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DC vs CSK: Axar flags Kuldeep concern, Badani urges patience

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Kuldeep is struggling to find his mojo with the ball. (PC: BCCI) Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Axar Patel took a subtle dig at Kuldeep Yadav after his poor showing with the ball this season against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on May 5. The Capitals failed to defend a target of 156 on a pitch that offered assistance to the bowlers, especially the spinners. Axar, Mitchell Starc and Lungi Ngidi were economical, but Kuldeep and T Natarajan leaked runs. On a pitch where Noor Ahmad emerged as CSK’s best bowler, Kuldeep was expected to weave his spin web, but that did not happen. He bowled too many loose deliveries, which made the run chase easy for CSK. Kuldeep conceded 34 runs in his three overs without taking a wicket. After the match, Axar was not even asked about Kuldeep, but he underlined concerns around his form in a light-hearted manner. “But I feel in bowling, I missed my partner Kuldeep,” Axar told broadcasters. Axar was honest in his admission...
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From uncertainty to conviction – Samson’s fairytale comeback, and delving into the world of unknown

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Sanju Samson last evening for CSK. Image: IPL/BCCI Understanding belief or lack of it is akin to landing up in the world of the unknown. Sanju Samson’s transformation in a matter of a few months acts as a microcosm for it. At the start of the year, before the final ODI between India and New Zealand in Trivandrum, the wicketkeeper-batter was at the centre of attraction. After all, he was the hometown boy. As Samson went about practising his skills before the game, hundreds of reporters looked to zoom their lenses on him. For a player who was out of form, Samson was hitting the ball well too. Watching from a distance, yours truly thought – Perhaps, tomorrow, Samson might just return to form. That tomorrow, though, had a different reality to narrative – A tentative batter who was bereft of belief.  However, at the start of May 2026, the same batter appears to be at the peak of his prowess. For the first time in his IPL career, he looks all but set to end the seaso...
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DC vs CSK: “I had to be a bit too selfish to get a hundred…” – Sanju Samson after missing century against Delhi

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Sanju Samson (PC: IPL/BCCI) Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Sanju Samson played a match-winning unbeaten 87-run knock to guide his side to a dominant eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals (DC) in their IPL 2026 clash on May 5 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. During the post-match presentation, Player of the Match Samson spoke about his calm approach. “I have been working a bit on my initial movement and it has been coming off,” Samson said. “I’ve been doing it for the last few years and it’s tactical as well depending on the bowlers and how you want to approach them … to be very honest I am always like this (calm) but you are seeing me more in the middle now so you feel I am calm, even outside I am calm.” Samson led the chase with a stunning unbeaten 87 off 52 balls. He found the gaps and kept the scoreboard moving. His knock was laced with seven boundaries and six maximums at a strike rate of 167.30. He further added, “Looking at what we were chasing, how the wicket w...
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Kal Somani-led consortium claims they were squeezed out of Rajasthan Royals sale

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Image: X On Sunday, it was confirmed that Rajasthan Royals’ majority ownership would be transferred to Lakshmi N Mittal and Aditya Mittal, in partnership with Adar Poonawalla, as a definitive agreement to acquire the franchise from Manoj Badale and his group was reached. The deal is valued at around $1.65 billion and is expected to be completed by Q3 2026, subject to all approvals. Following completion, the Mittal family will hold a 75% stake, Poonawalla will own 18%, while the remaining shares will stay with existing investors such as Badale. This development comes after reports that a consortium led by Arizona-based tech entrepreneur Kal Somani, also comprising owners of two NFL franchises – Rob Walton (Denver Broncos) and Michael Hamp, son of Sheila Ford Hamp, owner of the Detroit Lions – had pulled out of the race. The US-based consortium made its initial approach six months ago and reportedly submitted a $1.635 billion bid to acquire the IPL franchise in March. Now, the Somani...
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If bowlers start dominating too much in the T20 format, the excitement will fade: Wasim Jaffer

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Wasim Jaffer ( PC- X) Former India opener Wasim Jaffer is not opposed to teams chasing 250-plus totals, emphasising that T20 cricket is ultimately about entertainment. However, the 48-year-old does not support the Impact Player rule. He believes that if bowlers begin to dominate the format, it could reduce the excitement for fans. Jaffer has recently applied for the role of Bengal coach. In an interaction with this correspondent, the former Punjab Kings batting coach spoke about Mumbai Indians’ disappointing campaign, concerns around Suryakumar Yadav’s form, Punjab Kings’ success under Shreyas Iyer and Ricky Ponting, emerging Gen Z talents like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Arya, and more. Here are the excerpts: Are you in favour of 200-plus scores being chased quite often in this edition of the IPL? Wasim Jaffer : I am not in favour of the Impact Sub rule, let’s put it that way. Teams are batting well and with a lot of aggression, but I think that has been aided by the Impact...
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Rohit Sharma essays a masterclass in control and class

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  Rohit Sharma. Image: BCCI/IPL Mumbai Indians (MI) chased down 228 with a flair that is unique to them. The win might have come too late in the day, but it is an emphatic tribute to a franchise that boasts unmatched pedigree and talent. Talking of tributes, though, one must say that there are knocks, and then there are reminders. Rohit Sharma’s innings at the Wankhede was the latter – not just a contribution to a chase, but a statistical and aesthetic reaffirmation of a batter who operates on his own terms. Consider the numbers first. Chasing a daunting 228, Rohit’s 84 off 44 balls came at a strike rate of 190. It included 13 boundaries, with six fours and seven sixes, meaning 66 of his runs came from boundaries alone. That is nearly 79% of his total – a clear indicator of control rather than risk. In a chase where the required rate hovered around 11.5 per over, Rohit was not just keeping pace; he was dictating it. He started a little nervously, with an edge to short third man ...
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What’s Cooking in IPL 2026 and who will finish the dish?

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Ashok Namboodiri There is something cooking halfway through the IPL 2026. Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders have won all their last three matches, beating stalwarts like Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad In fact, they are the only two teams to have won all their last three outings. If you analyse the first 23 matches of the 47 matches played so far, nearly 50% of the innings notched up scores of 200 or more. However, things seem to have calmed down quite a bit in the last 24 matches with that percentage dropping sharply to one third. If you compare this with the first 47 matches of the 2025 edition of the IPL, the results are even more startling. In the first 23 matches of 2025, the number of 200 or more scores is only one third. In the next 24 matches, that number drops to just one in five matches. Quite clearly, there is a “settling down” that happens as the league progresses. One hypothesis is that the 2026 edition saw an explosive start wi...
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