Former Indian seamer Zaheer Khan has provided a reality check to ODI batting mainstay and Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer amid rumours of BCCI selectors zeroing in on him as Suryakumar Yadav’s successor as next T20I captain. Iyer has been in remarkable form in the ongoing IPL 2026, leading his team from the front. While his captaincy continues to make headlines, his batting form is what has grabbed everyone’s attention. At 31 and having all the attributes needed to lead an Indian Team, Iyer remains the talk of the town.&nbsp;Although he is Team India’s ODI vice-captain, Iyer hasn’t played a T20I since December 2023. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Zaheer said instead of eyeing the T20I captaincy, with the axe hovering over current skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Iyer must first focus on finding a spot in the T20 World Cup-winning team.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-our-biggest-victory-ricky-ponting-hails-pbks-dominant-win-over-lsg-1776689464010">'Our biggest victory': Ricky Ponting hails PBKS’ dominant win over LSG</a> &nbsp;“First, being part of the T20 setup will be on his mind. Captaincy, I am not sure if he is thinking about that right now. He can be a contender in due course because he has been captaining franchises for a while now and has been successful. So, he clearly has that mindset. &nbsp;“When you are looking at the Indian T20 setup, I think he must be thinking first and foremost of making an impact with his performances as just a player to secure a spot. Once you are in the squad, then the rest of the things are up to how the team management is looking at things,” Zaheer said.<h3>Iyer’s rise as a T20 captain</h3>After leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title in 2024, Shreyas Iyer moved to Punjab Kings. Rejoining head coach Ricky Ponting (the two were together at Delhi Capitals earlier) at PBKS, Iyer did wonders in his first season as the Punjab captain, leading the side to its second IPL final and the first in 11 years. &nbsp;Although he failed to get his team past the winning line (with the RCB clinching its maiden IPL title), Iyer’s leadership has put Punjab on the pedestal in the ongoing edition. Being the only unbeaten team thus far, Punjab has won five of its six contested matches, sitting at the top of the table with 11 points. &nbsp;While he smashed a whopping 604 runs in 17 matches in the previous edition, Iyer has thus far collected 208 runs in five outings, including three fifties at a strike rate of 182.45.&nbsp;

Zaheer Khan tells Shreyas Iyer to prioritize securing his spot in the Indian T20I squad before eyeing the captaincy. Read the full analysis here.

Former Indian seamer Zaheer Khan has provided a reality check to ODI batting mainstay and Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer amid rumours of BCCI selectors zeroing in on him as Suryakumar Yadav’s successor as next T20I captain. Iyer has been in remarkable form in the ongoing IPL 2026, leading his team from the front. While his captaincy continues to make headlines, his batting form is what has grabbed everyone’s attention. At 31 and having all the attributes needed to lead an Indian Team, Iyer remains the talk of the town. Although he is Team India’s ODI vice-captain, Iyer hasn’t played a T20I since December 2023. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Zaheer said instead of eyeing the T20I captaincy, with the axe hovering over current skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Iyer must first focus on finding a spot in the T20 World Cup-winning team. Also read | 'Our biggest victory': Ricky Ponting hails PBKS’ dominant win over LSG “First, being part of the T20 setup will be on his mind. Captaincy, I am not sure if he is thinking about that right now. He can be a contender in due course because he has been captaining franchises for a while now and has been successful. So, he clearly has that mindset. “When you are looking at the Indian T20 setup, I think he must be thinking first and foremost of making an impact with his performances as just a player to secure a spot. Once you are in the squad, then the rest of the things are up to how the team management is looking at things,” Zaheer said. Iyer’s rise as a T20 captain After leading Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to their third IPL title in 2024, Shreyas Iyer moved to Punjab Kings. Rejoining head coach Ricky Ponting (the two were together at Delhi Capitals earlier) at PBKS, Iyer did wonders in his first season as the Punjab captain, leading the side to its second IPL final and the first in 11 years. Although he failed to get his team past the winning line (with the RCB clinching its maiden IPL title), Iyer’s leadership has put Punjab on the pedestal in the ongoing edition. Being the only unbeaten team thus far, Punjab has won five of its six contested matches, sitting at the top of the table with 11 points. While he smashed a whopping 604 runs in 17 matches in the previous edition, Iyer has thus far collected 208 runs in five outings, including three fifties at a strike rate of 182.45.

Zaheer Khan tells Shreyas Iyer to prioritize securing his spot in the Indian T20I squad before eyeing the captaincy. Read the full analysis here.

Forget T20I captaincy, focus on selection first: Zaheer’s advice to Shreyas Iyer

Punjab Kings may not have won an IPL title in their franchise history, but they have achieved something no team in IPL's 19-year history has been able to. With the 54-run win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday (Apr 19) in IPL 2026, Punjab Kings became the first team in the tournament history to go undefeated in their first six matches in a season. In the six matches played, PBKS have won five matches while one was washed out - putting them on top of points table with 11 points. They beat IPL's longest winning streak (from the start of season) of five matches undefeated by Rajasthan Royals (2015) and Kings XI Punjab (2014).<h2>How Punjab Kings managed longest winning IPL streak from beginning of a season?</h2>Punjab, runners-up in IPL 2025, started the season with a three-wicket win against Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 31 in their season opener as they chased 163-run target despite some hiccups. Copper Connolly, with 72 not out off 44, was Player of the Match (POTM) for his match-winning innings.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-likely-to-extend-agarkar-s-tenure-as-chief-selector-ahead-of-2027-world-cup-1776578734343">BCCI likely to extend Agarkar’s tenure as chief selector ahead of 2027 World Cup</a>In the next match, PBKS beat five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 3 by five wickets. Chasing a decent target of 210 runs, everybody chipped in for PBKS as they achieved the win in 18.4 overs. Skipper Shreyas Iyer top scored with 29-ball 50 but opener Priyansh Arya was POTM for his brilliant 11-ball 39 in the powerplay.In the third match, Punjab Kings had three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the ropes at 25/2 in 2.4 overs on April 6 before rain washed out rest of the match. Both teams were awarded one point each for the no result contest.PBKS next faced batting powerhouse SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 11 and beat them by six wickets. Chasing above par 220, Punjab reached the target in 18.5 overs with skipper Iyer winning POTM for his 33-ball 69 not out.Next, PBKS beat another five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets on April 16. Thanks to POTM Arshdeep Singh's 3/22, PBKS stopped MI at 195/6 in 20 overs and chased the target in 16.3 overs with opener Prabhsimran Singh hitting 39-ball 80 and Iyer scoring 35-ball 66.On Sunday (Apr 19), PBKS batted first for the first time in IPL 2026 as scored 254/7 in 20 overs, thanks to POTM Priyansh Arya's 37-ball 93 and Connolly's 46-ball 87. PBKS stopped Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at 200/5, winning the match by 54 runs and became the first team to stay undefeated in first six matches of an IPL season.

In the six matches played, PBKS have won five matches while one was washed out - putting them on top of points table with 11 points. They beat IPL's longest winning streak (from the start of season) of five matches undefeated by Rajasthan Royals (2015) and Kings XI Punjab (2014).

Punjab Kings may not have won an IPL title in their franchise history, but they have achieved something no team in IPL's 19-year history has been able to. With the 54-run win against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Sunday (Apr 19) in IPL 2026, Punjab Kings became the first team in the tournament history to go undefeated in their first six matches in a season. In the six matches played, PBKS have won five matches while one was washed out - putting them on top of points table with 11 points. They beat IPL's longest winning streak (from the start of season) of five matches undefeated by Rajasthan Royals (2015) and Kings XI Punjab (2014). How Punjab Kings managed longest winning IPL streak from beginning of a season? Punjab, runners-up in IPL 2025, started the season with a three-wicket win against Gujarat Titans (GT) on March 31 in their season opener as they chased 163-run target despite some hiccups. Copper Connolly, with 72 not out off 44, was Player of the Match (POTM) for his match-winning innings. Also Read - BCCI likely to extend Agarkar’s tenure as chief selector ahead of 2027 World Cup In the next match, PBKS beat five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 3 by five wickets. Chasing a decent target of 210 runs, everybody chipped in for PBKS as they achieved the win in 18.4 overs. Skipper Shreyas Iyer top scored with 29-ball 50 but opener Priyansh Arya was POTM for his brilliant 11-ball 39 in the powerplay. In the third match, Punjab Kings had three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on the ropes at 25/2 in 2.4 overs on April 6 before rain washed out rest of the match. Both teams were awarded one point each for the no result contest. PBKS next faced batting powerhouse SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 11 and beat them by six wickets. Chasing above par 220, Punjab reached the target in 18.5 overs with skipper Iyer winning POTM for his 33-ball 69 not out. Next, PBKS beat another five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets on April 16. Thanks to POTM Arshdeep Singh's 3/22, PBKS stopped MI at 195/6 in 20 overs and chased the target in 16.3 overs with opener Prabhsimran Singh hitting 39-ball 80 and Iyer scoring 35-ball 66. On Sunday (Apr 19), PBKS batted first for the first time in IPL 2026 as scored 254/7 in 20 overs, thanks to POTM Priyansh Arya's 37-ball 93 and Connolly's 46-ball 87. PBKS stopped Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at 200/5, winning the match by 54 runs and became the first team to stay undefeated in first six matches of an IPL season.

In the six matches played, PBKS have won five matches while one was washed out - putting them on top of points table with 11 points. They beat IPL's longest winning streak (from the start of season) of five matches undefeated by Rajasthan Royals (2015) and Kings XI Punjab (2014).

IPL 2026 | Unstoppable Punjab Kings beat own 2014 record to scale new highs in historic start of season

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer is reportedly locked in as Team India’s next T20I skipper should the BCCI selectors decide against continuing with Suryakumar Yadav after IPL 2026. SKY’s form has been a worry for the BCCI selectors and his IPL team (Mumbai Indians), leaving no option but to put him on notice; also, considering the next two assignments two years later (2028 LA Games and the T20 World Cup), the decision-makers are contemplating his role moving forward.&nbsp;Iyer’s journey from an emerging superstar to a marquee player to an IPL captain is all but fascinating. Since first donning the captain’s hat midway through the 2018 IPL season (for Delhi Daredevils, now Delhi Capitals), Iyer switched bases to KKR four years later before leading his team to their third IPL title in 2024. Following his departure ahead of the mega auction, Iyer joined Punjab Kings, where he again joined hands with head coach Ricky Ponting, leading the team to the final in the first season.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-heartbreak-for-csk-as-top-run-getter-ayush-mhatre-suffers-hamstring-tear-urvil-patel-csk-injury-crisis-ms-dhoni-1776590707077">IPL 2026: Heartbreak for CSK as run-getter Ayush Mhatre suffers hamstring tear</a> &nbsp;Established at the PBKS, Iyer, 31, has peaked with his batting form and leadership calls. With Punjab sitting at the top of the points table with five wins in six contested matches and remaining unbeaten thus far, Iyer’s stature as a leader and a dependable middle-order batter has grown leaps and bounds. His match-winning knocks against IPL giants and former winners have further cemented his chances of making a comeback to India’s T20I side for the first time since 2023. &nbsp;“Iyer last played a T20I in 2023. He has not been part of the current setup. It’s a big call to bring him back and hand him the captaincy straightaway,” a BCCI source revealed in a chat with TOI. “The focus has shifted towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, which has given selectors breathing space to plan for a T20I leadership transition.”<h3>High praise from PBKS coach</h3>Ruling the cricket sphere with his timeless aura and brilliant stats, Iyer has received massive praise from PBKS bowling James Hopes, someone who has watched Iyer grow into an unstoppable force today. &nbsp;“He’s very aware of what his perceived weaknesses were over the years. He’s come into this season having really nailed them. When he got hurt in Australia (in Oct last year), he was starting to nailing them in international cricket as well,” Hopes said.&nbsp; &nbsp;“Once he finds his way back into the Indian team, you’ll see the batter he’s going to be for the rest of his career. Captaincy improves his batting.&nbsp; &nbsp;“He was very young when he was captaining Delhi. He’s very well planned, but still follows his gut,” Hopes said. “Ricky and Shreyas work well together. When we get into our meetings, he’s the captain. He steps up, and he’s got his own ideas, he’s willing to listen,” Hopes added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Iyer is currently the vice-captain of Team India’s ODI setup and remains in line to become the next T20I captain.&nbsp;

Reports suggest Shreyas Iyer is the top contender to replace Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain. Read about the BCCI’s potential leadership shift, Iyer’s IPL 2026 form, and why he is back in the mix.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer is reportedly locked in as Team India’s next T20I skipper should the BCCI selectors decide against continuing with Suryakumar Yadav after IPL 2026. SKY’s form has been a worry for the BCCI selectors and his IPL team (Mumbai Indians), leaving no option but to put him on notice; also, considering the next two assignments two years later (2028 LA Games and the T20 World Cup), the decision-makers are contemplating his role moving forward. Iyer’s journey from an emerging superstar to a marquee player to an IPL captain is all but fascinating. Since first donning the captain’s hat midway through the 2018 IPL season (for Delhi Daredevils, now Delhi Capitals), Iyer switched bases to KKR four years later before leading his team to their third IPL title in 2024. Following his departure ahead of the mega auction, Iyer joined Punjab Kings, where he again joined hands with head coach Ricky Ponting, leading the team to the final in the first season. Also read | IPL 2026: Heartbreak for CSK as run-getter Ayush Mhatre suffers hamstring tear Established at the PBKS, Iyer, 31, has peaked with his batting form and leadership calls. With Punjab sitting at the top of the points table with five wins in six contested matches and remaining unbeaten thus far, Iyer’s stature as a leader and a dependable middle-order batter has grown leaps and bounds. His match-winning knocks against IPL giants and former winners have further cemented his chances of making a comeback to India’s T20I side for the first time since 2023. “Iyer last played a T20I in 2023. He has not been part of the current setup. It’s a big call to bring him back and hand him the captaincy straightaway,” a BCCI source revealed in a chat with TOI. “The focus has shifted towards the 2027 ODI World Cup, which has given selectors breathing space to plan for a T20I leadership transition.” High praise from PBKS coach Ruling the cricket sphere with his timeless aura and brilliant stats, Iyer has received massive praise from PBKS bowling James Hopes, someone who has watched Iyer grow into an unstoppable force today. “He’s very aware of what his perceived weaknesses were over the years. He’s come into this season having really nailed them. When he got hurt in Australia (in Oct last year), he was starting to nailing them in international cricket as well,” Hopes said. “Once he finds his way back into the Indian team, you’ll see the batter he’s going to be for the rest of his career. Captaincy improves his batting. “He was very young when he was captaining Delhi. He’s very well planned, but still follows his gut,” Hopes said. “Ricky and Shreyas work well together. When we get into our meetings, he’s the captain. He steps up, and he’s got his own ideas, he’s willing to listen,” Hopes added. Meanwhile, Iyer is currently the vice-captain of Team India’s ODI setup and remains in line to become the next T20I captain.

Reports suggest Shreyas Iyer is the top contender to replace Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I captain. Read about the BCCI’s potential leadership shift, Iyer’s IPL 2026 form, and why he is back in the mix.

Leadership Change within Indian Cricket? BCCI reportedly eyes Shreyas Iyer as next T20I skipper

Last season’s runners-up, the Punjab Kings, have started this edition of the Indian Premier League in a dominant fashion, remaining unbeaten so far. Their strong run has largely been credited to the assured captaincy of Shreyas Iyer. The 31-year-old has looked in outstanding touch since joining the side, seemingly hitting a new level in his performance. After falling just short of the title last season, the PBKS skipper appears focused on finishing the job this time. Known among supporters as “Sarpanch,” he has piled up 203 runs in four innings, maintaining a remarkable average of 67.67 and a strike rate nearing 188, with 14 fours and 14 sixes to his name.&nbsp;&nbsp;Speaking on JioStar’s show Believe, Iyer shared his thoughts on the nickname and admitted that he was initially unfamiliar with its meaning but later learned from teammates that “Sarpanch” refers to a leader or head figure within a community.&nbsp;"I love it. I was clueless at the start of my journey with Punjab Kings about how the 'Sarpanch' tag came up and what it meant. But later, when I asked a couple of my teammates, they explained that 'Sarpanch' means the head of a family, a group, or even a district. That gave me clarity, and from there onwards, my journey started," said Iyer.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/smriti-mandhana-scripts-history-surpasses-rohit-sharma-to-become-india-s-top-t20i-scorer-1776494602616">Smriti Mandhana makes history, surpasses Rohit to become India's top T20I scorer</a>&nbsp;Currently, Punjab Kings sit atop the points table as the only unbeaten side, with nine points from five matches. Their clash with the Kolkata Knight Riders ended without a result, earning both teams a point.&nbsp;&nbsp;Punjab Kings will next face Lucknow Super Giants in a high-octane clash at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Sunday (Apr 19).

Punjab Kings will next face Lucknow Super Giants in a high-octane clash at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Sunday (Apr 19).

Last season’s runners-up, the Punjab Kings, have started this edition of the Indian Premier League in a dominant fashion, remaining unbeaten so far. Their strong run has largely been credited to the assured captaincy of Shreyas Iyer. The 31-year-old has looked in outstanding touch since joining the side, seemingly hitting a new level in his performance. After falling just short of the title last season, the PBKS skipper appears focused on finishing the job this time. Known among supporters as “Sarpanch,” he has piled up 203 runs in four innings, maintaining a remarkable average of 67.67 and a strike rate nearing 188, with 14 fours and 14 sixes to his name. Speaking on JioStar’s show Believe, Iyer shared his thoughts on the nickname and admitted that he was initially unfamiliar with its meaning but later learned from teammates that “Sarpanch” refers to a leader or head figure within a community. "I love it. I was clueless at the start of my journey with Punjab Kings about how the 'Sarpanch' tag came up and what it meant. But later, when I asked a couple of my teammates, they explained that 'Sarpanch' means the head of a family, a group, or even a district. That gave me clarity, and from there onwards, my journey started," said Iyer. Also Read - Smriti Mandhana makes history, surpasses Rohit to become India's top T20I scorer Currently, Punjab Kings sit atop the points table as the only unbeaten side, with nine points from five matches. Their clash with the Kolkata Knight Riders ended without a result, earning both teams a point. Punjab Kings will next face Lucknow Super Giants in a high-octane clash at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Sunday (Apr 19).

Punjab Kings will next face Lucknow Super Giants in a high-octane clash at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Sunday (Apr 19).

'I love it': Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer reacts to ‘Sarpanch’ title

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar lauded Shreyas Iyer for a spectacular relay catch that removed Hardik Pandya during the Indian Premier League 2026 clash between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians on Thursday (Apr 16), describing it as “one of the finest catches” he has witnessed live. On the third delivery of the 18th over, bowled by Marco Jansen, Pandya struck the ball towards the boundary, appearing certain to clear it. Iyer, stationed at long-on, sprinted across and leapt into the air, catching the ball mid-flight with a reverse cup before tossing it to Xavier Bartlett, who safely completed the relay. Replays showed that Iyer released the ball just before crossing the boundary, turning it into an important wicket in a match that Punjab ultimately won.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-lizlaz-german-influencer-trending-after-virat-kohli-liked-her-instagram-post-1776416226676">Who is LizLaz? German influencer trending after Virat Kohli liked her Instagram post?</a>&nbsp;Sharing his thoughts on X, Tendulkar emphasised that the effort stood out not only for its athleticism but also for Iyer’s sharp awareness and decision-making.&nbsp;&nbsp;"What made Shreyas Iyer's catch so special was not just the athleticism, but the awareness behind it. He had to judge the speed of the ball, the height, where the boundary rope was, how close he was to stepping on it, and get his jump absolutely perfect. Then, while still in the air, he caught the ball and released it to a teammate before landing, all the while knowing exactly where that fielder was positioned. To process all of that in a split second takes unbelievable awareness, timing, fitness, and composure. @ShreyasIyer15 got everything spot on. One of the best catches I've ever seen live," Tendulkar said in his post. Coming to the match, the Punjab Kings put a complete performance on display against the Mumbai Indians, defeating them by seven wickets to stay unbeaten in the tournament.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-who-are-the-early-season-orange-and-purple-cap-leaders-check-complete-list-1776416899450">IPL 2026 - Who are the early-season orange and purple cap leaders? Check list</a> Batting first, MI posted 195/6, powered by Quinton de Kock's brilliant 112* off 60 balls and a crucial 122-run partnership with Naman Dhir, who scored a quick 50. Arshdeep Singh led PBKS' bowling effort with the Player of the Match-winning figures of 3/22 in four overs. In response, PBKS chased the target in just 16.3 overs, reaching 198/3. Prabhsimran Singh starred with an unbeaten 80 off 39 balls, while skipper Shreyas Iyer contributed a fluent 66 off 35 balls. The duo added a match-defining stand after early setbacks. For MI, Allah Ghazanfar picked up 2/32, but the bowlers were largely ineffective as PBKS dominated the chase. With this victory, PBKS climbed to the top of the table with four wins and a no-result, overtaking defending champions RCB, while MI slipped to ninth place with just one win from five matches.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar praised Shreyas Iyer’s stunning relay catch to dismiss Hardik Pandya in the PBKS vs MI clash at Wankhede.

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar lauded Shreyas Iyer for a spectacular relay catch that removed Hardik Pandya during the Indian Premier League 2026 clash between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians on Thursday (Apr 16), describing it as “one of the finest catches” he has witnessed live. On the third delivery of the 18th over, bowled by Marco Jansen, Pandya struck the ball towards the boundary, appearing certain to clear it. Iyer, stationed at long-on, sprinted across and leapt into the air, catching the ball mid-flight with a reverse cup before tossing it to Xavier Bartlett, who safely completed the relay. Replays showed that Iyer released the ball just before crossing the boundary, turning it into an important wicket in a match that Punjab ultimately won. Also Read - Who is LizLaz? German influencer trending after Virat Kohli liked her Instagram post? Sharing his thoughts on X, Tendulkar emphasised that the effort stood out not only for its athleticism but also for Iyer’s sharp awareness and decision-making. "What made Shreyas Iyer's catch so special was not just the athleticism, but the awareness behind it. He had to judge the speed of the ball, the height, where the boundary rope was, how close he was to stepping on it, and get his jump absolutely perfect. Then, while still in the air, he caught the ball and released it to a teammate before landing, all the while knowing exactly where that fielder was positioned. To process all of that in a split second takes unbelievable awareness, timing, fitness, and composure. @ShreyasIyer15 got everything spot on. One of the best catches I've ever seen live," Tendulkar said in his post. Coming to the match, the Punjab Kings put a complete performance on display against the Mumbai Indians, defeating them by seven wickets to stay unbeaten in the tournament. Also Read - IPL 2026 - Who are the early-season orange and purple cap leaders? Check list Batting first, MI posted 195/6, powered by Quinton de Kock's brilliant 112* off 60 balls and a crucial 122-run partnership with Naman Dhir, who scored a quick 50. Arshdeep Singh led PBKS' bowling effort with the Player of the Match-winning figures of 3/22 in four overs. In response, PBKS chased the target in just 16.3 overs, reaching 198/3. Prabhsimran Singh starred with an unbeaten 80 off 39 balls, while skipper Shreyas Iyer contributed a fluent 66 off 35 balls. The duo added a match-defining stand after early setbacks. For MI, Allah Ghazanfar picked up 2/32, but the bowlers were largely ineffective as PBKS dominated the chase. With this victory, PBKS climbed to the top of the table with four wins and a no-result, overtaking defending champions RCB, while MI slipped to ninth place with just one win from five matches. With inputs from agencies

Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar praised Shreyas Iyer’s stunning relay catch to dismiss Hardik Pandya in the PBKS vs MI clash at Wankhede.

'One of the best I’ve seen live': Former India legend hails Shreyas Iyer’s relay catch to dismiss Hardik Pandya

Shreyas Iyer has changed everything about Punjab Kings (PBKS). One of the eight franchises from the original eight, PBKS has never won the title but came close to it in IPL 2026, losing to RCB in the final. In IPL 2026, PBKS are currently at the top of 10-team table with nine points from four wins and a washout in five matches played. They are the only unbeaten in the IPL 2026 as of now and have won all the four matches while chasing. The last three of four chases, Iyer scored 50, 69 not out, and 66 - leading the side from the front. Does his form warrant a him a place in India's T20I team?<h2>Should Shreyas Iyer be in India's T20I setup?</h2>Iyer has not played a T20I for India since December 2023 and he doesn't play Tests as often as well, leaving him to be the ODI player for Men In Blue in internationals. His T20 numbers in IPL since, however, are staggering. Iyer made the switch from KKR to PBKS before IPL 2025 and below is how he has performed:Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/match-fixing-in-t20-world-cup-2026-icc-s-anti-corruption-unit-investigating-match-involving-canada-1776396349110">Match fixing in T20 WC 2026? ICC's unit investigating match involving Canada</a><ul><li>Iyer (178.14) has third highest strike rate &nbsp;among batters with 500-plus runs since IPL 2025 - only behind Abhishek Sharma (197.9) and PBKS teammate Priyansh Arya (189.45).</li><li>Iyer (53.8) also has third best average since IPL 2025 - only behind Virat Kohli (55.31) and Jos Buttler (54.92).</li><li>Iyer (807 runs) is also fifth-highest run-getter since IPL 2025 behind Kohli (885), Sai Sudharsan (872), Suryakumar Yadav (823), and Shubman Gill (823).</li></ul>Iyer has found it difficult to break into the Indian T20I set-up and rightfully so as the team is back-to-back winners of T20 World Cup (2024 &amp; 2026), showing little room for drastic changes.<h2>Piyush Chawla, India's 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cup winner, wants Iyer to lead</h2>Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, TimeOut after PBKS beat MI on Thursday (Apr 16) by 7 wickets, Piyush Chawla opined: "Well, for me, if I'm the selector, he definitely walks in. Because he's one of the better players in that middle order. And he has got that cricketing brain on his shoulder, he can actually lead this Indian squad. If you're looking in future, for me, he walks in definitely."With the next T20 World Cup two years away, scheduled to be held in Australia, former Aussie skipper Aaron Finch also agreed with Chawla on the same show, and said: "The next one [T20 World Cup] is in Australia too, isn't it? Yes, more than two years. That provides different conditions again. So I think you're looking at guys who are good players not just in Indian conditions but all around the world. And particularly with some extra bounce as well. So Shreyas would definitely fall into that category."

Iyer has not played a T20I for India since December 2023 and he doesn't play Tests as often as well, leaving him to be the ODI player for Men In Blue in internationals. His T20 numbers in IPL since, however, are staggering after switching from KKR to PBKS before IPL 2025

Shreyas Iyer has changed everything about Punjab Kings (PBKS). One of the eight franchises from the original eight, PBKS has never won the title but came close to it in IPL 2026, losing to RCB in the final. In IPL 2026, PBKS are currently at the top of 10-team table with nine points from four wins and a washout in five matches played. They are the only unbeaten in the IPL 2026 as of now and have won all the four matches while chasing. The last three of four chases, Iyer scored 50, 69 not out, and 66 - leading the side from the front. Does his form warrant a him a place in India's T20I team? Should Shreyas Iyer be in India's T20I setup? Iyer has not played a T20I for India since December 2023 and he doesn't play Tests as often as well, leaving him to be the ODI player for Men In Blue in internationals. His T20 numbers in IPL since, however, are staggering. Iyer made the switch from KKR to PBKS before IPL 2025 and below is how he has performed: Also Read - Match fixing in T20 WC 2026? ICC's unit investigating match involving Canada Iyer (178.14) has third highest strike rate among batters with 500-plus runs since IPL 2025 - only behind Abhishek Sharma (197.9) and PBKS teammate Priyansh Arya (189.45). Iyer (53.8) also has third best average since IPL 2025 - only behind Virat Kohli (55.31) and Jos Buttler (54.92). Iyer (807 runs) is also fifth-highest run-getter since IPL 2025 behind Kohli (885), Sai Sudharsan (872), Suryakumar Yadav (823), and Shubman Gill (823). Iyer has found it difficult to break into the Indian T20I set-up and rightfully so as the team is back-to-back winners of T20 World Cup (2024 & 2026), showing little room for drastic changes. Piyush Chawla, India's 2007 T20 and 2011 ODI World Cup winner, wants Iyer to lead Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, TimeOut after PBKS beat MI on Thursday (Apr 16) by 7 wickets, Piyush Chawla opined: "Well, for me, if I'm the selector, he definitely walks in. Because he's one of the better players in that middle order. And he has got that cricketing brain on his shoulder, he can actually lead this Indian squad. If you're looking in future, for me, he walks in definitely." With the next T20 World Cup two years away, scheduled to be held in Australia, former Aussie skipper Aaron Finch also agreed with Chawla on the same show, and said: "The next one [T20 World Cup] is in Australia too, isn't it? Yes, more than two years. That provides different conditions again. So I think you're looking at guys who are good players not just in Indian conditions but all around the world. And particularly with some extra bounce as well. So Shreyas would definitely fall into that category."

Iyer has not played a T20I for India since December 2023 and he doesn't play Tests as often as well, leaving him to be the ODI player for Men In Blue in internationals. His T20 numbers in IPL since, however, are staggering after switching from KKR to PBKS before IPL 2025

'Can lead Indian team': Two-time WC winner Piyush Chawla on Shreyas Iyer's place in T20I side

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has signalled a selection overhaul after his team suffered a crushing seven-wicket loss to table-toppers Punjab Kings in their just-concluded IPL 2026 home game on Thursday (Apr 16). Despite scoring 195, courtesy of Quinton de Kock’s brilliant hundred in the first innings, MI failed to defend it, with PBKS opener Prabhsimran Singh punishing them with an unbeaten 80 off just 39 balls. However, the real hero for the visitors was their captain, Shreyas Iyer, who not only pulled off perhaps the catch of the summer, but also slammed a match-winning 66 in a mere 35 balls to see his team home.&nbsp;Speechless after a horror defeat, Mumbai’s fourth straight thus far in this season, Pandya at the post-match presser said, “To be honest, I don't have much to say. We need to go back and see where we're lacking - if it's individuals, groups or planning and work it out.”&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-shreyas-iyer-s-punjab-sweep-past-mumbai-in-another-dominant-win-hosts-lose-fourth-consecutive-contest-1776360246677">IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer's Punjab sweep past Mumbai in another dominant win, hosts lose fourth consecutive contest</a> &nbsp;Punjab won the toss and elected to field first, a decision they were sure would reap rewards. De Kock’s return to the MI did help the hosts, as they banked on his heroics to register a fighting total. However, with dew bound to make its presence felt, their final score felt at least 20 shy, something MI batter Naman Dhir also admitted during the mid-break. &nbsp;Punjab, oozing with confidence, started superbly, with two openers going about their business from the word go. However, two wickets inside the Powerplay brought the skipper to the crease, and the rest remains applaudable. Alongside Prabhsimran, who kept the scoring rate ticking, Iyer led from the front and smashed bowlers, including ace quick Jasprit Bumrah, for fun.&nbsp; &nbsp;The pair added a mighty 139 for the third wicket, and with that, almost sealed the game before Dhir pulled off a stunner to get rid of the Punjab captain. Marcus Stoinis and Prabhsimran then completed the formality, inflicting a seven-wicket defeat on the Mumbai Indians to go on top of the points table with nine points from five contested matches.&nbsp; &nbsp;“Credit to PBKS, ball started reversing. Dew came in the second innings, but they beat us. They bowled and fielded better. We need to see if we need to make difficult calls or see if we continue and turn things around. Ownership has to be taken,” Pandya continued.

Hardik Pandya hints at a major Mumbai Indians shake-up after a crushing loss to Punjab Kings. Despite a de Kock ton, Shreyas Iyer's heroics and Prabhsimran's blitz left MI winless in 4 games. Read the full post-match analysis.

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has signalled a selection overhaul after his team suffered a crushing seven-wicket loss to table-toppers Punjab Kings in their just-concluded IPL 2026 home game on Thursday (Apr 16). Despite scoring 195, courtesy of Quinton de Kock’s brilliant hundred in the first innings, MI failed to defend it, with PBKS opener Prabhsimran Singh punishing them with an unbeaten 80 off just 39 balls. However, the real hero for the visitors was their captain, Shreyas Iyer, who not only pulled off perhaps the catch of the summer, but also slammed a match-winning 66 in a mere 35 balls to see his team home. Speechless after a horror defeat, Mumbai’s fourth straight thus far in this season, Pandya at the post-match presser said, “To be honest, I don't have much to say. We need to go back and see where we're lacking - if it's individuals, groups or planning and work it out.” Also read | IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer's Punjab sweep past Mumbai in another dominant win, hosts lose fourth consecutive contest Punjab won the toss and elected to field first, a decision they were sure would reap rewards. De Kock’s return to the MI did help the hosts, as they banked on his heroics to register a fighting total. However, with dew bound to make its presence felt, their final score felt at least 20 shy, something MI batter Naman Dhir also admitted during the mid-break. Punjab, oozing with confidence, started superbly, with two openers going about their business from the word go. However, two wickets inside the Powerplay brought the skipper to the crease, and the rest remains applaudable. Alongside Prabhsimran, who kept the scoring rate ticking, Iyer led from the front and smashed bowlers, including ace quick Jasprit Bumrah, for fun. The pair added a mighty 139 for the third wicket, and with that, almost sealed the game before Dhir pulled off a stunner to get rid of the Punjab captain. Marcus Stoinis and Prabhsimran then completed the formality, inflicting a seven-wicket defeat on the Mumbai Indians to go on top of the points table with nine points from five contested matches. “Credit to PBKS, ball started reversing. Dew came in the second innings, but they beat us. They bowled and fielded better. We need to see if we need to make difficult calls or see if we continue and turn things around. Ownership has to be taken,” Pandya continued.

Hardik Pandya hints at a major Mumbai Indians shake-up after a crushing loss to Punjab Kings. Despite a de Kock ton, Shreyas Iyer's heroics and Prabhsimran's blitz left MI winless in 4 games. Read the full post-match analysis.

‘Time for difficult calls,’ Mumbai Indians captain Pandya signals overhaul after crushing loss to Punjab

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Thursday (April 16) continued their unbeaten start to the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) as they defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets at the Wankhede Stadium. Prabhsimran Singh (unbeaten 80) and Shreyas Iyer (66) helped PBKS inflict a fourth straight defeat on MI as the duo overshadowed Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 112. The win means PBKS are now top of the IPL 2026 standings with four wins in five matches and are the only undefeated team in the league.<h2>PBKS go top of IPL 2026 standings</h2>Prabhsimran and fellow opener Priyansh Arya took 21 off the first over of the chase from Deepak Chahar before Afghanistan's Allah Ghazanfar dismissed Arya and Cooper Connolly in quick succession. But Prabhsimran, put down at short third-man by Jasprit Bumrah when he was on 11, thwarted those designs with a typically counter-punching second successive half-century. Prabhsimran's blistering unbeaten 39-ball 80 contained 11 fours and two sixes.&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;Alongside him, Shreyas continued his excellent start to the tournament with a third straight fifty. Worryingly for Mumbai, who slumped to their fourth consecutive loss, Bumrah went wicketless for the fifth match in a row, conceding 41 runs in his four overs.&nbsp;With their pace spearhead rendered ineffective, Mumbai were pummelled by Prabhsimran and Shreyas, who added 139 in only 67 deliveries before the latter fell against the run of play, smartly caught by Naman running in from deep mid-wicket and diving forward. Marcus Stoinis then came to the crease and, with his unbeaten 10 off five deliveries, helped Punjab over the line as they remain the only unbeaten side in the IPL.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a><h2>What happened in MI innings?</h2>De Kock marked his return to the Mumbai team for the first time since 2021 by becoming the first overseas batter to record hundreds for three different sides as the home team posted 195-6 at the Wankhede Stadium. De Kock only got a look-in because Rohit Sharma was ruled out with a hamstring injury.&nbsp;Alongside Naman Dhir, the left-handed opener put on 122 for the third wicket, Dhir making the most of being dropped by Yuzvendra Chahal on 10 to go on to post 50. De Kock, who drove his first ball from compatriot Marco Jansen over cover for six and carried his bat, remained unbeaten on 112 off 60 balls, including eight fours and seven sixes.&nbsp;With Mumbai on course to top 200, Punjab fought back at the death through pacers Arshdeep Singh, who took three wickets, and Jansen, and a spectacular catch facilitated by the brilliance of Shreyas and completed by Xavier Bartlett to account for Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya.

Prabhsimran Singh (unbeaten 80) and Shreyas Iyer (66) helped PBKS inflict a fourth straight defeat on MI as the duo overshadowed Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 112. The win means PBKS are now top of the IPL 2026 standings with four wins in 5 matches and are the only undefeated team in the league.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Thursday (April 16) continued their unbeaten start to the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) as they defeated Mumbai Indians (MI) by seven wickets at the Wankhede Stadium. Prabhsimran Singh (unbeaten 80) and Shreyas Iyer (66) helped PBKS inflict a fourth straight defeat on MI as the duo overshadowed Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 112. The win means PBKS are now top of the IPL 2026 standings with four wins in five matches and are the only undefeated team in the league. PBKS go top of IPL 2026 standings Prabhsimran and fellow opener Priyansh Arya took 21 off the first over of the chase from Deepak Chahar before Afghanistan's Allah Ghazanfar dismissed Arya and Cooper Connolly in quick succession. But Prabhsimran, put down at short third-man by Jasprit Bumrah when he was on 11, thwarted those designs with a typically counter-punching second successive half-century. Prabhsimran's blistering unbeaten 39-ball 80 contained 11 fours and two sixes. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions Alongside him, Shreyas continued his excellent start to the tournament with a third straight fifty. Worryingly for Mumbai, who slumped to their fourth consecutive loss, Bumrah went wicketless for the fifth match in a row, conceding 41 runs in his four overs. With their pace spearhead rendered ineffective, Mumbai were pummelled by Prabhsimran and Shreyas, who added 139 in only 67 deliveries before the latter fell against the run of play, smartly caught by Naman running in from deep mid-wicket and diving forward. Marcus Stoinis then came to the crease and, with his unbeaten 10 off five deliveries, helped Punjab over the line as they remain the only unbeaten side in the IPL. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL What happened in MI innings? De Kock marked his return to the Mumbai team for the first time since 2021 by becoming the first overseas batter to record hundreds for three different sides as the home team posted 195-6 at the Wankhede Stadium. De Kock only got a look-in because Rohit Sharma was ruled out with a hamstring injury. Alongside Naman Dhir, the left-handed opener put on 122 for the third wicket, Dhir making the most of being dropped by Yuzvendra Chahal on 10 to go on to post 50. De Kock, who drove his first ball from compatriot Marco Jansen over cover for six and carried his bat, remained unbeaten on 112 off 60 balls, including eight fours and seven sixes. With Mumbai on course to top 200, Punjab fought back at the death through pacers Arshdeep Singh, who took three wickets, and Jansen, and a spectacular catch facilitated by the brilliance of Shreyas and completed by Xavier Bartlett to account for Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya.

Prabhsimran Singh (unbeaten 80) and Shreyas Iyer (66) helped PBKS inflict a fourth straight defeat on MI as the duo overshadowed Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 112. The win means PBKS are now top of the IPL 2026 standings with four wins in 5 matches and are the only undefeated team in the league.

IPL 2026: Shreyas Iyer's Punjab sweep past Mumbai in another dominant win, hosts lose fourth consecutive contest

Delhi Capitals (DC) are all set to take defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday (April 18) as the two meet in “The Rivalry” week of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). Having lost back-to-back games in IPL 2026, DC will look for a swift reply as they take on in-form RCB at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Speaking ahead of the contest was DC star Vipraj Nigam, who opened up on the team preparations ahead of the crucial contest.<h2>Vipraj opens up on DC preparations</h2>Having won their opening two matches of the IPL 2026 season against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI), DC lost to Gujarat Titans in a last-ball thriller. DC were then on the receiving end of another defeat as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat them in Chennai. Now facing an uphill task against RCB on Saturday, Nigam highlighted that the morale in the team is high as they vow to bounce back against the spirited defending champions.&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;“Morale is still high, yes, we have lost two matches, but whatever mistakes we have made, we have worked on them. The one week we had, we worked on addressing the key issues and what led to our defeats against GT and CSK. Hopefully, we will make a comeback in the tournament and who knows, we might make our comeback during the RCB match on Saturday,” Vipraj said while answering WION’s Aditya Pimpale on ‘JioStar Press Room’ during IPL 2026 Rivalry Week.&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;“Talking of the morale, it is fantastic and everyone is positive, including senior members of the team like the coaching staff, captain, players and others. Coaches have given us the freedom and the space, so we are up for the RCB task,” Vipraj added.&nbsp;Delhi are currently on a three-match away run, which will conclude next week when they face SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Hyderabad. DC’s next home game is against PBKS on Saturday (April 25) before they face RCB on the following Monday.

Having lost back-to-back games in IPL 2026, DC will look for a swift reply as they take on in-form RCB at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Speaking ahead of the contest was DC star Vipraj Nigam, who opened up on the team preparations ahead of the crucial contest.

Delhi Capitals (DC) are all set to take defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday (April 18) as the two meet in “The Rivalry” week of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026). Having lost back-to-back games in IPL 2026, DC will look for a swift reply as they take on in-form RCB at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Speaking ahead of the contest was DC star Vipraj Nigam, who opened up on the team preparations ahead of the crucial contest. Vipraj opens up on DC preparations Having won their opening two matches of the IPL 2026 season against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Mumbai Indians (MI), DC lost to Gujarat Titans in a last-ball thriller. DC were then on the receiving end of another defeat as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) beat them in Chennai. Now facing an uphill task against RCB on Saturday, Nigam highlighted that the morale in the team is high as they vow to bounce back against the spirited defending champions. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL “Morale is still high, yes, we have lost two matches, but whatever mistakes we have made, we have worked on them. The one week we had, we worked on addressing the key issues and what led to our defeats against GT and CSK. Hopefully, we will make a comeback in the tournament and who knows, we might make our comeback during the RCB match on Saturday,” Vipraj said while answering WION’s Aditya Pimpale on ‘JioStar Press Room’ during IPL 2026 Rivalry Week. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions “Talking of the morale, it is fantastic and everyone is positive, including senior members of the team like the coaching staff, captain, players and others. Coaches have given us the freedom and the space, so we are up for the RCB task,” Vipraj added. Delhi are currently on a three-match away run, which will conclude next week when they face SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Hyderabad. DC’s next home game is against PBKS on Saturday (April 25) before they face RCB on the following Monday.

Having lost back-to-back games in IPL 2026, DC will look for a swift reply as they take on in-form RCB at M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Speaking ahead of the contest was DC star Vipraj Nigam, who opened up on the team preparations ahead of the crucial contest.

IPL 2026: Vipraj Nigam backs Delhi to bounce back to form, says 'might make our comeback during RCB match'

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are all set to take on five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) on Thursday (April 16) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) as both teams look to snatch two points. While MI will enter the contest on the back of three consecutive defeats, PBKS remain the only undefeated team in the season. Ahead of the contest, PBKS batter Nehal Wadhera credited captain Shreyas Iyer, who has played a crucial role in the team’s dominance.<h2>Nehal credits Shreyas</h2>"I was talking to Shreyas recently and he told me, ‘You play freely, taking pressure is my job.’ It tells you a lot about him as a leader—he enjoys that responsibility. Seeing him finish games and stay not out in our recent wins has been fabulous for the entire group," Wadhera said on the eve of the MI vs PBKS contest during the press conference.&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;He added that the environment in the dressing room has been shaped by a culture of relentless positivity, led by head coach Ricky Ponting. Nehal noted that the coaching staff focuses on mental development just as much as technical skills.&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;"There is no negative word in his dictionary. He always chooses the positive path and backs us to play without fear. He is always there in the nets, standing and analysing every shot to see how we can be better. That kind of backing gives every player a massive boost in confidence," Nehal explained.&nbsp;Punjab Kings arrive in Mumbai following a massive six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their last outing, where the team chased 219 with 7 balls to spare. PBKS will take on MI at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. IST.

Punjab Kings arrive in Mumbai following a massive six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their last outing, where the team chased 219 with 7 balls to spare. PBKS will take on MI at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. IST.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) are all set to take on five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) on Thursday (April 16) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) as both teams look to snatch two points. While MI will enter the contest on the back of three consecutive defeats, PBKS remain the only undefeated team in the season. Ahead of the contest, PBKS batter Nehal Wadhera credited captain Shreyas Iyer, who has played a crucial role in the team’s dominance. Nehal credits Shreyas "I was talking to Shreyas recently and he told me, ‘You play freely, taking pressure is my job.’ It tells you a lot about him as a leader—he enjoys that responsibility. Seeing him finish games and stay not out in our recent wins has been fabulous for the entire group," Wadhera said on the eve of the MI vs PBKS contest during the press conference. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions He added that the environment in the dressing room has been shaped by a culture of relentless positivity, led by head coach Ricky Ponting. Nehal noted that the coaching staff focuses on mental development just as much as technical skills. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL "There is no negative word in his dictionary. He always chooses the positive path and backs us to play without fear. He is always there in the nets, standing and analysing every shot to see how we can be better. That kind of backing gives every player a massive boost in confidence," Nehal explained. Punjab Kings arrive in Mumbai following a massive six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their last outing, where the team chased 219 with 7 balls to spare. PBKS will take on MI at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. IST.

Punjab Kings arrive in Mumbai following a massive six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their last outing, where the team chased 219 with 7 balls to spare. PBKS will take on MI at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. IST.

IPL 2026: Wadhera credits Iyer after positive start, says 'you play freely, taking pressure is my job'

From Rajat Patidar to Gautam Gambhir here is a list of five captains with most consecutive wins in IPL history. The prestigious also features the likes of Shane Warne, Shreyas Iyer and MS Dhoni. 

From Rajat Patidar to Gautam Gambhir here is a list of five captains with most consecutive wins in IPL history. The prestigious also features the likes of Shane Warne, Shreyas Iyer and MS Dhoni.&nbsp;

From Rajat Patidar to Gautam Gambhir, 5 captains with most consecutive wins in IPL history

Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer has been penalised INR 24 lakh ($25,812) after his team was found guilty of a slow over-rate during their IPL 2026 match against Chennai Super Kings on Friday (Apr 3) at MA Chidambaram Stadium. This marked PBKS’ second such offence this season under the IPL Code of Conduct. Under Article 2.22, the punishment extended beyond the captain, as every member of the playing XI, including impact sub Priyansh Arya, was fined INR 6 lakh or 25% of their match fee (whichever is lower). Despite the off-field fine, PBKS delivered a clinical performance on the field, easily chasing a challenging 210-run target and winning the match comfortably by five wickets.<h2>Will skipper Shreyas Iyer face a ban?</h2>Even though this was Punjab’s second slow over-rate violation, Iyer will not face a ban if the team commits another breach in the upcoming matches. This is due to a rule revision introduced ahead of IPL 2025, which removed the earlier provision of a one-match suspension for captains after three offences in a season. Under the revised rules, penalties are now limited to fines and in-game field restrictions.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/peru-football-derby-incident-leaves-one-dead-47-injured-health-minister-1775272726623">Peru football derby incident leaves one dead, 47 injured: Health minister</a>&nbsp;Additionally, the IPL has implemented a demerit points system aligned with ICC regulations. Under this system, any disciplinary action results in points being added to a player’s record, which remain valid for 36 months. Accumulating points over time can still lead to suspensions, making discipline a longer-term concern rather than an immediate one.<h2>How PBKS outplayed CSK</h2>Opting to bat first, CSK posted a competitive 209/5 in 20 overs. However, their innings got off to a shaky start as Sanju Samson was dismissed for just seven runs by Xavier Bartlett early on. Following this setback, Ayush Mhatre and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad steadied the innings with a solid 96-run partnership for the second wicket.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-updated-points-table-punjab-kings-stay-unbeaten-climb-to-top-after-csk-clash-1775270910433">IPL 2026 updated points table: PBKS stay unbeaten, climb to top after CSK clash</a>&nbsp;After them, Sarfaraz Khan then maintained the momentum with a quickfire 32 off 12 balls, while Shivam Dube contributed an unbeaten 45 off 27 balls.&nbsp;&nbsp;Chasing 210, PBKS got off to an explosive start as Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh put on a strong 60-run stand in the first four overs. Chennai Super Kings fought back, with Matt Henry dismissing Arya, while Prabhsimran was run out.&nbsp;&nbsp;Cooper Connolly then steadied the innings with a 36 off 22 balls to keep the chase on track, before skipper Shreyas Iyer anchored it with a fine half-century. In the end, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis ensured PBKS crossed the finish line comfortably, sealing the win with eight balls to spare.

Despite the off-field fine, PBKS delivered a clinical performance on the field, easily chasing a challenging 210-run target and winning the match comfortably by five wickets.

Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer has been penalised INR 24 lakh ($25,812) after his team was found guilty of a slow over-rate during their IPL 2026 match against Chennai Super Kings on Friday (Apr 3) at MA Chidambaram Stadium. This marked PBKS’ second such offence this season under the IPL Code of Conduct. Under Article 2.22, the punishment extended beyond the captain, as every member of the playing XI, including impact sub Priyansh Arya, was fined INR 6 lakh or 25% of their match fee (whichever is lower). Despite the off-field fine, PBKS delivered a clinical performance on the field, easily chasing a challenging 210-run target and winning the match comfortably by five wickets. Will skipper Shreyas Iyer face a ban? Even though this was Punjab’s second slow over-rate violation, Iyer will not face a ban if the team commits another breach in the upcoming matches. This is due to a rule revision introduced ahead of IPL 2025, which removed the earlier provision of a one-match suspension for captains after three offences in a season. Under the revised rules, penalties are now limited to fines and in-game field restrictions. Also Read - Peru football derby incident leaves one dead, 47 injured: Health minister Additionally, the IPL has implemented a demerit points system aligned with ICC regulations. Under this system, any disciplinary action results in points being added to a player’s record, which remain valid for 36 months. Accumulating points over time can still lead to suspensions, making discipline a longer-term concern rather than an immediate one. How PBKS outplayed CSK Opting to bat first, CSK posted a competitive 209/5 in 20 overs. However, their innings got off to a shaky start as Sanju Samson was dismissed for just seven runs by Xavier Bartlett early on. Following this setback, Ayush Mhatre and captain Ruturaj Gaikwad steadied the innings with a solid 96-run partnership for the second wicket. Also Read - IPL 2026 updated points table: PBKS stay unbeaten, climb to top after CSK clash After them, Sarfaraz Khan then maintained the momentum with a quickfire 32 off 12 balls, while Shivam Dube contributed an unbeaten 45 off 27 balls. Chasing 210, PBKS got off to an explosive start as Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh put on a strong 60-run stand in the first four overs. Chennai Super Kings fought back, with Matt Henry dismissing Arya, while Prabhsimran was run out. Cooper Connolly then steadied the innings with a 36 off 22 balls to keep the chase on track, before skipper Shreyas Iyer anchored it with a fine half-century. In the end, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis ensured PBKS crossed the finish line comfortably, sealing the win with eight balls to spare.

Despite the off-field fine, PBKS delivered a clinical performance on the field, easily chasing a challenging 210-run target and winning the match comfortably by five wickets.

Why did BCCI penalise entire Punjab Kings XI, including impact sub, after CSK win? Check details

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer opened up about his recovery struggle after suffering a spleen injury in the third ODI of India’s Australia tour, which caused him to lose nearly seven kilograms and sidelined him for months. At one point, he was even admitted to the ICU in a Sydney hospital before being discharged. Speaking at an event in Mohali ahead of IPL 2026, Iyer said returning after such an injury was not easy and explained that although he regained fitness in about two months, but putting the lost weight back on required a lot of effort. He added that he enjoys challenges and felt proud to overcome this phase and return to playing, including representing India again in a recent series.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s always challenging to come back after an injury. I had lost around seven kg due to the injury, it was a severe one,” Iyer said in Mohali, ahead of the start of IPL 2026 next week.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Thankfully, I was back in good shape after two months. But gaining those 7 kg back took a lot of effort. I enjoy challenges, and that was one I had to overcome. I’m glad I came through that phase and am back representing my team, and also having represented India in the previous series. I feel proud of myself.”&nbsp;Also Read -<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kkr-coach-abhishek-nayar-provides-major-update-on-harshit-rana-s-replacement-check-details-1774015868607"> KKR coach Abhishek Nayar provides major update on Harshit Rana’s replacement</a>&nbsp;After leading Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title and taking Punjab Kings to the final in 2025, expectations are high from Iyer this season. He said the team’s main goal is to win the trophy and that he enjoys the pressure that comes with it.&nbsp;“Expectations are high, which is fun. I love the challenge. But the important thing is that whenever we step in, we have to win. My eye is on the trophy,” Iyer said before opening up on the importance of team bonding activities.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-major-setback-for-pbks-as-lockie-ferguson-to-miss-start-of-season-1774008942360">IPL 2026: Major setback for PBKS as Lockie Ferguson to miss start of season</a>&nbsp;Iyer also highlighted the importance of team bonding and said that spending time together helps players understand each other better. He mentioned that much of their free time is spent playing games like FIFA, while match strategies are usually discussed before to match days. According to him, building strong relationships off the field eventually leads to better performances on it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“This is the period where we live as a family for two months. The more time we spend together, the more we get to know each other. Now is the time where we build that camaraderie. We spend most of our time in the game room, playing FIFA and other games. The planning and plotting for matches usually happens a day or two before the game, but building this bond off the field helps us get better results eventually,” he added.

Shreyas Iyer has returned from a challenging injury break and is ready to lead Punjab Kings once again, focusing on taking the team a step further in IPL 2026.

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer opened up about his recovery struggle after suffering a spleen injury in the third ODI of India’s Australia tour, which caused him to lose nearly seven kilograms and sidelined him for months. At one point, he was even admitted to the ICU in a Sydney hospital before being discharged. Speaking at an event in Mohali ahead of IPL 2026, Iyer said returning after such an injury was not easy and explained that although he regained fitness in about two months, but putting the lost weight back on required a lot of effort. He added that he enjoys challenges and felt proud to overcome this phase and return to playing, including representing India again in a recent series. “It’s always challenging to come back after an injury. I had lost around seven kg due to the injury, it was a severe one,” Iyer said in Mohali, ahead of the start of IPL 2026 next week. “Thankfully, I was back in good shape after two months. But gaining those 7 kg back took a lot of effort. I enjoy challenges, and that was one I had to overcome. I’m glad I came through that phase and am back representing my team, and also having represented India in the previous series. I feel proud of myself.” Also Read - KKR coach Abhishek Nayar provides major update on Harshit Rana’s replacement After leading Kolkata Knight Riders to an IPL title and taking Punjab Kings to the final in 2025, expectations are high from Iyer this season. He said the team’s main goal is to win the trophy and that he enjoys the pressure that comes with it. “Expectations are high, which is fun. I love the challenge. But the important thing is that whenever we step in, we have to win. My eye is on the trophy,” Iyer said before opening up on the importance of team bonding activities. Also Read - IPL 2026: Major setback for PBKS as Lockie Ferguson to miss start of season Iyer also highlighted the importance of team bonding and said that spending time together helps players understand each other better. He mentioned that much of their free time is spent playing games like FIFA, while match strategies are usually discussed before to match days. According to him, building strong relationships off the field eventually leads to better performances on it. “This is the period where we live as a family for two months. The more time we spend together, the more we get to know each other. Now is the time where we build that camaraderie. We spend most of our time in the game room, playing FIFA and other games. The planning and plotting for matches usually happens a day or two before the game, but building this bond off the field helps us get better results eventually,” he added.

Shreyas Iyer has returned from a challenging injury break and is ready to lead Punjab Kings once again, focusing on taking the team a step further in IPL 2026.

‘Took a lot of effort….’: Shreyas Iyer on injury recovery ahead of IPL 2026

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

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

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

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

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

From Shreyas Iyer to Rohit Sharma, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most T20I runs against New Zealand. This list also includes KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav

From Shreyas Iyer to Rohit Sharma, here's a look at the top five Indian batters with most T20I runs against New Zealand. This list also includes KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav

Meet top 5 Indian batters with most T20I runs against New Zealand

Shreyas Iyer recently opened up about the serious spleen injury he suffered during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney, last year. He said he did not realise how serious it was at first and only understood the severity after being taken to the hospital. He described the pain as extremely intense (excruciatingly painful). Despite the setback, he made a strong return to international cricket, scoring 49 runs in India’s first ODI win against New Zealand in Vadodara.&nbsp;Speaking about the injury, Iyer said the pain was unbearable and that he had never even heard much about the spleen before. It was only after doctors explained that the spleen is an important organ that he realised how serious the injury was.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It was painful, excruciatingly painful. I didn’t realise how tough that injury was until I got to know that the spleen is an important part of our body and it’s an organ and I didn’t even know about the word," Iyer said.&nbsp;“Then the next day when I was admitted to the hospital, after that I realised, ‘Wow, okay, this was a severe injury.’ Yes, it was (spleen was learnt as a new word that day)," he added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australian-open-2026-alcaraz-sinner-and-sabalenka-swiatek-top-seed-players-1768392203402">Australian Open 2026: Alcaraz, Sinner and Sabalenka, Swiatek top seed players</a>&nbsp;Iyer further spoke about how recovery was mentally challenging. He said that even though he naturally likes to stay busy and keep moving, he had to consciously slow down and allow his body enough time to recover.&nbsp;&nbsp;“This process, I felt that I had to give myself a little bit of time not to over-exert myself because I’m someone who can’t sit in one place. I want to keep doing one thing or another," he said.&nbsp;Also Check - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/u-19-odi-world-cup-india-s-five-title-wins-are-most-by-any-team-1768395007483">U-19 ODI World Cup: India's five title wins are most by any team</a>&nbsp;The 31-year-old added that the injury forced him to pause and think, which helped him to rest and refresh his mind. He said his return to training went well because he followed the recovery advice and allowed himself the full six to eight weeks needed to heal. &nbsp;“But this injury especially gave me time to reflect upon myself, rejuvenate and also relax as much as possible because it’s not that you can get up and start working out straight away. You need to give yourself a lot of time and I was told that within six to eight weeks, you will be back to normal and then you can start training. So I just followed the proper guidelines, which I was provided with and then after that it was a smooth sailing ride," he added.

Despite the injury, Iyer made a strong return to the international cricket. He scored 49 runs in India’s first ODI win against New Zealand in Vadodara.  

Shreyas Iyer recently opened up about the serious spleen injury he suffered during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney, last year. He said he did not realise how serious it was at first and only understood the severity after being taken to the hospital. He described the pain as extremely intense (excruciatingly painful). Despite the setback, he made a strong return to international cricket, scoring 49 runs in India’s first ODI win against New Zealand in Vadodara. Speaking about the injury, Iyer said the pain was unbearable and that he had never even heard much about the spleen before. It was only after doctors explained that the spleen is an important organ that he realised how serious the injury was. “It was painful, excruciatingly painful. I didn’t realise how tough that injury was until I got to know that the spleen is an important part of our body and it’s an organ and I didn’t even know about the word," Iyer said. “Then the next day when I was admitted to the hospital, after that I realised, ‘Wow, okay, this was a severe injury.’ Yes, it was (spleen was learnt as a new word that day)," he added. Also Read - Australian Open 2026: Alcaraz, Sinner and Sabalenka, Swiatek top seed players Iyer further spoke about how recovery was mentally challenging. He said that even though he naturally likes to stay busy and keep moving, he had to consciously slow down and allow his body enough time to recover. “This process, I felt that I had to give myself a little bit of time not to over-exert myself because I’m someone who can’t sit in one place. I want to keep doing one thing or another," he said. Also Check - U-19 ODI World Cup: India's five title wins are most by any team The 31-year-old added that the injury forced him to pause and think, which helped him to rest and refresh his mind. He said his return to training went well because he followed the recovery advice and allowed himself the full six to eight weeks needed to heal. “But this injury especially gave me time to reflect upon myself, rejuvenate and also relax as much as possible because it’s not that you can get up and start working out straight away. You need to give yourself a lot of time and I was told that within six to eight weeks, you will be back to normal and then you can start training. So I just followed the proper guidelines, which I was provided with and then after that it was a smooth sailing ride," he added.

Despite the injury, Iyer made a strong return to the international cricket. He scored 49 runs in India’s first ODI win against New Zealand in Vadodara. &nbsp;

'I didn’t realise how...': Shreyas Iyer on the injury that changed his career

The Indian Cricket season this year gets underway with the first of the three ODIs against New Zealand starting on Sunday (Jan 11) in Vadodara. The Men in Blue gear up for the marquee white-ball series against their old foes, a team that has often troubled them across formats. Veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to playing the only format, while all eyes will be on Shreyas Iyer, who returns from a spleen injury he suffered in Australia in October last year. However, Rishabh Pant’s last-minute injury has dented the team’s combination ahead of the series opener. It’s time we take a look at the match preview.<h2>Match Preview –</h2>Team India has a few returnees in the captain and opener Shubman Gill, who recovered in time from the neck injury he suffered late last year (during the Kolkata Test against South Africa) and also Iyer, who is back after spending close to three months on the sidelines. Their comebacks will boost the team morale, which already has run-scoring machines in Rohit and Kohli at the top.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳 <a href="https://t.co/vh42mLpJLd">pic.twitter.com/vh42mLpJLd</a>&mdash; Shreyas Iyer (@ShreyasIyer15) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShreyasIyer15/status/2009991162866872370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

With the wicket in Vadodara said to be a batting-friendly one, the star-studded Indian ODI line-up would be waiting to make the most of it. Despite not having Pant for the New Zealand ODIs after he suffered a blow during the nets on the game eve, the hosts luckily have a backup keeper in batting mainstay KL Rahul.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-rishabh-pant-ruled-out-of-odi-series-due-to-injury-report-1768067376024">IND vs NZ: Rishabh Pant ruled out of ODI series due to injury - Report</a> &nbsp;No Hardik Pandya means India will field two all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy, alongside playing four specialist bowlers in Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj and spin lead Kuldeep Yadav. &nbsp;New Zealand, on the other hand, will field a second-string ODI side, with plenty of their first-team players, including Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra and Mitchell Santner, all rested. Kiwi’s highest wicket-taker last year, Jacob Duffy, is also unavailable for the ODI series, with several new faces likely to fill up the playing XI in Vadodara. &nbsp;Despite all of this, the visitors will have experience in Devon Conway, Daryll Mitchell, Will Young and captain Michael Bracewell. Their bowling attack, however, would be inexperienced heading into the first ODI.<h3>Here are the predicted playing XIs of both teams for the first ODI –</h3>India - Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh &nbsp;New Zealand - Devon Conway (wk), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell (captain), Josh Clarkson, Kristian Clarke, Kyle Jamieson, Aditya Ashok and Michael Rae

India and New Zealand will square off in the first of the three scheduled ODIs starting Sunday in Vadodara.

The Indian Cricket season this year gets underway with the first of the three ODIs against New Zealand starting on Sunday (Jan 11) in Vadodara. The Men in Blue gear up for the marquee white-ball series against their old foes, a team that has often troubled them across formats. Veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to playing the only format, while all eyes will be on Shreyas Iyer, who returns from a spleen injury he suffered in Australia in October last year. However, Rishabh Pant’s last-minute injury has dented the team’s combination ahead of the series opener. It’s time we take a look at the match preview. Match Preview – Team India has a few returnees in the captain and opener Shubman Gill, who recovered in time from the neck injury he suffered late last year (during the Kolkata Test against South Africa) and also Iyer, who is back after spending close to three months on the sidelines. Their comebacks will boost the team morale, which already has run-scoring machines in Rohit and Kohli at the top.

India and New Zealand will square off in the first of the three scheduled ODIs starting Sunday in Vadodara.

IND vs NZ 1st ODI: All eyes on Shreyas Iyer; Rishabh Pant ruled out with injury – Match Preview

India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been cleared for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand as he will join the squad on Friday (Jan 9). Iyer, who has been out of international action since October after sustaining a rib injury in Australia will link with the rest of the squad in Vadodara. The Indian team will take on New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday as the Men in Blue kick start their 2026 campaign.&nbsp;<h2>Iyer set join Indian squad</h2>Having returned to action for the Vijay Hazare Trophy (India’s domestic 50-over competition), eyes were on the Mumbai batter as he was on the road to recovery. Initially named in the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series, doubts surrounded the availability of the batter for the opening match in Vadodara. However, he was at his full fitness during the VHT, meaning he was cleared to join the Indian squad.&nbsp;In doing so, Iyer will also take over as the vice-captain of the Indian side with Shubman Gill set to lead. KL Rahul was the designated vice-captain in Iyer’s absence, while the former also took over the captain’s armband in the South Africa ODI series.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;India will enter the ODI series with heads held high, with eyes once again on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Virat scored back-to-back hundreds against South Africa before scoring an unbeaten fifty in the third ODI. He will be eager to add to his impressive tally, while Rohit has also aged well in recent outings.&nbsp;For the ODI series, India have included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Rishabh Pant, while Mohammed Shami yet again misses out.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a><h2>India ODI squad</h2>Shubman Gill (capt), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vice-capt), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Shreyas Iyer will also take over as the vice-captain of the Indian side with Shubman Gill set to lead in New Zealand ODI series. KL Rahul was the designated vice-captain in Iyer’s absence, while the former also took over the captain’s armband in the South Africa ODI series.

India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been cleared for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand as he will join the squad on Friday (Jan 9). Iyer, who has been out of international action since October after sustaining a rib injury in Australia will link with the rest of the squad in Vadodara. The Indian team will take on New Zealand at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Sunday as the Men in Blue kick start their 2026 campaign. Iyer set join Indian squad Having returned to action for the Vijay Hazare Trophy (India’s domestic 50-over competition), eyes were on the Mumbai batter as he was on the road to recovery. Initially named in the Indian squad for the three-match ODI series, doubts surrounded the availability of the batter for the opening match in Vadodara. However, he was at his full fitness during the VHT, meaning he was cleared to join the Indian squad. In doing so, Iyer will also take over as the vice-captain of the Indian side with Shubman Gill set to lead. KL Rahul was the designated vice-captain in Iyer’s absence, while the former also took over the captain’s armband in the South Africa ODI series. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes India will enter the ODI series with heads held high, with eyes once again on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Virat scored back-to-back hundreds against South Africa before scoring an unbeaten fifty in the third ODI. He will be eager to add to his impressive tally, while Rohit has also aged well in recent outings. For the ODI series, India have included Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Rishabh Pant, while Mohammed Shami yet again misses out. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes India ODI squad Shubman Gill (capt), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer (vice-capt), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Shreyas Iyer will also take over as the vice-captain of the Indian side with Shubman Gill set to lead in New Zealand ODI series. KL Rahul was the designated vice-captain in Iyer’s absence, while the former also took over the captain’s armband in the South Africa ODI series.

IND vs NZ: Shreyas Iyer passed fit for ODI series, set to join Indian squad on Friday

India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been declared fit by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), opening the door for his return to international cricket and the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting on January 11 in Vadodara. The Mumbai batter was sidelined after suffering a spleen injury during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney in October last year. Although he was named in India’s 15-member squad for the New Zealand series on January 3, his participation was subject to medical clearance.&nbsp;Iyer returned to action on January 6, captaining Mumbai in a Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 match against Himachal Pradesh. He made a strong comeback, scoring a quick 82 off 53 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes. He was initially expected to play another domestic game against Punjab on January 8 before getting final clearance. However, the medical team was pleased with his recovery and fitness and cleared him earlier than planned, as per various media reports.&nbsp;<h2>Iyer's ODI record against New Zealand&nbsp;</h2>Iyer has an excellent record against New Zealand in One Day Internationals. In 10 matches, he has scored 611 runs in nine innings at an average of 67.88 and a strike rate close to 98. His tally also includes four half-centuries and two hundreds.<h2>Iyer's overall ODI stats</h2>Overall, Iyer has played 73 ODIs for India and scored 2,917 runs at an average of 47.81 and a strike rate of 99.01. His tally also includes 23 fifties and five centuries, with his best score being an unbeaten 128 against the Netherlands during the 2023 ODI World Cup in Bengaluru.<h2>IND vs NZ, ODIs - Full schedule</h2><ul><li>1st ODI: Sunday, 11 Jan – Vadodara</li><li>2nd ODI: Wednesday, 14 Jan – Rajkot</li><li>3rd ODI: Sunday, 18 Jan – Indore</li></ul><h2>India’s squad for ODI series against New Zealand</h2>Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal

India will face New Zealand in a three-match ODI series and a five-match T20I series starting on January 11. In the ODI format, attention will again be on former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are set to make a comeback after strong performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. 

India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer has been declared fit by the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Centre of Excellence (CoE), opening the door for his return to international cricket and the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting on January 11 in Vadodara. The Mumbai batter was sidelined after suffering a spleen injury during the third ODI against Australia in Sydney in October last year. Although he was named in India’s 15-member squad for the New Zealand series on January 3, his participation was subject to medical clearance. Iyer returned to action on January 6, captaining Mumbai in a Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 match against Himachal Pradesh. He made a strong comeback, scoring a quick 82 off 53 balls, including 10 fours and three sixes. He was initially expected to play another domestic game against Punjab on January 8 before getting final clearance. However, the medical team was pleased with his recovery and fitness and cleared him earlier than planned, as per various media reports. Iyer's ODI record against New Zealand Iyer has an excellent record against New Zealand in One Day Internationals. In 10 matches, he has scored 611 runs in nine innings at an average of 67.88 and a strike rate close to 98. His tally also includes four half-centuries and two hundreds. Iyer's overall ODI stats Overall, Iyer has played 73 ODIs for India and scored 2,917 runs at an average of 47.81 and a strike rate of 99.01. His tally also includes 23 fifties and five centuries, with his best score being an unbeaten 128 against the Netherlands during the 2023 ODI World Cup in Bengaluru. IND vs NZ, ODIs - Full schedule 1st ODI: Sunday, 11 Jan – Vadodara 2nd ODI: Wednesday, 14 Jan – Rajkot 3rd ODI: Sunday, 18 Jan – Indore India’s squad for ODI series against New Zealand Shubman Gill (C), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Shreyas Iyer (VC), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh and Yashasvi Jaiswal

India will face New Zealand in a three-match ODI series and a five-match T20I series starting on January 11. In the ODI format, attention will again be on former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are set to make a comeback after strong performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.&nbsp;

IND vs NZ, ODI series: Shreyas Iyer set to international return from clearance from BCCI team - Report

Round 6 of the 2026 Vijay Hazare Trophy on Jan 6, 2026 saw Shreyas Iyer celebrating his return with a blistering 82, while Aman Rao hit a historic 200 not out for Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill struggled for Punjab and scored only 11 runs, and Devdutt Padikkal crossed 600 tournament runs.

Round 6 of the 2026 Vijay Hazare Trophy on Jan 6, 2026 saw Shreyas Iyer celebrating his return with a blistering 82, while Aman Rao hit a historic 200 not out for Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill struggled for Punjab and scored only 11 runs, and Devdutt Padikkal crossed 600 tournament runs.

Vijay Hazare Trophy Round 6: Iyer hits 82, Gill fails on return & Aman Rao 200 among other notable performances

India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is set to return to 50-over cricket after being sidelined for several months due to a serious spleen injury. The 31-year-old is likely to feature in Mumbai’s final two league matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, against Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Mumbai chief selector Sanjay Patil, who is with the team in Jaipur, said that Shreyas will join the squad on Sunday and is expected to play in the next few matches.&nbsp;“Shreyas will join the team here on Sunday, and he will be playing in the next couple of games,” said Mumbai’s chief selector Sanjay Patil.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mustafizur-rahman-to-lead-bangladesh-t20-world-cup-squad-najmul-shanto-jaker-ali-miss-out-1767514336266">Mustafizur Rahman to lead Bangladesh pace attack at T20 World Cup; Shanto, Jaker Ali miss out</a>&nbsp;Shreyas recently spent 10 days at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence to complete the final part of his rehabilitation. He also took part in a practice match on Friday and looked completely comfortable, showing no signs of discomfort. If he gets final medical approval, he will link up with the Indian team for the ODI series against New Zealand starting on Jan 11.&nbsp;&nbsp;Iyer sustained the injury in October last year during the third and final ODI against Australia in Sydney. The spleen injury occurred while he was running backwards to take a catch to dismiss Alex Carey. He was taken off the field immediately and later admitted to hospital.&nbsp;&nbsp;The BCCI at that time said in a statement, that the "injury was promptly identified, and the bleeding was immediately arrested following a minor procedure."&nbsp;Also Check - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/meet-top-5-bowlers-in-latest-icc-test-bowling-rankings-2026-jasprit-bumrah-mitchell-starc-noman-ali-pat-cummins-matt-henry-1767507667371">Meet top 5 bowlers in latest ICC Test bowling rankings 2026</a>&nbsp;Shreyas began his recovery towards the end of November and also attended the IPL auction in Abu Dhabi on Dec 16, where he represented the Punjab Kings.&nbsp;The current Vijay Hazare Trophy season has seen many big players in action. Senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have also played domestic matches as part of the BCCI’s requirement.&nbsp;Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been regularly playing for Delhi and is expected to play the full season for his team.

The current Vijay Hazare Trophy season has seen many big players in action. Senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have also played domestic matches as part of the BCCI’s requirement.

India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is set to return to 50-over cricket after being sidelined for several months due to a serious spleen injury. The 31-year-old is likely to feature in Mumbai’s final two league matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, against Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Mumbai chief selector Sanjay Patil, who is with the team in Jaipur, said that Shreyas will join the squad on Sunday and is expected to play in the next few matches. “Shreyas will join the team here on Sunday, and he will be playing in the next couple of games,” said Mumbai’s chief selector Sanjay Patil. Also Read - Mustafizur Rahman to lead Bangladesh pace attack at T20 World Cup; Shanto, Jaker Ali miss out Shreyas recently spent 10 days at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence to complete the final part of his rehabilitation. He also took part in a practice match on Friday and looked completely comfortable, showing no signs of discomfort. If he gets final medical approval, he will link up with the Indian team for the ODI series against New Zealand starting on Jan 11. Iyer sustained the injury in October last year during the third and final ODI against Australia in Sydney. The spleen injury occurred while he was running backwards to take a catch to dismiss Alex Carey. He was taken off the field immediately and later admitted to hospital. The BCCI at that time said in a statement, that the "injury was promptly identified, and the bleeding was immediately arrested following a minor procedure." Also Check - Meet top 5 bowlers in latest ICC Test bowling rankings 2026 Shreyas began his recovery towards the end of November and also attended the IPL auction in Abu Dhabi on Dec 16, where he represented the Punjab Kings. The current Vijay Hazare Trophy season has seen many big players in action. Senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have also played domestic matches as part of the BCCI’s requirement. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been regularly playing for Delhi and is expected to play the full season for his team.

The current Vijay Hazare Trophy season has seen many big players in action. Senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have also played domestic matches as part of the BCCI’s requirement.

Vijay Hazare Trophy: Iyer confirms availability for Mumbai's final two league matches

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the ODI squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand with Shubman Gill set to lead the side. In an announcement made on Saturday (Jan 3) in Jaipur, the selector panel led by Ajit Agarkar announced a 15-man squad for the tournament which included Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj and Shreyas Iyer. The latter is subject to fitness having suffered injury during the ODI series in Australia in October.&nbsp;<h2>India announce squad for ODI series</h2>"The Senior Men's Selection Committee has picked India's squad for the upcoming IDFC First Bank three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11 in Vadodara. Shreyas Iyer's availability is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI COE. Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in a match and, considering the ICC Men's T20 World Cup to follow, his workload is being managed," the BCCI said in a statement.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;With the T20 World Cup fast approaching, selectors kept a close eye on all the players while also considering workload management. Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Mohammed Siraj, who are not part of the T20 World Cup, were the first names on the team sheet. Iyer’s inclusion also comes after he missed out on the South Africa home series.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;Jasprit Bumrah is a notable absentee as the board continues to monitor his situation for workload management. Bumrah is included in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, but will miss the New Zealand series. Similar steps have been taken for Hardik Pandya, who is also rested in favour of the T20 World Cup.&nbsp;India squad: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

In an announcement made on Saturday (Jan 3) in Jaipur, the selector panel led by Ajit Agarkar announced a 15-man squad for the tournament which included Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj and Shreyas Iyer. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the ODI squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand with Shubman Gill set to lead the side. In an announcement made on Saturday (Jan 3) in Jaipur, the selector panel led by Ajit Agarkar announced a 15-man squad for the tournament which included Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj and Shreyas Iyer. The latter is subject to fitness having suffered injury during the ODI series in Australia in October. India announce squad for ODI series "The Senior Men's Selection Committee has picked India's squad for the upcoming IDFC First Bank three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting January 11 in Vadodara. Shreyas Iyer's availability is subject to fitness clearance from the BCCI COE. Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI COE to bowl 10 overs in a match and, considering the ICC Men's T20 World Cup to follow, his workload is being managed," the BCCI said in a statement. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes With the T20 World Cup fast approaching, selectors kept a close eye on all the players while also considering workload management. Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Mohammed Siraj, who are not part of the T20 World Cup, were the first names on the team sheet. Iyer’s inclusion also comes after he missed out on the South Africa home series. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes Jasprit Bumrah is a notable absentee as the board continues to monitor his situation for workload management. Bumrah is included in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup, but will miss the New Zealand series. Similar steps have been taken for Hardik Pandya, who is also rested in favour of the T20 World Cup. India squad: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (wk), Shreyas Iyer, Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohd. Siraj, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Arshdeep Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal.

In an announcement made on Saturday (Jan 3) in Jaipur, the selector panel led by Ajit Agarkar announced a 15-man squad for the tournament which included Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Siraj and Shreyas Iyer.&nbsp;

IND vs NZ: Shubman Gill returns to lead India in ODI format; Shreyas Iyer, Mohammed Siraj earn call back

From Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma here is a look at five Indian batters with most ODI runs in a calendar year. The list also features the likes of Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Shikhar Dhawan who have excelled with the bat in recent years. 

From Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma here is a look at five Indian batters with most ODI runs in a calendar year. The list also features the likes of Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Shikhar Dhawan who have excelled with the bat in recent years.&nbsp;

From Virat Kohli to Rohit Sharma, 5 Indian batters with most ODI runs in a calendar year (last five)

From Shubman Gill to Rohit Sharma here is a look at five Indians batters with most international runs in a calendar year. The list features the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer as well while Virat Kohli narrowly missed out in 2023 despite excellent ODI World Cup.

From Shubman Gill to Rohit Sharma here is a look at five Indians batters with most international runs in a calendar year. The list features the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shreyas Iyer as well while Virat Kohli narrowly missed out in 2023 despite excellent ODI World Cup.

From Shubman Gill to Rohit Sharma, 5 Indians batters with most international runs in a calendar year (last five)

India’s squads for the 2026 T20 World Cup is set to be announced on Saturday (Dec 20) as the hosts look to become first nation to defend their prestigious trophy. India, having won the T20 World Cup in 2024 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy are one of the favourites to win the tournament. The selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is set to meet in Mumbai on Saturday, as eyes will be on key players like Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer and others.<h2>India squad set to be announced on Saturday</h2>The selection committee, led by Agarkar, will have a huge call to make on Saturday with eyes firmly on a few big names, including Samson and Iyer. “India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad will be announced on Saturday with the same squad being named for the New Zealand series,” a BCCI source told WION.&nbsp;India is one of the favourites to win the &nbsp;World Cup, with home advantage being a crucial factor. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is expected to travel to Mumbai overnight with India playing in the final T20I against South Africa on Friday. Gill, despite struggling with form and injury, is expected to be picked up, while Rinku Singh, who was dropped from the South Africa series, will face an anxious wait.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-steve-smith-to-joe-root-5-active-batters-with-most-runs-in-ashes-ben-stokes-jonny-bairstow-usman-khawaja-1762275784636">From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes</a>&nbsp;The bowling department will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to be available for the series and the World Cup. He played a key role in India’s triumph at the T20 World Cup in 2024 alongside Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-leonard-hutton-to-don-bradman-5-batters-with-highest-individual-score-in-ashes-bob-simpson-bob-cowper-ashes-2025-26-1762276944046">From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes</a>&nbsp;India is placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup alongside the USA, Namibia, the Netherlands and arch-rivals Pakistan. The champions begin their title defence against the USA on Feb 7 before taking on Namibia in Delhi on Feb 12. The high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan is set to take place on Feb 15 in Colombo as part of the neutral venue agreement between the nations.<h2>India’s schedule for T20 World Cup</h2>India vs USA - February 7 - Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai)India vs Namibia - February 12 - Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi)India vs Pakistan - February 15 - R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo)India vs Netherlands - February 18 - Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad)

India, having won the T20 World Cup in 2024 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy are one of the favourites to win the tournament.

India’s squads for the 2026 T20 World Cup is set to be announced on Saturday (Dec 20) as the hosts look to become first nation to defend their prestigious trophy. India, having won the T20 World Cup in 2024 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy are one of the favourites to win the tournament. The selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is set to meet in Mumbai on Saturday, as eyes will be on key players like Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer and others. India squad set to be announced on Saturday The selection committee, led by Agarkar, will have a huge call to make on Saturday with eyes firmly on a few big names, including Samson and Iyer. “India’s 2026 T20 World Cup squad will be announced on Saturday with the same squad being named for the New Zealand series,” a BCCI source told WION. India is one of the favourites to win the World Cup, with home advantage being a crucial factor. Captain Suryakumar Yadav is expected to travel to Mumbai overnight with India playing in the final T20I against South Africa on Friday. Gill, despite struggling with form and injury, is expected to be picked up, while Rinku Singh, who was dropped from the South Africa series, will face an anxious wait. ALSO READ | From Steve Smith to Joe Root, 5 active batters with most runs in Ashes The bowling department will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to be available for the series and the World Cup. He played a key role in India’s triumph at the T20 World Cup in 2024 alongside Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel. ALSO READ | From Leonard Hutton to Don Bradman, 5 batters with highest individual score in Ashes India is placed in Group A of the T20 World Cup alongside the USA, Namibia, the Netherlands and arch-rivals Pakistan. The champions begin their title defence against the USA on Feb 7 before taking on Namibia in Delhi on Feb 12. The high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan is set to take place on Feb 15 in Colombo as part of the neutral venue agreement between the nations. India’s schedule for T20 World Cup India vs USA - February 7 - Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai) India vs Namibia - February 12 - Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi) India vs Pakistan - February 15 - R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo) India vs Netherlands - February 18 - Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad)

India, having won the T20 World Cup in 2024 under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy are one of the favourites to win the tournament.

BCCI to announce India's 2026 T20 World Cup squad on Saturday, eyes on Samson, Iyer - Source

From Rishabh Pant to Cameron Green, here's a look at the top six most expensive IPL players of all time. This list also includes Mitchell Starc, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer and Pat Cummins

From Rishabh Pant to Cameron Green, here's a look at the top six most expensive IPL players of all time. This list also includes Mitchell Starc, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer and Pat Cummins

Yearender 2025: Top 6 most expensive IPL players of all time ft Cameron Green, Rishabh Pant

Team India will be without their two star batters, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, for the forthcoming ODI series, as both are recovering from respective injuries. While Gill suffered a neck injury two weeks ago during the Kolkata Test against South Africa and has been out since, Iyer has been missing from the cricketing scene since he lacerated his spleen during the Australian ODIs. When asked about their status ahead of Team India's first ODI on Sunday (Nov 30) in Ranchi, Morkel dropped a welcoming update on their road to recovery.&nbsp;"I think the best is for the medical [team] to give that [update]," Morkel said. "I spoke to Shubman two days ago just to check in with him, and he is recovering well. So, that is pleasing to hear.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Shreyas has also started his rehab, which is great. So, we are looking forward to welcoming them back into the squad. The good thing is that they are healthy, and they are starting their preparation on their way back into the team,” he continued.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/smat-2025-26-ayush-mhatre-creates-history-with-record-ton-breaks-rohit-sharma-s-record-1764342057347">SMAT 2025-26: Ayush Mhatre creates history with record ton; breaks Rohit Sharma’s record</a> &nbsp;With both missing South Africa's white-ball leg, Yashasvi Jaiswal could take up Gill’s place for the three One-Dayers, while one of Rishabh Pant or Tilak Varma could come in at number four.<h3>‘Time to refocus’</h3>Team India surrendered its home dominance with a series defeat to the Proteas, having lost five of the last seven matches at home. Sitting fifth on the points table for the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, they have plenty to do to get back to the top, but Morkel feels the format change will help them rediscover their form and place they think they belong in across formats. &nbsp;"Look, it's a change of colour by clothing, and it's a change of ball which always brings a different energy," Morkel said. "But I feel you know the South African team, they have that momentum with them, and a confident Proteas team is a dangerous team. It will be important to start well, for us to play good cricket over the next week or two, because they're here to win. &nbsp;"Luckily, we have got some good experience ahead now in the team. For us, it is now a focus for the next two days. Give ourselves the best opportunity to prepare well and go out there and put the last couple of weeks behind us and really focus on playing solid cricket,” he added.&nbsp;

After losing the home Test series to South Africa, Team India will engage in the white-ball leg, including three ODIs and five T20Is, starting this Sunday in Ranchi.

Team India will be without their two star batters, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, for the forthcoming ODI series, as both are recovering from respective injuries. While Gill suffered a neck injury two weeks ago during the Kolkata Test against South Africa and has been out since, Iyer has been missing from the cricketing scene since he lacerated his spleen during the Australian ODIs. When asked about their status ahead of Team India's first ODI on Sunday (Nov 30) in Ranchi, Morkel dropped a welcoming update on their road to recovery. "I think the best is for the medical [team] to give that [update]," Morkel said. "I spoke to Shubman two days ago just to check in with him, and he is recovering well. So, that is pleasing to hear. "Shreyas has also started his rehab, which is great. So, we are looking forward to welcoming them back into the squad. The good thing is that they are healthy, and they are starting their preparation on their way back into the team,” he continued. Also read | SMAT 2025-26: Ayush Mhatre creates history with record ton; breaks Rohit Sharma’s record With both missing South Africa's white-ball leg, Yashasvi Jaiswal could take up Gill’s place for the three One-Dayers, while one of Rishabh Pant or Tilak Varma could come in at number four. ‘Time to refocus’ Team India surrendered its home dominance with a series defeat to the Proteas, having lost five of the last seven matches at home. Sitting fifth on the points table for the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, they have plenty to do to get back to the top, but Morkel feels the format change will help them rediscover their form and place they think they belong in across formats. "Look, it's a change of colour by clothing, and it's a change of ball which always brings a different energy," Morkel said. "But I feel you know the South African team, they have that momentum with them, and a confident Proteas team is a dangerous team. It will be important to start well, for us to play good cricket over the next week or two, because they're here to win. "Luckily, we have got some good experience ahead now in the team. For us, it is now a focus for the next two days. Give ourselves the best opportunity to prepare well and go out there and put the last couple of weeks behind us and really focus on playing solid cricket,” he added.

After losing the home Test series to South Africa, Team India will engage in the white-ball leg, including three ODIs and five T20Is, starting this Sunday in Ranchi.

How long before Gill and Iyer return from injuries? Bowling coach Morkel answers

India batter Shreyas Iyer has offered an encouraging update on his health after the recent surgery because of the injury he picked in third ODI against Australia in Sydney on October 25. The batter, while completing a catch, fell awkwardly and lacerated his spleen for which he underwent a surgery. The batter stayed at the hospital under observation for a few days after the surgery with BCCI's medial team also present. Iyer now seems in good health as he posted a 'thank you' message on his official Instagram account with a picture of himself sun-bathing.<h2>Iyer offers health update after going through surgery</h2>"Sun's been a great therapy. Grateful to be back, Thanks for all the love and care," wrote Iyer in his Instagram story post caption along with an image of himself. Have a look at the post below:

India batter Shreyas Iyer shares health update after recent surgery

The 30-year-old was taken off the field after being in visible pain as soon as he completed the catch in the Sydney ODI. He did not take part in the remainder of the match which India won - their only victory in the three-match series which they lost 1-2. Iyer was named vice-captain for the series but now remains doubtful for the upcoming assignments of the Indian team.<h2>Who India play next?</h2>India's next assignment is a two-Test series against South Africa at home after which the white-ball series of three ODIs and five T20Is will start. Iyer isn't an automatic pick in the T20I side and remains doubtful for the ODI series after the recent injury. After South Africa, India will play a white-ball series against New Zealand - also at home. Iyer would be looking to make a comeback against the Kiwis in the three-ODI series which will be followed a five-match T20I series.

The 30-year-old was taken off the field after being in visible pain as soon as he completed the catch in the Sydney ODI on October 25. He did not take part in the remainder of the match which India won - their only victory in the three-match series which they lost 1-2. 

India batter Shreyas Iyer has offered an encouraging update on his health after the recent surgery because of the injury he picked in third ODI against Australia in Sydney on October 25. The batter, while completing a catch, fell awkwardly and lacerated his spleen for which he underwent a surgery. The batter stayed at the hospital under observation for a few days after the surgery with BCCI's medial team also present. Iyer now seems in good health as he posted a 'thank you' message on his official Instagram account with a picture of himself sun-bathing. Iyer offers health update after going through surgery "Sun's been a great therapy. Grateful to be back, Thanks for all the love and care," wrote Iyer in his Instagram story post caption along with an image of himself. Have a look at the post below:

The 30-year-old was taken off the field after being in visible pain as soon as he completed the catch in the Sydney ODI on October 25. He did not take part in the remainder of the match which India won - their only victory in the three-match series which they lost 1-2.&nbsp;

From Rishabh Pant to Shreyas Iyer, here's a look at the top five most expensive IPL players of all time. This list also includes Mitchell Starc, Venkatesh Iyer and Pat Cummins

From Rishabh Pant to Shreyas Iyer, here's a look at the top five most expensive IPL players of all time. This list also includes Mitchell Starc, Venkatesh Iyer and Pat Cummins

Meet top 5 most expensive IPL players of all time

India's ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer, who suffered a ruptured spleen and rib cage injury during the third match against Australia, said he was doing better and is currently on the road to recovery. Taking to social media, Iyer said, “I'm currently in recovery process and getting better, every passing day.”


Shreyas Iyer: I'm currently in recovery process; Vice-captain injured himself while taking a catch

Shreyas Iyer recovering well after scary injury in Sydney, 'getting better every passing day'

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