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The LSG vs DC match in IPL 2026 on Wednesday (Apr 1) saw Rishabh Pant opening for LSG alongside Mitchell Marsh. Pant replaced Aiden Markram at the top, with whom Marsh had added second most partnership runs (524) in IPL 2025, and the reason was to try 'left-right' combo. The experiment prompted Ayush Badoni's promotion at number 4 instead of Nicholas Pooran to keep the combination going. LSG, however, lost the match by six wickets which brought up the question - Is left-right batting combo still works in T20s? The answer is yes and it was right strategy by LSG, but it didn't come off against DC.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-cooper-connolly-for-pbks-to-mi-s-new-found-fearlessness-ipl-2026-winners-after-one-match-for-each-team-1775102205635">From Cooper Connolly for PBKS to MI's new-found fearlessness - IPL 2026 winners after one match for each team</a><h2>Is left-right batting combination relevant in T20s?</h2>The T20 is a batting dominated game which leaves little room of error for the bowlers. With a left-right batting combination on crease, the bowlers have to constantly adjust their line, making the task even difficult for them. Additionally, the fielders have to change position according to batter on the crease every time, making it a hard work for them to close all gaps. The captain also have to come with different strategies for two batters, keeping him/her on toes all the time. So yes, a left-right combination is still a good option even in T20s.<h2>Which are the best left-right partnerships in IPL?</h2>Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli from RCB are the best left-right batters in IPL, scoring 2,787 runs in 59 innings at an average of nearly 53 with 12 fifties and nine tons as well and a highest of unbeaten 204. Among the current generation, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill from Gujarat Titans are performing exceedingly well. The duo has scored 2,095 runs in just 34 innings at an average of 63 with seven hundreds and nine fifties and a best of 210.Some other notable left-right partnerships are Gautam Gambhir-Robin Uthappa (1,906 runs) for KKR, Ishan Kishan-Rohit Sharma (1,868 runs) for Mumbai Indians, MS Dhoni-Ravindra Jadeja (1,708 runs) for Chennai Super Kings, and Chris Gayle-KL Rahul (1,633 runs) for PBKS &amp; RCB combined.

With a left-right batting combination on crease, the bowlers have to constantly adjust their line, making the task even difficult for them. Additionally, the fielders have to change position according to batter on the crease every time.

The LSG vs DC match in IPL 2026 on Wednesday (Apr 1) saw Rishabh Pant opening for LSG alongside Mitchell Marsh. Pant replaced Aiden Markram at the top, with whom Marsh had added second most partnership runs (524) in IPL 2025, and the reason was to try 'left-right' combo. The experiment prompted Ayush Badoni's promotion at number 4 instead of Nicholas Pooran to keep the combination going. LSG, however, lost the match by six wickets which brought up the question - Is left-right batting combo still works in T20s? The answer is yes and it was right strategy by LSG, but it didn't come off against DC. Also Read - From Cooper Connolly for PBKS to MI's new-found fearlessness - IPL 2026 winners after one match for each team Is left-right batting combination relevant in T20s? The T20 is a batting dominated game which leaves little room of error for the bowlers. With a left-right batting combination on crease, the bowlers have to constantly adjust their line, making the task even difficult for them. Additionally, the fielders have to change position according to batter on the crease every time, making it a hard work for them to close all gaps. The captain also have to come with different strategies for two batters, keeping him/her on toes all the time. So yes, a left-right combination is still a good option even in T20s. Which are the best left-right partnerships in IPL? Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli from RCB are the best left-right batters in IPL, scoring 2,787 runs in 59 innings at an average of nearly 53 with 12 fifties and nine tons as well and a highest of unbeaten 204. Among the current generation, Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill from Gujarat Titans are performing exceedingly well. The duo has scored 2,095 runs in just 34 innings at an average of 63 with seven hundreds and nine fifties and a best of 210. Some other notable left-right partnerships are Gautam Gambhir-Robin Uthappa (1,906 runs) for KKR, Ishan Kishan-Rohit Sharma (1,868 runs) for Mumbai Indians, MS Dhoni-Ravindra Jadeja (1,708 runs) for Chennai Super Kings, and Chris Gayle-KL Rahul (1,633 runs) for PBKS & RCB combined.

With a left-right batting combination on crease, the bowlers have to constantly adjust their line, making the task even difficult for them. Additionally, the fielders have to change position according to batter on the crease every time.

IPL 2026: LSG opened with Pant for left-right combination - Is it still relevant in T20s?

IPL 2026 is up and running with each team playing one match at least. Of course, there are only five winners awhile remaining five hope to get on the winning end soon. After one match each, the teams have largely found their combination with next couple of games giving them the exact idea about the playing XI. Some teams, meanwhile, like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), may have to do a bit more searching for their optimal final XI, given the number of players injured. Nonetheless, here are the winners and losers of IPL 2026 after one match for each team:<h2>IPL 2026 winners after one match for each team:</h2>RCB's batting - The defending champions started their campaign in some style, chasing down 200+ total in record time against SunRisers Hyderabad. The 202-run target didn't seem to faze RCB as their top order, consisting of Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal and skipper Rajat Patidar made it clear that the team won't get bogged down in pressure and hitting the ball, irrespective of the situation, is going to their motto.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-why-did-badoni-bat-ahead-of-pooran-at-number-3-for-lsg-vs-dc-skipper-pant-explains-1775096332005">IPL | Why did Badoni bat ahead of Pooran at no. 3 for LSG vs DC? Pant explains</a>Mumbai Indians' new-found fearlessness - Just like RCB, five-time winners Mumbai Indians also started their campaign by chasing down a 200-plus total. This is the first time in franchise history that MI have started the season with a win. Their bowling took a beating against KKR but the batting, couple with KKR's bowling woes, ensured they come out triumphant.Rajasthan Royals pace bowlers - The much awaited match-up between CSK and Royals, after the swapping of Ravindra Jadeja (from CSK to RR) and Sanju Samson (from RR to CSK), failed to live up to the hype. RR came out winners, thanks to their frontline pace bowling duo of Nandre Burger and Jofra Archer, both of whom decimated CSK top order in no time.Cooper Connolly and Yuzvendra Chahal for PBKS - First it was Yuzvendra Chahal while bowling who kept Gujarat Titans at bay and then it was rookie Cooper Connolly who made sure PBKS get over the line despite some hiccups. The two players are going be the key, in addition to other players, as PBKS try to win their maiden IPL title.Sameer Rizvi for Delhi Capitals - DC are the only team to win the opening away match in IPL 2026 after being Lucknow Super Giants, thanks to &nbsp;Sameer Rizvi. The UP native scored 70 not out of just 47 balls as DC overcame early jolts to win the match by six wickets.

IPL 2026: Sameer Rizvi shone for DC against home state team LSG while RCB and MI chased down 200+ totals, thanks to fearless batting. For PBKS, it was Cooper Connolly and Rajasthan Royals bushed aside CSK on back of extreme frontline pacers.

IPL 2026 is up and running with each team playing one match at least. Of course, there are only five winners awhile remaining five hope to get on the winning end soon. After one match each, the teams have largely found their combination with next couple of games giving them the exact idea about the playing XI. Some teams, meanwhile, like Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), may have to do a bit more searching for their optimal final XI, given the number of players injured. Nonetheless, here are the winners and losers of IPL 2026 after one match for each team: IPL 2026 winners after one match for each team: RCB's batting - The defending champions started their campaign in some style, chasing down 200+ total in record time against SunRisers Hyderabad. The 202-run target didn't seem to faze RCB as their top order, consisting of Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal and skipper Rajat Patidar made it clear that the team won't get bogged down in pressure and hitting the ball, irrespective of the situation, is going to their motto. Also Read - IPL | Why did Badoni bat ahead of Pooran at no. 3 for LSG vs DC? Pant explains Mumbai Indians' new-found fearlessness - Just like RCB, five-time winners Mumbai Indians also started their campaign by chasing down a 200-plus total. This is the first time in franchise history that MI have started the season with a win. Their bowling took a beating against KKR but the batting, couple with KKR's bowling woes, ensured they come out triumphant. Rajasthan Royals pace bowlers - The much awaited match-up between CSK and Royals, after the swapping of Ravindra Jadeja (from CSK to RR) and Sanju Samson (from RR to CSK), failed to live up to the hype. RR came out winners, thanks to their frontline pace bowling duo of Nandre Burger and Jofra Archer, both of whom decimated CSK top order in no time. Cooper Connolly and Yuzvendra Chahal for PBKS - First it was Yuzvendra Chahal while bowling who kept Gujarat Titans at bay and then it was rookie Cooper Connolly who made sure PBKS get over the line despite some hiccups. The two players are going be the key, in addition to other players, as PBKS try to win their maiden IPL title. Sameer Rizvi for Delhi Capitals - DC are the only team to win the opening away match in IPL 2026 after being Lucknow Super Giants, thanks to Sameer Rizvi. The UP native scored 70 not out of just 47 balls as DC overcame early jolts to win the match by six wickets.

IPL 2026: Sameer Rizvi shone for DC against home state team LSG while RCB and MI chased down 200+ totals, thanks to fearless batting. For PBKS, it was Cooper Connolly and Rajasthan Royals bushed aside CSK on back of extreme frontline pacers.

From Cooper Connolly for PBKS to MI's new-found fearlessness - IPL 2026 winners after one match for each team

Nicholas Pooran had a successful IPL 2025 for Lucknow Super Giants when he smashed 524 runs at number 4 at a strike rate of nearly 200 (196.25). In the first match of IPL 2026, however, Ayush Badoni was sent ahead of Pooran in a surprise move on Wednesday (April 1) against Delhi Capitals (DC). The change in position came as LSG skipper Rishabh Pant came out to open the innings with Mitchell Marsh unlike last season with Aiden Markram had opened. Pant as opener has pushed Markram to number 3 where Pooran played last season. The changes, nonetheless, did not help LSG with the result as they lost the match by six wickets.<h2>Why Badoni batted ahead of Pooran for LSG vs DC?</h2>"I think the idea was very simple. Like, [Pooran] is taking the charge in the middle overs. He's not batting in the top order anymore because I'm batting up the order," Pant said after the match.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-cooper-connolly-australia-s-new-star-connolly-s-journey-from-bbl-hero-to-ipl-2026-match-winner-for-pbks-vs-gt-1775016231025">Australia’s new star: Connolly’s journey from BBL hero to IPL match-winner</a>"And the swap [between Pooran and Badoni] happened because, you know, we wanted to explore that lefty-righty option at the top. So, they couldn't bowl a left-arm spinner. Unfortunately, I got out at the wrong time. Otherwise, Axar [Patel] still had to bowl one over in the powerplay and that gives us the edge over them."That's the role we are defining for Badoni. When the situation is tough like that, when we lose early wickets, that's the time he needs to make a mark," explained the skipper.<h2>Will Pant continue to open for LSG?</h2>Pant's decision to open the innings for LSG comes as a surprise after Marsh and Markram added second most partnership runs in the season - 574 in 12 innings at an average of 48. The LSG skipper has not yet confirmed to open throughout the season but has made it clear that he'll bat in top order."I think it's a 50-50 call, but we'll see, But [you'll] definitely see me in the top order," said Pant after the match in which he unluckily got out at non-striker's end through an unfortunate run-out.

The change in position came as LSG skipper Rishabh Pant came out to open the innings with Mitchell Marsh unlike last season with Aiden Markram had opened. Pant as opener has pushed Markram to number 3 where Pooran played last season.

Nicholas Pooran had a successful IPL 2025 for Lucknow Super Giants when he smashed 524 runs at number 4 at a strike rate of nearly 200 (196.25). In the first match of IPL 2026, however, Ayush Badoni was sent ahead of Pooran in a surprise move on Wednesday (April 1) against Delhi Capitals (DC). The change in position came as LSG skipper Rishabh Pant came out to open the innings with Mitchell Marsh unlike last season with Aiden Markram had opened. Pant as opener has pushed Markram to number 3 where Pooran played last season. The changes, nonetheless, did not help LSG with the result as they lost the match by six wickets. Why Badoni batted ahead of Pooran for LSG vs DC? "I think the idea was very simple. Like, [Pooran] is taking the charge in the middle overs. He's not batting in the top order anymore because I'm batting up the order," Pant said after the match. Also Read - Australia’s new star: Connolly’s journey from BBL hero to IPL match-winner "And the swap [between Pooran and Badoni] happened because, you know, we wanted to explore that lefty-righty option at the top. So, they couldn't bowl a left-arm spinner. Unfortunately, I got out at the wrong time. Otherwise, Axar [Patel] still had to bowl one over in the powerplay and that gives us the edge over them." That's the role we are defining for Badoni. When the situation is tough like that, when we lose early wickets, that's the time he needs to make a mark," explained the skipper. Will Pant continue to open for LSG? Pant's decision to open the innings for LSG comes as a surprise after Marsh and Markram added second most partnership runs in the season - 574 in 12 innings at an average of 48. The LSG skipper has not yet confirmed to open throughout the season but has made it clear that he'll bat in top order. "I think it's a 50-50 call, but we'll see, But [you'll] definitely see me in the top order," said Pant after the match in which he unluckily got out at non-striker's end through an unfortunate run-out.

The change in position came as LSG skipper Rishabh Pant came out to open the innings with Mitchell Marsh unlike last season with Aiden Markram had opened. Pant as opener has pushed Markram to number 3 where Pooran played last season.

IPL 2026 | Why did Badoni bat ahead of Pooran at number 3 for LSG vs DC? skipper Pant explains

England stars Jacob Bethell and white-ball captain Harry Brook escaped bans over the Wellington nightclub incident that made headlines recently. While the ECB punished them for violating protocols with fines and formal warnings, England’s Cricket Regulator, an independent body that enforces cricket regulations within the ECB, also spared them without slapping bans or major punishments. Although they (Regulator) found the pair of breaching Regulation 3.2 of the ECB's Professional Conduct Regulations, the two escaped with just a slap on the wrist.&nbsp;That instance, however, occurred ahead of the third ODI between England and New Zealand in Wellington (November 1, 2025). While Brook initially admitted to being alone during an altercation with a nightclub bouncer, later two other players, Bethell and seamer Josh Tongue, were revealed to be involved.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-does-not-pay-me-enough-for-my-skillset-adam-zampa-shocking-revelation-on-choosing-psl-2026-salary-difference-faf-du-plessis-karachi-kings-1775060171834">IPL doesn’t pay me enough for my skillset: Adam Zampa’s shocking revelation on choosing PSL</a> &nbsp;England considered stripping Brook of his captaincy duties, but instead decided to fine him while keeping the matter undisclosed. Although that instance remained under wraps for some time, it came to the limelight following England’s (1-4) defeat during the away Ashes, with the UK outlet The Telegraph first reporting about it.&nbsp; &nbsp;"No Participant may conduct themselves in a manner, do any act or make any omission at any time which is improper or which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer or group of cricketers into disrepute,” the regulation read, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.&nbsp; &nbsp;Two regular England starters, Bethell and Brook, have both accepted ‘caution notices’ served to them, effectively placing them on final warning. Tongue, on the other hand, has admitted to having ‘learned’ from that instance and has had no action taken against him. &nbsp;Meanwhile, England had imposed a midnight curfew ahead of the side’s away white-ball tour of England and also during the T20 World Cup, with the restrictions likely to extend till the English summer. While Brook readies himself for the County Championship Cricket for Yorkshire, his England teammate Bethell is currently plying his trade for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL.&nbsp;

The Cricket Regulator has concluded its investigation into the Wellington nightclub incident involving Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell. Both England stars have received a formal warning but will avoid a ban. Read the full verdict and ECB's response here.

England stars Jacob Bethell and white-ball captain Harry Brook escaped bans over the Wellington nightclub incident that made headlines recently. While the ECB punished them for violating protocols with fines and formal warnings, England’s Cricket Regulator, an independent body that enforces cricket regulations within the ECB, also spared them without slapping bans or major punishments. Although they (Regulator) found the pair of breaching Regulation 3.2 of the ECB's Professional Conduct Regulations, the two escaped with just a slap on the wrist. That instance, however, occurred ahead of the third ODI between England and New Zealand in Wellington (November 1, 2025). While Brook initially admitted to being alone during an altercation with a nightclub bouncer, later two other players, Bethell and seamer Josh Tongue, were revealed to be involved. Also read | IPL doesn’t pay me enough for my skillset: Adam Zampa’s shocking revelation on choosing PSL England considered stripping Brook of his captaincy duties, but instead decided to fine him while keeping the matter undisclosed. Although that instance remained under wraps for some time, it came to the limelight following England’s (1-4) defeat during the away Ashes, with the UK outlet The Telegraph first reporting about it. "No Participant may conduct themselves in a manner, do any act or make any omission at any time which is improper or which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer or group of cricketers into disrepute,” the regulation read, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. Two regular England starters, Bethell and Brook, have both accepted ‘caution notices’ served to them, effectively placing them on final warning. Tongue, on the other hand, has admitted to having ‘learned’ from that instance and has had no action taken against him. Meanwhile, England had imposed a midnight curfew ahead of the side’s away white-ball tour of England and also during the T20 World Cup, with the restrictions likely to extend till the English summer. While Brook readies himself for the County Championship Cricket for Yorkshire, his England teammate Bethell is currently plying his trade for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL.

The Cricket Regulator has concluded its investigation into the Wellington nightclub incident involving Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell. Both England stars have received a formal warning but will avoid a ban. Read the full verdict and ECB's response here.

No ban for Brook, Bethell as England stars receive formal warning over Wellington row

Delhi Capitals made a winning start to their Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season on Wednesday (April 1) as they beat Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets. A low-scoring match played at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Delhi batter Sameer Rizvi was the star of the show as he scored an unbeaten 70 to help his side win the match and register two points. Tristan Stubbs also played a valuable unbeaten 39-run knock as LSG made a poor start to their season on home turf.<h2>DC make winning start</h2>South Africa seamer Lungi Ngidi took three wickets as Delhi bowled out hosts Lucknow for 141, a total the Capitals overhauled with 17 balls to spare. Delhi slipped to 26-4 before impact substitute Rizvi, who struck 70 not out, and Tristan Stubbs, who made 39, put on an unbeaten stand of 119 to steer the team home. Mohammed Shami, in his debut season for Lucknow, dismissed KL Rahul for a duck with the first ball of the chase.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Fellow quick Prince Yadav struck twice in one over to send back Pathum Nissanka (1) and Axar Patel (0) to leave Delhi in trouble 4.3 overs into their chase. But Rizvi, who hit five fours and four sixes in his 47-ball knock, and Stubbs steadied the ship before unleashing as the target came into view. The 22-year-old Rizvi raised his fifty with a four off part-time spinner Aiden Markram and later hit the winning six.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a><h2>What happened in LSG innings?</h2>Earlier, Lucknow skipper Rishabh Pant opened the innings with Mitchell Marsh but was run out for seven after a hit from his fellow batter grazed the bowler's arm to hit the stumps at the non-striker's end. Delhi skipper Patel bowled Markram for 11 and wickets fell at regular intervals. Ngidi sent back Nicholas Pooran for eight with a well-disguised slower delivery that rattled the stumps.&nbsp;Marsh attempted to pull things back with his 35 but fell in his attempt to attack left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and the batting then collapsed. Abdul Samad's 25-ball 36 boosted the total but the Lucknow innings lasted for just 18.4 overs after Ngidi struck with successful balls. Left-arm quick T Natarajan also took three wickets.

A low-scoring match played at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Delhi batter Sameer Rizvi was the star of the show as he scored an unbeaten 70 to help his side win the match and register two points.

Delhi Capitals made a winning start to their Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season on Wednesday (April 1) as they beat Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets. A low-scoring match played at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Delhi batter Sameer Rizvi was the star of the show as he scored an unbeaten 70 to help his side win the match and register two points. Tristan Stubbs also played a valuable unbeaten 39-run knock as LSG made a poor start to their season on home turf. DC make winning start South Africa seamer Lungi Ngidi took three wickets as Delhi bowled out hosts Lucknow for 141, a total the Capitals overhauled with 17 balls to spare. Delhi slipped to 26-4 before impact substitute Rizvi, who struck 70 not out, and Tristan Stubbs, who made 39, put on an unbeaten stand of 119 to steer the team home. Mohammed Shami, in his debut season for Lucknow, dismissed KL Rahul for a duck with the first ball of the chase. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Fellow quick Prince Yadav struck twice in one over to send back Pathum Nissanka (1) and Axar Patel (0) to leave Delhi in trouble 4.3 overs into their chase. But Rizvi, who hit five fours and four sixes in his 47-ball knock, and Stubbs steadied the ship before unleashing as the target came into view. The 22-year-old Rizvi raised his fifty with a four off part-time spinner Aiden Markram and later hit the winning six. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL What happened in LSG innings? Earlier, Lucknow skipper Rishabh Pant opened the innings with Mitchell Marsh but was run out for seven after a hit from his fellow batter grazed the bowler's arm to hit the stumps at the non-striker's end. Delhi skipper Patel bowled Markram for 11 and wickets fell at regular intervals. Ngidi sent back Nicholas Pooran for eight with a well-disguised slower delivery that rattled the stumps. Marsh attempted to pull things back with his 35 but fell in his attempt to attack left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav and the batting then collapsed. Abdul Samad's 25-ball 36 boosted the total but the Lucknow innings lasted for just 18.4 overs after Ngidi struck with successful balls. Left-arm quick T Natarajan also took three wickets.

A low-scoring match played at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Delhi batter Sameer Rizvi was the star of the show as he scored an unbeaten 70 to help his side win the match and register two points.

IPL 2026: Rizvi, Stubbs shine in season opener for Delhi as visitors sweep past Lucknow

Rishbah Pant’s Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) campaign got off to a fluke start on Wednesday (April 1) after he was dismissed against the Delhi Capitals. Playing in the first match of the season for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Pant’s dismissal became a huge talking point for the manner in which he was dismissed at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Netizens did not hold back after the dismissal as LSG were later bowled out for 141, their lowest total in the first innings of an IPL match.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">An unfortunate run out for Rishabh Pant to begin the season 😮 Early success for <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@delhicapitals</a> ☝️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LSG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LSG</a> 37/1 in5⃣overs Updates ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/lfP7dRNKfg">https://t.co/lfP7dRNKfg</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/LSGvDC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LSGvDC</a> <a href="https://t.co/dkwob65RRT">pic.twitter.com/dkwob65RRT</a>&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/2039348755594715478?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Pant’s fluke dismissal</h2>On the first ball of the fourth over, Pant was batting at the non-strikers' end when the incident occurred. A straight drive from Mitchell Marsh made its way to the stumps at non-strikers' end while taking a glance at bowler Mukesh Kumar’s hand. With Pant slow to react at the non-strikers' end, he failed to keep his bat in the crease and was subsequently dismissed. The third umpire was called into action to confirm the dismissal, where Pant was clearly out of the crease.<h2>What happened in DC innings?</h2>LSG were bowled out for 141 runs after a poor start to their innings, having lost wickets at regular intervals. &nbsp;Asked to bat first, LSG captain Rishabh Pant came to open the batting alongside Mitch Marsh at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The duo started well and was looking good, but an unlucky dismissal of Pant started the flurry of wickets for the hosts.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;While Aiden Markram hit a six and a four, Axar Patel bowled him. T Natarajan got rid of Ayush Badoni cheaply. Nicholas Pooran couldn't score in double digits and holed out to Lungi Ngidi. Marsh's fighting knock of 35 runs off 28 balls, with the help of three sixes and a couple of fours, was ended by Kuldeep Yadav. He also dismissed Mukul Choudhary with a soft caught and bowled dismissal.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Abdul Samad made 36 runs off 25 balls and added 33 runs for the seventh wicket with Shahbaz Ahmed, who remained unbeaten on 15 runs off 16 balls. Lungi Ngidi got the wickets of tailenders to restrict the LSG's innings to 141 runs.&nbsp;Ngidi and Natarajan took three wickets each, whereas Kuldeep Yadav grabbed a couple of wickets. Captain Axar Patel also got one wicket of Markram.

Playing in the first match of the season for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Rishabh Pant’s dismissal became a huge talking point for the manner in which he was dismissed at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

Rishbah Pant’s Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) campaign got off to a fluke start on Wednesday (April 1) after he was dismissed against the Delhi Capitals. Playing in the first match of the season for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Pant’s dismissal became a huge talking point for the manner in which he was dismissed at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Netizens did not hold back after the dismissal as LSG were later bowled out for 141, their lowest total in the first innings of an IPL match.

Playing in the first match of the season for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Rishabh Pant’s dismissal became a huge talking point for the manner in which he was dismissed at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

IPL 2026: Rishabh Pant stunned after fluke dismissal at non-strikers' end against DC - Watch

World Cup-winner for Australia, leg-spinner Adam Zampa, revealed the real reason behind pulling out of the IPL auction and choosing to play for its competitor, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) instead. Part of the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) squad last season, Zampa was among several players not retained by the franchise. Speaking on a podcast midway through the ongoing PSL 2026, Zampa revealed he never felt he received the remuneration he deserved for his skill set in the cash-rich league.&nbsp;“I pulled out of the IPL this year. To be brutally honest, for someone with my skill set, just don’t get the money that is there for other skill sets. For the amount of time that the IPL takes, it just didn’t seem like a reasonable choice for me to keep playing it,” Zampa said on the ARY Podcast. &nbsp;Zampa, who last featured in the concluded T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, revealed that he had planned to go on a holiday earlier, but with the PSL auction taking place around then, things changed quickly for him, something he is enjoying right now.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pcb-tightens-psl-2026-security-protocols-after-hotel-breach-issues-mandatory-24-hour-notice-rule-shaheen-afridi-sikandar-raza-1775056776088">PCB tightens PSL security protocols after hotel breach; issues mandatory 24-hour notice rule</a> &nbsp;“I was going to have a break, but PSL was on the radar about a month ago. It all happened pretty quickly, but I am enjoying it,” he said.&nbsp; &nbsp;Zampa is among a few marquee players who chose PSL over IPL this season, with former South African captain Faf du Plessis also added to the list. Revealing as to why he decided against registering for the IPL auction late last year, Faf said, “After 14 seasons in the IPL, I’ve decided not to put my name into the auction this year. It’s a big decision, and one that comes with a lot of gratitude when I look back. &nbsp;“This year, I’ve chosen to take on a new challenge and will be playing in the upcoming PSL season. It’s an exciting step for me – a chance to experience something new, to grow as a player, and to embrace a league filled with incredible talent and energy. A new country. A new environment. A new challenge. I’m looking forward to the Pakistan hospitality,” Faf revealed on his social media handles. &nbsp;Meanwhile, since making his IPL debut for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant (RPSG) in 2016, Zampa played only 22 matches across five seasons, picking 31 wickets. His final appearance came in the previous edition, where he returned with two wickets in as many outings in IPL 2025.&nbsp; &nbsp;While Zampa’s bowling average reads 21.03, his economy is 8.38. His best figures, however, were against SunRisers Hyderabad in the 2016 edition, where he picked 6/19 in an inning.

Australia’s Adam Zampa opens up on the financial disparity between player skillsets in the IPL and why he chose the PSL instead.

World Cup-winner for Australia, leg-spinner Adam Zampa, revealed the real reason behind pulling out of the IPL auction and choosing to play for its competitor, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) instead. Part of the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) squad last season, Zampa was among several players not retained by the franchise. Speaking on a podcast midway through the ongoing PSL 2026, Zampa revealed he never felt he received the remuneration he deserved for his skill set in the cash-rich league. “I pulled out of the IPL this year. To be brutally honest, for someone with my skill set, just don’t get the money that is there for other skill sets. For the amount of time that the IPL takes, it just didn’t seem like a reasonable choice for me to keep playing it,” Zampa said on the ARY Podcast. Zampa, who last featured in the concluded T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, revealed that he had planned to go on a holiday earlier, but with the PSL auction taking place around then, things changed quickly for him, something he is enjoying right now. Also read | PCB tightens PSL security protocols after hotel breach; issues mandatory 24-hour notice rule “I was going to have a break, but PSL was on the radar about a month ago. It all happened pretty quickly, but I am enjoying it,” he said. Zampa is among a few marquee players who chose PSL over IPL this season, with former South African captain Faf du Plessis also added to the list. Revealing as to why he decided against registering for the IPL auction late last year, Faf said, “After 14 seasons in the IPL, I’ve decided not to put my name into the auction this year. It’s a big decision, and one that comes with a lot of gratitude when I look back. “This year, I’ve chosen to take on a new challenge and will be playing in the upcoming PSL season. It’s an exciting step for me – a chance to experience something new, to grow as a player, and to embrace a league filled with incredible talent and energy. A new country. A new environment. A new challenge. I’m looking forward to the Pakistan hospitality,” Faf revealed on his social media handles. Meanwhile, since making his IPL debut for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiant (RPSG) in 2016, Zampa played only 22 matches across five seasons, picking 31 wickets. His final appearance came in the previous edition, where he returned with two wickets in as many outings in IPL 2025. While Zampa’s bowling average reads 21.03, his economy is 8.38. His best figures, however, were against SunRisers Hyderabad in the 2016 edition, where he picked 6/19 in an inning.

Australia’s Adam Zampa opens up on the financial disparity between player skillsets in the IPL and why he chose the PSL instead.

IPL doesn’t pay me enough for my skillset: Adam Zampa’s shocking revelation on choosing PSL

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has tightened PSL’s security protocols after the hotel room episode involving Zimbabwe T20I captain Sikandar Raza and Pakistan ODI skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi, both representing Lahore Qalandars in PSL 2026. The Cricket Board has issued mandatory guidelines to all teams and stakeholders, stating that players and team officials must attain prior approval from the board before meeting their family members and friends in their hotel rooms.&nbsp;“The Board has made it clear that anyone wanting to meet with family members in the hotel has to seek permission 24 hours before the intended visit by family members,” a source close to the information revealed.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-to-tour-zimbabwe-for-three-t20is-in-july-2026-check-dates-and-venue-harare-july-23-25-26-1775041997047">India to tour Zimbabwe for three T20Is in July 2026: Check dates and venue</a> &nbsp;The source also added that the PCB would try to arrange a suitable meeting point for the player with his family member(s) in the team hotel.&nbsp; &nbsp;“The Board has also made it clear that only a player’s wife, parents, brother and sister are allowed inside the player's room, that too after getting clearance from the Board 24 hours in advance,” the source added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, PCB took these steps following hotel room protocols violation after Raza and Shaheen were held responsible for ‘forcefully escorting’ guests into Raza’s hotel room, which he claimed to be his family and some friends. While Raza admitted to allowing guests to his private hotel room despite PCB, its anti-corruption unit and PSL’s chief executive, Salman Naseer, all denying permissions, leading to a violation of security protocol, Shaheen suffered a hefty fine for assisting Raza’s family members to his teammate’s room. &nbsp;Raza, however, urged the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/psl-2026-shaheen-afridi-is-innocent-sikandar-raza-takes-blame-for-hotel-security-breach-relatives-family-members-friends-punjab-police-letter-1774871857625">relevant authorities to spare Shaheen</a>, as he is innocent.&nbsp; &nbsp;Moreover, the source also claimed that the police officials had taken a serious note of the security protocol breach by Qalandars’ star players, urging the board to impose it across franchises to ensure they adhere to it, and that the police can provide a safe and secure environment for all players and officials.&nbsp; &nbsp;“The police officials conveyed to the Board that unless all franchises adhere strictly to the security protocols, it will be impossible for them to provide a safe and secure environment at the team hotel for all players and officials,” the source continued.

The PCB has enforced strict new PSL security rules following a hotel breach by Shaheen Afridi and Sikandar Raza. Discover the mandatory 24-hour notice rule for all player visitors.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has tightened PSL’s security protocols after the hotel room episode involving Zimbabwe T20I captain Sikandar Raza and Pakistan ODI skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi, both representing Lahore Qalandars in PSL 2026. The Cricket Board has issued mandatory guidelines to all teams and stakeholders, stating that players and team officials must attain prior approval from the board before meeting their family members and friends in their hotel rooms. “The Board has made it clear that anyone wanting to meet with family members in the hotel has to seek permission 24 hours before the intended visit by family members,” a source close to the information revealed. Also read | India to tour Zimbabwe for three T20Is in July 2026: Check dates and venue The source also added that the PCB would try to arrange a suitable meeting point for the player with his family member(s) in the team hotel. “The Board has also made it clear that only a player’s wife, parents, brother and sister are allowed inside the player's room, that too after getting clearance from the Board 24 hours in advance,” the source added. Meanwhile, PCB took these steps following hotel room protocols violation after Raza and Shaheen were held responsible for ‘forcefully escorting’ guests into Raza’s hotel room, which he claimed to be his family and some friends. While Raza admitted to allowing guests to his private hotel room despite PCB, its anti-corruption unit and PSL’s chief executive, Salman Naseer, all denying permissions, leading to a violation of security protocol, Shaheen suffered a hefty fine for assisting Raza’s family members to his teammate’s room. Raza, however, urged the relevant authorities to spare Shaheen, as he is innocent. Moreover, the source also claimed that the police officials had taken a serious note of the security protocol breach by Qalandars’ star players, urging the board to impose it across franchises to ensure they adhere to it, and that the police can provide a safe and secure environment for all players and officials. “The police officials conveyed to the Board that unless all franchises adhere strictly to the security protocols, it will be impossible for them to provide a safe and secure environment at the team hotel for all players and officials,” the source continued.

The PCB has enforced strict new PSL security rules following a hotel breach by Shaheen Afridi and Sikandar Raza. Discover the mandatory 24-hour notice rule for all player visitors.

PCB tightens PSL security protocols after hotel breach; issues mandatory 24-hour notice rule

Glenn Maxwell and Sam Konstas are among the marquee names dropped from Cricket Australia’s (CA) central contract list for 2026/27, with the Australian cricket board retaining the Ashes core, including Test veterans. While Test opener Jake Weatherald earned his maiden central contract inclusion, alongside bowlers Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett, Western Australia seamer Jhye Richardson shockingly missed the cut. Off-spinner Todd Murphy is also among the 21 listed names, with veteran Nathan Lyon and left-arm finger spinner Matthew Kuhnemann joining him.&nbsp;Australia faces a gruelling 12-month schedule featuring away tours to South Africa and India, home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, and the historic 150th Anniversary Test against England at the MCG. With a potential WTC Final and the 2027 Ashes on the horizon, CA has prioritised red-ball depth in its contract logic.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-to-tour-zimbabwe-for-three-t20is-in-july-2026-check-dates-and-venue-harare-july-23-25-26-1775041997047">India to tour Zimbabwe for three T20Is in July 2026: Check dates and venue</a> &nbsp;High-profile casualties of this shift include the retired Usman Khawaja, white-ball talisman Glenn Maxwell, and rising star Sam Konstas. The omission of Konstas raises questions about the Test opening slot; while Jake Weatherald’s inclusion suggests he is the frontrunner, the versatile Travis Head remains a potent option to move up the order. &nbsp;"The contract list strives to balance reward for performances over time with a lens to the upcoming schedule," national selector George Bailey said. "The next 12 months encompass a busy Test schedule across a range of conditions and challenges - South Africa, India and England, as well as the Top End and home Tests across the summer. &nbsp;"This is reflected in the contract list through a predominance of Test and multi-format players for this cycle. Given the upcoming schedule of series, we know we will continue to need and utilise players outside of those contracted. &nbsp;"This year, perhaps more than ever, it is essential we continue working closely with and collaborate with states to ensure players are developing and ready for International cricket when they get opportunities." &nbsp;Also, among the notable absentees from the list is Queenslander Matthew Renshaw, who made his white-ball debuts this season and averaged close to 50 in the Shield.&nbsp;<h3>Check out the CA men's central contracts 2026-27 list -</h3>Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa &nbsp;In: Brendan Doggett, Jake Weatherald, Michael Neser, Todd Murphy Out: Usman Khawaja (retired), Sam Konstas, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short

With a gruelling 12-month Test calendar ahead, CA prioritises red-ball depth. Find out why Glenn Maxwell missed out and who is favoured to fill the Test opening void left by Usman Khawaja.

Glenn Maxwell and Sam Konstas are among the marquee names dropped from Cricket Australia’s (CA) central contract list for 2026/27, with the Australian cricket board retaining the Ashes core, including Test veterans. While Test opener Jake Weatherald earned his maiden central contract inclusion, alongside bowlers Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett, Western Australia seamer Jhye Richardson shockingly missed the cut. Off-spinner Todd Murphy is also among the 21 listed names, with veteran Nathan Lyon and left-arm finger spinner Matthew Kuhnemann joining him. Australia faces a gruelling 12-month schedule featuring away tours to South Africa and India, home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, and the historic 150th Anniversary Test against England at the MCG. With a potential WTC Final and the 2027 Ashes on the horizon, CA has prioritised red-ball depth in its contract logic. Also read | India to tour Zimbabwe for three T20Is in July 2026: Check dates and venue High-profile casualties of this shift include the retired Usman Khawaja, white-ball talisman Glenn Maxwell, and rising star Sam Konstas. The omission of Konstas raises questions about the Test opening slot; while Jake Weatherald’s inclusion suggests he is the frontrunner, the versatile Travis Head remains a potent option to move up the order. "The contract list strives to balance reward for performances over time with a lens to the upcoming schedule," national selector George Bailey said. "The next 12 months encompass a busy Test schedule across a range of conditions and challenges - South Africa, India and England, as well as the Top End and home Tests across the summer. "This is reflected in the contract list through a predominance of Test and multi-format players for this cycle. Given the upcoming schedule of series, we know we will continue to need and utilise players outside of those contracted. "This year, perhaps more than ever, it is essential we continue working closely with and collaborate with states to ensure players are developing and ready for International cricket when they get opportunities." Also, among the notable absentees from the list is Queenslander Matthew Renshaw, who made his white-ball debuts this season and averaged close to 50 in the Shield. Check out the CA men's central contracts 2026-27 list - Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa In: Brendan Doggett, Jake Weatherald, Michael Neser, Todd Murphy Out: Usman Khawaja (retired), Sam Konstas, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short

With a gruelling 12-month Test calendar ahead, CA prioritises red-ball depth. Find out why Glenn Maxwell missed out and who is favoured to fill the Test opening void left by Usman Khawaja.

Maxwell axed, veterans retained: No central contract for ‘Big Show’ in Cricket Australia’s 2026-27 list

Zimbabwe will host India for three T20Is in July 2026, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) announced on Wednesday (Apr 1).&nbsp;&nbsp;Days after India announced a bumper home schedule, including the home ODI series against Zimbabwe in January next year - their first white-ball bilateral tour of India since 2002, Zimbabwe released the dates and venue for the home T20I series against India. Harare will host all matches on July 23, 25 and 26. &nbsp;Team India last toured Zimbabwe after their triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in 2024, when Shubman Gill first wore the captain’s hat, helping the visitors clinch the five–match series 4-1. India lost the series opener but went on to win the remaining matches convincingly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-cooper-connolly-australia-s-new-star-connolly-s-journey-from-bbl-hero-to-ipl-2026-match-winner-for-pbks-vs-gt-1775016231025">Ricky Ponting’s ₹3 Crore auction masterstroke: Cooper Connolly announces IPL arrival with stunning 72 for Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans</a> &nbsp;"Matches against India always generate enormous interest, and this is a fantastic opportunity for our players to test themselves against the world champions on home soil," ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni said. "Following our encouraging performances at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, this series gives us a strong platform to build momentum and continue growing as a competitive force in international cricket." &nbsp;Earlier, Kolkata (January 3), Hyderabad (January 6), and Mumbai (January 9) were announced as the three venues for Zimbabwe's away ODI series against India early next year.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It is a landmark moment for Zimbabwe to be touring India again for a bilateral ODI series after more than two decades," Makoni further said. "India is one of the premier destinations in world cricket, and this tour represents both an honour and a valuable opportunity for our players. &nbsp;"We are looking forward to competitive and high-quality cricket, and we believe this engagement will further strengthen the relationship between the two cricketing nations while providing invaluable exposure for our team." &nbsp;Meanwhile, India and Zimbabwe last faced off in the Super 8 match of the concluded T20 World Cup edition in the subcontinent in Chennai, with the eventual winners winning the high-scoring game by 72 runs. India posted 256 for four batting first. The African nation, which topped Group B, which also had teams like Sri Lanka and Australia, scored a fighting 184 for six in 20 overs. Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett remained unbeaten on 97.<h3>India tour of Zimbabwe 2026</h3><ul><li>1st T20I – Harare, July 23</li><li>2nd T20I – Harare, July 25</li><li>3rd T20I – Harare, July 26</li></ul>

India returns to Zimbabwe in July 2026 for a three-match T20I series. Check the full schedule, match dates, and venue details at Harare Sports Club here.

Zimbabwe will host India for three T20Is in July 2026, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) announced on Wednesday (Apr 1). Days after India announced a bumper home schedule, including the home ODI series against Zimbabwe in January next year - their first white-ball bilateral tour of India since 2002, Zimbabwe released the dates and venue for the home T20I series against India. Harare will host all matches on July 23, 25 and 26. Team India last toured Zimbabwe after their triumphant T20 World Cup campaign in 2024, when Shubman Gill first wore the captain’s hat, helping the visitors clinch the five–match series 4-1. India lost the series opener but went on to win the remaining matches convincingly. Also read | Ricky Ponting’s ₹3 Crore auction masterstroke: Cooper Connolly announces IPL arrival with stunning 72 for Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans "Matches against India always generate enormous interest, and this is a fantastic opportunity for our players to test themselves against the world champions on home soil," ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni said. "Following our encouraging performances at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, this series gives us a strong platform to build momentum and continue growing as a competitive force in international cricket." Earlier, Kolkata (January 3), Hyderabad (January 6), and Mumbai (January 9) were announced as the three venues for Zimbabwe's away ODI series against India early next year. "It is a landmark moment for Zimbabwe to be touring India again for a bilateral ODI series after more than two decades," Makoni further said. "India is one of the premier destinations in world cricket, and this tour represents both an honour and a valuable opportunity for our players. "We are looking forward to competitive and high-quality cricket, and we believe this engagement will further strengthen the relationship between the two cricketing nations while providing invaluable exposure for our team." Meanwhile, India and Zimbabwe last faced off in the Super 8 match of the concluded T20 World Cup edition in the subcontinent in Chennai, with the eventual winners winning the high-scoring game by 72 runs. India posted 256 for four batting first. The African nation, which topped Group B, which also had teams like Sri Lanka and Australia, scored a fighting 184 for six in 20 overs. Zimbabwe opener Brian Bennett remained unbeaten on 97. India tour of Zimbabwe 2026 1st T20I – Harare, July 23 2nd T20I – Harare, July 25 3rd T20I – Harare, July 26

India returns to Zimbabwe in July 2026 for a three-match T20I series. Check the full schedule, match dates, and venue details at Harare Sports Club here.

India to tour Zimbabwe for three T20Is in July 2026: Check dates and venue

Brendon McCullum's 158 not out in 2008 remains highest individual score on IPL debut followed by Mike Hussey 116 not out for CSK (2008), Shaun Marsh 84 not out for KXIP (2008), Kyle Mayers 73 for LSG (2023), and Cooper Connolly 72 for PBKS (2006).

Brendon McCullum's 158 not out in 2008 remains highest individual score on IPL debut followed by Mike Hussey 116 not out for CSK (2008), Shaun Marsh 84 not out for KXIP (2008), Kyle Mayers 73 for LSG (2023), and Cooper Connolly 72 for PBKS (2006).

Highest individual score on IPL debut - Cooper Connolly joins Brendon McCullum and Mike Hussey in elite list

The IPL 2026 match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Gujarat Titans (GT) in New Chandigarh on Tuesday (Mar 31) saw a new Australian star announcing his arrival on the biggest stage. PBKS' all-rounder Cooper Connolly scored 72 unbeaten runs off just 44 balls on his IPL debut and <a href="The Aussie all-rounder was bought by Punjab Kings, coached by former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, for INR 3 crore in mini auction in December 2025 ahead of the IPL 2026.">rescued his team from a mid-match collapse</a>. PBKS eventually won three wickets in chase of 163 in 19.1 overs and Connolly was rightfully awarded Player of the Match (POTM) award. Connolly, a highly talent and looked after player in Australia, showed his pedigree as his team succumbed to 118/6 from 83/1 in space of about 30 balls, thanks to fiery spell by GT's Prasidh Krishna.<h2>Who is Cooper Connolly?</h2>Cooper Connolly is a highly rated Australian all-rounder who has played all three formats for the Australian national team. He was born in Perth in 2003 and modeled himself after former Aussie batter Shaun Marsh. Connolly bats left handed and bowls left-arm orthodox spin as well. He captained Australia U-19 at 2022 ODI World Cup which was followed by a deal from Peth Scorchers in the Big Bash League (BBL).<h2>Cooper Connolly in BBL Final 2023</h2>In his second T20 innings only, Connolly hit 11-ball 25 not out with one four and two sixes to lead Perth to BBL title in Feb 2023 vs Brisbane Heat.Also Watch - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suryakumar-yadav-sky-makes-dhurandhar-remark-to-jasprit-bumrah-as-mumbai-indians-mi-dressing-room-bursts-out-laughing-watch-video-ipl-2026-1774972910069">SKY makes ‘Dhurandhar’ remark to Bumrah as MI camp erupts laughing</a>He made his First Class debut for Western Australia an year later, in March 2024, and made 90 in his maiden innings. A white-ball debut for Australia followed in September 2024 on tour of England and Scotland. He was also handed the Test debut in Feb 2025 on tour of Sri Lanka.Overall, he has played 1 Test, 8 ODIs, and 11 T20Is for Australia, scoring 4, 94, and 28 runs respectively, and taking 6 &amp; 3 wickets in his ODI and T20I career as well.<h2>Cooper Connolly in IPL 2026 auction</h2>The Aussie all-rounder was bought by Punjab Kings, coached by former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, for INR 3 crore in mini auction in December 2025 ahead of the IPL 2026.&nbsp;

The Aussie all-rounder was bought by Punjab Kings, coached by former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, for INR 3 crore in mini auction in December 2025 ahead of the IPL 2026.

The IPL 2026 match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Gujarat Titans (GT) in New Chandigarh on Tuesday (Mar 31) saw a new Australian star announcing his arrival on the biggest stage. PBKS' all-rounder Cooper Connolly scored 72 unbeaten runs off just 44 balls on his IPL debut and rescued his team from a mid-match collapse. PBKS eventually won three wickets in chase of 163 in 19.1 overs and Connolly was rightfully awarded Player of the Match (POTM) award. Connolly, a highly talent and looked after player in Australia, showed his pedigree as his team succumbed to 118/6 from 83/1 in space of about 30 balls, thanks to fiery spell by GT's Prasidh Krishna. Who is Cooper Connolly? Cooper Connolly is a highly rated Australian all-rounder who has played all three formats for the Australian national team. He was born in Perth in 2003 and modeled himself after former Aussie batter Shaun Marsh. Connolly bats left handed and bowls left-arm orthodox spin as well. He captained Australia U-19 at 2022 ODI World Cup which was followed by a deal from Peth Scorchers in the Big Bash League (BBL). Cooper Connolly in BBL Final 2023 In his second T20 innings only, Connolly hit 11-ball 25 not out with one four and two sixes to lead Perth to BBL title in Feb 2023 vs Brisbane Heat. Also Watch - SKY makes ‘Dhurandhar’ remark to Bumrah as MI camp erupts laughing He made his First Class debut for Western Australia an year later, in March 2024, and made 90 in his maiden innings. A white-ball debut for Australia followed in September 2024 on tour of England and Scotland. He was also handed the Test debut in Feb 2025 on tour of Sri Lanka. Overall, he has played 1 Test, 8 ODIs, and 11 T20Is for Australia, scoring 4, 94, and 28 runs respectively, and taking 6 & 3 wickets in his ODI and T20I career as well. Cooper Connolly in IPL 2026 auction The Aussie all-rounder was bought by Punjab Kings, coached by former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, for INR 3 crore in mini auction in December 2025 ahead of the IPL 2026.

The Aussie all-rounder was bought by Punjab Kings, coached by former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, for INR 3 crore in mini auction in December 2025 ahead of the IPL 2026.

Ricky Ponting’s ₹3 Crore auction masterstroke: Cooper Connolly announces IPL arrival with stunning 72 for Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans

Australian rookie Cooper Connolly has announced himself on the IPL stage, with his dream debut resulting in a narrow three-wicket win for the hosts Punjab Kings over the Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh on Tuesday (Mar 31). The left-hander remained unbeaten on 72, helping Kings chase 163 with five balls remaining. Last edition’s runners-up made a sound start to this new campaign by beating the former one-time winner, collecting two crucial points. While he also picked up a catch, seamer Vijaykumar Vyshak was the top wicket-taker for Punjab, returning with three for 34 in his four overs.&nbsp;Punjab won the toss and elected to field first. A steady opening stand between GT captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan added 37 runs before Marco Jansen accounted for the left-handed Sai. Gill and Jos Buttler lifted GT’s innings but could only manage 46 for the second wicket. With GT’s top four contributing throughout, it looked like they could get somewhere between 180 and 195, only for PBKS’ Yuzvendra Chahal to strike twice.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suryakumar-yadav-sky-makes-dhurandhar-remark-to-jasprit-bumrah-as-mumbai-indians-mi-dressing-room-bursts-out-laughing-watch-video-ipl-2026-1774972910069">SKY makes ‘Dhurandhar’ remark to Jasprit Bumrah as MI dressing room bursts out laughing – WATCH</a> &nbsp;Vyshak and Chahal then put the brakes on GT’s innings with quick wickets, further denting their momentum. The travelling side could manage just 162 for six, with Punjab having its nose in front.<h3>Cooper’s show in New Chandigarh</h3>Priyansh Arya, the Impact Sub, opened with gloveman Prabhsimran Singh but failed to leave any mark as Protean quick Kagiso Rabada dismissed him cheaply on just seven in his first over. Walking in at number three, the IPL debutant, Connolly, who added 76 runs for the second wicket with Prabhsimran before Rashid Khan struck gold. &nbsp;Punjab then lost four wickets for just eight runs, with Gujarat’s Impact Sub, seamer Prasidh Krishna, doing all the damage, reducing PBKS to 118 for six at one stage. Jansen too departed sooner, on just nine, leaving Connolly with his fellow compatriot Xavier Bartlett at the crease, and three wickets remaining. &nbsp;Bartlett’s six off Krishna in the penultimate over almost sealed the game for the hosts before a boundary on the third ball (by Cooper) helped them inch closer to the target. Connolly hit the winning runs on the first ball of the last over off Washington Sundar, and fittingly, to clinch a crucial win for his team. &nbsp;Punjab will next face underfiring Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday (Apr 3) at the Chepauk.

The 22-year-old Aussie all-rounder starred on his IPL debut for Punjab Kings, scoring an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls to see his team home against GT in New Chandigarh.

Australian rookie Cooper Connolly has announced himself on the IPL stage, with his dream debut resulting in a narrow three-wicket win for the hosts Punjab Kings over the Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh on Tuesday (Mar 31). The left-hander remained unbeaten on 72, helping Kings chase 163 with five balls remaining. Last edition’s runners-up made a sound start to this new campaign by beating the former one-time winner, collecting two crucial points. While he also picked up a catch, seamer Vijaykumar Vyshak was the top wicket-taker for Punjab, returning with three for 34 in his four overs. Punjab won the toss and elected to field first. A steady opening stand between GT captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan added 37 runs before Marco Jansen accounted for the left-handed Sai. Gill and Jos Buttler lifted GT’s innings but could only manage 46 for the second wicket. With GT’s top four contributing throughout, it looked like they could get somewhere between 180 and 195, only for PBKS’ Yuzvendra Chahal to strike twice. Also read | SKY makes ‘Dhurandhar’ remark to Jasprit Bumrah as MI dressing room bursts out laughing – WATCH Vyshak and Chahal then put the brakes on GT’s innings with quick wickets, further denting their momentum. The travelling side could manage just 162 for six, with Punjab having its nose in front. Cooper’s show in New Chandigarh Priyansh Arya, the Impact Sub, opened with gloveman Prabhsimran Singh but failed to leave any mark as Protean quick Kagiso Rabada dismissed him cheaply on just seven in his first over. Walking in at number three, the IPL debutant, Connolly, who added 76 runs for the second wicket with Prabhsimran before Rashid Khan struck gold. Punjab then lost four wickets for just eight runs, with Gujarat’s Impact Sub, seamer Prasidh Krishna, doing all the damage, reducing PBKS to 118 for six at one stage. Jansen too departed sooner, on just nine, leaving Connolly with his fellow compatriot Xavier Bartlett at the crease, and three wickets remaining. Bartlett’s six off Krishna in the penultimate over almost sealed the game for the hosts before a boundary on the third ball (by Cooper) helped them inch closer to the target. Connolly hit the winning runs on the first ball of the last over off Washington Sundar, and fittingly, to clinch a crucial win for his team. Punjab will next face underfiring Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Friday (Apr 3) at the Chepauk.

The 22-year-old Aussie all-rounder starred on his IPL debut for Punjab Kings, scoring an unbeaten 72 off 44 balls to see his team home against GT in New Chandigarh.

Cooper Connolly’s dream IPL debut powers Punjab to narrow win over Gujarat

Jasprit Bumrah is cricket and IPL’s ‘Dhurandhar’, and his franchise owner and teammates cannot stop themselves from reminding him and everyone of the same. Bumrah is perhaps the best fast bowler of his time. Having won two T20 World Cups lately, Bumrah is back with his IPL team to help them end their trophy drought. Following Mumbai’s six-wicket win over Kolkata in their season opener at home the past Sunday, MI owner Nita Ambani presented the ‘best bowler’ accolade to Bumrah in the dressing room, with star batter Suryakumar Yadav making a remark from the recently released Bollywood blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar – The Revenge’.&nbsp;Uploaded on the Mumbai Indians’ official X handle, this viral clip saw SKY saying ‘Tujhe ghar ki yaad nahin aayi Jassi’, which translates to ‘Didn’t you miss home, Jassi?’, referring to a famous dialogue from Dhurandhar – The Revenge, with everyone bursting out laughing. &nbsp;WATCH VIDEO –

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">𝘍𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 🧿🤞 <a href="https://t.co/ng2m2nWcxF">pic.twitter.com/ng2m2nWcxF</a>&mdash; Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan/status/2038911777791238530?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bumrah, who came into the attack as the first-change bowler in Mumbai’s tournament opener, conceded just 35 runs in his four-over spell at 8.80 economy, the least among all bowlers. Although the ace quick restricted the run flow (but went wicketless), KKR posted a superb total (220 for four) in the first innings. &nbsp;Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton made light work of KKR’s bowling by smashing close to 150 runs inside the 12 overs for the first wicket. That partnership, however, was the turning point, as the Mumbai Indians, despite losing both openers and two more wickets, chased the target with six wickets and five balls remaining.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mohammed-shami-blasts-retirement-rumours-after-repeated-snubs-ajit-agarkar-selection-committee-indian-cricket-team-ipl-2026-lucknow-super-giants-lsg-1774968653436">‘I’m neither bored nor lazy’: Mohammed Shami blasts retirement rumours after repeated snubs</a> &nbsp;This win also marked the first instance in 14 years (since the 2012 edition) that Mumbai won its first match of an IPL season, ending the 13-year first-game losing jinx. &nbsp;Speaking of contributing to this special moment, Bumrah said, “It feels really special (winning the first game of the season for the first time in 14 years). &nbsp;“Great positive attitude (dressing room), (and) the calm in this team is really special. It feels like a special season is on its way. So, let’s build on this momentum and hopefully, get more wins," Bumrah concluded. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Mumbai's next game is an away clash against Delhi Capitals (DC) on Saturday (Apr 4), an afternoon clash at the Arun Jaitely Stadium.

Watch the hilarious moment when SKY left the Mumbai Indians dressing room in splits with a "Dhurandhar" remark directed at Jasprit Bumrah.

Jasprit Bumrah is cricket and IPL’s ‘Dhurandhar’, and his franchise owner and teammates cannot stop themselves from reminding him and everyone of the same. Bumrah is perhaps the best fast bowler of his time. Having won two T20 World Cups lately, Bumrah is back with his IPL team to help them end their trophy drought. Following Mumbai’s six-wicket win over Kolkata in their season opener at home the past Sunday, MI owner Nita Ambani presented the ‘best bowler’ accolade to Bumrah in the dressing room, with star batter Suryakumar Yadav making a remark from the recently released Bollywood blockbuster ‘Dhurandhar – The Revenge’. Uploaded on the Mumbai Indians’ official X handle, this viral clip saw SKY saying ‘Tujhe ghar ki yaad nahin aayi Jassi’, which translates to ‘Didn’t you miss home, Jassi?’, referring to a famous dialogue from Dhurandhar – The Revenge, with everyone bursting out laughing. WATCH VIDEO –

Watch the hilarious moment when SKY left the Mumbai Indians dressing room in splits with a "Dhurandhar" remark directed at Jasprit Bumrah.

SKY makes ‘Dhurandhar’ remark to Jasprit Bumrah as MI dressing room bursts out laughing – WATCH

Mohammed Shami said the day he feels bored and lazy about going out and playing cricket, he will call time on his cricket career; however, he sent a message to his naysayers, revealing that he isn’t feeling either and remains upbeat about his India comeback amid repeated snubs from the selectors. Shami last featured for India in the triumphant ICC Champions Trophy campaign in 2025, returning with the most wickets while leading the pace attack in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence.&nbsp;With injuries plaguing his playing time just after his 2023 ODI WC heroics, where he almost helped India win the home tournament with 23 wickets in seven contested matches, Shami found it challenging to return to the Indian Team across formats.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/5-days-into-psl-2026-and-three-pakistani-stars-shaheen-afridi-fakhar-zaman-naseem-shah-face-fines-suspensions-punjab-cm-maryam-nawaz-ball-tampering-1774961564178">5 days into PSL 2026 and three Pakistani stars face fines and suspensions; details inside</a> &nbsp;Even his comeback during the Champions Trophy failed to help him cement his place going further, with the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee ignoring him despite headline-worthy performances. Shami also regularly cleared fitness tests but never got a chance to make his India comeback after that. &nbsp;Appearing on The Shubhankar Mishra Show recently, Shami addressed rumours around his international retirement. While he candidly sent out a subtle yet silent message to the selection committee, the ace seamer remained committed to giving his best while eyeing his long-awaited comeback. &nbsp;"When I get tired, I will call it a day. But I am not even thinking about retirement right now because such thoughts pull you down. If this thought crosses your mind, it means you're already tired. And if you're tired, it means you're bored. I've said this earlier too, I will leave cricket the day I wake up and feel bored," Shami said of his retirement plans. "So yes, the day I feel lazy or bored, I will quit. But I am neither bored nor lazy. I am enjoying the game. The results are good and positive.”<h2>Contrary IPL, domestic runs</h2>Shami played for SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025, enduring a forgettable season and eventually getting released ahead of the auction. However, on the other hand, his domestic run spoke volumes of his improvement, with Shami returning with 67 wickets for Bengal in the 2025-26 season. &nbsp;At IPL 2026, he will feature for his new franchise, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). &nbsp;"As a bowler, I will give my 100 per cent. I'll perform my responsibilities and try to meet the expectations set for me. Rest, I can't change my luck. All I can contribute is with my attitude and determination. If Lucknow has trusted me, I will give my all. Still, whenever you're playing, the main element is satisfaction. Will I get the returns based on all the preparations that I have gone through? I did not focus on how much domestic I've played, but on the fact that my rhythm is alright. If that's the point, I start thinking about the future," Shami said.

Mohammed Shami shuts down retirement talk with a defiant message to his critics. Despite being "repeatedly snubbed" by national selectors, the veteran pacer insists he is neither bored nor lazy. Read about his domestic dominance and his plans to force a comeback through IPL 2026.

Mohammed Shami said the day he feels bored and lazy about going out and playing cricket, he will call time on his cricket career; however, he sent a message to his naysayers, revealing that he isn’t feeling either and remains upbeat about his India comeback amid repeated snubs from the selectors. Shami last featured for India in the triumphant ICC Champions Trophy campaign in 2025, returning with the most wickets while leading the pace attack in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. With injuries plaguing his playing time just after his 2023 ODI WC heroics, where he almost helped India win the home tournament with 23 wickets in seven contested matches, Shami found it challenging to return to the Indian Team across formats. Also read | 5 days into PSL 2026 and three Pakistani stars face fines and suspensions; details inside Even his comeback during the Champions Trophy failed to help him cement his place going further, with the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee ignoring him despite headline-worthy performances. Shami also regularly cleared fitness tests but never got a chance to make his India comeback after that. Appearing on The Shubhankar Mishra Show recently, Shami addressed rumours around his international retirement. While he candidly sent out a subtle yet silent message to the selection committee, the ace seamer remained committed to giving his best while eyeing his long-awaited comeback. "When I get tired, I will call it a day. But I am not even thinking about retirement right now because such thoughts pull you down. If this thought crosses your mind, it means you're already tired. And if you're tired, it means you're bored. I've said this earlier too, I will leave cricket the day I wake up and feel bored," Shami said of his retirement plans. "So yes, the day I feel lazy or bored, I will quit. But I am neither bored nor lazy. I am enjoying the game. The results are good and positive.” Contrary IPL, domestic runs Shami played for SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025, enduring a forgettable season and eventually getting released ahead of the auction. However, on the other hand, his domestic run spoke volumes of his improvement, with Shami returning with 67 wickets for Bengal in the 2025-26 season. At IPL 2026, he will feature for his new franchise, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). "As a bowler, I will give my 100 per cent. I'll perform my responsibilities and try to meet the expectations set for me. Rest, I can't change my luck. All I can contribute is with my attitude and determination. If Lucknow has trusted me, I will give my all. Still, whenever you're playing, the main element is satisfaction. Will I get the returns based on all the preparations that I have gone through? I did not focus on how much domestic I've played, but on the fact that my rhythm is alright. If that's the point, I start thinking about the future," Shami said.

Mohammed Shami shuts down retirement talk with a defiant message to his critics. Despite being "repeatedly snubbed" by national selectors, the veteran pacer insists he is neither bored nor lazy. Read about his domestic dominance and his plans to force a comeback through IPL 2026.

‘I’m neither bored nor lazy’: Mohammed Shami blasts retirement rumours after repeated snubs

Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman has been suspended for two matches after being found guilty of ball-tampering during Pakistan Super League fixture between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday. The left-handed batter was ruled to have violated Article 2.14 of the Pakistan Cricket Board Code of Conduct, which addresses illegal alteration of the ball under Clause 41.3 of PSL playing conditions. The charge was brought forward by on-field umpires Faisal Khan Aafreedi and Sharfuddoula Saikat, along with TV umpire Asif Yaqoob and fourth umpire Tariq Rasheed.&nbsp;Fakhar rejected the accusation and opted for a full disciplinary hearing conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct. The proceedings were overseen by match referee Roshan Mahanama, who delivered the decision after reviewing the evidence and hearing Fakhar’s defence.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/love-for-whistle-podu-family-rr-ravindra-jadeja-sinks-chennai-but-kisses-csk-badge-in-emotional-tribute-ipl-2026-viral-moment-1774955966176">‘Love for Whistle Podu Family’: Jadeja sinks Chennai but kisses CSK badge in emotional tribute</a>&nbsp;Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, team director Sameen Rana and team manager Farooq Anwar were also present during the hearings.&nbsp;As a result of the ban, Fakhar Zaman will miss the upcoming matches against Multan Sultans on April 3 in Lahore and Islamabad United on April 9 in Karachi.<h2>What led to the controversy?</h2>The incident occurred in the final over of Karachi Kings’ tense four-wicket victory win over Lahore Qalandars, which concluded with three balls remaining. With 14 runs needed from six deliveries, Fakhar, Haris Rauf and Shaheen were seen handling the ball near the bowler’s mark and this raised suspicion, prompting umpire Faisal Afridi to call for an inspection.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/5-days-into-psl-2026-and-three-pakistani-stars-shaheen-afridi-fakhar-zaman-naseem-shah-face-fines-suspensions-punjab-cm-maryam-nawaz-ball-tampering-1774961564178">5 days into PSL 2026 and three Pakistani stars face fines and suspensions; details inside</a>&nbsp;After consulting with his colleague, the officials concluded that the ball’s condition had been deliberately altered and as a penalty, Karachi Kings were awarded five extra runs and the ball was replaced, reducing the target to nine from six balls.&nbsp;Although Khushdil Shah was dismissed on the first delivery of the over, Rauf followed with a wide, before Abbas Afridi struck a boundary and a six to secure a dramatic win.&nbsp;With Fakhar sidelined, Lahore may look to Tayyab Tahir as a replacement. The right-hander has yet to play this season but has previously featured in 14 PSL matches.

As a result of the ban, Fakhar Zaman will miss the upcoming matches against Multan Sultans on April 3 in Lahore and Islamabad United on April 9 in Karachi.

Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman has been suspended for two matches after being found guilty of ball-tampering during Pakistan Super League fixture between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday. The left-handed batter was ruled to have violated Article 2.14 of the Pakistan Cricket Board Code of Conduct, which addresses illegal alteration of the ball under Clause 41.3 of PSL playing conditions. The charge was brought forward by on-field umpires Faisal Khan Aafreedi and Sharfuddoula Saikat, along with TV umpire Asif Yaqoob and fourth umpire Tariq Rasheed. Fakhar rejected the accusation and opted for a full disciplinary hearing conducted in accordance with the Code of Conduct. The proceedings were overseen by match referee Roshan Mahanama, who delivered the decision after reviewing the evidence and hearing Fakhar’s defence. Also Read - ‘Love for Whistle Podu Family’: Jadeja sinks Chennai but kisses CSK badge in emotional tribute Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, team director Sameen Rana and team manager Farooq Anwar were also present during the hearings. As a result of the ban, Fakhar Zaman will miss the upcoming matches against Multan Sultans on April 3 in Lahore and Islamabad United on April 9 in Karachi. What led to the controversy? The incident occurred in the final over of Karachi Kings’ tense four-wicket victory win over Lahore Qalandars, which concluded with three balls remaining. With 14 runs needed from six deliveries, Fakhar, Haris Rauf and Shaheen were seen handling the ball near the bowler’s mark and this raised suspicion, prompting umpire Faisal Afridi to call for an inspection. Also Read - 5 days into PSL 2026 and three Pakistani stars face fines and suspensions; details inside After consulting with his colleague, the officials concluded that the ball’s condition had been deliberately altered and as a penalty, Karachi Kings were awarded five extra runs and the ball was replaced, reducing the target to nine from six balls. Although Khushdil Shah was dismissed on the first delivery of the over, Rauf followed with a wide, before Abbas Afridi struck a boundary and a six to secure a dramatic win. With Fakhar sidelined, Lahore may look to Tayyab Tahir as a replacement. The right-hander has yet to play this season but has previously featured in 14 PSL matches.

As a result of the ban, Fakhar Zaman will miss the upcoming matches against Multan Sultans on April 3 in Lahore and Islamabad United on April 9 in Karachi.

Fakhar Zaman handed two-match suspension in PSL over ball-tampering

Just five days into PSL 2026 - a tournament currently confined to just two cities and played behind closed doors - three of Pakistan’s biggest icons have already been penalised. While the rival Indian Premier League (IPL) enjoys a 'bumper' start, the PSL is grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons. From Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi to Fakhar Zaman and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, the disciplinary committee has been kept busy.<h2>Who did what?</h2><h3>Naseem Shah – Breach of Central contract and social media policy&nbsp;</h3>The <a href="PCB Rejects 'Hacked' Claim: Naseem Shah faces Pakistan’s largest-ever cricket fine">PCB has refuted ‘hacked’ claims of Naseem’s social media account</a>, where, on his X handle, following his team’s (Rawalpindiz) tournament opener last Friday, a now-deleted post aimed at criticising Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz at the PSL opening ceremony, asking, "Why is she treated like the queen at Lord's?" made headlines.&nbsp; &nbsp;While that post was quickly taken down and replaced with another one claiming that his account got hacked, the PCB slapped Naseem with what is believed to be the largest penalty imposed in Pakistan Cricket history (PKR 20 million).&nbsp; &nbsp;Naseem later apologised for that post and even sacked his social media manager.<h3>Lahore Qalandars in trouble</h3>As many as three players from Qalandars, including an overseas all-rounder, have found themselves in hot water, with two serving suspensions for different reasons.&nbsp; &nbsp;Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was penalised for ‘forcefully escorting four unauthorised guests’ to his franchise teammate Sikandar Raza's private hotel room on Saturday, despite being denied permission by the relevant authorities. &nbsp;While Raza continues to be questioned for breaching team hotel security protocols, having repeatedly <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/psl-2026-shaheen-afridi-is-innocent-sikandar-raza-takes-blame-for-hotel-security-breach-relatives-family-members-friends-punjab-police-letter-1774871857625">urged the concerned authorities to spare Shaheen</a> in this case, as he was only assisting, the PCB slapped a PKR 1 million fine on Shaheen for violating the league’s strict security SOPs.<h3>Fakhar Zaman - Ball Tampering (Level 3 offence)&nbsp;</h3>During the fag end of Lahore’s game against the Karachi Kings, Fakhar was recorded on camera tampering with the ball’s condition. While the on-field officials awarded five penalty runs to Karachi, which eventually proved decisive in the game’s outcome, match referee Roshan Mahanama confirmed the maximum suspension (2-match ban) after a formal hearing on Tuesday. &nbsp;As a result, Fakhar will miss the upcoming two games against Multan Sultans and Islamabad United.&nbsp;

Disciplinary chaos hits PSL 2026! Naseem Shah faces a record PKR 20M fine over a controversial post, while Fakhar Zaman is banned for ball-tampering. Read the full details on Shaheen Afridi’s security breach and the storm surrounding Lahore Qalandars.

Just five days into PSL 2026 - a tournament currently confined to just two cities and played behind closed doors - three of Pakistan’s biggest icons have already been penalised. While the rival Indian Premier League (IPL) enjoys a 'bumper' start, the PSL is grabbing headlines for all the wrong reasons. From Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi to Fakhar Zaman and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, the disciplinary committee has been kept busy. Who did what? Naseem Shah – Breach of Central contract and social media policy The PCB has refuted ‘hacked’ claims of Naseem’s social media account, where, on his X handle, following his team’s (Rawalpindiz) tournament opener last Friday, a now-deleted post aimed at criticising Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz at the PSL opening ceremony, asking, "Why is she treated like the queen at Lord's?" made headlines. While that post was quickly taken down and replaced with another one claiming that his account got hacked, the PCB slapped Naseem with what is believed to be the largest penalty imposed in Pakistan Cricket history (PKR 20 million). Naseem later apologised for that post and even sacked his social media manager. Lahore Qalandars in trouble As many as three players from Qalandars, including an overseas all-rounder, have found themselves in hot water, with two serving suspensions for different reasons. Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi was penalised for ‘forcefully escorting four unauthorised guests’ to his franchise teammate Sikandar Raza's private hotel room on Saturday, despite being denied permission by the relevant authorities. While Raza continues to be questioned for breaching team hotel security protocols, having repeatedly urged the concerned authorities to spare Shaheen in this case, as he was only assisting, the PCB slapped a PKR 1 million fine on Shaheen for violating the league’s strict security SOPs. Fakhar Zaman - Ball Tampering (Level 3 offence) During the fag end of Lahore’s game against the Karachi Kings, Fakhar was recorded on camera tampering with the ball’s condition. While the on-field officials awarded five penalty runs to Karachi, which eventually proved decisive in the game’s outcome, match referee Roshan Mahanama confirmed the maximum suspension (2-match ban) after a formal hearing on Tuesday. As a result, Fakhar will miss the upcoming two games against Multan Sultans and Islamabad United.

Disciplinary chaos hits PSL 2026! Naseem Shah faces a record PKR 20M fine over a controversial post, while Fakhar Zaman is banned for ball-tampering. Read the full details on Shaheen Afridi’s security breach and the storm surrounding Lahore Qalandars.

5 days into PSL 2026 and three Pakistani stars face fines and suspensions; details inside

Ravindra Jadeja found himself in a unique position after featuring for Rajasthan Royals, a franchise for which he made his IPL debut in 2008 and lifted his maiden title, against Chennai Super Kings, the team with whom he has tasted the most success, having spent over a dozen years playing for, in game three of IPL 2026 in Guwahati. While Jadeja's heart remained with the Whistle Podu family, his performance on his return for RR sank CSK, as the hosts won their opener by eight wickets. However, it was how he thanked his former IPL team that won hearts and made headlines.&nbsp;On his 'second debut' for the Royals, Jadeja picked up two wickets in the first innings, removing Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube in his first over to push CSK's back against the wall, eventually reducing the travelling team to 127 inside 20 overs. His twin blow was enough to restrict the injury-hit CSK batting unit to surrender on an under-par score in their first game of the season. &nbsp;Rajasthan chased the target with eight wickets remaining, with their 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashing a 15-ball fifty, the second quickest for the Royals. Quickfire cameos from keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel and skipper Riyan Parag ensured RR walked out as winners inside the 13th over.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-breaks-suresh-raina-s-record-becomes-third-fastest-to-achieve-this-feat-1774942992886">IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaks Suresh Raina’s record, becomes third-fastest to achieve THIS feat</a><h3>Jadeja kisses the CSK badge</h3>After guiding his team home, Jadeja wasted no time in greeting his CSK teammates, including seamer Khaleel Ahmed. Upon sharing a warm moment with the Chennai squad, Jadeja gracefully kissed the CSK badge on Khaleel’s jersey, which he later admitted was his gesture of thanking the franchise he spent years with.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🩷💛 Frames filled with nothing but love and respect 📸<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/RRvCSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RRvCSK</a> <a href="https://t.co/SC4fIzZBvT">pic.twitter.com/SC4fIzZBvT</a>&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/2038859309656969714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“Obviously, leaving a franchise like CSK, where I had played for 12–13 years, was a little difficult initially. It was very emotional,” Jadeja reflected on his switch from CSK to RR in IPL 2026. “I told myself that changes like these are also part of the journey.”&nbsp; &nbsp;Speaking on moving to RR for the ongoing season, Jadeja said, “I’m liking the pink colour. The yellow had started to feel a bit old… but I’m just joking.&nbsp; “The good thing is I’m with the team where I first won an IPL title. Those memories have stayed with me. I’ve come here with a positive mindset — to learn and also share my experience with the group,” he said.

Ravindra Jadeja haunts his former team but wins hearts in a viral post-match moment. Read how the RR star "sank" CSK in Guwahati before an emotional tribute to the Whistle Podu family.

Ravindra Jadeja found himself in a unique position after featuring for Rajasthan Royals, a franchise for which he made his IPL debut in 2008 and lifted his maiden title, against Chennai Super Kings, the team with whom he has tasted the most success, having spent over a dozen years playing for, in game three of IPL 2026 in Guwahati. While Jadeja's heart remained with the Whistle Podu family, his performance on his return for RR sank CSK, as the hosts won their opener by eight wickets. However, it was how he thanked his former IPL team that won hearts and made headlines. On his 'second debut' for the Royals, Jadeja picked up two wickets in the first innings, removing Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube in his first over to push CSK's back against the wall, eventually reducing the travelling team to 127 inside 20 overs. His twin blow was enough to restrict the injury-hit CSK batting unit to surrender on an under-par score in their first game of the season. Rajasthan chased the target with eight wickets remaining, with their 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi smashing a 15-ball fifty, the second quickest for the Royals. Quickfire cameos from keeper-batter Dhruv Jurel and skipper Riyan Parag ensured RR walked out as winners inside the 13th over. Also read | IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaks Suresh Raina’s record, becomes third-fastest to achieve THIS feat Jadeja kisses the CSK badge After guiding his team home, Jadeja wasted no time in greeting his CSK teammates, including seamer Khaleel Ahmed. Upon sharing a warm moment with the Chennai squad, Jadeja gracefully kissed the CSK badge on Khaleel’s jersey, which he later admitted was his gesture of thanking the franchise he spent years with.

Ravindra Jadeja haunts his former team but wins hearts in a viral post-match moment. Read how the RR star "sank" CSK in Guwahati before an emotional tribute to the Whistle Podu family.

‘Love for Whistle Podu Family’: Jadeja sinks Chennai but kisses CSK badge in emotional tribute

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign on Wednesday (Apr 1) against Delhi Capitals (DC) in a high-octane clash at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Both sides are still chasing their first IPL title and will be eager to get off to a strong start this season. Ahead of the key clash, here’s all you need to know, including live streaming, head-to-head stats and other important details.<h2>What is the head-to-head record for the LSG vs DC clash in IPL history?</h2>Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals have clashed seven times in the Indian Premier League, with DC winning four matches and LSG claiming victory in three encounters.<h2>What is the venue for the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5?</h2>The Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow will be the venue for the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5.<h2>When will the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5?</h2>The LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5 will start at 7:30 p.m. IST, with the toss taking place at 7:00 p.m. IST.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-breaks-suresh-raina-s-record-becomes-third-fastest-to-achieve-this-feat-1774942992886">IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaks Suresh Raina’s record, becomes third-fastest to achieve THIS feat</a><h2>Which channel will broadcast the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5?</h2>The Star Sports Network will broadcast the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5 in India.<h2>Which platform will live-stream the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5?</h2>The Jio+Hotstar will live-stream the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5 in India.<h2>Squads</h2>Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant (C &amp; WK), Nicholas Pooran (WK), Josh Inglis (WK), Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Naman Tiwari,&nbsp;Mitchell Marsh, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed and Arshin Kulkarni&nbsp;Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (C), KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Rana, Abishek Porel (WK), Ajay Mandal, Ashutosh Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, Kuldeep Yadav, Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Mukesh Kumar, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Auqib Nabi, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi, Sahil Parikh, Prithvi Shaw and Kyle Jamieson.

Ahead of the key IPL 2026 clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals, here’s everything you need to know, including live streaming, head-to-head stats and other important details.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign on Wednesday (Apr 1) against Delhi Capitals (DC) in a high-octane clash at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Both sides are still chasing their first IPL title and will be eager to get off to a strong start this season. Ahead of the key clash, here’s all you need to know, including live streaming, head-to-head stats and other important details. What is the head-to-head record for the LSG vs DC clash in IPL history? Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals have clashed seven times in the Indian Premier League, with DC winning four matches and LSG claiming victory in three encounters. What is the venue for the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5? The Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow will be the venue for the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5. When will the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5? The LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5 will start at 7:30 p.m. IST, with the toss taking place at 7:00 p.m. IST. Also Read - IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaks Suresh Raina’s record, becomes third-fastest to achieve THIS feat Which channel will broadcast the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5? The Star Sports Network will broadcast the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5 in India. Which platform will live-stream the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5? The Jio+Hotstar will live-stream the LSG vs DC IPL 2026 Match No.5 in India. Squads Lucknow Super Giants: Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Nicholas Pooran (WK), Josh Inglis (WK), Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Anrich Nortje, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Naman Tiwari, Mitchell Marsh, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed and Arshin Kulkarni Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel (C), KL Rahul (WK), Nitish Rana, Abishek Porel (WK), Ajay Mandal, Ashutosh Sharma, Dushmantha Chameera, Karun Nair, Kuldeep Yadav, Madhav Tiwari, Mitchell Starc, Sameer Rizvi, T Natarajan, Tripurana Vijay, Tristan Stubbs, Vipraj Nigam, Mukesh Kumar, David Miller, Ben Duckett, Auqib Nabi, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi, Sahil Parikh, Prithvi Shaw and Kyle Jamieson.

Ahead of the key IPL 2026 clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals, 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 LSG vs DC match no 5 timing, squad, H2H & more

Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a brilliant start to his IPL 2026 campaign by scoring a stunning half-century in just 15 balls against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Barsapara Stadium on Monday (Mar 30). His innings is now the joint third-fastest fifty, equalling the records of Yusuf Pathan, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran and Jake Fraser-McGurk. Only four players, Yashasvi Jaiswal (13 balls), KL Rahul, Pat Cummins and Romario Shepherd (14 balls each) have recorded faster fifties in the league history.&nbsp;&nbsp;With this knock, the 15-year-old moved ahead of players like Suresh Raina, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, who had reached fifties in 16 balls. For Rajasthan Royals, this is the second-fastest fifty ever, just behind Jaiswal’s record.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-i-used-to-do-this-celebration-when-ravindra-jadeja-on-shivam-dube-s-wicket-celebration-1774933710005">‘I used to do this...’: Ravindra Jadeja on Shivam Dube’s wicket celebration</a><h3>Batters with fastest fifties for RR in IPL (by balls)</h3><ul><li>13 - Yashasvi Jaiswal vs KKR, Kolkata in 2023&nbsp;</li><li>15 - Vaibhav Suryavanshi vs CSK, Guwahati in 2026*</li><li>&nbsp;17 - Vaibhav Suryavanshi vs GT, Jaipur in 2025</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vaibhav-sooryvanshi-ready-to-make-india-senior-debut-2011-odi-world-cup-winner-would-love-to-see-him-fast-tracked-1774940121467">Vaibhav ready for India debut? 2011 WC winner 'would love to see him'</a>&nbsp;Sooryavanshi also improved his own previous best of a 17-ball fifty from last season against Gujarat Titans. In that match, he later scored a century in just 35 balls, the second-fastest in IPL history.&nbsp;Earlier, Rajasthan Royals’s bowlers dominated the first innings, dismissing Chennai Super Kings for just 127 in 19.4 overs. In reply, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (52) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (38 not out) put on a strong opening partnership, while captain Riyan Parag contributed an unbeaten 14 off 11 balls to seal the win for the hosts.

Sooryavanshi also improved his own previous best of a 17-ball fifty from last season against Gujarat Titans. In that match, he later scored a century in just 35 balls, the second-fastest in IPL history.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made a brilliant start to his IPL 2026 campaign by scoring a stunning half-century in just 15 balls against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Barsapara Stadium on Monday (Mar 30). His innings is now the joint third-fastest fifty, equalling the records of Yusuf Pathan, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran and Jake Fraser-McGurk. Only four players, Yashasvi Jaiswal (13 balls), KL Rahul, Pat Cummins and Romario Shepherd (14 balls each) have recorded faster fifties in the league history. With this knock, the 15-year-old moved ahead of players like Suresh Raina, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, who had reached fifties in 16 balls. For Rajasthan Royals, this is the second-fastest fifty ever, just behind Jaiswal’s record. Also Read - ‘I used to do this...’: Ravindra Jadeja on Shivam Dube’s wicket celebration Batters with fastest fifties for RR in IPL (by balls) 13 - Yashasvi Jaiswal vs KKR, Kolkata in 2023 15 - Vaibhav Suryavanshi vs CSK, Guwahati in 2026* 17 - Vaibhav Suryavanshi vs GT, Jaipur in 2025 Also Read - Vaibhav ready for India debut? 2011 WC winner 'would love to see him' Sooryavanshi also improved his own previous best of a 17-ball fifty from last season against Gujarat Titans. In that match, he later scored a century in just 35 balls, the second-fastest in IPL history. Earlier, Rajasthan Royals’s bowlers dominated the first innings, dismissing Chennai Super Kings for just 127 in 19.4 overs. In reply, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (52) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (38 not out) put on a strong opening partnership, while captain Riyan Parag contributed an unbeaten 14 off 11 balls to seal the win for the hosts.

Sooryavanshi also improved his own previous best of a 17-ball fifty from last season against Gujarat Titans. In that match, he later scored a century in just 35 balls, the second-fastest in IPL history.

IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi breaks Suresh Raina’s record, becomes third-fastest to achieve THIS feat

Rajasthan Royals' (RR) star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja admitted that leaving Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after a long and successful stint was an emotional moment, but he understands that such changes are part of a player’s career. He added that he is happy to be back with Rajasthan Royals, the team where he started his IPL journey and is approaching this new phase with a positive mindset. Jadeja also mentioned that he wants to keep learning while sharing his experience with the squad.&nbsp;&nbsp;The 37-year-old was part of Rajasthan’s title-winning team in 2008 and later became an important player for Chennai after joining them in 2012.&nbsp;"I'm liking the pink colour. The yellow had started to feel a bit old, but I'm just joking. Obviously, leaving a franchise like CSK, where I had played for 12-13 years, was a little difficult initially. It was very emotional. But I told myself that changes like these are also part of the journey. The good thing was that I'm now with the team where I had first won an IPL title. That memory has always stayed with me, that after the Under-19 World Cup, I started my IPL career there and won the title in my very first season. I have carried those memories along with a positive mindset, and my aim is to learn as much as I can with the new group and also share my experience with the team," Jadeja said on Jio Hotstar.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vaibhav-sooryvanshi-ready-to-make-india-senior-debut-2011-odi-world-cup-winner-would-love-to-see-him-fast-tracked-1774940121467">Vaibhav Sooryvanshi ready to make India senior debut? 2011 ODI World Cup winner 'would love to see him fast-tracked'</a> Jadeja played a pivotal role in CSK's championship triumphs in 2018, 2021, and 2023 with his impactful contributions in both batting and bowling, along with his exceptional fielding. Ahead of the 2026 season, Jadeja made a return to the Rajasthan Royals through a high-profile trade deal with CSK. Jadeja, along with Sam Curran, joined the Rajasthan franchise as Sanju Samson moved to the five-time champions.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pcb-rejects-hacked-claim-naseem-shah-faces-pakistan-largest-ever-cricket-fine-maryam-nawaz-tweet-deleted-x-post-psl-2026-rawalpindiz-1774894484767">PCB Rejects 'Hacked' Claim: Naseem faces Pakistan’s largest-ever cricket fine</a> Jadeja, in his first match for the RR in the IPL 2026, proved to be dangerous for his former team, scalping two prized wickets of Shivam Dube and Sarfaraz Khan. Incisive bowling spells from Jofra Archer, Jadeja and Nandre Burger, and a sensational half-century from Vaibhav Suryavanshi helped RR cruise to an eight-wicket win over five-time champions CSK on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Ravindra Jadeja was part of Rajasthan Royals’s title-winning squad in 2008 and later became a key player for Chennai Super Kings after joining them in 2012.

Rajasthan Royals' (RR) star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja admitted that leaving Chennai Super Kings (CSK) after a long and successful stint was an emotional moment, but he understands that such changes are part of a player’s career. He added that he is happy to be back with Rajasthan Royals, the team where he started his IPL journey and is approaching this new phase with a positive mindset. Jadeja also mentioned that he wants to keep learning while sharing his experience with the squad. The 37-year-old was part of Rajasthan’s title-winning team in 2008 and later became an important player for Chennai after joining them in 2012. "I'm liking the pink colour. The yellow had started to feel a bit old, but I'm just joking. Obviously, leaving a franchise like CSK, where I had played for 12-13 years, was a little difficult initially. It was very emotional. But I told myself that changes like these are also part of the journey. The good thing was that I'm now with the team where I had first won an IPL title. That memory has always stayed with me, that after the Under-19 World Cup, I started my IPL career there and won the title in my very first season. I have carried those memories along with a positive mindset, and my aim is to learn as much as I can with the new group and also share my experience with the team," Jadeja said on Jio Hotstar. Also Read - Vaibhav Sooryvanshi ready to make India senior debut? 2011 ODI World Cup winner 'would love to see him fast-tracked' Jadeja played a pivotal role in CSK's championship triumphs in 2018, 2021, and 2023 with his impactful contributions in both batting and bowling, along with his exceptional fielding. Ahead of the 2026 season, Jadeja made a return to the Rajasthan Royals through a high-profile trade deal with CSK. Jadeja, along with Sam Curran, joined the Rajasthan franchise as Sanju Samson moved to the five-time champions. Also Read - PCB Rejects 'Hacked' Claim: Naseem faces Pakistan’s largest-ever cricket fine Jadeja, in his first match for the RR in the IPL 2026, proved to be dangerous for his former team, scalping two prized wickets of Shivam Dube and Sarfaraz Khan. Incisive bowling spells from Jofra Archer, Jadeja and Nandre Burger, and a sensational half-century from Vaibhav Suryavanshi helped RR cruise to an eight-wicket win over five-time champions CSK on Monday. With inputs from agencies

Ravindra Jadeja was part of Rajasthan Royals’s title-winning squad in 2008 and later became a key player for Chennai Super Kings after joining them in 2012.

'Very emotional': Ravindra Jadeja breaks silence on CSK exit

India's teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who turned 15 a couple days ahead of the start of IPL 2026, has begun the season with a bang. Playing for Rajasthan Royals, Sooryvanshi hit 15-ball 50, third fastest in the IPL history, in his 17-ball 52 runs innings to help his team beat Chennai Super Kings. RR won the match by eight wickets against five-time winners CSK on Monday (Mar 30) in Guwahati. Sooryavanshi's innings sparked the question of him making his international debut India once again. The teenager, ever since making his debut at 14 in IPL 2025, has been climbing up faster than anyone would have thought, making him hard to ingore for international debut, but is he ready for play for India senior side?<h2>Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi eligible for Team India?</h2>Looking him bat in RR vs CSK, Ambati Rayudu, former India international, while speaking on ESPNCricinfo Time Out, said: "He looks a cut above a lot of youngsters in the country, and he's a talent that will definitely do wonders for Indian cricket. I don't know when, but definitely in the future."India's WC winning spinner Piyush Chawla also opined on the same at the same show and said: "If he plays like that, would love to see him fast-tracked. Over the last year, in Under-19, domestic... whatever he has played, he went there and he scored hundreds. And it's not only hundreds, he scored big hundreds."<h2>Will Sooryavanshi play 2027 ODI World Cup?</h2>The next ICC white-ball event is going to be the 2027 ODI World Cup and there are questions about Sooryvanshi's inclusion in the team. He most recently scored 439 runs in the U-19 ODI World Cup during India's title-winning campaign.Rayudu, speaking on which format Sooryavanshi would make his debut in first, said: "I think definitely the T20 format [for his maiden call-up]. If he has a very good IPL and if he shows that he has the ability to keep calm under pressure... because, don't forget, our Indian team is a world champion team. It's won the T20 World Cup. So to replace somebody in that side is not easy."

Sooryavanshi's 17-ball 52 vs CSK sparked the question of him making his international debut India once again. The teenager, ever since making his debut at 14 in IPL 2025, has been climbing up faster than anyone would have thought, making him hard to ingore for international debut.

India's teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who turned 15 a couple days ahead of the start of IPL 2026, has begun the season with a bang. Playing for Rajasthan Royals, Sooryvanshi hit 15-ball 50, third fastest in the IPL history, in his 17-ball 52 runs innings to help his team beat Chennai Super Kings. RR won the match by eight wickets against five-time winners CSK on Monday (Mar 30) in Guwahati. Sooryavanshi's innings sparked the question of him making his international debut India once again. The teenager, ever since making his debut at 14 in IPL 2025, has been climbing up faster than anyone would have thought, making him hard to ingore for international debut, but is he ready for play for India senior side? Is Vaibhav Sooryavanshi eligible for Team India? Looking him bat in RR vs CSK, Ambati Rayudu, former India international, while speaking on ESPNCricinfo Time Out, said: "He looks a cut above a lot of youngsters in the country, and he's a talent that will definitely do wonders for Indian cricket. I don't know when, but definitely in the future." India's WC winning spinner Piyush Chawla also opined on the same at the same show and said: "If he plays like that, would love to see him fast-tracked. Over the last year, in Under-19, domestic... whatever he has played, he went there and he scored hundreds. And it's not only hundreds, he scored big hundreds." Will Sooryavanshi play 2027 ODI World Cup? The next ICC white-ball event is going to be the 2027 ODI World Cup and there are questions about Sooryvanshi's inclusion in the team. He most recently scored 439 runs in the U-19 ODI World Cup during India's title-winning campaign. Rayudu, speaking on which format Sooryavanshi would make his debut in first, said: "I think definitely the T20 format [for his maiden call-up]. If he has a very good IPL and if he shows that he has the ability to keep calm under pressure... because, don't forget, our Indian team is a world champion team. It's won the T20 World Cup. So to replace somebody in that side is not easy."

Sooryavanshi's 17-ball 52 vs CSK sparked the question of him making his international debut India once again. The teenager, ever since making his debut at 14 in IPL 2025, has been climbing up faster than anyone would have thought, making him hard to ingore for international debut.

Vaibhav Sooryvanshi ready to make India senior debut? 2011 ODI World Cup winner 'would love to see him fast-tracked'

India star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja recently spoke about his viral celebration following the dismissal of Shivam Dube during the IPL 2026 match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. The moment came in the eighth over of CSK’s innings, when Jadeja claimed a crucial wicket as Dube attempted a straight hit but mistimed his shot and was caught by Ravi Bishnoi at long-off. After the breakthrough, Jadeja celebrated by lifting his left arm and mimicking a gunshot gesture, even adding a “boom” sound for the effect.&nbsp;Explaining the move, Jadeja said it wasn’t new, it was something he had done during his earlier stint with CSK and chose to carry forward with Rajasthan. He mentioned that continuing the celebration felt natural, regardless of the team he represents.&nbsp;“I used to do this celebration when I played for CSK, so I thought, why not continue with it here as well,” Jadeja told JioHotstar.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/football-world-cup-2026-messi-set-to-play-for-argentina-he-ll-definitely-start-in-friendly-against-zambia-1774926795646">Football World Cup 2026 | Argentina's Messi to start against Zambia in FIFA friendly</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Good morning from Banna 💗🔥<a href="https://t.co/gzhzPMs61z">pic.twitter.com/gzhzPMs61z</a>&mdash; Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals/status/2038805982902628434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Jadeja also reflected on his transition from Chennai to Rajasthan, calling it an emotional shift after spending over a decade with CSK. He had been part of the franchise from 2012 to 2025 before returning to Rajasthan ahead of the 2026 season in a trade that involved Sanju Samson moving the other way.&nbsp;“At first, it was a little difficult because I had played for CSK for around 12–13 years, so it was naturally an emotional time. But then I thought that this too is a part of the journey. And the good thing is that I am going back to the team with which I won my first IPL title."&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bangladesh-fans-miss-ipl-2026-as-jiostar-cancels-broadcast-deal-1774872243153">Bangladesh fans miss IPL 2026 as JioStar cancels broadcast deal</a>&nbsp;“So for me, those memories were always special - after the Under-19 phase, that was where I began my IPL journey, and in my very first year, we won the IPL title. That memory has always stayed with me,” Jadeja said.&nbsp;“With those memories, and with a positive mindset, I felt good about going there. I knew I would get to learn new things with a new group, and I would also be able to share my experience with the people there,” Jadeja added.&nbsp;In the match, Jadeja played well and took two wickets, including Dube and Sarfaraz Khan. Rajasthan bowled out CSK for 127 and then easily chased the target with 47 balls left.

Rajasthan Royals thrashed Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in Guwahati. Chasing a modest 128, the hosts chased down the target inside 13 overs, with Ravindra Jadeja impressing with the ball, picking up two wickets on his RR debut.

India star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja recently spoke about his viral celebration following the dismissal of Shivam Dube during the IPL 2026 match between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals at Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati. The moment came in the eighth over of CSK’s innings, when Jadeja claimed a crucial wicket as Dube attempted a straight hit but mistimed his shot and was caught by Ravi Bishnoi at long-off. After the breakthrough, Jadeja celebrated by lifting his left arm and mimicking a gunshot gesture, even adding a “boom” sound for the effect. Explaining the move, Jadeja said it wasn’t new, it was something he had done during his earlier stint with CSK and chose to carry forward with Rajasthan. He mentioned that continuing the celebration felt natural, regardless of the team he represents. “I used to do this celebration when I played for CSK, so I thought, why not continue with it here as well,” Jadeja told JioHotstar. Also Read - Football World Cup 2026 | Argentina's Messi to start against Zambia in FIFA friendly

Rajasthan Royals thrashed Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in Guwahati. Chasing a modest 128, the hosts chased down the target inside 13 overs, with Ravindra Jadeja impressing with the ball, picking up two wickets on his RR debut.

‘I used to do this when...’: Ravindra Jadeja on Shivam Dube’s wicket celebration

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected ‘hacked’ (social media account) claims over a now-deleted tweet by Naseem Shah, aimed to criticise Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz, with the cricket board slapping the pacer with the largest fine imposed on anyone in the country's cricket history. The PCB fined Naseem Shah PKR 20 million (approx. $72,000), two days after sending him a showcase notice over his actions.&nbsp;Shah, featuring for Rawalpindiz, one of the two new teams inducted into PSL from this season onwards, appeared to have taken a dig at Nawaz ahead of the tournament opener last Friday. Last week, PCB boss Mohsin Naqvi announced that PSL 2026 will be played without spectators in the wake of Pakistan’s need to reserve fuel amid Strait of Hormuz closure and the ongoing West Asia conflict.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bangladesh-fans-miss-ipl-2026-as-jiostar-cancels-broadcast-deal-1774872243153">Bangladesh fans miss IPL 2026 as JioStar cancels broadcast deal</a>&nbsp;Regardless, several dignitaries were present at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the PSL 2026 opener, including Nawaz, the daughter of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and niece of the current PM Shahbaz Sharif. Maryam Nawaz met players from both teams.&nbsp;However, a now-deleted tweet from Naseem’s account read, "Why is she treated like the Queen at Lord's?" Minutes later, the post was taken down and replaced with another post reading that his account was hacked, and has now been recovered by him.Meanwhile, a PCB statement said a three-member disciplinary committee held a hearing today, where Naseem apologised for the actions and sacked his social media manager. The PCB also stated that the same manager is now blacklisted by the board, restricting him from associating with any other player.&nbsp;Meanwhile, fast bowler Naseem Shah was the most-expensive player at the PSL auction earlier this year, going for PKR 86.50 million (approx. $310,000), with Rawalpindiz bagging his services.

The PCB has slapped Naseem Shah with a record-breaking PKR 20 million fine after rejecting his "hacked account" defense regarding a controversial tweet about Maryam Nawaz. Read the full details of the disciplinary hearing, the blacklisting of his social media manager.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected ‘hacked’ (social media account) claims over a now-deleted tweet by Naseem Shah, aimed to criticise Punjab’s chief minister, Maryam Nawaz, with the cricket board slapping the pacer with the largest fine imposed on anyone in the country's cricket history. The PCB fined Naseem Shah PKR 20 million (approx. $72,000), two days after sending him a showcase notice over his actions. Shah, featuring for Rawalpindiz, one of the two new teams inducted into PSL from this season onwards, appeared to have taken a dig at Nawaz ahead of the tournament opener last Friday. Last week, PCB boss Mohsin Naqvi announced that PSL 2026 will be played without spectators in the wake of Pakistan’s need to reserve fuel amid Strait of Hormuz closure and the ongoing West Asia conflict. Also read | Bangladesh fans miss IPL 2026 as JioStar cancels broadcast deal Regardless, several dignitaries were present at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for the PSL 2026 opener, including Nawaz, the daughter of former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and niece of the current PM Shahbaz Sharif. Maryam Nawaz met players from both teams. However, a now-deleted tweet from Naseem’s account read, "Why is she treated like the Queen at Lord's?" Minutes later, the post was taken down and replaced with another post reading that his account was hacked, and has now been recovered by him. Meanwhile, a PCB statement said a three-member disciplinary committee held a hearing today, where Naseem apologised for the actions and sacked his social media manager. The PCB also stated that the same manager is now blacklisted by the board, restricting him from associating with any other player. Meanwhile, fast bowler Naseem Shah was the most-expensive player at the PSL auction earlier this year, going for PKR 86.50 million (approx. $310,000), with Rawalpindiz bagging his services.

The PCB has slapped Naseem Shah with a record-breaking PKR 20 million fine after rejecting his "hacked account" defense regarding a controversial tweet about Maryam Nawaz. Read the full details of the disciplinary hearing, the blacklisting of his social media manager.

PCB Rejects 'Hacked' Claim: Naseem Shah faces Pakistan’s largest-ever cricket fine

Ravindra Jadeja shone on his Rajasthan Royals debut as the hosts crushed the former five-time champions by eight wickets in their IPL 2026 opener on Monday (Mar 30) in Guwahati. While Jadeja’s debut made headlines for the right reasons, as he returned with two wickets for 18 runs in three overs, Sanju Samson’s was a shallow one. Opening with team captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Samson failed on his CSK debut, scoring just six before a banger of a delivery from Nandre Burger sent him packing.&nbsp;Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to field first, considering the rain threat. Although that did not happen, what happened was RR’s mauling of CSK, who were without several first-team players for the opener, including MS Dhoni.&nbsp; &nbsp;Batting first, CSK had the new opening pair in Gaikwad and Samson, but both failed to get going. The overseas seam pair of Jofra Archer and Burger accounted for CSK’s top-three, reducing them 19 for three at one stage, and 38 for four inside the Powerplay. &nbsp;Came in Jadeja, once CSK’s greatest match-winner, against his former team, and rocked them with twin strikes in his first over, dismissing CSK’s Impact Player Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A special return in Pink for Ravindra Jadeja 🩷 🎥 Two quick wickets in his very first over back for the Royals 🔥 Updates ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/UzbuFk5G26">https://t.co/UzbuFk5G26</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/RRvCSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RRvCSK</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/rajasthanroyals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rajasthanroyals</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/imjadeja?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@imjadeja</a> <a href="https://t.co/leq4EyMRha">pic.twitter.com/leq4EyMRha</a>&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/2038632318504780008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Debutant Karthik Sharma scored 18 off 15 balls, but the saviour was all-rounder Jamie Overton (43 from 36 balls), who fought till the end to help CSK post a fighting total (127 inside 20 overs).<h2>No stopping Suryavanshi, RR</h2>The 15-year-old batting prodigy, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, was on song from ball one, smashing a 15-ball fifty, fastest for this season thus far, and the second-quickest overall for the Royals in IPL. His blistering knock stitched a 75-run stand for the first wicket with Yashasvi Jaiswal before Anshul Kamboj broke the stand. The CSK medium pacer also accounted for the gloveman Dhruv Jurel (18 off nine balls).

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sharp work in the field! ⚡ Anshul Kamboj with an important breakthrough as Sarfaraz Khan takes a fine catch in the deep 🤝 Updates ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/UzbuFk5G26">https://t.co/UzbuFk5G26</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/RRvCSK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RRvCSK</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a> <a href="https://t.co/AzRULVrSTW">pic.twitter.com/AzRULVrSTW</a>&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/2038659083163820470?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

While Jaiswal stood his ground at one end, captain Parag remained unbeaten on 14 off 11 balls to see a comfortable victory for his team by eight wickets.

Rajasthan Royals crushed Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in Guwahati. Chasing a moderate 128, the hosts completed the target inside 13 overs, with Ravindra Jadeja starring with the ball, picking two wickets on his RR debut.

Ravindra Jadeja shone on his Rajasthan Royals debut as the hosts crushed the former five-time champions by eight wickets in their IPL 2026 opener on Monday (Mar 30) in Guwahati. While Jadeja’s debut made headlines for the right reasons, as he returned with two wickets for 18 runs in three overs, Sanju Samson’s was a shallow one. Opening with team captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Samson failed on his CSK debut, scoring just six before a banger of a delivery from Nandre Burger sent him packing. Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to field first, considering the rain threat. Although that did not happen, what happened was RR’s mauling of CSK, who were without several first-team players for the opener, including MS Dhoni. Batting first, CSK had the new opening pair in Gaikwad and Samson, but both failed to get going. The overseas seam pair of Jofra Archer and Burger accounted for CSK’s top-three, reducing them 19 for three at one stage, and 38 for four inside the Powerplay. Came in Jadeja, once CSK’s greatest match-winner, against his former team, and rocked them with twin strikes in his first over, dismissing CSK’s Impact Player Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube.

Rajasthan Royals crushed Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in Guwahati. Chasing a moderate 128, the hosts completed the target inside 13 overs, with Ravindra Jadeja starring with the ball, picking two wickets on his RR debut.

Samson flops, Jadeja sparks as RR crush CSK in Guwahati to open IPL 2026 account

India’s JioStar has officially terminated its IPL broadcasting agreement in Bangladesh, ruling out any telecast of the 2026 season, despite recent indications that authorities might reconsider their earlier ban on the tournament. The move comes as a major setback for cricket fans in Bangladesh, where the league enjoys immense popularity. The decision follows reports that the Bangladeshi government was open to reconsidering restrictions on IPL broadcasts, imposed amid growing diplomatic and cricket-related tensions with India. However, JioStar’s exit has now effectively shut the door on any possibility of the tournament returning to local screens this year.&nbsp;In a letter to Bangladeshi broadcaster TSports, accessed by Reuters, JioStar confirmed that the agreement had been “terminated with immediate effect.” TSports had previously sublicensed IPL broadcasting rights for the 2023-2027 cycle.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rr-vs-csk-in-ipl-2026-sanju-samson-ravindra-jadeja-debut-for-new-teams-no-ms-dhoni-in-guwahati-1774878775022">RR vs CSK in IPL 2026: Samson &amp; Jadeja debut for new teams; No MS Dhoni in Guwahati</a>&nbsp;The company further cited its partner’s consistent delays and failures in payments as the key reason behind this move.&nbsp;The withdrawal also covers the Women’s Premier League, with JioStar reportedly discontinuing broadcast arrangements for both the tournaments in Bangladesh over similar financial concerns.&nbsp;Also Read -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-seems-to-be-in-a-2-0-avatar-ex-india-captain-hails-rohit-sharma-after-superb-fifty-vs-kkr-1774866794410"> IPL 2026: Why Suryakumar Yadav was used as an impact sub for MI vs KKR? Coach Jayawardene explains</a><h2>Why was the deal scrapped?</h2>Although political tensions between India and Bangladesh had already created uncertainty over IPL broadcasts, the final breakdown of the deal seems to be due to a commercial dispute rather than geopolitics.&nbsp;According to JioStar, consistent delays and failures in payments by TSports led to the cancellation, indicating that financial issues were the main reason behind the collapse of the agreement.

There will be no IPL telecast in Bangladesh, with JioStar ending the agreement over payment defaults by TSports.

India’s JioStar has officially terminated its IPL broadcasting agreement in Bangladesh, ruling out any telecast of the 2026 season, despite recent indications that authorities might reconsider their earlier ban on the tournament. The move comes as a major setback for cricket fans in Bangladesh, where the league enjoys immense popularity. The decision follows reports that the Bangladeshi government was open to reconsidering restrictions on IPL broadcasts, imposed amid growing diplomatic and cricket-related tensions with India. However, JioStar’s exit has now effectively shut the door on any possibility of the tournament returning to local screens this year. In a letter to Bangladeshi broadcaster TSports, accessed by Reuters, JioStar confirmed that the agreement had been “terminated with immediate effect.” TSports had previously sublicensed IPL broadcasting rights for the 2023-2027 cycle. Also Read - RR vs CSK in IPL 2026: Samson & Jadeja debut for new teams; No MS Dhoni in Guwahati The company further cited its partner’s consistent delays and failures in payments as the key reason behind this move. The withdrawal also covers the Women’s Premier League, with JioStar reportedly discontinuing broadcast arrangements for both the tournaments in Bangladesh over similar financial concerns. Also Read - IPL 2026: Why Suryakumar Yadav was used as an impact sub for MI vs KKR? Coach Jayawardene explains Why was the deal scrapped? Although political tensions between India and Bangladesh had already created uncertainty over IPL broadcasts, the final breakdown of the deal seems to be due to a commercial dispute rather than geopolitics. According to JioStar, consistent delays and failures in payments by TSports led to the cancellation, indicating that financial issues were the main reason behind the collapse of the agreement.

There will be no IPL telecast in Bangladesh, with JioStar ending the agreement over payment defaults by TSports.

Bangladesh fans miss IPL 2026 as JioStar cancels broadcast deal

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