Ahead of Lucknow Super Giants’ match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rishabh Pant made no commitment about his starting spot. When Pant was asked at the time of the toss whether he would open the innings, he showed a faint smile and struggled to give a straight answer. After a brief pause, he told broadcaster Pommy Mbangwa that he would decide on the batting order when his turn came.

Pant’s response raises an important question, has LSG started to rethink their plans after just one game this season?

In his opening match against Delhi Capitals, Pant had promoted himself to open the innings with Mitchell Marsh. Despite his good performances last season, the move pushed in-form Aiden Markram down the order.

| SRH vs LSG, IPL 2026: Updates | Achievement: |

However, Pant failed to take advantage of the opportunity and was out after scoring just 7 runs from 9 balls before being run out at the non-striker’s end. The early shock left LSG reeling on home soil and they never really recovered.

LSG could score only 141 runs, which Pant’s former team Delhi Capitals easily achieved in 17.1 overs. After the match, Pant was seen having an animated discussion with the team owner and coach, a moment that reminded many of KL Rahul’s time in the franchise.

On Sunday, in LSG’s second match of the season, Pant’s inability to give clear answers about his batting position raised further concerns about the clarity of the team’s approach. The wicketkeeper-batsman had done important work before the season, Which also includes training with Yuvraj SinghIn an attempt to revive his white-ball career, which has been stalled in recent times.

But the fact that the captain appears unsure of his role after just one game is an ominous sign for LSG fans.

IPL 2026: SRH vs LSG

Meanwhile, in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s first home match of the season, Rishabh Pant won the toss and decided to bowl first, believing the pitch would be difficult in the first six overs.

LSG made one change to their playing eleven, with Manimaran Siddhartha replacing Anrich Nortje.

Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan was happy to return to Hyderabad and the support of the home crowd. He stressed the importance of remaining calm and executing plans well in T20 cricket.

“It’s always good to have support at home and the crowd loves the SRH team. So yes, very happy to be here. There are only two changes. Livingstone comes in and Harshal Patel comes in. Harshal Patel, whenever he has bowled here, has done well. And Livi has given him a chance to use his off-spin against left-handed batsmen as well,” Ishan said at the toss.

“Especially in T20, execution is the most important thing. You have to be in a good mind, stay calm and try to save as many runs as possible. So just plan well and execute on your balls. And I guess let’s see how it goes from there. It’s really important for us to get these two points. But at the same time, we need to stay calm, focus on one match at a time. And that’s the whole plan. In a good mind Be like I said before, and just play your best game.” Kishan added.

While LSG is coming off the back of a defeat, SRH had defeated KKR in their previous game. Ishan Kishan’s side will be hoping to build on this with their first home win of the season.

ipl 2026 | ipl schedule | ipl points table | ipl video | cricket news | live score

– ends

Bangladesh Cricket (AP Photo/Mahmood Hossain Opu)

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) finds itself at a crossroads, hoping for stability on the cricket front while grappling with deep uncertainty in its administration. The key decisions taken during the fourth meeting of the board of directors in Dhaka on Saturday underline the dual story of long-term planning and immediate crisis management.Leadership continuity and coaching signals boost cricket sustainabilityIn a major move, the BCB confirmed its leadership structure across all formats. Mehdi Hasan Miraz will remain Bangladesh’s ODI captain until the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, while Liton Das will lead the T20 team until the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028.To strengthen the leadership depth, Nazmul Hossain Shanto and Saif Hasan have been named vice-captains for ODIs and T20Is respectively. These decisions reflect the Board’s intention to provide continuity and clarity in leadership during a crucial phase for Bangladesh cricket.The board also strengthened its coaching setup by appointing former spinner Mohammad Rafiq as a specialist spin-bowling coach and consultant for a one-year stint. A pioneer of Bangladesh cricket, Rafiq is expected to play a key role in nurturing spin talent at all levels.Progress on the field is already visible under Mehdi, with Bangladesh recording notable series wins against the West Indies in 2025 and against Pakistan earlier this year.Beyond team matters, the BCB approved a new HR policy aimed at improving transparency and efficiency. It also launched two digital platforms, Player Data App and Cloud Server App, to enhance performance analysis and data-driven decision making.Administrative crisis deepened due to wave of resignationsHowever, these prudent steps have been taken amid growing instability within the board. Three directors: Saniyan Tanim, Mehrab Alam and Fayezur Rehman resigned on Saturday, taking the total number of departures from the current board to six.His exit follows the recent resignation of Yasir Mohammad Faisal Ashiq, raising concerns over internal strife. Earlier, Amjad Hussain and Ishtiaq Sadiq had also resigned citing personal reasons.An inquiry committee formed by the BCB is expected to submit its report by April 9, after which the government will decide on the future of the board. There is growing speculation that the board could be disbanded, with an ad-hoc committee being formed as a contingency, which could be headed by a former Bangladesh captain.BCB demands change in relations with BCCIAmid the uncertainty, the BCB is also attempting to rebuild strained relations with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Relations between the two boards had soured after Bangladesh pulled out of the T20 World Cup due to security concerns.The situation worsened after Mustafizur Rahman’s IPL participation became a point of controversy, ultimately resulting in Bangladesh being replaced by Scotland in the tournament.The fallout extended to bilateral cricket, with Bangladesh women’s tour of India canceled and India’s scheduled white-ball tour of Bangladesh in September remaining in doubt.In an effort to restore normalcy, the BCB has approached the BCCI proposing fresh engagement and exchange programmes. Chairman of cricket operations Nazmul Abedin expressed hope of getting a response soon and called it part of regular communication between cricket boards.

On a surface that required more patience than power at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi Capitals outclassed Mumbai Indians to clinch two spots out of two in IPL 2026.

While Sameer Rizvi scored a fluent 90 DC’s six-wicket win over MI made headlinesThe foundation for this had been laid earlier in the evening by Mukesh Kumar, who once again showed the value of discipline with the new ball and implemented a methodology that has come to define his T20 bowling.

dc vs mi, IPL 2026 highlight | Achievement:

There is a tendency to chase novelty in the format, relying on variations that can baffle batsmen ready to attack. Instead, what Mukesh is creating is a much older craft, based on the control of length and the discipline of repetition.

hazelwood t20 impression

In that sense, the reference point is clear. Josh Hazlewood has made his career on surprising batsmen rather than denying them the chance, and his IPL The 2025 season was an extension of that philosophy.

Taking 22 wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 8.77, he led Royal Challengers Bangalore to their first title through consistent accuracy rather than fancy variations.

Mukesh, for his part, is starting to work in a similar mold, leaning on those principles and making them the center of his methodology.

“Last year, we saw the way Hazlewood bowled; he consistently hit Test lengths. Our coach advised me to focus on my strengths and target that area. It is difficult to score runs on this length, especially if the ball is turning,” Mukesh said after DC’s win over MI in Delhi.

The phrase “Test length” may seem counterintuitive in the context of T20, but its importance lies in the doubt it creates. It sits in that awkward zone, neither full enough to drive nor short enough to pull with authority and, even with a hint of help on the surface, it makes mistakes rather than inviting strokes. Mukesh has returned to that area with increasing confidence.

When the season started, Mukesh Kumar was not seen as an automatic selection. The competition was hard to ignore, especially with Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Auqib Nabi pushing his bid after an impressive domestic season.

After this Mukesh told how he won the trust of Delhi Capitals management to confirm his place in the playing eleven for the start of the season.

“There are practice matches before the IPL season. If you perform well there, the management supports you. I performed well in the practice match. So, the team has supported me. The performance is visible.”

Mukesh took a big step

And in the first two matches for Delhi Capitals, the Bihar pacer has quietly shown why he remains ahead of the pecking order based on the experience he already has in India colors across all formats.

in Lucknow, During Delhi’s opening game of the season, That intention became clear during the powerplay itself. He bowled three overs with the new ball at less than a run per ball, not through exaggerated action but through control. There was enough swing to bring the batsman forward and enough seam to keep the lead in the game. However, what was more telling was his refusal to ease the pressure. There was little width on offer, and he rarely made a mistake in length, especially against Mitchell Marsh, who was repeatedly forced to play in front of square. Luck also intervened, with a run out involving Rishabh Pant going in their favour, but the spell was composed of control rather than chance.

Then, against Mumbai Indians, the Bihar-born seamer started searching both sides of the wicket, but the improvement came quickly. The line straightened out, the length fell right out, and the batsmen’s reaction began to follow a familiar pattern. Ryan Rickelton, after being tied down, went looking for a release shot and instead edged out the fielder, guiding an errant stroke towards mid-off, where Axar Patel completed the chance.

Tilak Verma lasted only two balls. The 114.7 kph ball was no surprise in itself, but it worked because it followed a sequence that had already closed down the scoring options. The shot was checked, timing was absent and Mukesh completed an easy return catch.

His figures of 3-0-26-2 tell only part of the story. This mantra was less about taking wickets in isolation and more about shaping the phase of the innings.

“You have to read the pitch first, whether it is slow or not. You have to make your plan accordingly. Here, if you hit the pitch hard, the bounce is generally less. I focused on that and mixed it with the cutter,” he said after the game.

“My mindset is still to take wickets. That’s why I was bowling at the stumps. I was looking to attack.”

The emphasis on attacking the stumps is a natural extension of the length he is aiming for. This limits scoring areas, brings both edges into play, and forces batsmen to create options rather than reach for them. It’s a method that requires belief, especially in a format where even good balls can go missing.

Focus on India’s comeback

At 32, Mukesh is in that difficult phase of a fast bowler’s career where every spell is a statement. His India debut in all formats came during the tour of the Caribbean in 2023, but opportunities have become less frequent since then. Then again, this IPL is more than any other season. For Delhi Capitals, it is about marching towards an elusive first title; For Mukesh, it is about forcing him back into national identity.

There has been no dramatic change in his art, only refinement. Mukesh has leaned towards discipline, closing in on a test length and hitting it consistently. The method is subtle but effective, based not on flair but control, stacking dot balls, squeezing the batsmen and varying the pace inch by inch.

And there is a clear trace of Josh Hazlewood in that approach.

ipl 2026 | ipl schedule | ipl points table | ipl video | cricket news | live score

– ends

Vaibhav Suryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

India’s T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year has done nothing to hide the growing problem in the longest format. Despite better results in limited overs cricket under the leadership of the head coach, there has been a significant decline in the team’s Test performance. Gautam GambhirThe red-ball setup remains a matter of concern. Defeats against New Zealand and South Africa at home have underlined that India are no longer invincible in their own conditions, with their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final now diminishing. Recognizing the issue, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has taken steps to reset its long-term Test structure. According to PTI, the Center of Excellence headed by VVS Laxman has drawn up a detailed plan to rebuild India’s red-ball depth by focusing on the next generation. At the heart of this strategy is a four-day intra-COE competition scheduled in June and July. The tournament, which is set to feature talents like Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, will feature 64 players under the age of 25. These players will be divided into four teams of 16, with each side playing two multi-day matches on different surfaces to simulate different match scenarios. The idea is to create a consistent pipeline of red-ball players who can serve India over the next decade. As part of this change, coaches and selectors have been instructed to prioritize red-ball development at high-performance camps in Bengaluru in the coming year. “The India Emerging team will consist of only Under-25 players and they will also form India A teams for shadow tours. The roadmap will be made keeping in mind senior selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar, head coach Gautam Gambhir,” a BCCI source told PTI. “After the IPL ends, both India Under-19 and Emerging (Under-25) will tour Sri Lanka for four-day games. The team will be selected on the basis of performance in the intra-CoE tournament,” the source said. India’s difficulties in Tests, especially their falling effectiveness against spin even on home soil, has been a major trigger for this change since Gambhir took charge. The new system is designed to overcome those shortcomings through continued exposure to longer format cricket. For selection, 25 under-23 players will be selected by the junior panel led by S Sharath. The other 25 players from the Under-23 and Under-25 categories will be selected by the senior selection committee on the basis of their performances in domestic tournaments like Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with the condition that these players will not have been part of the IPL. The remaining 14 places will go to players who have played in the IPL, including Mhatre, Suryavanshi and Sameer Rizvi, who complete the 64-player pool. “The idea is to select 25 players after the Intra-CoE tournament, and this core group of cricketers will represent both Emerging and India A in the shadow tours. BCCI officials and the Team India management have been very clear – even for the Under-19s, the focus has to be on the red ball for the next one year,” the source said.

Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals (210/6 in 20 overs) beat Gujarat Titans (204/8 in 20 overs) by six runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. highlight | Achievement:

Ryan Parag and Rajasthan Royals were rewarded for staying calm under pressure and focusing on their strategy during their trip to Ahmedabad on Saturday. The former champions successfully defended the target of 210 runs, with Tushar Deshpande making full use of his yorkers in the final over of the thrilling match at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Ravi Bishnoi had already pulled things back with four wickets when Sai Sudarshan, who played a brilliant inning of 73, threatened to take the game away. However, in the end, it was Deshpande’s composure at the death that took the Royals to the winning edge.

With a last-over win against Gujarat Titans without Shubman Gill, Rajasthan Royals moved to the top of the table with four points from their first two matches after defeating Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets in Guwahati.

When Gujarat’s score dropped from 107 for 1 to 161 for 7 due to Bishnoi’s brilliant middle overs, Rajasthan should have taken charge. However, Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada put on a 41-run partnership to ensure Gujarat remained in the contest, putting the game in danger of going away from the Royals.

Ultimately the decision came under pressure and young Riyan Parag, in his first season as full-time captain and amid all the controversy surrounding his appointment, proved his worth. With two overs remaining, they had four strong options: Jofra Archer, Nandre Berger, yorker specialist Sandeep Sharma, and Tushar Deshpande, who has built a reputation in the death overs during his time with Chennai Super Kings.

Parag initially opted for Tushar for the 19th over, but changed his mind at the last moment.

He threw the ball to Archer.

Gujarat brought the equation to 15 in the last two overs, riding on a spirited lower-order partnership between Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan.

Archer then bowled a brilliant over, conceding only four runs and setting it up perfectly for the end.

When Parag finally handed the ball to Tushar instead of Sandeep and Berger, the Mumbai pacer responded in style. He used his yorkers again and again, leaving no chance for Rashid and Rabada to free their arms.

In the end, only four runs were scored in the last over and Rajasthan won by six runs.

Sai’s steady knock in vain

Chasing a challenging target of 211 runs, the Titans looked favorites for most of the first 10 overs. In Gill’s absence, Sudarshan took charge of the attack with a sensational display of timing and placement. He treated the Ahmedabad crowd to a clinic and took the bowling forward with effortless drives into the off-side. Sudarshan’s 73 off 44 balls helped Titans reach 107/1 and looked to be in complete control of the required run rate.

However, the innings lost direction as soon as Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Sudarshan in the 11th over. After this, the out-of-form middle order was clearly exposed which was lacking in confidence. Glenn Phillips, one of the senior batsmen of the team, failed in the 13th over, a ball from Bishnoi went straight into the hands of the long-on fielder and was out after scoring just 3 runs.

Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia were expected to provide consistency and late-innings fireworks respectively but failed to stop the collapse. Sundar could only score 4 runs, while Tewatia’s 12-run cameo was too brief to bridge the growing gap.

The main architect of the plight of the Titans was Ravi Bishnoi. In a match-turning spell of high-quality leg-spin, Bishnoi systematically dismantled the Gujarat engine room. He finished with impressive figures of 4/41, and claimed important wickets while partnerships were on the verge of being built.

“When I miss my length, I get hit. I was trying to work on my length and if someone hits it, there is no problem,” Bishnoi said after displaying excellent control, relying on a simple but highly effective skill set.

The Titans’ momentum ended between the 12th and 17th overs. The lack of a steady hand in the middle, a role usually fulfilled by Gill, meant the scoreboard pressure came as the Royals became the 12th man.

A tale of two halves

Earlier in the evening, Rajasthan Royals performed well and posted a challenging score of 210. The young and exciting opening pair of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi added 70 runs for the first wicket, after which the middle order struggled to maintain the pace. At No. 3, Dhruv Jurel did more than just steady the innings, hitting an attractive 75 off 45 balls as Rajasthan’s effort became a tale of two halves.

Vaibhav was once again at his attacking best, showing his intent from the start. He hit two fours on India’s senior fast bowler and T20 World Cup winner Mohammad Siraj in the opening over. He continued from where he left off in Guwahati earlier in the week, where he scored 52 off 17 balls against Chennai Super Kings.

Unlike that outing, where he played a supporting role in the low-scoring chase, in Ahmedabad Jaiswal was aggressive from the start. He ensured Rajasthan attacked from both ends during the powerplay and hit two fours and a six on Siraj in the third over.

There was very little room for error for the bowlers against both the left-handed opening batsmen. Kagiso Rabada knew this immediately when in the fourth over, Vaibhav cleverly opened the face of the bat and guided the short ball through point for four runs. The 15-year-old showed that his game is not just based on power but also touch and timing, qualities that have made him one of the most talked-about young cricketers since his debut last year.

Gujarat’s express paceman Ashok Sharma was also taken to task, hitting a four and a six, while Vaibhav continued to play with fearless intent against the high pace. By the end of the powerplay, Rajasthan had scored 69 runs without loss, setting a strong platform for the rest of the batting order.

Vaibhav looked headed for another big score, but stand-in captain Rashid Khan changed the direction of the innings. The Afghan leg spinner bowled a blast at short and left the left-handed batsman tight for room. Vaibhav could only hit it straight to Glenn Phillips at deep midwicket.

There was a sense of relief among Gujarat Titans supporters as the Suryavanshi attack, which had threatened to take away the game early, was stopped before it could fully unfold.

However, the story in the final end shifted from the batsmen to the raw, intimidating pace of Gujarat’s Ashok Sharma. The 23-year-old fast bowler showed tremendous aggression by crossing the speed of 150 kmph thrice in a single over.

On the last ball of the 16th over, Ashok bowled a fast yorker to Jurel, whose ball was surprising. 154.2 kilometers per hour – officially the fastest delivery of the 2026 season.

Despite Ashoka’s record-breaking heat, Dhruv Jurel remained unfazed. Jurel played two halves of an innings, initially applying pressure in the middle of the innings before launching a calculated attack in the death overs. He completed his half-century in 29 balls and eventually scored a brilliant inning of 75 runs in 42 balls with the help of five fours and five sixes. Sharma’s extreme pace and his ability to find the gaps against Kagiso Rabada ensured Royals pushed past the 200-mark.

Although Ashok eventually removed the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer with 1/37, and Rabada (2/42) picked up late wickets, Jurel’s masterclass ensured Rajasthan set a target that proved beyond Gujarat’s reach in a thrilling six-run win.

ipl 2026 | ipl schedule | ipl points table | ipl video | cricket news | live score

– ends

tune in

Shubman Gill (BCCI/IPL photo)

New Delhi: Gujarat Titans suffered a close 6-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in a high-scoring IPL encounter, but the biggest talking point after the match was the fitness of their regular captain Shubman Gill. Acting captain Rashid Khan gave some reassurance, saying, “He is good. Hopefully he will be fine for the next game. He had muscle cramps, so hopefully he will be fine soon.”where gt lost the gameRashid admitted that the team started well with both ball and bat but lost control in the crucial phase. “I thought we gave a great start with the openers. And then I thought we lost wickets in the 12th and 13th overs. This is something that has really put us on the back foot.”