On Sunday, May 24, Punjab Kings’ social media game backfired after Rajasthan Royals sealed the fourth playoff spot and eliminated the Shreyas Iyer-led side from the playoff race. Rajasthan defeated Mumbai Indians in their final league stage game at the Wankhede Stadium, thereby sealing the final playoff spot in the Indian Premier League.

Punjab Kings, who have faced a lot of criticism in cricket circles for their inflammatory use of social media handles, were later trolled by Rajasthan. Reached playoffs on Sunday.

Rajasthan picked up Punjab’s tweet, ‘Sorry brother, not today!’ And responded with the famous Arjun Kapoor meme. Rajasthan used the viral video clip in which Arjun can be seen stranded outside the door while the rest of the guests enter the house. Rajasthan eliminated Punjab, who were eliminated on the last day of the league stage, with Rajasthan finishing one point ahead of them. IPL table.

Memes harassed the kings of Punjab

But Rajasthan said ‘Sorry brother, not today!’ Why did you decide to answer? Tweet from Punjab?

As it turns out, Punjab’s tweet came in response to Rajasthan Royals’ defeat against Delhi Capitals on May 1. Punjab decided to troll Rajasthan in a match they were not even involved in as Rajasthan had taken the joke at Punjab’s expense after defeating the Shreyas Iyer-led side earlier this season.

Rajasthan had quoted Salman Khan’s viral 2014 tweet on X (formerly Twitter), where the megastar had asked: “Zinta ki team jeet gayi kya?”

MI vs RR: highlight | Achievement:

Rajasthan used that tweet when they posted a video of Donovan Ferreira, who won them the game against PBKS on April 29. Rajasthan captioned the post: Wait for it…”sorry brother, not today!”

Punjab Kings social media controversy

Punjab Kings have been dragged into many controversies this season. His aggressive social media tactics have been repeatedly described as toxic by fans. Many believe that the backlash against Punjab’s conduct online is justified, given the tone they have adopted towards other teams.

Apart from trolling Rajasthan, Punjab also took a soft stance towards Kolkata Knight Riders after the rain-affected match at Eden Gardens. At the time, Punjab were winning consistently and looked set for a comfortable playoff qualification. After the match was cancelled, Punjab’s social media team posted a dancing video, suggesting that they were being ‘generous’ by ‘donating’ a point to the Ajinkya Rahane-led team.

Ironically, that one point came back to haunt Punjab on Sunday, as they finished with 15 points, one point behind Rajasthan Royals’ 16 points in the IPL standings.

And that was perhaps the biggest reminder of this IPL season – in a tough tournament like the IPL, it’s not just the performance on the field that counts, but the conduct off the field too.

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Ravindra Jadeja and Shardul Thakur (IPL)

last over of Rajasthan Royalsinnings against Mumbai Indians Created one of the most entertaining moments of IPL 2026 with old Chennai Super Kings teammates Ravindra Jadeja And Shardul Thakur At the center of the drama.RR were trying to cross the 200-run mark in a must-win struggle when Shardul looked to deliver a major breakthrough. The fast bowler forced Jadeja to slap the ball towards cover at the wrong time while bowling a slower ball outside the off stump. As soon as the catch was taken, Shardul went into celebration, roaring with joy and elation at the thought that he had removed the dangerous all-rounder at a crucial moment.Meanwhile, Jadeja had already started walking back.But within a few seconds the whole atmosphere changed.The no-ball siren suddenly sounded as replays showed that Shardul had overstepped. The dismissal was immediately overturned, leaving the MI pacer stunned. Jadeja immediately turned around with a smile on his face while Shardul’s celebration came to an awkward halt.And that was only the beginning.Now with the free-hit coming, Jadeja made sure to punish his former CSK teammate in style. Shardul missed the catch on the next ball and Jadeja swung it beautifully before pulling it over midwicket for four runs. There was a stir in the RR dugout as the all-rounder looked back with a smile.The very next ball also disappeared.Shardul offered width outside off and Jadeja hit a powerful drive through covers for another boundary. By then, the RR batsmen looked to be in full spirits and were seen celebrating happily under Shardul’s direction, almost making a mockery of the first wicket celebration after the dramatic no-ball twist.Fans immediately loved the moment as both the players share a strong bond dating back to their years at Chennai Super Kings, where they were part of several successful campaigns. Their animated exchange clearly had a playful edge rather than actual hostility, but it still added spice to a tense contest.After finally arriving as an influential option at No. 9, Jadeja remained unbeaten on 19 off just 11 balls. Their final cameo, jointly jofra archerAn explosive 32 runs in 15 balls and useful contributions from Dhruv Jurel and Dasun Shanaka took Rajasthan Royals to 205 for 8.Shardul and Deepak Chahar took two wickets each for Mumbai Indians, but the final over was entirely Jadeja’s, who turned embarrassment into entertainment within three balls.

Former Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner on Sunday revealed that he still feels blocked by the franchise on Instagram. Warner shared a screenshot of SRH’s profile on his Instagram story, where the account appeared as ‘private’ – which users usually see when they have been blocked.

Warner shared it on his official Instagram account and asked in a poll whether it is really the official SRH account.

The matter gained more attention when a fan commented on Warner’s recent Instagram post and tagged the SRH account, urging the franchise to unblock him. Responding to the fan, Warner wrote, “They will never unblock me.”

SRH and Warner breakup

Warner has not been seen in the Indian Premier League since the 2024 season. The Australian opening batsman was recently seen in the Pakistan Super League and has continued to feature in franchise-based T20 tournaments around the world.

Despite the current tension, Warner’s journey with SRH remains one of the most impressive player-franchise partnerships IPL History. After joining the Hyderabad-based side in 2014, he quickly became the backbone of their batting unit and was handed the captaincy a year later.

Under Warner’s leadership, SRH won their first IPL trophy in 2016. The left-handed batsman played a key role throughout that campaign, being one of the leading run-scorers of the tournament, while guiding a side that relied heavily on disciplined bowling performances and his consistency at the top of the order.

Warner enjoyed immense individual success during his time with the franchise, winning the Orange Cap in 2015, 2017 and 2019. He is one of the most successful overseas batsmen to play in the IPL and remains one of SRH’s leading run-getters. In 95 matches, Warner scored 4014 runs for SRH at an average of 49.56, scoring two centuries and 40 fifties for them in the process. He became a cult hero for his Telugu film reels as well as for Orange Army.

However, relations between Warner and the franchise took a dramatic turn during the 2021 season. Due to poor form and consecutive defeats, the management had to remove him from the captaincy midway through the campaign.

The situation worsened when Warner was dropped from the playing eleven at the end of the season. During the UAE leg of the tournament, he was often seen sitting away from the team in the stands instead of the dugout, highlighting the growing distance between the player and the franchise. This chapter finally ended ahead of the 2022 mega auction, when SRH released him from the team.

In December 2023, Warner first revealed that SRH has blocked him When he was trying to congratulate Pat Cummins and Travis Head for getting mega deals with the franchise.

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Lucknow Super Giants’ Director of Cricket, Tom Moody hinted that the franchise will evaluate its options, including Rishabh Pant’s captaincy, after the team’s defeat against Punjab Kings on Saturday ensured that they will finish at the bottom of the points table for the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026).

The franchise has been in the headlines for the right and wrong reasons, but Rishabh Pant’s captaincy has been one of their most disappointing aspects this year. The wicketkeeper-batsman has struggled to make an impact with the bat or with his leadership despite having some talented names in the team – be it experienced campaigners or some top uncapped talent.

Speaking after LSG’s defeat at home, Moody acknowledged that reflection is the need of the hour, but added that leadership is also something he will revisit and hope to improve upon going forward.

lsg vs pbks, IPL 2026: Update | Achievement:

Moody said in the post-match press conference, “I know this season has been difficult for us, but we will reflect on it. We will take time, consider all aspects and assess things properly. Certainly, we have not lived up to the expectations or standards that we had set for ourselves. When it comes to the leadership of the franchise, we will look very seriously at what it looks like in the future.”

He said, “Like every department, when you consider a season, we will make an informed decision. It certainly feels like we need to consider a reset.”

Moody did not want to blame anyone for this yet. But it looks like some serious introspection will be required from within to improve their fortunes for next season.

Moody said, “We are all responsible. I don’t think this is the time to point the finger at any individual. We all have to take accountability. As I said, now is not the time to put the blame on any particular department. We need time to calmly consider this, but certainly there are some things that we need to pay attention to and they will be addressed.”

What’s next for Rishabh Pant?

The 28-year-old is hitting his prime athletic years, but his career is not going at the same pace. he was recently thrown out India’s white-ball arrangements for the recent home series against Afghanistan, Which could be an indication that the Indian team also wants to move forward.

The plight continued in the test team too The role of Pant’s vice-captain is being handed over to KL Rahul.Which is ironic, given the previous captain of LSG before 2025.

At LSG, Pant has not performed well with the bat or captaincy and it will be interesting to see if the franchise chooses to continue supporting him next season or move on from the Indian star.

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Ram Charan apologized to Jasprit Bumrah

actor Ramcharan He attracted attention at the grand music launch of “Peddi” in Bhopal, where he appeared with AR Rahman, Janhvi Kapoor and the film’s team. During a light-hearted conversation, the actor was asked to describe Indian cricketers in a few words. he called Sachin TendulkarThe career of has been described as a “long legendary journey”. ms dhoni as “cool and calm”, and said that Rohit Sharma “is everybody’s man.” For Virat KohliHe simply said, “Fire.” talking about Jasprit BumrahRam Charan said he was his biggest fan but got entangled by mistake Cricket Praising him with the football. This clip quickly went viral online.Later Ram Charan apologized for the mistake on social media. He wrote, “Oops… I really forget names sometimes. Apologies to @Jaspritbumrah93 for this glitch – it was a genuine human error amidst all the excitement and crowd.” He said he deeply respects Bumrah and admires how the fast bowler makes Indians proud with his performances.While Bumrah is playing for now Mumbai Indians The season has not gone well for him in IPL 2026. MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene revealed that the fast bowler was suffering from a minor injury since the T20 World Cup. For this reason, the team gave him extra rest before the start of IPL.Jayawardene said that during the first few matches, Bumrah slowly regained his rhythm, which affected his pace and intensity. Even though he could take only four wickets in 13 matches, opposition teams played cautiously against him. The coach said that Bumrah worked hard on his fitness, no-balls and workload management throughout the tournament.Despite the tough season, Jayawardene believes Bumrah is now close to his best again. He said that this fast bowler has gained his pace, yorkers and confidence in the last few matches. Praising Bumrah’s attitude, the coach said that the bowler is always positive and focuses on improvement. Jayawardene concluded that there were no major concerns about Bumrah and expected him to “come back stronger”.

The Iran football team has decided to move its FIFA World Cup 2026 base camp from the United States to Mexico after receiving approval from FIFA, according to Iran Football Federation President Mehdi Taj. The move comes amid rising geopolitical tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel ahead of next year’s tournament.

Iran were originally scheduled to train in Tucson, Arizona, during the World Cup, but will now reportedly base themselves in Tijuana, Mexico, which is closer to the US border and allows for easier travel to their Group G fixtures in the United States.

Speaking in a statement released on Saturday, Iran Football Federation president Mehdi Taj confirmed that FIFA had approved their request after discussions with tournament officials.

“All team base camps for countries participating in the World Cup must be approved by FIFA,” Taj said.

“Fortunately, following the requests we presented and our meetings with FIFA and World Cup officials in Istanbul, as well as the webinar meeting held yesterday with the respected FIFA Secretary General in Tehran, our request to change the team’s base from the United States to Mexico was approved.”

However, FIFA has yet to officially confirm the change publicly.

Why did Iran remove World Cup base from America?

The decision comes against the backdrop of rising tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel over Iran’s nuclear program and broader Middle East instability.

Iran had earlier explored alternative arrangements for its World Cup stay Amid security concerns and uncertainty over how the political situation could affect the team’s movement and preparations inside the United States.

Despite the concerns, Iran is still set to play its Group G matches in the US as originally planned.

Their World Cup campaign begins against New Zealand at the SoFi Stadium in California on June 16, followed by group-stage matches against Belgium and Egypt in the tournament.

Earlier this month, former US President Donald Trump publicly supported Iran’s participation in the contest. This came after FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed that the country would play its matches in the United States.

Trump, speaking to reporters, said, “Well, if Gianni said it, I don’t mind. Did Gianni say it? … You know what? Let them play.”

FIFA has not yet issued an official confirmation

Iran’s football federation was already in talks with FIFA officials over logistical and security concerns during the tournament.

In early May, federation head Mehdi Taj said he planned to meet with FIFA president Gianni Infantino to seek assurances that Iran would be treated with “respect” during the World Cup.

The issue also gained attention during the FIFA Congress earlier this year, where Iran’s delegation was notably absent amid ongoing political uncertainty.

Although FIFA has not formally announced the relocation of Iran’s base camp, the federation’s approval – if confirmed – would allow Iran to remain outside the United States for the majority of the tournament, while also traveling across the border for matches.

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Mullanpur: Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, left, with head coach Ricky Ponting (PTI photo)

Punjab Kings head coach ricky ponting praised the captain a lot Shreyas Iyer The PBKS captain scored a sensational unbeaten century to keep the franchise alive in the race for the IPL 2026 playoffs. Punjab ended their six-match losing streak with an impressive seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday, chasing 197 in just 18 overs. Shreyas played a brilliant inning of 101 not out in 51 balls and scored his first IPL century, while Prabhsimran Singh scored 69 runs in 39 balls to form a match-winning partnership of 140 runs for the third wicket. Reflecting on the win, Ponting acknowledged that Punjab have faced a tough road in recent weeks, but credited the team for responding under pressure. “We’ve done it the hard way, let’s put it this way. We’ve done what we needed to do today. Carelessness again in the field, they gave away 20 more runs than they should have got. “Very clinical chase, especially being in trouble early on,” Ponting said after the match. The former Australia captain had special praise for Shreyas, revealing why Punjab invested heavily in him in the auction and lauded both his leadership and temperament. “Captain, he has done this all season. This is his first IPL century tonight. We will celebrate it and then sit back tomorrow and wait for the results,” he said. “That’s why I spent as much money in the auction as I did a few years ago (on Iyer). He’s a talented guy, a very mature player now, a very mature leader. Often he keeps his emotions under control on the field. The respect he gets from his players is second to none.” Ponting also highlighted Shreyas’s influence inside the dressing room and said that the PBKS players fully accept their captain’s leadership. Ponting said, “The moment he stands in front of the group and speaks, no one bats an eye at a single word he says. He’s been a pleasure to work with. I’m really happy with his season last season.” The PBKS coach also backed Shreyas for a bigger role in India’s white-ball setup in the future. “It’s great to see him back in the Indian ODI team. I really think he has a big and bright future in the Indian T20 team as well,” he said. Punjab’s win moves them to fourth place with 15 points from 14 matches, although their playoff hopes still depend on results elsewhere. Rajasthan Royals face Mumbai Indians on Sunday, and PBKS needs a defeat for Rajasthan to stay in the top four. Ponting admitted that Punjab’s dramatic drop in form after a strong performance in the first half of the season had hurt their campaign. “The level of cricket we played in the first half was like nothing I’ve ever seen before. And then we made some crucial mistakes at different times in the last six games,” he said. The Australian great also praised Prabhsimran Singh for continuing his impressive season and credited the young opener’s growing confidence. Ponting said, “Fantastic player. It’s probably only in the last few years that he’s realized how good he is. He and Priyansh have been excellent for us over the last few seasons. It will be great for him to see him play a mature innings in a good run chase tonight.” Punjab’s fate now hinges on Sunday’s results, with Ponting revealing that the team will be keeping a close eye on the remaining playoff-deciding fixtures. He concluded, “We will try to get the boys together and watch it (RR-MI game).”

Just days after Bengaluru lost the right to host the IPL 2026 final, Karnataka has announced plans for a massive new international cricket stadium that could become India’s second largest cricket venue. The move comes amid growing controversy over the limitations of the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, particularly its comparatively low seating capacity.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday laid the foundation stone of the proposed stadium in Suryanagar Phase 4 in Anekal taluk near Bengaluru. The new venue is planned with a seating capacity of 80,000 and will be part of a larger sports complex being developed by the Housing Department and the Karnataka Housing Board.

The timing of the announcement has immediately attracted attention as it comes just days after the BCCI shifted the IPL 2026 final from Bengaluru to the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

KSCA president and former India fast bowler Venkatesh Prasad had earlier admitted this The limited capacity of Chinnaswamy Stadium may have played a role in the decision.

“One reason for shifting the final from this venue is probably the capacity of the stadium,” Prasad had said during an event in Bengaluru.

The IPL had originally allotted the May 31 final to Bengaluru before handing over the summit clash to Ahmedabad. Officially, the BCCI cited “certain requirements from the local association and officials which were beyond the scope of BCCI’s established guidelines and protocols.”

However, reports of logistical concerns, crowd management issues and political disputes over ticket allocation emerged rapidly during the season around the Bengaluru venue.

Why does Karnataka want a big cricket stadium?

The proposed stadium project appears to directly address many of the issues that have recently surfaced around the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Speaking during the foundation stone laying ceremony, Siddaramaiah highlighted the need for a larger and more modern sports venue in Karnataka, especially after the crowd chaos during RCB’s IPL win celebrations earlier this season.

The Chief Minister said that about 4,000 acres of land has been acquired for the overall development project, of which about 75 acres has been specifically allotted for the stadium. The remaining land will reportedly be used for housing layouts and plots for farmers and applicants.

The new stadium is expected to be developed with international-standard infrastructure that will be able to handle much larger crowds than the Chinnaswamy Stadium, which currently holds around 35,000 spectators.

If completed as planned, the venue will become India’s second largest cricket stadium after the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, which currently has a seating capacity of over 1.3 lakh.

The project also reflects the growing trend among Indian states to build mega cricket venues capable of hosting major ICC events, IPL finals and global tournaments.

Just last month, Maharashtra announces plans for proposed 1 lakh capacity stadium In Mumbai Metropolitan Region in collaboration with CIDCO and Mumbai Cricket Association.

The project is expected to eventually shift focus away from the iconic Wankhede Stadium, just as Karnataka’s new stadium could gradually reduce the reliance on Chinnaswamy for major matches in the future.

Chinnaswamy redevelopment is also underway

Interestingly, Karnataka’s push for a new mega venue coincides with the ongoing redevelopment plan for the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Venkatesh Prasad had recently revealed that the redesign process for Chinnaswamy had started even before the IPL final venue was shifted.

According to him, around 28 internationally experienced architects had shown interest in the redevelopment project, with KSCA now shortlisting the firms for conceptual design.

Redevelopment discussions have focused on improving crowd movement, security infrastructure, fan experience and stadium operations after criticism emerged over crowding and ticketing management during IPL 2026.

However, despite the enthusiasm over the new stadium project, it has already faced opposition from some environmental groups and local farmers due to its proximity to the Karadikkall-Mahadeshwar Wildlife Corridor.

In modern Indian cricket, the strength of the host team matters as much as success on the field. And after losing the IPL 2026 final to Ahmedabad, Karnataka is now determined to ensure that Bengaluru remains firmly in the spotlight for the country’s biggest cricket events in the future.

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Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant, left, and Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer (AP Photo)

Punjab Kings won the crucial toss and elected to field first in their IPL 2026 match against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium as they attempt to keep their fading playoff hopes alive. PBKS came into the competition under immense pressure after six consecutive defeats saw what once looked like a top-two campaign completely derailed. On April 25, Punjab were sitting comfortably on top of the table with 13 points from seven matches, but a dramatic drop in form has pushed them into a desperate battle for survival. captain Shreyas Iyer Deciding to give chase acknowledged the higher stakes in the competition. “We will bowl first. Two changes – Marco and Vishak are in. It is exciting, I would say it is a do or die match for us. “We have never been in this position before and the boys are looking forward to giving their best performance.” Punjab’s qualification equation is complicated. They not only need a win tonight, preferably by a solid margin, but also favorable results elsewhere. Rajasthan Royals The points kept falling and Kolkata Knight Riders failed to significantly improve their net run rate. The season is already out of control for Lucknow, but Captain Rishabh Pant He said his team wanted to finish strong despite a difficult campaign. “We would have also bowled first. This wicket is good for cricket regardless of bowling or batting. It is one of the better batting wickets, it can be a high-scoring match. There are two changes – Arjun and Arshin Kulkarni. It has been a tough season, but at the same time, there has been a lot to learn as a team and individually. I will apologize for the fans, they have come from all over UP. It is tough for us, but we will give our contribution. 100% today.“ Lucknow have also been badly hit by availability issues, with Mitchell Marsh missing out on tonight’s fixture along with overseas players Aiden Markram, Matthew Britzke and Anrich Nortje. Marsh’s absence is particularly significant as the Australian opening batsman has scored 563 runs this season and has formed a disastrous opening partnership with Josh Inglis in recent games.Teams:Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Josh Inglis, Arshin Kulkarni, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper/captain), Abdul Samad, Mukul Chaudhary, Arjun Tendulkar, Mohammed ShamiPrince Yadav, Mohsin Khanpunjab kings (Playing XI): Prabhsimran Singh (w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vishak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal. With Punjab’s season in jeopardy and Lucknow hoping to end on a positive note, the stakes remain high in Match 68 of IPL 2026.