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From KL Rahul to Virat Kohli, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 5000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes David Warner, AB de Villiers and Shikhar Dhawan

From KL Rahul to Virat Kohli, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 5000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes David Warner, AB de Villiers and Shikhar Dhawan

Meet top 5 batters fastest to 5000 runs in Indian Premier League

India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill has expressed that the team’s main aim is to win the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, admitting that he often thinks about it, especially after India narrowly missed out on the title in the 2023 World Cup. India enjoyed an excellent campaign in 2023, winning every match on their way to the final before losing to Australia in the title clash. Speaking at the BCCI Naman Awards in Mumbai on Mar 15, Gill said the team remains motivated after coming so close to lifting the trophy.&nbsp;“Definitely, it does. That is the ultimate goal,” Gill said on Star Sports when asked if he thinks about the next ODI World Cup.&nbsp;Gill said that lifting a World Cup for the country is the biggest dream for any player. He explained that the team felt they were just one step away from victory in the last tournament and are now eager for another chance. He added that the next World Cup will give them a great opportunity to achieve that goal.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ban-vs-pak-3rd-odi-salman-ali-agha-s-106-in-vain-as-bangladesh-defeat-pakistan-by-11-runs-win-series-2-1-1773594553242">BAN vs PAK, 3rd ODI: Salman Ali Agha’s 106 in vain as Bangladesh defeat Pakistan by 11 runs, win series 2-1</a>&nbsp;“We felt like we were so close last time when we were here in the final in India. To be able to get another crack at it in South Africa, it's going to be a great opportunity for us,” Gill said.&nbsp;“Winning a World Cup in any format for the country is the ultimate goal so obviously, that is something that sometimes runs in my mind,” he added.&nbsp;The 2027 ODI World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and it is expected to take place in October and November.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-letting-shreyas-iyer-and-phil-salt-leave-anil-kumble-on-kkr-s-ipl-retention-calls-1773570620739">‘Letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt...’: Kumble on KKR’s IPL retention calls</a>&nbsp;India are currently going through a very successful phase in ICC tournaments, as they won the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and then claimed the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The team also defended their T20 World Cup title in the 2026 edition, becoming the first side to win it back-to-back.&nbsp;Now, India have the chance to achieve a historic milestone. If Gill’s team wins the 2027 ODI World Cup, they could complete a rare white-ball treble by holding the three biggest ICC limited-overs titles at the same time. If that happens, India would become the first team in history to achieve this feat in one cycle.

After India missed out closely on winning the title in 2023, captain Shubman Gill said lifting the ICC ODI World Cup next year remains the team’s ultimate goal.

India’s ODI and Test captain Shubman Gill has expressed that the team’s main aim is to win the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup, admitting that he often thinks about it, especially after India narrowly missed out on the title in the 2023 World Cup. India enjoyed an excellent campaign in 2023, winning every match on their way to the final before losing to Australia in the title clash. Speaking at the BCCI Naman Awards in Mumbai on Mar 15, Gill said the team remains motivated after coming so close to lifting the trophy. “Definitely, it does. That is the ultimate goal,” Gill said on Star Sports when asked if he thinks about the next ODI World Cup. Gill said that lifting a World Cup for the country is the biggest dream for any player. He explained that the team felt they were just one step away from victory in the last tournament and are now eager for another chance. He added that the next World Cup will give them a great opportunity to achieve that goal. Also Read - BAN vs PAK, 3rd ODI: Salman Ali Agha’s 106 in vain as Bangladesh defeat Pakistan by 11 runs, win series 2-1 “We felt like we were so close last time when we were here in the final in India. To be able to get another crack at it in South Africa, it's going to be a great opportunity for us,” Gill said. “Winning a World Cup in any format for the country is the ultimate goal so obviously, that is something that sometimes runs in my mind,” he added. The 2027 ODI World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and it is expected to take place in October and November. Also Read - ‘Letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt...’: Kumble on KKR’s IPL retention calls India are currently going through a very successful phase in ICC tournaments, as they won the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and then claimed the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The team also defended their T20 World Cup title in the 2026 edition, becoming the first side to win it back-to-back. Now, India have the chance to achieve a historic milestone. If Gill’s team wins the 2027 ODI World Cup, they could complete a rare white-ball treble by holding the three biggest ICC limited-overs titles at the same time. If that happens, India would become the first team in history to achieve this feat in one cycle.

After India missed out closely on winning the title in 2023, captain Shubman Gill said lifting the ICC ODI World Cup next year remains the team’s ultimate goal.

‘Great opportunity for us’: Shubman Gill opens up on India’s plans for 2027 ODI World Cup

Salman Ali Agha’s fighting century went in vain as Pakistan suffered an 11-run defeat to Bangladesh in the deciding third ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday (Mar 15). With this win, Bangladesh secured the three-match series 2-1. Batting first, Bangladesh made 290/5 in their 50 overs. The highlight of the innings was a superb hundred by Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who played an impressive knock and helped his team reach a strong total. Litton Das supported with 41 runs, while Towhid Hridoy contributed 48 to keep the innings steady during the middle overs.&nbsp;For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 52 runs in his 10 overs. Captain Shaheen Afridi (1/55) and Abrar Ahmed (1/49) picked up one wicket each, while the rest of the bowlers failed to make much impact.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kimi-antonelli-sets-record-as-f1-s-second-youngest-race-winner-1773580415113">Kimi Antonelli sets record as F1’s second-youngest race winner</a>&nbsp;Chasing 291, Pakistan fought hard but were eventually bowled out for 279. Salman Agha was the top scorer with 106 runs from 98 balls, hitting nine fours and four sixes. Saad Masood scored 38 and Shaheen Afridi contributed 37. However, Bangladesh bowlers took important wickets at key moments, restricting Pakistan from reaching the target.&nbsp;For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed led the bowling attack with four wickets for 49 runs in 10 overs, while Mustafizur Rahman claimed three wickets. Nahid Rana also played a key role, taking two wickets for 62 runs.&nbsp;Also Read -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sa-vs-nz-1st-t20i-south-africa-beat-new-zealand-by-seven-wickets-lead-series-1-0-1773571007815"> NZ vs SA, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by 7 wickets, lead series 1-0</a>&nbsp;Reflecting on the win, Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said, “It was definitely an excellent match. I was also a bit nervous, especially in the last over when 14 runs were required. Everyone feels that pressure. The wicket played well, and although 300 would have been ideal, 290 was still competitive. Amim, Shankal, and Tawhid played really well, and the boys executed brilliantly under pressure.”

Salman Ali Agha’s fighting century went in vain as Pakistan were bowled out for 279 while chasing 291 in the ODI series decider against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Salman Ali Agha’s fighting century went in vain as Pakistan suffered an 11-run defeat to Bangladesh in the deciding third ODI at the Sher-e-Bangla Stadium in Dhaka on Sunday (Mar 15). With this win, Bangladesh secured the three-match series 2-1. Batting first, Bangladesh made 290/5 in their 50 overs. The highlight of the innings was a superb hundred by Tanzid Hasan Tamim, who played an impressive knock and helped his team reach a strong total. Litton Das supported with 41 runs, while Towhid Hridoy contributed 48 to keep the innings steady during the middle overs. For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets for 52 runs in his 10 overs. Captain Shaheen Afridi (1/55) and Abrar Ahmed (1/49) picked up one wicket each, while the rest of the bowlers failed to make much impact. Also Read - Kimi Antonelli sets record as F1’s second-youngest race winner Chasing 291, Pakistan fought hard but were eventually bowled out for 279. Salman Agha was the top scorer with 106 runs from 98 balls, hitting nine fours and four sixes. Saad Masood scored 38 and Shaheen Afridi contributed 37. However, Bangladesh bowlers took important wickets at key moments, restricting Pakistan from reaching the target. For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed led the bowling attack with four wickets for 49 runs in 10 overs, while Mustafizur Rahman claimed three wickets. Nahid Rana also played a key role, taking two wickets for 62 runs. Also Read - NZ vs SA, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by 7 wickets, lead series 1-0 Reflecting on the win, Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said, “It was definitely an excellent match. I was also a bit nervous, especially in the last over when 14 runs were required. Everyone feels that pressure. The wicket played well, and although 300 would have been ideal, 290 was still competitive. Amim, Shankal, and Tawhid played really well, and the boys executed brilliantly under pressure.”

Salman Ali Agha’s valiant century in vain as Pakistan were bowled out for 279 while chasing 291 in the ODI series decider against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

BAN vs PAK, 3rd ODI: Salman Ali Agha’s 106 in vain as Bangladesh defeat Pakistan by 11 runs, win series 2-1

Former India spinner Anil Kumble believes that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made a major mistake by releasing Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt, who were key players in their IPL 2024 title-winning team. Despite Iyer captained the team to the championship, KKR allowed him to leave and he later joined Punjab Kings and led them to their first IPL final in 2025. While, Salt moved to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and helped them win their first IPL trophy last season.&nbsp;Kumble pointed out that when KKR won their third IPL title two years ago, Iyer and Salt were very important members of the squad. However, the franchise did not keep them, which showed a lack of consistency in their player retention strategy. According to him, letting both players go was a poor decision because it left the team without a captain who has already won the IPL.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-pakistan-captain-sarfaraz-ahmed-announces-retirement-from-international-cricket-1773573145499">Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed announces retirement from international cricket</a>&nbsp;“Two years ago, KKR won the IPL and lifted their third trophy. Two important cogs in that wheel were Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt. Both played crucial roles in helping them win but KKR let both of them go. There is no consistency from them in terms of player retention. KKR took the wrong decision by letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leave and that has left them without an IPL-winning captain, Kumble said as per a JioHotstar release.&nbsp;He also mentioned that Ajinkya Rahane is an experienced player who has captained Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. However, Rahane has not yet won the IPL as a captain. Kumble added that having a captain who has already won the tournament can give a team a strong advantage and KKR lost that benefit by releasing Iyer. &nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sa-vs-nz-1st-t20i-south-africa-beat-new-zealand-by-seven-wickets-lead-series-1-0-1773571007815">NZ vs SA, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by 7 wickets, lead series 1-0</a>&nbsp;He further suggested that the franchise needs to do a better job of keeping its key players, otherwise, it may continue to struggle and will not be seen as a strong contender for the title.&nbsp;“Yes, Ajinkya Rahane is an experienced campaigner. He has led Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. But he has not lifted the IPL title as a captain yet. Having a skipper who has won the trophy gives you an advantage. KKR let go of that advantage. They need to learn how to keep hold of their key players. Otherwise, they will keep struggling and cannot be considered favourites to win the trophy,” the legendary spinner added.&nbsp;KKR will begin their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29. After the opening match, they will play three consecutive home games at Eden Gardens in April against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

KKR will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on Mar 29. After the opening match, they will play three consecutive home games at Eden Gardens in April against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

Former India spinner Anil Kumble believes that Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) made a major mistake by releasing Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt, who were key players in their IPL 2024 title-winning team. Despite Iyer captained the team to the championship, KKR allowed him to leave and he later joined Punjab Kings and led them to their first IPL final in 2025. While, Salt moved to Royal Challengers Bengaluru and helped them win their first IPL trophy last season. Kumble pointed out that when KKR won their third IPL title two years ago, Iyer and Salt were very important members of the squad. However, the franchise did not keep them, which showed a lack of consistency in their player retention strategy. According to him, letting both players go was a poor decision because it left the team without a captain who has already won the IPL. Also Read - Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed announces retirement from international cricket “Two years ago, KKR won the IPL and lifted their third trophy. Two important cogs in that wheel were Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt. Both played crucial roles in helping them win but KKR let both of them go. There is no consistency from them in terms of player retention. KKR took the wrong decision by letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leave and that has left them without an IPL-winning captain, Kumble said as per a JioHotstar release. He also mentioned that Ajinkya Rahane is an experienced player who has captained Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. However, Rahane has not yet won the IPL as a captain. Kumble added that having a captain who has already won the tournament can give a team a strong advantage and KKR lost that benefit by releasing Iyer. Also Read - NZ vs SA, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by 7 wickets, lead series 1-0 He further suggested that the franchise needs to do a better job of keeping its key players, otherwise, it may continue to struggle and will not be seen as a strong contender for the title. “Yes, Ajinkya Rahane is an experienced campaigner. He has led Mumbai in domestic cricket and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. But he has not lifted the IPL title as a captain yet. Having a skipper who has won the trophy gives you an advantage. KKR let go of that advantage. They need to learn how to keep hold of their key players. Otherwise, they will keep struggling and cannot be considered favourites to win the trophy,” the legendary spinner added. KKR will begin their Indian Premier League 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on March 29. After the opening match, they will play three consecutive home games at Eden Gardens in April against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

KKR will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians on Mar 29. After the opening match, they will play three consecutive home games at Eden Gardens in April against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

‘Letting Shreyas Iyer and Phil Salt leave...’: Anil Kumble on KKR’s IPL retention calls

Wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed, who led Pakistan to the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy title and remains the only captain to have won ICC trophies at both junior and senior levels, announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on a career spanning nearly two decades. The 34-year-old represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 61 T20 Internationals, scoring 6,164 runs, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, he recorded 315 catches and 56 stumpings. His last appearance came in a Test against Australia in Dec 2023.&nbsp;Sarfaraz captained Pakistan in 100 international matches across formats and under his leadership, Pakistan also reached the No. 1 position in the ICC T20I rankings. Currently, he is working as the coach of Pakistan’s Under-19 team, having started in November last year.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/sa-vs-nz-1st-t20i-south-africa-beat-new-zealand-by-seven-wickets-lead-series-1-0-1773571007815">SA vs NZ, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by seven wickets, lead series 1-0</a>&nbsp;The former captain said that playing for Pakistan was the greatest honour of his life. He remembered key moments of his journey, including leading the team to victory in the 2006 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and winning the Champions Trophy in 2017. He said becoming the captain of Pakistan was a dream come true and that he is proud to have helped young players grow into match-winners.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It has been the greatest honour of my life to represent Pakistan. From leading the U19 team to a world title in 2006 to lifting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, every moment in Pakistan colours has been special. I am grateful to my teammates, coaches, family and the fans for their unwavering support throughout my career," Sarfaraz said.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-1-cancel-bahrain-and-saudi-arabian-grands-prix-amid-west-asia-conflict-1773568483747">Formula 1 cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid West Asia conflict</a>&nbsp;He further thanked his teammates, coaches, family and fans for their support throughout his career. Sarfaraz also said he always tried to play fearless cricket and build a strong and united team. He added that seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan develop into top performers during his captaincy is one of his proudest achievements.&nbsp;“Captaining Pakistan across all formats was a dream come true. I always tried to play fearless cricket and build a united team. Seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali,Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and others grow into match-winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest achievements,” Sarfaraz added.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Sarfaraz Ahmed represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 61 T20 Internationals, scoring 6,164 runs, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed, who led Pakistan to the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy title and remains the only captain to have won ICC trophies at both junior and senior levels, announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday, bringing the curtain down on a career spanning nearly two decades. The 34-year-old represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 61 T20 Internationals, scoring 6,164 runs, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, he recorded 315 catches and 56 stumpings. His last appearance came in a Test against Australia in Dec 2023. Sarfaraz captained Pakistan in 100 international matches across formats and under his leadership, Pakistan also reached the No. 1 position in the ICC T20I rankings. Currently, he is working as the coach of Pakistan’s Under-19 team, having started in November last year. Also Read - SA vs NZ, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by seven wickets, lead series 1-0 The former captain said that playing for Pakistan was the greatest honour of his life. He remembered key moments of his journey, including leading the team to victory in the 2006 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup and winning the Champions Trophy in 2017. He said becoming the captain of Pakistan was a dream come true and that he is proud to have helped young players grow into match-winners. “It has been the greatest honour of my life to represent Pakistan. From leading the U19 team to a world title in 2006 to lifting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, every moment in Pakistan colours has been special. I am grateful to my teammates, coaches, family and the fans for their unwavering support throughout my career," Sarfaraz said. Also Read - Formula 1 cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid West Asia conflict He further thanked his teammates, coaches, family and fans for their support throughout his career. Sarfaraz also said he always tried to play fearless cricket and build a strong and united team. He added that seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan develop into top performers during his captaincy is one of his proudest achievements. “Captaining Pakistan across all formats was a dream come true. I always tried to play fearless cricket and build a united team. Seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali,Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and others grow into match-winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest achievements,” Sarfaraz added. With inputs from agencies

Sarfaraz Ahmed represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and 61 T20 Internationals, scoring 6,164 runs, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries.

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed announces retirement from international cricket

South Africa produced a strong all-round performance to defeat New Zealand by seven wickets in the first match of the five-game T20I series at Bay Oval on Sunday (Mar 15). With this comfortable victory, South Africa went 1-0 up in the series. New Zealand, who batted first, were bowled out for just 91 runs in 14.3 overs after an excellent bowling effort from the visitors. From New Zealand, all-rounder James Neesham was the top scorer with 26 runs from 21 balls, hitting two fours and one six. Captain Mitchell Santner scored 15 from 19 balls with two fours, while Cole McConchie made 15 from 11 balls. Bevon Jacobs added 10 runs from seven balls, including one six, but none of them could turn their starts into bigger scores.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jasprit-bumrah-is-usman-tariq-of-fast-bowlers-pakistan-selector-aaqib-javed-bizarre-comparison-goes-viral-1773551700406">‘Bumrah is Usman Tariq of Fast Bowlers’: PAK selector makes bizarre comparison</a>&nbsp;South Africa’s bowlers dominated the innings, as nineteen-year-old debutant Nqobani Mokoena impressed with three wickets for 26 runs. Gerald Coetzee (2/14), Ottneil Baartman (2/22) and captain Keshav Maharaj (2/25) each took two wickets.&nbsp;South Africa comfortably chased down the target of 92 in 16.4 overs, finishing with 20 balls to spare. Wicketkeeper-batter Connor Esterhuizen led the chase with an unbeaten 45 off 48 balls, including two fours and two sixes, while Dian Forrester contributed an unbeaten 16 off 25 balls.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/formula-1-cancel-bahrain-and-saudi-arabian-grands-prix-amid-west-asia-conflict-1773568483747">Formula 1 cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid West Asia conflict</a>&nbsp;For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner (1/8), Zakary Foulkes (1/8) and Kyle Jamieson (1/28) picked up one wicket each.&nbsp;South Africa will now look to carry this winning momentum into the upcoming matches of the series. The second T20I will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Mar 17.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

South Africa will now look to carry this winning momentum into the upcoming matches of the series. The second T20I will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Mar 17.

South Africa produced a strong all-round performance to defeat New Zealand by seven wickets in the first match of the five-game T20I series at Bay Oval on Sunday (Mar 15). With this comfortable victory, South Africa went 1-0 up in the series. New Zealand, who batted first, were bowled out for just 91 runs in 14.3 overs after an excellent bowling effort from the visitors. From New Zealand, all-rounder James Neesham was the top scorer with 26 runs from 21 balls, hitting two fours and one six. Captain Mitchell Santner scored 15 from 19 balls with two fours, while Cole McConchie made 15 from 11 balls. Bevon Jacobs added 10 runs from seven balls, including one six, but none of them could turn their starts into bigger scores. Also Read - ‘Bumrah is Usman Tariq of Fast Bowlers’: PAK selector makes bizarre comparison South Africa’s bowlers dominated the innings, as nineteen-year-old debutant Nqobani Mokoena impressed with three wickets for 26 runs. Gerald Coetzee (2/14), Ottneil Baartman (2/22) and captain Keshav Maharaj (2/25) each took two wickets. South Africa comfortably chased down the target of 92 in 16.4 overs, finishing with 20 balls to spare. Wicketkeeper-batter Connor Esterhuizen led the chase with an unbeaten 45 off 48 balls, including two fours and two sixes, while Dian Forrester contributed an unbeaten 16 off 25 balls. Also Read - Formula 1 cancel Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix amid West Asia conflict For New Zealand, Mitchell Santner (1/8), Zakary Foulkes (1/8) and Kyle Jamieson (1/28) picked up one wicket each. South Africa will now look to carry this winning momentum into the upcoming matches of the series. The second T20I will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Mar 17. With inputs from agencies

South Africa will now look to carry this winning momentum into the upcoming matches of the series. The second T20I will be played at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Mar 17.

NZ vs SA, 1st T20I: South Africa beat New Zealand by seven wickets, lead series 1-0

From Shaun Marsh to Lendl Simmons, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 1000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes Devon Conway, Matthew Hayden and Sai Sudharsan

From Shaun Marsh to Lendl Simmons, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 1000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes Devon Conway, Matthew Hayden and Sai Sudharsan

Meet top 5 batters fastest to 1000 runs in Indian Premier League

Abhishek Sharma entered the T20 World Cup as the ranked number one batter in the format, and although he retained his spot after India's triumphant campaign, what happened in between did put him under pressure. Abhishek got off to the worst possible start to his maiden ICC event, securing three successive ducks in his first three matches. And if his poor shot selections or lapse in concentration weren’t enough, suffering food poisoning midway through the first half made things worse for him. Who came to his rescue? His head coach Gautam Gambhir, team captain Suryakumar Yadav and senior teammate Hardik Pandya.&nbsp;Fortunately, Abhishek’s poor run at the top didn’t hurt India much, as they won most of their matches, barring the one against South Africa in Super 8; however, he still needed some words of wisdom to maintain his confidence and hunger for runs. While he must have received plenty on the technical front, what helped him maintain his mind’s sanity was the installation of his social media accounts.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/abhishek-sharma-is-brave-but-his-early-stardom-invited-jealousy-indian-team-sanju-samson-t20-world-cup-2026-india-vs-new-zealand-ahmedabad-1773558463003">‘Abhishek is brave, but his early stardom invited jealousy’: Sanju Samson</a> &nbsp;Abhishek explains how it did wonders for him. &nbsp;“Slowly, you get used to it (criticism and emotional breakdown amid poor form). But it does feel bad (when there is criticism). That is going to happen in India because people have a lot of expectations from you. After I scored three ducks, Surya, GG sir and Hardik Pandya came to me and said, ‘Phone pakad, social media hata abhi ke abhi [take your phone and uninstall social media right now]'," Abhishek revealed during a chat on India Today enclave.&nbsp; &nbsp;“That was the first thing I did after my second zero. That actually helped me a bit. I was getting a lot of suggestions and comments from people.&nbsp;That’s how a cricketer’s life is. You have to listen, and you will be criticised. All you can do is listen and ignore. That is because they have a lot of expectations from you. Sometimes you deliver, and sometimes you don’t. I expected this,” he continued. &nbsp;Although he scored his first runs against South Africa, Abhishek slowly roared back to form against Zimbabwe, slamming his first ICC event fifty. Having struggled against the West Indies and England during the fag end, Abhishek kept his best for the last against New Zealand in the final, where he hit an 18-ball fifty to help India start brilliantly. &nbsp;India eventually won the game and defended their T20 crown.&nbsp;

"Uninstall it right now!" Abhishek Sharma reveals the blunt advice from Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav that saved his T20 World Cup after three straight ducks. From social media blackout to an 18-ball fifty in the final—read his incredible redemption story.

Abhishek Sharma entered the T20 World Cup as the ranked number one batter in the format, and although he retained his spot after India's triumphant campaign, what happened in between did put him under pressure. Abhishek got off to the worst possible start to his maiden ICC event, securing three successive ducks in his first three matches. And if his poor shot selections or lapse in concentration weren’t enough, suffering food poisoning midway through the first half made things worse for him. Who came to his rescue? His head coach Gautam Gambhir, team captain Suryakumar Yadav and senior teammate Hardik Pandya. Fortunately, Abhishek’s poor run at the top didn’t hurt India much, as they won most of their matches, barring the one against South Africa in Super 8; however, he still needed some words of wisdom to maintain his confidence and hunger for runs. While he must have received plenty on the technical front, what helped him maintain his mind’s sanity was the installation of his social media accounts. Also read | ‘Abhishek is brave, but his early stardom invited jealousy’: Sanju Samson Abhishek explains how it did wonders for him. “Slowly, you get used to it (criticism and emotional breakdown amid poor form). But it does feel bad (when there is criticism). That is going to happen in India because people have a lot of expectations from you. After I scored three ducks, Surya, GG sir and Hardik Pandya came to me and said, ‘Phone pakad, social media hata abhi ke abhi [take your phone and uninstall social media right now]'," Abhishek revealed during a chat on India Today enclave. “That was the first thing I did after my second zero. That actually helped me a bit. I was getting a lot of suggestions and comments from people. That’s how a cricketer’s life is. You have to listen, and you will be criticised. All you can do is listen and ignore. That is because they have a lot of expectations from you. Sometimes you deliver, and sometimes you don’t. I expected this,” he continued. Although he scored his first runs against South Africa, Abhishek slowly roared back to form against Zimbabwe, slamming his first ICC event fifty. Having struggled against the West Indies and England during the fag end, Abhishek kept his best for the last against New Zealand in the final, where he hit an 18-ball fifty to help India start brilliantly. India eventually won the game and defended their T20 crown.

"Uninstall it right now!" Abhishek Sharma reveals the blunt advice from Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav that saved his T20 World Cup after three straight ducks. From social media blackout to an 18-ball fifty in the final—read his incredible redemption story.

‘Uninstalled social media after my second zero’: Abhishek on Gambhir-Surya advice that saved his T20 WC

Recently crowned T20 World Cup-winning pair Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson wreaked havoc during the finale against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, smashing respective fifties and adding 92 runs for the first wicket inside the Powerplay, a record feat. While Samson top-scored with a match-winning 89, his partner Abhishek, who was out of touch for most of the tournament, slammed an 18-ball fifty, helping India post a gigantic 255 for seven in the first innings.&nbsp;Speaking at the India Today conclave, the pair shared their on-field camaraderie, with Samson not stopping but praising India’s newest cricket sensation. However, Sanju also dropped a bombshell around the dressing room environment, considering Abhishek’s steep rise in T20 cricket.&nbsp; While he broke this notion of being labelled a calmer player of the two, as the narrative sells on the internet, Samson admitted that Abhishek’s rise to fame invited jealousy within the group.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/jasprit-bumrah-is-usman-tariq-of-fast-bowlers-pakistan-selector-aaqib-javed-bizarre-comparison-goes-viral-1773551700406">‘Bumrah is Usman Tariq of Fast Bowlers’: Pakistan selector’s bizarre comparison goes viral</a> &nbsp;"We are not ice and fire, we are fire and fire. Sometimes he fires, sometimes I do. We have that kind of combination going. We have done this since 2024; we have a Kerala-Punjabi friendship in the middle. Everything comes pretty naturally to us, so we do not complicate it. &nbsp;“He asks me, 'How is the ball coming?' I tell him that the ball is coming normally, and hit it for a six. It is really simple with him. Abhishek is very brave and collected. I love his character. I really love the partnership with him on and off the field," Samson said at the India Today Conclave. &nbsp;Speaking of growing insecurities among the players with Abhishek’s unusual success rate, Samson said, "Earlier, the boys used to get jealous because of the cheers for Abhishek.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It was Abhishek, Abhishek everywhere. We were like, ‘Do people only see him or what? But yes, he is the superstar of the team now. Get married soon, bhai," he added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, despite a shallow run at the top in his maiden ICC tournament, Abhishek retained his place at the top-ranked T20I batter in the world, with Ishan Kishan, who had a breakthrough run in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup and even during it, has climbed two places to the second spot on the rankings.&nbsp; &nbsp;Samson also jumped 18 spots to sit in the 22nd position, attaining his highest rating points (637) in this format.&nbsp; &nbsp;The two, however, will return to action for their respective IPL teams when the 19th edition gets underway later this month. While Abhishek’s SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) will be in action against the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the tournament opener (Mar 28), Samson, who switched sides ahead of this season, will feature for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals at their second home venue in Guwahati on Sunday (Mar 29).&nbsp;

Sanju Samson reveals the truth behind his "fire and fire" partnership with Abhishek Sharma at the India Today Conclave. Discover how the duo’s record-breaking Powerplay fueled India's T20 World Cup win and why Abhishek remains the World No. 1 T20I batter.

Recently crowned T20 World Cup-winning pair Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson wreaked havoc during the finale against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, smashing respective fifties and adding 92 runs for the first wicket inside the Powerplay, a record feat. While Samson top-scored with a match-winning 89, his partner Abhishek, who was out of touch for most of the tournament, slammed an 18-ball fifty, helping India post a gigantic 255 for seven in the first innings. Speaking at the India Today conclave, the pair shared their on-field camaraderie, with Samson not stopping but praising India’s newest cricket sensation. However, Sanju also dropped a bombshell around the dressing room environment, considering Abhishek’s steep rise in T20 cricket. While he broke this notion of being labelled a calmer player of the two, as the narrative sells on the internet, Samson admitted that Abhishek’s rise to fame invited jealousy within the group. Also read | ‘Bumrah is Usman Tariq of Fast Bowlers’: Pakistan selector’s bizarre comparison goes viral "We are not ice and fire, we are fire and fire. Sometimes he fires, sometimes I do. We have that kind of combination going. We have done this since 2024; we have a Kerala-Punjabi friendship in the middle. Everything comes pretty naturally to us, so we do not complicate it. “He asks me, 'How is the ball coming?' I tell him that the ball is coming normally, and hit it for a six. It is really simple with him. Abhishek is very brave and collected. I love his character. I really love the partnership with him on and off the field," Samson said at the India Today Conclave. Speaking of growing insecurities among the players with Abhishek’s unusual success rate, Samson said, "Earlier, the boys used to get jealous because of the cheers for Abhishek. "It was Abhishek, Abhishek everywhere. We were like, ‘Do people only see him or what? But yes, he is the superstar of the team now. Get married soon, bhai," he added. Meanwhile, despite a shallow run at the top in his maiden ICC tournament, Abhishek retained his place at the top-ranked T20I batter in the world, with Ishan Kishan, who had a breakthrough run in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup and even during it, has climbed two places to the second spot on the rankings. Samson also jumped 18 spots to sit in the 22nd position, attaining his highest rating points (637) in this format. The two, however, will return to action for their respective IPL teams when the 19th edition gets underway later this month. While Abhishek’s SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) will be in action against the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the tournament opener (Mar 28), Samson, who switched sides ahead of this season, will feature for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals at their second home venue in Guwahati on Sunday (Mar 29).

Sanju Samson reveals the truth behind his "fire and fire" partnership with Abhishek Sharma at the India Today Conclave. Discover how the duo’s record-breaking Powerplay fueled India's T20 World Cup win and why Abhishek remains the World No. 1 T20I batter.

‘Abhishek is brave, but his early stardom invited jealousy’: Sanju Samson

Jasprit Bumrah is the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers. It’s not us saying this, but the former Pakistan speedster and PCB’s senior selection committee member, Aaqib Javed, who made this bizarre comparison while defending Tariq's under-par showing at the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026. While Bumrah finished with 14 wickets in Team India’s historic triumphant campaign, the joint-most alongside compatriot Varun Chakaravarthy, Usman Tariq picked up 10 in five innings, including one against India in the marquee Group A game.&nbsp;Tariq was all over the headlines ahead of the first showpiece event of the year for all the right and wrong reasons. While his unique bowling action made him an x-factor and a bowler to look out for in those favourable conditions, several opposition players and even commentators urged the ICC to check on his action for a potential ‘throwing’. Having faced several allegations over his ‘suspected action’, Tariq has been cleared by the ICC previously.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-a-dream-turned-into-reality-suryakumar-yadav-reflects-on-completing-five-years-in-international-cricket-1773488954234">‘A dream turned into reality’: Suryakumar Yadav reflects on completing five years in international cricket</a> &nbsp;Defending Tariq’s shallow show at the World Cup, where he failed to make inroads with his ‘unusual’ bowling action, Javed brought Bumrah into the picture, comparing each other’s common traits.&nbsp; &nbsp;“You look at this entire T20 World Cup—there is only one bowler, Bumrah, who is also now going for runs. Because he doesn’t have a normal action and has a different bowling action, he doesn’t allow batters to gain rhythm or get into a flow. I would say he is fast bowling’s Usman Tariq,” Javed said. &nbsp;Meanwhile, unlike Tariq, Bumrah performed in crucial moments and matches for India in the tournament, delivering match-winning performances up until the final, where he made history by picking up 4/15 against New Zealand.&nbsp; &nbsp;Even against England in the semifinal in Mumbai, Bumrah dismissed their captain Harry Brook on the first ball of his spell, similarly accounting for Kiwi youngster Rachin Ravindra in the finale. &nbsp;While Bumrah is a veteran across formats, having picked 121 wickets in 95 T20Is, Tariq has featured in only nine international matches, picking up a mere 18 wickets.&nbsp;

"He is the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers." Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed sparks a massive social media storm after comparing Indian legend Jasprit Bumrah to the "mystery" spinner. Read why the bizarre analogy has fans calling it "Ferrari vs. Bicycle" following India’s T20 World Cup triumph.

Jasprit Bumrah is the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers. It’s not us saying this, but the former Pakistan speedster and PCB’s senior selection committee member, Aaqib Javed, who made this bizarre comparison while defending Tariq's under-par showing at the recently concluded T20 World Cup 2026. While Bumrah finished with 14 wickets in Team India’s historic triumphant campaign, the joint-most alongside compatriot Varun Chakaravarthy, Usman Tariq picked up 10 in five innings, including one against India in the marquee Group A game. Tariq was all over the headlines ahead of the first showpiece event of the year for all the right and wrong reasons. While his unique bowling action made him an x-factor and a bowler to look out for in those favourable conditions, several opposition players and even commentators urged the ICC to check on his action for a potential ‘throwing’. Having faced several allegations over his ‘suspected action’, Tariq has been cleared by the ICC previously. Also read | ‘A dream turned into reality’: Suryakumar Yadav reflects on completing five years in international cricket Defending Tariq’s shallow show at the World Cup, where he failed to make inroads with his ‘unusual’ bowling action, Javed brought Bumrah into the picture, comparing each other’s common traits. “You look at this entire T20 World Cup—there is only one bowler, Bumrah, who is also now going for runs. Because he doesn’t have a normal action and has a different bowling action, he doesn’t allow batters to gain rhythm or get into a flow. I would say he is fast bowling’s Usman Tariq,” Javed said. Meanwhile, unlike Tariq, Bumrah performed in crucial moments and matches for India in the tournament, delivering match-winning performances up until the final, where he made history by picking up 4/15 against New Zealand. Even against England in the semifinal in Mumbai, Bumrah dismissed their captain Harry Brook on the first ball of his spell, similarly accounting for Kiwi youngster Rachin Ravindra in the finale. While Bumrah is a veteran across formats, having picked 121 wickets in 95 T20Is, Tariq has featured in only nine international matches, picking up a mere 18 wickets.

"He is the Usman Tariq of fast bowlers." Pakistan selector Aaqib Javed sparks a massive social media storm after comparing Indian legend Jasprit Bumrah to the "mystery" spinner. Read why the bizarre analogy has fans calling it "Ferrari vs. Bicycle" following India’s T20 World Cup triumph.

‘Bumrah is Usman Tariq of Fast Bowlers’: Pakistan selector’s bizarre comparison goes viral

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting praised the leadership of India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav during his first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as skipper and said that although Suryakumar did not perform very well with the bat, but he still did an excellent job leading the team. During the tournament, the 35-year-old scored 242 runs in nine innings and his best performance was an important unbeaten innings of 84 runs from 49 balls against the United States, which helped save the match for India.&nbsp;Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting explained that leadership is not only about what happens on the field. He added that a captain’s work off the field, including communication and supporting teammates is equally important.&nbsp;Ponting added that it can be very difficult to captain a team when a player is not in top batting form. On the other hand, when a captain is scoring runs consistently, leading the team becomes much easier.&nbsp;“It’s about a lot more about what they do off the field, the things that people don’t see and how they interact with their players,” Ponting said, on The ICC Review.&nbsp;&nbsp;“He didn’t have a great time himself as a player, but still he’s standing at the end holding up a World Cup trophy. I know as a former captain, when you’re not batting at your absolute best, captaincy can become really difficult. And when you are batting well, captaincy can become really easy.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/delhi-capitals-kevin-pietersen-steps-down-as-mentor-ahead-of-ipl-2026-1773494646375">Delhi Capitals’ Kevin Pietersen steps down as mentor ahead of IPL 2026</a>&nbsp;He also said that the true example of Suryakumar’s leadership would be seen in how he supported players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in recent weeks. According to Ponting, leadership is not only about guiding the team’s main players but also about helping younger or struggling players regain confidence and improve their form.&nbsp;“It would have been really interesting to see how Surya has interacted with Abhishek and Sanju Samson over the last few weeks. That’s where the real stories will come out on true leadership.”&nbsp;“You don’t have to worry about the staples, it’s more the guys on the fringe and the younger guys going up and down with their emotions and battling with their form, the ones you have to spend the most time with,” said Ponting.

Apart from an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls against the United States in the opening game in Mumbai, the Suryakumar Yadav managed only 158 runs across his remaining eight innings.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting praised the leadership of India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav during his first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup as skipper and said that although Suryakumar did not perform very well with the bat, but he still did an excellent job leading the team. During the tournament, the 35-year-old scored 242 runs in nine innings and his best performance was an important unbeaten innings of 84 runs from 49 balls against the United States, which helped save the match for India. Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting explained that leadership is not only about what happens on the field. He added that a captain’s work off the field, including communication and supporting teammates is equally important. Ponting added that it can be very difficult to captain a team when a player is not in top batting form. On the other hand, when a captain is scoring runs consistently, leading the team becomes much easier. “It’s about a lot more about what they do off the field, the things that people don’t see and how they interact with their players,” Ponting said, on The ICC Review. “He didn’t have a great time himself as a player, but still he’s standing at the end holding up a World Cup trophy. I know as a former captain, when you’re not batting at your absolute best, captaincy can become really difficult. And when you are batting well, captaincy can become really easy.” Also Read - Delhi Capitals’ Kevin Pietersen steps down as mentor ahead of IPL 2026 He also said that the true example of Suryakumar’s leadership would be seen in how he supported players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson in recent weeks. According to Ponting, leadership is not only about guiding the team’s main players but also about helping younger or struggling players regain confidence and improve their form. “It would have been really interesting to see how Surya has interacted with Abhishek and Sanju Samson over the last few weeks. That’s where the real stories will come out on true leadership.” “You don’t have to worry about the staples, it’s more the guys on the fringe and the younger guys going up and down with their emotions and battling with their form, the ones you have to spend the most time with,” said Ponting.

Apart from an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls against the United States in the opening game in Mumbai, the Suryakumar Yadav managed only 158 runs across his remaining eight innings.

'When you’re not batting at your best...': Ricky Ponting reflects on Suryakumar Yadav’s T20 World Cup captaincy

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has stepped down as mentor of Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season. The 45-year-old had joined the Capitals as a mentor before the 2025 season, marking a return to the franchise where he once played during his cricket career. The 19th edition of the IPL is set to begin on Mar 28, but Pietersen announced that he cannot continue in the role because he does not have enough time to fulfil the responsibilities.&nbsp;In a post on X, he said he would not be able to serve as Delhi’s mentor this season and wished the players good luck. However, he confirmed that fans will still see him during the tournament as part of the commentary team.&nbsp;“I will not be able to serve as a mentor for Delhi Capitals in this IPL season. I cannot commit the time that the role requires,” Pietersen wrote on X.&nbsp;“Wishing all the players the very best for this season! However, you will see me back in the commentary box! IPL is the best league in the world, and I can’t wait to see all of you very soon!” Pietersen added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-a-dream-turned-into-reality-suryakumar-yadav-reflects-on-completing-five-years-in-international-cricket-1773488954234">‘A dream turned into reality’: Suryakumar Yadav reflects on completing five years in international cricket</a>&nbsp;In the 2025 IPL season, Delhi Capitals had a mixed campaign, as the team finished fifth in the league stage and just missed out on the playoffs. They earned 15 points after winning seven matches, losing six and having one match washed out.&nbsp;KL Rahul was the team’s top scorer with 539 runs, while spinner Kuldeep Yadav took the most wickets with 15. Even though the team showed good form at times, they struggled to stay consistent in important games.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chinese-gp-kimi-antonelli-sets-new-record-as-youngest-pole-sitter-1773487273694">Chinese GP: Kimi Antonelli sets new record as youngest pole sitter</a>&nbsp;Before the 2026 auction, the Capitals decided to keep their main players, including Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc. They also added new players such as David Miller, Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi and Kyle Jamieson to strengthen their batting and pace attack.&nbsp;Delhi Capitals will start their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Delhi Capitals will start their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has stepped down as mentor of Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League season. The 45-year-old had joined the Capitals as a mentor before the 2025 season, marking a return to the franchise where he once played during his cricket career. The 19th edition of the IPL is set to begin on Mar 28, but Pietersen announced that he cannot continue in the role because he does not have enough time to fulfil the responsibilities. In a post on X, he said he would not be able to serve as Delhi’s mentor this season and wished the players good luck. However, he confirmed that fans will still see him during the tournament as part of the commentary team. “I will not be able to serve as a mentor for Delhi Capitals in this IPL season. I cannot commit the time that the role requires,” Pietersen wrote on X. “Wishing all the players the very best for this season! However, you will see me back in the commentary box! IPL is the best league in the world, and I can’t wait to see all of you very soon!” Pietersen added. Also Read - ‘A dream turned into reality’: Suryakumar Yadav reflects on completing five years in international cricket In the 2025 IPL season, Delhi Capitals had a mixed campaign, as the team finished fifth in the league stage and just missed out on the playoffs. They earned 15 points after winning seven matches, losing six and having one match washed out. KL Rahul was the team’s top scorer with 539 runs, while spinner Kuldeep Yadav took the most wickets with 15. Even though the team showed good form at times, they struggled to stay consistent in important games. Also Read - Chinese GP: Kimi Antonelli sets new record as youngest pole sitter Before the 2026 auction, the Capitals decided to keep their main players, including Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc. They also added new players such as David Miller, Ben Duckett, Pathum Nissanka, Lungi Ngidi and Kyle Jamieson to strengthen their batting and pace attack. Delhi Capitals will start their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Delhi Capitals will start their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on April 1 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Delhi Capitals’ Kevin Pietersen steps down as mentor ahead of IPL 2026

India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, completed five years in international cricket on Saturday (Mar 14) and celebrated the milestone with an emotional message on social media. The right-handed batter made his international debut at the age of 30 in a T20 match against England on 14 Mar, 2021. Since then, he has become one of India’s best batters in the format and has also won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup twice.&nbsp;In his message, Suryakumar said that playing for India was a dream come true and a feeling he still finds hard to describe. He also expressed hope for creating many more memorable moments with the team in the future.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chinese-gp-kimi-antonelli-sets-new-record-as-youngest-pole-sitter-1773487273694">Chinese GP: Kimi Antonelli sets new record as youngest pole sitter</a>&nbsp;“5 years ago, a dream turned into reality. Wearing the India jersey is a feeling I can still never fully put into words… Here’s to many more memories that we’re going to create…” said Suryakumar in the post.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">5 years ago, a dream turned into reality. Wearing the India jersey is a feeling I can still never fully put into words 🇮🇳 Here’s to many more memories that we’re going to create, for team 🇮🇳 <a href="https://t.co/qhis2f44tQ">pic.twitter.com/qhis2f44tQ</a>&mdash; Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) <a href="https://twitter.com/surya_14kumar/status/2032658689975529571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

So far, Suryakumar has played 113 T20 Internationals and scored 3,272 runs, at an average of 36.35 and an impressive strike rate of 162.94. During this time, he has hit four centuries and 25 half-centuries. He is currently India’s third-highest run-scorer in T20Is, behind Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. His four centuries are also the joint second-most in T20I cricket, along with Glenn Maxwell, while Rohit leads the list with five.&nbsp;Suryakumar played an important role in India’s victory at the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. One of the most memorable moments of the final came when he took a brilliant catch near the boundary to dismiss David Miller.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/smackdown-results-march-13-randy-orton-turns-heel-on-cody-rhodes-drew-mcintyre-quits-wwe-wrestlemania-42-1773471377850">SmackDown Results: Randy Orton turns heel on Rhodes; Drew McIntyre quits WWE</a>&nbsp;After Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from T20 internationals following that tournament, Suryakumar was appointed India’s T20I captain. Under his leadership, India has played 52 matches, winning 40 and losing only eight, giving him a win percentage of 76.94.&nbsp;He also holds a unique record in T20I cricket, as a &nbsp;first player to score centuries in four different countries, India, South Africa, England and New Zealand. In 2022, he had an outstanding year, scoring 1,164 runs in 31 matches at an average of 46.56 and a strike rate of 187.43. He also became the first Indian male cricketer to score over 1,000 runs in T20 internationals in a single calendar year.

Under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, India has played 52 matches, winning 40 and losing just eight, giving him a win percentage of 76.94%.

India’s T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, completed five years in international cricket on Saturday (Mar 14) and celebrated the milestone with an emotional message on social media. The right-handed batter made his international debut at the age of 30 in a T20 match against England on 14 Mar, 2021. Since then, he has become one of India’s best batters in the format and has also won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup twice. In his message, Suryakumar said that playing for India was a dream come true and a feeling he still finds hard to describe. He also expressed hope for creating many more memorable moments with the team in the future. Also Read - Chinese GP: Kimi Antonelli sets new record as youngest pole sitter “5 years ago, a dream turned into reality. Wearing the India jersey is a feeling I can still never fully put into words… Here’s to many more memories that we’re going to create…” said Suryakumar in the post.

Under Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership, India has played 52 matches, winning 40 and losing just eight, giving him a win percentage of 76.94%.

‘A dream turned into reality’: Suryakumar Yadav reflects on completing five years in international cricket

Three-times champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have unveiled a fresh new jersey ahead of IPL 2026, designed in the theme of Lines of Legacy. At the heart of the design are the defining moments that have shaped KKR's journey over the years. From the unforgettable opening night when Brendon McCullum smashed 158* back in 2008, to Rinku Singh's five sixes in the final over, KKR have produced many such moments that have become part of IPL folklore. Each iconic moment forms a line in the franchise's star-studded story, and when these lines come together, they create the initials (K) (K) (R) in the style of abstract linear art.&nbsp;&nbsp;This season, those lines are not just remembered - they are woven into the jersey itself, allowing fans to wear a piece of the team's story.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chinese-gp-kimi-antonelli-sets-new-record-as-youngest-pole-sitter-1773487273694">Chinese GP: Kimi Antonelli sets new record as youngest pole sitter</a>&nbsp;Speaking on the jersey reveal, Venky Mysore, Chief Executive Officer, Knight Riders Sports, said: "The Lines of Legacy captures the essence of KKR's storied history and celebrates the journey of the team over the years. Each line represents a pivotal moment of brilliance, reflecting the energy and spirit that weaves together to form our identity. We are proud of this legacy that we have built and want to carry it into the upcoming season while creating more memories for our fans to cherish."&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-cricket-board-set-to-take-legal-action-over-blessing-muzarabani-s-psl-exit-to-join-indian-premier-league-1773483441730">PCB set to take legal action over Blessing Muzarabani’s PSL exit to join IPL</a>&nbsp;In Indian Premier League, KKR has made four appearances in the final, winning the championship thrice (2012, 2014, 2024). They finished runners-up in the 2021 season, staging one of the most remarkable comebacks in the tournament's history. TKR's Men's Team has also won the CPL championship five times in 11 years since the Knight Riders took over the franchise.&nbsp;&nbsp;They are the most successful team in the Caribbean and hold a unique feat of having won the trophy in 2020 without losing a single game in the whole tournament. TKR Women, the Knight Riders' first ever Women's Team, were champions of the inaugural WCPL in 2022.

KKR will start its IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 29.

Three-times champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have unveiled a fresh new jersey ahead of IPL 2026, designed in the theme of Lines of Legacy. At the heart of the design are the defining moments that have shaped KKR's journey over the years. From the unforgettable opening night when Brendon McCullum smashed 158* back in 2008, to Rinku Singh's five sixes in the final over, KKR have produced many such moments that have become part of IPL folklore. Each iconic moment forms a line in the franchise's star-studded story, and when these lines come together, they create the initials (K) (K) (R) in the style of abstract linear art. This season, those lines are not just remembered - they are woven into the jersey itself, allowing fans to wear a piece of the team's story. Also Read - Chinese GP: Kimi Antonelli sets new record as youngest pole sitter Speaking on the jersey reveal, Venky Mysore, Chief Executive Officer, Knight Riders Sports, said: "The Lines of Legacy captures the essence of KKR's storied history and celebrates the journey of the team over the years. Each line represents a pivotal moment of brilliance, reflecting the energy and spirit that weaves together to form our identity. We are proud of this legacy that we have built and want to carry it into the upcoming season while creating more memories for our fans to cherish." Also Read - PCB set to take legal action over Blessing Muzarabani’s PSL exit to join IPL In Indian Premier League, KKR has made four appearances in the final, winning the championship thrice (2012, 2014, 2024). They finished runners-up in the 2021 season, staging one of the most remarkable comebacks in the tournament's history. TKR's Men's Team has also won the CPL championship five times in 11 years since the Knight Riders took over the franchise. They are the most successful team in the Caribbean and hold a unique feat of having won the trophy in 2020 without losing a single game in the whole tournament. TKR Women, the Knight Riders' first ever Women's Team, were champions of the inaugural WCPL in 2022.

KKR will start its IPL 2026 campaign against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 29.

Kolkata Knight Riders unveil new jersey ahead of IPL 2026 season

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to take legal action against Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani after he pulled out of a contract with Islamabad United for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL), according to a report by GeoSuper. Muzarabani had signed with Islamabad United as a replacement for Shamar Joseph for the tournament, which will run from Mar 26 to May 3. However, he later decided to join Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman, who had been released earlier on the advice of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).&nbsp;According to the PCB, the 29-year-old breached his Pakistan Super League contract and the board has therefore begun legal proceedings against him. This is the second year in a row that a player who had agreed to play in the PSL chose to join an IPL team instead.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-no-one-came-here-to-play-a-charity-league-litton-das-reacts-to-salman-agha-s-controversial-run-out-1773482593764">'No one came here to play a charity league': Litton Das reacts to Salman Agha’s controversial run-out</a>&nbsp;Last season, South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch was picked as a Diamond player by Peshawar Zalmi but later joined Mumbai Indians as an injury replacement in the IPL. After pulling out of the PSL, Bosch was banned from the league for one season, showing the PCB’s strict policy on contract breaches.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/life-after-cricket-ashes-hero-england-mark-wood-hints-at-retirement-amid-knee-injury-recovery-1773478777893">‘Life after Cricket’: Ashes hero Wood hints at retirement amid injury recovery</a>&nbsp;The PCB says its strong response is meant to protect the league and ensure teams are not affected when players break contracts. The situation also shows the growing competition between major T20 leagues around the world, especially when their schedules overlap and players receive attractive offers from different tournaments.

Blessing Muzarabani’s recent signing by Kolkata Knight Riders follows an impressive performance in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The Zimbabwean pacer played a key role in helping his team top their group and reach the Super Eight stage of the tournament.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to take legal action against Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani after he pulled out of a contract with Islamabad United for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL), according to a report by GeoSuper. Muzarabani had signed with Islamabad United as a replacement for Shamar Joseph for the tournament, which will run from Mar 26 to May 3. However, he later decided to join Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman, who had been released earlier on the advice of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). According to the PCB, the 29-year-old breached his Pakistan Super League contract and the board has therefore begun legal proceedings against him. This is the second year in a row that a player who had agreed to play in the PSL chose to join an IPL team instead. Also Read - 'No one came here to play a charity league': Litton Das reacts to Salman Agha’s controversial run-out Last season, South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch was picked as a Diamond player by Peshawar Zalmi but later joined Mumbai Indians as an injury replacement in the IPL. After pulling out of the PSL, Bosch was banned from the league for one season, showing the PCB’s strict policy on contract breaches. Also Read - ‘Life after Cricket’: Ashes hero Wood hints at retirement amid injury recovery The PCB says its strong response is meant to protect the league and ensure teams are not affected when players break contracts. The situation also shows the growing competition between major T20 leagues around the world, especially when their schedules overlap and players receive attractive offers from different tournaments.

Blessing Muzarabani’s recent signing by Kolkata Knight Riders follows an impressive performance in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The Zimbabwean pacer played a key role in helping his team top their group and reach the Super Eight stage of the tournament.

Pakistan Cricket Board set to take legal action over Blessing Muzarabani’s PSL exit to join Indian Premier League

From KL Rahul to Chris Gayle, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 4000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes David Warner, Jos Buttler and Faf du Plessis

From KL Rahul to Chris Gayle, here's a look at the top five batters fastest to 4000 runs in Indian Premier League. This list also includes David Warner, Jos Buttler and Faf du Plessis

Meet top 5 batters fastest to 4000 runs in Indian Premier League

Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das spoke about the controversial run-out of Salman Ali Agha during the second ODI against Pakistan on Mar 13. Litton said the dismissal was completely within the rules and that Bangladesh had every right to take the wicket. The moment happened in the 39th over of Pakistan’s innings and that time, Agha and Mohammad Rizwan were building a good partnership after Mehidy Hasan Miraz chose to field first.&nbsp;On the fourth ball of the over, Rizwan gently pushed the ball towards the bowler’s right side and Miraz tried to stop it with his boot during his follow-through and accidentally collided with Agha at the non-striker’s end. The ball stopped close to them and Agha stepped out of his crease. Thinking the play had ended, he bent down to pick up the ball and return it to Miraz.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/life-after-cricket-ashes-hero-england-mark-wood-hints-at-retirement-amid-knee-injury-recovery-1773478777893">‘Life after Cricket’: Ashes hero Mark Wood hints at retirement amid injury recovery</a>&nbsp;However, Miraz quickly picked up the ball and threw it underarm at the non-striker’s stumps while Agha was still outside his crease. Miraz appealed immediately and on-field umpire Tanvir Ahmed referred the decision to the TV umpire. After checking the replay, the third umpire ruled Agha run out because the ball was still in play and his bat was not inside the crease.&nbsp;Agha, who had scored 64 runs from 62 balls, was clearly unhappy with the decision and exchanged words with Miraz. The situation became tense for a moment when Litton also got involved, but Rizwan stepped in to calm things down.&nbsp;After the match, Litton defended Bangladesh’s decision and said that the team was playing a international match and not a friendly or charity game.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/smackdown-results-march-13-randy-orton-turns-heel-on-cody-rhodes-drew-mcintyre-quits-wwe-wrestlemania-42-1773471377850">SmackDown Results: Randy Orton turns heel on Rhodes; Drew McIntyre quits WWE</a>&nbsp;“First of all, no one came here to play a charity league; this is an international match,” said Litton, as quoted by Daily Star Bangladesh.&nbsp;During the broadcast, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja said the decision affected the spirit of the game and Agha had only tried to help the bowler and did not expect to be run out.&nbsp;“Although it is out according to the rules, sportsmanship has been severely affected here. The batter had gone to help the bowler. He did not expect that he would be run out for it,” said Raja.&nbsp;Litton disagreed with that view and said the dismissal followed the rules and that the players believed a legal wicket should count.&nbsp;“Since the dismissal is within the rules, I don’t see from any angle that sportsmanship was compromised. Everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion. But as players, we felt that an out is an out,” Litton added.&nbsp;Later, Agha shared his thoughts during the press conference and accepted that Miraz’s action was legal but said he personally would have acted differently.&nbsp;"I think sportsman spirit has to be there," Agha said at the press conference. "What he (Mehidy) has done is in the law. I think if he thinks it's right, it's right, but if you ask me my perspective, I would have done differently. I would have gone for sportsman spirit. We haven't done this type of thing previously, we would never do that in the future as well," said Agha.

During the press conference, Salman Agha shared his thoughts and accepted that Miraz’s action was legal but said he personally would have acted differently.

Bangladesh wicketkeeper Litton Das spoke about the controversial run-out of Salman Ali Agha during the second ODI against Pakistan on Mar 13. Litton said the dismissal was completely within the rules and that Bangladesh had every right to take the wicket. The moment happened in the 39th over of Pakistan’s innings and that time, Agha and Mohammad Rizwan were building a good partnership after Mehidy Hasan Miraz chose to field first. On the fourth ball of the over, Rizwan gently pushed the ball towards the bowler’s right side and Miraz tried to stop it with his boot during his follow-through and accidentally collided with Agha at the non-striker’s end. The ball stopped close to them and Agha stepped out of his crease. Thinking the play had ended, he bent down to pick up the ball and return it to Miraz. Also Read - ‘Life after Cricket’: Ashes hero Mark Wood hints at retirement amid injury recovery However, Miraz quickly picked up the ball and threw it underarm at the non-striker’s stumps while Agha was still outside his crease. Miraz appealed immediately and on-field umpire Tanvir Ahmed referred the decision to the TV umpire. After checking the replay, the third umpire ruled Agha run out because the ball was still in play and his bat was not inside the crease. Agha, who had scored 64 runs from 62 balls, was clearly unhappy with the decision and exchanged words with Miraz. The situation became tense for a moment when Litton also got involved, but Rizwan stepped in to calm things down. After the match, Litton defended Bangladesh’s decision and said that the team was playing a international match and not a friendly or charity game. Also Read - SmackDown Results: Randy Orton turns heel on Rhodes; Drew McIntyre quits WWE “First of all, no one came here to play a charity league; this is an international match,” said Litton, as quoted by Daily Star Bangladesh. During the broadcast, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja said the decision affected the spirit of the game and Agha had only tried to help the bowler and did not expect to be run out. “Although it is out according to the rules, sportsmanship has been severely affected here. The batter had gone to help the bowler. He did not expect that he would be run out for it,” said Raja. Litton disagreed with that view and said the dismissal followed the rules and that the players believed a legal wicket should count. “Since the dismissal is within the rules, I don’t see from any angle that sportsmanship was compromised. Everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion. But as players, we felt that an out is an out,” Litton added. Later, Agha shared his thoughts during the press conference and accepted that Miraz’s action was legal but said he personally would have acted differently. "I think sportsman spirit has to be there," Agha said at the press conference. "What he (Mehidy) has done is in the law. I think if he thinks it's right, it's right, but if you ask me my perspective, I would have done differently. I would have gone for sportsman spirit. We haven't done this type of thing previously, we would never do that in the future as well," said Agha.

During the press conference, Salman Agha shared his thoughts and accepted that Miraz’s action was legal but said he personally would have acted differently.

'No one came here to play a charity league': Litton Das reacts to Salman Agha’s controversial run-out

March 14 marks 25 years to the day when two Indian batters batted throughout the day and broke Australia’s resistance during the fourth day of the famous Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Check five lesser-known facts about this historic Test match.

March 14 marks 25 years to the day when two Indian batters batted throughout the day and broke Australia’s resistance during the fourth day of the famous Test at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Check five lesser-known facts about this historic Test match.

25 Years of Eden Gardens 2001 Test: From Harbhajan’s hat-trick to Laxman’s 281, 5 viral facts

England fast bowler Mark Wood has admitted to thinking about ‘life after cricket’ as he continues to recover from the knee injury he sustained during the Ashes opener last year and has been out of action since. At 36, Wood reveals his recovery is slower than he expected, hinting at less playing time should he attain full fitness in the near future. Out for nearly 15 months with an elbow injury before returning to the squad for the first Ashes Test in Perth, Wood has been absent since, missing the remaining four Tests Down Under, the away white-ball series against Sri Lanka, and the recently concluded T20 World Cup.&nbsp;"It's real slow going with the stage I'm at in my career," Wood said of his recovery update while chatting on the Tailenders podcast. "It's quite a fine balance, where if I push this too hard, then that could be it." &nbsp;Explaining that although there was improvement in his recovery, it’s split into two phases. &nbsp;"It's six-week blocks, it's not day by day, it's specialists and rescans every six weeks. It's been improving since what I got told had been an explosion in my knee in Australia. &nbsp;"So, every six weeks has been an improvement. I've started running now, and I'm hoping by the next block it's in a position where maybe I can start lightly bowling,” Wood continued.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-naman-awards-2026-rahul-dravid-mithali-raj-roger-binny-to-be-honoured-lifetime-achievement-check-full-list-of-winners-1773473496753">BCCI Naman Awards 2026: Rahul Dravid &amp; Mithali Raj to be honoured; check full list of winners</a> &nbsp;Wood’s career has been marred by multiple injuries over the years, including several knee and elbow operations, which robbed England of one of its finest quick bowlers.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I tried to get back at certain points, but my knee wasn't quite ready," he said. “It's easy in hindsight, even if I was at 80%, then at least the game would have given us an indicator of where I was.”<h3>‘Life after cricket’</h3>Tired of recovering from injuries and frustration building around, the pace spearhead admitted for the first time that he thought of his life after cricket, exploring options to stay connected to the game. &nbsp;"I've started thinking about other things, doing podcasts, doing my coaching badges. &nbsp;"I've now started to try and think for the first time about what I should do if this doesn't go well." &nbsp;Meanwhile, should he decide to hang up his boots as things stand, Wood would end his Test career with 119 wickets in 38 appearances since making his Test debut in 2015, the year in which he won his first and only Ashes.

“If I push too hard, that could be it.” England pacer Mark Wood opens up about his slow knee injury recovery and admits to thinking about "life after cricket" for the first time. Is the Ashes winner nearing retirement?

England fast bowler Mark Wood has admitted to thinking about ‘life after cricket’ as he continues to recover from the knee injury he sustained during the Ashes opener last year and has been out of action since. At 36, Wood reveals his recovery is slower than he expected, hinting at less playing time should he attain full fitness in the near future. Out for nearly 15 months with an elbow injury before returning to the squad for the first Ashes Test in Perth, Wood has been absent since, missing the remaining four Tests Down Under, the away white-ball series against Sri Lanka, and the recently concluded T20 World Cup. "It's real slow going with the stage I'm at in my career," Wood said of his recovery update while chatting on the Tailenders podcast. "It's quite a fine balance, where if I push this too hard, then that could be it." Explaining that although there was improvement in his recovery, it’s split into two phases. "It's six-week blocks, it's not day by day, it's specialists and rescans every six weeks. It's been improving since what I got told had been an explosion in my knee in Australia. "So, every six weeks has been an improvement. I've started running now, and I'm hoping by the next block it's in a position where maybe I can start lightly bowling,” Wood continued. Also read | BCCI Naman Awards 2026: Rahul Dravid & Mithali Raj to be honoured; check full list of winners Wood’s career has been marred by multiple injuries over the years, including several knee and elbow operations, which robbed England of one of its finest quick bowlers. "I tried to get back at certain points, but my knee wasn't quite ready," he said. “It's easy in hindsight, even if I was at 80%, then at least the game would have given us an indicator of where I was.” ‘Life after cricket’ Tired of recovering from injuries and frustration building around, the pace spearhead admitted for the first time that he thought of his life after cricket, exploring options to stay connected to the game. "I've started thinking about other things, doing podcasts, doing my coaching badges. "I've now started to try and think for the first time about what I should do if this doesn't go well." Meanwhile, should he decide to hang up his boots as things stand, Wood would end his Test career with 119 wickets in 38 appearances since making his Test debut in 2015, the year in which he won his first and only Ashes.

“If I push too hard, that could be it.” England pacer Mark Wood opens up about his slow knee injury recovery and admits to thinking about "life after cricket" for the first time. Is the Ashes winner nearing retirement?

‘Life after Cricket’: Ashes hero Mark Wood hints at retirement amid injury recovery

The Indian Cricket Board will honour three legends, Rahul Dravid, Mithali Raj and Roger Binny with lifetime achievement awards for their unparalleled contributions to Indian Cricket during the BCCI Naman Awards 2026. Set to be hosted on Sunday (Mar 15), the honorary awards show will also feature winners in multiple categories across Indian men’s and women’s cricket. Not only international or top-level stars, but the BCCI will also reward several players across different age groups and competitions during the grand affair.&nbsp;While the three names need no introduction, it’s still important to give one for those unaware of their achievements.&nbsp; &nbsp;Rahul Dravid &nbsp;Known as ‘The Wall’, Rahul Dravid is perhaps the best Indian Test batter of all time. Having featured in over 500 international matches for India across formats, Dravid amassed well over 24,000 runs while also grabbing more than 400 catches during his decorated career. Besides his batting credentials, Dravid also captained India to a historic Test series win in England in 2007, and later served as the head coach of the men’s under-19 team that won the 2018 edition, and the senior men’s team, which won the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Americas under his tutelage.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-trophy-is-home-suryakumar-yadav-s-special-message-for-team-india-fans-after-t20-world-cup-win-1773397678734">WATCH | ‘Trophy is home’: Suryakumar Yadav’s special message for Team India fans after T20 World Cup win</a> &nbsp;Roger Binny &nbsp;The 1983 World Cup winner with India, all-rounder Roger Binny, will also be felicitated with the lifetime achievement award by the BCCI. Binny was instrumental in helping India lift its first ICC crown, as he finished with the most wickets in that edition. Binny was also part of the Indian Team that won the World Championship of Cricket in 1985.&nbsp; Besides serving as the head coach of the men’s under-19 team that won the World Cup in 2000, Binny was also the chief selector of the national men’s team and the BCCI president. &nbsp;Mithali Raj &nbsp;Last but not least, Mithali Raj, will also be honoured by the BCCI for her services to Indian women’s cricket. The most-decorated women’s cricketer of all time, let alone from India, Mithali featured in 333 matches for her country across formats, becoming the first women’s cricketer to score over 10,000 international runs. Under her captaincy, India also reached two World Cup finals, but failed to win any.<h3>Check the full list of winners at the BCCI Naman Awards 2026 -</h3><ul><li>Polly Umrigar Award Best International Cricketer in 2024-25 - Men - Shubman Gill</li><li>Best International Cricketer in 2024-25 - Women - Smriti Mandhana</li><li>Highest Wickets in One Day Internationals - 2024-25 - Women - Deepti Sharma</li><li>Highest Run Getter in One Day Internationals -2024-25- Women - Smriti Mandhana</li><li>Best International Debut in 2024-25 - Women - N Sree Charani</li><li>Best International Debut in 2024-25 - Men - Harshit Rana</li><li>Best Performance in BCCI Domestic Tournaments of 2024-25 - Mumbai Cricket Association</li><li>Best Umpire In Domestic Cricket in 2023-24 - Ulhas Gandhe</li><li>Madhavrao Scindia Award: Highest Wicket-Taker In The Ranji Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha)</li><li>Madhavrao Scindia Award: Highest Wicket-Taker In The Ranji Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - Suchith J (Nagaland)</li><li>Madhavrao Scindia Award: Highest Run Getter In The Ranji Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Yash Rathod (Vidarbha)</li><li>Madhavrao Scindia Award: Highest Run Getter In The Ranji Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - Snehal Kauthankar (Goa)</li><li>Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder In Domestic Limited-Overs Competitions, 2024-25 - Ayush Mhatre (Mumbai)</li><li>Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder in the Ranji Trophy, 2024-25 - Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha)</li><li>Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Best Woman Cricketer (Jr Domestic) of 2024-25 - Ira Jadhav (Mumbai</li><li>Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Best Woman Cricketer (Sr Domestic) of 2024-25 (Sr Women One Day) - Shafali Verma (Haryana)</li><li>Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U16) Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan (Madhya Pradesh)</li><li>Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U16) Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - Kishan Sarkar (Tripura)</li><li>Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U16) Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Shanthanu Singh (Uttar Pradesh)</li><li>Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U16) Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - Pritam Raj (Bihar)</li><li>M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U19) Cooch Behar Trophy in 2024- 25 - Elite Group - Hemchudeshan J (Tamil Nadu)</li><li>M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U19) Cooch Behar Trophy in 2024- 25 - Plate Group - Arkajit Roy (Tripura)</li><li>M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U19) Cooch Behar Trophy in 2024- 25 - Elite Group - Nitya J Pandya (Baroda)</li><li>M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U19) Cooch Behar Trophy in 2024- 25 - Plate Group - Ragavan Ramamoorthy (Pondicherry)</li><li>M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U23) Col. C K Nayudu Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Vicky Ostwal (Maharashtra)</li><li>M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U23) Col. C K Nayudu Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - Dipjyoti Saikia (Assam)</li><li>M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U23) Col. C K Nayudu Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Macneil H N (Karnataka)</li><li>M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U23) Col. C K Nayudu Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - R Jashwanth Shreeram (Pondicherry)</li></ul>

BCCI to honour legends Rahul Dravid, Roger Binny, and Mithali Raj with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 2026 Naman Awards. Check the full winners list and details of India's historic 5-trophy celebration.

The Indian Cricket Board will honour three legends, Rahul Dravid, Mithali Raj and Roger Binny with lifetime achievement awards for their unparalleled contributions to Indian Cricket during the BCCI Naman Awards 2026. Set to be hosted on Sunday (Mar 15), the honorary awards show will also feature winners in multiple categories across Indian men’s and women’s cricket. Not only international or top-level stars, but the BCCI will also reward several players across different age groups and competitions during the grand affair. While the three names need no introduction, it’s still important to give one for those unaware of their achievements. Rahul Dravid Known as ‘The Wall’, Rahul Dravid is perhaps the best Indian Test batter of all time. Having featured in over 500 international matches for India across formats, Dravid amassed well over 24,000 runs while also grabbing more than 400 catches during his decorated career. Besides his batting credentials, Dravid also captained India to a historic Test series win in England in 2007, and later served as the head coach of the men’s under-19 team that won the 2018 edition, and the senior men’s team, which won the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Americas under his tutelage. Also read | WATCH | ‘Trophy is home’: Suryakumar Yadav’s special message for Team India fans after T20 World Cup win Roger Binny The 1983 World Cup winner with India, all-rounder Roger Binny, will also be felicitated with the lifetime achievement award by the BCCI. Binny was instrumental in helping India lift its first ICC crown, as he finished with the most wickets in that edition. Binny was also part of the Indian Team that won the World Championship of Cricket in 1985. Besides serving as the head coach of the men’s under-19 team that won the World Cup in 2000, Binny was also the chief selector of the national men’s team and the BCCI president. Mithali Raj Last but not least, Mithali Raj, will also be honoured by the BCCI for her services to Indian women’s cricket. The most-decorated women’s cricketer of all time, let alone from India, Mithali featured in 333 matches for her country across formats, becoming the first women’s cricketer to score over 10,000 international runs. Under her captaincy, India also reached two World Cup finals, but failed to win any. Check the full list of winners at the BCCI Naman Awards 2026 - Polly Umrigar Award Best International Cricketer in 2024-25 - Men - Shubman Gill Best International Cricketer in 2024-25 - Women - Smriti Mandhana Highest Wickets in One Day Internationals - 2024-25 - Women - Deepti Sharma Highest Run Getter in One Day Internationals -2024-25- Women - Smriti Mandhana Best International Debut in 2024-25 - Women - N Sree Charani Best International Debut in 2024-25 - Men - Harshit Rana Best Performance in BCCI Domestic Tournaments of 2024-25 - Mumbai Cricket Association Best Umpire In Domestic Cricket in 2023-24 - Ulhas Gandhe Madhavrao Scindia Award: Highest Wicket-Taker In The Ranji Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha) Madhavrao Scindia Award: Highest Wicket-Taker In The Ranji Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - Suchith J (Nagaland) Madhavrao Scindia Award: Highest Run Getter In The Ranji Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Yash Rathod (Vidarbha) Madhavrao Scindia Award: Highest Run Getter In The Ranji Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - Snehal Kauthankar (Goa) Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder In Domestic Limited-Overs Competitions, 2024-25 - Ayush Mhatre (Mumbai) Lala Amarnath Award for the Best All-Rounder in the Ranji Trophy, 2024-25 - Harsh Dubey (Vidarbha) Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Best Woman Cricketer (Jr Domestic) of 2024-25 - Ira Jadhav (Mumbai Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Best Woman Cricketer (Sr Domestic) of 2024-25 (Sr Women One Day) - Shafali Verma (Haryana) Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U16) Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Yashbardhan Singh Chauhan (Madhya Pradesh) Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U16) Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - Kishan Sarkar (Tripura) Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U16) Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Shanthanu Singh (Uttar Pradesh) Jagmohan Dalmiya Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U16) Vijay Merchant Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - Pritam Raj (Bihar) M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U19) Cooch Behar Trophy in 2024- 25 - Elite Group - Hemchudeshan J (Tamil Nadu) M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U19) Cooch Behar Trophy in 2024- 25 - Plate Group - Arkajit Roy (Tripura) M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U19) Cooch Behar Trophy in 2024- 25 - Elite Group - Nitya J Pandya (Baroda) M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U19) Cooch Behar Trophy in 2024- 25 - Plate Group - Ragavan Ramamoorthy (Pondicherry) M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U23) Col. C K Nayudu Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Vicky Ostwal (Maharashtra) M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Wicket-Taker In (U23) Col. C K Nayudu Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - Dipjyoti Saikia (Assam) M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U23) Col. C K Nayudu Trophy in 2024-25 - Elite Group - Macneil H N (Karnataka) M.A. Chidambaram Trophy: Highest Run Getter In (U23) Col. C K Nayudu Trophy in 2024-25 - Plate Group - R Jashwanth Shreeram (Pondicherry)

BCCI to honour legends Rahul Dravid, Roger Binny, and Mithali Raj with Lifetime Achievement Awards at the 2026 Naman Awards. Check the full winners list and details of India's historic 5-trophy celebration.

BCCI Naman Awards 2026: Rahul Dravid & Mithali Raj to be honoured; check full list of winners

Marquee IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has found itself in legal trouble for using authorised dialogues and background tracks from the Rajinikanth-starrer Jailer and Jailer 2, in their now-edited viral jersey launch video. On Friday (Mar 13), the Sun TV Network Limited, the owners of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), which produced the movie, filed a copyright infringement suit against CSK, dragging them into the Madras High Court while seeking INR one crore in damages.&nbsp;On March 1, CSK’s social media team uploaded a promotional video as they launched their new jersey for the upcoming season, using audio and background scores from Rajnikanth’s movies. Hours after it went viral on the internet, CSK took it down and re-released it a day later with audio modifications.&nbsp;Here is the edited version of the video -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ALL-NEW AND ALL FOR YOU! 👕💛 Order the CSK Jersey 2026 and let your summer be filled with Yellove!🥳💛 🔗 👇 <a href="https://t.co/3euaxiyjHJ">https://t.co/3euaxiyjHJ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WhistlePodu?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WhistlePodu</a> <a href="https://t.co/wnMrlz8U7G">pic.twitter.com/wnMrlz8U7G</a>&mdash; Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChennaiIPL/status/2027962175843868843?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Taking note of this, the film production house took legal action against CSK. An Indian Express report claims the findings of the complaint filed against Chennai Super Kings, which reads, “The Plaintiff submits that the Defendants (CSK) officially unveiled the new jersey for the IPL 2026 on 01.03.2026, offering fans a glimpse of the fresh design through a promotional video shared on social media pages, namely Instagram, X, YouTube and Facebook. The said video, to the surprise of the applicant, prominently used the audio tracks and dialogues from Plaintiff’s films Jailer, Jailer 2 and Coolie and further incorporated copyrighted audio elements at multiple junctures, including scenes depicting the arrival of MS Dhoni at the 1st Defendants' camp.”<h3>Trouble mounts</h3>The Sun TV Network also informed the court that CSK used their copyrighted background score and dialogues to help sell their team jerseys for INR 2399. They further argued that the promotional video ‘mischievously’ used the famous clips to increase sales of their IPL 2026 match kits and other fan gear. Sun TV also pointed out how CSK, knowing that music from Rajnikanth films and composer Anirudh has a massive influence on social media, mainly in Chennai, used that to their advantage to attract more buyers for their jerseys. &nbsp;The Plaintiffs have requested the court to legally block CSK from using their copyrighted material. The Sun TV has also demanded that CSK reveal exactly how much money they made while using the unauthorised audio. Although CSK has used similar soundtracks in the past, they have stopped using them for all new content since this legal dispute began. &nbsp;Even though the issue surrounds the CSK franchise, other teams’ social media handles are also keeping a close tab on the developments. While all franchises have been using movie soundtracks for their online content, this is the first instance where an IPL team has been dragged to court for copyright infringement by a production house.

Sun TV Network sues CSK for ₹1 crore over "unauthorised" use of Rajinikanth’s 'Jailer' and 'Coolie' music in their viral IPL 2026 jersey launch video. Get the full details.

Marquee IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has found itself in legal trouble for using authorised dialogues and background tracks from the Rajinikanth-starrer Jailer and Jailer 2, in their now-edited viral jersey launch video. On Friday (Mar 13), the Sun TV Network Limited, the owners of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), which produced the movie, filed a copyright infringement suit against CSK, dragging them into the Madras High Court while seeking INR one crore in damages. On March 1, CSK’s social media team uploaded a promotional video as they launched their new jersey for the upcoming season, using audio and background scores from Rajnikanth’s movies. Hours after it went viral on the internet, CSK took it down and re-released it a day later with audio modifications. Here is the edited version of the video -

Sun TV Network sues CSK for ₹1 crore over "unauthorised" use of Rajinikanth’s 'Jailer' and 'Coolie' music in their viral IPL 2026 jersey launch video. Get the full details.

IPL 2026: SRH’s owners seek INR 1 crore in damage from CSK over copyright breach in viral jersey launch video

Salman Ali Agha was disgusted at his controversial run out by Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz during the second ODI in Dhaka, but said he would have done things differently during the post-match presser on Friday (Mar 13). Agha’s dismissal sparked online debate, with countless cricket fans questioning cricket’s ‘Spirit of the Game’, including himself. Although <a href="PAK vs BAN, 2nd ODI: All-round Maaz Sadaqat helps Pakistan level series with dominant win">Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh by 128 runs</a> to level the series, Agha’s run-out dismissal made headlines instead.&nbsp;Midway through the 39th over in Pakistan’s first innings, Agha, on 64 off 62 balls, was backing at the non-striker’s end when Mohammad Rizwan drove one (off Mehidy) towards him. Out of his crease at that time, Agha allowed Mehidy to collect the ball from behind, who then quickly made the most of his chance and ran him out, leaving Agha and everyone stunned. &nbsp;Watch Agha’s controversial run out -&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Crucial moment! Mehidy Hasan Miraz removes Salman Agha with a brilliant run-out. ⚡🏏<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bangladesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bangladesh</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ODI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ODI</a> <a href="https://t.co/N0inKkZVwz">pic.twitter.com/N0inKkZVwz</a>&mdash; Bangladesh Cricket (@BCBtigers) <a href="https://twitter.com/BCBtigers/status/2032426116208791890?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Fuming at Mehidy’s antics, Agha threw his gloves and helmet on the ground in disguise, later coming out in the presser ahead of the team captain, Shaheen Afridi, to clear the air. Although he agreed that Mehidy was perhaps right in his decision to run him out as he was out of his crease, Agha admitted to having reacted differently to the same situation had he been in his shoes. &nbsp;"I think sportsman spirit has to be there," Agha said after the match. "What he [Mehidy] has done is in the law. I think if he thinks it's right, it's right, but if you ask me my perspective, I would have done differently. I would have gone for sportsman's spirit. We haven't done this [type of thing] previously, we would never do that in the future as well." &nbsp;He also explained that after the ball hit his pads, he was trying to collect it and give it to Mehidy, thinking it was likely to have been called dead. &nbsp;"Actually, the ball hit on my pad and then my bat," he said. "So, I thought he can't get me run out now, because the ball already hit my pad and my bat. &nbsp;"I was just trying to give him the ball back. I was not looking for the run or anything like that, but he already decided [to make the run-out],” he continued. &nbsp;Agha, however, regretted his frustrated reaction to his dismissal.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It was just heat-of-the-moment kind of stuff," he said. "If you ask me, what would I have done, I would have done things differently. But it was everything, whatever happened after that, it was in the moment." &nbsp;Asked if he had patched up with Mehidy following his questionable dismissal, Agha said, "I haven't yet, but don't worry, I'll find him."

Salman Agha reacts to his heated dismissal vs Bangladesh. Despite a 128-run win, the Pakistan captain questions Mehidy Hasan’s tactics and the Spirit of Cricket

Salman Ali Agha was disgusted at his controversial run out by Bangladesh all-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz during the second ODI in Dhaka, but said he would have done things differently during the post-match presser on Friday (Mar 13). Agha’s dismissal sparked online debate, with countless cricket fans questioning cricket’s ‘Spirit of the Game’, including himself. Although Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh by 128 runs to level the series, Agha’s run-out dismissal made headlines instead. Midway through the 39th over in Pakistan’s first innings, Agha, on 64 off 62 balls, was backing at the non-striker’s end when Mohammad Rizwan drove one (off Mehidy) towards him. Out of his crease at that time, Agha allowed Mehidy to collect the ball from behind, who then quickly made the most of his chance and ran him out, leaving Agha and everyone stunned. Watch Agha’s controversial run out -

Salman Agha reacts to his heated dismissal vs Bangladesh. Despite a 128-run win, the Pakistan captain questions Mehidy Hasan’s tactics and the Spirit of Cricket

‘I would have done things differently’: Salman Agha weighs in on Mehidy’s ‘controversial run out’ in 2nd ODI

Pakistan bounced back strongly to level the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh with a 128-run victory in the second ODI on Friday (Mar 13) at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. After being asked to bat first, Pakistan were bowled out for 274 in 47.3 overs. Rishad Hossain took 3/56, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up 2/34. For Pakistan, Youngster Maaz Sadaqat was the standout performer. Playing only his second ODI, the 20-year-old smashed 75 runs from 46 balls, hitting six fours and five sixes.&nbsp;In reply, Bangladesh collapsed and were all out for 114 in 23.3 overs while chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 243 in 32 overs.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-trophy-is-home-suryakumar-yadav-s-special-message-for-team-india-fans-after-t20-world-cup-win-1773397678734">WATCH | ‘Trophy is home’: Suryakumar Yadav’s special message for Team India fans</a>&nbsp;Sadaqat also impressed with the ball, taking three wickets for 23 runs in five overs. Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi supported him with 2/22, helping to dismantle the Bangladesh batting line-up. Bangladesh never settled in the chase. Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr removed early wickets, leaving the hosts struggling at 15/3 in 4.3 overs.&nbsp;Rain briefly interrupted the match when Bangladesh were 27/3 after 6.3 overs. After the game resumed, Litton Das (41 off 33) and Towhid Hridoy (28 off 38) added 58 runs for the fourth wicket, giving Bangladesh some hope. However, Sadaqat broke their partnership, which led to another collapse.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier in the match, Pakistan made a good start, as openers Sahibzada Farhan (31 off 46) and Sadaqat put on 103 runs for the first wicket in just 78 balls. After their dismissals and the quick loss of Shamyl Hussain, Pakistan slipped to 122/3 in 19.3 overs.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kolkata-knight-riders-acquire-zimbabwe-pacer-blessing-muzarabani-for-upcoming-ipl-season-1773412763934">KKR acquire Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani for upcoming IPL season</a>&nbsp;Then Salman Agha (64 off 62) and Mohammad Rizwan (44 off 59) built a 109-run partnership that put Pakistan in a strong position.&nbsp;However, Agha was run out in a controversial moment in the 39th over after clever work by Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the non-striker’s end. After his dismissal, Pakistan lost seven wickets for just 43 runs.&nbsp;Despite the late collapse, Pakistan had already posted a competitive total and eventually secured a convincing win, keeping the three-match series level with one game left.

Maaz Sadaqat was Pakistan’s top scorer with 75 off 46 balls and also shone with the ball, claiming three wickets for 23 runs.

Pakistan bounced back strongly to level the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh with a 128-run victory in the second ODI on Friday (Mar 13) at the Shere Bangla National Stadium. After being asked to bat first, Pakistan were bowled out for 274 in 47.3 overs. Rishad Hossain took 3/56, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up 2/34. For Pakistan, Youngster Maaz Sadaqat was the standout performer. Playing only his second ODI, the 20-year-old smashed 75 runs from 46 balls, hitting six fours and five sixes. In reply, Bangladesh collapsed and were all out for 114 in 23.3 overs while chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 243 in 32 overs. Also Read - WATCH | ‘Trophy is home’: Suryakumar Yadav’s special message for Team India fans Sadaqat also impressed with the ball, taking three wickets for 23 runs in five overs. Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi supported him with 2/22, helping to dismantle the Bangladesh batting line-up. Bangladesh never settled in the chase. Afridi and Mohammad Wasim Jr removed early wickets, leaving the hosts struggling at 15/3 in 4.3 overs. Rain briefly interrupted the match when Bangladesh were 27/3 after 6.3 overs. After the game resumed, Litton Das (41 off 33) and Towhid Hridoy (28 off 38) added 58 runs for the fourth wicket, giving Bangladesh some hope. However, Sadaqat broke their partnership, which led to another collapse. Earlier in the match, Pakistan made a good start, as openers Sahibzada Farhan (31 off 46) and Sadaqat put on 103 runs for the first wicket in just 78 balls. After their dismissals and the quick loss of Shamyl Hussain, Pakistan slipped to 122/3 in 19.3 overs. Also Read - KKR acquire Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani for upcoming IPL season Then Salman Agha (64 off 62) and Mohammad Rizwan (44 off 59) built a 109-run partnership that put Pakistan in a strong position. However, Agha was run out in a controversial moment in the 39th over after clever work by Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the non-striker’s end. After his dismissal, Pakistan lost seven wickets for just 43 runs. Despite the late collapse, Pakistan had already posted a competitive total and eventually secured a convincing win, keeping the three-match series level with one game left.

Maaz Sadaqat was Pakistan’s top scorer with 75 off 46 balls and also shone with the ball, claiming three wickets for 23 runs.

PAK vs BAN, 2nd ODI: All-round Maaz Sadaqat helps Pakistan level series with dominant win

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have announced that Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani will join the team for the 2026 Indian Premier League season. He comes in to strengthen KKR’s bowling after the departure of Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman. The franchise also said that Muzarabani will join the squad on Mar 17. The 29-year-old recently pulled out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he was supposed to play earlier. The right-arm fast bowler has become one of Zimbabwe’s key pacers in T20 cricket and is known for generating sharp bounce and taking wickets at key moments in a match.&nbsp;His speed and consistent performances in international cricket and various leagues will strengthen KKR’s pace attack, which has been affected by injuries. The team is currently dealing with injuries to Matheesha Pathirana and Harshit Rana and Muzarabani will provide useful backup.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-csk-is-incomplete-without-him-irfan-pathan-s-big-take-on-ms-dhoni-s-ipl-future-1773404775103">‘CSK is incomplete without him’: Irfan Pathan on MS Dhoni’s IPL future</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has joined the Lahore Qalandars for Season 11 of the Pakistan Super League, only a few days after being released by the Kolkata Knight Riders.&nbsp;KKR had bought Mustafizur for INR 9.20 crore in the auction but later decided to release him. Reports said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informally advised the franchise to part ways with the left-arm pacer as controversy grew over his participation.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-we-have-nothing-bcci-s-rajeev-shukla-reacts-to-sunrisers-controversial-signing-of-abrar-ahmed-1773399103936">BCCI’s Rajeev Shukla reacts to Sunrisers’ controversial signing of Abrar Ahmed</a><h3>Players leaving PSL for IPL</h3>This is the second time in two years that a player has withdrawn from the PSL despite signing a contract. Last year, South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch left the Pakistan league after being signed as an injury replacement for Lizaad Williams.&nbsp;The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reacted strongly and banned Bosch for one year after he pulled out of the league. Bosch had been selected as a Diamond category pick by Peshawar Zalmi in the 2025 draft but chose to play in the Indian Premier League instead.

Kolkata Knight Riders sign Blessing Muzarabani for the 2026 Indian Premier League season.

The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have announced that Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani will join the team for the 2026 Indian Premier League season. He comes in to strengthen KKR’s bowling after the departure of Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman. The franchise also said that Muzarabani will join the squad on Mar 17. The 29-year-old recently pulled out of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where he was supposed to play earlier. The right-arm fast bowler has become one of Zimbabwe’s key pacers in T20 cricket and is known for generating sharp bounce and taking wickets at key moments in a match. His speed and consistent performances in international cricket and various leagues will strengthen KKR’s pace attack, which has been affected by injuries. The team is currently dealing with injuries to Matheesha Pathirana and Harshit Rana and Muzarabani will provide useful backup. Also Read - ‘CSK is incomplete without him’: Irfan Pathan on MS Dhoni’s IPL future Meanwhile, Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has joined the Lahore Qalandars for Season 11 of the Pakistan Super League, only a few days after being released by the Kolkata Knight Riders. KKR had bought Mustafizur for INR 9.20 crore in the auction but later decided to release him. Reports said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informally advised the franchise to part ways with the left-arm pacer as controversy grew over his participation. Also Read - BCCI’s Rajeev Shukla reacts to Sunrisers’ controversial signing of Abrar Ahmed Players leaving PSL for IPL This is the second time in two years that a player has withdrawn from the PSL despite signing a contract. Last year, South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch left the Pakistan league after being signed as an injury replacement for Lizaad Williams. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) reacted strongly and banned Bosch for one year after he pulled out of the league. Bosch had been selected as a Diamond category pick by Peshawar Zalmi in the 2025 draft but chose to play in the Indian Premier League instead.

Kolkata Knight Riders sign Blessing Muzarabani for the 2026 Indian Premier League season.

Kolkata Knight Riders acquire Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani for upcoming IPL season

The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on Mar 28, with the schedule for only the first 20 matches released so far due to ongoing state elections. Chennai Super Kings will start their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on Mar 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati. Speaking about MS Dhoni, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said Dhoni remains central to the CSK setup and that the franchise would not feel complete without him. However, he also suggested that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter could be preparing for his final IPL season. Dhoni has been part of the IPL since it started and is closely associated with CSK and its yellow jersey. He is set to play his 19th season in the league.&nbsp;In his IPL career, Dhoni has played 278 matches and scored 5,439 runs and as CSK captain, he led the team to five titles before stepping down from the role before the 2024 season. Last season, he briefly returned as captain when Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-trophy-is-home-suryakumar-yadav-s-special-message-for-team-india-fans-after-t20-world-cup-win-1773397678734">WATCH | ‘Trophy is home’: Suryakumar Yadav’s special message for Team India fans</a>&nbsp;Speaking to JioHotstar, Pathan said it’s hard to imagine CSK or the IPL without Dhoni. He added that Dhoni’s main role this season will be to unite the team and help nurture future leaders like Sanju Samson and Ruturaj.&nbsp;“CSK is incomplete without MS Dhoni. This season might be the last time we see him in the yellow jersey and it’s tough to imagine CSK and the IPL without him. This season, Dhoni will play an important role in bringing everyone together. I’m not sure how many games he will play. But his presence in the dressing room will help a lot. Sanju will benefit because he will be part of the leadership group as well. Ruturaj Gaikwad is the leader. But as a group, two or three guys are being groomed for the future."&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/alexander-zverev-joins-federer-nadal-djokovic-and-murray-after-entering-indian-wells-last-four-1773364321065">Zverev joins Federer, Nadal, Djokovic &amp; Murray after entering Indian Wells semis</a>&nbsp;"That is where MS Dhoni comes in. I hope he makes a difference. Questions about his fitness, batting position, and whether he will play all games will still come up. The CSK team management will take it step by step. They will definitely look to give him a perfect farewell by lifting their sixth IPL trophy,” said Pathan.<h2>Will Dhoni play the full IPL 2026 season?</h2>There were some doubts about Dhoni playing the next season, but CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan clarified that Dhoni will participate in all matches. His exact role will be decided by the team management.

Chennai Super Kings will start their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on Mar 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati. 

The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin on Mar 28, with the schedule for only the first 20 matches released so far due to ongoing state elections. Chennai Super Kings will start their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on Mar 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati. Speaking about MS Dhoni, former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said Dhoni remains central to the CSK setup and that the franchise would not feel complete without him. However, he also suggested that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter could be preparing for his final IPL season. Dhoni has been part of the IPL since it started and is closely associated with CSK and its yellow jersey. He is set to play his 19th season in the league. In his IPL career, Dhoni has played 278 matches and scored 5,439 runs and as CSK captain, he led the team to five titles before stepping down from the role before the 2024 season. Last season, he briefly returned as captain when Ruturaj Gaikwad was injured. Also Read - WATCH | ‘Trophy is home’: Suryakumar Yadav’s special message for Team India fans Speaking to JioHotstar, Pathan said it’s hard to imagine CSK or the IPL without Dhoni. He added that Dhoni’s main role this season will be to unite the team and help nurture future leaders like Sanju Samson and Ruturaj. “CSK is incomplete without MS Dhoni. This season might be the last time we see him in the yellow jersey and it’s tough to imagine CSK and the IPL without him. This season, Dhoni will play an important role in bringing everyone together. I’m not sure how many games he will play. But his presence in the dressing room will help a lot. Sanju will benefit because he will be part of the leadership group as well. Ruturaj Gaikwad is the leader. But as a group, two or three guys are being groomed for the future." Also Read - Zverev joins Federer, Nadal, Djokovic & Murray after entering Indian Wells semis "That is where MS Dhoni comes in. I hope he makes a difference. Questions about his fitness, batting position, and whether he will play all games will still come up. The CSK team management will take it step by step. They will definitely look to give him a perfect farewell by lifting their sixth IPL trophy,” said Pathan. Will Dhoni play the full IPL 2026 season? There were some doubts about Dhoni playing the next season, but CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan clarified that Dhoni will participate in all matches. His exact role will be decided by the team management.

Chennai Super Kings will start their campaign against Rajasthan Royals on Mar 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati.&nbsp;

'CSK is incomplete without him': Irfan Pathan’s big take on MS Dhoni’s IPL future

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Friday (Mar 13) said the board has no role in The Hundred team Sunrisers Leeds signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed. Sunrisers Leeds drew attention on Thursday (Mar 12) after paying £190,000 ($2,51,956) to sign Abrar at the player auction. The team’s CEO Kavya Maran attended the auction along with head coach Daniel Vettori at Piccadilly Lights in London and it was the first time in several years that a franchise connected to the Indian Premier League (IPL) signed a Pakistani player.&nbsp;&nbsp;The move also led to strong reactions from some Indian fans, with a few calling for a boycott of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Soon after the news spread, the Sunrisers Leeds account on X became inaccessible after being suspended.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-trophy-is-home-suryakumar-yadav-s-special-message-for-team-india-fans-after-t20-world-cup-win-1773397678734">WATCH | ‘Trophy is home’: Suryakumar Yadav’s special message for Team India fans</a>&nbsp;Speaking to ANI on Friday, Shukla said the BCCI’s authority only covers the IPL, so it cannot interfere with decisions made by teams in foreign leagues like The Hundred. He added that it is entirely the franchise’s choice which players they sign.&nbsp;“Our domain is limited to the IPL. We have nothing to do with what they do in a league outside that. How can we interfere with them signing a player in a foreign league. That’s upto them. It’s purely upto the franchise who have bought a team outside India. If they are taking some player outside India in that league, we are least concerned because, in IPL there is no such player,” Shukla told ANI on Friday.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/alexander-zverev-joins-federer-nadal-djokovic-and-murray-after-entering-indian-wells-last-four-1773364321065">Zverev joins Federer, Nadal, Djokovic &amp; Murray after entering Indian Wells semis</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi | On Sunrisers Leeds signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed for the The Hundred 2026 season, BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla says, &quot;...Our domain is limited to IPL, we are not concerned by what is happening in other leagues...It is clearly upto the franchise that… <a href="https://t.co/ppfmbxN1w3">pic.twitter.com/ppfmbxN1w3</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2032378484501463545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Sunrisers Leeds signed Abrar</h2>Head coach Daniel Vettori supported the decision to sign Abrar Ahmed and said that the team was happy to get him after missing their main spinner, Adil Rashid, who was picked by Southern Brave.&nbsp;Vettori explained that after losing Rashid early in the auction, the team focused on overseas spin bowlers. They had four or five options in mind and Abrar was one of the players they were interested in.&nbsp;“Once we missed out on Adil Rashid to Southern Brave, who was a priority early on, then we obviously jumped into the overseas spinner. There were four or five guys that we were looking at and Abrar was one of them," Vettori said after the auction.

Sunrisers Leeds, owned by Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, has sparked widespread backlash after signing Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 ($2,51,956) at The Hundred auction on Thursday.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vice-president Rajeev Shukla on Friday (Mar 13) said the board has no role in The Hundred team Sunrisers Leeds signing Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed. Sunrisers Leeds drew attention on Thursday (Mar 12) after paying £190,000 ($2,51,956) to sign Abrar at the player auction. The team’s CEO Kavya Maran attended the auction along with head coach Daniel Vettori at Piccadilly Lights in London and it was the first time in several years that a franchise connected to the Indian Premier League (IPL) signed a Pakistani player. The move also led to strong reactions from some Indian fans, with a few calling for a boycott of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL. Soon after the news spread, the Sunrisers Leeds account on X became inaccessible after being suspended. Also Read - WATCH | ‘Trophy is home’: Suryakumar Yadav’s special message for Team India fans Speaking to ANI on Friday, Shukla said the BCCI’s authority only covers the IPL, so it cannot interfere with decisions made by teams in foreign leagues like The Hundred. He added that it is entirely the franchise’s choice which players they sign. “Our domain is limited to the IPL. We have nothing to do with what they do in a league outside that. How can we interfere with them signing a player in a foreign league. That’s upto them. It’s purely upto the franchise who have bought a team outside India. If they are taking some player outside India in that league, we are least concerned because, in IPL there is no such player,” Shukla told ANI on Friday. Also Read - Zverev joins Federer, Nadal, Djokovic & Murray after entering Indian Wells semis

Sunrisers Leeds, owned by Indian Premier League franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, has sparked widespread backlash after signing Pakistani leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed for £190,000 ($2,51,956) at The Hundred auction on Thursday.

‘We have nothing’: BCCI’s Rajeev Shukla reacts to Sunrisers’ controversial signing of Abrar Ahmed

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