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Naqvi cracks down on players ditching PSL for IPL

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Shaheen Shah Afridi (L) with Babar Azam (R). (PC: PSL) Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has vowed to take action against all players who pull out of the Pakistan Super League at the eleventh hour to take part in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Naqvi cited last year’s example of Corbin Bosch, who was a diamond pick for Peshawar Zalmi in the previous PSL edition before pulling out in order to play for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Ahead of this year’s PSL, a host of players, including Gudakesh Motie, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Ottneil Baartman, Spencer Johnson and Dasun Shanaka, have withdrawn. Reportedly, some of these players are in contact with IPL franchises for the upcoming season. Naqvi has warned players of the consequences they will face for skipping the PSL after being picked by their respective teams in the auction. “We will take action against those players according to the rules,” Naqvi said on Sunday. “There was a case last year too [Corbin Bosch, who was ban...
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Dil Se Re — ‘Sanju, this is for you,’ says AR Rahman

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Sanju Samson and M S Dhoni (PC- CSK/X) “Sanju, this is for you,” said the great AR Rahman, as he crooned Dil Se Re at Chennai Super Kings’ ‘Roar 26’ at Chepauk on Sunday. The franchise’s OG squad assembled, five IPL trophies and two Champions League trophies were paraded, and a glorious past was celebrated before moving on to the present. MS Dhoni was the face of CSK’s past achievements that set the benchmark for the other franchises in the IPL. Sanju Samson, acquired for Rs 18 crore from Rajasthan Royals in a close-season trade, is going to be the frontman of the team’s present and the future. Even the diehard CSK fans know this. The biggest cheers on the night were reserved for the 2026 T20 World Cup’s Player of the Tournament. CSK made the playoffs in every IPL season until 2019. The next six seasons saw them reach the last-four only twice. Belatedly it dawned on the CSK management that something’s got to give. The process started last term. The five-time champions are going i...
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IPL 2026: KKR to adopt wait-and-watch approach for replacing Harshit Rana

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  Akashdeep (PC: Debasis Sen), Harshit Rana, Saurabh Dubey. Images: X Kolkata Knight Riders are in no hurry to announce a replacement for the injured Harshit Rana. The franchise is going to adopt a wait-and-watch approach while deciding on Harshit’s replacement. The India pacer has been ruled out of IPL 2026 after undergoing a knee surgery. He suffered the injury during the warm-up game against South Africa before the start of T20 World Cup 2026 in Navi Mumbai. Recently, Harshit was seen attending the BCCI Naman Awards in New Delhi with a crutch. According to an insider in the franchise, there is no suitable Indian replacement for Rana at the moment. There were several pacers on trial for KKR, in the last few days at the Eden Gardens, including the likes of Navdeep Saini, Akash Madhwal, Simarjeet Singh, Sandip Warrier and RS Ambrish. KKR practise session at the Eden Gardens. Image: Debasis Sen The Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise is likely to name Vidarbha left-arm pacer Sa...
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Pant’s IPL 2026 Pivot: Open, Lead, and Reclaim His White-Ball Crown

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    Rishabh Pant for Lucknow Super Giants (PC: IPL/BCCI) Rishabh Pant is a man of immense talent. In red-ball cricket, he has time and again demonstrated why he is India’s best wicketkeeper-batter ever. Even MS Dhoni doesn’t really come close. But when it comes to white-ball cricket, Pant hasn’t done justice to his talent. Injuries haven’t helped, and Pant is now out of favour as far as the national team is concerned. For him as skipper, IPL 2026 is a massive opportunity – to make a statement as a batter and leader, and yet again open the doors to the national team. In doing so, he can also give his team, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), a real chance to make the play-offs. Pant has a good team at his disposal. Despite the injury to Wanindu Hasaranga, LSG have some strong ammunition that they can unleash. Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran and Pant make up a fantastic top four, while Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, Josh Inglis and Matt Breetzke form a more than ha...
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Kohli’s willow sparkles for a brief period, Mangesh, Abhinandan and Krunal among the wickets  

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RCB’s practice game. Image: Revsportz The bat was placed on the right side of his shoulder. The customary twirl of the willow too was on display. And he looked around to check the field placements in RCB’s practice game. However, it wasn’t your typical Virat Kohli experience where he would blend fours and sixes with singles and twos. The first ball he faced from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kohli took a step or two out and crunched a wristy lofted drive over the mid-on fielder.   If that was a shot of statement, then a pull off the front foot while facing Mangeh Yadav said something about his intent. That bit of bravado was followed by a wristy drive via the long-off region. Unfortunately, Kohli tried one shot too many and was soon caught at point. As it was just a practice game, he perhaps was attempting to land a shot on almost every ball. But as an onlooker, it was quite evident that Kohli is in good nick.   Phil Salt, his opening partner, was in modest form in the 2026 T20 Wo...
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Ajinkya Rahane as Captain – Risk or Masterstroke?

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Ajinkya Rahane for KKR .Image :X Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have started training for the IPL, and it is but obvious that the captaincy will be in focus at the start of the competition. A caveat – Ajinkya Rahane is a good friend of mine, and this needs to be disclosed. Having said that, it is a pertinent question to ask whether Ajinkya is indeed the right man to lead KKR in what isn’t his preferred format. Aakash Chopra made an interesting point at the recently concluded Trailblazers Conclave, where he said Rinku Singh could have been given the captaincy. While Aakash said that the boat has now sailed, he did make the point that if Rajasthan Royals could go with Riyan Parag, or CSK with Ruturaj Gaikwad, why could Rinku – a certainty in the team – not be given the responsibility? He has captained in the UP League and could well be a long-term investment. Take the case of Rahane and the auction. KKR did not buy him at the first ...
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India Women to play Test match in South Africa after 24 years

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India beat South Africa in their last face-off in Chennai. (PC: X/BCCI Women) India Women’s team will play a one-off Test against South Africa Women’s team in Gqeberha from December 20. This will mark India’s first Test in an African nation in 24 years. The last time these two countries played each other was in 2002, when South Africa won by 10 wickets in Paarl. On Friday, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced the schedule for India’s multi-format tour of the country. After India, Australia will travel to the Rainbow Nation for a multi-format series comprising three T20Is, three ODIs and a one-off Test. “We are delighted to host two of the world’s leading teams, India and Australia, for what promises to be a blockbuster home summer for the Proteas Women,” CSA Chief Executive Officer Pholetsi Moseki said. “These tours will showcase the very best of international women’s cricket and build on the encouraging rise in fan attendance, as we continue to welcome growing crowds across the...
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