Indian allrounder Vijay Shankar has announced his retirement from domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), bringing an end to a career that spanned more than a decade across formats. The 35-year-old seam-bowling allrounder’s decision will now allow him to participate in overseas franchise leagues around the world. Successful Domestic Career Comes to an End Vijay Shankar enjoyed a distinguished domestic career, primarily representing Tamil Nadu, where he established himself as one of the state’s most dependable allrounders. He played a key role in leading Tamil Nadu to titles in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Deodhar Trophy before moving to Tripura ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season. His final first-class appearance proved memorable, as he smashed an unbeaten 151 against Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy in February, earning the Player-of-the-Match award in a winning cause. Over the course of his domestic career, Vijay Shankar scored: 4,253 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 46.73 2,790 List A runs at 34.87 2,583 T20 runs at a strike rate of 128.37 He also contributed significantly with the ball, claiming 154 wickets across all formats. India Career and the “3D Cricketer” Tag Vijay Shankar represented India in 21 white-ball internationals between 2018 and 2019, playing 12 ODIs and nine T20Is. He scored 223 ODI runs at an average of 31.85 and added 101 runs in T20 internationals at a strike rate of 138.35. The allrounder gained national attention ahead of the 2019 ODI World Cup when India were searching for a reliable No. 4 batter. His ability to contribute in multiple departments made him a preferred choice for the selectors. Former chief selector MSK Prasad famously described Vijay Shankar as a “three-dimensional” player because of his batting, bowling and fielding abilities, a comment that sparked widespread debate after Ambati Rayudu was overlooked for the World Cup squad. Rayudu had responded sarcastically on social media at the time, saying he had ordered “3D glasses” to watch the World Cup. Vijay Shankar later embraced the label himself and signed off his retirement post on Instagram with the words: “Your 3D cricketer.” Brief but Memorable World Cup Campaign Although his 2019 World Cup journey was cut short, Vijay Shankar produced one of the highlights of his international career during India’s victory over Pakistan at Old Trafford. He claimed two wickets in the match, including a wicket with the very first ball he bowled in World Cup cricket. However, his campaign ended prematurely after he suffered a broken toe while facing Jasprit Bumrah in the nets during the tournament. IPL Journey Across Four Franchises Vijay Shankar also enjoyed a long IPL career from 2014 to 2025, representing four franchises: Chennai Super Kings Sunrisers Hyderabad Delhi Capitals Gujarat Titans He played 78 IPL matches overall and was known for his versatility as a middle-order batter and medium-pace option. At the most recent IPL auction in December, Vijay Shankar went unsold after registering as an uncapped player, with more than five years having passed since his last appearance for India. With domestic cricket and the IPL now behind him, Vijay Shankar is expected to continue his career in overseas T20 franchise leagues.

Pakistan have recalled star batter Babar Azam for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, beginning on May 30, while also handing maiden call-ups to uncapped trio Rohail Nazir, Arafat Minhas and Ahmed Daniyal. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a 16-member squad on Friday, with Shaheen Shah Afridi continuing as captain and Salman Ali Agha appointed vice-captain. The most notable omission from the squad is wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan. Experienced Core Returns Alongside Babar Azam, Pakistan have also brought back experienced campaigners Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah. Babar and Naseem were both part of Pakistan’s last home ODI series against Sri Lanka in November 2025, where Pakistan secured a 3-0 clean sweep. For Shadab, however, this marks his return to the ODI setup for the first time since the 2023 ODI World Cup in India. Naseem’s comeback is particularly significant after an injury-hit PSL 2026 campaign. The fast bowler played only three matches before being sidelined by a back injury and later suffered another setback after limping off following a diving effort on the field. Fresh Faces Earn Opportunities The selectors have rewarded several young performers with opportunities in the ODI squad. Wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir receives his first ODI call-up after consistent domestic performances, while left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas and pacer Ahmed Daniyal also earn maiden selections. Daniyal returns after recovering from a hamstring injury that limited him to only four appearances during PSL 2026. Another notable inclusion is left-arm wristspinner Sufyan Moqim, who enjoyed a breakthrough PSL season with Peshawar Zalmi. Moqim claimed 22 wickets in the tournament and was named Player of the Series. His last ODI appearance came against West Indies in August 2025. Rizwan Omitted, Injuries Continue to Hurt Pakistan Mohammad Rizwan’s absence from the ODI squad is the biggest surprise in the announcement. The PCB did not provide a detailed explanation regarding his omission. Pakistan will also be without key top-order batters Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman due to injuries, while Usman Khan has been ruled out because of illness. All three players had also missed Pakistan’s recent ODI tour of Bangladesh in March. In their absence, Pakistan have retained youngsters Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat and Shamyl Hussain, all of whom made their ODI debuts during the Bangladesh series. Bangladesh Tour Led to Major Changes Pakistan’s most recent ODI assignment came against Bangladesh earlier this year, where the team experimented heavily with new players and handed debuts to six cricketers across the three-match series. However, the strategy failed to produce the desired results as Pakistan lost the series 2-1. Several players from that squad — including Faisal Akram, Faheem Ashraf, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Saad Masood — have now been dropped for the Australia series. Pakistan ODI Squad vs Australia Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Maaz Sadaqat, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Naseem Shah, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain, Sufyan Moqim.

Gujarat Titans (GT) star spinner Rashid Khan believes handling failure is just as important as enjoying success, a mindset he says has helped him rediscover his best form during IPL 2026. Fresh from GT’s commanding 89-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) that confirmed a top-two finish for the franchise, Rashid signed off his post-match media interaction with a cheerful Gujarati phrase — “Ekdum majama” (absolutely fine) — a reflection of both his team’s dominant season and his own return to form. Rashid Returns to His Best Rashid produced another match-winning spell against CSK, dismantling the lower middle order with figures of 3 for 18 in just two overs. The performance lifted him to fourth place in the Purple Cap standings with 19 wickets this season. After enduring two underwhelming IPL campaigns in 2024 and 2025, Rashid has bounced back strongly in 2026. He has not only improved his wicket tally but also tightened his economy rate, showing signs of the bowler who has dominated T20 cricket for nearly a decade. Against CSK, however, his spell did not begin smoothly. Introduced in the 11th over with CSK struggling at 109 for 5 while chasing 230, Rashid was immediately attacked. Shivam Dube smashed him for six off a full delivery, but the Afghanistan spinner responded instantly. Dube fell on the next ball thanks to a brilliant running catch from GT captain Shubman Gill. Rashid was hit for another six by Anshul Kamboj later in the over but recovered superbly to finish with three wickets. “In a game where you are defending 230, you are going to go for runs,” Rashid said after the match. “The batters have no option but to attack you. As a bowler, the challenge is to make it as difficult as possible for them to hit boundaries.” He admitted his first delivery to Dube was too easy to hit and said he quickly adjusted his line and length to force the batter into riskier shots. Learning From Failure Rashid credited his comeback to mental resilience and his ability to remain consistent even during difficult phases. “You have good days and bad days, and the way you manage yourself on good days, you must manage yourself similarly on bad days,” he explained. “Whenever I had a bad day, I never let it stay too much in my mind. Bad days teach you a lot, and that is how you improve.” The 27-year-old reflected on one of the toughest moments of his career — conceding 110 runs in nine overs against England during the 2019 ODI World Cup. “That game taught me a lot,” he said. “You cannot suddenly change your action or pace. The one thing you can control is hitting the right areas consistently.” Rashid revealed that despite results, his practice routines remain unchanged. After every game, he studies his bowling pitch maps closely with the team analyst to assess where he landed most of his deliveries and identify areas for improvement. “What matters most to me is where I pitch the ball,” he said. “If I miss my line or length, I want to understand why. I focus on that rather than the result.” Strong Season for GT Rashid’s improved form has mirrored Gujarat Titans’ resurgence this season. After winning the IPL title in their debut season in 2022 and finishing runners-up in 2023, GT slipped to eighth place in 2024. They reached the playoffs in 2025 largely due to the batting brilliance of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler, while Rashid struggled for consistency. This season, however, both GT’s batting and bowling units have clicked together. Rashid has already taken 19 wickets at a much-improved economy rate of 8.72 compared to his difficult 2025 campaign, where he managed only nine wickets in 15 games. GT have also continued to establish themselves as one of the IPL’s most successful modern franchises. Since joining the tournament in 2022, they possess the best win-loss ratio in the league at 1.642, ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s 1.433. “Winning nine games out of 14 is a great feeling,” Rashid said. “We are not thinking too much about finishing top two or top four. The focus is simply on keeping things simple, and the results will follow.

Former India batter Abhinav Mukund has delivered a blunt assessment of Chennai Super Kings’ IPL 2026 campaign, calling it a “very average season” and questioning whether the five-time champions ever truly looked like playoff contenders. CSK’s season ended with a heavy defeat to Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, leaving them on 12 points and seventh place on the table, although their final position could still change depending on other results. Speaking after the match, Mukund said CSK failed to establish dominance against the tournament’s strongest teams and struggled to identify their core strengths, especially at home. “They Never Shifted the Needle” Mukund pointed out that while CSK briefly revived their campaign with six wins in eight matches, those victories largely came against teams outside the top bracket. “As much as it looks like they had a decent season with 12 points, they beat Delhi Capitals twice, Mumbai Indians twice, Lucknow Super Giants once and Kolkata Knight Riders once,” Mukund said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. “They haven’t managed to even shift the needle in terms of the top-three or top-four sides. That tells you the difference between teams competing for the playoffs and teams still some distance away.” He also highlighted CSK’s struggles at their traditionally dominant home venue, saying the franchise never fully understood its best combination throughout the season. “The seasons they’ve done well in, they know exactly the team they want to play at home and how they want to operate away from home. This season, they never really found that clarity,” he added. Injuries Disrupted CSK’s Campaign CSK bowling coach Eric Simons admitted the side endured a difficult season because of repeated injury setbacks, particularly to key players. MS Dhoni missed the entire campaign due to a calf injury, while pace spearhead Nathan Ellis was ruled out before the tournament even began with a hamstring issue. During the season, CSK also lost Ayush Mhatre, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Khaleel Ahmed and Jamie Overton at different stages. Simons described Overton’s absence as especially damaging because of the all-round balance he brought to the side. “Just as we were getting some momentum, we lost someone like Jamie Overton, who was such a balancing factor for us,” Simons said. “He was crucial to our middle-overs bowling and could also contribute with the bat at the end of the innings. Losing him forced us into changes we didn’t necessarily want to make.” Despite the disappointing finish, Simons believes CSK gained valuable insights into their squad composition and young players. “We’ve learnt a lot about ourselves as a unit and as individuals. Someone like Kartik Sharma came through magnificently this season, and we now understand much better what several players can and can’t do,” he said. Questions Over Overseas Recruitment Ahead of IPL 2026, CSK made major squad changes after finishing bottom of the table in IPL 2025. The franchise traded for Sanju Samson from Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, while also investing heavily in youngsters Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma. Mukund praised the Samson trade, saying it successfully addressed CSK’s top-order concerns, but he criticised the franchise’s overseas recruitment strategy. He questioned whether backup options such as Matt Henry, Matt Short, Zak Foulkes and Dian Forrester were suitable replacements for players like Nathan Ellis and Jamie Overton. “Nathan Ellis’ back-up is not Matt Henry because they play significantly different roles,” Mukund explained. “I felt there was a disconnect in the replacements and backup options they picked at the auction.” However, Mukund remained optimistic about CSK’s Indian core, saying the franchise still possesses strong domestic talent with room to improve. “The Indian talent is really good. There’s still a ceiling for them and their best performances are yet to come. But they must seriously rethink their overseas setup before next season,” he concluded.

The Gujarat Titans (GT) continued their dominant IPL 2026 campaign with a crushing 89-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad on Thursday, a result that not only strengthened their playoff momentum but also reshaped both the Orange Cap and Purple Cap leaderboards. Sai Sudharsan Reclaims Orange Cap The race for the Orange Cap witnessed another dramatic twist, with GT opener B Sai Sudharsan reclaiming the top spot after a superb innings of 84 off 53 balls. His knock took his tally to 638 runs for the season, pushing teammate and captain Shubman Gill back to second place. Gill had briefly overtaken Sai Sudharsan during their magnificent 125-run opening partnership. Entering the match with 552 runs, Gill smashed 64 off just 37 deliveries to move to 616 runs and temporarily claim the Orange Cap before Sai Sudharsan’s bigger score restored his lead. The Titans now occupy the top two spots in the batting charts, underlining their dominance this season. Rajasthan Royals youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sits third with 579 runs, while Lucknow Super Giants’ Mitchell Marsh follows with 563. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Heinrich Klaasen rounds out the top five with 555 runs. The race, however, remains wide open ahead of Friday’s clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Klaasen will have another opportunity to climb higher, while Virat Kohli, currently sixth with 542 runs, could also close the gap. SRH batters Abhishek Sharma (507 runs) and Ishan Kishan (490 runs) remain within striking distance as well. Rabada Joins Bhuvneshwar at the Top The Purple Cap standings also saw major movement after GT’s pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada delivered a match-winning spell of 3 for 32 against CSK. Rabada’s performance lifted him to 24 wickets for the season, level with Royal Challengers Bengaluru seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the top of the wicket-taking charts. However, Bhuvneshwar retains the Purple Cap due to his superior economy rate of 7.70 compared to Rabada’s 9.18. GT’s bowlers dominated throughout the evening. Mohammed Siraj struck early with three wickets inside the powerplay, helping reduce CSK to 63 for 5 in seven overs. Although Siraj has not been among the leading wicket-takers this season, his three-wicket haul pushed him to 17 wickets and seventh place on the leaderboard. CSK pacer Anshul Kamboj also climbed the rankings after dismissing Sai Sudharsan, moving to third place with 21 wickets. GT spinner Rashid Khan added another impressive performance with a three-wicket haul of his own, taking his season tally to 19 wickets and fourth place overall. Rajasthan Royals speedster Jofra Archer and Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Kartik Tyagi are tied on 18 wickets each, keeping the race for the Purple Cap highly competitive heading into the final phase of the tournament. With Gujarat Titans players dominating both batting and bowling charts, IPL 2026 is increasingly becoming a season to remember for the Ahmedabad franchise.

Cricket South Africa has apologised for poor communication regarding ticket availability for the New Year’s Test against England cricket team at Newlands Cricket Ground in January 2027, following widespread criticism from fans on social media. The controversy erupted after tickets for the highly anticipated Test match went on sale earlier this week and sold out within minutes. Fans were left frustrated after learning that less than 1,600 tickets per day had been made available to the general public. Out of the stadium’s 17,544 general-access seats, more than half were reserved for travel packages, hospitality, and complimentary allocations. According to CSA, 39% of tickets were allocated to local and international tour operators, while 21% were reserved for hospitality and complimentary purposes. Another 19% went to sponsors, stakeholders, and team contingents, leaving only 13% for public sale. Of that 13%, only 9% of tickets were initially released, with CSA confirming that the remaining 4% — along with any unused tickets from reserved allocations — will be sold closer to the match date. In a statement released on Thursday, CSA admitted it “did not provide the clarity supporters expected” before tickets went on sale and apologised for the confusion caused. The organisation also warned fans against purchasing tickets from unauthorised resale platforms, where prices have surged dramatically. While official ticket prices range between R250 and R400 (US$15 to US$25), some resale websites have listed tickets for as much as R3,500 (US$211). “CSA maintains a strict prohibition on ticket scalping and unauthorised resale,” the statement read. “Fans are urged not to buy tickets from unauthorised resellers to avoid being denied entry into the stadium.” This season marks the first time CSA has partnered with a travel company, Tourvest, to offer all-inclusive travel packages that include accommodation, transport, and meals. The move has sparked concern among local supporters, many of whom fear the majority of seats could be occupied by overseas fans, including groups such as the Barmy Army. CSA chief executive Pholetsi Moseki defended the allocation strategy but acknowledged supporters’ frustrations. “We remain committed to ensuring that ticket access is managed fairly, transparently and in a way that balances supporter demand with the operational requirements of hosting a major international sporting event,” Moseki said. CSA also confirmed that future ticket-sale announcements would be communicated more clearly and in advance. The next batch of tickets is expected to be priced slightly higher, ranging from R420 to R500.

Mohammad Ali will join Nottinghamshire ahead of the upcoming Vitality T20 Blast after the county extended his contract following the unavailability of veteran Australian seamer Peter Siddle. The 33-year-old Pakistan fast bowler was initially signed for Nottinghamshire’s One-Day Cup and County Championship campaigns during August and September. However, the club has now confirmed that Ali will also feature in the T20 Blast squad. Ali arrives in England after an impressive season in the Pakistan Super League, where he represented Hyderabad Kingsmen. The right-arm pacer claimed 20 wickets during the tournament, playing a major role in helping the franchise reach the final and earning recognition in ESPNcricinfo’s Team of the Tournament. Speaking about the opportunity, Ali expressed his excitement about playing at Trent Bridge and featuring in English domestic cricket. “I am really pleased to get the opportunity to come to Trent Bridge earlier than expected, and I am really looking forward to the Vitality Blast,” Ali said. “I have heard a lot about how good Trent Bridge is to play at, and I can’t wait to meet the team and play in front of the brilliant fans.” Ali has represented Pakistan national cricket team in eight international matches across formats, with his most recent appearance coming in March 2025. Nottinghamshire were forced to revise their overseas plans after Siddle became ineligible for the Blast due to his participation in the World Legends Pro T20 League in Goa, a tournament categorized as “disapproved cricket.” Head coach Peter Moores welcomed the signing and praised Ali’s recent performances and experience. “When it became clear last month that we'd have to find another overseas player for this year's Vitality Blast, Mohammad was the obvious choice,” Moores said. “With his recent performances in the PSL, I’m really excited by what he can bring to our group.” Nottinghamshire begin their Vitality Blast campaign on Friday against Yorkshire in the North Group. Alongside Ali, the club will also feature South African spinner George Linde as one of their overseas players.

Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders have staged one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the IPL 2026 season, bouncing back from a disastrous start to emerge as serious playoff contenders. After 25 matches of the season, KKR’s campaign appeared all but over. The side had suffered five defeats in their first six matches, with another game ending in a washout, leaving them near the bottom of the points table and struggling for momentum. However, the Kolkata-based franchise has since scripted an impressive revival, winning six of their last seven matches to reignite their playoff hopes. Their latest triumph — a four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens on Wednesday — further strengthened belief within the camp. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, former India batter Abhinav Mukund praised KKR’s tactical improvements and growing confidence. “They’ve got their tactics and combinations right now,” Mukund said. “Their batting may still not be firing on all cylinders, but they’ve become very effective in the areas we expected them to dominate, especially spin bowling. A form team is always dangerous.” KKR’s resurgence has largely been built around their spin attack. Veteran all-rounder Sunil Narine has been exceptional, claiming 14 wickets while maintaining a tournament-best economy rate of 6.40. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, despite a difficult start to the season, has rediscovered rhythm and contributed ten wickets at an economy rate of 8.78. Support from spinner Anukul Roy and pacer Kartik Tyagi has further strengthened KKR’s bowling unit, while all-rounder Cameron Green has chipped in with crucial breakthroughs. Former India opener Wasim Jaffer highlighted how KKR’s slow start was partly due to unsettled combinations and player availability issues. “Finding the right opening pair, deciding where Cameron Green fits, and dealing with bowling absences hurt them early on,” Jaffer explained. “Players like Mustafizur Rahman and Harshit Rana missed games, while Matheesha Pathirana joined late. But they’ve found the right balance at the perfect time.” With just one league-stage match remaining — against Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens on Sunday — KKR now stand on the brink of an unlikely playoff qualification. A victory, combined with favorable results elsewhere, could complete what many are calling one of the season’s great comeback stories.

David Payne, the experienced left-arm seamer for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20 Blast campaign after opting to undergo ankle surgery following an injury sustained during his IPL stint with Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 35-year-old was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad earlier this season as an injury replacement for Australian all-rounder Jack Edwards. However, Payne managed to feature in only two matches during the tournament. He picked up figures of 2 for 35 in three overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru before returning 0 for 35 in two overs against Kolkata Knight Riders. Before joining the IPL, Payne had enjoyed an outstanding winter in franchise cricket. He played a key role in helping the Desert Vipers and Perth Scorchers secure titles in the ILT20 and Big Bash League respectively. The seamer delivered match-winning performances in both finals, recording figures of 3 for 42 in the ILT20 final and 3 for 18 in the Big Bash League final, the latter earning him the Player-of-the-Match award. After returning home from India in early April, Payne and Gloucestershire’s medical staff decided surgery was the best long-term option for his career. In a statement shared on Instagram, Payne expressed disappointment at missing the competition.“I’m absolutely gutted to be missing the Blast, and I’m very sorry to all our supporters,” Payne wrote.“The decision to have surgery was an incredibly difficult one, and it was only taken after exhausting every possible avenue to get me back playing.” He also thanked the club’s coaching and medical teams for their support during the process and said he would continue supporting the side from the sidelines. Payne’s absence represents a major setback for Gloucestershire, especially considering his remarkable impact in recent T20 Blast campaigns. During Gloucestershire’s title-winning run in 2024, Payne finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 33 wickets at an average of 12.75. He also starred in the final against Somerset County Cricket Club at Edgbaston, taking 3 for 27 as Gloucestershire sealed an emphatic eight-wicket victory. In the following season, Payne continued his strong form by claiming 17 wickets at 21.58, although Gloucestershire were unable to progress beyond the group stage in their title defence. The club will now have to navigate the remainder of the T20 Blast campaign without one of their most experienced and reliable bowlers as Payne begins his recovery and rehabilitation process.

Assistant coach Shane Watson has praised Varun Chakravarthy for continuing to play through injury as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a victory over Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens on Wednesday night. Watson revealed after the match that Varun has been “playing through a bit of pain,” amid reports that the mystery spinner is carrying a hairline fracture in his left foot. Despite the injury, Varun has continued to feature for KKR during the crucial final phase of the season. Against Mumbai Indians, the spinner returned economical figures of 0 for 28 from his four overs, helping KKR maintain pressure during the middle overs even though he went wicketless. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Watson praised Varun’s determination and commitment to the franchise.“He’s obviously playing through a bit of pain at the moment, which just shows how brave he is and how much he wants to contribute for KKR,” Watson said. The former Australia all-rounder also highlighted Varun’s impressive turnaround this season after a difficult start. The spinner had gone wicketless while conceding heavily in KKR’s opening games but later emerged as one of the side’s most dependable performers alongside veteran spinner Sunil Narine. Watson added that KKR were fortunate to have a player willing to push through discomfort for the team’s cause.“With the pain that he’s managing, he could have easily decided to rest. But he’s all in for KKR,” he said. Varun’s injury has also reportedly come under the observation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), although the board has left the management of his fitness to the franchise during the IPL season. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that while the board’s Centre of Excellence physios continue monitoring player workloads and injuries, franchises are primarily responsible for player management during the tournament. The match also saw a worrying collision involving Varun and young batter-wicketkeeper Angkrish Raghuvanshi. During the 11th over of Mumbai’s innings, Raghuvanshi sprinted toward a top-edged catch off Varun’s bowling and collided with the spinner just as the catch was being completed. The impact caused Varun to spill the ball. Raghuvanshi later left the field in the 14th over and did not return to bat. Watson confirmed that the youngster experienced neck pain, dizziness and headaches following the collision.“He ran a long way for that catch, but unfortunately the collision caused some neck pain, dizziness and a headache,” Watson explained. The KKR coach also praised Raghuvanshi’s fighting spirit, calling him one of the toughest competitors in the squad. His absence was felt, especially given that he has been KKR’s leading run-scorer this season. KKR will now prepare for their final league-stage fixture against Delhi Capitals on Sunday, with the team hopeful that Raghuvanshi recovers in time while Varun continues his rehabilitation ahead of the crucial clash.

Gaby Lewis will lead the Ireland women's national cricket team at the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England, marking the first time she will captain the side at a global tournament. However, the star batter has been rested from Ireland’s forthcoming T20I tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies in Clontarf as she continues recovering from a recent leg injury. In Lewis’ absence, vice-captain Orla Prendergast will take charge of the side during the home tri-series. Cricket Ireland has not named a vice-captain for the tournament. Ireland have suffered another injury setback with right-arm medium pacer Jane Maguire ruled out of contention. However, there was positive news with the return of left-arm spinner Aimee Maguire, who has recovered from injury and earned selection in both the tri-series and World Cup squads. The 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup remains largely unchanged from the 14-player tri-series group, with Lewis returning for the global event. At the World Cup, Ireland face a challenging group featuring hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka, and former champions West Indies. Ranked ninth in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, Ireland are ahead of only Scotland among the teams in their group. Ireland will begin their World Cup campaign against Scotland in Manchester on the second day of the tournament. The Irish side last competed in the Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers held in Nepal earlier this year, where they finished runners-up to Bangladesh. Lewis starred during the qualifiers, emerging as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 276 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 119.48. Currently ranked joint-14th among T20I batters, Lewis remains central to Ireland’s hopes at the World Cup. Orla Prendergast is ranked No. 26 among batters and sits seventh in the ICC rankings for women’s T20I all-rounders, while Amy Hunter is ranked 29th among batters. Ireland Women’s Squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Gaby Lewis (captain), Orla Prendergast (vice-captain), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell. Ireland Women’s Squad for Tri-Series vs Pakistan and West Indies Orla Prendergast (captain), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell.

Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has heaped praise on Dhruv Jurel, calling the young wicketkeeper-batter a player with “extraordinary potential” after his composed unbeaten half-century guided Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling chase against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur. Jurel played a crucial role in Rajasthan Royals’ successful pursuit of 221, remaining unbeaten on 53 off 38 balls in a high-pressure encounter. His innings helped RR keep their playoff hopes alive and further highlighted his growing influence in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 season. The 24-year-old is enjoying his most productive IPL campaign so far, having scored 420 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 150.00, including five half-centuries. Only teammate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has scored more runs for Rajasthan Royals this season. “I think he has at least four or five levels to unlock in his batting,” Rayudu said. “He is one guy I feel who has extraordinary potential. He is so clean, so neat. He has such a good technique.” Rayudu praised Jurel’s composure and all-round batting ability, particularly his comfort against pace bowling and his game awareness under pressure. “His temperament is top-class. His play against pace, he is so comfortable. There are so many good things — he steps out, he plays spin well, reads length well, runs brilliantly between the wickets. I think he is a complete package that just needs to be properly unlocked and trained,” he added. Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim also lauded Jurel’s ability to control a chase but pointed out areas where the batter could improve, especially when setting a target. Karim highlighted the contrast in Jurel’s performances while batting first and second this season. While Jurel has struck at 157.37 in successful chases, his strike rate drops to 144.30 when batting first. “When he bats second, it seems he is in complete control of the situation,” Karim said. “He has the match awareness, the ability to take the game deep and finish matches, which is a special quality.” However, Karim believes Jurel can become even more dangerous if he shows greater attacking intent earlier in his innings while batting first. “His strike rate in the first ten balls is slightly on the lower side when batting first. That’s when I want him to free himself, back his talent and play the big shots early. That will boost both his confidence and strike rate,” Karim explained. With consistent performances and growing praise from former cricketers, Jurel’s rise has emerged as one of the bright stories of Rajasthan Royals’ campaign this season.