
Former IPL founder and chairman Lalit Modi has announced plans to return to India after spending nearly 16 years abroad, following a major legal victory in a case linked to the 2009 Indian Premier League season in South Africa.

A tribunal has set aside most of the Enforcement Directorate's findings and penalties in the principal FEMA proceedings, ruling that there was no material to establish Lalit Modi's responsibility for the alleged foreign exchange violations.

The case dates back to 2009, when the IPL was shifted to South Africa due to India's general elections. The Enforcement Directorate had alleged violations under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) over remittances related to staging the tournament.

Lalit Modi plans India return after 16 Years as tribunal gives major relief In IPL 2009 FEMA Case

Australia captain Pat Cummins has heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the 15-year-old's breathtaking performances in IPL 2026. The teenage batting prodigy terrorised some of the world's best bowlers, including Cummins, with his fearless strokeplay and record-breaking knocks. Representing Rajasthan Royals, Sooryavanshi produced one of the most memorable campaigns of the season. He smashed the fastest century of IPL 2026 and later followed it up with a stunning 97 off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator.&nbsp;Speaking to Fox Cricket, Cummins admitted that bowling to the young star leaves virtually no room for error. "He's a talent. He hits the ball a long way; he hits very hard. Margins for error are very small. He's a real talent, pretty tough to bowl to," Cummins said on Sooryavanshi, speaking on Fox Cricket. The Australian pace spearhead also joked about Sooryavanshi's age and rapid rise in world cricket. "Wishing he were in high school, so I didn't have to bowl at him. It's just incredible. Like, I don't think I've seen batting like that, let alone from a 15-year-old kid. Whether he's 30 or 15, he's just a very good hitter of the ball," Cummins added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-world-cup-2026-delhi-high-court-protects-zee-s-exclusive-broadcasting-rights-blocks-five-rogue-streaming-websites-1780627163506">FIFA World Cup 2026: Delhi High Court protects Zee's exclusive broadcasting rights, blocks five rogue streaming websites</a>&nbsp;Cummins encountered the Sooryavanshi storm immediately upon his return to IPL 2026 after missing the first half of the tournament. In his first match back, Sooryavanshi dispatched Cummins' opening delivery for a six and went on to score a remarkable century in just 36 balls.&nbsp;The Rajasthan Royals youngster proved even more destructive when RR faced SRH in the IPL 2026 Eliminator. He blasted 97 runs from only 29 deliveries, narrowly missing the record for the fastest century in IPL history. On that night, Cummins endured a difficult outing, finishing with figures of 0/64 from four overs at an economy rate of 16.00. Sooryavanshi's explosive innings powered Rajasthan Royals to a massive total of 243/20.&nbsp;Despite their efforts, Sunrisers Hyderabad fell short in the chase, ending their IPL 2026 campaign, while Sooryavanshi's sensational batting continued to dominate headlines across the cricketing world.

Pat Cummins praises Rajasthan Royals prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after his record-breaking IPL 2026 performances. The 15-year-old smashed centuries and dominated SRH bowlers, leaving Cummins in awe of his extraordinary batting talent

Australia captain Pat Cummins has heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the 15-year-old's breathtaking performances in IPL 2026. The teenage batting prodigy terrorised some of the world's best bowlers, including Cummins, with his fearless strokeplay and record-breaking knocks. Representing Rajasthan Royals, Sooryavanshi produced one of the most memorable campaigns of the season. He smashed the fastest century of IPL 2026 and later followed it up with a stunning 97 off just 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the eliminator. Speaking to Fox Cricket, Cummins admitted that bowling to the young star leaves virtually no room for error. "He's a talent. He hits the ball a long way; he hits very hard. Margins for error are very small. He's a real talent, pretty tough to bowl to," Cummins said on Sooryavanshi, speaking on Fox Cricket. The Australian pace spearhead also joked about Sooryavanshi's age and rapid rise in world cricket. "Wishing he were in high school, so I didn't have to bowl at him. It's just incredible. Like, I don't think I've seen batting like that, let alone from a 15-year-old kid. Whether he's 30 or 15, he's just a very good hitter of the ball," Cummins added. Also Read: FIFA World Cup 2026: Delhi High Court protects Zee's exclusive broadcasting rights, blocks five rogue streaming websites Cummins encountered the Sooryavanshi storm immediately upon his return to IPL 2026 after missing the first half of the tournament. In his first match back, Sooryavanshi dispatched Cummins' opening delivery for a six and went on to score a remarkable century in just 36 balls. The Rajasthan Royals youngster proved even more destructive when RR faced SRH in the IPL 2026 Eliminator. He blasted 97 runs from only 29 deliveries, narrowly missing the record for the fastest century in IPL history. On that night, Cummins endured a difficult outing, finishing with figures of 0/64 from four overs at an economy rate of 16.00. Sooryavanshi's explosive innings powered Rajasthan Royals to a massive total of 243/20. Despite their efforts, Sunrisers Hyderabad fell short in the chase, ending their IPL 2026 campaign, while Sooryavanshi's sensational batting continued to dominate headlines across the cricketing world.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive IPL 2026 batting left Pat Cummins stunned, with the SRH captain calling the 15-year-old a rare talent

'Wish he was in high school': Pat Cummins explosive admission after 15-year-old's record-smashing carnage

Former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi has made a bold prediction about the future of women's cricket, predicting that women's franchise teams could achieve billion-dollar valuations within the next 15 years. Speaking to ANI, Modi highlighted the rapid growth of women's cricket, particularly through the Women's Premier League (WPL), and said the sport is on course to become one of the world's most valuable sporting properties. "It is also going to go to another level. Amazingly, Indian cricket is going to get better. Women's cricket, the crowds are filling up."&nbsp;Drawing comparisons with the early days of the IPL, he added, “What the men's IPL was 20 years ago, women's cricket has reached that level already. Mr. Adani paid ₹1,600 crore for a women's team (Gujarat Giants). Conversely, we only got around $100 million or ₹400 crore in season one of the men's IPL for the Mumbai Indians. So on its very debut, women's cricket hit ₹1,600 crore.” Modi said that while women's cricket still has a long journey ahead, its commercial growth trajectory is significantly faster than that of the men's IPL during its formative years.&nbsp;"Women's cricket is going to go to another level," Lalit Modi said. “What the men's IPL was 20 years ago, women's cricket has reached that level already. Mr Adani paid ₹1,600 crore for a women's team (Gujarat Giants). Conversely, we only got around $100 million or ₹400 crore in season one of the men's IPL for the Mumbai Indians. So on its very debut, women's cricket hit ₹1,600 crore.” According to Modi, it may take another 15 to 20 years for women's cricket to fully realise its global viewership potential. However, he believes it will eventually surpass many established sports leagues worldwide.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-u-turn-reusable-water-bottles-no-longer-allowed-at-world-cup-2026-stadiums-1780562236648">FIFA U-turn: Reusable water bottles no longer allowed at World Cup 2026 stadiums</a>&nbsp;“You will see, unlike any other sporting league in the world, in any sport, that women's cricket will become number two in the world, and after IPL, men's cricket. And in terms of viewership, you will see that women's cricket will also, but it will take, I will tell you, take another 20 years. Okay, it has taken 18 years for the IPL to reach where it is today, with a $2 billion team. And women's cricket has just begun, but 15 years from now, Women's cricket will also be worth billions of dollars for each team. But it will be great for the game.” The growth of the WPL and India's recent success in women's cricket have further strengthened confidence in the future of the women's game.&nbsp;Reflecting on his tenure as BCCI Vice President in 2006, Modi recalled his role in integrating women's cricket into the national governing structure. "I was the one who introduced women to the constitution and the BCCI," Lalit Modi said. "We started to achieve that in my time alone when we started having women coming and women's cricket starting out there... I did not think the IPL ecosystem would be ready for a women's league for 10 or 12 years, but they have done it now, and they have achieved it."&nbsp;Modi also revisited his concerns regarding the financial sustainability of international cricket outside India. He reiterated his proposal to phase out bilateral ODIs and explore franchise-based Test cricket models to support struggling cricket boards. "I am saying that test matches in bilateral series will die. One Day should die. The test should survive. The test is a very important part. Unfortunately, it will die if it is not taken over by club cricket because there is no viewership on a global level. So it will be a loss leader. I am not saying everything has to make money. So you can...develop players for the T20. You do not have to have profit in everything. You have got to do something for the game too. So, as far as the BCCI is concerned, it is a non-profit organisation. But every other country has to make some money. If they do not make money, cricket will die. Sri Lankan cricket is crying. Pakistan is crying. They have no money. Bangladesh is crying. They have no money. If India does not go to New Zealand, they die. If you do not go to the West Indies, they die. If you do not go to South Africa, they die," he concluded.

Former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi predicts women's cricket franchises will be worth billions within 15 years, driven by the WPL's rapid growth and global appeal

Former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi has made a bold prediction about the future of women's cricket, predicting that women's franchise teams could achieve billion-dollar valuations within the next 15 years. Speaking to ANI, Modi highlighted the rapid growth of women's cricket, particularly through the Women's Premier League (WPL), and said the sport is on course to become one of the world's most valuable sporting properties. "It is also going to go to another level. Amazingly, Indian cricket is going to get better. Women's cricket, the crowds are filling up." Drawing comparisons with the early days of the IPL, he added, “What the men's IPL was 20 years ago, women's cricket has reached that level already. Mr. Adani paid ₹1,600 crore for a women's team (Gujarat Giants). Conversely, we only got around $100 million or ₹400 crore in season one of the men's IPL for the Mumbai Indians. So on its very debut, women's cricket hit ₹1,600 crore.” Modi said that while women's cricket still has a long journey ahead, its commercial growth trajectory is significantly faster than that of the men's IPL during its formative years. "Women's cricket is going to go to another level," Lalit Modi said. “What the men's IPL was 20 years ago, women's cricket has reached that level already. Mr Adani paid ₹1,600 crore for a women's team (Gujarat Giants). Conversely, we only got around $100 million or ₹400 crore in season one of the men's IPL for the Mumbai Indians. So on its very debut, women's cricket hit ₹1,600 crore.” According to Modi, it may take another 15 to 20 years for women's cricket to fully realise its global viewership potential. However, he believes it will eventually surpass many established sports leagues worldwide. Also Read: FIFA U-turn: Reusable water bottles no longer allowed at World Cup 2026 stadiums “You will see, unlike any other sporting league in the world, in any sport, that women's cricket will become number two in the world, and after IPL, men's cricket. And in terms of viewership, you will see that women's cricket will also, but it will take, I will tell you, take another 20 years. Okay, it has taken 18 years for the IPL to reach where it is today, with a $2 billion team. And women's cricket has just begun, but 15 years from now, Women's cricket will also be worth billions of dollars for each team. But it will be great for the game.” The growth of the WPL and India's recent success in women's cricket have further strengthened confidence in the future of the women's game. Reflecting on his tenure as BCCI Vice President in 2006, Modi recalled his role in integrating women's cricket into the national governing structure. "I was the one who introduced women to the constitution and the BCCI," Lalit Modi said. "We started to achieve that in my time alone when we started having women coming and women's cricket starting out there... I did not think the IPL ecosystem would be ready for a women's league for 10 or 12 years, but they have done it now, and they have achieved it." Modi also revisited his concerns regarding the financial sustainability of international cricket outside India. He reiterated his proposal to phase out bilateral ODIs and explore franchise-based Test cricket models to support struggling cricket boards. "I am saying that test matches in bilateral series will die. One Day should die. The test should survive. The test is a very important part. Unfortunately, it will die if it is not taken over by club cricket because there is no viewership on a global level. So it will be a loss leader. I am not saying everything has to make money. So you can...develop players for the T20. You do not have to have profit in everything. You have got to do something for the game too. So, as far as the BCCI is concerned, it is a non-profit organisation. But every other country has to make some money. If they do not make money, cricket will die. Sri Lankan cricket is crying. Pakistan is crying. They have no money. Bangladesh is crying. They have no money. If India does not go to New Zealand, they die. If you do not go to the West Indies, they die. If you do not go to South Africa, they die," he concluded.

Lalit Modi predicts WPL franchises will become billion-dollar teams within 15 years, with women's cricket emerging as the world's no 2 sport

'Women's cricket teams will be worth billions of dollars in 15 years', says former IPL Chairman Lalit Modi

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

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

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

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

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

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had another off day at the office as they lost a third consecutive match on home turf in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). Playing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated LSG by 40 runs in a low-scoring affair. The defeat was LSG’s fifth of the season and they stay second from bottom with four points, while RR are now second with 10 points from seven IPL 2026 matches.<h2>RR inflict more misery on LSG</h2>Burger, a left-handed quick from South Africa, struck two key blows, including Mitchell Marsh for 55, and Archer took 20/3 to bundle out the hosts, Lucknow, for 119 at the Ekana Stadium. Rajasthan bounced back from successive defeats to jump to second in the table, led by the Punjab Kings. Lucknow faltered in the chase after losing three early wickets, with skipper Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram both out for a duck.&nbsp;Burger had Pant caught behind in his first over before Markram miscued from Archer and skied a catch to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. Australia's Marsh attempted to rescue Punjab with Nicholas Pooran (22) and then impact substitute Himmat Singh, who scored 15. Marsh reached his fifty with a six off Burger, but the bowler got his revenge two balls later when the opener mishit a shot and skipper Riyan Parag took a good catch.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Medium-pace bowler Brijesh Sharma took two wickets in an over to further corner Lucknow, who survived just 18 overs in their fourth straight defeat. Archer, who reached a top speed of 151.6 km/h (94.2 mph), mopped up the final two wickets to seal victory for Rajasthan.<h2>What happened in RR innings?</h2>Ravindra Jadeja top-scored for Rajasthan with an unbeaten 43 off 29 balls, an effort that steered the team to 159/6 after they had slumped to 110/6. Mohammed Shami struck two early blows with successive deliveries to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) and Jurel for a duck.&nbsp;Fellow quick Mohsin Khan then removed 15-year-old T20 sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for eight to further hamper Rajasthan.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Shami, Mohsin and Prince Yadav claimed two wickets each but Jadeja kept up the fight and put on an unbeaten stand of 49 for the seventh wicket with impact substitute Shubham Dubey, who made 19. Shimron Hetmyer (22), Parag and Donovan Ferreira, who both scored 20, also contributed to the Rajasthan total.

Playing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 40 runs in a low-scoring affair.

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) had another off day at the office as they lost a third consecutive match on home turf in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). Playing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated LSG by 40 runs in a low-scoring affair. The defeat was LSG’s fifth of the season and they stay second from bottom with four points, while RR are now second with 10 points from seven IPL 2026 matches. RR inflict more misery on LSG Burger, a left-handed quick from South Africa, struck two key blows, including Mitchell Marsh for 55, and Archer took 20/3 to bundle out the hosts, Lucknow, for 119 at the Ekana Stadium. Rajasthan bounced back from successive defeats to jump to second in the table, led by the Punjab Kings. Lucknow faltered in the chase after losing three early wickets, with skipper Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram both out for a duck. Burger had Pant caught behind in his first over before Markram miscued from Archer and skied a catch to wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel. Australia's Marsh attempted to rescue Punjab with Nicholas Pooran (22) and then impact substitute Himmat Singh, who scored 15. Marsh reached his fifty with a six off Burger, but the bowler got his revenge two balls later when the opener mishit a shot and skipper Riyan Parag took a good catch. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Medium-pace bowler Brijesh Sharma took two wickets in an over to further corner Lucknow, who survived just 18 overs in their fourth straight defeat. Archer, who reached a top speed of 151.6 km/h (94.2 mph), mopped up the final two wickets to seal victory for Rajasthan. What happened in RR innings? Ravindra Jadeja top-scored for Rajasthan with an unbeaten 43 off 29 balls, an effort that steered the team to 159/6 after they had slumped to 110/6. Mohammed Shami struck two early blows with successive deliveries to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal (22) and Jurel for a duck. Fellow quick Mohsin Khan then removed 15-year-old T20 sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for eight to further hamper Rajasthan. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Shami, Mohsin and Prince Yadav claimed two wickets each but Jadeja kept up the fight and put on an unbeaten stand of 49 for the seventh wicket with impact substitute Shubham Dubey, who made 19. Shimron Hetmyer (22), Parag and Donovan Ferreira, who both scored 20, also contributed to the Rajasthan total.

Playing at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 40 runs in a low-scoring affair.

IPL 2026: Rajasthan inflict more misery on Lucknow as hosts remain winless after third consecutive home defeat

Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani has been handed a two-year ban from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after signing with Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League last month. The 29-year-old had earlier been contracted to Islamabad United but withdrew to take up the IPL opportunity.In an official statement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Muzarabani will be banned from participating in the next two PSL seasons with immediate effect.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Following a thorough disciplinary review, the PCB has announced that Zimbabwean cricketer Blessing Muzarabani is declared ineligible to participate in the next two editions of the PSL, effective immediately," the PCB said in a statement.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-will-varun-chakravarthy-play-vs-csk-kkr-provides-update-1776154376390">IPL 2026: Will Varun Chakravarthy play vs CSK? KKR provides update</a>&nbsp;The Pakistan Cricket Board stated that by taking part in a “conflicting engagement,” the 29-year-old had violated professional standards.&nbsp;“Professionalism in franchise-based leagues requires participants to act with transparency and consistency. Entering into a conflicting engagement while a prior binding agreement subsists represents a departure from the expected standards of the game," the PSL said in a statement on Tuesday.&nbsp;“Such conduct, if left unaddressed, erodes the reliability of dealings and the confidence that franchises, regulators, and stakeholders place in professional engagements. The two-year ban reflects the gravity of the breach," it added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-gt-csk-fixtures-swapped-after-venue-twist-here-s-why-1776149228679">IPL 2026: GT-CSK fixtures swapped after venue twist - Here's why</a>&nbsp;Muzarabani is not alone in stepping away from PSL commitments in favor of the IPL. Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka recently left Lahore Qalandars to join Rajasthan Royals.&nbsp;Similarly, South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch received a one-year PSL ban last year after opting to play for Mumbai Indians despite being signed by Peshawar Zalmi.&nbsp;The 2026 PSL season is currently being staged in Lahore and Karachi without spectators due to an oil crisis linked to tensions in West Asia. However, discussions are expected between the PCB and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the possible return of fans to the stadiums.

Kolkata Knight Riders approached pacer Blessing Muzarabani after being instructed to release Mustafizur Rahman.

Zimbabwe pacer Blessing Muzarabani has been handed a two-year ban from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after signing with Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League last month. The 29-year-old had earlier been contracted to Islamabad United but withdrew to take up the IPL opportunity. In an official statement, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed that Muzarabani will be banned from participating in the next two PSL seasons with immediate effect. “Following a thorough disciplinary review, the PCB has announced that Zimbabwean cricketer Blessing Muzarabani is declared ineligible to participate in the next two editions of the PSL, effective immediately," the PCB said in a statement. Also Read - IPL 2026: Will Varun Chakravarthy play vs CSK? KKR provides update The Pakistan Cricket Board stated that by taking part in a “conflicting engagement,” the 29-year-old had violated professional standards. “Professionalism in franchise-based leagues requires participants to act with transparency and consistency. Entering into a conflicting engagement while a prior binding agreement subsists represents a departure from the expected standards of the game," the PSL said in a statement on Tuesday. “Such conduct, if left unaddressed, erodes the reliability of dealings and the confidence that franchises, regulators, and stakeholders place in professional engagements. The two-year ban reflects the gravity of the breach," it added. Also Read - IPL 2026: GT-CSK fixtures swapped after venue twist - Here's why Muzarabani is not alone in stepping away from PSL commitments in favor of the IPL. Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka recently left Lahore Qalandars to join Rajasthan Royals. Similarly, South African all-rounder Corbin Bosch received a one-year PSL ban last year after opting to play for Mumbai Indians despite being signed by Peshawar Zalmi. The 2026 PSL season is currently being staged in Lahore and Karachi without spectators due to an oil crisis linked to tensions in West Asia. However, discussions are expected between the PCB and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the possible return of fans to the stadiums.

Kolkata Knight Riders approached pacer Blessing Muzarabani after being instructed to release Mustafizur Rahman.

Blessing Muzarabani banned by PCB after choosing IPL over Pakistan league

In the IPL 2026 clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Thursday (Apr 10), Sunil Narine etched his name into the record books, becoming the first overseas bowler to claim 200 T20 wickets in India. He reached the milestone by dismissing Mohammed Shami in the 16th over, as Shami’s attempt to clear the ropes resulting in a catch by Anukul Roy. The 37-year-old celebrated the landmark with visible passion, punching the air with his right hand.&nbsp;<h2>Most T20 wickets in India by overseas players</h2><ul><li>&nbsp;Sunil Narine (West Indies) - 200 wickets (183 matches)</li><li>&nbsp;Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) - 190 wickets (162 matches)</li><li>&nbsp;Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) - 188 wickets (142 matches)</li><li>Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) - 156 wickets (118 matches)</li></ul>Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-bat-speed-develops-lsg-s-inr-2-6-crore-buy-mukul-choudhary-reveals-how-he-scored-54-not-out-off-27-vs-kkr-1775800332834">IPL 2026 | 'Bat speed develops': LSG's INR 2.6 crore buy Mukul Choudhary reveals how he scored 54 not out off 27 vs KKR</a><h2>LSG edge past KKR in last-ball thriller</h2>Lucknow Super Giants clinched a dramatic three-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders, chasing down a target of 182 on the final delivery. KKR posted 181/4, powered by contributions from Ajinkya Rahane (41), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45), Cameron Green (32*) and Rovman Powell (39*). For the visitors, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Siddharth and Avesh Khan picked up a wicket each.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-used-to-finishing-off-games-lsg-coach-langer-compares-mukul-to-tim-david-and-andre-russell-1775796407229">IPL 2026 | LSG coach Langer compares Mukul to Tim David and Andre Russell</a> Chasing 182, LSG got off to a decent start through openers Mitchell Marsh (15) and Aiden Markram (22), but Vaibhav Arora changed the momentum in the fourth over by dismissing both openers. Ayush Badoni then steadied the innings with a well-made 54 off 34 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. However, the chase took a tense turn as LSG slipped from 125/6 to 128/7.&nbsp;&nbsp;The momentum shifted again when Mukul Choudhary delivered a stunning unbeaten 54 off just 27 deliveries, smashing seven sixes at a strike rate of 200, guiding his team to victory on the final ball.

The mystery spinner reached the milestone during the IPL 2026 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Eden Gardens on Thursday.

In the IPL 2026 clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Thursday (Apr 10), Sunil Narine etched his name into the record books, becoming the first overseas bowler to claim 200 T20 wickets in India. He reached the milestone by dismissing Mohammed Shami in the 16th over, as Shami’s attempt to clear the ropes resulting in a catch by Anukul Roy. The 37-year-old celebrated the landmark with visible passion, punching the air with his right hand. Most T20 wickets in India by overseas players Sunil Narine (West Indies) - 200 wickets (183 matches) Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) - 190 wickets (162 matches) Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) - 188 wickets (142 matches) Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka) - 156 wickets (118 matches) Also Read - IPL 2026 | 'Bat speed develops': LSG's INR 2.6 crore buy Mukul Choudhary reveals how he scored 54 not out off 27 vs KKR LSG edge past KKR in last-ball thriller Lucknow Super Giants clinched a dramatic three-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders, chasing down a target of 182 on the final delivery. KKR posted 181/4, powered by contributions from Ajinkya Rahane (41), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45), Cameron Green (32*) and Rovman Powell (39*). For the visitors, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Siddharth and Avesh Khan picked up a wicket each. Also Read - IPL 2026 | LSG coach Langer compares Mukul to Tim David and Andre Russell Chasing 182, LSG got off to a decent start through openers Mitchell Marsh (15) and Aiden Markram (22), but Vaibhav Arora changed the momentum in the fourth over by dismissing both openers. Ayush Badoni then steadied the innings with a well-made 54 off 34 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. However, the chase took a tense turn as LSG slipped from 125/6 to 128/7. The momentum shifted again when Mukul Choudhary delivered a stunning unbeaten 54 off just 27 deliveries, smashing seven sixes at a strike rate of 200, guiding his team to victory on the final ball.

The mystery spinner reached the milestone during the IPL 2026 clash between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Eden Gardens on Thursday.

IPL 2026: Sunil Narine scripts history, becomes first overseas player to achieve THIS record

The Indian Cricket League pioneered T20 franchise cricket before the IPL. It was essentially halted by BCCI opposition, player bans, and politics. Here is the story of ICL

The Indian Cricket League pioneered T20 franchise cricket before the IPL. It was essentially halted by BCCI opposition, player bans, and politics. What really happened to ICL?

Before IPL, there was ICL: How Indian Cricket League pioneered the format but was stopped

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared that he might have continued playing longer for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, but ultimately stepped away because he no longer had the “bandwidth” to keep going in the tournament. Ashwin, who called time on his IPL career in August last year, spoke about CSK’s difficult run in the 2025 season. The five-time champions ended that campaign at the bottom of the table and have also begun IPL 2026 with three consecutive defeats.&nbsp;&nbsp;He further explained that even though he felt he could still play, he chose to step away so the team management wouldn’t have to worry about whether to keep him or not.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-sticking-with-bad-plan-and-nobody-to-slow-things-ex-player-on-reasons-for-csk-s-loss-vs-rcb-1775467932019">IPL 2026 | 'Sticking with bad plan and nobody to slow things': Ex-player Rayudu on reasons for CSK's loss vs RCB</a>&nbsp;“I am watching the match from a neutral point of view, but remember that I recently spent a disappointing season with CSK, it was a disappointing season for me personally as well. Honestly, in my mind, I could have played more, because emotionally, I just did not have the bandwidth to play”.&nbsp;“I don’t want to go there, it’s mentally disturbing. It was very painful for me. I don’t want to go there. I discussed a little, then I said, I started in Chennai, I am finishing in my hometown, it’s fine. I decided to retire myself as it would not have created a headache for them (the management) over whether to retain me or release. They would also save Rs 10 crore if I go. I am still disappointed. I had expectations, I had hope,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat”.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-want-my-bat-do-the-talking-rishabh-pant-silences-critics-after-match-winning-knock-against-srh-1775458991278">'Want my bat do talking': Pant silences critics after match-winning knock vs SRH</a>&nbsp;Reflecting on CSK’s recent loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he noted that while he had expected RCB to win given their strength, he had hoped CSK would show signs of progress after their previous outing. Instead, he felt RCB delivered a dominant performance that sent a strong message to the rest of the competition.&nbsp;“I had expectations from today. I know, I picked RCB to win, because they have strength. But, I banked on the improvement that CSK showed in the last game. I had a little faith on the fact that RCB were coming into this match after a break. The way RCB played, they warned everyone,” he said.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will next face Delhi Capitals (DC) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday (Apr 11).

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared that he might have continued playing longer for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, but ultimately stepped away because he no longer had the “bandwidth” to keep going in the tournament. Ashwin, who called time on his IPL career in August last year, spoke about CSK’s difficult run in the 2025 season. The five-time champions ended that campaign at the bottom of the table and have also begun IPL 2026 with three consecutive defeats. He further explained that even though he felt he could still play, he chose to step away so the team management wouldn’t have to worry about whether to keep him or not. Also Read - IPL 2026 | 'Sticking with bad plan and nobody to slow things': Ex-player Rayudu on reasons for CSK's loss vs RCB “I am watching the match from a neutral point of view, but remember that I recently spent a disappointing season with CSK, it was a disappointing season for me personally as well. Honestly, in my mind, I could have played more, because emotionally, I just did not have the bandwidth to play”. “I don’t want to go there, it’s mentally disturbing. It was very painful for me. I don’t want to go there. I discussed a little, then I said, I started in Chennai, I am finishing in my hometown, it’s fine. I decided to retire myself as it would not have created a headache for them (the management) over whether to retain me or release. They would also save Rs 10 crore if I go. I am still disappointed. I had expectations, I had hope,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat”. Also Read - 'Want my bat do talking': Pant silences critics after match-winning knock vs SRH Reflecting on CSK’s recent loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he noted that while he had expected RCB to win given their strength, he had hoped CSK would show signs of progress after their previous outing. Instead, he felt RCB delivered a dominant performance that sent a strong message to the rest of the competition. “I had expectations from today. I know, I picked RCB to win, because they have strength. But, I banked on the improvement that CSK showed in the last game. I had a little faith on the fact that RCB were coming into this match after a break. The way RCB played, they warned everyone,” he said.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will next face Delhi Capitals (DC) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday (Apr 11).

'Mentally disturbing, very painful for me’: R Ashwin opens up on IPL exit

From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli here is a list of five batters with most sixes vs an opponent in IPL history. The elite list also sees the like of MS Dhoni and Chris Gayle who have dominated IPL over the years.

From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli here is a list of five batters with most sixes vs an opponent in IPL history. The elite list also sees the like of MS Dhoni and Chris Gayle who have dominated IPL over the years.

From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 batters with most sixes vs an opponent in IPL

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released the full schedule of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) with matches spread across 13 venues. In an announcement made on Thursday (Mar 26), the BCCI allotted matches to venues in Jaipur, Dharamshala and Raipur, which had earlier been skipped. The current season of the IPL starts on Saturday with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.<h2>BCCI releases schedule for IPL 2026</h2>With Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu mainly influencing the schedule for the first half of IPL 2026, the BCCI released the full itinerary on Thursday. The schedule released on Thursday sees the allocation of venues for all 70 matches, with fixtures spread across 13 venues. Venues in Raipur, Jaipur and Dharamshala are the latest inductees, having missed out in the first phase.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Raipur will serve as home ground for RCB for their last two matches in the league stage, while Dharamshala will be the traditional second home for Punjab Kings. Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, will play their matches at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in the second half, while they start the season at their adopted home ground in Guwahati.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a><h2>Full schedule of IPL 2026 league phase</h2><ol><li>Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 28 Mar 2026, Sat, Bengaluru, 7:30 PM</li><li>Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 29 Mar 2026, Sun, Mumbai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings — 30 Mar 2026, Mon, Guwahati, 7:30 PM</li><li>Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans — 31 Mar 2026, Tue, New Chandigarh, 7:30 PM</li><li>Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals — 01 Apr 2026, Wed, Lucknow, 7:30 PM</li><li>Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 02 Apr 2026, Thu, Kolkata, 7:30 PM</li><li>Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings — 03 Apr 2026, Fri, Chennai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians — 04 Apr 2026, Sat, Delhi, 3:30 PM</li><li>Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals — 04 Apr 2026, Sat, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM</li><li>Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants — 05 Apr 2026, Sun, Hyderabad, 3:30 PM</li><li>Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings — 05 Apr 2026, Sun, Bengaluru, 7:30 PM</li><li>Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings — 06 Apr 2026, Mon, Kolkata, 7:30 PM</li><li>Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians — 07 Apr 2026, Tue, Guwahati, 7:30 PM</li><li>Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans — 08 Apr 2026, Wed, Delhi, 7:30 PM</li><li>Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants — 09 Apr 2026, Thu, Kolkata, 7:30 PM</li><li>Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 10 Apr 2026, Fri, Guwahati, 7:30 PM</li><li>Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 11 Apr 2026, Sat, New Chandigarh, 3:30 PM</li><li>Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals — 11 Apr 2026, Sat, Chennai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans — 12 Apr 2026, Sun, Lucknow, 3:30 PM</li><li>Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 12 Apr 2026, Sun, Mumbai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals — 13 Apr 2026, Mon, Hyderabad, 7:30 PM</li><li>Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 14 Apr 2026, Tue, Chennai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants — 15 Apr 2026, Wed, Bengaluru, 7:30 PM</li><li>Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings — 16 Apr 2026, Thu, Mumbai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 17 Apr 2026, Fri, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM</li><li>Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals — 18 Apr 2026, Sat, Bengaluru, 3:30 PM</li><li>Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings — 18 Apr 2026, Sat, Hyderabad, 7:30 PM</li><li>Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals — 19 Apr 2026, Sun, Kolkata, 3:30 PM</li><li>Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants — 19 Apr 2026, Sun, New Chandigarh, 7:30 PM</li><li>Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians — 20 Apr 2026, Mon, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM</li><li>Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals — 21 Apr 2026, Tue, Hyderabad, 7:30 PM</li><li>Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals — 22 Apr 2026, Wed, Lucknow, 7:30 PM</li><li>Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings — 23 Apr 2026, Thu, Mumbai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans — 24 Apr 2026, Fri, Bengaluru, 7:30 PM</li><li>Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings — 25 Apr 2026, Sat, Delhi, 3:30 PM</li><li>Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 25 Apr 2026, Sat, Jaipur, 7:30 PM</li><li>Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings — 26 Apr 2026, Sun, Ahmedabad, 3:30 PM</li><li>Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 26 Apr 2026, Sun, Lucknow, 7:30 PM</li><li>Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 27 Apr 2026, Mon, Delhi, 7:30 PM</li><li>Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals — 28 Apr 2026, Tue, New Chandigarh, 7:30 PM</li><li>Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 29 Apr 2026, Wed, Mumbai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 30 Apr 2026, Thu, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM</li><li>Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals — 01 May 2026, Fri, Jaipur, 7:30 PM</li><li>Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians — 02 May 2026, Sat, Chennai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 03 May 2026, Sun, Hyderabad, 3:30 PM</li><li>Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings — 03 May 2026, Sun, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM</li><li>Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super Giants — 04 May 2026, Mon, Mumbai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings — 05 May 2026, Tue, Delhi, 7:30 PM</li><li>Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings — 06 May 2026, Wed, Hyderabad, 7:30 PM</li><li>Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 07 May 2026, Thu, Lucknow, 7:30 PM</li><li>Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 08 May 2026, Fri, Delhi, 7:30 PM</li><li>Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans — 09 May 2026, Sat, Jaipur, 7:30 PM</li><li>Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants — 10 May 2026, Sun, Chennai, 3:30 PM</li><li>Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians — 10 May 2026, Sun, Raipur, 7:30 PM</li><li>Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals — 11 May 2026, Mon, Dharamshala, 7:30 PM</li><li>Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 12 May 2026, Tue, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM</li><li>Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 13 May 2026, Wed, Raipur, 7:30 PM</li><li>Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians — 14 May 2026, Thu, Dharamshala, 7:30 PM</li><li>Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings — 15 May 2026, Fri, Lucknow, 7:30 PM</li><li>Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans — 16 May 2026, Sat, Kolkata, 7:30 PM</li><li>Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 17 May 2026, Sun, Dharamshala, 3:30 PM</li><li>Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals — 17 May 2026, Sun, Delhi, 7:30 PM</li><li>Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 18 May 2026, Mon, Chennai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants — 19 May 2026, Tue, Jaipur, 7:30 PM</li><li>Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians — 20 May 2026, Wed, Kolkata, 7:30 PM</li><li>Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans — 21 May 2026, Thu, Chennai, 7:30 PM</li><li>Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 22 May 2026, Fri, Hyderabad, 7:30 PM</li><li>Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings — 23 May 2026, Sat, Lucknow, 7:30 PM</li><li>Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals — 24 May 2026, Sun, Mumbai, 3:30 PM</li><li>Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals — 24 May 2026, Sun, Kolkata, 7:30 PM</li></ol>

In an announcement made on Thursday (Mar 26), the BCCI allotted matches to venues in Jaipur, Dharamshala and Raipur, which had earlier been skipped.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released the full schedule of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) with matches spread across 13 venues. In an announcement made on Thursday (Mar 26), the BCCI allotted matches to venues in Jaipur, Dharamshala and Raipur, which had earlier been skipped. The current season of the IPL starts on Saturday with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) taking on SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. BCCI releases schedule for IPL 2026 With Assembly elections in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu mainly influencing the schedule for the first half of IPL 2026, the BCCI released the full itinerary on Thursday. The schedule released on Thursday sees the allocation of venues for all 70 matches, with fixtures spread across 13 venues. Venues in Raipur, Jaipur and Dharamshala are the latest inductees, having missed out in the first phase. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Raipur will serve as home ground for RCB for their last two matches in the league stage, while Dharamshala will be the traditional second home for Punjab Kings. Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, will play their matches at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in the second half, while they start the season at their adopted home ground in Guwahati. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Full schedule of IPL 2026 league phase Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 28 Mar 2026, Sat, Bengaluru, 7:30 PM Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 29 Mar 2026, Sun, Mumbai, 7:30 PM Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings — 30 Mar 2026, Mon, Guwahati, 7:30 PM Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans — 31 Mar 2026, Tue, New Chandigarh, 7:30 PM Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals — 01 Apr 2026, Wed, Lucknow, 7:30 PM Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 02 Apr 2026, Thu, Kolkata, 7:30 PM Chennai Super Kings vs Punjab Kings — 03 Apr 2026, Fri, Chennai, 7:30 PM Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians — 04 Apr 2026, Sat, Delhi, 3:30 PM Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals — 04 Apr 2026, Sat, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Lucknow Super Giants — 05 Apr 2026, Sun, Hyderabad, 3:30 PM Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Chennai Super Kings — 05 Apr 2026, Sun, Bengaluru, 7:30 PM Kolkata Knight Riders vs Punjab Kings — 06 Apr 2026, Mon, Kolkata, 7:30 PM Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians — 07 Apr 2026, Tue, Guwahati, 7:30 PM Delhi Capitals vs Gujarat Titans — 08 Apr 2026, Wed, Delhi, 7:30 PM Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants — 09 Apr 2026, Thu, Kolkata, 7:30 PM Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 10 Apr 2026, Fri, Guwahati, 7:30 PM Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 11 Apr 2026, Sat, New Chandigarh, 3:30 PM Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals — 11 Apr 2026, Sat, Chennai, 7:30 PM Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans — 12 Apr 2026, Sun, Lucknow, 3:30 PM Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 12 Apr 2026, Sun, Mumbai, 7:30 PM Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals — 13 Apr 2026, Mon, Hyderabad, 7:30 PM Chennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 14 Apr 2026, Tue, Chennai, 7:30 PM Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Lucknow Super Giants — 15 Apr 2026, Wed, Bengaluru, 7:30 PM Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings — 16 Apr 2026, Thu, Mumbai, 7:30 PM Gujarat Titans vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 17 Apr 2026, Fri, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Delhi Capitals — 18 Apr 2026, Sat, Bengaluru, 3:30 PM Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Chennai Super Kings — 18 Apr 2026, Sat, Hyderabad, 7:30 PM Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals — 19 Apr 2026, Sun, Kolkata, 3:30 PM Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants — 19 Apr 2026, Sun, New Chandigarh, 7:30 PM Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians — 20 Apr 2026, Mon, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi Capitals — 21 Apr 2026, Tue, Hyderabad, 7:30 PM Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals — 22 Apr 2026, Wed, Lucknow, 7:30 PM Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings — 23 Apr 2026, Thu, Mumbai, 7:30 PM Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans — 24 Apr 2026, Fri, Bengaluru, 7:30 PM Delhi Capitals vs Punjab Kings — 25 Apr 2026, Sat, Delhi, 3:30 PM Rajasthan Royals vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 25 Apr 2026, Sat, Jaipur, 7:30 PM Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings — 26 Apr 2026, Sun, Ahmedabad, 3:30 PM Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 26 Apr 2026, Sun, Lucknow, 7:30 PM Delhi Capitals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 27 Apr 2026, Mon, Delhi, 7:30 PM Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals — 28 Apr 2026, Tue, New Chandigarh, 7:30 PM Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 29 Apr 2026, Wed, Mumbai, 7:30 PM Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 30 Apr 2026, Thu, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals — 01 May 2026, Fri, Jaipur, 7:30 PM Chennai Super Kings vs Mumbai Indians — 02 May 2026, Sat, Chennai, 7:30 PM Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 03 May 2026, Sun, Hyderabad, 3:30 PM Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings — 03 May 2026, Sun, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super Giants — 04 May 2026, Mon, Mumbai, 7:30 PM Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings — 05 May 2026, Tue, Delhi, 7:30 PM Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings — 06 May 2026, Wed, Hyderabad, 7:30 PM Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 07 May 2026, Thu, Lucknow, 7:30 PM Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 08 May 2026, Fri, Delhi, 7:30 PM Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans — 09 May 2026, Sat, Jaipur, 7:30 PM Chennai Super Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants — 10 May 2026, Sun, Chennai, 3:30 PM Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians — 10 May 2026, Sun, Raipur, 7:30 PM Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals — 11 May 2026, Mon, Dharamshala, 7:30 PM Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 12 May 2026, Tue, Ahmedabad, 7:30 PM Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Kolkata Knight Riders — 13 May 2026, Wed, Raipur, 7:30 PM Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians — 14 May 2026, Thu, Dharamshala, 7:30 PM Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings — 15 May 2026, Fri, Lucknow, 7:30 PM Kolkata Knight Riders vs Gujarat Titans — 16 May 2026, Sat, Kolkata, 7:30 PM Punjab Kings vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 17 May 2026, Sun, Dharamshala, 3:30 PM Delhi Capitals vs Rajasthan Royals — 17 May 2026, Sun, Delhi, 7:30 PM Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad — 18 May 2026, Mon, Chennai, 7:30 PM Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants — 19 May 2026, Tue, Jaipur, 7:30 PM Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians — 20 May 2026, Wed, Kolkata, 7:30 PM Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans — 21 May 2026, Thu, Chennai, 7:30 PM Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru — 22 May 2026, Fri, Hyderabad, 7:30 PM Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings — 23 May 2026, Sat, Lucknow, 7:30 PM Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals — 24 May 2026, Sun, Mumbai, 3:30 PM Kolkata Knight Riders vs Delhi Capitals — 24 May 2026, Sun, Kolkata, 7:30 PM

In an announcement made on Thursday (Mar 26), the BCCI allotted matches to venues in Jaipur, Dharamshala and Raipur, which had earlier been skipped.

BCCI releases full IPL 2026 schedule, 13 venues to host 70 matches; Raipur, Dharamshala included

Delhi Capitals’ star batter Prithvi Shaw has cleared his intent ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season as he looks to rejuvenate his career. Shaw, an all-format international with India, has not played for the national team since July 2021 and looks for a swift comeback. Speaking during the IPL 2026 pre-season, Shaw reckons it is everyone’s dream to play for India.<h2>Shaw clears intent ahead of IPL 2026</h2>"If I don't think about a comeback, then what's the point? That's why I am playing. Who doesn't want to play for India? You have to be there, and I am working towards that," Shaw said ahead of the season.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;"I enjoyed my life in the last year. Went to a couple of destinations to keep my mind fresh. Then I came back. The same routine, practised, worked hard, be it my training or batting. Whatever I used to do, I started doing it 3x more. I think it was a good break for me. I don't see it as a step back, but it was a needed break, so I get myself back stronger mentally."&nbsp;Shaw last played for India in July 2021 when he was part of India’s tour of Sri Lanka under Shikhar Dhawan’s captaincy. He played his only T20I for India on that tour while he was also part of the ODI set-up. Overall, he has played in five Test matches, six ODIs and one T20I for India and remains an all-format player.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;However, injuries and poor form has seen him drop down the pecking order at the international level and he has not played since 2021. The IPL 2026 will come as a welcome addition for the Mumbai batter, where he can prove his worth.&nbsp;Delhi Capitals start their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 1 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.

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

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

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

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

With just days remaining for the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have roped in Navdeep Saini as an injury replacement for Harshit Rana. The announcement made on Wednesday (Mar 25) will see Saini link up with the KKR squad on Thursday and resume training ahead of the side’s IPL 2026 opening clash against the Mumbai Indians on Sunday (Mar 29) at the Wankhede Stadium. Rana, who missed India’s T20 World Cup 2026 triumph with a right knee ligament injury, was ruled out of the entire IPL 2026 season recently.<h2>Navdeep Saini replaces Harshit Rana at KKR</h2>Speaking about joining the side, Navdeep said: “Joining KKR feels special—there’s an emotion attached to the franchise that you can’t quite put into words. For me, this opportunity is a fresh start. The last few years had their ups and downs, but I never stopped believing in my hard work, and this feels like the reward for staying the course."&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Harshit Rana had suffered a knee strain during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup warm-up fixture against South Africa. After this, the right-arm speedster underwent knee surgery and is undergoing rehabilitation, with no confirmation about the return of the Indian speedster by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) medical team. Meanwhile, Khejroliya replaces the injured Prithviraj Yarra in the Gujarat-based franchise. The left-arm pacer, who has six IPL wickets to his name, has previously featured for GT, KKR, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He will join GT for Rs 30 Lakh.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a> Kolkata Knight Riders squad for IPL 2026 season: Ajinkya Rahane (captain), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Anukul Roy, Navdeep Saini, Manish Pandey, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Rovman Powell, Sunil Narine, Umran Malik, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Matheesha Pathirana, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Akash Deep, Blessing Muzarabani. Gujarat Titans squad for IPL 2026: Shubman Gill (captain), Sai Sudharsan, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Jos Buttler, Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Arshad Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Rashid Khan, Manav Suthar, Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Jason Holder, Tom Banton, Kulwant Khejroliya, Luke Wood.

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

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

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

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

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

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

<h2>MI campaign steals hearts</h2>Ahead of IPL 2026, the Mumbai Indians bring a unique fan-franchise relationship to the forefront with the launch of its 2026 campaign: ‘Fans Nahi. Fam.’ At its core, the campaign is built on a simple but powerful truth - this isn’t just fandom, this is family. A family that celebrates, debates, worries and stands by the team through every high and low.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;Bringing ‘Fans Nahi. Fam.’ to life, the campaign places the MI players directly within the everyday world of the fans, not as distant icons, but as one of them.&nbsp;A series of slice-of-life films capture this raw, unfiltered bond, with players stepping into homes, routines and conversations filled with celebration, banter and honesty. The storytelling reflects the emotional depth of the relationship where Paltan don’t just cheer, they feel.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a><h2>Mumbai Indians target sixth title</h2>In search of a sixth IPL title, MI will still start their campaign on home turf against KKR before the Mumbai Indians face the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday (April 4). Their next home match will be against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 12.&nbsp;Last season MI were eliminated in the Playoffs having lost to Punjab Kings in the Qualifier 2 having earlier beaten Gujarat Titans in the Eliminator.

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

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

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

Mumbai Indians steal hearts with heartwarming campaign ahead of IPL 2026

With days remaining before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season, preparations are in the final stage as franchises give the finishing touches before the start. While eyes will be on several franchises, one particular name that will be in the headlines is Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as they will be led by Rishabh Pant. Speaking on Pant, former South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis has suggested the wicketkeeper-batter keep his composure and work on a strategy.<h2>Du Plessis backs Pant</h2>“Rishabh Pant’s stroke play is one that looks all over the place. There is some sort of method and game plan that goes into his head. He has a blueprint for how he wants to play Test cricket. The same thing applies in T20 cricket. He needs to figure out exactly what his game plan looks like to give himself the best chance. Not to be a one out of ten or two out of ten kind of player, but to be in the 60 to 70 per cent range where he can have consistency,” Du Plessis said while speaking on JioStar’s ‘IPL Today Live’ show.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;“To do that, you can’t premeditate every ball. That is too high risk. Yes, you might hit a few sixes and play a couple of good innings. But when teams bowl wide to him, he is good enough to have something else in his armoury to hit through the offside. His game plan is not one-dimensional. He can score all around the ground. For me, it is about his first six balls. When I look at him, he is almost like a highlight player. I want him to be more of a high-impact player in terms of what he can give in his numbers,” the former South Africa skipper added.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;LSG will start their IPL 2026 campaign on April 1 when they face the Delhi Capitals at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The team will rely on the services of Pant, who will be one of the best players in the ranks. LSG missed out on a playoff spot in IPL 2025 with a seventh-place finish. They will look to win their maiden title in IPL 2026 and search for a positive outcome.&nbsp;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Punjab Kings (PBKS) 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.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) 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 PBKS final squad; batters, bowlers, keepers and more

Former Royal Challengers Benglauru (RCB) captain Virat Kohli cannot stop making headlines as less than a week remains for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) to start. On Sunday, the former RCB skipper was in the spotlight as he laughed off one of the rumours that was making the rounds in the media. Virat’s reaction left everyone stunned while also dismissing any such rumour that surrounds the veteran batter.<h2>Virat dismisses rumours</h2>In a cryptic Instagram story, Virat shared a laughing emoji, along with a claim stating that Virat had asked for a chartered flight to RCB management. This chartered flight would be arranged from India to London if there is a gap of three days between two IPL matches. The claim further added that Virat would return to India a day before the IPL match and rejoin the squad. However, a laughing emoji on the story did suggest that no such claims were true and the 2025 IPL winner would stay in India with the RCB squad.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;It is worth noting that Virat stays in London with his family these days, away from the media spotlight. He, along with wife Anushka and their two kids, have been traveling across the English capital and India whenever they have sporting commitments, but have largely opted to stay away from the media.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;The former India captain will return to competitive action on Saturday (Mar 28) when RCB take on 2016 champions SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in the curtain-raiser clash. Virat has joined the RCB squad for the pre-season and will be available full-time. Virat was last in competitive action in January when the Men in Blue faced New Zealand.

On Sunday, the former RCB skipper was in the spotlight as he laughed off one of the rumours that was making the rounds in the media. Virat’s reaction left everyone stunned while also dismissing any such rumour that surrounds the veteran batter.

Former Royal Challengers Benglauru (RCB) captain Virat Kohli cannot stop making headlines as less than a week remains for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) to start. On Sunday, the former RCB skipper was in the spotlight as he laughed off one of the rumours that was making the rounds in the media. Virat’s reaction left everyone stunned while also dismissing any such rumour that surrounds the veteran batter. Virat dismisses rumours In a cryptic Instagram story, Virat shared a laughing emoji, along with a claim stating that Virat had asked for a chartered flight to RCB management. This chartered flight would be arranged from India to London if there is a gap of three days between two IPL matches. The claim further added that Virat would return to India a day before the IPL match and rejoin the squad. However, a laughing emoji on the story did suggest that no such claims were true and the 2025 IPL winner would stay in India with the RCB squad. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli It is worth noting that Virat stays in London with his family these days, away from the media spotlight. He, along with wife Anushka and their two kids, have been traveling across the English capital and India whenever they have sporting commitments, but have largely opted to stay away from the media. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds The former India captain will return to competitive action on Saturday (Mar 28) when RCB take on 2016 champions SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in the curtain-raiser clash. Virat has joined the RCB squad for the pre-season and will be available full-time. Virat was last in competitive action in January when the Men in Blue faced New Zealand.

On Sunday, the former RCB skipper was in the spotlight as he laughed off one of the rumours that was making the rounds in the media. Virat’s reaction left everyone stunned while also dismissing any such rumour that surrounds the veteran batter.

Virat Kohli to get chartered flight to London during IPL 2026? Here's how former RCB captain reacted

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) 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.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) 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 SRH final squad; batters, bowlers, keepers and more

Rajasthan Royals (RR) 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.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) 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 RR final squad; batters, bowlers, keepers and more

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) 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.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) 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 RCB final squad; batters, bowlers, keepers and more

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that Mumbai Indians are slightly ahead of Chennai Super Kings as the greatest team in IPL history, even though both have won the same number of titles. The 41-year-old reasoned that MI has made a bigger impact on Indian cricket than CSK, producing several top players who have represented the national team. He further explained that this comes from Mumbai’s strong scouting system and their different team approach. Mumbai usually mixes players in their prime with new domestic talents, while Chennai, until 2026, mostly depended on experienced and proven players.&nbsp;Pathan pointed out that Chennai began winning titles from 2010 and even won back-to-back trophies in 2010 and 2011. But when Mumbai started winning in 2013, they kept winning almost every alternate year and later won consecutive titles in 2019 and 2020. He added that Mumbai had a very strong squad last season and could have won the title but missed out for various reasons.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lebron-james-breaks-another-record-in-los-angeles-lakers-win-over-orlando-magic-1774150793454">LeBron James breaks another record in Los Angeles Lakers win over Orlando Magic</a>&nbsp;“CSK started winning the IPL title from 2010 onwards. They won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011 and were the first team to do so. But when Mumbai Indians started winning from 2013, they kept winning after every alternate year. Then they won the IPL trophy back-to-back in 2019 and 2020," said Pathan.&nbsp;“What I like about Mumbai is their contribution to Indian cricket. The number of match winners they have produced for the Indian team is absolutely tremendous. How do you achieve that? First, you make your franchise big. Second, you deliver results with the team you have. Even now, Mumbai Indians had a great squad last season that could have easily won the trophy, but they couldn’t for different reasons," he added.&nbsp;While MI can take pride in discovering talents like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma for India, CSK can highlight their role in nurturing players such as Ravichandran Ashwin, Murali Vijay and Ruturaj Gaikwad.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-ms-dhoni-to-bid-adieu-in-upcoming-season-here-s-what-former-india-batter-robin-uthappa-said-chennai-super-kings-1774092429147">IPL: MS Dhoni to bid adieu in upcoming season? Here's what Ex-India batter said</a>&nbsp;Pathan also noted that Mumbai has produced four Indian captains, which sets them apart. He concluded that while both teams are great and the debate is fair, Mumbai Indians have a slight advantage because of their larger contribution to Indian cricket and young talent.&nbsp;“CSK don’t have four Indian captains, Mumbai Indians do. In that respect, assembling a team and contributing to a bigger cause, I think Mumbai Indians are the greatest IPL team. I know CSK will always say they are also the greatest, having won five trophies too. There is no doubt. There will always be a debate and it is a fair debate. But I think Mumbai Indians take the edge because they have given so many wonderful cricketers and young talents to Indian cricket," Pathan concluded.

Mumbai Indians will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium on Mar 29, while Chennai Super Kings will open their season against Rajasthan Royals at ACA Stadium on Mar 30.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes that Mumbai Indians are slightly ahead of Chennai Super Kings as the greatest team in IPL history, even though both have won the same number of titles. The 41-year-old reasoned that MI has made a bigger impact on Indian cricket than CSK, producing several top players who have represented the national team. He further explained that this comes from Mumbai’s strong scouting system and their different team approach. Mumbai usually mixes players in their prime with new domestic talents, while Chennai, until 2026, mostly depended on experienced and proven players. Pathan pointed out that Chennai began winning titles from 2010 and even won back-to-back trophies in 2010 and 2011. But when Mumbai started winning in 2013, they kept winning almost every alternate year and later won consecutive titles in 2019 and 2020. He added that Mumbai had a very strong squad last season and could have won the title but missed out for various reasons. Also Read - LeBron James breaks another record in Los Angeles Lakers win over Orlando Magic “CSK started winning the IPL title from 2010 onwards. They won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011 and were the first team to do so. But when Mumbai Indians started winning from 2013, they kept winning after every alternate year. Then they won the IPL trophy back-to-back in 2019 and 2020," said Pathan. “What I like about Mumbai is their contribution to Indian cricket. The number of match winners they have produced for the Indian team is absolutely tremendous. How do you achieve that? First, you make your franchise big. Second, you deliver results with the team you have. Even now, Mumbai Indians had a great squad last season that could have easily won the trophy, but they couldn’t for different reasons," he added. While MI can take pride in discovering talents like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma for India, CSK can highlight their role in nurturing players such as Ravichandran Ashwin, Murali Vijay and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Also Read - IPL: MS Dhoni to bid adieu in upcoming season? Here's what Ex-India batter said Pathan also noted that Mumbai has produced four Indian captains, which sets them apart. He concluded that while both teams are great and the debate is fair, Mumbai Indians have a slight advantage because of their larger contribution to Indian cricket and young talent. “CSK don’t have four Indian captains, Mumbai Indians do. In that respect, assembling a team and contributing to a bigger cause, I think Mumbai Indians are the greatest IPL team. I know CSK will always say they are also the greatest, having won five trophies too. There is no doubt. There will always be a debate and it is a fair debate. But I think Mumbai Indians take the edge because they have given so many wonderful cricketers and young talents to Indian cricket," Pathan concluded.

Mumbai Indians will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium on Mar 29, while Chennai Super Kings will open their season against Rajasthan Royals at ACA Stadium on Mar 30.

CSK or MI? Former India all-rounder makes his call on IPL’s best side

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been dealt a huge blow a week before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season after star bowler Akash Deep was ruled out on Saturday (Mar 21). The Indian pacer who made headlines during India's tour of England last year in the red-ball format will miss the entire season. The injury crisis comes after Harshit Rana and new signing Matheesha Pathirana are also struggling with injuries.<h2>Akash Deep ruled out</h2>A top official from Kolkata Knight Riders has confirmed the development to Cricbuzz. "Unfortunately, he is out of the IPL, ruled out for the season," the KKR official said. The 29-year-old Bengal pacer was picked by the franchise at his base price of INR 1 crore at last year's mini-auction in Abu Dhabi.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;Akash Deep was not part of the franchise's preparatory camp, having instead been at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence for rehabilitation. His absence adds to a growing list of concerns in KKR's fast-bowling department.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;Harshit Rana is all but ruled out, while Matheesha Pathirana is expected to miss parts of the first half of the tournament, leaving the side short on both availability and experience. KKR had already made a change in the lead-up to the season, bringing in Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman, but beyond that, their fast-bowling resources now appear thin.&nbsp;Their Indian seam options currently comprise Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik and Kartik Tyagi, with Cameron Green providing a seam-bowling allrounder option. The franchise is also conducting trials for an Indian fast bowler, with a replacement for Rana a priority as they look to rebuild a depleted pace attack ahead of the new season.

Akash Deep who made headlines during India tour of England last year in the red-ball format will miss the entire season. The injury crisis comes after Harshit Rana and new signing Matheesha Pathirana are also struggling with injuries.

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have been dealt a huge blow a week before the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season after star bowler Akash Deep was ruled out on Saturday (Mar 21). The Indian pacer who made headlines during India's tour of England last year in the red-ball format will miss the entire season. The injury crisis comes after Harshit Rana and new signing Matheesha Pathirana are also struggling with injuries. Akash Deep ruled out A top official from Kolkata Knight Riders has confirmed the development to Cricbuzz. "Unfortunately, he is out of the IPL, ruled out for the season," the KKR official said. The 29-year-old Bengal pacer was picked by the franchise at his base price of INR 1 crore at last year's mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds Akash Deep was not part of the franchise's preparatory camp, having instead been at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence for rehabilitation. His absence adds to a growing list of concerns in KKR's fast-bowling department. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli Harshit Rana is all but ruled out, while Matheesha Pathirana is expected to miss parts of the first half of the tournament, leaving the side short on both availability and experience. KKR had already made a change in the lead-up to the season, bringing in Blessing Muzarabani as a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman, but beyond that, their fast-bowling resources now appear thin. Their Indian seam options currently comprise Vaibhav Arora, Umran Malik and Kartik Tyagi, with Cameron Green providing a seam-bowling allrounder option. The franchise is also conducting trials for an Indian fast bowler, with a replacement for Rana a priority as they look to rebuild a depleted pace attack ahead of the new season.

Akash Deep who made headlines during India's tour of England last year in the red-ball format will miss the entire season. The injury crisis comes after Harshit Rana and new signing Matheesha Pathirana are also struggling with injuries.

After Harshit Rana KKR dealt another injury blow, Akash Deep ruled out of IPL 2026

Shubman Gill will have a point to prove as the Gujarat Titans prepare for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season, which starts on Saturday (Mar 28). Gill, India’s captain in ODI and Tests, was dropped from the T20 World Cup squad in January and will have a point to prove during IPL 2026. Former India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara highlighted the issue and why Gill would be more than prepared for the tournament, where he captains the the Gujarat Titans.<h2>Gill to prove a point in IPL 2026</h2>Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Game Plan – Know Your Team’, JioStar expert Pujara discussed how the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup snub could motivate Gill in IPL 2026. The Indian batter was instrumental in India’s Asia Cup success in September, but was sensationally omitted from the World Cup squad, with Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan instead coming into the frame.&nbsp;“The T20 World Cup squad snub will definitely fire up Shubman Gill. He is a quality player suited for all three formats. If he has a good IPL 2026 season, he will surely put his name in India’s T20I squad. He is leading the Test squad and is also the ODI captain,” Pujara said while answering about Gill.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;“He is a multi-format player. If he has a good season, he will be back in the scheme of things for the Indian team. There will be some pressure on him because he has not been part of the India squad in the shortest format. But at the same time, it is a great opportunity for him to carry on batting the way he has. He needs to try and accelerate a little more because that is something he has been working on. This IPL season is the perfect one for him to show he can bat at a strike rate of 150 to 160,” added Pujara.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;GT will start their IPL 2026 campaign under Shubman Gill’s captaincy on Mar 31 when they face Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. Their first home match will be on April 4 when they face the Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Shubman Gill was instrumental in India’s Asia Cup success in September, but was sensationally omitted from the World Cup squad, with Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan instead coming into the frame.

Shubman Gill will have a point to prove as the Gujarat Titans prepare for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season, which starts on Saturday (Mar 28). Gill, India’s captain in ODI and Tests, was dropped from the T20 World Cup squad in January and will have a point to prove during IPL 2026. Former India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara highlighted the issue and why Gill would be more than prepared for the tournament, where he captains the the Gujarat Titans. Gill to prove a point in IPL 2026 Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Game Plan – Know Your Team’, JioStar expert Pujara discussed how the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup snub could motivate Gill in IPL 2026. The Indian batter was instrumental in India’s Asia Cup success in September, but was sensationally omitted from the World Cup squad, with Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan instead coming into the frame. “The T20 World Cup squad snub will definitely fire up Shubman Gill. He is a quality player suited for all three formats. If he has a good IPL 2026 season, he will surely put his name in India’s T20I squad. He is leading the Test squad and is also the ODI captain,” Pujara said while answering about Gill. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds “He is a multi-format player. If he has a good season, he will be back in the scheme of things for the Indian team. There will be some pressure on him because he has not been part of the India squad in the shortest format. But at the same time, it is a great opportunity for him to carry on batting the way he has. He needs to try and accelerate a little more because that is something he has been working on. This IPL season is the perfect one for him to show he can bat at a strike rate of 150 to 160,” added Pujara. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli GT will start their IPL 2026 campaign under Shubman Gill’s captaincy on Mar 31 when they face Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. Their first home match will be on April 4 when they face the Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Shubman Gill was instrumental in India’s Asia Cup success in September, but was sensationally omitted from the World Cup squad, with Rinku Singh and Ishan Kishan instead coming into the frame.

IPL 2026: Cheteshwar Pujara backs Shubman Gill to bounce back after T20 World Cup snub

Rajasthan Royals could have a huge shoe to fill with little over a week to go for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season to start. According to a media report circulating on Thursday (Mar 19), all-rounder Sam Curran is likely to miss the entire season, which starts on Saturday (Mar 28). Curran was one of the two players traded to RR from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) along with Ravindra Jadeja.<h2>Curran to miss IPL 2026?</h2>According to a report from prominent cricket website Espncricinfo, Curran has suffered a groin injury, which could see him miss at least two months of cricket. This means he could miss the entire IPL 2026, which begins next season. The English all-rounder was a high-profile trade from CSK in November, which saw Ravindra Jadeja also come to the 2008 champions, while Sanju Samson was released.&nbsp;While the extent of the injury is unknown, Curran’s unavailability could be a huge issue for the Rajasthan management. In case Curran’s unavailability is confirmed, RR will have to stress their resources and find a like-to-like replacement. In case the injury is confirmed, the IPL commission will only allow a like-for-like replacement.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;RR would have been the third franchise Curran would have represented in the IPL after having started his career at Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2019. Curran then played for CSK in 2020 and 2021, before returning to PBKS in 2023 as the league's most expensive player at INR 18.5 crore, and playing for them again in 2024. Curran was bought back by CSK for INR 2.4 crore for IPL 2025, which he finished with 114 runs and only one wicket in five games.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;Apart from Jadeja, RR also have another allrounder in Donovan Ferreira, a power-hitter who can bowl quickish offspin. Just like Jadeja and Curran, Ferreria, too, was bought by RR via a trade at his base price of INR 1 crore from the Delhi Capitals.

According to a media report circulating on Thursday (Mar 19), all-rounder Sam Curran is likely to miss the entire season, which starts on Saturday (Mar 28). Curran was one of the two players traded to RR from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) along with Ravindra Jadeja.

Rajasthan Royals could have a huge shoe to fill with little over a week to go for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season to start. According to a media report circulating on Thursday (Mar 19), all-rounder Sam Curran is likely to miss the entire season, which starts on Saturday (Mar 28). Curran was one of the two players traded to RR from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) along with Ravindra Jadeja. Curran to miss IPL 2026? According to a report from prominent cricket website Espncricinfo, Curran has suffered a groin injury, which could see him miss at least two months of cricket. This means he could miss the entire IPL 2026, which begins next season. The English all-rounder was a high-profile trade from CSK in November, which saw Ravindra Jadeja also come to the 2008 champions, while Sanju Samson was released. While the extent of the injury is unknown, Curran’s unavailability could be a huge issue for the Rajasthan management. In case Curran’s unavailability is confirmed, RR will have to stress their resources and find a like-to-like replacement. In case the injury is confirmed, the IPL commission will only allow a like-for-like replacement. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds RR would have been the third franchise Curran would have represented in the IPL after having started his career at Punjab Kings (PBKS) in 2019. Curran then played for CSK in 2020 and 2021, before returning to PBKS in 2023 as the league's most expensive player at INR 18.5 crore, and playing for them again in 2024. Curran was bought back by CSK for INR 2.4 crore for IPL 2025, which he finished with 114 runs and only one wicket in five games. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli Apart from Jadeja, RR also have another allrounder in Donovan Ferreira, a power-hitter who can bowl quickish offspin. Just like Jadeja and Curran, Ferreria, too, was bought by RR via a trade at his base price of INR 1 crore from the Delhi Capitals.

According to a media report circulating on Thursday (Mar 19), all-rounder Sam Curran is likely to miss the entire season, which starts on Saturday (Mar 28). Curran was one of the two players traded to RR from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) along with Ravindra Jadeja.

IPL 2026: Sam Curran likely to miss entire season with suspected groin injury - Report

&nbsp;Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has hailed Sanju Samson’s impact on the game as he termed the World Cup winners irreplaceable on Thursday (Mar 19). Speaking in a pre-season event, Parag compared Samson to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and said their impact is unparalleled. According to Parag, they can try different players, but replacing Samson will be a huge task. The former skipper in November 2025 was traded to Chennai Super Kings, while Ravindra Jadeja went in the opposite direction.<h2>Parag hails Samson’s impact</h2>"We can only try to look for players with the same skills [like Samson] and someone who can fill the hole left by him in the batting order," Parag said in Jaipur. "Just like you cannot replace Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma in any XI, Samson is irreplaceable.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;"But will we plan something new? That's what we've been discussing in the build-up. If you see last season, we lost five or six close games; in fact, a couple of games were last-ball defeats. This season, if those few games go in our favour, then we won't be asked about our issues any longer.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;"In any 40-over game, there will be a few moments where you have to make the right decisions and that's what I'll focus on - like who will bat where, or what to do at the toss - and if we do that well, then this year will be a good one."&nbsp;In November, Samson was traded to CSK, with Jadeja going in the opposite direction. This meant Samson would end his long association with the Rajasthan Royals, where he had served for 12 seasons across two spells. In a productive career, he scored 4027 runs from 149 matches with a best of 119 and also scored two hundreds.

In November, Sanju Samson was traded to CSK, with Ravindra Jadeja going in the opposite direction. This meant Samson would end his long association with the Rajasthan Royals, where he had served for 12 seasons across two spells.

Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag has hailed Sanju Samson’s impact on the game as he termed the World Cup winners irreplaceable on Thursday (Mar 19). Speaking in a pre-season event, Parag compared Samson to Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and said their impact is unparalleled. According to Parag, they can try different players, but replacing Samson will be a huge task. The former skipper in November 2025 was traded to Chennai Super Kings, while Ravindra Jadeja went in the opposite direction. Parag hails Samson’s impact "We can only try to look for players with the same skills [like Samson] and someone who can fill the hole left by him in the batting order," Parag said in Jaipur. "Just like you cannot replace Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma in any XI, Samson is irreplaceable. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli "But will we plan something new? That's what we've been discussing in the build-up. If you see last season, we lost five or six close games; in fact, a couple of games were last-ball defeats. This season, if those few games go in our favour, then we won't be asked about our issues any longer. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds "In any 40-over game, there will be a few moments where you have to make the right decisions and that's what I'll focus on - like who will bat where, or what to do at the toss - and if we do that well, then this year will be a good one." In November, Samson was traded to CSK, with Jadeja going in the opposite direction. This meant Samson would end his long association with the Rajasthan Royals, where he had served for 12 seasons across two spells. In a productive career, he scored 4027 runs from 149 matches with a best of 119 and also scored two hundreds.

In November, Sanju Samson was traded to CSK, with Ravindra Jadeja going in the opposite direction. This meant Samson would end his long association with the Rajasthan Royals, where he had served for 12 seasons across two spells.

IPL 2026: Riyan Parag hails Sanju Samson, says 'he is irreplaceable like Kohli or Rohit'

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has highlighted a key area for star batter Abhishek Sharma as the latest season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) gets closer. Abhishek, currently the number one batter in T20Is, will be a key factor for SunRisers Hyderabad as they look to end their 10-year wait for an IPL title. According to De Villiers, Abhishek needs to overcome challenges mentally and could help SRH deliver their first title in a decade.<h2>Abhishek’s mantra to success</h2>“He’s 25, not 20 anymore. So, this is definitely the phase where he has to start taking more responsibility. There will be media pressure and people asking him to become more consistent. We know he was a little inconsistent during the T20 World Cup, which was disappointing. He had a good finish in the final, but otherwise, it was a quiet tournament for him,” Kumble said.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-indians-to-score-most-runs-in-each-of-last-5-t20-world-cups-ft-virat-kohli-kl-rahul-rohit-sharma-2026-t20-world-cup-1768479871185">Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli</a>&nbsp;“He was erratic at times. He had an unbelievable IPL 2025, scoring close to a 200 strike-rate and averaging in the 30s, which is good for an opening batter scoring over 400 runs in the tournament, but it could have been better. Once again, that word consistency comes to mind. It’s a personal challenge he will have to overcome mentally. Being the number one international T20I batter in the world comes with expectation, and that is the most dangerous word in cricket, when you feel like the whole world is closing in on you, and it’s up to him to fight those me,” the former India Test captain added.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-to-brendon-mccullum-5-batters-to-score-fastest-t20-world-cup-hundreds-rilee-rossouw-ahmed-shehzad-1768553361691">From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds</a>&nbsp;Abhishek played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup success recently and scored an 18-ball fifty in the final. He had a poor run in the opening phase of the World Cup but eventually helped India win the World Cup, while Sanju Samson was another key addition to the squad.&nbsp;SRH will kickstart their IPL 2026 season against defending champions Royal Challengers Benglauru (RCB) on Saturday (Mar 28) at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Abhishek Sharma, currently the number one batter in T20Is, will be a key factor for SunRisers Hyderabad as they look to end their 10-year wait for an IPL title. According to De Villiers, Abhishek needs to overcome challenges mentally and could help SRH deliver their first title in a decade.

Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has highlighted a key area for star batter Abhishek Sharma as the latest season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) gets closer. Abhishek, currently the number one batter in T20Is, will be a key factor for SunRisers Hyderabad as they look to end their 10-year wait for an IPL title. According to De Villiers, Abhishek needs to overcome challenges mentally and could help SRH deliver their first title in a decade. Abhishek’s mantra to success “He’s 25, not 20 anymore. So, this is definitely the phase where he has to start taking more responsibility. There will be media pressure and people asking him to become more consistent. We know he was a little inconsistent during the T20 World Cup, which was disappointing. He had a good finish in the final, but otherwise, it was a quiet tournament for him,” Kumble said. ALSO READ | Meet Indians to score most runs in each of last 5 T20 World Cups ft Virat Kohli “He was erratic at times. He had an unbelievable IPL 2025, scoring close to a 200 strike-rate and averaging in the 30s, which is good for an opening batter scoring over 400 runs in the tournament, but it could have been better. Once again, that word consistency comes to mind. It’s a personal challenge he will have to overcome mentally. Being the number one international T20I batter in the world comes with expectation, and that is the most dangerous word in cricket, when you feel like the whole world is closing in on you, and it’s up to him to fight those me,” the former India Test captain added. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle to Brendon McCullum, 5 batters to score fastest T20 World Cup hundreds Abhishek played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup success recently and scored an 18-ball fifty in the final. He had a poor run in the opening phase of the World Cup but eventually helped India win the World Cup, while Sanju Samson was another key addition to the squad. SRH will kickstart their IPL 2026 season against defending champions Royal Challengers Benglauru (RCB) on Saturday (Mar 28) at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Abhishek Sharma, currently the number one batter in T20Is, will be a key factor for SunRisers Hyderabad as they look to end their 10-year wait for an IPL title. According to De Villiers, Abhishek needs to overcome challenges mentally and could help SRH deliver their first title in a decade.

IPL 2026: AB de Villiers highlights key factor for SRH star Abhishek Sharma, says 'he has to start...'