IPL 2026: When And Where To Watch KKR Vs SRH, Know All Details
Kolkata Knight Riders: Kolkata Knight Riders will aim to resolve key bowling issues, especially in their spin bowlers, when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad in an IPL 2026 match at Eden Gardens on Thursday. The game features two batting-focused teams, but both sides have notable weaknesses in their bowling attacks. For KKR, this match marks the start of a vital home phase. With three fixtures scheduled within a week and another on April 19 before a lengthy break due to state elections, the three-time champions will be keen to capitalise on familiar conditions. Historically dominant at Eden Gardens, KKR have won 54 of their 95 matches at the venue, but their current campaign has begun on shaky ground. A lack of bowling depth has become a significant concern. Injuries to Harshit Rana and Akash Deep, along with the unavailability of Matheesha Pathirana and Cameron Green's limited role, have weakened their attack. These issues were evident in their opener, where they failed to defend a total of 220, conceding a large opening stand that highlighted their difficulties with the new ball. More concerning, however, has been the performance of their spin duo, Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy. Chakravarthy leaked runs without much success, while Narine was underutilised, raising questions about KKRs ability to control the middle overs. SRH encounters similar problems following their loss in the opening match. Although they have a strong top order with Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Travis Head, their bowling unit found it difficult to defend a score over 200. Pat Cummins's absence due to fitness issues has further weakened their lineup. After several bowlers underperformed in the opener, SRH must rely on both their key batsmen and bowlers to excel in what is expected to be a high-scoring match. When: Wednesday, April 2, 7:30 PM IST Where: Eden Gardens, Kolkata Where to watch: The KKR vs SRH match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads: Where to watch: The KKR vs SRH match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sunrisers Hyderabad: Ishan Kishan (c & wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Aniket Verma, Smaran Ravichandran, Salil Arora, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins, Liam Livingstone, Kamindu Mendis, Krains Fuletra, Brydon Carse, Praful Hinge, Sakib Hussain, Onkar Tarmale, Jaydev Unadkat, Shivam Mavi, Harshal Patel, Eshan Malinga, David Payne, Harsh Dubey, Amit Kumar, Zeeshan Ansari Article Source: IANS
KKR vs SRH Match 6, IPL 2026: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction
KKR vs SRH Match 6, Cricket Tips :Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad recorded a defeat in their opening matches of the IPL 2026. KKR lost to Mumbai Indians while defending 220 runs, whereas SRH couldn't defend 201 runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Both teams suffered humiliation because of poor bowling displays. As a result, both teams will be under pressure when they step on the field to face each other in Kolkata. These two will be in action on Thursday at Eden Gardens at 7:30 PM IST. Batting-wise, these sides have several options, but their bowling units look below-average. The team that can bowl well will get over the line on Thursday. KKR vs SRH: Match Details Date: April 02, 2026 (Thursday) Time: 7:30 PM IST Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata KKR vs SRH Live Streaming Details The KKR vs SRH clash will be televised on the Star Sports Networks in India. For the Indian fans, the live stream will be provided through the Jio Hotstar app or website. KKR vs SRH Head-to-Head in IPL Total Matches : 30 KKR : 20 SRH : 10 No-Result : 00 KKR vs SRH: Ground Pitch Report Eden Gardens is another happy hunting venue for the batting side in India. The wicket here has nothing for the bowlers, and it is a high-scoring game. Teams have scored 200+ here consistently. Fast outfields and shorter boundaries play in the hands of the batters. KKR vs SRH Possible XIs KKR: Ajinkya Rahane (c), Sunil Narine, Finn Allen, Cam Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Blessing Muzarabani SRH : Ishan Kishan (c & wk), Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Liam Livingstone, Harsh Dubey, Aniket Verma, Nitish Reddy, Salil Arora, Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, David Payne KKR vs SRH: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Finn Allen showed some glimpses of his ability against MI but got out at the wrong time. But he will like batting in Kolkata, and his 33-ball century against South Africa came at this venue. For SRH, stand-in captain Ishan Kishan is in good form, and he will be the big wicket. Probable Best Bowler Sunil Narine holds the key for KKR because of his experience in Kolkata. He can take wickets in the middle overs. For SRH, Harshal Patel is the all-phase bowler, and his team will expect him to perform well. Today Match Prediction : SRH have a weaker bowling unit, with not many wicket-taking options. Hence, we predict KKR, who are playing at home, to win this game. KKR vs SRH Match 6, IPL 2026, Today KKR vs SRH Match, KKR vs SRH Prediction, KKR vs SRH Predicted XIs, Injury Update for KKR vs SRH Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer: The predictions or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
IPL 2026: Woke Up With Little Bit Of Nerves, Ponting Kept Me Calm And Collected, Says Connolly
New Delhi: After dazzling with a match-winning 72 on his IPL debut to give Punjab Kings a three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans, batting all-rounder Cooper Connolly said head coach Ricky Pontings guidance helped him stay calm and collected, which in turn cooled down the nerves he had on the morning of the clash. Connolly struck an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls and held his nerve in a chase of 163 after PBKS suffered a middle-order wobble. I woke up in the morning with a little bit of nerves, which I was really happy about, but yeah, I was really looking forward to getting out there and playing my part the best I can. Ricky Ponting just kept me calm and collected. He told me to play my game, go out there and dominate. It was a nice team performance. We were very strong with the ball and made things easier for ourselves. It was a really good day for us. I was looking forward to spending time out in the middle with Shreyas Iyer and just sort of picking his brains a little bit. Hes a world-class player. Ive played a little bit of cricket with him for Australia A and Australia. He is a great player for a reason, and hopefully, I can learn as much as I can, said Connolly on JioHotstar. Connollys successful debut for PBKS carried similarities of how his childhood hero Shaun Marsh fared in his very first IPL game. Both began their IPL journeys with PBKS, marked their first appearance with half-centuries, and came in successful run chases. Both stayed unbeaten to see their side home, and were named Player of the Match for their efforts. I was looking forward to spending time out in the middle with Shreyas Iyer and just sort of picking his brains a little bit. Hes a world-class player. Ive played a little bit of cricket with him for Australia A and Australia. He is a great player for a reason, and hopefully, I can learn as much as I can, said Connolly on JioHotstar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I looked up to him as a mentor and an idol and really enjoyed spending some time with him. Its nice to be among the runs. There are still plenty of games to go and I am really looking forward to the rest of the tournament, he added. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Rabada Must Rediscover Yorker To Succeed In Death Over Bowling, Opines Rayudu
New Delhi: Former India batter Ambati Rayudu believes Kagiso Rabada must rediscover his skill of bowling the yorker in order to regain effectiveness of bowling in the death overs in IPL 2026. Rabada, who won the purple cap in IPL 2020, has struggled in recent seasons - taking only 20 wickets in 21 matches in the last three editions. He began this season with figures of 1-34 in three overs for Gujarat Titans, who lost to Punjab Kings by three wickets in New Chandigarh. I think one thing we have noticed over the years about Rabada, you know, as you Dale Steyn) also used to bowl that cross-seam sort of an outswinger, a baseball sort of a thing, and he used to bowl a very good yorker early on when he was bowling seam-up. But has he started bowling too much of that cross-seam? He lost his yorker. I think that's the reason why we are seeing him not bowl so well in the death. But initially, he used to bowl really well in the death when he just started. Maybe that's something that he can get back into his game, said Rayudu on ESPNCricinfo. Steyn, the former South Africa pacer, felt saying Rabada was searching a little bit for wickets and had kind of lost that yorker a little bit in recent years. He also compared Rabadas trajectory with Marco Jansen, who returned with figures of 1-20 for PBKS in the same game. He had fantastic yorker and then there was a season or period where the South African bowling line-up kind of went back of a length and crossed the seam, and I think that's where he kind of lost that yorker a little bit, whereas Marco doesn't bowl a lot of yorkers, he uses a lot more variations. Steyn, the former South Africa pacer, felt saying Rabada was searching a little bit for wickets and had kind of lost that yorker a little bit in recent years. He also compared Rabadas trajectory with Marco Jansen, who returned with figures of 1-20 for PBKS in the same game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So KG is searching a little bit and Marco has kind of figured it out and you can tell by, what is it, ten balls per wicket versus 71 (in the death overs since the start of IPL 2025)? One guy searching the other one, he knows exactly what he wants to do, he added. Article Source: IANS
No Doubt Its No. 1: Amelia Ranks Her Knock After Unbeaten 179 Against SA
Amelia Kerr: Amelia Kerr produced one of the greatest innings in womens ODI history, guiding New Zealand to a record chase of 347 against South Africa at Basin Reserve. Her unbeaten 179 off 139 balls powered the White Ferns to 350/8, the highest successful run chase in womens ODIs, eclipsing all previous records. Speaking after the match, Kerr described her approach and emotions throughout the innings. I was really calm out there and just was so focused on, I guess, simplifying it to each over and where we needed to be to get the job done. And then it kind of got to like 20 or 15 or whatever it was and you start to think how cool would this be if we won. But again, I probably didn't have those thoughts until that moment in the game and just had to bring myself back to the present moment rather than thinking this could be really cool, making sure I get the job done, she said during the post-match press conference. And yeah, I thought because I was pretty calm that I wouldn't show too much emotion but when I did hit the winning runs, I was actually pretty fizzed and I guess it shows how much it means to me. I'm a pretty relaxed character with celebrations and all that stuff but that was special and to make the series go 1-1 as well, it was an important game there, important points and it means a lot, she added. Reflecting on her innings, Kerr confirmed it was the pinnacle of her career. Yeah, no doubt it's number one. Yeah, I think to get a big 100 like that but in a big chase against a quality side, it's definitely number one. She highlighted the importance of her partnership with Izzy Gaze, who provided aggressive support through the middle overs. Yeah, eventually getting to 100 first and then my partnership with Izzy, I thought she was amazing. The way she took on the game and just played, it allowed us I guess to be where we were at the back end of that game even when she got out, she said. When I got to 100, I looked at how many more runs left to win and thought if I get another 80 runs here and I think I looked at the balls, I thought if I get about 80 or 40 here, then we'll get the rest of the runs through everyone else and I can try to finish 180, not out. And that was kind of my thought process in terms of what I needed to do individually. At times you've got to take risks but also at times your partner's got to take risks and that's where Izzy was outstanding. There wasn't run rate pressure through that middle phase of the game and she was flying, she added. Kerr admitted that New Zealands bowling unit had struggled in the first innings, conceding 346/6, but emphasised the teams strategy to break the chase into manageable segments. Yeah, I think it was a really disappointing 50 overs for us and we didn't speak about that at the time because you've still got half the job to do and Dean and Maka just spoke about where we need to be at certain points in terms of run rates, so setting small targets and I guess it allows you not to think it's too hard. It's not you're chasing 350 and it feels so far away. It's actually if we go at six and over for this period and then we go at sevens and then it's a T20 game and we go at eights and we've done that the whole T20 series where we've gone more than eights. So I think simplifying it helps make the job not seem so big. So yeah, obviously incredible 50 overs with the bat from the whole team but definitely a lot to work on in the first 50, Kerr noted. On handling pressure, Kerr reflected on her mindset and childhood ambitions, saying, I was just wanting to be in those moments and I think back to when I was a kid that's where I wanted to be. I wanted to be in those moments hitting the winning runs for New Zealand and that's what I've always dreamt of. Sometimes it doesn't go your way and sometimes there's games where you probably should win and you don't do the job for the team. But I think today it was just about being really present, wanting to be in the moment and when given the opportunity making sure you take it deep and make the most of it, she stated. Looking ahead to the series-deciding third ODI, Kerr emphasised areas for improvement, particularly in the field as she said, It's a pretty quick turnaround I think. It probably has to be our catching. It hurt us in the first game and it hurt us again today. And like I said the other day, no one means to drop catches. We're humans, we make mistakes. But it wasn't good enough really. That's fine. There's things to work on and we will get better and we are so much better than that. That was just a bad day and sometimes they happen. But it's important that we park that and work on it when we can and move forward to showcase what we really are as a fielding unit. Finally, on the significance of the historic chase, Kerr reflected on the growth of womens cricket and the belief it inspires. Looking ahead to the series-deciding third ODI, Kerr emphasised areas for improvement, particularly in the field as she said, It's a pretty quick turnaround I think. It probably has to be our catching. It hurt us in the first game and it hurt us again today. And like I said the other day, no one means to drop catches. We're humans, we make mistakes. But it wasn't good enough really. That's fine. There's things to work on and we will get better and we are so much better than that. That was just a bad day and sometimes they happen. But it's important that we park that and work on it when we can and move forward to showcase what we really are as a fielding unit. Also Read: Live Cricket Score And for me that was probably in my mind a little bit at the halfway stage, is that teams have chased big scores before, so there's no reason why we can't. And I wanted to, I guess once I got in and got myself set, I felt as though it was my responsibility to take it deep and be there at the end, she concluded. Article Source: IANS
India to tour Zimbabwe for three T20Is in July
Zimbabwe are also scheduled to tour India for three ODIs in January 2027, their first tour of India for a bilateral series since 2002
'Definitely No. 1' - Amelia Kerr 'fizzed' after record-breaking day
There wasn't run-rate pressure through that middle phase of the game as she was flying, Amelia Kerr says of Isabella Gaze, who scored 68 in 48 balls in the chase
Grew Up Watching Shaun Marsh, Honour To Play For PBKS He Did: Connolly
Debutant Cooper Connolly: Debutant Cooper Connolly described his match-winning outing for Punjab Kings as a special moment after guiding his side to a three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2026 opener in New Chandigarh on Tuesday and said that it was an 'honour' to represent the same franchise as his idol Shaun Marsh. Connolly, who struck an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls, held his nerve in a tense chase of 163 after Punjab suffered a middle-order collapse. Having shared a 76-run stand with Prabhsimran Singh (37), the Australian all-rounder anchored the innings even as wickets fell in clusters, eventually steering the side home with five balls to spare. Reflecting on his debut and the opportunity to represent Punjab, Connolly said it carried personal significance. Shaun Marsh played for the Punjab Kings and I grew up watching him. It's sort of an honour to sort of play for the same franchise as him, and looking forward to the next game and looking forward as a team, he said in a video shared by IPL, adding that getting off to a winning start made the experience even more memorable. It's always nice to get the first win for the team on the board, but just super excited to spend some time out there and sort of start the season off with a win for Punjab and looking forward to the rest of the tournament, he added. The 22-year-old also spoke about the magnitude of the IPL stage, having been picked up at the auction earlier this year. You want to be a part of the biggest competitions in the world and IPL is certainly up there. It was just nice to, during the auction, get picked up and come in here with just an open mind and trying to learn and just trying to get better, he noted. Punjabs chase had appeared straightforward at 97/1 before Prasidh Krishna triggered a collapse, dismissing key batters including Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, and Marcus Stoinis. However, Connolly remained composed, bringing up his maiden IPL fifty in just 34 balls and finishing the chase alongside Xavier Bartlett. The 22-year-old also spoke about the magnitude of the IPL stage, having been picked up at the auction earlier this year. You want to be a part of the biggest competitions in the world and IPL is certainly up there. It was just nice to, during the auction, get picked up and come in here with just an open mind and trying to learn and just trying to get better, he noted. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Earlier, Gujarat Titans posted 162/6, with Shubman Gill (39) and Jos Buttler (38) leading the scoring, while Vijaykumar Vyshak (3/34) starred with the ball for Punjab. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: BCCI President Mithun Manhas Congratulates PBKS On Their Season Opener Win
PCA New International Cricket Stadium: Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Mithun Manhas has congratulated Punjab Kings (PBKS) for starting off their campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on a high note by beating the 2022 champions Gujarat Titans (GT) at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. In a post on X, the BCCI president shared the glimpses of the match where he was also present and took part in the post-match presentation. He congratulated Punjab on their first win at their home ground, while also trusting the Shubman Gill-led side to make a good comeback. Many congratulations to @PunjabKingsIPL for their first win at their home ground. @gujarat_titans are a formidable unit, and I am sure they will bounce back strongly, he wrote on X. Speaking of the match, Punjab Kings secured a thrilling three-wicket victory over GT, chasing down 163 with five balls to spare at home. PBKS were powered by a superb all-round team effort, headlined by Cameron Connollys match-winning unbeaten half-century on debut and a disciplined bowling display led by Vijaykumar Vyshak and Yuzvendra Chahal. After choosing to bowl, Punjab Kings ensured the innings never got away from them by striking at regular intervals. Vijaykumar Vyshak was particularly effective, returning figures of 3/34, while Yuzvendra Chahal once again delivered in key moments with 2/28. Their efforts, backed by disciplined execution across the bowling unit, restricted Gujarat Titans to 162/6 from their 20 overs. In reply, Punjab Kings made an assured start, moving to 55/1 in the powerplay. Prabhsimran Singh and debutant Cameron Connolly forged a superb second-wicket partnership to drive the chase. However, the hosts stuttered briefly, losing 4 wickets in a space of two overs. Connolly brought up an impressive maiden half-century. Even as wickets fell at the other end, the Australian all-rounder remained composed to guide the chase deep. In reply, Punjab Kings made an assured start, moving to 55/1 in the powerplay. Prabhsimran Singh and debutant Cameron Connolly forged a superb second-wicket partnership to drive the chase. However, the hosts stuttered briefly, losing 4 wickets in a space of two overs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score PBKS will next face five-time champions Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday. GT will clash with the 2008 champions Rajasthan Royals, at their home ground, Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, on April 4. Article Source: IANS
Amelia Kerr hits 139-ball 179* as New Zealand pull off record chase to level series
The match had a total of 696 runs in 99.4 overs, and when New Zealand got past South Africa's 346, it became the highest successful run chase in women's ODI history
2nd WODI: Amelias 179 Help NZ Clinch Record Chase Against SA To Level Series 1-1
Skipper Amelie Kerr: Skipper Amelie Kerr batting masterclass helped New Zealand pull off the highest successful run chase in womens ODI history, overhauling a daunting 347 target to defeat South Africa by two wickets in the second ODI here at Basin Reserve and levelling the three-match series 1-1. Amelia scored an amazing 179 not out from just 139 deliveries as New Zealand surpassed India's record for the highest successful run chase in women's ODIs as they chased down the Proteas' mammoth total of 346/6 with two balls remaining. Walking in after the early dismissal of Suzie Bates, Kerr ensured the required rate remained within reach throughout the chase. She found key allies along the way, most notably in Georgia Plimmer (23) in a stabilising 52-run stand and later Isabella Gaze (68). Gaze and Kerr combined for a 120-run stand, which proved crucial as the White Ferns survived through the middle overs. Gazes explosive 68 off 48 balls shifted the pressure back onto South Africa. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals late in the innings, Kerr guided the lower order with clarity. With 11 required off the final over, Kerr took charge against Nadine de Klerk, striking three boundaries to bring the equation to zero and seal the historic win with two balls to spare. Earlier, South Africa looked in control after posting a formidable total. Captain Laura Wolvaardt led from the front with a fluent 69, while Anneke Bosch produced a commanding 91 off 90 balls. The pair built on a rapid start to lay a strong foundation. Valuable contributions followed from Sune Luus (40) and Chloe Tryon, who provided the late flourish with an unbeaten 52, propelled South Africa past the 300 mark. Although New Zealands bowlers toiled, Bree Illing stood out with three wickets, helping prevent an even bigger total. Valuable contributions followed from Sune Luus (40) and Chloe Tryon, who provided the late flourish with an unbeaten 52, propelled South Africa past the 300 mark. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: South Africa 346/6 in 50 overs (Anneke Bosch 91, Laura Wolvaardt 69; Bree Illing 3-60, Kayley Knight 2-65) lost to New Zealand 350/8 in 49.4 overs (Amelia Kerr 179*, Isabella Gaze 68; Ayabonga Khaka 3-51, Masabata Klaas 2-61) by 2 wickets. Article Source: IANS
Weatherald, Neser Included, Maxwell, Renshaw Dropped As Australia Unveil Central Contracts
Boxing Day Ashes Test: Cricket Australia has unveiled a streamlined 21-player central contract list for the 202627 season, reflecting a clear emphasis on red-ball cricket ahead of an unusually demanding Test schedule. With 15 Tests lined up over the next year, selectors have prioritised players suited to the longer format, resulting in several high-profile exclusions. Jake Weatherald and Brendan Doggett are among the notable inclusions, both securing their first full national contracts after making their debuts in the recent Ashes series. Weatheralds selection is especially noteworthy, indicating strong support from selectors for him to remain Australias Test opener. The 31-year-old is gearing up for a notable homecoming in Darwin during the upcoming series against Bangladesh. Additionally, he has confirmed he will play for Leicestershire in the County Championship, enhancing his credentials in red-ball cricket. Experienced players Michael Neser and Todd Murphy have been reinstated, highlighting Australias aim to strengthen their bowling resources. Murphys return comes at a vital moment, as the team gears up for a tough tour of India and veteran spinner Nathan Lyon recovers from hamstring surgery sustained during the Ashes. Matt Kuhnemann has kept his place as selectors bolster spin options for subcontinental conditions. However, the contract list also features several surprising omissions. Fast bowler Jhye Richardson, who recently returned to Test cricket in the Boxing Day Ashes Test, has been left out despite his comeback. He is set to play county cricket in England with Yorkshire. Fellow Western Australian quick Lance Morris, who has struggled with injuries and form, has also been excluded. Other players missing from the list include Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Sam Konstas, and Matthew Renshaw, the latter having featured across formats earlier in the season. Meanwhile, non-contracted players will still have opportunities to earn upgrades by participating in international matches over the coming year. The new contracts are also financially significant, with average earnings now exceeding AUD 1 million annually, excluding match payments and superannuation. This increase follows the ongoing pay agreement between Cricket Australia and the players union. Meanwhile, non-contracted players will still have opportunities to earn upgrades by participating in international matches over the coming year. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Cricket Australia men's contracts for 2026-27: Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: PBKS Captain Shreyas Fined 12 Lakh For Slow Over-rate Offence
New International Cricket Stadium: Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer has been fined after his team fell behind the required over-rate during the fourth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. PBKS defeated the 2022 champions by three wickets after chasing down a 163-run target in 19.1 overs. While the Shubman Gill-led side posed as a threat and kept adding pressure, Cooper Connollys unbeaten 44-ball 72-run knock sealed the deal for the Punjab-based franchise as they opened their campaign on a high. However, Iyer faced repercussions for maintaining a slow over-rate in the first innings, resulting in a breach of the IPLs code of conduct. Punjab Kings (PBKS) Captain Shreyas Iyer has been fined after his team maintained a slow over-rate against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 4 at the New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. As this was his teams first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPLs Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Iyer was fined Rs. 12 lakhs, IPL said in a statement. Making his debut, Connolly anchored the innings with a superb knock. After an early setback, Prabhsimran Singh counterattacked with 37, sharing a 76-run stand with Connolly. Despite a middle-order collapse triggered by Prasidh Krishna, Connolly held his nerve to guide Punjab home with five balls remaining. As this was his teams first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPLs Code of Conduct, which pertains to minimum over-rate offences, Iyer was fined Rs. 12 lakhs, IPL said in a statement. Also Read: Live Cricket Score PBKS will next face five-time champions Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday. Article Source: IANS
One Match Into IPL 2026, Shreyas Iyer Fined Rs 12 Lakh For Code Of Conduct Breach
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer was fined Rs 12 lakh for a slow over-rate in their IPL 2026 win over Gujarat Titans, where PBKS chased 163 with five balls to spare.
Young opening batsman Sam Konstas and veteran all-rounder Glenn Maxwell were axed Wednesday as Cricket Australia announced a list of 21 nationally contracted players for the 2026-27 season.
Surreal to Watch: Shreyas Iyer Hails Cooper Connolly After Debut Heroics
Connolly brought up his half-century in just 34 balls, becoming the 25th player to score 50 or more on IPL debut.
Rabada has 'kind of lost that yorker a little bit' and must find it fast
Bowling more cross-seam deliveries and keeping the yorker away is the reason for Kagiso Rabada not doing well at the death, agree Ambati Rayudu and Dale Steyn
Maxwell DROPPED! Shock Cricket Australia contract shake-up
Cricket Australia has announced its contracted player list for 2026/27, with some notable changes including the omission of Glenn Maxwell and Sam Konstas, and the inclusion of Brendan Doggett.
Don't Have Cricketer Friends: Arjun Tendulkar Opens Up On Personal Life
Arjun Tendulkar, son of Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, shocked everyone as he revealed that he doesn't have many cricketer friends.
Rajasthan Royals Star Compared To Virat Kohli For 'Keeping Ego Aside'. Not Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Former Indian cricket team batter Aakash Chopra was all praise for Yashasvi Jaiswal as Rajasthan Royals registered a commanding win over Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2026 encounter.
Weatherald and Neser in, Richardson out of Cricket Australia contract list
Todd Murphy returns to the list ahead of a period that includes a five-Test tour of India early next year
Punjab Unearth Another Gem: Connolly's Dream Debut
Cooper Connolly's unbeaten 72 on IPL debut powered Punjab Kings to victory.
Ice-cool Connolly leads nervy PBKS home on IPL debut
Prasidh Krishna's wickets caused a late wobble, but Connolly's unbeaten 72 steered PBKS home
IPL 2026: He Was Calm And Composed, Says Shreyas Iyer On Connolly's Match-winning Knock Against GT
New International Cricket Stadium: Skipper Shreyas Iyer praised debutant Cooper Connolly for his calm and composed innings after Punjab Kings (PBKS) registered a three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans (GT) in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 opener at the PCA's New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Tuesday. Chasing 163, Punjab Kings rode on Connollys unbeaten 72 to cross the line in 19.1 overs despite losing wickets at regular intervals towards the end. Iyer, who got injured during the chase, also spoke about his fitness, saying, All I can say about the hand is that it's nice, same as it was before. I don't want to jinx anything. The Punjab skipper was full of praise for Connollys batting display. Some of the shots he played were surreal to watch, especially the one off Rashid, he said. Iyer admitted there was a tense moment during the chase when Punjab lost quick wickets. I was focused on my hand inside, icing it. Suddenly, we lost two wickets back-to-back; these things happen in the IPL. You have to stay composed, Cooper was there, he was composed and calm, he added. He also revealed how the team assessed the pitch early in the game. After the third over, we realised the wicket was slow. Arshdeep came and said it was holding a bit. We tried to make the ball old as soon as possible, Iyer said. The captain also lauded Vijaykumar Vyshak, who took three wickets for his performance with the ball. Vyshak is carrying forward the form he performed in the last season. He is a big match player, he noted. Iyer also shared a light moment from the game, saying he was surprised by an unusual field placement. I was surprised to see a short leg for me. I told Shubman I had never seen that before, it's good to see captains attacking, he said, referring to Shubman Gill. Player of the Match Connolly expressed his delight after his impressive debut performance. I was looking forward to the experience of playing with some world-class players, but to put that performance in tonight, I'm very happy. I spent some time with friends and family at home before this just to reset, he said. The Australian added that he prefers to play according to the situation. I'm just more of a tempo player, feel the flow of my hands, don't hit too many big sixes ... working with Ricky is great. Not a lot was said; we were quite relaxed, in a great position out there, nice to get the win with Xavier, looking forward to the rest of the tournament, he said. Player of the Match Connolly expressed his delight after his impressive debut performance. I was looking forward to the experience of playing with some world-class players, but to put that performance in tonight, I'm very happy. I spent some time with friends and family at home before this just to reset, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Punjab Kings will next face five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: We Didnt Score Enough In The Last Five Overs, Says Gill After GT Loss Against PBKS
PCA New International Cricket Stadium: Skipper Shubman Gill admitted that Gujarat Titans (GT) fell short with the bat and in the final overs despite a strong start, after they went down to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) by three wickets in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 opener at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Gill felt the pitch had enough in it for a bigger total, but his side could not capitalise. I think we bowled overs. Batting, it looked like a 210-220 wicket. We thought 175 would be a good score, but we kept losing wickets and didn't score much in the last 5 overs. Once the ball got older, it was difficult to hit it down the ground, he said in the post-match presentation. Gujarat Titans eventually managed 162/6 in their 20 overs despite a flying start from Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who had taken the team to 35/0 in three overs. However, regular wickets in the middle overs, including Gills dismissal for 39 and contributions from Jos Buttler (38) and Glenn Phillips (25), prevented them from reaching a bigger total. Gill also pointed out that conditions slightly eased for batting in the second innings due to rain. In the second innings, rain continued, making the ball wet, which slightly improved batting conditions, he added. Despite the defeat, the Gujarat skipper praised his bowling unit for keeping the contest alive, especially Prasidh Krishna, who picked up three wickets. Bowling was good, and we can't blame them. I could've (on delaying Prasidh's introduction), but he came at the right time, took wickets, and kept us in the game until the 17th and 18th over. All ifs and buts, but he was bowling well in the nets as well, he said. Gill also had words of praise for youngster Ashok Sharma, who finished with figures of 1-31, For Ashok, he works hard on the game, he's a good find for us. I met him at one of our camps a couple of months ago. He is doing well and I hope he continues to do well, he noted. Chasing 163, Punjab Kings rode on debutant Cooper Connollys unbeaten 72 to reach the target in 19.1 overs, despite a late fightback from Gujarat. Gill also had words of praise for youngster Ashok Sharma, who finished with figures of 1-31, For Ashok, he works hard on the game, he's a good find for us. I met him at one of our camps a couple of months ago. He is doing well and I hope he continues to do well, he noted. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Gujarat Titans will now face Rajasthan Royals at their home ground, Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, on Saturday. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Connollys Unbeaten 72 Guides PBKS To 3-wicket Win Over GT
New International Cricket Stadium: Debutant Cooper Connolly hit his maiden half-century as Punjab Kings chased down the target of 163 runs in 19.1 overs and registered a three-wicket win, quelling a great comeback by the Gujarat Titans in their opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the PCA's New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Tuesday. Chasing 163, the Punjab Kings had an early setback when impact player Priyansh Arya was dismissed for 7 off 8 balls in the second over by Kagiso Rabada. Opener Prabhsimran Singh then counter-attacked, hitting back-to-back sixes off Rabada in the fourth over. Connolly joined the charge, smashing two sixes as Punjab reached 55/1 at the end of the Power-play. The duo continued to score freely, adding 76 runs for the second wicket and taking the team close to 100. The partnership was broken in the 10th over when Rashid Khan dismissed Prabhsimran for a quick 37 off 24 balls. Captain Shreyas Iyer kept up the momentum with two sixes but was dismissed in the 13th over by Prasidh Krishna. Gujarat Titans fought back strongly with quick wickets, removing Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, and Marcus Stoinis, with Krishna and Washington Sundar among the wicket-takers. Despite the collapse at the other end, Connolly held his nerve and completed his maiden IPL fifty on debut in just 34 balls. He remained unbeaten on 72 off 44 balls, hitting five fours and five sixes, and guided Punjab home along with Xavier Bartlett (11 not out) with five balls to spare. Krishna was the pick of the bowlers for Gujarat, finishing with 3-29, while Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Rashid Khan, and Sundar took one wicket each. Earlier, fast bowler Vijaykumar Vyshak took three wickets while Yuzvendra Chahal took two as the Punjab Kings restricted the Gujarat Titans to 162/6 in 20 overs. Gujarat Titans made a strong start after being asked to bat first, with Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan scoring freely to take the score to 35/0 in three overs. However, Punjab Kings struck early as Marco Jansen dismissed Sudharsan for 13. Gill then added stability alongside Jos Buttler, guiding the team to 54/1 at the end of the powerplay. While Gill initially played aggressively, he later slowed down to anchor the innings before being dismissed for 39 off 27 balls by Yuzvendra Chahal in the 10th over. Glenn Phillips looked to accelerate with a quick 25 off 17 balls, but fell to Vijaykumar Vyshak. Buttler continued to hold the innings together but was dismissed for 38 off 33 balls by Chahal in the 16th over. Washington Sundar struggled for fluency and managed 18 off 16 balls before getting out late in the innings. Vyshak was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with figures of 3-34 in four overs, while Chahal provided crucial support with two wickets. Punjab Kings disciplined bowling effort ensured Gujarat Titans were kept under control despite their strong start. Washington Sundar struggled for fluency and managed 18 off 16 balls before getting out late in the innings. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Gujarat Titans 162/6 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 39, Jos Buttler 38; Vijaykumar Vyshak 3-34, Yuzvendra Chahal 2-28) lost to Punjab Kings 165/7 in 19.1 overs (Cooper Connolly 72*, Prabhsimran Singh 37; Prasidh Krishna 3-29, Washington Sundar 1-27) by 3 wickets. Article Source: IANS
New International Cricket Stadium: Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal said smart variations and use of flight helped him control the middle overs as Punjab Kings (PBKS) halted Gujarat Titans (GT) at 162/6 in their first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the PCA's New International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Tuesday. Chahal was one of the standout performers with the ball, returning figures of 2-28 in his four overs and providing crucial breakthroughs at a key stage of the innings. His most important wicket came in the 10th over when he dismissed captain Shubman Gill, who was looking set after a steady start. The dismissal helped Punjab regain control after a strong power play from Gujarat. Reflecting on his approach, Chahal explained how he assessed the conditions early and adapted accordingly. Definitely, in the evening when I saw the wicket, I thought it'd be dry. And when the fast bowlers start bowling cutters, I like a little bit of grip. You need to beat the batters in the flight here. I varied my pace and line, starting with some wide deliveries and then moving to the stumps line. Then I took a chance to get Shubman and put them under pressure, he said. The leg-spinner also underlined the importance of the powerplay phase, noting how scoring becomes more difficult as the innings progresses. Power-play is very important, it's easy to score runs with the new ball and hitting becomes harder as the ball gets old, he added. Definitely, in the evening when I saw the wicket, I thought it'd be dry. And when the fast bowlers start bowling cutters, I like a little bit of grip. You need to beat the batters in the flight here. I varied my pace and line, starting with some wide deliveries and then moving to the stumps line. Then I took a chance to get Shubman and put them under pressure, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With this performance, Chahal further strengthened his record as the most successful bowler in the middle overs (7-15) in IPL history. He now has 138 wickets in this phase at an average of 25.34, ahead of Ravindra Jadeja (136), Piyush Chawla (132), Amit Mishra (126), and Rashid Khan (102). Article Source: IANS
Wet outfield abandons Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi game
Before the toss, a violent thunderstorm lashed Lahore, with heavy rain, strong winds and hailstones in parts of the city
BCB Plans Womens League In July; Director Rubaba Declines Comment On India-Bangladesh Cricket Ties
The Bangladesh Cricket Board: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is all set to start a women's edition of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2026, which will start in July this year, though things on restarting cricketing ties with India are not yet clear. The fact that the BCB is all set to start a T20 league for women in July was revealed to IANS by Rubaba Dowla, Director of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and Chairperson of the Women's Wing, on Tuesday. Rubaba Dowla, however, refused to say anything about resumption of cricket ties and the tour by the indian men's and women's cricket teams of Bangladesh, which were postponed last year because of the conditions prevailing in Bangladesh. The tours were deferred as cricket ties between the two countries spiralled and touched a nadir during the rule of an interim government in Bangladesh. Many Indians have demanded that the BCCI to not send its teams to Bangladesh because of the incidents of mob lynching and killing of Hindus in the country. A few months back, the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) directed Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release (the only) Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman (auctioned for $1 million) from its 2026 squad. The decision did not bode well with the Bangladesh government and public, and the BCB responded by seeking relocation of their team's matches in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 from India to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns for its players. Despite repeated assessments, the ICC rejected such a request, citing a lack of any credible security threats for Bangladeshi players. Bangladesh was eventually withdrawn from the T20 World Cup and replaced by Scotland. Many Indians have demanded that the BCCI to not send its teams to Bangladesh because of the incidents of mob lynching and killing of Hindus in the country. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As per the ICC Future Tour Programme, India is scheduled to play Bangladesh in a series. But that is currently on hold. Article Source: IANS
Vyshak and Chahal restrict GT to 162
PBKS chipped away regularly at the wickets, as three of GT's top four got to 25 without any of them getting to 40
Miller omitted from CSA contracts; Bosch, Brevis handed first-time deals
A total of 18 men's and 15 women's contracts were awarded, as well as a hybrid contract for offspinner Simon Harmer
ECB unmoved by Ireland's Euro Nations Cup proposal
England's jam-packed schedule means involvement in mooted Asia Cup-style tournament unlikely
Scotland Women To Host Bangladesh, Netherlands In T20 Tri-series Ahead Of World Cup
T20 World Cup: Scotland Women's cricket team will step up their preparations for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 with a T20 tri-series against Bangladesh and the Netherlands at The Grange Club to be played in May and June. The series will mark Scotlands first home assignment since September 2022. Since then, the team has shown steady progress, qualifying for two successive Womens T20 World Cups and registering notable wins against full-member sides such as West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland in both ODI and T20 formats. After the series, Scotland will travel to England for two additional warm-up matches before beginning their T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland at Old Trafford on June 13. Captain Kathryn Bryce said she is looking forward to playing in front of home fans in Edinburgh. Im incredibly excited for this opportunity for us to play in my hometown of Edinburgh. The last time we played there was in 2022, which feels so long ago, and I actually contracted Covid-19 at the time so ended up missing out on the series. This is going to be the first time that Ive played for Scotland in Edinburgh in my career, so its incredibly exciting, she said in a statement released by Scotland cricket. Theres a monumental few months coming up, given were then playing a T20 World Cup just down the road in England, so with the buzz and energy around that prospect, hopefully we can get lots of supporters along to watch us. Its been so rare for Scotland to play at home that its not often we get to have a big crowd thats able to see us in person and be on our side. Bangladesh and the Netherlands are both excellent sides, so the fixtures will be amazing preparation for us leading into the main event. I cant wait to pull on the thistle here in Scotland and run out in front of the home fans, she added. Head coach Craig Wallace said hosting the tri-series is an important step for the team. Being able to host two excellent cricketing nations in Bangladesh and the Netherlands here in Scotland is amazing, and a big step forward for our sport and the team. Given that we havent played at home since 2022, itll probably be quite an emotional occasion for everyone involved, given the hard work that the team have put in since then and the success theyve subsequently had, he said. Head coach Craig Wallace said hosting the tri-series is an important step for the team. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The tri-series, to be held at The Grange Club, will begin on May 28 with Scotland taking on the Netherlands, followed by Scotland facing Bangladesh on May 30. Bangladesh will then meet the Netherlands on May 31. The action continues with Scotland playing Bangladesh again on June 2, before Scotland face the Netherlands on June 3. The final match of the series will see the Netherlands take on Bangladesh on June 4. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: 'Always Wanna Come Here And Give My Best,' Says Marco Jansen
PCA New International Cricket Stadium: South African all-rounder Marco Jansen underlined his commitment to contributing to the teams success, saying his primary aim is always to give his best and help put the side in a winning position, as Punjab Kings (PBKS) start their campaign in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. For me personally, it's just about always wanna come here and give my best and put the team in a winning position, Jansen said ahead of the match. The South African all-rounder added that his break after the T20 World Cup allowed him to spend quality time with family before returning to India. It was good. I spent some time with the family, my sisters, my mom, my dad, obviously my brother as well. He was playing cricket back home. And then yeah, went to the farm for a few days, spent some time in the bush. And then yeah, got back here to India, he said. Jansen also credited his development to working with different coaches and learning from teammates in franchise cricket. I think the coaching staff has helped me a lot. Dealing with different coaches, having to work with different coaches across the world, picking their brains. And obviously, the domestic players here in the IPL last year, especially has helped me a lot, Arshdeep in particular and Shreyas Iyer from a captaincy point of view, he added. Having featured in multiple IPL seasons, Jansen believes his understanding of Indian conditions has improved significantly over time. I think that's (having played cricket in India) helped me a lot in terms of how to play better or be more consistent in Indian conditions. I remember previously, when I was younger, I just struggled quite a bit with the bounce and then with the spin as well. And I think spending time here playing in the IPL for numerous years now has helped a lot regarding that, he said. Having featured in multiple IPL seasons, Jansen believes his understanding of Indian conditions has improved significantly over time. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Jansen also had a good season with the ball in IPL 2025, where he took 16 wickets at an average of 27.13. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Boys In Good Place, Says Dushmantha Chameera As DC Set For Season's First Clash Vs LSG
With Delhi Capitals: With Delhi Capitals set to kick off their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign with renewed focus and clarity, their Sri Lankan fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera shed light on the teams readiness ahead of their opening clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday. Coming into his second season with the franchise, Chameera spoke about the continuity within the group and the work put in during the lead-up to the tournament. We had good preparation for a few days, we had two practice games, and I think the boys are in a good place now. For me, its always special because playing in the IPL is a dream. I was with the team last year as well, and if I get the opportunity this season, I just want to contribute to the teams success, Chameera said on the eve of their opening match on Tuesday. Highlighting the demands of bowlers in a high-scoring format like T20, Chameera said, Its always tough for fast bowlers in India. The wickets are good for batting, and the grounds are small, so you have to be mentally very strong. Preparation is not just about skills; its also about how you handle pressure in these conditions. If we execute our plans well, we can still do well even in these situations. Speaking about the fast-moving evolution of T20's and the Tigers' efforts to be up to speed with it, Chameera added, Compared to a few years ago, now even if you go for 8-9 runs in an over, it can still be okay depending on the situation. We discuss these things as a group, work on our plans, and focus on what is best for the team in that moment. Highlighting the demands of bowlers in a high-scoring format like T20, Chameera said, Its always tough for fast bowlers in India. The wickets are good for batting, and the grounds are small, so you have to be mentally very strong. Preparation is not just about skills; its also about how you handle pressure in these conditions. If we execute our plans well, we can still do well even in these situations. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We have discussed everything in the bowling group, and we have individual plans for different batters. In these kinds of conditions, execution becomes very important, especially for fast bowlers, so that is something we have focused on in preparation, he added. Article Source: IANS
PBKS bowl against GT, Ashok and Connolly make IPL debut
Glenn Phillips, meanwhile, makes his franchise debut for GT
IPL 2026: Punjab Kings Win Toss, Elect To Bowl First Against Gujarat Titans
PCA New International Cricket Stadium: Punjab Kings have won the toss and elected to bowl first against the Gujarat Titans in match four of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, played at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Punjab Kings enjoyed a stellar campaign in IPL 2025, finishing as runners-up and marking one of their best performances in the tournaments history. On the other hand, the Gujarat Titans had a strong IPL 2025 campaign, finishing 3rd in the league stage under captain Shubman Gill. GT lost the Eliminator to the Mumbai Indians by 20 runs. These two sides began their seasons against each other in 2025 as well, with Punjab Kings triumphing by 11 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. After winning the toss, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer said, We're going to bowl first. I firmly believe that chasing gives you a fair idea about how to approach the target. And also, we played a couple of practice games, and whatever total was scored, I think it was easily chased down. So, thinking that at the back of my mind, I'm taking that decision. We had a phenomenal last season. We have to stay in the present. We didn't have to think about the past. We need to play our best brand of cricket. Cooper has come in. Stoinis, Bartlett, and Marco Jansen are the four overseas players. Meanwhile, after losing the toss, Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill said, The wicket looks pretty good. It has been raining on and off over the last two days. Looks like a good wicket to bat on. Last year, we had a pretty good season. Two debutants -- Glenn and Ashok Sharma. We've got Jos, Glenn, Rashid, and Rabada. He (Buttler) is such an experienced player, I am sure he's going to have a great year for us. Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans have faced each other six times in IPL history, with both sides giving tough competition to each other, as the head-to-head record is tied with PBKS winning three encounters, and GT also came victorious on three occasions. Playing XIs: Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal Impact substitutes: Priyansh Arya, Harpreet Brar, Praveen Dubey, Vishnu Vinod, Suryansh Shedge Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal Also Read: Live Cricket Score Impact substitutes: Prasidh Krishna, Jason Holder, Jayant Yadav, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra Article Source: IANS
All eyes on fit-again Mayank as LSG kickstart season against DC
Rishabh Pant could bat at No. 3 for LSG, while Auqib Nabi is likely to make his IPL debut with DC
India Sporting Goods Fair: The 4th edition of the India Sporting Goods Fair (ISGF) 2026 opened on Tuesday with a strong focus on transforming India into a global hub for sports goods manufacturing, exports, and trade. Addressing exhibitors, international buyers, and stakeholders, Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Hari Ranjan Rao, stated, This is a golden period in the growth trajectory of Indias sports goods industry. Outlining an ambitious national vision, Rao highlighted that India aims to scale sports goods exports from approximately 3,000 crore to 80,000 crore. Emphasising the scale of transformation required, he said, If we have to move from 3,000 crore to 80,000 crore, every manufacturer will have to multiply their scale nearly 25 times. If you do not dream big, you will not be able to achieve it. Manufacturers were urged to scale aggressively, expand globally, and adopt a forward-looking approach driven by innovation and investment, with special emphasis on the role of youth and next-generation entrepreneurs in leading this expansion. Let us aim to host the worlds largest sports goods exhibition in India with participation from exhibitors across the globe, Rao said. Reaffirming the Governments commitment, Rao noted that 500 crore has already been allocated in the Union Budget for the sector. It was underlined that while the Government will provide full policy support, execution must be led by the industry. We would also like to see many more new manufacturers entering the sports manufacturing sector. The industry should actively explore joint ventures and international collaborations, and the Ministry will be happy to support such partnerships, the Secretary (Sports) said. Addressing the gathering, Joint Secretary (Sports), Vineel Krishna, highlighted the Governments broader vision and stated, The Government is very ambitious about expanding the sports goods manufacturing sector, not only to meet domestic demand but also to enhance Indias global export potential. We are hopeful that in the next couple of months we will be able to launch the sports goods manufacturing scheme after necessary approvals, he said. Joint Secretary (Sports) also highlighted the increasing interest shown by several State Governments in promoting the expansion of sports goods manufacturing in the country. The next decade is going to be transformational for the sports sector, and all of you will be part of this growth story, he added. We are hopeful that in the next couple of months we will be able to launch the sports goods manufacturing scheme after necessary approvals, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The 4th edition of ISGF features 75 exhibitors showcasing a diverse range of products, including athletic goods, badminton and tennis equipment, boxing gear, cricket equipment, fitness equipment, sports apparel, indoor sports equipment, and toys. Article Source: IANS
BCCI Expresses Deep Sorrow Over Untimely Passing Of Veteran Broadcast Engineer Langford
The IPL Governing Council: The Board for Cricket Control of India (BCCI) has expressed deep sorrow following the untimely death of veteran broadcast engineer Ian William Langford, who was part of the Indian Premier Leagues (IPL) 2026 production crew in Mumbai. In an official statement, the board said, The IPL Governing Council and all stakeholders involved express their deepest condolences on the untimely demise of Mr. Ian Williams Langford, a dedicated broadcast engineer, who was an integral part of our broadcast operations. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends back home. Reiterating its commitment to those working behind the scenes, the BCCI added, The IPL is committed to providing all necessary support and assistance to Mr. Langfords family during this incredibly difficult time. It further emphasised, The health, safety and overall security of every member involved in the smooth functioning of the IPL continues to remain of utmost importance. Langford, a 76-year-old British citizen, was in Mumbai for IPL broadcast operations. He had been staying at the Trident Hotel since March 24. According to Marine Drive police, hotel staff found him unconscious in his room on the morning of March 30. They had tried to contact him multiple times with no response. Hotel management quickly took him to Bombay Hospital, but he was pronounced dead upon arrival. Langford, a 76-year-old British citizen, was in Mumbai for IPL broadcast operations. He had been staying at the Trident Hotel since March 24. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Langford returned to his room late on March 29 after finishing his work at an IPL match. When he did not respond the next morning, hotel staff notified the authorities, leading to the discovery. Langford was an experienced professional, seen as a key part of the broadcast team. He helped ensure smooth coverage of IPL matches. Article Source: IANS
Mitchell Perry ruled out of Lancashire stint with back stress injury
Australian seamer to begin rehab programme after routine MRI detected recurrence of problem
Fakhar Zaman Handed A Two-match Ban For Ball Tampering
The Pakistan Cricket Board: Fakhar Zaman has received a two-match suspension in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after being found guilty of a Level 3 breach under Article 2.14 of the tournaments Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the decision on Tuesday following the Lahore Qalandars vs Karachi Kings fixture held on Sunday, March 29, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Article 2.14 addresses violations involving the alteration of the balls condition, specifically in contravention of clause 41.3 of the HBL PSL Playing Conditions. It states, The following actions shall, therefore, not be permitted (this list of actions is not exhaustive but included for illustrative purposes): (a) deliberately throwing the ball into the ground for the purpose of roughening it up; (b) applying any artificial substance to the ball; and applying any non-artificial substance for any purpose other than to polish the ball; (c) lifting or otherwise interfering with any of the seams of the ball; and (d) scratching the surface of the ball with finger or thumb nails or any implement. A first-time Level 3 offence can result in a suspension ranging from one to two matches. It also notes, Any appeal under this Article must be lodged with the HBL PSL Technical Committee within 48 hours of receipt of the written decision of the Match Referee. The incident occurred in the closing stages of the match, when on-field umpires penalised Lahore Qalandars by awarding five runs to the opposition. The ball was subsequently replaced before the final over of Karachi Kings innings. The charge was brought forward by on-field umpires Shahid Saikat and Faisal Khan Aafreedi, along with TV umpire Asif Yaqoob and fourth umpire Tariq Rasheed. Fakhar denied wrongdoing and opted to challenge the allegation during a formal disciplinary hearing, as permitted under the Code of Conduct. The incident occurred in the closing stages of the match, when on-field umpires penalised Lahore Qalandars by awarding five runs to the opposition. The ball was subsequently replaced before the final over of Karachi Kings innings. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Lahore Qalandars are set to play their upcoming matches against Multan Sultans on Friday, April 3, at Gaddafi Stadium, followed by a clash with Islamabad United on Thursday (April 9) at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: 'Last Season Is History Now, We Start From Ball One,' Says Iyer Ahead Of GT Clash
PCA New International Cricket Stadium: Punjab Kings (PBKS) skipper Shreyas Iyer urged his side to move on from last season and embrace a fresh start, as he laid down a clear message ahead of their first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 to be played against the Gujarat Titans (GT) at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. See, last season is history now. We start from ball one. It's important that we stick to the present and see to it that we enjoy each and every moment, Iyer said in a video released by the IPL. Skipper also praised the love and support the team gets when they play at their home ground and expected the fans to continue cheering for them as they start their new season It certainly feels like home. The love and the support the home team got last season it was phenomenal. And I'm hoping to see a lot of them coming in numbers this season and cheering us up. It doesn't really feel like an away game, Iyer added. Punjab Kings enjoyed a stellar campaign in IPL 2025, finishing as runners-up and marking one of their best performances in the tournaments history. Looking ahead to the new season, Iyer highlighted the influence of head coach Ricky Ponting in shaping the teams approach and dressing room environment. Punjab Kings enjoyed a stellar campaign in IPL 2025, finishing as runners-up and marking one of their best performances in the tournaments history. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans have faced each other six times in IPL history, with both sides giving tough competition to each other, as the head-to-head record is tied with PBKS winning three encounters, and GT also came victorious on three occasions. Article Source: IANS
Fakhar Zaman handed two-match ban for ball tampering
He will miss Qalandars' matches against Multan Sultans on April 3 and Islamabad United on April 9.
LSG vs DC Match 5, IPL 2026: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction
LSG vs DC Match 5, Cricket Tips :The last two seasons have been below-par for Lucknow Super Giants, as they finished seventh in each edition. But Rishabh Pant and his men will look to start fresh and get a win to begin their campaign. LSG are scheduled to face Delhi Capitals in Lucknow on Wednesday. This contest will start at 7:30 PM IST at Ekana Stadium. LSG have a strong top four with Markram, Pooran, and Marsh; then they have a genuine pace unit with Shami, Nortje, Mayank, and Avesh, who can bowl fast consistently. On the other hand, DC have a more settled lineup with a strong top order with Rahul, Shaw, and Nissanka. Their middle order has Miller, Stubbs, and Rana. Their pace unit without Starc looks a little fragile, but Ngidi and Jamieson are good bowlers in this format. LSG vs DC: Match Details Date: April 01, 2026 (Wednesday) Time: 7:30 PM IST Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow LSG vs DC Live Streaming Details The live action of the LSG vs DC clash will be televised live on the Star Sports Networks. Fans can also watch the live stream of the game on the Jio Hotstar streaming platform. LSG vs DC Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 07 LSG : 03 DC : 04 No-Result : 00 LSG vs DC: Ground Pitch Report Ekana Stadium has a batting-friendly wicket, which is good for batting. The record suggests that this is a high-scoring venue with shorter boundaries and a fast outfield. The chasing team has done well here generally, because of the dew, which can come in the second innings. LSG vs DC Possible XIs LSG: Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Mitch Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Md. Shami, Shahbaz Ahmed, Avesh Khan, Anrich Nortje, Mayank Yadav DC : Pathum Nissanka, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel , Auqib Nabi, Kuldeep Yadav, Lungi Ngidi, Mukesh Kumar LSG vs DC: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Aiden Markram was in great form in T20 World Cup 2026, and he will be the leading batter for LSG. For DC, KL Rahul is expected to bat at the top, and with his class, he will be the batter to watch out for. Probable Best Bowler Mayank Yadav is fit and he will play this game. He is one of the fastest bowlers in this IPL and can trouble the batter with his pace. For DC, Lungi Ngidi will be the key because of his different slower balls, which are hard to pick. Today Match Prediction : DC have a little weaker bowling attack as compared to LSG. Then, the firepower of LSG at the top is another reason that we predict them to win this contest in Lucknow. LSG vs DC Match 5, IPL 2026, Today LSG vs DC Match, LSG vs DC Prediction, LSG vs DC Predicted XIs, Injury Update for LSG vs DC 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.
If Virat Kohli: RCB allrounder Krunal Pandya thinks that the clear environment within the team has enabled them to establish a more relaxed and confident rhythm after their championship win last season. I feel that this year there is a much calmer atmosphere. Last year it was a new team, and everyone got to know each other. This year, many players understand their roles and each other's strengths and weaknesses, he said. Krunal also credited captain Rajat Patidar at the helm, saying, Rajat has done a pretty amazing job captaining such a big franchise like RCB in his first season. The way he led the team last year was very special. He also emphasised the trust he has in wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma behind the stumps. A lot of credit goes to Jitesh behind the wickets as well. I feel very secure and trust him completely because wherever I bowl, he will grab the ball, he said. Krunal noted that the passion of RCB fans became clear to him shortly after joining the team, highlighting the strong bond between the team and its supporters. Last year, when we played our game against Chennai in the league stage and we were on the busI thought, People are so crazy about the team, and they want us to do well. We must win the trophy for the fans, he said. Krunal also discussed the example set by Virat Kohli within the group, stating, Virat is a classic example you can see that hunger; you can see that passion in how he sees the game and how much he wants that victory. If Virat Kohli had been born in any generation, he would still be one of the greats. He is not competing with anyone else. Krunal, the Player of the Match in last years final, discussed his strategy for managing pressure during crucial moments, emphasizing that staying present has been essential. When I get into the big occasions, I feel that if God has got you here, then there is a reason behind it. And sometimes I think that these big occasions are actually made for me. I feel the pressure, but I think about how I can be calm and in the present moment and do what is required Krunal thinks maintaining a long career in the sport relies on adapting to the changes in the game. What I've realised over a period of time is that to have longevity in any field, whether it's sport, whether it's business, you have to get better and you have to evolve. You can't be the same person or you can't have the same thought process to it. He also pointed to the IPL's evolution over the years. Every year IPL is evolving. You know what sort of batsmanship was there in 2016 and what it is in 2026, it's very different. Impact Player has played a massive role in the league in the last 3-4 years and that's why you see so many high-scoring games where now 200, 220 is actually chaseable. The game has gone from consistency to impact. At the end of the day what I've realised is that the basics of cricket remain the same. Yeah, I am an instinct player. But I do my research well. Although he has achieved success in franchise cricket, Krunal considers playing for India to be his ultimate goal. At the end of the day nothing beats playing for the country. Whenever I had the opportunity, I felt I performed well in both T20s and ODIs. Even now, representing India remains the ultimate goal. Although he has achieved success in franchise cricket, Krunal considers playing for India to be his ultimate goal. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I am a human being and sometimes it hurts that I have not played for the country for a long time. But it is part of the journey, and you keep doing your job. Article Source: IANS
Great Signs For Future Of South African Cricket, Says Sune Luus On Proteas Thrilling Win Over NZ
New Zealand Women: Sune Luus has hailed South Africas up-and-coming players as a promising sign for the future following a nerve-wracking victory over New Zealand Women in the opening ODI of their three-match series, which is a part of the ICC Womens Championship. The Proteas, runners-up at the ICC Womens Cricket World Cup 2025, clinched a dramatic two-wicket win in Christchurch, thanks largely to a fearless knock from 20-year-old Kayla Reyneke. The youngster finished unbeaten on 42 and sealed the contest in style with a last-ball six. Reflecting on the composure shown by the next generation, Luus expressed admiration for their confidence and maturity under pressure. Its great signs for the future of South African cricket. Its awesome just to see the players come in and just flourish like that, Luus said ahead of the second ODI. I think when we were younger, I cant remember being that confident or just coming in and hitting sixes for fun. Its really awesome to see how the womens game has grown and how Kayla just took responsibility and earned it, she added. South Africas victory was also built on a dominant bowling display from Ayabonga Khaka, who produced a career-best performance with six wickets to dismantle the White Ferns batting unit. She took wickets at crucial times. Shes been a senior bowler for us for a very long time and always takes responsibility and loves a good challenge. Im very happy for her. Its a great milestone to get a six-fer. Hopefully, she can just continue picking up all the wickets for the next couple of games, Luus shared. During the chase, Luus played a pivotal role with the bat, combining with Annerie Dercksen for a crucial 123-run partnership that steadied the innings and kept South Africa in contention. Derckie is an interesting one to bat with. I dont think she takes it very seriously. It was fun to bat with her. When shes in, the runs are just flowing. Shes a very powerful hitter of the ball. I think we were cruising when we came in, batting at a run-a-ball together. It was just important for us to stay calm and to have that long partnership, and just to take it as deep as possible. During the chase, Luus played a pivotal role with the bat, combining with Annerie Dercksen for a crucial 123-run partnership that steadied the innings and kept South Africa in contention. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With valuable points at stake in the ICC Womens Championship, Luus underlined the importance of building on the winning start as South Africa aim to secure direct qualification for the 2029 Womens World Cup. Article Source: IANS
Gatting leads calls for board resignations as anger at Middlesex grows
Group of prominent former players hits out at board ahead of AGM on April 15
Calls Grow For 15-Year-Old Vaibhav Suryavanshi To Make India Bow
There were growing calls Tuesday for teenager Vaibhav Suryavanshi to be fast-tracked into India's senior national team after slamming a 17-ball 52 to launch his IPL season. The batsman turned 15 last week, making him eligible to represent India under International Cricket Council rules, having already starred for his country at youth level. On Monday he smacked four fours and five sixes as Rajasthan Royals chased down a target of 128 with 7.5 overs to spare against Chennai Super Kings in Guwahati. The teenager made history in last year's IPL in a dazzling debut season highlighted by a 35-ball century, the second fastest in the history of the T20 tournament. Spin bowling great Anil Kumble compared Suryavanshi to batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, who made his full international debut aged 16. Yes, absolutely. If a player shows this level of consistency, he should be fasttracked, just like Sachin Tendulkar, Kumble said on JioHotstar. Suryavanshi has already made his mark at youth international level, hammering 175 off just 80 balls as India beat England in the Under-19 World Cup final in February. Former India batter Ambati Rayudu described Suryavanshi as a cut above a lot of youngsters in the country. He's a talent that will definitely do wonders for Indian cricket, Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo. I don't know when, but definitely in the future. Inside the Rajasthan Royals camp, the leadership group has been focused on shielding the prodigy from the pressures of early fame. What I tell him is that you're going to play 14 games (in this season's IPL) and regardless of what goes on in the game, it shouldn't bother you, captain Riyan Parag said. What goes around in the media shouldn't bother you. He added following Monday's latest eye-catching display: Like everyone in the stands, we also had this feeling of 'wow', wondering how he is able to do this. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He is a talent and I am very glad that he is in our team, and not the opponent's, he said.
Who is Raj Bawa? Mumbai Indians Young All-Rounder with a Golden Sporting Legacy
For its IPL 2026 opener against Kolkata Knight Riders, the impact subs named by Mumbai Indians were: Surya Kumar Yadav, Corbin Bosch, Robin Minz, Raj Bawa and Ashwani Kumar. Who is this Raj Bawa? Raj Angad Bawa, a young cricketer from Chandigarh, is a seam-bowling all-rounder (left-handed batting and right-arm medium-fast bowling). He was one of the stars of Indias successful 2022 ICC U19 World Cup campaign. He smashed 162* against Uganda (the highest score of the event). It also became the highest individual score by any Indian at the U-19 World Cup, surpassing Sheikh Dhawans previous record of 155 from 2004. He then claimed a historic match-winning 5/31 in the final against England. This was the best bowling performance in a U-19 World Cup final. It didnt take him long to begin his IPL journey as Punjab Kings secured him in the 2022 auction for Rs.2 crore after an intense bidding war. However, his tenure with them was marked by limited opportunities (he scored 11 runs in two outings in the 2022 season and was not used as a bowler) and injury and was released prior to the 2024 auction. Ahead of the 2025 Mega Auction, Mumbai Indians got him for Rs. 30 lacs. Although he scored 8* in the single outing in the three matches played (and was not used as a bowler), the team continued to place their faith in the left-hander and retained him for IPL 2026. This has given him another opportunity to share the dressing room with some of the finest T20 cricketers to polish his skills at the highest level. Raj Angad Bawa has another introduction also, as he has an exciting legacy. He is grandson of an Olympic gold medallist, Trilochan Singh Bawa. His playing for India in the ICC U19 World Cup and then IPL has added a chapter of glory to this proud legacy. Not only did his grandfathers achievement on the Olympic stage serve as an inspiration, he has carried forward a family tradition of sporting excellence. Trilochan Singh Bawa, was part of India's hockey team that won the gold medal at the 1948 Olympics in London. Not only this, his father, Sukhwinder Singh Bawa, is considered among the first coaches of Yuvraj Singh, and in particular, he is often credited for having advised Yuvraj to bowl spin rather than fast. The family nourished the pursuit of sporting excellence. Although Raj didnt see much of his Olympian grandfather as he lost him at the age of five, its natural that Raj Bawa has high hopes riding on him. Trilochan Singh Bawa:At the London 1948 Olympics hockey final, India defeated England to win gold, by 4-0 and Trilochan Bawa scored one goal, which was his second goal at the Olympics. The 1948 hockey gold is considered as the start of Indian sporting glory as this was the first for India after independence. Sukhwinder Bawa:He was a renowned cricket coach, moulded India internationals like Yuvraj Singh and VR Singh. He played both hockey and cricket while young, but a spine injury in his 20s, forced him to concentrate on coaching. Raj Bawa:He has already earned a name for himself with his fine display and played a starring role in India winning the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2022 for a record fifth time. He was born in Nahan (HP) but grew up in Chandigarh. He grew up listening to the stories of his grandfather from his grandmother and father, and they have stayed with him. Whenever I see that gold medal, it gives me goosebumps. I can only imagine how important an achievement it must have been, back then, Raj Bawa remembers. This medal has worked as a catalyst for Raj Bawa to live up to the sporting legacy of the family. Raj joined Sukhwinders coaching academy. Yuvraj Singh also trained here and was a hero for Raj. It is believed that Raj became a left-handed bat after watching Yuvraj. The 2022 U-19 World Cup brought success for Raj Bawa (who scored 252 runs and claimed nine wickets in six outings). He plays Ranji Trophy also. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Raj Bawa knows that he has a long way to go as quite a number of players have not been able to carry forward their under-19 success to the highest level, but he has the genes of an Olympic champion in him, so everyone is hopeful of his success. It will not be out of order to add here that India player Reetinder Singh Sodhi (18 ODIs) is Raj Babas cousin. He was also the hero and man of the match during the U-19 World Cup final in 2000, when India beat Sri Lanka.
Georgia Voll Tops T20I Rankings, Ends Mooneys 26-month Reign
T20I Rankings: Georgia Voll jumped eight spots to overtake fellow Australian Beth Mooney as the No. 1 ICC Womens T20I batter after scoring her first T20I century in the third and final match against the West Indies, helping her team to a 3-0 series sweep. Volls innings lifted her above 800 ratings points to a personal best of 815, securing her first top spot in the batting rankings, as Australia won the rain-affected match by 40 runs using the DLS method. Mooneys tenure, starting in January 2024 after replacing Tahlia McGrath, concluded when Voll scored a 52-ball century during their sweep of the hosts at Kingstown, St. Vincent and the Grenadines. This was a solid result, just 72 days before the ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026 opener in England and Wales. Amelia Kerr, New Zealand's captain, maintained her exceptional all-round form during their home series against South Africa. She has now become the fourth Kiwi to lead the womens all-rounders rankings, joining Rebecca Steele, Aimee Watkins, and Sophie Devine. Kerr replaced West Indies captain Hayley Matthews at the top of the list after scoring 105 and taking two wickets for only six runs in Christchurch's final T20I, leading to a 95-run win over the visitors. She also rose to sixth among batters and tenth among bowlers. Matthews had held the number one all-rounder spot since October 2023 when she first overtook Ash Gardner. There have also been significant changes in the Womens ODI Player Rankings after the first ODI between the White Ferns and the Proteas in Christchurch. Maddie Green advanced four spots to 13th on the batters list after scoring 85 runs in her teams losing effort. They were defeated by the tourists in a tense final-ball finish, with South Africas debutant, Kayla Reyneke, hitting a six to secure a two-wicket win in the end. South Africas Annerie Dercksen scored 72 off 93 balls, moving up nine places to 42nd among batters. Meanwhile, her teammate Ayabonga Khaka achieved her career-best ODI performance with six for 56, climbing three spots to 17th among bowlers. Amelia and her sister Jessica Kerr each took two wickets in the first match. Amelia moved up two places to ninth, while Jessica stayed in 13th. In St. Kitts and Nevis, Australia has established an unbeatable 2-0 lead in their three-match series against the West Indies, winning by 103 runs in the first match and by 90 runs in the second. Despite the team's poor results, Stefanie Taylors undefeated century (105 off 129 balls) brought some joy to the West Indies, as she jumped 10 spots to 28th in the ICC Womens ODI Batting Rankings. In St. Kitts and Nevis, Australia has established an unbeatable 2-0 lead in their three-match series against the West Indies, winning by 103 runs in the first match and by 90 runs in the second. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Finally, Australias Georgia Wareham moved up eight places to rank 16th among all-rounders after scoring 81 runs and taking four wickets in the first two ODIs against the West Indies. Article Source: IANS
Ponting: PBKS 'stronger' than last season, don't think there are any gaps
Ponting also explained how Cooper Connolly's inclusion helps achieve balance in the squad
McDonald Says Greens Return To Form In Tests Is only A Matter Of Time
West Indies World Cup: Australias team management has thrown its full support behind Cameron Green despite a disappointing Ashes campaign at home, with head coach Andrew McDonald emphasising that the allrounder remains central to the nations long-term Test plans. Green struggled to make an impact during the series against England, managing modest returns of 24.42 with the bat and 70.75 with the ball. His underwhelming performances were further highlighted by the emergence of Beau Webster, who impressed in limited opportunities with a quick 71 runs and three wickets in his lone appearance. However, McDonald made it clear that Greens place in the side is not under immediate threat. Speaking to SEN Radio, the coach expressed confidence in the 25-year-olds ability to deliver at the highest level in due course. He (Green) is good enough and its only a matter of time before it gets to a situation where hes performing for Australia, McDonald said when asked whether the team would continue to back him in the Test XI. A key factor behind that faith is Greens strong record in domestic red-ball cricket. While his Test numbers after 37 matches stand at a batting average of 32.75 and a bowling average of 38.94, his first-class performances paint a far stronger picture. He averages 45.52 overall in first-class cricket, a figure that climbs to 53.38 in the Sheffield Shield. Anyone thats averaging that at Shield level suggests that hes ahead of the pack there. To me, its only a matter of time before that connects into Test cricket, McDonald noted. The coach also acknowledged the heightened expectations placed on allrounders in Australian cricket, pointing out that several past players required time to find consistency at the international level. He referenced figures such as Mitchell Marsh, Shane Watson, and Andrew Symonds as examples. You only have to look a short time ago: Mitch Marshs journey, and Shane Watson, and even Andrew Symonds at the start of his career. There is an expectation around allrounders, its almost like they want them to average 45 with the bat and less than 30 with the ball. And theres been very few that do that, he said. Looking ahead, McDonald suggested that Australia could experiment with combinations that include both Green and Webster, especially following the retirement of Usman Khawaja, who vacated a middle-order role late in his career. If you looked at the last team, let's just take that, Usman [Khawaja] has retired, and he vacates the No. 5 position where he was opening and he went to five to finish off [during the final stages of his career]. But you've got Webster and Green that potentially can play in the same team, should we see it that way, so that gives us incredible flexibility. McDonald also addressed Australias disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, where the team exited in the group stage after losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. He described the performance as well below expectations, particularly given the teams strong record leading into the tournament. Yeah, not our finest and an incredibly disappointing campaign. For a team that's over the two-year period post the West Indies World Cup, winning at 80% and doing a lot right, we did have a few moving parts late, he said. Injuries to key players, including Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, along with Mitchell Marsh missing the opening games, disrupted preparations, though McDonald was quick to avoid excuses. Yeah, not our finest and an incredibly disappointing campaign. For a team that's over the two-year period post the West Indies World Cup, winning at 80% and doing a lot right, we did have a few moving parts late, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia will now turn their attention to their next Test assignment, a two-match home series against Bangladesh scheduled for August, with matches set to be played in Darwin and Mackay. Article Source: IANS
Sooryavanshi Is Too Good To Not Play For India: Ashwin
Chennai Super Kings: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin heaped rich praise on teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after his breathtaking innings powered Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a commanding eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their IPL 2026 opener in Guwahati on Monday, and mentioned that he must not be hurried into Indias international setup. Sooryavanshi's explosive 52 off just 17 balls, which saw him make a 15-ball half-century, dismantled CSKs bowling attack and set up the chase after RR had earlier restricted the five-time champions to a below-par total of 127. The youngsters fearless strokeplay in the powerplay, where RR raced to 74 without loss, left the opposition with no way back. Ashwin urged patience in handling the 15-year-old prodigy and cautioned against rushing his progression. Dont give him such a target. He is not even a guy, he is a kid. If MS Dhoni is playing till 45 (44), and if Sooryavanshi plays till 40, he has two and a half decades left in cricket. Leave him alone, he will come on his own when the time is right. He is too good to not play for India. He will play anyway eventually. When will he play? For that, we might have to wait a bit. Why are we always in a hurry? Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel. Ashwin urged patience in handling the 15-year-old prodigy and cautioned against rushing his progression. Also Read: Live Cricket Score RR began their IPL 2026 campaign in dominant fashion with a victory over CSK. Sooryavanshi was the stand-out performer, hitting the third fastest fifty in IPL history. After Sooryavanshis dismissal, Yashasvi Jaiswal (38*) and skipper Riyan Parag (14*) comfortably guided the team home with 47 balls remaining. Article Source: IANS
BCCI Secy Saikia: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia lauded the efforts of ground staff and organisers after the Indian Premier League (IPL) clash between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) commenced on schedule despite challenging weather conditions. The match, held at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium (ACA), was marred by persistent rainfall in the days leading up to the fixture, along with showers just hours before the scheduled start. Saikia praised the unsung heroes working behind the scenes, crediting their dedication and efficiency for ensuring the game proceeded without delay. His remarks highlighted the crucial role played by ground staff in maintaining match readiness under pressure. Kudos to the unsung heroes behind the scenes! Despite relentless rainfall over the past several daysand even showers till just about an hour before the scheduled startthe match between Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium commenced right on time yesterday. This remarkable feat is a testament to the dedication, expertise, and tireless efforts of our curators and groundsmen. Their professionalism ensured that the playing conditions were match-ready against all odds. A big salute to these silent contributors who make the game possiblerain or shine, Saikia wrote on X. Saikia praised the unsung heroes working behind the scenes, crediting their dedication and efficiency for ensuring the game proceeded without delay. His remarks highlighted the crucial role played by ground staff in maintaining match readiness under pressure. Also Read: Live Cricket Score After Sooryavanshis dismissal, Yashasvi Jaiswal (38*) and skipper Riyan Parag (14*) comfortably guided the team home with 47 balls remaining. Earlier, RRs disciplined bowling attack restricted the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side to a below-par total of 127, setting up a one-sided contest that highlighted both their bowling control and explosive batting firepower. Article Source: IANS
Canterbury take Plunket Shield title after tight race needs second tie-breaker
Otago's victory over Wellington in the final round wasn't enough to clinch top spot
Karn Sharma: The Lucky Charm Spinner with 3 IPL Titles
One of the news after the IPL 2026 mini-auction held in Abu Dhabi, was that Karn Sharma (left-hand batsman and leg break bowler) went unsold. The world didnt pay any significant attention to this veteran leg-spinner with base price Rs. 50 lacs, remaining unsold, but anyone who knows him, realised that all 10 teams missed a chance to include this lucky charm in their side. He has so far represented SunRisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru and believes that, in an IPL career of only 90 matches, he has won 3 IPL titles. He is particularly remembered for being a superstar for MI in the 2017 season as he claimed 13 wickets in nine innings at an economy of 6.97 and played an instrumental role in powering them to their third IPL title (including a spectacular 4/16 in Qualifier 2). In IPL 2025, he didnt do badly and picked up seven wickets in six at an economy of 8.53 and was successful in containing the opposition batters with his firki, leading MI to victories, before getting injured. Probably his 38+ age and fitness factor went against him, and even they were not interested in him for 2026. He has so far played in 12 out of a total of 18 seasons and in 3 of them has won a winners' medal and that too winning back-to-back IPL trophies. This is a rare IPL achievement, difficult to match for anyone. Further, he did it with three different franchises, which looks like a crazy fact: 2016: won the IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad but was released. 2017: Bought by Mumbai Indians, won the title and, despite an incredible performance, he was not retained. 2018: Bought by Chennai Super Kings and this time they won the title. Meerut continued giving fine bowlers to cricket but, unlike Praveen Kumar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Karn Sharma is a leg spinner. As an uncapped cricketer, he featured for RCB in 2009 (1 match) under a contract of Rs. 20 lacs and after that he was a forgotten man. In 2013, SRH brought him for Rs. 30 lacs under an uncapped contract, and he claimed 11 wickets in 13 matches at an economy rate of 6.60 and formed a lethal pair with India leg spinner Amit Mishra, and they took SRH to the semi-finals in their first season. He was under the hammer for the first time in 2014 and bagged an IPL contract for Rs 3.75 crore from Sunrisers Hyderabad, which was the highest amount spent on a domestic uncapped player in that auction. Took 15 wickets at 25.06 and the last two-season performance earned him not only an India A call, within four months he debuted for India in all the three formats. T20I debut against England in September 2014: Played 1 match and took 1 wicket. ODI debut against Sri Lanka in November 2014: Played only 2 matches without a wicket. Test debut against Australia in December 2014: Played only one Test, took 4 wickets and got out his IPL teammate David Warner in both innings. Quickest to Debut for India Men across formats: 14 days - Mukesh Kumar, 44 - T Natarajan, 59 - Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 76 - Harshit Rana and 93 - Karn Sharma. He is one of the five men who have played four international matches (covering all three formats): Naman Ojha from India (one Test, one ODI and two T20Is) Karn Sharma from India (1-2-1) Scott Borthwick from England (1-2-1) Charlton Tshuma from Zimbabwe (1-2-1) Mohammad Saleem from Afghanistan (1-2-1) Only Nonkhululeko Peaceful Thabethe, South Africa's women cricketer, has the better record and on the India tour in 2014, she made her debut in all the three formats and didnt add to her match tally after that. In 2015, Karn was the lead spin bowler for SRH and in the 2016 season, he won the IPL with them. Incidentally, SRH is the only IPL side who has used Karn Sharma for 10 or more matches in a season. IPL 2017: MI brought him for Rs. 3.2 crores, and he won his second IPL title (in the final, conceded only 18 runs in 4 overs, including 12 dot balls). IPL 2018: Brought by the CSK for Rs.5 crores and went on to win the title. Also Read: Live Cricket Score CSK, although it retained him, didnt use him. This impacted his mark and he was absent from IPL 2021 and 2022. He was bought by the RCB and played in the 2023 and 2024 seasons with them. Then it was the turn of MI to remember him again for IPL 2025.
Robinson, Sears Among 9 Int'l Players Named In NZ 'A' Squads For SL Tour
Selection Manager Gavin Larsen: Nine players with international experience have been named across the New Zealand A (NZ A) squads to tour Sri Lanka later this month. The tour comprises three 50-over matches and two four-day matches across Galle and Hambantota, starting April 5. Eight BlackCaps feature in the NZ 'A' 50-over squad in Muhammad Abbas, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Mitch Hay, Ben Lister, Rhys Mariu, Ben Sears, and Tim Robinson. Abbas, Ashok, Clarke, and Sears will depart the A tour to join the ODI squad in Bangladesh, with Robinson also departing after the first red-ball game to join the BlackCaps T20I squad. The red-ball squad will be bolstered by four pace-bowlers in New Zealand's latest Test debutant Michael Rae, Otagos Jarrod McKay, and Canterburys Fraser Sheat, along with allrounders Auckland Aces RyanHarrison and Wellington Firebirds Peter Younghusband. Maiden NZ A call-ups have been earned by Harrison, McKay, Sheat, and Younghusband, as well as Auckland Aces Rohit Gulati, after impressive performances for their provinces throughout the season. Selection Manager Gavin Larsen said it was exciting to reward players with opportunities to continue their development. Being able to offer some of our best performing domestic players opportunities to work on their game overseas is crucial to the success of ourhighperformanceprogramme. Weve seen some incredible successes during the summer, with series wins against England, the West Indies, India away, and South Africa, all while relying heavily on our stocks in our domestic system, he said. The 50-Over squad depart to Sri Lanka on Friday 3 April, followed by the four-day squad members on 10 April. Squads: The 50-Over squad depart to Sri Lanka on Friday 3 April, followed by the four-day squad members on 10 April. Also Read: Live Cricket Score NZ A to Sri Lanka four-day: Matthew Boyle, Max Chu, Rohit Gulati, Ryan Harrison, Mitch Hay, Curtis Heaphy, Simon Keene, Ben Lister, Rhys Mariu, Jarrod McKay, Dale Phillips, Tim Pringle, Michael Rae, Tim Robinson, Fraser Sheat, Peter Younghusband Article Source: IANS
Sooryavanshi 'definitely in the race' for higher honours
If he plays like that, would love to see him fast-tracked, Piyush Chawla says after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi slammed 52 in 17 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings
'We know he's good enough' - Green given long-term backing for Test role
The allrounder had a lean Ashes but is likely to remain part of the side when Australia's Test cricket resumes in August
Soon after turning 15, Sooryavanshi begins IPL 2026 with 15-ball fifty
Sooryavanshi raced to a 15-ball fifty in a game where CSK were bowled out for 127
Sooryavanshi, Archer, Burger demolish CSK
Burger, Archer and Jadeja share six wickets to dismiss new-look CSK for 127
IPL 2026: I Think Everyone Executed Plans Really Nicely, Says RR Skipper Parag
Chennai Super Kings: Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag hailed his sides collective execution after they crushed Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in their IPL 2026 opening game at the ACA Stadium on Monday. I got lucky with the toss, but I think the way we executed it, we had like a couple of days' practice, I think, before CSK arrived, and it was a red-soil wicket, but then it was a lot of rain as well, so we knew the moisture was going to play a part. I think everyone executed plans really nicely. Definitely like this better. A lot of preparation has gone into this. I know me being captain is one part which I should be happy about and I should thank the franchise for it, but then the goal this year is to win the trophy, and we've put in a lot of time towards planning, strategizing. I've said this in an interview before that we want to be a team that plays smart cricket. We want to assess conditions really well and adapt to it and I think that we did that pretty well today, said Parag at the conclusion of the game. RR bowled out CSK for just 127 before Vaibhav Sooryavanshis fireworks 52 off 17 balls - ensured the chase was wrapped up in just 12.1 overs, giving Parag a perfect start to his tenure as full-time captain. Parag praised the pace duo of Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger for their fiery spells, lauded Sandeep Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja for their control, and singled out debutant Brijesh Sharma for his composure in front of a packed Guwahati crowd. Everyone who came in, Jof and Nandre, we expect that from them every single time, they were rapid. Sandy bhaiya doing his job. Jaddu bhaiya coming in, I think Guwahati suited him a little bit more. Then Brijesh, the youngster, I think him coming in first game against CSK with the packed crowd, what he did was insane, so I'm really looking forward to the season. Asked on his conversations with Sooryavanshi, Parag said, What I tell him is that you're going to play 14 games and regardless of what goes on in the game, it shouldn't bother you. What goes around in the media shouldn't bother you. You just go out there. He loves to bat. I've made sure I've told the coaches that he gets as much batting as he wants and he goes and does some things like that. So I think me and Dhruv, when we were sitting there till the fourth over, we were just in awe. Like, what is happening? Like, how is he doing this? But then I'm really happy to have him in my team. With Jurel coming at three, Parag said this is going to be RR's batting order. Yes, that is what we've been planning on. Dhruv comes in at three, Hetty (Hetmyer) bats at five, because I think we need that lefty-righty in the later half of the innings as well. So hopefully this sticks and we win a few games with this batting line-up, he said. CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad said conditions were tough but stressed the need for improvement. I felt the conditions at the start were really tough, especially when facing Jofra and Burger. They bowled brilliant lengths and even after that, to a medium-pacer it was slightly tough. You could see even the spinners were getting some assistance as well. Yes, we would have been better in batting, we would have taken the game deep, showed some batsmanship, maybe take the game till 150-160. But, nowadays, you never know what's a good score, so you just have to keep going. So I think it just one of those days where the wicket was slightly on the tougher side. So not frustrated at all, he said. Asked on how CSK will reassess the loss as a group, Gaikwad said, You just put it behind and move on. We've got a game in another three days. Make sure that everyone is in a good headspace. One good thing is, a lot of youngsters in the group. So, probably a nervy start for everyone, but good to get a game behind and good to start with lot of mistakes. But, nowadays, you never know what's a good score, so you just have to keep going. So I think it just one of those days where the wicket was slightly on the tougher side. So not frustrated at all, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So I think it's just about backing yourself, backing your game for the batsmen. If you have it in your area, just make sure you go for it. Today it didn't work but we can be better in batsmanship. You just have to be positive, especially when you're batting first. If conditions are good, you never know, the same batting line-up can put a good score, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Plan Was To Control The Game In The Powerplay, Says Sooryavanshi
Chennai Super Kings: Teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who lit up the ACA Stadium with a blistering 52 off 17 balls in Rajasthan Royals securing an eight-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings, said the teams focus was on dominating the powerplay in a modest chase of 128 at the ACA Stadium. I didnt really do anything outside - there was supposed to be a cake cutting, but I went to sleep early to avoid the cake-smearing (on how he celebrated his birthday last week). The plan today was simply to execute well in the powerplay - initially the wicket felt a bit sticky, but as the ball got older, it started coming onto the bat nicely. I do think about defence, but today our plan was to control the game in the powerplay because in a small chase, that phase is crucial - if the bowling team does well there, the game can tilt their way, but our powerplay went really well, he said at the conclusion of the game. His explosive knock, also the third fastest fifty in IPL history, ensured RRs chase of 128 was virtually sealed inside the first six overs. Yashasvi Jaiswal and skipper Riyan Parag later completed the formalities with 47 balls to spare and capped off a dominant performance that began with incisive spells from Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger and Ravindra Jadeja to bowl out CSK for 127. Asked about guidance from coaches and fellow opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi said, The coaches didnt specifically say that bowlers would attack me - everyone else was already saying that - but they just told me that they back me and that I should stick to my natural game and play according to the situation. My opening partner (Jaiswal) keeps communicating with me after every ball - he tells me when to take singles, keeps giving me the strike, and encourages me to keep playing my shots if the ball is coming nicely onto the bat (on partnership understanding), he said. Player of the Match Nandre Burger, who picked 2-26, credited his sides strong start with the ball leading to their win. Firstly, all glory to God - it feels great to contribute to a win for the team and get us off to a good start. Watching the previous games with big scores, you naturally prepare for chasing something big, so winning the toss and getting the ball first was massive for us and helped us get off to a strong start. My opening partner (Jaiswal) keeps communicating with me after every ball - he tells me when to take singles, keeps giving me the strike, and encourages me to keep playing my shots if the ball is coming nicely onto the bat (on partnership understanding), he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The dressing room feels pretty similar to before - there are a few new faces and changes like the coach and captain, but the energy is good, everyone is smiling, and hopefully this is a positive start so we can keep that momentum going, he said. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Sooryavanshi, Bowlers Power RR To Thumping Eight-wicket Win Over CSK (Ld)
Chennai Super Kings: Built on incisive new-ball spells from Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, a double-strike from Ravindra Jadeja, and a blistering 52 from teenage opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Rajasthan Royals launched their IPL 2026 campaign with a commanding eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium on Monday. CSK, missing MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis, were bundled out for just 127 after being rocked early on a red-soil pitch offering swing and seam to Archer and Burger. Jadeja struck twice in his first over and marked a successful return to RR after 17 years, while debutant Brijesh Sharma chipped in with a breakthrough. Only Jamie Overton showed resistance, counterattacking at number eight to hit 43 off 36 balls to drag CSK past 120 from 84/8 and save them from the ignominy of being bowled out for below 100, though the end total was still below-par. In reply, Sooryavanshi turned the chase into a one-man exhibition. Dropped for nought, he raced to a 15-ball fifty - the third fastest in IPL history - with four fours and five sixes, powering RR to 74 without loss in the Powerplay. Though he fell soon after for 52, the damage was done. Yashasvi Jaiswal (38 not out) and skipper Riyan Parag (14 not out) calmly finished the chase with 47 balls to spare. Archer began by swinging the ball both ways to trouble Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the opening over. Nandre Burger then made the first breakthrough by knocking over Samson for 6 with a delivery that shaped away and crashed into the off-stump. Archer returned to remove Gaikwad in his second over - the CSK skipper backed away to access the off-side but missed a straight ball and was bowled for six. Burger intensified the collapse in the third over as Ayush Mhatre fell for a golden duck - gloving a bouncer to keeper Dhruv Jurel, as RR got the decision in their favour on review. Sarfaraz Khan came in as the impact substitute and began his resistance by pulling Burger for four and six in successive balls. After debutant Brijesh Sharma impressed by conceding only six runs in the fourth over, Sarfaraz kept counterattacking to keep the scoreboard ticking. Sandeep Sharma struck immediately in the final over of power-play as Matthew Short, who struggled to get going, chipped a slower ball straight to mid-wicket for two, as CSK closed the power-play at 41/4. Post that, CSK suffered two major blows - Sarfaraz attempted a sweep off ex-CSK stalwart Ravindra Jadeja, but missed it and was trapped lbw for 17, while Shivam Dube holed out to long-off. CSKs slide continued as Brijesh Sharma beat Kartiks inside edge, and trapped him plumb lbw for 18, while Noor Ahmed edged behind to Jurel off Archer and Ravi Bishnoi took a sharp caught and bowled chance after foxing Matt Henry with a googly. But thanks to Jamie Overton nailing boundaries alongside Anshul Kamboj, CSK were able to cross the 120-mark, before a complete confusion resulted in the former being run-out. RR had a flying start as Matt Henrys opening over went for 18 runs, with Sooryavanshi pulling and driving for boundaries (including Kartik Sharma dropping him for zero) while Jaiswal glanced him fine for four. Khaleel Ahmed thought he had Sooryavanshi lbw on the first ball of his spell, but review showed the ball going over leg stump. Jaiswal played watchfully even as Sooryavanshi continued to attack to keep the runs flowing. Henrys second over was taken apart by Sooryavanshi - slashing a slower ball over backward point for six, while Jaiswal muscled Khaleel straight over mid-off for four. Anshul Kamboj was greeted with three boundaries as Sooryavanshi ramped and tickled him over third man and fine leg before smashing a six over long-on, as RR crossed the fifty-run mark. Noor Ahmads introduction did little to stem the flow as Sooryavanshi launched consecutive sixes over long-on to bring up a blistering fifty off just 15 balls, as 19 runs came off the sixth over to take RR to 74/0 at the end of the power-play. But just after that, Sooryavanshi attempted to flay a length ball over cover but Sarfaraz Khan ran in from the deep and completed a diving catch at deep extra cover to dismiss him for 52. Noor Ahmads introduction did little to stem the flow as Sooryavanshi launched consecutive sixes over long-on to bring up a blistering fifty off just 15 balls, as 19 runs came off the sixth over to take RR to 74/0 at the end of the power-play. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 127 in 19.4 overs (Jamie Overton 43, Kartik Sharma 18; Ravindra Jadeja 2-18, Jofra Archer 2-19) lost to Rajasthan Royals 128/2 in 12.1 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 52, Yashasvi Jaiswal 38 not out; Anshul Kamboj 2-27) by eight wickets Article Source: IANS
Fisher, O'Rourke, Tickner return from injuries for white-ball tour of Bangladesh
Dean Foxcroft, meanwhile, returns to the white-ball set-up for the first time since April 2024
IPL 2026: Why did MS Dhoni skip RR vs CSK match?
MS Dhoni skips Chennai Super Kings' opening IPL 2026 match against Rajasthan Royals due to a calf injury sustained during pre-season. He is expected to be out for at least the first two weeks of the tournament, with the possibility of missing the entire first half.
IPL 2026: Sooryavanshis Blistering 52 Helps RR Register Eight-wicket Win Over CSK
Chennai Super Kings: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi slammed a blistering 52 off just 17 balls as Rajasthan Royals launched their IPL 2026 campaign with a thumping eight-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium on Monday. Sooryavanshis fifty came in only 15 deliveries, the third fastest in IPL history, to set up the win for RR. His knock, laced with four fours and five sixes, propelled RR to 74 without loss in the power-play, effectively sealing the contest in their favour. Though he fell soon after, Yashasvi Jaiswal (38 not out) and skipper Riyan Parag (14 not out) calmly completed the formalities to complete the chase with 47 balls to spare and cap off a dominant performance that began with a disciplined bowling effort to bowl CSK out for 127. RR had a flying start as Matt Henrys opening over went for 18 runs, with Sooryavanshi pulling and driving for boundaries (including Kartik Sharma dropping him for zero) while Jaiswal glanced him fine for four. Khaleel Ahmed thought he had Sooryavanshi lbw on the first ball of his spell, but review showed the ball going over leg stump. Jaiswal played watchfully even as Sooryavanshi continued to attack to keep the runs flowing. Henrys second over was taken apart by Sooryavanshi - slashing a slower ball over backward point for six, while Jaiswal muscled Khaleel straight over mid-off for four. Anshul Kamboj was greeted with three boundaries as Sooryavanshi ramped and tickled him over third man and fine leg before smashing a six over long-on, as RR crossed the fifty-run mark. Noor Ahmads introduction did little to stem the flow as Sooryavanshi launched consecutive sixes over long-on to bring up a blistering fifty off just 15 balls, as 19 runs came off the sixth over to take RR to 74/0 at the end of the power-play. But just after that, Sooryavanshi attempted to flay a length ball over cover but Sarfaraz Khan ran in from the deep and completed a diving catch at deep extra cover to dismiss him for 52. Noor Ahmads introduction did little to stem the flow as Sooryavanshi launched consecutive sixes over long-on to bring up a blistering fifty off just 15 balls, as 19 runs came off the sixth over to take RR to 74/0 at the end of the power-play. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 127 in 19.4 overs (Jamie Overton 43, Kartik Sharma 18; Ravindra Jadeja 2-18, Jofra Archer 2-19) lost to Rajasthan Royals 128/2 in 12.1 overs (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 52, Yashasvi Jaiswal 38 not out; Anshul Kamboj 2-27) by eight wickets Article Source: IANS
Rajasthan: RCA Elections Soon, Says New Convener
Jodhpur District Cricket Association: The newly appointed Convener of the Rajasthan Cricket Associations (RCA) Ad-hoc Committee, Mohit Yadav, has signalled sweeping reforms, stating that long-pending RCA elections will be held at the earliest. Yadav said the responsibility entrusted by the state government would be carried out with seriousness and commitment. Our focus is to improve both the functioning and direction of the RCA. Positive results will soon be visible, he said. Addressing the dispute with former convener Deendayal Kumawat, Yadav acknowledged differences but maintained that cricketing activities should not suffer. Our working styles differed, but the objective remained the same. Some targets could not be achieved earlier, but we will now accomplish them with the new team, he added. The newly constituted Ad-hoc Committee includes Mohit Yadav, Dhananjay Singh Khimsar, Ashish Tiwari, Arisht Singhvi, and Arjun Beniwal, all of whom have taken charge. Yadav emphasised that conducting RCA elections, which have been pending for nearly two years, would be the top priority. We will expedite the process to ensure the association gets a permanent, democratically elected leadership, he said. He also expressed dissatisfaction over Rajasthan being allotted only four IPL matches this season, calling it inadequate. Yadav assured better planning to secure more matches for the state next year and said efforts would also be made to organise the Rajasthan Premier League (RPL) locally. Dhananjay Singh Khimsar, a senior committee member and president of the Jodhpur District Cricket Association, expressed confidence in the new leadership. Quoting a couplet, he said, Let us leave yesterday behind; now is the time to write a new story together. He added, Under Mohit Yadavs leadership, we are confident that elections will be completed soon and a new chapter will begin. Referring to ongoing disputes, Khimsar remarked, Truth may face setbacks, but it can never be defeated, signalling a move to move past controversies. Responding to criticism by former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot regarding the presence of politicians sons in the setup, committee member Ashish Tiwari defended the appointments. Referring to ongoing disputes, Khimsar remarked, Truth may face setbacks, but it can never be defeated, signalling a move to move past controversies. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With the new Ad-hoc Committee in place, expectations have risen for early elections and improved cricket administration in Rajasthan, potentially ushering in a new phase for the sport in the state. Article Source: IANS
Jake Weatherald joins Leicestershire for opening rounds of Championship
Australia opener will be captained by Ian Holland in club's return to top flight for first time in 22 years
IPL 2026: I Think Pink Looks Good On Me, Says Jadeja On Return To Rajasthan Royals
Chennai Super Kings: Veteran left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja marked his comeback in Rajasthan Royals (RR) colours after 17 years with a double-wicket blow against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the ACA Stadium and said he felt pink looks good on him. Jadejas spell of 2/18 where he extracted turn, and brought in subtle changes of pace - helped RR tighten their grip on the contest after Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger had rocked CSK early. Mondays match also saw Jadeja set a new IPL record for longest gap between appearances for the same franchise. I think pink looks good on me, I guess. Ive known Shivam Dube for a long time - Ive bowled to him in the nets, so I understand how he approaches spinners. I was prepared for that and tried to bowl outside off, because I knew he would look to play big shots against me, said Jadeja in a mid-innings chat with the broadcasters. Jadejas dismissal of impact substitute Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube proved to be pivotal as inaugural champions RR bowled out five-time winners CSK for 127. Jadeja had given Dube a fiery send-off, a moment that quickly was taken note of by social media followers. I think pink looks good on me, I guess. Ive known Shivam Dube for a long time - Ive bowled to him in the nets, so I understand how he approaches spinners. I was prepared for that and tried to bowl outside off, because I knew he would look to play big shots against me, said Jadeja in a mid-innings chat with the broadcasters. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He further felt chasing 128 will demand hard work from RRs young batting line-up. You cant take anything for granted in cricket; no matter the target, you have to work hard, play your shots, and give your 100 percent. Article Source: IANS
Archer, Jadeja and Burger knock CSK over for 127
A revamped CSK had a tough start to their season with a batting failure in their first game
IPL 2026: Burger, Archer, Jadeja Pick Two Wickets Each As RR Bowl Out CSK For Just 127
Chennai Super Kings: Rajasthan Royals pacers Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger ripped through Chennai Super Kings top-order before Ravindra Jadeja made a double-strike, as the visitors were bundled out for just 127 in the IPL 2026 clash at the ACA Stadium on Monday. Missing the calming presence of MS Dhoni and Dewald Brevis, CSKs young batting unit faltered on a red-soil pitch offering early assistance to bowlers, thanks to some pre-match drizzle. Archer and Burger made the ball talk to pick two wickets each while Jadeja had two in the eighth over in a disciplined bowling performance for RR. Only Jamie Overton showed fight, counterattacking at number eight with a gritty 43 off 36 balls that lifted CSK from 84/8 to a total showing some semblance of respectability. But the total remained well below-par, leaving RR with a golden opportunity to start their campaign on a winning note under new full-time captain Riyan Parag. Archer began by swinging the ball both ways to trouble Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the opening over. Nandre Burger then made the first breakthrough by knocking over Samson for 6 with a delivery that shaped away and crashed into the off-stump. Archer returned to remove Gaikwad in his second over - the CSK skipper backed away to access the off-side but missed a straight ball and was bowled for six. Burger intensified the collapse in the third over as Ayush Mhatre fell for a golden duck - gloving a bouncer to keeper Dhruv Jurel, as RR got the decision in their favour on review. Sarfaraz Khan came in as the impact substitute and began his resistance by pulling Burger for four and six in successive balls. After debutant Brijesh Sharma impressed by conceding only six runs in the fourth over, Sarfaraz kept counterattacking to keep the scoreboard ticking. Sandeep Sharma struck immediately in the final over of power-play as Matthew Short, who struggled to get going, chipped a slower ball straight to mid-wicket for two, as CSK closed the power-play at 41/4. Post that, CSK suffered two major blows - Sarfaraz attempted a sweep off ex-CSK stalwart Ravindra Jadeja, but missed it and was trapped lbw for 17, while Shivam Dube holed out to long-off. Sarfaraz Khan came in as the impact substitute and began his resistance by pulling Burger for four and six in successive balls. After debutant Brijesh Sharma impressed by conceding only six runs in the fourth over, Sarfaraz kept counterattacking to keep the scoreboard ticking. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Chennai Super Kings 127 in 19.4 overs (Jamie Overton 43, Kartik Sharma 18; Ravindra Jadeja 2-18, Jofra Archer 2-19) against Rajasthan Royals Article Source: IANS
Shreyas and Gill back in the T20 spotlight as PBKS take on GT
Both teams made the playoffs last season but their captains' fortunes in T20 cricket have fallen since then
IPL 2026: Weve To Start All Over Again, Says PBKS Coach Ponting Ahead Of Campaign Opener Against GT
Indian Premier League: Punjab Kings (PBKS) are set to kick off their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign against Gujarat Titans (GT) at their home ground, New International Stadium, New Chandigarh on Tuesday. Speaking about the campaign opener, head coach Ricky Ponting expressed confidence in a stronger, more evolved squad heading into the new season. Ponting emphasised that while last seasons top-of-the-table finish was encouraging, the team is approaching the new campaign with a fresh mindset. Its nice to reflect on what was a great season for the franchise, but that doesnt mean anything going into a new year. Its nil-nil now for everybody. Weve got to start that all over again, he said. The coach also pointed to improved squad depth and flexibility as a major strength this season, with multiple options available across roles. We've got the players that we want in certain roles, but we've also got a back-up player for most of those players right the way down to our 25th player. I just think overall, we should be stronger, the head coach said. He further added, I just think there's been natural growth in a lot of our players and if we can bring the best out of them over the next two months, starting tomorrow, there's no reason why our performances can't be better than last year. With the season opener set to be played on a surface expected to favour batting, Ponting acknowledged the importance of adapting quickly to conditions while finalising the playing XI. He said, We have got 25 players to pick from, with a nice balance of overseas players and Indian talent. First and foremost, we have to understand the conditions before we pick the team. It's just started raining now, so all the covers have gone down outside, so we haven't actually seen the playing surface for the last couple of days. So hopefully before the end of the session tonight, we can have a really good look at the wicket that we're going to use tomorrow, and then we can start thinking about different combinations and impact players and what we might want to do with our line-up, he further added. He said, We have got 25 players to pick from, with a nice balance of overseas players and Indian talent. First and foremost, we have to understand the conditions before we pick the team. It's just started raining now, so all the covers have gone down outside, so we haven't actually seen the playing surface for the last couple of days. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We need to start well tomorrow, we need to play well at our home ground, but I honestly feel that we've got a better squad than we had last year. Our younger players are more experienced now and the overseas players that we've brought in this year are better than the squad that we had last year. So overall, I'm really excited to get the season underway, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Its Exciting To Get Started Tonight For CSK, Guys Looking Forward To It, Says Henry
Chennai Super Kings: New Zealand pacer Matt Henry said he was excited to get going for five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2026, adding the squad was looking forward to getting the tournament underway tonight against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the ACA Stadium on Monday. Its just exciting. I think when you come to the IPL, the passion, I suppose the crowd, the atmosphere, its what you want as a cricketer and to be tested. So its exciting to get started tonight for CSK and the guys are looking forward to it. Obviously being a bowler, looking to have impact with the ball, especially early on, I think you see the way that teams are attacking the powerplay and I think thats probably trying to get wickets as you can and then stemming the flow of runs. So obviously its been a big challenge the last couple of years in the IPL, so hopefully we can do it well, said Henry in a pre-game chat with the broadcasters. CSK finished at bottom place in the points table and Henry praised the squad composition and culture. I think its such a successful franchise as the way they go about their business, its a great franchise to be a part of. I think when you look at the squad this year, its really exciting with a lot of youngsters and power. Its just a really cool group to be a part of, the way that this franchise goes about their work. Its just exciting and were looking forward to getting into it. CSK will take the field in Guwahati without MS Dhoni, marking only the sixth time the franchise has taken the field without their long-time player. This will also be CSKs first-ever match without both Dhoni and Suresh Raina, ending a run of 277 games. Dhoni last missed an IPL fixture against Mumbai Indians at Chepauk in 2019. I think when you look at the squad this year, its really exciting with a lot of youngsters and power. Its just a really cool group to be a part of, the way that this franchise goes about their work. Its just exciting and were looking forward to getting into it. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Henry signed off by praising Sanju Samsons form and temperament. I think the way hes (Sanju Samson) been going about his cricket for the last few years really has been exceptional and hes obviously in great form. But once again, another calm character and I think thats the exciting part of having Sanju here in the side. Article Source: IANS
IPL Ticket Row Resolved, MLAs To Get 3 Tickets: Shivakumar
DNA Entertainment Networks Managing Director: Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President D. K. Shivakumar on Monday said that the issue of ticket allocation for Indian Premier League matches has been resolved amicably, with a revised quota for legislators and Members of Parliament. He made the statement after addressing the media following a meeting with members of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and DNA Event Management Company. Shivakumar said he had earlier held discussions with the Speaker and senior leaders on the matter. It has been decided that three tickets will be provided to Members of the Legislative Assembly and Members of Parliament for Indian Premier League matches, instead of the earlier four. For international matches, the Karnataka State Cricket Association will provide two complimentary tickets; additional tickets must be purchased. He explained, Two tickets will be given free, and if they want two more, they will have to purchase them. Representatives from Royal Challengers Bangalore, the DNA network, and Karnataka State Cricket Association management had met him regarding the issue. Karnataka State Cricket Association President and former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad was also present during the discussions. If anyone does not want tickets, they can submit a letter. Members of the Legislative Assembly make several demands, and not all can be fulfilled. The issue has now been settled, he said. Shivakumar noted that in states like Rajasthan, Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata, a significant percentage of tickets, over 50 to 60 per cent, are allocated to government officials and related categories. Compared to those places, there is less interference here, he said, adding that the matter has been closed. Regarding infrastructure, he said discussions were held to increase seating capacity at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Authorities have been asked to submit a proposal to the government. If seating capacity can be increased by 20,000, it would be beneficial. Once the proposal comes, the government will examine it, he said. Responding to a query on a separate gallery for politicians, he said he did not wish to interfere. It was a small request. For Royal Challengers Bangalore matches, three tickets will be given, and for other matches, two tickets will be given. I will not interfere further, he said. He also said the government has allocated land for sports infrastructure, including 25 acres near Golden Spa, 25 acres in Tumakuru, and land in Mysuru. In Bengaluru, two to three locations have been identified for developing a new stadium that can host multiple sports, not just cricket. On by-elections, Shivakumar said he will campaign in Davanagere on Tuesday, while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has already campaigned in Bagalkot. I will visit Bagalkot the following day, return to Davanagere, and then go back to Bagalkot, he said. He also said he will travel to Kerala on April 5 and 6. He announced that he, along with All India Congress Committee General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, will address a press conference at the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee office regarding the cooking gas crisis. Speaking about Assam, Shivakumar said the Congress party stands by its promises. We have announced guarantees in Assam and delivered speeches there. The Congress always keeps its word, unlike those who promised Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts and Acche Din, he said. He added that he has visited Assam multiple times and recently tried local cuisine at a hotel, describing it as tasty. We have announced guarantees in Assam and delivered speeches there. The Congress always keeps its word, unlike those who promised Rs 15 lakh in bank accounts and Acche Din, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Expressing confidence about the partys prospects in Assam, he said, While Amit Shah claims they will secure a two-thirds majority, I say they will get one-third, and we will secure a two-thirds majority. Article Source: IANS
RR choose to bowl; CSK hand debut to Kartik Sharma
Bengal seamer Brijesh Jha made his debut for Rajasthan Royals, who have just three overseas players in their bowl-first XI
West Indies Fined 10 Per Cent Match Fee For Slow Over-rate In First ODI Against Australia
Emirates ICC International Panel: West Indies have been fined 10 per cent match fee for maintain a slow over-rate during their first womens ODI against Australia, held on Friday. Captain Hayley Matthews pled guilty to the offence and accepted the sanction, with the ICC saying there was no need for a formal hearing. The sanction was imposed by Reon King of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees after the hosts were ruled out to be two overs short of the target, with time allowances taken into consideration. On-field umpires Lauren Agenbag and Candace La Borde, third umpire Jacquline Williams and fourth umpire Maria Abbott leveled the charge, said the ICC in its statement on Monday. The first game saw Australia emerge victorious over the West Indies by 103 runs, courtesy of a strong all-round display by the visitors. Australia currently hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series after beating the West Indies by 90 runs on Sunday. On-field umpires Lauren Agenbag and Candace La Borde, third umpire Jacquline Williams and fourth umpire Maria Abbott leveled the charge, said the ICC in its statement on Monday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score West Indies began brightly in pursuit of 270, with Hayley (45) and Qiana Joseph (29) leading the reply. But once Hayley fell, the chase collapsed for the West Indies as Australias spinners tightened the screws as the hosts were bowled out for 179 in 46 overs. Georgia and Ashleigh Gardner took three wickets each while Alana King had one scalp against her name. Article Source: IANS
PBKS vs GT Match 4, IPL 2026: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction
PBKS vs GT Match 4, Cricket Tips :Punjab Kings reached very close to winning their maiden IPL title but lost the final to RCB. But Shreyas Iyer and co. will enter the IPL 2026 with hope of making it big. They will face Gujarat Titans in their opening encounter. This contest will take place at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, on Tuesday at 7:30 PM IST. These are two powerful batting units that are capable of scoring 200 or more easily. That is where fans expect a high-scoring thriller. Shubman Gill, who was not part of the T20 World Cup 2026, has a point to prove. So, we will expect an exciting game on Tuesday between two heavyweights. PBKS vs GT: Match Details Date: March 31, 2026 (Tuesday) Time: 7:30 PM IST Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh PBKS vs GT Live Streaming Details The live action of the PBKS vs GT game will be available on the Star Sports networks. Fans can also enjoy the action through the Jio Hotstar streaming platform in India. PBKS vs GT Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 6 PBKS : 03 GT : 03 No-Result : 00 PBKS vs GT: Ground Pitch Report Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium is a new stadium and hasn't hosted many games. But in the IPL, it has hosted a handful of matches, and all have been high-scoring ones. The average score here is 170+, and teams have chased down big totals here as well. Hence, batters will like their time here. PBKS vs GT Possible XIs PBKS: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer , Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Cooper Connolly, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzi Chahal GT : Shubman Gill , Sai Sudharsan, Glenn Phillips, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna PBKS vs GT: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Shreyas Iyer has been a consistent performer, and his confidence with the bat makes him a tough batter to bowl to. For GT, captain Shubman Gill will be key, because he is in good form. Probable Best Bowler Arshdeep Singh is coming off a successful T20 World Cup campaign and was pretty good. He will be the bowler to watch out for. For GT, Rashid Khan has always been the game-changer with the ball. Today Match Prediction : Both teams have several match-winners, and it will be a tight contest. But PBKS look more settled with a strong batting middle order. Hence, we predict PBKS to win this game. PBKS vs GT Match 4, IPL 2026, Today PBKS vs GT Match, PBKS vs GT Prediction, PBKS vs GT Predicted XIs, Injury Update for PBKS 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.
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IPL 2026: When And Where To Watch PBKS Vs GT, Know All Details
New International Cricket Stadium: Indias white-ball mainstays Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer will headline a high-profile IPL 2026 opener in Chandigarh on Tuesday, leading the Gujarat Titans and the Punjab Kings, respectively, with both captains carrying added motivation to prove their credentials in the shortest format. For Gill, Indias Test and ODI skipper, the season presents a crucial opportunity to reassert his place in T20 cricket. Despite being named T20I vice-captain at one stage, a dip in form saw him miss out on the T20 World Cup squad, a tournament India eventually went on to win. As a result, the spotlight will firmly be on how he adapts his game to the evolving demands of T20 batting. While Gill has been among the most consistent performers in the IPL, second only to Virat Kohli in run-scoring since 2023, questions around his scoring tempo remain. Encouragingly for Gujarat, he showed a shift in approach last season, significantly improving his strike rate to over 155, hinting at a more aggressive intent that will be closely monitored this year. The addition of Matthew Hayden to the coaching setup as the batting coach could further shape that evolution, particularly in power-hitting and boundary conversion at the top of the order. Gills leadership, too, has come into sharper focus since the departure of Hardik Pandya after the 2023 season. Having taken over the reins, he has gradually established himself as the central figure in the Titans setup, both tactically and with the bat. Since their title-winning debut in 2022, the Gujarat Titans have built a reputation for consistency, reaching the playoffs regularly. They enter the new season with a settled core, having retained the bulk of their squad, and will once again rely heavily on their strong top order. The opening combination of Gill and Sai Sudharsan remains a key pillar. Sudharsan, last seasons leading run-getter with 759 runs, returns after recovering from a rib injury. His recent domestic form, including a century and multiple half-centuries, suggests he could pick up where he left off. Beyond the top order, Gujarat also have depth in reserve. Young wicketkeeper-batter Kumar Kushagra has emerged as a promising option, boasting impressive numbers in domestic T20 cricket with a strike rate above 160. His presence offers flexibility, particularly if the middle order comes under pressure. With both Gill and Iyer keen to make a statement, the season opener sets up as more than just a curtain-raiser; it is an early test of leadership, adaptability, and intent in a format where both captains still have something to prove. When: Tuesday, March 31, 7:30 PM IST Where: New International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh Where to watch: The PBKS vs GT match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Squads: Where to watch: The PBKS vs GT match 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
IPL 2026: This Season, The Goal Is To Win The Trophy For The Team, Says Sooryavanshi
U19 World Cup: Rajasthan Royals (RR) teenaged opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi says his focus this season is firmly on helping the team lift the IPL trophy, something which has eluded the team since winning the inaugural season in 2008. In IPL 2025, Sooryavanshi struck a 35-ball century while amassing 252 runs in seven games for RR. Now, he enters IPL 2026 on the back of being Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament in Indias U19 World Cup triumph this year. When I was picked, my only goal was to give the team a good start. I wanted to play my game in the Powerplay, and if I got a good start, I wanted to continue and play long without giving my wicket away. I knew that if I played my shots, the scenario of the game would change, because chasing 200-plus runs would not be easy for any team. This season, the goal is to win the trophy for the team. My performances and the team's performances will automatically get highlighted if we win the trophy, and that is the most important thing, said Sooryavanshi to JioStar. He also recalled the influence of his childhood heroes Brian Lara and Yuvraj Singh, while going from Bihar set-up to higher level of cricket. I saw both, Brian Lara and Yuvraj Singh, finish matches single-handedly. If they were in, there was no chance for the opponent to come back into the game, and that was something I really liked about them. I made a lot of runs in domestic cricket for Bihar, in league games and probables. Sir then picked me for the Vinoo Mankad Trophy, the BCCIs U-19 tournament. I played that, followed by the Challengers Trophy. In 2023, there was a quadrangular series, with two teams from India, along with Bangladesh and England. I made my debut there. From there, I gradually progressed and made my Ranji Trophy debut. Since my domestic debut, Rajasthan Royals had started enquiring about me. They were watching me in domestic matches as well as India U-19 games, and their scouting team had their eye on me for a long time, he said. His childhood coach Manish Ojha recalled the early signs of talent and appetite for batting long hours. In 2018, he came to the academy with his father for the first time. From the start, it was clear he had potential and a real passion for cricket. He always liked to attack while batting and had beautiful timing. In every session, he would play 400-500 balls and wouldnt stop unless I gave him a break. In 2022, during the open net sessions, he was given a 40-over slot to bat, 20 overs from new-ball bowlers and then spinners. I noticed he preferred to play only big, lofted shots. I told him that as he progresses to U-16 and U-19 cricket for his state, hell have to face hundreds of deliveries and play long, because it starts with four-day cricket there. If you go for a big shot on every ball and ignore singles or doubles, you increase your chances of getting out. But he would say, Sir, if I can hit a six on that ball, why take a single? In every session, he would play 400-500 balls and wouldnt stop unless I gave him a break. In 2022, during the open net sessions, he was given a 40-over slot to bat, 20 overs from new-ball bowlers and then spinners. I noticed he preferred to play only big, lofted shots. Also Read: Live Cricket Score After that, he was told that he was playing more shots square of the wicket and was asked to play more on the off-side, and he responded by hitting big shots there as well. In another trial, he was given a target of scoring 24 runs in one over, which he achieved in five balls. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Thakur Doesnt Get Intimidated, Even When Batters Are Attacking, Says Pathan
Kolkata Knight Riders: Former India left-arm fast bowler Irfan Pathan praised seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur for his contributions playing a vital hand in Mumbai Indians beating Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets in IPL 2026, adding that he doesnt get intimidated, even when batters are attacking him. At the Wankhede Stadium, Thakur returned figures of 3-39 to be named player of the match as five-time champions MI got off to a winning start and broke their 14-year jinx of being winless in tournament opening games. Hes not a bowler who gets intimidated, even when batters are attacking. He keeps coming at you. What stands out is how he uses his variations. Every time he starts his run-up, hes already changing his grip, whether its for a slower ball, cross-seam, or even a scrambled seam delivery. Hes always trying to make something happen. He invites batters to go for big shots and thrives on that. He doesnt have express pace or big swing, but hes constantly experimenting, different lengths, speeds, and thats why he keeps picking up wickets, said Pathan on JioStar. He also lauded wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton for hitting a commanding 81 and sharing a 148-run opening stand with Rohit Sharma, who hit a blistering 61. Preferred ahead of his South Africa team-mate Quinton de Kock, Rickelton showcased his expansive strokeplay and clarity in targeting spinners. Ryan Rickelton was outstanding. We spoke before the game about his form being better than Quinton de Kocks, and he showed exactly why. He has a wider range, especially on the off-side. That six over cover was a special shot. His shoulder alignment allows him to access those areas consistently and play in front of the wicket with control. Against spin, he was very clear, attacking from the first ball and looking for the slog sweep. That intent worked for him, and on a pitch like Mumbai, his style of batting is ideally suited, he added. Ryan Rickelton was outstanding. We spoke before the game about his form being better than Quinton de Kocks, and he showed exactly why. He has a wider range, especially on the off-side. That six over cover was a special shot. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Instead, Narine didnt even complete his full quota, which shows the captaincy wasnt up to the mark. Credit to Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton. They batted with ease and never let the bowlers settle, but KKR could have handled that phase much better. Article Source: IANS
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Afridi went down on my request, because it was my close family and friends; I didn't want to meet them in the business centre, Sikandar Raza says
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'Wore Many Jerseys Over The Last 28 Years': Alyssa Healy Pens Emotional Note Post Retirement
Alyssa Healy: Australia's iconic wicketkeeper-batter Alyssa Healy, who announced her retirement from professional cricket earlier this month after playing her last match against India, reflected on a career spanning nearly three decades. In an emotional note, Healy thanked her family, teammates, coaches, sponsors, and fans for their support throughout her journey. Well thats officially a wrap on this chapter of my life Had the chance to wear many jerseys over the last 28 years and have thoroughly enjoyed every minute! A very large THANK YOU to My family and friends for their continued support, patience/understanding with everything and the sacrifices along the way, she wrote on Instagram. Healy highlighted the role of her teammates in creating unforgettable moments on and off the field, saying, My teammates. You guys were the best. Thanks for helping create memories and stories that I can tell/maybe not tell for years to come! She also reflected on the influence of her coaches, particularly noting the impact they had on both her professional and personal growth. My coaches, you've all had a great impact along my journey. Helped me grow and learn as a player and a person. Big shout out to @squirel360 for being my constant hitting pal throughout. Acknowledging the broader ecosystem around womens cricket, Healy expressed gratitude to the organisations and sponsors that supported the game over the years. The Organisations. Thanks for your continued support of the womens game. I cant wait to watch it continue to grow and flourish with investment and opportunities continuing to rise. The Sponsors. Not just mine personally but for those who invested when others wouldnt. You guys rock. Thanks for helping grow and support our game! Ive appreciated your continued support right throughout my journey. Finally, Healy paid tribute to the fans, noting how their unwavering support enriched her career. The Organisations. Thanks for your continued support of the womens game. I cant wait to watch it continue to grow and flourish with investment and opportunities continuing to rise. The Sponsors. Not just mine personally but for those who invested when others wouldnt. You guys rock. Thanks for helping grow and support our game! Ive appreciated your continued support right throughout my journey. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Healy signed off on a high as she led her side to a 3-0 ODI series win against the reigning world champions and also guided the Aussies to a victory in the pink-ball one-off Test. Article Source: IANS
Rohits 2.0 Avatar Will Worry All IPL Teams: Kumble
Kolkata Knight Riders: Former India spinner Anil Kumble lauded Rohit Sharma's batting show against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he scored the fastest fifty in IPL history, saying the opener arrived this season in his 2.0 avatar, which will be a sign of worry for other franchises in the league. Mumbai Indians ended a 13-season jinx by winning their first opening match with a clinical six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Rohit played a brilliant knock of 78 off 38. He reached his fifty-run mark off 23 balls. This is his fastest half-century in IPL so far. His previous fastest was off 25 balls, which came against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2015 final at Eden Gardens. Rohit Sharma seems to have arrived in his 2.0 avatar, and his innings showed he is ready to dominate again. The way he hit the ball all around the ground reminded me of his prime. It is not easy to hit sixes against bowlers like Varun Chakaravarthy, Sunil Narine and Blessing Muzarabani, but he made it look easy, Kumble said on JioStar. Mumbai Indians ended a 13-season jinx by winning their first opening match with a clinical six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Rohit played a brilliant knock of 78 off 38. He reached his fifty-run mark off 23 balls. This is his fastest half-century in IPL so far. His previous fastest was off 25 balls, which came against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2015 final at Eden Gardens. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He has worked a lot on his fitness, and when you come back after a short break, it takes five to seven days to get your timing back and find your rhythm. This was a fantastic innings, very similar to what we have seen at Wankhede where he takes on the bowlers from the first ball. The six-hitting looked easy, and even though the boundaries were small, those shots were going into the stands. This knock shows that Rohit means business and this version of him will worry all IPL teams, he added. Article Source: IANS
CSK Players Don't Roam As 5-time Champions; Happy To Be A Part Of That Culture: Samson
Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson is stepping into unfamiliar territory this IPL season, but the transition to the Chennai Super Kings already appears to have settled him. On the eve of their 2026 campaign opener against his former side, the Rajasthan Royals, Samson offered an unfiltered glimpse into his early days with the five-time champions, touching on culture, transition, and what lies ahead. Feels really good, feels really excited to be a part of a champion franchise. Lots to learn, lots to observe, and really excited, really very calm. I think this is something which I relate to very much. I think I am a very chilled-out person, very calm, but when it comes to business, I think we give our everything, he said in a video shared by the franchise. For Samson, the appeal lies not in the weight of CSKs legacy but in how lightly it is worn. Despite the franchises success, he pointed to a dressing room environment that mirrors his own temperament: calm, composed, and quietly focused. I can see in the dressing room people are calm, people are chilled out. They don't roam around as 5-time IPL champions. I think they don't roam around as the greatest cricketers the world has ever seen. But that's what I really like to be a part of, and I am very happy that I am part of that kind of culture. And still early days, still looking forward to a lot of exciting things, he said. He also hinted at a broader transition underway within the squad, suggesting that the current phase is part of a carefully thought-out rebuild, as he said, I think I would like to call it 'very well planned', actually. So yeah, very excited to play RR, looking forward to it. The immediate test, however, comes against familiar opposition. Facing Rajasthan Royals straight away adds an emotional subplot, and Samson expects the crowd dynamic, particularly in Guwahati, to once again tilt heavily in CSKs favour. I think last time when we played RR vs CSK in Guwahati, it didn't feel like an RR home game. It was yellow all over the stadium. So that's what we can expect again this time. And also, I think the passion of the crowds I think they bring up a lot of energy. I think very passionate crowds in Guwahati are what I expect. And I think hopefully the wicket also plays well and we get a good game of cricket, he mentioned. Beyond the occasion, Samson shed light on the squad composition, emphasising the influx of young, attacking talent brought in through the auction, stating, Our management and all the staff, including Stephen and a lot of people, have done really great work for the auction. We have picked up some really exciting talents from the auction. CSK is definitely in a building phase, and that's what our recruitment has also been. So the number, definitely, the age is definitely much less. But in the amount of sixes these guys are hitting, they don't actually look like youngsters anymore. So I think that's what the character of the mindset is; it's required in this format and in this hype. Just be free and go out there and express yourself with a lot of fearlessness. I think that's what youngsters bring in, and we all are very excited to play with them. While CSKs identity has long been associated with experience, Samsons remarks point toward a shift, one that blends youth with an aggressive, fearless approach suited to the modern T20 game. Yet, as much as the cricketing aspects matter, Samson framed the IPL as something larger, particularly for CSKs expansive fanbase. CSK is definitely in a building phase, and that's what our recruitment has also been. So the number, definitely, the age is definitely much less. But in the amount of sixes these guys are hitting, they don't actually look like youngsters anymore. So I think that's what the character of the mindset is; it's required in this format and in this hype. Just be free and go out there and express yourself with a lot of fearlessness. I think that's what youngsters bring in, and we all are very excited to play with them. Also Read: Live Cricket Score CSK are set to face RR on Monday in the third match of the tournament in Guwahati. Article Source: IANS
As Mumbai Indians: As Mumbai Indians have finally shed one of the IPLs most curious streaks, head coach Mahela Jayawardene revealed that the long-standing hoodoo had remained a recurring theme within the dressing room, making its end as much a mental breakthrough as a statistical one. A six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday marked MI's first opening-game victory since 2012. Since their last opening-game win in 2012 against Chennai Super Kings, MI went on to build one of the most dominant franchises in IPL history, collecting five titles along the way. Not winning the first match of a new IPL season after 2012 was something that we always talk about in the dressing room. We got close to winning in each of the opening matches in the last 13 seasons but we never managed to successfully get over the line, Jayawardene told JioStar. I think this win over KKR was a great execution. I got a bit nervous when KKR got to a score of 220, but the wicket was pretty decent to bat on and Rohit-Rickeltons fearless batting ensured that we didnt suffer any hiccups. Im very happy with the win and delighted to break the streak of losing our first match in a new IPL season, he added. The chase was anchored by an aggressive approach at the top, with Rohit Sharma leading the charge alongside Ryan Rickelton, as Mumbai refused to let the required rate spiral. Their intent effectively neutralised what could have been scoreboard pressure, turning a potentially tricky pursuit into a statement of authority. I think this win over KKR was a great execution. I got a bit nervous when KKR got to a score of 220, but the wicket was pretty decent to bat on and Rohit-Rickeltons fearless batting ensured that we didnt suffer any hiccups. Im very happy with the win and delighted to break the streak of losing our first match in a new IPL season, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The way Rohit-Ryan handled the opposition bowling attack,it was good to see on a tactical point. It was a great partnership and long may it continue. If you look at last season, Rohit-Rickelton did well for us at the top of the order and they were solid. The way they complimented each other was great. Article Source: IANS
