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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Golf king Tiger Woods will make a tentative return to competitive action when he plays on Tuesday (Mar 24) in the TGL golf league, weeks after the 15-time major champion said that the Masters in April was not "off the table". The 50-year-old underwent disc replacement surgery in October, the latest in a series of operations and injuries that have kept the American great sidelined from top-level competition since the 2024 British Open.&nbsp;Woods will play for Jupiter Links in the finals of the TGL, said the indoor simulator league, which combines technology with players from the PGA Tour.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/los-angeles-dodgers-eye-threepeat-as-robot-umpires-make-way-in-mlb-1774321512395">Los Angeles Dodgers eye threepeat as robot umpires make way in MLB</a>&nbsp;Woods has won five Masters titles - the most recent an epic 2019 victory that ended his 11-year major championship drought.&nbsp;He suffered severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash.&nbsp;The 2026 Masters at Augusta National is on April 9-12.&nbsp;Speaking last month, he refused to rule out playing at the Masters. Woods said he had progressed from chipping and putting practice to hitting full shots.&nbsp;"I keep working on it, trying to get stronger, trying to get more endurance in this body and trying to get it at a level at which I can play at the highest level again," he said.&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Tiger Woods makes his competitive return today, March 24, in the TGL Finals for Jupiter Links. Following a successful disc replacement surgery, the 15-time major champion tests his fitness in the indoor league just 16 days before the 2026 Masters at Augusta National.

Golf king Tiger Woods will make a tentative return to competitive action when he plays on Tuesday (Mar 24) in the TGL golf league, weeks after the 15-time major champion said that the Masters in April was not "off the table". The 50-year-old underwent disc replacement surgery in October, the latest in a series of operations and injuries that have kept the American great sidelined from top-level competition since the 2024 British Open. Woods will play for Jupiter Links in the finals of the TGL, said the indoor simulator league, which combines technology with players from the PGA Tour. Also read | Los Angeles Dodgers eye threepeat as robot umpires make way in MLB Woods has won five Masters titles - the most recent an epic 2019 victory that ended his 11-year major championship drought. He suffered severe leg injuries in a 2021 car crash. The 2026 Masters at Augusta National is on April 9-12. Speaking last month, he refused to rule out playing at the Masters. Woods said he had progressed from chipping and putting practice to hitting full shots. "I keep working on it, trying to get stronger, trying to get more endurance in this body and trying to get it at a level at which I can play at the highest level again," he said. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

Tiger Woods makes his competitive return today, March 24, in the TGL Finals for Jupiter Links. Following a successful disc replacement surgery, the 15-time major champion tests his fitness in the indoor league just 16 days before the 2026 Masters at Augusta National.

Tiger Woods Returns: Golf legend competes in TGL Finals ahead of 2026 Masters decision

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23-year-old Harnoor Singh Pannu is keeping it simple as he steps into the upcoming IPL 2026 season with Punjab Kings, and his approach can be summed up in three words. He underlines the importance of composure in a format where games can turn in a matter of overs. For the youngster, it all begins with what he calls his personal ‘3 B’s’ formula — breath, balance, belief.<h2>What is Harnoor’s approach for IPL?</h2>"I have been working a lot on my breathing. When you go into a new environment, a lot is going on in your mind. You have to stay calm and be in the present," Harnoor explains, offering a glimpse into his mental preparation for the IPL spotlight. Flexibility is another pillar of his game. Rather than locking himself into a fixed role, he is ready to adapt.Whatever the team needs, whatever the situation is, he is quite flexible like that. He can bat anywhere, top order or down the order, emphasizing a team-first mindset.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-rcb-suffer-major-blow-with-yash-dayal-pulling-out-for-personal-reasons-1774344939260">IPL 2026: RCB suffer major blow with Yash Dayal pulling out for personal reasons</a><h2>Who is Harnoor Singh Pannu's inspiration?</h2>Within the squad, senior players have already made an impact. Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh have been very influential, he shares. In particular, his conversations with Arshdeep Singh have helped him understand the mental side of the game better, focusing on how to come out of situations when things are not going your way.&nbsp;Despite the hype surrounding the IPL, Harnoor isn’t looking too far ahead. He likes staying in the present and doesn’t want to think too far, instead focusing on making the most of the opportunity. As he prepares for his stint with Punjab Kings, the focus remains clear, control the mind, trust the process, and let the game follow. The more he focuses on his breathing and staying present, the better results he believes will come.

23-year-old Harnoor Pannu banks on calmness, flexibility, and mental strength as he gears up for the upcoming IPL 2026 season  with Punjab Kings

23-year-old Harnoor Singh Pannu is keeping it simple as he steps into the upcoming IPL 2026 season with Punjab Kings, and his approach can be summed up in three words. He underlines the importance of composure in a format where games can turn in a matter of overs. For the youngster, it all begins with what he calls his personal ‘3 B’s’ formula — breath, balance, belief. What is Harnoor’s approach for IPL? "I have been working a lot on my breathing. When you go into a new environment, a lot is going on in your mind. You have to stay calm and be in the present," Harnoor explains, offering a glimpse into his mental preparation for the IPL spotlight. Flexibility is another pillar of his game. Rather than locking himself into a fixed role, he is ready to adapt. Whatever the team needs, whatever the situation is, he is quite flexible like that. He can bat anywhere, top order or down the order, emphasizing a team-first mindset. Also Read: IPL 2026: RCB suffer major blow with Yash Dayal pulling out for personal reasons Who is Harnoor Singh Pannu's inspiration? Within the squad, senior players have already made an impact. Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh have been very influential, he shares. In particular, his conversations with Arshdeep Singh have helped him understand the mental side of the game better, focusing on how to come out of situations when things are not going your way. Despite the hype surrounding the IPL, Harnoor isn’t looking too far ahead. He likes staying in the present and doesn’t want to think too far, instead focusing on making the most of the opportunity. As he prepares for his stint with Punjab Kings, the focus remains clear, control the mind, trust the process, and let the game follow. The more he focuses on his breathing and staying present, the better results he believes will come.

23-year-old Harnoor Pannu banks on calmness, flexibility, and mental strength as he gears up for the upcoming IPL 2026 season &nbsp;with Punjab Kings

'3 B’s to beat pressure: Breath, balance and belief — Harnoor Pannu’s IPL 2026 formula for success

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

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

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

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

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

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh is expected to be appointed as a Regional Sports Officer (RSO) by the Uttar Pradesh government, according to reports. This move is seen as a reward for his excellent performance and dedication, especially during India’s victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup led by Suryakumar Yadav. Rinku faced a very difficult time during the tournament, as his father was seriously ill and later passed away. He had to travel frequently between the team and Greater Noida, here his father was being treated for late-stage cancer.&nbsp;The Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a major incentive package for athletes, under which those who perform well at national and international levels will receive government jobs, cash rewards and prestigious sports honours&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-he-is-like-a-teacher-to-me-lsg-youngster-credits-jasprit-bumrah-for-injury-comeback-1774337985002">‘He is like a teacher to me’: LSG youngster credits Jasprit Bumrah for injury comeback</a>&nbsp;Apart from Rinku, Rajkumar Pal, who was part of India’s bronze medal-winning hockey team at the Paris Olympics, will be appointed as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). The state government is providing jobs to a total of six international medal-winning athletes and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will give appointment letters to them at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan.&nbsp;Other athletes receiving jobs include, Paralympic high jump gold medallist Praveen Kumar from Gautam Buddh Nagar is set to be appointed as a DSP. Javelin throw silver medallist Ajit Singh of Etawah will take up the role of District Panchayat Raj Officer, while 200m bronze medallist Simran from Ghaziabad will also be assigned the same position.&nbsp;At the same event, nine athletes will receive the Lakshman Award and the Rani Lakshmibai Award, each carrying a cash prize of INR 3.11 lakh along with a bronze statuette.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/teen-us-boxer-sio-awakens-from-medically-induced-coma-after-being-knocked-out-cold-1774324600565">Teen US boxer awakens from medically induced coma after being knocked out cold</a>&nbsp;The government will also distribute a total cash reward of INR 1.64 crore among 14 athletes. In addition, 19 more players will receive financial assistance worth INR 8.75 lakh through the Eklavya Sports Fund.<h3>Lakshman Award (General Category) recipients</h3><ul><li>Uttam Singh (Ghazipur)&nbsp;</li><li>Vinay (Varanasi)&nbsp;</li><li>Abhijeet Kumar (Prayagraj)&nbsp;</li><li>Vikrant Balian (Meerut)&nbsp;</li><li>Sagar Dangi (Baghpat)&nbsp;</li></ul><h3>Rani Lakshmibai Award (General Category) recipients</h3><ul><li>Bhanu Pathak (Gorakhpur)&nbsp;</li><li>Deepak Kumar (Ghaziabad)&nbsp;</li><li>Tanya Chaudhary (Saharanpur)&nbsp;</li><li>Tanushree Pandey (Lucknow)&nbsp;</li><li>Om Yadav&nbsp;</li><li>Rajkumar Pal (Ghazipur)&nbsp;</li><li>Yash Kumar (Agra)&nbsp;</li><li>Muskan Yadav (Prayagraj)&nbsp;</li><li>Abhay Singh (Varanasi)&nbsp;</li></ul><h3>Rani Lakshmibai Award (Para Category)</h3><ul><li>Shravan Kumar (Baghpat)</li><li>Yash Tomar (Baghpat)</li><li>Ishan Khan (Baghpat)</li><li>&nbsp;Pragati Kesarwani (Lucknow)&nbsp;</li><li>Vantika Agarwal (Gautam Buddh Nagar)</li></ul>

The Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a major incentive package for athletes, under which those who excel at national and international levels will receive government jobs, cash rewards and prestigious sports honours

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh is expected to be appointed as a Regional Sports Officer (RSO) by the Uttar Pradesh government, according to reports. This move is seen as a reward for his excellent performance and dedication, especially during India’s victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup led by Suryakumar Yadav. Rinku faced a very difficult time during the tournament, as his father was seriously ill and later passed away. He had to travel frequently between the team and Greater Noida, here his father was being treated for late-stage cancer. The Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a major incentive package for athletes, under which those who perform well at national and international levels will receive government jobs, cash rewards and prestigious sports honours Also Read - ‘He is like a teacher to me’: LSG youngster credits Jasprit Bumrah for injury comeback Apart from Rinku, Rajkumar Pal, who was part of India’s bronze medal-winning hockey team at the Paris Olympics, will be appointed as a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). The state government is providing jobs to a total of six international medal-winning athletes and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will give appointment letters to them at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan. Other athletes receiving jobs include, Paralympic high jump gold medallist Praveen Kumar from Gautam Buddh Nagar is set to be appointed as a DSP. Javelin throw silver medallist Ajit Singh of Etawah will take up the role of District Panchayat Raj Officer, while 200m bronze medallist Simran from Ghaziabad will also be assigned the same position. At the same event, nine athletes will receive the Lakshman Award and the Rani Lakshmibai Award, each carrying a cash prize of INR 3.11 lakh along with a bronze statuette. Also Read - Teen US boxer awakens from medically induced coma after being knocked out cold The government will also distribute a total cash reward of INR 1.64 crore among 14 athletes. In addition, 19 more players will receive financial assistance worth INR 8.75 lakh through the Eklavya Sports Fund. Lakshman Award (General Category) recipients Uttam Singh (Ghazipur) Vinay (Varanasi) Abhijeet Kumar (Prayagraj) Vikrant Balian (Meerut) Sagar Dangi (Baghpat) Rani Lakshmibai Award (General Category) recipients Bhanu Pathak (Gorakhpur) Deepak Kumar (Ghaziabad) Tanya Chaudhary (Saharanpur) Tanushree Pandey (Lucknow) Om Yadav Rajkumar Pal (Ghazipur) Yash Kumar (Agra) Muskan Yadav (Prayagraj) Abhay Singh (Varanasi) Rani Lakshmibai Award (Para Category) Shravan Kumar (Baghpat) Yash Tomar (Baghpat) Ishan Khan (Baghpat) Pragati Kesarwani (Lucknow) Vantika Agarwal (Gautam Buddh Nagar)

The Uttar Pradesh government has introduced a major incentive package for athletes, under which those who excel at national and international levels will receive government jobs, cash rewards and prestigious sports honours

UP government set to appoint Rinku Singh as regional sports officer

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IPL 2026 Stats: List of Best Bowlers of All Time

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

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

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

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

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

In an unfortunate incident 19-year-old US female boxer Isis Sio was injured so severely in a bout on Saturday (Mar 21) that she had to be put in medically induced coma. Sio, the only active female boxer from the state of North Dakota, lost to Jocelyn Camarillo via knockout in in San Bernardino, California, announced ProBoxTV after the fight. This was Sio's second loss in her amature career in four fights. She had 1-2 record before entering the fight against Camarillo who boasted 5-0 record before the Sio fight. In the latest update, Supreme Boxing announced that the boxer has now awaken and is off ventilator.<h2>What happened to Sio?</h2>The fight started with Camarillo coming onto Sio as aggressor and 78 second into the bout, she suffered a barrage of punches which left her convulsing in the rigth before being knocked out. Sio was immediately taken to Loma Linda University Health where she was put into coma, owing to her injuries.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/injury-or-routine-visit-mumbai-indians-jasprit-bumrah-checks-into-bcci-coe-ahead-of-ipl-2026-1774279184415">Injury or routine visit? Mumbai Indians' Jasprit Bumrah checks into BCCI’s CoE ahead of IPL 2026</a>“On behalf of CEO Garry Jonas and the entire ProBox family, we are praying for a speedy recovery for Isis Sio,” a ProBoxTV statement read about the unfortunate incident. “Ms Sio is currently in a medically induced coma. Our thoughts are with her and her family at this very difficult time. Please join us in wishing for a full recovery.”"Isis Sio, the 19-year-old flyweight who was knocked out Saturday and put into a medically induced coma, has awoken and is speaking. She is also off the ventilator, an update by Supreme Boxing read on Instagram.<h2>What did Camarillo said about knocking out Sio cold?</h2>Feeling devasted by the turn of events, Camarillo, who knocked out Sio cold in the bout, prayed for opponent's recovery and wrote on Instagram: “nothing but respect. keeping her in my prayers and wishing her healing and a full recovery.”

The fight started with Camarillo coming onto Sio as aggressor and 78 second into the bout, she suffered a barrage of punches which left her convulsing in the rigth before being knocked out. Sio was immediately taken to Loma Linda University Health where she was put into coma.

In an unfortunate incident 19-year-old US female boxer Isis Sio was injured so severely in a bout on Saturday (Mar 21) that she had to be put in medically induced coma. Sio, the only active female boxer from the state of North Dakota, lost to Jocelyn Camarillo via knockout in in San Bernardino, California, announced ProBoxTV after the fight. This was Sio's second loss in her amature career in four fights. She had 1-2 record before entering the fight against Camarillo who boasted 5-0 record before the Sio fight. In the latest update, Supreme Boxing announced that the boxer has now awaken and is off ventilator. What happened to Sio? The fight started with Camarillo coming onto Sio as aggressor and 78 second into the bout, she suffered a barrage of punches which left her convulsing in the rigth before being knocked out. Sio was immediately taken to Loma Linda University Health where she was put into coma, owing to her injuries. Also Read - Injury or routine visit? Mumbai Indians' Jasprit Bumrah checks into BCCI’s CoE ahead of IPL 2026 “On behalf of CEO Garry Jonas and the entire ProBox family, we are praying for a speedy recovery for Isis Sio,” a ProBoxTV statement read about the unfortunate incident. “Ms Sio is currently in a medically induced coma. Our thoughts are with her and her family at this very difficult time. Please join us in wishing for a full recovery.” "Isis Sio, the 19-year-old flyweight who was knocked out Saturday and put into a medically induced coma, has awoken and is speaking. She is also off the ventilator, an update by Supreme Boxing read on Instagram. What did Camarillo said about knocking out Sio cold? Feeling devasted by the turn of events, Camarillo, who knocked out Sio cold in the bout, prayed for opponent's recovery and wrote on Instagram: “nothing but respect. keeping her in my prayers and wishing her healing and a full recovery.”

The fight started with Camarillo coming onto Sio as aggressor and 78 second into the bout, she suffered a barrage of punches which left her convulsing in the rigth before being knocked out. Sio was immediately taken to Loma Linda University Health where she was put into coma.

Teen US boxer Sio awakens from medically induced coma after being knocked out cold

The Los Angeles Dodgers launch their bid for a World Series hat-trick as Major League Baseball's new season gets under way on Wednesday with "robot umpires" ushering in a new era for America's pastime. Nearly five months after beating the Toronto Blue Jays to clinch back-to-back World Series crowns, the Dodgers have signalled their determination to pull off a "three-peat" by strengthening an already star-studded roster. The big-spending California giants made two of the splashiest moves of the off-season by luring free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker on a lavish $240 million deal while also acquiring the talent of hard-throwing closer Edwin Diaz.Tucker and Diaz will take their places in a line-up that is already one of the most gifted – and expensive – ever assembled.Japanese superstar and reigning National League Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani leads a batting order that also includes former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.The Dodgers pitching &nbsp;is spearheaded by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the hero of last year's World Series triumph, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Ohtani, who is fit to pitch from the opening of the season for the first time since joining the Dodgers in 2023.<h2>'Best team we've had'</h2>Manager Dave Roberts believes his 2026 squad could be the strongest Dodgers team he has overseen since his first season with the franchise in 2016."On paper, it could be (the best)," Roberts said. "Looking at the guys in their prime, the experience, the talent, the starters, the pen, the depth of the young players...probably the best team we've had on paper."Not everyone is as enthused as Roberts.The Dodgers' willingness to flex their financial muscles has renewed charges that the club is "ruining baseball" by exploiting MLB's absence of a salary cap.The criticism has prompted speculation that other team owners may push for salary restrictions when the next collective bargaining agreement is negotiated after the 2026 season.That in turn has prompted fear of a potential strike in 2027, with players unlikely to support any move to reduce the amount clubs pay.The Dodgers' front office has been indifferent to accusations that they are damaging a sport which has enjoyed a recent boost in popularity after years of steady decline."We don't pay much attention to that because we operate within the rules," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said."We do everything we can to put ourselves in the best position, both short term and long term...it is about, how can we win as many games as possible and put ourselves in the best position to win a championship in 2026?"<h2>Rise of the robots</h2> Baseball's growing popularity -- last year the league recorded a third consecutive season of increased attendances and viewership -- has been attributed to recent innovations such as the introduction of a pitch clock to speed up play and the emergence of a generation of stars led by Ohtani and New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge.The innovations will continue this season with the launch of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system, more commonly known by fans as "robot umpires."Under what is arguably the biggest on-field rule change of baseball's modern era, players will have the chance to challenge an umpire's call over whether a pitch is a ball or a strike.Teams will start every game with two challenges. If a challenge is deemed successful, the team keeps the challenge -- but if a team makes two unsuccessful challenges, they are unable to question any further call in the game.Only pitchers, catchers or batters have the right to challenge a call, which they must do immediately without consulting team-mates or coaches.The system has been used during spring training since last year and initial feedback from players, coaches and fans has been broadly positive.While the bulk of opening day games will take place on Thursday, with the Dodgers hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks, the season gets under way on Wednesday with the Yankees trip to California to face the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.

 The big-spending California giants made two of the splashiest moves of the off-season by luring free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker on a lavish $240 million deal while also acquiring the talent of hard-throwing closer Edwin Diaz.

The Los Angeles Dodgers launch their bid for a World Series hat-trick as Major League Baseball's new season gets under way on Wednesday with "robot umpires" ushering in a new era for America's pastime. Nearly five months after beating the Toronto Blue Jays to clinch back-to-back World Series crowns, the Dodgers have signalled their determination to pull off a "three-peat" by strengthening an already star-studded roster. The big-spending California giants made two of the splashiest moves of the off-season by luring free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker on a lavish $240 million deal while also acquiring the talent of hard-throwing closer Edwin Diaz. Tucker and Diaz will take their places in a line-up that is already one of the most gifted – and expensive – ever assembled. Japanese superstar and reigning National League Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani leads a batting order that also includes former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. The Dodgers pitching is spearheaded by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the hero of last year's World Series triumph, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Ohtani, who is fit to pitch from the opening of the season for the first time since joining the Dodgers in 2023. 'Best team we've had' Manager Dave Roberts believes his 2026 squad could be the strongest Dodgers team he has overseen since his first season with the franchise in 2016. "On paper, it could be (the best)," Roberts said. "Looking at the guys in their prime, the experience, the talent, the starters, the pen, the depth of the young players...probably the best team we've had on paper." Not everyone is as enthused as Roberts. The Dodgers' willingness to flex their financial muscles has renewed charges that the club is "ruining baseball" by exploiting MLB's absence of a salary cap. The criticism has prompted speculation that other team owners may push for salary restrictions when the next collective bargaining agreement is negotiated after the 2026 season. That in turn has prompted fear of a potential strike in 2027, with players unlikely to support any move to reduce the amount clubs pay. The Dodgers' front office has been indifferent to accusations that they are damaging a sport which has enjoyed a recent boost in popularity after years of steady decline. "We don't pay much attention to that because we operate within the rules," Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. "We do everything we can to put ourselves in the best position, both short term and long term...it is about, how can we win as many games as possible and put ourselves in the best position to win a championship in 2026?" Rise of the robots Baseball's growing popularity -- last year the league recorded a third consecutive season of increased attendances and viewership -- has been attributed to recent innovations such as the introduction of a pitch clock to speed up play and the emergence of a generation of stars led by Ohtani and New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. The innovations will continue this season with the launch of the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system, more commonly known by fans as "robot umpires." Under what is arguably the biggest on-field rule change of baseball's modern era, players will have the chance to challenge an umpire's call over whether a pitch is a ball or a strike. Teams will start every game with two challenges. If a challenge is deemed successful, the team keeps the challenge -- but if a team makes two unsuccessful challenges, they are unable to question any further call in the game. Only pitchers, catchers or batters have the right to challenge a call, which they must do immediately without consulting team-mates or coaches. The system has been used during spring training since last year and initial feedback from players, coaches and fans has been broadly positive. While the bulk of opening day games will take place on Thursday, with the Dodgers hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks, the season gets under way on Wednesday with the Yankees trip to California to face the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.

&nbsp;The big-spending California giants made two of the splashiest moves of the off-season by luring free agent outfielder Kyle Tucker on a lavish $240 million deal while also acquiring the talent of hard-throwing closer Edwin Diaz.

Los Angeles Dodgers eye threepeat as robot umpires make way in MLB

Ace Indian quick Jasprit Bumrah has checked into BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru just days before the start of IPL 2026. Is he carrying any injury, or is it a routine visit? It remains to be confirmed, but the ‘greatest bowler’ of his time is back for the T20 extravaganza. With most of the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad members already assembled for the training camp, four T20 World Cup-bound Indian players were given extra leverage to link up closer to the tournament.&nbsp;“Every year, our aim is to get there (win the IPL trophy). But I know it's a long season. So, pre-season will start the way we usually start, working hard, getting new boys into the setup. And with our (T20) World Cup guys, we've given them a bit of an extended break so that they will join us next weekend. The overseas guys also flew in home and then they will join us. But they'll have a good one-week training with us before the first game,” the Sri Lankan had said during the closing ceremony of the MI Junior season at the MIG Cricket Club Ground.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravi-ashwin-k-srikkanth-urge-hardik-pandya-to-quit-mumbai-indians-mi-captaincy-as-ipl-2026-looms-suryakumar-yadav-rohit-sharma-1774268920629">Ashwin, K Srikkanth urge Hardik Pandya to ‘quit MI captaincy’ as IPL 2026 looms</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah had an extended winter leading up to the first showpiece event of the year. Shortly after the triumphant Asia Cup 2025 campaign in the UAE, Bumrah played the home Test series against the West Indies and South Africa, before returning for the Proteas T20I leg. He then appeared against New Zealand during the five T20Is before plying his trade in the T20 World Cup.&nbsp; &nbsp;There, at the T20 WC, Bumrah finished with 14 wickets, the joint-most alongside his compatriot Varun Chakaravarthy, including picking a match-winning four-wicket haul against the Kiwis in the finale. The premier pacer, prone to injuries caused by lengthy spells on the field, won the Player of the Match award in Ahmedabad before vanishing from the cricket scene. &nbsp;Following a two-week rest, Bumrah is back training for the two-month cricket festival, with the Mumbai Indians playing their tournament opener against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in six days, on Sunday (Mar 29) at home. &nbsp;Representing the Mumbai Indians (MI) since his debut 13 years ago, Bumrah has picked up 183 wickets in 145 appearances, including a standout IPL career economy of 7.25. He thus far has two five-wicket and three four-wicket hauls.&nbsp;

Is Jasprit Bumrah injured? Fans are on edge as the MI ace checks into the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) just days before the IPL 2026 opener vs KKR. Get the latest on his fitness and the Mumbai Indians’ plans.

Ace Indian quick Jasprit Bumrah has checked into BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru just days before the start of IPL 2026. Is he carrying any injury, or is it a routine visit? It remains to be confirmed, but the ‘greatest bowler’ of his time is back for the T20 extravaganza. With most of the Mumbai Indians (MI) squad members already assembled for the training camp, four T20 World Cup-bound Indian players were given extra leverage to link up closer to the tournament. “Every year, our aim is to get there (win the IPL trophy). But I know it's a long season. So, pre-season will start the way we usually start, working hard, getting new boys into the setup. And with our (T20) World Cup guys, we've given them a bit of an extended break so that they will join us next weekend. The overseas guys also flew in home and then they will join us. But they'll have a good one-week training with us before the first game,” the Sri Lankan had said during the closing ceremony of the MI Junior season at the MIG Cricket Club Ground. Also read | Ashwin, K Srikkanth urge Hardik Pandya to ‘quit MI captaincy’ as IPL 2026 looms Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah had an extended winter leading up to the first showpiece event of the year. Shortly after the triumphant Asia Cup 2025 campaign in the UAE, Bumrah played the home Test series against the West Indies and South Africa, before returning for the Proteas T20I leg. He then appeared against New Zealand during the five T20Is before plying his trade in the T20 World Cup. There, at the T20 WC, Bumrah finished with 14 wickets, the joint-most alongside his compatriot Varun Chakaravarthy, including picking a match-winning four-wicket haul against the Kiwis in the finale. The premier pacer, prone to injuries caused by lengthy spells on the field, won the Player of the Match award in Ahmedabad before vanishing from the cricket scene. Following a two-week rest, Bumrah is back training for the two-month cricket festival, with the Mumbai Indians playing their tournament opener against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in six days, on Sunday (Mar 29) at home. Representing the Mumbai Indians (MI) since his debut 13 years ago, Bumrah has picked up 183 wickets in 145 appearances, including a standout IPL career economy of 7.25. He thus far has two five-wicket and three four-wicket hauls.

Is Jasprit Bumrah injured? Fans are on edge as the MI ace checks into the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) just days before the IPL 2026 opener vs KKR. Get the latest on his fitness and the Mumbai Indians’ plans.

Injury or routine visit? Mumbai Indians' Jasprit Bumrah checks into BCCI’s CoE ahead of IPL 2026

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

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

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

The India vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 final broke viewership records in India alone, with the ICC confirming 72.5 million digital concurrent viewers at one point during the game. With a country of over 1.4 billion cheering for its cricket team chasing the T20 glory, streaming records were bound to be shattered, and it did on the second Sunday of March, when India beat the Kiwis to lift their third T20 World Cup title.&nbsp;"The event was a showcase of just how much the sport is loved in cricket's most passionate market," ICC Chief Executive Officer Sanjog Gupta said, in a commentary published in WPP Media's Sporting Nation. "The final... hit 72.5 million digital concurrent users, breaking the global streaming record," Gupta added, according to figures from Indian streaming partner JioHotstar. &nbsp;Meanwhile, more viewers watched the grand finale on their television sets and across different platforms worldwide.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ravi-ashwin-k-srikkanth-urge-hardik-pandya-to-quit-mumbai-indians-mi-captaincy-as-ipl-2026-looms-suryakumar-yadav-rohit-sharma-1774268920629">Ashwin, K Srikkanth urge Hardik Pandya to ‘quit MI captaincy’ as IPL 2026 looms</a> &nbsp;What’s more astonishing about this concurrent number is that it broke the previous peak concurrency record of 65 million viewers recorded during the nail-biting semifinal between India and England in Mumbai, which held the record until the finale. That game alone, however, drew 619 million views on streaming platform JioHotstar, as the official records suggest, with the total viewing figures of the India vs New Zealand clash yet to be released. &nbsp;While three of the four most-watched events on the streaming platforms are the ICC events, including India’s semifinal and final in this edition, and around 100,000 fans attending the summit clash at the venue itself, the recently-concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was, by far, the most-watched ICC global event ever. &nbsp;Meanwhile, reports of a surge in viewership growth on ICC’s digital platform (ICC.tv) in Nepal, Germany and Japan, alongside a significant rise in viewership across different continents, including Brazil, Indonesia, China and Italy (the tournament’s participant), indicate cricket’s global growth. &nbsp;Moreover, the quality of cricket produced by the associate nations, including debutant Italy, was a testimony to the game’s reach among lesser-tapped nations. Alongside Italy, Nepal also shocked the cricket world with their gameplay, narrowly beating the semifinalist England at the Wankhede.

The ICC confirms a world-record 72.5 million peak digital concurrency for the T20 World Cup 2026 final. See how India's victory over New Zealand shattered global streaming records and fueled cricket's growth in emerging markets.

The India vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 final broke viewership records in India alone, with the ICC confirming 72.5 million digital concurrent viewers at one point during the game. With a country of over 1.4 billion cheering for its cricket team chasing the T20 glory, streaming records were bound to be shattered, and it did on the second Sunday of March, when India beat the Kiwis to lift their third T20 World Cup title. "The event was a showcase of just how much the sport is loved in cricket's most passionate market," ICC Chief Executive Officer Sanjog Gupta said, in a commentary published in WPP Media's Sporting Nation. "The final... hit 72.5 million digital concurrent users, breaking the global streaming record," Gupta added, according to figures from Indian streaming partner JioHotstar. Meanwhile, more viewers watched the grand finale on their television sets and across different platforms worldwide. Also read | Ashwin, K Srikkanth urge Hardik Pandya to ‘quit MI captaincy’ as IPL 2026 looms What’s more astonishing about this concurrent number is that it broke the previous peak concurrency record of 65 million viewers recorded during the nail-biting semifinal between India and England in Mumbai, which held the record until the finale. That game alone, however, drew 619 million views on streaming platform JioHotstar, as the official records suggest, with the total viewing figures of the India vs New Zealand clash yet to be released. While three of the four most-watched events on the streaming platforms are the ICC events, including India’s semifinal and final in this edition, and around 100,000 fans attending the summit clash at the venue itself, the recently-concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 was, by far, the most-watched ICC global event ever. Meanwhile, reports of a surge in viewership growth on ICC’s digital platform (ICC.tv) in Nepal, Germany and Japan, alongside a significant rise in viewership across different continents, including Brazil, Indonesia, China and Italy (the tournament’s participant), indicate cricket’s global growth. Moreover, the quality of cricket produced by the associate nations, including debutant Italy, was a testimony to the game’s reach among lesser-tapped nations. Alongside Italy, Nepal also shocked the cricket world with their gameplay, narrowly beating the semifinalist England at the Wankhede.

The ICC confirms a world-record 72.5 million peak digital concurrency for the T20 World Cup 2026 final. See how India's victory over New Zealand shattered global streaming records and fueled cricket's growth in emerging markets.

72.5m digital concurrent users during T20 World Cup final break global streaming records: ICC

Rajasthan Royals have signed Sri Lanka’s star all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as a replacement for Sam Curran in the Indian Premier League 2026 after an injury ruled the English all-rounder out of the tournament. Curran, who was part of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025, was traded to RR along with Ravindra Jadeja as the five-time champions acquired Sanju Samson from the inaugural winners.&nbsp;Speaking on this, team director and head coach Kumar Sangakkara said the team will miss Curran, as he brings immense value with both bat and ball. However, he added that Shanaka is a strong replacement, being a reliable finisher and a capable all-rounder who helps keep the team balanced.&nbsp;“We are disappointed to lose a player of Sam’s calibre so close to the start of the season. Sam brings immense value with both bat and ball. However, we are pleased to have found an ideal replacement in Dasun Shanaka, a finisher with the bat and a quality all-rounder who helps maintain the balance of our side,” said Kumar Sangakkara, director of cricket and head coach at the franchise.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dont-think-he-will-ever-get-professional-vaibhav-suryavanshi-receives-harsh-criticism-ahead-of-ipl-2026-jitesh-sharma-rajasthan-royals-ab-de-villiers-1774263965597">‘I don’t think he will ever get professional’: Vaibhav Suryavanshi receives harsh criticism ahead of IPL 2026</a>&nbsp;With the signing, the &nbsp;34-year-old becomes one of the players to leave the PSL and join the IPL this season, along with Blessing Muzarabani. A similar move happened last year when Corbin Bosch left Peshawar Zalmi to join Mumbai Indians.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier, Shanaka played for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023 as a replacement for Kane Williamson and scored 26 runs in three matches. He was again signed by Gujarat in 2025 as a replacement for Glenn Phillips but did not get a chance to play.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-indian-captain-ms-dhoni-honours-t20-world-cup-winners-sanju-samson-shivam-dube-at-csk-event-1774253159771">Former Indian captain MS Dhoni honours T20 WC winners Samson, Dube at CSK event</a>&nbsp;Overall for Sri Lanka, Shanaka has played six Tests, 71 ODIs and 131 T20Is, scoring over 3,350 runs and taking 86 wickets.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rajasthan Royals will start their 2026 season against Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Mar 30.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Rajasthan Royals will start their 2026 season against Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Mar 30.

Rajasthan Royals have signed Sri Lanka’s star all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as a replacement for Sam Curran in the Indian Premier League 2026 after an injury ruled the English all-rounder out of the tournament. Curran, who was part of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025, was traded to RR along with Ravindra Jadeja as the five-time champions acquired Sanju Samson from the inaugural winners. Speaking on this, team director and head coach Kumar Sangakkara said the team will miss Curran, as he brings immense value with both bat and ball. However, he added that Shanaka is a strong replacement, being a reliable finisher and a capable all-rounder who helps keep the team balanced. “We are disappointed to lose a player of Sam’s calibre so close to the start of the season. Sam brings immense value with both bat and ball. However, we are pleased to have found an ideal replacement in Dasun Shanaka, a finisher with the bat and a quality all-rounder who helps maintain the balance of our side,” said Kumar Sangakkara, director of cricket and head coach at the franchise. Also Read - ‘I don’t think he will ever get professional’: Vaibhav Suryavanshi receives harsh criticism ahead of IPL 2026 With the signing, the 34-year-old becomes one of the players to leave the PSL and join the IPL this season, along with Blessing Muzarabani. A similar move happened last year when Corbin Bosch left Peshawar Zalmi to join Mumbai Indians. Earlier, Shanaka played for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023 as a replacement for Kane Williamson and scored 26 runs in three matches. He was again signed by Gujarat in 2025 as a replacement for Glenn Phillips but did not get a chance to play. Also Read - Former Indian captain MS Dhoni honours T20 WC winners Samson, Dube at CSK event Overall for Sri Lanka, Shanaka has played six Tests, 71 ODIs and 131 T20Is, scoring over 3,350 runs and taking 86 wickets. Rajasthan Royals will start their 2026 season against Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Mar 30. With inputs from agencies

Rajasthan Royals will start their 2026 season against Chennai Super Kings at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati on Mar 30.

IPL 2026: Dasun Shanaka snubs PSL to replace injured Sam Curran at Rajasthan Royals

Is there a captaincy crisis at the Mumbai Indians? Could be! MI captain Hardik Pandya has lately been urged to 'voluntarily' step down from his position and hand over the baton to the recently-crowned T20 World Cup-winning skipper Suryakumar Yadav. As the IPL 2026 looms, questions and discussions around MI’s captaincy structure, which sees two T20 WC-winning captains, SKY and Rohit Sharma, play under Hardik, who has failed to guide his team to a title since taking over in 2024, are raised. While Mumbai finished 10th on the table the year he took over the MI captaincy, they made it to the playoffs the next season but failed to get through.&nbsp;&nbsp;Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the former chairman of the national men’s selection committee, identifies this captaincy situation at the Mumbai Indians as ‘funny’, further urging them to solve the internal politics within the camp to have everyone on the same page. Saying from the ‘outside view’, Srikkanth said SKY has to be the number one choice for MI’s captaincy, something another former Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, also echoed separately.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dont-think-he-will-ever-get-professional-vaibhav-suryavanshi-receives-harsh-criticism-ahead-of-ipl-2026-jitesh-sharma-rajasthan-royals-ab-de-villiers-1774263965597">‘I don’t think he will ever get professional’: Vaibhav Suryavanshi receives harsh criticism ahead of IPL 2026</a> &nbsp;“It’s a funny situation. Hardik Pandya is a good captain. But, yes, they have two T20 World Cup-winning captains playing under him now. It’s some internal policy within their setup that they have to sort out. From the outside, the obvious choice should be Suryakumar Yadav. But this might be a franchise policy,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.&nbsp; &nbsp;Urging Hardik to step up to the scene and step aside from his role, while willingly handing over the captaincy hat to SKY, Srikanth said, “It’s a strange situation as Hardik played under Rohit and Surya to win India the World Cup. Otherwise, Hardik should himself say no to captaincy and allow Surya to lead. If Hardik himself says this to the management, things will get resolved. He should say, ‘Let Surya lead and I’ll support’. That’s one way of solving it.”<h2>‘Ashwin feels the same’ &nbsp;</h2>It’s not only Srikanth but also Ashwin, who retired from this cash-rich league earlier, who feels the same about the captaincy chatter at the Mumbai Indians. Pointing out how this is a concern within the camp, Ashwin said, “Suryakumar Yadav not being the captain of the Mumbai Indians is a no-brainer.&nbsp; &nbsp;“He (SKY) should definitely be the captain. And the fact that it isn’t happening, I’m sure, is a bit of a concern,” Ashwin said on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Pandya will lead his MI unit for their marquee tournament opener against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday (Mar 29).

“It’s a funny situation.” Former chief selector K Srikkanth and R Ashwin urge Hardik Pandya to ‘voluntarily’ hand the MI captaincy to Suryakumar Yadav ahead of IPL 2026.

Is there a captaincy crisis at the Mumbai Indians? Could be! MI captain Hardik Pandya has lately been urged to 'voluntarily' step down from his position and hand over the baton to the recently-crowned T20 World Cup-winning skipper Suryakumar Yadav. As the IPL 2026 looms, questions and discussions around MI’s captaincy structure, which sees two T20 WC-winning captains, SKY and Rohit Sharma, play under Hardik, who has failed to guide his team to a title since taking over in 2024, are raised. While Mumbai finished 10th on the table the year he took over the MI captaincy, they made it to the playoffs the next season but failed to get through. Krishnamachari Srikkanth, the former chairman of the national men’s selection committee, identifies this captaincy situation at the Mumbai Indians as ‘funny’, further urging them to solve the internal politics within the camp to have everyone on the same page. Saying from the ‘outside view’, Srikkanth said SKY has to be the number one choice for MI’s captaincy, something another former Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, also echoed separately. Also read | ‘I don’t think he will ever get professional’: Vaibhav Suryavanshi receives harsh criticism ahead of IPL 2026 “It’s a funny situation. Hardik Pandya is a good captain. But, yes, they have two T20 World Cup-winning captains playing under him now. It’s some internal policy within their setup that they have to sort out. From the outside, the obvious choice should be Suryakumar Yadav. But this might be a franchise policy,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel. Urging Hardik to step up to the scene and step aside from his role, while willingly handing over the captaincy hat to SKY, Srikanth said, “It’s a strange situation as Hardik played under Rohit and Surya to win India the World Cup. Otherwise, Hardik should himself say no to captaincy and allow Surya to lead. If Hardik himself says this to the management, things will get resolved. He should say, ‘Let Surya lead and I’ll support’. That’s one way of solving it.” ‘Ashwin feels the same’ It’s not only Srikanth but also Ashwin, who retired from this cash-rich league earlier, who feels the same about the captaincy chatter at the Mumbai Indians. Pointing out how this is a concern within the camp, Ashwin said, “Suryakumar Yadav not being the captain of the Mumbai Indians is a no-brainer. “He (SKY) should definitely be the captain. And the fact that it isn’t happening, I’m sure, is a bit of a concern,” Ashwin said on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat. Meanwhile, Pandya will lead his MI unit for their marquee tournament opener against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday (Mar 29).

“It’s a funny situation.” Former chief selector K Srikkanth and R Ashwin urge Hardik Pandya to ‘voluntarily’ hand the MI captaincy to Suryakumar Yadav ahead of IPL 2026.

Ashwin, K Srikkanth urge Hardik Pandya to ‘quit MI captaincy’ as IPL 2026 looms

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

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

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

Uncertainty still surrounds the upcoming 2026 season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) following new threats concerning foreign players participating in the tournament. According to media reports, several cricket boards have been warned by a Pakistan-based armed group against sending their players for PSL 2026. Top overseas stars such as David Warner and Steve Smith are among those expected to feature in the league. Reports also suggest that a senior commander from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, warned cricket boards not to send players to Pakistan, stating they would not take responsibility if anything happens.&nbsp;“We want to advise the relevant cricket boards not to send their players to Pakistan. If something happens to them, it will not be our responsibility. We have already warned them," The Sunday Guardian quoted a senior commander of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar as saying.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dont-think-he-will-ever-get-professional-vaibhav-suryavanshi-receives-harsh-criticism-ahead-of-ipl-2026-jitesh-sharma-rajasthan-royals-ab-de-villiers-1774263965597">‘I don’t think he will ever get professional’: Vaibhav Suryavanshi receives harsh criticism ahead of IPL 2026</a>&nbsp;The commander reportedly also confirmed that the warning is real and said they would try to stop matches from happening.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Yes, we will do our best to ensure that the matches do not happen and the players do not play," he added.&nbsp;David Warner is set to captain Karachi Kings, while Smith is expected to make his PSL debut with Multan Sultans and he has already left for Pakistan. Other international stars, including Marnus Labuschagne, Moeen Ali, Devon Conway and Adam Zampa, are also part of PSL 2026.&nbsp;The tournament is scheduled to begin on Mar 26, with 44 matches planned in Lahore and Karachi, however, the opening ceremony has been cancelled.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-indian-captain-ms-dhoni-honours-t20-world-cup-winners-sanju-samson-shivam-dube-at-csk-event-1774253159771">Former Indian captain MS Dhoni honours T20 WC winners Samson, Dube at CSK event</a>&nbsp;Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi said that crowds will not be allowed in stadiums during this period, as gathering large numbers of people would not be safe while the situation remains tense. The decision comes due to the fuel crisis caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.&nbsp;“We can’t ask people to restrict their movements and then have 30,000 people in stadiums every day," Naqvi said on Sunday. “We decided that as long as this crisis is ongoing, we will not have crowds at matches. This was a difficult decision, but it needed to be made. The opening ceremony will also be cancelled."

The PSL 2026 is scheduled to begin on March 26, with 44 matches planned in Lahore and Karachi; however, the opening ceremony has been cancelled.

Uncertainty still surrounds the upcoming 2026 season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) following new threats concerning foreign players participating in the tournament. According to media reports, several cricket boards have been warned by a Pakistan-based armed group against sending their players for PSL 2026. Top overseas stars such as David Warner and Steve Smith are among those expected to feature in the league. Reports also suggest that a senior commander from the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, warned cricket boards not to send players to Pakistan, stating they would not take responsibility if anything happens. “We want to advise the relevant cricket boards not to send their players to Pakistan. If something happens to them, it will not be our responsibility. We have already warned them," The Sunday Guardian quoted a senior commander of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar as saying. Also Read - ‘I don’t think he will ever get professional’: Vaibhav Suryavanshi receives harsh criticism ahead of IPL 2026 The commander reportedly also confirmed that the warning is real and said they would try to stop matches from happening. “Yes, we will do our best to ensure that the matches do not happen and the players do not play," he added. David Warner is set to captain Karachi Kings, while Smith is expected to make his PSL debut with Multan Sultans and he has already left for Pakistan. Other international stars, including Marnus Labuschagne, Moeen Ali, Devon Conway and Adam Zampa, are also part of PSL 2026. The tournament is scheduled to begin on Mar 26, with 44 matches planned in Lahore and Karachi, however, the opening ceremony has been cancelled. Also Read - Former Indian captain MS Dhoni honours T20 WC winners Samson, Dube at CSK event Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi said that crowds will not be allowed in stadiums during this period, as gathering large numbers of people would not be safe while the situation remains tense. The decision comes due to the fuel crisis caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. “We can’t ask people to restrict their movements and then have 30,000 people in stadiums every day," Naqvi said on Sunday. “We decided that as long as this crisis is ongoing, we will not have crowds at matches. This was a difficult decision, but it needed to be made. The opening ceremony will also be cancelled."

The PSL 2026 is scheduled to begin on March 26, with 44 matches planned in Lahore and Karachi; however, the opening ceremony has been cancelled.

Warner, Smith urged to ‘withdraw immediately’ from PSL 2026 after threat from armed group

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