Posts

IPL 2026 – How cricket stands to lose its charm when bowlers become mere bystanders

Image
Images: BCCI/IPL Why has the IPL worked for all these years? Why have fans kept flocking back to the stadiums to support the brand? What explains the continued involvement of the sponsors? The one point non-negotiable has been the quality of cricket on offer. The sport has been at the core and that’s been a real constant for each of the 18 seasons between 2008-2025. In 2026 things have started to change. All of a sudden it is only and only about batters. Yesterday, 1000 runs were scored in 40 overs, with 265 and 228 being chased down quite comfortably. Hundreds from KL Rahul and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi went in vain. No total is safe and the bowlers have been reduced to bystanders who are there to feed balls to the batters to hit sixes and fours. The truth is this is a violation of the sport as we know it. It doesn’t, and can’t work in the long run. Except for a small section of fans who don’t understand the sport, people can’t keep backing this unidimensional and robotic transformati...
Post a Comment
Read more

SA-W vs IND-W: India Women Bounce Back in 4th T20I as Deepti Sharma Claims Maiden Five-Wicket Haul

Image
Deepti Sharma (PC: BCCI) Deepti Sharma is back in form, and so are India Women, as they finally opened their account in the ongoing five-match T20I series against South Africa. The visitors registered a 14-run win over the home side in Johannesburg, courtesy of an all-round performance from the experienced all-rounder. Just like the previous three games, South Africa skipper Laura Wolvaardt once again won the toss and opted to bowl first. However, India made several changes, resting vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, Arundhati Reddy, and Shreyanka Patil, while bringing in Anushka Sharma, Kranti Gaud, and N. Shree Charani into the playing XI. In the absence of Mandhana, Anushka was given the opportunity to open alongside Shafali Verma. The pair added a decent 25-run stand before Shafali was dismissed for nine. Anushka looked positive in the powerplay, scoring 27 off 18. At a crucial stage, Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur stitched together a vital 55-run partnership. Jemim...
Post a Comment
Read more

SRH chase down 228 as Sooryavanshi’s century goes in vain

Image
Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Rajasthan Royals by 5 wickets at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Despite RR putting up a target of 228, powered by a Vaibhav Sooryavanshi century, the SRH batters chased it down in no time.  Here are some of the highlights from the match:   Vaibhav dominates Powerplay Vaibhav Sooryavanshi put up a breathtaking show in the powerplay with a mix of raw power and sharp game awareness. The 15-year-old raced to a stunning half-century in just 15 balls. Vaibhav’s boundaries put the opposition under pressure and set up a score of 77 on the scoreboard at the end of the powerplay. Despite being dropped by Aniket Varma, he capitalised fully, etching his name in history as the youngest player (15 years) to reach 1000 T20 runs. He races to his ton in 36 balls.  Pat Cummins returns as SRH Captain SRH captain Pat Cummins was sidelined due to injury which had kept him away from competitive cricket for approximately four months. He missed the first...
Post a Comment
Read more

RCB vs GT: Patidar impressed with RCB bowlers’ execution in Bengaluru

Image
RCB won their fourth game at home this season. (PC: BCCI) Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar was pleased with the execution of the bowlers, as well as the way Devdutt Padikkal and Virat Kohli batted to take the team home in a high-scoring affair against the Gujarat Titans (GT) on Friday in Bengaluru. After losing the toss, GT openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill forged a hundred-run partnership. The former smashed a timely century. However, RCB pulled things back slightly in the last five overs. “Yeah, the way things went, as I said, I think we bowled according to our plans and the execution was absolutely spot on,” Patidar said in the post-match presentation ceremony. “The way they bowled the yorkers was really good, and that’s why we managed to restrict them to around 200–205. That’s it.” Playing his first game, Jacob Bethell, replacing Phil Salt, was dismissed early inside the powerplay. Padikkal and Kohli then formed a match-winning partnership, scoring...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hussey hints at Dhoni taking the gloves, Samson’s duties to change

Image
Sanju Samson (L) and MS Dhoni (R). (PC: Screengrab/CSK) Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batting coach Michael Hussey has hinted that whenever MS Dhoni makes a comeback, Sanju Samson will have to give up his wicketkeeping duties. Dhoni is yet to play a game in the ongoing IPL 2026. The former CSK captain picked up a calf injury before the start of the season, which ruled him out for two weeks. However, it has now been close to a month, and CSK’s most seasoned player still hasn’t taken the field. His return was highly anticipated against the Mumbai Indians (MI), but that didn’t happen. Hussey said that Dhoni is building his workload to ensure there is no discomfort while running between the wickets. “He’s progressing really well. I know he’s pushing hard to return as soon as possible, and the fans are eager to see MS Dhoni back on the field. We’re hopeful it could be in the next few games, but he needs to be close to 100% to give his best. He’s been batting well in the nets and looks in...
Post a Comment
Read more

RCB vs GT: Kohli outlines RCB batting approach after fifth win

Image
Virat Kohli (PC: IPL/BCCI) Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star batter Virat Kohli led from the front with a match-winning knock of 81 to seal a five-wicket win over Gujarat Titans (GT) in their final home game of IPL 2026 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 24. While chasing a strong target of 206 runs, Kohli anchored the innings with a stunning 81 off 44 balls. His knock included eight boundaries and four maximums, with a strike rate of 184.09. Kohli became the first player to score 303 sixes for a single franchise in the IPL. He got an early lifeline when Washington Sundar dropped his catch off the first ball of the third over bowled by Mohammed Siraj. During the post-match presentation, the Player of the Match, Kohli, reflected on the chase and the conditions. “To be honest, we had to assess the wicket early on because A) they have a quality bowling attack and B) chasing 200 at the Chinnaswamy, we were just one partnership away,” Kohli said. “This is the second time Dev h...
Post a Comment
Read more

MCA honours Mumbai Cricket Excellence at Grand Awards Night

Image
Ayush_MCA Awards (PC: File Photo) The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) organised a grand awards समारोह in Mumbai on Wednesday, recognising excellence across the 2024–25 and 2025–26 seasons while honouring performers who continue to shape the city’s strong cricketing legacy and inspire future generations. The event saw the presence of former India cricketers Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Rajeev Kulkarni and Diana Edulji, along with Cabinet Ministers Ashish Shelar and Aditi Tatkare, and MCA President Ajinkya Naik. MCA Apex Council Members, Office Bearers, and players also attended, highlighting the depth and unity of Mumbai’s cricket structure. At the senior level, standout performances were recognised with Siddhesh Lad and Shardul Thakur receiving the Justice Tendolkar Trophy for Best Senior Cricketer for the 2025–26 and 2024–25 seasons, respectively, for their significant contributions. Highlighting Mumbai’s role in Indian cricket, the MCA also honoured Ayush Mhatre, captain ...
Post a Comment
Read more