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Skipper Riyan Parag found strong backing from Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara after leading RR into the IPL 2026 playoffs with a 30-run win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (May 24). The RR skipper, who has spent years facing criticism over his performances and consistency, was praised by Sangakkara for handling pressure and expectations despite constant scrutiny. The former Sri Lanka captain admitted he had “seen very few players criticised like Parag” in the IPL while backing the youngster’s growth as both batter and leader this season.<h2>‘Seen very few players criticised like Parag’</h2>Sangakkara did not hold back while defending his captain after RR’s crucial victory over MI in a virtual knockout clash. The RR coach pointed out how Parag has been under the scanner ever since entering the IPL as a teenager and credited him for staying mentally strong despite the pressure surrounding him every season.“I’ve seen very few players criticised like Riyan,” Sangakkara said after the match. “For seven years, every season, there’s been something said about him.”The RR head coach also highlighted Parag’s maturity as captain during high-pressure moments in IPL 2026 and said: "If you look at the calls he makes as captain, the confidence with which he drives himself, almost on one foot sometimes to come and play, there's a huge amount of positivity. I think he's captained exceptionally well. And when he's in that dressing room, he's got the respect of all the players and the staff. That's all you can ask for."<h2>Riyan Parag’s record as RR captain in IPL 2026</h2>Parag’s captaincy stint in IPL 2026 has slowly changed the narrative around him. The Assam batter has led Rajasthan Royals in crucial games while also producing useful performances with the bat under pressure.<h3>As RR captain in IPL 2026:</h3>Matches: 12 Runs: 272 Average: 24.73 Strike Rate: 152.81 Fifties: 2 Wins: 7 Losses: 5 Win percentage: 58.33%While Parag’s numbers may not place him among the tournament’s absolute top run-scorers, his impact has come in pressure situations where RR needed quick momentum shifts. The playoffs qualification could now become a turning point in Parag’s IPL journey. For years, he remained one of the league’s most debated young cricketers. But after Rajasthan’s latest win and Sangakkara’s backing, the 24-year-old finally has a chance to win over both critics and fans.

Riyan Parag led Rajasthan Royals into IPL 2026 playoffs after a 30-run win over Mumbai Indians, earning strong backing from head coach Kumar Sangakkara, who praised his resilience amid years of criticism and his growth as a young captain.

Skipper Riyan Parag found strong backing from Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara after leading RR into the IPL 2026 playoffs with a 30-run win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (May 24). The RR skipper, who has spent years facing criticism over his performances and consistency, was praised by Sangakkara for handling pressure and expectations despite constant scrutiny. The former Sri Lanka captain admitted he had “seen very few players criticised like Parag” in the IPL while backing the youngster’s growth as both batter and leader this season. ‘Seen very few players criticised like Parag’ Sangakkara did not hold back while defending his captain after RR’s crucial victory over MI in a virtual knockout clash. The RR coach pointed out how Parag has been under the scanner ever since entering the IPL as a teenager and credited him for staying mentally strong despite the pressure surrounding him every season. “I’ve seen very few players criticised like Riyan,” Sangakkara said after the match. “For seven years, every season, there’s been something said about him.” The RR head coach also highlighted Parag’s maturity as captain during high-pressure moments in IPL 2026 and said: "If you look at the calls he makes as captain, the confidence with which he drives himself, almost on one foot sometimes to come and play, there's a huge amount of positivity. I think he's captained exceptionally well. And when he's in that dressing room, he's got the respect of all the players and the staff. That's all you can ask for." Riyan Parag’s record as RR captain in IPL 2026 Parag’s captaincy stint in IPL 2026 has slowly changed the narrative around him. The Assam batter has led Rajasthan Royals in crucial games while also producing useful performances with the bat under pressure. As RR captain in IPL 2026: Matches: 12 Runs: 272 Average: 24.73 Strike Rate: 152.81 Fifties: 2 Wins: 7 Losses: 5 Win percentage: 58.33% While Parag’s numbers may not place him among the tournament’s absolute top run-scorers, his impact has come in pressure situations where RR needed quick momentum shifts. The playoffs qualification could now become a turning point in Parag’s IPL journey. For years, he remained one of the league’s most debated young cricketers. But after Rajasthan’s latest win and Sangakkara’s backing, the 24-year-old finally has a chance to win over both critics and fans.

Riyan Parag led Rajasthan Royals into IPL 2026 playoffs after a 30-run win over Mumbai Indians, earning strong backing from head coach Kumar Sangakkara, who praised his resilience amid years of criticism and his growth as a young captain.

IPL 2026 | 'Every season there's something about him': RR coach Sangakkara backs skipper Parag after playoff qualification

The IPL 2026 league stage ended on Sunday (May 24) with the match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Eden Gardens. The fans cheered every moment even though both the teams were already out of the the play off race. In a high-scoring encounter, DC signed off their campaign on a high note, defeating KKR by 40 runs.<h2>KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav shine for DC</h2>After being put into bat first, Delhi Capitals posted a formidable total of 203/5 in their allotted 20 overs. The foundation was laid by KL Rahul, who scored a 30-ball 60. Rahul's innings was punctuated by five boundaries and four towering sixes, providing the necessary impetus at the top. He was well-supported by skipper Axar Patel (39 off 25) and David Miller (28 off 19), while Ashutosh Sharma provided the final flourish with a quick-fire 18 not out to push the score past the 200-run mark.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-playoffs-rcb-set-to-face-gt-in-qualifier-1-srh-meet-rr-in-eliminator-1779635767565">IPL 2026 Playoffs: RCB set to face GT in Qualifier 1, SRH meet RR in Eliminator</a>In response, KKR's chase was spearheaded by skipper and veteran Ajinkya Rahane, who rolled back the years with a classy 63 off 39 balls. However, the KKR middle order suffered a collapse, losing their final seven wickets for just 35 runs and were all out for 163 from 128/3 at one stage.Kuldeep Yadav was the primary wrecker-in-chief with a magical spell of 3/29 against his former franchise. Lungi Ngidi also impressed with 3/27, ensuring KKR were bundled out for 163 in 18.4 overs in a chase of 204.<h2>Key Highlights from DC vs KKR Match:</h2>Best Batter: KL Rahul’s 60 off 30 balls set the tone for DC’s massive total.Spin Magic: Kuldeep Yadav’s three-wicket haul, including the crucial wicket of Rahane, broke the back of the KKR chase.Rahane’s Resistance: Ajinkya Rahane was the lone warrior for KKR, scoring a half-century at a strike rate of over 160.Bowling Excellence: Lungi Ngidi (3 wickets) and Mitchell Starc (2 wickets) complemented Kuldeep perfectly to dismantle the KKR lower order.The Collapse: KKR went from a comfortable 128/3 to 163 all out, a collapse that defined the second half of the match.With this win, Delhi Capitals moved up the table to finish their season on the sixth spot with 14 points from seven wins and as many losses in 14 games. KKR, meanwhile, ended their disappointing campaign at the 7th spot in the IPL 2026 standings with 13 points from six wins and seven losses and one no result in 14 matches.

DC signed off IPL 2026 with a 40-run win over KKR. KL Rahul’s 60 and Kuldeep Yadav’s 3-wicket haul powered Delhi to 203, while Rahane’s 63 wasn’t enough for Kolkata in their final game as they were bowled out for 163.

The IPL 2026 league stage ended on Sunday (May 24) with the match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Eden Gardens. The fans cheered every moment even though both the teams were already out of the the play off race. In a high-scoring encounter, DC signed off their campaign on a high note, defeating KKR by 40 runs. KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav shine for DC After being put into bat first, Delhi Capitals posted a formidable total of 203/5 in their allotted 20 overs. The foundation was laid by KL Rahul, who scored a 30-ball 60. Rahul's innings was punctuated by five boundaries and four towering sixes, providing the necessary impetus at the top. He was well-supported by skipper Axar Patel (39 off 25) and David Miller (28 off 19), while Ashutosh Sharma provided the final flourish with a quick-fire 18 not out to push the score past the 200-run mark. Also Read - IPL 2026 Playoffs: RCB set to face GT in Qualifier 1, SRH meet RR in Eliminator In response, KKR's chase was spearheaded by skipper and veteran Ajinkya Rahane, who rolled back the years with a classy 63 off 39 balls. However, the KKR middle order suffered a collapse, losing their final seven wickets for just 35 runs and were all out for 163 from 128/3 at one stage. Kuldeep Yadav was the primary wrecker-in-chief with a magical spell of 3/29 against his former franchise. Lungi Ngidi also impressed with 3/27, ensuring KKR were bundled out for 163 in 18.4 overs in a chase of 204. Key Highlights from DC vs KKR Match: Best Batter: KL Rahul’s 60 off 30 balls set the tone for DC’s massive total. Spin Magic: Kuldeep Yadav’s three-wicket haul, including the crucial wicket of Rahane, broke the back of the KKR chase. Rahane’s Resistance: Ajinkya Rahane was the lone warrior for KKR, scoring a half-century at a strike rate of over 160. Bowling Excellence: Lungi Ngidi (3 wickets) and Mitchell Starc (2 wickets) complemented Kuldeep perfectly to dismantle the KKR lower order. The Collapse: KKR went from a comfortable 128/3 to 163 all out, a collapse that defined the second half of the match. With this win, Delhi Capitals moved up the table to finish their season on the sixth spot with 14 points from seven wins and as many losses in 14 games. KKR, meanwhile, ended their disappointing campaign at the 7th spot in the IPL 2026 standings with 13 points from six wins and seven losses and one no result in 14 matches.

DC signed off IPL 2026 with a 40-run win over KKR. KL Rahul’s 60 and Kuldeep Yadav’s 3-wicket haul powered Delhi to 203, while Rahane’s 63 wasn’t enough for Kolkata in their final game as they were bowled out for 163.

Who won yesterday's IPL 2026 match between Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders? Check result

Delhi Capitals ended their IPL 2026 campaign on a winning note with a convincing 40-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Sunday (May 24), however, both teams were already out of playoff contention following Rajasthan Royals’ win over Mumbai Indians earlier in the day. Batting first, DC posted a strong total of 203/5 in 20 overs. Their openers got off to a brisk start as KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel added 40 runs for the opening wicket before Porel departed for 22 off 18 balls to Saurabh Dubey.&nbsp;Youngster Sahil Parakh chipped in with 24 off 17 before Sunil Narine ended his stay at the crease.&nbsp;Rahul steadied the innings and brought up his fifty while sharing a crucial partnership with captain Axar Patel as DC crossed the 100-run mark. Rahul’s entertaining knock of 60 from 30 balls ended when he was dismissed by Anukul Roy, while Axar continued the momentum with a valuable 39 before falling to Varun Chakravarthy.&nbsp;David Miller then added quick runs with a 28-run cameo, while Ashutosh Sharma remained unbeaten on 18 to help Delhi Capitals finish with a challenging target of 204 for KKR.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-playoffs-rcb-set-to-face-gt-in-qualifier-1-srh-meet-rr-in-eliminator-1779635767565">IPL 2026 Playoffs: RCB set to face GT in Qualifier 1, SRH meet RR in Eliminator</a>&nbsp;In reply, KKR began positively as Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen stitched together a 43-run opening stand, Allen scored 20 off 13 before Ngidi provided the breakthrough. Manish Pandey contributed 25, while Rahane continued to lead the chase and completed a half-century.&nbsp;Ngidi struck again to remove Pandey and Kuldeep Yadav turned the game in DC’s favour by dismissing Cameron Green. Rahane’s fighting 63 off 39 balls came to an end by Kuldeep, who then removed Rinku Singh for a golden duck on the very next delivery.&nbsp;Axar Patel chipped in with the wicket of Tejaswi Singh, while Rovman Powell’s 29 off 21 offered short resistance for his team. Mitchell Starc also joined the wicket-taking group, dismissing Anukul Roy and Kartik Tyagi.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the end, Ngidi wrapped up the innings by removing Varun Chakravarthy as KKR were bowled out for 163.

A brilliant fifty from KL Rahul guided DC to 203/5, while Kuldeep Yadav and Lungi Ngidi claimed three wickets each as KKR were bundled out for 163.

Delhi Capitals ended their IPL 2026 campaign on a winning note with a convincing 40-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Sunday (May 24), however, both teams were already out of playoff contention following Rajasthan Royals’ win over Mumbai Indians earlier in the day. Batting first, DC posted a strong total of 203/5 in 20 overs. Their openers got off to a brisk start as KL Rahul and Abhishek Porel added 40 runs for the opening wicket before Porel departed for 22 off 18 balls to Saurabh Dubey. Youngster Sahil Parakh chipped in with 24 off 17 before Sunil Narine ended his stay at the crease. Rahul steadied the innings and brought up his fifty while sharing a crucial partnership with captain Axar Patel as DC crossed the 100-run mark. Rahul’s entertaining knock of 60 from 30 balls ended when he was dismissed by Anukul Roy, while Axar continued the momentum with a valuable 39 before falling to Varun Chakravarthy. David Miller then added quick runs with a 28-run cameo, while Ashutosh Sharma remained unbeaten on 18 to help Delhi Capitals finish with a challenging target of 204 for KKR. Also Read - IPL 2026 Playoffs: RCB set to face GT in Qualifier 1, SRH meet RR in Eliminator In reply, KKR began positively as Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen stitched together a 43-run opening stand, Allen scored 20 off 13 before Ngidi provided the breakthrough. Manish Pandey contributed 25, while Rahane continued to lead the chase and completed a half-century. Ngidi struck again to remove Pandey and Kuldeep Yadav turned the game in DC’s favour by dismissing Cameron Green. Rahane’s fighting 63 off 39 balls came to an end by Kuldeep, who then removed Rinku Singh for a golden duck on the very next delivery. Axar Patel chipped in with the wicket of Tejaswi Singh, while Rovman Powell’s 29 off 21 offered short resistance for his team. Mitchell Starc also joined the wicket-taking group, dismissing Anukul Roy and Kartik Tyagi. In the end, Ngidi wrapped up the innings by removing Varun Chakravarthy as KKR were bowled out for 163.

A brilliant fifty from KL Rahul guided DC to 203/5, while Kuldeep Yadav and Lungi Ngidi claimed three wickets each as KKR were bundled out for 163.

IPL 2026: DC end season on high with dominant 40-run win over KKR

The IPL 2026 playoff line-up was finalised on Sunday (May 24) after Rajasthan Royals secured a convincing 30-run victory over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, clinching the last remaining spot in the top four. The battle for the fourth playoff position had intensified in recent days, with Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings all in contention.&nbsp;&nbsp;While defeats for Kolkata and Rajasthan would have handed Punjab Kings the qualification advantage, but Royals removed all uncertainty with a dominant display. Their emphatic win not only confirmed their own qualification but also ended the campaigns of PBKS and KKR.&nbsp;&nbsp;RR now joins the three already-qualified teams in the IPL 2026 knockout stage, concluding a tense mid-table battle for the final berth.<h3>IPL 2026 playoff schedule</h3>The playoffs will get underway on May 26 in Dharamsala with Qualifier 1 between table-toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru and second-placed Gujarat Titans. The winner will secure a direct entry into the final, while the losing team will receive another opportunity to reach the title clash.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-rajasthan-royals-clinch-final-playoff-spot-pbks-and-kkr-eliminated-1779630604300">IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals clinch final playoff spot, PBKS and KKR eliminated</a>&nbsp;The Eliminator will take place on May 27 in Mullanpur, where third-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad will face Rajasthan Royals, who ended the league stage in fourth position. The losing side will be eliminated, while the winner will move on to face the loser of Qualifier 1.&nbsp;Qualifier 2 is scheduled for May 29 in Mullanpur and will feature the Eliminator winner against the team that loses Qualifier 1. The victorious side from that contest will advance to the final in Ahmedabad on May 31.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-pathirana-ruled-out-kkr-sign-luvnith-sisodia-as-replacement-1779623184637">IPL 2026: Pathirana ruled out, KKR sign Luvnith Sisodia as replacement</a><h3>MI vs RR&nbsp;</h3>Rajasthan Royals booked their playoff berth with an impressive all-round performance against Mumbai Indians. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals posted a competitive 205/8 in their 20 overs, with Dhruv Jurel leading the scoring with 38 off 26 balls, while Jofra Archer provided late fireworks with a quick 32 from 15 deliveries.&nbsp;In reply, Mumbai Indians managed 175/9 despite a fighting 60 from Suryakumar Yadav and useful contributions from Will Jacks (33) and Hardik Pandya (34).&nbsp;Jofra Archer starred with the ball for Rajasthan Royals, returning impressive figures of 3/17 in four overs. Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma and Yash Raj Punja also contributed with two wickets each.

Rajasthan Royals secured the final IPL 2026 playoff berth with a 30-run win over Mumbai Indians and will now take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1.

The IPL 2026 playoff line-up was finalised on Sunday (May 24) after Rajasthan Royals secured a convincing 30-run victory over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, clinching the last remaining spot in the top four. The battle for the fourth playoff position had intensified in recent days, with Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings all in contention. While defeats for Kolkata and Rajasthan would have handed Punjab Kings the qualification advantage, but Royals removed all uncertainty with a dominant display. Their emphatic win not only confirmed their own qualification but also ended the campaigns of PBKS and KKR. RR now joins the three already-qualified teams in the IPL 2026 knockout stage, concluding a tense mid-table battle for the final berth. IPL 2026 playoff schedule The playoffs will get underway on May 26 in Dharamsala with Qualifier 1 between table-toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru and second-placed Gujarat Titans. The winner will secure a direct entry into the final, while the losing team will receive another opportunity to reach the title clash. Also Read - IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals clinch final playoff spot, PBKS and KKR eliminated The Eliminator will take place on May 27 in Mullanpur, where third-placed Sunrisers Hyderabad will face Rajasthan Royals, who ended the league stage in fourth position. The losing side will be eliminated, while the winner will move on to face the loser of Qualifier 1. Qualifier 2 is scheduled for May 29 in Mullanpur and will feature the Eliminator winner against the team that loses Qualifier 1. The victorious side from that contest will advance to the final in Ahmedabad on May 31. Also Read - IPL 2026: Pathirana ruled out, KKR sign Luvnith Sisodia as replacement MI vs RR Rajasthan Royals booked their playoff berth with an impressive all-round performance against Mumbai Indians. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals posted a competitive 205/8 in their 20 overs, with Dhruv Jurel leading the scoring with 38 off 26 balls, while Jofra Archer provided late fireworks with a quick 32 from 15 deliveries. In reply, Mumbai Indians managed 175/9 despite a fighting 60 from Suryakumar Yadav and useful contributions from Will Jacks (33) and Hardik Pandya (34). Jofra Archer starred with the ball for Rajasthan Royals, returning impressive figures of 3/17 in four overs. Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma and Yash Raj Punja also contributed with two wickets each.

Rajasthan Royals secured the final IPL 2026 playoff berth with a 30-run win over Mumbai Indians and will now take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator, while Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1.

IPL 2026 Playoffs: RCB set to face GT in Qualifier 1, SRH meet RR in Eliminator

Rajasthan Royals secured the fourth and final playoff spot in IPL 2026 with a 30-run victory over Mumbai Indians on Sunday (May 24), ending the qualification hopes of Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals. The win took RR to 16 points from 14 matches, moving them ahead of Punjab Kings, who finished with 15 points. Kolkata Knight Riders, who play Delhi Capitals later on Sunday, can also only reach a maximum of 15 points.&nbsp;Earlier in the match, Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to field. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals posted a competitive 205/8 in their 20 overs, with Dhruv Jurel leading the scoring with 38 off 26 balls. Jofra Archer provided late fireworks with a quick 32 from 15 deliveries, while Dasun Shanaka (29) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (27) chipped in with valuable contributions.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-pathirana-ruled-out-kkr-sign-luvnith-sisodia-as-replacement-1779623184637">IPL 2026: Pathirana ruled out, KKR sign Luvnith Sisodia as replacement</a>&nbsp;For Mumbai Indians, Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur claimed two wickets each, conceding 43 and 41 runs respectively. Will Jacks, Corbin Bosch and AM Ghazanfar picked up a wicket apiece.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-iran-shift-training-camp-from-us-to-mexico-ahead-of-kickoff-1779613999747">FIFA World Cup 2026: Iran shift training camp from US to Mexico ahead of kickoff</a>&nbsp;In reply, MI were restricted to 175/9 and fell 30 runs short of the target. Suryakumar Yadav top-scored with 60 off 42 balls, including four sixes and three boundaries. Will Jacks (33) and Hardik Pandya (34) got starts but failed to take the side over the line.&nbsp;Jofra Archer starred with the ball for Rajasthan Royals, returning impressive figures of 3/17 in four overs. Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma and Yash Raj Punja also contributed with two wickets each.&nbsp;Rajasthan Royals will now take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator on May 27 in New Chandigarh.

Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians by 30 runs to move to 16 points from 14 matches, surpassing PBKS’ total of 15 points. Kolkata Knight Riders, meanwhile, can finish with a maximum of only 15 points.

Rajasthan Royals secured the fourth and final playoff spot in IPL 2026 with a 30-run victory over Mumbai Indians on Sunday (May 24), ending the qualification hopes of Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals. The win took RR to 16 points from 14 matches, moving them ahead of Punjab Kings, who finished with 15 points. Kolkata Knight Riders, who play Delhi Capitals later on Sunday, can also only reach a maximum of 15 points. Earlier in the match, Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to field. Batting first, Rajasthan Royals posted a competitive 205/8 in their 20 overs, with Dhruv Jurel leading the scoring with 38 off 26 balls. Jofra Archer provided late fireworks with a quick 32 from 15 deliveries, while Dasun Shanaka (29) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (27) chipped in with valuable contributions. Also Read - IPL 2026: Pathirana ruled out, KKR sign Luvnith Sisodia as replacement For Mumbai Indians, Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur claimed two wickets each, conceding 43 and 41 runs respectively. Will Jacks, Corbin Bosch and AM Ghazanfar picked up a wicket apiece. Also Read - FIFA World Cup 2026: Iran shift training camp from US to Mexico ahead of kickoff In reply, MI were restricted to 175/9 and fell 30 runs short of the target. Suryakumar Yadav top-scored with 60 off 42 balls, including four sixes and three boundaries. Will Jacks (33) and Hardik Pandya (34) got starts but failed to take the side over the line. Jofra Archer starred with the ball for Rajasthan Royals, returning impressive figures of 3/17 in four overs. Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma and Yash Raj Punja also contributed with two wickets each. Rajasthan Royals will now take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator on May 27 in New Chandigarh.

Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians by 30 runs to move to 16 points from 14 matches, surpassing PBKS’ total of 15 points. Kolkata Knight Riders, meanwhile, can finish with a maximum of only 15 points.

IPL 2026: Rajasthan Royals clinch final playoff spot, PBKS and KKR eliminated

From Chris Gayle to Rajat Patidar, here's a look at the top five best replacement players in IPL history. This list also includes Phil Salt, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Anrich Nortje.

From Chris Gayle to Rajat Patidar, here's a look at the top five best replacement players in IPL history. This list also includes Phil Salt, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Anrich Nortje.

From Chris Gayle to Rajat Patidar, 5 best replacement players in IPL history

Kolkata Knight Riders have brought in Luvnith Sisodia as a replacement for Matheesha Pathirana for the remainder of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The Sri Lankan fast bowler, who was signed by KKR for INR 18 crore, has been sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury. He had earlier missed the start of IPL 2026 due to a calf injury sustained during the T20 World Cup, although he later returned to make his debut for the franchise, but another injury setback has now ended his season.&nbsp;In an official media advisory, the franchise confirmed that Sisodia would replace the injured Pathirana for the rest of the tournament.&nbsp;&nbsp;"Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have picked Luvnith Sisodia as a replacement for the injured Matheesha Pathirana for the remainder of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Matheesha Pathirana, a right-arm pacer, is ruled out of the season due to a hamstring injury. Sisodia, a wicketkeeper-batter, was previously a part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and KKR in the IPL. Sisodia, who represents Karnataka in Domestic Cricket, has played 15 T20S and has 124 runs against his name from the same. He will join KKR for INR 30 Lakh," as per a Media Advisory.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-why-jasprit-bumrah-is-not-playing-for-mi-vs-rajasthan-royals-1779616624869">IPL 2026: Why Jasprit Bumrah is not playing for MI vs Rajasthan Royals?</a>&nbsp;Sisodia, a wicketkeeper-batter from Karnataka, returns to the KKR setup after previously being associated with both Royal Challengers Bengaluru and KKR in the IPL. The youngster has featured in 15 T20 matches so far, scoring 124 runs and has now been signed by Kolkata for INR 30 lakh.

Kolkata Knight Riders have signed wicketkeeper-batter Luvnith Sisodia as a replacement for injured Sri Lankan pacer Pathirana, who has been ruled out of the IPL with a hamstring injury.

Kolkata Knight Riders have brought in Luvnith Sisodia as a replacement for Matheesha Pathirana for the remainder of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The Sri Lankan fast bowler, who was signed by KKR for INR 18 crore, has been sidelined after suffering a hamstring injury. He had earlier missed the start of IPL 2026 due to a calf injury sustained during the T20 World Cup, although he later returned to make his debut for the franchise, but another injury setback has now ended his season. In an official media advisory, the franchise confirmed that Sisodia would replace the injured Pathirana for the rest of the tournament. "Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have picked Luvnith Sisodia as a replacement for the injured Matheesha Pathirana for the remainder of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. Matheesha Pathirana, a right-arm pacer, is ruled out of the season due to a hamstring injury. Sisodia, a wicketkeeper-batter, was previously a part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and KKR in the IPL. Sisodia, who represents Karnataka in Domestic Cricket, has played 15 T20S and has 124 runs against his name from the same. He will join KKR for INR 30 Lakh," as per a Media Advisory. Also Read - IPL 2026: Why Jasprit Bumrah is not playing for MI vs Rajasthan Royals? Sisodia, a wicketkeeper-batter from Karnataka, returns to the KKR setup after previously being associated with both Royal Challengers Bengaluru and KKR in the IPL. The youngster has featured in 15 T20 matches so far, scoring 124 runs and has now been signed by Kolkata for INR 30 lakh.

Kolkata Knight Riders have signed wicketkeeper-batter Luvnith Sisodia as a replacement for injured Sri Lankan pacer Pathirana, who has been ruled out of the IPL with a hamstring injury.

IPL 2026: Pathirana ruled out, KKR sign Luvnith Sisodia as replacement

After Punjab Kings’ crucial seven-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants, assistant coach Brad Haddin praised captain Shreyas Iyer for stepping up when the team needed him most. The result keeps Punjab playoff hopes alive and puts them in a strong position heading into the final phase of the tournament. The win was built on a strong all-round effort, as Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal claimed two wickets apiece to keep LSG to 196/6, despite a fighting 72 off 44 balls from Josh Inglis.&nbsp;Chasing the target, Prabhsimran Singh provided early momentum with a fluent 69 from just 39 deliveries before captain Shreyas Iyer took complete control and smashed an unbeaten 101 off 51 balls, his first IPL hundred, as Punjab sealed the chase comfortably before the 19th over.&nbsp;Speaking after the match, Haddin said Iyer looked determined to take responsibility in a high-pressure encounter.&nbsp;“In these matches, you want your best players to stand up. These are the matches where everything is on the line. For the last couple of days, the captain had that look in his eye. He wanted to be the one who made the difference and turned things around, and he gave us an opportunity to play in the finals. You got a long way to see a better inning and a better captain's knock than that,” Haddin said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-why-jasprit-bumrah-is-not-playing-for-mi-vs-rajasthan-royals-1779616624869">IPL 2026: Why Jasprit Bumrah is not playing for MI vs Rajasthan Royals?</a>&nbsp;He further added, "He wanted to be the one to make the difference, and that is what you want from your leaders, whether it's for IPL or for your country. You want your leaders owning those big moments, and that is what he did."&nbsp;Haddin also applauded the team’s overall effort, pointing out that the bowlers created early pressure by striking in the powerplay. He singled out Azmatullah Omarzai for his contribution with the ball and praised both Prabhsimran and Iyer for steering the chase confidently.&nbsp;"If you have a look through the whole game, we did well to get wickets to start. It is important to get wickets up front in power play. I thought our bowlers did a really good job there. Azmatullah did a really good job. And then Prabh and the captain with the bat were outstanding. Prabh took a smart stumping. As an ex-keeper, I was proud of him there, but he set up the inning beautifully," the assistant coach noted.&nbsp;With this final league stage victory, Punjab Kings have climbed to the fourth spot on the points table with 15 points, with their playoff qualification now hinging entirely on the final league clash between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

With this final league stage victory, Punjab Kings have climbed to the fourth spot on the points table with 15 points and their playoff qualification now hinging entirely on the clash between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians. 

After Punjab Kings’ crucial seven-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants, assistant coach Brad Haddin praised captain Shreyas Iyer for stepping up when the team needed him most. The result keeps Punjab playoff hopes alive and puts them in a strong position heading into the final phase of the tournament. The win was built on a strong all-round effort, as Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal claimed two wickets apiece to keep LSG to 196/6, despite a fighting 72 off 44 balls from Josh Inglis. Chasing the target, Prabhsimran Singh provided early momentum with a fluent 69 from just 39 deliveries before captain Shreyas Iyer took complete control and smashed an unbeaten 101 off 51 balls, his first IPL hundred, as Punjab sealed the chase comfortably before the 19th over. Speaking after the match, Haddin said Iyer looked determined to take responsibility in a high-pressure encounter. “In these matches, you want your best players to stand up. These are the matches where everything is on the line. For the last couple of days, the captain had that look in his eye. He wanted to be the one who made the difference and turned things around, and he gave us an opportunity to play in the finals. You got a long way to see a better inning and a better captain's knock than that,” Haddin said. Also Read - IPL 2026: Why Jasprit Bumrah is not playing for MI vs Rajasthan Royals? He further added, "He wanted to be the one to make the difference, and that is what you want from your leaders, whether it's for IPL or for your country. You want your leaders owning those big moments, and that is what he did." Haddin also applauded the team’s overall effort, pointing out that the bowlers created early pressure by striking in the powerplay. He singled out Azmatullah Omarzai for his contribution with the ball and praised both Prabhsimran and Iyer for steering the chase confidently. "If you have a look through the whole game, we did well to get wickets to start. It is important to get wickets up front in power play. I thought our bowlers did a really good job there. Azmatullah did a really good job. And then Prabh and the captain with the bat were outstanding. Prabh took a smart stumping. As an ex-keeper, I was proud of him there, but he set up the inning beautifully," the assistant coach noted. With this final league stage victory, Punjab Kings have climbed to the fourth spot on the points table with 15 points, with their playoff qualification now hinging entirely on the final league clash between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians. With inputs from agencies

With this final league stage victory, Punjab Kings have climbed to the fourth spot on the points table with 15 points and their playoff qualification now hinging entirely on the clash between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians.&nbsp;

'Iyer wanted to be one who made the difference': PBKS coach hails skipper after win over LSG

Star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah was left out of Mumbai Indians’s final league-stage fixture of IPL 2026 against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (May 24). At the toss, MI captain Hardik Pandya confirmed that Bumrah had been rested for the match, while Deepak Chahar returned to the side. After winning the toss, Pandya chose to bowl first and briefly stated, “Jassi is resting and Deepak comes in.”&nbsp;Despite being Mumbai Indians’ all-time leading wicket-taker in IPL history, Bumrah had a disappointing campaign this season, as he managed to claim only four wickets in 13 matches during IPL 2026.&nbsp;Bumrah was also rested from India’s ODI and Test squads for the upcoming home series against Afghanistan as part of workload management. He is expected to make his return in the white-ball series against England later this year.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-video-lucknow-police-take-swift-action-after-fans-harass-cheerleaders-during-lsg-pbks-match-1779612124188">WATCH | Lucknow police take swift action after fans harass cheerleaders during LSG-PBKS match</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur made his return to Mumbai’s playing XI. He had been left out of the previous match against Kolkata Knight Riders, even after his impressive four-wicket haul against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala earlier this month.&nbsp;Veteran opener Rohit Sharma was listed among the impact substitutes and is expected to open the batting for MI during the chase.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-playoff-qualification-scenarios-how-can-pbks-rr-kkr-qualify-for-top-four-1779606647681">Playoff Qualification Scenarios: How can PBKS, RR, or KKR qualify for top four?</a>&nbsp;On the other side, Rajasthan Royals made three changes to their lineup for the crucial encounter. Riyan Parag returned to the side and also resumed captaincy duties.&nbsp;&nbsp;Playing XIs&nbsp;Mumbai Indians: Ryan Rickelton (WK), Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Will Jacks, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, AM Ghazanfar and Raghu Sharma&nbsp;Impact subs: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Rawat, Robin Minz, Krish Bhagat and Trent Boult&nbsp;Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Donovan Ferreira, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Yash Raj Punja and Brijesh Sharma&nbsp;Impact subs: Ravindra Jadeja, Sushant Mishra, Aman Rao Perala, Ravi Bishnoi and Tushar Deshpande

Jasprit Bumrah had a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign, managing only four wickets in 13 matches and finishing with a bowling average of 102.5.

Star Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah was left out of Mumbai Indians’s final league-stage fixture of IPL 2026 against Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (May 24). At the toss, MI captain Hardik Pandya confirmed that Bumrah had been rested for the match, while Deepak Chahar returned to the side. After winning the toss, Pandya chose to bowl first and briefly stated, “Jassi is resting and Deepak comes in.” Despite being Mumbai Indians’ all-time leading wicket-taker in IPL history, Bumrah had a disappointing campaign this season, as he managed to claim only four wickets in 13 matches during IPL 2026. Bumrah was also rested from India’s ODI and Test squads for the upcoming home series against Afghanistan as part of workload management. He is expected to make his return in the white-ball series against England later this year. Also Read - WATCH | Lucknow police take swift action after fans harass cheerleaders during LSG-PBKS match Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur made his return to Mumbai’s playing XI. He had been left out of the previous match against Kolkata Knight Riders, even after his impressive four-wicket haul against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala earlier this month. Veteran opener Rohit Sharma was listed among the impact substitutes and is expected to open the batting for MI during the chase. Also Read - Playoff Qualification Scenarios: How can PBKS, RR, or KKR qualify for top four? On the other side, Rajasthan Royals made three changes to their lineup for the crucial encounter. Riyan Parag returned to the side and also resumed captaincy duties. Playing XIs Mumbai Indians: Ryan Rickelton (WK), Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Will Jacks, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, AM Ghazanfar and Raghu Sharma Impact subs: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Rawat, Robin Minz, Krish Bhagat and Trent Boult Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Donovan Ferreira, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Yash Raj Punja and Brijesh Sharma Impact subs: Ravindra Jadeja, Sushant Mishra, Aman Rao Perala, Ravi Bishnoi and Tushar Deshpande

Jasprit Bumrah had a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign, managing only four wickets in 13 matches and finishing with a bowling average of 102.5.

IPL 2026: Why Jasprit Bumrah is not playing for MI vs Rajasthan Royals?

Shreyas Iyer just became the fourth captain in IPL history to smash a century during a run chase! From Virender Sehwag’s 2011 blitz to Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson's heroics, we break down the exclusive list of leaders who scored a hundred while chasing.

Shreyas Iyer just became the fourth captain in IPL history to smash a century during a run chase! From Virender Sehwag’s 2011 blitz to Virat Kohli and Sanju Samson's heroics, we break down the exclusive list of leaders who scored a hundred while chasing.

From Shreyas Iyer to Sanju Samson, 4 IPL Captains to Score Hundred in Run Chase

The Lucknow police had to step in quickly on Saturday night (May 23) after a section of the crowd began harassing cheerleaders during LSG's final league match against PBKS. The ugly incident unfolded midway through the game when a few individuals were caught on camera throwing paper balls at the cheerleaders, who even openly warned the fans to stop. While the rest of the Ekana Stadium was locked in the high-stakes excitement of a match that Punjab eventually won, this mindless behaviour cast a dark shadow over what should have been a celebration of cricket.&nbsp;The viral video of that instance is all over the internet. However, soon after a section of fans threw paper balls at the cheerleaders, who were sitting on the sidelines of their netted stage, the Lucknow police were quick to hop onto the scene and take action against the accused. The ground staff also joined in, giving stern warnings to the fans.&nbsp;WATCH VIDEO HERE -

The Lucknow police had to step in quickly on Saturday night (May 23) after a section of the crowd began harassing cheerleaders during LSG's final league match against PBKS. The ugly incident unfolded midway through the game when a few individuals were caught on camera throwing paper balls at the cheerleaders, who even openly warned the fans to stop. While the rest of the Ekana Stadium was locked in the high-stakes excitement of a match that Punjab eventually won, this mindless behaviour cast a dark shadow over what should have been a celebration of cricket.
The viral video of that instance is all over the internet. However, soon after a section of fans threw paper balls at the cheerleaders, who were sitting on the sidelines of their netted stage, the Lucknow police were quick to hop onto the scene and take action against the accused. The ground staff also joined in, giving stern warnings to the fans.
WATCH VIDEO -
What happened between the LSG and PBKS clash?
Punjab won the toss and elected to field first. Reducing the hosts to 20 for two inside the Powerplay and later 69 for three, PBKS almost had LSG in their pockets. However, game-changing knocks from opener Josh Inglis (72 off 44 balls), Ayush Badoni (43 off 18), and captain Rishabh Pant (26) helped LSG rebuild. Despite more fireworks from Abdul Samad (37* off just 20 balls) and a last-over drama, involving denying Arjun Tendulkar a single thrice, LSG posted 196 for six in 20 overs.
Iyer’s showtime in Lucknow
Punjab Kings lost opener Priyansh Arya on a first-ball duck off Mohammed Shami, who also removed Cooper Connolly on 18 inside the first six overs. Prabhsimran Singh and PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer bailed the team out of trouble, stitching a 140-run stand for the third wicket. 
After losing Prabhsimran on a brilliant 69 off just 39 balls, Iyer joined hands with Suryansh Shedge and smashed boundaries for fun. He completed his maiden IPL hundred with a grand six, his fifth of the evening, to see his team home in their last league game.
That six and his hundred ensured a seven-wicket win for Punjab, who are now placed fourth on the points table with 15 points from 14 matches. Sunday’s results will determine their playoff fate, with the Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders also vying for that one spot.

<h3>What happened between the LSG and PBKS clash?</h3>Punjab won the toss and elected to field first. Reducing the hosts to 20 for two inside the Powerplay and later 69 for three, PBKS almost had LSG in their pockets. However, game-changing knocks from opener Josh Inglis (72 off 44 balls), Ayush Badoni (43 off 18), and captain Rishabh Pant (26) helped LSG rebuild. Despite more fireworks from Abdul Samad (37* off just 20 balls) and a last-over drama, involving denying Arjun Tendulkar a single thrice, LSG posted 196 for six in 20 overs.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-playoff-qualification-scenarios-how-can-pbks-rr-kkr-qualify-for-top-four-1779606647681">IPL 2026 Playoff Qualification Scenarios: How can PBKS, RR, or KKR qualify for top four?</a><h3>Iyer’s showtime in Lucknow</h3>Punjab Kings lost opener Priyansh Arya on a first-ball duck off Mohammed Shami, who also removed Cooper Connolly on 18 inside the first six overs. Prabhsimran Singh and PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer bailed the team out of trouble, stitching a 140-run stand for the third wicket.&nbsp; &nbsp;After losing Prabhsimran on a brilliant 69 off just 39 balls, Iyer joined hands with Suryansh Shedge and smashed boundaries for fun. He completed his maiden IPL hundred with a grand six, his fifth of the evening, to see his team home in their last league game. That six and his hundred ensured a seven-wicket win for Punjab, who are now placed fourth on the points table with 15 points from 14 matches.&nbsp;Sunday’s results will determine their playoff fate, with the Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders also vying for that one spot.

Ugly scenes at Ekana Stadium as Lucknow police take swift action against fans harassing cheerleaders during the LSG-PBKS thriller. Plus, read the full match report as captain Shreyas Iyer smashes a spectacular maiden century to keep Punjab's playoff dreams alive.

The Lucknow police had to step in quickly on Saturday night (May 23) after a section of the crowd began harassing cheerleaders during LSG's final league match against PBKS. The ugly incident unfolded midway through the game when a few individuals were caught on camera throwing paper balls at the cheerleaders, who even openly warned the fans to stop. While the rest of the Ekana Stadium was locked in the high-stakes excitement of a match that Punjab eventually won, this mindless behaviour cast a dark shadow over what should have been a celebration of cricket. The viral video of that instance is all over the internet. However, soon after a section of fans threw paper balls at the cheerleaders, who were sitting on the sidelines of their netted stage, the Lucknow police were quick to hop onto the scene and take action against the accused. The ground staff also joined in, giving stern warnings to the fans. WATCH VIDEO HERE -

Ugly scenes at Ekana Stadium as Lucknow police take swift action against fans harassing cheerleaders during the LSG-PBKS thriller. Plus, read the full match report as captain Shreyas Iyer smashes a spectacular maiden century to keep Punjab's playoff dreams alive.

WATCH | Lucknow police take swift action after fans harass cheerleaders during LSG-PBKS match

Who wins the final IPL 2026 playoff spot will be decided on the last day of the league stage, with Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, alongside Punjab Kings, in the race for a place in the final four. After Punjab beat the Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday night (May 23), the bare minimum result they needed to give themselves any chance, the Royals and the Knight Riders will decide who goes through. Both have their fates in their own hands, yet neither is guaranteed a spot. Let’s explore their playoff qualification scenarios.<h3>How can Punjab qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs?</h3>Punjab has completed its quota of 14 league matches, winning seven, losing six and one game ending in a no result. Having accumulated 15 points, the Kings are ahead of the Royals (14) and Knight Riders (13); however, the two have one game remaining, to be played on Sunday (May 24). While the Royals are facing the Mumbai Indians, Kolkata will host the Delhi Capitals.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/punjab-kings-captain-shreyas-iyer-opens-up-on-maiden-ipl-hundred-crucial-win-vs-lsg-ipl-2026-playoff-qualification-scenarios-1779597859982">‘I felt super from within’: Shreyas Iyer opens up on maiden IPL hundred, crucial win for PBKS</a> &nbsp;For the Kings to qualify, the easy equation is that Mumbai must beat Rajasthan and Delhi must beat Kolkata. Should the opposite&nbsp;happen and Rajasthan beat Mumbai, it all ends for Punjab and Kolkata.&nbsp; &nbsp;However, if Kolkata beat Delhi, Punjab can still qualify, only if KKR beats DC by less than 60-65 runs or fails to chase any target within 12.5 overs.<h3>How can Rajasthan qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs?</h3>For Rajasthan to advance to the next stage, they only need to beat the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in the afternoon. Should that happen, regardless of what happens in the evening match between KKR and DC, the Royals will become the fourth team to qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs, kicking PBKS and KKR out of the race.<h3>How can Kolkata qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs?</h3>The trickiest of the three is KKR’s case, which is below PBKS and RR on the points table (with a lower NRR). Sitting in the sixth place with 13 points and a +0.011 NRR, KKR needs more than just a win over DC in their last league game. &nbsp;Not only do they have to beat Delhi, but they must also do it quickly, either batting first or second.&nbsp;&nbsp;Should Mumbai beat Rajasthan, Kolkata must look to achieve either of two scenarios to confirm their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs. If KKR bats first and (supposedly) score 180 runs, they must beat Delhi by 60-65 runs to get past PBKS’ NRR, or if they are chasing, KKR must achieve the target in 12.5 overs or less. If they fail, Punjab would advance through.&nbsp;

The final day of the IPL 2026 league stage is here! With Punjab Kings sitting on 15 points, we break down the exact final-day playoff qualification math and net run rate scenarios for Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders. Who grabs the final top-four spot? Read the full breakdown.

Who wins the final IPL 2026 playoff spot will be decided on the last day of the league stage, with Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, alongside Punjab Kings, in the race for a place in the final four. After Punjab beat the Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday night (May 23), the bare minimum result they needed to give themselves any chance, the Royals and the Knight Riders will decide who goes through. Both have their fates in their own hands, yet neither is guaranteed a spot. Let’s explore their playoff qualification scenarios. How can Punjab qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs? Punjab has completed its quota of 14 league matches, winning seven, losing six and one game ending in a no result. Having accumulated 15 points, the Kings are ahead of the Royals (14) and Knight Riders (13); however, the two have one game remaining, to be played on Sunday (May 24). While the Royals are facing the Mumbai Indians, Kolkata will host the Delhi Capitals. Also read | ‘I felt super from within’: Shreyas Iyer opens up on maiden IPL hundred, crucial win for PBKS For the Kings to qualify, the easy equation is that Mumbai must beat Rajasthan and Delhi must beat Kolkata. Should the opposite happen and Rajasthan beat Mumbai, it all ends for Punjab and Kolkata. However, if Kolkata beat Delhi, Punjab can still qualify, only if KKR beats DC by less than 60-65 runs or fails to chase any target within 12.5 overs. How can Rajasthan qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs? For Rajasthan to advance to the next stage, they only need to beat the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in the afternoon. Should that happen, regardless of what happens in the evening match between KKR and DC, the Royals will become the fourth team to qualify for IPL 2026 playoffs, kicking PBKS and KKR out of the race. How can Kolkata qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs? The trickiest of the three is KKR’s case, which is below PBKS and RR on the points table (with a lower NRR). Sitting in the sixth place with 13 points and a +0.011 NRR, KKR needs more than just a win over DC in their last league game. Not only do they have to beat Delhi, but they must also do it quickly, either batting first or second. Should Mumbai beat Rajasthan, Kolkata must look to achieve either of two scenarios to confirm their place in the IPL 2026 playoffs. If KKR bats first and (supposedly) score 180 runs, they must beat Delhi by 60-65 runs to get past PBKS’ NRR, or if they are chasing, KKR must achieve the target in 12.5 overs or less. If they fail, Punjab would advance through.

The final day of the IPL 2026 league stage is here! With Punjab Kings sitting on 15 points, we break down the exact final-day playoff qualification math and net run rate scenarios for Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders. Who grabs the final top-four spot? Read the full breakdown.

IPL 2026 Playoff Qualification Scenarios: How can PBKS, RR, or KKR qualify for top four?

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer led his team from the front in the do-or-die match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Saturday (May 23), beating them by seven wickets. They needed to win this match to stay alive in the playoff race, and they did it in style, with Iyer smashing his maiden IPL hundred to help the cause. Chasing 198, Punjab completed the target with two overs to spare; Iyer hit his fifth six to get to his century (101* off 51 balls) and the winning run.&nbsp;Feeling ecstatic about his feat and the moment, Iyer sounded elated and proud with the outcome and how he led the chase in this virtual knockout for the Kings. Speaking his heart out in the post-match presser, Iyer said, "It's a surreal feeling, especially when you finish off the game, and you score a century.”&nbsp; &nbsp;Iyer said the way he paced his innings is the stuff of dreams, and it’s one of those days when one feels super from within.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Back to the WINNING ways! 🌟<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PBKS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PBKS</a> end their losing streak with a 7️⃣-wicket win 👊❤️ Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/2ADKr4dqhi">https://t.co/2ADKr4dqhi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KhelBindaas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KhelBindaas</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LSGvPBKS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LSGvPBKS</a> <a href="https://t.co/YP0tImLNYv">pic.twitter.com/YP0tImLNYv</a>&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/2058251325687931365?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/has-rishabh-pant-played-his-last-game-for-lsg-tom-moody-hints-at-leadership-overhaul-after-ipl-2026-debacle-lucknow-vs-punjab-ipl-playoffs-1779594130654">Has Rishabh Pant played his last game for LSG? Moody hints at leadership overhaul after IPL 2026 debacle</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, having lost six matches on the trot since winning as many at the start of the tournament, Iyer and Punjab needed this day to feel positive about their playoff chances. And after they gave everything on the pitch, Iyer admitted to being in a great mind space, which will benefit last season’s runners-up should they advance to the next stage. &nbsp;“I think all the batsmen, they dream of that, and today was one of those days where I personally felt super from within. I was in a great mind space. I knew what I wanted, I knew how the wicket was playing, kind of reading all this situation, it helped me to score my runs. And also, the partnership was crucial. I think that creates the momentum in the game, and just to win it from there, I'm seriously elated,” he continued.<h3>‘Delighted to work with him’</h3>Having spent time and seasons with Shreyas Iyer at the Delhi Capitals earlier, PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting explained why he spent so much on Iyer (INR 26.75 crore). Speaking highly of his team captain and how he wonderfully won the game for his team, Punter said, "Well, there was a reason I spent as much money at the auction as I did on him a couple of years ago.” &nbsp;"Look, he's a ripping guy. He's a very mature player now, he's a very mature leader. More often than not, he keeps his emotions in check when he's out in the field, but the respect he has from his players is almost second to none. The moment that he stands in front of the group and speaks, not a single eyeball leaves a single word that he says. &nbsp;"I'm delighted to work with him. I'm really happy on the season he's had. It's great to see him back in that Indian one-day team, and I really think there's a bigger, brighter future for him and the Indian T20 team as well,” Ponting added.

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer smashed a magnificent unbeaten 101 off 51 balls to power PBKS to a vital 7-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants. Discover how Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting reacted to the thrilling, must-win IPL 2026 chase.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer led his team from the front in the do-or-die match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Saturday (May 23), beating them by seven wickets. They needed to win this match to stay alive in the playoff race, and they did it in style, with Iyer smashing his maiden IPL hundred to help the cause. Chasing 198, Punjab completed the target with two overs to spare; Iyer hit his fifth six to get to his century (101* off 51 balls) and the winning run. Feeling ecstatic about his feat and the moment, Iyer sounded elated and proud with the outcome and how he led the chase in this virtual knockout for the Kings. Speaking his heart out in the post-match presser, Iyer said, "It's a surreal feeling, especially when you finish off the game, and you score a century.” Iyer said the way he paced his innings is the stuff of dreams, and it’s one of those days when one feels super from within.

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer smashed a magnificent unbeaten 101 off 51 balls to power PBKS to a vital 7-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants. Discover how Iyer and coach Ricky Ponting reacted to the thrilling, must-win IPL 2026 chase.

‘I felt super from within’: Shreyas Iyer opens up on maiden IPL hundred, crucial win for PBKS

Has Rishabh Pant played his last game for his IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants? Perhaps. The LSG captain failed to guide his team into the top four, conceding 10 losses and winning just 4 matches, finishing 10th this season. They finished seventh last season and have lost 18 matches under Pant’s captaincy in total. Already playing with the baggage of the most expensive IPL player, Pant is feeling the heat. After his team’s seven-wicket loss against the Punjab Kings, LSG’s global director of cricket, Tom Moody, has hinted at a change in leadership.&nbsp;Lucknow had all the resources to make the playoffs this season, but poor leadership and the misfortune of not clicking as a unit led to this disaster.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-shreyas-iyer-s-century-keeps-pbks-playoff-hopes-alive-with-win-over-lsg-1779558491537">IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer’s century keeps PBKS’ playoff hopes alive with win over LSG</a> &nbsp;"From a captaincy point of view, you know, he's found it challenging, obviously, and the results reflect that," Moody said at the post-match presser.&nbsp; &nbsp;"And you do have to wonder whether that is a pressure that is reflected in his performance with the bat. I know that this season has been a difficult season for us, but we will reflect on it, we'll take time, we'll reflect on it. We'll consider all things,” he added. &nbsp;Moody was clearly, evidently and rightly unhappy with the team’s showing this season, adding that the board and the management would reconsider leadership heading into IPL 2027. Moreover, he also reflected on how the other departments failed to live up to the expectations.&nbsp; &nbsp;"But certainly, we haven't lived up to the expectation or the standard that we expect of ourselves. And certainly, when it comes to the leadership of the franchise, it's certainly something that we'll be taking some very serious consideration to, you know, what it looks like in the future. Like every department, when you do reflect on a season, we will be making some considered decisions, but it certainly looks like that we're needing to consider a reset,” Moody continued. &nbsp;Although Pant has had fantastic seasons with the bat earlier (2018 and 2019), his numbers and strike rate have dipped massively since joining LSG in 2025. The left-hander, who remains India’s Test batting mainstay, has accumulated 581 runs across two seasons, striking at 135.74. &nbsp;With Pant and LSG done with this forgettable season, it remains to be seen how long this marriage sustains. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Punjab beat Lucknow by seven wickets and two overs to spare to win their last league game and keep themselves afloat in the IPL 2026 playoff race.

Has Rishabh Pant played his last match for Lucknow Super Giants? Following a dismal IPL 2026 campaign, LSG director Tom Moody drops heavy hints pointing toward a major captaincy reset. Read the full post-match breakdown.

Has Rishabh Pant played his last game for his IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants? Perhaps. The LSG captain failed to guide his team into the top four, conceding 10 losses and winning just 4 matches, finishing 10th this season. They finished seventh last season and have lost 18 matches under Pant’s captaincy in total. Already playing with the baggage of the most expensive IPL player, Pant is feeling the heat. After his team’s seven-wicket loss against the Punjab Kings, LSG’s global director of cricket, Tom Moody, has hinted at a change in leadership. Lucknow had all the resources to make the playoffs this season, but poor leadership and the misfortune of not clicking as a unit led to this disaster. Also read | IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer’s century keeps PBKS’ playoff hopes alive with win over LSG "From a captaincy point of view, you know, he's found it challenging, obviously, and the results reflect that," Moody said at the post-match presser. "And you do have to wonder whether that is a pressure that is reflected in his performance with the bat. I know that this season has been a difficult season for us, but we will reflect on it, we'll take time, we'll reflect on it. We'll consider all things,” he added. Moody was clearly, evidently and rightly unhappy with the team’s showing this season, adding that the board and the management would reconsider leadership heading into IPL 2027. Moreover, he also reflected on how the other departments failed to live up to the expectations. "But certainly, we haven't lived up to the expectation or the standard that we expect of ourselves. And certainly, when it comes to the leadership of the franchise, it's certainly something that we'll be taking some very serious consideration to, you know, what it looks like in the future. Like every department, when you do reflect on a season, we will be making some considered decisions, but it certainly looks like that we're needing to consider a reset,” Moody continued. Although Pant has had fantastic seasons with the bat earlier (2018 and 2019), his numbers and strike rate have dipped massively since joining LSG in 2025. The left-hander, who remains India’s Test batting mainstay, has accumulated 581 runs across two seasons, striking at 135.74. With Pant and LSG done with this forgettable season, it remains to be seen how long this marriage sustains. Meanwhile, Punjab beat Lucknow by seven wickets and two overs to spare to win their last league game and keep themselves afloat in the IPL 2026 playoff race.

Has Rishabh Pant played his last match for Lucknow Super Giants? Following a dismal IPL 2026 campaign, LSG director Tom Moody drops heavy hints pointing toward a major captaincy reset. Read the full post-match breakdown.

Has Rishabh Pant played his last game for LSG? Moody hints at leadership overhaul after IPL 2026 debacle

Punjab Kings (PBKS) returned to winning ways in style, ending a run of six straight losses with a commanding seven-wicket triumph over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium on Saturday (May 23). The result keeps their playoff hopes alive and puts them in a strong position heading into the final phase of the tournament. The win was built on a strong all-round effort, as Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal claimed two wickets apiece to keep LSG to 196/6, despite a fighting 72 off 44 balls from Josh Inglis.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chasing the target, Prabhsimran Singh provided early momentum with a fluent 69 from just 39 deliveries before captain Shreyas Iyer took complete control and smashed an unbeaten 101 off 51 balls, his first IPL hundred, as Punjab sealed the chase comfortably before the 19th over.&nbsp;The win took Punjab Kings to 15 points from 14 league matches and lifted them back to fourth place in the standings.&nbsp;However, their playoff hopes now depend on other results, as Rajasthan Royals, currently on 14 points, will face Mumbai Indians on Sunday (May 24) and a victory for RR would take them to 16 points and secure the final playoff berth.&nbsp;Kolkata Knight Riders, who have 13 points, will play Delhi Capitals later in the day, are also still in contention if Rajasthan lose to Mumbai. In that scenario, PBKS and KKR could both finish on 15 points, making net run rate decisive in the race for the last knockout spot.&nbsp;Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans have already qualified for the playoffs.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/delhi-high-court-clears-wrestler-vinesh-phogat-for-asian-games-selection-trials-1779540834482">Delhi High Court clears wrestler Vinesh Phogat for Asian Games selection trials</a>&nbsp;Earlier in the match, useful contributions from Josh Inglis (72), Ayush Badoni (43) and Abdul Samad’s unbeaten 37 guided LSG to a competitive 196/6 in their 20 overs.&nbsp;Punjab Kings endured a shaky start to their chase of 197 as Mohammed Shami made an instant impact on his return, dismissing Priyansh Arya with the very first ball before trapping Cooper Connolly with a sharp swinging delivery.&nbsp;PBKS, however, bounced back through skipper Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh, who steady the innings and their aggressive approach helped Punjab recover to 65/2 at the end of the PowerPlay.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-weighs-major-rule-change-on-red-to-pink-ball-switch-in-tests-reports-1779531971965">ICC weighs major rule change on red to pink ball switch in Tests: Reports</a>&nbsp;Prabhsimran kept the scoreboard moving with confident strokeplay and reached his half-century in just 28 deliveries, including a 14-run over against Mohsin Khan. He then stitched together a 100-run stand with Shreyas in only 59 balls.&nbsp;&nbsp;Shreyas also brought up his sixth fifty of the season, all of them coming in run chases. Although Arjun Tendulkar, making his debut for LSG, eventually dismissed Prabhsimran, the PBKS captain carried on the charge and completed his century off the final ball of the chase to seal a comfortable victory for his side.

Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 101, following Prabhsimran Singh’s brisk 69, powered PBKS to a successful chase of 197 with two overs remaining as they climbed to fourth place in the standings.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) returned to winning ways in style, ending a run of six straight losses with a commanding seven-wicket triumph over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium on Saturday (May 23). The result keeps their playoff hopes alive and puts them in a strong position heading into the final phase of the tournament. The win was built on a strong all-round effort, as Marco Jansen and Yuzvendra Chahal claimed two wickets apiece to keep LSG to 196/6, despite a fighting 72 off 44 balls from Josh Inglis. Chasing the target, Prabhsimran Singh provided early momentum with a fluent 69 from just 39 deliveries before captain Shreyas Iyer took complete control and smashed an unbeaten 101 off 51 balls, his first IPL hundred, as Punjab sealed the chase comfortably before the 19th over. The win took Punjab Kings to 15 points from 14 league matches and lifted them back to fourth place in the standings. However, their playoff hopes now depend on other results, as Rajasthan Royals, currently on 14 points, will face Mumbai Indians on Sunday (May 24) and a victory for RR would take them to 16 points and secure the final playoff berth. Kolkata Knight Riders, who have 13 points, will play Delhi Capitals later in the day, are also still in contention if Rajasthan lose to Mumbai. In that scenario, PBKS and KKR could both finish on 15 points, making net run rate decisive in the race for the last knockout spot. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans have already qualified for the playoffs. Also Read - Delhi High Court clears wrestler Vinesh Phogat for Asian Games selection trials Earlier in the match, useful contributions from Josh Inglis (72), Ayush Badoni (43) and Abdul Samad’s unbeaten 37 guided LSG to a competitive 196/6 in their 20 overs. Punjab Kings endured a shaky start to their chase of 197 as Mohammed Shami made an instant impact on his return, dismissing Priyansh Arya with the very first ball before trapping Cooper Connolly with a sharp swinging delivery. PBKS, however, bounced back through skipper Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh, who steady the innings and their aggressive approach helped Punjab recover to 65/2 at the end of the PowerPlay. Also Read - ICC weighs major rule change on red to pink ball switch in Tests: Reports Prabhsimran kept the scoreboard moving with confident strokeplay and reached his half-century in just 28 deliveries, including a 14-run over against Mohsin Khan. He then stitched together a 100-run stand with Shreyas in only 59 balls. Shreyas also brought up his sixth fifty of the season, all of them coming in run chases. Although Arjun Tendulkar, making his debut for LSG, eventually dismissed Prabhsimran, the PBKS captain carried on the charge and completed his century off the final ball of the chase to seal a comfortable victory for his side.

Shreyas Iyer’s unbeaten 101, following Prabhsimran Singh’s brisk 69, powered PBKS to a successful chase of 197 with two overs remaining as they climbed to fourth place in the standings.

IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer’s century keeps PBKS’ playoff hopes alive with win over LSG

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly exploring a significant change to traditional Test cricket rules that could allow teams to switch from the red ball to the pink ball during weather-interrupted matches. The proposed move would make it possible for play to continue under floodlights, provided both sides agree to the change.&nbsp;As reported by Cricbuzz, the proposal was discussed during Thursday’s virtual meeting of the ICC Chief Executives Committee, attended by ICC Cricket Committee chairman Sourav Ganguly. Although the idea is still in the discussion phase, several practical aspects remain unresolved, particularly how and when the ball change would be implemented during an ongoing match.&nbsp;The weather disruptions have long been a challenge in Test cricket, a format heavily dependent on natural light and dry conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, in several parts of India, daylight begins fading as early as 4 pm during certain months, often forcing matches to end 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled close of play. This not only reduces the number of overs bowled but can also influence match outcomes and lower spectator interest.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-big-blow-for-lsg-as-star-batter-set-to-miss-pbks-clash-1779525664989">IPL 2026: Big blow for LSG as star batter set to miss PBKS clash</a>&nbsp;To address such issues, the pink-ball format was introduced for day-night Tests, enabling games to continue under floodlights in the same way as ODI and T20 matches played with the white ball.&nbsp;&nbsp;Initially promoted as a way to attract modern working audiences with more viewer-friendly timings, the popularity of day-night Tests has declined somewhat in recent years.&nbsp;Also Read -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-rajat-patidar-scripts-history-becomes-fastest-indian-to-achieve-this-milestone-1779520795921"> Rajat Patidar scripts history, becomes fastest Indian to achieve THIS milestone</a><h3>How the red ball differs from the pink ball</h3>The main difference between red and pink Test balls lies in how they are manufactured to suit different playing conditions, which affects their behavior on the pitch. Red balls are coated with wax, helping them generate conventional swing early in an innings and later developing roughness that assists reverse swing as the game progresses, however, they can become harder to see under floodlights.&nbsp;Pink balls, on the other hand, are specifically manufactured for day-night cricket and feature additional layers of pigment and lacquer to improve visibility under flood lights. The heavier lacquer coating and more prominent seam often cause the ball to swing and seam more sharply for extended periods, while also making it travel quicker off the pitch under lights.

The ICC is reportedly exploring a potential rule change that would allow a switch from the red ball to the pink ball during a Test match, a move that could significantly transform the future of Test cricket.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly exploring a significant change to traditional Test cricket rules that could allow teams to switch from the red ball to the pink ball during weather-interrupted matches. The proposed move would make it possible for play to continue under floodlights, provided both sides agree to the change. As reported by Cricbuzz, the proposal was discussed during Thursday’s virtual meeting of the ICC Chief Executives Committee, attended by ICC Cricket Committee chairman Sourav Ganguly. Although the idea is still in the discussion phase, several practical aspects remain unresolved, particularly how and when the ball change would be implemented during an ongoing match. The weather disruptions have long been a challenge in Test cricket, a format heavily dependent on natural light and dry conditions. For example, in several parts of India, daylight begins fading as early as 4 pm during certain months, often forcing matches to end 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled close of play. This not only reduces the number of overs bowled but can also influence match outcomes and lower spectator interest. Also Read - IPL 2026: Big blow for LSG as star batter set to miss PBKS clash To address such issues, the pink-ball format was introduced for day-night Tests, enabling games to continue under floodlights in the same way as ODI and T20 matches played with the white ball. Initially promoted as a way to attract modern working audiences with more viewer-friendly timings, the popularity of day-night Tests has declined somewhat in recent years. Also Read - Rajat Patidar scripts history, becomes fastest Indian to achieve THIS milestone How the red ball differs from the pink ball The main difference between red and pink Test balls lies in how they are manufactured to suit different playing conditions, which affects their behavior on the pitch. Red balls are coated with wax, helping them generate conventional swing early in an innings and later developing roughness that assists reverse swing as the game progresses, however, they can become harder to see under floodlights. Pink balls, on the other hand, are specifically manufactured for day-night cricket and feature additional layers of pigment and lacquer to improve visibility under flood lights. The heavier lacquer coating and more prominent seam often cause the ball to swing and seam more sharply for extended periods, while also making it travel quicker off the pitch under lights.

The ICC is reportedly exploring a potential rule change that would allow a switch from the red ball to the pink ball during a Test match, a move that could significantly transform the future of Test cricket.

ICC weighs major rule change on red to pink ball switch in Tests: Reports

Mumbai Indians will host Rajasthan Royals in match 69 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (May 24). Rajasthan Royals have played 13 matches so far, winning seven and losing six and are currently fourth on the points table with 14 points. Mumbai Indians have also played 13 matches, winning four and losing nine and are placed ninth in the standings. Rajasthan will look to maintain their winning momentum, while Mumbai aim to bounce back with a victory. The match is crucial for RR as they need a convincing win to secure the fourth and final spot in the playoffs.&nbsp;Ahead of the clash, here’s everything you need to know, including live streaming details, head-to-head stats and other key information.&nbsp;<h2>What is the head-to-head record for the MI vs RR clash in IPL history</h2>Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals have clashed 32 times in the Indian Premier League, with MI winning 16 matches and RR claiming victory in 15 encounters. One match ended without a result.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-rajat-patidar-scripts-history-becomes-fastest-indian-to-achieve-this-milestone-1779520795921">Rajat Patidar scripts history, becomes fastest Indian to achieve THIS milestone</a><h2>What is the venue for the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69?</h2>The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will be the venue for the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69.<h2>When will the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69?</h2>The MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69 will start at 3:30 p.m. IST, with the toss taking place at 3:00 p.m. IST.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-virat-kohli-snubs-handshake-with-travis-head-moment-goes-viral-watch-1779519114549">IPL 2026: Kohli snubs handshake with Travis Head, moment goes viral - WATCH</a><h2>Which channel will broadcast the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69?</h2>The Star Sports Network will broadcast the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69 in India.<h2>Which platform will live-stream the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69?</h2>The Jio+Hotstar will live-stream the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69 in India.<h2>Squads</h2>Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Danish Malewar, Robin Minz (wk), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Atharva Ankolekar, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Will Jacks, Mayank Rawat, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Tilak Varma, Ashwani Kumar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, AM Ghazanfar, Mayank Markande, Mohammad Izhar and Raghu Sharma&nbsp;Rajasthan Royals: Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Riyan Parag (captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, Sandeep Sharma, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, Ravi Singh, Aman Rao Perala, Adam Milne, Dasun Shanaka, Shubham Dubey, Vignesh Puthur, Kuldeep Sen and Brijesh Sharma

Ahead of the key IPL 2026 clash between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals, here’s everything you need to know, including live streaming, head-to-head stats and other important details.

Mumbai Indians will host Rajasthan Royals in match 69 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Sunday (May 24). Rajasthan Royals have played 13 matches so far, winning seven and losing six and are currently fourth on the points table with 14 points. Mumbai Indians have also played 13 matches, winning four and losing nine and are placed ninth in the standings. Rajasthan will look to maintain their winning momentum, while Mumbai aim to bounce back with a victory. The match is crucial for RR as they need a convincing win to secure the fourth and final spot in the playoffs. Ahead of the clash, here’s everything you need to know, including live streaming details, head-to-head stats and other key information. What is the head-to-head record for the MI vs RR clash in IPL history Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals have clashed 32 times in the Indian Premier League, with MI winning 16 matches and RR claiming victory in 15 encounters. One match ended without a result. Also Read - Rajat Patidar scripts history, becomes fastest Indian to achieve THIS milestone What is the venue for the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69? The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai will be the venue for the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69. When will the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69? The MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69 will start at 3:30 p.m. IST, with the toss taking place at 3:00 p.m. IST. Also Read - IPL 2026: Kohli snubs handshake with Travis Head, moment goes viral - WATCH Which channel will broadcast the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69? The Star Sports Network will broadcast the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69 in India. Which platform will live-stream the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69? The Jio+Hotstar will live-stream the MI vs RR IPL 2026 Match No.69 in India. Squads Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Danish Malewar, Robin Minz (wk), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Atharva Ankolekar, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Will Jacks, Mayank Rawat, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Tilak Varma, Ashwani Kumar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, AM Ghazanfar, Mayank Markande, Mohammad Izhar and Raghu Sharma Rajasthan Royals: Shimron Hetmyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Riyan Parag (captain), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Tushar Deshpande, Kwena Maphaka, Sandeep Sharma, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Ravi Bishnoi, Sushant Mishra, Ravi Singh, Aman Rao Perala, Adam Milne, Dasun Shanaka, Shubham Dubey, Vignesh Puthur, Kuldeep Sen and Brijesh Sharma

Ahead of the key IPL 2026 clash between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals, here’s everything you need to know, including live streaming, head-to-head stats and other important details.

IPL 2026: Here's all you need to know about MI vs RR match no 69 timing, squad, H2H & more

Lucknow Super Giants have reportedly been dealt a major setback ahead of their IPL 2026 home clash against Punjab Kings, as star Australian batter Mitchell Marsh is set to miss the encounter. While the match is a dead rubber for LSG, who are already out of playoff contention, Punjab Kings must secure a victory to keep their qualification hopes alive.&nbsp;As per reports from ESPNcricinfo, Marsh will not be available for the fixture, although the exact reason for his absence has not been disclosed. The 34-year-old has been one of the few positives for LSG in an otherwise disappointing campaign, as the franchise has again failed to make it to the playoffs.&nbsp;Marsh has amassed 563 runs in 13 innings, including two hundreds and three fifties, making him LSG’s highest run-scorer this season. Captain Rishabh Pant is the franchise’s next-best batter with 286 runs from 12 innings, almost half of Marsh’s tally.&nbsp;Now, with Aiden Markram and Matthew Breetzke also unavailable, LSG are expected to reshuffle their opening combination against Punjab Kings. The likely candidates to replace Marsh at the top include skipper Rishabh Pant, Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-rajat-patidar-scripts-history-becomes-fastest-indian-to-achieve-this-milestone-1779520795921">IPL 2026: Rajat Patidar scripts history, becomes fastest Indian to achieve THIS milestone</a>&nbsp;Pant appears to be the leading option despite having opened in only six IPL innings, where he has scored 132 runs, including a highest score of 69. His most recent outing as an opener for LSG came against Delhi Capitals on 1 Apr, 2026, where he managed just seven runs. Prior to that, he scored 21 against Gujarat Titans in Lucknow during the 2025 season.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-virat-kohli-snubs-handshake-with-travis-head-moment-goes-viral-watch-1779519114549">IPL 2026: Kohli snubs handshake with Travis Head, moment goes viral - WATCH</a>&nbsp;Badoni is another alternative under consideration, although his record as an opener has been modest. In three innings at the top, he has scored only 39 runs and his last appearance in the role came against Rajasthan Royals, where he was dismissed for a duck, while he scored 35 against Punjab Kings on Apr 19.&nbsp;Nicholas Pooran, meanwhile, has never opened the batting in the IPL, making his promotion a potentially bold move if LSG choose to go in that direction.

Mitchell Marsh will be unavailable for the clash against PBKS, forcing LSG to look for a new opening partner for Josh Inglis in the upcoming IPL 2026 match.

Lucknow Super Giants have reportedly been dealt a major setback ahead of their IPL 2026 home clash against Punjab Kings, as star Australian batter Mitchell Marsh is set to miss the encounter. While the match is a dead rubber for LSG, who are already out of playoff contention, Punjab Kings must secure a victory to keep their qualification hopes alive. As per reports from ESPNcricinfo, Marsh will not be available for the fixture, although the exact reason for his absence has not been disclosed. The 34-year-old has been one of the few positives for LSG in an otherwise disappointing campaign, as the franchise has again failed to make it to the playoffs. Marsh has amassed 563 runs in 13 innings, including two hundreds and three fifties, making him LSG’s highest run-scorer this season. Captain Rishabh Pant is the franchise’s next-best batter with 286 runs from 12 innings, almost half of Marsh’s tally. Now, with Aiden Markram and Matthew Breetzke also unavailable, LSG are expected to reshuffle their opening combination against Punjab Kings. The likely candidates to replace Marsh at the top include skipper Rishabh Pant, Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran. Also Read - IPL 2026: Rajat Patidar scripts history, becomes fastest Indian to achieve THIS milestone Pant appears to be the leading option despite having opened in only six IPL innings, where he has scored 132 runs, including a highest score of 69. His most recent outing as an opener for LSG came against Delhi Capitals on 1 Apr, 2026, where he managed just seven runs. Prior to that, he scored 21 against Gujarat Titans in Lucknow during the 2025 season. Also Read - IPL 2026: Kohli snubs handshake with Travis Head, moment goes viral - WATCH Badoni is another alternative under consideration, although his record as an opener has been modest. In three innings at the top, he has scored only 39 runs and his last appearance in the role came against Rajasthan Royals, where he was dismissed for a duck, while he scored 35 against Punjab Kings on Apr 19. Nicholas Pooran, meanwhile, has never opened the batting in the IPL, making his promotion a potentially bold move if LSG choose to go in that direction.

Mitchell Marsh will be unavailable for the clash against PBKS, forcing LSG to look for a new opening partner for Josh Inglis in the upcoming IPL 2026 match.

IPL 2026: Big blow for LSG as star batter set to miss PBKS clash

From Chris Gayle to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, here's a look at the top five batters with most sixes in an IPL season. This list also includes Andre Russell and Jos Buttler.

From Chris Gayle to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, here's a look at the top five batters with most sixes in an IPL season. This list also includes Andre Russell and Jos Buttler.

Meet top 5 batters with most sixes in an IPL season ft. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Rajat Patidar delivered a fighting knock of 56 off 39 balls for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday (May 22), striking six boundaries and one maximum despite RCB’s 55-run defeat. The lone six during his innings proved to be a milestone moment, as Patidar completed 100 sixes in the IPL. In doing so, he became the fastest Indian batter to reach the landmark in terms of balls faced.&nbsp;As per Cricbuzz, Patidar needed only 933 deliveries to bring up his 100th IPL six. The earlier Indian record belonged to Shivam Dube, who achieved the feat in 992 balls.&nbsp;The overall IPL record, however, remains with Andre Russell, representing both Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, the explosive all-rounder raced to 100 sixes in just 657 deliveries.<h3>Fewest balls taken to reach 100 IPL sixes</h3><ul><li>Andre Russell (Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders) - 657 balls</li><li>Nicholas Pooran (Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, LSG) - 884 balls</li><li>Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) - 933 balls</li><li>Chris Gayle (KKR, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings) - 943 balls</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-kkr-suffer-major-blow-as-angkrish-raghuvanshi-is-ruled-out-ahead-of-crucial-dc-clash-1779461013451">KKR suffer major blow as Angkrish Raghuvanshi is ruled out of IPL 2026</a>&nbsp;In IPL 2026, Patidar has been among RCB’s standout performers, accumulating 393 runs so far and emerging as the franchise’s third-leading run-scorer this season. He is now only the second Indian batter and the fourth overall to smash 100 or more IPL sixes for the Bengaluru franchise.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-virat-kohli-snubs-handshake-with-travis-head-moment-goes-viral-watch-1779519114549">IPL 2026: Virat Kohli snubs handshake with Travis Head, moment goes viral - WATCH</a>&nbsp;Since debuting in the IPL in 2021, Patidar has featured in 55 matches for RCB and has already reached the century mark in sixes.&nbsp;The franchise record for most IPL sixes still belongs to Virat Kohli, who has cleared the ropes 312 times in 281 matches across 19 seasons for RCB. Kohli is also the first cricketer in T20 history to register 300 sixes for a single team.&nbsp;Behind Kohli on RCB’s all-time six-hitters list are Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, Gayle smashed 239 sixes in 85 IPL appearances for the franchise between 2011 and 2017, while De Villiers struck 238 maximums in 156 matches from 2011 to 2021.

Rajat Patidar made history on Friday (May 22) by becoming the fastest Indian batter to reach 100 sixes in IPL history.

Rajat Patidar delivered a fighting knock of 56 off 39 balls for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday (May 22), striking six boundaries and one maximum despite RCB’s 55-run defeat. The lone six during his innings proved to be a milestone moment, as Patidar completed 100 sixes in the IPL. In doing so, he became the fastest Indian batter to reach the landmark in terms of balls faced. As per Cricbuzz, Patidar needed only 933 deliveries to bring up his 100th IPL six. The earlier Indian record belonged to Shivam Dube, who achieved the feat in 992 balls. The overall IPL record, however, remains with Andre Russell, representing both Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, the explosive all-rounder raced to 100 sixes in just 657 deliveries. Fewest balls taken to reach 100 IPL sixes Andre Russell (Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders) - 657 balls Nicholas Pooran (Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, LSG) - 884 balls Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) - 933 balls Chris Gayle (KKR, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings) - 943 balls Also Read - KKR suffer major blow as Angkrish Raghuvanshi is ruled out of IPL 2026 In IPL 2026, Patidar has been among RCB’s standout performers, accumulating 393 runs so far and emerging as the franchise’s third-leading run-scorer this season. He is now only the second Indian batter and the fourth overall to smash 100 or more IPL sixes for the Bengaluru franchise. Also Read - IPL 2026: Virat Kohli snubs handshake with Travis Head, moment goes viral - WATCH Since debuting in the IPL in 2021, Patidar has featured in 55 matches for RCB and has already reached the century mark in sixes. The franchise record for most IPL sixes still belongs to Virat Kohli, who has cleared the ropes 312 times in 281 matches across 19 seasons for RCB. Kohli is also the first cricketer in T20 history to register 300 sixes for a single team. Behind Kohli on RCB’s all-time six-hitters list are Chris Gayle and AB de Villiers, Gayle smashed 239 sixes in 85 IPL appearances for the franchise between 2011 and 2017, while De Villiers struck 238 maximums in 156 matches from 2011 to 2021.

Rajat Patidar made history on Friday (May 22) by becoming the fastest Indian batter to reach 100 sixes in IPL history.

IPL 2026: Rajat Patidar scripts history, becomes fastest Indian to achieve THIS milestone

Virat Kohli and Travis Head were seen involved in a brief verbal exchange during IPL 2026 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday (May 22), where SRH secured a commanding 55-run victory. Kohli endured a disappointing outing with the bat, scoring just 15 runs from 11 deliveries, including two boundaries, before falling to Saik Hussain on the second-last ball of the sixth over.&nbsp;&nbsp;The incident unfolded during RCB’s chase of 256 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, while Venkatesh Iyer was attacking the SRH bowling attack, television cameras captured Kohli and Head exchanging a few words on the field.&nbsp;A charged-up Kohli appeared to gesture toward Head to take up bowling duties, while also mimicking the “Impact Sub” signal, seemingly referencing SRH’s strategy of deploying the Australian primarily as a batter before replacing him with a specialist bowler during the fielding innings.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-made-a-big-difference-in-my-growth-devdutt-padikkal-on-batting-with-virat-kohli-1779454602452">'Made a big difference in my growth': Devdutt Padikkal on batting with Kohli</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ViratKohli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ViratKohli</a> 🆚 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TravisHead?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TravisHead</a> 🥵🤯 Tensions rise in high voltage clash🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> Race to Playoffs 2026 👉 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SRHvRCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SRHvRCB</a> | LIVE NOW ➡️<a href="https://t.co/52qPTW2gSO">https://t.co/52qPTW2gSO</a> <a href="https://t.co/JOiWaxNW6T">pic.twitter.com/JOiWaxNW6T</a>&mdash; Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/StarSportsIndia/status/2057868461070819593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The interaction appeared to carry over after the game, as during the customary post-match greetings, Kohli was seen walking past Head without shaking hands, despite interacting with several other SRH players, leaving the opener waiting for a handshake.&nbsp;Watch the video below

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Uncomfortable to watch extreme bad behavior by a man of such stature didn’t expect this from Virat Kohli <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SRHvsRCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SRHvsRCB</a> <a href="https://t.co/cTfMV9RuDD">pic.twitter.com/cTfMV9RuDD</a>&mdash; AVNISH 🇮🇳 (@avnishh26) <a href="https://twitter.com/avnishh26/status/2057895119467245903?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

However, the evening belonged to SRH, whose explosive batting display laid the foundation for a huge total before their bowlers comfortably defended it.&nbsp;Despite the loss, RCB achieved a crucial objective by retaining the top spot in the league table. Finishing first guarantees them a place in Qualifier 1, giving them two opportunities to reach the IPL 2026 Final.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-kkr-suffer-major-blow-as-angkrish-raghuvanshi-is-ruled-out-ahead-of-crucial-dc-clash-1779461013451">KKR suffer major blow as Angkrish Raghuvanshi is ruled out of IPL 2026</a>&nbsp;RCB also managed the impact on their net run rate by ending their chase at 200/4, which kept them ahead of second-placed Gujarat Titans and third-placed SRH, with all three sides level on points.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the battle for the final playoff berth remains intense, as Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals are still competing for the fourth and final playoff spot.

The SRH vs RCB clash in IPL 2026 ended on a controversial note as Virat Kohli appeared to avoid a customary handshake with Travis Head in Hyderabad.

Virat Kohli and Travis Head were seen involved in a brief verbal exchange during IPL 2026 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday (May 22), where SRH secured a commanding 55-run victory. Kohli endured a disappointing outing with the bat, scoring just 15 runs from 11 deliveries, including two boundaries, before falling to Saik Hussain on the second-last ball of the sixth over. The incident unfolded during RCB’s chase of 256 at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, while Venkatesh Iyer was attacking the SRH bowling attack, television cameras captured Kohli and Head exchanging a few words on the field. A charged-up Kohli appeared to gesture toward Head to take up bowling duties, while also mimicking the “Impact Sub” signal, seemingly referencing SRH’s strategy of deploying the Australian primarily as a batter before replacing him with a specialist bowler during the fielding innings. Also Read - 'Made a big difference in my growth': Devdutt Padikkal on batting with Kohli

The SRH vs RCB clash in IPL 2026 ended on a controversial note as Virat Kohli appeared to avoid a customary handshake with Travis Head in Hyderabad.

IPL 2026: Virat Kohli snubs handshake with Travis Head, moment goes viral - WATCH

Sunrisers Hyderabad ended their IPL 2026 league stage with a dominant 55-run win over defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday (May 22), but still fell short of a top-two finish due to inferior net run rate. Batting first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, SRH posted a massive 255/4 in 20 overs after skipper Pat Cummins opted to set a target. However, they needed a win by around 90 runs to overtake RCB on net run rate, a target they ultimately fell short of.&nbsp;Earlier, SRH innings got off to a trademark explosive start as Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head raced to 45 runs inside four overs. Head struck 26 off 16 balls before being dismissed by Rasikh Salam.&nbsp;Ishan Kishan then joined Abhishek at the crease and the pair stitched together a brisk 52-run stand for the second wicket. Abhishek continued his aggressive approach to bring up a rapid half-century before falling to Suyash Sharma for a brilliant 56 off just 22 deliveries.&nbsp;Kishan carried the momentum forward alongside Heinrich Klaasen, with the duo adding a destructive 113-run partnership. Both batters crossed the fifty-run mark during the stand before Klaasen was eventually dismissed by Krunal Pandya after hammering 51 from 24 balls.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-kkr-suffer-major-blow-as-angkrish-raghuvanshi-is-ruled-out-ahead-of-crucial-dc-clash-1779461013451">KKR suffer major blow as Angkrish Raghuvanshi is ruled out of IPL 2026</a>&nbsp;Kishan remained unbeaten on 79 off 46 deliveries, while Nitish Kumar Reddy provided a late quick contribution with 29 from just 12 balls, guiding SRH to their imposing total.&nbsp;In chasing, RCB’s opening pair of Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer started the chase aggressively, putting together a 60-run opening stand. Iyer played the attacking role with a quick 44 before Eshan Malinga struck to break the partnership.&nbsp;Kohli departed soon after for 15 off 11 balls, dismissed by Shakib Hussain, while Devdutt Padikkal contributed 21 off 14 deliveries before Malinga claimed another wicket.&nbsp;RCB captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya attempted to revive the chase with a solid partnership. Patidar brought up a fighting half-century, scoring 56 off 39 balls, while Krunal chipped in with 41.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-made-a-big-difference-in-my-growth-devdutt-padikkal-on-batting-with-virat-kohli-1779454602452">'Made a big difference in my growth': Devdutt Padikkal on batting with Kohli</a>&nbsp;Patidar’s dismissal at the hands of Travis Head effectively ended RCB’s hopes and despite an unbeaten 15 from Tim David, Bengaluru finished on 200, falling 55 runs short. &nbsp;Although SRH concluded the league phase level on 18 points with both RCB and Gujarat Titans, their lower net run rate meant they finished third in the standings. As a result, Cummins and his side will now play the Eliminator on Wednesday (May 27) in New Chandigarh, while Qualifier 1 between RCB and Gujarat Titans is scheduled for Tuesday (May 26) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.

Despite defeating Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their final league match of IPL 2026 on Friday (May 22), Sunrisers Hyderabad missed out on a top-two finish and will now feature in the Eliminator.

Sunrisers Hyderabad ended their IPL 2026 league stage with a dominant 55-run win over defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday (May 22), but still fell short of a top-two finish due to inferior net run rate. Batting first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, SRH posted a massive 255/4 in 20 overs after skipper Pat Cummins opted to set a target. However, they needed a win by around 90 runs to overtake RCB on net run rate, a target they ultimately fell short of. Earlier, SRH innings got off to a trademark explosive start as Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head raced to 45 runs inside four overs. Head struck 26 off 16 balls before being dismissed by Rasikh Salam. Ishan Kishan then joined Abhishek at the crease and the pair stitched together a brisk 52-run stand for the second wicket. Abhishek continued his aggressive approach to bring up a rapid half-century before falling to Suyash Sharma for a brilliant 56 off just 22 deliveries. Kishan carried the momentum forward alongside Heinrich Klaasen, with the duo adding a destructive 113-run partnership. Both batters crossed the fifty-run mark during the stand before Klaasen was eventually dismissed by Krunal Pandya after hammering 51 from 24 balls. Also Read - KKR suffer major blow as Angkrish Raghuvanshi is ruled out of IPL 2026 Kishan remained unbeaten on 79 off 46 deliveries, while Nitish Kumar Reddy provided a late quick contribution with 29 from just 12 balls, guiding SRH to their imposing total. In chasing, RCB’s opening pair of Virat Kohli and Venkatesh Iyer started the chase aggressively, putting together a 60-run opening stand. Iyer played the attacking role with a quick 44 before Eshan Malinga struck to break the partnership. Kohli departed soon after for 15 off 11 balls, dismissed by Shakib Hussain, while Devdutt Padikkal contributed 21 off 14 deliveries before Malinga claimed another wicket. RCB captain Rajat Patidar and Krunal Pandya attempted to revive the chase with a solid partnership. Patidar brought up a fighting half-century, scoring 56 off 39 balls, while Krunal chipped in with 41. Also Read - 'Made a big difference in my growth': Devdutt Padikkal on batting with Kohli Patidar’s dismissal at the hands of Travis Head effectively ended RCB’s hopes and despite an unbeaten 15 from Tim David, Bengaluru finished on 200, falling 55 runs short. Although SRH concluded the league phase level on 18 points with both RCB and Gujarat Titans, their lower net run rate meant they finished third in the standings. As a result, Cummins and his side will now play the Eliminator on Wednesday (May 27) in New Chandigarh, while Qualifier 1 between RCB and Gujarat Titans is scheduled for Tuesday (May 26) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.

Despite defeating Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their final league match of IPL 2026 on Friday (May 22), Sunrisers Hyderabad missed out on a top-two finish and will now feature in the Eliminator.

IPL 2026 | Sunrisers Hyderabad secure 55-run win over RCB, set for Eliminator clash on May 27

Kolkata Knight Riders batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been ruled out for the rest of the IPL 2026 season after suffering a fracture in a finger on his left hand. The franchise confirmed that the injury occurred during Wednesday’s clash against the Mumbai Indians.The 21-year-old, who was behind the stumps during the game, was injured while attempting a catch off Varun Chakaravarthy’s bowling.&nbsp;&nbsp;A mix-up between the two players led to a collision as both went for the same chance, although Chakaravarthy initially got his hands to the ball, late contact from Raghuvanshi caused the catch to go down.&nbsp;Raghuvanshi walked off the field shortly after the incident and was later spotted wearing a hand brace. KKR also revealed that he had suffered a concussion, prompting the team to bring in Tejasvi Dahiya as a substitute, handing him both his wicketkeeping and batting debut for the side.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-made-a-big-difference-in-my-growth-devdutt-padikkal-on-batting-with-virat-kohli-1779454602452">'Made a big difference in my growth': Devdutt Padikkal on batting with Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;Speaking after the match, KKR assistant coach Shane Watson said the youngster experienced neck pain, dizziness and headaches following the heavy collision.&nbsp;“Ankrish, unfortunately, ran a long way to be able to try and get that catch. And unfortunately, the collision that he had with Varun Chakravarthy meant that he ended up having some neck pain, a bit of dizziness and a bit of a headache within a couple of overs of that as well," KKR assistant coach Shane Watson said after the match.&nbsp;“So, unfortunately, he wasn’t able to finish off the game. And I know how desperate he was as well. He’s someone who is as tough a competitor as I’ve ever met. So we certainly missed him from a batting perspective," he added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pep-guardiola-to-step-down-as-manager-at-end-of-the-season-confirms-manchester-city-1779455266890">Guardiola to step down as manager at end of the season, confirms Manchester City</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, KKR have just one league-stage fixture remaining, Sunday’s encounter against the Delhi Capitals. Their playoff hopes are still uncertain and could depend on the outcome of the match between the Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians earlier that day.&nbsp;Raghuvanshi’s absence could prove significant if KKR manage to qualify for the next stage. The right-hander has been one of the side’s most reliable performers this season, scoring 422 runs in 12 innings at an average of 42.20 and an impressive strike rate of 146.52.

KKR batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2026 after suffering a fracture to a finger on his left hand during the previous match against Mumbai Indians.

Kolkata Knight Riders batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been ruled out for the rest of the IPL 2026 season after suffering a fracture in a finger on his left hand. The franchise confirmed that the injury occurred during Wednesday’s clash against the Mumbai Indians. The 21-year-old, who was behind the stumps during the game, was injured while attempting a catch off Varun Chakaravarthy’s bowling. A mix-up between the two players led to a collision as both went for the same chance, although Chakaravarthy initially got his hands to the ball, late contact from Raghuvanshi caused the catch to go down. Raghuvanshi walked off the field shortly after the incident and was later spotted wearing a hand brace. KKR also revealed that he had suffered a concussion, prompting the team to bring in Tejasvi Dahiya as a substitute, handing him both his wicketkeeping and batting debut for the side. Also Read - 'Made a big difference in my growth': Devdutt Padikkal on batting with Virat Kohli Speaking after the match, KKR assistant coach Shane Watson said the youngster experienced neck pain, dizziness and headaches following the heavy collision. “Ankrish, unfortunately, ran a long way to be able to try and get that catch. And unfortunately, the collision that he had with Varun Chakravarthy meant that he ended up having some neck pain, a bit of dizziness and a bit of a headache within a couple of overs of that as well," KKR assistant coach Shane Watson said after the match. “So, unfortunately, he wasn’t able to finish off the game. And I know how desperate he was as well. He’s someone who is as tough a competitor as I’ve ever met. So we certainly missed him from a batting perspective," he added. Also Read - Guardiola to step down as manager at end of the season, confirms Manchester City Meanwhile, KKR have just one league-stage fixture remaining, Sunday’s encounter against the Delhi Capitals. Their playoff hopes are still uncertain and could depend on the outcome of the match between the Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians earlier that day. Raghuvanshi’s absence could prove significant if KKR manage to qualify for the next stage. The right-hander has been one of the side’s most reliable performers this season, scoring 422 runs in 12 innings at an average of 42.20 and an impressive strike rate of 146.52.

KKR batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2026 after suffering a fracture to a finger on his left hand during the previous match against Mumbai Indians.

IPL 2026 | KKR suffer major blow as Angkrish Raghuvanshi is ruled out ahead of crucial DC clash

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have enjoyed an outstanding run in the current edition of the Indian Premier League. Heading into the final phase of the league stage, RCB sit comfortably at the top of the points table and have already secured a place in the knockouts. Ahead of the team’s last group-stage fixture, star batter Devdutt Padikkal reflected on his early days with the franchise and the valuable lessons he learned from batting alongside veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli.&nbsp;Speaking on JioHotstar, Padikkal said that he felt fully prepared when he made his IPL debut for RCB in 2020, thanks to consistent performances in domestic cricket. He added that sharing the crease with Kohli played a major role in his development, as observing one of the game’s finest players helped him better understand how to pace and build an innings.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Padikkal, those experiences significantly contributed to his growth as a batter.&nbsp;&nbsp;"When I made my IPL debut with RCB in the 2020 season, I felt ready. I had a solid run of scores in domestic cricket behind me. So, I knew that when my chance came, I would be fully switched on and give 100 per cent. And batting with Virat Kohli, one of the greatest in the game, was a huge help. At that age, watching him build an innings gave me so much clarity and understanding of how to construct a knock. That made a big difference in my growth,” said Padikkal.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pep-guardiola-to-step-down-as-manager-at-end-of-the-season-confirms-manchester-city-1779455266890">Pep Guardiola to step down as manager at end of the season, confirms Manchester City</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad in their final league-stage match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on May 22 in the 67th match of the season.&nbsp;&nbsp;Although both teams have already booked their spots in the playoffs, Hyderabad still have an chance of finishing at the top of the standings, which would require a dominant victory over the defending champions.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru star batter Devdutt Padikkal highlighted his experience of batting alongside veteran Virat Kohli, saying it has played a key role in his growth and success in his career.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have enjoyed an outstanding run in the current edition of the Indian Premier League. Heading into the final phase of the league stage, RCB sit comfortably at the top of the points table and have already secured a place in the knockouts. Ahead of the team’s last group-stage fixture, star batter Devdutt Padikkal reflected on his early days with the franchise and the valuable lessons he learned from batting alongside veteran Indian batter Virat Kohli. Speaking on JioHotstar, Padikkal said that he felt fully prepared when he made his IPL debut for RCB in 2020, thanks to consistent performances in domestic cricket. He added that sharing the crease with Kohli played a major role in his development, as observing one of the game’s finest players helped him better understand how to pace and build an innings. According to Padikkal, those experiences significantly contributed to his growth as a batter. "When I made my IPL debut with RCB in the 2020 season, I felt ready. I had a solid run of scores in domestic cricket behind me. So, I knew that when my chance came, I would be fully switched on and give 100 per cent. And batting with Virat Kohli, one of the greatest in the game, was a huge help. At that age, watching him build an innings gave me so much clarity and understanding of how to construct a knock. That made a big difference in my growth,” said Padikkal. Also Read - Pep Guardiola to step down as manager at end of the season, confirms Manchester City Meanwhile, Royal Challengers Bengaluru are set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad in their final league-stage match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on May 22 in the 67th match of the season. Although both teams have already booked their spots in the playoffs, Hyderabad still have an chance of finishing at the top of the standings, which would require a dominant victory over the defending champions.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru star batter Devdutt Padikkal highlighted his experience of batting alongside veteran Virat Kohli, saying it has played a key role in his growth and success in his career.

'Made a big difference in my growth': Devdutt Padikkal on batting with Virat Kohli

From Chris Gayle to Babar Azam, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 6,000 runs in T20s. This list also includes KL Rahul, Devon Conway and Shaun Marsh.

From Chris Gayle to Babar Azam, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 6,000 runs in T20s. This list also includes KL Rahul, Devon Conway and Shaun Marsh.

Meet top 5 batters fastest to 6,000 T20 Runs

For the first time in the history of the Indian Premier League, spanning 19 editions, MS Dhoni did not feature in a single match throughout the season. His absence proved costly for Chennai Super Kings, who were eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoff race on Thursday (May 21) after a crushing 89-run defeat to Gujarat Titans. Following the end of CSK’s campaign, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad addressed speculation surrounding Dhoni’s future with the team. Speaking after the match, Gaikwad said there is still no clarity on whether Dhoni will return for the 2027 season and added that everyone, including himself, would only learn about Dhoni’s decision next year.&nbsp;“Will we see MS Dhoni next season? Obviously you will get to know it next year (2027) itself. Even I’ll get to know it next year itself," Gaikwad said.&nbsp;Gaikwad also admitted that CSK felt the absence of the veteran wicketkeeper-batter throughout the season and explained that Dhoni’s presence alone creates pressure on opponents, particularly during the closing overs, where he has the ability to shift momentum and change the outcome of matches.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Obviously, it’s a hard, hard miss for us definitely. He’s someone who can, have a fear in the opposition, especially coming in those late overs. Can really change the game, can really change the momentum just by staying at the crease. So, he’s someone, definitely we missed a lot this season. But, I mean, we never know about next season, but obviously really happy with the guys we had and, really happy with the experience they got this year," he added.&nbsp;In the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League, CSK finished their campaign with six wins and eight losses.&nbsp;&nbsp;Reflecting on the team’s overall performance, Gaikwad pointed to injuries suffered by key all-rounders Jamie Overton and Ramakrishna Ghosh as major setbacks that disrupted the balance of the playing XI.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-bcci-penalises-ruturaj-gaikwad-after-chennai-super-kings-elimination-here-s-why-1779442411344">IPL 2026 | BCCI penalises Ruturaj Gaikwad after CSK's elimination - Here’s why</a>&nbsp;According to him, the team struggled to maintain the right combination in the final few games, often entering matches either short on batting depth or bowling options.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Well, tough season to start, especially the hat-trick of losses. And then after that, once we found that momentum, obviously we found guys playing at the right spot, the right combination, everything started working. And then obviously, a couple of injuries again and again. Didn’t really help much, especially missing out Jamie (Overton) and another all-rounder in Ramakrishna Ghosh, kind of unsettled our playing 12. We were always playing a batter short or, playing a bowler short in whatever last three games we played."&nbsp;Also Check - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/sai-sudharsan-shubman-gill-enter-most-100-run-partnership-in-ipl-list-dominated-by-virat-kohli-1779439028119">Sai Sudharsan-Shubman Gill enter most 100-run partnership in IPL list dominated by Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;Gaikwad further highlighted that CSK are currently undergoing a transition phase with a relatively inexperienced squad. He noted that several players in the team had played fewer than 20 IPL matches, making this season an important learning experience.&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite the challenges, he expressed pride in the group for securing six victories, including a few memorable wins away from home, while also identifying areas the franchise must improve moving forward.&nbsp;

MS Dhoni, who is the most-capped player and highest run-scorer for Chennai Super Kings in IPL history, did not play any matches for the franchise in the 2026 edition.

For the first time in the history of the Indian Premier League, spanning 19 editions, MS Dhoni did not feature in a single match throughout the season. His absence proved costly for Chennai Super Kings, who were eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoff race on Thursday (May 21) after a crushing 89-run defeat to Gujarat Titans. Following the end of CSK’s campaign, captain Ruturaj Gaikwad addressed speculation surrounding Dhoni’s future with the team. Speaking after the match, Gaikwad said there is still no clarity on whether Dhoni will return for the 2027 season and added that everyone, including himself, would only learn about Dhoni’s decision next year. “Will we see MS Dhoni next season? Obviously you will get to know it next year (2027) itself. Even I’ll get to know it next year itself," Gaikwad said. Gaikwad also admitted that CSK felt the absence of the veteran wicketkeeper-batter throughout the season and explained that Dhoni’s presence alone creates pressure on opponents, particularly during the closing overs, where he has the ability to shift momentum and change the outcome of matches. “Obviously, it’s a hard, hard miss for us definitely. He’s someone who can, have a fear in the opposition, especially coming in those late overs. Can really change the game, can really change the momentum just by staying at the crease. So, he’s someone, definitely we missed a lot this season. But, I mean, we never know about next season, but obviously really happy with the guys we had and, really happy with the experience they got this year," he added. In the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League, CSK finished their campaign with six wins and eight losses. Reflecting on the team’s overall performance, Gaikwad pointed to injuries suffered by key all-rounders Jamie Overton and Ramakrishna Ghosh as major setbacks that disrupted the balance of the playing XI. Also Read - IPL 2026 | BCCI penalises Ruturaj Gaikwad after CSK's elimination - Here’s why According to him, the team struggled to maintain the right combination in the final few games, often entering matches either short on batting depth or bowling options. “Well, tough season to start, especially the hat-trick of losses. And then after that, once we found that momentum, obviously we found guys playing at the right spot, the right combination, everything started working. And then obviously, a couple of injuries again and again. Didn’t really help much, especially missing out Jamie (Overton) and another all-rounder in Ramakrishna Ghosh, kind of unsettled our playing 12. We were always playing a batter short or, playing a bowler short in whatever last three games we played." Also Check - Sai Sudharsan-Shubman Gill enter most 100-run partnership in IPL list dominated by Virat Kohli Gaikwad further highlighted that CSK are currently undergoing a transition phase with a relatively inexperienced squad. He noted that several players in the team had played fewer than 20 IPL matches, making this season an important learning experience. Despite the challenges, he expressed pride in the group for securing six victories, including a few memorable wins away from home, while also identifying areas the franchise must improve moving forward.

MS Dhoni, who is the most-capped player and highest run-scorer for Chennai Super Kings in IPL history, did not play any matches for the franchise in the 2026 edition.

'You will get to know it next year itself': Ruturaj Gaikwad on MS Dhoni’s IPL future

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