IPL 2026: Mark Boucher Calls Heinrich Klaasen Innings A masterclass In SRH Playoff Win
Former South Africa: Former South Africa wicketkeeper batter Mark Boucher described Heinrich Klaasens attacking innings against Chennai Super Kings as a masterclass after the Proteas batter helped Sunrisers Hyderabad seal qualification for the IPL 2026 playoffs. Klaasen smashed 47 off 26 balls on a difficult Chepauk surface and shifted the momentum decisively during a crucial 75-run partnership with Ishan Kishan as SRH chased down 181 with an over to spare. I think he should open an academy and teach the rest of us, because that was a masterclass, Boucher said on Star Sports Amul Cricket Live. On a wicket that was stopping and turning, he came in with a clear plan. He used his footwork brilliantly, which allowed him to access both sides of the wicket. He also looked to play squarer, which was the right option, as seen with the reverse sweeps he executed. Boucher particularly praised Klaasens ability to wrest back momentum when the chase threatened to stall. What I really admired was the intent he showed. At that stage, the game seemed to be drifting a little, and he immediately injected momentum into the innings, he said. He gave the entire Sunrisers team a lift and forced Ruturaj to rethink his tactics. Once the spinners were taken off and the seamers came on, it also opened up scoring opportunities for Ishan Kishan. It was a masterclass in how to put the pressure back on the bowling side. He gave the entire Sunrisers team a lift and forced Ruturaj to rethink his tactics. Once the spinners were taken off and the seamers came on, it also opened up scoring opportunities for Ishan Kishan. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It was the earlier effort of Dewald Brevis's 44 and useful contributions from Sanju Samson and Kartik Sharma which took CSK's total to 180/7, Cummins' figures of 3/28 lead the SRH bowling attack while Sakib Husain and Praful Hinge's two wickets a piece for the rookie pacers rounded it off. SRH were the third team to book a spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs. Article Source: IANS
This Has To Be One Of The Defining Knocks Of Ishan Kishans IPL Career, Says Sanjay Bangar
Chennai Super Kings: Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar hailed Ishan Kishans calmness and maturity after the wicketkeeper-batter guided Sunrisers Hyderabad to a crucial five-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings and into the IPL 2026 playoffs. Kishan played a brilliant innings in the chase, with his 70 coming off 47 balls in the slow and turning Chepauk conditions and was involved in the match-winning stand with Heinrich Klaasen after they had lost Travis Head in the second over. This has to be one of the defining knocks of Ishan Kishans IPL career, and probably one of his finest innings in the tournament as well, Bangar said on JioHotstar. Ever since weve seen this new version of Ishan Kishan, the one thing that really stands out is his composure. He never looked hurried, and that is a tremendous quality to have in a fast-paced T20 format. To have the belief to stay till the very end and build that partnership was outstanding. Bangar also compared Kishans innings to the kind of responsibility expected from a senior batter in difficult conditions. The kind of role Stephen Fleming would probably have expected from someone like Ruturaj was delivered by Ishan Kishan in the other innings, he said. He stitched the partnership at the right time, attacked when needed, and ensured Klaasen got as much of the strike as possible. The kind of role Stephen Fleming would probably have expected from someone like Ruturaj was delivered by Ishan Kishan in the other innings, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Klaasen, whose 47 came off a mere 26 balls, had initially sped up the chase before Kishan finished things with ease along with Nitish Kumar Reddy and Smaran Ravichandran. Earlier, CSK had made 180/7 at which stage Dewald Brevis had top-scored with 44 and Pat Cummins had ended up with figures of 3/28 to pick his 200th T20 wicket. The win booked SRH's spot in the playoffs with 16 points from 13 matches and consolidated their reputation as the best batting outfit in IPL 2026. Article Source: IANS
SLC Transformation Committee Holds constructive Talks With ICC Deputy Chair
ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja: The transformation committee of the Sri Lanka Cricket has engaged in cordial and constructive talks with ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja, with the apex body assessing the consequences of the extensive changes imposed by the Sri Lankan government upon the governance of Sri Lankan Cricket. Khwaja, who is the ICC's Deputy Chairman, had spent the past few days in Sri Lanka, understanding more about the new structure in place within Sri Lankan Cricket. During his stay, Khwaja met the SLC transformation committee as well as Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who had removed the previous administration from office with his new government. Our immediate priority is a total overhaul of the governance framework at SLC, Wettimuny was quoted by ESPNCricinfo as saying. The cornerstone of this effort will be the implementation of the new constitution, ensuring it serves as a robust, modern foundation for the sport. Committee member Sidath Wettimuny stated that his meeting with Khwaja had been a fruitful one and that he hopes Sri Lanka retain their status as Full Members of the ICC. The story has garnered much attention due to past incidents where the ICC imposed restrictions on Sri Lanka due to government interference. Sri Lanka Cricket was suspended by the ICC in 2023 for serious government interference in their cricket administration, with ICC funding being frozen in 2015 after a previous government-appointed interim committee took office. However, the committee members insist that their duties are temporary and their role is to reform the governance framework before handing power over to an elected body. The story has garnered much attention due to past incidents where the ICC imposed restrictions on Sri Lanka due to government interference. Sri Lanka Cricket was suspended by the ICC in 2023 for serious government interference in their cricket administration, with ICC funding being frozen in 2015 after a previous government-appointed interim committee took office. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The transformation committee comprises nine members - including Sri Lanka's captains of yesteryear Kumar Sangakkara, Wettimuny and Roshan Mahanama, as well as personalities with varied experience in business, law and politics - with the nine-member transformation committee to be chaired by ex-Member of Parliament Eran Wickramaratne. Article Source: IANS
Huge Asset: Ambati Rayudu Hails Ishan Kishan After SRH Book IPL 2026 Playoff Spot
Chennai Super Kings: Former India batter Ambati Rayudu praised the temperament and versatility of Ishan Kishan after the keeper-batter played a key role in Sunrisers Hyderabad's must-win five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings that ensured their spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs. On a difficult pitch at Chepauk, the wicketkeeper-batter smashed a 70-ball 47 that saw him stitch a 75-run match-winning partnership with Heinrich Klaasen for the Sunrisers Hyderabad after they lost both Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma at the start of their run chase. It was stopping and turning and I think he was the man who stepped up and he has stepped up on a number of tough wickets this season, Rayudu said on ESPNCricinfo Timeout show. It tells us that Ishan Kishan is so versatile. He is somebody that can attack and he can also hold an innings when it is not good. He's a fantastic asset to have, he added. It was stopping and turning and I think he was the man who stepped up and he has stepped up on a number of tough wickets this season, Rayudu said on ESPNCricinfo Timeout show. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It's because I feel he is now becoming a massive, massive asset for whatever team he's playing for and he stepped up wonderfully. He plays second fiddle to Klaasen when needed and picks his pockets of any gaps that he gets. He is not throwing his bat at everything, he is aware of where they are trying to bowl away from him. He has all that composure and awareness to hit the gaps. Article Source: IANS
RR vs LSG Match 64, IPL 2026: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction
RR vs LSG Match 64 , Cricket Tips :The tournament has come to an interesting end, and three teams have qualified already. Now, only one spot is left to grab. Rajasthan Royals are in the race, but they need to win their remaining games. They will take on Lucknow Super Giants on Tuesday. This contest will be held at Sawai Mansingh Stadium at 7:30 PM IST. RR can't make a mistake, because losing this game will end their tournament. Meanwhile, LSG have already been eliminated, and they can be more dangerous now. RR vs LSG: Match Details Date : May 19, 2026 (Tuesday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue : Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur RR vs LSG Live Streaming Details Fans can watch the live action of the RR vs LSG game on the Star Sports Networks. Fans can also watch the live stream of the game through to the JioHotstar app or website. RR vs LSG Head-to-Head in IPL Total Matches : 07 RR : 05 LSG : 02 No - Result : 00 RR vs LSG: Ground Pitch Report Sawai Mansingh Stadium is a good venue for the batters. This season, teams have scored 200 or more in all three matches played here. The wicket has bounce and pace, which may assist the pacers. But overall, this is a great wicket to bat on. RR vs LSG Possible XIs RR : Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Donovan Ferreira, Shubham Dubey, Jofra Archer, Adam Milne, Brijesh Sharma LSG : Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c) (wk), Mukul Choudhary, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav RR vs LSG Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Mitchell Marsh will have a good competition. Both batters are in good form and scoring at a great rate. Probable Best Bowler Jofra Archer and Mohammed Shami have been in brilliant form this season, and they are making it tough for the opposition. Today Match Prediction : LSG are without any pressure and will be dangerous. Hence, we predict Lucknow Super Giants to win this game. RR vs LSG Match 64, IPL 2026, Today 2026 Match, RR vs LSG 2026 Prediction, RR vs LSG Predicted XIs, Injury Update for RR vs LSG 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.
Womens T20 World Cup 2026 in England: Full Schedule, Venues & Match Dates
The 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup , the tenth edition of the prestigious tournament, is set to be hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board from June 12 to July 5, 2026. Returning to England, which also hosted the inaugural edition in 2009, the tournament will feature 12 teams competing in 33 matches across seven venues. Defending champions New Zealand will look to retain their crown in an expanded competition that also marks the Netherlands maiden appearance at the Womens T20 World Cup. Check The 2026 ICC Womens T20 World Cup , complete fixtures, match dates, and venues. Also Read: Live Cricket Score .match-table { width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; } .match-table th { background-color: #222; color: #fff; padding: 10px; text-align: center; } .match-table td { padding: 10px; text-align: center; border: 1px solid #ddd; } .match-table tbody tr:nth-child(odd) { background-color: #f9f9f9; } .match-table tbody tr:nth-child(even) { background-color: #ffffff; } .match-table tbody tr:hover { background-color: #eef5ff; } Date & Time (IST) Match Venue Fri, Jun 12, 2026 11:00 PM England Women vs Sri Lanka Women Edgbaston, Birmingham Sat, Jun 13, 2026 3:00 PM Scotland Women vs Ireland Women Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester Sat, Jun 13, 2026 7:00 PM Australia Women vs South Africa Women Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester Sat, Jun 13, 2026 11:00 PM West Indies Women vs New Zealand Women The Rose Bowl, Southampton Sun, Jun 14, 2026 3:00 PM Bangladesh Women vs Netherlands Women Edgbaston, Birmingham Sun, Jun 14, 2026 7:00 PM India Women vs Pakistan Women Edgbaston, Birmingham Tue, Jun 16, 2026 7:00 PM New Zealand Women vs Sri Lanka Women The Rose Bowl, Southampton Tue, Jun 16, 2026 11:00 PM England Women vs Ireland Women The Rose Bowl, Southampton Wed, Jun 17, 2026 3:00 PM Australia Women vs Bangladesh Women Headingley, Leeds Wed, Jun 17, 2026 7:00 PM India Women vs Netherlands Women Headingley, Leeds Wed, Jun 17, 2026 11:00 PM South Africa Women vs Pakistan Women Edgbaston, Birmingham Thu, Jun 18, 2026 11:00 PM West Indies Women vs Scotland Women Headingley, Leeds Fri, Jun 19, 2026 11:00 PM New Zealand Women vs Ireland Women The Rose Bowl, Southampton Sat, Jun 20, 2026 3:00 PM Australia Women vs Netherlands Women The Rose Bowl, Southampton Sat, Jun 20, 2026 7:00 PM Pakistan Women vs Bangladesh Women The Rose Bowl, Southampton Sat, Jun 20, 2026 11:00 PM England Women vs Scotland Women Headingley, Leeds Sun, Jun 21, 2026 3:00 PM West Indies Women vs Sri Lanka Women County Ground, Bristol Sun, Jun 21, 2026 7:00 PM South Africa Women vs India Women Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester Tue, Jun 23, 2026 3:00 PM New Zealand Women vs Scotland Women County Ground, Bristol Tue, Jun 23, 2026 7:00 PM Sri Lanka Women vs Ireland Women County Ground, Bristol Tue, Jun 23, 2026 11:00 PM Australia Women vs Pakistan Women Headingley, Leeds Wed, Jun 24, 2026 11:00 PM England Women vs West Indies Women Lord's Cricket Ground, London Thu, Jun 25, 2026 7:00 PM India Women vs Bangladesh Women Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester Thu, Jun 25, 2026 11:00 PM South Africa Women vs Netherlands Women County Ground, Bristol Fri, Jun 26, 2026 11:00 PM Sri Lanka Women vs Scotland Women Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester Sat, Jun 27, 2026 3:00 PM Pakistan Women vs Netherlands Women County Ground, Bristol Sat, Jun 27, 2026 7:00 PM West Indies Women vs Ireland Women County Ground, Bristol Sat, Jun 27, 2026 11:00 PM England Women vs New Zealand Women Kennington Oval, London Sun, Jun 28, 2026 3:00 PM South Africa Women vs Bangladesh Women Lord's Cricket Ground, London Sun, Jun 28, 2026 7:00 PM Australia Women vs India Women Lord's Cricket Ground, London Tue, Jun 30, 2026 7:00 PM 1st Semi-Final (TBC vs TBC) Kennington Oval, London Thu, Jul 2, 2026 11:00 PM 2nd Semi-Final (TBC vs TBC) Kennington Oval, London Sun, Jul 5, 2026 7:00 PM Final (TBC vs TBC) Lord's Cricket Ground, London
ICC deputy chair has 'cordial and constructive' meetings with new SLC committee
Imran Khwaja was in Sri Lanka to gather information as the ICC decides what its response to the sweeping government-led changes at SLC should be
Rapidly evolving Kishan 'an amazing asset to have' for SRH
Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen, not for the first time this season, played key roles for SRH with the bat when the celebrated Travishek at the top couldn't get going
IPL 2026: Aaron Finch Backs Ruturaj Gaikwad Despite Difficult CSK Season
Chennai Super Kings: Former Australia captain Aaron Finch has thrown his support behind Ruturaj Gaikwad, insisting the Chennai Super Kings skipper should not be judged solely on one challenging IPL campaign. Finch's comments came after CSK suffered a five-wicket defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk, a result that confirmed SRH's qualification for the IPL 2026 playoffs. It's important not to judge a player or a captain based on just one season because T20 cricket can be extremely demanding and unpredictable, Finch said on JioHotstar. From a captaincy perspective, Ruturaj Gaikwad has still led the side well, especially with his decisions and composure on the field. At times, form and leadership pressure can overlap, but for him it now comes down to rediscovering his batting rhythm and getting back to scoring consistently. The quality is still there, and sometimes in T20 cricket, phases like these can change very quickly. Gaikwad endured another difficult outing with the bat, scoring 15 as CSK posted 180/7 after being asked to bat first. Sanju Samson provided an explosive start with 27 off 13 balls, while Dewald Brevis top-scored with 44. SRH captain Pat Cummins led superbly with the ball, finishing with 3/28 and reaching the milestone of 200 T20 wickets. Sakib dismissed the dangerous Urvil Patel, while both young bowlers took two wickets each to help limit Chennai to 180/7. Gaikwad endured another difficult outing with the bat, scoring 15 as CSK posted 180/7 after being asked to bat first. Sanju Samson provided an explosive start with 27 off 13 balls, while Dewald Brevis top-scored with 44. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The victory took SRH to 16 points from 13 games and secured their place in the playoffs alongside Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while CSK's rebuilding process under Gaikwad continues to remain under scrutiny. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Varun Aaron Praises SRH Youngsters Sakib And Praful After Playoff-clinching Win
Chennai Super Kings: Sunrisers Hyderabad bowling coach Varun Aaron praised young bowlers Praful Hinge and Sakib Husain after teams secured their spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs with a five-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk. In a discussion on JioHotstar SRH bowling coach Aaron attributed the duos growth this season to their eagerness and hard work. A lot of credit goes to Praful Hinge and Sakib Husain because both of them are very eager to learn and aim to play for India, Aaron said. When young players have that kind of ambition, dedication and hard work follow naturally. Both of them put in a lot of effort, not just during the tournament but also in the lead-up to the IPL. Our preparations with them started almost two months before the season. We organized specialized camps and worked closely on different aspects of their bowling. The most impressive thing was how open they were to learning, and now they are starting to see the results of all that hard work. The pair justified that trust with key performances during CSKs innings. Sakib dismissed the dangerous Urvil Patel, while both young bowlers took two wickets each to help limit Chennai to 180/7. Ishan Kishan then led SRHs chase with a steady 70 off 47 balls, while Klaasens 47 shifted the momentum significantly in the middle overs. Aaron also noted Klaasens growing role in the team. One area where we struggled last season was finishing games when the top order didnt fully deliver. This year, Heinrich Klaasen has taken on that responsibility very well, Aaron said. What makes him special is how easily he can change his approach, going from rotating the strike at a run-a-ball to suddenly scoring eight or nine runs an over. That transition is tough, but Klaasen makes it seem effortless. Aaron also noted Klaasens growing role in the team. One area where we struggled last season was finishing games when the top order didnt fully deliver. This year, Heinrich Klaasen has taken on that responsibility very well, Aaron said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With the win, SRH became the third team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs, joining Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Added Responsibility Of Captaincy Seems To Have Affected Gaikwads Batting, Says Ashwin
Chennai Super Kings: Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin believes that Ruturaj Gaikwad's batting has been affected by his new role as captain. This comes as the Chennai Super Kings work through a transition phase after MS Dhoni's departure. Speaking on JioHotstar after CSK's five-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chepauk, Ashwin discussed the challenges the team is facing now that SRH secured a playoff spot with their win. Chennai Super Kings are clearly in a transition phase in the post-Dhoni era. Its important for everyone involvedfans, stakeholders, and the teamto recognize that rebuilding takes time, Ashwin said. The standards and expectations associated with CSK are incredibly high because of their legacy, but this group needs space and patience as they evolve. At the same time, the added responsibility of captaincy seems to have affected Ruturaj Gaikwads batting. T20 cricket is already demanding, and carrying the burden of leadership alongside expectations from a franchise like CSK can have a significant impact on a player. SRH secured a spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs with a steady chase of 181 runs, boosted by Ishan Kishans 70 off 47 balls and Heinrich Klaasens aggressive 47 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. After early contributions from Abhishek Sharma and Klaasen, Kishan led the chase effectively. SRH reached their target with an over to spare, earning 16 points from 13 matches and joining Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the playoffs. SRH secured a spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs with a steady chase of 181 runs, boosted by Ishan Kishans 70 off 47 balls and Heinrich Klaasens aggressive 47 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Young bowlers Sakib Husain and Praful Hinge stood out with two wickets each, helping SRH strengthen their playoff chances. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Five Teams Remain In Hunt For Lone Remaining Playoff Spot
Indian Premier League: As we draw closer to the end of the league stage in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the race for the playoffs has gotten quite interesting. With RCB, GT, and SRH having already booked their places in the top 4, there is now just one remaining spot for which five teams are battling it out. RCB was the first team to officially book their spot after a convincing win against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala on Sunday. SRH booked their spot the next day after a victory over Chennai Super Kings in Chepauk which also confirmed Gujarat Titans' playoff berth. Two teams, Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, are officially out of the running. RCB remain the favorites for a top two finish. They will finish in the top two regardless of their result against SRH if CSK beat GT on the 21st or if RCB defeat SRH in Hyderabad on the 22nd . If they do win their final game, they will finish first with 20 points, and even a loss shouldn't put them outside of the top two with a healthy net run rate of 1.065 as GT would need to defeat CSK by an extremely large margin to surpass them. It is up to Gujarat Titans to win their final game and hoping SRH lose to RCB to get into the top two. If they do win but lose their game, then a top two place will be decided by the net run rate among them and SRH, with all potentially on 18 points. SRH were already qualified after a brilliant win over CSK and look set to push GT for the top two if they beat RCB. They will automatically finish second in the table if they beat RCB and GT lose their game, but it would go down to net run rate if GT win. However, PBKS still remain very much alive for the fourth playoff spot despite their loss against RCB. PBKS can still finish with a maximum of 15 points and require both a win against LSG and a loss for Rajasthan Royals at least once, while Kolkata Knight Riders also need to falter and finish below PBKS on net run rate. Even a win with 13 points is plausible if other results go PBKS' way (e.g. RR losing at least one of their two matches and CSK losing both their games). RR look favorites among the chasing teams as their fate is in their own hands. They play excluded sides LSG and MI in their last two matches and should secure their qualification spot if they win both to finish on 16 points. However, even 14 points could be sufficient if CSK, PBKS and Delhi Capitals falter while MI beat KKR. The loss to SRH was a bad one for CSK as they now stand at 12 points with one game to play against GT and will finish on 14 if they beat GT. The top two finish between them and DC is likely going to go down to net run rate as CSK currently holds the advantage. DC's chance of qualification seems minimal because of their poor net run rate of -0.871 and require a win over KKR to get 14 points and an LSG win over PBKS while praying RR and CSK both lose their remaining two and one match respectively and GT beat CSK. CSK as they now stand at 12 points with one game to play against GT and will finish on 14 if they beat GT. The top two finish between them and DC is likely going to go down to net run rate as CSK currently holds the advantage. Also Read: Live Cricket Score There are still 7 matches remaining and the final playoff spot looks like it could be very competitive while a tight battle for the top two could make the remaining part of the IPL 2026 campaign extremely exciting. Article Source: IANS
Former Australia and Queensland wicketkeeper John Maclean dies aged 80
John Maclean played four Tests and two ODIs for Australia in 1978-79
Fleming Backs Gaikwad As CSK Captain Despite Poor IPL 2026 Returns
Chennai Super Kings: Stephen Fleming has thrown his weight behind Ruturaj Gaikwad as the future captain of Chennai Super Kings, while admitting that the opener has not been able to produce the kind of batting returns expected from him in IPL 2026. Following CSKs five-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai on Monday, Fleming said Gaikwad still had areas to improve as a batter even though he continued to grow into the leadership role. I think Ruturaj can do more, Fleming said. He's done more in the past. He's been a fine player at the top. He hasn't produced the quantity of runs and the pace of runs (this season) that he's done in his career. And that's something that he will address. Gaikwads sluggish start against SRH he was nine off 11 balls at the end of the powerplay again raised questions about whether his batting style is suited to the more aggressive demands of modern-day IPL cricket. CSKs defeat also confirmed another disappointing campaign for the five-time champions, who are now set to miss the playoffs for a third straight season with only one league match remaining. Fleming, however, stressed that Gaikwads captaincy should be viewed in the context of a massive transition period for the franchise after years under MS Dhonis leadership. This year, at least, he was here the whole time. Last year, he wasn't here at all, Fleming said, referring to the injury that ruled Gaikwad out of IPL 2025. So it would be unfair to judge that. But, yeah, there's been a lot of work done behind the scenes as we learn about this group of players. It's a big transition from having one of the best captains [MS Dhoni] in the cricket scene running the franchise for such a long time to a new captain. So it's going to take a little bit of time. Backing Gaikwads leadership qualities, Fleming added: But he's doing a good job. He has a massive amount of respect for this group of players. And he's learning all the time and putting that into play. So going forward, I have no doubt he'll be a fine captain for this franchise. Dhoni, meanwhile, was present at the stadium on match day for the first time this season, but Fleming remained tight-lipped about the legendary wicketkeeper-batters future with the franchise. No, we're working through this one, Fleming said when asked whether there had been discussions with Dhoni regarding next season. Fleming also acknowledged that CSKs struggles this season would inevitably lead to questions over his own future with the franchise, but said the final call rested with the management. I'd say it's a choice for the management, Fleming said. I know there's been a lot of talk about it, but MS has been around a lot this year, which has been really important for the team, for a lot of young players and continuity. So he's been a big part, he hasn't played, but he's still had a big influence on the team. Despite the disappointing results, Fleming pointed to the emergence of young talent as one positive from the season. So he's been a big part, he hasn't played, but he's still had a big influence on the team. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But I know we're judged on results, that's fair. So, yeah, it's the management's call, not mine. Article Source: IANS
Klaasen back at No. 1 in IPL 2026 Orange Cap race; Abhishek and Kishan rise too
Anshul Kamboj, meanwhile, has become the third bowler this season to touch, or cross, 20 wickets
Aaron Hardie named new Western Australia Sheffield Shield captain
Hardie takes over from long-time captain Sam Whiteman as WA continues to transition under new state coach Beau Casson
'It's going to take a little bit of time' - Fleming on transition from Dhoni to Gaikwad
It's the management's call, not mine, CSK coach Stephen Fleming says of his own future with the team as their chance of entering the IPL 2026 playoffs hangs by a thread
BBL on track to host season opener in Chennai in December
CA has received positive feedback from both the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and the BCCI to go ahead after a meeting at Chepauk on Monday
Kishan: 'I just had to play till the last over' on a wicket that 'was not at all easy'
Klaasen found the pitch challenging, too, but took the aggressive route to have things go his way
Cummins, Kishan, Klaasen power SRH into playoffs; CSK not out yet
The win for SRH also took Gujarat Titans into the playoffs as CSK finished their home leg with a loss
IPL 2026: Ishan Deserves All The Credit, Says Pat Cummins After SRHs Playoff-clinching Win Over CSK
Chennai Super Kings: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) captain Pat Cummins credited Ishan Kishan for playing a mature and match-winning innings after SRH defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by five wickets to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday. Chasing 181 runs, Sunrisers Hyderabad completed the chase in 19 overs with Kishan anchoring the innings brilliantly with 70 runs off 47 balls. Heinrich Klaasen also played a crucial knock of 47 as SRH secured an important win and booked their place in the playoffs alongside the Gujarat Titans. Speaking after the match, Cummins said the conditions at Chepauk were challenging and praised his batters for adjusting well to the surface. Really satisfying. It's a bit different from how we normally play. Very happy. That partnership, it was really tough, we thought you need one or two really good partnerships, Cummins said after the victory. SRH are generally known for their aggressive batting approach, but Cummins admitted the team had to show patience on a pitch where the ball was not coming onto the bat easily. We are not famous for responsible batting. But yeah, when we were bowling, the ball was keeping low and not quite coming on. It was about par. They play here and know the wicket a lot better, he added. After losing Travis Head early in the chase, Kishan and Abhishek Sharma rebuilt the innings before the left-hander stitched another important stand with Klaasen. Kishan rotated the strike smartly and attacked whenever needed to keep SRH in control throughout the chase. Cummins especially praised Kishan for stepping up and guiding the innings under pressure. Winning today was what mattered. You cant give yourselves a better chance than what we have. Ishan deserves all the credit for leading the side for the first half, Cummins said. After losing Travis Head early in the chase, Kishan and Abhishek Sharma rebuilt the innings before the left-hander stitched another important stand with Klaasen. Kishan rotated the strike smartly and attacked whenever needed to keep SRH in control throughout the chase. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, after this win, SRH are placed at third in the points table with 16 points in 13 matches. They will next face defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on May 22 at their home ground, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Everyone Gave Their Hearts Out, Says Gaikwad, Proud Despite CSK's Defeat To SRH
Chennai Super Kings: Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad praised his teams fighting effort despite suffering a five-wicket defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 63 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Monday. The loss daunted five-time champion CSKs playoff hopes, while Sunrisers Hyderabad booked their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs after successfully chasing down 181 with six balls to spare. Speaking after the match, Gaikwad said CSK remained in the contest for most of the chase and credited his players for showing character despite missing several key players during the season. Good game of cricket. We were in the game until the second-last over. Good T20 pitch. Didnt change over the course of the game. Just missed out on a few. Just cashing in on the opportunity could have been done, Gaikwad said after the match. Batting first, Chennai Super Kings posted 180/7 in 20 overs with Dewald Brevis top-scoring with 44 runs. Sanju Samson provided a strong start with a quick 27, while Kartik Sharma and Shivam Dube also made useful contributions. However, SRH chased down the target comfortably through Ishan Kishans match-winning 70 and Heinrich Klaasens aggressive 47-run knock. Despite the defeat, Gaikwad said he was proud of the effort shown by the squad, especially considering the challenges faced by the team this season. Still, given the team we had and the limited squad, Im still proud and feel we did well. A lot of positives, to be honest, he added. Gaikwad also praised wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson for his performances during the tournament and highlighted the support received from Chennai fans throughout the season. Despite the defeat, Gaikwad said he was proud of the effort shown by the squad, especially considering the challenges faced by the team this season. Still, given the team we had and the limited squad, Im still proud and feel we did well. A lot of positives, to be honest, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score After the loss, CSK are still present at sixth position in the points table with 12 points in 13 matches. They will next face the Gujarat Titans in their last group stage match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 21 May. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Ishan Kishan Shines As SRH Secure Playoff Berth With Five-wicket Win Over CSK
Chennai Super Kings: Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan played a brilliant knock of 70 while Heinrich Klaasen scored 47 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by five wickets and qualified for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday. Chasing a target of 181, SRH completed the chase in 19 overs to register an important victory. With this win, Sunrisers Hyderabad joined Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in securing a place in the IPL 2026 playoffs with 16 points from 13 matches. SRH started their chase positively with Abhishek Sharma attacking Mukesh Choudhary early in the innings. However, Chennai Super Kings struck back in the third over when Mukesh dismissed Travis Head with a slower delivery. Head managed just six runs from six balls. After the early wicket, CSK bowlers maintained tight lines and did not allow SRH batters to score freely. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan took time to settle but kept the scoreboard moving with regular boundaries. SRH reached 45/1 at the end of the Power-play. CSK finally broke the partnership in the eighth over when Akeal Hosein dismissed Abhishek Sharma for 26 runs off 21 balls. His innings included three fours and a six. Following the wicket, Ishan Kishan shifted gears and anchored the innings, while Heinrich Klaasen played aggressively from the other end. Klaasen attacked both Akeal Hosein and Noor Ahmad, hitting boundaries and sixes regularly as SRH reached 75/2 in 10 overs. Klaasen survived a dropped catch and continued his attacking approach before eventually getting dismissed for 47 runs in the 15th over. The South African batter struck six fours and two sixes during his innings. Meanwhile, Kishan completed his half-century in 37 balls and continued to rotate strike smartly along with Nitish Kumar Reddy. The pair kept SRH firmly in control of the chase. Mukesh Choudhary dismissed Nitish Kumar Reddy in the 18th over, but Kishan remained calm and guided the side closer to victory. He scored 70 runs off 47 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. Smaran Ravichandran finished the chase with a boundary as Sunrisers Hyderabad reached the target with six balls to spare and officially sealed their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs. Earlier, Dewald Brevis top-scored with 44 as Chennai Super Kings posted 180/7 in their 20 overs. Coming to bat after winning the toss, CSK made a flying start with Sanju Samson attacking from the very first ball. He smashed Nitish Kumar Reddy for a six and added two boundaries in the opening over. Samson continued his aggressive batting in the next over by hitting Praful Hinge for three consecutive fours as CSK raced ahead during the powerplay. Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins gave his team the first breakthrough by dismissing Samson for a quick 27 off 13 balls. Young batter Urvil Patel kept the momentum going with two sixes off Cummins, but Sakib Husain clean bowled him for 13 runs. After the early wickets, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma steadied the innings. Kartik looked in excellent touch and played several attacking shots, including two fours and two sixes in his innings of 32 off 19 balls. Cummins once again broke the partnership by dismissing Kartik in the 10th over. Gaikwad struggled to score freely and was eventually dismissed for 15 runs, with Cummins claiming his third wicket and also completing 200 T20 wickets in the process. Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis then rebuilt the innings with an important partnership. Brevis played aggressively and took charge in the middle overs, while Dube supported him well. Brevis scored 44 off 27 balls, hitting four sixes and two boundaries before being dismissed by Eshan Malinga in the 18th over. Dube also departed soon after for 26. Prashant Veer added some late runs as CSK finished at 180/7. For SRH, Pat Cummins starred with figures of 3/28, while Sakib Husain and Praful Hinge picked up two wickets each. Eshan Malinga claimed one wicket. Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis then rebuilt the innings with an important partnership. Brevis played aggressively and took charge in the middle overs, while Dube supported him well. Brevis scored 44 off 27 balls, hitting four sixes and two boundaries before being dismissed by Eshan Malinga in the 18th over. Dube also departed soon after for 26. Prashant Veer added some late runs as CSK finished at 180/7. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Chennai Super Kings 180/7 in 20 overs (Dewald Brevis 44, Sanju Samson 27, Shivam Dube 26; Pat Cummins 3-28, Sakib Hussain 2-34) lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad 181/5 in 19 overs (Ishan Kishan 70, Heinrich Klassen 47; Mukesh Choudhary 2-36, Akeal Hosein 1-21) by five wickets. Article Source: IANS
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Rajasthan Begins Talent Identification Drive For 2028 Olympic Games
Rajasthan Target Olympic Podium Scheme: The Rajasthan government has launched a series of initiatives aimed at transforming the state into a major sporting hub ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games. Guided by the vision of With Sports, and Beyond Sports (Khelon ke Saath bhi, Khelon ke Baad bhi), the state government has introduced multiple programmes focused on identifying sporting talent, strengthening training infrastructure, ensuring financial security for athletes and supporting preparations for international competitions, including the Olympics. Among the key initiatives are the Rajasthan Target Olympic Podium Scheme, out-of-turn government appointments for medal-winning athletes and a Sports Life Insurance Scheme. To prepare athletes for the 2028 Olympics, the state government has launched the Rajasthan Target Olympic Podium Scheme, modelled on the Central governments Olympic preparation programme. Under the scheme, 50 talented athletes from Rajasthan will be identified and provided with world-class coaching, scientific training, sports kits, nutritional support and other modern facilities. Selected athletes will also receive a monthly out-of-pocket allowance of Rs 25,000 to support their training and preparation. As part of the initiative, a Rajasthan Centre of Excellence will be established in Jaipur, where athletes will have access to international-standard infrastructure and training facilities. The scheme specifically targets athletes who are not currently covered under the Central governments Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS). Notably, 20 per cent of the seats under the programme have been reserved for para-athletes. To ensure transparency and effective implementation, the government has constituted the Rajasthan Mission Olympic Committee and the State Talent Search and Development Committee to monitor athlete selection and performance. The Rajasthan government has also strengthened its policy of out-of-turn appointments for outstanding sportspersons to provide long-term career security to athletes bringing laurels to the state. So far, 186 medal-winning athletes have been appointed to various state government positions on the basis of their sporting achievements. Among the prominent sportspersons benefiting under the policy are cricketer Ravi Bishnoi, shooter Manini Kaushik, equestrian athlete Divyakriti Singh and kabaddi player Sachin, all of whom have been appointed as Deputy Superintendents in the Rajasthan Police Service. Para-shooter Mona Agarwal has also been appointed as Lecturer (Physical Education) under the sports quota. In another major step, the government has sanctioned financial assistance exceeding Rs 40.12 crore for 1,786 athletes who have excelled at national and international sporting events. Officials said the grants were intended to help athletes access better training facilities and prepare for future competitions without financial hardship. Prioritising athlete welfare and security, the state government has also introduced a Sports Life Insurance Scheme. Officials said the grants were intended to help athletes access better training facilities and prepare for future competitions without financial hardship. Also Read: Live Cricket Score The government said these initiatives would not only strengthen Rajasthans Olympic ambitions but also help establish a sustainable sports ecosystem supporting athletes both during and after their sporting careers. Article Source: IANS
Sussex escape as rain thwarts Somerset push for victory
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K'taka: Bengaluru Hosts 5th National Physical Disability Elite Cricket Tournament
National Physical Disability Elite Cricket: The 5th National Physical Disability Elite Cricket Tournament commenced in Bengaluru on Monday with a grand inaugural ceremony featuring colourful cultural performances from Karnataka and enthusiastic participation from players and officials from across the country. Organised under the aegis of the Karnataka State Divyang Cricket Association, the prestigious tournament has brought together top disability cricket teams from across India, providing players with a national platform to showcase their talent and competitive spirit. The inaugural ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including PCCAI President Surendra Lohiya, DCCI and PCCAI General Secretary Ravikant Chauhan, Paralympic Committee Chairman Satyanarayana, Karnataka Divyang Cricket Association President Hemchandra, and Secretary Santosh Gowda. The event was formally inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. Speaking on the occasion, DCCI Secretary Ravikant Chauhan said the organisation had consistently conducted national tournaments featuring 24 teams. However, to enhance the quality and competitiveness of the tournament, this years Elite Tournament has been restricted to the top 12 teams, while a separate Plate Group competition will be organised for the remaining teams. He said the initiative aims to identify the countrys best players and prepare them to represent India internationally in the future. Chauhan added that the organisation was continuously working towards improving facilities for differently-abled cricketers. He noted that players were being encouraged through special awards, including cars and scooters presented as Man of the Series prizes. Our objective is to provide world-class facilities to differently-abled players and continuously improve their standard of play. We are focusing on training, competitions, and all international-level requirements so that players do not face any shortcomings, he said. He further stated that the organisation remained committed to the overall development of disability cricket and thanked sponsors, supporters, and collaborators for making such large-scale events possible. PCCAI President Surendra Lohiya said the organisation had been working to uplift disability cricket for the last 15 years and had extended significant financial support to players. He said around Rs 30.36 lakh had already been distributed as Man of the Match prizes in national tournaments and claimed that the organisation was the first in the country to award Rs 11,000 to every Man of the Match winner. According to Lohiya, more than Rs 87 lakh in prize money has been distributed among players so far, and the organisation would continue its efforts to financially empower players in the future as well. Paralympic Committee Chairman Satyanarayana said the Paralympic Committee, in association with DCCI, was continuously working towards securing the inclusion of mixed disability cricket in the Asian Para Games and Paralympic Games. He expressed confidence that disability cricket would gain greater recognition and respect at the international level in the coming years. Paralympic Committee Chairman Satyanarayana said the Paralympic Committee, in association with DCCI, was continuously working towards securing the inclusion of mixed disability cricket in the Asian Para Games and Paralympic Games. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Organisers highlighted the importance of sportsmanship, dedication, and national unity, and expressed gratitude to players, officials, supporters, and sports enthusiasts for their contributions to the tournament's successful conduct. Article Source: IANS
MJK Smith, former England and Warwickshire captain, dies aged 92
Batter led England in 25 of his 50 Tests, and also claimed an England cap as a fly-half in rugby union
IPL 2026: Dewald Brevis 44 Helps CSK Post 180/7 Against SRH
Chennai Super Kings: Dewald Brevis played a crucial knock of 44 runs as Chennai Super Kings posted 180/7 in 20 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 63 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday. Asked to bat first, CSK got off to a flying start. Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson attacked from the very beginning, smashing Nitish Kumar Reddy for a six on the first ball of the innings. He followed it up with two boundaries in the same over as CSK collected 17 runs. Samson continued his aggressive approach in the next over as well, hitting Praful Hinge for three consecutive fours. CSK were scoring at a rapid pace and looked in complete control during the Power play. However, Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins provided the first breakthrough for his side. Samson edged one behind while trying to continue the attack and departed after a quickfire 27 off just 13 balls, studded with four boundaries and a six. Young batter Urvil Patel kept the momentum going for CSK by smashing Cummins for two sixes in the same over. But his stay at the crease was short-lived as Sakib Husain deceived him with a slower delivery and clean bowled him in the fifth over. Urvil scored 13 runs from eight deliveries. With CSK losing two wickets inside the Power-play, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad shifted gears and focused on rebuilding the innings. He found good support from Kartik Sharma, who looked confident from the start and played some attractive shots. Kartik attacked Praful Hinge in the eighth over, hitting two fours and a six, before smashing another maximum in the following over. The partnership helped CSK maintain a healthy run rate despite losing early wickets. SRH once again turned to Cummins for a breakthrough, and the Australian pacer delivered in the 10th over. Kartik Sharma was trapped by a slower delivery outside off stump and got dismissed after scoring 32 runs from 19 balls, with the help of three fours and two sixes. At the halfway stage, CSK were 91/3. Cummins struck again soon after, dismissing Gaikwad, who struggled to accelerate during his stay at the crease. The CSK skipper managed only 15 runs off 21 balls. With this wicket, Cummins also completed 200 wickets in T20 cricket. After the dismissal of Gaikwad, Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis steadied the innings with an important partnership. Brevis looked aggressive from the beginning and counterattacked the SRH bowlers. He took on Nitish Kumar Reddy in the 14th over, collecting 18 runs and helping CSK cross the 120-run mark. Dube also started finding boundaries and hit a six off Eshan Malinga in the 15th over. Brevis continued his attacking display by hitting a four and a six off Cummins as CSK reached 144/4 after 16 overs. The partnership was becoming dangerous for SRH before Eshan Malinga finally broke through in the 18th over. Brevis was clean bowled after a well-made 44 off 27 balls, an innings that included four sixes and two fours. SRH struck another important blow in the following over when Sakib Husain dismissed Shivam Dube. Dube scored 26 runs from 23 balls, hitting three boundaries and one six. In the final overs, Prashant Veer added some useful runs with a quick cameo of 11 as Chennai Super Kings crossed the 180-run mark and finished at 180/7 in their 20 overs. For Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pat Cummins was the standout bowler with figures of 3/28 in four overs. Sakib Husain claimed two wickets, while Praful Hinge and Eshan Malinga picked up one wicket each. In the final overs, Prashant Veer added some useful runs with a quick cameo of 11 as Chennai Super Kings crossed the 180-run mark and finished at 180/7 in their 20 overs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Chennai Super Kings 180/7 in 20 overs (Dewald Brevis 44, Sanju Samson 27, Shivam Dube 26; Pat Cummins 3-28, Sakib Hussain 2-34) against Sunrisers Hyderabad Article Source: IANS
Mushfiqur Rahims Century Powers Bangladesh to 427-Run Target Against Pakistan
Veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim hit a glittering century as Bangladesh set Pakistan an imposing target of 427 to win the second Test after another commanding day for the hosts on Monday. Bangladesh posted 390 all out in their second innings on day three with Mushfiqur, who made 137, and Litton Das, who hit 69, putting together 123 runs for the fifth wicket. The 39-year-old Mushfiqur rolled back the years as he scored his 14th Test century, surpassing Mominul Haque's record of 13 for Bangladesh. Pakistan openers Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal survived the last two overs of the day without scoring before bad light ended play. The visitors will need a record chase to level the two-match series after Bangladesh won the opener. West Indies currently hold the record for the 418 they scored to beat Australia in Antigua in 2003, while Pakistan have never successfully chased more than 377. Starting the day on 110-3 with a lead of 156 runs, Bangladesh lost skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto for 15 but Mushfiqur and Litton put the Pakistan bowlers to the test. Litton, who scored a century in the first innings, looked good for another big score but fell to Hasan Ali at deep third-man. Mushfiqur reached his century off 178 balls with a boundary off Mohammad Abbas -- the shot that moved him clear of Mominul into the history books. It was also his eighth Test century since 2022. Taijul Islam provided valuable lower-order support, adding 77 runs with Mushfiqur before off-spinner Sajid Khan dismissed him for 22. Mushfiqur was the last man out as he became Sajid's third wicket in the innings. Pakistan pace bowling coach Umar Gul, however, said his team will fight on. We have two days left and we are mentally prepared. If we bat through the full duration, there is a chance to win we aren't just looking for a draw, said Gul. Two or three good partnerships will be very important. To chase 437, you have to be brave and play positive cricket. In cricket, anything is possible. Bangladesh spinner Taijul was confident the target would weigh on Pakistan. When they see the target number, many things may work in their minds. Discipline is very important now, said Taijul. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Pace bowler Khurram Shahzad took four 4-86 while Sajid claimed 3-126.
IPL 2026: Playing For CSK Feels Very Special,' Says Spencer Johnson
Chennai Super Kings: Spencer Johnson has described his stint with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as one of the most special experiences of his franchise cricket career, saying the atmosphere around the team, the passionate support from fans, and the togetherness within the dressing room make CSK stand out from other teams around the world. The Australian left-arm pacer, who joined the CSK setup as a replacement for Nathan Ellis for IPL 2026, admitted that franchise cricket can often feel temporary because players move across leagues and teams regularly. However, Johnson said the environment created at CSK under head coach Stephen Fleming has made him feel genuinely connected to the group. Well, you can hear the crowd now. Its unbelievable. I think it can be a little bit transactional playing for so many different teams, but coming here, Fleming has been awesome. The whole group sticks together, so its very special, Johnson told broadcasters ahead of the SRH clash. The Australian pacer recently returned to action after recovering physically from his previous outing and said he was pleased with the way his body responded to the demands of competitive cricket. Yes, it recovered all well, thank you. It was nice to get that extra intensity the other night. It's a little bit different from bowling in the nets, but no, I recovered well, Johnson said. Johnson further revealed that although he was initially unsure about getting opportunities in the playing XI, he always stayed mentally prepared for his chance. I probably wasnt expecting to play, but I'm always making sure I am ready to play. And we saw how good Overton was, and I was kind of just trying to follow what he did and how he did it, he explained. The Australian pacer recently returned to action after recovering physically from his previous outing and said he was pleased with the way his body responded to the demands of competitive cricket. Yes, it recovered all well, thank you. It was nice to get that extra intensity the other night. It's a little bit different from bowling in the nets, but no, I recovered well, Johnson said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Meanwhile, Johnson has played only one match in IPL 2026, where he took one wicket and gave away 39 runs in four overs. Article Source: IANS
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IPL 2026: Tickets For Playoffs Matches Will Be On Sale From May 20, Announces BCCI
Indian Premier League: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Monday announced that tickets for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 playoffs will go on sale from May 20, with District by Zomato appointed as the official ticketing agency for the knockout phase. As of now, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have sealed their playoff spot with a 23-run win over Punjab Kings. The three remaining spots will be decided between Punjab Kings, Chennai Super Kings, Gujarat Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals. The tickets can be purchased via the official IPL website and the District by Zomato platform. The BCCI said the staggered schedule of ticket sales was designed to ensure smooth access for fans and to reward RuPay cardholders with early booking privileges. RuPay Credit Card holders will enjoy an exclusive 24hour priority access window starting on May 20 to secure tickets for Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator, scheduled at Dharamshalas HPCA Stadium on May 26 and the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh on May 27, respectively. For Qualifier 2 and the Final, the priority window will open on May 22. Qualifier 2 will be played on May 29 in New Chandigarh, while the final will take place on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad - the worlds largest cricket stadium set to host back-to-back IPL finals. RuPay Credit Card holders will enjoy an exclusive 24hour priority access window starting on May 20 to secure tickets for Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator, scheduled at Dharamshalas HPCA Stadium on May 26 and the New PCA Stadium in New Chandigarh on May 27, respectively. Also Read: Live Cricket Score This years playoffs format offers a greater edge to the winner of Qualifier 1, with both finalists required to travel to a new venue in Ahmedabad for the summit clash. Traditionally, Qualifier 2 is staged at the same ground as the final, but for IPL 2026, the side advancing from Qualifier 2, like the Qualifier 1 winner, will also have to adjust to fresh conditions at a different venue. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Watching The Ball And Playing Our Shots Has Worked For Us,' Says Kishan On SRH Approach
Indian Premier League: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan believes keeping batting simple and reacting to the ball rather than overthinking situations has been the key to his sides approach in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 as they clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday. Ahead of the match, Kishan stressed that the batting group does not believe in complicating things and instead focuses on reading the conditions and playing naturally. Nothing too complicated, its simply about watching the ball and playing your shots. Theres no need to do anything different. Thats what weve done over the last few games as well. Weve just watched the ball and played according to what the situation demanded, Kishan told broadcasters ahead of the match. The wicketkeeper-batter added that maintaining clarity of thought and staying relaxed at the crease has helped the side perform consistently through the season. Weve been playing this way throughout the tournament. Our last game didnt go well, but at the same time, the most important thing is how you approach each match, taking it one game at a time and starting every new game with a fresh mindset. Thats what our focus will be on, he said. Kishan also spoke about the positive atmosphere within the squad and said the players have continued to believe in each other even during difficult phases of the tournament. I think weve been in a really good space throughout the season. Theres been a very good tempo within the group, and everyone has contributed together. Even when we lost a few games early on, the mindset was always that we could come back from anywhere, he said. When youre in a good headspace, youre able to play your best cricket. Thats exactly what weve done throughout the season so far, and well continue doing that, he added. Kishan further highlighted the importance of trust between batting partners, saying the side has benefited from players backing each other in pressure situations. When youre in a good headspace, youre able to play your best cricket. Thats exactly what weve done throughout the season so far, and well continue doing that, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Kishan has been a standout performer in the ongoing season. He has scored 420 runs in 12 matches at a strike rate of 185.84. He has also hit four half-centuries. Article Source: IANS
CSK opt to bat in last Chennai game of IPL 2026
If SRH win, they and Gujarat Titans will be through to the playoffs
IPL 2026: Akeal Hosein Back As CSK Opt To Bat Against Unchanged SRH
Chennai Super Kings: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) won the toss and elected to bat first against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 63 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Monday. CSK have made one change to their playing XI as Akeal Hosein is back, while MS Dhoni is still missing the match due to injury. After winning the toss, CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad said, We are looking to bat first. Well, it's nothing complicated, it's just simple for us. Take it one game at a time, look to win this one, look to start well, look to assess the conditions well, and put your best foot forward. Well, nothing, not as such, it's just that we have to respect conditions and choose what's best for the conditions. And yes, I think batting first looks good here now, he said. Gaikwad said MS Dhoni is not fit enough to play. He's still here, but he's not fit enough to play this game. Hopefully we win this one, and you'll have a low in the last game. We got just one chance. Akeal comes in for Gurjapneet, he added. While after losing the toss, SRH skipper Pat Cummins said, It's T20 cricket, and it's not easy every game. He knows it's not going to work every game. We would have probably wanted to bowl. Same team as the last game. Chennai Super Kings (CSK) are placed at No. 6 on the points table with six wins and as many defeats from 12 matches. They are well and truly in contention to reach the playoffs despite starting the season with three consecutive losses. Ruturaj Gaikwad's team is coming to the contest after suffering a seven-wicket loss against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Ekana Stadium. CSK needs two wins in two matches to stay alive in the competition. On the other side, Sunrisers Hyderabad also made a strong comeback after a poor start, losing three out of four opening matches. They are currently placed in third position in the points table, with seven wins from 12 matches. If they manage to win the match against CSK, their qualification chances will increase significantly. SRH is also coming to the contest after suffering a big 87-run defeat against the Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Playing XIs: Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Smaran Ravichandran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins(c), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge Impact substitutes: Travis Head, Liam Livingstone, Aniket Verma, Harshal Patel, Harsh Dubey Sunrisers Hyderabad: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Smaran Ravichandran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins(c), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge Also Read: Live Cricket Score Impact substitutes: Gurjapneet Singh, Mukesh Choudhary, Azam Khan, Matthew Short, Sarfaraz Khan Article Source: IANS
Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya: Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal has dismissed speculation surrounding the possibility of the playoffs of the 2026 edition being held behind closed doors or rescheduled due to concerns linked to fuel usage and geopolitical tensions in West Asia. Dhumal clarified that the BCCI has not received any official instructions from the Government of India regarding changes to the tournament schedule and said the league will continue as planned. We only heard media reports (about the IPL playoffs potentially being held behind closed doors due to the petrol issue). Nothing of that sort is going to happen. The league will continue as scheduled. We will follow government directions, and the BCCI has not received any such directive from the government, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal told IANS. The clarification comes after reports suggested that discussions were taking place over the possibility of modifying the playoff schedule, reducing travel, or even conducting matches without spectators amid concerns over fuel consumption and travel logistics. The debate gained attention after the Chamber of Trade & Industry (CTI) chairman, Brijesh Goyal, reportedly wrote to Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, urging authorities to consider measures aimed at reducing fuel usage during the remainder of the tournament. According to reports, the letter proposed steps such as limiting air travel, conducting matches at fewer venues, and even staging games without crowds in order to reduce pressure on national fuel consumption during a period of geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia. However, Dhumals statement has made it clear that, as of now, there is no proposal under consideration from the BCCI to alter the playoff schedule or hold matches behind closed doors. According to reports, the letter proposed steps such as limiting air travel, conducting matches at fewer venues, and even staging games without crowds in order to reduce pressure on national fuel consumption during a period of geopolitical uncertainty in West Asia. Also Read: Live Cricket Score After a single rest day, New Chandigarh will also host Qualifier 2 on May 29 to determine the second finalist. The tournament reaches its climax on Sunday with the Grand Final taking place under the lights at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Article Source: IANS
'Not A Public Authority': BCCI Not Covered Under RTI Act, Rules CIC
Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act: The Central Information Commission (CIC) has held that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not a public authority under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, observing that the cricket body is neither established by law nor substantially financed or controlled by the government. Information Commissioner P.R. Ramesh, while dismissing a second appeal filed by Geeta Rani seeking information regarding the BCCIs authority to represent India in international cricket and select players for the national team, ruled that the statutory requirements under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act were not satisfied in the case of the BCCI. The BCCI cannot be classified as a Public Authority within the meaning of Section 2(h) of the RTI Act and the provisions of the Act are therefore inapplicable to it in the facts and circumstances of the present case, the CIC said in its order passed on Monday. The apex information body was hearing an appeal arising from an RTI application filed in 2017 before the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports seeking details regarding the provisions under which the BCCI represents India, the benefits granted to it by the government, and the extent of governmental control over the cricket body. The Centre had replied that the information sought was not available with it and stated that the RTI application could not be transferred to the BCCI since it had not been declared a public authority under the RTI Act. In the proceedings before the CIC, the BCCI argued that it is a private autonomous society registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act and does not satisfy the tests of ownership, control, or substantial financing required under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act. In its order, the CIC observed that BCCI was not created by the Constitution, the Parliament, a state legislature or any government notification, but was merely a society registered under the law. Registration is only a mechanism for granting legal recognition to an entity formed by private individuals and does not amount to the body being brought into existence by the statute itself, it ruled. It further held that there was no material on record to show that the BCCI was substantially financed by the government. The CIC recorded that the BCCI generates revenue independently through media rights, sponsorships, broadcasting agreements and ticket sales, and is financially self-sustaining. The BCCI functions independently of any governmental finance. Its revenues are generated wholly from its own activities, the order said. Also referring to the Supreme Courts landmark ruling in Board of Control for Cricket in India v. Cricket Association of Bihar, where the apex court had introduced governance reforms in the cricket body through the Lodha Committee recommendations, the CIC noted that while the Supreme Court recognised that BCCI performs functions having a public character, it had not declared the body a public authority under the RTI Act. The BCCI functions independently of any governmental finance. Its revenues are generated wholly from its own activities, the order said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In view of the aforementioned factual and legal position, the Commission upholds the submissions advanced by Respondents. Accordingly, the appeal, being devoid of merit, is dismissed, the order said. Article Source: IANS
Former England Captain And Rugby Union Player Mike Smith Dies Aged 92
Warwickshire County Cricket Club: Former England Test captain Mike Smith, widely known by his initials MJK, has died at the age of 92, the Warwickshire County Cricket Club said on Monday. Smith, who combined a distinguished cricket career with a brief stint as a rugby union international in 1956, represented England in 50 Tests and captained the side on 25 occasions from 1958 to 1972. In all, Smith made 2,278 runs, including three centuries and 11 fifties, and was awarded his OBE in 1976 for services to cricket. Warwickshire confirmed the news of his demise with a moment of silence observed by players and officials before play began on Day Four of their County Championship fixture against Glamorgan. Warwickshire County Cricket Club are saddened to learn of the passing of Bears legend MJK Smith at the age of 92. Once a Bear, Always a Bear, the club posted on their social media accounts. Smith captained Warwickshire from 1957 to 1967 and scored 39,832 first-class runs in 637 matches during his county career, the 18th-highest total in overall records. Before coming to Warwickshire, Smith also turned out for Leicestershire from 1951 to 1955 and even turned out for Oxford University for two years. Warwickshire County Cricket Club are saddened to learn of the passing of Bears legend MJK Smith at the age of 92. Once a Bear, Always a Bear, the club posted on their social media accounts. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Following retirement, Smith served five years as a referee before returning to Warwickshire as their chairman in 1991 and served in the role till 2003, apart from being an ICC match referee. His son Neil, known as NMK, carried forward the family legacy by captaining Warwickshire and representing England in ODIs. Article Source: IANS
Indian Premier League: Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal has urged cricketers to prioritise their on-field performances over social media activity during tournaments, saying players should remain focused on cricket instead of spending time making reels and behind-the-scenes content. Dhumal stressed that while social media has become an integral part of modern sport, players must ensure it does not become a distraction during high-pressure tournaments like the Indian Premier League (IPL). Speaking to IANS, the IPL chairman gave the example of star batter Virat Kohli, who has a massive fanbase, but he remains focused on cricket during major tournaments. Cricketers should focus on realities rather than reels. Take Virat Kohli, for example despite having a massive social media following, he remains completely focused on cricket when he is on the field. He has delivered results through his performances, not through reels. I feel players should avoid indulging in making reels while a tournament is underway, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal told IANS. Dhumals remarks come amid growing scrutiny around the social media activities of players during the IPL 2026 season. Arshdeep Singh recently found himself in controversy after reports claimed the BCCI had warned him over behind-the-scenes vlogging content involving fellow players. One of his travel vlogs allegedly showed Yuzvendra Chahal vaping during a team flight to Hyderabad. Clips from the video went viral on social media before the original upload was reportedly edited. In another incident, a Snapchat video featuring Tilak Varma sparked criticism online. In the clip, Arshdeep jokingly referred to Tilak as andhere and suggested he should apply sunscreen, comments that several users criticised for carrying racist undertones. One of his travel vlogs allegedly showed Yuzvendra Chahal vaping during a team flight to Hyderabad. Clips from the video went viral on social media before the original upload was reportedly edited. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Earlier this month, the BCCI reportedly circulated fresh operational and security guidelines to all 10 IPL franchises. The advisory included instructions related to social media behaviour, anti-corruption protocols, smoking and vaping restrictions, and player conduct during the tournament. Article Source: IANS
Jack White picks up from Harry Brook to condemn Surrey to innings defeat
Yorkshire claim 23 points for their second win in six games with visitors taking only two points
IPL 2026: Abishek Porel Embodies Fearless New Generation Of Batters, Says KL Rahul
Indian Premier League: Delhi Capitals wicketkeeperbatter KL Rahul has hailed Abishek Porel as a shining example of the fearless new generation of Indian batters, adding that hes been impressed by his ability to hit sixes and access all parts of the ground without any fear of the situation in a game. In their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, Porel, whos been with DC since 2023, shone by hitting 51 off 31 balls, while sharing a 105-run stand with Rahul, who hit 56, as the Axar Patel-led side chased down the target of 194 set by Rajasthan Royals to win by five wickets and keep their playoffs hopes alive. Its his ability to hit sixes and access all parts of the ground. The new guys who are coming in are all 360degree batters. Abishek Porel can hit you over longon for a six off the first ball, or he can scoop you over fine leg on the very first delivery. That kind of range is unusual, even among experienced players. One thing is to think about doing it. But the special thing about the new boys, especially Abishek Porel, is that they can execute those shots in highpressure games against good bowlers and strong teams. He doesnt need time to settle. He doesnt fear the situation. He just sees the ball and goes after it. So yes, all credit goes to their training and how well prepared they are for such a big competition. That kind of mindset is rare in a young player. He believes in his ability, and that is why he is succeeding. Abishek Porel is a great example of this fearless new generation, said Rahul on JioStar. Rahul also spoke about another emerging batting talent, left-handed batter Sahil Parakh, who made seven in Sundays game. Rahul described Parakh as a fearless prodigy who caught his eye even before the start of the season in the sides practice camp. I saw a video Delhi Capitals posted from a training session in Hyderabad. It was just a minute of him hitting six after six. I thought, Who is this guy? I knew we had picked a player named Sahil, and I had seen some clips of him in the Maharashtra League. But watching him hit those sixes, it really grabbed my attention. Rahul also spoke about another emerging batting talent, left-handed batter Sahil Parakh, who made seven in Sundays game. Rahul described Parakh as a fearless prodigy who caught his eye even before the start of the season in the sides practice camp. Also Read: Live Cricket Score He is naturally a toporder batter, but in one game, he was sent in at five or six and had to finish the innings. He scored 20 runs in the final over. The composure, the skill, and the ability to take on any bowler, pace or spin, were striking. He could hit the ball to any part of the ground. He has already made his debut for Delhi Capitals, and I hope that he gets a proper chance to show what he can really do, he added. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Lucky That Virat Was Batting Out There, Says Venkatesh Iyer After His Unbeaten 73 Vs PBKS
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Venkatesh Iyer credited Virat Kohli and mentor Dinesh Karthik for helping him remain calm during his match-winning innings against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Sunday. Iyer played a sensational unbeaten knock of 73 off 40 deliveries to power RCB to 222/4, a total that eventually helped the side secure a 23-run victory and become the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs. Speaking in a video released by RCB on Monday, Iyer said he was delighted to contribute to the teams success and stressed that he focuses more on impact rather than personal milestones. Very happy, very happy that I got to bat, very happy that I was able to contribute. I really don't look at scores, I look at what I'm able to contribute to my team, and I'm happy that I was able to do it, Iyer said. The left-hander accelerated brilliantly in the second half of the innings after initially taking time to settle. He added important runs alongside Kohli after Devdutt Padikkals dismissal before finishing strongly with Tim David at the other end. Iyer revealed that batting alongside Kohli helped him remain composed in a pressure situation and said the senior batter constantly guided him during the innings. Its very important to stay in the moment, and I was lucky that Virat was batting out there. A few key pointers he gave me and also DK throughout kept helping me, he said. Kohli scored 58 off 37 balls and stitched together a crucial partnership with Venkatesh before falling to Yuzvendra Chahal in the 15th over. Iyer then took complete control of the match in the death overs and ensured RCB crossed the 220-run mark. The all-rounder also highlighted RCBs team culture and said the franchises management group, consisting of Mo Bobat, Andy Flower, and Dinesh Karthik, had created a clean and supportive environment for every player in the squad. I think that has been the strength of RCB, we don't look at a particular number, we take it ball by ball, over by over and see where it takes us, because that's the toughest thing to do, staying in the moment, he said. Every aspect of RCB is outstanding, the cricket part of it, the management part of it. Mo, Andy, and DK, I would like to call them Trimurti now, they are unbelievable, he added. Iyer further praised the management for treating every player equally, regardless of experience or reputation, saying it helped create clarity within the squad. Every aspect of RCB is outstanding, the cricket part of it, the management part of it. Mo, Andy, and DK, I would like to call them Trimurti now, they are unbelievable, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Once you know your role, once you are clear about what you are going to do, its just about execution, and I think today was a good day, he added. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Arshdeep Singh Is Fully Fit, Actively Training And Raring To Go, Says PBKS
T20 World Cup: Punjab Kings on Monday issued a strong clarification around the fitness of their lead fast bowler Arshdeep Singh, insisting that the leftarm pacer is fully fit and has been actively training with the squad ahead of a crucial phase in IPL 2026. Contrary to recent reports suggesting concerns over his availability, the franchise confirmed that Arshdeep, who is also their highest wickettaker this season with 14 scalps in 13 games, remains central to their plans. Contrary to reports, we would like to confirm that our leading fast bowler and highest wicket-taker, Arshdeep Singh, is fully fit and has been actively training with the squad. The team management is absolutely pleased with his progress, and he is raring to go as we head into a crucial contest of the tournament. His energy, rhythm, and commitment in the nets have been extremely encouraging, and we are confident that he will continue to play a key role for Punjab Kings moving forward as well, said the franchise in its statement on Monday. Barely two months after scaling the heights with backtoback Mens T20 World Cup triumphs, Arshdeep hasnt been at his best and him being unusually expensive has been a reason behind PBKS dramatic dip in form, this undoing the momentum they had built at the midway point of the competition. It hasnt also helped that Arshdeep, who hasnt executed his yorkers and bouncers with great effect, has been at the receiving end of social media controversies from calling Tilak Varma andhera in a Snapchat video to being spotted with his alleged girlfriend Samreen Kaur. Barely two months after scaling the heights with backtoback Mens T20 World Cup triumphs, Arshdeep hasnt been at his best and him being unusually expensive has been a reason behind PBKS dramatic dip in form, this undoing the momentum they had built at the midway point of the competition. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With just one match left against Lucknow Super Giants, PBKS can finish with a maximum of 15 points. But they are still dependent on other results to fall in their favour and enter the last four stage of the ten-team competition. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: When And Where To Watch RR Vs LSG, Know All Details
Lucknow Super Giants: Rajasthan Royals will take on Lucknow Super Giants at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Tuesday in a high-stakes encounter that could significantly influence the playoff picture as the league stage nears its conclusion. With the competition intensifying and every result carrying added weight, both sides enter the fixture with sharply contrasting momentum and objectives. Lucknow enter the game on the back of a commanding win over Chennai Super Kings, a performance that underlined their growing rhythm at a crucial stage of the season. Their most recent outing was headlined by a dominant all-round display, beginning with Akash Singhs incisive spell of 3/26 that dismantled CSKs top order. The chase was then taken over by Mitchell Marsh, whose explosive 38-ball 90 ensured a comfortable seven-wicket victory. That result has boosted Lucknows confidence as they aim to close out the season strongly and strengthen their position in the standings. Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, return home after a tough outing in Delhi where they were edged out in a high-scoring thriller on Sunday. The defeat marked their third consecutive loss, adding pressure on the side as they look to stay in contention and avoid slipping further down the table. The Royals will now be desperate to regroup quickly on home turf and halt their losing streak at a decisive point in the season. For Lucknow, led by Rishabh Pant, the fixture represents an opportunity to build on their recent surge and secure revenge for an earlier defeat against Rajasthan this season. A victory would not only extend their momentum but also improve their standing as LSG, currently placed at the bottom of the points table, and push towards a better finish in the standings. When: Tuesday, May 19, 7:30 PM IST Where: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur Where to Watch: The RR vs LSG match will be broadcast on Star Sports channels, with JioHotstar live-streaming the game. Where: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur Also Read: Live Cricket Score Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Mukul Choudhary, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahamad, Arshin Kulkarni, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ayush Badoni, Mohammad Shami, Avesh Khan, M. Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Anrich Nortje, Naman Tiwari, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan. Article Source: IANS
Lanka Premier League returns after two years, opener set for July 17
Sri Lanka's T20 franchise competition returns for the first time since its 2024 edition, with the player draft scheduled for June 1
Jaffna Kings Get New Owners Ahead of LPL 2026, Sign Bhanuka Rajapaksa & Dunith Wellalage
Jaffna Kings today announced that the franchise will come under the ownership of Sports Commune, led by Indian sports entrepreneurs Manjot Kalra and Mayank Goel, ahead of Lanka Premier League Season 6. The new ownership brings together cricketing experience, entrepreneurship, youth development, digital media and grassroots sports engagement. Through Sports Commune, the owners aim to strengthen Jaffna Kings as a competitive cricket franchise while building a wider sports platform that connects players, fans, young athletes and commercial partners across South Asia. The Jaffna Kings have also pre-signed Sri Lanka batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa and all-rounder Dunith Wellalage, giving the franchise a strong local foundation as it prepares for the upcoming season. Manjot Kalra, Co-Founder of Sports Commune, is a former professional cricketer, digital creator and podcast host based in Delhi. Through Second Innings with Manjot Kalra, he engages cricketers, athletes and sports personalities, bringing sporting stories and insights to a growing digital audience. Mayank Goel, also Co-Founder of Sports Commune, is an entrepreneur with ventures in digital security, insurance and sports development. Welcoming the new ownership, Lanka Premier League Director Samantha Dodanwela said, Sri Lanka Cricket welcomes Sports Commune as the new ownership group of Jaffna Kings for Lanka Premier League Season 6. Their commitment to cricket, youth engagement and sports development adds further strength to the league. Also Read: Live Cricket Score IPG Global Founder and Chairman Anil Mohan said, Sports Commune brings cricketing knowledge, business experience and digital engagement to Jaffna Kings. We look forward to supporting the franchise as part of a season focused on strong competition, fan engagement and commercial opportunity.
IPL 2026: CSK Vs SRH Could Be A Virtual Knockout Game, Says Aakash Chopra
Chennai Super Kings: With IPL 2026 entering its decisive phase to decide the remaining three playoffs spots, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has described the Chennai Super KingsSunrisers Hyderabad contest as a virtual knockout game that could go a long way in determining playoff qualification. With defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru confirming their spot in the last four stage, if SRH manages to win Mondays clash at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, they will be assured of a playoffs berth. Such an outcome will simultaneously confirm Gujarat Titans place in the playoffs, thus leaving only one spot open. Its CSKs final home game of the season and, given how congested the table is, it will be a mustwin for both, especially the home team. They have had to manage a lot of injuries, but still, players like Anshul Kamboj, Urvil Patel and the two spinners have stood up for them and they will be key again if they have to stop SRHs bighitters. SRH would be ruing their last defeat and, given they still have a chance to finish on 18 points, they wouldnt want to leave it until the last game. In my opinion, this could be a virtual knockout game for both. Whoever wins this one will come significantly closer to qualifying. With the stakes this high and Chepauk expected to be buzzing, fans should be in for a treat, said Chopra on JioStar. Former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan, meanwhile, pointed to the highstakes nature of SRHs final fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 22, a day after GT take on CSK in a high profile clash in Ahmedabad, as a must-watch due to the face-off between Travis Head-Abhishek Sharma opening pair and new-ball duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood. SRH would be ruing their last defeat and, given they still have a chance to finish on 18 points, they wouldnt want to leave it until the last game. In my opinion, this could be a virtual knockout game for both. Whoever wins this one will come significantly closer to qualifying. With the stakes this high and Chepauk expected to be buzzing, fans should be in for a treat, said Chopra on JioStar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score RCBs bowling attack, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood setting the tone upfront, has been executing its plans exceptionally well. Given how crucial Powerplay has been in the tournament, with both bat and ball, how Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head fare against those two could be decisive, he added. Article Source: IANS
5th National Physical Disability Elite Cricket Tournament Kicks Off In Bengaluru
National Physical Disability Elite Cricket: The 5th National Physical Disability Elite Cricket Tournament, hosted by the Karnataka State Divyang Cricket Association, began with great fanfare. The event featured lively cultural performances from Karnataka and an enthusiastic atmosphere. Top teams from across the nation are competing in this prestigious tournament, offering players a valuable platform to showcase their skills. The ceremony was attended by PCCAI President Surendra Lohiya, DCCI, and PCCAI General Secretary Ravikant Chauhan; Paralympic Chairman Satyanarayana; Karnataka Divyang Cricket Association President Hemchandra; and Secretary Santosh Gowda, along with several distinguished guests. The tournament was formally inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. During the event, DCCI Secretary Ravikant Chauhan mentioned that DCCI has regularly hosted national tournaments with 24 teams. This year, to enhance competitiveness and uphold higher quality standards, they decided to hold the Elite Tournament with the top 12 teams. Additionally, a Plate Group competition will be organised for the remaining 12 teams. He also mentioned that the main goal of this initiative is to discover the countrys top players and train them to compete internationally for India in the future. He added that the organisation has been continuously working to provide better facilities for players. To encourage athletes, the organisation has even awarded cars and scooters as Man of the Series prizes. DCCIs objective is to provide world-class facilities to differently-abled cricketers and continuously enhance their standard of play. Special attention is given to players training, tournaments, and every requirement at the international level to ensure they do not face any shortcomings. Ravikant Chauhan said the organisation remains committed to the holistic development of players and will continue working to take disability cricket to new heights. He also expressed gratitude to all sponsors, partners, and supporters, stating that such large-scale events and enhanced player facilities are only possible because of their support. PCCAI President Surendra Lohiya said that his organisation has been working continuously to uplift disability cricket for the past 15 years. He highlighted that the organisation has provided significant financial assistance to players over the years. In national tournaments alone, approximately Rs 30.36 lakh has been awarded as Man of the Match prize money. He added that their organisation is the first in the country to provide Rs 11,000 to every Man of the Match award winner. He also said the organisation has distributed more than Rs 87 lakh in total prize money among players so far. He assured that continuous efforts will be made in the future to further strengthen players financially. PCCAI President Surendra Lohiya said that his organisation has been working continuously to uplift disability cricket for the past 15 years. He highlighted that the organisation has provided significant financial assistance to players over the years. In national tournaments alone, approximately Rs 30.36 lakh has been awarded as Man of the Match prize money. He added that their organisation is the first in the country to provide Rs 11,000 to every Man of the Match award winner. Also Read: Live Cricket Score During the ceremony, former international players were also honoured, and messages encouraging sportsmanship, dedication, and national unity were conveyed. The organisers thanked all players, officials, partners, and sports fans, and wished for the tournament's smooth and successful execution. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Starcs Second Spell Completely Changed The Game, Says Boucher
Chennai Super Kings: Delhi Capitals playoff hopes were kept alive by Mitchell Starcs decisive second spell, which completely changed the game in their favour against Rajasthan Royals, said former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher. Starc's figures of 4-40 restricted RR to 193/8, which DC chased down with four balls to spare and record a five-wicket victory. The win also meant DC moved back to seventh spot in the 10-team points table and kept their slim playoffs hopes alive. At one stage, Rajasthan Royals looked set for a total close to 230 after the kind of Powerplay they had. Mitchell Starc hadnt quite found his rhythm early on, but when he came back, he completely changed the game with his variations in pace and execution under pressure. That over, where he picked up three wickets, shifted the momentum entirely and pulled Rajasthan back from what looked like a massive total. A few of the batters might feel they played their shots too early, but theres no doubt that spell changed the complexion of the game and ultimately kept the target within Delhi Capitals reach, said Boucher on JioHotstar. What also helped DC was young all-rounder Madhav Tiwari taking wickets of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shubham Dubey via slower balls, something which former India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla duly pointed out. Madhav Tiwari has been extremely impressive, not just in this game but in the previous match as well. For a youngster with limited firstclass experience, he already seems to have a lot of variety in his bowling. But the key is having the confidence to execute those options at the right moments, and hes doing that with remarkable ease. Even in Dharamshala, where bowlers were going for plenty, he smartly used his slower balls into the pitch and delivered an important spell. In this game again, just when Rajasthan Royals were building momentum, he picked up the crucial wicket of Vaibhav Suryavanshi and helped slow the scoring rate. Chawla also praised Abhishek Porels positive intent in the chase, as he hit 51 and shared a 105-run opening stand with KL Rahul, who top-scored with 56. Abishek Porels innings was extremely impressive because despite not getting too many opportunities this season, he came in with complete positive intent. What stood out was the way he ensured there was no pressure on KL Rahul at the other end. Whenever the ball was in his zone, he was willing to take his chances and play the attacking shots, which was very important in a chase of over 190. Considering how the first innings played out, that aggressive start made a big difference for Delhi Capitals. Looking ahead to Mondays clash, Chawla said Sunrisers Hyderabad hold a slight edge over Chennai Super Kings due to the latter being hit by injuries, including to seam-bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton. What stood out was the way he ensured there was no pressure on KL Rahul at the other end. Whenever the ball was in his zone, he was willing to take his chances and play the attacking shots, which was very important in a chase of over 190. Considering how the first innings played out, that aggressive start made a big difference for Delhi Capitals. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Replacing that kind of allround impact wont be easy. Spencer Johnson can strengthen the bowling, but he doesnt offer the same batting depth, so it will be interesting to see whether CSK stick with the same combination or look at making changes for such an important game. Article Source: IANS
Indian Premier League: Punjab Kings (PBKS) are shifting their complete focus to their final league match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season following an afternoon encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the HPCA Cricket Stadium, Dharamshala. Despite strong phases during the match, a series of shifting momentums and early hurdles in the chase resulted in a sixth consecutive defeat, leaving the side's playoff progress dependent on upcoming net run rate outcomes and external results. With one match left in the league stage, the team remains on 13 points. While the recent run of results has challenged their position, the mathematical window for the post-season remains open as the squad enters the final week of round-robin fixtures. Fast bowling coach James Hopes pointed directly to on-field execution and the difficulty of maintaining consistency in the T20 format as the primary factors in the recent stretch. I think what derailed our campaign was an inability to take control of momentum in games. Every time we looked like doing it, we did something to hurt ourselves or trip ourselves up. T20 is a game where its very easy to get on winning streaks, and it is very easy to go the other way. Weve had both emotions in this tournament, and now we need a week to regroup the boys. Hopes addressed the adjustments made to the playing eleven over the last few weeks, emphasizing that the coaching staff has maintained a structured approach to selection. Every change that we've made has been very measured. Theyve been thought out with the opposition in mind, and thought out with trying to keep our core structurelike Arshdeep, Chahal, and our top fourand trying to make changes around them to complement what they do. It just hasnt worked out in the last few weeks, and thats the way this game goes sometimes. Despite the tough run, Hopes stressed that the squad's work ethic remains high, and the immediate priority is rebuilding absolute confidence before the final match. The boys are training well, the boys are planning well. It's just that we get into moments where we get the game back our way and right now its just not happening. The boys have got to regroup, stay positive, and theyve got to believe. At the moment, its going to be about just instilling that belief back into them. Looking ahead to the final league fixture against Lucknow Super Giants, Hopes gave a candid assessment of the task at hand. The boys are training well, the boys are planning well. It's just that we get into moments where we get the game back our way and right now its just not happening. The boys have got to regroup, stay positive, and theyve got to believe. At the moment, its going to be about just instilling that belief back into them. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Punjab Kings will travel to Lucknow next week to face the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Saturday, in their final league match of the tournament. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Sooryavanshi Needs To Improve His Fielding Before Playing For India, Says Kaif
In Rajasthan Royals: Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has stressed that young batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi needs to sharpen his fielding skills before he steps up to play for the senior national mens team. In Rajasthan Royals five-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Sooryavanshi was involved in misfields which led to crucial runs being conceded as the visitors couldnt defend 193/8. I believe scouts should also take a fielding test while scouting players. The scouts are bringing the right players; they are doing a great job, but I have not seen Vaibhav Sooryavanshi take a single catch yet. If he wants to play for India, he needs to improve his fielding ability. He needs to pass that fielding test first. The ball that came towards him was at a good height. I understand that when a batter plays a flick shot, taking a catch can sometimes become difficult for a fielder as it becomes a blind spot, especially when the ball comes off the bat. But there, the shot that Sahil Parakh played, the ball came to Sooryavanshi at a good height. Sooryavanshi did a great job by getting into the right position to take that catch, but he missed the opportunity to execute it. There was no need for Sooryavanshi to jump to take that catch. All he needed to do was take it near his waist, but he missed it. Vaibhav is really talented with the bat, no doubt about that, but when it comes to fielding, he is still not ready, said Kaif on JioHotstar's 'Champions Waali Commentary'. With the bat, Sooryavanshi was at his sparkling best in power-play and hit 46 off 21 balls before being undone by a slower ball from Madhav Tiwari. Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh outlined the challenge of bowling to Sooryavanshi. Against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, my plan would be to get his wicket anyhow. But what kind of form he is in matters a lot. My plan would be to spin the ball and keep it away from his hitting arc. Sooryavanshi did a great job by getting into the right position to take that catch, but he missed the opportunity to execute it. There was no need for Sooryavanshi to jump to take that catch. All he needed to do was take it near his waist, but he missed it. Vaibhav is really talented with the bat, no doubt about that, but when it comes to fielding, he is still not ready, said Kaif on JioHotstar's 'Champions Waali Commentary'. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I have played with many players, but I have never seen a batter like Sooryavanshi who dominates every bowler from ball one. I have dismissed Chris Gayle many times, but Sooryavanshi is at a different level altogether. His bat flow is something I have never seen, he added. Article Source: IANS
MPL 2026 To Begin From June 3 In Indore, Gwalior Cheetahs To Face Ujjain Falcons In Opener
The Madhya Pradesh League: The Madhya Pradesh League (MPL) 2026 is all set to begin from June 3 with an expanded and action-packed season featuring 10 mens teams and five womens franchises competing across multiple venues in Indore. The opening match of the mens tournament will see Gwalior Cheetahs take on Ujjain Falcons on June 3 at the Holkar Stadium. The womens competition will begin on June 4, with Chambal Ghariyals taking on Gwalior Shernis in the opening match at Daly College in Indore. Former MPL chairman Mahanaaryaman Scindia said, We are delighted to announce the schedule for the upcoming season of the Madhya Pradesh League. With more teams, more matches, and the inclusion of an expanded womens competition, this season promises to be bigger and more competitive than ever before. The league continues to provide a strong platform for emerging cricketers from across Madhya Pradesh, and we look forward to witnessing high-quality cricket and enthusiastic fan support throughout the tournament, he added. The womens tournament will follow a competitive format where the team finishing at the top of the points table will directly qualify for the final. The Eliminator, featuring the next best teams, will be played on June 12, while the womens final is scheduled for June 13 at Holkar Stadium. From June 4 onwards, the league stage of the men's MPL will feature double-headers and triple headers. On June 4, Malwa Stallions will face Chambal Ghariyals, followed by a clash between Bhopal Leopards and Indore Pink Panthers at Holkar Stadium. The league stage of the mens competition will continue till June 24, while both semi-finals are scheduled to be played on June 25 at Holkar Stadium. The grand finale of the Madhya Pradesh League 2026 will take place on June 26 at Holkar Stadium in Indore. With the addition of new franchises and an expanded structure across both categories, MPL 2026 is expected to provide a major platform for emerging cricketers from Madhya Pradesh while delivering high-quality cricketing action for fans throughout the season. The league stage of the mens competition will continue till June 24, while both semi-finals are scheduled to be played on June 25 at Holkar Stadium. The grand finale of the Madhya Pradesh League 2026 will take place on June 26 at Holkar Stadium in Indore. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In the womens competition, Gwalior Shernis and Royal Nimar Eagles are the two new franchises added for the upcoming season. They will join Bhopal Wolves, Bundelkhand Bulls, and Chambal Ghariyals in the expanded five-team tournament. Article Source: IANS
Dani Gibson Eager To Make Up For Lost Time At Womens T20 World Cup
T20 World Cup: Dani Gibson is ready to move past a frustrating time of injuries and make a strong impact for the England women's team at the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup at home. The 25-year-old all-rounder recently returned to international cricket during Englands ODI series against the New Zealand women's national cricket team. She had spent over a year on the sidelines due to a persistent back injury. Gibson showed promise in the series, scoring a quick 19 in the opening match at Durham and taking a wicket in each of her spells across the three games. Her performances led head coach Charlotte Edwards to name her in Englands 15-player squad for the T20 World Cup beginning on June 12. Ive been out of it for a while, so its just nice to be back, Gibson told Sky Sports Cricket. Everyone seems in a really good place. Weve had great time together over the last week, had good conversations, and spent time training together this winter. I think the team is in a good space it should be a good summer. England will continue their preparations for the global tournament with three T20Is against New Zealand starting on Wednesday. They will then play another three-match T20I series at home against the India women's national cricket team later this month. While Gibson is expected to play a key role in the lead-up, she is focusing on taking things one step at a time after her long rehabilitation. England will continue their preparations for the global tournament with three T20Is against New Zealand starting on Wednesday. They will then play another three-match T20I series at home against the India women's national cricket team later this month. Also Read: Live Cricket Score It was great to be back out there and see all the hard work I put in, along with the support from the science and medical team, pay off and allow me to perform as the all-rounder I want to be. Article Source: IANS
The Captaincy Was Quite Weak: Sehwag Questions CSKs Tactics Amid Tight Playoff Race
Chennai Super Kings: Chennai Super Kings endured a seven-wicket defeat against Lucknow Super Giants in their previous outing, and former India opener Virender Sehwag did not hold back while analysing the tactical decisions made by skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad. After being put in to bat, Chennai posted 187/5, a total that appeared competitive on a good batting surface. However, Lucknow made light work of the chase, reaching the target in just 16.4 overs thanks to an explosive start from openers Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis. The pair dominated the Powerplay, taking apart CSKs pace-heavy attack and racing to 86 without loss in the first six overs. Chennai relied on seamers Mukesh Choudhary, Spencer Johnson, and Anshul Kamboj early on, while left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein remained unused after the side brought in Gurjapneet Singh as the Impact Player. Sehwag questioned that decision and felt CSK missed an opportunity to disrupt the momentum with spin much earlier in the innings. When two Australian batters were playing together who played pace bowling well, you could have started with spin, right? I did not understand why you decided in advance that we would bring Gurjapneet? Sehwag told Cricbuzz. The former opener also criticised Gaikwads reluctance to experiment during the Powerplay despite the obvious struggles of the fast bowlers. Spinner Noor Ahmad was introduced only after the fielding restrictions ended, though he eventually emerged as Chennais most economical bowler with figures of 0/21 from four overs. The captaincy was quite weak; you didn't even try spin at all in the Powerplay. You could have at least tried it once because Marsh plays pace bowling so well. At least you had a chance of getting a wicket if a spinner was brought on early. It may have been that the spinner was hit for four sixes, but even the pacers were hit for four sixes, Sehwag said. Sehwag believed a more proactive approach with spin could have shifted the contest, especially considering Lucknows middle order has struggled for consistency this season. The captaincy was quite weak; you didn't even try spin at all in the Powerplay. You could have at least tried it once because Marsh plays pace bowling so well. At least you had a chance of getting a wicket if a spinner was brought on early. It may have been that the spinner was hit for four sixes, but even the pacers were hit for four sixes, Sehwag said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Despite the setback, Chennai remain in contention for a playoff spot. The five-time champions currently sit on 12 points from 12 matches and still have a path to the knockout stage if they manage to win their remaining two league fixtures. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Vaughan Questions ECB Over Archers Stay Ahead Of Englands Test Summer
New Delhi: Former England captain Michael Vaughan has raised concerns over Englands handling of Jofra Archer ahead of the home Test series against New Zealand, arguing that centrally contracted players should not remain committed to franchise cricket when international duty is around the corner. England begin their summer campaign with the first Test against New Zealand at Lords on June 4, but Archer was not included in the squad announced by the ECB. The fast bowler continues to be managed carefully after a long spell on the sidelines due to injuries, even as he remains involved in the IPL. Vaughan believes the issue extends beyond Archer himself and reflects a broader scheduling and contractual dilemma within English cricket as he questioned the understanding between the ECB and BCCI that has enabled England players to stay for the full IPL season despite the overlap with the Test calendar. Im sure hell be in the squad (for the second Test). It comes midway through June. I think we have a problem in English cricket at the moment because Jofra was obviously staying for the full IPL. Theres some contract that the ECB have done with the BCCI thats allowing all our players to stay for the duration, Vaughan told Cricbuzz. Archers absence has attracted attention, given his record in red-ball cricket, particularly at Lords, where he has previously delivered some of his most memorable performances for England. Vaughan argued that central contracts should carry more weight when national commitments are involved. If thats the case, I have a problem with Englands contracts because Jofra has been looked after by them for a few years now on a very handsome contract. So who holds the key to that? I believe the international contract outweighs any franchise, Vaughan added. The former skipper stressed that he is not against franchise leagues, acknowledging the opportunities they create for players around the world. However, he warned that international cricket risks losing its priority if boards continue allowing scheduling conflicts of this nature. Look, all these franchise leagues are fantastic. I love them for the players. But I do feel that if we start to put domestic leagues over and above a Test match, I think theres a real problem now, he stated. Vaughan also pointed to the difficult balancing act players face when bilateral schedules collide with lucrative T20 competitions. According to him, the ECB must establish clearer priorities regarding player availability. England have got to make a decision because many have spoken out about it in the last week, rightfully so, because we feel that if youre playing for England in your Test match, players should be back home playing for England. Thats what your central contract says you should be doing, he noted. He suggested that if the ECB intends to consistently permit players to complete IPL commitments, Englands domestic international calendar may need to be adjusted accordingly, saying, If there is an agreement that the ECB have done with the BCCI, well, I think youve got to start your Test summer somewhere a little bit later then. Vaughan also framed the debate from the perspective of Englands leadership group, insisting the team should want its strongest attack available from the opening game of the series. He suggested that if the ECB intends to consistently permit players to complete IPL commitments, Englands domestic international calendar may need to be adjusted accordingly, saying, If there is an agreement that the ECB have done with the BCCI, well, I think youve got to start your Test summer somewhere a little bit later then. Also Read: Live Cricket Score For Vaughan, the wider concern lies in preserving the value and standing of Test cricket amid the growing influence of franchise leagues across the calendar, as he said, We want to see our best players playing Test match cricket. Those staying, theyre continuing to play the longest format of the game. I want to see them playing for their country. Article Source: IANS
Litton and Mushfiqur keep Bangladesh on course for big lead
Bangladesh were 249 runs ahead at lunch on the third day with six second-innings wickets still intact
I Doubt He Would Want To Take Such A Risk At This Stage: Gavaskar On Dhonis Return In Chennai
Chennai Super Kings: Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has cast serious doubt over the possibility of MS Dhoni making a surprise return for Chennai Super Kings in their must-win clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday, saying the legendary former captain would not want to take such a risk after being away from competitive cricket for more than a year. Gavaskar said CSKs clash against SRH at Chepauk carries massive importance in the playoff race, but believes Dhoni is unlikely to feature despite fans hoping to see him in the side for the final home game of the season. The match against SRH is a crucial one for CSK. It's their last home game at Chepauk, so naturally fans want to see MS Dhoni play. But he hasn't featured at all this season. In fact, he hasn't played competitive cricket for over a year. So, I doubt he would want to take such a risk at this stage, Gavaskar told JioStar. The former India captain stressed that CSK would need players who are already in rhythm and match-ready during such a crucial stage of the tournament. You need players who have been match-fit and playing regularly for the last six weeks. Dhoni is a complete team-man. I don't think he would want to disrupt the current combination. I would be very surprised if he plays against SRH. This is a must-win game for CSK. A victory keeps them alive in the playoff race. They have to win this match at all costs, and bringing in a player who hasn't played in over a year could be a gamble, he added. Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul top-scored with a composed 56 off 42 balls as Delhi Capitals sealed a thrilling five-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals on Sunday. Gavaskar also strongly criticised Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag for handing the ball to Donovan Ferreira during a key phase of their loss to Delhi Capitals, calling the move suicidal. Handing the ball to Donovan Ferreira to bowl the 18th over was a suicidal move. You are bringing a slow bowler on a pitch offering him no help. He was just bowling in the slot. It was his first over of the match. He had also scored a golden duck with the bat, Gavaskar said. He further questioned the timing of the decision and said RR ignored safer bowling options at a critical moment. Sometimes you must look at where the luck is going that day. If he had scored 40 or 50 runs and was high on confidence, giving him an over would have made sense. But he got out first ball, and you still gave him the ball. He went for 16 runs in that over, and the match was gone. Done and dusted. Riyan Parag could have handed the ball to a proper bowler, a regular bowler. Even if that bowler gave away 20 runs, that's not the point. The point is that at that crucial stage, giving the ball to Donovan Ferreira was a suicidal decision by Rajasthan Royals, he added. The win was built on Mitchell Starc's devastating four-wicket burst in the death overs that had earlier pegged back a marauding RR to 193/8. Gavaskar also praised Mitchell Starc for his game-changing spell in Delhi Capitals victory, particularly his impact at the death despite an expensive start with the new ball. It's not just about how many wickets you take. It's about when you take them. Wickets at key moments change the game, Gavaskar said. Mitchell Starc didn't have a great powerplay. But when he came back at the death, he bowled with great control. He didn't let the Rajasthan batters free their arms. He choked the runs and picked up crucial wickets. Those wickets turned the match in Delhi's favour. Rajasthan looked set to cross 200 easily, but Starc had other plans. They paid the price for underestimating him. His three-wicket over pushed Rajasthan all the way back. On the playoff race, Gavaskar said Punjab Kings still remain firmly in contention despite their defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Mitchell Starc didn't have a great powerplay. But when he came back at the death, he bowled with great control. He didn't let the Rajasthan batters free their arms. He choked the runs and picked up crucial wickets. Those wickets turned the match in Delhi's favour. Rajasthan looked set to cross 200 easily, but Starc had other plans. They paid the price for underestimating him. His three-wicket over pushed Rajasthan all the way back. Also Read: Live Cricket Score They lost this game against Delhi from a winnable position and if Rajasthan keep losing from winning positions, then all Punjab need to do is win their next game. That would take them to 15 points, which might be enough. Yes, Sunrisers are ahead of Punjab, and CSK can still reach 14 or even 16 points. But if CSK lose one match, then Punjab have a very real chance of qualifying. Article Source: IANS
DC's home discomforts: 'We look at this venue as an away venue'
We've many a times not been able to figure out what the surface is like, Hemang Badani says about the pitches at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium
Marcus North Becomes First Overseas England Selector, Eyes Next Ashes Mission
A New Zealand cricketer is the head coach of the England cricket team. Now an Australian cricketer has been appointed England selector. He is the first non-Englishman in the role and one of the tasks he is going to take is to select the England team for the next Ashes. He is 46-year-old, Marcus North, who played 21 Tests for Australia and was in the race for the selectors vacancy. He got the nod over former England cricketers Steven Finn and Darren Gough. Marcus North is not new to English cricket. He played for Gateshead Fell Cricket Club in 2000 and lived in the North East (where he met his English wife). He played for six county cricket clubs, including Durham (others: Lancashire, Derbyshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire and Glamorgan) during his playing career and has been Durhams director of cricket since October 2018. This made his candidature very strong, and he was one of the shortlisted candidates interviewed. Four years ago, he was interviewed for the role of ECBs managing director of mens cricket but was not selected. The job went to Rob Key, with whom he will now work. Once his playing career ended, North became director of cricket at South Northumberland Cricket Club in the Northeast and was then appointed director of cricket at Durham, overseeing both the mens and womens teams. Incidentally, Englands Test captain Ben Stokes plays for Durham and North is credited with the development of several England players, while working closely with Stokes. The vacancy in the selection panel was created when Luke Wright left at the end of the T20 World Cup in February, taking the moral responsibility for Englands poor show. The Durham director of cricket impressed the interview panel with his vision for the betterment of English cricket. Luke Wright was an England selector, whereas Marcus North would occupy a more senior position in the selection panel. He will not serve the six-month notice period with Durham and has been asked to join the other selectors to pick up the squad for the first Test against New Zealand starting from June 4. The English national selector panel at present includes the England director of cricket Rob Key, the head coach Brendon McCullum, the captain (either Ben Stokes or Harry Brook) and the ECBs heads of elite performance and talent identification. North has also worked with the England white-ball captain Harry Brook. At the start of the Hundred, both Yorkshire and Durham were jointly running the Leeds-based franchise and North was taken as director of cricket at Northern Superchargers (now known as Sunrisers Leeds, after investment from SRH) and Brook was playing for them. Former England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was then taken as the Superchargers head coach. Now Flintoff is the head coach of the England Lions and will remain associated with North to oversee the progress of players to the senior level. The record reveals that Marcus North is not the first Australian player to work as an England selector, but he is the first Australian appointed to select the national team. In fact, he is the first man not from these shores to be charged with selecting the national team. Former Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh served as an England selector from 2003-2005, because of his role as director of the National Cricket Academy. During this entire process, Steven Finn (who played with Brendon McCullum at Middlesex) was a prime candidate, but Norths background in administration and association with county cricket, tilted the balance in his favour. Finn is in broadcasting (working for the BBC). North knows the county game inside out. He is the most English of Australians, because of his England experience. Now the most important task ahead for North is proper planning for the next Ashes tour in 2029-30, which may have helped him to overtake the other candidates. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Marcus North played 21 Tests for Australia, between 2009 and 2010, including two Ashes series. He scored five centuries, including a memorable Ashes ton at Headingley (back-to-back returns of 96 and 110 in Birmingham and Leeds) and one in the drawn first Test in Cardiff (unbeaten 125). He averaged 35.48 from his 21 Tests.
IPL 2026: Starc's Over Changed The Result, RR Were At Least 20 Runs Short, Admits Rathour
New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals lead assistant coach Vikram Rathour admitted that Mitchell Starc's devastating 15th over proved to be the turning point of their five-wicket defeat to Delhi Capitals, admitting that the visitors were at least 20 runs short of a competitive total and that poor decisions from the batters cost them the match. Rathour's candid assessment came after RR, well-placed at 160/2 at the start of the 15th over, lost four wickets in a heap to Starc, including three in an over and eventually posted only 193/8, with DC chasing it down with four balls to spare. I completely agree. We were at least 20 runs short, if not more. I thought we were 160 in 14 overs and lost two wickets. From there, we should have got 220. Again losing three wickets in one over doesn't help. So we could have been a bit smarter with our decisions we took in that over. So those are the learnings and in every game, you will make mistakes and the idea is to learn from those mistakes and I hope the next time we are in a similar situation, we get a better result. Again, that over definitely changed the result for us. Obviously he's a world class bowler. He's a world class bowler, but the kind of options we took in that over, were poor. We could have done differently and given ourselves a little more time to get through that over and take the game a little deeper, said Rathour in the post-match press conference. RR had come back to tournament action after another longish break and the result is a big setback to their hopes of entering the playoffs, as they find themselves deeper in the all-familiar second half wobble. Apart from RR batting order imploding in the last six overs and their misfields leaving head coach and director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara angry in the dugout, some of the decision making from RR was perplexing. The decision to draft in batting allrounder Dasun Shanaka as Impact Player raised eyebrows, as it meant they couldnt bring in a frontline bowler - Ravi Bishnoi or Sushant Mishra named in substitutes in the second innings. The absence of veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja further magnified the risk, considering their refurbished bowling line-up came on the back of being expensive in the last few games. After Shanaka made only ten with the bat, RR pressed him into service as the fifth bowler despite not bowling in his previous two outings. To his credit, Shanaka delivered three tidy overs and even took out DCs topscorer KL Rahul. But his limited use left RR short of flexibility in death overs bowling options. With three overs remaining, and Axar Patel and David Miller at the crease, RR turned to parttime offspinner Donovan Ferreira in the 18th over. The gamble backfired as both batters hit a maximum each in a 16run over and swung the momentum firmly in DCs favour. With those calls attracting considerable scrutiny, Rathour explained the chain of events that led to those decisions being taken in the game. The decisions that are made internally, are definitely taken by the captain. He is backing his gut and feeling at that stage. Our initial idea was to take 6 bowlers. But because we lost those wickets too quickly, we had to pick Dasun as an impact player. Otherwise, if the wickets hadn't fallen that much, we had an option to pick some bowler, especially a specialist bowler, maybe in the second innings. But unfortunately, we lost too many wickets in a cluster. So we had to take that option of picking Dasun. Again, the decisions that are made internally, are obviously taken by the captain. Obviously, there are some plans already, which are discussed outside with the analyst and the coach. But inside, at that point of the time, it's captains who take the call, he said. Rathour also acknowledged that captain Riyan Parag's hamstring niggle may have been a factor in him not opting to bowl. Parag had missed the clash against Gujarat Titans in Jaipur due to the same injury and needed treatment for it while making 51. Yes, of course (he could have bowled). But he is struggling again. Riyan is also having a niggle with his hamstring. So I am not sure how comfortable he was bowling. But it was an option, a chance he took, which didn't go our way, he said. On Jadejas absence, where Parag said load management resulted in him not playing Sundays game, Rathour said the team was being cautious with the all-rounder due to a knee niggle. He just had some niggle in his knee, I think. They are just trying to manage that. They felt that if we give him one more game break, it will be good for him. That was the reason he was rested. He is just dealing with some niggle. Before it all unravelled for RR, they were in control for the first 14 overs and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi treated fans to well-timed and powerful boundaries in his 21-ball 46, before falling to a slower delivery from Madhav Tiwari. With him struggling against slower deliveries and being dismissed off it before, Rathour denied on it being a chink in the teenaged openers armour. See, nobody is perfect in this world. Everybody will have some weakness here and there. I don't think slow ball is a weakness with Vaibhav. I will want bowlers to try that. On a wicket like this, where the ball is gripping a bit, change of pace is good against anybody. It's not only Vaibhav - I think he's a special player and enough has been said about his ability and how good he is. So, again, he's provided us a really good start, looking at the surface again. So, I just hope he converts one inning and goes deeper. The way he's batting, the way he prepares, I'm sure that's not too far off. We'll see one of those innings which he'll really convert and play a big knock. But otherwise, we are pretty happy with the way he's batting and we want him to bat that way.Different players will bat differently. Anybody can succeed. You need to identify and know your strengths. If you back your strengths and play to your strengths, you can score runs. Dhruv need not bat like Vaibhav and Vaibhav shouldn't look to bat like Dhruv. They have their own strengths. They have their own ways of scoring runs. If they keep backing that and keep believing in their ability, they can succeed easily. You have seen that happening. Somebody like Virat, who is still extremely successful, even in this format. I wouldn't call him an out-and-out power-hitting player. That tells you that there is scope for everybody to succeed, provided you have belief in your abilities. If you can commit to whatever options you take while you are batting and back yourself, he elaborated. Despite the defeat leaving sixth-placed RR in a tight spot in the race to playoffs, Rathour insisted the side still has full belief in their ability to qualify for the last four stage, though a lot will also depend on them taking better calls tactically. Somebody like Virat, who is still extremely successful, even in this format. I wouldn't call him an out-and-out power-hitting player. That tells you that there is scope for everybody to succeed, provided you have belief in your abilities. If you can commit to whatever options you take while you are batting and back yourself, he elaborated. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Our belief is that if we are playing to our potential, we can defeat any team. That is the mindset and we need to turn up and play our best cricket. If we play, we have the belief in the group that we will win. Article Source: IANS
Badani on Starc: 'His work ethic, his preparation, his training are above par'
Air speed is equally important [as reverse swing], Sanjay Bangar says of Mitchell Starc's three-wicket over against Rajasthan Royals
IPL 2026: DC Were Unable To Figure Out What The Surfaces At Home Were Like, Admits Badani
Arun Jaitley Stadium: Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani has conceded that the pitches at their home venue Arun Jaitley Stadium consistently worked against his team's strengths, saying the side were unable to figure out the nature of surfaces at their home ground through much of the IPL 2026 season. Though DC enthralled 31,200 fans with a five-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals, they managed to get only two wins from seven home matches this season. Its something which also proved to be their undoing in the 2025 edition of the competition, where they got only one win out of five games in New Delhi. I think if you go back and see, if you are able to break the season into two halves about whats happened at home and whats happened away, we have had four wins in six games away and we have primarily struggled at home. We have literally had our second win at home this year and if I had to speak of whats happened from last year, we have had five at this venue plus we have had seven now, which is 12 games and we have only had three wins and one of them being a Super Over. That pretty much tells you how the surface has been for us. It hasnt been conducive to our style of play. We've, at many times, not been able to figure out what the surface is like. That's the reason why you see those results and those numbers, Badani told reporters after DC's five-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals. He also used Sundays game as an example of how DC had to adapt on the fly to close their home leg on a high. Speaking of this game, I think even if you look at their innings, they were 160 for two, and then they hardly got runs in the end. I think they got about 33 in the last six and picked up eight wickets. The same happened to us where we slowed down a little bit. But we were cautious because we had a scoreboard available to us. They had to set a target. We were just looking to create the game, because the ball was starting to do reverse and holding a bit on the surface. It wasn't easy to bat once the ball got older. Hence, we've said, take the game deep, go hard at the top, but take the game deep in the end. Highlighting the complicated relationship with their home venue, where their loss percentage stands an inexplicable 71.4 percent, Badani further talked about how the DC camp has even stopped talking about how conditions at Kotla would pan out, just like how Axar Patel said during toss time. Literally the same with me. We've stopped discussing the surface. We play this venue as another venue. You generally would ideally look at the grass that's available on the surface, the texture and color of the surface. But each time we've turned up here, we've got something very different. So, it is what it is. We accept it and we move on. It should at least be where you know what youre expecting. Here we didnt know what this surface was going to do to us. One match were out on 60, another on 150, another on 260. So we dont know how to consistently play pitch No. 4, No. 5, No. 6. Weve played on three surfaces and if you look at the numbers of all three, youll think its 19-20. So that is difficult for you to prepare. We know that if pitch No. 5 is a 180 pitch, pitch No. 6 is a 200 pitch, pitch No. 4 is a 250 pitch, then you structure the side accordingly. You structure your 11 and 12 accordingly. But here, its just going on and we had stopped discussing the surface. We play this venue as an away venue. You generally would ideally look at the grass thats available on the surface, the texture of the surface, the colour of the surface, but each time weve turned up here weve got something very different, elaborated Badani. Sundays game was also an instance of bowling and batting performances clicking collectively for DC, who still have a very small chance of entering the playoffs. Mitchell Starcs four-fer was complemented by the opening pair of KL Rahul and Abishek Porel showcasing glittering strokeplay to be 72/0 in power-play - DC's best batting powerplay returns in the season. Eventually, Rahul and Potel had a superb 105-run opening partnership, making it DCs second 100-plus opening stand of the season. Co-incidentally, both century-plus stands of DCs opening pair have come against RR. On DC frequently rotating opening combinations through the season, where they also tried Pathum Nissanka and Sahil Parakh, Badani said decisions of that nature always appeared far easier in hindsight than they were at the time of making. I think the way I see it is, hindsight is a beautiful thing. To think of everything once everything is done, its like wow, its like Eureka, we know whats happening. But youre obviously trying to figure out something to start with. If you go back to our season in 2025, our issues were up top. On DC frequently rotating opening combinations through the season, where they also tried Pathum Nissanka and Sahil Parakh, Badani said decisions of that nature always appeared far easier in hindsight than they were at the time of making. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But I would ideally say that Pathum did give us something. Hes given us 40s, 50s, 60s. Yes, I could be greedy and say maybe Pathum could have given me a game of 80 or 100, but I think hes not done badly. Its more the case now with Abishek Porel giving us a 100 partnership, which has happened later through the season. But this is a very easy conversation to have right now. So it is what it is. We accept it and we move on, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: Starc Is One Of The Best Role Models In The Sport, Says DC Coach Badani
Impact Player Dasun Shanaka: Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani has termed Mitchell Starc as one of the best role models in cricket, saying the Australian left-arm fast bowler's influence on younger players in the dressing room is as valuable as his match-winning performances on the field. Badani's tribute came on the back of Starc picking a devastating four-wicket haul that wrecked RRs' innings in the death overs and set the base for DC to clinch a five-wicket victory at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday night. Despite being well-placed at 160/2 in 14 overs, RR fell seven runs short of touching 200, thanks to Starcs mastery slicing through their batting order and leaving them with no ammunition for a blazing finishing touch, as only 33 runs came off the final six overs. I think Mitch is somebody, I don't even know where to start. I think he's possibly one of the best role models anyone can have in sport. His work ethic to himself, his preparation before the game, with his own plans and his training is above par. I don't even see that with a lot of the younger boys. That's the reason why he's sustained for so long. If you go back and see the recent Ashes series, he single-handedly won them the Ashes. There was no Pat Cummins, there was no Josh Hazlewood. That pretty much tells you what that man can do, Badani said in the post-match press conference. On a pitch providing slight grip and used previously when Punjab Kings hunted down 265 last month, Starc endured a costly start, conceding 28 runs without success in his first two overs. But when skipper Axar Patel brought him back to bowl the 15th over, Starc turned the tide in dramatic fashion, giving away just 12 runs while claiming four wickets in his final two overs to dismantle RR. What really changed was Starc making subtle changes in pace, using more of slower balls, including some of them reversing a little, and combined with his pin-point accuracy, he becomes a bowler whos really hard to be dispatched to boundary ropes. Starc first removed Riyan Parag, who hit his fastest IPL fifty, with a slower ball which he mistimed to long-on. Donovan Ferreira was out for a duck on the very next delivery, again caught at long-on - though it was off a pace-on delivery. After Ravi Singh flicked the hat-trick ball for four, Starc bowled another slower ball to trap him lbw, which DRS also confirmed. Starc then picked out Impact Player Dasun Shanaka with a low full toss at 142 kmph coming from around the wicket to complete his fourwicket haul and derail RRs batting machinery by producing the best figures for any DC bowler this season. Speaking of the kind of work that he puts in with the younger lads, he's always talking to them, he's always trying to pass on the knowledge, how can you do reverse swing, how do I hold lengths, what do I do when a certain batter is going hard, do I look to pick wickets, do I look to try and be submissive and be defensive. There's immense conversation that Starcy brings to the table. I think, as I said earlier, being slightly repetitive, massive role model, added Badani. Sundays game wasnt the first time Starc repeatedly tilted contests against RR in DCs favour. On May 1 in Jaipur, the leftarm pacer marked his return to IPL 2026 with figures of 3-40. His influence was even more telling in last seasons encounter in New Delhi, where he nailed his yorkers and secured an unlikely victory for DC in the Super Over. Lamenting Starc's absence for a significant portion of the season due to shoulder and elbow injuries, Badani said the situation was such that no franchise coach had any real power to change. Ideally, I would want my players to be available to me from day one. Starc is probably one of my biggest players in my squad, and we've invested in him, and we know that he's a match winner. But if there are certain things which are above my pay grade, and then certain things that are decided by associations and governing bodies, there's very little that we can do. Because if Cricket Australia does not release him, which was also the case with Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, there's little a coach or any franchise can do about that. Hopefully we have a solution to it in the future, he added. Badani also made a special mention of seam-bowling all-rounder Madhav Tiwari, who foxed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shubham Dubey with slower balls. Tiwaris inclusion came in Dharamshala, where he shined with both bat and ball as DCs bid to inject fresh blood paid off in a win. I think if I remember correctly about what was spoken of him was that he was somebody who liked the pressure, somebody who could bat, hit a long ball, and at the same time, somebody who could bowl through all three phases. If required, he could even bowl in the power play, which you haven't seen much of it yet. Badani also made a special mention of seam-bowling all-rounder Madhav Tiwari, who foxed Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shubham Dubey with slower balls. Tiwaris inclusion came in Dharamshala, where he shined with both bat and ball as DCs bid to inject fresh blood paid off in a win. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We just felt that we needed fresh minds, fresh legs. A couple of our senior players, unfortunately, haven't had the run that they would have. We would have ideally liked them to have. Hence we felt that it's maybe time for us to try and switch to the younger boys and we've been blessed with a couple of good wins, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Bhuvneshwar stretches Purple Cap lead; Kohli, Rahul move up on Orange Cap table
It was a day with two matches at IPL 2026, and that meant some of the star performers of the season made big moves up the Orange and Purple Cap tables
Mahmudul Hasan Joy Fifty Puts Bangladesh in Control Against Pakistan in 2nd Test
Opener Mahmudul Hasan Joy struck a fluent half-century after the bowlers dominated to put Bangladesh firmly in command of the second Test against Pakistan on Sunday. Bangladesh, who lead the two-match series 1-0, closed day two on 110-3 in their second innings, leading by 156 runs in Sylhet. Joy, who fell for a duck in the first innings, responded with 52 off 64 balls before falling to pace bowler Mohammad Abbas. Tanzid Hasan fell cheaply for four off quick bowler Khurram Shahzad, who later took down Mominul Haque for 30 in the final over of the day, while captain Najmul Hossain Shanto remained unbeaten on 13. Earlier, left-arm spinner Taijul Islam and speedster Nahid Rana took three wickets each to bowl Pakistan out for 232, giving Bangladesh a 46-run first innings lead. Babar Azam's 68, which included 10 fours, was the only significant resistance from the visitors. Pace spearhead Taskin Ahmed removed overnight openers Abdullah Fazal and Azan Awais early and spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissed skipper Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel before lunch. Rana and Taijul shared the remaining six wickets in the afternoon session. Pakistan's Azam acknowledged the damage done by his dismissal. The turning point is my wicket and Salman Ali Agha's wicket -- after that we did not build any partnerships. These two dismissals changed the momentum, said Azam. Rana, who has now dismissed Azam three times in three Test matches, said any opposition hostility at him would be at their own peril. I don't know if they will think twice about bowling bouncers at me but I can say this much -- if anyone bounces me, I will not let them off easily, the 23-year-old Rana said. Rana was also bullish about Bangladesh's prospects heading into day three. There is no specific target like 200, 250 or 300. We have a lot of time -- three days still remain. We will try to bat the full day tomorrow, he said. Bangladesh's dominant position was built on Litton Das's extraordinary rescue act on Saturday. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Walking in at 106-4 -- a position that deteriorated to 116-6, Litton struck 16 fours and two sixes in his 126 to steer Bangladesh to 278 all out.
Axar, Ashutosh, Starc keep Delhi Capitals' playoffs hopes alive
RR looked set for a 220 total at one point but Starc's three wickets in the 15th over derailed them
Bancroft battles as low-scoring thriller heads for fourth-day climax
Northants five-down overnight after being set victory target of 249
Impact Player Dasun Shanaka: Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul top-scored with a composed 56 off 42 balls as Delhi Capitals sealed a thrilling five-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Sunday. The win was built on Mitchell Starc's devastating four-wicket burst in the death overs that had earlier pegged back a marauding RR to 193/8. Rahul anchored the chase with his characteristic calmness, while sharing a key 105-run partnership with Abishek Porel, who hit 51 off 31 balls. Ashutosh Sharma then stepped in late as the impact player to steer DC home via an unbeaten five-ball 18, as it proved to be a tense, see-saw contest that swung repeatedly before the hosts finally held their nerve. By completing the chase with four balls to spare, DC signed off from their home fixtures on a high, as they climbed from eighth to seventh place in the IPL 2026 standings and kept their slim playoff hopes alive. It was a contest that swung repeatedly - RR blazing to 160/2 before losing six wickets for 33 in the last six overs, DC cruising to 130/2 before their own wobble in the middle. Eventually, the hosts finally held their nerve in a finish that had the Arun Jaitley crowd on the edge of their seats till the very last over. Starc had been profligate in his opening two overs, leaking 28 runs, but returned to rip through RR's middle and lower order in his final two, conceding just 12 more while claiming all four wickets. Slower balls, changed pace, varied angles - the Australian left-armer used every weapon in his armoury to trigger a collapse that left RR well short of the 220-plus total they had threatened. Before Starcs squeeze, it was Riyan Parag who seized the moment when RR needed it most, walking in after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi enthralled 31, 200 fans by hitting a blistering 21-ball 46. After Sooryavanshi fell, Parag needed no time to settle in and was right on the money from the get-go. In the first 19 balls he faced, he hit five sixes and a four off Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar in a spell of clean, muscular hitting that left the DC bowling attack rattled. But before Parag took centre stage via his 51 and Dhurv Jurel smashed 53, it was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who set the tone. The teenage opener began by pulling Ngidi over deep square-leg for a six. From the other end, Yashasvi Jaiswal got off to a flying start by hitting Mitchell Starc for three boundaries in the opening over, with a crisp cover drive being the standout stroke. Though Jaiswal eventually fell to Ngidi - a sharp outside edge off a slower ball pouched by the tall Starc at short third man, Sooryavanshi cut loose by edging and pulling him for a four and six, before carting debutant off-spin bowling all-rounder Tripurana Vijay for back-to-back fours through cover region and swivelling him for another maximum. It also helped RR that DC were sloppy in catching Dhruv Jurel was given an early reprieve by KL Rahul, while Sameer Rizvi dropped a chance of Sooryavanshi at long-on. When Parag was on six, a short ball looped to Tristan Stubbs at long-on, who appeared to complete the catch running to his left. But replays showed his fingers were not beneath the ball as it grazed the ground, giving Parag a lucky reprieve. Jurel found his boundary-hitting rhythm by clobbering an erratic Mukesh Kumar for two fours and a six in the last over of power-play, as 17 runs came off it. Madhav Tiwaris introduction worked wonders for DC as Sooryavanshi couldnt pick the slower ball and was caught by diving long-on. At 92/2 in eight overs, Parag made his intentions clear to go after the DC bowlers. He hit Axar over midwicket and then launched him way beyond long-on to pick a brace of sixes. In the next over, he went berserk against Mukesh a pull over deep mid-wicket was followed by an uppish smash over extra cover for four, before using his strong forearms to pummel the pacer over long-on for consecutive maximums. After Jurel hit Tiwari for two fours to bring up RRs 150 in 13 overs, Parah brought up his fifty off 23 balls and got a bear hug from Jurel. But after that, DC clawed back in the 15th over - Starc first deceived Parag with a slower ball and the batter only managed a toeend to diving long-on. Starc struck again when Donovan Ferreira mistimed a heave to long-on and fell for a golden duck, before debutant Ravi Singh was trapped plumb lbw with a slower delivery, as RR burnt a review. RRs horrible wobble continued - Tiwari had Shubham Dubey mistiming a heave to deep backward square leg, while Starc forced Impact Player Dasun Shanaka to slice to long-off, and Jurel, after reaching his fourth fifty of the season, was trapped lbw by a slower ball from Ngidi, as DC applied the choke on RR. Chasing 194, Rahul had not even settled at the crease when fortune intervened, as Yash Raj Punja dropped him at short fine leg off Jofra Archer, apart from an overthrow giving DC four extra runs. Keeping all that aside, Rahul and Porel set about dismantling the RR bowling attack with a combination of audacity and intent, as DC reached fifty in just four overs. Porel, the aggressor from the outset, drove and whipped Archer for a four and six, before ramping, cutting, pulling, and punching Brijesh Sharma for four boundaries. Rahul, meanwhile, was doing what he does best - rotating strike and hitting boundaries off loose balls with surgical precision. When Adam Milne dropped short in the fifth over, he rocked back and smoked a pull flat over deep mid-wicket for six. The hundred of the opening pair DCs second 100-plus opening stand of IPL 2026 and both coming versus RR - arrived in the ninth over when Rahul pumped Punja straight over the sight screen for six. Porel brought up his fifty off 30 balls before holing out to long-on off a slower ball from Brijesh in the 11th over, even as an unperturbed Rahul reached his fifty in the 12th over off 34 balls. RRs move to bring back Archer for his third over worked well when he drew a rash drive from Sahil Parakh, and a thick outside edge was comfortably caught by Dhruv Jurel. Dasun Shanaka dealt a huge blow to DC when Rahul attempted to punch off his slower delivery, but chopped on to his stumps without any footwork. The pressure of asking rate going past ten brought out sloppy misfields from RR, but it consumed Tristan Stubbs, who shaped for a pre-mediated scoop, but was caught by a sprinting deep backward square leg. But some respite came for DC Axar Patel sliced Archer for four, followed by him and David Miller lofting Donovan Ferreira for a six each. With 19 runs needed off 12 balls, a twist came when Miller pulled to deep mid-wicket off a slower ball from Brijesh. But with ones and twos coming in, including a wide, Ashutosh diffused tension by heaving Brijesh for six, before RR missed a run-out chance. With seven runs needed off the final over, RR were charged with an over-rate penalty, and as they were allowed only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle, Ashutosh drove Milne down the ground for four, before pulling over deep mid-wicket for six to seal the chase in style for DC. With 19 runs needed off 12 balls, a twist came when Miller pulled to deep mid-wicket off a slower ball from Brijesh. But with ones and twos coming in, including a wide, Ashutosh diffused tension by heaving Brijesh for six, before RR missed a run-out chance. Also Read: Live Cricket Score --IANS Article Source: IANS
Bamber battles for Bears but Glamorgan remain in charge
Ingram's unbeaten 80 papers over top-order collapse as visitors seek to drive home advantage
Hill four-for forces Surrey follow-on before Brook shines with ball
Jamie Smith bowled by his England team-mate as Yorkshire take strong grip on game
Hughes stays fluent as Sussex pray for rain
Second century of season spares team's blushes but weather could have final say
IPL 2026: Rahul, Porel, Ashutosh Help DC Hunt Down 194, Beat RR By Five Wickets
Indian Premier League: Wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul top-scored with a composed 56 off 42 balls as Delhi Capitals sealed a thrilling five-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium here on Sunday. The win has lifted DC from eighth to seventh place in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 standings, as they signed off from their home fixtures in IPL 2026 on a high. After Mitchell Starcs 4-40 kept a marauding RR to 193/8, Rahul anchored the chase with his characteristic calmness, while sharing a key 105-run partnership with Abishek Porel, who hit 51 off 31 balls. Ashutosh Sharma then stepped in late as the impact player to steer DC home via an unbeaten five-ball 18, as it proved to be a tense, see-saw contest that swung repeatedly before the hosts finally held their nerve and completed the chase with four balls to spare, and kept their slim playoffs hopes alive. Chasing 194, Rahul had not even settled at the crease when fortune intervened, as Yash Raj Punja dropped him at short fine leg off Jofra Archer, apart from an overthrow giving DC four extra runs. Keeping all that aside, Rahul and Porel set about dismantling the RR bowling attack with a combination of audacity and intent, as DC reached fifty in just four overs. Porel, the aggressor from the outset, drove and whipped Archer for a four and six, before ramping, cutting, pulling, and punching Brijesh Sharma for four boundaries. Rahul, meanwhile, was doing what he does best - rotating strike and hitting boundaries off loose balls with surgical precision. When Adam Milne dropped short in the fifth over, he rocked back and smoked a pull flat over deep mid-wicket for six. The hundred of the opening pair DCs second 100-plus opening stand of IPL 2026 and both coming versus RR - arrived in the ninth over when Rahul pumped Punja straight over the sight screen for six. Porel brought up his fifty off 30 balls before holing out to long-on off a slower ball from Brijesh in the 11th over, even as an unperturbed Rahul reached his fifty in the 12th over off 34 balls. RRs move to bring back Archer for his third over worked well when he drew a rash drive from Sahil Parakh, and a thick outside edge was comfortably caught by Dhruv Jurel. Dasun Shanaka dealt a huge blow to DC when Rahul attempted to punch off his slower delivery, but chopped on to his stumps without any footwork. The pressure of the asking rate going past ten brought out sloppy misfields from RR, but it consumed Tristan Stubbs, who shaped for a pre-mediated scoop, but was caught by a sprinting deep backward square leg. But some respite came for DC Axar Patel sliced Archer for four, followed by him and David Miller lofting Donovan Ferreira for a six each. With 19 runs needed off 12 balls, a twist came when Miller pulled to deep mid-wicket off a slower ball from Brijesh. But with ones and twos coming in, including a wide, Ashutosh diffused tension by heaving Brijesh for six, before RR missed a run-out chance. With seven runs needed off the final over, RR were charged with an over-rate penalty, and as they were allowed only four fielders outside the 30-yard circle, Ashutosh drove Milne down the ground for four, before pulling over deep mid-wicket for six to seal the chase in style for DC. With 19 runs needed off 12 balls, a twist came when Miller pulled to deep mid-wicket off a slower ball from Brijesh. But with ones and twos coming in, including a wide, Ashutosh diffused tension by heaving Brijesh for six, before RR missed a run-out chance. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Rajasthan Royals 193/8 in 20 overs (Dhruv Kurel 53, Riyan Parag 51; Mitchell Starc 4-40, Lungi Ngidi 2-24) lost to Delhi Capitals 197/5 in 19.2 overs (KL Rahul 56, Abishek Porel 51; Jofra Archer 2-35, Brijesh Sharma 2-44) by five wickets Article Source: IANS
IPL 2026: It's Frustrating, But There's Still Hope, Says PBKS's James Hopes After RCB Defeat
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: A sixth successive defeat after six wins and one abandoned match has left Punjab Kings in a dire situation in the Indian Premier League as they go through a terrible run of defeats, but Fast bowling coach James Hopes said there's still hope and they need to turn it around in their last match. Punjab Kings are on 13 points from 13 matches and could have done their chances a world of good if they had defeated Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday. However, they lost by 23 runs chasing a massive total of 223. Yeah, it's frustrating, to be honest. Yeah, we are staring it (elimination) in the face now. There's still hope, but we need to turn it around. We need to tidy up some areas, said Hopes in the post-match press conference on Sunday. Talking about Sunday's match against RCB, Hopes said they were always chasing their tail in the match. Today, once again, I felt like we were always chasing our tail, with the ball, not creating enough opportunities early. We controlled the Power-play pretty well, but every time we'd get back the momentum, they'd have a big over, they'd get back on top. And then in the chase, we sort of got going, but then, yeah, it just petered out, said Hopes. The PBKS fast bowling coach said they lost too many wickets early on. We lost too many wickets early, but it was just...Tonight's game, the way we lost was less frustrating than the other games, to be honest. But, yeah, it was just another disappointing night. He disagreed with the notion that, because of the high-scoring wins in the first half of the tournament, PBKS have gone into defensive mode and are finding it difficult to come out of it. He admitted they missed a few opportunities in the field and though they gave away 20-odd extra runs, allowing RCB to put up a challenging total. About the road ahead for them, the Aussie bowling coach said, Defending a massive total of 222/4, RCB produced a disciplined bowling effort led by Rasikh Salam Dar, who claimed three wickets, to restrict Punjab Kings to 199/8 despite a fighting half-century from Shashank Singh. The victory helped RCB move to 18 points from 13 matches and secure a place in the playoffs. We have a week now where, hopefully, a few results go our way, and we're playing again in the finals next weekend. But the boys have got to regroup, and they've got to stay positive, and they've got to believe, if we have an opportunity to make the finals, that we can make some noise if we get in there. About the road ahead for them, the Aussie bowling coach said, Defending a massive total of 222/4, RCB produced a disciplined bowling effort led by Rasikh Salam Dar, who claimed three wickets, to restrict Punjab Kings to 199/8 despite a fighting half-century from Shashank Singh. The victory helped RCB move to 18 points from 13 matches and secure a place in the playoffs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Defending a massive total of 222/4, RCB produced a disciplined bowling effort led by Rasikh Salam Dar, who claimed three wickets, to restrict Punjab Kings to 199/8 despite a fighting half-century from Shashank Singh. The victory helped RCB move to 18 points from 13 matches and secure a place in the playoffs. Article Source: IANS
Sonny Baker marks Test call with five-for but Hampshire still in trouble
Home side lose four second-innings wickets to lead by just 67, despite fightback with ball
Sam Cook, Shane Snater lead Leicestershire demolition job
Visitors capitulate for 60 in second innings as Essex claim third win of season
Du Plooy, Falconer hold up Derbyshire's victory push
Century stand from fourth-wicket pair moves Middlesex into credit but hopes of saving game remain slim
Stokes makes do with net practice as rain prevents play at Beckenham
Water under the covers leaves England captain waiting on time in the middle
CSK's playoff hopes on the line against SRH in Chennai
The match is also Dhoni's last chance of playing at Chepauk in IPL 2026
IPL 2026: The Wicket Was Gripping, Thought I Can Use More Of Slower Balls, Says DC's Madhav Tiwari
Impact Player Dasun Shanaka: Young seam-bowling all-rounder Madhav Tiwari credited the gripping nature of the wicket for his success with slower balls, as Delhi Capitals pulled off a stirring fightback with the ball to keep Rajasthan Royals to 193/8 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. At 160/2 after 14 overs, the Royals appeared set for a massive total. But the momentum shifted after a brief stoppage for medical attention to Riyan Parag, who hit a 23-ball fifty. Axar Patel recalled Starc, who had gone for 28 in his first two overs, and the Australian responded with a decisive 15th over, removing Parag, Donovan Ferreira, and Ravi Singh, before taking out Impact Player Dasun Shanaka to pick 4-40. Tiwari, who impressed with both bat and ball on debut against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala, once again stood out by dismissing a marauding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shubham Dubey. Coming into this IPL season, I just thought that I'm gonna take in four or five variations with me and I'm gonna back them throughout the season. So, I have been working on them, and hopefully, the results are helping in my favor. Tiwari, who impressed with both bat and ball on debut against Punjab Kings in Dharamshala, once again stood out by dismissing a marauding Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shubham Dubey. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Lungi Ngidi closed out the innings with clever variations, as RR eventually made 193/8, after losing six wickets for 33 runs in the last six overs. I don't know. I have to ask them, said Tiwari, when asked about his familys reaction, before adding that DC can chase down the target and aim to end their home leg on a high. I think we'll get it. Article Source: IANS
BCB elections to elect new president to be held on June 7
Former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal is the current BCB president
IPL 2026: Starcs Four-fer Leads DCs Fightback, Keeps RR To 193/8 Despite Fifties From Jurel, Parag
Impact Player Dasun Shanaka: Mitchell Starc turned the match on its head with a devastating four-wicket burst in the death overs as Delhi Capitals restricted Rajasthan Royals to 193/8 in 20 overs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, despite half-centuries from Dhruv Jurel and skipper Riyan Parag threatening to get the game in favour of the hosts. Starc had leaked 28 runs in his first two overs, but returned to rip through the RR middle and lower order in his final two overs - conceding just 12 more runs while claiming all four wickets - to trigger a stunning collapse that saw RR lose six wickets for 33 runs in the last six overs after appearing set for a posting a total well above 220. At 160/2 in the 14th over, RR were seemingly cruising with Parag hitting 51 - his fastest in the IPL. But Starc used slower balls well, changed his pace and angles with accuracy, and coupled with Lungi Ngidis pace-off balls meant RR fell in a heap, despite Jurel hitting 53, as DC clawed their way back into the contest. Before Starcs squeeze, it was Parag who seized the moment when RR needed it most, walking in after Vaibhav Sooryavanshi enthralled 31, 200 fans by hitting a blistering 21-ball 46. After Sooryavanshi fell, Parag needed no time to settle in and was right on the money from the get-go. In the first 19 balls he faced, he hit five sixes and a four off Axar Patel and Mukesh Kumar in a spell of clean, muscular hitting that left the DC bowling attack rattled. But before Parag took centre stage, it was Sooryavanshi who set the tone. The teenage opener began by pulling Ngidi over deep square-leg for a six. From the other end, Yashasvi Jaiswal got off to a flying start by hitting Mitchell Starc for three boundaries in the opening over, with a crisp cover drive being the standout stroke. Though Jaiswal eventually fell to Ngidi - a sharp outside edge off a slower ball pouched by the tall Starc at short third man, Sooryavanshi cut loose by edging and pulling him for a four and six, before carting debutant off-spin bowling all-rounder Tripurana Vijay for back-to-back fours through cover region and swivelling him for another maximum. It also helped RR that DC were sloppy in catching Dhruv Jurel was given an early reprieve by KL Rahul, while Sameer Rizvi dropped a chance of Sooryavanshi at long-on. When Parag was on six, a short ball looped to Tristan Stubbs at long-on, who appeared to complete the catch running to his left. But replays showed his fingers were not beneath the ball as it grazed the ground, giving Parag a lucky reprieve. Jurel found his boundary-hitting rhythm by clobbering an erratic Mukesh Kumar for two fours and a six in the last over of power-play, as 17 runs came off it. Madhav Tiwaris introduction worked wonders for DC as Sooryavanshi couldnt pick the slower ball and was caught by diving long-on. At 92/2 in eight overs, Parag made his intentions clear to go after the DC bowlers. He hit Axar over midwicket and then launched him way beyond long-on to pick a brace of sixes. In the next over, he went berserk against Mukesh a pull over deep mid-wicket was followed by an uppish smash over extra cover for four, before using his strong forearms to pummel the pacer over long-on for consecutive maximums. After Jurel hit Tiwari for two fours to bring up RRs 150 in 13 overs, Parah brought up his fifty off 23 balls and got a bear hug from Jurel. But after that, DC clawed back in the 15th over - Starc first deceived Parag with a slower ball and the batter only managed a toeend to diving long-on. Starc struck again when Donovan Ferreira mistimed a heave to long-on and fell for a golden duck, before debutant Ravi Singh was trapped plumb lbw with a slower delivery, as RR burnt a review. RRs horrible wobble continued - Tiwari had Shubham Dubey mistiming a heave to deep backward square leg, while Starc forced Impact Player Dasun Shanaka to slice to long-off, and Jurel, after reaching his fourth fifty of the season, was trapped lbw by a slower ball from Ngidi, as DC applied the choke on RR. Starc struck again when Donovan Ferreira mistimed a heave to long-on and fell for a golden duck, before debutant Ravi Singh was trapped plumb lbw with a slower delivery, as RR burnt a review. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Rajasthan Royals 193/8 in 20 overs (Dhruv Jurel 53, Riyan Parag 51; Mitchell Starc 4-40, Lungi Ngidi 2-24) against Delhi Capitals Article Source: IANS
Venkatesh Iyer: 'I'd lie if I say I was not frustrated'
He scored an unbeaten 40-ball 73 against PBKS as RCB became the first team to secure their playoffs spot
Indian Men Win Silver, Women Finish Fourth At Inaugural CASA Rugby 7s 2026
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium: Indias senior mens team secured the silver medal while the senior womens team finished fourth in the inaugural CASA Rugby 7s 2026 held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, marking a positive start to the international season for Rugby India. RCB produced a dominant all-round performance at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium on Sunday, posting a massive 222/4 before restricting Punjab Kings to 199/8 despite a late fightback from Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis. Jitesh, who led the side in the absence of regular captain Rajat Patidar, said the team always felt in control because they had a clear idea of how the pitch was behaving after batting first. We were not under pressure, frankly speaking. We were in control. We know what we want to do on this wicket because we batted on that, and the batters had given very good feedback on what was working on that wicket, Jitesh said after the match. RCBs batting unit laid the foundation for the victory through Virat Kohlis 58, Devdutt Padikkals quickfire 45, and an unbeaten 73 from Venkatesh Iyer. The side accelerated strongly in the second half of the innings to cross the 220-run mark. Jitesh explained that the team used the information from the first innings to plan specifically against Punjab Kings key batters and execute accordingly with the ball. So we planned particularly for particular batsmen, and we were executing that properly, he added. Jitesh also credited the experienced players in the RCB squad for supporting him during his captaincy stint and said it had been a valuable learning experience. We are privileged that they are playing for RCB, and with that, I have so many senior players to guide me in the centre when Im doing captaincy for those bowlers. I think thats great. Its a great experience to play with those boys, he said. The wicketkeeper-batter confirmed that Rajat Patidar is expected to return as captain for the next game, while reiterating that RCBs focus remains on taking one match at a time despite sealing a playoff berth. My actual skipper is doing really well. Hes going to captain the next game. I think our RCB motto is very simple, one game at a time, he said. We are not thinking ahead or anything. We just want to play our best cricket in every match, thats it, he added. My actual skipper is doing really well. Hes going to captain the next game. I think our RCB motto is very simple, one game at a time, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Although Shashank Singh smashed a rapid 56 off 27 deliveries and Marcus Stoinis contributed 37 off 25 balls, RCBs bowlers held their nerve in the closing stages. Rasikh finished with three wickets, while Bhuvneshwar and Josh Hazlewood delivered crucial breakthroughs. Article Source: IANS
Spencer Johnson: I feel like I'm going to get better and faster
The Australian quick had not played competitive cricket between IPL 2025 and IPL 2026, but bowled with express pace on his CSK debut against LSG
IPL 2026: The Match Was Lost In The Powerplay, Says Iyer After PBKS's Defeat To RCB
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium: Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer admitted that his side lost the match in the power-play after suffering a 23-run defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their IPL 2026 clash in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Sunday. Chasing a massive target of 223, Punjab Kings were rocked early as Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, and Shreyas himself were dismissed cheaply inside the first three overs. The early collapse left the hosts struggling at 19/3, making the chase difficult despite a spirited fightback later in the innings. Obviously, they got off to a great start and then started taking on the bowlers right after the power play. I think getting to 222 was a commendable performance, and we werent able to take wickets in the bowling that much, but yeah, I think the match was lost in the powerplay, Iyer said after the game. Punjab Kings eventually finished at 199/8 despite aggressive knocks from Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis. Shashank smashed 56 off just 27 deliveries while Stoinis contributed 37 off 25 balls, but the required run rate proved too steep after the early damage. Reflecting on the difficult chase, Shreyas pointed to the absence of strong starts from openers Arya and Prabhsimran, both of whom had been among the teams most consistent performers this season. Absolutely. We were three down, and the majority of our run scorers were Prabhsimran and Priyansh. The starts they used to give us in the power play, obviously, we couldnt get this time, and also me coming in and getting out early, he said. Really disappointed, but commendable performance by Shashank and Stoinis, and also a few others in the middle. I think we were up there with almost 10 and over, but yeah, fell short. Tremendous bowling by Bhuvi and Hazlewood, he added. Bhuvneshwar Kumar provided RCB the perfect start with two wickets in the opening overs, while Josh Hazlewood picked up important breakthroughs in the middle and death overs to stop Punjab Kings recovery. The defeat also confirmed Royal Challengers Bengaluru as the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs, with RCB moving to 18 points from 13 matches. Despite the setback, Shreyas remained optimistic about Punjab Kings chances going forward and said he would continue to maintain a positive mindset ahead of their next game against Lucknow Super Giants. The defeat also confirmed Royal Challengers Bengaluru as the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs, with RCB moving to 18 points from 13 matches. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With this loss, PBKS' qualification chances look very slim. They have to beat LSG in their final match and then depend on other teams' results to also go in their favour, as they can now reach a maximum of 15 points. Article Source: IANS
