The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to begin from March 28. So far, the schedule of only first 20 matches has been released due to state elections. Ahead of the cash-rich league, former Team India cricketer Aakash Chopra feels that Mumbai Indians' lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah is under pressure with the responsibilities he carries. "If your name is Jasprit Bumrah, the pressure comes automatically. He is that kind of bowler. He creates an impact in every game, guarantees you a wicket, and restricts the opposition. That responsibility brings a lot of pressure because his four overs are the most precious thing for MI. Bowl one over in the powerplay, keep one for the middle phase and two at the death. That is Bumrah. That pressure is not going anywhere," he said. He then explained that whether Trent Boult or Deepak Chahar deliver performances, Bumrah will still have pressure on his shoulders. He also said that Shardul Thakur is a good replacement for Chahar. "Whether Boult bowls well or Deepak Chahar is fully fit, Bumrah's pressure stays with him. But if Boult is fit, MI will want to continue with him. Fit, available, in form. They will want the new ball to move around a little with Boult and Deepak Chahar. Shardul Thakur is a capable replacement for Chahar, but it does not necessarily mean that he plays ahead of him. A fit Deepak Chahar, a fit Trent Boult, Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya will be MI's four starting pacers. Corbin Bosch is waiting in the wings. He is a very good all-rounder. But again, you cannot play all overseas players," Chopra explained. The "Paltan" will begin their campaign on March 29 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians: Full squad Rohit Sharma, Trent Boult, Suryakumar Yadav, Quinton de Kock (WK), Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Corbin Bosch, Hardik Pandya (C), Jasprit Bumrah, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Will Jacks, Mayank Rawat, Mayank Markande, Sherfane Rutherford, Raghu Sharma, Atharva Ankolekar, Tilak Varma, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Danish Malewar, Robin Minz (WK), Allah Ghazanfar, Naman Dhir, Mohammed Salahuddin Izhar. (With ANI Inputs)
16 March,2026 09:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to begin from March 28. So far, the schedule of only first 20 matches has been released due to state elections. Ahead of the league, Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) newly added player Sanju Samson revealed conducting a conversation with legendary MS Dhoni. He also sees playing alongside Dhoni as an opportunity to learn from him. "I have spoken to Mahi bhai (Dhoni) over the phone and interacted with him, but playing with him as part of a team will be great. I see it as an opportunity to learn from him," he said. Samson then said that he will not let his emotions take over when he takes the field against his former side, the Rajasthan Royals (RR). "(I am) looking forward to playing for CSK, I feel grateful for the love and attention I have been getting from fans. This is the first time I will play against Rajasthan Royals, but I don't let emotions rule me on the field. I left Rajasthan Royals because I felt my time in the team was over. Even if we come up against them now, I will play my best cricket," said the Kerala-born cricketer. CSK will begin its IPL 2026 campaign against RR on March 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati. IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals: Full Squads Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), MS Dhoni (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Urvil Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar. Rajasthan Royals: Ravindra Jadeja, Sandeep Sharma, Adam Milne, Donovan Ferreira (WK), Jofra Archer, Shimron Hetmyer, Tushar Deshpande, Sam Curran, Nandre Burger, Riyan Parag (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Sen, Ravi Bishnoi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sushant Mishra, Yudhvir Singh, Shubham Dubey, Vignesh Puthur, Aman Rao, Kwena Maphaka, Yash Punja, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ravi Singh (WK), Brijesh Sharma. (With PTI Inputs)
16 March,2026 08:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBangladesh clinched the three-match ODI series with a dominating result of 2-1 against Pakistan. For the series, Pakistan's star batsman Babar Azam. The reason behind his exclusion has led to confusion. The confusion has been created by one of the selectors, head coach Mike Hesson and Babar himself, amid the debate if the former captain and star batter should have been excluded from the tour or not. Earlier, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squad for the Bangladesh tour without mentioning whether Babar and other senior players were dropped or rested. Last Saturday, senior selector Aaqib Javed told the media that the selectors were informed that Babar and Fakhar Zaman were injured after the T20 World Cup. "It is a surprise for us and we have asked the PCB to probe into the matter and find out how they got injured after the World Cup and whether they played in the tournament fully fit or not," he said. Sunrisers Leeds face criticism over acquisition of Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed On the other hand, in The Hundred player auction, the Sunrisers Leeds became the first Indian-owned franchise to pick Pakistan cricketer Abrar Ahmed. The franchise, which is owned by Chennai-based media conglomerate Sun Group, purchased his services for approximately Rs 2.34 crore. The franchise also faced backlash following Abrar's signing, with the team's X account suspended briefly. It was suspended just hours after the team signed Abrar. The platform did not provide a precise explanation for it, but said "Account suspended" when trying to open it. After Usman Tariq, who was acquired by Birmingham Phoenix for GBP 140,000 (about Rs 1.72 crore), Abrar was the second Pakistani player sold at the auction. However, the Phoenix franchise is not connected to the IPL and has American owners. No franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) has signed any Pakistani player since 2009 due to strained relations between India and Pakistan. Abrar's acquisition did not go down well with the fans, who reacted on the Sunrisers Leeds official X account. Several fans took to social media and criticised the Sunrisers franchise and the owner, Kavya Maran, for signing a Pakistani player amidst the ongoing tensions between the two nations. (With PTI Inputs)
16 March,2026 08:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to begin from March 28. So far, the schedule of only first 20 matches has been released due to state elections. Ahead of the cash-rich league, former Team India cricketer Harbhajan Singh feels that Mumbai Indians' skipper Hardik Pandya should bring his A game, which in turn will make a huge difference for the franchise. "I think Hardik Pandya needs to unleash his real Hardik Pandya version. He needs to bring his A game to the table. Once he starts playing his A game, not just as a batter but as a bowler as well, it will make a huge difference," he said. The former cricketer also feels Hardik bowled well in the concluded T20 World Cup 2026. He then said that if Hardik and his men start the campaign with an aim of lifting the showpiece, things would change for the Mumbai-based franchise. "We saw him bowl in the T20 World Cup. He was brilliant with the ball. That is what he needs to do in the IPL as well. When a captain leads from the front and shows the way, everyone follows. It will come down to belief. If Hardik and his men believe from day one that they are not just there to compete, but to lift the trophy for the sixth time, things can change very quickly for MI," said Harbhajan. Mumbai Indians (MI) will begin their campaign by playing a clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders: Full Squads Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Trent Boult, Suryakumar Yadav, Quinton de Kock (WK), Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Corbin Bosch, Hardik Pandya (C), Jasprit Bumrah, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Will Jacks, Mayank Rawat, Mayank Markande, Sherfane Rutherford, Raghu Sharma, Atharva Ankolekar, Tilak Varma, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Danish Malewar, Robin Minz (WK), Allah Ghazanfar, Naman Dhir, Mohammed Salahuddin Izhar. Kolkata Knight Riders: Ajinkya Rahane (C), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Tejasvi Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Tim Seifert, Rovman Powell, Anukul Roy, Sarthak Ranjan, Daksh Kamra, Rachin Ravindra, Ramandeep Singh, Blessing Muzarabani, Vaibhav Arora, Mateesha Pathirana, Kartik Tyagi, Prashant Solanki, Akash Deep, Harshit Rana, Umran Malik, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy. (With PTI Inputs)
16 March,2026 07:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the U-19 World Cup, Team India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a crucial knock in the final. In the title clash against England, the 14-year-old cricketer played a knock of 175 runs off just 80 deliveries, which was laced with 15 boundaries and the same number of maximums. Speaking about it, the budding superstar said that it was his favourite knock. "My personal favourite is the final knock in the U-19 World Cup (in Harare). I could only play one U-19 World Cup. It was a proud moment for me to score a hundred in the final," he said. "What I contributed for the team in the final was special. I try to focus on winning. I just focus on my work," added Sooryavanshi. The 14-year-old batsman has attracted considerable media attention for his explosive power-hitting, but by his own admission, Sooryavanshi prefers to keep things simple. "I just try to focus on my work. In any field if you do well, you are bound get attention. But I am not focusing on that attention. I just want to concentrate on my job," said the Bihar-born cricketer. The event of Rajasthan Royals' new jersey revelation was also by veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who is returning to the RR fold after 17 years, and leg-spinner Yash Raj Punja. The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to begin from March 28. The first match is scheduled to be played between the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Riyan Parag-led RR will open its campaign by playing a clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati. IPL 2026, Rajasthan Royals: Full Squad Ravindra Jadeja, Sandeep Sharma, Adam Milne, Donovan Ferreira (WK), Jofra Archer, Shimron Hetmyer, Tushar Deshpande, Sam Curran, Nandre Burger, Riyan Parag (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Sen, Ravi Bishnoi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sushant Mishra, Yudhvir Singh, Shubham Dubey, Vignesh Puthur, Aman Rao, Kwena Maphaka, Yash Punja, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ravi Singh (WK), Brijesh Sharma. (With PTI Inputs)
16 March,2026 05:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India's T20 World Cup 2026 winning captain Suryakumar Yadav spoke about his wish to feature in Test cricket. Speaking about it, the skipper said that in his early playing days, he played a lot of red-ball cricket, but as he succeeded in his career, the Mumbai-born cricketer shifted his focus to white-ball cricket. "What is written in your life, you get that only. I started with red-ball cricket itself, played Ranji Trophy for 10-12 years. I played a lot of red-ball cricket in Bombay because if you grow up in Bombay, you start with red ball itself, so everything is around red ball," he said. "But gradually, when we started playing white ball cricket, the inclination shifted a bit towards that. And after that, I came to this format (T20). I also tried a lot in One-Day cricket to play well in it, but nothing happened there," added the T20I skipper. He then said that the shortest format has been working well for him. "T20 mein jaisa chal raha tha, usme apna haath set ho gaya hai, aisa bol sakte hain" (The way T20 was working out for me, I had become good at it; you can say that)," said Suryakumar. He also expressed readiness to feature in the longest format of the game, if given an opportunity. "I would love to, because, as I mentioned, I played red ball cricket from 2010-11 to 2020. So, 10 years is a long time to play red ball, and I was in love with that format. But yeah, obviously, given an opportunity, who wouldn't want to play Test?," said the 35-year-old cricketer. Suryakumar will now feature in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The tournament is set to begin from March 28. He will represent Mumbai Indians (MI), whose first match is scheduled to be played on March 29 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians: Full squad Rohit Sharma, Trent Boult, Suryakumar Yadav, Quinton de Kock (WK), Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Corbin Bosch, Hardik Pandya (C), Jasprit Bumrah, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Will Jacks, Mayank Rawat, Mayank Markande, Sherfane Rutherford, Raghu Sharma, Atharva Ankolekar, Tilak Varma, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Danish Malewar, Robin Minz (WK), Allah Ghazanfar, Naman Dhir, Mohammed Salahuddin Izhar. (With PTI Inputs)
16 March,2026 04:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTeam India scripted history by clinching the T20 World Cup 2026 on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. One of the heroes for the "Men in Blue" was wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan. Having played nine matches, the left-handed batsman scored 317 runs. Speaking about his selection, Team India's captain Suryakumar Yadav said that Kishan's inclusion was completely on gut and the captain also expressed disappointment with Jitesh Sharma's snub. "It was completely on gut, little bit on data. It (the decision) was very harsh on Jitesh Sharma at that time because he was playing with the team for over an year. And he was playing, had he not been playing then the story would have been different," he said. "I was also very sad when we had to pick Ishan over Jitesh. But we needed an opener who could fire at the top, so someone had to miss out," added Suryakumar. Suryakumar called the 27-year-old and asked "Chhotu, World Cup jitayega?" (Will you get us the World Cup?). Kishan responded, "Bharosa karogey?" (Do you trust me?) to which Suryakumar said "Chal kiya" (Done). "And the way he played was amazing ... I always knew that he can be the X-factor because he has no baggage," he recalled. In the title clash, the "Men in Blue" defeated New Zealand by 96 runs. India became the first team to win two consecutive global titles in the shortest format. The "Men in Blue" also became the first team to win three T20 World Cups in the history of the tournament. IPL 2026: Tournament-opening match's date and venue After the conclusion of the T20 World Cup 2026, most of the international players will gear up to participate in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The cash-rich league is all set to kick off from March 28. The first match is scheduled to be played between the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Earlier, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Secretary, Santosh Menon, confirmed that the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will host five of the RCB's IPL 2026 home games. The venue will also host one of the play-off matches and the title clash of the tournament. Bengaluru's remaining two home matches will be played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. (With PTI Inputs)
16 March,2026 03:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer Indian skipper Virat Kohli has picked his all-time RCB XI. RCB, the defending champions, uploaded a video in which Virat Kohli listed his all-time RCB XI. The video, though, was recorded ahead of the IPL 2025 season, when the Rajat Patidar-led side clinched their maiden title.Kohli chose himself to open the innings alongside the dangerous Chris Gayle. Kohli is currently the all-time highest run-getter, with 8661 runs from 259 innings at a strike-rate of 132.85. The Gayle-Kohli duo have historically done well for the Bengaluru-based franchise.Virat Kohli went with the South African great AB De Villiers at No. 3. While Virat has scored 9,085 runs for the franchise, De Villiers and Gayle are regarded as IPL greats and have managed to score 4,522 and 3,429 runs, respectively. Kohli selected KL Rahul for the No.4 position, followed by current skipper Rajat Patidar. Rahul represented RCB in 19 matches and scored his runs at an average of 37.90. For the wicket-keeping position, Kohli went with Dinesh Karthik, with Harshal Patel slotted in at No 7.For the bowling line-up, Kohli had to choose between some of the all-time great bowlers. The former RCB skipper selected former purple cap winner, Harshal Patel at 7 and the legendary spinner Anil Kumble at 8. Kumble was RCB's captain in their maiden season and played in the IPL during the twilight of his career.In the fast bowling department, Kohli went with Mitchell Starc and Dale Steyn. Starc took 34 wickets for the Bengaluru-based franchise compared to Steyn's 38. Kohli completed the playing XI with yet another spinner in Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal is the leading wicket-taker for RCB in IPL history, claiming 139 wickets in 112 matches between 2014 and 2021.While the video was shot in 2025, before RCB's maiden IPL title win, Rajat Patidar's captaincy skills will make him the captain of the team. With a batting powerhouse and skilful bowlers in the XI, this team has covered all corners. Virat Kohli’s all-time RCB playing XI Virat Kohli's all-time RCB XI: Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, KL Rahul, Rajat Patidar, Dinesh Karthik, Harshal Patel, Anil Kumble, Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn and Yuzvendra Chahal
16 March,2026 02:57 PM IST | Mumbai | Atharva UpasaniSuryakumar Yadav, the captain of India's T20 World Cup-winning team, believes that the nation's talent pool in the shortest format has expanded to the point where it could easily field two or even three international-calibre teams simultaneously, highlighting the depth produced by a flourishing domestic structure and franchise ecosystem.According to Suryakumar Yadav, India's dominance in T20 cricket has been strengthened by a steady stream of players emerging from domestic competitions and the Indian Premier League.The Indian team has won 42 of the 52 games since Suryakumar took over as captain in 2024, immediately after Rohit Sharma resigned after the World Cup victory in Barbados.Suryakumar referred to the current side as "the best T20 team India has produced" in a podcast interview with PTI Videos, adding that India's depth in T20 cricket is now too obvious to be minimised."If you talk about talent, I feel you can find talent regularly. There is IPL cricket, franchise cricket, and then there is domestic cricket. You can see how many players come every year. So you can make as many teams as you want in T20 when I am talking about T20," Suryakumar said."So I feel talent is unlimited. If you can make two-three playing XIs, our base is so strong for the Indian team. So this is not a modest and diplomatic reply. But now it is so strong, so there is no shame in telling the truth," he added. Suryakumar opens up about his strong relationship with Coach Gautam Gambhir Suryakumar Yadav highlighted his close working connection with coach Gautam Gambhir, saying that the two were in sync the moment he was chosen as the T20 skipper and Gambhir was given the Indian coaching job."Out of 15 names we both suggested, 14 were common. That means the thinking was the same. When the goals are clear, there are no arguments, only discussions." Suryakumar Yadav said.Despite their professional success, Suryakumar said their personal dynamic remains unchanged. The duo worked together closely in the Kolkata Knight Riders before reuniting with the national team."I still call him 'Gauti bhai'. It is like a younger brother and elder brother relationship," he said.(With PTI Input)
16 March,2026 01:35 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Dream Tennis Cricket League's opening ceremony took place at the Veta Hotel in Umri, Kurukshetra, in front of Chief Guest Aakash Chopra on March 12, 2026. The Tennis Ball Cricket League's Season 1-North Zone is set to take place in Kurukshetra.Promising, talented and gifted players from Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh will compete in the league, which is set to take place at Samana Bahu (Kurukshetra) from June 16 to June 21. The league's promoters hope to make it the top tennis cricket competition in the North Zone.Aakash Chopra officially kicked off the competition by sharing his personal ideas and experiences with players and spectators while releasing the league's official poster and shirt. His involvement greatly increased the event's visibility and gave the up-and-coming performers support and encouragement. Empowering the Next Generation of Regional Stars The Dream Tennis Cricket League organisers claimed that this tournament could be a springboard for up-and-coming young talent. According to the organisers, the tournament will provide a platform for young players to express themselves and showcase their talent."The Dream Tennis Cricket League will provide players with an excellent platform to showcase their talent and will also foster greater enthusiasm for the sport among the youth. Through this league, efforts are being made to promote sporting activities in the region and offer cricket enthusiasts it provides them the opportunity to witness thrilling matches in their city," the organisers said.Chief Guest Akash Chopra said that the league will provide a chance for tennis cricket players to show their talent on a national level. He also added that it could have a big impact on a player's future in tennis ball cricket. Chopra also touched upon the growing popularity of tennis ball cricket in India."The immense craze and passion for tennis cricket currently prevalent among the public is amply evident. The Dream Tennis Cricket League Season-1, North Zone is set to provide an opportunity to any talented cricketer to showcase their talent and abilities. This is a unique opportunity for fulfilling the dreams of numerous talented players," noted Aakash Chopra. (With ANI input)
16 March,2026 12:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFormer BCCI President, Roger Binny, expressed gratitude after receiving the lifetime award at the BCCI Naman Awards 2026. The former Indian cricketer said that it was an award that every cricketer would cherish.Roger Binny, along with Rahul Dravid, were both awarded the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, while Mithali Raj received the BCCI Lifetime Achievement Award for Women at the prestigious BCCI Naman Awards 2026 held in New Delhi.The BCCI Naman Awards are the annual ceremony held to reward exceptional performances throughout the year in both men's and women's cricket. India enjoyed a historic year, winning 5 ICC trophies for the first time in history.The Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honour bestowed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to former Indian cricketers for their supreme contribution to the sport. Roger Binny 'proud' to receive the lifetime award Speaking about the honour, Binny said receiving a lifetime achievement award from the BCCI was a special moment after his decades of involvement in and around Indian cricket as a player, coach and an adminsitrator."Well, I was very proud to hear it from the BCCI that I'd been given this award. I think it's something that any cricketer would cherish, being a lifetime achievement. You work so much to achieve so many things in the game. It's not only just cricket, but it's also admin, coaching, everything revolves around cricket. To me, it was a great honour, and I'm very proud to receive it," Binny said.In 1999, Binny began his career in cricket administration with the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) following his retirement from international cricket. He advanced through the ranks over time, holding a number of positions before rising to the position of president of the KSCA and then chairman of the BCCI."I headed the BCCI for a period of time, which I enjoyed very much again. Because in all these state and national postings, I was able to contribute again towards the game. So, I was very happy for that," the former BCCI president added.After retiring, Binny continued contributing to Indian cricket as India U-19 coach, guiding the team to the 2000 ICC U-19 World Cup title, and later served as a national selector (2012-2016)(With ANI input)
16 March,2026 12:02 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1773653032845_d.png "Virat Kohli (Pic: BCCI)")
-1773645372887_d.png "Aakash Chopra (File pic)")
-1773642572123_d.png "Jay Shah and Roger Binny (Pic:X)")