Cricket

Its A Final, But For Me Its A Normal Game: Patidar Focuses On Staying Calm Ahead Of IPL Title Clash

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar is keeping emotions and expectations in check ahead of the IPL 2026 final against the Gujarat Titans, insisting that Sundays title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium is 'a normal game' for him despite the stakes involved. RCB enter the final as defending champions after another dominant campaign in which they topped the league standings and secured direct qualification for the summit clash with a crushing 92-run win over the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. Speaking ahead of the final, Patidar said the team is drawing confidence from both its recent performances and the memories of last years title-winning campaign at the same venue. Feeling great, back-to-back finals, and on the same ground. So, there are a lot of memories of last year. Its a final, its a big stage, but for me I think its a normal game, Patidar said in a video released by RCB on X. The RCB skipper stressed the importance of staying focused on the present rather than getting carried away by the occasion. I always like to take a big game also as a normal game. And I always try to be more in the present. I dont want to think too much ahead. That its going to be final. What is going to happen. Nothing about the result. Stay more in the present, he added. RCB have been one of the standout teams of IPL 2026, finishing the league stage with nine wins from 14 matches. Their campaign featured impressive victories over Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings, while the side also responded strongly to difficult phases during the tournament. Patidar credited the collective effort of the squad for helping the franchise reach a second consecutive final. We should be proud of the way we played till now in this tournament. Everyone has dominated. Everyone has contributed for the team. So its a good positive sign for them, he said. Reflecting on the opportunity to return to the Narendra Modi Stadium, Patidar said the team is eager to add another special chapter to its history. Great memories here. And we want to create some more memories in a couple of days time, he said. Head coach Andy Flower echoed his captains confidence while praising the teams consistency throughout the season. Feeling great, back-to-back finals, and on the same ground. So, there are a lot of memories of last year. The boys have done a brilliant job over a period of time to get here, Flower said. And get here with some style as well. It takes a lot of hard work and thought and courage from the boys out here, in the middle, in games, and a lot of nerve to top the table in this league. But theres more to do, obviously, he added. Feeling great, back-to-back finals, and on the same ground. So, there are a lot of memories of last year. The boys have done a brilliant job over a period of time to get here, Flower said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score RCB will now look to complete a successful title defence when they face the Gujarat Titans on Sunday, with Patidars men aiming to become only the third team in IPL history to win back-to-back IPL trophies. Article Source: IANS

Tendulkar's IPL reforms: no impact player, two-part powerplay, five overs for one bowler

What's the best way to return some semblance of balance between bat and ball at the IPL? Sachin Tendulkar has a three-part solution

Yellow alert in Ahmedabad on day of the IPL 2026 final

While rain is only expected to hit areas in and around Ahmedabad properly on June 1, rain interruptions during Sunday's final can't be ruled out.

'WFI Must Learn From BCCI': Technical Glitches, Poor Officiating Mar Asian Games Wrestling Trials

The Asian Games: The Asian Games wrestling trials at Delhis IG Stadium were meant to showcase Indias best women wrestlers fighting for a place on the national team. Instead, the event exposed glaring shortcomings in administration, technology and officiating, prompting many in the wrestling fraternity to say that the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) needs to take a leaf out of the BCCIs playbook. Athletes and former wrestlers were left frustrated by repeated technical glitches, frequent stoppages and inconsistent refereeing that disrupted several key bouts. The consensus among many was clear: Indian wrestling deserves the same level of professionalism that has transformed Indian cricket. The WFI has a lot to learn from the BCCI, said a former wrestler. Cricket run professionally. They invest in technology, train officials and ensure events run smoothly. In wrestling, too often it feels like sab kuch bas chal raha hai. The strongest example came during the highly anticipated trial bout between Vinesh Phogat and Nishu in 53kg category. What should have been an intense contest turned into a stop-start affair as technical failures repeatedly interrupted the action. The bout eventually stretched beyond the time, with wrestlers, coaches and spectators forced to wait as officials attempted to resolve the glitches. The repeated interruptions not only affected the flow of the contest but also raised questions about the preparedness of organisers for one of the most important selection events of the season. Criticism was not limited to technology. Several bouts witnessed prolonged delays due to refereeing interventions and disputed decisions, with wrestlers and coaches often left seeking clarifications during crucial phases of competition. Former wrestlers believe such scenes reflect a deeper problem within the administration of the sport. Why cant we have properly trained referees, competent technical staff and reliable equipment? asked one former international wrestler. These are basic requirements for any major sporting event. The irony is that while Indian wrestlers continue to deliver world-class performances and medals on the international stage, many believe the systems supporting them remain far from world-class. Why cant we have properly trained referees, competent technical staff and reliable equipment? asked one former international wrestler. These are basic requirements for any major sporting event. Also Read: Live Cricket Score And by the end of the trials, the biggest debate was not about who earned a place in the Asian Games squad, but why a premier wrestling event was allowed to descend into chaos in the first place. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Gujarat's Gill Banks On Home Advantage In Final Against Bengaluru

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill on Saturday said he is not burdened by expectations of home fans and will make use of familiar conditions in the IPL final against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad. Gujarat hammered Rajasthan Royals in the last play-off to qualify for their third final in five years, winning the title in 2022. One of two latest teams in the T20 tournament, Gujarat won the trophy at the 130,000 Narendra Modi Stadium in their debut season and then lost the final next year in 2023 -- both under Hardik Pandya. Gill, who is India's Test and ODI captain, took over as Gujarat skipper ahead of the 2024 season and now heads into his first final as leader. Honestly, I don't really get burdened by expectations, said the 26-year-old Gill. There are advantages, that's how I see it, there's familiarity when we play there, we know the wicket, we know the ground, so, we know what kind of cricket we need to play there to be able to win. Gill, who hit 104 in the second qualifier in New Chandigarh on Friday, has amassed 722 runs, putting him second in the batting chart behind Rajasthan's 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on 776. Gill's opening partner, Sai Sudharsan, is third with 710 runs and the pair have laid the foundation of Gujarat's success. Bengaluru, led by Rajat Patidar, beat Gujarat in the first play-off to secure direct entry into the final. Patidar tasted success last year when his team and star player Virat Kohli won their first IPL trophy in their 18th attempt. 'Rollercoaster ride' Patidar will be in elite company if he wins back-to-back titles, feat achieved by only two IPL captains including M.S. Dhoni (Chennai Super Kings - 2010-11) and Rohit Sharma (Mumbai Indians 2019-20). I've never thought about what the other captains have done before and (whether I) had to compete with somebody or not, said Patidar. As an individual my journey has been a rollercoaster ride. I focus on the present, without bothering too much about the past and future. I am here to prepare and give the best in the final tomorrow. Bengaluru return to the venue they won the title last year after beating Punjab Kings in the final. But Patidar said they will play with a fresh mindset. You cannot keep talking about 2025 -- you have to be more in the present and do whatever best you can do to win the title, said Patidar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As I said earlier, that we are not here with the mindset of defending champion. We have an opportunity to win one more title. It's a new season.

Arafat Minhas Leaves Australia In A Spin As Pakistan Win Milestone ODI

Spinner Arafat Minhas became the first Pakistan bowler to take five wickets on his ODI debut on Saturday as the hosts eased to a five-wicket win over Australia in the series opener in Rawalpindi. Minhas finished with 5-32 as an under-strength Australia were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs before Pakistan chased down the target with 45 balls to spare for a memorable win in their 1,000th ODI. Babar Azam struck 69 off 94 balls and Ghazi Ghori made an impressive 65 as Australia's inexperienced spinners failed to match their Pakistani counterparts on a dry pitch assisting the slow bowlers. Azam and Ghori added 127 runs for the third wicket after the departures of Sahibzada Farhan (28) and Maaz Sadaqat (8) left Pakistan 49-2. Azam hit four fours and a six, while Ghori's knock featured eight boundaries. Both eventually fell to paceman Nathan Ellis with victory in sight. Minhas, who smashed a six to complete the win, said he was delighted with his starring role on debut. It's great to have achieved a record, said Minhas. I like to enjoy that pressure environment, and my focus was on enjoying this opportunity and it's great to have contributed to the victory. Australia's stand-in skipper Josh Inglis rued a lack of runs. I think 30-40 more runs would have been interesting, said Inglis. I thought we made them work really hard to get over the line. Australia are missing a host of key players including regular skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood alongside opener Travis Head. Australia, sent in to bat, saw Matthew Renshaw hit 61 after opener Matthew Short scored 55, but the tourists struggled against Pakistan's spin assault, with eight wickets going to slow bowlers. It was Abrar (2-44) who broke the opening stand of 34 with the wicket of Alex Carey for 19, before Minhas destroyed the batting with guile and accuracy. Minhas had Inglis (13) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) in his fourth over before getting Cameron Green for a third-ball duck in his next. At 68-4, Australia were in a spot of bother, but Short and Renshaw fought hard through a fifth-wicket stand of 55 before Minhas broke the partnership, with Short stumped. Abrar returned for his second spell to dismiss Renshaw while Arafat completed his five-wicket haul by removing Ellis for eight. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The remaining two matches are in Lahore on Tuesday and Thursday.

2nd Women's T20I: England Bowlers Shine As India Slump To 26 Runs Defeat, Series Tied 1-1

T20 World Cup: The Indian women's cricket team lost six wickets for 33 runs against a mounting asking rate and went down to England women by 28 runs in the second T20I at the County Ground, Bristol, as the hosts levelled the three-match series 1-1. India had won the first T20I of the series and were looking to seal a 2-0 lead by winning the second match. However, their fine effort with the ball went in vain as they could not back it up with the bat. With spinner Sree Charani picking 3-25, India restricted England women to a modest total of 168/5 in 20 overs, with Freya Kemp blasting an unbeaten 39 towards the end to shore up the score. Chasing 169 to win, the Indians lost regular wickets despite their top-order batters making starts. Shafali Verma (22), Smriti Mandhana (32), Yastika Bhatia (33), and Harmanpreet Kaur (28) made vital contributions as the visitors reached 109/3 at the end of the 15th over. But under pressure to score 60 runs in the last five overs, they succumbed to the mounting asking rate and lost their last six wickets for 33 runs, and were restricted to 142/9 in 20 overs, and fell short by 26 runs. With this win, the series now goes into a deciding third and final T20I with the winner getting a big boost ahead of the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup. Jemimah Rodrigues, the star of India's batting effort alongside Yastika Bhatia in the first match, fell for one, Richa Ghosh contributed eight, Deepti Sharma could manage to score only two runs, while Shreyanka Patil scored six runs off four balls. For England, Lauren Bell (2-33), Charlie Dean (2-20), and Freya Kemp (2-15) grabbed a couple of wickets each while Sophie Ecclestone claimed 1-24 as the host bowlers strangled the Indian batters to make a grand comeback in the series. Earlier, all-rounder Freya Kemps blistering unbeaten 39 off just 13 balls powered England to 168/5 in their 20 overs. After the hosts had an iffy time with the bat on a slow pitch, Freya smashed four boundaries and two sixes in a stunning finishing blitz as 39 runs came off the last two overs to dramatically alter the complexion of Englands innings. For India, left-arm spinner Sree Charani was the standout bowler with 3-25, as she and Shreyanka Patil were superb in never allowing the momentum to slip away, and kept a tight lid on the scoring rate in the middle overs. But India must chase down 169 to clinch a series win and get a big boost in their preparations for the upcoming Womens T20 World Cup. Electing to bat first, England endured a shaky start in the powerplay, managing only 35 runs for the loss of Sophia Dunkley, who was dropped early by Jemimah Rodrigues but later fell to Nandni Sharma for 10. Danni WyattHodge, back from maternity leave, looked fluent with three boundaries but was dismissed for 29 by Charani, who later removed the inform Amy Jones for 28 and accounted for Heather Knight with a sharp return catch. Shreyanka added to Indias tally by castling Alice Capsey for 28. Indias spinners were largely effective, returning 4-94 in 12 overs at an economy of 7.75, compared to the pacers 1-74 in eight overs at 9.25. The innings, however, turned decisively in the final stretch. Freya, entering at number seven, unleashed a stunning assault on Arundhati Reddy in the 20th over, smashing two sixes and two fours to collect 24 runs. Danielle Gibson chipped in with 11 off seven balls, including a boundary, as England ransacked 39 runs from the last two overs 15 of which came off Nandnis final over too. Freyas clean hitting for getting maximums and unleashing crisp drives through the offside ensured England surged past 160, a total that looked improbable midway through the innings and left India on the task of acing a stiff chase. The innings, however, turned decisively in the final stretch. Freya, entering at number seven, unleashed a stunning assault on Arundhati Reddy in the 20th over, smashing two sixes and two fours to collect 24 runs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England 168/5 in 20 overs (Freya Kemp 39 not out, Danni Wyatt-Hodge 29; Sree Charani 3-25, Shreyanka Patil 1-29) beat India 142/9 in 20 overs (Yastika Bhatia 33, Smriti Mandhana 32; Freya Kemp 2-15, Charlie Dean 2-20, Lauren Bell 2-33) by 26 runs Article Source: IANS

RCB vs GT Final, IPL 2026: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction

RCB vs GT Final, Cricket Tips :The Indian Premier League 2026 will host its final match, which will decide the winner of this season. The reigning champion Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Gujarat Titans on Sunday at 7:30 PM IST at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. These two teams have been in excellent form. GT are coming off a thumping win over Rajasthan Royals in the qualifier. 2. Captain Shubman Gill slammed a 47-ball ton to take his team into the final. He will be eyeing getting a win here. RCB have been very consistent, but the last time they met GT in Ahmedabad, the game ended in a defeat. So, there is a lot on the line, and both teams will try to lift the trophy. RCB vs GT: Match Details Date : May 31, 2026 (Sunday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad RCB vs GT: Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the IPL final on the Star Sports Network and channels. The live stream of the game will be available on the Jio Hotstar app or website. RCB vs GT Head-to-Head in IPL Total Matches : 09 RCB : 05 GT : 04 No - Result : 00 RCB vs GT: Ground Pitch Report The wicket for the final will be same which was used to host the GT vs RCB group game. It was a sporting wicket for the bowlers, and the ball was stopping a bit. The bounce was uneven at times, and spinners were getting good purchase. So, we might see a low-scoring thriller in the final. RCB vs GT Possible XIs RCB : Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Krunal Pandya, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam Dar GT : Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sandhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj RCB vs GT Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Rajat Patidar and Shubman Gill will be key batters for their respective teams. They will look to take their team to glory. Probable Best Bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been superb for RCB, and Kagiso Rabada is in wicket-taking form for GT. These two are in a race for the Purple Cap and will have a big role for their teams. Today Match Prediction : GT have an excellent bowling unit, but RCB have firepower with the bat. Hence, we predict RCB to win the final. RCB vs GT Final, IPL 2026, Today 2026 Match, RCB vs GT 2026 Prediction, RCB vs GT Predicted XIs, Injury Update for RCB vs GT 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: Gill Hails Sudharsans Intensity, Targets Second Title With Gujarat Titans

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill credited his opening partner Sai Sudharsans unwavering intensity and consistency as one of the biggest strengths behind the teams success, as the 2022 winners prepare to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the title clash to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. GT enters a final at its home venue after beating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in Qualifier 2 in New Chandigarh, where Gill hit a majestic 104 and shared a 167-run opening stand with Sudharsan, who hit 58. I think in a tournament like IPL, when I first started playing, one of the challenges that I faced was to keep playing the matches at the same intensity, and I think that is one of his (Sudharsans) biggest strengths. You play so many matches there could be days where mentally you dont feel up to the mark or physically you dont feel up to the mark, but to be able to have the same intensity in all of the matches and be consistent in your preparation (and) in your routine is not that easy. He is someone who is very consistent in his routines, in his life outside of cricket... so that is what makes him consistent on the field as well, said Gill in the pre-final press conference. Sudharsan has crossed the 700run mark for the second successive season, forming a prolific partnership with Gill that has already produced 886 runs in IPL 2026. Another stand, especially if it crosses 54 runs in the final, would take them past the record set by Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in 2016. We spend a lot of time in the IPL together on the field, off the field as well, and then we are in the Test team as well, so we have a lot of conversations. There are things that we talk about cricket, and outside of cricket. But I think there are many players in our team who also play for the country, and hopefully we are going to play together for a long period of time, and its very important for us to know each other well to have a great equation that automatically translates to onfield performances, added Gill. Gill also pointed to the importance of batting fundamentals in T20 cricket despite the rise in high scores this season. Sometimes the wicket tends to be a bit on the slower side. Then it is important to hit the gaps, still look to run well, because I think that is the foundation of any format you are playing. The team that plays less number of dot balls has a better chance of getting a better score, so yes, the T20 game has evolved, you see bigger scores, but the wickets have also gone a little bit flatter. I think that not many people talk about this. Before these two new teams (GT & LSG were added to the league in 2022), there used to be eight teams, and we used to play on similar wickets. (But)] Back in the day, in the second half of the IPL, we used to see 150, 160, 140 scores a lot more, in Eden Gardens and even in Bombay. In some of the venues now, because at least four or five times in a season, we get a fiveday break or a sevenday break, which gives the chance to play on fresh wickets, better wickets. So I feel cricket is the same, its all about the kind of wickets that we play on, the kind of grounds that we play on... If we play on challenging wickets, the scores are going to be similar, maybe a 510 runs difference here and there, but still I feel that cricket is pretty much similar, he explained. Gill himself has adapted to the demands of the format, raising his powerplay strike rate from 143 last season to 159 this year, making his credentials to re-enter the India T20I team strong. I mean, Id be happy to play if I get picked for the T20 team, but honestly, I want to keep working on my game. It doesnt matter what format it is. I want to keep getting better as a T20 batsman, as an ODI batsman, as a Test batsman... cricket is such a game you can never really get perfect, but obviously you can strive for it, and thats what I try to do. Gill himself has adapted to the demands of the format, raising his powerplay strike rate from 143 last season to 159 this year, making his credentials to re-enter the India T20I team strong. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Honestly, I dont really get the burden of expectations. Obviously, there are advantages, thats how I see it. Theres familiarity when we play there, we know the wicket, we know the ground, so we know what kind of cricket we need to play there to be able to win, so in that context, yes, I see it as an advantage because theres a little bit of familiarity. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Patidar Keeps India Talk Aside, Stresses Collective Responsibility As RCB Eye Backtoback Titles

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar brushed aside questions about a potential return to Indias T20I setup, insisting his focus remains firmly on guiding the franchise to successive IPL titles as they prepare to face Gujarat Titans in the final to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. Im not looking forward to any selection regarding India. So, Im not looking forward to it. I dont see myself as the T20 captain of India. But at the same time, every captain wants to win the trophies. So last year we did it, but again its a new season. You cannot keep talking about 2025, what we have done. You have to be more in the present and do whatever best you can to win the title. What has changed from last year? To be honest, I dont think we have changed anything, said Patidar in the pre-final press conference. Patidar, who has scored 486 runs in 14 matches this season, emphasised that RCBs success has stemmed from a collective mindset rather than reliance on individual stars, as seen from them having eight different winners of the Player of the Match award in the season. Before, there were just one or two players the team depended on. But my observation is that every player takes responsibility when he is going to bat or when he is bowling. So I think responsibility is the main word that every individual is thinking about. So, responsibility and keenness to do for the team and having the same mindset that we are not here to just play qualifiers and all. We are here to play the finals and win the finals. So I think this mindset has changed. Every captain wants to win trophies. We did it last year, but this is a different season. You cannot keep talking about what happened in 2025. We have to stay in the present and do whatever we can to win the title this year, he added. Patidar also underlined the importance of RCBs bowling depth, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar leading the way with 26 wickets this season. If you want to win this competition, you need a good bowling attack. It is important to take wickets because these days it is easy to score 200 or 220. But defending those totals is more difficult, so you need a better bowling side. Both teams have the same strength in that regard. The way both teams have bowled throughout the tournament has been outstanding. When you have top bowlers like Bhuvi and Hazlewood, you still need support from the other bowlers as well. The way Rasikh has come in and contributed to the team, providing those breakthroughs, has been important. You cannot win a competition or a match with just one or two bowlers. The way Rasikh has bowled throughout the tournament has been superb, and it has really helped the team. Both teams have the same strength in that regard. The way both teams have bowled throughout the tournament has been outstanding. When you have top bowlers like Bhuvi and Hazlewood, you still need support from the other bowlers as well. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Both teams have done really well throughout the tournament. It will be exciting and challenging for both teams. It is important to know your strength. You cannot compare yourself with other teams. It is more important to focus on your team and how you play throughout the tournament. According to me, it is more important to play to our strength. Article Source: IANS

'Why Should Only Boys Have All The Fun?' - Mumbai T20 League Chairman On Inaugural Women's Edition

Mumbai T20 League Chairman Rajdip: The upcoming Mumbai T20 League is entering its most significant season yet - not because of the star power in the men's league, but because, for the first time, womens version of the competition will also be held simultaneously. Three women's teams will participate in the inaugural season of the league, alongside the eight men's franchises participating in the fourth edition of the competition. Rajdip Gupta, Chairman of the Governing Council of the Mumbai T20 League, recalled that launching the women's league was the first assignment handed to him when he took charge, and he is now a happy man on seeing it become a reality. The moment I took over as the chairman of this league, I met President Mr. Ajinkya Naik, and he told me, 'Rajdip, we want to have one kind of gender equality at Mumbai Cricket Association. It is very, very important that we also treat our women and girls in the same way we treat our male players. There are many clubs now that have women's teams, but there is a lack of a platform.' That was the first assignment they assigned to me, and I said, 'Fine, I'll take this challenge.' I took the challenge, and I think things went well. We opened the bid and received almost six requests for the bid, and out of that, we finalised three of them. With that, three teams got finalised and are now part of the T20 league. But I think the idea was to create an opportunity for our girls also, because the Mumbai Cricket Association always believes that girls also have a lot of things to do in cricket as compared to the males. Like, why only boys have all the fun? I think that's what the whole idea is, he said in an exclusive conversation with IANS on Saturday. Gupta explicitly positions the womens league as a feeder system for the players to get into the Women's Premier League (WPL) and possibly the Indian team. It is very, very important. There are many women in Mumbai who are participating in club cricket, and the Mumbai Cricket Association has multiple tournaments for girls. So, in that way, we needed to create a visibility (platform) for our women cricketers who can play in WPL and for India. Like, there is a proper platform which needs to be assigned to them so that they can actually show their talent in front of scouting teams of WPL or maybe of the Indian team, he said. He pointed to Jemimah Rodrigues playing a crucial role in the 2025 Womens ODI World Cup win as the most powerful argument. We know that there are 3-4 players who already played for India, and Jemi is one of the classic examples. Like, she was the main girl, and because of her, we won the World Cup. Post Jemi's innings, there are lots of changes we have seen in women's cricket. Like, now women also believe that they can actually take cricket as a serious game because I know now parents have also started believing that there is a future and career in this. To just support their parents' vision and the cricketers' vision, we needed to have this league, which is very important for us. Today, we are here, and we are already having the league going on, he said. Apart from creating playing opportunities, participating in the league also gives some financial stability to both mens and womens players, feels Gupta. I think the Mumbai Cricket Association has a better ecosystem if you talk about club cricket and different tournaments. Also, it is very important to create stability in financial terms. Like what we did this year when we were talking about the auction, we had a one crore purse for the male cricketers. But at the same time, we decided that the women's purse will be 50 lakh rupees, so that at least there is a financial touch to the whole ecosystem. I think we also kept the winning price around Rs 50 lakh. The idea is very simple - to create an ecosystem where people can have financial stability after being a part of it. But more or less, if I say, the entire idea of the women's league is to create gender equality and have a platform where we have to treat our girls and boys in the same way, and that is the whole idea behind this league, he said. On the men's side, the league's main pull still remains the prospect of sharing the dressing room with India and IPL veterans. If you see the number of icon players we have today, almost all of them played for India, and many of them played in the IPL. The biggest advantage these players are going to get is directly sharing the dressing room and getting more experience by being with those players. People coming from club cricket and directly sharing the dressing room with Surya, Ajinkya, or Shreyas - it's the biggest learning for them. I want to tell all my club cricketers in Mumbai who are looking to be part of the IPL, India, or Mumbai team, I can just tell one thing - 'Chance SoduNako' (Don't miss the chance), added Gupta. Once the IPL is over, almost all state T20 leagues begin their initiative to attract fans' attention. Gupta said in terms of pulling fans towards both mens and womens leagues, railway stations across Mumbai, Thane, Vasai, and Virar are donning the hoardings and have even signed up around 100-150 content creators for an influencer-only league to boost their social media visibility. People coming from club cricket and directly sharing the dressing room with Surya, Ajinkya, or Shreyas - it's the biggest learning for them. I want to tell all my club cricketers in Mumbai who are looking to be part of the IPL, India, or Mumbai team, I can just tell one thing - 'Chance SoduNako' (Don't miss the chance), added Gupta. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The way we have planned out the whole season, we gave ample time to team owners to prepare their teams. Plus, sponsorship-wise, we also got enough time. We had a launch, an auction, and then we are having a launch day today. Overall, things went really well because everything was planned properly and we were able to reach our targets on time. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026 final: Akasa Air launches special flights from Mumbai, Bengaluru; when and where to watch GT vs RCB

Akasa Air has launched special match-day flights between Mumbai, Bengaluru and Ahmedabad for the IPL 2026 final between the Gujarat Titans and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 31.

2nd WT20I: Kemps Late Fireworks Lift England To 168/5 Against India, Charani Picks Three-for

T20 World Cup: All-rounder Freya Kemps blistering unbeaten 39 off just 13 balls powered England to 168/5 in their 20 overs against India in the second Womens T20I at the County Ground on Saturday. After the hosts had an iffy time with the bat on a slow pitch, Freya smashed four boundaries and two sixes in a stunning finishing blitz as 39 runs came off the last two overs to dramatically alter the complexion of Englands innings. For India, left-arm spinner Sree Charani was the standout bowler with 3-25, as she and Shreyanka Patil were superb in never allowing the momentum to slip away, and kept a tight lid on the scoring rate in the middle overs. But India must chase down 169 to clinch a series win and get a big boost in their preparations for the upcoming Womens T20 World Cup. Electing to bat first, England endured a shaky start in the Power-play, managing only 35 runs for the loss of Sophia Dunkley, who was dropped early by Jemimah Rodrigues but later fell to Nandni Sharma for 10. Danni WyattHodge, back from maternity leave, looked fluent with three boundaries but was dismissed for 29 by Charani, who later removed the inform Amy Jones for 28 and accounted for Heather Knight with a sharp return catch. Shreyanka added to Indias tally by castling Alice Capsey for 28. Indias spinners were largely effective, returning 4-94 in 12 overs at an economy of 7.75, compared to the pacers 1-74 in eight overs at 9.25. The innings, however, turned decisively in the final stretch. Freya, entering at number seven, unleashed a stunning assault on Arundhati Reddy in the 20th over, smashing two sixes and two fours to collect 24 runs. Shreyanka added to Indias tally by castling Alice Capsey for 28. Indias spinners were largely effective, returning 4-94 in 12 overs at an economy of 7.75, compared to the pacers 1-74 in eight overs at 9.25. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: England 168/5 in 20 overs (Freya Kemp 39 not out, Danni Wyatt-Hodge 29; Sree Charani 3-25, Shreyanka Patil 1-29) against India Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Bhuvi-Hazlewood Must Break Gill-Sai Stand Early To Split The Final Wide Open, Says Paranjape

Indian Premier League: Former India cricketer and national selector Jatin Paranjape believes the result of Sunday's IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad hinges on one question - can Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood break the Shubman Gill-Sai Sudharsan partnership before it takes the game away from RCB? The Gill-Sudharsan opening pair has been the most dominant partnership in IPL 2026 they have amassed 886 runs together at an average of 63.3 and a strike rate of 177, the highest aggregate by any opening combination in this season. The success of that partnership has a near-binary effect on GT's results. When the two bat past the fifth over together, GT have won six of seven games. When the stand is broken before that point, they have won four and lost as many games. The bottom line is simple GT becomes beatable the moment their openers are separated early. As per statistics, Bhuvneshwar is the bowler best equipped to do the damage. He has dismissed Gill six times in 14 IPL innings, including twice this season. Hazlewood, meanwhile, has dismissed Sudharsan twice in two IPL innings this season. Bhuvneshwar (26 wickets) currently trails Kagiso Rabada (28 wickets) in the Purple Cap race, and should the former finish as the tournament's leading wicket-taker, he would become the first bowler in IPL history to win the Purple Cap three times after having previously claimed it in 2016 and 2017. The key player battles are Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hazlewood versus Sai Sudarshan and Shubman Gill, because Gill and Sudarshan have been the most successful opening pair this year in the IPL, and if RCB can price them out earlier, the game could split wide open, Paranjape said in an exclusive conversation with IANS on Saturday. At the same time, RCBs top order will face a stern test against GTs inform newball pair of Rabada and Mohammed Siraj, whose availability after picking up a shoulder issue will be keenly watched. Rabada has enjoyed success against Virat Kohli in T20s, dismissing him five times in 17 innings. Siraj, meanwhile, has troubled Devdutt Padikkal, removing him three times in eight IPL innings. While the powerplay battle is a major tactical subplot in deciding who wins their second IPL title, Paranjape believes winning the final carries a deeper significance for both teams - particularly for Gill, whos been on song in his more attacking and determined avatar, especially after being omitted from Indias victorious T20 World Cup campaign in December last year. I think the significance of this final is very critical for both teams. For RCB, it will mean that they will have won the title a second year in a row, so it could be the start of a streak of dominance for them. For the Gujarat Titans, they won it last in 2022, I think, if I'm not mistaken, and they lost a close final to CSK (in 2023). But I think more than for the Gujarat Titans, the significance will be more for Shubman Gill, because he's the captain of India in two formats. And as captain of India, you want to win the biggest T20 tournament in the world as well, because I'm sure he would like to captain India in T20 cricket as well. So for RCB, it's more a team significance. For the Gujarat Titans, it's team plus slightly significant for the captain as an individual as well, he elaborated. Gill, who hit a majestic 104 in the Qualifier 2 victory over Rajasthan Royals, arrives at this final as GT's most prolific scorer in Ahmedabad in IPL history - 1,374 runs in 31 innings at an average of 49.1. But against RCB, his numbers dip sharply: 395 runs at an average of just 28.2 - his lowest against any IPL opponent. Three of his last five innings against RCB have yielded single-digit scores, including two ducks. History says the Qualifier 1 winner has gone on to lift the IPL trophy every year since 2018. RCB won that game this time around, after beating GT by 92 runs in Dharamshala. Gill, who hit a majestic 104 in the Qualifier 2 victory over Rajasthan Royals, arrives at this final as GT's most prolific scorer in Ahmedabad in IPL history - 1,374 runs in 31 innings at an average of 49.1. But against RCB, his numbers dip sharply: 395 runs at an average of just 28.2 - his lowest against any IPL opponent. Also Read: Live Cricket Score --IANS Article Source: IANS

Storm delays Gujarat Titans' arrival in Ahmedabad for IPL final

GT are likely to arrive in Ahmedabad only after 10pm on Friday, before they head to their hotel in Gandhinagar, another 30-minute drive away

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She will next face either women's No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or unseeded Australian Daria Kasatkina

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Home comfort vs championship pedigree as GT and RCB collide in IPL 2026 final

Although RCB won Qualifier 1, it was GT who were victors when they faced off in Ahmedabad during the league stage

2nd Women's T20I: Wyatt-Hodge Hoping To smash Indian Bowlers After Returning From Maternity Leave

Danni Wyatt: England opener Danni WyattHodge said she is hoping to smash Indian bowlers on her return to cricketing action from maternity leave as the hosts prepare to face India in the second womens T20I in Bristol on Saturday. Danni returns after taking time off from the T20I series against New Zealand and the first T20I against India to welcome her daughter, Daisy, with partner Georgie Wyatt-Hodge. Her return to action comes at a time when England are 1-0 behind in the three-game series. Ive had a lot of cricket over the last few months, with lots of England camps. For me, it's all about being mentally ready. I've played a lot of cricket over the years, and it's all about being calm. I've played a lot of international cricket, and you learn what works for you. For me, it's just staying calm and trusting what I've done in the past, trusting my instincts that I'm going to go out there and hopefully smash the Indian bowlers to my areas and don't miss out on my strengths, said Danni in a pre-game chat with the broadcasters. Former England pacer Tash Farrant feels Dannis return will bring calm energy to a frenetic batting line-up. Its a huge lift. We know what she can do with the bat; she takes it on from ball one and can run between the wickets. Its the energy she brings. Englands batters are a little bit on edge, so she will just calm the nerves. The batting line-up is the biggest uncertainty ahead of the World Cup. It is a huge boost that Wyatt-Hodge is back, and I like the batting depth today. But I don't like how many changes there have been recently and that we don't quite know what the batting line-up is going to be. England have also brought back left-arm spinner Linsey Smith into the line-up, and Tash is hoping her not playing the first game against India doesnt become a factor in halting her momentum. The batting line-up is the biggest uncertainty ahead of the World Cup. It is a huge boost that Wyatt-Hodge is back, and I like the batting depth today. But I don't like how many changes there have been recently and that we don't quite know what the batting line-up is going to be. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England really missed her in the last game. You know exactly what youre going to get from here. I hope missing the first game against India hasnt halted the momentum shes been building. Article Source: IANS

2nd Women's T20I: Harmanpreet, Shreyanka Return As England Elect To Bat First Against India

Harmanpreet Kaur: England won the toss and elected to bat first in the second womens T20I against India on Saturday, with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and off-spin bowling all-rounder Shreyanka Patil returning to boost the visitors lineup. India are leading the three-game series 1-0 after winning the series opener by 38 runs in Chelmsford. Harmanpreet, who missed the clash due to a calf niggle, replaces Bharti Fulmali, while Shreyanka comes in place of Kranti Gaud. We were looking to bat too, but I think the pitch looks drier and we have added one more spinner today (in Shreyanka). So hopefully, we'll try to stop them on a decent total so that we can chase it easier. Both batting and bowling (were enjoyable in the first game), because the way we batted really set the tone for us. Hopefully, we'll continue that approach while batting. The bowling is also something, we always talk about taking wickets in the powerplay and then keep putting pressure on the batters. I think our bowlers did a really great job, and a great contribution by the fielders. So hopefully we'll play a similar kind of cricket today also. The way Jemimah and Yastika batted, it was very good to see them taking the responsibility and using the Power-play. Hopefully, today we'll also go with the same approach. Yes, definitely. I think we are all looking quite positive and trying to do whatever the team demands from us. Hopefully, we'll keep enjoying and keep giving our best whenever we are playing, she said. Stand-in England captain Charlie Dean said veteran opener Danny Wyatt-Hodge is back from maternity leave, while left-arm spinner Linsey Smith also returns, with Issy Wong and Tilly Corteen-Coleman omitted from the playing eleven. Feels like a good day to get out there as a team, and it looks like a bit of a belter, so ready to get going. There were lots of positives from that game. Obviously, (losing) by that sort of margin was disappointing towards the end. We were in a brilliant position with both bat and ball at sort of the halfway stage. So it feels like we need to be really ruthless and be clear on what we need to do towards the back end of our innings. So, it looks like a good opportunity today to put that right. Its brilliant to have her back. Really looking forward to seeing Danni bat today. She brings a wealth of experience to our team, fresh as a mother, but ready to get going, she said. Playing XIs: So it feels like we need to be really ruthless and be clear on what we need to do towards the back end of our innings. So, it looks like a good opportunity today to put that right. Its brilliant to have her back. Really looking forward to seeing Danni bat today. She brings a wealth of experience to our team, fresh as a mother, but ready to get going, she said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score England: Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Amy Jones (wk), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Charlie Dean (captain), Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, and Lauren Bell Article Source: IANS

England bat first in bid to square series in Bristol

Teams ring the changes as preparation for T20 World Cup hots up

Eagle Thane Strikers Appoint Shardul Thakur As Captain For 2026 Edition Of T20 Mumbai League

The Eagle Thane Strikers: Eagle Thane Strikers have announced India all-rounder Shardul Thakur as captain for the upcoming edition of the T20 Mumbai League 2026, starting on June 1. One of Mumbai crickets most accomplished performers, Shardul Thakur, brings a wealth of experience to the leadership role, having represented India across formats and played a key role in several domestic and franchise competitions. The appointment reflects the franchises ambition to build on last seasons semifinal finish and mount a strong challenge for the title this year. The Eagle Thane Strikers will head into the tournament with a balanced squad comprising experienced campaigners and exciting young talent. Under the guidance of newly-appointed head coach Dhawal Kulkarni, the team will look to play an aggressive brand of cricket and take the next step after narrowly missing out on a place in the final during the previous edition. Expressing his delight after being named captain, Shardul Thakur said, It is an honour to lead Eagle Thane Strikers in the T20 Mumbai League. We have a talented group of players and a coaching staff with tremendous experience. The focus will be on preparing well, playing positive cricket, and giving our best in every game. We want to create a winning culture and make our fans proud. Speaking about the appointment, Eagle Thane Strikers owner Vicky Rupchandani said, Shardul is a proven match-winner and a respected leader who understands Mumbai cricket exceptionally well. His experience at the highest level will be invaluable for the team. We are confident that under his leadership and with Dhawal Kulkarni guiding the side as Head Coach, the team can have a memorable season. The T20 Mumbai League 2026 is scheduled to be held from June 1 to 13, with Eagle Thane Strikers set to begin their campaign against Bandra Blasters in the opening fixture of the tournament. Speaking about the appointment, Eagle Thane Strikers owner Vicky Rupchandani said, Shardul is a proven match-winner and a respected leader who understands Mumbai cricket exceptionally well. His experience at the highest level will be invaluable for the team. We are confident that under his leadership and with Dhawal Kulkarni guiding the side as Head Coach, the team can have a memorable season. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Aditya Vinod Giri, Amartya Raje, Anuj Vinod Giri, Atharav Ankolekar, Ayaan Mohit Jain, Eknath Dinesh Kerkar, Kartik Mithilesh Mishra, Manan Bhat, Onkar Tukaram Tarmale, Rohan Rajendra Ghag, Sairaj Patil, Shardul Thakur (Captain), Shashikant Eknath Kadam, Shashwat Yogesh Jagtap, Shaun Motiram Rodrigues, Shivansh Lallan Singh, Siddhant Manoj Singh, Sumeir Samrat Zaveri, Vinay Suresh Kunwar, and Dhanay Parekh. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026 Final: Familiar Rivals, Different Stakes As RCB And GT Battle For Glory In Ahmedabad (Preview)

The Indian Premier League: The Indian Premier League season that began with ten teams chasing a dream now comes down to two franchises separated by contrasting styles but united by a common ambition. Under the lights of the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans will meet in the IPL 2026 final with the trophy and a place in league history at stake. For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the opportunity is clear: a victory would make them only the third franchise, after Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, to successfully defend an IPL crown. For the Gujarat Titans, the challenge is equally compelling. Playing at home and seeking a second title in four seasons, they have the chance to avenge their crushing defeat to RCB in Qualifier 1 and reclaim the crown they last lifted in 2022. The finalists have travelled different routes to reach the summit clash. RCB stormed directly into the final after dismantling Gujarat by 92 runs earlier this week, posting a playoff-record 254/5 in a display of relentless batting aggression. The Titans were forced to take the longer road, regrouping swiftly to overcome Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 and secure another shot at the title. The contest presents an intriguing tactical battle. Bengaluru's success has been built on fearless batting, with Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, and Venkatesh Iyer forming arguably the deepest batting unit in the competition. Their willingness to attack regardless of conditions has made them one of the most destructive sides of the season. Gujarat, meanwhile, have relied on a more measured blueprint. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have mastered the art of constructing innings before accelerating, a strategy that has produced over 1,400 runs between them. Alongside Jos Buttler, the trio has carried much of the batting responsibility and will once again be expected to provide the platform. If Bengaluru possess the stronger batting card, Gujarat can counter with arguably the tournament's most formidable pace attack. Purple Cap leader Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj have formed a potent new-ball partnership, while Rashid Khan, Prasidh Krishna, and Jason Holder provide depth and variety. Much could depend on Siraj's fitness after the fast bowler appeared to struggle with a shoulder issue during Qualifier 2. RCB's bowling resources, however, are equally capable of deciding the contest. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has enjoyed a stellar campaign with 26 wickets, while Josh Hazlewood, Rasikh Salam, and Krunal Pandya have consistently delivered breakthroughs at crucial moments. The numbers suggest a closely fought battle. RCB hold a narrow 5-4 advantage in the overall head-to-head record and have won two of the three meetings between the sides this season. Yet Gujarat have turned Ahmedabad into a fortress, winning five of their seven home matches during the campaign. Momentum favours Bengaluru. Conditions favour Gujarat. The trophy will belong to whichever side imposes its identity more effectively on the biggest night of the season. By Sunday night, either Patidar's defending champions will cement their status as the league's newest powerhouse, or Gill's Titans will complete a homecoming worthy of champions. Either way, IPL 2026 is set for a fitting finale. When: Sunday, May 31, 7:30 PM IST Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Where to watch: The RCB vs GT Final will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads: Where to watch: The RCB vs GT Final will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Kumar Kushagra, Glenn Phillips, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kagiso Rabada, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Luke Wood, Sai Sudharsan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Anuj Rawat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Gurnoor Brar, M Shahrukh Khan Article Source: IANS

Pakistan bowl first in 1000th ODI; Minhas, Peake earn ODI debuts

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JSCA To Conduct Player Auction For Inaugural Jharkhand T20 League

Jharkhand State Cricket Association: The inaugural season of the Jharkhand T20 League under the aegis of Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) will conduct its first-ever player auction on Saturday with 275 cricketers up for grabs. The six franchises that will each have an auction purse of 50 lakh each are Ranchi Titans, Jamshedpur Steelers, Chota Nagpur Royals, Koylanchal Super Kings, Dhanbad Diamonds, and Santhal Strikers. Jharkhand has been such an integral part of Indian cricket for a long time, and the Jharkhand T20 League will only further strengthen that core and create a pipeline for notable and aspiring cricketers alike, Ajay Nath Shah Deo, President, Jharkhand State Cricket Association, said. The main aim for Jharkhand State Cricket Association has always been to provide the states cricketers the best opportunity to excel at the state, national, and international level, and we are sure that the Jharkhand T20 League is a step in the right direction towards that, Sanjay Pandey, Vice President, Jharkhand State Cricket Association, said. The importance of playing leagues is something that I have experienced first-hand and benefitted from. I am confident that every cricketer, senior and upcoming, will benefit from the Jharkhand T20 League and continue growing their talent. Saurabh Tiwary, Secretary, Jharkhand State Cricket Association, said on the conduct of the auction. Ishan Kishan, Robin Minz, Kumar Kushagra, Anukul Roy, Sushant Mishra, Utkarsh Singh, and Virat Singh are amongst the key players that each team will be vying for in the upcoming Jharkhand T20 League. The auction will be conducted by Charu Sharma, who will ably oversee each of the six franchises in their quest for the best possible squad. Each franchise will finalise a squad of a minimum of 16 players and up to a maximum of 18 players. Out of the 275 players in the auction pool, seven players have been placed in the Icon category with a base price of 4 lakh. The auction will be conducted by Charu Sharma, who will ably oversee each of the six franchises in their quest for the best possible squad. Each franchise will finalise a squad of a minimum of 16 players and up to a maximum of 18 players. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The auction will be telecast live on DD Sports and streamed on Waves as each franchise works towards building a squad that will help them get their hands on the inaugural Jharkhand T20 League trophy. Article Source: IANS

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

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will clash with 2022 winners Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. After lifting their maiden IPL trophy last year, RCB faces the challenge of defending the crown for the first time in franchise history. The Rajat Patidar-led side responded in impressive fashion, finishing at the top of the points table with nine wins from 14 league matches before sealing a place in the final with a convincing victory over the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. On the other hand, led by Shubman Gill, the Titans produced one of the greatest comeback campaigns of the season, finishing among the top two teams in the league stage with 18 points in 14 matches, before sealing a return to the final with a commanding victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. Both sides last met in Qualifier 1 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, where the 2025 champions won by a massive margin of 92 runs. They would look to continue the momentum and win their second title, while GT are seeking revenge at their home ground. When: Sunday, May 31, 7:30 PM IST Where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Where to watch: The GT vs RCB Final will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads: Where to watch: The GT vs RCB Final 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

From Early Struggles To Final Berth: GTs Journey To The IPL 2026 Title Clash

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Gujarat Titans will enter the IPL 2026 final with momentum firmly behind them after overcoming setbacks, pressure situations, and a disappointing defeat in Qualifier 1 to secure their place in the title clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Led by Shubman Gill, the Titans produced one of the most consistent campaigns of the season, finishing among the top two teams in the league stage with 18 points in 14 matches, before sealing a return to the final with a commanding victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. GT's campaign did not begin as planned. They suffered back-to-back defeats against Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals, leaving them searching for momentum in the opening weeks of the tournament. That turnaround arrived in dramatic fashion in Delhi, where Gujarat edged Delhi Capitals by a single run to register their first win of the season. The narrow victory proved to be a turning point as the Titans quickly found their rhythm. Successive wins over Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders helped GT climb the table and establish themselves as genuine contenders. Although Mumbai Indians handed them a heavy defeat at home and Royal Challengers Bengaluru followed with another loss in Bengaluru, Gujarat responded strongly once again. The Titans bounced back with an emphatic victory over Chennai Super Kings before gaining revenge against RCB in Ahmedabad. Those results marked the beginning of their most dominant stretch of the season. Gill's side then put together a series of commanding performances. They defeated Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad in consecutive matches, with both the batting and bowling units making significant contributions. The victories not only secured crucial points but also strengthened their net run rate and playoff position. A defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders briefly interrupted their progress, but Gujarat finished the league stage in style. They crushed Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs in Ahmedabad, a result that confirmed their place among the leading teams heading into the playoffs. The Titans' first playoff outing proved disappointing as they were comprehensively beaten by Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1. Chasing a daunting target of 254 runs, GT were unable to recover after losing early wickets and suffered a 92-run defeat. However, one of the defining features of Gujarat's campaign has been their ability to recover quickly from setbacks. They demonstrated that quality again in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals. Facing a must-win contest, the Titans produced a composed all-round display to secure a seven-wicket victory and book their place in the final. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are again the torchbearers for the batting unit as they have both scored 700-plus runs and are among the top scorers in the IPL 2026. Facing a must-win contest, the Titans produced a composed all-round display to secure a seven-wicket victory and book their place in the final. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Gujarat Titans will look to use their home conditions experience and fighting spirit as they come closer to winning their second IPL trophy on Sunday. Article Source: IANS

Kapil Devs Backing Is A Powerful Statement For Indian Golf: PGTI CEO Amandeep Singh Johl

PGTI CEO Amandeep Singh Johl: The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) CEO Amandeep Singh Johl believes the association of cricket legend Kapil Dev with Indian golf has provided the sport with unprecedented credibility and confidence, while also helping strengthen its vision of producing world-class champions. Speaking about Dev's growing role within the PGTI setup, Johl said the former World Cup-winning captain's commitment to golf sends a strong message about the sport's potential in India. I think that Mr Kapil Dev becoming president of PGTI is a powerful statement from a legendary sportsman that the game of golf has huge potential, Johl told IANS. Johl pointed out that it is rare to see a sporting icon of Dev's stature actively promoting a sport outside his own discipline as he said, There are so many people supporting cricket, yet no sportsman has supported another game. By endorsing golf and professional golf, and by coming into the system first as a board member, then as vice president, and now taking over as vice president of DP World PGTI, he is showing his faith in the game of golf and in its growth, and that it can take centre stage. According to Johl, Kapil Dev's involvement has reinforced the belief that Indian golfers can compete with the world's best. We can produce champions who will be on the world stage. So I think it's a powerful statement from a legendary sportsman who has given confidence to the entire country that we can be the best in the world. That, in itself, is a huge thumbs up for the game of golf and for professional golf in India, he stated. While outlining the sport's progress, Johl also spoke candidly about the challenges that golf faces in the country, particularly in attracting sponsorship and said one of his priorities is changing the perception that golf is only for the wealthy. See the challenges that I'm facing, obviously, is sponsorship. Whenever I go to any organisation, any corporate, they always think that golf is already an elite sport, an elite game. Why do you need money? You are already rich people. But then I have to explain to them that golf as a sport is not elite; it is a common man's game, for lower-middle-class and middle-class people, he stated. Johl cited the examples of golfers who rose from modest backgrounds to achieve success at the highest level. Last week, 10 days ago, we lost a legendary golfer by the name of Mr. Vijay Kumar from Lucknow, from a very humble background, but he went on to win the Indian Open. So people like those, Ali Shers, Rashid Khans, they are the backbone of Indian golf. And I think golf is a very humble sport. Infrastructure, he said, remains another major hurdle to the game's growth. The second challenge that I always face is the golf courses. Infrastructure in golf was what we had in highways before Vajpayeeji started the Golden Quadrilateral Project. Our infrastructure needs to improve in golf. Drawing comparisons with other sports, Johl argued that better facilities directly translate into stronger results on the international stage and urged state governments to view golf not only as a sport but also as an economic driver. Cricket infrastructure has improved; we have started producing great cricketers. Infrastructure in hockey has improved, so we are producing good hockey players. Similarly, I feel the infrastructure in golf needs to improve. State governments, because sports is a state subject, need to come forward and say, it brings in investment, it brings in tourism, but golf is also an Olympic sport. So it's a triple whammy, not a double whammy. The enhancement of a state's economy, tourism, and sports. So it's a triple whammy. I feel state governments should come forward and support the game of golf, he added. Looking ahead, Johl highlighted a packed calendar for Indian golf, including the DP World India Championship and preparations for the upcoming Asian Games. Well, we've got the DP World India Championship coming into India. We've also got the Asian Games that is happening in the next few months. So our focus is on that, how to make sure that the best players are going to go play in these tournaments, give them adequate exposure, adequate practice, he said. The tournament is expected to attract several of the sport's biggest names to India and Johl believes the presence of elite international golfers will help elevate India's standing in the global golfing ecosystem. The DP World India Championship is going to attract the best players in the world. Rory McIlroy, who is a twice Masters champion, Tommy Fleetwood. And this time we are going to get many, many more. Justin Rose is coming this time. So a lot, many good players are coming. That is very good for India. That is very good for Indian golf because people start taking notice of India when such huge, big champions are coming into India and to the Delhi Golf Club, he observed. The PGTI CEO also expressed optimism about the championship's long-term future. We are looking forward to organising this big $4 million tournament at Delhi Golf Club in October. And DP World is very keen and DP World Tour is very keen that we should extend this sponsorship for the next five to 10 years. Away from golf, Johl admitted he has been following the IPL closely and singled out Rajasthan Royals teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for special praise. Though Rajasthan's campaign ended in Qualifier 2, the PGTI CEO felt they were unfortunate not to progress further. Well, I watch a lot of cricket to watch IPL. And Sooryavanshi is such a great player. We have got a child prodigy. Yesterday he hit 96 and two days before that 97. I think he is a future star of India. And Rajasthan Royals were unlucky that they couldn't win yesterday against the Gujarat Titans, he said. Away from golf, Johl admitted he has been following the IPL closely and singled out Rajasthan Royals teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for special praise. Though Rajasthan's campaign ended in Qualifier 2, the PGTI CEO felt they were unfortunate not to progress further. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Definitely, both the top two teams have come into the finals. So it's anybody's game. It's Gujarat Titans home ground. And anybody can win. But I think the entire country is rooting for Virat Kohli before he retires to win the IPL again, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: We Have Played Positive Cricket Throughout This Season, Says RR's Dhruv Jurel

In New Chandigarh: Rajasthan Royals wicketkeeperbatter Dhruv Jurel reflected on his teams campaign in IPL 2026, which ended after a seven-wicket defeat to Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, adding that the side played positive cricket throughout the season despite falling short of reaching the final. In New Chandigarh, RR posted 214/6, thanks to Vaibhav Sooryavanshis astonishing 96. But Shubman Gills majestic 104 helped GT chase the total and set up a title clash with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. As a wicketkeeper, when I talk to bowlers, I never tell them what to bowl. I just say, brother, take your time. You are good enough. That is why you are here. I say this especially to debutants. I have been in that position. I know that when you make your debut, a lot of thoughts run through your mind. You keep thinking about what to do and what not to do. You cannot tell a debutant exactly how to bowl. It is not easy. If you do, they start doubting themselves and end up making mistakes. So I focus on giving them confidence. I tell them, back yourself. Whatever delivery you plan to bowl, stick to it and don't overthink. I try to give them belief from behind the stumps that whatever you are thinking is good. Don't worry about what could go wrong. Just back yourself. We have to play good cricket. We have played positive cricket and done that throughout this IPL season, said Jurel to JioStar. Jurel, who emerged as one of RRs dependable performers by making 515 runs in 16 games as a top-order batter, spoke of his passion for batting and the lengths he goes to for extra practice to hone his primary skillset. I love to bat. I keep telling Vikram Rathour sir, our batting coach, to give me more time in the nets, but he always says no. So, I always find a way out to bat more in every training session. I reach early and start batting 20 minutes before the session officially begins. When others want their turn, I ask for 10 more minutes. When that's up, I ask for five more. I just keep batting. When my turn ends, I take my pads off but leave them in the nets. If there's a gap later, I jump back in. Vikram sir knows I won't stop, so he always says, 'Dhruv, please come out and let the others bat too.' I do this every time because I love batting. Before a match, I don't want to feel that I am not ready. On pacing his innings as per the demands of modern-day T20 cricket, Jurel explained, When I go out to bat, I take my time to settle in. I read the situation first. I check how the ball is coming off the wicket, what a par score would be on that pitch, or what the required rate is if we are chasing. I don't rush and pace my batting as per the needs of the situation. Majority of the time, one of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are there at the other end, batting well. So, I let them continue their momentum. My job is to stay with them, rotate the strike, and hold one end up. That way, we can build a long partnership. I try to play around them and keep the scoreboard moving. On pacing his innings as per the demands of modern-day T20 cricket, Jurel explained, When I go out to bat, I take my time to settle in. I read the situation first. I check how the ball is coming off the wicket, what a par score would be on that pitch, or what the required rate is if we are chasing. I don't rush and pace my batting as per the needs of the situation. Also Read: Live Cricket Score When someone tells me something before I go out to bat, it stays with me. I carry that thought into the middle. And when I can execute what we discussed, it gives me confidence. That kind of communication makes a huge difference in your personal mindset and the overall atmosphere in the dressing room. Article Source: IANS

From Strong Start To Final Showdown: RCBs Road To IPL 2026 Title Clash

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take inspiration from their amazing journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 league stage and the Qualifier 1 when they take on 2022 winners Gujarat Titans in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. After lifting their maiden IPL trophy last year, RCB are set to face the challenge of defending the crown for the first time in franchise history. The Rajat Patidar-led side responded in impressive fashion, finishing at the top of the points table with nine wins from 14 league matches before sealing a place in the final with a convincing victory over the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. RCB made an immediate statement at the start of the season. They opened their campaign with a successful chase against Sunrisers Hyderabad before registering a comfortable win over Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru. Their first defeat came against Rajasthan Royals, who chased down a 200-plus target in Guwahati. However, RCB quickly returned to winning ways with victories over Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants. A narrow defeat against Delhi Capitals at home briefly halted their progress, but RCB answered with a strong run of performances. They defeated the Gujarat Titans in Bengaluru and then produced one of their most dominant displays of the season against the Delhi Capitals, bowling them out for just 75 before completing the chase in rapid fashion. The middle phase of the season brought another challenge. Consecutive losses against Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants left RCB needing a strong finish to secure a playoff berth. Rather than faltering, the defending champions responded with three successive victories. They edged past Mumbai Indians in a thrilling contest, defeated Kolkata Knight Riders to confirm their playoff qualification, and followed it up with a win over Punjab Kings. Although Sunrisers Hyderabad handed them a heavy defeat of 55 runs in their final league game, RCB still finished at the top of the standings thanks to a superior net run rate Their best performance arrived at the perfect time in Qualifier 1. Facing the Gujarat Titans, captain Rajat Patidar led from the front with a breathtaking 93 off 33 deliveries as RCB posted a massive total of 254 runs. The bowlers then backed up the effort by dismissing Gujarat for 162, securing a 92-run victory and direct entry into the final. RCB's winning momentum is a result of collective performance from both batters and bowlers. Former captain Virat Kohli again topped the list of most runs for the franchise with 600 runs in 15 matches. While Skipper Patidar has also accumulated 486 runs in 14 matches. Their best performance arrived at the perfect time in Qualifier 1. Facing the Gujarat Titans, captain Rajat Patidar led from the front with a breathtaking 93 off 33 deliveries as RCB posted a massive total of 254 runs. The bowlers then backed up the effort by dismissing Gujarat for 162, securing a 92-run victory and direct entry into the final. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As they play their second consecutive IPL final, RCB would look to continue the winning momentum and clinch their second title in a row. Article Source: IANS

Ros Rivaz appointed to ICC board as independent director

Dr Ros Rivaz is set to join the ICC board on an initial three-year term, which can be extended for a maximum of one further three-year term

Their Finest Quality Is The Ability To Adapt: Vikram Solanki Hails Gill-Sudharsan Partnership

PCA New International Cricket Stadium: Gujarat Titans director of cricket Vikram Solanki lavished praise on Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan after the pairs match-winning opening stand powered the franchise into the IPL 2026 final, describing their adaptability and relentless hunger for runs as the foundation of one of the most successful partnerships in the tournament. Gill smashed a magnificent 104 off 53 balls while Sudharsan contributed 58 off 32 deliveries as Gujarat chased down Rajasthan Royals imposing total of 214/6 with eight balls to spare in Qualifier 2 at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium. The duo added 167 runs for the opening wicket, putting Gujarat firmly on course for a seven-wicket victory and a place in Sundays title clash against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Ahmedabad. Speaking after the win, Solanki said the partnerships success was the result of years of hard work and a willingness to adapt to different match situations. I thought all of their qualities were on display today. And its been a good number of years that that partnership has been flourishing. It is on the back of a lot of hard work. I can only imagine all of the work that Shubman has put in throughout his career to get to where he is as far as his batting is concerned. Hes an exceptional young man, he told reporters in the post-match press conference. And sometimes you have to realise hes still a young man. And to be playing the cricket that he is, to be batting the way he is, is just phenomenal, he added. Gills century, his fifth in the IPL, came at a strike rate of over 196 and effectively neutralised Rajasthans strong total that had been built around Vaibhav Sooryavanshis brilliant 96 and a late assault from Donovan Ferreira. Solanki also highlighted Sudharsans role in the partnership, saying the left-handers classical batting style should not be mistaken for a lack of attacking intent. Sai is no less so. He might be a little younger in his journey, but you can see that he takes a fine example from Shubman and understands that actually his skills are what you and I might view as batsmanship, the sort of traditional form of batting, he said. But there is no doubt in my mind that if a situation requires them to up the run rate and the wicket actually suits them playing that way, then they can adapt, he added. According to Solanki, the pairs versatility across conditions and opposition attacks is what separates them from many other opening combinations. But there is no doubt in my mind that if a situation requires them to up the run rate and the wicket actually suits them playing that way, then they can adapt, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With Gill and Sudharsan once again laying the platform in a pressure knockout game, the Gujarat Titans will now head to Ahmedabad hoping their prolific opening pair can deliver one more decisive performance when they face the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL 2026 final on Sunday. Article Source: IANS

Gill And Sudharsan Are The Best Batting Pair In IPL History: Irfan Pathan

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has hailed Gujarat Titans openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan as the greatest opening combination in IPL history, crediting their record-breaking partnership in Qualifier 2 as the defining factor behind the Rajasthan Royals' exit from IPL 2026. The duo once again delivered on the biggest stage, stitching together a blistering 167-run stand in just 77 deliveries as Gujarat chased down 215 with ease to book a place in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Reflecting on their dominance throughout the season, Pathan pointed to the numbers that separate Gill and Sudharsan from every other opening pair in the tournament. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan are the best batting pair in IPL history. They hold the record for the most 100-run partnerships and the most 50-plus partnerships in the tournament, Pathan told JioStar. According to Pathan, the secret behind their success lies in how naturally their games fit together, allowing Gujarat to maintain pressure on opposition bowlers from the outset. In T20 cricket, if you want a flying start, you want both of them at the top. They complement each other perfectly. One rotates the strike, the other finds the boundaries. Their understanding is remarkable, he said. The former India pacer also highlighted how the pair capitalised on Rajasthan's tactical errors during the powerplay. He noted that attempts to trouble them with short-pitched bowling played directly into their strengths. If bowlers try short-pitched deliveries, they actually enjoy it. They are ready to play the cut shot and punish anything short. That is exactly what Nandre Burger and Jofra Archer did. They bowled short, and Gill and Sudharsan were waiting, the former Baroda cricketer noted, Pathan further praised Gill's proactive approach against both pace and spin, adding that the Gujarat skipper's willingness to advance down the pitch makes him particularly difficult to contain. He opined that the contest was effectively settled during the opening stand itself. Even when Yash Raj Punja came into the attack, he bowled slightly shorter lengths. Shubman Gill is not afraid to use his feet against both fast bowlers and spinners. He steps out, creates room, and hits over the top. The opening partnership of 167 runs in just 77 balls was where Rajasthan Royals lost the game. That stand took the chase away from them completely, he said. Looking ahead to the final, however, Pathan believes Royal Challengers Bengaluru hold a slight edge despite Gujarat enjoying home conditions in Ahmedabad and pointed to RCB's additional recovery time after sealing direct qualification to the final. RCB look like a complete team. If you compare them man to man with Gujarat Titans, RCB have more in-form players and more proven match-winners. Their batting is deep, their bowling attack has variety, and they have fielders who can save crucial runs. Plus, they have the advantage of a longer break as well, having qualified directly for the final by winning the first qualifier. They have been waiting and preparing in Ahmedabad while GT had to play and win the second qualifier, he mentioned. Looking ahead to the final, however, Pathan believes Royal Challengers Bengaluru hold a slight edge despite Gujarat enjoying home conditions in Ahmedabad and pointed to RCB's additional recovery time after sealing direct qualification to the final. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Yes, the Narendra Modi Stadium is Gujarat Titans' home ground. They know the conditions and that will push GT as favourites in many people's eyes. But make no mistake, beating this RCB side will be a mountainous task for Shubman Gill and his men. RCB have already beaten GT once in the playoffs, and they will be raring to beat them again, this time in the final, he noted. Article Source: IANS

FIFA WC 2026: 'Belgium Are Capable Of Achieving Great Things,' Says Coach Garcia

FIFA World Cup: Belgium football head coach Rudi Garcia has shown firm belief in his side to achieve great things as they gear up for their fourth consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance. Belgium are placed in Group G with Egypt, Iran and New Zealand, and the 62-year-old coach has set a clear goal of coming out on top in the group stage and securing a favourable draw for the next round. We need to distinguish between our objective and our ambition. Our priority is to get through the group stage. Lets come out on top so that we earn a more favourable draw and, ideally, stay put [in Seattle for the Round of 32]. That will be the objective! Garcia told FIFA in an interview. Belgium suffered a shocking group-stage exit at the Qatar 2022 World Cup but are in a much better place in the ongoing tournament, as their opponents are less experienced than they are. With 14 World Cup campaigns already under their belt, they possess vastly greater pedigree on the global stage than the rest of the group combined, eclipsing Egypts three, Irans six and New Zealands two appearances to date. Although the odds appear to be in their favour, Garcia is taking nothing for granted. We have a huge amount of respect for the other three sides in our group, he stressed. This is what the World Cup is all about. We know Egypt well; theyre one of the best teams in Africa. I know all about Mo Salah as I coached him at Roma. Were also up against a team from Oceania and one from Asia. Were obviously less familiar with them as we dont see them play as often, but were looking forward to finding out what the Iranian and New Zealand teams are made of. Lets start by respecting our group-stage opponents. Lets beat them, finish top of the group, and then well see how far we can go, he added. Garcia may be ambitious, but he is certainly under no illusions about the task ahead, well aware that Belgium sitting ninth in the FIFA World Ranking ahead of their final warm-up matches have lost some of their lustre since their legendary run in 2018. Lets start by respecting our group-stage opponents. Lets beat them, finish top of the group, and then well see how far we can go, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Nevertheless, the Red Devils coach concluded with a defiant message: We should fear nobody, thats for sure. Ive already told the players: we have to believe we can go toe-to-toe with any team. Article Source: IANS

Bhopal Wolves Unveil Womens Squad For MPL T20 Scindia Cup 2026

MPL T20 Scindia Cup: Bhopal Wolves have announced the squad for the upcoming edition of the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup. Sanskriti Gupta and Aayushi Shukla are among the prominent names in the line-up. Bhopal Wolves Rupesh Kirar showed confidence in the squad and said, Weve put together a team that combines experience, energy and plenty of young talent. The atmosphere in the camp is very positive, and the players are eager to play an attacking and fearless brand of cricket this season. The MPL has become an excellent platform for cricketers to showcase their talent, gain confidence and make a name for themselves. Bhopal Wolves will start the tournament against Bundelkhand Bulls on June 4 in the afternoon game at Daly College. The new season of the Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) T20 Scindia Cup is set to kick off on June 3, with Gwalior Cheetahs facing Ujjain Falcons in the opening match of the mens tournament. The match will be held at the Holkar Stadium in Indore. MPL 2026 will be the tournaments biggest edition to date, featuring an expanded format with 10 mens teams and five womens franchises. Three new franchises have been added to the mens competition, with Malwa Stallions, Ujjain Falcons, and Royal Nimar Eagles joining defending champions Bhopal Leopards, alongside Bundelkhand Bulls, Chambal Ghariyals, Gwalior Cheetahs, Indore Pink Panthers, Jabalpur Royal Lions, and Rewa Jaguars. MPL 2026 will be the tournaments biggest edition to date, featuring an expanded format with 10 mens teams and five womens franchises. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Bhopal Wolves Womens Squad: Sanskriti Gupta, Hanshikha Kirar, Aayushi Shukla, Priyanka Koushal, Tamanna Choudhary, Vaishnavi Vyas, Vanshika Prajapati, Anshula Rao, Janhvi Rajput, Reena Yadav, Rishita Parihar, Kajal, Roshani Kumari, Anjali Patidar, Saanvi Bhawsar Article Source: IANS

To Reach A Final With A Hundredit Was A Chanceless, Classic Innings: Kumble On Gills captains Knock

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Former India captain Anil Kumble hailed Shubman Gill's match-winning century in Qualifier 2 as a perfect example of leadership under pressure, describing the Gujarat Titans skipper's unbeaten knock and authority at the crease as the defining factors behind his side's march into the IPL 2026 final. Gill produced a sublime 104 off 53 deliveries to lead Gujarat Titans to a commanding seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals, successfully chasing down 215 and securing a title clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The innings, his fifth IPL century, came at a crucial juncture after Gujarat's disappointing defeat to RCB in Qualifier 1. Reflecting on the knock, Kumble said Gill's intent was evident from the outset as he took control of the chase and never allowed Rajasthan's bowlers to settle. It was clinical. The way he approached his batting, you could see that he was really switched on and wanted to get to that final. He would obviously have been disappointed with the performance against RCB in Qualifier 1, Kumble told JioStar. The former India head coach pointed to Gujarat's aggressive mindset during the powerplay, where Gill and opening partner Sai Sudharsan laid the foundation for the record chase with a 167-run opening stand. He said, But the way he batted, he just took the bowlers on. As Sai Sudharsan mentioned, they wanted to go hard in the first over, make a statement, and then continue from there. Gill's innings stood out not only for its strokeplay against pace but also for the manner in which he handled Rajasthan's spin options. Kumble particularly highlighted the Gujarat captain's footwork against Ravindra Jadeja, one of the tournament's most experienced spinners. The way Shubman batted, not just against the fast bowlers but even against spin, was outstanding. He used his feet brilliantly against Ravindra Jadeja, the former spinner stated. For Kumble, the hallmark of the innings was the complete absence of risk or fortune. Gill remained in total control throughout the chase, finding boundaries at regular intervals while ensuring the required rate never became a concern. The way Shubman batted, not just against the fast bowlers but even against spin, was outstanding. He used his feet brilliantly against Ravindra Jadeja, the former spinner stated. Also Read: Live Cricket Score GT, the 2022 champions, will now face defending champions RCB as both teams eye a second IPL trophy. Article Source: IANS

'We Were Not Looking At The Score,' Says Sudharsan On Match-winning Partnership With Gill

PCA New Chandigarh Stadium: Gujarat Titans opener B Sai Sudharsan credited captain Shubman Gill for producing a remarkable innings in their seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2, saying the team never focused on the target and instead stuck to a simple ball-by-ball approach during the record chase. Chasing 215 at the PCA New Chandigarh Stadium on Friday, Gujarat rode on Gills magnificent 104 off 53 balls and Sudharsans 58 off 32 deliveries to reach 219/3 with eight balls to spare and book a place in the IPL 2026 final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The opening pair added a match-defining 167 runs, Gujarats highest opening partnership in the playoffs, effectively taking the game away from Rajasthan after they had posted 214/6 thanks largely to Vaibhav Sooryavanshis 96 and late fireworks from Donovan Ferreira. Reflecting on the chase, Sudharsan said the Titans never allowed the scoreboard pressure to affect their approach. To be honest, we were not looking at the score. We were just playing, taking ball by ball. And we kept it very simple, to be honest. We just had every-ball process, and we kept on doing that, and to be honest, Shubhman just took the game away. The way he played, it was just unbelievable. So, credit to Shubhman, Sudharsan said in a video released by IPL on X. Gills fifth IPL century was the centrepiece of Gujarats chase as he struck 15 boundaries and three sixes at a strike rate of nearly 200. Sudharsan complemented him perfectly before being dismissed in bizarre fashion, becoming hit wicket for the second successive match. The left-hander also shed light on the animated celebrations and chemistry shared between him and Gill during partnerships. I feel its a way of bringing up energy for us when we have a very good over or a very good shot, whether he played or I played. I think it just comes so natural, and I enjoy it so much, He said. We try and play an orthodox cricketing shot which doesnt have a lot of risks, so that we are able to replicate it as many times as possible. And we try to be, you know, just being a bit unpredictable, he added. The victory has set up a blockbuster title clash against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. While acknowledging the enormous support RCB are likely to enjoy, Sudharsan insisted Gujarat would focus on controlling what they can. Well mentally prep for the game and try and believe and trust ourselves and the teammates on how we can go about the game and how we can keep the game as normal as possible rather than thinking it as an occasion or an IPL final, he said. Sudharsan also expects RCBs passionate fanbase to make its presence felt in Ahmedabad, just as it did when the two teams met earlier this season. RCB, on a more serious note, they carry the weight of a wonderful tribe of their own fan following as well. We saw that when we played against them in Gujarat the last time. I think, yeah, I think it definitely makes a factor because its all energies where, you know, yeah, definitely they will have a great fan following in Ahmedabad as well, he added. Sudharsan also expects RCBs passionate fanbase to make its presence felt in Ahmedabad, just as it did when the two teams met earlier this season. Also Read: Live Cricket Score After finishing among the top two teams in the league stage and overcoming Rajasthan in Qualifier 2, Gujarat now have the opportunity to lift their second IPL trophy when they face RCB in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Article Source: IANS

Solanki banks on Gill-Sai Sudharsan's 'immense appetite for run-scoring'

He knows how to deal with all of those matters - success, failure, professional sport is about dealing with exactly that, Solanki says about Gill's mindset heading into IPL 2026

Henry's all-round heroics hands West Indies win against Pakistan

West Indies are in the lead on the tri-series points table, having beaten Ireland in the opening match on Thursday

Its Disappointing, I Saw Him Playing For Surrey: Sangakkara Questions Currans Absence After RRs IPL 2026 Exit

Chennai Super Kings: Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has publicly expressed his frustration over England all-rounder Sam Currans absence from the IPL 2026 season, raising concerns about player availability and contractual commitments after the franchises campaign came to an end in Qualifier 2 against the Gujarat Titans. The Royals suffered a seven-wicket defeat on Friday, bringing the curtain down on a season that Sangakkara said was repeatedly disrupted by personnel setbacks. Among those issues, the former Sri Lanka captain singled out Currans withdrawal from the tournament despite the England all-rounder subsequently appearing in domestic cricket back home. Speaking after the playoff loss, Sangakkara questioned the circumstances surrounding Currans absence. We were told that Sam Curran had a season-ending injury, but I think I saw him playing for Surrey for two or three games now, so that was disappointing. Wed have loved to have had him here playing for us, but we got Dasun Shanaka as a replacement after we were informed early, Sangakkara told reporters. Curran had arrived at Rajasthan through a high-profile trade with the Chennai Super Kings before the season. The Royals secured both Curran and Ravindra Jadeja in exchange for Sanju Samson, investing Rs 2.4 crore in the English all-rounder. However, before the tournament began, Curran informed the franchise that he would be unavailable because of what was described as a season-ending injury. Rajasthan later brought in Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as a replacement. The Royals coach also underlined the need for stricter enforcement of regulations governing player withdrawals from the league. A proper, tight policy around that is always a requirement. The BCCI has a strict policy on that. Every player goes through injuries, and if its a serious injury, a season-ending injury, of course we understand, he said. Curran has since featured in three matches for Surrey in the ongoing T20 Blast. While the 27-year-old has not bowled since Englands T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to India in March, he has contributed significantly with the bat, scoring 141 runs in the competition. Sangakkara contrasted Currans absence with the commitment shown by several other overseas players in the Rajasthan setup, many of whom remained with the squad despite limited on-field opportunities. Curran has since featured in three matches for Surrey in the ongoing T20 Blast. While the 27-year-old has not bowled since Englands T20 World Cup semi-final defeat to India in March, he has contributed significantly with the bat, scoring 141 runs in the competition. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But I think the BCCI policy around it is very strict now, and thats the way it should continue to be, to make sure that contractual obligations are met properly and genuinely. I think every side in the IPL will benefit from that, he added. Article Source: IANS

Who remains in French Open contention after Sinner and Djokovic defeated?

With Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic out of the French Open, the mens draw was wide open

'A Really Pleasing Performance': Latham Delighted By New Zealands Belfast Dominance

Captain Tom Latham: Captain Tom Latham praised centurion Tom Blundell and seamer Nathan Smith after New Zealand thrashed Ireland by an innings and 79 runs in the single test in Belfast on Friday - providing the perfect platform for their first test against England at Lord's next week. The tourists found themselves on the ropes early, falling to 86-4 inside 23 overs, but the magnificence of a Blundell hundred helped to transform the game as the wicketkeeper-batsman joined with Rachin Ravindra for a pivotal 217-run partnership that laid the foundations for a huge first-innings total of 490-8 declared. We were put under pressure on that first day - to be four down reasonably early with not many on the board, Latham told the Post-Match presentation show. The introduction of Tom absorbed quite a lot of pressure and was able to put it back on them and form a really good partnership, over 200. Back on track, the Kiwis took control and dismissed their hosts for only 179 as Nathan Smith recorded career best figures of 6-40 to hand them a first innings lead of 311 and allow him to exercise the option of following on. Ireland had little response second time around and were restricted to a further 232, leaving New Zealand comfortable victors well before the close of play and giving them perfect match preparation for their upcoming three-Test series with England during June. Latham was especially pleased with his team's response to the difficult first day and the achievement of their predetermined batting targets. A really pleasing performance, said Latham. We spoke as a batting unit of getting 400-plus in the first innings, and to get what we did and to push towards the back end to give us a chance to bowl before lunch. Ireland had little response second time around and were restricted to a further 232, leaving New Zealand comfortable victors well before the close of play and giving them perfect match preparation for their upcoming three-Test series with England during June. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The hundred of Blundell, Smith's six-wicket haul and the comprehensive victory ensure that New Zealand head into the Lord's test match high in confidence and full of momentum. Article Source: IANS

French Open: Teenager Fonseca tames Djokovic in fourth round as shocks continue in Paris

Roland Garros was assured a first-time major winner, with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz skipping the tournament due to a wrist injury

'Disappointing' - Sangakkara on Sam Curran turning out for Surrey with IPL still on

We were told that Sam Curran had a season-ending injury, Kumar Sangakkara says after allrounder resumes playing at the Vitality Blast for Surrey

Matthews Leads From The Front As West Indies Make It Two Wins In Two

Captain Hayley Matthews: West Indies continued their impressive start to the Women's Tri-Series in Ireland, registering a convincing 25-run victory over Pakistan on Friday to make it two wins from two matches. After defeating the home side the day before, West Indies again produced a fine all-round performance with all parts of the batting lineup firing, and the bowlers limiting Pakistan's response in a chase of 200. After winning the toss and batting, two of the mainstays of West Indies' lineup in Deandra Dottin and Qiana Joseph had quiet contributions. Captain Hayley Matthews got the West Indies off to a flyer with an aggressive 40 from 20 balls which included nine boundaries, which really got West Indies off and running for a large score. After Matthews's departure, veteran Stafanie Taylor took the reins and brought up her 39 to continue the innings, while at the back end of the innings there was a flurry of boundaries at the death from Chinelle Henry and Jannillea Glasgow. They blasted their way to 199-6 with Glasgow making a superb 42 from just 25 balls while Henry remained unbeaten on 33 off 17. When the Pakistan innings began, things got off to the worst possible start as they lost 3 wickets in the first 4 overs, this really got them into a hole and was a dire start at 28/3. Muneeba Ali was dismissed first ball of the game and Henry came in and took the scalps of Muneeba Ali as well as Ayesha Zafar two balls later, that effectively sent Pakistan onto the back foot. However, there was still plenty of resistance with Saira Jabeen smashing a fast 30 off 19 balls, however with neither Rameen Shamim or Iram Javed able to convert starts into big scores, it became harder. But Aliya Riaz came to the crease with a big hitter in Fatima Sana following her in, Riaz hit a fast paced 37 from 28 balls while Sana smashed 27 off 14, but ultimately their challenge would never reach Pakistan's target as West Indies closed them out and reached a comfortable 25-run victory. When the Pakistan innings began, things got off to the worst possible start as they lost 3 wickets in the first 4 overs, this really got them into a hole and was a dire start at 28/3. Muneeba Ali was dismissed first ball of the game and Henry came in and took the scalps of Muneeba Ali as well as Ayesha Zafar two balls later, that effectively sent Pakistan onto the back foot. Also Read: Live Cricket Score West Indies Women 199/6 in 20 overs (Jannillea Glasgow 42, Hayley Matthews 40; Rameen Shamim 2-27) beat Pakistan Women 174/8 in 20 overs (Aliya Riaz 37; Chinelle Henry 2-13, Shawnisha Hector 2-21) by 25 runs. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Sangakkara Backs Sooryavanshi For India Call-up After Record-breaking Season

Yash Raj Punja: Rajasthan Royals coach Kumar Sangakkara believes that young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is now ready to be included in the Indian squad after his remarkable IPL 2026 performance which established him as one of the best young cricketers to have ever graced the game. The 15-year-old ended the season with an astonishing 776 runs in 16 games, having struck at an amazing rate of 237.30 runs per hundred balls, which helped Rajasthan reach Qualifier 2 before they were beaten by Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh on Saturday. After watching the teenager pummel some of the best bowlers in the world, Sangakkara feels that an India call-up is now a matter of when, not if. Given what Vaibhav has done this season against some of the greatest fast bowlers that the world has, I think he is more than ready to take whatever challenge that we throw at him, Sangakkara said following the team's loss to Gujarat. I am certain that he will get a national call-up very, very soon. He has played with great maturity and shoulder the responsibility of opening partnership quite well for us this season. Sooryavanshi showed his true temperament yet again during Qualifier 2 where he hammered an outstanding 96 off just 47 balls on a very tricky two-paced wicket. His ability to adapt to the challenging circumstances against some of the tallest and most intimidating fast bowlers in world cricket who were trying to target him with the short ball, and despite wickets falling regularly at the other end, ensured that Rajasthan had something to chase in the Qualifier 2 encounter. Sangakkara attributes the youngster's tremendous rise to his approach to the game and cricketing intelligence. Yes, I think that we've got a plan for him, Sangakkara explained. We're not cluttering his mind at all. He comes into our team meetings, contributes and listens, and does a lot of homework. He practices well, watches a lot of videos of opposition bowlers and gets ready for them accordingly. We're not trying to plant anything extra in his mind. I think he just has to keep it clear and bat with that same courage. Rajasthan exceeded all expectations to reach the playoffs in ninth position last season and were able to do so once again, even with injury setbacks like losing Sam Curran for the season and fitness problems for Riyan Parag and Ravindra Jadeja late in the tournament. Sangakkara also praised the performances of the emerging players in the Rajasthan team and called on both Yash Raj Punja and Brijesh Sharma to build on their debut season in the IPL. I think every one of these players has performed very well and they should be extremely proud of themselves, he said. I think Yash had an amazing season and Brijesh also had a very good season, but I want to give credit to everyone around him, from Riyan to Dhruv also - Dhruv always gets underrated sometimes - and then Donovan, Jofra, Jadeja in some parts and Shubham in a couple of games for us. Everyone who came in, always gave their best and so to be able to achieve that [playoffs] this season having finished 9th last year and to drag ourselves here is, I think a great achievement. I don't think there is any question, we've still got some runs to run through these players, but I'm very, very proud of them. They're a truly wonderful bunch, they are very skilled and they worked very, very hard for us to get here and they're a very special team. Sangakkara also complimented Riyan Parag on his debut season as captain of the Rajasthan Royals. I think Riyan's first season as captain has been phenomenal, Sangakkara stated. He has handled the team well, handled the on-field decisions well; I think that is something that will also grow and develop with all the players and with Riyan himself and the management team we have around him and he will just come back stronger and we will all come back stronger. Sangakkara also complimented Riyan Parag on his debut season as captain of the Rajasthan Royals. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But this just shows how cricket can do to you, if you play well and if you have fun playing this game you're going to perform quite special things. Article Source: IANS

Sangakkara on Sooryavanshi: 'I'm sure that he'll get that call-up very, very soon'

I think no one really probably gave us a chance to qualify [for the playoffs] when we started the campaign, Kumar Sangakkara says after Rajasthan Royal's exit from IPL 2026 in Qualifier 2

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Ekansh Singh 95 props up Lions after Tiaan van Vuuren five-for

Kent allrounder rescues hosts after they plummet to 36 for 5 in face of searching spell

IPL 2026: Gills Hundred Leads GT Into Final Against RCB With Seven-wicket Win Over RR (ld)

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket: Shubman Gills majestic 104 off 53 balls and a record 167run opening partnership with B Sai Sudharsan powered Gujarat Titans to their highest successful chase in the IPL, as they overhauled Rajasthan Royals 214 in Qualifier 2 to book a spot in the title clash, where they will take on defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. On a tricky twopaced pitch with variable bounce, RR rode on Vaibhav Sooryavanshis sparkling yet mature 96, Ravindra Jadejas attacking 45, and Donovan Ferreiras whirlwind 38 not out to post 214/6 in their 20 overs at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. But Gill stepped up when it mattered the most to score his fifth IPL century, laced with 15 fours and three sixes coming at a strike-rate of 196.23. Though the rest of the GT batters finished off the chase, the game will be remembered for Gills brilliant hundred, where he didnt mistime much and was at his classy best - finding the gaps with ease and being elegant in his pulls and lofts to bring RRs season to an end. Sudharsan, meanwhile, hit 58 off 32 balls, before he extraordinarily fell hit wicket for a second consecutive time - losing control of the bat and hitting the stumps. GTs chase of 215, completed with eight balls to spare, is their highest successful runchase as their usual template of Gill and Sudharsan scoring plenty of runs clicked yet again. The win now sends them into their third IPL final, where they will face RCB at their home ground, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The clash is a repeat of Qualifier 1, with the leagues top two sides contesting for their second IPL title. Electing to bat first, RR were jolted early by losses of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel before Jadeja provided impetus before retiring hurt with an elbow injury and returned later to make 45 off 35 balls. Ferreira then tore into Rashid Khan in the final over, bringing 27 runs, including smashing four sixes, to hit 38 off just 11 deliveries, while Sooryavanshis knock, different in nature from his Eliminator knock of 97, was just as impactful as his 96 off 47 balls was studded with eight fours and seven sixes. It also made Sooryavanshi the quickest batter to reach 1000 IPL runs and become the new holder of the record of most boundaries hit by a batter in a single edition of the IPL. The teenager reached his fifty in 31 balls his slowest half-century in the IPL, but added 46 runs in the next 17 deliveries. The hallmark of his knock was playing as per the situation with remarkable maturity and range of strokes, though he fell one hit short of a century once again. At 9/2, Jadeja, promoted up the order, joined Sooryavanshi to steady the ship. The lefthander counterattacked, pulling Siraj for boundaries and a six, while Sooryavanshi, troubled by bouncers and not finding his usual timing, launched Rabada over the sightscreen for a 91metre maximum. The pair rebuilt briskly and hit boundaries well before Jadeja retired hurt due to an elbow issue. Rashids introduction backfired as Riyan Parag and Sooryavanshi hammered him for 18 runs in the ninth over. Jason Holder, however, pulled things back with wickets of Parag and Dasun Shanaka in quick succession, while Jofra Archers cameo was brought to a stiff end by Prasidh Krishna to leave RR at 120/5. Sooryavanshi dropped once on 46 by Sudharsan, capitalised with clean hitting. After bringing up his fifty, he accelerated with audacious strokes - with a forehand slap off Holder and a towering pull off Siraj being the standout shots. Jadeja returned after treatment and added crucial runs, even as Sooryavanshi cleared Washington Sundar twice for sixes in the 17th over. He looked set for his second IPL hundred of this season, but mistimed the upper cut and was caught at third man off Rabada. Ferreira then took centre stage. After taking two fours off Prasidh, he unleashed a stunning assault on Rashid in the final over - smashing four consecutive sixes, including an insideout loft over extra cover and a slog sweep over midwicket, as his late surge lifted RR past the 210-run mark. GTs chase began with Sudharsan and Gill taking down Jofra Archer, as 19 runs came off it. Gill then hit back-to-back boundaries against Archer in the latters next over to set the tone of a masterful run chase. Nandre Burger leaked more runs, including Sudharsan being dropped on 14 by Donovan Ferreira. Gills timing was impeccable, driving and pulling with authority, while Sudharsan matched him stroke for stroke. By the end of the Power-play, the pair had taken GT to 69 for no loss. Gill continued to dominate, cutting and lofting Brijesh Sharma and Yash Raj Punja with elegance, as he brought up his fifty in 30 balls. Sudharsan too reached his fifty in 26 deliveries with a lofted six off Punja. The partnership continued to flourish with breathtaking and well-timed boundaries, which meant the asking rate never went out of control, before Sudharsans innings ended bizarrely, hit wicket for the second time in successive matches this time off Brijesh Sharma. Gill, meanwhile, brought up his hundred with a lofted extra cover drive off Ravindra Jadeja and celebrated with his trademark bow. Though Gill was trapped lbw by Archer, Jos Buttler and Washington Sundar kept the chase on track, adding quick runs in the middle overs. Sundar struck Archer for a six and four, but perished to Burger for 16. Rahul Tewatia struck Brijesh for successive boundaries before sealing victory with a straight six and booking GTs spot in the final. The partnership continued to flourish with breathtaking and well-timed boundaries, which meant the asking rate never went out of control, before Sudharsans innings ended bizarrely, hit wicket for the second time in successive matches this time off Brijesh Sharma. Gill, meanwhile, brought up his hundred with a lofted extra cover drive off Ravindra Jadeja and celebrated with his trademark bow. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Rajasthan Royals 214/6 in 20 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 96, Ravindra Jadeja 45 not out; Jason Holder 2-27, Kagiso Rabada 2-45) lost to Gujarat Titans 219/3 in 18.4 overs (Shubman Gill 104, B Sai Sudharsan 58; Nandre Burger 1-35, Brijesh Sharma 1-44) by seven wickets Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Gill Smashes 104 As GT Set Up Title Clash Against RCB With Win Over RR

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket: Shubman Gills majestic 104 off 53 balls and a record 167-run opening partnership with B. Sai Sudharsan powered Gujarat Titans to acing their highest successful chase in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, as they overhauled Rajasthan Royals 214 in Qualifier 2 to book a spot in the title clash, where they will take on defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). At the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Gill scored his fifth IPL century, laced with 15 fours and three sixes coming at a strike-rate of 196.23. Though the rest of the GT batters finished off the chase, the game will be remembered for Gills brilliant hundred, where he didnt mistime much and was at his classy best - finding the gaps with ease and being elegant in his pulls and lofts to bring RRs season to an end. Sudharsan, meanwhile, hit 58 off 32 balls before he was extraordinarily out, hit wicket for the second consecutive time. GTs chase of 215, with eight balls to spare, is their highest successful runchase as their usual template of Gill and Sudharsan scoring plenty of runs clicked yet again. The win now sends them into their third IPL final, where they will face RCB in Ahmedabad -- a repeat of Qualifier 1, with the leagues top two sides contesting for the title. GTs chase began with Sudharsan and Gill taking down Jofra Archer, as 19 runs came off it. Gill then hit back-to-back boundaries against Archer in the latters next over to set the tone of a masterful run chase. Nandre Burger leaked more runs, including Sudharsan being dropped on 14 by Donovan Ferreira. Gills timing was impeccable, driving and pulling with authority, while Sudharsan matched him stroke for stroke. By the end of the Power-play, the pair had taken GT to 69 for no loss. Gill continued to dominate, cutting and lofting Brijesh Sharma and Yash Raj Punja with elegance, as he brought up his fifty in 30 balls. Sudharsan too reached his fifty in 26 deliveries with a lofted six off Punja. The partnership continued to flourish with breathtaking and well-timed boundaries, which meant the asking rate never went out of control, before Sudharsans innings ended bizarrely, hitwicket for the second time in successive matches this time off Brijesh Sharma. Gill, meanwhile, brought up his hundred with a lofted extracover drive off Ravindra Jadeja and celebrated with his trademark bow. Though Gill was trapped lbw by Archer, Jos Buttler and Washington Sundar kept the chase on track, adding quick runs in the middle overs. Sundar struck Archer for a six and four, but perished to Burger for 16. Rahul Tewatia struck Brijesh for successive boundaries before sealing victory with a straight six and booking GTs spot in the final. The partnership continued to flourish with breathtaking and well-timed boundaries, which meant the asking rate never went out of control, before Sudharsans innings ended bizarrely, hitwicket for the second time in successive matches this time off Brijesh Sharma. Gill, meanwhile, brought up his hundred with a lofted extracover drive off Ravindra Jadeja and celebrated with his trademark bow. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Rajasthan Royals 214/6 in 20 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 96, Ravindra Jadeja 45 not out; Jason Holder 2-27, Kagiso Rabada 2-45) lost to Gujarat Titans 219/3 in 18.4 overs (Shubman Gill 104, B. Sai Sudharsan 58; Nandre Burger 1-35, Brijesh Sharma 1-44) by seven wickets Article Source: IANS

Gill 104 trumps Sooryavanshi 96 as GT enter IPL final

While Sooryavanshi played an almost lone hand for RR, GT had Gill and Sai Sudharsan firing at both ends

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IPL 2026: Rishabh Has Recognised That Its Time To Move On From Captaincy For Now, Says Moody

Lucknow Super Giants: Lucknow Super Giants Director of Cricket Tom Moody said Rishabh Pants decision to step down as the sides captain in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has come after he recognised that its time to move on from captaincy for now and focus as a player after two difficult seasons. Pant, 28, was bought for Rs 27 crore by LSG at the mega auction held in 2024, making him the most expensive purchase in IPL history. But under him, LSG had a disappointing time, getting 10 wins and 18 losses in two seasons, where they finished seventh and tenth, respectively. Pant himself didnt set the stage alight with the bat, as seen from his modest returns of 269 runs in 2025 and 312 in 2026. At the end of the day, Rishabh has recognised that it's time to move on from captaincy for now and focus as a player. The last couple of years have been difficult for him. He hasn't reached the heights he would've expected for himself. It's the right decision - certainly the right decision for him, it's the right decision for the franchise. Let's hope this is the corner he turns that enables him to play the brand of cricket we recognise alongside him. I made the statement at the end of our last game that we needed to consider a leadership reset. And I think everyone knew that. In the last three years for the franchise, they've come seventh, seventh, and tenth. So we need to look at things, said Moody on ESPNCricinfo. The last couple of years have been difficult for him. He hasn't reached the heights he would've expected for himself. It's the right decision - certainly the right decision for him, it's the right decision for the franchise. Let's hope this is the corner he turns that enables him to play the brand of cricket we recognise alongside him. Also Read: Live Cricket Score On Pants future at LSG, Moody said it was too early to decide. We as a franchise recognise that the tournament's not even finished yet. It's going to take a long time for us to debrief and review the whole squad. (We need to see) What are we looking to do, what brand of cricket are we wanting to play, and who's going to be playing those roles moving forward? Article Source: IANS

Harman helps Hampshire rescue tie after Wellington ties down Surrey

Ryana MacDonald-Gay to the fore once more as Surrey scrap hard in defence of 121

IPL 2026: Line And Length Key On tennis-ball Bounce Wicket In New Chandigarh, Says Rabada

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket: Gujarat Titans pacer Kagiso Rabada, holder of the Purple Cap with 28 scalps, said bowling against Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium was about sticking to line and length and adjusting to the tennis ball bounce on offer in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. RR, powered by Vaibhav Sooryavanshis 96, Ravindra Jadejas attacking 45, and Donovan Ferreiras late blitz of 38 not out, have set GT a daunting target of 215 if they are to enter the IPL 2026 final, where they will face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Both GT and RR are aiming to enter their third IPL final. I think there was a little bit (of help) in that wicket. Its got some tennis ball bounce. So, trying to hang as much as possible in and around that area, and then adjust accordingly. Thats always key, bowling is about line and length. The more you miss your line and length, the more you decrease your chances of getting a wicket. RR, powered by Vaibhav Sooryavanshis 96, Ravindra Jadejas attacking 45, and Donovan Ferreiras late blitz of 38 not out, have set GT a daunting target of 215 if they are to enter the IPL 2026 final, where they will face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Both GT and RR are aiming to enter their third IPL final. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Asked whether the pitch was slightly doublepaced, Rabada replied, Not too much. I think the ball is coming onto the bat quite decently. They scored 214 runs, so that tells you that the ball is coming on pretty decently. But you still have to bat well. You still have to form some good partnerships, and then thats the way to chase this total. Article Source: IANS

Lanning caning sees off Somerset for Lancashire's first win

Australian guides chase with unbeaten 75 after Hannah Jones three-for limits visitors to 137-6

Pakistan's National T20 Cup final to be played on June 6 or 7

The final had to be rescheduled because of persistent rain around the original date of March 18

IPL 2026: Sooryavanshis 96, Jadeja And Ferreira's Knocks Carry RR To 214/6 Against GT

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket: Rajasthan Royals rode on Vaibhav Sooryavanshis sparkling yet mature 96, Ravindra Jadejas attacking 45, and Donovan Ferreiras whirlwind 38 not out to post 214/6 in their 20 overs against Gujarat Titans in their Qualifier 2 clash of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Friday. On a tricky two-paced pitch with variable bounce, RR were jolted early by Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada. Jadeja provided impetus before retiring hurt with an elbow injury and returned later to make 45 off 35 balls. Ferreira then tore into Rashid Khan in the final over, bringing 27 runs, including smashing four sixes, to hit 38 off just 11 deliveries, while Sooryavanshis knock, different in nature from his Eliminator knock of 97, was just as impactful as his 96 off 47 balls was studded with eight fours and seven sixes. It also made Sooryavanshi the quickest batter to reach 1000 IPL runs and become the new holder of the record of most boundaries hit by a batter in a single edition of the IPL. The teenager reached his fifty in 31 balls his slowest half-century in the IPL, but added 46 runs in the next 17 deliveries. The hallmark of his knock was playing as per the situation with remarkable maturity and a range of strokes. Though he fell one hit short of a century once again, Sooryavanshi nevertheless sparkled under the lights in New Chandigarh and gave RR the edge at the halfway mark in their bid to play their third IPL final. After electing to bat first, RR lost Yashasvi Jaiswal early to Siraj in the opening over, before Dhruv Jurel too fell cheaply to Rabada. At 9/2, Jadeja, promoted up the order, joined Sooryavanshi to steady the ship. The lefthander counterattacked, pulling Siraj for boundaries and a six, while Sooryavanshi, troubled by bouncers and not finding his usual timing, launched Rabada over the sightscreen for a 91metre maximum. The pair rebuilt briskly and hit boundaries well before Jadeja retired hurt due to an elbow issue. Rashids introduction backfired as Riyan Parag and Sooryavanshi hammered him for 18 runs in the ninth over. Jason Holder, however, pulled things back with wickets of Parag and Dasun Shanaka in quick succession, while Jofra Archers cameo was brought to a stiff end by Prasidh Krishna to leave RR at 120/5. Sooryavanshi dropped once on 46 by B Sai Sudharsan, capitalised with clean hitting. After bringing up his fifty, he accelerated with audacious strokes -- with a forehand slap off Holder and a towering pull off Siraj being the standout shots. Jadeja returned after treatment and added crucial runs, even as Sooryavanshi cleared Washington Sundar twice for sixes in the 17th over. He looked set for his second IPL hundred of this season, but mistimed the upper cut and was caught at third man off Rabada. Ferreira then took centre stage. After taking two fours off Prasidh, he unleashed a stunning assault on Rashid in the final over - smashing four consecutive sixes, including an insideout loft over extra cover and a slog sweep over midwicket, as his late surge lifted RR past the 210-run mark. Jadeja returned after treatment and added crucial runs, even as Sooryavanshi cleared Washington Sundar twice for sixes in the 17th over. He looked set for his second IPL hundred of this season, but mistimed the upper cut and was caught at third man off Rabada. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Rajasthan Royals 214/6 in 20 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 96, Ravindra Jadeja 45 not out; Jason Holder 2-27, Kagiso Rabada 2-45) against Gujarat Titans Article Source: IANS

Heath's T20 best proves too much for struggling Warwickshire

Keeper-batter makes 61 to set up comfortable 27-run win at Chester-le-Street

Shaheen Afridi on Pakistan quicks losing speed: 'Machines deteriorate with time'

Afridi said Rizwan's omission from the ODIs against Australia was to give youngsters chance ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup

McCullum signals Stokes-Smith swap in England batting order

England also appear to be leaning towards recall for Shoaib Bashir ahead of first Test of summer

Sri Lanka Recall Gunarathne, Gimhani, Kavindi For Womens T20 WC, Ranaweera Excluded

T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka has recalled Vishmi Gunarathne, Shashini Gimhani, and Kawya Kavindi to their squad for the ICC Womens T20 World Cup, while experienced left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera has been left out in a notable change from the group that toured Bangladesh in April-May. Inoka, who has played 91 T20Is, did not get a game in the T20Is against Bangladesh, which Sri Lanka won 3-0. But she bowled tidy spells in the series against the West Indies in March. Apart from her, Rashmika Sewwandi and Dewmi Vihanga have also been left out of the squad for the 12-team mega event to be played in England from June 12 to July 5. Vishmi has played 54 T20Is but has struggled for form since the 2024 Womens T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka will hope that she, along with wrist spinner Shashini and seamer Kawya, hit top form in the World Cup. Imesha Dulani, Hansima Karunarathne, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sugandika Dassanayaka, Nimasha Madushani, Malki Madara, and Mithali Ayodhya are also set to make their first appearance at the Women's T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka, led by veteran batting all-rounder Chamari Athapaththu, will open their campaign against hosts and 2009 winners England at Edgbaston on June 12. Chamari has featured in all the previous nine editions of the tournament. Imesha Dulani, Hansima Karunarathne, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sugandika Dassanayaka, Nimasha Madushani, Malki Madara, and Mithali Ayodhya are also set to make their first appearance at the Women's T20 World Cup. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sri Lanka squad: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Nilakshika Silva, Kaveesha Dilhari, Hansima Karunarathne, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sugandika Dassanayaka, Nimasha Madushani, Shashini Gimhani, Kawya Kavindi, Malki Madara, and Mithali Ayodhya Article Source: IANS

Ambidextrous spinner Shashini Gimhani in Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup squad

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IPL 2026: Its About Being In Autopilot Now And Just Getting What Needs To Be Done, Says Ferreira

Indian Premier League: Rajasthan Royals all-rounder Donovan Ferreira said the side has switched into autopilot mode as they prepare to take on Gujarat Titans in the Qualifier 2 of IPL 2026. RR arrive in Qualifier 2 after beating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs in the Eliminator, thanks to Vaibhav Sooryavanshis astonishing 97. Like you said, we've had three mustwin games, but every game is different. You cant carry one over to the next; today is a big game for us. I cant really speak for them (other players), but the rest of us have been playing a lot of cricket over the last few days. Its about being in autopilot now and just getting what needs to be done, Ferreira said in a pre-game chat with the broadcasters. He emphasised his readiness to play any role required by the team. I'll do whatever the coach and the team need; thats been our motto. Management has all the insights and data to make those calls, so we just have to be ready whenever we're called upon. Like you said, we've had three mustwin games, but every game is different. You cant carry one over to the next; today is a big game for us. I cant really speak for them (other players), but the rest of us have been playing a lot of cricket over the last few days. Its about being in autopilot now and just getting what needs to be done, Ferreira said in a pre-game chat with the broadcasters. Also Read: Live Cricket Score On conditions at the venue, Ferreira said, Im not sure what the captain and coach have decided, but this is a really good batting wicket. Looking at the previous game, the opposition didn't even bat that well. We bowled quite well, and they still reached (almost) 200. That shows how good the wicket is. Whatever the decision, well need to put up a good score or chase well. If there is dew, batting second is beneficial. Article Source: IANS

Toss drama in IPL Qualifier 2 as referee fails to hear Riyan Parag

IPL 2026: Hopefully, We Cross The Same Line And Go To The Finals, Says GTs Sai Sudharsan

Narendra Modi Stadium: Gujarat Titans left-handed opener B Sai Sudharsan said the team is treating their IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 clash against Rajasthan Royals as just another game and expressed confidence in the side crossing the line and enter the title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. GT are coming off a 92-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala. No, I think we're not looking at it like a big day. It's just another day. We're doing the same thing what we've been doing the whole season. So we are looking at it as another game. Hopefully, we cross the same line and go to the finals, Sudharsan said in a pre-game chat with the broadcasters. On batting approach which has made him the leading run-getter in IPL 2026 via making 652 runs in 15 games, Sudharsan explained, I think it's all about being versatile enough to work out what you can do at your best to chase a 240250. I don't think we'll have to change the way we are playing. GT are coming off a 92-run defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala. No, I think we're not looking at it like a big day. It's just another day. We're doing the same thing what we've been doing the whole season. So we are looking at it as another game. Hopefully, we cross the same line and go to the finals, Sudharsan said in a pre-game chat with the broadcasters. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Reflecting on recovery after a tough defeat, Sudharsan said, So I think as a team, we are definitely looking forward for this game. Yes, it was a difficult loss for us, but I feel it's just, what can I say, it just ignited us inside and we have the fire for the game today. So I think we're looking at that way. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: Unchanged RR Elect To Bat First Against GT, Sai Kishore Returns For Qualifier 2

Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket: An unchanged Rajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bat first against the Gujarat Titans in the Qualifier 2 clash at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Friday. There was a re-spin of the toss by match referee Prakash Bhatt as the call wasnt loud enough from RR captain Riyan Parag. The winner of this clash will meet Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final, to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. RR arrive in Qualifier 2 after beating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 47 runs in the Eliminator, while GT come in after suffering a 92-run loss to RCB in Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala. After winning the toss, RR skipper Riyan Parag said, Pretty much the same wicket, but I think it slows down at the backend, and we have the bowlers for it. We just need to play better cricket for 40 overs, and the best team will win. The support staff have been incredible about recoveries and injuries. GT skipper Shubman Gill said left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore is back in the playing eleven in place of Kulwant Khejroliya. We would have batted first as well. Forty overs of cricket already on this wicket, and it won't behave differently. We have everything to play for; it's a now or never situation. Playing XIs: Gujarat Titans: B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammed Siraj Impact substitutes: Rahul Tewatia, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, and Arshad Khan Gujarat Titans: B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, and Mohammed Siraj Also Read: Live Cricket Score Impact substitutes: Shubham Dubey, Sushant Mishra, Aman Rao Perala, Ravi Bishnoi, and Tushar Deshpande Article Source: IANS

RR bat, GT bring in Sai Kishore for Qualifier 2

The toss had to be conducted twice with the match referee failing to hear the call on the first occasion

'She Certainly Can Take That Finisher Role On': Australia Back Sutherland For World Cup

T20 World Cup: Australia coach Shelley Nitschke thinks Annabel Sutherland is ready to take on a finishing role at the upcoming ICC Womens T20 World Cup. She believes the all-rounder's versatility could be a significant asset for the defending runners-up in England. Australia will start their World Cup preparations with three warm-up matches against South Africa in Arundel beginning Sunday. They will also play practice games against England and the West Indies before their tournament opener on June 13. This year, for the first time since 2018, Australia enters the tournament without being the defending champions. However, Nitschke feels the team is close to finding its best lineup. A key topic is Sutherland's batting role. The 24-year-old has established herself as a valuable bowler in T20Is, but her batting position has changed often. She has mostly batted at No. 7 and No. 8 in her 48 T20I matches, even though she has excelled higher up the order in ODIs, Tests, and domestic cricket. I think it's a tricky one for Bells, Nitschke told reporters. Domestically, she bats quite high up the order but has found herself in that middle-order finishing role for us, and I think she definitely can take that role on. Nitschke believes Sutherland has the ability to excel in various roles. She has shown that she can score runs at the top, but she's also demonstrated that she has some tricks and a well-rounded game to play in the middle or finishing role as well. I actually think she's really versatile, and she's probably on the verge of really making a big impact in her T20 game. Sutherland, who won back-to-back Belinda Clark Awards earlier this year, chose not to participate in the Womens Premier League in January. She also skipped Australias tour of the West Indies to refresh both mentally and physically ahead of the World Cup. I think its tough when your teammates are playing, and I absolutely love playing for and representing Australia, so I missed that, Sutherland told cricket.com.au. But I knew it was the right choice for me, to be honest. Physically and mentally, I needed to refresh and prioritize what I had to do to ensure I'm ready to go when it matters most which is this T20 World Cup. Australia has played only six T20Is since March of last year. Sophie Molineux has taken over the captaincy from Alyssa Healy during this time. Nitschke mentioned that the upcoming warm-up games will be essential for the squad to regain its rhythm and momentum. The next few games against South Africa are about getting back out there, she said. Weve come off a bit of a break and have just been training. Now its about getting match practice and ensuring we're playing strong cricket. Nitschke also confirmed that Molineux is expected to bowl fully during the warm-up matches as she continues to recover from a back injury. Meanwhile, Phoebe Litchfield has been practising extra wicketkeeping in case Beth Mooney gets injured during the tournament. The next few games against South Africa are about getting back out there, she said. Weve come off a bit of a break and have just been training. Now its about getting match practice and ensuring we're playing strong cricket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia began their campaign against South Africa on June 13. Nitschke shared that team management has already started closely studying English conditions through the ongoing T20 Blast. Article Source: IANS

Rishabh Pant steps down as LSG captain

Decision taken after Lucknow Super Giants finished last in IPL 2026; they had finished seventh under his leadership in 2025

IPL 2026: LSG Accepts Rishabh Pants Resignation As Side's Captain After Tenth-place Finish

Lucknow Super Giants: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Friday confirmed that wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has stepped down from captaincy duties with immediate effect, and the same has been accepted by the franchise after the side had a tenthplace finish in IPL 2026. After leaving Delhi Capitals, a side he led before in the IPL, Pant took over as LSGs skipper after the franchise roped him in for a record-breaking Rs 27 crore in the mega auction held in 2024. But under him, LSG endured backtoback disappointing campaigns - the side finished seventh last season and slipped further this year by ending at the bottom spot of the points table with just four wins from 14 games. Rishabh approached the franchise with this request and we have respectfully accepted it. These decisions are never easy. We are grateful for everything Rishabh has brought to this dressing room as captain. Our focus now is on the collective - rebuilding and restructuring to reach the best standards, said Tom Moody, the sides global director of cricket, in a statement on Friday. Under his captaincy, LSG managed ten wins but suffered 18 defeats across two seasons. With the bat, Pant, once amongst the most explosive performers in the league, struggled to replicate that form for LSG. Across two years, he scored 581 runs at a strike rate of 135.74, numbers way below his career benchmarks. A franchise official told IANS on Friday that Pants decision to relinquish captaincy just six days after the sides campaign got over isnt a huge surprise, considering that he expressed this desire to leave the top role after the season got over for LSG on a disappointing note. Rishabh was very clear about leaving as LSGs captain right after the tournament ended. From his perspective, the vision he had for the team as the captain, it just wasnt translating into reality. Also, it was becoming too much for him to balance things as captain while his primary skillsets, especially his batting form, wasnt at its best. Its also understood that Rishabh told the LSG coaching staff and management that it would be selfish of him to continue as captain after yet another disappointing season. Plus, he wants to prioritise his batting in the longer run, considering he is not an automatic pick in the Indian side in white-ball formats, said the official. Pant himself admitted during the season that too many minds in the leadership group had complicated matters for him as a leader. Pants future as the LSG skipper was under doubts when Moody had said after losing their final league game to Punjab Kings that the franchise will consider a leadership reset Its also understood that Rishabh told the LSG coaching staff and management that it would be selfish of him to continue as captain after yet another disappointing season. Plus, he wants to prioritise his batting in the longer run, considering he is not an automatic pick in the Indian side in white-ball formats, said the official. Also Read: Live Cricket Score There was also this feeling within Rishabh that he let down LSG fans too as a leader, and that weighed heavily on him as well. So, ultimately, it was a mixed bag of factors behind him leaving the captaincy and subsequently, the franchise also accepted his desire to let go of the leadership armband and allow Rishabh to concentrate on his batting, added the official. Article Source: IANS

Sutherland's 360-degree game backed to shine at T20 World Cup

Australia will begin their final preparations for the tournament with three matches against South Africa

'I Was Broken Inside': Jemimah Reveals Mental Battle Behind India's WC Triumph

T20 World Cup: India batter Jemimah Rodrigues has revealed the emotional turmoil she went through during the ICC Womens World Cup 2025, admitting that the pressure of performing at a home tournament and being dropped from the playing XI for a crucial match left her broken inside. Speaking on JioStars Unstoppable ahead of the ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026, Jemimah reflected on the difficult phase she endured even before the tournament began, as expectations and pressure started taking a toll on her mentally. For some reason, even before the World Cup started, I was not doing well mentally. Maybe it was because it was a home World Cup, and with the expectations that come with it. And it being a World Cup, the pressure doubles, Jemimah said. In the very first match, I got out for a duck off the first ball itself. That really broke me; it crushed me. The worst part was that it started affecting my fielding as well. I am someone who enjoys fielding, but I was putting so much pressure on myself that I wasnt able to move the way I normally do. I made a few misfields, which I usually wouldnt, she added. Indias World Cup campaign had reached a critical stage after consecutive defeats left their semifinal hopes hanging by a thread. Jemimah revealed that a quickfire knock against Australia in the league stage helped her regain some confidence before the all-important clash against England. Then came the league game against Australia, where I scored an impactful 33-odd at a good strike rate. That gave me some confidence, and I told myself, Okay, fine. The England game is very important. Lets do whatever it takes to win against England, she said. I really wanted to do it for the team because the World Cup was at stake, and we had already lost two games in a row. That game was crucial, she added. However, on the morning of the England match, Jemimah received news that left her devastated. Amol sir messaged me saying, I need to talk to you. Then, at the ground, I was told that I had been dropped from the team for that game. I was broken inside, she revealed. India eventually bounced back strongly from their poor start, defeating New Zealand to qualify for the semifinals before stunning Australia in the last four and beating South Africa in the final to lift the Womens World Cup 2025 title. Amol sir messaged me saying, I need to talk to you. Then, at the ground, I was told that I had been dropped from the team for that game. I was broken inside, she revealed. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Despite being dropped from the England match, Jemimah scored 292 runs in seven innings at an impressive average of 58.40 in the World Cup. Article Source: IANS

'Go And Buy A Mirror': Harmanpreet Reveals Coach Muzumdar's Blunt Message Behind India's ODI WC Turnaround

T20 World Cup: Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur has revealed the blunt dressing-room message from head coach Amol Muzumdar after the teams third consecutive defeat at the Womens World Cup 2025, admitting that the reality check played a key role in Indias remarkable turnaround en route to lifting the title. Harmanpreet recalled how the atmosphere in the dressing room changed following Indias defeat to England, which came after successive losses and left the team staring at an early exit from the tournament. After the England match, I think Amol sir was the only one who spoke, and he was very straightforward. Everybody took it in the right spirit because we all knew there was nothing wrong in what he was saying. That was the first time I saw his volume go a little high because he is usually a very soft-spoken person. I remember him saying, Go and buy a mirror and see what youre doing and what you need to do at that stage' Harmanpreet said on JioStar. After starting off with two wins, India had endured a difficult phase in the middle of their Womens World Cup 2025 campaign with three losses on the trot, including the defeat against England that pushed them to the brink. However, the team responded strongly under pressure, registering a crucial win over New Zealand to stay alive in the competition. The momentum shift continued in the knockout stages as India stunned Australia in the semifinal before defeating South Africa in the final to clinch the Womens World Cup title in memorable fashion. Harmanpreet also spoke about consciously staying away from social media during major tournaments, saying that avoiding outside noise helps her remain mentally fresh and focused on the game. I dont use social media much because I think it can drain you mentally. So, I dont read stuff, especially during tournaments, whether Im doing well or not, she said. Harmanpreet also spoke about consciously staying away from social media during major tournaments, saying that avoiding outside noise helps her remain mentally fresh and focused on the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, Harmanpreet and Co. are currently taking part in the three match T20I series against England, which is crucial for T20 World Cup 2026 preparation. Article Source: IANS

ENG-W vs IND-W 2nd T20I Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

ENG-W vs IND-W 2nd T20I , Cricket Tips :India Women produced a thumping performance in the first T20I and beat England Women by 38 runs to take a 1-0 lead. Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia scored half-centuries, and debutant Nandni Sharma took three wickets. Lauren Bell and Amy Jones did well for England, but there was not a contribution from other players. England Women will be under pressure of the series defeat. The second T20I will commence at 11 PM IST on Saturday at County Ground in Bristol. Harmanpreet Kaur will be back for this game and will lead the side. The Women in Blue have a chance to record a consecutive T20I series win in England. ENG-W vs IND-W: Match Details Date : May 30, 2026 (Saturday) Time : 11:00 PM IST Venue : County Ground, Bristol ENG-W vs IND-W: Live Streaming Details The live action of the second T20I will be available on the Sony Sports Network and channels. Fans can also watch the game through the Sony LIV app or website. ENG-W vs IND-W: Head-to-Head in T20I Total Matches : 36 England Women : 24 India Women : 12 Drawn: 00 ENG-W vs IND-W: Ground Pitch Report County Ground in Bristol offers a good batting track. The surface here is flat and a high-scoring one in the shorter format. The average score here is around 165-175 in T20Is. Pacers will extract early movement with the new ball, and batting conditions will improve with time. ENG-W vs IND-W: Possible XIs England Women : Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Charlotte Dean (c), Sophie Ecclestone, Issy Wong, Lauren Bell, Tilly Corteen-Coleman India Women : Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Yastika Bhatia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Nandni Sharma, Shree Charani ENG-W vs IND-W: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Jemimah Rodrigues showed great form in the first game and will be the one to watch out for. For England, Amy Jones has been striking well with the bat. Probable Best Bowler Nandni Sharma bowled a brilliant spell on her debut and stuck to the tight length to trouble the batters. Lauren Bell will be the biggest threat for India because she will get a good amount of swing early on. Today Match Prediction : India Women earned the momentum and did better than England Women. Hence, we predict India Women to win the second T20I. ENG-W vs IND-W Match 2nd T20I, Today Match ENG-W vs IND-W, ENG-W vs IND-W Prediction, SA-W vs IND-W Predicted XIs, Injury Update for ENG-W vs IND-W Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction 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.

BCCI Bans Smart Glasses Within 'PMOA' In IPL, Warns Of Strict Penalties

Match Officials Area: The Board of Control for Cricket in India's Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) has strictly prohibited the possession and use of 'Smart Goggles' or sunglasses within the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA). The directive comes after it was brought to the attention of the anti-corruption watchdog that certain companies have been marketing and selling high-tech smart eyewear to players and team support staff, which are quipped with advanced communication features. According to an internal BCCI ACSU communication, these advanced wearable devices possess capabilities that pose a direct threat to the tournament's strict anti-corruption protocols. Kindly note that these devices are equipped with advanced communication features, including live streaming, sending and receiving text messages, as well as audio and video calling capabilities through mobile data or Wi-Fi networks. Accordingly, under the PMOA Minimum Standards, such goggles/glasses are classified both as an Audio/Video Recording Device and a Communication Device. It is hereby notified that the possession and/or use of Smart Goggles is strictly prohibited within the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA), ASCU said in its directives issued to all IPL franchises. All players and support staff are directed to deposit such devices with the Security Liaison Officer (SLO), along with their mobile phones and smartwatches, upon entering the PMOA on match days, the directive added. The ACSU has mandated strict surrender protocols for players and support staff entering PMOA and warned that any complacency or failure to hand over the smart eyewear will result in penalties. Failure to deposit such devices shall be deemed a breach of the PMOA protocols and may result in penalties under the PMOA Minimum Standards for IPL 2026, it concluded. The PMOA is treated as a separate area from the rest of a stadium in terms of accreditation and security. Each entrance into the area will be manned by security staff at all times and access will only be permitted to players, player support staff, match officials, match official support personnel and a limited number of individuals who have been allocated specific accreditation for the area. As per IPL anti-corruption rules, mobile phones and other electronic communications equipment are not allowed to be used in the PMOA other than for a few members of the team. The team manager may use a phone in the dressing room area but not in the dugout. The PMOA is treated as a separate area from the rest of a stadium in terms of accreditation and security. Each entrance into the area will be manned by security staff at all times and access will only be permitted to players, player support staff, match officials, match official support personnel and a limited number of individuals who have been allocated specific accreditation for the area. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Accredited staff i.e. dressing room attendant, IPL Match Manager, catering staff etc may not take communication devices into the PMOA. Secure boxes will be available at every entrance to securely store device. Article Source: IANS

Zimbabwe To Host South Africa Women For Historic First Bilateral T20I Series

T20 World Cup Global Qualifier: Zimbabwe Cricket on Friday announced five match T20I series agaijst South Africa women's team in September. This series will be the first ever bilateral womens series between the two nations on Zimbabwean soil. The matches will all take place at the Queen Sports Club, with the first game set for September 11. The other matches are scheduled for September 13, 15, 17, and 19. This tour marks an important moment for Zimbabwean womens cricket, following their first white-ball tour to Pakistan earlier this year. Zimbabwe last played at home in September 2025 against the United Arab Emirates, after which the team spent a lot of time playing away, including trips to Pakistan and New Zealand. The two teams have faced each other only twice before at the senior level, both in ODI matches during a quadrangular series in Potchefstroom in 2017. The upcoming series comes at a critical time for Zimbabwe, who are looking to regroup after a disappointing performance at the ICC Womens T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, where they narrowly missed qualifying for the main tournament. We are pleased to welcome South Africa Women to Zimbabwe for what promises to be a historic and exciting series, said Zimbabwe Cricket Managing Director Givemore Makoni. South Africa is one of the top teams in world cricket, and this tour gives our players a valuable chance to test themselves against top competition at home. We believe these matches will greatly help the development of our national team while also inspiring the next generation of women to take up the sport. Series schedule: 1st T20I September 11, Bulawayo 2nd T20I September 13, Bulawayo 3rd T20I September 15, Bulawayo 2nd T20I September 13, Bulawayo Also Read: Live Cricket Score 5th T20I September 19, Bulawayo Article Source: IANS

PAK vs AUS 1st ODI Prediction, Match Preview And Playing XI

PAK vs AUS 1st ODI , Cricket Tips :Australia will be on a tour of Pakistan for three ODIs. The Men in Yellow have rested their senior players like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Travis Head, and Josh Hazlewood to manage the workload. Meanwhile, Mitchell Marsh has been ruled out after sustaining an injury. That has left Josh Inglis to lead the side. The first ODI will kick off on Saturday at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium at 5 PM IST. Australia have an inexperienced side, and they will look to challenge the hosts. Shaheen Afridi will have the responsbility to lead the side, which will see Babar Azam and Naseem Shah making their comebacks. Pakistan won the last ODI series against Australia and will look to start this series with a win. PAK vs AUS: Match Details Date : May 30, 2026 (Saturday) Time : 5:00 PM IST Venue : Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi PAK vs AUS: Live Streaming Details In India, fans can watch the action through the FanCode streaming platform, which is available for the paid users. PAK vs AUS: Head-to-Head in ODI Total Matches : 112 Pakistan : 36 Australia : 71 No-result : 04 Tied : 01 PAK vs AUS: Ground Pitch Report The wicket in Rawalpindi is flat and good for batting. This surface is expected to be dry, and spinners will come in handy with the old ball. The bounce and carry from the wicket are good, and batters can use them to good effect. The team that bats second gets more out of the wicket. PAK vs AUS: Possible XIs Pakistan : Shamyl Hussain, Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Shaheen Afridi (c), Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed Australia : Josh Inglis (C), Matthew Short, Marnus Labuschangne, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake PAK vs AUS: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Babar Azam has been in good form, and he will be looking to produce a match-winning knock. For Australia, captain Josh Inglis is coming off a good IPL 2026 and is in good form. Probable Best Bowler Abrar Ahmed has been a tough bowler, and he will be difficult to face for the visitors. For Australia, Adam Zampa will be the key, as he can get good purchase from the wicket. Today Match Prediction : Australia have an inexperienced side, and it will be tough for them. We predict Pakistan to win the first ODI. PAK vs AUS Match 1st ODI, Today Match PAK vs AUS, PAK vs AUS Prediction, PAK vs AUS Predicted XIs, Injury Update for Pakistan vs Australia Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction 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.

'An 80 In A Winning Cause Means More Than A Hundred': Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

U19 World Cup: Rajasthan Royals (RR) and India's young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi credited his father for shaping his team-first mentality, saying personal milestones hold little value if they do not contribute to victories for the side. Speaking about prioritizing team success over individual achievements, Vaibhav said he values impactful contributions in winning causes more than personal records. Since childhood, my father has always told me that if you score a hundred, a double hundred, or even a triple hundred, but the team does not win because of it, then those runs hold no value. They may only be for your personal record, but they do not benefit the team, he told Jio Hotstar. The 15-year-old, who missed his well-deserved hundred by just three runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the eliminator, added that an 80-run innings in a winning cause is much bigger than a century. Cricket, in the end, is a team game. So, if I score 80 instead of a hundred and my team wins, and if we still do not win despite me scoring a century, then that 80 means more to me than the hundred, he added. The youngster further said that deeper progress in tournaments naturally creates more opportunities for personal success as well. The longer my team stays in the tournament and the deeper we go into the playoffs and finals, the more chances I will get to score hundreds and achieve whatever records I want to break. So, it benefits both me personally and the team as well, he said. Vaibhav also opened up on returning to practice just a day after Indias triumph at the ICC Mens U19 World Cup 2026, revealing the strong discipline instilled in him by his father from an early age. All this is because of my father. Since childhood, he has made me practise so much that if I do not practise even for a day, it feels like my life has slowed down a bit. So, I do not need to take a very long break; one day is enough, he said. The youngster explained that the quick return to training was also necessary because of the transition from one-day cricket to the IPL format. I felt I should practise because the IPL was approaching, and I was also coming back after playing one-day cricket. There was a change in format too, so I needed to work on certain aspects of my game, he added. Vaibhav further praised the Rajasthan Royals support staff for their role in helping players perform at their best and said any future title triumph would be dedicated to them and the franchises supporters. As far as the support staff is concerned, if we lift the trophy, and hopefully we do, I will dedicate it to them. The way every coach puts in effort behind each player, the way they plan the practice sessions, and how our physios and trainers take care of our recovery, all of it plays a huge role. Vaibhav further praised the Rajasthan Royals support staff for their role in helping players perform at their best and said any future title triumph would be dedicated to them and the franchises supporters. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Vaibhav has scored 680 runs in 15 innings for the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 2026 IPL season. Boasting an explosive strike rate of 242.86, he is the current Orange Cap holder, the first player in IPL history to surpass 600 runs in a single season at a 200+ strike rate, and has smashed 65 sixes. Article Source: IANS

Dutch Skipper Babette De Leede Targets Top-eight Finish At Womens T20 WC

T20 World Cup: Netherlands captain Babette de Leede has set a strong goal for her team ahead of their first appearance at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The Dutch team aims to secure a top-eight finish to ensure automatic qualification for the next edition. The Netherlands women's team will compete in the T20 World Cup for the first time when the event starts on June 12 in England and Wales. They are grouped with top teams like Australia, India, South Africa, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The Dutch enter this tournament as the lowest-ranked team. Despite the tough competition, de Leede believes her team can surprise others. Our goal is to win at least two games and finish in the top eight to automatically qualify for the next T20 World Cup. It is exciting to play against some of the best teams in the world for the first time. Being the newcomers and underdogs, as the lowest-ranked team, might work in our favor to surprise some opponents and create some upsets. In any case, it will be valuable for us to meet some of our idols and learn from them, de Leede told ICC. The Netherlands are currently preparing for the tournament through a tri-series with hosts Scotland and Bangladesh before starting their World Cup campaign on June 14. The skipper noted the teams unity and depth as key strengths going into the tournament. Our biggest strength is that we really play as a team. We know each other well, we are friends off the field, and we want each other to succeed. The team is also very talented. In the Qualifier, different players stood out in every game, which was great to see. I expect the same in the World Cup, she said. De Leede also highlighted fast bowler Isabel van der Woning and top-order batter Sterre Kalis as players to watch. Seamer Isabel van der Woning and top-order batter Sterre Kalis have been in great form since the Qualifier, so I am excited to see them shine at the World Cup, de Leede added. With the tournament taking place close to home, de Leede expects strong support from travelling Dutch fans. Seamer Isabel van der Woning and top-order batter Sterre Kalis have been in great form since the Qualifier, so I am excited to see them shine at the World Cup, de Leede added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We expect a large crowd of orange at all our games, including friends, family, and other fans of Dutch cricket. It will be a unique experience that we are looking forward to, she said. Article Source: IANS

Zimbabwe to host South Africa Women for five-match T20I series in September

This will be South Africa's first visit to the country and the first-ever T20I series between the two teams