The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 is set to take place from March 26 to May 31. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to release the complete schedule, the upcoming edition of the marquee event is expected to begin around three weeks after the T20 World Cup 2026. The global showpiece is set to begin from February 7 to March 8, and will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka, according to ESPNcricinfo. The IPL will also overlap with the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for the second consecutive year. The PSL will kick off from March 26 to May 3. The preparations for the cash-rich league have begun, with the franchises ready for the auction on December 16 in Abu Dhabi. Ahead of the auction, Australia's star all-rounder Cameron Green is expected to walk away with the costliest buy tag for the season. Additionally, it will be interesting to see if Prithvi Shaw manages to find a buy for the upcoming edition. A total of 369 players have been shortlisted for the auction, with 77 slots up for grabs, including 31 reserved for overseas players. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have the highest number of vacancies at 13, followed by Sunrisers Hyderabad with ten. Following trades and player retentions, KKR also hold the largest remaining purse at INR 64.30 crore (approximately USD 7.1 million), while Chennai Super Kings are next with INR 43.40 crore (around USD 4.8 million). IPL 2025 Summary IPL 2025 was initially scheduled for a similar timeframe, from March 22 to May 25, but escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan led to a temporary suspension of the tournament on May 9. The competition resumed on May 15 and eventually concluded on June 3. Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinched the title in the final, ending their long wait for the trophy with a six-run victory over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad. However, the celebrations in Bengaluru were marred by tragedy, as stampede-like situations outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium resulted in the deaths of 11 people. A subsequent inquiry declared the stadium unfit to host large-scale events. (With ANI Inputs)
16 December,2025 12:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhead of the third Test match of the Ashes series, England and Australian players will wear black armbands and the flags will be flown at half-staff to pay tribute to the victims of the Bondi beach shootings. On Sunday night, two gunmen killed 15 people and injured several at the iconic beach in Sydney. Their aim was to target the people of Sydney's Jewish community, who were celebrating the start of Hannukah in what authorities said was an antisemitic act of terrorism. Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board issued a joint statement saying: "All of our thoughts are with the victims, their friends and families, the Jewish community and the people of Australia at this deeply distressing time. Our condolences go out to all those affected. We stand with you". The third Test match of the Ashes series between England and Australia is scheduled to be played from December 17 at the Adelaide Oval. Ahead of the clash, the Aussies have left out opening batsman Usman Khawaja as skipper Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon were named in the team. Khawaja had back spasms, following which he failed to open the innings in the first match. He was also ruled out of the second game in Brisbane. Despite recovering from the injury, the selectors have decided to stick with Travis Head and Jake Weatherald at the top of the order. Veteran spinner Lyon is also back after being axed in preference for an all-pace attack at the Gabba, with Brendan Doggett and Michael Neser making way In the absence of Cummins, Steve Smith led the Australian pack. Currently, the hosts are leading the five-match Ashes Test series by 2-0 against the "Three Lions". The Aussies will look to secure a win in the upcoming clash to seal the series, whereas the Englishmen will be eager to register their first win, in order to keep the series alive. Australia's playing XI for the third Test match of the Ashes series: Jake Weatherald, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland. (With Inputs from Agencies)
16 December,2025 11:34 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIndia pacer Arshdeep Singh had a very special reason to smile after his brilliant performance during the third T20I against South Africa in Dharamsala on Sunday. The 26 year old claimed two wickets for just 13 runs in four overs, including the prized scalp of opener Reeza Hendricks in the very first over. He returned later in the innings to dismiss skipper Aiden Markram. Source of joy Arshdeep was named Player of the Match in Team India’s seven-wicket win and dedicated the award to someone very close to his heart — his 10-month-old niece, Inayat. Though she is too young to understand cricket, little Inayat has become a source of joy and strength for her uncle. (Left to right) Arshdeep Singh’s father Darshan, mother Baljit Kaur, sister-in-law Maninderjeet Kaur, elder brother Akash Deep and niece Inayat cheer him on at Dharamsala on Sunday The left-arm pacer’s entire family was present at the ground to support him. Speaking from Punjab on Monday, his mother Baljit Kaur revealed how attached Arshdeep is to Inayat, the daughter of his elder brother, Akash Deep, “Arsh is very attached to Inayat. This is her first visit to India. She came with her parents, Akash and Maninderjeet Kaur, from Canada,” Baljit Kaur told mid-day. She also recalled a special moment that defined the bond between her son and his niece. “After finishing a tournament in Dubai, Arshdeep flew straight to Canada without informing anyone. When Akash opened the door, he could not believe Arshdeep was standing there,” she said. “He had come only to see the newborn.” Arshdeep Singh celebrates the wicket of SA opener Reeza Hendricks in Dharamsala on Sunday. Pic/PTI Difficult outing at Mullanpur Just a few days earlier, Arshdeep had endured a difficult outing on his home ground in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. He conceded 54 runs in four overs, including seven wides in a single over. The family felt he needed encouragement. “We went to motivate him. His sister, Gurleen Kaur, and her husband were also at the ground, Baljit Kaur added. The family’s presence clearly helped as Arshdeep bowled with confidence and control during Team India’s Dharamshala domination. 48No. of wickets claimed by Arshdeep Singh in the Powerplay, the most by an Indian, surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar (47) ZeroNo. of wides bowled by Arshdeep on Sunday after bowling nine in the second T20I on Thursday
16 December,2025 10:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Bipin DaniFormer India pacer Zaheer Khan and wife Sagarika Ghatge, who are currently on holiday in the Maldives, are truly having some fun in the sun with their son. The actress took to her social media account to share some fun-filled pictures from their trip with son Fateshsinh having a gala time. Sagarika captioned the pictures, “Barefoot days, slow mornings. Such a beautiful island with old trees and lush greenery everywhere. The lagoon is exactly what I love: calm, clear and great for a swim. Fateh is a total water baby and had the best time in the ocean.” Sagarika also mentioned that her baby boy has “discovered his love for singing” while enjoying the buggy rides during their beach holiday. In one picture, the actress is all smiles along with her son as they read the restaurant menu. In another picture, Sagarika, Zaheer and Fateh can be seen enjoying their pool time. 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
16 December,2025 10:07 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSVenkatesh Iyer Base price: Rs 2cr After being purchased by Kolkata Knight Riders for R23.75 crore in the previous auction, Iyer was released by the franchise following a poor season. However, the Madhya Pradesh batter boasts strong stats in the tournament except last year. In 2024, when KKR lifted the trophy, Iyer, 30, scored 370 runs from 15 matches at an average of 46.25 and a strike rate of 158.80. In 2023, he made 404 runs in 14 games, striking at 145.85. Iyer may fetch a good sum if the 2025 season is seen as an anomaly. Prithvi Shaw Base price: Rs 75l The 26-year-old opener went unsold last year, but has found new form in 2025. Shaw has scored heavily since switching from Mumbai to Maharashtra, including a double century (222 off just 156 balls) against Chandigarh in the Ranji Trophy. Shaw scored 74 against Punjab and 71 against Karnataka. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Shaw scored 66 off 36 balls for Maharashtra against Hyderabad and 66 off 30 balls against Bihar, showing he can do it in T20s. Sarfaraz Khan Base price: Rs 75l Khan last featured in the IPL in 2021 for Punjab Kings, where he played just two matches. The Test batter from Mumbai is often overlooked in the auction as he specializes in the long format. However, this year in the SMAT, the 28-year-old has shown his T20 form with an unbeaten 47-ball 100 against Assam, a 40-ball 52 against Kerala, and a 25-ball 64 against Haryana. Khan will hope to attract bids, now that he is also a lot fitter physically. Akash Deep Base price: Rs 1cr The pacer, who played six games and claimed three wickets for Lucknow Super Giants in 2025, was the star of India’s Test victory over England in Birmingham in July, claiming a 10-wicket match haul (4-88 and 6-99). Recently, Akash Deep has shown promise playing for Bengal in the SMAT, claiming 2-55 against Punjab, 3-27 against Services, and 2-32 against Haryana. Deep, 29, will be eyeing more game time in IPL 2026 on the back of these performances. Ravi Bishnoi Base price: Rs 2cr The leg-spinner had a middling season with LSG in 2025, claiming nine wickets in 11 matches. He has done well in SMAT, claiming nine wickets in seven games, with a best of 3-13 vs Puducherry. Franchises, who will bid for him, will hope Bishnoi, 25, who is known for his wrong ‘un, can rock on.
16 December,2025 09:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Karan ShankarEngland captain Ben Stokes called for his team to “show a bit of dog” against Australia in the third Ashes Test with the series on the line. The tourists have made one change to the team with Josh Tongue recalled in place of Gus Atkinson. “It’s just about trying to fight in every situation that you find yourself in, understanding the situation and what you feel is required for your team. Yeah, just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog. That’s fight to me. You’re giving yourself the best possible chance if you’ve got a bit of dog in you,” Stokes said. 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
16 December,2025 09:47 AM IST | Adelaide | PTIIndia's World Cup-winning women’s team’s head coach Amol Muzumdar was all praise for Mumbai batter Jemimah Rodrigues’s unbeaten 76 versus New Zealand just before her unbeaten 127 against defending champions Australia in the semi-finals at the DY Patil Stadium on October 30. “I think that New Zealand game [Jemimah scored a 55-ball 76] was key. Before the New Zealand game, there were a couple of sleepless nights because that was a must-win game. It was like a quarter-final. Only if we win the game, would we get into the semi-finals,” Muzumdar said during a felicitation function at the Bombay Gymkhana on Monday when veteran journalists Rajdeep Sardesai asked him if Jemimah’s knock against Australia in the semi-finals was the turning point. “We, as a team, always believe that if you have to win the World Cup, we’ll have to beat Australia somewhere down the line. Either in the semi-finals or in the finals. We’ll have to beat them. So we were all geared up for that game. There was no doubt about it. But Jemimah’s knock was a phenomenal one,” Muzumdar added. Muzumdar also lavished praise on vice captain Smriti Mandhana, especially her stylish cover drive. He said: “Smriti is the best left-hander I’ve ever seen. Her cover drive is beautiful, elegant. There’s a touch of class in her cover drive.” The function was organised to commemorate the 92nd anniversary of the first-ever Test match played in India from December 15 to 18 in 1933 between the hosts and England at the Bombay Gymkhana ground.
16 December,2025 09:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureSuryakumar Yadav on Sunday acknowledged the shortage of runs from him, but India’s T20I skipper did not count it as lack of form, saying that runs will come sooner than later. Suryakumar made an 11-ball 12 in India’s seven-wicket win over South Africa before getting out to Lungi Ngidi. It extended his run of low scores to 21 innings, with the exceptions being his 75 against Bangladesh in Hyderabad on October 24, and an unbeaten 47 against Pakistan during September’s Asia Cup. “I’ve been batting beautifully in the nets. When the runs have to come, they’ll come. Not out of form, definitely out of runs,” said Suryakumar. 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
16 December,2025 09:41 AM IST | Dharamsala | AgenciesIndia all-rounder Axar Patel was on Monday ruled out of the remaining two T20Is against South Africa due to illness, with the BCCI’s selection committee naming Shahbaz Ahmed as his replacement. Axar had also missed the third T20I in Dharamsala on Sunday, with wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav being included in the playing XI. 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
16 December,2025 09:38 AM IST | New Delhi | PTIIn the third T20I match against South Africa, Team India emerged victorious by seven wickets at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. During the match, Team India bowlers showcased immense skills and bowled out the Proteas for 117 runs in 20 overs. Speaking on their performance, the hosts' bowling coach, Morne Morkel, expressed happiness. "I am just happy how the boys bounced back," Morkel said in a video posted by 'bcci.tv'. Completing his quota of four overs each, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana bagged two wickets each by conceding 13 and 34 runs, respectively. Reflecting on his performance, Arshdeep joked around, remembering his spell in the previous game when the camera had turned to Morkel after the pacer's poor bowling display. "In the last match, when I was bowling wides, the camera was panning to the coach (Morkel) very often as if he had given some faulty plan to me. I would like to say sorry to Morne and will also try to ensure that he gets less screen time," said the 26-year-old pacer. "Whether good or bad, I always try to be a level-headed person who makes reels and keeps the dressing room atmosphere light. That's my main motivation," added Arshdeep. On the other hand, Harshit said that he enjoys bowling with the Guna-born cricketer as he creates pressure from the other end. "I like bowling with him (Arshdeep), he creates pressure from the other end. It is helpful for my bowling. It's my first time in Dharamsala, I enjoyed bowling here. The weather helps a lot," he said. Batting first, South Africa lost the wickets of their openers, Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks, early in the match. Later, skipper Aiden Markram played a blistering knock of 61 runs off 46 deliveries. His knock was laced with six boundaries and two maximums. India's Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav also scalped two wickets each while Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube took one wicket each. The fourth T20I match between Team India and South Africa is scheduled to be played on Wednesday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium B Ground in Lucknow. (With PTI Inputs)
15 December,2025 04:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEngland's Vice-Captain Harry Brook had admitted that the ongoing Ashes Test series against Australia has not gone well for him, and he needs to absorb the pressure for the upcoming clash in Adelaide. "It hasn't been an ideal series. Sometimes, I've got to rein it in a little bit: learn when to absorb the pressure a little bit more, and realise when the opportunity arises to put the pressure back on them. I feel like I haven't done that as well as I usually do. I just haven't identified those situations well enough," Brook said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. So far, the right-hander registered the scores of 52, 0, 31, and 15 in the first two Test matches against the Aussies. He said that, by far, his execution has not been as good as it was in the initial stages of his career. "Most of the time when I've been overly aggressive is when we've lost early wickets and I've tried to counter-punch and put them back under pressure. I tried to do that in Perth in the first innings: I played quite nicely and gloved down the leg side. I try to read situations as well as possible, and then it all depends on my execution. And so far [in this series], my execution hasn't been as good as it has been at the start of my career," said Brook. He also said that the Australian bowling lineup can't be taken lightly and the Englishmen need to create their own chances to score runs. "You can't take this bowling attack lightly: they very rarely miss. You've got to try and create your own bad balls. Doing that might be me running down; it might be me changing my guard or whatever. Look, they don't miss often and you've got to tip your hat to them sometimes. They've bowled really well in this series," said the 26-year-old cricketer. The third Test match between England and Australia is scheduled to be played from Wednesday at the Adelaide Oval. Currently, the "Three Lions" are trailing the series 0-2 against the Aussies. (With ANI Inputs)
15 December,2025 04:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
