The upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to kick off 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, the Rajasthan Royals (RR) will enter the tournament under the leadership of newly appointed full-time captain Riyan Parag. Earlier, the Rajasthan-based franchise traded their former skipper, Sanju Samson, to Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Speaking about Samson, RR's incumbent captain Parag said that there is no replacement for the 31-year-old cricketer. "If you talk about Sanju bhaiya, we never think about replacing the kind of player he is. We can perhaps look for someone with a similar skillset or have someone bat in his position. It's like there is no replacement for Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma... In the same way, there is no replacement for Sanju bhaiya because he is such a good player," he said. Further speaking about the team's strategy for the upcoming season, the skipper stated that the focus will be on planning better and finishing matches. "This year, the focus is to plan better and finish games, which we couldn't do in the previous edition. We need to plan well. Last year, there were about 5-6 games which we lost in the last over or even on the last ball. Had we been able to convert those, or had we calculated better, this question (if RR would try anything new) would not have been asked because we would have qualified (for knockouts) by winning those matches," said Parag. He also said that a team needs to make three to four right decisions according to strategy and planning in the shortest format of the game. "I think that in every T20 game, there are 3-4 decisions that you have to make which change the course of the game. If we take those small decisions with strategy and planning, this year will be different," added the 24-year-old cricketer. IPL 2026, Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings: Date and venue RR will begin their IPL 2026 campaign by playing a match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 30 at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati. (With PTI Inputs)
19 March,2026 04:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentJos Buttler has stated that taking a break from cricket following a poor T20 World Cup campaign has helped him as he prepares for a new start with the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League starting later this month.Buttler opened the batting for England at the World Cup, scoring just 87 runs at an average of 10.87 and a dismal strike rate of 116 in eight games. England was eliminated from the competition after losing to India in a high-scoring semifinal in Mumbai.The 35-year-old believes that his absence from the game since the T20 World Cup will benefit him going into the IPL, which begins on March 28."I couldn't have been further away from cricket, which for me at the time was just perfect. It's exactly what I needed. Obviously, the tournament didn't go personally how I'd have liked it to go. I just felt like I needed some space (away) from cricket and not to think about the game, and I could not have been further away from cricket where I was in that week," Buttler said on the "For the Love of Cricket' podcast. Buttler says a break from cricket has given him time to reflect Buttler said the break was energising, which also gave him time to reflect. Buttler will be back playing for the Gujarat Titans during the IPL 2026."It was really refreshing -- I really enjoyed it -- a complete sort of release. Slowly but surely, I'd say at the start of this week, (I am) just starting to reflect a bit and have a few thoughts about what's important to me and my cricket, and why it probably didn't go quite as I would've liked," he added.Buttler claimed that his lack of runs in the T20 World Cup was not the result of a lack of effort because he had spent as much time as possible in the nets attempting to regain his form prior to the semi-final match against India."There's elements (to what went wrong) that I actually don't really know exactly. For all your best intentions and hard work and efforts to perform, it just didn't work, and sometimes that's okay as well. That's something I've had to realise. It wasn't for a lack of effort; it just didn't quite happen," Buttler said. (With PTI Input)
19 March,2026 02:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSpeaking to former IPL teammate AB de Villiers on his YouTube podcast, Indian spinner Yuzvendra Chahal made a huge revelation. Chahal stated that he had given up drinking, citing his age and his dedication to playing for the Punjab Kings as the main reasons.Yuzvendra Chahal has changed his lifestyle and chosen to give up alcohol in an effort to improve his confidence and level of fitness going into the next IPL 2026 season. His decision to quit alcohol also stemmed from the fact that he wants to be a role model for the younger players.“I've stopped drinking alcohol, and it's been more than six months. I am now 35, so I want to be more active and give my 150% for my team. As a senior player, I want people in the IPL to learn something from me," Chahal said.Chahal said that he was dissatisfied with his performance in the 2025 IPL season because of rib and knuckle injuries. The spinner stated that he wanted to prioritise his health and make sure he was performing at his best in the forthcoming season.“I was a bit disappointed with myself. After the KKR game, I had a rib fracture, and later, my knuckle got fractured. So in the semifinal and final, I wasn't able to bowl my proper leg-spin. This year, I want to take care of my body first," said Chahal. Chahal believes PBKS would have won the final with Marco Jensen in the team Chahal also discussed his feelings on Punjab Kings' (PBKS) six-run defeat in the previous season's final against RCB. He pointed out that one of the potential causes of the defeat was the absence of bowling all-rounder Marco Jansen.Despite taking 16 wickets in 14 games, Jansen's national obligations prevented him from participating in the playoffs. Jansen was obliged to leave the camp and travel to South Africa in order to prepare for the World Test Championship (WTC) final due to a minor schedule change brought on by cross-border conflict and the IPL moving into June.
19 March,2026 01:07 PM IST | Mumbai | Atharva UpasaniFormer South African batsman AB de Villiers claims that RCB's 'squad of fighters' will relieve Virat Kohli's load and help Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the IPL 2026. After an 18-year wait, Kohli is still a key member of the RCB team as they look to defend the first trophy they won last season.“Virat can feel that; he can sense that he is not the only one carrying the load anymore. He has a squad of fighters around him, all gunning to win the trophy. I think they are in a really good place," former RCB batter de Villiers told JioStar.Despite Kohli taking a break since mid-January, de Villiers is confident that the Indian star will enter the IPL well-prepared. Kohli has retired from Test and T20I, only competing in ODI matches for India. “He has the best work ethic I have ever seen in my life. He will not come into the tournament undercooked. If he doesn’t play well, it will purely be down to form or maybe a technical error," de Villiers said.De Villiers also believes that RCB is now in a position to consistently challenge for titles. The former South African skipper believes that defending champions could win two or three trophies in a row.“You will remember him (Kohli) speaking about it often in the dressing room, ‘If we can win one, we are going to win two, three, four quickly.’ I truly believe that. I feel RCB are in that zone now where they can go bang, bang, bang… perhaps two or three trophies in a row," he added. Anil Kumble expects Virat Kohli to unveil some new shots this IPL Former Indian star Anil Kumble suggested that Kohli might unveil some new shots this IPL season. With the Test cricket and T20I behind him, Kohli could try to find new ways to score runs.“Don’t be surprised if he comes into this season with a different outlook, perhaps trying something like the scoop shot or the reverse scoop. Virat could add that to his batting repertoire as well. Great players like him are constantly looking to evolve, improve, and challenge themselves." Kumble said.
19 March,2026 12:19 PM IST | Mumbai | Atharva UpasaniFormer Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik and squash player Dipika Pallikal have announced the birth of their daughter, Raaha Pallikal Karthik. The couple shared the news on their social media account.“With blessings in our hearts and gratitude beyond words, we joyfully welcome our precious girl into this world. Kabir and Zian are thrilled to introduce their baby sister, Raaha Pallikal Karthik. Love, Dipika & Dinesh.” Karthik wrote on Instagram. The couple got married in 2015 and have two sons already, Kabir and Zian. Both Karthik and Pallikal are established international athletes. Karthik made waves in cricket as a wicket-keeper batter for India, while Pallikal is well-renowned as a successful international squash player.Karthik played his final Test match against England in 2018 after making his debut against Australia in 2004. He scored 1,025 runs at an average of 25 across 26 Test matches and 42 innings, including one century and seven half-centuries. Karthik made his One Day International debut against England at Lord's in September 2004. He played his final ODI against New Zealand in the 2019 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. In 94 games and 79 innings, he amassed 1,752 runs at an average of 30.20, including nine half-centuries.He made his Twenty20 International debut against South Africa in 2006 and played his last game against Bangladesh in November 2022. In 60 games and 48 innings, Karthik amassed 686 runs at an average of 26.38, including one half-century. Dinesh Karthik joins the RCB camp for IPL 2026 Dinesh Karthik is the mentor and batting coach of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The former Indian star has joined the RCB camp before the start of the IPL 2026. RCB will be the defending champions in this year's edition.Karthik made an immediate impact with the RCB. The wicket-keeper played a key role for the Bengaluru-based franchise in the final year of his playing career and has since then joined them as a batting coach and mentor. Karthik was a key coaching figure as RCB ended their 18-year wait for an IPL title, when they won the final against the Punjab Kings last year.
19 March,2026 11:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Atharva UpasaniOfficials from the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB), along with national team players, visited hospitals in Kabul to check on those injured due to the Pakistani strike at a hospital. The players offered support and prayers for recovery. Afghanistan's ODI and Test captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, accompanied by teammates Gulbadin Naib and Qais Ahmad, visited Wazir Akbar Khan and Kabul Emergency hospitals, where they met survivors and expressed solidarity with victims and their families. The visit came amid growing outrage among Afghanistan's cricketing community following reports of heavy civilian casualties caused by airstrikes in Kabul. Several players publicly condemned the violence and called for accountability. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Afghanistan Cricket Board (@afghanistancricketboard) Over 400 people have been reported killed in the deadly airstrike carried out by Pakistan on an addiction treatment hospital in Kabul, while at the same time, the Pakistani military has fired 124 rockets into the districts of Kunar province over the past 24 hours, as reported by Tolo News. The United Nations has called for an investigation and accountability into the horrific airstrike. According to Tolo News, officials from the Kunar Directorate of Information and Culture said that Pakistan carried out scattered rocket attacks across several areas of the province; however, no casualties have been reported. Zia-ul-Rahman Spin Ghar, Head of Information at the Directorate, said: "The Pakistani military regime has once again launched 124 rocket attacks on districts near the hypothetical Durand Line in Kunar. Fortunately, no one was harmed in these attacks. However, as a result, many of our fellow citizens have been forced to leave their homes." Citing Kunar's Department of Refugees and Repatriation, Tolo News reported that nearly 7,500 families from districts near the Durand Line have been displaced due to these rocket attacks and have moved to safer areas Earlier on Tuesday, several Afghanistan cricketers spoke out against the civilian casualties reported in Kabul following airstrikes by Pakistan, expressing grief and calling for justice. Pakistan carried out heavy bombardment targeting Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, with Taliban officials and residents reporting multiple explosions across the city, Khaama Press reported. According to Khaama Press, the latest bombardment highlights rapidly deteriorating relations between Pakistan and the Taliban administration as both sides continue to trade accusations over security issues. Rashid Khan took to X to express his outrage, saying he was "deeply saddened by the latest reports of civilian casualties in Kabul". The all-rounder added that targeting civilian homes, educational facilities, or medical infrastructure, whether intentional or accidental, amounts to a war crime. Rashid Khan wrote, "I am deeply saddened by the latest reports of civilian casualties as a result of Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul. Targeting civilian homes, educational facilities or medical infrastructure, either intentional or by mistake, is a war crime. The sheer disregard for human lives, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is sickening and deeply concerning. It will only fuel division and hatred. I call upon the UN and other human rights agencies to thoroughly investigate this latest atrocity and hold the perpetrators to account. I stand with my Afghan people in this difficult time. We shall heal, and we will rise as a nation. We always do. Inshallah!" This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 March,2026 09:23 AM IST | Kabul (Afghanistan) | ANINew Zealand batting all-rounder Glenn Phillips, who has been nicknamed ‘Phillips Airlines’ by fans for his acrobatic mid-air catches, stunned his 9.6 lakh Instagram followers with his latest post, while flying an aeroplane in Auckland. Phillips, 29, who is a licensed private pilot, shared pictures of himself in the cockpit of a light aircraft with the caption: “Little scenic evening around Auckland city.” Phillips was part of the Kiwi team that finished as runners-up at the recent T20 World Cup won by India.
19 March,2026 09:16 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentIndia's off-spinning all-rounder Shreyanka Patil has dazzled her online fans with her latest bold look. Shreyanka, 23, Instagrammed this picture to her 4.9 million followers, wearing a short, black and white dress, while shooting for a perfume brand. The Bengaluru girl captioned the post: “Not just a fragrance. A number. A moment. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shreyanka Patil (@shreyanka_patil31) A memory.” Fans were quick to praise her look. “Fantastic look,” one user wrote. “Looking like a heroine,” said another. The post garnered over 2.25 lakh ‘likes’.
19 March,2026 09:14 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentDadar Union Sporting Club’s annual U-13 cricket tournament for the Late Vijay Tulpule Cup will be inaugurated by ex-India captain Dilip Vengsarkar at his academy ground at Oval Maidan at 9 am on Thursday, today. The eight-team, 35 overs per side tournament will be played at Oval Maidan and Chembur’s Mahul. The final is on March 27 at the Dadar Union Sporting Club’s ground in Matunga.
19 March,2026 09:04 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentFormer Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes things will be different and more challenging for stalwart Virat Kohli in the upcoming IPL season as the former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain will be playing his first IPL after retiring from Test cricket last year and is now active only in the ODI format. Pathan also added that despite Kohli’s strong performance in ODIs, even after the break, the same will not happen in T20s, as it will pose a different challenge for the charismatic batter. “This time, things will be a little different for Kohli. For the first time, he will play the IPL after completely retiring from Test cricket. He is playing only one format, which is not easy for anyone. But he has scored runs, and his performance has been brilliant. Even when he comes after a break, it has not been difficult for him in one-day cricket,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel. Irfan Pathan “In T20s, when you play the aggressor and come in not having played a lot, it will be challenging. But he has faced many challenges before as well. I am very excited to see how he will go forward this season,” he added. Pathan also said that Kohli’s approach of hitting from the onset with a high strike-rate throughout the innings proved to be a big reason behind RCB’s title win in 2025. “Virat Kohli and RCB are identities that go together. He started with RCB and is still playing for them. He has delivered brilliant performances. It was also a golden period in his career when he captained the team; there were a lot of brilliant performances. When they won last season, his strike-rate also went up. He did not play the anchor role but took on the role of an aggressor. It was a very big factor,” he noted. 657No. of runs scored by Virat Kohli in 15 IPL games last season — the most for RCB 8661No. of runs scored by Kohli in 267 IPL matches — the most by any player 8Total number of centuries scored by Kohli in the IPL — the most by any player This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 March,2026 08:54 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSIndia's test captain Shubman Gill expressed immense pride and gratitude after being named the winner of the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award for Best International Cricketer (Men) for 2025 by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at the Naman Awards. Gill said that being recognised alongside some of the legends and idols who have previously won the award made the achievement even more special. “Obviously, it feels quite amazing to be recognised among cricketers, among the legends and idols that have won this award before me. It’s truly a great honour every time you step on the field to represent your country in a sport that I’ve spent my entire life playing, and to do well in that sport and be recognised by the BCCI is an immense honour,” Gill said in a video released by the BCCI on X. Reflecting on India’s performances over the past year, Gill said that it was an amazing journey, highlighting the team’s resilience during the England series, where they fought back to draw after a difficult start. “I think it’s been an amazing journey so far. Going into the England series and coming back to draw the series from where we were after the first Test match, and even after that, playing in the West Indies and the Asia Cup it’s been a truly great year,” he noted. Looking ahead, Gill emphasised the importance of the upcoming Test calendar, with India set to face Sri Lanka, New Zealand and Australia in crucial series that could determine their chances of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The team are currently placed at the sixth position with only four wins and a draw in nine matches. “We’ve got some really crucial Test series coming up. Hopefully we are able to win most of our matches and qualify for the finals,” he said. Gill credited the collective effort of the team’s support staff, including head coach Gautam Gambhir along with the broader coaching unit and staff at the Centre of Excellence (CoE), for shaping India into one of the most fearless teams in world cricket. “It’s efforts by everyone — whether it’s Gauti bhai, the batting coach, bowling coach, fielding coach; they all work tirelessly to make this group what it is today. That’s why we are recognised as one of the most fearless teams in the world, and wherever we go, we are looked upon as favourites. That tag doesn’t come easy,” he added. The 26-year-old also acknowledged the support from the BCCI's current leadership and former secretary Jay Shah for providing world-class facilities and infrastructure that have contributed to players’ growth and performance. “The support that we have got from the BCCI, especially Jay bhai and all the office bearers, has been great. The initiatives they’ve taken to take our cricket forward have really helped us immensely. Even when I got injured, the training, practice and facilities played a huge role in performance,” Gill said. Gill further downplayed discussions around legacy, instead stressing the importance of building a team identity in Test cricket. “I don’t really focus on legacy that much, but we want to be looked upon, especially in red-ball cricket, as a team that doesn’t give up easily. We want to instil that kind of character in all players,” he explained. Gill's performance in India's five-Test series in England was the central reason for the award. He scored 754 runs in ten innings at an average of 75.40 with four centuries and a highest score of 269. Gill finished as the highest run-getter in the test for 2025 with 983 runs in nine matches at an average of 70.21. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 March,2026 08:51 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSADVERTISEMENT
-1773910564031_d.png "Jos Buttler (Pic: ICC)")
-1773905628386_d.png "Yuzi Chahal (File Pic)")
-1773902789938_d.png "Royal Challengers Bengaluru team celebrating with the IPL trophy (Pic: AFP)")
-1773901289995_d.png "Dinesh Karthik and his wife Dipika Pallikal (Instagram)")
