Five-time IPL champs Mumbai Indians are struggling for momentum this season after managing just one win from four games, including a current three-match losing streak. And one of the major concerns for the Hardik Pandya-led outfit, who suffered an 18-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at Wankhede on Sunday night, is their underperforming bowling unit. MI, who are generally well known for a strong bowling attack, have only managed 15 scalps in four games so far. While ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah has the best economy of 8.20, he is still awaiting his first wicket. MI’s most successful bowler at the moment is pacer Shardul Thakur, who has claimed five wickets, but at an expensive economy of 13.45. MI’s costliest bowler has been leg-spinner Mayank Markande, who is yet to take a wicket in three games and has an economy of 15.20. Sherfane Rutherford. Pic/IPL MI all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford, though reckons the bowling unit’s struggles are not a big problem. “It [bowling] is definitely not a concern. If we are honest, other teams have batted well. We need to give credit where it’s due. The [RCB] guys batted well. It’s just a small margin for us. It’s probably about changing one or two fielders. I don’t think it has much to do with our bowlers. It’s just about executing and getting better,” Rutherford, who scored an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls (1x4, 9x6) during their unsuccessful chase of RCB’s 240-4, said during the post-match press conference on Sunday. MI began IPL-19 well, beating Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets at Wankhede, before suffering away defeats to Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals.“I think it’s just small margins. As a team, our preparation has been good; as a unit, we have been preparing well. What is important for us is to keep learning,” added Rutherford, 27, who has represented West Indies in 22 ODIs and 53 T20Is. He is confident MI will bounce back. “It’s about how you take the learnings. We need to go back to the drawing board and strengthen up on the small margins. As a team, we will come back stronger. We are a good team. Three games do not make us a bad team. There are 14 games, so there’s a long way to go,” he added. 462 Total number of runs scored at Wankhede on Sunday — the highest match aggregate in an MI vs RCB IPL clash 11No. of wides conceded by MI bowlers on Sunday ZeroNo. of wickets claimed by Jasprit Bumrah in his last five games for MI 222-5No. of runs scored by MI on Sunday — their highest total vs RCB in IPL
14 April,2026 10:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureWhile Rishabh Pant is busy leading the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, his elder sister Sakshi, who lives in London, is currently enjoying her time in Cotswold, which is a two-hour drive from England’s capital city. Sakshi, who married England-based businessman Ankit Chaudhary in March 2025, shared this picture to her 2.23 lakh followers on Instagram with the caption: “Escaping into my own quiet world.”
14 April,2026 09:54 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentThe Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a show-cause notice to Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder over the usage of a device during the side’s clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and have sought his response within the next 48 hours. “Yes, after the ACSU launched an investigation into the matter, a show-cause notice has been served to Bhinder. He has been asked to reply within 48 hours and explain the reasons behind him taking the mobile to that area,” said sources in the BCCI to IANS on Monday. The incident unfolded during the second innings of RR’s clash against RCB at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati, when TV captured Bhinder using a mobile phone while seated in front of the refrigerator in the team dugout. In the clipping which soon went viral on social media, teenaged opening sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was spotted glancing at the phone’s screen being used by Bhinder. According to the PMOA (Players and Match Officials Area) guidelines found on IPL’s website, “The Team Manager may use a phone in the dressing room but NOT in the dugout.” Bhinder, who also serves as Sooryavanshi’s local guardian in the IPL, was hospitalised for nearly a month in Nagpur due to a collapse of his lungs in the lead-up to the IPL. He has been an integral member of RR’s set-up since the IPL’s inception in 2008 and was even attached with the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants when the Jaipur-based franchise was banned from participating in the competition. Other franchises are also keeping a close eye on the outcome of ACSU’s investigation on Bhinder. “As per the rules, usage of mobile is not permitted in that area, irrespective of the explanation he gives. This massive breach of rules is a very open and shut thing and it will be interesting to see how the BCCI penalises him,” said an IPL insider. 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
14 April,2026 09:49 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSIn the lead-up to every match the Chennai Super Kings play, whether they have just lost again or bucked the trend, one question dominates: Is Thala fully fit and will he play? Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the wicketkeeper-batsman, is not missed, because it has been a while since the 44-year-old has been the kind of force that makes him an automatic selection. And yet, the question with no answer is asked because most CSK fans cannot imagine their team without Dhoni. When the IPL came into being, the unlikeliest of adoptions happened. In 2008, Dhoni was the best thing going in Indian cricket, and he had the rest of his playing career ahead of him to grow from strength to strength. The long hair, the motorbikes, and the legend of milk-guzzling made him 100 per cent marketable. But what were the odds that a loyal son of Jharkhand would become the icon of cricket in Tamil Nadu, a conservative state steeped in tradition? It happened at once and slowly: Dhoni was welcomed and then made their own by CSK fans. CSK assembling strong teams, sticking with the core and consistently making it to the Playoffs, on top of five titles — joint-highest with Mumbai Indians — ensured that even a two-year suspension (2016 and 2017) from the league did not dampen fans’ enthusiasm. Even the fact that Tamil Nadu’s cricketers never quite formed the backbone of the Chennai-based team, who take on Kolkata Knight Riders in Chepauk today, was overlooked. But, in the last few years, something has changed. When Dhoni announced his retirement from international cricket via an Instagram post in 2020, there was shock and uncertainty. And the firm conviction that he would still turn out for CSK as long as it was viable. Dhoni’s case is unique in that he brings enough to the table as a tactician and senior pro to warrant a place in the XI despite diminishing personal returns, and his value to the franchise is immense beyond results on the field. To that end, it’s difficult to see a serious push from any quarter for him to be removed or step down. This was partly because the team’s identity was so closely tied to Dhoni. It was not that fans did not realise that all good things had to come to an end. It was that they were not given a glimpse into an acceptable future. That changed when Sanju Samson announced his arrival with a crisp 115. Sanju is another salt-of-the-earth cricketer, a pre-approved outsider with the mannerisms and blessings of Rajinikanth. Chennai fans will breathe easier now, and so will Dhoni, knowing that the future of the franchise is in safe hands. 100No. of times MS Dhoni has stayed unbeaten in the IPL — the most by any player 243.22MS Dhoni’s strike-rate in the final over of the IPL; the wicketkeeper-batter has amassed 844 off 347 balls 72No. of sixes smashed by MS Dhoni in the final over of the IPL — the most by any player 201No. of dismissals effected by MS Dhoni behind the stumps in the IPL (154 catches & 47 stumpings) — the most by a wicketkeeper 5439No. of runs scored by MS Dhoni in 278 IPL games — the most by a ’keeper-batter
14 April,2026 09:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Anand VasuRoyal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Tim David was on Monday fined 25 percent of his match fee and docked one demerit point for "disobeying an umpire's instruction" during their IPL game against Mumbai Indians here. David was guilty of breaching Level 1 of IPL's code of conduct for players and team officials, while Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya was also fined for maintaining slow over-rate. The IPL said in a statement that David was found to have breached the Article 2.4 of the IPL's code of conduct. Pandya was fined after RCB's innings took a little over two hours to finish. "Hardik Pandya, Captain, MI, has been fined for maintaining a slow over-rate. As this was his team's first offence of the season under Article 2.22 of the IPL's Code of Conduct, he has been fined Rs 12 lakhs," the IPL said. In fact, the contest had players from both teams taking several pauses amid hot and humid conditions. While the first innings ended in two hours and one minute, the second innings finished in two hours and four minutes. David is said to have not handed over the ball to the umpires twice during RCB's innings in which the burly Australian scored a quick 16-ball 34 not out with three sixes and two fours. "The first incident occurred when the umpires changed the ball during the 18th over (17.2) of RCB's batting innings. He wanted to have a look at the ball and did not hand it over despite being repeatedly asked to do so," the IPL said. "The second incident occurred during the 20th over (19.2), when he again did not hand over the ball to the umpires, amounting to repeated failure to comply with the instructions or directives of the umpires," the IPL said, adding that David has admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction. 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
14 April,2026 09:36 AM IST | Mumbai | PTIRoyal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya has been frequently bowling bouncers which are generally employed by fast bowlers, and is mighty pleased with the results. “I have never shied away from trying new and different things because with the Impact Player rule, previously you had No. 6 or 7 as all-rounders but now there are pure batters [coming in] at No. 8. Also, the skill sets… young boys like Mukul [Choudhary of LSG] and Vaibhav [Sooryavanshi of RR] are hitting away from Ball One. So, as a bowler, I always want to be one step ahead with the skill set and the mental aspect as well,” Krunal said after RCB’s win over Mumbai Indians on Sunday, in reply to a question by mid-day on how difficult it is for a spinner to bowl bouncers consistently. Krunal, 35, who is playing in his 11th IPL season, has 98 wickets and 1757 runs under his belt from 146 games. He executed some of his bouncers perfectly, finishing with 1-26 off his four overs, which included the prized scalp of MI big-hitter Suryakumar Yadav. “I am glad that it [bouncers] is coming out well. I hope that in this format, there are finger spinners, who survive and who can take something out of it and do well. Because for a finger spinner on flat tracks and with eight batters, it has become very difficult,” said Krunal, adding that he has worked hard to develop new skills. “I have always worked on the basics of my bowling and since I’m tall, I’ve been able to get that bounce. Besides, I can get batsmen out with spin and deceive them in flight too,” added Krunal. 23No. of wins for RCB while defending 200-plus totals in IPL — the joint-most with CSK
14 April,2026 09:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureThe Sunrisers Hyderabad got a much-needed win against the Rajasthan Royals as they defeated the table-toppers by 57 runs. SRH recovered from a slow start with the bat to mount a total of 216 runs, thanks to captain Ishan Kishan's innings of 91. Defending 217 runs for just their second win of the season, SRH started off brilliantly with debutant Praful Hinge racing through the RR top order. The 24-year-old got rid of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel and Lhuan-dre Pretorius in the first over. Later, Hinge got the wicket of RR skipper Riyan Parag to get his fourth of the match. Sakib Hussain chipped in with two crucial wickets too as SRH got to a much-needed victory. Speaking after the loss, Riyan Parag admitted that the batting let the team down. The RR captain also said that his team should have capitalised on the fast start given to them by their bowlers in the first innings. "Not a lot of time to process emotions, to be honest. We lost back-to-back wickets, credit to the way they bowled. There were probably a few miscalculations from our side as well, but we will just take this as a blip and not think about it too much. It was actually pretty good. I felt bowling second might have been better, probably because we lost wickets early. It was a little sticky with the new ball while it had shine. Once the shine wore off, it slowed down a bit. In hindsight, we could have bowled second, but there are a lot of things we could have done better. I haven’t seen them a lot in domestic cricket. I think I played Sakib once, Bihar versus Assam. But they bowled beautifully. Considering the pressure of the home crowd supporting them and chanting their names, the way they bowled in the first four or five overs was really impressive. I felt we started really well. There were probably a few small things we could have done differently. As for Jaddu bhai, it was a split-second decision. Ishan Kishan was batting really well, so I didn’t want to take that risk. I trusted Bishnoi with those overs. But I felt they were about 30 runs over par, considering how the wicket was playing. From a batting perspective, being five wickets down for nine runs and still getting to 160 says a lot about the depth in our batting. There are definitely positives to take, it could have been a lot worse, and we had a strong partnership in there as well. Like I said, it’s just a blip. We move on to Kolkata and look to do better." Ishan Kishan shines as SRH score 216 in the first innings Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 216 runs for the loss of 6 wickets at the end of 20 overs against the Rajasthan Royals. The hosts got off to a slow start, but captain Ishan Kishan played a blinder to take SRH to a competitive total at the end of their innings. Kishan rose to the occasion for the hosts as he scored a brilliant 91 runs off just 44 balls. The southpaw hit 8 fours and 6 sixes to lead from the front when his team needed him the most. Kishan and Klassen stitched together a partnership of 88 runs in 39 balls to get SRH's innings back on track after the dismissal of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head.
13 April,2026 11:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSunrisers Hyderabad unearthed a new star as pacer Praful Hinge ripped through the Rajasthan Royals’ top order on his debut. The 24-year-old made history by becoming the first bowler to take three wickets in the opening over of an IPL match, dismantling RR’s batting line-up. Hinge’s first victim was 15-year-old sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. With just his second ball of the innings, Hinge dismissed the dangerous youngster to give SRH a dream start. On the very next delivery, he removed Dhruv Jurel for his second wicket, before sending back Lhuan-dre Pretorius off the final ball of the over to complete a remarkable spell. Rajasthan Royals were left reeling at 3/1 at the end of the first over, and things only got worse. In the second over, Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed by pacer Sakib Hussain, further denting the chase. RR skipper Riyan Parag and Ravindra Jadeja attempted to rebuild with a few boundaries, but Parag was soon dismissed by Hinge, who claimed his fourth wicket. At the end of the powerplay, Rajasthan Royals were struggling at 40/5 while chasing Sunrisers Hyderabad’s daunting target of 217 runs. Ishan Kishan’s 91 powers SRH to 216 Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a total of 216/6 in their 20 overs against Rajasthan Royals. The hosts had a slow start, but captain Ishan Kishan played a superb innings to guide them to a strong total. Kishan scored a brilliant 91 off just 44 balls, smashing 8 fours and 6 sixes. He, along with Heinrich Klaasen, stitched together an 88-run partnership in just 39 balls to revive the innings after early setbacks, including the dismissals of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head. In the death overs, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Salil Arora provided a strong finish, helping SRH reach 216/6. For RR, Jofra Archer was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Parag and Sandeep Sharma claimed one wicket each.
13 April,2026 10:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSunrisers Hyderabad posted a strong total of 216/6 at the end of 20 overs against Rajasthan Royals. The hosts got off to a slow start, but captain Ishan Kishan played a brilliant knock to take SRH to a competitive total. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck, top-edging the very first ball of the innings straight to third man. Jofra Archer struck immediately, giving RR a dream start. Soon after the powerplay, RR captain Riyan Parag picked up the wicket of Travis Head. The Australian batter attempted to accelerate the scoring but was caught at long-on for just 18 runs. Ishan Kishan then rose to the occasion, scoring a superb 91 off just 44 balls. The left-hander smashed 8 fours and 6 sixes, leading from the front when his team needed him the most. Along with Heinrich Klaasen, he stitched together a crucial 88-run partnership in just 39 balls to bring SRH back on track. In the death overs, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Salil Arora provided a strong finish, helping SRH reach 216/6 in their allotted 20 overs. For RR, Archer was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Parag and Sandeep Sharma claimed one wicket each. Chasing 217, RR will rely on Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to provide a solid start. With a deep batting line-up and players in good form, the Royals will be confident of chasing down the target. RR are aiming for their fifth consecutive win of the season, having already defeated CSK, MI, and RCB in their previous matches. They currently sit at the top of the IPL table with an unbeaten record. Confirmed Playing XI for both teams: Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(w/c), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande
13 April,2026 09:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Sunrisers Hyderabad scored 89 runs for the loss of 2 wickets at the end of 10 overs against the Rajasthan Royals. The hosts struggled to get going after losing Abhishek Sharma on the first ball of the innings. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck as he top-edged the first ball straight to third man. Jofra Archer got rid of the dangerous Abhishek Sharma to give RR a fast start in the match. Abhishek, who scored his first half-century of the season in the last match, failed to repeat his heroics. After the powerplay, captain Riyan Parag got the wicket of Travis Head. The Australian star tried to increase the scoring rate but departed after being caught at long on. Head made 18 runs off 18 balls. SRH captain Ishan Kishan was still going strong at the halfway stage of the innings. The southpaw scored 56 runs in 31 balls to give SRH a chance to score a competitive total. He was joined by Heinrich Klassen in the middle. For RR, Archer and Parag were the best bowlers, taking a wicket each. The visitors will hope to restrict SRH to a low total and get their fifth win of the season. Earlier, Riyan Parag won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Royals made two changes to the team, and Sooryavanshi will come in as an impact player. "We’ll be bowling first. A new wicket for us, first time it’s been used this season as well. So hopefully there’s a little bit of stickiness at the start. We’ve chased down a lot of totals here. We fell short in 2024, so hopefully not the case this time. We’ve got two changes. Brijesh steps out, and Tushar Deshpande comes in." Parag said. Confirmed Playing XI for both teams: Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(w/c), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande
13 April,2026 08:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRajasthan Royals won the toss and elected to bowl first against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The two teams are facing off at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. RR are at the top of the IPL league table, having won 4 out of their opening 4 matches. Meanwhile, SRH are struggling with only 1 win in the season so far. After winning the toss, Riyan Parag was happy to bowl first and chase the score later. The RR skipper added that he wants his team to continue their momentum after starting the season with a bang. "We’ll be bowling first. A new wicket for us, first time it’s been used this season as well. So hopefully there’s a little bit of stickiness at the start. We’ve chased down a lot of totals here. We fell short in 2024, so hopefully not the case this time. We’ve got two changes. Brijesh steps out, and Tushar Deshpande comes in. Hetty gets a rest, and Pretorius makes his debut. It’s been a journey. I was under (Sanju Samson) Bhaiya for the longest time, and then Sanga did really well in improving me with all the decisions and involved me in all the tactical and strategic meetings. Now I think I’ve taken the onus up. Had to make a lot of tough calls, but happy to be here." Parag said. Ishan Kishan said that he would have opted to bowl first as well if he had won the toss. The Indian star will hope that SRH can get the much-needed two points in their match today after a defeat last time out. "We’ve got two changes from the last game, Henge coming in. I think I’ve been doing this for a long time. I was a leader in Under-19 India, I’ve been doing it for my state team, and I think it makes you more aware of the situation, more focused on the game. You look to do more for your team because it’s never about individual performance; it’s always about teamwork. I think obviously it makes a difference when you’re the captain of the team, and you’ve been doing well. It shows a lot of maturity that a player has a certain amount of growth in him now. So it did help me a bit in the last few years when I’ve been a leader of my side and done well for the team," Kishan said. Confirmed Playing XI for both teams: Sunrisers Hyderabad (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan(w/c), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Aniket Verma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Praful Hinge, Eshan Malinga Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI): Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Tushar Deshpande
13 April,2026 07:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
