India is in a spot in the third and final one day match against Afghanistan. The Indian team got the Afghanistan team out for 218 runs in 44.2 overs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Afghanistan won the toss. Chose to bat first they wanted to get a good score on the board but the India bowlers did not let them do that.

India Make Changes to the Playing XI

The India team already won the series they were 2-0 up so they made some changes to the team. They brought in Prasidh Krishna, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harsh Dubey. This worked out well for the India team. The India team bowled well again.

Prasidh Krishna Stars with Five Wickets

Prasidh Krishna was the player he got five wickets. He bowled the ball fast and got the ball to bounce the Afghanistan batsmen found it hard to play him. He got five wickets for 23 runs in 8.2 overs it was one of the bowling performances in the series. Prasidh Krishna kept getting wickets at times he did not let Afghanistan get a score.

Prasidh Krishna and Rohit Sharma Create a Record

Prasidh Krishna and Rohit Sharma also made a record for the India team Rohit caught three balls that Prasidh Krishna bowled they were the Indian pair to do this in one match. The Afghanistan team struggled to get a score they kept losing wickets. The India bowlers kept the pressure on they did not let Afghanistan get a partnership. The Afghanistan team got out with six overs left they did not get an enough score.

India Need 219 Runs to Win

Now the India team needs 219 runs to win the match and win the series 3-0. The India team has batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer so they are confident they can get the runs. The India batsmen have been playing well in the series they want to finish it off in front of the crowd in Chennai.

The Afghanistan team has bowlers like Rashid Khan and Azmatullah Omarzai. The India team is still the favorite to win. For now everyone is talking about Prasidh Krishna he got five wickets he helped the India team get in a position. The India team is one step closer to winning the series 3-0 against the Afghanistan team.

Target for India: 219 Runs

The India team will try to get the runs and win the series they are in a position thanks to Prasidh Krishna. The India team is happy with the way they are playing they want to win the series 3-0 against the Afghanistan team. They are confident they can do it with batsmen, like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer.

A big change might happen to the Delhi Capitals before the IPL 2027 season. There are reports that Rishabh Pant's close to coming back to Delhi Capitals after spending two seasons with Lucknow Super Giants.

The possible move could be one of the trades in recent IPL history. As part of the deal Pant might rejoin Delhi Capitals while star spinner Kuldeep Yadav may move to Lucknow Super Giants. Sources say the agreement is almost done and the paperwork has already been submitted to the BCCI.

Dodda Ganesh Shares His Opinion on KL Rahul

As people start to talk about Pants return India and Karnataka fast bowler Dodda Ganesh shared his thoughts on KL Rahuls future. Ganesh thinks Rahul should consider leaving Delhi Capitals if Pant comes back.

• Ganesh wrote on media that KL Rahul should ask to be released from the franchise and enter the IPL auction if Pant returns.

His comments made cricket fans discuss how Delhi Capitals could manage two wicketkeeper-batters in the same team.

KL Rahul should ask for release and go to the auction if Pant comes back. https://t.co/oVyk9Q9mFQ

— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) June 19, 2026

KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant Had Very Different IPL 2026 Seasons

The debate gets more interesting when looking at their performances in IPL 2026. Both Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants did not qualify for the playoffs. Rahul and Pant had very different seasons.

Pant, who joined Lucknow for a record amount did not do well with the bat. Scored only 312 runs. Under his leadership LSG finished last in the points table. After the season Pant stepped down as captain.

KL Rahul however had a season. He scored 593 runs in 14 matches. Had a high strike rate of 174.41. His best performance was against Punjab Kings, where he hit a 152.

Yuvraj Singh Could Join Delhi Capitals

Meanwhile Delhi Capitals are also expected to improve their coaching team. Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh might join the franchises support staff. Pant and Yuvraj worked together before IPL 2026. Their reunion could be another reason behind Pants possible return.

Sourav Ganguly Set for Return

In another development former India captain Sourav Ganguly is expected to return as the head of cricketing affairs after JSW took control of the franchises management operations.

Reports also suggest that current head coach Hemang Badani might not continue with the team. Delhi Capitals finished sixth in the IPL 2026 standings leading the management to think about changes, before the next season.

What Happens Next?

With Pants return looking Delhi Capitals could be heading into a new era. The biggest question now is whether KL Rahul will stay and fight for his place or choose to enter the auction and start a chapter elsewhere.

Harshit Rana is back after being for several months with a knee injury

He missed the T20 World Cup because of this injury. He has now fully recovered after rehab at the BCCI Centre of Excellence. His return is a step in his comeback.

• The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that Harshit Rana has joined the team in Chennai.

• He will be available for the ODI against Afghanistan.

The main reason Harshit Rana was added is to give him match practice before India’s tours to Ireland and England. The selectors want him to get back into match rhythm and prove his fitness.

• Harshit Rana was part of India’s T20 World Cup team. Got injured.

• He is now being carefully brought back into cricket.

Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar have been doing well.

• Gurnoor Brar has taken six wickets in two matches.

• Prince Yadav also bowled well in the ODI taking two key wickets.

With their good performances the selectors still chose to add Harshit Rana.This shows the team is focused on long-term planning and player fitness.India has already won the ODI series against Afghanistan leading 2-0.The final match will be used to test the team’s depth and give players experience.

The updated Indian team, for the ODI includes

• Shubman Gill (captain)

• Rohit Sharma

• Shreyas Iyer (vice-captain)

• KL Rahul

• Ishan Kishan

• Nitish Kumar Reddy

• Washington Sundar

• Kuldeep Yadav

• Arshdeep Singh

• Prasidh Krishna

• Prince Yadav

• Gurnoor Brar

• Harsh Dubey

• Yashasvi Jaiswal

• Harshit Rana

• Their conversation quickly became popular as fans loved how well they got along the jokes they shared and their friendship.

• Fans enjoyed seeing them have fun together.

Ishan Kishan’s Funny Comment

• In the video Ishan Kishan jokingly teased captain Shubman Gill after not getting a score.

• "Mere 70 run kam kar diye " Kishan laughed, which means "You reduced my score by 70 runs.”

• This was after Gill reportedly told Kishan to try for hits in an over. Kishan tried to hit but got out.

Even though Kishan got out he still played an innings of 125 runs off 79 balls with 14 fours and 7 sixes showing he can bat explosively.

Shubman Gill’s Response

• Gill. Joked back at Kishan. He said Kishan had to try for the hits keeping things light and fun.

• Gill himself played an innings of 154 runs off 110 balls hitting 22 boundaries and playing a controlled knock that helped anchor India’s innings.

Together Gill and Kishan built a 224-run partnership helping India get over 400 runs against Afghanistan.

Strong Partnership Helps India

• The Gill-Kishan partnership was the part of the match. Kishan played aggressively while Gill provided stability.

• Their different styles worked well together. Kishan’s attacking and Gill’s calm batting made one of India’s ODI stands.

India ended with a total of 402 runs putting pressure on Afghanistan from the start.

Players’ Bond Goes Beyond Cricket

• The viral video showed how well Gill and Kishan get along. Their friendly exchange proved that team spirit is important off the field.

• Kishan said he was trying to hit against spin bowling. Gill joked about missing a century showing they respect each other.

Fans praised their friendship saying it’s a sign of an confident Indian team.

Both Players Doing Well

• Ishan Kishan continues to do after coming back. He’s been consistent in ODIs, IPL and international cricket. His aggressive style is important for India’s batting.

• Shubman Gill has been in form too. He’s done well in IPL and international cricket making him one of India’s reliable batters.

The Gill-Kishan dressing room chat added fun to India’s win over Afghanistan. Their batting partnership was strong. Their friendship got a lot of attention. With both players, in form India’s batting future looks strong

The young India captain is doing great across formats. He is showing consistency and confidence. His batting is fearless.

Shubman Gill’s Great Run

In the few weeks Shubman Gill has done amazingly well:

• A big century in IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals

• His 11th Test century against Afghanistan

• An unbeaten 85 in a rain-affected ODI in Dharamsala

• A huge 154-run knock in Lucknow against Afghanistan

This great run has made Gill a big talking point in world cricket.

Sunil Gavaskar’s Honest Opinion

Sunil Gavaskar praised Gill’s leadership and batting. He said being captain has brought out the best in Shubman Gill. According to Gavaskar captaincy can. Improve a player or put pressure on them.. In Gill’s case it has clearly helped him grow.

Gavaskar explained that when a player is performing well his decision-making becomes stronger. He added that form plays a role in captaincy. A confident player like Shubman Gill trusts his instincts on the field.

Why Gill Looks More Confident as Captain

Gavaskar highlighted that when players are in form they make tactical decisions. This includes:

• Choosing the bowlers at the right time

• Making field placements

• Trusting instincts during pressure moments

He said Shubman Gill’s current form has helped him make captaincy decisions for India.

Ishan Kishan and Young Players Shine

The match also saw a performance from Ishan Kishan. He smashed 125 runs. He shared a partnership with Shubman Gill. This helped India cross the 400-run mark.

Their partnership completely changed the game. It put Afghanistan under pressure.

Bowlers Also Impress Gavaskar

Gavaskar also praised Indian pacers Gurnoor Brar and Prince Yadav. The duo picked up five wickets together. They played a role in bowling out Afghanistan for 232 runs.

He especially praised Gurnoor Brar’s bowling rhythm, pace and accuracy. Gavaskar said his pitched bowling troubled batters. It showed potential.

Selectors Get Credit

Gavaskar also appreciated India’s selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar. He said the selectors deserve credit for trusting talents like Gurnoor Brar. They gave him opportunities at the time. This has strengthened India’s bench strength.

Conclusion

Shubman Gill’s great form has made him the center of cricket. With three centuries in three weeks he is leading from the front, as captain. Sunil Gavaskar’s comments highlight how confidence, leadership and performance are working together. If this form continues Shubman Gill could become one of India’s successful modern captains.

Ishan Kishan is back in the news in cricket after he did really well in a game. This is a deal because it could change Indias plans for the ODI World Cup. Ishan Kishan was not part of the team for almost three years but he came back strong with a great century against Afghanistan in Lucknow.

This was not about scoring runs it was like he was saying to the people who pick the team "I am back and I am ready to play big games."

Ishan Kishan’s Big Comeback Moment

Ishan Kishan played a game against Afghanistan in the second ODI. He scored a century, which's a big deal. It was his ODI hundred since he scored a record-breaking double century against Bangladesh in 2022.

That game was special because he scored 210 runs, which's the fastest double century in ODI history. It made him a star in world cricket. Now his latest game has put him back in the talk for Indias World Cup team.

From Dropout to Comeback Star

Ishan Kishan did not have it easy after his success. He had some games but he could not stay in the Indian team. During the 2023 ODI World Cup he was not the choice to keep wickets and he sat on the bench a lot.

After that he took a break from cricket and was not given a central contract because he missed some domestic games. People started wondering if he would ever play for India again.

Strong Return Through Domestic Cricket

But Ishan Kishan did not give up. He went back to playing cricket for Jharkhand and worked hard to get his form and confidence back.

He started doing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he was the captain. He scored a lot of runs. Became one of the most dangerous batsmen in the tournament.

This helped him get back into the Indian T20I team and the T20 World Cup team.

IPL and International Revival

Ishan Kishan kept playing in the IPL. He was aggressive and consistent which made the selectors think about him for the 50-over team.

When some players got hurt in the squad Ishan Kishan got a chance to play against Afghanistan. He scored 125 runs fast in Lucknow. Made a big partnership.

Versatility Gives India a Selection Dilemma

One of the things about Ishan Kishan is that he can do many things. He can open the batting play in the order and even keep wickets. This makes him very useful for the 2027 ODI World Cup plans.

Cricket experts think that Ishan Kishans return could make it hard for some senior players like KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and even Virat Kohli to keep their spots.

World Cup Selection Pressure Rising

With the next ODI World Cup coming up every game matters. Ishan Kishans exciting batting style and ability to change games quickly have put him back in the running.

Some former cricketers even think that he is almost sure to be part of Indias long-term ODI plans if he keeps playing

Ishan Kishans story shows how fast things can change in cricket. He went from not being in the team to being a star and now the selectors have to rethink their plans for the World Cup.

If Ishan Kishan keeps playing like this the final team selection, for the World Cup could be very competitive.

The India captain Shubman Gill and the wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan did a job with their batting. They both scored centuries. Worked together really well.

They started playing after India had a setback. Shubman Gill went in to bat early. He played beautifully. Quickly got into a rhythm. Shubman Gill scored his century quickly and then scored a century. This was his century as the captain of India in an ODI match and his ninth century in ODI cricket.

Ishan Kishan played aggressively

He started slowly. Then hit the ball really hard. Ishan Kishan scored his fifty easily. Then scored his century quickly. This was his century in ODI cricket and his first since he scored a double century against Bangladesh in 2022.

The best part of the match was when Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan played together. They scored 224 runs together. Shubman Gill played carefully. Ishan Kishan played aggressively. They both played well and put a lot of pressure on Afghanistan.

Even good bowlers like Rashid Khan and Ghazanfar had a time stopping them. Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan kept scoring runs quickly. Helped India score over 300 runs in just 35.5 overs.

Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan did something special. They both scored centuries. Hit the ball really hard. This is not something you see every day in cricket.

India is now in a position in the ODI series

They won the match and now they have won the second match as well. The fans are really happy with Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan. They played well together and showed how good they are, at batting. This match showed that India has a lot of batsmen and that Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan are playing really well in ODI cricket.

Suryakumar Yadav is a star batter. Uthappa believes Suryakumar Yadav’s departure from the Mumbai Indians to return to join the Kolkata Knight Riders could eventually lead the Kolkata side again. That has been a subject of heated debate for fans who are all the rage for the next IPL season to come.

Suryakumar Yadav’s Recent Struggles

Recently, Suryakumar Yadav has had a tough time. He plays in the T20 batters department of India and was not picked for some of the national games. He also did badly in the IPL 2023.

He even stopped following the Mumbai Indians for a period of time on social media; this led to speculation that in the meantime he was having problems in relation to the team.

We're not sure for sure if he is leaving but people still talk about what will happen to Suryakumar Yadav.

Robin Uthappa’s Prediction on KKR Return

There was some prediction made by Robin Uthappa. Suryakumar Yadav could go back to the Kolkata Knight Riders, he said.

Suryakumar Yadav had played for the Kolkata Knight Riders. If he went back, it would definitely be good for Suryakumar Yadav and the Kolkata Knight Riders.

The Kolkata Knight Riders may be in search of a leader now. Their leadership hasn’t been great so they may want someone with more familiarity like Suryakumar Yadav.

Possible Reunion with Gautam Gambhir

Uthappa also discussed Gautam Gambhir. He feels Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav might also be able to work together again at the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Gautam Gambhir used to coach the team; he may go back to the Kolkata Knight Riders as a coach or mentor. If that happens, Suryakumar Yadav might be the team leader again.

Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav have had earlier professional roles with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Gautam Gambhir assisted Suryakumar Yadav as a younger player. He had even handed him a leadership role.

Future in Franchise Cricket

Suryakumar Yadav can continue for years in cricket as a franchise, Robin Uthappa thinks. He is able to compete extremely well with the T20 format.

He would not be as successful getting back into Indian national T20. So the team has players and different rules. So Uthappa believes Suryakumar Yadav will be a player of immense worth for the IPL for a long time to come.

KKR Fans Excited

Fans of the Kolkata Knight Riders are highly excited about the prospect of Suryakumar Yadav coming. If that happens, one of the comeback stories can happen in the IPL.

Suryakumar Yadav and Gautam Gambhir might be together for a team.

The match was very exciting. Both teams played well and the scores were tied at the end. The game went into a Super Over to decide the winner. After India A lost things got heated up on the field.

What happened next was over the news

As the Indian players were walking back an argument started between players from both teams. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and a Sri Lankan player named Vishen Halambage got into an argument. Videos showed that the players were very emotional and had to be separated.

Even though we do not know what exactly was said this incident became a talking point.For cricket experts this incident shows that international cricket is not just about physical strength, but also about mental strength. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is a talented young player but he is still only 15 years old and learning to deal with the pressure of being famous.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been in the spotlight since his performance in the Indian Premier League in 2026. Now everything he does is being watched closely by fans, media and other players.Former players think that other teams will try to challenge Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. They will try to distract him and play mind games with him. Learning to stay calm in these situations is important for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to become an international player.

This is not the time Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been involved in an argument on the field. During the Under-19 Asia Cup he had a disagreement with some Pakistani players but he later said sorry. This showed that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is willing to learn from his mistakes.

The good news for cricket fans is that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can learn and improve quickly. He has shown a lot of growth in the year and many people think he can learn from this incident too.

With a chance to play for the senior Indian team coming up and tours to Ireland and England Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is entering a phase of his career. He needs to learn to control his emotions handle criticism and stay focused.

At 15 making mistakes is a part of learning. The incident in Dambulla should not define Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Instead it can be a lesson that helps him become a stronger and more mature player.

India has found a talent in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

Now the challenge is to help him grow into a professional, both on and, off the field.

A strange thing happened during the India A versus Sri Lanka A Tri-Nation Series match in Dambulla on Monday. India A was given a penalty of 10 runs while they were batting. This happened because Vipraj Nigam, a player who can bat and bowl was found to be running on the protected area of the pitch many times.This penalty had an impact on the match. Sri Lanka A started their turn to bat with 10 runs already added to their score before a single ball was bowled.

What exactly happened?

The incident took place when India A was batting at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.Earlier a batter named Anukul Roy got a warning from the umpires for running down the middle of the pitch. This is the protected area. Even though Roy was out after the warning was still active for the rest of Indias turn to bat.When Vipraj Nigam came to bat, if any Indian batter did the thing again they would get a penalty.

In the over, which was bowled by Vijayakanth Viyaskanth Nigam was caught running on the protected area again. He got a warning. As per the rules of cricket India A was penalized 5 runs away and the ball was declared a dead ball.Two overs later in the 37th over Nigam did the same thing again while trying to take a quick single. The umpires gave another 5-run penalty making the total penalty 10 runs.

As a result Sri Lanka A started their turn to bat with a 10-run advantage.

What do the cricket rules say?

The rules of cricket say that batters are not allowed to run on the protected area of the pitch times.The protected area is there to keep the pitch in condition throughout the match. If batters keep running on this area it can damage the pitch. Create rough patches. This can affect how the ball bounces and turns for the bowlers.

The rules say:

If a batter does it for the time they get an official warning.

If any batter from the team does it again they get a 5-run penalty.

The ball can also be declared dead.

This rule helps keep the game fair and the pitch in condition.

India As strong recovery despite the penalty

Even though India A got a penalty they still managed to score a total of 265 runs.

At one point the team was struggling at 143/7. It seemed like they would not score many runs. However Vipraj Nigam and Suryansh Shedge played well together.

The two batters added 104 runs for the wicket, which helped India A recover strongly.

Vipraj scored 51 runs. Suryansh scored 71 runs. Their partnership gave India A a chance to win despite the penalty.Another unusual 5-run penalty

Interestingly India A also got a 5-run penalty earlier in the match.

Sri Lanka As wicketkeeper, Niroshan Dickwella failed to catch a ball cleanly and it hit a helmet behind the stumps. According to the rules of cricket this meant India A got 5 runs.

A costly lesson for India A

While India A played well with the bat the 10-run penalty was a talking point in the match.

The incident showed how important it is to follow the rules of cricket in close matches where every run counts.

For Vipraj Nigam and the Indian team the match in Dambulla was a lesson in how small mistakes can have a big impact, on the outcome of a game. India A learned that they need to be careful and follow the rules to win matches.

The Indian cricket captain is facing questions about his future. A new generation of players is making headlines.Graeme Swann, an England spinner says the rise of teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has added fresh pressure on senior stars like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.There has been a discussion around succession planning in cricket for months. It became stronger after Rohit and Kohli retired from Test cricket.They chose to continue in the ODI format with their eyes set on the 2027 ODI World Cup.Every performance of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is now being closely watched.

Younger talents are pushing for opportunities.

Graeme Swann said people always start searching for the big star as careers progress.Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are facing the challenge.Cricket fans and experts look ahead to the generation of Indian cricketVaibhav Sooryavanshi is 15 years old.He is a batting sensation.He enjoyed a dream IPL 2026 seasonHe scored 776 runs. Won five individual awardHis fearless batting and consistency made him a talking point.

Cricket experts have long considered Sooryavanshi a talent.

His latest performances have taken expectations to another level.Reports suggest he could soon make his debut during Indias upcoming Ireland tour.India are scheduled to travel to England in July for a three-match ODI series.Graeme Swann believes the upcoming matches could be extremely important for Rohit Sharma.

He praised Rohits form in the IPL

Rohit looked in touch during the tournament.He remains one of the worlds dangerous batters.English bowlers would not enjoy facing a Rohit SharmaDespite the growing debate Swann does not believe the England ODI series will decide the future of Rohits or Kohlis careers.Both players have experience to handle expectations and continue performing at the highest level.The veteran duo could again remind everyone why they remain key players in Indias World Cup plans.The battle between the present and the future is becoming one of crickets fascinating storylines.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are playersVaibhav Sooryavanshi is a talent.The Indian cricket team is balancing stars, with exciting young talents

The prelude to Rohit Sharma’s time in India’s ODI World Cup 2027—a three-match series against Afghanistan in Dharamshala—makes the world sit up and take note. The veteran opener is now returning from a hamstring injury — though several questions exist about his fitness and form. With the 2027 World Cup held in South Africa, Rohit’s position in India’s plans is under closer scrutiny. The veteran batter is set to be 40 next year, and it will test how well he is able to hold up during a second big ICC tournament for selectors. Virat Kohli in His Own Favour, Rohit On the Line. Though Virat Kohli is the surefire spot at No. 3, Rohit Sharma will have to face a much tougher fight. His last couple of appearances fell short of his normal standard. The former Indian captain scored a mere 61 runs in the ODI series against New Zealand earlier this year. His IPL season was equally disappointing, with a mere 283 runs in nine innings. Such figures have raised the specter of his future for the Indian side. Can Rohit Continue Opening with Shubman Gill? Perhaps the biggest question facing Team India is whether Rohit Sharma will continue to open the innings alongside Shubman Gill at the 2027 World Cup. Young stars all over the world are pushing for opportunities, and players like Yashasvi Jaiswal lie waiting in the wings. A high performance from him against Afghanistan and next in ODI series to England could help Rohit cement his position. But one bad run might also lead to calls for a younger starting combination. Worries About Rohit’s Form in Training. India's own training camp in Dharamshala has reported that Rohit has appeared somewhat out of rhythm. In practice, he had some trouble adjusting to Prasidh Krishna's pace, bounce and the swing of Arshdeep Singh. Though net sessions do not always correspond to match times, they have served to fuel the debate on Rohit's current state. Afghanistan Ready to Question India. Afghanistan entered the series high on their confidence after winning their last four ODI matches. They will continue to fight for their first ODI win over India and will consider this series a golden opportunity. The return of Rashid Khan, a star spinner from Afghanistan, is a big boost for visitors. His presence could create problems with India's batting lineup, and make it more likely that Afghanistan will cause an upset. Opportunity For Ishan Kishan and Nitish Reddy. With Virat Kohli's initial match out of the game, Ishan Kishan should take the No. 3 spot. In India’s domestic cricket, IPL and successful tourney campaign in 2026 in T20, the lefthander has been a game changer. On the home front, selectors are also watching carefully Nitish Kumar Reddy. At a time of doubt on Hardik Pandya's fitness, Nitish has the potential to become the one and only all-round option for India's prospective plans. The Key Series for Rohit Sharma. The Afghanistan ODI series may be a turning point in Rohit Sharma's international career. A good show would quiet critics’ nerves and improve the odds of his spearheading India’s bats at the 2027 World Cup. Yet if his struggles persist, the call for reform may be increasingly loud as India strives to construct a squad eligible for the biggest jackpot in the course of world cricket.

India to Try the No. 3 Spot in India 

Morkel said India could rotate its players like Ishan Kishan, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal at the key No. 3 spot. The idea is to find out the right solution in the long term as well as create some flexibility in the batting lineup. The upcoming ODIs were set to be used as a sort of experimental ground, which the coach told me would serve as the “testing ground for depth and getting a sense of how various players will perform under pressure in high-profile players’ time-dependent positions,” the player said. To Morkel, the team should diversify the ways they can combine, rather than lock into a certain batting structure for all combinations, especially in this series against Afghanistan.  

KL Rahul, Kishan and Jaiswal in Focus

KL Rahul, who has led the middle order mostly in recent years, could earn promotion. There is also a war of attrition between Ishan Kishan, the aggressive batting style. The role is also under consideration for a younger opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Pre-match training sessions suggested potential changes, too. Kishan was seen with wickets to hold while Rahul was out on the outfield to catch, indicating that India may choose to develop a mix in batting and wicketkeeping in India.  

India’s Strategy: Create Depth and Flexibility

The emphasis, Morkel stressed, is on developing a tight and malleable team. The team also wants players to have opportunities in various roles so they are ready when international cricket challenges them in the future, he said. The coaching department has sights on not only short-term outcomes but about longer-term team makeup and stability as well, he added.  

Indication for Good Things with Young Fast Bowlers

Morkel also discussed the young fast bowlers Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar, who also had all of them ready to announce their ODI debuts. We’ve already got a lot talking about their confidence and enthusiasm in training time. According to him, both bowlers appeared to be relaxed in the squad atmosphere and exhibited no signs of stress. They had the training intensity and attitude that made the coaching staff want to call them a first-time player, according to their coach.  

Afghanistan Confident Ahead of Series

Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said his team are keen going into the series against India with ease. India is a strong contender, he conceded India as a formidable foe, but noted Afghanistan’s recent solid performance in ODI cricket. Shahidi said he believes his team is prepared to be in a head-to-head series and feels they can take on India if they play well, said he.  

Threat of India vs Afghanistan Series looms large

In India the ODI series against AFG would be such a good launchpad to experiment with some combinations for its bench strength. As the batting order shifts and there are more chances for little players, viewers will witness an exciting and unpredictable evening on the big screen.

Kohli’s Emotional Letter to Williamson

Kohli and Williamson have a modern rival to rival one of cricket’s best-loved. Around the same time, both players gained global fame but played each other for the first time during the 2008 Under-19 World Cup and Kohli was instrumental in winning that tournament with India. Over the years, that rivalry blossomed into mutuality and camaraderie. Kohli hailed Williamson as a calm game, batting elite and sportsman, adding that he appreciated their conversations on and off the pitch. Kohli said in his tribute that it is “pleasure watching you bat and compete,” his words saying they have valued the friendship and knowledge that they shared around cricket. He wished Williamson well in life past retirement, calling him a “brother,” and praising his contributions to the game. 

Kane Williamson’s Hall of Fame Cricket Experience

Kane Williamson retires as one of New Zealand’s greatest cricketers. He played for his country in 378 international matches and established a reputation for consistency and calmness and technical excellence. His Test season consists of 9,515 runs, with 7,256 runs in ODIs and 2,575 runs in T20 internationals. Renowned for his versatility, Williamson proved a consistent anchor for New Zealand, regardless of the occasion. His Test debut came in 2010 against India in Ahmedabad, where he quickly became the lynchpin of the BLACKCAPS batting team. World Cup Heartbreaks and Historic Success. Williamson’s era as captain was at once thrilling and a cruel one. His highlight was a 2021 victory in the ICC World Test Championship, New Zealand’s first substantial ICC trophy. But he also faced brutal defeats in global finals. New Zealand lost the 2019 ODI World Cup Final to England in a brilliant Super Over finish, and not only did they lose to Australia in 2021 but they also lost by a narrow margin to defeat Australia in the last game of the T20 World Cup final. Overall, Williamson earned global admiration for his leadership, discipline and calm under pressure. World Cricket: the fab four legacy. With India’s cricket division of cricketing, for a decade Williamson was one of four. Also Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Joe Root were part of his famous “Fab Four.” These four batters went on to dominate world cricket for over a decade and set new standards of consistency in all formats. Williamson particularly stood out among them for his grace, patience and the ability to build long innings out of a bat. 

End of a Period in World Cricket

Kane Williamson’s retirement marks the conclusion of a storied global past. His impact on New Zealand cricket, as both batter and leader, will be immeasurable for years to come. Virat Kohli’s heartfelt tribute was an ode to the respect Williamson commanded throughout the cricketing world. Williamson is leaving in his time of departure from international cricket, as he looks back and feels the marks that excellence, humility and greatness as he makes his way to the sidelines.

This is effective now. That means his 16-year career with New Zealand is over. When the 35-year-old Kane Williamson leaves cricket, he is a player who wants to leave the game as the man who scored the runs for New Zealand in all types of games. He is one of the world's most respected cricket stars. Kane Williamson is a player and many look up to him. Kane Williamson finished his playing career with 19,346 runs, which is very much a big deal. He actually scored 48 centuries and 6 double centuries—unbelievable. He was always very cool under pressure and consistent, his technique had a good sense of technique at all times when playing. For over a decade Kane Williamson was the backbone of New Zealand's batting.  

He began playing Test cricket in 2010 against India in Ahmedabad.  

Soon thereafter became a major player for New Zealand.  

Kane Williamson played 110 Test games over his career. On average of 54.06, scored 9,515 runs.  

For one-day international matches Kane Williamson played 175 matches. Scored 7,256 runs.  

In T20 internationals, Kane Williamson added 2,575 runs from 93 games.  

Kane Williamson’s record makes him one of the steadiest batters of our era. He is a legend of New Zealand cricket history. Kane Williamson, he plays, and will be remembered for a long time.  

World Cup Historic Triumph  

Kane Williamson, captain, had its moments and some tough losses. But his proudest achievement was when he took New Zealand to victory in the ICC World Test Championship. Kane Williamson was very pleased and this was a win for New Zealand. But his career did have its rough patches, however. New Zealand lost a Super Over at the 2019 ODI World Cup Final against England. Kane Williamson was named Player of the Tournament — huge when you fail in this kind of tournament. In 2021 New Zealand reached the T20 World Cup final. Lost to Australia. Despite these defeats however Kane Williamson earned plenty of respect for his leadership and his sportsmanship.  

‘Fab Four’ Batting Star  

Kane Williamson was part of cricket’s ‘Fab Four’, including Virat Kohli, Steve Smith and Joe Root. He was an admired batsman with calm disposition. Kane Williamson did perform under pressure. Provide match-winning performances. In all conditions, he was a player for New Zealand.  

Emotional Retirement Statement:  

Kane Williamson announced his retirement saying he had thought about it a while. He was proud that he gave everything he had to New Zealand cricket. Kane Williamson felt it was time to leave the game. He said he was confident in New Zealand cricket’s future. He praised the talent on the team. Kane Williamson said he was thankful to retire on his own terms and that he leaves the game with no regrets.  

Coach and Team Tribute  

Kane Williamson was lauded by New Zealand coach Rob Walter. They called him a great player and person. He stressed Kane Williamson's leadership, discipline and significance in the team's culture. Rob Walter declared Kane Williamson a role model. His influence on the BLACKCAPS will be felt for many years to come.  

End Of An Era For New Zealand Cricket  

With his retirement Kane Williamson will not play in New Zealand's Test series in England. The BLACKCAPS are anticipated to announce a replacement. His departure marks the end of an era in New Zealand cricket. Kane Williamson leaves behind a legacy of excellence, humility and world-class batting. He’ll be remembered as one of the players in New Zealand cricket history.

Australia’s Nightmare Start in Dhaka 

The match began in a disastrous manner for Australia when skipper Josh Inglis won the toss and chose to bat first believing his team would be the first man to bat, expecting them to make some good progress battering-wise. But the decision backfired as Bangladesh’s bowlers came out on fire, striking on the pitch. Australia lost its first wicket almost immediately, it was Taskin Ahmed, who took power at the opening over as Taskin Ahmed hit in an opening over that took Matthew Short away in the fourth delivery of the innings. The pressure escalated quickly, with Australia not managing to relax. The very next game, there went from bad to worse. Mustafizur Rahman made a killer double-wicket maiden that completely overturned Australia’s top-order power. He began to put Cooper Connolly out on the first ball on the other end at home before sending Renshaw back for that final exchange. After two overs, Australia were a stunning 0/3, with all three top-order batters dismissed for ducks. They didn’t even start their first run with a bat. Instead, it came in no-ball delivery, and once again demonstrated the brutality of Bangladesh’s early power.

 Bangladesh Pace Attack Dominates

Bangladesh’s speed bowlers were perfectly adept at exploiting the conditions of Dhaka. The seam movement and strict bowling regimen maintained relentless pressure, demanding mistakes from Australia’s inexperienced top order. The early success handed Bangladesh all the controls from the start. That collapse is now being remembered as an infamously rare moment in ODI history, with relatively few situations in which a team has lost three wickets without scoring a run. Australia Left Seeking Answers. Australia’s decision to bat first was in the hope that runs could be put on the board and the game in control. Instead, it became a batting disaster, beginning to leave them reeling early in the innings. The top order couldn’t account for the speed and the motion and the team fell a long list of ground after the early punishers. Captain Josh Inglis confessed at the toss that the team still has the work to do across each of the departments but the batting collapse revealed major weaknesses in dealing with subcontinent conditions.

 Bangladesh Build Momentum

Bangladesh, with strong leadership and disciplined bowling strategies, kept up with momentum from the first ODI. Skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz spoke on all about the importance of partnerships and consistency, and his bowlers did just that with a clinical performance. Soumya Sarkar got the squad to balance it out, as did Bangladesh’s bowling unit, such that Australia never got a chance to rebuild early on.

Aggressive Batting Draws The Spotlight

Vaibhav’s innings were punctuated by attacking strokes, clean hitting, fearless intent. His 44 runs came extremely quickly, allowing India A to continue scoring strongly and making Afghanistan A feel he had no margin of maneuver. It all had a bit of a bow on it, too: from pristine corners to devastating shots through the field, the young hitter showed the poise and dexterity that has seen him emerge as one of the most exciting prospects in Indian cricket. He challenged bowlers without reservation and was also impressive, to fans and to experts working in the cricketing field. He barely missed a half-century, but his quick-fire innings were already having a big effect. 

Social Media Goes nuts After Viral Knock

Even prior to the match, Sooryavanshi took criticism from some social media users who wondered where he belonged in the team, whether he could play anywhere at an international level. But because the young guy decided to handle those quibbles for the best way possible — on the field — he handled those questions really well. Social media was filled with responses from fans extolling his fearless batting not long after his innings. The knock was called a “slap in the face of trolls” who had criticized him before he did the action, according to many users. Some supporters posted old posts and comments casting doubt on the batter, and comparing them with his match-winning performance. His fans noted how he let his bat do the talking rather than responding to criticism online. 

Bright Future Ahead 

That is where Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s most recent performance got put into relief (again) demonstrating his incredible potential and ability to perform under pressure. The innings showed the people around and in him to understand talent, mindset and determination. Many young cricketers are under increased scrutiny and pressure early on in their careers. Yet Sooryavanshi demonstrated incredible maturity by playing his game at its most crucial. A Statement Performance in Dambulla. No doubt there were a few impressive performances in IND A vs AFG A match but Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 44-run knock became the most talked about. Biggie has built one of the most compellingly winning young Indians who has spoken out about playing in his home game: His no-nonsense batting confidence and the power to cut down on critics. While his numbers on the net continue to circulate his supporters are watching and waiting to see what the star slugger brings next on the cricket pitch.

What Happened Inside the Nightclub? 

The alleged confrontation reportedly involved 21-year-old Samoan rugby player Totoa Auvaa, who currently plays for Saracens Rugby Club. A fight erupted over seating arrangements and tables in a VIP chamber, according to reports. It all quickly escalated into a confrontation. Auvaa reportedly tried to punch England cricketer Gus Atkinson but accidentally hit an ECB security guard in the process. The incident reportedly led to a wider confrontation inside the venue. Neither Ben Stokes nor Gus Atkinson are said to have started the encounter, leading to both players gaining no injuries. Saracens & ECB To Open investigation. Saracens Rugby Club has confirmed that it is investigating the incident surrounding Auvaa. It has been reported that whether or not his future with the club is being reviewed is pending the course of the investigation. And in the meantime, the cricket board also hasn’t put up an official statement in response to the dispute. Ben Stokes has also kept his mouth shut in front of the public eye. 

Captaincy Under Threat? 

Now the biggest question is Stokes' future role as England Test captain. Stokes and Atkinson could either miss the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval while investigations run to their full scale, reports claim. Scepticism that the ECB has given Stokes an option to step down as captain and remain a player in international cricket. If he refuses, the board might reportedly seek to withdraw him from the leadership role for the breach of team rules, according to reports. The 35-year-old has also hinted at a career option under increasing scrutiny in international cricket. 

What Happens Next? 

As investigations drag on, cricket fans await an official verdict from both the ECB and Saracens. Stokes was not reported to have initiated the trouble -- he wasn't -- but the incident once again raised questions about one of England's biggest cricket stars. Queries about his captaincy and playing future could mean Ben Stokes and English cricket depend on the next weeks.

India teenager Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's much-awaited India A debut in the Tri-Nation Series came to a screeching halt. He just finished with 14 runs against Sri Lanka A at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, and everyone was right on their toes. The people on the field wanted to see if he could go on to stay red hot internationally. Sooryavanshi did start positively, but after an aggressive shot in the fourth over of his innings, he was cut short. India A captain Tilak Varma won the toss and chose to bat first. The spotlight turned immediately on Sooryavanshi, as he strode out to open the innings. 

The youngster stepped up, crossing a boundary on the first ball he faced. Facing Sri Lankan pacer Mohamed Shiraz as best he possibly could, Sooryavanshi displayed beautiful stroke play and hit two beautiful boundaries through the off-side in the opening over. His fearless attitude also echoed the attacking cricket he waged during IPL 2026 for Rajasthan Royals. He was playing well from home and the left-handed hitter kept it right when he made a third boundary off veteran all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne. And at that point it seemed the teenager was settling into his innings and getting ready for a big score. 

Cricket, however, can alter fast — and there we have it. Mohamed Shiraz finally delivered, the fourth ball of the fourth over he bowled a full-length ball that tempted Sooryavanshi with a single stroke of motion to continue. Trying to hit the ball straight down the ground, the boy didn't time it correctly. The bat twisted in his hands, and rather than clearing up the infield, the ball flew toward mid-off as it turned out. Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige was very perceptive and completed a great diving catch to dismiss him. The wicket resulted in big rejoicing from Shiraz, who had been struck for boundaries before. The Sri Lankan pacer was elated after winning the prized wicket of one of India’s most discussed young cricketers. Sooryavanshi was visibly disheartened and walked away after scoring 14 runs from 12 deliveries (three of them boundaries) during this time. Sri Lanka's bowlers adjusted their lengths on display and limited opportunities for scoring while his stroke-making ability showed. India A’s problems didn’t end there, however, and soon Prabhsimran Singh’s two runs ended up costing the team dearly in terms of playing time. 

Sooryavanshi, despite the disappointing outing, remains one of the most exciting prospects in Indian cricket. His thrilling IPL 2026 season (and his 776 runs and honors as well) got him a spot in India's T20I series against Ireland and England. He is also the youngest player to ever get called up by India, breaking a long-standing streak. Sachin Tendulkar was the same person in India for many years. The first innings of his career did not go according to script, but already, the young sportsman had shown tremendous talent and potential. Cricket fans hope he will make a comeback strongly in the next few matches in the Tri-Nation Series and further his rapid ascent in Indian cricket.

India delivered a record-breaking performance as they defeated Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test at New Chandigarh on Monday. This became India’s biggest Test win in terms of innings margin.

India’s Dominant First Innings

Batting first, India posted a huge total of 564/8 declared, powered by strong centuries from captain Shubman Gill and experienced batter KL Rahul. With such a massive score, India put Afghanistan under pressure from the start.

Afghanistan’s Batting Collapse

Afghanistan struggled against India’s bowling attack right from Day 2. They ended the day at 113/5 and could not recover on Day 3.

The visitors were bowled out for 152 runs in their first innings, forcing them to follow on.

Manav Suthar Shines on Dream Debut

Young spinner Manav Suthar stole the spotlight with a brilliant debut performance. He picked up 6 wickets for 33 runs, becoming one of the best debut bowling performances by an Indian in Test cricket.

His performance helped break Afghanistan’s middle order completely and pushed them into a follow-on situation.

India’s Spin Attack Finishes the Job

In the second innings, Afghanistan showed brief resistance through Sediqullah Atal (42) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (24). But once again, India’s spin duo of Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav took control.

Afghanistan collapsed badly, losing their last 9 wickets for just 38 runs, and were bowled out for 112 runs in just 35.5 overs.

Final Result

India won the match by an innings and 300 runs, completing a dominant victory shortly after tea on Day 3.

Manav Suthar was named Player of the Match for his overall impact, including 7 wickets in the match and useful runs with the bat.

Vaibhav Breaks Sachin's Record

Notable players have been selected such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who has set a new record for the youngest player selected for the Indian team at 15, overtaking Sachin Tendulkar, who was selected at the age of 16 in 1989. 

Other players in the squad include Nitish Reddy, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj and Prince Yadav. All the selected players remain unchanged for the Asian Games squad, but with the addition of Jasprit Bumrah to the squad and Mohammed Siraj and Prince Yadav leaving it.

Agarkar Backs Shreyas For Leadership Role

The explanation given by Ajit Agarkar on this decision for selecting Shreyas Iyer is because of the fresh start given after the team won the T20 World Cup. To the surprise of many, Shreyas has been left out of the team in recent times but has now rightly earned a place in the team. 

"Clean break after WC. We've got a bit more time. Shreyas absolutely deserves it. With the bat. Also his performances as captain, having won it once at KKR, couple of really good seasons with PBKS. It was unusual he wasn't part of the T20I squad, but now that he's found a spot, he has earned it," said Agarkar

Agarkar Discusses Captaincy Change With SKY

Suryakumar Yadav has been completely removed from the setup for T20Is and Agarkar has had a chat with Suryakumar Yadav regarding his removal as captain, though it's a thing that the latter refused to share with any one. 

"Yeah, I talked to most people. When we are making such a decision, particularly when it comes to a captain who won the World Cup. So, that’s between him and me. But, yes, I have spoken to him," said Agarkar.

India Squad for England and Ireland Series: Shreyas Iyer - captain, Tilak Varma - vice captain, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakaravarthy, Prince Yadav, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

India Squad for Asian Games: Shreyas Iyer - captain, Tilak Varma - vice captain, Ravi Bishnoi, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Harshit Rana, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

In an interview with news agency ANI, the founder of India’s T20 league narrated several instances of extortion attempts, assassinations plans and a dramatic late-night confrontation via satellite phone with the fugitive gangster. 

Lalit Modi Recalls Late-Night Dawood Call

According to Modi, the “most direct interaction” happened in London in 2012 when a fixer in London called him up at 3:30 am to coerce him into coming to a penthouse of a highly connected businessman. 

Modi claimed the intermediary dialled Dawood Ibrahim on a satellite phone, switched the speakerphone on, and made the fugitive talk to him. 

"I pissed in my pants, I'll tell you this. Without doubt. Right there and then," Modi said.

"He simply says, 'Abhi se tumhara sab kaam khatam' and put down the phone.”

Weekly Extortion Demands Followed

Modi stated that after this meeting, a wave of weekly calls began where the intermediary asked for “hush money” for the syndicate’s demand to have a franchise. 

The syndicate reportedly asked Modi to pay them because his decisions had cost them a lot in the underground satta bazaar or gambling market. 

IPL Shift Hurt Betting Syndicates

According to Modi, the conflict with the syndicate escalated significantly in 2009 during the second season of IPL. In 2009, in 48 hours, in less than 2 days, Lalit Modi moved the whole of India Premier League to South Africa. The sudden shift destabilized the whole of the world's betting, illegal betting, and underworld. The syndicate was holding very high bets that this tournament is not going to happen, so they wanted to do a big strike on Modi. 

“They accused me of moving IPL to South Africa when they thought it's not ever going to move because they ate the bets up," Modi said.

He added, "So they lost a lot of money apparently. They wanted me to make good that money. I didn't ask them to take the bet.”

Modi Alleges Multiple Attack Plots

Modi added that his no-nonsense approach towards fixing during his tenure as chairman of IPL (2008-2010) was another major reason that riled the mafia. He admitted to stopping any spot-fixing and barring notorious people from entering the stadium while turning down bribe money of several crores. 

Following this, all the hits started happening, according to Modi. He cited a shooting outside his residence in Mumbai, an aborted hit in Johannesburg and another one intercepted at the Croatian border as instances. He also alleged an attempted abduction of his son in Sloane Street in London. 

Anushka Sharma has once more become the star of attention of cricket fans, this time for all deserved reasons. Having previously received criticism online or trolling with digital harassment whenever Virat Kohli played poorly following a poor run, Virat Kohli’s actress has now found the applause of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s “lucky charm” and earned the team the IPL title once more for a second consecutive time. The IPL final was held in Ahmedabad, where Anushka is photographed in India standing right beside an impressive line at the final in Ahmedabad, where it could be seen that Virat Kohli played a big part in taking the trophy to RCB. 

As soon as the winning team clinched the victory, social media was inundated with pictures and videos where Anushka jubilantly enjoyed that historic moment celebrating them. From a few years Anushka's presence at the games of India's traditional cricket has received much unsolicited interest. During Virat Kohli’s formative years in the international cricket and the IPL, some fans unfairly blamed the actress whenever the star batter fell short. She was often singled out by trolls who claimed she was "unlucky" for Virat and his teams. 

But times have changed a lot since then. Today the very fans are singing the praises of Anushka and praising her for giving both Virat Kohli and RCB good vibes and making things happen. A few fans shared their love on social media. When Anushka Sharma is in the stadium, it's harder for other teams to curb RCB, one fan wrote. She was also referred to by another, another supporter as the team’s lucky charm and also congratulated the team for winning back to back IPL trophies. Most fans also noted that Anushka has been attending more matches all through the past two seasons. From 2021 to 2024, the actress made fewer appearances at cricket stadiums as she focused on raising her children, Vamika and Akaay. RCB fans have been telling me that her recent success comes on the heels of returning to the stands, which is why she's such a fan of the franchise. 

Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli are one of India’s most adored couples with a romance that never goes away. The couple hit the road together some time around 2013, while filming a television spot. They quickly formed a relationship and while the public eye dwelled on them and rumors broke up, they took each other's backs at every stage of life. Virat and Anushka celebrated their wedding ceremony at Lake Como, Italy, through a highly secretive ceremony in 2017. Family and friends joined in on the small jubilation. They have since become one of India's most popular power couples. The couple are today proud parents of two children, Vamika and Akaay. News reports suggest they spend considerable time in the United Kingdom where they have more quiet and quiet time as a couple away from public life and with less drama. 

Professionally Anushka Sharma's only other recent cast member was in the movie Qala. Her most recent big acting job was in the 2018 movie Zero. Chakda Xpress is just a bit out now, fans wait on her much-pushed biopic, about a former Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami. But as RCB reels off another IPL title and Virat Kohli excels on the cricket field, it just goes to show, Anushka Sharma has gone from being vilified and unfairly blamed to one of the most loved stars in RCB by many fans.

This victory not only marked RCB’s second IPL title but also brought the organization its fourth trophy in Indian franchise cricket, which includes two Women's Premier League (WPL) titles.

Kohli Leads Chase in IPL Final

Chasing a target of 156, RCB showcased their strength to secure their second consecutive IPL title. Kohli’s performance was especially remarkable, as he battled through pain from injuries to achieve the fastest half-century of his IPL career.

RCB’s chase began on a solid note, with a strong 62-run partnership between Venkatesh Iyer, who scored 32 runs off 16 balls, and Virat Kohli. Although the Titans fought back and reduced RCB to 132 for 5 at one stage, Kohli kept his composure, ultimately guiding RCB to victory with two overs to spare, as they crossed the finish line at 156 runs. It was a match filled with excitement and a testament to the team's resilience and skill.

Titans Struggle Against RCB Bowling Attack

Batting first, the Gujarat Titans managed to score 155 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their 20 overs. Washington Sundar was the standout performer for GT, scoring an unbeaten 50 runs off 37 balls, backed by Nishant Sindhu, who contributed 20 runs off 18 balls. 

RCB's bowlers, including Rasikh Dar Salam (3 wickets for 27 runs), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2 for 29), and Josh Hazlewood (2 for 37), kept the pressure on the Titans by taking wickets at crucial moments.

Kohli Praises Team's Calm Approach

Virat Kohli said, "I said to a few of the boys that it doesn't feel like the same pressure. We topped the group and said one thing, if we stick to our cricket we are the best in the comp. The skillsets, the maturity and composure, shone through tonight in a clinical performance. We had a couple of losses after the break, it was a tricky week but the belief kicked back in after that win over KKR."

He added, “We've had to wait so long, and now you step to the ground and so many guys behind you, you don't need to step up everytime. So many man of the match awards spread through. World class bowling like Hoff, Bhuv, Duff, Krunal, Rasikh was brilliant this season. Batting chipped in everywhere too.”

Playing XI's: GT AND RCB

Royal Challengers Bengaluru Playing Xl’s: Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jacob Duffy, Josh Hazelwood, Rasikh Salam Dar

Impact Subs: Venkatesh Iyer, Kanishk Chohan, Swapnil Singh, Abhinandan Singh, Jordan Cox

Gujarat Titans Playing Xl's: Shubman Gill (c), B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Jason Holder, Washington Sundar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Kagiso Rabada, Arshad Khan, Mohammed Siraj

Impact Subs: Prasidh Krishna, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Kumar Kushagra, Sai Kishore

Rishabh Pant also shook things up after more than two poor seasons for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), resigning as franchise captain. The change was to stem an end of a tough IPL campaign much less than expected after LSG finished at the bottom of the points table. Pant's decision to step down from captain was no surprise to many within the franchise. Tom Moody -- the LSG director of cricket -- confessed to talk of the need for the club to move some of its stars in the wrong direction, and spoke of the need for a leader change as a means of seeking ways to come back in with more of a winning programme if such a team were to perform well next season to come. Wicketkeeper-batter: he was under tremendous pressure throughout the season in terms of performance, not only because of the team’s bad results but also because of how he always feels about the bat. Price is a barreling with its high, as one of the most expensive players in IPL history for ₹27 crore. 

But none of Pant or the team achieved what fans were hoping for. Tom Moody approved Pant for stepping down from the position of captain. Moody told me the Indian phenom must now turn all his attention to his batting and get back into the unashamed mode of cricket that turned him into one of world cricket’s more exciting players. Moody observed that the past two years were tough for Pant personally and professionally. Removing the weight of leadership, he said, would enable the player to get back to being his best game. And the former Australian cricketer added that a leadership reset was already something his team had found necessary, he added. Lucknow Super Giants have been poor in the past few years with finishes of 7th, 7th, and at last 10th in the standings. In the process, it forced the management to examine every detail of the organization and its overall plan. Moody said he had only recently assumed his position within the franchise and was hoping to conduct an internal evaluation of everything going on with cricketing.

The ambition is to have LSG emerge as a viable contender in the IPL finals again. One of the most important questions right now: Whether Lucknow Super Giants have the right, with Rishabh Pant, to hang out with them next season. Although fans wanted to find out what will become of him, Moody was hesitant to come clean about the player’s future and future in terms of the team, and therefore made no solid recommendations. He said the IPL season had recently come to a close and that the franchise would first undergo what he described as a “high-level” inspection of all that has transpired with the team’s performances, balance in the squad and outlook moving forward. 

The team will not be making any decision about player retention or team strategy until this evaluation is complete. Talk of Pant’s future has already been fanfare amongst both cricket fans and academics. Instead, the emphasis, for the time being, is on re-establishing some confidence in the star batter and regaining the attacking spirit that saw him emerge as a match-winner for India and of his IPL clubs alike. As Lucknow Super Giants set in motion a new chapter, Pant's decision marks a turning point. Whether he sticks with the team and/or looks to explore new opportunities, his next step will be closely watched by cricket fans around the world.

Gill Hits Century in Big Chase

Gill, who captains the team, played a spectacular innings, hitting 104 runs off just 53 balls, which included 15 fours and three sixes, all while chasing a huge target of 215. Notably, he became the first captain to score a century in the IPL playoffs.

Joining him in a remarkable opening partnership was Sai Sudharsan, who contributed a solid 58 runs off 32 balls. Together, they forged an impressive 167-run partnership, setting the stage for the Titans' success. Washington Sundar added to the excitement with a quick cameo, while Rahul Tewatia's strong finish ensured the Titans crossed the finish line with eight balls to spare. This marks the third time the Gujarat Titans have reached the IPL final since the franchise was established in 2022, highlighting their consistent performance over the years.

Sooryavanshi Breaks Major IPL Record

Earlier in the match, the Rajasthan Royals posted a commendable score of 214/6. The spotlight was on the young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 96 runs off just 47 balls. His incredible performance made him the fastest player to reach 1,000 IPL runs, achieving this milestone in only 440 balls and breaking Andre Russell's previous record of 545 balls. He also made history by becoming the first player to score 500 runs in the Powerplay during a single IPL season.

After the early dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel, Sooryavanshi rebuilt the innings brilliantly alongside Ravindra Jadeja, who finished unbeaten at 45. Donovan Ferreira then provided a thrilling late surge, hitting four sixes off Rashid Khan in the final over, finishing with an impressive 38 runs off just 11 balls.

Shubman Gill Praises Batting Performance 

Gujarat Titans Skipper Shubman Gill said, “There was some confusion there (On the Toss Fiasco), but happy to get a win. I think we complement each other very well ( On Partnership with Sai Sudharsan). We understand each other's game very well. And when we are batting out there, our communication is very good. We know one of us has to take down one of the bowlers. And I think we are very good in deciding who's going to take down what bowler,” regarding the match.

“I'm very fortunate, you know, we got a target of 220. At one point it looked like we were gonna restrict them around 180-190, but we got a total and once we got off to a start, we spoke about, I actually wanted to finish the game, quite sad how I got out,” he added.

Playing Xl's: GT AND RR

Rajasthan Royals Playing XI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Donovan Ferreira, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma and Yash Punja

Gujarat Titans Playing XI: Shubman Gill (c), B Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj

Rajasthan Royals won the toss in Mullanpur, however it was only a re-spin. It was Shubman Gill who was the tipper, but Riyan Parag’s call did not carry enough noise for the match referee Prakash Bhatt, leaving everyone in shock. Ravi Shastri suddenly declared that the toss would be carried out again. The toss occurred this time around and RR went in to bat first.

Gill seemed a little frustrated by what had happened at the toss, saying he either would have elected to bat, too, and that it was unfortunate that the match referee couldn’t hear the call. On the first occasion, once the toss was taken off, it fell on tails (for GT) after Riyan called heads. 

Rajasthan Royals did not get a good start with a pair of quick wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel, but Ravindra Jadeja drew on all his experience to counterattack with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. In the nick of time the innings settled, Jadeja had to retire hurt, sending the Royals into a collapse between 101/2 and 118/5. 

Vaibhav hit a stunning 96 off 47 balls — as he kept attacking the bowlers. Jadeja came back to provide much-needed stability with some important contributions afterwards. Donovan Ferreira's devastating 38 off just 11 deliveries gave the Royals a late push that may be needed to bring some change. 

Gujarat Titans will regret the repeat of failure to realize in their crucial moments. Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada hit early in the Powerplay, and the shorter ball plan against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi appeared effective enough at first. Titans also held off well into the middle overs, with Jason Holder’s 2/27 topping the charge. But Sai Sudharsan’s late, failed catch on 46 proved costly as Sooryavanshi paid for it with a stunning knock prior to Rabada finally taking him out on 96. Rashid Khan had the last leg of the game left with Shubman Gill's trust, but the spinner conceded 27 runs — giving Titans the huge chase with a whole different ball game. 

RR arrived for this match with a strong 47-run victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Eliminator on May 27 at the same venue. GT, in contrast, will be trying to bounce back from a devastating 92-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 on May 26. The Qualifier 2 winner will move into the IPL 2026 final against RCB at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 31 as scheduled. 

When it comes to head-to-head records, GT has the upper hand over RR. In the IPL, the two teams have played 10 times and Gujarat has won seven matches while Rajasthan managed to beat Gujarat three times.

RR XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Riyan Parag (c), Donovan Ferreira, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja

GT XI: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj

The IPL 2026 playoffs are reaching their biggest moment as Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Gujarat Titans (GT) prepare for a massive Qualifier 2 clash. The winner of this match will directly face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2026 final.

RCB already booked their place in the final after defeating Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. Now, GT will get one more chance to stay alive in the tournament, while RR will look to continue their impressive playoff run.

RCB Enter Final After Dominating GT

RCB looked unstoppable in Qualifier 1. Rajat Patidar played a stunning innings and completely changed the game with his aggressive batting. Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya also gave strong support at the top.

RCB’s bowling attack performed brilliantly as well. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jacob Duffy created pressure from the beginning and helped the team secure a huge win.

After years of heartbreak, RCB fans are now dreaming of winning the trophy again. 

Gujarat Titans Want Strong Comeback

Even after losing to RCB, Gujarat Titans remain one of the strongest teams in IPL 2026. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan have been in excellent form throughout the season.

GT’s biggest problem, however, has been their middle-order batting. In the last match against RCB, the team collapsed badly after losing early wickets.

Still, Gujarat Titans have experienced players who know how to handle pressure matches. Their bowling lineup with Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj can trouble any batting order on their day.

Rajasthan Royals Carry Big Momentum

Rajasthan Royals are entering the match with confidence and momentum. Young players like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal have played fearless cricket this season.

Riyan Parag has also delivered important performances in the middle order, while Jofra Archer’s pace attack has strengthened the bowling unit.

RR’s aggressive batting style could become their biggest weapon against Gujarat Titans.

Biggest Battle to Watch in RR vs GT

The main battle in this match will be RR’s explosive batting against GT’s powerful bowling attack.

If Rajasthan Royals get a strong start in the power play, they can put Gujarat under pressure quickly. On the other hand, GT bowlers will try to stop RR’s young batters early in the innings.

Fans are especially excited to watch the contest between Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and GT’s pace bowlers.

Who Will Face RCB in IPL 2026 Final?

Both teams have strong chances of reaching the final.

Gujarat Titans have more playoff experience and a balanced squad. But Rajasthan Royals have momentum and fearless young players.

This makes the Qualifier 2 clash extremely exciting and difficult to predict.

One thing is certain — the winner will face a confident RCB side in what could become one of the biggest IPL finals in recent years.

India, in the first match of their Women’s T20I series against England, opened the match in a magnificent spectacle with a 38-run victory. The Indian side played up their all-around game and dazzled fans with strong batting, disciplined bowling and energetic fielding. Jemimah Rodrigues and young talent Nandani Sharma were the biggest stars of the game giving India a momentous victory over England. India won the toss and chose to bat first. 

This led to the start being consistent for the team with the likes of early batters, however, it was Jemimah Rodrigues who was to take the game in her confidently aggressive and assertive innings. She hit elegant shots all over the ground and kept the scoreboard functioning with boundaries at critical moments. Nandani Sharma also grabbed attention with her fearless batting performance. The youngster was so much more mature than her age and helped support the innings beautifully. She came in attacking her team, allowing India to compile a strong total that put pressure on the England bowlers. Indian batting seemed confident all the way through the innings. Smart running between wickets and powerful hitting in the middle overs helped the team score a tricky number. 

It soon became difficult for England’s bowlers to block the flow of runs as Indian batters asserted themselves. England, with enthusiasm only, was responding with a more positive head-on start, but lost wickets quickly to India’s disciplined bowling attack. Indian bowlers kept their lines short and their lengths rigid and it was tough for England batters to score freely. Turning points also resulted from India's pick up of quick wickets during the middle overs and England completely losing all chance during its last game in any game. 

Fielders also gave a supportive playing style, with some extraordinary catches made by some very sharp fielders. England tried to recover through partnerships, however, the required run rate was getting higher and higher. Indian bowlers stayed calm and held the game until the last overs. Finally, England lost by 38 runs to allow India a significant triumph in the inaugural T20I, so that Indian women’s cricket teams were buoyed before the next series matches. And the success of young players like Nandani Sharma also brightens prospects for Indian women’s cricket. 

Supporters and experts in cricket lauded India’s balanced team effort. Jemimah Rodrigues received special praise for the match-winning knock, and Nandani Sharma was celebrated for her fearless approach under pressure. The win also underscores India’s emerging power in women’s cricket on the world stage. With both seasoned players and young stars proving up to the plate, the team now appears far stronger and more confident than ever. And India will now look forward to playing in the next series with England, hoping to finish the series with a memorable outing.

Sooryavanshi was at the door to making history by scoring 97 from 29 deliveries, a sum that could have meant he scored the fastest century of all time in IPL. It was one of the deadliest knocks in IPL playoff history. 

Sooryavanshi Breaks Gayle’s Six-Hitting Record

The left-handed opener was sensational with his 97 off only 29 deliveries, where he hit 12 sixes and 5 fours on a magnificent strike rate of over 334, a knock that took RR to a total of 243/8 in 20 overs. While he narrowly missed a ton, Vaibhav became the first batsman to hit a record number of sixes in a single IPL season (Chris Gayle had 59 in 2012), when he rose as IPL 2026’s breakout figure. 

Sooryavanshi narrowly missed another record, this time with the fastest century in IPL. Chris Gayle still held the record of hitting his ton in 30 balls, but the 15-year-old fell short on 97 off 29 deliveries. 

Chris Gayle Applauds Vaibhav’s Innings

The wicket received many responses from the cricket fraternity as many thought he was about to pen yet another chapter in IPL history, only to get out at the last minute. Gayle himself did post an acknowledgment of Vaibhav’s record-breaking performance and congratulated the RR youngster after a knock took his team to the playoffs. 

“What a phenomenal player Vaibhav is. Great entertainment young man! New Six machine," Gayle said on social media platform X.

Rayudu Predicts First T20 Double Century

Former India cricketer Ambati Rayudu praised the teen and mentioned that Vaibhav could be the first player in T20 history to score 200 runs in an innings. 

He said, "I think a 200 is around the corner. If he keeps going this way, we'll see a 200 very soon. He has not premeditated a single ball except for one ball where he tried to reverse sweep in one of those games earlier. Other than that, he just seems to watch the ball and react to it. His talent is so good that he can react to any ball the way he has been reacting. He's hitting everything for a six,” on ESPNCricinfo.

Vaibhav Leads Orange Cap Race

Vaibhav debuted in IPL last year and immediately drew headlines with a 35-ball century on the big stage. But, this season the 15-year-old has become a hero in the IPL. Now he is at the top of the Orange Cap standings with 680 runs in 15 matches at an average of 45.33 with a jaw-dropping strike rate of 242.85. 

Rajasthan Royals Score 243 Runs

The star of the match was Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who made a sensational impact after arriving early to the game. His explosive innings of 97 runs off just 29 balls completely dismantled the Sunrisers' bowling attack and set the stage for the Royals' success. Dhruv Jurel also played a crucial role in maintaining the team's momentum from the middle order. However, the Royals stumbled after Jurel's departure, finishing their innings at 243 for 8.

Hyderabad Top Order Fails

In response, Hyderabad had a daunting target of 244 runs but were bowled out for 196 in just 19.2 overs, despite some spirited performances in the middle order. Abhishek Sharma's early dismissal for a duck was a significant blow to their chances. Ishan Kishan showed promise but fell victim to Jofra Archer, who then added to his tally by claiming Travis Head’s wicket.

With the top three back in the pavilion, all eyes were on Heinrich Klaasen, but Yash Raj Punja's dismissal of him put Sunrisers firmly on the back foot. As wickets continued to fall, Hyderabad's hopes dwindled, and they were ultimately all out for 196. 

Parag Praises Bowlers For Effort

Riyan Parag, Rajasthan Royals captain said, “Yeah, a good game. Again, I think I like to be a perfectionist. I know it's not going to be a perfect game altogether. But even today, we should have gotten 260, right? So a bit to work on that. How to finish off innings after we get a start like Vaibhav did. But with the ball, I think I was really impressed. I think we held our calm. They got a lot of runs in the second over or the first, once Ishan and Travis added a few boundaries, but I think we came back really well and a good performance altogether,” regarding the win.

Playing Xl's: SRH AND RR

Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(w), Heinrich Klaasen, Smaran Ravichandran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins(c), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga, Sakib Hussain, Praful Hinge

Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Donovan Ferreira, Dasun Shanaka, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja

Kohli is one of the famous athletes in the world. He is always on camera during games, practice. Even when he is not playing.. He said that it is not always easy for players to have all these cameras around them.

He was talking on the RCB Podcast.Kohli said that practice should be a thing where players can try new things without worrying about what others think.

He said "You go to practice and there are six cameras following you. It does not feel good all." Kohli explained that players need to be free to try things and get ready for games without being watched all the time.

If everything is recorded players start to worry about what others think, during practice. This takes away their freedom to try things.

Kohli said that players should only be judged on how they play in games not on how they practice. What happens in practice should stay private. Not be talked about in public.

He said "I will not be able to try things in practice because I know everyone will be talking about it tomorrow." This shows how much pressure players are under because of media and always being watched.

Virat Kohli also talked about how big social media's in sports now. He said it is good for fans and for teams to promote themselves. It needs to be used carefully so players do not feel overwhelmed.

He thinks that the people in charge of the Premier League and the teams should make sure that players are comfortable with being filmed before they put cameras around them.

Kohli told a story about Kane Williamson.

 He said that when players are just talking the media can make it into a big thing because there are always cameras around.

He also talked about a robot that is used in Premier League games. It interrupted a conversation he was having with Williamson.

With all these concerns Virat Kohli is still playing very well. In the Indian Premier League season he has scored a lot of runs and i

His comments have started a discussion among fans and experts about how to balance entertainment, media coverage and player privacy in cricket.

Virat Kohli said that the Indian Premier League should make sure that players have some privacy. He said that players should be able to practice without being filmed all the time.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru player said that this would help players to feel more comfortable and play better.

Virat Kohli is right that players need some time to themselves to get ready, for games. The Indian Premier League should listen to what Virat Kohli has to say.

Gujarat Titans Post Huge Total of 229

Yashasvi Jaiswal is leading the Rajasthan Royals for the first time this season with Riyan Parag being ruled out with a hamstring problem. Jaiswal won the toss and chose to bowl against Shubman Gill led Gujarat Titans.

GT's batting line-up dominated with Gill scoring 84 off 44 balls, including nine boundaries and three sixes. Despite receiving some treatment for a discomfort in his left foot, he was brilliant, and Sai Sudharsan finished with an unbeaten 55. The opening pair put on 118 runs for the opening wicket and GT crossed the 100-run mark in the 9th over. GT's scoring was then strengthened by the sixes of Rahul Tewatia and Washington Sundar (37) as they finished 229/4.

RR Collapse After Strong Powerplay Start

The RR chase started on a positive note with a six hit by 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the first ball of the innings, and followed up by some attacking play by Dhruv Jurel that got them to 62/2 in five overs.

Then, Rashid Khan completely altered the course of the game. He took the wickets of both Jurel and Donovan Ferreira in one over, then pinned Ravindra Jadeja lbw to end with figures of 4/33. Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada picked up the other vital wickets and Jason Holder ensured it was an early end to the RR innings, claiming 3/12.

Gill Satisfied With Team Effort

Gujarat Captain Shubman Gill said, “I think this was a clean win for us. Definitely. I think we got above maybe 10-15 runs extra on the board. We thought there was a little bit in for the spinners in the middle. It wasn’t easy to hit sixes or get the boundaries. The ball was gripping a little bit. We got 230 runs on the board. We always knew, if we get a couple of wickets in the powerplay, we’re going to have a good game.”

“And I know there was a phase, I think, for about a couple of overs where we didn’t get the boundary in the 17th, 18th over. But I think we covered it well in the last over. We believe it’s important to hold the fort up front. That’s where the thought process comes from,” regarding the match.

Playing Xl's: GT AND RR

Gujarat Titans- Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler(w), Nishant Sindhu, Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj

Rajasthan Royals- Yashasvi Jaiswal(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey, Dasun Shanaka, Jofra Archer, Tushar Deshpande, Brijesh Sharma, Yash Raj Punja.

Hyderabad Post Huge Total of 235 Runs

Heinrich Klaasen and Ishan Kishan hit fifties as SRH managed 235/4 after being asked to bat. Abhishek Sharma was sent back after scoring just 35 off 13 balls while Travis Head 38 off 19 balls. The duo put on a 54-run opening stand off 3.3 overs. Ishan Kishan followed with 55 off 32 balls while Klaasen scored a brilliant 69 off 43 balls helping SRH set a huge total. 

Punjab Collapse Early In Big Chase

PBKS were off to a bad start (4/2 in 1.1 overs and 23/3 in 3.2 overs) in the second innings and never managed to recover from there. Punjab never looked on track during the chase with SRH skipper and pacer Pat Cummins striking for the hosts in the first over of the match, dismissing Priyansh Arya for a duck and Nitish Kumar Reddy striking on the very next ball to remove Prabhsimran. 

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals with Marcus Stoinis (28) and Suryansh Shedge (25) losing their wickets to Shivang Kumar and Cummins respectively. Connolly battled it out on his own at the other end and had a 68-run stand with Marco Jansen (19) but the stand only went to reduce the margin of defeat for the hosts. Hyderabad bowlers stopped Punjab at 202-7 in the end despite Australia's Cooper Connolly striking a century at his maiden T20 ton of the career in the IPL. 

SRH Tops As Punjab Slip Down to Second

The win for SRH takes the PBKS's spot at the top of the table after spending the first week of April there and the third loss for Punjab in a row, placing them one point above Gujarat Titans and in danger of missing out on the 2026 Indian Premier League Playoffs. 

Topping the table is SRH with 14 points in 11 matches and are winners in 7 and lost in 4 matches with a good net run rate of +0.737. Punjab Kings are in second place with 13 points in 10 matches with six wins, three losses and one no-result along with a strong NRR of +0.571 in spite of this loss.

Playing Xl's: PBKS AND SRH

Punjab Kings- Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Shashank Singh, Suryansh Shedge, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Sunrisers Hyderabad - Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Ravichandran Smaran, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (C), Shivang Kumar, Eshan Malinga and Sakib Hussain.

Gujarat Dominates Punjab in Last Over Thriller

Suryansh Shedge smashed an impressive 57 from 29 balls as PBKS recovered from a disastrous start to score 163 for 9. Batting first, Punjab were reeling at 47/5 within the 9th over of the innings. However, Suryansh Shedge brought Punjab back with a partnership of 79 runs off 44 balls with Marcus Stoinis (40) for the 6th wicket. As soon as the pair got out, Punjab lost momentum. 

For Gujarat, Jason Holder had an impressive bowling spell of 4 for 24, Kagiso Rabada (2 for 22) and Mohammed Siraj (2 for 28) took two wickets each. In the run chase, Said Sudharsan's well paced innings of 57 off 41 kept Gujarat in the chase but once they were dismissed, Punjab pulled themselves back into the game as they managed to pressure the batting side and the game was taken down to the final over. GT required 3 runs of two balls, they won with the help of Washington Sundar smashing a six to end the game.

Gujarat Move Closer in Tight Playoff Race

Punjab Kings currently stand at top of the table however, their lead is beginning to shrink and there are now four teams who share 12 points from second to fifth position. Gujarat Titans are finally beginning to find their groove at the right time along with some teams in the mid table.

GT are the only team within the top 5 who currently have a negative NRR which seems to be down to their approach of batting and problems with the middle order. If the chase for fourth position comes down to NRR, they are not in a very strong position. Though the three consecutive wins at this moment puts GT firmly in the race for the playoffs.

Gill Praises Calm Chase and Sundar’s Finish

Shubman Gill, GT captain said, “I think in chases like these, we would have liked to not take it as deep as it went but two crucial points. This is not the kind of wicket where we'll chase in 15-16 overs. So we thought maybe one over before or a couple of overs before. That was the talk. If someone is set they should go deep because it's not easy to hit from ball 1. Length balls weren't coming the way they do on other wickets. It was important for the batsman who is set. Luckily we had Washi and he finished the game for us. Just sent the best batter that we thought in that situation,” regarding the match win.

Playing Xl's: GT AND PBKS

Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh(w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar

KKR Deliver Complete Team Performance

Sunil Narine (2 for 31) and Varun Chakravarthy (3 for 36) led with the ball, cutting down SRH to 165 all out in 19.4 overs. Narine’s second wicket in the fourth over marked his 200th in the IPL, making him just the third bowler after Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to reach that milestone.

Chasing 166, KKR lost Finn Allen in the fourth over at 49, but captain Ajinkya Rahane held things together with a solid 43 from 36 balls. Angkrish Raghuvanshi chipped in with a steady 59 off 47, and together they put on 84 for the second wicket. Rinku Singh then finished it off, blasting 22 from just 11 balls and staying unbeaten.

KKR Strengthen Playoff Hopes

KKR now has 7 points from 9 matches, riding high on three wins in a row. If they win their remaining games, 17 points pretty much guarantees a Top 4 spot. If they win four out of five, though, their Net Run Rate will decide if they reach the 2026 IPL playoffs.

Rahane Credits Spinners and Preparation for Win

KKR Skipper Ajinkya Rahane said, “Very good game. The way we came back with the ball. Looked like they will get 190-200. It was a good wicket to bat on. 190-200 would've been challenging to chase. But credit to our bowling unit, especially the spinners. They kept taking wickets. Those small moments are really important, really happy with the win. The bowling unit has been doing really well last 5-6 games. Credit to our bowling coaches - Bravo and Southee. During practice sessions, lot of talking, lot of planning, different oppositions, different grounds. It's all about planning and executing. Here and there you will go for runs, but as long as you're clear in your head, that's important,” regarding the match win.

Playing Xl's: KKR AND SRH

Kolkata Knight Riders - Ajinkya Rahane (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (WK), Cameron Green, Rovman Powell, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Anukul Roy, Kartik Tyagi, Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakaravarthy

Sunrisers Hyderabad - Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Aniket Verma, Ravichandran Smaran, Pat Cummins (C), Harshal Patel, Shivang Kumar and Eshan Malinga

MI Lose Momentum After Strong Start

MI captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bat first against CSK. MI got off to a bright start as they reached 57 for 1 in the powerplay with the help of boundaries from Ryan Rickelton and Naman Dhir. However, CSK pulled it back in the form of Noor Ahmad who picked up Rickelton's wicket at a crucial time.

Ramakrishna Ghosh then grabbed his first wicket in the IPL and dismissed Suryakumar Yadav. Things were not in favour of MI as Tilak Varma then departed due to a mistimed shot. Hardik Pandya struggled to find the boundary as he only scored 18 in 23 balls as MI looked to be lacking momentum despite Dhir's half-century. The visitors were still able to score 159 with Anshul Kamboj chipping in with 3 wickets in the end for MI.

Gaikwad and Kartik Seal Easy Chase

CSK's reply began with a brisk start before their first big star Sanju Samson departed to Jasprit Bumrah. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad held his nerve in the chase and hit 6 off Boult as CSK kept their required rate below 7 an over.

Kartik Sharma steadied the innings with a half-century. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Kartik Sharma then got hold of the run-chase with a composed partnership that gave them a win with the pair both getting past the half-century mark as the CSK skipper ensured the chase did not slip away from them.

Playing Xl's: CSK AND MI

Chennai Super Kings: Sanju Samson (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Urvil Patel, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary

Mumbai Indians: Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Robin Minz, Trent Boult, Krish Bhagat, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar

Parag, Ferreira Rescue Rajasthan After Early Collapse

The Rajasthan innings had stuttered, losing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal early to reach 12 for 2. Parag, coming in at this stage, had nerves but it was not long before he rose to the challenge of a struggling team with his 90 off 50 balls helping the Royals reach a strong total of 225/6 against Delhi Capitals. 

Parag brought up his fifty in 32 deliveries and formed a crucial 102 run partnership with a steady Dhruv Jurel (42). He would continue to hold one end after Jurel had fallen, and formed a partnership with Ravindra Jadeja although the both fell in their cause. The strong finish to the innings, however, was down to Donovan Ferreira's quick fire 47 off only 14 balls, which took the Royals past 220.

Axar Patel Praises Team After Victory

Axar Patel , DC captain said, “Even in the last interview, I have kept telling you have to keep doing the right things, happy with the way the boys played. We executed our plans and as a captain I can't be happier, in the powerplay you take the game away from them then it makes me happy. He is a legend, after three months he's playing and to put in such a performance, shows why he's such a great player. I was playing as a leader in the Indian team, the decision making is something you have to work on and the coaches helped me as well. It is fine, icing has been done. Sorry for your loss and I would like to dedicate this win to the Delhi fans” regarding the win.

Playing Xl's: DC AND RR

Delhi Capitals - KL Rahul (WK), Pathum Nissanka (In for David Miller), Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Nitish Rana, Axar Patel (C), Ashutosh Sharma (In for Sahil Parakh), Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Starc (In for Dushmantha Chameera), Kuldeep Yadav and T Natarajan

Rajasthan Royals - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Riyan Parag (C), Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubham Dubey (In for Dasun Shanaka), Jofra Archer, Ravi Bishnoi (In for Yash Punja), Nandre Burger and Brijesh Sharma

RCB Collapse Amid Bowling Pressure

Gujarat bowled first after winning the toss, and stopped the opponents at 155 in 19.1 overs. Virat Kohli took 5 boundaries off one over but was bowled in his next delivery. The middle order continued to fall apart for RCB, who lost wickets at an astonishing clip. RCB scored just 155 off 19.2 overs.

GT Captain Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler both played an impressive yet short innings against RCB. Bhuvneshwar Kumar kept RCB in the chase for a while. He took three wickets and slowed the scoring temporarily. Romario Shepherd’s spells added two more but was not enough to win RCB the game. Rahul Tewatia smashed his way and made Gujarat Titans win the game by four wickets.

Controversy Erupts Over Rajat Patidar’s Dismissal

Before being caught in the deep square leg, Rajat Patidar had been in a partnership of 44 runs with Devdutt Padikkal for the third wicket when Holder bowled the RCB captain in the eighth over. But, slow-motion replays revealed that perhaps Holder had grassed the ball one too many times. 

The TV umpire Abhijit Bhattacharya could have thought Holder had control and bowled Patidar out. Several RCB players were furious with Holder making gestures as if he had dropped the ball and Kohli appeared to argue with the reserve umpire Parashar Joshi. RCB coach Andy Flower was later caught in an argument with the reserve umpire too.

Gill Credits Fielding and Team Effort

Shubman Gill, GT captain said, "Feels very satisfying, you know, on a wicket like this, restricting a team like them under 160 was a tremendous job by the bowlers. (reason for the win tonight?) I think our fielding was one of the things, it's something I think at phases, we haven't fielded that well in the game. And I think today was one of those days, everyone came together. The energy in the field was very, very nice, especially after the second over, Virat bhai hit us for some runs and how we all came back together. That was very crucial for us" regarding the win.

Playing Xl's: GT AND RCB

GUJARAT TITANS: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Jason Holder, Shahrukh Khan, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood