Author: Staff Reporter

Ishan Kishan and Kumar Kushagra led Jharkhand to their first Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy title as they beat Haryana by 69 runs in a high-scoring final in Pune. Haryana won the toss and elected to field. Jharkhand lost their first wicket early, with Virat Singh managing just two runs. Kushagra then joined Kishan at the crease, and the duo stitched together a destructive partnership of 177 runs off just 82 balls, taking Jharkhand close to the 200-run mark. Later, Anukul Roy and Robin Minz added an unbeaten 75 runs off 29 balls to help Jharkhand post a massive total of…

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka has revealed how strongly captain Rishabh Pant wanted to bring Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana into the LSG squad during the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Goenka also revealed that Pathirana was their top priority, but due to a limited budget, they had to step back. Speaking to broadcaster JioStar, Goenka confirmed that Pant and the team management were keen on Pathirana. He said, “Yes, our captain and vice-captain were both very keen on Matheesha Pathirana, as was I. We were also very interested in Anrich Nortje. Pathirana was our priority, and we went up…

Indian Premier League chairman Arun Singh Dhumal has clearly dismissed the possibility of Indian players featuring in overseas T20 leagues. He said there is no chance in the near future, highlighting that workload management remains the biggest concern. Dhumal stressed that allowing active Indian cricketers to play abroad could put extra pressure on players and hurt the national team. Explaining his point, Dhumal highlighted the heavy schedule of Indian players. “You look at the workload our players have. The BCCI has made a rule for the international players that they must play domestic cricket as well,” Dhumal told journalist Vimal…

Former India batter Krishnamachari Srikkanth has criticised Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) team management for their auction strategies. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth said that SRH could have got Liam Livingstone earlier for his base price. “Everyone let go of Livingstone at base price. If you had already decided to go for him, you could have pocketed him for ₹2 crore itself.” The English all-rounder was unsold in the first round, but later SRH had to engage in a long bidding war with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to finally acquire him for ₹13 crore. Srikkanth also criticised SRH for not taking…

Former India batter Robin Uthappa termed Shubman Gill a “once-in-a-generation three-format player”. However, at the same time, Uthappa admitted he is confused about Gill’s recent approach in T20I cricket. When Uthappa was asked about young sensation Abhishek Sharma’s aggressive approach on JioHotstar, he said: “I think with a player like Abhishek Sharma, you need to give him the freedom to play the way he wants. Now, does someone like Shubman Gill at the other end help him do that, or does someone like Sanju Samson, with whom he has had a strong opening partnership, allow that freedom? I’m not taking…

England spinner Adil Rashid, who is a team-mate of Matheesha Pathirana at Sharjah Warriorz (SW) in the ILT20, praised the young pacer and described him as a match-winner. Speaking to NDTV, Rashid said he was not surprised that the young pacer was sold for a big sum at the IPL auction. “Personally, he’s an X-factor bowler and an asset,” the Englishman said. “A real match-winner. It was no surprise that he went for the money he did at the IPL. Credit goes to him.” Pathirana was bought by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for a whopping INR 18 crore at the…

Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey hit a brilliant century against England in the third Test of the 2025/26 Ashes series to take Australia beyond 300 at the end of day one at the Adelaide Oval. After reaching the three-figure mark, the left-handed batter took off his helmet and looked up at the sky, honouring the memory of his late father. His father, Gordon, passed away on 25 September after a long battle with cancer, which was diagnosed in 2021, making the century especially significant. Speaking to Fox Cricket at the end of the opening day’s play, Carey said, “Dad probably played…

Gujarat Titans’ (GT) assistant coach Parthiv Patel believes that the franchise have given themselves strong and flexible options after the IPL 2026 auction. He also explained why the crucial No. 4 spot is not decided yet and how the batting line-up will depend on the match and pitch conditions. Talking about team selection, Patel said that they purchased players with the intention of adding them to the playing XI. “So basically, when we pick a team, it’s in our mind that whichever player comes in, he should fit into our team and be ready to play in the eleven,” Patel…

Punjab Kings (PBKS) bought Australian all-rounder Cooper Connolly for INR 3 crore ahead of IPL 2026. Skipper Shreyas Iyer believes the young player will fit perfectly into their set-up. In a media release, Shreyas said: “Honestly, he wasn’t there in our minds at the start, but as we brainstormed and narrowed down our options, we realised he fit the position perfectly.” Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) started the bidding for Connolly, but PBKS had the last laugh. The 22-year-old will be making his debut in the IPL. He has the experience of playing four seasons in the Big Bash League (BBL),…

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green disappointed many with his first outing after becoming the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. On December 16, Kolkata Knight Riders spent a hefty amount of INR 25.20 crore to acquire him at the IPL 2026 auction. His early dismissal in the ongoing Ashes series has raised concerns over the expensive buy. On Day 1 of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, Green was dismissed for a duck by England fast bowler Jofra Archer. In the first two Tests against England, Green scored a total of 69 runs and picked up only two wickets. At…