South Africa A secured a convincing eight-wicket victory over England Lions in the opening unofficial Test at Arundel, wrapping up the chase with two sessions to spare on the final day. Chasing 215 for victory, South Africa A comfortably reached the target at 215 for 2, thanks to composed unbeaten knocks from Jordan Hermann and Zubayr Hamza. Hermann finished unbeaten on 70, while Hamza added a fluent 54 not out as the pair shared a rapid 81-run partnership off just 72 deliveries. Earlier, England Lions had mounted a spirited fightback after being bowled out for just 157 in their first innings. Centuries from Asa Tribe and Ben Mayes helped the hosts post 387 in their second innings and set South Africa A a competitive target. Tribe impressed with a mature 135, underlining his growing reputation after narrowly missing out on a maiden Test call-up for England’s series against New Zealand. Mayes also shone with his maiden professional century, scoring 105 in a determined lower-order effort. Despite England’s fightback, South Africa A maintained control throughout the chase. The tourists resumed the final day needing 92 runs and quickly neutralised any hopes of an unlikely England comeback. England had an early opportunity when Liam Patterson-White induced an edge from Hermann with the second ball of the morning, but the chance was dropped. Soon after, Eddie Jack produced a fine yorker to dismiss Lesego Senokwane, claiming his fourth wicket of the match. However, that proved to be England’s only breakthrough of the day. Hermann accelerated after reaching his half-century with a towering slog-sweep six that cleared the marquee, while Hamza matched his aggressive approach as South Africa A raced to victory before lunch. The result gave South Africa A a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, with the second four-day game scheduled to begin at Beckenham on Friday before the teams move into a three-match one-day series. Although defeated, England Lions showed encouraging signs with a youthful and inexperienced squad. The bowling attack, particularly Mitchell Stanley and Eddie Jack, displayed impressive pace and skill across the match, while the batting recovery after the first-innings collapse highlighted the potential within the group. South Africa A, meanwhile, benefited from greater experience within their ranks. Captain Marques Ackerman laid the foundation for victory earlier in the match with a superb 173 in the first innings, supported by a balanced attack and disciplined batting throughout the contest. The Arundel Castle pitch also earned praise for providing assistance to both batters and bowlers across all four days, contributing to an entertaining and competitive encounter despite the final margin.

Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani admitted the franchise let crucial moments slip away during another disappointing IPL campaign, as DC failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season. Despite beginning IPL 2026 with two victories, Delhi Capitals eventually finished sixth on the points table. Speaking after their final league match win over Kolkata Knight Riders, Badani said the season could have unfolded very differently had the team capitalised on key moments. “There were many games where I genuinely felt the result could have gone either way, and we didn’t seize those moments,” Badani said. “Against Gujarat Titans, we lost by one run. Then there was the game where we failed to defend 264 against Punjab Kings. Against Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, we dropped catches at crucial stages. Those small margins made a huge difference.” Delhi’s inability to consistently take wickets also hurt their campaign. Even after bowling out KKR in their final match, DC ended the season with only 64 wickets in 14 games — the joint-lowest tally among all teams. The absence of Mitchell Starc for much of the tournament added to their struggles. The Australian pacer featured in only six matches but still picked up 11 wickets at an average of 20.36. “Starc not being available for the first nine games definitely hampered us,” Badani admitted. “He is someone who performs in all formats and brings immense value. But even without him, we had our opportunities to qualify. IPL is a tournament of very small margins, and we failed to capitalise on them.” DC captain Axar Patel echoed his coach’s views but praised the team for continuing to fight despite being out of playoff contention. Delhi ended the season strongly with victories in their final three matches. “We were not playing well, but we kept fighting,” Axar said after the match. “The way we played the last three games showed great character from the team.” Axar also reflected on his first season as captain, admitting that maintaining the right mindset was one of his biggest learnings from the campaign. The all-rounder endured a difficult individual season as well, averaging under 20 with the bat while taking 11 wickets in 13 innings. “In a high-pressure tournament, it’s important to take care of everyone, but it’s even more important to keep yourself in a good frame of mind,” Axar said. “Only then can you make the right decisions instead of reacting out of frustration. I kept trying to stay calm and improve my mindset whenever things weren’t going well.” The franchise is also set for administrative changes ahead of IPL 2027, with operational control shifting back from GMR Sports to JSW Sports as part of the co-ownership agreement. For Delhi Capitals, however, IPL 2026 will ultimately be remembered as another season filled with missed opportunities and lingering questions about how close they came to turning promise into playoff qualification.

Kieron Pollard has defended Hardik Pandya’s leadership after Mumbai Indians endured a disappointing IPL 2026 season, finishing ninth after their final defeat to Rajasthan Royals. Speaking after the loss, Pollard admitted the campaign had been filled with missed opportunities and inconsistency. “It was a season of what-ifs,” Pollard said. “If we had done this or that differently, things could have changed. Overall, it has been disappointing for all of us as Mumbai Indians. We were unable to build momentum or string together consistent wins throughout the tournament.” The former all-rounder said the franchise would conduct a detailed review of the season but stressed that immediate reactions would be emotional and premature. “Right now is not the time for emotional decisions,” Pollard explained. “Everyone needs time to sit back, reflect, and assess where things went wrong. The review will be thorough because it has been a while since we last won the championship.” Mumbai Indians, five-time IPL champions, have not lifted the trophy since 2020, increasing scrutiny on both team management and captaincy decisions. Pollard, however, firmly rejected criticism aimed solely at Hardik Pandya. “From a leadership perspective, things may not have gone the way Hardik wanted personally, but everyone in the franchise tried their best to support him,” he said. “No one is going to point fingers. When you lose, it’s a collective failure. We all tried, and unfortunately, it didn’t work out.” The MI batting coach also defended the team’s retention and auction strategy despite the poor finish. “If we go back 12 months, we finished in the top four, which justified some of the decisions made before this season,” Pollard said. “Now that we finished ninth, people want to question everything. We need to avoid that inconsistency in judgment and instead focus on improving strategically.” Pollard also addressed concerns surrounding Jasprit Bumrah, who endured one of the leanest IPL seasons of his career. Despite maintaining an impressive economy rate of 8.37, Bumrah managed only four wickets in the campaign. According to Pollard, the Indian pacer had been dealing with fitness concerns following the T20 World Cup. “He came in with a bit of a niggle after the World Cup,” Pollard revealed. “We tried to manage him, and while he wasn’t at his best physically, he still tried to contribute.” Bumrah was rested for Mumbai Indians’ final game of the season, a move Pollard described as a practical decision given the team was already out of playoff contention. “There was no point risking him in a dead rubber,” Pollard said. “He’s a prized possession for Indian cricket, and sometimes you have to make the smarter choice.”

After another underwhelming IPL season that saw Lucknow Super Giants finish at the bottom of the table, the franchise may be heading toward major changes ahead of IPL 2027. But amid the disappointment, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has emerged as one of the few positives for the team. LSG’s global director of cricket, Tom Moody, admitted after the season that the side struggled to balance performances with both bat and ball. “Both bat and ball performing at the same time was always a challenge,” Moody said after LSG endured a poor campaign following seventh-place finishes in IPL 2024 and IPL 2025. Inglis, who was surprisingly released by Punjab Kings after disagreements over his availability due to his wedding during IPL 2026, proved to be one of LSG’s smartest acquisitions. The franchise backed him despite concerns around his availability, and he repaid that faith with a string of impactful performances in the latter half of the season. Playing only the final five matches of the tournament, Inglis scored 266 runs at a stunning strike rate of 186.01, including three half-centuries. Remarkably, despite featuring in just five games, he finished as LSG’s third-highest run-scorer of the season behind Mitchell Marsh (563 runs) and captain Rishabh Pant (312 runs). His tally also surpassed contributions from established stars such as Aiden Markram, who scored 231 runs in 11 innings, and Nicholas Pooran, who managed 234 runs in 14 matches. Former India batter Ambati Rayudu praised Inglis for his adaptability and batting intelligence, describing him as one of the most complete overseas batters in the tournament. “He’s so versatile,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut. “He’s good against slower deliveries, good against every length, and perfectly suited to subcontinent conditions. He plays spin brilliantly, uses lap shots well, hits straight down the ground, and has every shot in the book.” Rayudu also compared Inglis favourably with Finn Allen of Kolkata Knight Riders, highlighting Inglis’ superior shot selection and ability to score all around the wicket. “Finn Allen is aggressive but one-dimensional. Josh Inglis is not. He manipulates the field brilliantly and plays spin exceptionally well,” Rayudu added. Former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher echoed those sentiments, calling Inglis one of the toughest batters to bowl to during the powerplay. “There’s a smartness to his cricket,” Boucher said. “He keeps moving the field around and adapts quickly. If bowlers bring fielders up, he hits over them. If they go fuller, he can still hit straight. He’s incredibly difficult to bowl to when he’s confident.” Despite Inglis’ late-season heroics, LSG’s overall campaign was plagued by inconsistency. Moody admitted the team failed to click collectively, particularly in the batting department. “The batting didn’t click at all for a large part of the season,” Moody explained. “We didn’t get the dynamic starts we wanted, and our middle order failed to contribute consistently.” The disappointing campaign has already sparked speculation over significant structural changes within the franchise, including a possible rethink around Pant’s leadership. Moody confirmed that “all things” would be considered during the team’s review process. However, one thing appears increasingly certain: Inglis has likely done enough to secure a major role in LSG’s future plans. With his aggressive yet intelligent batting style complementing compatriot Marsh perfectly, the Australian could become a key pillar around which the franchise rebuilds for IPL 2027.

Punjab Kings may have finally snapped their six-match losing streak in IPL 2026, but concerns around star pacer Arshdeep Singh continue to grow after another expensive outing against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow. Arshdeep endured yet another difficult spell on Saturday, conceding runs at an alarming economy rate of 17.33 as Lucknow Super Giants scored at 9.80 runs per over. The left-arm pacer was so ineffective that Punjab Kings chose not to give him his final over. Former India batter Ambati Rayudu believes the issue lies primarily in Arshdeep’s bowling lengths. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, Rayudu pointed out that the pacer has drifted away from the fuller lengths that once made him such a dangerous bowler. “He’s not someone who should be bowling a lot of short deliveries,” Rayudu said. “Even at the death, he should rely more on yorkers. His strength has always been pitching the ball up and allowing it to swing.” Rayudu also suggested that Arshdeep may not possess the same sharpness he showed earlier in the year, hinting at possible physical fatigue after a packed international season. “Maybe because of his body being tired, he doesn’t have the same juice as a few months back,” Rayudu added. “If he has to compensate, he needs to bowl fuller.” Statistically, Arshdeep’s dip in form has been evident throughout IPL 2026. In IPL 2025, the pacer enjoyed significant success with fuller and good-length deliveries, taking 10 wickets at an economy rate of 8.45. This season, however, those same deliveries have produced only seven wickets while leaking runs at 9.91 per over. Against Lucknow, Arshdeep bowled 12 of his 18 deliveries either full or on a good length, while only six deliveries were short or back of a length. Despite that, almost every variation he attempted was punished by the batters. Former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher believes fatigue from international cricket and the IPL workload may be the main reason behind the decline. “I think it’s just being tired after the T20 World Cup and then coming straight into the IPL,” Boucher said. “It’s natural for fatigue to catch up with players. I don’t think it has anything to do with his skill or talent.” Arshdeep was one of India’s standout performers during the 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, operating as the team’s second frontline pacer behind Jasprit Bumrah. He finished the tournament with nine wickets from eight matches as India lifted the trophy. However, his IPL 2026 campaign has been far from convincing. The left-arm quick has managed 14 wickets in 14 matches while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.20. He is also one of only two bowlers this season to concede more than 500 runs, alongside Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings. Despite the poor form, Arshdeep remains a crucial part of Punjab Kings’ setup. With the team still mathematically in contention depending on Sunday’s results, the pacer could get another opportunity to rediscover his rhythm and salvage what has otherwise been a disappointing season.

Rachin Ravindra says returning home to New Zealand after an early exit from the IPL has provided the perfect mental and physical reset before the national team’s upcoming Test tour of Ireland and England. The New Zealand all-rounder left his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders before the end of the 2026 season after spending most of the campaign on the sidelines. Ravindra revealed the decision was made in consultation with the franchise management and coaching staff. “KKR were very understanding of the situation,” Ravindra said before departing for Ireland. “The way things were going, I wasn’t playing, so we discussed the possibility of going home for a refresh before joining the team in Ireland.” The 26-year-old explained that with New Zealand’s packed international schedule ahead, he would otherwise not have returned home until late August. “Even four or five days at home is fantastic,” he said. “We spend so much time away from home, so it was a great little refresh.” Despite not featuring regularly in the IPL, Ravindra believes the experience still helped him prepare for red-ball cricket. “I don’t feel too out of match practice,” he said. “Training in the IPL environment and speaking with experienced players has been hugely valuable.” Ravindra highlighted conversations with senior international cricketers including Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, as well as guidance from batting coach Shane Watson and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. “Being in the IPL is more than just T20 cricket,” Ravindra said. “You get to learn from players who have succeeded in England and overseas conditions.” New Zealand are set to travel with a pace-heavy squad for the UK tour, with towering fast bowlers Kyle Jamieson and Will O'Rourke expected to play key roles alongside Matt Henry, Ben Sears and Blair Tickner. Ravindra expressed excitement about the depth in New Zealand’s fast-bowling department, praising O’Rourke’s recent performances against England and Zimbabwe. “Truly exciting times for New Zealand cricket,” he said. “We’ve got so much depth.” With no specialist spinner included in the squad, Ravindra is also prepared to contribute with his left-arm spin alongside Glenn Phillips. Ravindra enjoyed a successful campaign with the ball during New Zealand’s run to the 2026 T20 World Cup final, finishing as the team’s leading wicket-taker with 12 wickets. “Test cricket is a different challenge,” he admitted. “You have to be more consistent with the red ball, but I’m definitely working on my bowling more.” Before beginning their three-Test series against England cricket team, New Zealand will face Ireland cricket team in a one-off four-day Test from May 27 to May 30. Although the match is outside the World Test Championship cycle and Ireland are dealing with injuries to key players, Ravindra insisted New Zealand would not underestimate their opponents. “You can’t take any team lightly,” he said. “Ireland are a Test-playing nation with quality cricketers, and it will be a great lead-in to the England series.”

Defending champions Somerset County Cricket Club launched their Vitality Blast campaign in dominant fashion with a convincing seven-wicket win over Hampshire Hawks under the floodlights at Taunton. A sparkling innings from opener Will Smeed set the tone for Somerset’s successful chase of 159, as the hosts reached 160 for 3 with 22 balls remaining. Smeed blasted 59 off just 29 deliveries, hammering six fours and four sixes in a breathtaking display of clean hitting. The 24-year-old shared a rapid 90-run opening partnership with Tom Banton, who contributed 30 from 23 balls. After the departure of both openers, brothers James Rew and Thomas Rew calmly guided Somerset home with an unbeaten 52-run stand for the fourth wicket. James Rew finished on 47 not out from 29 balls. Earlier, Somerset’s bowlers laid the foundation for victory after captain Lewis Gregory elected to field first. Seamers Craig Overton and Jake Ball claimed three wickets each as Hampshire were bowled out for 158 in 19.4 overs. Hampshire skipper James Vince was the standout performer for the visitors, scoring a fluent 58 from 34 deliveries, including four boundaries and three sixes. However, he received little support from the rest of the batting lineup. The visitors started brightly, with Vince and Toby Albert adding quick runs in the powerplay. But Somerset struck regularly through disciplined bowling and sharp fielding. Overton removed Albert for 23, while spinner Lewis Goldsworthy dismissed Hilton Cartwright at a crucial stage. Once Vince fell in the 13th over, Hampshire’s innings collapsed dramatically, losing their final five wickets for just 25 runs. Ball and Daniel Sams cleaned up the lower order to restrict the visitors below the 160-mark. Somerset’s chase began explosively as Smeed dominated the powerplay, particularly targeting teenage debutant Manny Lumsden. Smeed brought up his half-century in only 22 balls, thrilling a packed Taunton crowd with fearless strokeplay. Although Hampshire briefly fought back through Liam Dawson and Scott Currie, Somerset never lost control of the chase. The victory marked an ideal start to Somerset’s title defence, while Hampshire’s difficult run of form continued across formats.

The race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap in IPL 2026 has intensified as the league stage nears its conclusion, with several players making significant moves after the clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday. Despite no change at the top, Heinrich Klaasen surged to third place in the Orange Cap standings after a blistering 51 off 24 balls against RCB. The explosive SRH batter now has 606 runs from 14 innings this season. The leaderboard continues to be headed by B Sai Sudharsan of Gujarat Titans, who has accumulated 638 runs, while teammate and captain Shubman Gill remains second with 616 runs. Young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals occupies fourth position with 579 runs. Another SRH batter, Ishan Kishan, moved into the top five after his match-winning 79 off 46 deliveries against RCB. Kishan now has 569 runs in the tournament and continues to enjoy his best-ever IPL season. Purple Cap Battle Tightens In the Purple Cap standings, Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kagiso Rabada of Gujarat Titans remain tied at the top with 24 wickets each. Bhuvneshwar, however, continues to hold the Purple Cap due to his superior economy rate of 8.07, compared to Rabada’s 9.18. The RCB pacer went wicketless in Friday’s game but retained his position at the summit. Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings is next on the list with 21 wickets. GT spinner Rashid Khan sits fourth with 19 wickets, narrowly ahead of SRH pacer Eshan Malinga, who also has 19 wickets after registering figures of 2 for 33 against RCB. Rashid remains ahead because of his better economy rate of 8.71, while Malinga’s economy stands at 9.27. With the playoffs approaching, both the batting and bowling charts remain closely contested, setting up an exciting finish to the IPL 2026 league stage.

Former India batter Ambati Rayudu believes that leaving the star-studded environment of Mumbai Indians has played a major role in the growth and maturity of Ishan Kishan, who is enjoying the best season of his IPL career with Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2026. Kishan, who spent seven seasons with Mumbai Indians before being picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad at the 2025 IPL auction, has been one of the standout performers this season. The left-hander currently sits fifth in the Orange Cap standings, having scored 569 runs in 14 matches at an impressive average of 40.64 and a strike rate of 178.36. His latest match-winning knock — a fluent 79 off 46 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday — earned him the Player-of-the-Match award and marked his sixth score of 50 or more this season. Notably, Kishan had never crossed three 50-plus scores in any previous IPL season. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, Rayudu reflected on the challenges young cricketers face while sharing dressing rooms with established superstars at franchises like Mumbai Indians. “Growing up in a franchise like Mumbai, he wanted to be a superstar. He is a superstar in his own right now, but back then competing against all the stars around him would have been very tough,” Rayudu said. Rayudu, who himself represented Mumbai Indians from 2009 to 2017, added that experienced players often know how to manage the mental demands of the game, something younger players struggle with initially. “Those guys know when to switch on in terms of their game and when to switch off. But a lot of young boys don’t know how to handle that balance. That’s a big challenge, and I’m sure he has learnt it the hard way,” he added. Rayudu also credited Kishan’s stint as captain of Jharkhand for bringing greater maturity and clarity to his batting. “His shot selection has improved big time. Earlier, we saw him making some poor decisions, but this season he has mostly made the right calls,” Rayudu noted. “I think captaincy for Jharkhand made him realise a lot about his own game. Sometimes leadership transforms players into better batsmen, and he is one of those who has massively improved in terms of clarity,” he said. With Sunrisers Hyderabad pushing for a strong finish this season, Kishan’s consistency and fearless batting have emerged as one of the biggest positives for the franchise.

A brief moment involving Virat Kohli and Travis Head grabbed attention after the IPL 2026 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Hyderabad on Friday, as Kohli appeared to ignore Head during the customary post-match handshake line. As players from both teams lined up after the match, Kohli was seen shaking hands with SRH captain Pat Cummins and opener Abhishek Sharma. However, when Head extended his hand to greet him, Kohli walked past without acknowledging the gesture and moved on to the next player. The incident quickly drew attention among fans and on social media, though there was no immediate explanation from either player regarding the exchange. Earlier in the match, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a massive 255 for 4, putting Royal Challengers Bengaluru under pressure in a crucial league-stage encounter. RCB needed at least 166 runs to secure a top-two finish and 178 to finish at the top of the table. Prioritising net run rate despite the difficult chase, RCB ended on 200 for 4. Opening the innings, Kohli managed 15 runs off 11 balls before being dismissed by Sakib Hussain in the final over of the powerplay. Despite the defeat, RCB finished among the top two teams and will now face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala on May 26. Sunrisers Hyderabad secured a third-place finish and will play the Eliminator in New Chandigarh on May 27. Meanwhile, the race for the final playoff spot remains open, with Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals still in contention with three league matches remaining.