Did India risk its US trade deal despite softer stance at BRICS?

Pakistan puts Pak Rs 70 lakh bounty on UN terrorist Masood Azhar; move draws skepticism in Delhi

‘US ensuring global energy supplies’: Trump demands reimbursement for securing Strait of Hormuz

'Huge destructive power': North Korea calls its latest missile launches 'live-fire drill' even as US dismisses 'immediate threat'

‘Let’s go’: Newly declassified videos show dramatic rescue of US Air Force officers downed in Iran

Historic first: ‘Ganga aarti’ performed on River Thames in London

Why European Meteor missiles use ramjet engines compared to standard US solid rockets

Iran, India agree to deepen humanitarian and political ties, President Pezeshkian says

‘Want to reset ties with India, have engagement based on mutual interests,’ says Bangladesh minister

Turkish Airlines plane flies through a storm three times, triggering severe turbulence

Why Chinese PL-15 air-to-air missiles use dual-pulse motors compared to European interceptors

BRICS set of guidelines for disaster management

800 million years old - Scientists discover 'fingerprints' of supercontinent Gondwana in ancient rocks

Russia proposes to build 360 kmph Ivolga FG trains in India: What happened on sidelines of BRICS

China discovers vast gold and silver 'mine' in the Pacific with unheard-of deposits

Who really benefits from the BRICS bank? Inside the New Development Bank's $43 billion portfolio

Plane carrying prominent figure crashes at Libya’s Misrata airport: Report

New OTT releases this week (September 14-20, 2026): Lust Stories 3, Waiting Hai, Irumudi- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more

Liam Neeson sparks romance rumours after holding hands with Stella Stocker at TIFF 2026

Sent home midway from UK tour, Pakistan's Salman Agha hits 300* in domestic return

Nigerian Navy seizes 10,000 litres of suspected illegal fuel in Rivers State crackdown

Saudi Arabia discovers 110 million tonnes of Uranium-rich ore in Madinah region

Indian importers urge Bangladesh to lift export ban on 'Hilsa' fish ahead of Durga Puja

Ecstasy tablets are rage in 'drug haven' Libya | Gravitas

'Now Trump is copying us': Shivakumar links US $5,000 plan to Congress guarantees

Video of Pakistani lawmaker struggling to read English tribute to Jinnah goes viral - WATCH

Trump downplays China's alleged 'help' to Iran in strike on Jordan base | Gravitas

Meghan Markle shares first glimpse of family life with Prince Harry and children in UK

Baba Vanga's first prophecy for 2027 is out, and straight out of science fiction

Photographs, LeT labels vanish from two 2008 Mumbai attack entries in Pakistan’s most wanted list

US court blocks Trump administration move ending automatic H-4 EAD extensions for seven spouses

UK man admits drugging, raping wife for 20 years in shocking abuse case

Extreme warming in Indian Ocean added 695 billion tons of ice to Antarctica ice sheet

Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland push for exit from UK | Race To Power

China thinned Himalayan troop presence in 2025, India defence report says; terms border situation 'stable'

<p>The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has decided against organising an opening ceremony for IPL 2026 starting in two days as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives in the tragic June 4 stampede episode outside the M Chinnaswamy stadium last year. After RCB won their maiden IPL title, beating Punjab Kings in an exciting final in Ahmedabad, grand celebrations took place at their cricket den in Bengaluru, only for it to turn tragic, as 11 fans lost their lives, including a 14-year-old.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>With RCB hosting SRH in the tournament opener at the very venue as part of continuing the tradition, the BCCI opted against staging the cultural and glitz show at the start of it.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/vijay-mallya-wishes-godspeed-to-rcb-new-owners-after-ipl-franchise-record-sale-aditya-birla-group-consortium-1-8-billion-inr-450-crore-2008-1774512696041"><strong>Vijay Mallya wishes ‘Godspeed’ to RCB’s new owners after IPL franchise’s record sale</strong></a><br>&nbsp;</p><p>A Times of India (TOI) report confirmed the development; however, there would definitely be a closing ceremony on the day of the finale this season, the BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia revealed.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>"Due to last year's tragic incident on June 4 last year, there will be no formal function on the day of the start of IPL-2026 (in Bengaluru). The BCCI is not organising any cultural or entertainment show at the start of IPL-19 as a mark of respect to the departed souls due to that tragedy on June 4, 2025.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>“However, the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council are planning a grand entertainment function at the closing of the IPL, on the day of the final (May 31)," Saikia said in a chat with TOI.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Last year, a massive IPL opening ceremony took place at the iconic Eden Gardens, the venue of the then-defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Several Bollywood A-listers performed, including KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan, singers Shreya Ghoshal and Karan Aujla, and a dance performance by actress Disha Patani.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, the last time the BCCI cancelled an IPL opening ceremony was during the 2019 edition, following the horrific Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of around 40 CRPF personnel earlier that year. The BCCI, then run by the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), had cancelled the IPL 2019 opening ceremony, instead donating the allocated funds to the families of the victims.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>IPL 2026 gets underway on Saturday (Mar 28), with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) hosting SunRisers Hyderabad in the marquee tournament opener at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium.&nbsp;</p>

BCCI cancels the IPL 2026 opening ceremony as a mark of respect for the victims of the tragic June 4 stampede. As defending champions, RCB prepare to host SRH at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Secretary Devajit Saikia confirms a solemn start to the season with a grand finale planned for May 31.

The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has decided against organising an opening ceremony for IPL 2026 starting in two days as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives in the tragic June 4 stampede episode outside the M Chinnaswamy stadium last year. After RCB won their maiden IPL title, beating Punjab Kings in an exciting final in Ahmedabad, grand celebrations took place at their cricket den in Bengaluru, only for it to turn tragic, as 11 fans lost their lives, including a 14-year-old. With RCB hosting SRH in the tournament opener at the very venue as part of continuing the tradition, the BCCI opted against staging the cultural and glitz show at the start of it. Also read | Vijay Mallya wishes ‘Godspeed’ to RCB’s new owners after IPL franchise’s record sale A Times of India (TOI) report confirmed the development; however, there would definitely be a closing ceremony on the day of the finale this season, the BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia revealed. "Due to last year's tragic incident on June 4 last year, there will be no formal function on the day of the start of IPL-2026 (in Bengaluru). The BCCI is not organising any cultural or entertainment show at the start of IPL-19 as a mark of respect to the departed souls due to that tragedy on June 4, 2025. “However, the BCCI and the IPL Governing Council are planning a grand entertainment function at the closing of the IPL, on the day of the final (May 31)," Saikia said in a chat with TOI. Last year, a massive IPL opening ceremony took place at the iconic Eden Gardens, the venue of the then-defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Several Bollywood A-listers performed, including KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan, singers Shreya Ghoshal and Karan Aujla, and a dance performance by actress Disha Patani. Meanwhile, the last time the BCCI cancelled an IPL opening ceremony was during the 2019 edition, following the horrific Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of around 40 CRPF personnel earlier that year. The BCCI, then run by the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), had cancelled the IPL 2019 opening ceremony, instead donating the allocated funds to the families of the victims. IPL 2026 gets underway on Saturday (Mar 28), with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) hosting SunRisers Hyderabad in the marquee tournament opener at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

<p>BCCI cancels the IPL 2026 opening ceremony as a mark of respect for the victims of the tragic June 4 stampede. As defending champions, RCB prepare to host SRH at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Secretary Devajit Saikia confirms a solemn start to the season with a grand finale planned for May 31.</p>

No Glitz at IPL 2026: BCCI cancels opening ceremony to honour June 4 stampede victims

<p>Fugitive billionaire and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) former boss, Vijay Mallya, has wished the new owners of the IPL franchise ‘Godspeed’ while reminiscing about his team’s early days following its record sale on Tuesday (Mar 24). Aditya Birla Group-led consortium, consisting of Indian and international investors, acquired RCB’s 100% shares for a bumper $1.8 billion, a gigantic 1,513% raise from its original value of $111.6 million (INR 450 crore in 2008), a price at which Mallya won its winning bid for RCB.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Taking to his social media handle X, Mallya gracefully congratulated RCB’s new owners, including The Times of India Group, the US-based Bolt Ventures, and the global investment firm Blackstone, calling it IPL’s most valuable franchise. Speaking of the time when he bought RCB, Mallya recalled how people made fun of his investment, which now has grown into a whopping INR 16,500 crore entity.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/from-rr-dugout-to-rcb-boardroom-meet-aryaman-birla-the-ex-cricketer-now-heading-a-1-8bn-ipl-franchise-1774377676062"><strong>From RR Dugout to RCB Boardroom: Meet Aryaman Birla, the ex-cricketer now heading a $1.8bn IPL franchise</strong></a><br>&nbsp;</p><p>“I would like to heartily congratulate the new owners of RCB. I wish them the very best and Godspeed with the most valuable IPL franchise. When I bought the franchise in 2008 for INR 450 crores, most people laughed at me and criticised my investment as a vanity project. Behind my much touted madnesses was building the Royal Challenge brand, and hence I named the franchise RCB. Immensely gratifying to see my INR 450 crore investment grow to INR 16,500 crores,” he wrote.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Mallya continued to express gratitude towards owning this franchise, which he says will remain a part of his DNA. Also, Mallya recalled how picking a young Virat Kohli, who is now the most followed cricketer globally and one of the most decorated ever, changed this franchise, the IPL, and cricket’s dynamics forever.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>“RCB will always remain a part of my DNA with indelible memories, including picking the young Virat Kohli, who is now amongst the best in the World. To all RCB fans who came on board during my stewardship and beyond, a grateful thank you, and please continue to support RCB, the Lion of Bengaluru. Namaskara,” Mallya added.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I would like to heartily congratulate the new owners of RCB. I wish them the very best and Godspeed with the most valuable IPL franchise. When I bought the franchise in 2008 for INR 450 crores, most people laughed at me and criticised my investment as a vanity project. Behind my…</p>&mdash; Vijay Mallya (@TheVijayMallya) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVijayMallya/status/2036971287155720317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Meanwhile, RCB are the defending IPL champions, having won their maiden title last year by beating Punjab Kings in an exciting final. Although the tragic June 4 stampede episode, where 11 fans were killed outside the venue, clouded RCB’s celebration, the fans are keen on welcoming their heroes back when they face SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the tournament opener on March 28 at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium.</p>

From ₹450 crore to $1.8 billion: Vijay Mallya reacts to the record-breaking sale of RCB. Discover how the Aditya Birla Group-led consortium acquired the IPL’s most valuable franchise and Mallya’s emotional tribute to Virat Kohli and the "Lion of Bengaluru" fans.

Fugitive billionaire and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) former boss, Vijay Mallya, has wished the new owners of the IPL franchise ‘Godspeed’ while reminiscing about his team’s early days following its record sale on Tuesday (Mar 24). Aditya Birla Group-led consortium, consisting of Indian and international investors, acquired RCB’s 100% shares for a bumper $1.8 billion, a gigantic 1,513% raise from its original value of $111.6 million (INR 450 crore in 2008), a price at which Mallya won its winning bid for RCB. Taking to his social media handle X, Mallya gracefully congratulated RCB’s new owners, including The Times of India Group, the US-based Bolt Ventures, and the global investment firm Blackstone, calling it IPL’s most valuable franchise. Speaking of the time when he bought RCB, Mallya recalled how people made fun of his investment, which now has grown into a whopping INR 16,500 crore entity. Also read | From RR Dugout to RCB Boardroom: Meet Aryaman Birla, the ex-cricketer now heading a $1.8bn IPL franchise “I would like to heartily congratulate the new owners of RCB. I wish them the very best and Godspeed with the most valuable IPL franchise. When I bought the franchise in 2008 for INR 450 crores, most people laughed at me and criticised my investment as a vanity project. Behind my much touted madnesses was building the Royal Challenge brand, and hence I named the franchise RCB. Immensely gratifying to see my INR 450 crore investment grow to INR 16,500 crores,” he wrote. Mallya continued to express gratitude towards owning this franchise, which he says will remain a part of his DNA. Also, Mallya recalled how picking a young Virat Kohli, who is now the most followed cricketer globally and one of the most decorated ever, changed this franchise, the IPL, and cricket’s dynamics forever. “RCB will always remain a part of my DNA with indelible memories, including picking the young Virat Kohli, who is now amongst the best in the World. To all RCB fans who came on board during my stewardship and beyond, a grateful thank you, and please continue to support RCB, the Lion of Bengaluru. Namaskara,” Mallya added.

<p>From ₹450 crore to $1.8 billion: Vijay Mallya reacts to the record-breaking sale of RCB. Discover how the Aditya Birla Group-led consortium acquired the IPL’s most valuable franchise and Mallya’s emotional tribute to Virat Kohli and the "Lion of Bengaluru" fans.</p>

Vijay Mallya wishes ‘Godspeed’ to RCB’s new owners after IPL franchise’s record sale

<p>Australia skipper Pat Cummins is the only foreign captain in the IPL and his late arrival in upcoming 2026 because of injury has ensured all 10 franchises are led by Indian players. Over the years, IPL has seen a change in appointing Indians as captain instead of relying on foreign players. Cummins, being one of the most successful international skipper, is of course an exception. He also revealed that the language could be a barrier for an international captain while talking to young local players for which he relies on senior Indian players. Cummins, however, acknowledged that most of Indian players, both capped and uncapped, speak great English.</p><h2>Cummins reveals barriers for international skippers in IPL</h2><p>"Most of the guys speak really great English, but some of them don't, and there are local dialects, so that can be a little bit of a barrier for an international captain," Cummins said recently on Business of Sport podcast.</p><p><strong>Also Read</strong> - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-luckiest-player-of-ipl-the-west-indies-all-rounder-has-won-two-titles-without-making-his-debut-1749480986975">Luckiest player of IPL? WI all-rounder has two titles without making his debut</a></p><p>"Those guys (senior Indian players), you're leaning on anyway. We've got quite an experienced bowling group of local guys, so a few of the younger guys that come through that I don't know as well, particularly early on in a season, I'm definitely leaning on the local guys who do know them well - or even speak the language," he added on Ishan Kishan being the captain in his absence.</p><h2>Why Cummins is not playing in IPL 2026?</h2><p>The Aussie skipper is dealing with lumbar stress injury and still recovering. He last played the third Ashes Test since experiencing discomfort in July last year. He had planned to play the T20 World Cup 2026 but the recovery hit a set back. Nonetheless, Cummins hopes to come back for the second half of IPL as well as the final if recovery goes as per plan.</p><p>"I'm back bowling. I'm bowling basically every third day at the moment. We've mapped out a plan to get me right by [the] middle of the tournament, so hopefully, if nothing goes wrong, [I'll] play the back half plus the finals," confirmed Cummins.</p>

Over the years, IPL has seen a change in appointing Indians as captain instead of relying on foreign players. Cummins, being one of the most successful international skipper, is of course an exception. The Aussie skipper is dealing with lumbar stress injury and still recovering.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins is the only foreign captain in the IPL and his late arrival in upcoming 2026 because of injury has ensured all 10 franchises are led by Indian players. Over the years, IPL has seen a change in appointing Indians as captain instead of relying on foreign players. Cummins, being one of the most successful international skipper, is of course an exception. He also revealed that the language could be a barrier for an international captain while talking to young local players for which he relies on senior Indian players. Cummins, however, acknowledged that most of Indian players, both capped and uncapped, speak great English. Cummins reveals barriers for international skippers in IPL "Most of the guys speak really great English, but some of them don't, and there are local dialects, so that can be a little bit of a barrier for an international captain," Cummins said recently on Business of Sport podcast. Also Read - Luckiest player of IPL? WI all-rounder has two titles without making his debut "Those guys (senior Indian players), you're leaning on anyway. We've got quite an experienced bowling group of local guys, so a few of the younger guys that come through that I don't know as well, particularly early on in a season, I'm definitely leaning on the local guys who do know them well - or even speak the language," he added on Ishan Kishan being the captain in his absence. Why Cummins is not playing in IPL 2026? The Aussie skipper is dealing with lumbar stress injury and still recovering. He last played the third Ashes Test since experiencing discomfort in July last year. He had planned to play the T20 World Cup 2026 but the recovery hit a set back. Nonetheless, Cummins hopes to come back for the second half of IPL as well as the final if recovery goes as per plan. "I'm back bowling. I'm bowling basically every third day at the moment. We've mapped out a plan to get me right by [the] middle of the tournament, so hopefully, if nothing goes wrong, [I'll] play the back half plus the finals," confirmed Cummins.

<p>Over the years, IPL has seen a change in appointing Indians as captain instead of relying on foreign players. Cummins, being one of the most successful international skipper, is of course an exception. The Aussie skipper is dealing with lumbar stress injury and still recovering.</p>

IPL 2026 | Cummins reveals barriers for international captain and his potential return date for SRH

<p>Delhi Capitals’ star batter Prithvi Shaw has cleared his intent ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season as he looks to rejuvenate his career. Shaw, an all-format international with India, has not played for the national team since July 2021 and looks for a swift comeback. Speaking during the IPL 2026 pre-season, Shaw reckons it is everyone’s dream to play for India.</p><h2><strong>Shaw clears intent ahead of IPL 2026</strong></h2><p>"If I don't think about a comeback, then what's the point? That's why I am playing. Who doesn't want to play for India? You have to be there, and I am working towards that," Shaw said ahead of the season.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><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"><strong>From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"I enjoyed my life in the last year. Went to a couple of destinations to keep my mind fresh. Then I came back. The same routine, practised, worked hard, be it my training or batting. Whatever I used to do, I started doing it 3x more. I think it was a good break for me. I don't see it as a step back, but it was a needed break, so I get myself back stronger mentally."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Shaw last played for India in July 2021 when he was part of India’s tour of Sri Lanka under Shikhar Dhawan’s captaincy. He played his only T20I for India on that tour while he was also part of the ODI set-up. Overall, he has played in five Test matches, six ODIs and one T20I for India and remains an all-format player.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><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"><strong>From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>However, injuries and poor form has seen him drop down the pecking order at the international level and he has not played since 2021. The IPL 2026 will come as a welcome addition for the Mumbai batter, where he can prove his worth.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Delhi Capitals start their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 1 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.</p>

Prithvi Shaw, an all-format international with India, has not played for the national team since July 2021 and looks for a swift comeback. Speaking during the IPL 2026 pre-season, Shaw reckons it is everyone’s dream to play for India.

Delhi Capitals’ star batter Prithvi Shaw has cleared his intent ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season as he looks to rejuvenate his career. Shaw, an all-format international with India, has not played for the national team since July 2021 and looks for a swift comeback. Speaking during the IPL 2026 pre-season, Shaw reckons it is everyone’s dream to play for India. Shaw clears intent ahead of IPL 2026 "If I don't think about a comeback, then what's the point? That's why I am playing. Who doesn't want to play for India? You have to be there, and I am working towards that," Shaw said ahead of the season. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions "I enjoyed my life in the last year. Went to a couple of destinations to keep my mind fresh. Then I came back. The same routine, practised, worked hard, be it my training or batting. Whatever I used to do, I started doing it 3x more. I think it was a good break for me. I don't see it as a step back, but it was a needed break, so I get myself back stronger mentally." Shaw last played for India in July 2021 when he was part of India’s tour of Sri Lanka under Shikhar Dhawan’s captaincy. He played his only T20I for India on that tour while he was also part of the ODI set-up. Overall, he has played in five Test matches, six ODIs and one T20I for India and remains an all-format player. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL However, injuries and poor form has seen him drop down the pecking order at the international level and he has not played since 2021. The IPL 2026 will come as a welcome addition for the Mumbai batter, where he can prove his worth. Delhi Capitals start their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 1 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

<p>Prithvi Shaw, an all-format international with India, has not played for the national team since July 2021 and looks for a swift comeback. Speaking during the IPL 2026 pre-season, Shaw reckons it is everyone’s dream to play for India.</p>

Who doesn't want to play for India? Prithvi Shaw clears intent ahead of Delhi Capitals' IPL 2026 season opener

<p>With just days remaining for the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have roped in Navdeep Saini as an injury replacement for Harshit Rana. The announcement made on Wednesday (Mar 25) will see Saini link up with the KKR squad on Thursday and resume training ahead of the side’s IPL 2026 opening clash against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday (Mar 29) at the Wankhede Stadium. Rana, who missed India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph with a right knee ligament injury, was ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 season recently.</p><h2><strong>Navdeep Saini replaces Harshit Rana at KKR</strong></h2><p>Speaking about joining the side, Navdeep said: “Joining KKR feels special—there’s an emotion attached to the franchise that you can’t quite put into words. For me, this opportunity is a fresh start. The last few years had their ups and downs, but I never stopped believing in my hard work, and this feels like the reward for staying the course."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><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"><strong>From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Harshit Rana had suffered a knee strain during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup warm-up fixture against South Africa. After this, the right-arm speedster underwent knee surgery and is undergoing rehabilitation, with no confirmation about the return of the Indian speedster by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team.</p><p><br>Meanwhile, Khejroliya replaces the injured Prithviraj Yarra in the Gujarat-based franchise. The left-arm pacer, who has six IPL wickets to his name, has previously featured for GT, KKR, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He will join GT for Rs 30 Lakh.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><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"><strong>From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</strong></a></p><p><br><strong>Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2026 season:</strong><br>Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep, Blessing Muzarabani.</p><p><br><strong>Gujarat Titans squad for IPL 2026:</strong><br>Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Kulwant Khejroliya, Luke Wood.</p>

The announcement made on Wednesday (Mar 25) will see Navdeep Saini link up with the KKR squad on Thursday and resume training ahead of the side’s IPL 2026 opening clash against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday (Mar 29) at the Wankhede Stadium. 

With just days remaining for the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have roped in Navdeep Saini as an injury replacement for Harshit Rana. The announcement made on Wednesday (Mar 25) will see Saini link up with the KKR squad on Thursday and resume training ahead of the side’s IPL 2026 opening clash against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday (Mar 29) at the Wankhede Stadium. Rana, who missed India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph with a right knee ligament injury, was ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 season recently. Navdeep Saini replaces Harshit Rana at KKR Speaking about joining the side, Navdeep said: “Joining KKR feels special—there’s an emotion attached to the franchise that you can’t quite put into words. For me, this opportunity is a fresh start. The last few years had their ups and downs, but I never stopped believing in my hard work, and this feels like the reward for staying the course." ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Harshit Rana had suffered a knee strain during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup warm-up fixture against South Africa. After this, the right-arm speedster underwent knee surgery and is undergoing rehabilitation, with no confirmation about the return of the Indian speedster by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team. Meanwhile, Khejroliya replaces the injured Prithviraj Yarra in the Gujarat-based franchise. The left-arm pacer, who has six IPL wickets to his name, has previously featured for GT, KKR, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He will join GT for Rs 30 Lakh. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2026 season: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep, Blessing Muzarabani. Gujarat Titans squad for IPL 2026: Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Kulwant Khejroliya, Luke Wood.

<p>The announcement made on Wednesday (Mar 25) will see Navdeep Saini link up with the KKR squad on Thursday and resume training ahead of the side’s IPL 2026 opening clash against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday (Mar 29) at the Wankhede Stadium.&nbsp;</p>

IPL 2026: KKR rope in Navdeep Saini as injury replacement for Harshit Rana

<p>Mumbai Indians, five-time IPL champions, open their new campaign on Sunday (Mar 29) against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Wankhede Stadium. Flooded with star names, Mumbai aim to shake off poor starts and build early momentum against KKR. Off the field, MI are making headlines with their latest campaign that's won over fans.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="hi" dir="ltr">Apno ke saath, sab theek lagta hai.<br><br>Aakhir, humaari Paltan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FansNahiFam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FansNahiFam</a> hai! 💙 <a href="https://t.co/gPGrBJfBzk">pic.twitter.com/gPGrBJfBzk</a></p>&mdash; Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) <a href="https://twitter.com/mipaltan/status/2036106616991285437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2><strong>MI campaign steals hearts</strong></h2><p>Ahead of IPL 2026, the Mumbai Indians bring a unique fan-franchise relationship to the forefront with the launch of its 2026 campaign: ‘Fans Nahi. Fam.’ At its core, the campaign is built on a simple but powerful truth - this isn’t just fandom, this is family. A family that celebrates, debates, worries and stands by the team through every high and low.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><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"><strong>From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Bringing ‘Fans Nahi. Fam.’ to life, the campaign places the MI players directly within the everyday world of the fans, not as distant icons, but as one of them.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>A series of slice-of-life films capture this raw, unfiltered bond, with players stepping into homes, routines and conversations filled with celebration, banter and honesty. The storytelling reflects the emotional depth of the relationship where Paltan don’t just cheer, they feel.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><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"><strong>From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</strong></a></p><h2><strong>Mumbai Indians target sixth title</strong></h2><p>In search of a sixth IPL title, MI will still start their campaign on home turf against KKR before the Mumbai Indians face the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday (April 4). Their next home match will be against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 12.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Last season MI were eliminated in the Playoffs having lost to Punjab Kings in the Qualifier 2 having earlier beaten Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator.</p>

Flooded with star names, Mumbai aim to shake off poor starts and build early momentum against KKR. Off the field, MI are making headlines with their latest campaign that has won over fans.

Mumbai Indians, five-time IPL champions, open their new campaign on Sunday (Mar 29) against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Wankhede Stadium. Flooded with star names, Mumbai aim to shake off poor starts and build early momentum against KKR. Off the field, MI are making headlines with their latest campaign that's won over fans.

<p>Flooded with star names, Mumbai aim to shake off poor starts and build early momentum against KKR. Off the field, MI are making headlines with their latest campaign that has won over fans.</p>

Mumbai Indians steal hearts with heartwarming campaign ahead of IPL 2026

<p>With days remaining before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season, preparations are in the final stage as franchises give the finishing touches before the start. While eyes will be on several franchises, one particular name that will be in the headlines is Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as they will be led by Rishabh Pant. Speaking on Pant, former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has suggested the wicketkeeper-batter keep his composure and work on a strategy.</p><h2><strong>Du Plessis backs Pant</strong></h2><p>“Rishabh Pant’s stroke play is one that looks all over the place. There is some sort of method and game plan that goes into his head. He has a blueprint for how he wants to play Test cricket. The same thing applies in T20 cricket. He needs to figure out exactly what his game plan looks like to give himself the best chance. Not to be a one out of ten or two out of ten kind of player, but to be in the 60 to 70 per cent range where he can have consistency,” Du Plessis said while speaking on JioStar’s ‘IPL Today Live’ show.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><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"><strong>From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“To do that, you can’t premeditate every ball. That is too high risk. Yes, you might hit a few sixes and play a couple of good innings. But when teams bowl wide to him, he is good enough to have something else in his armoury to hit through the offside. His game plan is not one-dimensional. He can score all around the ground. For me, it is about his first six balls. When I look at him, he is almost like a highlight player. I want him to be more of a high-impact player in terms of what he can give in his numbers,” the former South Africa skipper added.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><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"><strong>From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>LSG will start their IPL 2026 campaign on April 1 when they face the Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The team will rely on the services of Pant, who will be one of the best players in the ranks. LSG missed out on a playoff spot in IPL 2025 with a seventh-place finish. They will look to win their maiden title in IPL 2026 and search for a positive outcome.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

While eyes will be on several franchises, one particular name that will be in the headlines is LSG as they will be led by Rishabh Pant. Speaking on Pant, former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has suggested the wicketkeeper-batter keep his composure and work on a strategy.

With days remaining before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season, preparations are in the final stage as franchises give the finishing touches before the start. While eyes will be on several franchises, one particular name that will be in the headlines is Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as they will be led by Rishabh Pant. Speaking on Pant, former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has suggested the wicketkeeper-batter keep his composure and work on a strategy. Du Plessis backs Pant “Rishabh Pant’s stroke play is one that looks all over the place. There is some sort of method and game plan that goes into his head. He has a blueprint for how he wants to play Test cricket. The same thing applies in T20 cricket. He needs to figure out exactly what his game plan looks like to give himself the best chance. Not to be a one out of ten or two out of ten kind of player, but to be in the 60 to 70 per cent range where he can have consistency,” Du Plessis said while speaking on JioStar’s ‘IPL Today Live’ show. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL “To do that, you can’t premeditate every ball. That is too high risk. Yes, you might hit a few sixes and play a couple of good innings. But when teams bowl wide to him, he is good enough to have something else in his armoury to hit through the offside. His game plan is not one-dimensional. He can score all around the ground. For me, it is about his first six balls. When I look at him, he is almost like a highlight player. I want him to be more of a high-impact player in terms of what he can give in his numbers,” the former South Africa skipper added. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions LSG will start their IPL 2026 campaign on April 1 when they face the Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The team will rely on the services of Pant, who will be one of the best players in the ranks. LSG missed out on a playoff spot in IPL 2025 with a seventh-place finish. They will look to win their maiden title in IPL 2026 and search for a positive outcome.

<p>While eyes will be on several franchises, one particular name that will be in the headlines is LSG as they will be led by Rishabh Pant. Speaking on Pant, former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has suggested the wicketkeeper-batter keep his composure and work on a strategy.</p>

IPL 2026: Faf du Plessis backs Rishabh Pant for high-impact role, says 'he needs to figure out...'

<p>There are players then there are lucky players and then there is Dominic Drakes. The West Indian player from Barbados is one of the 22 players to win an IPL title with multiple teams - a rarity itself - but he has done that without playing a single match for those franchises. Even more, Drakes hasn't even made his IPL debut yet and he already has two IPL titles - with CSK in 2021 and with Gujarat Titans in 2022. Isn't he the luckiest player of IPL history? The West Indies all-rounder isn't part of any team in the upcoming IPL 2026 as well.</p><h2><strong>Who is Dominic Drakes?</strong></h2><p>Drakes is an all-rounder who hit the limelight while playing for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2021 under skipper Chris Gayle. He hadn't done much in the previous seasons but Gayle promoted him to no. 6 and he scored title-winning 48 not out off 24 balls. He also finished the season with 16 wickets including one in the final.</p><p><strong>Also Check</strong> - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/who-are-the-players-to-win-ipl-titles-with-both-mi-and-csk-1749221485318">Who are the players to win IPL titles with both MI and CSK?</a></p><p>His performance caught the eye of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) who signed him up as an injury replacement in 2021 for Sam Curran in a season which played in September-October because of Covid 19. CSK went on to win the title but Drakes didn't play single game.</p><p>The IPL expanded to 10 teams next season with Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) being the new additions. In the mega auction, GT picked up Drakes in the squad but again he didn't get a chance to make his debut. GT, however, won the title in their maiden season under skipper Hardik Pandya.</p><p>Drakes hasn't been a part of any IPL team since GT picked him again ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction but again no game time for him.</p><p>Overall, Drakes has played 82 T20s and scored 542 runs to go with 73 wickets. For West Indies, Drakes has played 10 T20Is, scored 15 runs and taken six wickets.</p>

Dominic Drakes hasn't even made his IPL debut yet and he already has two IPL titles - with CSK in 2021 and with Gujarat Titans in 2022. Isn't he the luckiest player of IPL history? The West Indies all-rounder isn't part of any team in the upcoming IPL 2026 as well.

There are players then there are lucky players and then there is Dominic Drakes. The West Indian player from Barbados is one of the 22 players to win an IPL title with multiple teams - a rarity itself - but he has done that without playing a single match for those franchises. Even more, Drakes hasn't even made his IPL debut yet and he already has two IPL titles - with CSK in 2021 and with Gujarat Titans in 2022. Isn't he the luckiest player of IPL history? The West Indies all-rounder isn't part of any team in the upcoming IPL 2026 as well. Who is Dominic Drakes? Drakes is an all-rounder who hit the limelight while playing for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2021 under skipper Chris Gayle. He hadn't done much in the previous seasons but Gayle promoted him to no. 6 and he scored title-winning 48 not out off 24 balls. He also finished the season with 16 wickets including one in the final. Also Check - Who are the players to win IPL titles with both MI and CSK? His performance caught the eye of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) who signed him up as an injury replacement in 2021 for Sam Curran in a season which played in September-October because of Covid 19. CSK went on to win the title but Drakes didn't play single game. The IPL expanded to 10 teams next season with Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) being the new additions. In the mega auction, GT picked up Drakes in the squad but again he didn't get a chance to make his debut. GT, however, won the title in their maiden season under skipper Hardik Pandya. Drakes hasn't been a part of any IPL team since GT picked him again ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction but again no game time for him. Overall, Drakes has played 82 T20s and scored 542 runs to go with 73 wickets. For West Indies, Drakes has played 10 T20Is, scored 15 runs and taken six wickets.

<p>Dominic Drakes hasn't even made his IPL debut yet and he already has two IPL titles - with CSK in 2021 and with Gujarat Titans in 2022. Isn't he the luckiest player of IPL history? The West Indies all-rounder isn't part of any team in the upcoming IPL 2026 as well.</p>

Luckiest player of IPL? The West Indies all-rounder has won two titles without making his debut

<p>The Kolkata Knight Riders, in a heartfelt tribute to power coach and former player Andre Russell, have retired jesey no. 12 - donned by Russell during his time at the franchise. The annuncement came on Tuesday (Mar 24) - four days before the IPL 2026 begins on Mar 28. Russell had called his time in IPL ahead of the season and has been retained by the franchise as the league's first power coach. The all-rounder played for KKR from 2014 to 2025 except in 2017 and was part of two title winning campaigns in 2014 and 2024.</p><h2>Why KKR retired Russell's jersey no. 12?</h2><p>The three-time IPL winners decided to retire Andre Russell's jersey as a mark of respect for his services to the franchise over the years. Russell spent 11 seasons at KKR from 2014 to 2025 with an exception fo 2017 when he didn't play IPL. In his career with KKR, Russell scored 2,593 runs in 133 matches at a blistering strike rate of almost 175. He also took 122 of his 123 wickets for the franchise.</p>

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWRhjj8DFWr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWRhjj8DFWr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWRhjj8DFWr/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Kolkata Knight Riders (@kkriders)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

<p>Russell was not a regular in the playing XI when KKR won IPL 2014 with the WI all-rounder playing only two matches, scoring two runs and taking one wicket. In 2024, however, Russell played an important role in KKR winnig the trophy after a decade by scoring 222 runs at a strike rate of 185 as well as taking 19 wickets.</p><p><strong>Also Read </strong>- <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aditya-birla-group-times-of-india-consortium-acquires-rcb-for-1-8-billion-in-record-deal-most-expensive-franchise-sale-ipl-2026-champions-rr-sold-1774372926113">Aditya Birla Group-led consortium acquires RCB for $1.8bn in record deal</a></p><h2>What is Russell's role at Power Coach in KKR?</h2><p>Known for his hitting prowess, as visible in his strike rate, Russell is IPL's first power coach with not much clear about his responsibilities. A social media post by KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan as the time of announcement, however, did give a glimpse about Russell's role at KKR power coach.</p><p>"The power coach - passing down the wisdom, the muscle and of course the power down to our boys in purple and gold," read the SRK's post at the time of Russell's appointment as KKR's power coach.</p><p>Speaking on the new role, Russell said: "I don't think it has affected my mindset. It is more about coming and giving back to all the guys I have played with and against. I just feel very good about coming back and giving back to the guys."</p>

The three-time IPL winners KKR decided to retire Andre Russell's jersey as a mark of respect for his services to the franchise over the years. Russell spent 11 seasons at KKR from 2014 to 2025 with an exception fo 2017 when he didn't play IPL. Before KKR, he played with Delhi Capital from 2013-14.

The Kolkata Knight Riders, in a heartfelt tribute to power coach and former player Andre Russell, have retired jesey no. 12 - donned by Russell during his time at the franchise. The annuncement came on Tuesday (Mar 24) - four days before the IPL 2026 begins on Mar 28. Russell had called his time in IPL ahead of the season and has been retained by the franchise as the league's first power coach. The all-rounder played for KKR from 2014 to 2025 except in 2017 and was part of two title winning campaigns in 2014 and 2024. Why KKR retired Russell's jersey no. 12? The three-time IPL winners decided to retire Andre Russell's jersey as a mark of respect for his services to the franchise over the years. Russell spent 11 seasons at KKR from 2014 to 2025 with an exception fo 2017 when he didn't play IPL. In his career with KKR, Russell scored 2,593 runs in 133 matches at a blistering strike rate of almost 175. He also took 122 of his 123 wickets for the franchise.

<p>The three-time IPL winners KKR decided to retire Andre Russell's jersey as a mark of respect for his services to the franchise over the years. Russell spent 11 seasons at KKR from 2014 to 2025 with an exception fo 2017 when he didn't play IPL. Before KKR, he played with Delhi Capital from 2013-14.</p>

IPL 2026 | Three-time winners KKR retire Power Coach Russell's jersey in heartfelt tribute - WATCH

<p>veteran England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow, who was one of the star players under Bazball during the initialy years, has come out speaking against the regime. The statements come after England Cricket Board (ECB) decided to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ecb-decides-to-not-sack-mccullum-after-ashses-debacle-review-and-stokes-f-g-love-it-1774330362059">keep Brendon McCullum and Rob Key in their respective roles</a> of head coach and director after the Ashes debacle review. Bairstow, meanwhile, echoed same views as Liam Livingstone did a few days back - caring for players int he system. Bairstow also feels that there's no care for players who are out of the system. The wicketkeeper-batter, after early exploits under Bazball, has not played a Test since 2024.</p><h2>After Livingstone, Bairstow calls out Bazball regime</h2><p>"You need the care back in the game," Bairstow said as reported by BBC. "It is OK saying people care about things - no they don't. If you are in the system, you are in the system. As soon as you are out of the system, you are out of the system."</p><p><strong>Also Read</strong> - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ecb-robert-key-hits-back-at-viral-outburst-no-reason-liam-livingstone-england-career-is-over-srh-ipl-2026-livingstone-england-relationship-1774366325616">ECB's Rob Key Hits Back: ‘No reason Liam Livingstone’s England career is over’</a></p><p>The Yorkshire player also pointed out how the players with injuries were not treated properly and invoked premier pacer Mark Wood's example. Notably, Wood was selected in Ashes squad despite being away for the summer with knee injury. The pacer managed to play only one match in Ashes before getting injured again.</p><p>"I feel for people like Woody. I feel massively for him. He bowls at 95mph and is expected to just come in having not come off the back of any overs. There is no wonder he has got injured. He has not been done right in my opinion," Bairstow opined.</p><h2>What next for England?</h2><p>After a detailed review of Ashes Down Under which England lost 1-4, the ECB has decided to keep everyone in their place, ie, McCullum as coach, Stokes as captain, and Key as director. McCullum, however, has been asked to keep in touch with the counties more to better evaulate the deserving players in the country and not just back those who continue to fail.</p>

The Yorkshire player also pointed out how the players with injuries were not treated properly and invoked premier pacer Mark Wood's example. Bairstow, meanwhile, echoed same views as Liam Livingstone did a few days back - caring for players int he system.

veteran England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow, who was one of the star players under Bazball during the initialy years, has come out speaking against the regime. The statements come after England Cricket Board (ECB) decided to keep Brendon McCullum and Rob Key in their respective roles of head coach and director after the Ashes debacle review. Bairstow, meanwhile, echoed same views as Liam Livingstone did a few days back - caring for players int he system. Bairstow also feels that there's no care for players who are out of the system. The wicketkeeper-batter, after early exploits under Bazball, has not played a Test since 2024. After Livingstone, Bairstow calls out Bazball regime "You need the care back in the game," Bairstow said as reported by BBC. "It is OK saying people care about things - no they don't. If you are in the system, you are in the system. As soon as you are out of the system, you are out of the system." Also Read - ECB's Rob Key Hits Back: ‘No reason Liam Livingstone’s England career is over’ The Yorkshire player also pointed out how the players with injuries were not treated properly and invoked premier pacer Mark Wood's example. Notably, Wood was selected in Ashes squad despite being away for the summer with knee injury. The pacer managed to play only one match in Ashes before getting injured again. "I feel for people like Woody. I feel massively for him. He bowls at 95mph and is expected to just come in having not come off the back of any overs. There is no wonder he has got injured. He has not been done right in my opinion," Bairstow opined. What next for England? After a detailed review of Ashes Down Under which England lost 1-4, the ECB has decided to keep everyone in their place, ie, McCullum as coach, Stokes as captain, and Key as director. McCullum, however, has been asked to keep in touch with the counties more to better evaulate the deserving players in the country and not just back those who continue to fail.

<p>The Yorkshire player also pointed out how the players with injuries were not treated properly and invoked premier pacer Mark Wood's example. Bairstow, meanwhile, echoed same views as Liam Livingstone did a few days back - caring for players int he system.</p>

After Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow hits out at Bazball regime for 'not caring' about players

<p>Aryaman Birla is the new chairman of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise, following its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/aditya-birla-group-times-of-india-consortium-acquires-rcb-for-1-8-billion-in-record-deal-most-expensive-franchise-sale-ipl-2026-champions-rr-sold-1774372926113">record-breaking $1.8 billion sale to Aditya Birla Group-led consortium</a> on Tuesday (Mar 24), making it the most expensive franchise sale in cricket history. But who is Aryaman Birla? And why is his story from the Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) dressing room to RCB’s boardroom the most fascinating in Indian cricket?</p><h2>Who is Aryaman Birla?</h2><p>Aryaman Birla’s story isn’t the next-door one; instead, it's inspiring. Son of Kumar Mangalam Birla, one of the world's wealthiest industrialists, Aryaman had everything available on a silver platter to take over; however, instead of taking the easy route, he decided to follow his passion for playing cricket and moved away from his home in Mumbai to Madhya Pradesh at 17 to explore avenues of his own.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>A talented left-handed batter, Aryaman wanted to make a name for himself without using his famous surname, which he eventually did. After making his Ranji Trophy debut in 2017, the opening batter scored his maiden First-Class hundred, a gritty unbeaten 103 against Bengal at the iconic Eden Gardens in 2018.</p><h3>IPL stint</h3><p>The same year, Rajasthan Royals picked him for the upcoming IPL season, with Aryaman sharing the dressing room with cricket giants, including England greats Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. He was with the franchise for two seasons (IPL 2018, 2019) but didn’t get a game before taking a sabbatical from the game in late 2019. At 22, Aryaman announced taking an indefinite break from the sport, citing ‘severe anxiety’ related to the game’s pressure.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>This move, however, was widely praised for bringing attention to mental well-being in a sport like cricket, especially in India.</p><h3>Business leader and education&nbsp;</h3><p>Between 2020 and 2025, Aryaman transitioned into the corporate world, even earning himself an MBA degree from the prestigious Harvard Business School. In the meantime, a once-aspiring cricketer took on the leadership roles within the Aditya Birla Group, mainly in Aditya Birla Fashion &amp; Retail and the group's venture capital arm, Aditya Birla Ventures.</p><h3>RCB Chairman</h3><p>A year later, he returned to the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL), but this time as the chairman of the RCB franchise.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>After successfully acquiring RCB’s stakes from United Spirits Limited (owned by Diageo, a British company) in collaboration with The Times of India Group, the US-based Bolt Ventures, and the global investment firm Blackstone, Aryaman reflected on this new journey. &nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>"It is a privilege to come together in this partnership to shape the next phase of growth for RCB. This partnership brings together a deep understanding of sports, media and consumer businesses. Together, we will continue to Play Bold - on the pitch, in the community, and for the fans who make RCB what it is,” RCB’s new chairman, Aryaman, said.&nbsp;</p>

Discover the incredible journey of Aryaman Vikram Birla. From sharing a dugout with Ben Stokes at the Rajasthan Royals to leading a record-breaking $1.8 billion takeover of RCB, find out why the new Chairman is the most fascinating figure in Indian cricket today.

Aryaman Birla is the new chairman of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) franchise, following its record-breaking $1.8 billion sale to Aditya Birla Group-led consortium on Tuesday (Mar 24), making it the most expensive franchise sale in cricket history. But who is Aryaman Birla? And why is his story from the Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) dressing room to RCB’s boardroom the most fascinating in Indian cricket? Who is Aryaman Birla? Aryaman Birla’s story isn’t the next-door one; instead, it's inspiring. Son of Kumar Mangalam Birla, one of the world's wealthiest industrialists, Aryaman had everything available on a silver platter to take over; however, instead of taking the easy route, he decided to follow his passion for playing cricket and moved away from his home in Mumbai to Madhya Pradesh at 17 to explore avenues of his own. A talented left-handed batter, Aryaman wanted to make a name for himself without using his famous surname, which he eventually did. After making his Ranji Trophy debut in 2017, the opening batter scored his maiden First-Class hundred, a gritty unbeaten 103 against Bengal at the iconic Eden Gardens in 2018. IPL stint The same year, Rajasthan Royals picked him for the upcoming IPL season, with Aryaman sharing the dressing room with cricket giants, including England greats Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler. He was with the franchise for two seasons (IPL 2018, 2019) but didn’t get a game before taking a sabbatical from the game in late 2019. At 22, Aryaman announced taking an indefinite break from the sport, citing ‘severe anxiety’ related to the game’s pressure. This move, however, was widely praised for bringing attention to mental well-being in a sport like cricket, especially in India. Business leader and education Between 2020 and 2025, Aryaman transitioned into the corporate world, even earning himself an MBA degree from the prestigious Harvard Business School. In the meantime, a once-aspiring cricketer took on the leadership roles within the Aditya Birla Group, mainly in Aditya Birla Fashion & Retail and the group's venture capital arm, Aditya Birla Ventures. RCB Chairman A year later, he returned to the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL), but this time as the chairman of the RCB franchise. After successfully acquiring RCB’s stakes from United Spirits Limited (owned by Diageo, a British company) in collaboration with The Times of India Group, the US-based Bolt Ventures, and the global investment firm Blackstone, Aryaman reflected on this new journey. "It is a privilege to come together in this partnership to shape the next phase of growth for RCB. This partnership brings together a deep understanding of sports, media and consumer businesses. Together, we will continue to Play Bold - on the pitch, in the community, and for the fans who make RCB what it is,” RCB’s new chairman, Aryaman, said.

<p>Discover the incredible journey of Aryaman Vikram Birla. From sharing a dugout with Ben Stokes at the Rajasthan Royals to leading a record-breaking $1.8 billion takeover of RCB, find out why the new Chairman is the most fascinating figure in Indian cricket today.</p>

From RR Dugout to RCB Boardroom: Meet Aryaman Birla, the ex-cricketer now heading a $1.8bn IPL franchise

<p>In a massive development surrounding Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a consortium consisting of Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, the US-based Bolt Ventures, and the global investment firm Blackstone has acquired the franchise’s stakes for a staggering $1.78 billion (approx. INR 16,706 crore), making it the most expensive franchise sale in cricket history. On Tuesday (Mar 24), the new owners signed a final contract with United Spirits Limited (owned by Diageo, a British company), taking full control of the franchise, including its Women’s Premier League (WPL) team as well.</p><h2>RCB's new leadership</h2><p>While Aryaman Vikram Birla (from Aditya Birla Group) will be RCB’s chairman, Satyan Gajwani from the Times of India Group will be the franchise’s vice-chairman, with the leadership team also including David Blitzer (Bolt Ventures) and Viral Patel (Blackstone).</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-11-seats-reserved-ksca-announce-memorial-for-june-4-stampede-victims-ahead-of-ipl-2026-opener-royal-challengers-bengaluru-m-chinnaswamy-stadium-1774351050193"><strong>‘11 seats reserved’: RCB, KSCA announce memorial for June 4 stampede victims ahead of IPL 2026 opener</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The sale, however, needs a final approval from the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) and government regulators.</p><h3>Here is what the owners said -</h3><p>"Over the past two decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse that has changed the face of Indian cricket, creating enormous value for India. RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers the Aditya Birla Group a distinctive platform to extend its legacy of institution-building into the arena of global sport. We are delighted to become custodians of this asset and committed to further building this extraordinary legacy," Kumar Mangalam Birla, the chairman of Aditya Birla Group, said.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A bold new chapter begins.<br><br>Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone have joined forces as a consortium to acquire Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a historic deal. <a href="https://t.co/Fn75ZjwJB0">pic.twitter.com/Fn75ZjwJB0</a></p>&mdash; Aditya Birla Group (@AdityaBirlaGrp) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdityaBirlaGrp/status/2036489717638906358?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>On the other hand, Satyan Gajwani, the chairman of Times Internet Limited, said, "RCB is the reigning champion and the most popular brand in the IPL. As The Times of India Group, together with our partners, we will build RCB into a global sporting institution, while remaining rooted in Bengaluru and Karnataka and its incredible fan base. We are committed to the people who built this championship-winning culture - players, coaches, leadership team, and fans. We look forward to supporting the team as they take the pitch on Saturday to defend RCB's title."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Aryaman Birla, the new RCB chairman, shared, "It is a privilege to come together in this partnership to shape the next phase of growth for RCB. This partnership brings together a deep understanding of sports, media and consumer businesses. Together, we will continue to Play Bold - on the pitch, in the community, and for the fans who make RCB what it is."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, RCB was one of the original eight teams which were part of the inaugural edition in 2008. Former Kingfisher boss and fugitive billionaire Vijay Mallya first bought it for $111.6 million before the British company Diageo took over in 2016 (after Mallya fled India).</p><h3>The Big Question - Why sell the franchise now?</h3><p>The decision to sell its 100% shares came after a difficult period, following last year’s June 4 stampede episode outside the M Chinnaswamy stadium, where 11 fans sadly lost their lives. Diageo came under pressure to step aside from cricket and concentrate on its prime business, drinks. The British company announced their plan to sell this IPL franchise last November, aiming to wrap up the process by the end of this month.</p>

The Aditya Birla Group and partners have acquired Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a record-breaking $1.78 billion deal. From the new leadership under Aryaman Birla to the reasons behind Diageo's exit, here is everything you need to know about the biggest sale in cricket history.

In a massive development surrounding Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), a consortium consisting of Aditya Birla Group, The Times of India Group, the US-based Bolt Ventures, and the global investment firm Blackstone has acquired the franchise’s stakes for a staggering $1.78 billion (approx. INR 16,706 crore), making it the most expensive franchise sale in cricket history. On Tuesday (Mar 24), the new owners signed a final contract with United Spirits Limited (owned by Diageo, a British company), taking full control of the franchise, including its Women’s Premier League (WPL) team as well. RCB's new leadership While Aryaman Vikram Birla (from Aditya Birla Group) will be RCB’s chairman, Satyan Gajwani from the Times of India Group will be the franchise’s vice-chairman, with the leadership team also including David Blitzer (Bolt Ventures) and Viral Patel (Blackstone). Also read | ‘11 seats reserved’: RCB, KSCA announce memorial for June 4 stampede victims ahead of IPL 2026 opener The sale, however, needs a final approval from the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) and government regulators. Here is what the owners said - "Over the past two decades, the IPL has morphed to become a global sporting powerhouse that has changed the face of Indian cricket, creating enormous value for India. RCB, as one of the most compelling franchises in modern sport, offers the Aditya Birla Group a distinctive platform to extend its legacy of institution-building into the arena of global sport. We are delighted to become custodians of this asset and committed to further building this extraordinary legacy," Kumar Mangalam Birla, the chairman of Aditya Birla Group, said.

<p>The Aditya Birla Group and partners have acquired Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a record-breaking $1.78 billion deal. From the new leadership under Aryaman Birla to the reasons behind Diageo's exit, here is everything you need to know about the biggest sale in cricket history.</p>

Aditya Birla Group-led consortium acquires RCB for $1.8bn in record deal

Delhi Capitals (DC) look to have one of the strongest squads going into the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. Here's who all made it to their final 25 for IPL 2026.

<p>Delhi Capitals (DC) look to have one of the strongest squads going into the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. Here's who all made it to their final 25 for IPL 2026.</p>

IPL 2026: Check out DC final squad; batters, bowlers, keepers and more

<p>ECB’s managing director, Robert Key, has hit back at out-of-favour England all-rounder, Liam Livingstone, whose <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/very-different-to-anything-else-liam-livingstone-eyes-ipl-2026-with-srh-fallen-relationship-england-coaches-robert-key-brendon-mccullum-1773674089865">viral outburst over his selection conundrum made headlines</a> earlier. Key, who retained his place on Monday (Mar 23) alongside head coach Brendon McCullum and Test captain Ben Stokes, said that, at 32, Liam’s England career is far from over, and that he remains in England’s white-ball scheme with the next year’s ODI World Cup looming.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Livingstone, who hasn’t played for England since last year’s Champions Trophy, accused Key and the board’s key decision-makers of ‘avoiding difficult conversations’ following minimal contact before his central contract expired, further claiming that Key told him he had ‘100 more important things to do’ than speaking with him about his England selection chances.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/england-opener-ben-duckett-pulls-out-of-ipl-2026-to-play-for-england-cricket-triggers-2-year-ban-policy-harry-brook-delhi-capitals-replacement-1774361737827"><strong>Ben Duckett triggers 2-year ban policy after pulling out of IPL 2026 to prioritise England Cricket</strong></a><br>&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, without spilling too many beans about their private chat, a part of which Livingstone detailed to everyone about, Key admitted that the selectors considered the hard-hitting all-rounder for the away Sri Lanka series, and that he hopes to see Liam return to his playing best.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>"Look, I'm not going to go into private conversations," Key said in a chat with Sky Sports News. "Obviously, there's another side to that conversation as I saw it. What I did say to Liam at the end of what was a fairly tetchy phone call to say the least [was that] there's no way I see a player of Liam Livingstone's ability not being up for selection for England.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>"We debated him for the Sri Lanka series. Liam Livingstone is very much a player that we would love to see back to his best, scoring runs, and then back in the England set-up.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>"We thought as much of him [as] to make him captain at one stage, when we didn't have all the senior players there," Key added, referring to an ODI series against West Indies in late 2024. “That's how highly we thought of him. I still have a huge amount of time for Liam Livingstone, and there's no [reason] that someone at 32's England career should be over.”</p><h2>‘You cannot keep everyone happy’&nbsp;</h2><p>Speaking of his role within England Cricket, Key said he holds a position where he cannot keep everyone happy, and that someone is always going to get upset. Shedding light on Liam’s claims, "If you're in, you're in, and if you're not in, no one cares about you," referring to the ECB’s approach, Key said,<br>&nbsp;</p><p>"You're always going to have times where, unfortunately, in these roles - especially when you're struggling - you're always going to have people that you've upset along the way coming back at you, and that's absolutely fine.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>"You can't do these jobs keeping absolutely everyone happy, whether you're the coach of England, whether you're in my role, any role of leadership, you're always going to have people who are upset, and that's part of life. But ultimately, Liam Livingstone, or any of these players at the start of the summer in county cricket, they're a chance to play for England,” he continued.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, Livingstone is the defending IPL champion (with the RCB), who will now represent SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2026. Liam could be seen in action in the season opener against the RCB at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28.</p>

ECB’s Rob Key responds to Liam Livingstone’s viral claims of being "ignored" by England selectors. Addressing the "tetchy" fallout, Key insists the 32-year-old’s international career is not over ahead of the IPL 2026 opener and next year's World Cup.

ECB’s managing director, Robert Key, has hit back at out-of-favour England all-rounder, Liam Livingstone, whose viral outburst over his selection conundrum made headlines earlier. Key, who retained his place on Monday (Mar 23) alongside head coach Brendon McCullum and Test captain Ben Stokes, said that, at 32, Liam’s England career is far from over, and that he remains in England’s white-ball scheme with the next year’s ODI World Cup looming. Livingstone, who hasn’t played for England since last year’s Champions Trophy, accused Key and the board’s key decision-makers of ‘avoiding difficult conversations’ following minimal contact before his central contract expired, further claiming that Key told him he had ‘100 more important things to do’ than speaking with him about his England selection chances. Also read | Ben Duckett triggers 2-year ban policy after pulling out of IPL 2026 to prioritise England Cricket Meanwhile, without spilling too many beans about their private chat, a part of which Livingstone detailed to everyone about, Key admitted that the selectors considered the hard-hitting all-rounder for the away Sri Lanka series, and that he hopes to see Liam return to his playing best. "Look, I'm not going to go into private conversations," Key said in a chat with Sky Sports News. "Obviously, there's another side to that conversation as I saw it. What I did say to Liam at the end of what was a fairly tetchy phone call to say the least [was that] there's no way I see a player of Liam Livingstone's ability not being up for selection for England. "We debated him for the Sri Lanka series. Liam Livingstone is very much a player that we would love to see back to his best, scoring runs, and then back in the England set-up. "We thought as much of him [as] to make him captain at one stage, when we didn't have all the senior players there," Key added, referring to an ODI series against West Indies in late 2024. “That's how highly we thought of him. I still have a huge amount of time for Liam Livingstone, and there's no [reason] that someone at 32's England career should be over.” ‘You cannot keep everyone happy’ Speaking of his role within England Cricket, Key said he holds a position where he cannot keep everyone happy, and that someone is always going to get upset. Shedding light on Liam’s claims, "If you're in, you're in, and if you're not in, no one cares about you," referring to the ECB’s approach, Key said, "You're always going to have times where, unfortunately, in these roles - especially when you're struggling - you're always going to have people that you've upset along the way coming back at you, and that's absolutely fine. "You can't do these jobs keeping absolutely everyone happy, whether you're the coach of England, whether you're in my role, any role of leadership, you're always going to have people who are upset, and that's part of life. But ultimately, Liam Livingstone, or any of these players at the start of the summer in county cricket, they're a chance to play for England,” he continued. Meanwhile, Livingstone is the defending IPL champion (with the RCB), who will now represent SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2026. Liam could be seen in action in the season opener against the RCB at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28.

<p>ECB’s Rob Key responds to Liam Livingstone’s viral claims of being "ignored" by England selectors. Addressing the "tetchy" fallout, Key insists the 32-year-old’s international career is not over ahead of the IPL 2026 opener and next year's World Cup.</p>

Rob Key hits back at Liam’s viral outburst: ‘No reason Livingstone’s England career is over’

<p>England opener Ben Duckett has triggered a two-year IPL ban clause after pulling out of the upcoming season to prioritise England Cricket. In the latest development surrounding IPL franchise Delhi Capitals, their overseas recruitment (Duckett) has decided against featuring in his maiden IPL edition just days before the tournament gets underway on March 28 in Bengaluru. Duckett has become the second Englishman, after their white-ball captain Harry Brook, to withdraw his name from an IPL season after being picked at the auction, triggering a two-year ban, which restricts him from entering the IPL auction until 2029.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Delhi purchased Duckett for INR 2 crore at last year’s mega auction, and with him pulling out at the last minute, the franchise has another foreign opener from Sri Lanka, Pathum Nissanka, to play at the top of the order at the upcoming season.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-made-mistakes-we-learnt-ben-stokes-breaks-silence-after-hardest-3-months-says-i-love-this-team-ashes-england-test-captain-australia-rob-key-1774353844171"><strong>‘We made mistakes, we learnt’: Stokes breaks silence after ‘hardest 3 months’, says ‘I F***G love this team’</strong></a><br>&nbsp;</p><p>Posting on his Instagram stories, Duckett revealed the real reason behind ditching his IPL franchise, Delhi Capitals.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>"I have made the extremely difficult decision to withdraw from the IPL. I have given this a lot of thought, and it has not been an easy choice. Representing England is something I have dreamed of since I was a child, and I want to give everything I can to English cricket. To do that, I need to ensure I am in the best possible place physically and mentally ahead of the summer," Duckett wrote on his Instagram account.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>"I would like to sincerely apologise to everyone at Delhi. I was genuinely very excited about the opportunity to represent the franchise, and I fully appreciate the time and planning that goes into building a squad. I am sorry for any disruption my decision may cause. I would also like to apologise to all the fans as I know how much it means to everyone in Delhi."<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, Duckett’s lead-up to IPL 2026 wasn’t as fruitful as one would think. Having last featured for England in Tests in the away Ashes in Australia, the left-hander scored just over 200 runs (202) in 10 outings, averaging a mere 20.20. Even in white-ball cricket, Duckett’s last assignment was the away ODI series against Sri Lanka, just before the T20 World Cup, where he amassed 108 runs in three One-Dayers, including a fifty (62) in the opener.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>In his last game for England, which was the first T20I against Sri Lanka, Duckett got out on duck, and hasn’t worn the English jersey since. He, however, will now remain available for selection for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship, which starts April 3, before harbouring hopes of getting picked for the home summer, starting with a Test series against New Zealand.</p>

Duckett has officially pulled out of IPL 2026 to focus on his international career. By withdrawing after being signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹2 crore, Duckett triggers the BCCI's strict new 2-year ban policy. Find out what this means for his IPL future and who DC might pick as a replacement.

England opener Ben Duckett has triggered a two-year IPL ban clause after pulling out of the upcoming season to prioritise England Cricket. In the latest development surrounding IPL franchise Delhi Capitals, their overseas recruitment (Duckett) has decided against featuring in his maiden IPL edition just days before the tournament gets underway on March 28 in Bengaluru. Duckett has become the second Englishman, after their white-ball captain Harry Brook, to withdraw his name from an IPL season after being picked at the auction, triggering a two-year ban, which restricts him from entering the IPL auction until 2029. Delhi purchased Duckett for INR 2 crore at last year’s mega auction, and with him pulling out at the last minute, the franchise has another foreign opener from Sri Lanka, Pathum Nissanka, to play at the top of the order at the upcoming season. Also read | ‘We made mistakes, we learnt’: Stokes breaks silence after ‘hardest 3 months’, says ‘I F***G love this team’ Posting on his Instagram stories, Duckett revealed the real reason behind ditching his IPL franchise, Delhi Capitals. "I have made the extremely difficult decision to withdraw from the IPL. I have given this a lot of thought, and it has not been an easy choice. Representing England is something I have dreamed of since I was a child, and I want to give everything I can to English cricket. To do that, I need to ensure I am in the best possible place physically and mentally ahead of the summer," Duckett wrote on his Instagram account. "I would like to sincerely apologise to everyone at Delhi. I was genuinely very excited about the opportunity to represent the franchise, and I fully appreciate the time and planning that goes into building a squad. I am sorry for any disruption my decision may cause. I would also like to apologise to all the fans as I know how much it means to everyone in Delhi." Meanwhile, Duckett’s lead-up to IPL 2026 wasn’t as fruitful as one would think. Having last featured for England in Tests in the away Ashes in Australia, the left-hander scored just over 200 runs (202) in 10 outings, averaging a mere 20.20. Even in white-ball cricket, Duckett’s last assignment was the away ODI series against Sri Lanka, just before the T20 World Cup, where he amassed 108 runs in three One-Dayers, including a fifty (62) in the opener. In his last game for England, which was the first T20I against Sri Lanka, Duckett got out on duck, and hasn’t worn the English jersey since. He, however, will now remain available for selection for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship, which starts April 3, before harbouring hopes of getting picked for the home summer, starting with a Test series against New Zealand.

<p>Duckett has officially pulled out of IPL 2026 to focus on his international career. By withdrawing after being signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹2 crore, Duckett triggers the BCCI's strict new 2-year ban policy. Find out what this means for his IPL future and who DC might pick as a replacement.</p>

Ben Duckett triggers 2-year ban policy after pulling out of IPL 2026 to prioritise England Cricket

Gujarat Titans (GT) look to have one of the strongest squads going into the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. Here's who all made it to their final 25 for IPL 2026.

<p>Gujarat Titans (GT) look to have one of the strongest squads going into the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. Here's who all made it to their final 25 for IPL 2026.</p>

IPL 2026: Check out GT final squad; batters, bowlers, keepers and more

<p>Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have hit a jackpot by roping in Aussie left-arm quick Spencer Johnson as an injury replacement for compatriot Nathan Ellis, who was ruled out of IPL 2026 with a hamstring injury. Having been picked by Quetta Gladiators as a direct signing for PSL 2026, Spencer pulled out for personal reasons and has now joined the Yellow Army for the upcoming edition starting March 28. He, however, has been signed for INR 1.5 crore and will join New Zealand seamer Matt Henry as the second overseas seamer in the CSK squad.&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 News 🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ChennaiIPL</a> pick a player replacement for the injured Nathan Ellis for the upcoming <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a>.<br><br>More details 🔽<a href="https://t.co/CJfaq3mpvo">https://t.co/CJfaq3mpvo</a></p>&mdash; IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/2036420281712115935?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<p>Johnson is the latest name to pull out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) to join its competition and the cash-rich league, the IPL, for the upcoming edition.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-kal-somani-us-based-entrepreneur-who-bought-ipl-franchise-rajasthan-royals-for-1-63bn-1774353724174"><strong>Who is Kal Somani? US-based entrepreneur who bought IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals for $1.63bn</strong></a><br>&nbsp;</p><p>Johnson, however, is not new to the IPL setup, having previously played for the Gujarat Titans (GT) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). While he represented the newly-inducted franchise Gujarat in his maiden season in 2024, playing just five games and returning with four wickets in total, the left-arm quick featured for KKR next year, picking just one wicket in four outings at an embarrassing average of 133.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Contrary to his BBL numbers, where he averages just above 19 (19.21) in 28 contested matches, his IPL average thus far is 56.80, with his economy surging at 10.39 compared to 7.55 in the BBL. The lanky quick hasn’t played a T20 game since last appearing for KKR in IPL 2025 against LSG.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Johnson joined the long list of Australian fast bowlers to play for CSK in the IPL. While Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus were the early picks, Dirk Nannes, Andrew Tye, Jason Behrendorff, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Ellis were the remaining ones to play for the Yellow Army in the league.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Meanwhile, Ellis suffered a hamstring injury in the lead-up to IPL 2026, which needed around three months to recover, thus ruling him out of the upcoming edition.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>CSK will play its tournament opener against Rajasthan Royals on Monday (Mar 31) in an away clash in Guwahati, which will be an evening game, starting at 7:30 PM IST.</p>

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have signed Australian left-arm quick Spencer Johnson for INR 1.5 crore as an injury replacement for Nathan Ellis. Following his PSL 2026 withdrawal, Johnson joins the Yellow Army's pace attack alongside Matt Henry ahead of the IPL 2026 season opener on March 30.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have hit a jackpot by roping in Aussie left-arm quick Spencer Johnson as an injury replacement for compatriot Nathan Ellis, who was ruled out of IPL 2026 with a hamstring injury. Having been picked by Quetta Gladiators as a direct signing for PSL 2026, Spencer pulled out for personal reasons and has now joined the Yellow Army for the upcoming edition starting March 28. He, however, has been signed for INR 1.5 crore and will join New Zealand seamer Matt Henry as the second overseas seamer in the CSK squad.

<p>Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have signed Australian left-arm quick Spencer Johnson for INR 1.5 crore as an injury replacement for Nathan Ellis. Following his PSL 2026 withdrawal, Johnson joins the Yellow Army's pace attack alongside Matt Henry ahead of the IPL 2026 season opener on March 30.</p>

Spencer Johnson signs for CSK to replace injured Nathan Ellis in IPL 2026

<p>In a major development for the Indian Premier League (IPL), a US-based consortium led by tech entrepreneur Kal Somani has acquired the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals for a record $1.63 billion (INR 13,500 crore).This consortium won the deal against other bidders like Times Internet, the Aditya Birla Group and the Mittal family led by Aditya Mittal of ArcelorMittal. With this price, Rajasthan Royals will become the most expensive IPL team, going ahead of Lucknow Super Giants, which was bought by the RP-SG Group for INR 7,090 crore.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Kal Somani is already a stakeholder in Rajasthan Royals, but after this deal, his consortium will have full control of the team. The sale still needs approval from the BCCI and is expected to take effect after the 2026 IPL season. Until now, Manoj Badale owned 65 per cent of the franchise.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read - </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-david-payne-the-left-armer-with-304-t20-wickets-who-replaces-injured-jack-edwards-at-srh-1774349922425"><strong>Who is David Payne? The left-armer with 304 T20 wickets who replaces injured Jack Edwards at SRH</strong></a></p><h2>Who is Kal Somani?</h2><p>Kal Somani is a tech entrepreneur based in Arizona and has founded companies such as IntraEdge, Truyo.AI and Academian. His group also includes prominent investors like Rob Walton of the Walmart family and the Hamp family of Ford.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Beyond cricket, Somani has invested in other sports as well, as he is a co-owner of Motor City Golf Club and was an early investor in projects like the TGL Golf League and TMRW Sports.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read - </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rcb-11-seats-reserved-ksca-announce-memorial-for-june-4-stampede-victims-ahead-of-ipl-2026-opener-royal-challengers-bengaluru-m-chinnaswamy-stadium-1774351050193"><strong>RCB, KSCA announce memorial for June 4 stampede victims ahead of IPL 2026 opener</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>According to sources, the deal highlights the growing value of the IPL as a brand. Compared to previous team sales, such as Lucknow Super Giants in 2021, the franchise’s worth has increased significantly. The deal is expected to be officially announced in the coming days.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"Kal is an existing investor in the franchise. The deal is subject to approval from the BCCI and will be signed soon. The price of USD 1.63 billion reflects how far the IPL has come as a brand," a well-placed source told PTI.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"If you look at the sale of the latest IPL entrants, Lucknow Super Giants, it is way more than that. It just shows remarkable growth of the league," shared another source drawing a comparison with sale of LSG to RPSG Group for little over Rs 7000 crore back in 2021.&nbsp;"I expect the deal to be announced in the next four to five days," he added.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><i><strong>With inputs from agencies</strong></i></p>

The deal still requires approval from the BCCI and is expected to take effect after the 2026 IPL season. Until now, Manoj Badale owned 65 per cent of the franchise.

In a major development for the Indian Premier League (IPL), a US-based consortium led by tech entrepreneur Kal Somani has acquired the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals for a record $1.63 billion (INR 13,500 crore).This consortium won the deal against other bidders like Times Internet, the Aditya Birla Group and the Mittal family led by Aditya Mittal of ArcelorMittal. With this price, Rajasthan Royals will become the most expensive IPL team, going ahead of Lucknow Super Giants, which was bought by the RP-SG Group for INR 7,090 crore. Kal Somani is already a stakeholder in Rajasthan Royals, but after this deal, his consortium will have full control of the team. The sale still needs approval from the BCCI and is expected to take effect after the 2026 IPL season. Until now, Manoj Badale owned 65 per cent of the franchise. Also Read - Who is David Payne? The left-armer with 304 T20 wickets who replaces injured Jack Edwards at SRH Who is Kal Somani? Kal Somani is a tech entrepreneur based in Arizona and has founded companies such as IntraEdge, Truyo.AI and Academian. His group also includes prominent investors like Rob Walton of the Walmart family and the Hamp family of Ford. Beyond cricket, Somani has invested in other sports as well, as he is a co-owner of Motor City Golf Club and was an early investor in projects like the TGL Golf League and TMRW Sports. Also Read - RCB, KSCA announce memorial for June 4 stampede victims ahead of IPL 2026 opener According to sources, the deal highlights the growing value of the IPL as a brand. Compared to previous team sales, such as Lucknow Super Giants in 2021, the franchise’s worth has increased significantly. The deal is expected to be officially announced in the coming days. "Kal is an existing investor in the franchise. The deal is subject to approval from the BCCI and will be signed soon. The price of USD 1.63 billion reflects how far the IPL has come as a brand," a well-placed source told PTI. "If you look at the sale of the latest IPL entrants, Lucknow Super Giants, it is way more than that. It just shows remarkable growth of the league," shared another source drawing a comparison with sale of LSG to RPSG Group for little over Rs 7000 crore back in 2021. "I expect the deal to be announced in the next four to five days," he added. With inputs from agencies

<p>The deal still requires approval from the BCCI and is expected to take effect after the 2026 IPL season. Until now, Manoj Badale owned 65 per cent of the franchise.</p>

Who is Kal Somani? US-based entrepreneur who bought IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals for $1.63bn

<p>England Test captain Ben Stokes finally broke the silence over his team’s horror show Down Under, what the future holds for him and the England Test side and criticism around his commitment to captaincy. Stokes-led England suffered a 1-4 defeat at the hands of Australia in the previous Ashes, casting doubts over his and his team’s future. Taking to his Instagram handle, Stokes said even though he feels privileged to lead England’s Test team and takes nothing for granted in return, he admits his mistakes, and vows to have learnt from those. He commits himself to England’s bright future with the under-fire pair of head coach Brendon McCullum and ECB managing director Robert Key.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After the three retained their places despite no accolades over the past six months, including during the Ashes and the recently concluded T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, Stokes’ all-out message for the fans of English cricket broke the internet.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ecb-decides-to-not-sack-mccullum-after-ashses-debacle-review-and-stokes-f-g-love-it-1774330362059"><strong>ECB decides to not sack McCullum after Ashes debacle review and Stokes is ecstatic</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>After admitting to feeling consumed by the pressure and privileges of being a Test captain, Stokes said the last three months have been the hardest for his captaincy period, mainly for the challenges it brought along and their repercussions.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Further admitting to learning a lot about himself since his final appearance during the SCG Test, Stokes clarified that he loves his job, his team and cricket, and that he has plenty left in his tank to give it to the game and its countless fans.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Dear England Cricket supporters and fans</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Being England captain is the greatest honour a player can be given and I do not take it for granted. It has its highs and it has its lows, it makes you want to smile it makes you want to cry. It completely and utterly consumes you and feels like it’s the only thing in your life at times.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The last 3 months has without a doubt been the hardest period of my captaincy journey, it’s tested me in so many different ways and I’m sure every other captain has gone through this as well.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Baz, Rob and myself have the passion and desire to take this team forward, we are going to give you everything we have, we know we made mistakes along the way and we have learnt from those mistakes, you learn more from failure than success.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I have learnt a lot about myself but the most important thing that I want the fans to know is that….</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>I F*****G love cricket, I F*****G love this team, I F*****G love being England captain and I have got so much more to give to this role and I’m so happy that I get to do it with Baz and Rob</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>We all appreciate every single person who supports us. We do what we do for many reasons but one of those reasons is to bring our supporters and fans happiness and and a sense of pride and we will aim to do those things as much as we can in the future.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>See you all in June for the start of the Test Match summer</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Stokesy 💪,” his Instagram post read.</p>

<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWPFZ0LjH2l/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWPFZ0LjH2l/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;">View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWPFZ0LjH2l/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;" target="_blank">A post shared by Ben Stokes (@stokesy)</a></p></div></blockquote>
<script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>

I F*****G love this team": A defiant Ben Stokes hits back at critics after England’s Ashes heartbreak. Read the full transcript of Stokes' viral message to fans, his admission of mistakes, and his bold plan for the future of English Test cricket.

England Test captain Ben Stokes finally broke the silence over his team’s horror show Down Under, what the future holds for him and the England Test side and criticism around his commitment to captaincy. Stokes-led England suffered a 1-4 defeat at the hands of Australia in the previous Ashes, casting doubts over his and his team’s future. Taking to his Instagram handle, Stokes said even though he feels privileged to lead England’s Test team and takes nothing for granted in return, he admits his mistakes, and vows to have learnt from those. He commits himself to England’s bright future with the under-fire pair of head coach Brendon McCullum and ECB managing director Robert Key. After the three retained their places despite no accolades over the past six months, including during the Ashes and the recently concluded T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, Stokes’ all-out message for the fans of English cricket broke the internet. Also read | ECB decides to not sack McCullum after Ashes debacle review and Stokes is ecstatic After admitting to feeling consumed by the pressure and privileges of being a Test captain, Stokes said the last three months have been the hardest for his captaincy period, mainly for the challenges it brought along and their repercussions. Further admitting to learning a lot about himself since his final appearance during the SCG Test, Stokes clarified that he loves his job, his team and cricket, and that he has plenty left in his tank to give it to the game and its countless fans. “Dear England Cricket supporters and fans Being England captain is the greatest honour a player can be given and I do not take it for granted. It has its highs and it has its lows, it makes you want to smile it makes you want to cry. It completely and utterly consumes you and feels like it’s the only thing in your life at times. The last 3 months has without a doubt been the hardest period of my captaincy journey, it’s tested me in so many different ways and I’m sure every other captain has gone through this as well. Baz, Rob and myself have the passion and desire to take this team forward, we are going to give you everything we have, we know we made mistakes along the way and we have learnt from those mistakes, you learn more from failure than success. I have learnt a lot about myself but the most important thing that I want the fans to know is that…. I F*****G love cricket, I F*****G love this team, I F*****G love being England captain and I have got so much more to give to this role and I’m so happy that I get to do it with Baz and Rob We all appreciate every single person who supports us. We do what we do for many reasons but one of those reasons is to bring our supporters and fans happiness and and a sense of pride and we will aim to do those things as much as we can in the future. See you all in June for the start of the Test Match summer Stokesy 💪,” his Instagram post read.

<p>I F*****G love this team": A defiant Ben Stokes hits back at critics after England’s Ashes heartbreak. Read the full transcript of Stokes' viral message to fans, his admission of mistakes, and his bold plan for the future of English Test cricket.</p>

‘We made mistakes, we learnt’: Stokes breaks silence after ‘hardest 3 months’, says ‘I F***G love this team’

<p>Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have signed David Payne as a replacement for Jack Edwards, who will miss IPL 2026 due to a foot injury. The franchise acquired Payne for INR 1.5 crore, while Edwards was earlier picked up in the auction for INR 3 crore following a bidding contest with Chennai Super Kings. The 35-year-old has made just one appearance for England, featuring in an ODI against the Netherlands in Amstelveen in June 2022, where he bowled nine overs and took one wicket.</p><h2>Who is David Payne?</h2><p>David Alan Payne is an English left-arm fast-medium bowler who began his professional career with Gloucestershire in 2009. He also represented England at the Under-19 level and was part of the 2010 U-19 World Cup squad.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read - </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-rcb-suffer-major-blow-with-yash-dayal-pulling-out-for-personal-reasons-1774344939260"><strong>IPL 2026: RCB suffer major blow with Yash Dayal pulling out for personal reasons</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Payne has strong experience in T20 cricket, claiming 304 wickets in 233 matches. He is also Gloucestershire’s top wicket-taker in T20s and was the highest wicket-taker in the 2024 T20 Blast with 33 wickets in 17 matches.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He has also featured in other domestic leagues, including The Hundred for Welsh Fire, the Big Bash League (BBL) and the ILT20 for Desert Vipers. In the 2025-26 BBL final, he was named Player of the Match after taking three wickets for 18 runs, helping the Perth Scorchers clinch the title.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read - </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-3-b-s-to-beat-pressure-breath-balance-and-belief-harnoor-pannu-s-ipl-2026-formula-for-success-1774350034247"><strong>'3 B’s to beat pressure: Breath, balance and belief — Harnoor Pannu’s IPL 2026 formula for success</strong></a></p><h2>Update on SRH captaincy</h2><p>Meanwhile, the Orange Army has received a major boost ahead of their campaign, as their regular captain Pat Cummins is expected to join the SRH squad before their first IPL 2026 match against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Bengaluru. However, he will continue to manage his back injury, as Ishan Kishan likely to lead the team for the first five or six games.</p>

Sunrisers Hyderabad will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Mar 28 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have signed David Payne as a replacement for Jack Edwards, who will miss IPL 2026 due to a foot injury. The franchise acquired Payne for INR 1.5 crore, while Edwards was earlier picked up in the auction for INR 3 crore following a bidding contest with Chennai Super Kings. The 35-year-old has made just one appearance for England, featuring in an ODI against the Netherlands in Amstelveen in June 2022, where he bowled nine overs and took one wicket. Who is David Payne? David Alan Payne is an English left-arm fast-medium bowler who began his professional career with Gloucestershire in 2009. He also represented England at the Under-19 level and was part of the 2010 U-19 World Cup squad. Also Read - IPL 2026: RCB suffer major blow with Yash Dayal pulling out for personal reasons Payne has strong experience in T20 cricket, claiming 304 wickets in 233 matches. He is also Gloucestershire’s top wicket-taker in T20s and was the highest wicket-taker in the 2024 T20 Blast with 33 wickets in 17 matches. He has also featured in other domestic leagues, including The Hundred for Welsh Fire, the Big Bash League (BBL) and the ILT20 for Desert Vipers. In the 2025-26 BBL final, he was named Player of the Match after taking three wickets for 18 runs, helping the Perth Scorchers clinch the title. Also Read - '3 B’s to beat pressure: Breath, balance and belief — Harnoor Pannu’s IPL 2026 formula for success Update on SRH captaincy Meanwhile, the Orange Army has received a major boost ahead of their campaign, as their regular captain Pat Cummins is expected to join the SRH squad before their first IPL 2026 match against defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Bengaluru. However, he will continue to manage his back injury, as Ishan Kishan likely to lead the team for the first five or six games.

<p>Sunrisers Hyderabad will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Mar 28 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.</p>

Who is David Payne? The left-armer with 304 T20 wickets who replaces injured Jack Edwards at SRH

<p>IPL 2026 is about to get underway, with the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), hosting SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the tournament opener at the M Chinnaswamy on March 28. This very venue made headlines for the wrong reasons during the June 4 celebrations last year. While the title winners were celebrating their maiden IPL crown with a sea of fans inside the stadium, 11 people lost their lives outside in a stampede, creating panic all over. That episode, however, clouded RCB’s historic win, as sanctions and suspensions followed, including the venue facing a possible ban for some time.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>With the RCB playing the season’s first game against their old rivals, SRH, all eyes will be on the host team, which, in coordination with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), has decided to pay tribute to the 11 souls who passed away near the venue’s entrance.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-rcb-suffer-major-blow-with-yash-dayal-pulling-out-for-personal-reasons-1774344939260"><strong>IPL 2026: RCB suffer major blow with Yash Dayal pulling out for personal reasons</strong></a><br>&nbsp;</p><p>To begin with, the two sporting bodies will first unveil a memorial plaque near the inner entrance of the stadium, closer to the mural. Next, the RCB and the KSCA have decided to permanently reserve 11 seats for those who lost their lives in the June 4 stampede. To honour those departed lives, these 11 reserved seats will also not be available for the international fixtures. The 11 seats are, however, expected to be located together in a premier stand, allowing the designated area to be cordoned off as a mark of respect.<br>&nbsp;</p><p>Besides, on match day, the IPL franchise will lead tributes (for the lost lives) before the start of play. The names of the stampede victims will be displayed inside the stadium, followed by a minute’s silence, with SRH also expected to join the homage.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Speaking of the same, the KSCA president and former Indian bowler, Venkatesh Prasad, in a chat with the Times of India (TOI), said, “It is painful to even think about the tragic incident. But we have been discussing the memorial for a while with the managing committee and other major stakeholders, and collectively felt it was important to honour the memory of the 11 people. We don’t want to rekindle any pain; instead, remember them. That’s why we decided to place an epitaph of the cricket fans whose lives were cut short tragically.”&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;</p><p>On reserving the seats for the stampede victims, Prasad said, “It’s a joint decision between the KSCA and the franchise since they are an integral part of the Chinnaswamy Stadium.”</p>

RCB and KSCA announce a permanent memorial for the 11 victims of the June 4 stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Ahead of the IPL 2026 opener against SRH, 11 seats will be permanently reserved in honour of the fans who lost their lives during last year’s title celebrations.

IPL 2026 is about to get underway, with the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), hosting SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the tournament opener at the M Chinnaswamy on March 28. This very venue made headlines for the wrong reasons during the June 4 celebrations last year. While the title winners were celebrating their maiden IPL crown with a sea of fans inside the stadium, 11 people lost their lives outside in a stampede, creating panic all over. That episode, however, clouded RCB’s historic win, as sanctions and suspensions followed, including the venue facing a possible ban for some time. With the RCB playing the season’s first game against their old rivals, SRH, all eyes will be on the host team, which, in coordination with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), has decided to pay tribute to the 11 souls who passed away near the venue’s entrance. Also read | IPL 2026: RCB suffer major blow with Yash Dayal pulling out for personal reasons To begin with, the two sporting bodies will first unveil a memorial plaque near the inner entrance of the stadium, closer to the mural. Next, the RCB and the KSCA have decided to permanently reserve 11 seats for those who lost their lives in the June 4 stampede. To honour those departed lives, these 11 reserved seats will also not be available for the international fixtures. The 11 seats are, however, expected to be located together in a premier stand, allowing the designated area to be cordoned off as a mark of respect. Besides, on match day, the IPL franchise will lead tributes (for the lost lives) before the start of play. The names of the stampede victims will be displayed inside the stadium, followed by a minute’s silence, with SRH also expected to join the homage. Speaking of the same, the KSCA president and former Indian bowler, Venkatesh Prasad, in a chat with the Times of India (TOI), said, “It is painful to even think about the tragic incident. But we have been discussing the memorial for a while with the managing committee and other major stakeholders, and collectively felt it was important to honour the memory of the 11 people. We don’t want to rekindle any pain; instead, remember them. That’s why we decided to place an epitaph of the cricket fans whose lives were cut short tragically.” On reserving the seats for the stampede victims, Prasad said, “It’s a joint decision between the KSCA and the franchise since they are an integral part of the Chinnaswamy Stadium.”

<p>RCB and KSCA announce a permanent memorial for the 11 victims of the June 4 stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Ahead of the IPL 2026 opener against SRH, 11 seats will be permanently reserved in honour of the fans who lost their lives during last year’s title celebrations.</p>

‘11 seats reserved’: RCB, KSCA announce memorial for June 4 stampede victims ahead of IPL 2026 opener

<p>Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have suffered a major setback before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, as the team management has confirmed that pacer Yash Dayal will not take part in the entire tournament due to personal reasons. The 28-year-old was also missing from RCB’s practice sessions and was also not included in the team’s promotional posters, which led to speculation about his absence. Now RCB’s director of cricket, Mo Bobat, has clarified the situation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Speaking at a press conference, Bobat said that Dayal is dealing with personal issues and the team has been supporting him, including deciding to retain him. He added that Dayal remains under contract and the franchise is staying in touch, but both the player and the team agreed that it is better for him not to participate at this time.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read - </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-he-is-like-a-teacher-to-me-lsg-youngster-credits-jasprit-bumrah-for-injury-comeback-1774337985002"><strong>‘He is like a teacher to me’: LSG youngster credits Bumrah for injury comeback</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"So, just to confirm that Yash will not be joining up with the squad. As you know, he is going through a personal situation currently, and just to clarify, we've been very supportive of Yash to date and that's reflected in the fact that we retained him when we had the opportunity to either retain or release players.We wanted to retain him, and he remains under contract and will continue in the short term to remain under contract," Bobat told the media during a press conference on Tuesday.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>"We are communicating with him regularly. I spoke to him earlier today as well, but it has been decided that it is not in his best interest or the franchise's best interest for him to join up with us at this point. He retains our support, and he remains under contract, and we'll continue to speak to him as he goes through his personal situation," he added.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read - </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/up-government-set-to-appoint-rinku-singh-as-regional-sports-officer-1774340392880"><strong>UP government set to appoint Rinku Singh as regional sports officer</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Yash Dayal has come under serious investigation following multiple allegations of sexual assault and exploitation. One major case has been filed in Jaipur under the POCSO Act, which applies to crimes involving minors and the complaint accuses him of repeated exploitation over a long period.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Even in Dec 2025, a special POCSO court in Jaipur rejected his plea for anticipatory bail. The judge noted that the charges are very serious and the cases like this require careful handling, especially when a minor is involved.</p>

The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Mar 28 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have suffered a major setback before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, as the team management has confirmed that pacer Yash Dayal will not take part in the entire tournament due to personal reasons. The 28-year-old was also missing from RCB’s practice sessions and was also not included in the team’s promotional posters, which led to speculation about his absence. Now RCB’s director of cricket, Mo Bobat, has clarified the situation. Speaking at a press conference, Bobat said that Dayal is dealing with personal issues and the team has been supporting him, including deciding to retain him. He added that Dayal remains under contract and the franchise is staying in touch, but both the player and the team agreed that it is better for him not to participate at this time. Also Read - ‘He is like a teacher to me’: LSG youngster credits Bumrah for injury comeback "So, just to confirm that Yash will not be joining up with the squad. As you know, he is going through a personal situation currently, and just to clarify, we've been very supportive of Yash to date and that's reflected in the fact that we retained him when we had the opportunity to either retain or release players.We wanted to retain him, and he remains under contract and will continue in the short term to remain under contract," Bobat told the media during a press conference on Tuesday. "We are communicating with him regularly. I spoke to him earlier today as well, but it has been decided that it is not in his best interest or the franchise's best interest for him to join up with us at this point. He retains our support, and he remains under contract, and we'll continue to speak to him as he goes through his personal situation," he added. Also Read - UP government set to appoint Rinku Singh as regional sports officer Yash Dayal has come under serious investigation following multiple allegations of sexual assault and exploitation. One major case has been filed in Jaipur under the POCSO Act, which applies to crimes involving minors and the complaint accuses him of repeated exploitation over a long period. Even in Dec 2025, a special POCSO court in Jaipur rejected his plea for anticipatory bail. The judge noted that the charges are very serious and the cases like this require careful handling, especially when a minor is involved.

<p>The defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Mar 28 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.</p>

IPL 2026: RCB suffer major blow with Yash Dayal pulling out for personal reasons

<p>Lucknow Super Giants's speedster Mayank Yadav has gone through a very difficult phase over the past two years, as the 23-year-old faced several serious injuries that could have ended his career. However, with IPL 2026 approaching, he has returned stronger and says he is now much more careful about his fitness. The pacer suffered a major injury during IPL 2024, followed by a significant back issue that ruled him out of IPL 2025. He later underwent surgery and completed his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, where Jasprit Bumrah played a key role in supporting and guiding him.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Mayank admitted that earlier he did not take proper care of his body and often skipped recovery sessions. But after surgery, his mindset changed and now he focuses on recovery, good food and proper sleep. He believes that if he takes care of his body, it will help him perform better on the field.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read - </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ecb-decides-to-not-sack-mccullum-after-ashses-debacle-review-and-stokes-f-g-love-it-1774330362059"><strong>ECB decides to not sack McCullum after Ashses debacle review and Stokes is ecstatic</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Everything has changed for me post-surgery. Earlier, I never used to take care of myself. Whenever I had to do a recovery session, I used to avoid it and neglect many aspects. But after the surgery, I paid a lot of attention to recovery, nutrition and sleep. The more I respect my body, the more my body respects me on the field," Mayank said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>He also said that talking to Bumrah during rehab helped him a lot. Since the Indian pacer had gone through a similar injury and recovery, he shared useful advice about handling the body.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“When I was in rehab at the NCA, Bumrah bhaiya (brother) was also there. I have a very good bond with him. He is like a teacher to me. He also had the same surgery, the same scenario," he said.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“Bumrah bhaiya shared his experience of how to come back after surgery and what things to pay attention to. He told me how the body will be during recovery, how it will react. Sometimes it will feel good, sometimes not. Whenever we talk on the call or messages, he shares his experience as much as possible," added Mayank.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>Also Read - </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/los-angeles-dodgers-eye-threepeat-as-robot-umpires-make-way-in-mlb-1774321512395"><strong>Los Angeles Dodgers eye threepeat as robot umpires make way in MLB</strong></a></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The 23-year-old first realised his bowling speed when trainers measured it with a speed gun in the IPL; that’s when he understood his talent and decided to value it more. He added that fast bowling is always challenging because it puts a lot of pressure on both the body and mind.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“When I came to the IPL for the first time, our trainers used to measure our bowling speed with a speed gun. At that time, I came to know that I have this talent, I have this gift. So now I have to respect it," said Mayank.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>“With fast bowling, things are always a little dicey, whether you can do it or not. There is a lot of stress on the body, physically and mentally," he added.</p>

After being ruled out of IPL 2025, Mayank Yadav underwent surgery and completed his rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru, where Jasprit Bumrah played a key role in  guiding him.

Lucknow Super Giants's speedster Mayank Yadav has gone through a very difficult phase over the past two years, as the 23-year-old faced several serious injuries that could have ended his career. However, with IPL 2026 approaching, he has returned stronger and says he is now much more careful about his fitness. The pacer suffered a major injury during IPL 2024, followed by a significant back issue that ruled him out of IPL 2025. He later underwent surgery and completed his rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, where Jasprit Bumrah played a key role in supporting and guiding him. Mayank admitted that earlier he did not take proper care of his body and often skipped recovery sessions. But after surgery, his mindset changed and now he focuses on recovery, good food and proper sleep. He believes that if he takes care of his body, it will help him perform better on the field. Also Read - ECB decides to not sack McCullum after Ashses debacle review and Stokes is ecstatic “Everything has changed for me post-surgery. Earlier, I never used to take care of myself. Whenever I had to do a recovery session, I used to avoid it and neglect many aspects. But after the surgery, I paid a lot of attention to recovery, nutrition and sleep. The more I respect my body, the more my body respects me on the field," Mayank said. He also said that talking to Bumrah during rehab helped him a lot. Since the Indian pacer had gone through a similar injury and recovery, he shared useful advice about handling the body. “When I was in rehab at the NCA, Bumrah bhaiya (brother) was also there. I have a very good bond with him. He is like a teacher to me. He also had the same surgery, the same scenario," he said. “Bumrah bhaiya shared his experience of how to come back after surgery and what things to pay attention to. He told me how the body will be during recovery, how it will react. Sometimes it will feel good, sometimes not. Whenever we talk on the call or messages, he shares his experience as much as possible," added Mayank. Also Read - Los Angeles Dodgers eye threepeat as robot umpires make way in MLB The 23-year-old first realised his bowling speed when trainers measured it with a speed gun in the IPL; that’s when he understood his talent and decided to value it more. He added that fast bowling is always challenging because it puts a lot of pressure on both the body and mind. “When I came to the IPL for the first time, our trainers used to measure our bowling speed with a speed gun. At that time, I came to know that I have this talent, I have this gift. So now I have to respect it," said Mayank. “With fast bowling, things are always a little dicey, whether you can do it or not. There is a lot of stress on the body, physically and mentally," he added.

<p>After being ruled out of IPL 2025, Mayank Yadav underwent surgery and completed his rehabilitation at the NCA in Bengaluru, where Jasprit Bumrah played a key role in guiding him.</p>

‘He is like a teacher to me’: LSG youngster credits Jasprit Bumrah for injury comeback

IPL Stats: Yuzvendra Chahal is the best wicket-taker (221), Bhuvneshwar is best in powerplay (79 wickets), DJ Bravo best in death overs (102 wickets), Harshal Patel is best in a season (32 wickets in 2023), Nathu Singh has best economy (3.75), and Bumrah is best to take most five-fors (2).

<p>IPL Stats: Yuzvendra Chahal is the best wicket-taker (221), Bhuvneshwar is best in powerplay (79 wickets), DJ Bravo best in death overs (102 wickets), Harshal Patel is best in a season (32 wickets in 2023), Nathu Singh has best economy (3.75), and Bumrah is best to take most five-fors (2).</p>

IPL 2026 Stats: List of Best Bowlers of All Time

<p>England Cricket Board (ECB) has concluded the post-Ashes review of national setup and decided to keep Robert key as managig director as well as Brendon McCullum as head coach. The decision was described by ECB chair Richard Gould as 'not popular but right.' There were growing reports of McCullum losing his job and so as Key in aftermath of England's 1-4 Ashes loss Down Under. The duo, however, kept their job and England Test skipper Ben Stokes is as ecstatic as he can be. Stokes enthusiasm was visible in profanity-filled letter he wrote to fans on Instagram.</p><h2>What did ECB review say about England's Ashes debacle?</h2><p>Amid the uproar about England's performance, their drinking break in Noosa, and overall discipline, the sacking of McCullum and Key seemed imminent to many but ECB decided to take another route.</p><p>"We do keep a very close eye on all of our supporters. But neither are we going to select or deselect management based on a popularity campaign. We’re going to do it based on good judgment and objective views," Gould said.</p><p>"I’ve seen the driving ambition and determination we’re lucky enough to have within our leadership group to take the lessons from the Ashes. It may not be the popular route, it may not be the easiest route, but I think it’s the right route," he added.</p><h2>What did Stokes say about the ECB decision to not sack McCullum and Key?</h2><p>In an emotional letter on Instagram, Stokes made his thoughts very clear on the matter while acknowledging some mistakes made as well.</p><p>"Baz, Rob and myself have the passion and desire to take this team forward. We are going to give you everything we have. We know we made mistakes along the way and we have learnt from those mistakes. You learn more from failure than success.</p><p>“I have learnt a lot about myself but the most important thing that I want the fans to know is that … I F*****G love cricket, I F*****G love this team, I F*****G love being England captain and I have got so much more to give to this role and I’m so happy that I get to do it with Baz and Rob," said the English Test skipper.</p>

Amid the uproar about England's performance, their drinking break in Noosa, and overall discipline, the sacking of McCullum and Key seemed imminent but ECB decided to take another route. Ben Stokes is as ecstatic as he can be and his enthusiasm was visible in a profanity-filled letter.

England Cricket Board (ECB) has concluded the post-Ashes review of national setup and decided to keep Robert key as managig director as well as Brendon McCullum as head coach. The decision was described by ECB chair Richard Gould as 'not popular but right.' There were growing reports of McCullum losing his job and so as Key in aftermath of England's 1-4 Ashes loss Down Under. The duo, however, kept their job and England Test skipper Ben Stokes is as ecstatic as he can be. Stokes enthusiasm was visible in profanity-filled letter he wrote to fans on Instagram. What did ECB review say about England's Ashes debacle? Amid the uproar about England's performance, their drinking break in Noosa, and overall discipline, the sacking of McCullum and Key seemed imminent to many but ECB decided to take another route. "We do keep a very close eye on all of our supporters. But neither are we going to select or deselect management based on a popularity campaign. We’re going to do it based on good judgment and objective views," Gould said. "I’ve seen the driving ambition and determination we’re lucky enough to have within our leadership group to take the lessons from the Ashes. It may not be the popular route, it may not be the easiest route, but I think it’s the right route," he added. What did Stokes say about the ECB decision to not sack McCullum and Key? In an emotional letter on Instagram, Stokes made his thoughts very clear on the matter while acknowledging some mistakes made as well. "Baz, Rob and myself have the passion and desire to take this team forward. We are going to give you everything we have. We know we made mistakes along the way and we have learnt from those mistakes. You learn more from failure than success. “I have learnt a lot about myself but the most important thing that I want the fans to know is that … I F*****G love cricket, I F*****G love this team, I F*****G love being England captain and I have got so much more to give to this role and I’m so happy that I get to do it with Baz and Rob," said the English Test skipper.

<p>Amid the uproar about England's performance, their drinking break in Noosa, and overall discipline, the sacking of McCullum and Key seemed imminent but ECB decided to take another route. Ben Stokes is as ecstatic as he can be and his enthusiasm was visible in a profanity-filled letter.</p>

ECB decides to not sack McCullum after Ashses debacle review and Stokes is ecstatic

After the BCCI released the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule, the fans wonder who and where the former three-time winners, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), will play against. Check out KKR’s full first phase schedule, opponents, match timings and venues.

<p>After the BCCI released the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule, the fans wonder who and where the former three-time winners, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), will play against. Check out KKR’s full first phase schedule, opponents, match timings and venues.</p>

IPL 2026: KKR phase 1 schedule, match timings and venue list

cricket

Cricket, News on Cricket, stories on Cricket, articles on Cricket, Cricket stories at Wion, Cricket news, Cricket latest news

cricket

No Glitz at IPL 2026: BCCI cancels opening ceremony to honour June 4 stampede victims

Mallya wishes ‘Godspeed’ to RCB’s new owners after IPL franchise’s record sale

IPL | Cummins reveals barriers for international captain & return date for SRH

Who doesn't want to play for India? Shaw clears intent ahead of season opener

IPL 2026: KKR rope in Navdeep Saini as injury replacement for Harshit Rana

Mumbai Indians steal hearts with heartwarming campaign ahead of IPL 2026

IPL 2026: Faf du Plessis backs Rishabh Pant for high-impact role for LSG

Luckiest player of IPL? WI all-rounder has two titles without making his debut

IPL 2026 | KKR retire Power Coach Russell's jersey in heartfelt tribute - WATCH

After Livingstone, Bairstow hits out at Bazball regime for 'not caring'

Meet Aryaman Birla, the ex-RR cricketer now heading RCB, a $1.8bn IPL franchise

Aditya Birla Group-led consortium acquires RCB for $1.8bn in record deal

IPL 2026: Check out DC final squad; batters, bowlers, keepers and more

Rob Key hits back at Liam’s viral outburst: ‘No reason Livingstone’s England career is over’

England opener Ben Duckett pulls out of IPL 2026, triggers 2-year ban policy

IPL 2026: Check out GT final squad; batters, bowlers, keepers and more

Spencer Johnson signs for CSK to replace injured Nathan Ellis in IPL 2026

Who is Kal Somani? US-based entrepreneur who bought IPL franchise RR for $1.63bn

Stokes breaks silence after ‘hardest 3 months’, says ‘I F***G love this team’

Who is David Payne? SRH sign England speedster as Jack Edwards’ replacement

RCB, KSCA announce memorial for June 4 stampede victims ahead of IPL 2026 opener

IPL 2026: RCB suffer major blow with Yash Dayal pulling out for personal reasons

‘He is like a teacher to me’: LSG youngster credits Bumrah for injury comeback

IPL 2026 Stats: List of Best Bowlers of All Time

ECB decides to not sack McCullum after Ashses debacle review

IPL 2026: KKR phase 1 schedule, match timings and venue list