the points table, will head back home to Jaipur where they meet Delhi Capitals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on May 1. Article Source: IANS

Nomvelo Sibanda To Lead As Zimbabwe Announce Squad For Pakistan Tour

National Bank Stadium: Nomvelo Sibanda will lead the side as Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) unveiled a new-look women's squad for their upcoming white-ball tour of Pakistan. The 15-player squad features 10 new faces with only five players retained from the previous tour against New Zealand in March. The six-match tour marks a historic milestone, as it will be Zimbabwe Womens first-ever visit to Pakistan, with all matches set to be played at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. The ODI series, scheduled for May 3, 6 and 9, forms part of the ICC Women's Championship 2025-2029, while the T20I matches will follow on May 12, 14 and 15 . Nombelo is taking up the responsibility of leading the group after long-standing skipper Mary-Anne Musonda called time on her international career on Monday. She will be supported by experienced all-rounder Precious Marange, whose presence provides guidance to a relatively inexperienced squad. Promising all-rounder Kelis Ndhlovu, who suffered a concussion during last months tour of New Zealand, has fully recovered and retains her place in the side. She is joined by fellow emerging talents Beloved Biza and Adel Zimunu. Zimbabwe Womens technical director for the tour, Steve Mangongo, who is also in charge of ZCs Womens High Performance Programme, said the changes were both deliberate and necessary as the team transitions into the demands of the Future Tours Programme (FTP) cricket. Zimbabwe has taken a significant step into FTP cricket, and its important that we expose young talent to the international stage while broadening our player base. We took a hard, honest look at where we are after missing out on qualification in Nepal for the Womens T20 World Cup, Mangongo said in an official statement. Due to the new strategy, Zimbabwe will be without several experienced names. Josephine Nkomo and Nyasha Gwanzura miss out due to injury, while Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano is unavailable due to personal commitments. Additionally, Modester Mupachikwa, Chiedza Dhururu, Loreen Tshuma, Loryn Phiri and Tendai Makusha all part of the New Zealand tour have not been selected for the Pakistan trip. Christabel Chatonzwa and Audrey Mazvishaya are among the non-travelling reserves together with Passionate Monorwei. Zimbabwe women will tour Pakistan for the first time for a white-ball series. The visitors will arrive in Karachi towards the end of April and will undergo a preparatory training camp before the matches. Christabel Chatonzwa and Audrey Mazvishaya are among the non-travelling reserves together with Passionate Monorwei. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Nomvelo Sibanda (captain), Beloved Biza, Olinder Chare, Kudzai Chigora, Melinda Kachingwe, Lindokuhle Mabhera, Precious Marange, Michelle Mavunga, Natasha Mtomba, Christina Mutasa, Vimbai Mutungwindu, Kelis Ndhlovu, Kelly Ndiraya, Runyararo Pasipanodya, Adel Zimunu Article Source: IANS

'He'sexceptionally Skilful To Bring The Game To Us': Sangakkara Lauds Dubey After RRs Win Over PBKS

PCA New International Stadium: Rajasthan Royals (RR) head coach Kumar Sangakkara heaped praise on finisher Shubham Dubey for his mental strength and match awareness after the left-hander played a match-winning knock of 31 runs, coming as an impact player against Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the PCA New International Stadium. Chasing a daunting 223, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) were under pressure with the required rate climbing steeply. But Dubey, alongside Donovan Ferreira, turned the game around with an unbeaten 77-run partnership off just 32 balls to seal the chase in 19.2 overs and hand Punjab Kings (PBKS) their first defeat of the season. I thought Dubey, coming in as an impact player, it's one of the hardest things to do, because you don't know if you're playing. So mentally, he is exceptionally skilful to be able to keep that focus and go and bring the game to us. He went in at a tough position, Sangakkara told reporters after the match. Riyan Parags small innings was exactly what we needed to bring the momentum back over here. So it was a collective effort, he added. Earlier in the chase, 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided a blistering start with 43 off 16 balls, while Yashasvi Jaiswal chipped in with a fluent 51. Despite a brief slowdown triggered by Yuzvendra Chahals strikes, RR stayed in contention before their finishers took charge. Sangakkara also underlined the depth in Rajasthans batting unit, insisting the spotlight should not be limited to just Vaibhav. I know the focus is a lot on Vaibhav, and I know why, because hes an incredible player, amazing to watch. But at the same time, when I look at my side, and I run through my batters, theres Vaibhav, Dhruv Jurel, Yash, Riyan, Donovan Ferreira, Dubey, Ravindra Jadeja, and Dasun Shanaka today, theyre all top players, he said. Sangakkara also underlined the depth in Rajasthans batting unit, insisting the spotlight should not be limited to just Vaibhav. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Despite the big total, Rajasthans fearless finishing turned the game around, handing Punjab their first loss of the season. Article Source: IANS

SLC Chief Silva, Executive Committee Members Resign With Immediate Effect

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva has resigned with immediate effect, along with the boards executive committee. The resignations have been formally communicated to Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The President of Sri Lanka Cricket, Mr. Shammi Silva, has tendered his resignation from the post, effective today. Along with him, the office bearers and members of the Executive Committee of the SLC have also submitted their resignations. This decision has been formally communicated to His Excellency President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Honorable Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr. Sunil Kumara Gamage, said a statement from SLC on Wednesday. Silva, 65, had been SLC President since 2019, and his resignation comes amid mounting criticism of the national mens teams decline and allegations of mismanagement. He was re-elected as SLC President unopposed in 2021 2023 and 2025. Silva also served as the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) in 2025, where he succeeded Jay Shah for being in the top role. Sri Lankas failure to reach the Super Eights stage of this years T20 World Cup, which they co-hosted with India, has been cited as a trigger for change in the SLC administration. Silva, 65, had been SLC President since 2019, and his resignation comes amid mounting criticism of the national mens teams decline and allegations of mismanagement. He was re-elected as SLC President unopposed in 2021 2023 and 2025. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Silva was previously ousted as SLC chief in 2023 after the national team had a poor ODI World Cup campaign in 2023, prompting a suspension of the board by the ICC. It also led to relocation of the 2024 Mens Under19 World Cup from Sri Lanka to South Africa. Silva returned as SLC chief in 2025, but his sevenyear reign now appears to have ended for the good. Article Source: IANS

'Yuvi Paaji Prepared Me To Win Big Matches For India,' Says Abhishek On Yuvrajs Role In Shaping His Career

The T20 World Cup: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opener Abhishek Sharma has credited former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh for playing a defining role in shaping his mindset and approach to the game, revealing how training under his childhood idol helped him prepare for high-pressure situations at the highest level. The 25-year-old has been in impressive form in the ongoing Indian Premier League season, scoring 380 runs in eight matches to emerge as one of the leading run-getters of the tournament, with three fifties and a century to his name. Speaking about Yuvraj's influence, Abhishek highlighted how a training stint during the lockdown proved to be a turning point in his career. Training with Yuvi paaji was a huge moment for me. I had looked up to him since I was a child. He was my idol. He gave me some guidance early on, but we didnt have much time together. Then came the lockdown. I think Yuvi paaji saw it as an opportunity to work closely with a few players. I was lucky to be one of them. When our camp began, he said something that truly changed my belief. He told me that the training and mindset we were building was not just for domestic cricket or IPL, and not just for playing a few games for India. He said that he was preparing me mentally to win big matches for India, to play impactful innings, and to deliver with the ball when it matters most, Abhishek told JioStar. Abhishek also reflected on his early cricketing journey, crediting his upbringing for sparking his interest in the sport. There was a strong cricketing environment at home from the start. My father played Ranji Trophy for Punjab and was also a Coach. Watching him inspired me to take up the game. When I watched India-Pakistan matches or World Cup games on TV, I felt motivated. I used to think that I wanted to play at that level too, he said. He added that his all-around abilities became evident at a young age, which encouraged him to pursue cricket seriously, saying, I was quite young when I first started enjoying both, batting and bowling. Then came an Under-12 tournament. I performed well there, scoring plenty of runs and picking up wickets. Thats when I realised I had the talent to take up cricket seriously. Now a regular in the IPL, Abhishek described the league as a crucial platform for development, offering exposure to elite-level competition. He said, The IPL brings together the best cricketers from around the world. It is the number one T20 league. Getting an opportunity to play here feels like a blessing. I treat every IPL season as a learning experience. Playing alongside and against these top players teaches you so much. The T20 World Cup-winning player also acknowledged the impact of teammate Travis Head on his batting approach, especially in adopting a more aggressive mindset. Now a regular in the IPL, Abhishek described the league as a crucial platform for development, offering exposure to elite-level competition. He said, The IPL brings together the best cricketers from around the world. It is the number one T20 league. Getting an opportunity to play here feels like a blessing. I treat every IPL season as a learning experience. Playing alongside and against these top players teaches you so much. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With his current form and a strong support system around him, Abhishek continues to establish himself as one of the emerging stars in Indian cricket, while carrying forward lessons instilled by one of the games modern greats. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: 'It Is A Matter Of Concern When You're Going Into Playoffs,' Says Chawla On Arshdeep's Bowling Woes

PCA New International Stadium: Former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla has raised concerns over Punjab Kings (PBKS) fast bowler Arshdeep Singh's poor bowling, saying that the senior pacer's continuous failures could haunt Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the playoffs. India's highest wicket-taker in T20Is, Arshdeep, was looking out of touch at PCA New International Stadium on Tuesday and conceded 68 runs as the Shreyas Iyer-led side failed to defend a mammoth total of 222 runs against Rajasthan Royals (RR) and lost their first match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 by 6 wickets. Chawla feels that Arshdeep's poor performance throughout the season, in which he has taken just eight wickets in eight matches, is a significant problem for the Punjab Kings, who are aiming for their first trophy. A game or two games here and there, you can expect [him to do badly], but it's happening most of the time. Then it is a matter of concern, because if you look at the bigger picture - when you're going into the playoffs - then you have to think about it. What if something like this happened in a playoff game? Then you're playing a catch-up game. It's not that you're sitting comfortably, he told ESPNCricinfo. According to Chawla, Arshdeep is known to take wickets in the power play, and if he fails to do so, then the left-arm pacer concedes a lot of runs. A game or two games here and there, you can expect [him to do badly], but it's happening most of the time. Then it is a matter of concern, because if you look at the bigger picture - when you're going into the playoffs - then you have to think about it. What if something like this happened in a playoff game? Then you're playing a catch-up game. It's not that you're sitting comfortably, he told ESPNCricinfo. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, after the defeat, PBKS still sits at the top of the points table with 13 points in 8 matches. They will next face the Gujarat Titans (GT) on May 3. Article Source: IANS

'He's An Absolute Sponge': Allan Donald Lauds Coetzees Learning Skills After Injury Setbacks

Former South Africa: Former South Africa fast-bowling great Allan Donald has thrown his weight behind rising quick Gerald Coetzee, highlighting the youngsters resilience and growth after years of injury struggles, while expressing confidence in his return to top-level cricket. Donald, who first spotted Coetzee as a schoolboy in Bloemfontein, recalled his initial impression of the pacer and how early signs of promise quickly stood out. It was the first half of 2018, and I was in a consultancy role with the Knights - the domestic professional team in Bloemfontein - and I was called by a guy by the name of Gregg Hobson, who (was) the Director of Cricket at St Andrew's (now deputy headmaster) to come and have a look at this kid, Donald told SA20. I mean, he was almost too quick for those school kids. He had this sort of fast-ish rhythm. He bowled proper wheels for a schoolboy (during which he was selected for SA Colts in 2016, SA Schools in 2018 as captain and made the team of the tournament at the 2018 Under-19 World Cup). That was my first sort of meeting with him and just getting to know him. The former Proteas spearhead went on to work closely with Coetzee during his formative years at the Knights, building a strong mentor-player relationship over multiple seasons. We signed him up at the Knights shortly afterwards, so Ive worked quite a bit with him through 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022, said Donald. It was really fun working with him. He's a sponge, he's an absolute sponge. He just asks really good questions. Donald also reflected on the physical challenges that threatened to derail Coetzees career early on, praising his determination to overcome repeated setbacks. Geez, I think he's just been so unlucky with injuries, Donald said. From an early age, the injuries started sort of creeping up on him a bit. But he's invested well in his body. I've seen a guy grow up and get bigger and stronger because hes gone through hell and back in terms of injuries. One just hopes that he gets a break and he stays fit. Now 25, Coetzee has worked his way back into the international setup, recently returning during South Africas tour of New Zealand, where he led an inexperienced attack in the absence of senior pacers and finished as the leading wicket-taker in the series. His performances have also earned him another stint in the Indian Premier League, with Sunrisers Hyderabad signing him as an injury replacement for the remainder of the 2026 season. Donald believes the move could prove beneficial for both player and franchise, especially after technical tweaks aimed at improving Coetzees durability. His performances have also earned him another stint in the Indian Premier League, with Sunrisers Hyderabad signing him as an injury replacement for the remainder of the 2026 season. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He's a hungry young man. He's aggressive, he wants it, he wants to be in tough spots. Not only is he a good athlete as a bowler, but he's a good athlete in the field as well. He moves well, he's very strong. I mean, I've never seen a guy run a 3km time trial as well as him. He's got all the attributes that you want in a quick bowler. And I saw him live the other day at Centurion, showing that he's got this rhythm and can still bowl high 140s. Article Source: IANS

Shubham Dubey comes good in 'very difficult role' for RR

A journeyman cricketer, Shubham Dubey has found in RR a team that backs him, and he has played back-to-back innings of impact for them in IPL 2026

Devine & Tahuhu Confirm Retirement; Nensi, Izzy Earn Maiden T20 WC Call-up As NZ Name Squad

T20 World Cup: New Zealand have named a 15-member squad for the ICC Womens T20 World Cup in England, with veterans Sophie Devine, Lea Tahuhu, and Suzie Bates set to bow out of international cricket after the tournament, while uncapped duo Nensi Patel and Izzy Sharp headline the fresh faces in the title-defending side. Led by Melie Kerr, the White Ferns have retained the core of the group that lifted the trophy in 2024, with 10 players from that triumphant campaign included once again. However, the spotlight will also be on the impending farewell of three of New Zealands most experienced campaigners, all of whom will feature in their final T20 World Cup. Devine and Tahuhu had already stepped away from ODI cricket earlier this season and have now confirmed that the upcoming global event will mark the end of their T20I journeys as well. Bates, meanwhile, recently announced she will retire from international cricket after the tournament, bringing down the curtain on a celebrated career. Among the new inclusions, off-spinning all-rounder Nensi Patel has been rewarded for her strong domestic performances and a promising start to her international career. She made an immediate impact after debuting against Zimbabwe earlier this year, including a standout spell of 3/8 in just her second appearance. Young batter Izzy Sharp, 21, is another exciting addition and the youngest member of the squad. A former captain of New Zealands Under-19 side at the inaugural Womens T20 World Cup in 2023, Sharp has quickly grown into the senior setup since her debut in 2025 and has been in prolific form domestically, finishing as Canterburys leading run-scorer in the latest Super Smash season. Kerr, who starred in the 2024 edition with a record 15 wickets to claim Player of the Tournament honours, will spearhead the spin attack alongside Bates, left-arm option Flora Devonshire and Patel. The squad also includes a few players set for their first T20 World Cup appearances, including Bree Illing, Polly Inglis and Devonshire. New Zealand will fine-tune their preparations with a three-match T20I series against England in late May before entering the tournament phase in June. Head coach Ben Sawyer expressed confidence in the squad's balance while highlighting the significance of the moment for debutants and departing stalwarts alike. Congratulations to all players selected. Any time youre chosen to represent your country on the world stage its an honour, but World Cups hold an elevated level of importance and Im certain everyone cant wait to get on the plane. Its going to be an extra special time for Izzy and Nensi with it being their first World Cup. Theyve comfortably taken to international cricket this summer and should both have confidence heading into this next challenge, said Sawyer. Sawyer further pointed to the teams recent form as a positive indicator, with seven wins from their last eight T20Is, including multiple high-scoring performances. To have our three most senior players all finishing their careers at the same tournament is a rare and special occasion. All three have had distinguished careers in their own right and given so much to this team and the game in general. Therell be a time at the end of the tournament to further acknowledge and celebrate the trio and I know at present theyre very focussed on performing well in their final mission with the team. I believe weve landed on a well-balanced squad that features a mix of experience and exciting young talent. Weve worked really hard over the past 12 months to develop our batting depth in particular which weve seen bear fruit in our recent home series against South Africa and Zimbabwe. With the ball our pace bowling attack are competing hard for spots in the XI which is a great place to be from a depth perspective, he stated. To have our three most senior players all finishing their careers at the same tournament is a rare and special occasion. All three have had distinguished careers in their own right and given so much to this team and the game in general. Therell be a time at the end of the tournament to further acknowledge and celebrate the trio and I know at present theyre very focussed on performing well in their final mission with the team. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealands squad for Womens T20 World Cup: Melie Kerr (c), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Lea Tahuhu. Article Source: IANS

FIFA Chief Infantino Applauds PM Modi's Football Session In Sikkim

FIFA President Gianni Infantino: FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Wednesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's passion for sports, sharing a photograph of the PM engaging in a game of football with children in Sikkim. On Tuesday PM Modi joined his young friends in playing football in Gangtok, Sikkim, calling it a lovely morning and an energising session. Sharing photos of his game session in a post on X, PM Modi said, Nothing like playing some football with my young friends in Sikkim on a lovely Gangtok morning! In another post, PM Modi said, Clearly, an energising football session with these youngsters! The FIFA chief, known for his push to expand the games footprint in South Asia, shared the image on his Instagram with a caption, Great to see @narendramodi play our beautiful sport. Football truly unites the world. Football enjoys immense popularity in the northeastern region and stands as one of the area's most significant sports interests, frequently competing with or even outshining cricket in states such as Sikkim, Mizoram, Manipur, and Meghalaya. This isn't the first time the FIFA president has acknowledged PM Modi's influence. The two have met on several occasions on international forums. Their most notable meetings was in December 2018 at the G-20 summit in Argentina and again in December 2024 in Kuwait. This isn't the first time the FIFA president has acknowledged PM Modi's influence. The two have met on several occasions on international forums. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Impossible to come to Argentina and not think about football. Argentinian players are tremendously popular in India. Today, received this jersey from @FIFAcom President Gianni Infantino. I thank him for the kind gesture, PM Modi had said. Article Source: IANS

Arshdeep's form 'a concern' as PBKS get their first 'reality check'

You're not going to go through the IPL and not lose a game, James Hopes says to questions on Punjab Kings' slightly below-par bowling so far in IPL 2026

Devine and Tahuhu announce international sign-off after T20 World Cup

Nensi Patel, Izzy Sharp, Bree Illing, Flora Devonshire and Polly Inglis will play their first T20 World Cups

Sooryavanshi back at the top of IPL 2026 Orange Cap table

Here's how things stand at the top of the Orange and Purple Cap tables at IPL 2026 at the end of Rajasthan Royals' win over Punjab Kings

Ferreira after match-winning 52*: 'Kept my mind clear, like a kid playing with a toy truck'

RR allrounder struck an unbeaten 52 to hand PBKS their first defeat of IPL 2026

'Fresh face' Corteen-Coleman arrives to reinforce England's old guard

Charlotte Edwards has largely stuck with core group, who have one last chance to perform on world stage

IPL Can't 'afford Sub-standard Officiating', Says Lalit Modi Over Latest Umpiring Controversy In The League

BEST GLOBAL UMPIRES FROM AROUND: Former Commissioner and founder Lalit Modi has advised the Indian Premier League (IPL) Governing Council to appoint world-class match officials so as to have consistent decisions during matches. Modi's advice to the IPL came following the latest incident of controversial decision-making when Kolkata Knight Riders batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi was given out 'obstructing the field' in the match against Lucknow Super Giants recently. Raghuvanshi slipped and fell while trying to make ground when sent back by his partner, and the throw hit his body, unintentionally. The LSG players appealed, and the third umpire gave him out for obstructing the field. The decision has generated huge controversy as many people felt that there was no intention on the part of Raghuvanshi to obstruct the ball and had changed the direction in attempting to get into the crease. Modi told the IPL governing council that it can not afford sub-standard officiation as IPL is the most valuable cricket league in the world, and such controversies impact its value. The IPL is the most valuable cricket league in the world it cannot afford sub-standard officiating. When decisions are rushed and inconsistent, it damages the credibility of the competition. The BCCI must take responsibility and restore the level of professionalism that once made the league the global benchmark, Lalit Modi said on Tuesday. In a post on social media, Modi also wrote how he had made it a point to get the best umpires to officiate in the IPL and expressed disappointment that the BCCI has now abandoned that rule to allegedly save money. In my time, I made it a point only to have the BEST GLOBAL UMPIRES FROM AROUND THE WORLD through the @ICC. Its a shame that the BCCI has abandoned that rule now. Three things that were engraved into my running the @ipl were 1. ICC umpires. 2. ICC Anti-Corruption Team. 3. Management of the tournament by @IMG, Modi wrote in his post on X, formerly Twitter. All three things have been abandoned for a cheaper solution. For Heavens sake, we OWN THE WORLD'S MOST PROFITABLE SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT LEAGUE - stop this nickel and dimming and get back on track. Do whats good for the GAME and IMPROVE FAN EXPERIENCE. If I dont call this out. No one else will. The fans and players and owners dont deserve this, he said in his post. In my time, I made it a point only to have the BEST GLOBAL UMPIRES FROM AROUND THE WORLD through the @ICC. Its a shame that the BCCI has abandoned that rule now. Three things that were engraved into my running the @ipl were 1. ICC umpires. 2. ICC Anti-Corruption Team. 3. Management of the tournament by @IMG, Modi wrote in his post on X, formerly Twitter. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The problem is that the people governing the game have no stake in the game. So, really dont know what they are doing - very unfortunate. Cutting corners is a sure way of slowly downgrading the game. Wake up, said Modi. Article Source: IANS

Ferreira, Shubham, RR openers hand PBKS their first defeat

Chahal picked 3 for 36 and Stoinis smashed 62* off 22 but the efforts weren't enough as Rajasthan Royals jumped to third place

Babar and Hardie power Peshawar Zalmi into the PSL final

Babar's big-hitting in the death overs took Zalmi to 221, and their bowlers sealed a dominant 70-run win

MI vs SRH Match 41, IPL 2026: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction

MI vs SRH Match 41, Cricket Tips :Mumbai Indians have found it hard to get going in the IPL 2026. They have only four points after playing seven matches at the group stage. MI have seven more games to play, and a couple more defeats will end the road for them. They will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in the upcoming contest. On Wednesday, this contest will start at 7:30 PM IST at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This is a must-win game for Hardik Pandya and his men, whereas SRH are in excellent form. They have had a scratchy start, but they have now won four games in a row. SRH will fancy their chances for another win here. MI vs SRH: Match Details Date : April 29, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai MI vs SRH Live Streaming Details The live action of the MI vs SRH contest will be televised on the Star Sports networks. Fans can also watch the live stream of the game on the Jio Hotstar app or website. MI vs SRH Head-to-Head in IPL Total Matches : 30 PBKS : 13 RR : 17 No - Result : 00 MI vs SRH: Ground Pitch Report The wicket at Wankhede Stadium is flat, with good carry and bounce. This wicket will suit the batters. and shorter boundaries will encourage them to go big. The fast outfield also gives batters full value for the shots. Both teams will look to bowl first because of dew. MI vs SRH Possible XIs MI : Quinton de Kock (wk), Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (c), Sherfane Rutherford, Tilak Varma, Will Jacks, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar SRH : Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivang Kumar, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga MI vs SRH Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Ishan Kishan for SRH and Rohit Sharma for MI will be the key batters featuring in this clash on Wednesday. Probable Best Bowler Eshan Malinga has been the leading wicket-taker for SRH and has bowled some superb spells. For MI, AM Ghazanfar has been the consistent performer with the ball. Today Match Prediction : The tournament is heading towards the second half, and MI are expected to bounce back. We predict MI to beat SRH in this game. MI vs SRH Match 41, IPL 2026, Today 2026 Match, MI vs SRH 2026 Prediction, MI vs SRH Predicted XIs, Injury Update for MI vs SRH 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.

BAN vs NZ 2nd T20I Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

BAN vs NZ 2nd T20I , Cricket Tips: After losing the first ODI, Bangladesh managed to beat New Zealand in the ODI series and now have won the first game of the T20I series as well. They registered their third-highest T20I chase of 183. With a 1-0 lead, Bangladesh will now take on New Zealand in the second T20I. It will begin at 1:30 PM IST on Wednesday at Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram. New Zealand tried hard but failed in the final moments of the game. Hence, they will be feeling the pressure of the series loss. BAN vs NZ: Match Details Date : March 29, 2026 (Wednesday) Time : 1:30 PM IST Venue : Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram BAN vs NZ: Live Streaming Details The only option to watch the live stream of the game will be on the FanCode mobile app or website. BAN vs. NZ: Head-to-Head in T20I Total Matches : 21 New Zealand : 15 Bangladesh : 05 No result/Tied: 01 BAN vs NZ: Ground Pitch Report The wicket at Chattogram is good for bowling. The bowlers will get good assistance from this wicket. It is low and slow and will produce good purchase and turn for the spinners. The toss will be important, and batting second can be a good option here. BAN vs NZ: Possible XIs Bangladesh : Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Litton Das (c & wk), Parvez Hossain, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanzim Sakib, Shoriful Islam, Ripon Mondol New Zealand : Tim Robinson, Nick Kelly (c), Katene Clarke, Bevon Jacobs, Dane Cleaver (wk), Dean Foxcroft, Nathan Smith, Josh Clarkson, Ish Sodhi, Matthew Fisher, Ben Lister BAN vs NZ: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Towhid Hridoy and Dane Cleaver will be the key batters for both teams. They can play according to the conditions. Probable Best Bowler Rishad Hossain bowled well in the first game, and these are perfect conditions for him. For New Zealand, Ish Sodhi is someone who can take advantage of these conditions. Today's Match Prediction : Bangladesh have all the bases covered, and we predict them to win this game. BAN vs NZ Match 2nd T20I, Today's Match BAN vs NZ, BAN vs NZ Prediction, BAN vs NZ Predicted XIs, Injury Update for BAN vs NZ 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.

IPL 2026: Dubey And Ferreira Played Really Well, Says PBKS Skipper Iyer After First Defeat

Indian Premier League: Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer praised Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey for playing really well after the Rajasthan Royals served hosts their first defeat of the season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 in New Chandigarh, on Tuesday. I think 222 was a very good score. It was an exceptional performance, especially on this wicket, which was a bit sticky and slow. We planned to bowl slower and focus on yorkers. I think we fell short there. Also, they played really well, Dubey and Ferreira with that partnership, Iyer said after the match. Punjab Kings had earlier scored 222/4, boosted by an explosive unbeaten 62 off 22 balls from Marcus Stoinis and a solid 59 off 44 from Prabhsimran Singh. Contributions from Iyer (30) and Cooper Connolly (30) kept the innings on track before Stoinis late surge lifted them past 220. However, Rajasthan Royals quickly chased it down with six wickets in hand. This was largely due to a game-changing, unbeaten 77-run partnership off just 32 balls between Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey. Their aggressive play in the final overs turned what looked like a challenging chase into an easy finish. Discussing the challenges bowlers face in this format, Iyer said, In this format, many players have changed their game. Many go big from ball one. It's a big challenge for bowlers to come up with plans. But in the end, its all about execution. Today was just not our day. Rajasthans chase started strongly with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hitting 43 off 16 balls, followed by a fluent half-century from Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 off 27). Although PBKS briefly fought back during the middle oversparticularly with tight spells from Harpreet Brar and Yuzvendra Chahalthey couldnt finish the game. I think its important that we stick to what we've been doing. We need to follow our process. We finished the game and then had a travel day. The body was also tired. But that can't be the excuse here. We need to get back to the drawing board before coming back, Iyer added when discussing the way forward. Rajasthans chase started strongly with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hitting 43 off 16 balls, followed by a fluent half-century from Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 off 27). Although PBKS briefly fought back during the middle oversparticularly with tight spells from Harpreet Brar and Yuzvendra Chahalthey couldnt finish the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Iyer also praised his spinners, emphasising Harpreet Brars impressive performance. I felt it was hard to score off the spinners. Harpreet Brar, in his first game, showed great character and only gave away 25 runs in his four overs. Hats off to him for stepping up like this in his first game and becoming our best bowler, he said. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Unbeaten Ferreira Serves Punjab Kings Their First Defeat

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket: Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey put together an impressive unbeaten 77-run partnership off just 32 balls to take Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling six-wicket victory over Punjab Kings in the 40th match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh, on Tuesday. With the game tightly contested after 14 overs and the required run rate exceeding 12, the pair made the chase look easy. Ferreira and Dubey took full advantage when the spinners were out, targeting the pace bowlers. Arshdeep Singh was hit for three fours in his return spell, while Marco Jansen conceded a four and a six. The duo kept up their attack against Arshdeep, showing poise and clean hitting to finish the chase and hand Punjab Kings their first loss of the season. Earlier, Rajasthans chase was energised by a fast start from the 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. After Yashasvi Jaiswal gave him the strike, Sooryavanshi made a strong impression. Despite Arshdeep Singh starting with two accurate yorkers, the young player replied with 6, 4, 4, helping RR score 15 runs in the opening over. He continued his offensive against Lockie Ferguson and Jansen, hitting sixes and boundaries with ease. Sooryavanshi raced to 43 off 16 balls, hitting three fours and five sixes, before Arshdeep changed his angle and got him to slice a low full toss into the air, where Shreyas Iyer took the catch. During his innings, Sooryavanshi reached 400 runs in just 167 balls at an astonishing strike rate of 238.09the fastest any player has scored 400 runs in an IPL season. RR had already surpassed 50 runs in 3.2 overs and reached 66/1 after four overs. Jaiswal, who had been quiet initially, took control after Sooryavanshi's dismissal. He hit 4, 6, 4 against Arshdeep and reached a 27-ball 51, getting his fifty off 26 balls. However, Yuzvendra Chahal made a crucial impact for PBKS, getting Jaiswal out and then dismissing Riyan Parag (29) as RR managed only 25 runs over the next four overs, also losing Dhruv Jurel (16 off 20). Harpreet Brar bowled tightly, giving away just 25 runs in his four overs, but it was Chahals strikes that shifted the momentum. At one point, RR needed 100 runs in 52 balls with the required run rate rising steadily. Nevertheless, Ferreira and Dubey completely turned the tide. With fearless batting and strategic targeting of the seamers, they broke down the PBKS bowling attack during the death overs, ensuring no further setbacks. Earlier in the match, PBKS scored a solid 222/4 after batting first. Jofra Archer started strong, dismissing Priyansh Arya (29), but Prabhsimran Singh anchored the innings with 59 off 44 balls. He received support from Cooper Connolly (30) in a 59-run partnership off 33 balls, while Iyer contributed 30. The standout performance was Marcus Stoinis explosive, unbeaten 62 off 22 balls, which helped Punjab reach over 220. Earlier in the match, PBKS scored a solid 222/4 after batting first. Jofra Archer started strong, dismissing Priyansh Arya (29), but Prabhsimran Singh anchored the innings with 59 off 44 balls. He received support from Cooper Connolly (30) in a 59-run partnership off 33 balls, while Iyer contributed 30. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Punjab Kings 222/4 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 62, Prabhsmiran Singh 59; Yash Punja 2-41, Jofra Archer 1-40) lost to Rajasthan Royals 228/4 in 19.2 overs (Donovan Ferreira 52, Yashasvi Jaiswal 51; Yuzvendra Chahal 3-36, Arshdeep Singh 1-68) by six wickets Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: 'Really Impressed By The Way He Is Taking On Bowlers', Says Dhawan On Sooryavanshi

Indian Premier League: Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan heaped praise on teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, saying he is extremely impressed with the youngsters fearless approach against high pace and believes the day is not far when he makes his debut for India. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is doing extremely well. I am very impressed by him, the way he is taking on bowlers easily when they are bowling him 145 KPH, it's fantastic, and the day is not far when he debuts for India, Dhawan told IANS. Vaibhav Suryavanshi continues to show wonders in the ongoing IPL 2026. The 15-year-old prodigy has already smoked some of the best bowlers in the world this season, named Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood, and has shown incredible calmness and style that is well beyond his years. Suryavanshi passed Abhishek Sharma to become the season's top run-scorer after scoring a blistering 43 runs in 16 balls against the Punjab Kings. He has now scored 400 runs on just 168 balls, with a strike rate of 238.09. He reached the milestone in just 167 deliveries, making him the fastest batter to reach 400 runs in a single IPL season. Vaibhav Suryavanshi continues to show wonders in the ongoing IPL 2026. The 15-year-old prodigy has already smoked some of the best bowlers in the world this season, named Jasprit Bumrah and Josh Hazlewood, and has shown incredible calmness and style that is well beyond his years. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Talking about his favourite IPL team, Dhawan said, I am supporting Punjab Kings as I have played with them before. The future of Shreyas Iyer is bright. The way he is leading Punjab is amazing. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: It Was Nice To Get A Hit And Contribute, Says Stoinis After Helping PBKS Reach 222

Indian Premier League: Marcus Stoinis reflected on his explosive late cameo for Punjab Kings, expressing satisfaction at finally making an impact in what he described as a different season, after smashing an unbeaten 62 off 22 balls to power his side past 200 against Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 in New Chandigarh on Tuesday. Stoinis finally got his chance in IPL 2026, and he made it count. He powered Punjab Kings to a strong 222/4 with an exciting late attack. Having faced just 27 balls in four innings before this match, Stoinis wasted no time once he got going. He took on Jofra Archer with confidence, hitting him for two big sixes, one over deep midwicket and another straight down the ground. This set the stage for what was to follow. Enjoyed that -- it has been a different season, watching the boys smack it all around the park. Nice to get a hit tonight. They bowled really well. If you can make an impact in a couple of overs, it can change things. Funny, we are talking about 200-210 not being enough - that is a compliment, I think (for our team). They (the top order batters) did say it (the pitch) was a little bit slower. Not a lot of spin was bowled on this ground. It was a little bit slower, and they (RR spinners) executed really well. I think it is a good score. Start well, and then see how we go, Stoinis said after the match. Stoinis finally got his chance in IPL 2026, and he made it count. He powered Punjab Kings to a strong 222/4 with an exciting late attack. Having faced just 27 balls in four innings before this match, Stoinis wasted no time once he got going. He took on Jofra Archer with confidence, hitting him for two big sixes, one over deep midwicket and another straight down the ground. This set the stage for what was to follow. Also Read: Live Cricket Score After a dot ball, he flicked one past short fine leg, sent a full toss over wide long-on, smashed another near waist-high delivery over cow corner, and then launched one over extra cover. He finished the innings with style by getting inside the line to send a low full toss past square leg. He scored 24 runs in that over. Stoinis ended up unbeaten on a remarkable 62 off 22 balls, with a strike rate of 281.81, giving PBKS a huge boost at the end. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Stoinis, Prabhsimran Fifties Guide PBKS To 222/4 Against RR

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket: A late blitz from Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis (62 off 22 deliveries) and Prabhsimaran Singhs 59 helped Punjab Kings reach 222/4 in 20 overs against Rajasthan Royals in Match 40 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh. Prabhsimran Singh led by example with a determined half-century, helping Punjab Kings stabilise their innings after a strong start and guiding them through the middle phase before he was finally dismissed. Punjab started aggressively, even though Jofra Archer is known for making early breakthroughs. While Archer didnt take a wicket in the first over, Prabhsimran hit a boundary, bringing the score to 8/0. Meanwhile, Priyansh Arya made a spectacular contribution. With a Power-play strike rate of 260.27, Arya attacked Nandre Burger fearlessly, including an incredible backfoot six over covers. Burger ended up giving away 21 runs in one over. The battle between Arya and Archer was intense. After surviving a couple of chances, one in the vacant slip and another that was dropped, Arya kept attacking until Archer delivered a 150.1 kph ball to get him out, ending Aryas rapid innings and winning their duel. With Arya out, Prabhsimran took control. He maintained his aggressive style with a powerplay strike rate of 188.57, targeting Burger again and scoring 19 runs off 10 balls, helping PBKS reach 65/1 by the end of the powerplay. Burger had a rough outing, giving up 45 runs in his first three overs, while Archer and Brijesh Sharma kept it tighter. Prabhsimran continued to apply pressure in the middle overs, facing both pace and spin. He hit a straight six and a huge shot over deep midwicket against the inexperienced Punja. He then went after Ravindra Jadeja with clean hitting down the ground and through the offside. However, wickets fell at the other end. Punja took two wickets, first dismissing Cooper Connolly with a well-disguised googly that led to a mistimed shot, showing promising control despite earlier giving up boundaries. Meanwhile, Prabhsimran reached his fourth fifty of the season, achieving the milestone in 35 balls. Although it wasn't his smoothest innings, reflected in a control percentage of 78, he fought through edges and mistimed shots to hold the innings together after Aryas dismissal. He moved into the 40s with two boundaries off Archer and completed his fifty with a single off Jadeja. Punja returned and made the breakthrough, getting Prabhsimran out after a key knock of 57, finishing with figures of 2/41. Skipper Iyer struggled, continued from the other side, ultimately falling to Burger for 30 off 27 deliveries. Rajasthan Royals bowlers regrouped in the middle overs. Ravindra Jadeja finished with 0/32, Punja had 2/41, and Brijesh Sharma ended with 0/42, all maintaining control with disciplined spells. Jofra Archer recorded 1/40. However, Marcus Stoinis changed the game at the end. He scored 24 runs in the final over off Archer, hitting two sixes and three fours. Earlier, Stoinis teamed up with skipper Shreyas Iyer for a 37-run partnership. Iyer scored 30 off 27 balls and struggled with timing. Stoinis then delivered an amazing unbeaten 62 off 22 balls, which included four fours and six sixes, helping Punjab Kings surpass the 200-run mark. Marcis Stoinis smoked back-to-back sixes to Archer in the 19th over and then came back to hurt Brijesh Sharma, who was having a good evening. Sharma, who started with a dot, was punished for back-to-back maximums, only to be followed by back-to-back boundaries by Stoinis, who finished on 62 off 22 deliveries. He scored 24 runs in the final over off Archer, hitting two sixes and three fours. Earlier, Stoinis teamed up with skipper Shreyas Iyer for a 37-run partnership. Iyer scored 30 off 27 balls and struggled with timing. Stoinis then delivered an amazing unbeaten 62 off 22 balls, which included four fours and six sixes, helping Punjab Kings surpass the 200-run mark. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Punjab Kings 222/4 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 62, Prabhsmiran Singh 59; Yash Punja 2-41, Jofra Archer 1-40) against Rajasthan Royals. Article Source: IANS

Time running out for MI's famous turnaround

Will MI include Will Jacks or Keshav Maharaj for the injured Santner?

Govt Waives IP Fees For Sports Sector For 3 Years, Launches Design Hackathon

Industry Minister Piyush Goyal: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday announced a three-year waiver on fees for all intellectual property (IP) registrations related to sports, in a move aimed at boosting innovation and strengthening Indias sports ecosystem. The announcement was made during the World Intellectual Property Day celebrations in the national capital, themed IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate!. The fee exemption will cover all categories of IP, including trademarks, copyrights, patents, designs, traditional knowledge and geographical indications, and will come into effect immediately. The minister said the initiative is part of a special drive to encourage innovators, students, artisans and stakeholders to actively participate in the IP ecosystem. Alongside the fee waiver, the government will provide facilitation support under existing schemes to simplify the process of filing and securing IP rights, Goyal said. Highlighting the growing importance of intellectual property in sports, Goyal urged stakeholders to convert ideas into IP assets at an early stage to secure ownership and unlock value. He reiterated the governments vision of innovate, patent, produce and prosper as a pathway for economic growth. During the event, the minister also felicitated the Jammu and Kashmir Ranji Trophy team for their historic performance, including a landmark victory after 67 years and a notable win against Karnataka. He described the achievement as a reflection of the regions rising sporting potential and an inspiration for young athletes. Goyal underlined the importance of the Kashmir willow cricket bat, calling it a symbol of Indias craftsmanship and IP strength. He noted that it is among the first sports-related products in India to receive a Geographical Indication (GI) tag and stressed the need to promote its manufacturing in Jammu and Kashmir to enhance its global presence. Goyal underlined the importance of the Kashmir willow cricket bat, calling it a symbol of Indias craftsmanship and IP strength. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He emphasised the need to scale up domestic manufacturing of equipment such as bats, balls, hockey gear and training aids to strengthen local value chains. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Unbeaten PBKS Asked To Bat Against Rajasthan Royals In New Chandigarh

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket: Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to field against Punjab Kings in the 40th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh, on Tuesday. Shimron Hetmyer and Ravi Bishnoi have been replaced by Dasun Shanaka and Yash Punja in the eleven for Rajasthan. For Punjab, Suryansh Shedge and Lockie Ferguson come in for Shashank Singh and Xavier Bartlett. Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag said, We are going to bowl first. Looks like a pretty good wicket. But there was a bit of cloud cover and a bit of a shower as well. A little bit of moisture at the start. We are trying to strike that to get some early wickets. Hopefully chase it down. 2 changes, Hetmyer sits out, Dasun Shanaka comes in. Ravi Bishnoi goes out, Yash Punja comes in. It is very hard to practice that, but everyone's played a lot of cricket, and you have to really keep your nerve in a pressure situation and test your character. Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer said, We would have loved to bowl first as well. I asked one of my team members. The wicket was covered for the last few days because of the weather. All of us are proactive, irrespective of whether we are bowling first or second. We have one forced change. Suryansh comes in place of Shashank. Also, Lockie comes in place of Xavier. All the individuals have goals to achieve. We know what we have to do to achieve those goals. It's important to keep the momentum. On behalf of the whole team, I want to express my condolences to Azmat and his family for the loss. We are with him during this hard time. Playing XIs: Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Punja Impact substitutes: Shimron Hetmyer, Shubham Dubey, Tushar Deshpande, Ravi Bishnoi, Ravi Singh Rajasthan Royals: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Punja Also Read: Live Cricket Score Impact substitutes: Musheer Ahmed Khan, Vishnu Vinod, Vyshak Vijaykumar, Xavier Bartlett, Harpreet Brar Article Source: IANS

1st WT20I: Shornas Lone Battle Goes In Vain As Sri Lanka Beat Bangladesh In Series Opener

Sylhet International Cricket Stadium: Bangladesh women's cricket team suffered a 25-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the opening game of the three-match T20i series at Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, despite a spirited knock from Shorna Akter. Chasing 162 for victory, Bangladesh Women finished on 136 for seven in 20 overs. Shorna was the standout performer with a well-crafted 60 off 45 balls, registering her maiden half-century in WT20Is. Her innings included four boundaries and two sixes, but she lacked meaningful support as wickets fell regularly at the other end. Earlier, Sri Lanka posted an imposing 161/4 after being put in to bat. Half-centuries from Harshitha Samarawickrama and Imesha Dulani laid the foundation for the total. Samarawickrama played an aggressive hand, scoring 61 off just 35 balls, while Dulani contributed a steady 55 from 40 deliveries. Sri Lanka lost Hasini Perera early in the innings, but skipper Chamari Athapaththu and Dulani stitched together a 42-run partnership to stabilise the innings. Athapaththu made 32 before falling to Sultana Khatun. The momentum firmly shifted in Sri Lankas favour during an 80-run stand between Dulani and Samarawickrama, which propelled the visitors to their highest WT20I total against Bangladesh, surpassing their previous best of 158 set in 2023. Although Nahida dismissed Dulani after her fifty, Samarawickrama continued to attack, striking five fours and two sixes. Bangladesh made a brisk start in the chase, with Dilara Akter and Juairiya Ferdous adding 39 runs in just 3.3 overs. However, the innings quickly unravelled after Juairiyas dismissal, as the hosts slipped from 39 without loss to 44 for four in a dramatic collapse. Sharmin Akhter, Nigar Sultana Joty, and Dilara all fell in quick succession. Sobhana Mostary attempted to rebuild alongside Shorna, but her slow-paced 16 off 26 balls added pressure to the chase. Once she departed, the task became even tougher for Bangladesh. Despite Shornas resistance, the required rate kept climbing, and Bangladesh Women ultimately fell short. For Sri Lanka, Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya, and Athapaththu claimed two wickets each to secure the win. The second match of the series will be played at the same venue on Thursday. Despite Shornas resistance, the required rate kept climbing, and Bangladesh Women ultimately fell short. For Sri Lanka, Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya, and Athapaththu claimed two wickets each to secure the win. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sri Lanka 161/4 in 20 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 61, Imesha Dulani 55; Sultana Khatun 2-29, Nahida Akter 1-26) beat Bangladesh 136/7 in 20 overs (Shorna Akter 60, Dilara Akter 23; Chamari Athapaththu 2-19, Malki Madara 2-31) by 25 runs. Article Source: IANS

Virat Kohli ignores young fan, walks past; boy cries inconsolably, smashes bat

A video of Virat Kohli has gone viral after he appeared to avoid a young fan who was waiting for an autograph. The child, left heartbroken, cried inconsolably and later smashed his cricket bat in frustration. Fans are calling out Kohli's behaviour as arrogant.

PM Modi Inaugurates Six Modern Indoor Cricket Academies Developed By BCCI In North-East

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi: The Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated six modern indoor cricket academies across North-East India. This initiative aims to improve the games infrastructure and harness the regions sporting potential. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) developed these facilities, which were unveiled virtually during a state event in Gangtok. The academies are located in Rangpo (Sikkim), Doimukh (Arunachal Pradesh), Imphal (Manipur), Madankurklang (Meghalaya), Aizawl (Mizoram), and Dimapur (Nagaland). They create a high-performance cricket network throughout the North-East. The inauguration ceremony included Jay Shah and BCCI office-bearers, while regional administrators joined online. Shah conceived the project during his time as BCCI Secretary, and the foundation stone was laid in May 2024. These academies are designed as high-performance centres. They include indoor practice pitches, high-tech gyms, temperature-controlled swimming pools, as well as dedicated training and administrative spaces. The facilities allow for year-round training and reduce the need for players to travel outside the region, particularly during the lengthy monsoon season. BCCI president Mithun Manhas stated, We are grateful to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for inaugurating these facilities. This initiative shows a clear intention to develop cricket infrastructure in every region and build a stronger, more inclusive foundation for the game. It is also a key step in ensuring that aspiring cricketers from the North-East have access to the same quality of facilities as other players in the country. Secretary Devajit Saikia called the development a landmark event for the region. This is a momentous occasion and a significant day for the entire North-East. I thank Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for attending and opening the facilities. I also thank ICC Chair Mr. Jay Shah for his vision and for starting this important project back in 2022. This is a major boost for cricketers in the region. They will benefit greatly as training and preparation can continue throughout the year, giving players the consistency they need to improve their game. I am confident this will lead to more players from the North-East reaching the highest levels of the sport, he added. Secretary Devajit Saikia called the development a landmark event for the region. This is a momentous occasion and a significant day for the entire North-East. I thank Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for attending and opening the facilities. I also thank ICC Chair Mr. Jay Shah for his vision and for starting this important project back in 2022. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Joint Secretary Prabhtej Bhatia stressed the importance of grassroots development: This is about creating a long-term system. By investing in infrastructure and access at the grassroots level, we are laying the foundation for future generations of cricketers from the North-East. The ecosystem around these facilities will also support coaching, fitness, and overall player development. Article Source: IANS

President Shammi Silva Set To Quit, SLC Braced For A Shake-up: Report

Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is set for yet another change of guard, with long-serving president Shammi Silva expected to step down on Wednesday, clearing the decks for an interim administration to take charge of the games affairs, a news report said on Tuesday. Silva, a heavyweight in crickets corridors of power in Sri Lanka, has been part of SLCs fabric since 2017, including a seven-year stint at the top. But after weathering a few storms, the veteran administrator appears ready to declare his innings, Telecom Asia Sport said in a report. A former multi-sport athlete at Nalanda College who later turned out for Colombo Cricket Club, where he now serves as President, Silva rose through the ranks to occupy the games most powerful seat locally, often elected unopposed. Yet, in recent years, the tide has turned, and his continuation in the post became increasingly untenable, the report said. Pressure has been mounting on Silva since Sri Lankas underwhelming campaign at the 2023 World Cup in India, when critics sharpened their knives. Matters came to a head when the then Sports Minister Roshan Ranasinghe removed Shammi Silva and installed an interim committee, only for the move to backfire spectacularly. The International Cricket Council (ICC) promptly suspended Sri Lanka for political interference, a bouncer the government failed to sway, forcing a hasty reinstatement of Shammi Silva, the report claimed. The latest wave of discontent was a result of Sri Lankas failure to reach the semifinals of the recent T20 World Cup, co-hosted with India, a campaign that left fans and stakeholders alike questioning the direction of the game. Sources indicated to www.telecomasia.net that the current government officials have since met Shammi Silva, laying out the mood on the street. In those discussions, he is understood to have agreed to step aside. After chairing Tuesdays Executive Committee meeting, he is expected to call time on his tenure the following morning. His committee may well follow suit. Insiders suggest a clean sweep is on the cards, with an interim body likely to be appointed to steady the ship until fresh elections are held. According to the report, among the frontrunners to take over the top post are Eran Wickramaratne, a former cricketer-turned-opposition-politician, and Suresh Subramaniam, the former head of the National Olympic Committee. A clutch of respected former players, including Sidath Wettimuny, Kushil Gunasekara, and Roshan Mahanama, are also expected to be part of the new set-up. His committee may well follow suit. Insiders suggest a clean sweep is on the cards, with an interim body likely to be appointed to steady the ship until fresh elections are held. Also Read: Live Cricket Score According to the news report, the push for reform gained momentum when several leading figures, including spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan, took legal recourse in a bid to clean up the system. The retired judges report is seen as a roadmap to drag SLC out of troubled waters and into calmer seas. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: 'If I Get The Chance, I Will Be 100 Percent Ready,' Says GT Keeper-batter Anuj Rawat

Anuj Rawat: Left-handed wicketkeeper-batter Anuj Rawat is yet to get game time in IPL 2026, but the Gujarat Titans wicketkeeper-batter insists he is 100 percent ready whenever hes called to play an IPL game for the 2022 champions and credited the franchise's rigorous training culture for keeping him sharp. With GT sitting on eight points and fifth place in the second half of the season, Rawat said the mood inside the camp is anything but subdued. As you can see, we have eight points and we are almost halfway through the season. So, I think the atmosphere of the team and the way we are going with two points recently, I can see a lot of positivity, Rawat told IANS in an exclusive conversation on Tuesday. The call for Rawat being retained by GT support staff led by head coach Ashish Nehra brought immediate reassurance and the happiness of being in the same side for the IPL instead of the possibility of making a fresh start elsewhere. There was no specific message like that, but there was a conversation that we will retain you. As soon as our sir's call and message came, he said that we are retaining you ahead of the auction. So, this was the only conversation. Definitely, I was very happy because you will represent that franchise again with which you have already been with for a season. So, I think that thing helps a lot because if you go to a new franchise, then you have to come back to a new setup. Everything in it - the coaching staff is different, the environment is different. If you are being retained for the same franchise, then there are a lot of things that are in your favour, he elaborated. Delhi-based Rawat, who has 318 runs in 24 IPL games, reserved particular praise for the culture in GT, which stands in contrast with his previous stints in the tournament. I think when I was in the last franchise, I was in a different room. So, the atmosphere of a dressing room is very much similar. But the GT dressing room environment is very friendly and this is the thing that makes GT different from other franchises, he said. One notable thread of continuity from his Rajasthan Royals days has been his association with veteran wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler, who now turns out alongside him at GT. I was with him when I was in Rajasthan and now I got a chance to play alongside him in GT. So, our bonding from the time at Rajasthan is still very similar. Our bond is very good. You get to learn a lot of things when you practice with him and do wicket keeping drills. He is a legend and there are definitely some small things that you learn from him, Rawat said. On the challenge of staying match-ready without regular game time, Rawat acknowledged the mental and physical discipline it demands. I think this is the most difficult thing if you are not playing and you are in a team setup. But I think this is also a specialty of a cricketer - if you are not playing, how do you aim to be complete in your preparation, as whenever you get a chance, you have to be 100 percent ready. So, I think it is very important as a cricketer that if you are not getting a chance, you still have to be 100 percent ready and be involved in that setup and aim to be 100 percent ready in your preparation, he said. Rawat also reflected on the transition between IPL and domestic cricket, where the real shift is in intensity. There is not much difference when one goes to domestic cricket after an IPL season. There is a slight difference, but then there is a little more pressure. The atmosphere and pressure that we talk about in cricket, a little bit of difference remains, he said. He further stated GT's training methods had raised his overall game and shaped his approach to playing domestic cricket as well. On the field, I felt a very vast difference when I came to GT. One thing is that you have to prepare a lot here. In the time I have played in all the franchises, all the practice sessions and preparations here are conducted a lot more and are done little differently too. So, I think that reflects in your off-season as well. After that, when you go for the domestic season, I realized this time that the extensive preparation I went through at GT has been very helpful, Rawat said. He further stated GT's training methods had raised his overall game and shaped his approach to playing domestic cricket as well. On the field, I felt a very vast difference when I came to GT. One thing is that you have to prepare a lot here. In the time I have played in all the franchises, all the practice sessions and preparations here are conducted a lot more and are done little differently too. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I think as a cricketer, I am 100 percent ready. But it is very important that your team keeps winning, as that will be the most important factor in the competition. If I get the chance, I will be 100 percent ready, he signed off. Article Source: IANS

'Would Overcome Training Challenges During Monsoon': Northeast Cricket Associations On Indoor Academies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the state-of-the-art indoor cricket academies in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, alongside four other northeastern states. The cricket associations of both states expressed gratitude to PM Modi and BCCI for the projects, emphasising that it will prove beneficial for players especially during the monsoon season. The indoor cricket academies were also virtually inaugurated in Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Speaking to IANS, Manipur Cricket Association (MNCA) Secretary, Lairenjam Geetranjan Singh, described the inauguration as a historic moment for the state's cricket and thanked ICC Chairman Jay Shah for supporting the project during his tenure as BCCI Secretary. Singh feels that the project will change the scenario of cricket in the six northeastern states. The academy is a world-class facility equipped with three indoor pitches, a gym, administrative office and a heated swimming pool, he said. He also informed that the BCCI will bear the maintenance and operational expenses of the academy for the next two years. Further, Singh mentioned that the indoor academy will greatly help Manipur players, especially during the rainy season, as coaching camps, training and other skill-related activities can now continue throughout the year, thereby cutting the expenditure of sending players outside the state. Highlighting the achievements of the Manipur Cricket Association, he said Manipur reached the finals in five BCCI domestic tournaments during the 2025 season and won two titles in the Under-19 categories. He added that all players representing Manipur are local players groomed by the association over the past several years. Meanwhile, Arunachal Cricket Association (ARCA) President, Nabam Vivek called it a landmark day in the history of the state. The academy has world class facilities. It would prove to be a turning point in the country's cricketing journey, he told reporters. Vivek also stressed that the academy was important, particularly due to the monsoon season which continues for six-seven months in the northeast. He also mentioned that the BCCI is being pursued to build cricket stadiums in the state so that at least domestic tournaments like Ranji Trophy and Vijay Hazare trophy could be hosted here. Currently, due to lack of stadiums we are hosting even our home matches in other states, he said. Senior player Techi Doria expressed his happiness on the inauguration of the indoor academy. He thanked PM Modi, BCCI and ARCA. Currently, due to lack of stadiums we are hosting even our home matches in other states, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Doria was hopeful that the academy will motivate the players of the state to train harder and give their best. No player will be able to give any excuse now to miss training, he added. Article Source: IANS

Uncapped Tilly Gets Maiden Call As Hosts England Name Sciver-Brunt-led Squad For Womens T20 WC

Head Coach Charlotte Edwards: Hosts England have revealed their 15-player team for the ICC Womens T20 World Cup, starting June 12. Nat Sciver-Brunt will continue at the helm, leading the team on home soil in her seventh T20 World Cup appearance. Sciver-Brunt is joined by uncapped 18-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman, who has received her maiden England as well as World Cup call-up. Along with her, Issy Wong and Lauren Filer have made it to the T20 World Cup squad for the first time. Danni Wyatt-Hodge, meanwhile, is set to appear in her eighth T20 World Cup. Charlie Dean has been appointed as Sciver-Brunts deputy and joined an impressive group of allrounders in the squad, with fast bowler Lauren Bell expected to lead the attack. Head Coach Charlotte Edwards, who led the team to victory in the 2009 ICC Womens T20 World Cup in England, will draw on over 960 caps of T20 International experience during the tournament starting June 12 at Edgbaston. There is no doubt that it has been incredibly tough to get to these 15 names. This is the hardest set of selection meetings I have been a part of because the pool of players to choose from is so strong and so many talented players have put their hand up to be a part of the squad, which is exactly what we want. That is the nature of world-class sport, and it is a privilege we don't take lightly to be able to make these difficult decisions. An ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 on home soil is a special moment for the game in this country, and we are all really motivated by what could be ahead for this group of players and what they can achieve this summer, Edwards said. Meanwhile, skipper Sciver Brunt said, It is a huge honour to be leading England into a T20 World Cup at home in front of family and friends and all our passionate supporters. We have all been looking forward to this summer and this tournament for some time now and the naming of the squad means it is almost here and we can't wait to get out onto the field and give it everything to win this World Cup again. An ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 on home soil is a special moment for the game in this country, and we are all really motivated by what could be ahead for this group of players and what they can achieve this summer, Edwards said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England squad for ICC Women's T20 World Cup: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean (vc), Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, Danni Wyatt-Hodge Article Source: IANS

PM Modi Virtually Inaugurates Indoor Cricket Academies In Manipur, Arunachal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday virtually inaugurated indoor cricket academies in Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh from Gangtok, marking a major boost for sports infrastructure in the Northeast. The Manipur Cricket Associations Indoor Cricket Academy, funded by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was inaugurated at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium in Luwangsangbam, Imphal, as part of the launch of indoor cricket academies for northeastern state associations. Speaking to IANS, Manipur Cricket Association secretary Lairenjam Geetranjan Singh described the occasion as a historic moment for cricket in the state and thanked Jay Shah for extending support to the project during his tenure as BCCI Secretary. He said the academy is a world-class facility equipped with three indoor practice pitches, a gymnasium, an administrative office and a swimming pool. Lairenjam added that the BCCI will bear the maintenance and operational expenses of the academy for the next two years. According to Singh, the indoor facility will significantly benefit players in Manipur, especially during the rainy season, as training camps and coaching sessions can now continue throughout the year without the need to send players outside the state. Highlighting recent achievements, he said Manipur reached the finals of five BCCI domestic tournaments during the 2025 season and won two Under-19 titles. All players representing Manipur are local cricketers groomed by the association over the last several years, he said, expressing confidence that the new academy would further strengthen both boys and girls cricket in the state. Lairenjam added that the BCCI will bear the maintenance and operational expenses of the academy for the next two years. According to Singh, the indoor facility will significantly benefit players in Manipur, especially during the rainy season, as training camps and coaching sessions can now continue throughout the year without the need to send players outside the state. Also Read: Live Cricket Score During the virtual event, PM Modi said such infrastructure would help nurture local sporting talent, provide young players better training opportunities and strengthen the Northeasts growing sports ecosystem. The Prime Minister is currently in Gangtok on an official visit, from where he launched several development and infrastructure projects for the region earlier in the day. Article Source: IANS

India launches first official F1 Sim Racing Championship with Mumbai Falcons

The initiative aims to create a structured pathway from virtual racing to professional motorsport, tapping into Indias growing esports and Formula 1 fan base.

IPL 2026: When And Where To Watch MI Vs SRH, Know All Details

Indian Premier League: Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will take on 2016 winners Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 41st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. MI are struggling to get their momentum in the ongoing season as they are currently placed at ninth on the table with just two wins from seven matches. They are coming to the contest after suffering their biggest defeat in IPL history, which came at the hands of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who beat the Hardik Pandya-led side by 103 runs on April 23. However, after a break of six days, they would be eager to make a strong comeback. SRH, on the other side has turned their fortunes after a poor start where they lost three out of four opening games as they registered four consecutive victories in the next matches. SRH sit third in the standings with five wins from eight matches. They are coming to the contest after a five-wicket win against the Rajasthan Royals (RR), and they would look to continue the momentum and strengthen their position in the top four. When: Wednesday, April 29, 7:30 PM IST Where: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Where to watch: The MI vs RR match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(c), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora(wk), Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivang Kumar, Harsh Dubey, Sakib Hussain, Eshan Malinga, Dilshan Madushanka, Smaran Ravichandran, Praful Hinge, Liam Livingstone, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Kamindu Mendis, Zeeshan Ansari, Shivam Mavi, Gerald Coetzee, Krains Fuletra, Onkar Tarmale, Amit Kumar Squads Also Read: Live Cricket Score -- IANS Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: 'Lot Of Players Complete Their Quota And Leave, But Bhuvi Is Not Like That,' Says Chawla

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla lauded Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his relentless work ethic and commitment, stating that the senior pacers belief in quantity over quality practice played a key role in his match-winning performance for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Monday. Chawla highlighted the ongoing debate around workload management and modern training methods, praising Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his intelligent and disciplined practice routine, which consistently translates into strong performances on the field. People talk about workload management and quality practice. I understand that after playing so many years, you know where to bowl. But still, you have to go out there and bowl the number of balls you want. I am not a big believer in only quality practice because I believe in quantity, and thats what Bhuvi also does. Whenever he goes to the nets, he makes sure he bowls eight to ten overs and gets that rhythm back. Thats what makes him a better bowler, Chawla told ESPNcricinfo. Chawla believes that Bhuvneshwars dedication to put in long hours in training and maintaining intensity across tournaments continues to set him apart from many peers. The good thing about Bhuvi is that he puts in a lot of effort. He makes sure that whatever games he is playing, he is playing with full intensity. I have seen a lot of players who come to domestic cricket, just complete their quota and leave, but he is not like that, he said. Chawla further emphasised that Bhuvneshwars commitment extends beyond international and IPL duties, pointing to his participation in domestic competitions. If he has come for a particular tournament, he stays there for the whole tournament. When he goes to the UP League as well, he plays all the matches. Its not a small tournament, its almost 25 to 30 days. Chawla further emphasised that Bhuvneshwars commitment extends beyond international and IPL duties, pointing to his participation in domestic competitions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In reply, RCB chased down 76 with ease, riding on unbeaten knocks from Devdutt Padikkal (34*) and Virat Kohli (23 not out), sealing victory with 81 balls to spare in a one-sided contest. Article Source: IANS

SA Skipper Wolvaardt Jumps To Career-best No. 3 In T20I Rankings

T20I Player Rankings: South Africa's captain Laura Wolvaardt has achieved a new career-high rating in the latest ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings, following her recent outstanding performances against India. Wolvaardt excelled against the reigning ICC Women's Cricket World Cup champions, delivering a superb century in the third match of the five-game series. She also contributed three half-centuries, ending with a total of 330 runs and earning the Player of the Series award as South Africa secured a confident 4-1 victory. She moved up two places to rank third overall among T20I batters, behind the No.1 ranked Georgia Voll. The in-form South African achieved a career-high rating due to her strong recent performance, just ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England and Wales starting June 12. Wolvaardt isn't the only player climbing the ranks after the South Africa-India series. Richa Ghosh moved up two spots to 22nd, and Sune Luus jumped six places to 29th, thanks to impressive performances in the five matches. The race for the top T20I bowlers remains close, led by Pakistan spinner Sadia Iqbal. India all-rounder Deepti Sharma has moved up one position, and South Africa spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba has risen two spots, both sharing fourth place before the T20 World Cup. Just outside the top 10, India young player Shree Charani achieves a new career-high ranking, climbing 12 places to reach 11th after her two-wicket performance in the series finale against the Proteas in Benoni. The latest ODI rankings have been updated after Bangladesh's home series against Sri Lanka, with several players from Bangladesh climbing higher in the charts. Just outside the top 10, India young player Shree Charani achieves a new career-high ranking, climbing 12 places to reach 11th after her two-wicket performance in the series finale against the Proteas in Benoni. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sri Lanka's captain Chamari Athapaththu moves up one place to ninth in the updated ODI all-rounder rankings and climbs seven spots to tie for 34th among ODI bowlers. Teammate Harshitha Samarawickrama, up three spots to joint 20th, stands out as the top performer from the island nation in the ODI batting rankings. Article Source: IANS

Bangladesh target series win in rainy Chattogram

If Latham fails to recover from injury in time, Kelly will captain NZ once again

Denmark, Rajasthan In Talks For Friendly Cricket Match, Exchange Progamme

The Rajasthan Cricket Association: The Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) is set to take a significant step towards international grassroots collaboration, with plans underway for a player exchange programme and friendly cricket match with Denmark, following the recent high-level discussions with Danish ambassador Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen on Tuesday. Kristensen said the proposal would now be taken up formally with the Danish Cricket Association. We have discussed the possibility of exploring an exchange of players between the Danish cricket teams, the Danish Cricket Association, and the RCA here in Rajasthan. I will go back and discuss this with the Danish Cricket Association, and hopefully we can make a more formal agreement after this, he told IANS. RCA official Ashish Tiwary said the talks with the visiting Danish delegation were highly encouraging and could pave the way for long-term cooperation aimed at developing the sport. We had very positive discussions with them, and their support towards taking cricket forward in Rajasthan has been extremely encouraging. They are keen that we work together to grow the sport, Tiwary told reporters. He added that a key highlight of the proposed collaboration is a structured exchange programme involving young cricketers from both regions. As part of this initiative, our children will travel to Denmark, while young players from Denmark will come to Rajasthan. This will be a historic step, and in my view, perhaps the first such initiative in Indias cricketing landscape, he said. He added that a key highlight of the proposed collaboration is a structured exchange programme involving young cricketers from both regions. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The discussions have taken place, and there is a mutual understanding in place. His Excellency is taking this very seriously, and we are optimistic about taking things forward soon, he added. Article Source: IANS

Be Honest With Your Dreams, Follow It With Commitment: Kohli Gives Pep Talk To School Kids At Cricket Academy Launch

West Delhi Cricket Academy Branch: Former India captain and ace cricketer Virat Kohli delivered an inspiring address to students during the inauguration of a cricket academy at the Delhi Public School in RK Puram on Tuesday, stressing the importance of clarity, honesty, and dedication in pursuing ones ambitions and urging young minds to stay true to their dreams and back them with unwavering commitment. Kohli, along with his childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma and DDCA president Rohan Jaitley inaugurated a West Delhi Cricket Academy Branch on Tuesday. While addressing students during the event, the batting stalwart shared his personal journey and experiences. Kohli admitted that returning to a school setting to speak felt unfamiliar, but said he could relate closely to the students, having once stood in their place. Thank you for having me. I'm not used to speaking in schools, so this is going to be a bit awkward for me because I moved away from the school setup long ago for cricket, and that's what I'm going to talk about. I understand the environment of a school. I've been through the same process and stage that all you kids are a part of right now. And I can just share from my own experience how my focus and priority changed very early on in my life. What I want to say is, a school is a place where you come to learn, you come to grow, you become better people, Kohli said in his address. He went on to underline the significance of respecting the learning ecosystem, particularly teachers, who play a vital role in shaping both character and capability. Have respect and regard for that environment first. For your teachers, for the people who are teaching you. They are giving you a part of their lives. It's very important to give them that respect and the focus and attention that's required, Kohli added. Drawing from his own early decisions, Kohli spoke about how choosing cricket as a career required conviction and honesty, not just with himself but also with those around him. I chose sport very early on in my life, but that came from a very honest place. I was very sure that I wanted to go ahead and pursue cricket, and I had to be honest with myself, my family, and also my teachers to convey to them that this is the path I want to take, the former RCB skipper said. He reiterated that self-awareness and sincerity are key when it comes to chasing ambitions, encouraging students to take ownership of their goals, saying, Be honest with your dreams, about what you want to do and follow that dream with absolute commitment. Only you will know whether you are being 100% honest or not. I chose sport very early on in my life, but that came from a very honest place. I was very sure that I wanted to go ahead and pursue cricket, and I had to be honest with myself, my family, and also my teachers to convey to them that this is the path I want to take, the former RCB skipper said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I started practising when I was eight years old, and I still continue to come to the academy whenever I get time. And it's a big part of my childhood, and I hope all the kids that come to learn cricket here can value it, can learn something from the academy. And I hope it does wonders for the school, the cricket setup here as well. So, I wish everyone all the very best, the stalwart concluded. Article Source: IANS

'There's A Genuine Fear Among Batters': Steyn On Pacers Dominating IPL 2026

Former South African: Former South African bowler Dale Steyn believes the ongoing season IPL season has tilted in favour of fast bowlers, pointing out that batters are facing a genuine fear because of technical changes and execution from the seamers. Observing the impact of premier quicks like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Kagiso Rabada, and Jofra Archer, who are dominating the season with wickets and test-match-length bowling, Steyn said their consistency in hitting the right areas has left batters short of answers. Watching Bhuvi, Hazlewood, throw KG and Archer in there too, theres a genuine fear from batters. Not because theyre scared, but they know exactly where these greats are going to bowl and dont practice enough in that area to have answers, Steyn wrote in a post on X. He explained that the batter's struggle is largely technical, with players unable to adapt mid-tournament. The fear is technical skill. Its too deep into the tournament to change now. Watch these bowlers continue to dominate, he added. Steyn also highlighted the importance of disciplined length, a hallmark of successful fast bowling in the format. Its called a hard length for a reason, he added. Steyn's remarks come at a time when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowling due to Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood completely dominated against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. Hazlewood finished with great figures of 4-12, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar also ended with 3-5, which ensured RCB bowled out DC for 75, the lowest total of this season. The 2025 champions chased down the total in just 6.3 overs while losing a single wicket. Steyn also highlighted the importance of disciplined length, a hallmark of successful fast bowling in the format. Its called a hard length for a reason, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score While CSK's Anshul Kamboj and SRH's Eshan Malinga are placed at second and third with 14 wickets each. Meanwhile, Archer has taken 13 wickets and is positioned at fourth place, followed by Prince Yadav, who also took 13 scalps. Article Source: IANS

McClenaghan Hails Kohlis Evolution, Says scoring 9000 IPL Runs Against Worlds Best Bowlers Is Not Easy'

Former New Zealand: Former New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan has lauded Virat Kohlis remarkable consistency while also highlighting the impact of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood following Royal Challengers Bengalurus emphatic nine-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in their recently concluded IPL 2026 match. RCBs thumping victory at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday was set up by a fiery new-ball spell from Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood, who dismantled Delhis batting line-up to bowl them out for just 75, the lowest total of the season. The chase was then completed with ease, underlining RCBs all-round dominance. Reflecting on Kohlis sustained excellence in the tournament, McClenaghan emphasised the discipline and adaptability that have defined the veteran batters journey over the years. Virat Kohli has been incredibly consistent. Scoring 9000 IPL runs against the worlds best bowlers is no easy task. It's about hunger, discipline, and adapting every year, and thats what brings the best out of him. He has been in the IPL since 2008, and the best part is that he didnt start his career as an opener. He batted in the lower middle order, fought for his place, then moved to number three. Later, he opened with Chris Gayle. That changed his game completely. He will soon reach 10,000 runs, without a doubt. Kohli is the greatest batter the IPL has ever seen, not just for the runs, but for how he has evolved and dominated across different eras, McClenaghan told JioStar. Kohlis unbeaten contribution in the chase ensured RCB wrapped up the contest swiftly, continuing his pivotal role at the top of the order in the ongoing season. McClenaghan also reserved special praise for Bhuvneshwar Kumar, noting that the experienced seamers strength lies not in constant reinvention but in mastering his core skills. Instead of reinventing, he has been doing the same stuff consistently, over and over again, and he is just getting better at it. The time off from international cricket is now helping him structure his time better throughout the year. He's getting enough time to work on fitness and stay fresh. He has enough experience and knows how to deal with pressure situations. It is just about being able to do what you have been doing. That means hitting those areas with the ball which trouble batters the most, and having control over swing, which we are seeing right now. That is why his impact has always been great with the new ball, he said. Bhuvneshwar's incisive spell, alongside Hazlewoods relentless accuracy and bounce, left Delhi reeling in the powerplay, as the duo combined to take six wickets inside the first four overs, effectively deciding the outcome of the match. On Hazlewood, McClenaghan pointed out how the Australian quicks physical attributes and control make him one of the most difficult bowlers to counter in T20 cricket. Josh Hazlewood is the kind of bowler every team wants and RCB are blessed to have him. He beats batters with his variations, and his height gives him a lot of advantage. Being tall, he always gets extra bounce, and the Bangalore pitch helps him ask tough questions. His control is never in doubt. He doesnt bowl loose balls. If you hit him for runs, it has to be a really good shot. You have to go after a decent length ball, not a half-volley. He operates in the perfect area. On Hazlewood, McClenaghan pointed out how the Australian quicks physical attributes and control make him one of the most difficult bowlers to counter in T20 cricket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With RCBs pace attack firing in tandem and Kohli continuing to anchor the batting unit, the defending champions appear to be hitting top gear at a crucial stage of the tournament. Article Source: IANS

'His Words Make A Difference': Bhuvneshwar Credits Kohli's Guidance For New Ball Heroics Vs DC

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar underlined the value of Virat Kohli's experience and communication within the team, saying that the senior batter's inputs continue to make a significant difference in their planning, despite not being in a leadership role. Bhuvneshwar, who took three crucial wickets in RCB's dominant 9-wicket win against Delhi Capitals (DC) at Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday, believes that having a seasoned campaigner like Kohli naturally contributes to the team environment and on-field decision-making. I think, irrespective of what he has achieved, its very important how he communicates, how he talks. I think his experience with batting, if he says something, it helps a lot, Bhuvneshwar said in a video released by IPL on X. If you have such an individual who has so much experience, then it helps in the team contribution, he noted. Meanwhile, Kohli has achieved a significant milestone in his IPL career, completing 9,000 runs in the mega tournament. Kohli needed 11 runs to reach the landmark ahead of DC's clash and got there comfortably. On the final ball of the power play, with RCB chasing 76, he took off a single off Axar Patel's ball to achieve the record. Bhuvneshwar also spoke about the change in his perspective, stressing that cricket remains a collective effort where individual performances must align for success. We generally look at performances from the end result, but I dont look at it like that because its a team game, he said. Bhuvneshwar also spoke about the change in his perspective, stressing that cricket remains a collective effort where individual performances must align for success. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Speaking of the match, Hazlewoods 4-12 and Bhuvneshwars 3-5 ensured RCB bowled out DC for 75, the lowest total of this season, which they chased down with 81 balls to spare. With this win, RCB are back to the top of the points table with 13 points in seven matches. They will next face the Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 30. Article Source: IANS

Vinesh Accuses WFI Of Creating Hurdle In Her Comeback, Federation Responds

The Senior Open Ranking Tournament: Ace wrestler Vinesh Phogat once again charged at the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), claiming that the federation is deliberately stopping her from competing in next month's National Open Ranking tournament, noting that the portal appears closed despite the April 30 deadline. Last December, Vinesh, who announced her retirement hours after her disqualification from the Paris Olympics 2024, reversed her decision to retire and is eyeing a comeback after nearly 20 months. The Senior Open Ranking Tournament is scheduled to take place from May 10 to 12 at the Nandininagar Mahavidyalaya in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, and the last day of registration is set for April 30, but Vinesh alleged that she has not been able to register for the competition, as the WFI portal said the registrations are closed and WFI administrative staff are unresponsive to her calls. I am hoping to make a comeback at the National Open Ranking Tournament. The registration for it was open till April 30. However, when I tried to register, the portal said it's now closed. I have been trying to contact the administrative staff of the federation, but they havent responded to my calls, Vinesh was quoted as saying in The Indian Express. Earlier in February, Vinesh hit out at the Haryana Wrestling Association for what she calls unfair selection criteria for the Federation Cup 2026. I intended to compete there (Federation Cup), too, but the team selection criteria were changed at the last minute, so I couldnt take part. It feels like this is a deliberate attempt to stop me from competing, especially since this is an important tournament to remain in contention for the Asian Games and World Championship selection trials, she added. However, the WFI chief Sanjay Singh refuted Vinesh's claims, saying there was no attempt to stop anybody and the tournament remains open to everyone. We received similar complaints from other wrestlers, too. They got in touch with our staff, and their issues were resolved. We are not going to stop anybody from competing, and the tournament remains open for everyone, Singh was quoted by the masthead. I intended to compete there (Federation Cup), too, but the team selection criteria were changed at the last minute, so I couldnt take part. It feels like this is a deliberate attempt to stop me from competing, especially since this is an important tournament to remain in contention for the Asian Games and World Championship selection trials, she added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score However, she appealed against her Olympic disqualification with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) and demanded a joint silver medal in the 50kg weight category. But, the Ad-Hoc Division of the CAS dismissed Vinesh's petition against her disqualification, shattering her dream of clinching her maiden Olympic medal. Article Source: IANS

'Not The Right Time To Panic...: Chawla Encourages DC To 'stay Together' After Heavy Loss To RCB

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla has urged Delhi Capitals to stay composed and avoid panic despite their crushing defeat to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where they were bowled out for just 75 at their home ground, the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The heavy loss on Monday came as a major setback for Delhi, especially after they had recently registered their highest total of the season. What followed, however, was a dramatic collapse that resulted in one of their lowest scores in IPL history, highlighting their inconsistency after a promising start to the campaign. There will be some panic around for sure, knowing the history of Delhi Capitals. But that's not the right time (for it) now. They need to sit together, discuss about it, and they have to start fresh - because they started off pretty well in the tournament, and it's not like in three weeks, the team has changed or the way of playing has changed, Chawla told ESPNCricinfo. Delhi began their IPL 2026 journey with back-to-back wins but have since struggled to maintain momentum, managing just one victory in their last six outings. Fielding lapses have compounded their problems, with crucial dropped chances proving costly. In a recent high-scoring clash, Karun Nair put down Shreyas Iyer twice, as Punjab Kings went on to complete a record-breaking chase, the highest successful run pursuit in mens T20 cricket. Later, in the business end of the tournament, when they look back at it, those two points will definitely come to haunt them if they are not qualifying (for the playoffs). So right now is the time (when) they just have to forget everything and move on, start playing some positive cricket, and just make sure there's a very positive environment in the dressing room because that plays a huge role. When things are not going your way, it's very, very easy for any team to just scatter and just talk behind the back that this guy would have done this, this guy would have done that, he would have taken that single, this guy would have taken that catch,Chawla stated. Drawing parallels with the previous season, Chawla pointed out how inconsistency had similarly cost Delhi a playoff spot. Despite a strong phase where they strung together multiple wins, they faded in the latter half and ultimately finished fifth, narrowly missing qualification for the knockouts, a stage they last reached in 2021. The most difficult thing (for DC) is to just come together, sit together, and talk about it, and just say, 'Okay, now that is gone'. These things are not in our control, and still we are in it. We are not out of the tournament, and we are the same team who has done well in the past, we have won four-five games on the trot last year as well and still we didn't qualify. But this year we have to change the history, and just go out there, express yourself, and play with positive intent. Drawing parallels with the previous season, Chawla pointed out how inconsistency had similarly cost Delhi a playoff spot. Despite a strong phase where they strung together multiple wins, they faded in the latter half and ultimately finished fifth, narrowly missing qualification for the knockouts, a stage they last reached in 2021. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With the league entering a crucial phase, Delhi Capitals will next travel to Jaipur to face Rajasthan Royals on May 1, a fixture that could prove pivotal in reviving their playoff hopes. Article Source: IANS

Maturity As A Cricketer Comes From Learning Outside The Field: Shreyas Iyer

Shreyas Iyer: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has shed light on the foundations of his self-belief, emphasising the role of setbacks, personal growth beyond cricket, and mental conditioning in shaping his journey at the highest level. Speaking about how he lifts himself during challenging phases, Iyer underlined that true maturity as a cricketer is built as much off the field as on it, particularly through handling rejection and adversity early in life. Maturity as a cricketer comes from learning outside the field. From facing rejections and losing games. As a kid, during my matches and selection trials, I faced many difficult moments. Ups and downs are part of everyones life. I believe the faster you bounce back from tough times and turn them into positives, the better. Self-talk matters a lot. People will always try to pull you down, but how you pick yourself up is what counts, Iyer told JioStar. The 31-year-old, who is currently leading Punjab Kings in a strong IPL 2026 campaign, highlighted that maintaining balance and perspective has been key to sustaining performance levels in a high-pressure environment. Sometimes I read books that make me feel good. I try to shift my mind away from cricket. I go on a holiday, spend time alone. Letting go is very important. You set a goal and want to achieve it. But you also need to tell yourself that if it doesnt happen, its fine. Accept it and move on. Otherwise, you keep thinking about what went wrong and fall further behind. I reached a point where I realised that even if I dont achieve a particular goal, its okay. You move on and try to achieve something else, Iyer added. Iyers reflections come amid a phase where his leadership and batting form have been central to Punjabs rise as one of the most consistent sides this season. His approach, rooted in clarity of thought and emotional resilience, has also been credited by teammates and support staff with fostering a positive, driven team environment. Recalling an early memory that left a lasting impression on him, Iyer spoke about his first close interaction with former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan during the inaugural IPL season, when he was serving as a ball boy. Iyers reflections come amid a phase where his leadership and batting form have been central to Punjabs rise as one of the most consistent sides this season. His approach, rooted in clarity of thought and emotional resilience, has also been credited by teammates and support staff with fostering a positive, driven team environment. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The in-form Punjab Kings will next face the Rajasthan Royals at their home ground in New Chandigarh on Tuesday. Article Source: IANS

'People Said I Would Never Fix My Short-ball Problem, That Triggered Me': Shreyas Iyer

Even Rohit Sharma: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer has revealed how criticism about his perceived weakness against short balls became a defining source of motivation, shaping both his mindset and method as a batter during IPL 2026. Opening up on the scrutiny he has faced, Iyer admitted that doubts about his ability to handle the short ball only pushed him to work harder and evolve his game. People said I would never fix my short-ball problem. That triggered me. I wanted to prove them wrong by performing well. So, I worked hard on it. Earlier, I would just take a single or try to keep the ball down. But now my mindset has changed. If I see a short ball in my zone, I am going to hit it for a six. I work with Pravin Amre. I have been with him since I was young. I also talk to coaches like Abhishek Nayar. We share ideas, Iyer told JioStar. During my batting practice, I now try to play around 50 overs and face over 300 balls. That helps me understand what works for me. I dont follow a fixed pattern. I give myself more time in the middle and face real bowlers, not just sidearm throws. The more I face bowlers, the clearer my movement becomes. I focus on creating a rhythm. Just before the bowler delivers, I try to get into my position quickly. That creates a flow. You must have seen AB de Villiers do that. Even Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have that rhythm before playing their shots. I try to do the same, he added. The 29-year-olds transformation has been evident in Punjab Kings dominant run this season, with his aggressive intent and improved control against pace playing a key role in the teams unbeaten streak. Punjab currently sit atop the IPL 2026 table with 13 points from seven matches, emerging as one of the most balanced sides in the competition. Their recent victory over Delhi Capitals exemplified their batting firepower, as they chased down a record 265, the highest successful chase in mens T20 cricket. Openers Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya laid the foundation with a blistering 116-run stand in the powerplay, before Iyers commanding 76 off 36 balls sealed the win despite a tough outing for the bowlers. Beyond technical adjustments, Iyer also highlighted the importance of mental resilience, particularly in dealing with injuries and external criticism, which he believes are inevitable at the highest level. I have people around me who say that in this situation, you cant do it. Its impossible. I dont like hearing that. As a cricketer playing at the highest level, I just cant accept it. Then in my mind, I decide that I have to prove them wrong. The challenge becomes: I was in this situation, how can I come back stronger? Beyond technical adjustments, Iyer also highlighted the importance of mental resilience, particularly in dealing with injuries and external criticism, which he believes are inevitable at the highest level. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Under Iyers leadership, alongside head coach Ricky Ponting, the Punjab Kings have built a strong team culture centred on clarity and freedom. The side, which finished runners-up last season, has carried that momentum forward and now holds the distinction of being the first team in IPL history to surpass 12 points in the opening seven matches. Article Source: IANS

Sabalenka avoids Madrid Open virus scare and Osaka upset; Gauff and Rybakina lose

A stomach virus or food poisoning has affected Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Marin Cilic and a few others, causing some concern

IPL 2026: RCB Just Want To Continue Doing The Right Things, Not Thinking Too Far, Says Krunal

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya has refused to look too far ahead despite his side's emphatic nine-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals on Monday, insisting the only currency that matters in the IPL is continuing to do the right things. The empathic win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium also helped RCB retain their position in the standings, with six league games still to play. The beauty of this league is every team has some world-class players. So you can't think that far ahead in the tournament. It's a very cliche thing, we all say that follow the process, trust the process. But, that only thing works. So, we are not thinking that, I mean, too far. Again, technically, just 60 percent of the games have been played and there are still more six league games to go. We just want to continue doing the right things more often than not. Just stick to the process and just how can we win those small battles where eventually, you can get the desired results, what you want. But, I mean, we are not thinking that too far, said Pandya in the post-match press conference. With defending champions RCB tightening their grip on a playoffs berth, Pandya reminded how the side still has to work hard for its wins. Right now, we are just thinking that how can we reach Ahmedabad (for the clash against Gujarat Titans) and be fresh for the game. I have always felt it's a team game. For me, winning trophies is the ultimate goal because I always believe personal milestone fades away. But trophies build legacy. So, I have always played this sport to win trophies. When you are playing personally, right, you have to believe that you have the capability as a team and as an individual to win that. So, yes, I mean, but again, nothing comes easy in life. You just have to grind and work hard to get what you want. The evening also marked another milestone in Virat Kohli's remarkable IPL career of being the first batter to reach 9000 runs - and Pandya was generous in his admiration for the talismanic batter. Virat Kohli has been one of the greatest who has played, right? Obviously, the achievements he has in the last 15-20 years, since he has been playing in 2008, it has been unbelievable. I have said this before, to have that sort of consistency, and the hunger he has, I mean, kudos to him. He has changed the way people see the sport, right? From a fitness point of view, he has been the flag-bearer of that, how the fitness culture has come in India, in terms of that. Obviously, as an individual, when you achieve a milestone, you get 100 percent satisfaction that you have seen the result of all the hard work you have put in for so many years. So, whatever hard work we all do, we want that result. Obviously, he has so many achievements in his life, so I haven't asked him how he is feeling because he has achieved so many things in such a big career. I hope he continues in the same way, and wins more matches for us, and gives happiness to everyone, he elaborated. Much of the attention has been on Pandya's bowling, who picked 1/9 in New Delhi, though Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood were the main wreckers in chief on Monday. The side-arm slinging balls and the bouncer he has introduced this season - an unconventional addition to a left-arm spinner's repertoire that has begun attracting attention around the competition, with RCB batting coach and mentor Dinesh Karthik calling him a trendsetter. Obviously first of all, coming from DK means a lot. Someone who's played so much of cricket and coming from him means a lot. I introduced the bouncer because every year the opposition prepares against you - what you did right and wrong. So it's more of a mental game as well sometimes, with skill set. When I came here last year, I had a very good season with RCB. So I was just thinking, what else can I add? Or which thing can I add so that I can be one step ahead in the mental game against the batter. So with that thought process, I introduced the bouncer and with that, I bowl in the low-arm trajectory. So it is something which, you know, I guess it's more sort of bouncing for a spinner, it's not that easy. But a lot is dependent on how fit you are because, it's difficult to come two steps ahead and bounce at pace. But my action is like that and I've not been scared of trying new things. I've always taken it as a challenge. Although, there are a lot of times in IPL where there are match-ups and left-hander batsman is batting, so left-arm spinner can't bowl. So I took it as a challenge, that it's not like that. Let me try something new and let's see how it goes. So far it has worked and I guess a lot of people have started copying it and DK is saying trendsetter, I like it. The origins of that bouncer, it emerged, stretch back not to any high-performance coaching facility but to the time when Pandya played games in villages, much before his breakout time in IPL and India colours came in 2012/13. The boundaries there were very small. So, if you used to bowl conventional left-hand spin there, you would get beaten up a lot. So, actually, this thought process and mindset came to me many years ago. So, there I learned bouncer, wide yorker, everything. Then, obviously, when I started playing IPL, the way my role in the team was to contain, I was able to contain. So, I never felt that I have to add new things and all of that. But this year, it felt like, in the last 2-3 years, because of the impact player, the way the batsmen are batting, sometimes, when you are standing on the run-up, it feels like, where should I bowl, as every ball is a sixer. So, thinking about that, I added the bouncer. Like I said, I didn't practice a lot of short balls in nets because it takes a lot of effort to bowl in the net. So, I have preserved myself to bowl in the match. But a lot of things depend on fitness. Pandya was equally expansive on the role fitness plays in allowing a bowler to evolve and experiment. I have always kept fitness as a priority, because I feel when you are young, your body recovers very well, you don't realise that much. But when over a period of time, food, fitness is a very integral part for any athlete because sometimes, when you want to evolve your game, you know mentally. But because your body is not that fit, it doesn't allow you to do it. But fitness adds value, when you want to change something, and you want to adapt something new, your body allows you to adapt new things. So, yes, I have always emphasised and focused on fitness, which helps me to add new things - whether it's about the bouncer, or the bowling while bending. I have always said that Malolan (Rangarajan), our spin bowling coach, he also gets a lot of credit because I feel that when I came to RCB, my role changed. I got the liberty to go for wickets and can experiment. That trust was there, in a way. So that sometimes really helped, because as a player, if the coach is backing you so much, and the coach is giving you so much confidence, that 100 percent helps. Over a period of time, I like this responsibility of going for wickets, and I can try my new things, which I like it, because it's not just to look cool, that I have put a bouncer - there is a lot of logic and reasoning behind it as well, that why I want to bowl that. So there is a healthy discussion, and yes, Malo also takes a lot of credit for that, where he has allowed me to be myself. Pandya reserved his warmest words for RCB captain Rajat Patidar, whose calm temperament has been a defining influence since the championship win in 2025. I mean, the way Rajat has led the team, it has been amazing. The best part of Rajat, what I have realised is that he gives confidence to the players and he allows them to be themselves in the game. Over a period of time, I like this responsibility of going for wickets, and I can try my new things, which I like it, because it's not just to look cool, that I have put a bouncer - there is a lot of logic and reasoning behind it as well, that why I want to bowl that. So there is a healthy discussion, and yes, Malo also takes a lot of credit for that, where he has allowed me to be myself. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Obviously, there are a lot of senior players in our team. A lot of credit goes to the support staff as well. The way Mo, Andy, DK, Malolan, Omi, how they have operated with the team, a lot of credit goes to them. All credit goes to Rajat also and how he has been able to lead the side consistently so well. Article Source: IANS

It Was A Bad Luck, We've To Forget This Day And Move On: Axar

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel put his team being bundled out for 75 to Royal Challengers Bengaluru as ad luck, but acknowledged the psychological shadow cast by their previous match, where they failed to defend 264/2 against Punjab Kings, may have contributed to a hesitancy that proved fatal. At the Arun Jaitley Stadium, DC were bowled out for just 75 after losing six wickets in their first four overs, handing RCB a stunning nine-wicket victory. What also made the game a foregone conclusion was the international level batters and two promising youngsters in DC surrendering meekly without a plan B to counter swing and bounce generated by Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. I think because of what happened in the last game, I felt that even after doing so much as a team, you can win nine out of ten times. But after that it felt like we could not defend back-to-back - so I feel there was some hesitation because of that. Other than that, I think it was bad luck. No batter could really settle down. It was not like someone got set. We lost wickets in one or two balls. I think we lost six wickets in 1516 balls. I think it was bad luck, you have to forget this day and move on, Axar said in the post-match press conference. In DC making 264/2 against PBKS, KL Rahul smashed a record-breaking 152 not out while Nitish Rana hit 91. The dramatic reversal on Monday, where both Rahul and Rana were bounced out by Josh Hazlewood when the ball was hooping around, appeared to weigh on Axar's assessment of the conditions. If you look at the first over, there was swing. Later, once the second ball from Chameera got hit for a boundary, the swing stopped and it becomes a different game. When you score 6070 runs in the first innings, bowlers come in with a bit of low morale and that is in the back of their mind. Even if you motivate yourself, somewhere you feel it is a really low score. In the first over, there was swing for Kyle (Jamieson), but it changed after that one boundary. I do not think our bowlers did anything wrong. The way we batted, I would call it bad luck. Because of that, we cannot blame the bowlers, added Axar. He also defended the decision to hand an IPL debut to promising teenaged opener Sahil Parekh, who replaced Pathum Nissanka and took the strike ahead of Rahul and was dismissed second ball by a late inswinging yorker from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The reason was to have a left-right combination at the top because we had two right-handers opening. We wanted to use that option in the back of our mind. Also, the way he has been practicing, the hard work he has been putting in, and how he performed in nets and practice matches, we felt he deserved a chance. So seeing all those factors, we gave a chance to the new boy. It was his first match and he got out early on the second ball, so I cannot judge. But the way he has been batting, we believe he has potential to do something special and he can do well for Delhi in the long run, he added. On the inability of his batters to handle high-pressure situations and high-quality bowling when the routine script of see ball and hit ball in T20 cricket is not dished out, Axar was candid that the responsibility ultimately falls on the individual. I think preparation is personal. As a team, you can say that. But, as a player, you also have a responsibility that what should be your preparation if you are going to play IPL or international cricket. If you talk about me, then my personal preparation is that, if I go to play cricket international, IPL or domestic I do undertake one, as you yourself know your strengths and weaknesses. So, I feel that, uncapped players - I don't think, they only do range hitting because, even after IPL, the camps, I think, we did it in Surat, Hyderabad, Delhi. Now, our team is also in Dubai. So, we take uncapped players there also and we give them a chance to continuously stay in cricket for those who don't play domestic or those who continue to play, whenever they get a break, for them, we make them prepare. I don't think they only practice range hitting. They also practice basics. At the same time, it's a personal choice whether someone wants to do drills or not. I think, it's personal preparation. But, yes, I feel that, as Delhi Capitals and support staff, they give them these facilities. Those who want it, they can improve their game and I can also see that. But, yes, I feel that uncapped players should focus on basics. If your basics are strong, then you do range hitting on your own, he elaborated. On the question of team changes ahead of their remaining six fixtures, including one on cards with Mitchell Starc available from May 1, Axar was emphatic - stability, not overhaul, would be his way of ensuring DCs playoff prospects are kept alive in an increasingly precarious situation. If you look at the last eight matches, it's the first time that we've played bad cricket or collapsed. I don't think you'll get results if you make a lot of changes. It's important to have a good mindset and be mentally prepared. There won't be a lot of changes in the team, but yes, it's important to be mentally stable and move forward together. It's important to have a mindset and be mentally prepared. You won't get results if you make a lot of changes in the team. See, it is not like we will play the remaining matches without pressure. In the last eight-nine matches we played, there was pressure. You cannot say there will be pressure or not. But at the same time, you have to do what you can and follow your process. You have to move on and you have to come every day with focus and preparation. You can't think that you will go and get an easy win. You can't think that you will go and do it or it will happen. You have to focus and be on point like the IPL is going on. I feel that the next six matches we have to follow our preparation and process and anything can change anytime, he elaborated. On what will be his own leadership philosophy during a difficult period, Axar outlined the choice he was putting before his players and to the broader DC fanbase. See, if the fans are disheartened, even the players are just as disheartened. After so much hard work, it hurts to lose as we do not play to lose a game. I think this is the time they should support the players. It should not be that you support only when we win, as the players feel a little down after a loss like this. Whether we win or lose, support should remain the same. The important thing is that you are supporting a team, continue doing that and have trust and belief. On what will be his own leadership philosophy during a difficult period, Axar outlined the choice he was putting before his players and to the broader DC fanbase. See, if the fans are disheartened, even the players are just as disheartened. After so much hard work, it hurts to lose as we do not play to lose a game. I think this is the time they should support the players. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I will motivate the players in this way - either you have two chances - you can point out someone, or you can think that the batsman didn't do anything, or the bowler didn't do anything. You can give yourself excuses or, as a team, you can be with the team and fight ahead in the remaining six games and we will face result together without worrying about it, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Swing And Mayhem - How Test Virtues Helped RCB Dismantle DC In Powerplay

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Four overs, 23 deliveries, eight runs and six wickets the result of the clash between Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru was very much decided before a majority of the crowd, after completing their work shifts, took their seats at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. The Kotla crowd on Monday had come for just one guy; Virat Kohli. RCB's team bus drew louder cheers than Delhi's own - a small but pointed reminder of who this fixture really belongs to. The fans sporting Kohli, 18 jersey had their moneys worth when the talismanic batter duly finished off the chase in seven overs. But what lingered as fans came out of the stadium much earlier than expected ending time was something they had not bargained for - a powerplay so dominated by accurate Test match lengths, swing and bounce. The chatter was not much about the joy of seeing Kohli reach Mount 9000 runs in IPL, but whether they had somehow wandered into a Test match in England via Bhuvneshwar, the newest joint wicket taker in the competition, and Hazlewood, who got his fourth scalp with a pin-point yorker to castle Abishek Porel. In a tournament that has spent recent weeks redefining the limits of batting - DC themselves posted 264 in their previous outing and talking about the lack of bat and ball balance, the proceedings of Monday night in New Delhi felt like a gentle course correction. The venue which saw batters make 5329 runs on pitch number six Saturday offered something different under the floodlights via pitch number five on Monday: swing, seam, impeccable lengths and unpredictable bounce. Hazlewood, operating with the economy of a man who wastes nothing, became the tormentor in chief alongside Bhuvneshwar, who laid the foundation for the carnage. A swinging delivery angled away outside off drew an outside edge from debutant Sahil Parakh that fell short of third man. Bhuvneshwar noticed what he needed to notice: the highly-talked left-handed batter would not move his feet, and surely not resist a delivery shaped to look hittable. The next ball from Bhuvneshwar, who consistently got two to four degrees of swing, was fuller, angling in and came in late to castle Parakh for a duck. KL Rahul arrived carrying fresh momentum from his 152 not out against the Punjab Kings. He is the only batter in the competition's history to have scored more than a hundred runs against Hazlewood, and had scored boundaries off him early on when DC had upstaged RCB at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Hazlewood's response was to go short, early, and with pace. The ball rose hard into Rahul's body and the pull shot, though instinctive, took a top-edge and Jitesh Sharma settled beneath it well to end Rahuls stay. Sameer Rizvi, lured by a full ball in the channel outside off stump, edged behind while attempting a drive while Tristan Stubbs fended a late-swinging delivery to first slip. DC captain Axar Patel, trying to exercise the discipline his colleagues had abandoned, left the first delivery well enough. But then Bhuvneshwar switched angles, going around the wicket and found his bottom edge, which was safely pouched by the keeper. Hazlewoods bounce would create problems for Nitish Rana, who was in an ugly tangle against the short ball and gave a catch to gully. By the time power-play ended, before a feeble dust storm came into the picture, DCs score read as 13/6, the lowest powerplay score in the competition's 19-year history. The numbers exist, but they risk obscuring what was actually happening at the crease: two experienced bowlers at their menacing best making and executing decisions four or five steps ahead of the batters facing them. Each dismissal had a logic that became visible only in retrospect, leading to more glee for RCB. It was unbelievable. Again, world-class bowlers. You are talking about Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. Seeing them operate from both the ends, they were bowling 18 balls each in powerplay. We talk a lot in the league, that batsmen are making 200-250 runs and they are hitting sixes and fours everywhere. Suddenly, a match comes where you see two world-class bowlers bowling and doing their thing, where the wicket was not that bad. But it was pure out-and-out, their skill set. For so many years, why they are one of the best bowlers in the world going around, they showed that by bowling 18-18 balls. So, it was quite pleasing to see. I mean, to get six wickets in powerplay, which is almost literally, you have taken the game away from the opponent. So, it was quite fun out there and we are lucky to have them there in our team, said RCB left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya, while replying to a question from IANS, in the post-match press conference. The larger question is whether Monday's events represent an anomaly or an argument. T20 cricket has accelerated relentlessly in recent years, with ground dimensions, batting techniques and rule changes all tilting the contest toward batters. Scores above 200 have become routine. Bowling attacks are increasingly managed and pencilled to limit damage rather than take wickets. But for the first 30 minutes at the Kotla, two practitioners of the good old Test match virtues made that entire batting heavy framework look provisional. The conditions gave them something, and they were good enough to know exactly what to do with it. Axar, who looked baffled and shell shocked at the same time, could only give kudos to Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood for rattling DC, who looked like a deer caught between headlights and bring them cruelly down to Earth after ransacking 264 took them to cloud nine in batting. No, seriously, I feel that, just two days ago, there was a match, and that wicket, and this wicket also, it felt similar and everything was there. So I think, back of the mind, batters felt that there will be similar bounce and conditions. But the wind was also blowing, and that was a day match, and this was a night match, so because of that, I felt that that swing moment was more. At the same time, I think Bhuvi and Hazlewood are world-class bowlers. That swing, I think, in the first two overs, they are used to getting it done, irrespective of the wicket, or ground. But the way they were getting it, they did a good job and they bowled well. The batters, I feel that in the last match, they were in momentum and felt it will be good to feel the ball on the bat again. In that, they got one or two outs. After that, under pressure, I think, whoever went suddenly got a shock that, No, this just happened. So I think, for that, as a professional, they should be prepared. But, yes, that happened. In the last match, the momentum, batters felt that they will play a good wicket. But we will give credit to them that they also bowled very good balls, he added. The batters, I feel that in the last match, they were in momentum and felt it will be good to feel the ball on the bat again. In that, they got one or two outs. After that, under pressure, I think, whoever went suddenly got a shock that, No, this just happened. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Conditions and craft still matters to excel in T20 cricket and Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood showed bowlers that they can still make this format feel, briefly and gloriously, like their own and enjoy it, just like how they did on a manic Monday evening in New Delhi. Article Source: IANS

Weatherald returns to two-time defending Shield champions South Australia

Test opener returns to SA, where he played the first eight seasons of his Shield career, after Tasmania agreed to release him from the final two years of his contract

Chawla: DC should 'forget everything and move on'

DC folded for 75 against RCB and their NRR took a beating

Bhuvneshwar leads Purple Cap race; Kohli climbs up Orange Cap list

RCB quick grabbed 3 for 5 against DC, before Kohli moved up to No. 4 among run-getters

Former quick Geoff Allott named New Zealand Cricket chief executive

Allott played 10 Tests and 31 ODIs for New Zealand but has also served as NZC's general manager of cricket and an NZC board director, taking over after the resignation of Scott Weenink

5th T20I: Wolvaardt's Unbeaten 92 Helps South Africa Beat India, Win Series 4-1

South Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt continued her record-breaking form with an unbeaten 92 off 56 balls to help South Africa women hand India Women a 23-run defeat in the fifth T20I and completed a 4-1 victory in the five-match series at the Willowmoore Park in Benoni on Monday. Electing to bat first, Wolvaardt hammered 11 boundaries and two sixes as she came up with another brilliant performance, raising 75 runs for the partnership for the opening wicket with Sune Luus, who contributed a run-a-ball 23, hitting two boundaries and one six in the fifth and final match of the series. Chasing a modest total, India lost early wickets and despite a fighting 40 by Bharti Fulmali, could manage only 132, losing the match by 32 runs. Wolvaardt kept one end going for South Africa Women, scoring runs at a brisk pace even though she lost partners at the other end. Her knock of 92 took her series tally to 330 runs the most by any batter in a womens T20I series. India fought back after the opening partnership between Wolvaardt and Luus, claiming wickets in a heap to restrict them to a modest 155/8 in 20 overs. For India, Renuka Singh, Shree Charani and Arundhati Reddy claimed two wickets apiece as India Women halted the rampaging South African Women from putting up a The hosts then came back and prevented India Women, who had won the fourth ODI riding on a fine all-round performance and had a great chance of making it 2-3 in the series, from winning the fifth and final match. India lost Shafali Verma, their best batter in the series, for four runs off five balls, handing a sharp catch to Chloe Tyson off Eliz-Mari Marx. From 12/1 it became 38/3 in the eighth over as Jemimah Rodrigues (1) and Anushka Sharma (17) fell to Ayabonga Khaka, Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (22) and Bharti Fulmali (40) fought a lone battle to keep India's hopes alive. But neither could guide the team to victory, and they were both out as India slumped to 99/5. They eventually managed only 132/8 in their 20 overs and lost by 23 runs, India lost Shafali Verma, their best batter in the series, for four runs off five balls, handing a sharp catch to Chloe Tyson off Eliz-Mari Marx. From 12/1 it became 38/3 in the eighth over as Jemimah Rodrigues (1) and Anushka Sharma (17) fell to Ayabonga Khaka, Also Read: Live Cricket Score South Africa Women 155/6 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 92 not out, Sune Luus 23; Renuka Singh 2-21, Shree Charani 2-22) beat India Women 132/8 in 20 overs (Bharti Fulmali 40, Richa Ghosh 25 not out; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-18, Nadine de Klerk 2-26) by 23 runs Article Source: IANS

Patidar: 'Even I'm surprised the way the wicket played'

There was a little bit there in the first six overs, which we maximised, Hazlewood said

Wolvaardt soars before T20 WC, but SA search for support cast

Happy with her form, the T20I captain says bigger partnerships and better catching would elevate the team further during upcoming global tournament

IPL 2026: Pressure On The Batting Side Is Immense When Hazlewood, Bhuvi Are Bowling, Says Padikkal

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru left-handed batter Devdutt Padikkal praised the teams new-ball bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for their devastating spells against Delhi Capitals, saying the pressure they created in the first six overs set the tone for the match. Hazlewoods 4-12 and Bhuvneshwars 3-5 ensured RCB bowled out DC for 75, the lowest total of this season, which they chased down with 81 balls to spare. The duo picked three wickets each in the power-play to ensure DC never recovered from being blown away early on. I think it was great to see the way we bowled in those first six overs. Those two are so good with the new ball. And when you have that from both ends, I think the pressure on the batting side is immense, and that really showed today, Padikkal said at the conclusion of the game. Asked about his experience of fielding in the slips when the duo were bowling, Padikkal said, I was expecting a catch every ball, and that's not something you would say in a T20 game. But the way those two are bowling, every ball is an opportunity. On his own slip catching, the left-hander said, I think it's a lot to do with time out there. I think when I started doing slip fielding initially in my career, I wasn't really good at it. But as you do it more often, I think you get better at it. And it's all about picking the ball as early as you can and making sure your hands are soft. Asked about his experience of fielding in the slips when the duo were bowling, Padikkal said, I was expecting a catch every ball, and that's not something you would say in a T20 game. But the way those two are bowling, every ball is an opportunity. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Definitely, I think when you have a total like that on the board, it's important that we try and finish it off as soon as possible. Once Beth (Jacob Bethell) started the way he did, then it was pretty easy from there. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: I Just Followed Bhuvi, There Was A Little Bit Swing In The First Six Overs, Says Hazlewood

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengalurus pace bowling spearhead Josh Hazlewood said he was just following the example of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and felt that there was some movement on offer to exploit, which became very deadly in them beating Delhi Capitals by nine wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. Hazlewoods 4-12 and Bhuvneshwars 3-5 ensured RCB bowled out DC for 75, the lowest total of this season, which they chased down with 81 balls to spare. Probably turning up after 500+ runs, you don't expect that. I just followed Bhuvi. There was a little bit there in the first six overs. It was a little bit up and down. Once the ball got soft, it became consistent. You want the batter to hit down the V, but I thought there was something in the wicket in that area, then I thought to hit the pitch, it was nice to see the ball hit the higher part of the bat, said Hazlewood at the conclusion of the game, where he was named Player of the Match. Asked if RCB are looking good to defend the title, Hazlewood said, It would have been nice to bowl four overs and get off the field (laughs). But we are ticking every box. We summed up conditions nicely in the away games last year, we are hitting our straps now at the right time of the tournament. Bhuvneshwar, who leads the Purple Cap race, said the ball has been swinging more this season. I think it is swinging this year. I don't know whether it's ball or wickets or whatever, but when the ball swings and you get a few wickets upfront, it makes it easier for us to bowl the back end of the series, he said. In his conversations with Hazlewood during the spell, Bhuvneshwar said, Yes, it was a good, good batting wicket, especially the ball, the way the ball was coming onto the bat. Yes, there was a swing, and I think it (was) one of the good days where you bowl it because nicking or getting bowled. So we were fortunate to get those initial wickets. Bhuvneshwar, who leads the Purple Cap race, said the ball has been swinging more this season. I think it is swinging this year. I don't know whether it's ball or wickets or whatever, but when the ball swings and you get a few wickets upfront, it makes it easier for us to bowl the back end of the series, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Asked if he wanted an extra over, the veteran pacer said, No, I wasn't saying that because it was very hot and I was tired. So I was happy with the three overs and no, didn't want to push myself, considering my age. Article Source: IANS