File picture: Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (TOI photo)

New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer and famous commentator Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has made another explosive revelation about his years in cricket broadcasting, alleging he was forced to return to commentary duties soon after his elder brother’s cremation.The former leg spinner, who recently retired from the BCCI commentary panel citing “color discrimination”, shared the emotional incident through a series of posts on social media on Thursday.“My elder brother passed away a few years ago. We completed the cremation in the evening, a few minutes after that, the BCCI broadcast director called me and said, ‘Now that the cremation is done, can you take a flight to Mohali the next morning to do commentary on the India vs Australia Test?’ I went,” Sivaramakrishnan wrote on X.The 60-year-old revealed that despite the personal grief, he prioritized his professional commitments.He said, “I gave up mourning and went away. My mother passed away when I was commentating in Pune. After going through so much, I was subjected to whatever I had to do.”

‘That’s why I retired’In another post, Sivaramakrishnan hinted that the same person was one of the major reasons behind his decision to step away from commentary duties earlier this year, although he stopped short of naming the person publicly.In March, just days before IPL 2026, Sivaramakrishnan had announced his retirement from BCCI commentary, alleging discrimination on the basis of skin color and claiming that he was sidelined in favor of newcomers.The former India spinner, who represented the country in nine Tests and 16 ODIs, had earlier opened up in interviews about battling depression, anxiety and severe emotional trauma during his commentary career.

‘I thought I was going to die’In an intensely personal conversation with The Indian Express earlier this year, Sivaramakrishnan had talked about experiencing a mental breakdown during the IPL in the UAE during the COVID-19 period.“I became completely depressed and I didn’t want to look at myself in the mirror,” he said. “Every time I woke up, I felt like I was going to die.”He described terrifying hallucinations, sleepless nights and emotional isolation, and also alleged years of racism and appearance discrimination in the cricket world.Sivaramakrishnan further claimed that he was often denied high-profile on-air roles because he was considered “not presentable”.“I have never done a toss or a presentation,” he previously said, adding that producers reportedly told him they were instructed not to put him in those positions.The former spinner also recalled traumatic experiences from his early cricket days and said that such incidents caused severe damage to his self-esteem at a young age.

Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad started IPL 2026 with different pressures, but both now find themselves where they expected before the ball was bowled. In the playoffs, the momentum, the belief and the feeling that this could still be their season.

When RCB entered the tournament as defending champions, the scrutiny was inevitable. Winning a title changes everything around a franchise. Each performance is judged differently, with each flaw analyzed more closely. The challenge was no longer to become champion. It was about proving that the previous season wasn’t a fluke.

For SRH, the pressure came from the other direction. Over the past few years, Hyderabad had built one of the most explosive teams in the league, yet they often struggled to maintain momentum when it mattered most. Along with the waves of disappointment, a glimpse of dominance was also visible. This season came with the realization that the team finally needed to turn promise into possession.

The two sides will face each other in their final league-stage match on Friday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. What once promised to be an exciting finish in the race for the top two has now largely become a formality, as SRH have little chance of reaching those places due to the huge difference in net run rates.

After this the situation changed Gujarat Titans beat Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs A day earlier at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. So, what’s left to play for?

RCB has a strong hold on top 2

RCB currently top the table with 18 points and the best net run rate in the competition. Another win will ensure first place and give them two chances to reach the final, an advantage every team wants at this stage of the tournament.

The strongest feature of Bengaluru’s campaign has been the composure with which they have handled the pressure. There have been very few days off, no long recessions and hardly any panic during difficult moments. Rajat Patidar has captained with calm assurance, creating an environment where experienced names and young players have flourished together.

Virat Kohli has been at the center of all this. Now it is almost expected that Kohli will play another big innings. IPL season, but the familiarity shouldn’t take away from the level it continues to maintain. His 542 runs have once again given RCB a strong base, whether chasing fast runs or on slow surfaces where patience matters as much as aggression.

Devdutt Padikkal has looked much more settled this season and has complemented Kohli beautifully at the top. Patidar has brought stability in the middle overs, while Tim David and Romario Shepherd have provided the late pace that makes RCB dangerous till the last ball.

However, their bowling attack has arguably shaped their season even more.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has put the years behind him with one of his finest IPL campaigns. Movement with the new ball remains dangerous, but his control and understanding of the conditions is what is most important. His 24 wickets in 13 matches have regularly provided early momentum to RCB. The presence of Josh Hazlewood has added discipline and experience, Krunal Pandya has quietly delivered an excellent all-round season, while Suyyash Sharma and Rasikh Salam have stepped up when needed.

SRH Top-2 Qualification Scenario

While it may be almost impossible to make the top-two, SRH is still alive mathematically. In the highly unlikely scenario that they beat RCB by more than 87 runs, or chase down the target of 180 runs within 11 overs, SRH can reverse RCB’s net run rate and finish second behind Gujarat Titans.

Hyderabad is one of the few teams that is capable of destabilizing even the most balanced bowling attacks once their batting finds its rhythm, and that should still give SRH fans some hope.

There is a fearlessness in SRH’s approach that can completely change the direction of a match in a few overs. Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan attacked continuously from the beginning and did not give any breathing room to the bowlers during the powerplay. Travis Head hasn’t shown the same consistency as last season, but every opponent knows how quickly he can take games away once he performs well.

Next is Heinrich Klaasen, who has once again become the backbone of Hyderabad’s batting. His 555 runs have often come in situations where SRH needed someone to absorb the pressure before counterattacking. Once Klaasen settles on the crease, few batsmen in world cricket are so devastating against both spin and pace.

What has hurt SRH at times is their inability to maintain that intensity consistently. During their five-match winning streak, they looked unstoppable. But there have also been games where the batting lost direction under pressure and left the team chasing the contest. These inconsistencies are the biggest concern heading into the knockouts.

Still, there is a lot to be confident about in this team.

The return of Pat Cummins midway through the season brought new clarity to the team. Beyond his wickets or tactical decisions, Cummins possesses a calm presence that naturally keeps the dressing room stable during tense moments. Around him, SRH’s bowling unit has continued to strengthen.

Young Sri Lankan fast bowler Ishan Malinga has emerged as one of the discoveries of IPL 2026. His 17 wickets have come from a mix of pace, control and an impressive understanding of match situations. Saqib Hussain and Prafulla Hinge have provided valuable support, giving Hyderabad a far stronger fast bowling unit than earlier in the season.

SRH vs RCB: Battle of the powerplay

Few contests can shape the game more than the battle between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Abhishek Sharma with the new ball. For over a decade, Bhuvneshwar was one of SRH’s most reliable match-winners, and now he returns to Hyderabad in RCB colours. Leading in the race for Purple Cap with 24 wickets.

Awaiting them will be Abhishek Sharma, whose fearless hitting has powered SRH throughout the season. The opener has crossed the 500-run mark at a strike rate of 200 and has often snatched games inside the powerplay. If Bhuvneshwar can attack early, RCB will regain control. If Abhishek survives, Hyderabad can once again make a comeback.

SRH vs RCB: Head to Head

RCB and SRH started IPL 2026 against each other in Bengaluru, where Hyderabad took an early lead while chasing 202 runs. Their rivalry has often produced close, high-scoring contests, with SRH holding a slight edge on the aggregate.

Hyderabad leads 14-12 in head-to-head battles in 26 matches and have been particularly strong on home soil, winning six out of nine games against RCB in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad weather and pitch conditions

Pitch number 2 will be used for Friday’s encounter in Hyderabad, and history suggests another run-fest could be on the cards. Traditionally one of the best batting surfaces at the venue, this pitch has already produced big scores in IPL 2026. SRH scored 242 runs for 2 wickets against Delhi Capitals and followed it up with 234 runs for 4 wickets against Punjab Kings on the same strip, winning both the matches comfortably after electing to bat first.

With a plethora of power-hitters in both line-ups, another high-scoring contest looks likely. The weather is also expected to be clear, the temperature will be around 30 degrees Celsius and there is no forecast of rain.

SRH vs RCB: Team News

RCB got a timely lead before the match Captain Rajat Patidar is ready to make a comeback after missing the last match against Punjab Kings due to injury.. Director of Cricket Mo Bobat confirmed that the captain is fully fit again.

“Silver is good to go. We were cautious and didn’t take any risks with him. We thought we’d give him a little more time to recover and rest, but he’s here, he’s practicing and he’s good to go,” Bobat said.

SRH vs RCB: Predicted Playing XI

RCB’s probable XI: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethel, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (captain), Tim David, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rasikh Salaam, Josh Hazlewood.

Meanwhile, SRH are expected to stick with the same combination after consecutive wins. All the players are fit and the management is unlikely to make any changes ahead of such an important match. Travis Head and Saqib Hussain remain potentially impactful player options.

SRH’s predicted XI: Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (wk), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, R Smrana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Pat Cummins (c), Shivang Kumar, Ishan Malinga, Saqib Hussain.

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GT beats CSK by 89 runs (Photo courtesy: IPL)

New Delhi: Five-time champion Chennai Super Kings They were badly eliminated from IPL 2026 on Thursday after suffering the biggest defeat in their history as Gujarat Titans registered a crushing 89-run win at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.The emphatic win not only helped Gujarat Titans get off to a great start to their league stage campaign but also cemented their second position in the points table with 18 points from 14 matches in the IPL 2026 playoffs. They trail table-toppers and defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore, who also have 18 points, but have a better net run rate and a game in hand.However, for CSK, the defeat officially ended their playoff hopes and ended a disappointing campaign with their biggest defeat in the IPL so far.

Biggest defeat margin for CSK in IPL

It also became Gujarat Titans’ biggest win in IPL history by a margin of 89 runs.

Biggest winning margin for Gujarat Titans

GT continues to dominate ahead of playoffsUnder the brilliant leadership of captain Shubman Gill, GT once again showed why they have emerged as one of the strongest teams of IPL 2026.After being put in to bat first by Ruturaj Gaikwad, their top order completely demolished the CSK bowling attack.Gill scored 64 runs in 37 balls with the help of seven fours and three sixes, while Sai Sudarshan continued his sensational season by scoring 84 runs in 53 balls. The pair added 125 runs for the opening wicket and reached 100 runs within 10 overs.After Gill’s dismissal, Jos Buttler took complete control of the innings by scoring unbeaten 57 runs on 27 balls. Buttler and Sudarshan put on another brutal partnership as GT collapsed to 229/4.The total proved to be well beyond CSK’s reach.Siraj broke CSK’s chaseThe chase never materialized as Mohammed Siraj tore apart the top order in a swashbuckling opening spell.Siraj dismissed Sanju Samson for a duck on the very first ball, followed by the dismissals of Gaikwad and Urvil Patel in quick succession to restrict CSK to 29/3.Kagiso Rabada then joined the party by dismissing Matthew Short as CSK’s innings completely collapsed under the pressure of the scoreboard.Only Shivam Dubey showed some resistance by scoring 47 runs in 17 balls, but the damage was already done. Rashid Khan clean bowled the lower order and bowled out CSK for 140 runs in just 14 overs.Siraj, who finished with 3/26, said his focus was on creating pressure during the powerplay.“The ball is coming out well. My priority while bowling in the powerplay is to create pressure,” he said after the match.Gill called it an “important win” before the playoffs.“We are happy to carry on with the momentum we have,” said the GT captain.The defeat overtook CSK’s previous biggest IPL defeat – a 60-run defeat against Mumbai Indians in 2013 – as their IPL 2026 campaign ended in record-breaking disappointment.

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif believes Shubman Gill has emerged as the best captain of IPL 2026 after Gujarat Titans registered a thumping win over Chennai Super Kings to boost their hopes of a top-two finish ahead of the playoffs. Kaif praised Gill’s leadership style, tactical clarity and the way he managed Gujarat’s bowling attack throughout the season.

Gill once again led from the front with the bat on Thursday, scoring 64 off 37 balls as Gujarat Titans posted a mammoth total of 229 against Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad. The GT captain now has 616 runs in 13 matches this season and continues to combine elite batting consistency along with captaincy.

IPL 2026, GT vs CSK: highlighted | Achievement:

Gujarat finally defeated CSK by 89 runs To make a strong comeback after the loss to Kolkata Knight Riders. Sai Sudarshan’s 84, Gill’s fluid innings and Jos Buttler’s explosive 57 took GT to a huge score in the first innings, but the bowlers bowled out Chennai for just 140 runs in 13.4 overs.

This defeat officially ended CSK IPL The 2026 campaign ended with 12 points from 14 matches. This is the third consecutive season where Chennai failed to qualify for the playoffs.

After the match, Kaif went to Ax and strongly supported Gill amid the ongoing debate over his leadership ability in T20 cricket.

“For me, Shubman Gill is the best captain in this IPL. The mark of a great captain is how he uses his bowlers. His bowlers have taken 108 wickets in 14 matches,” Kaif posted.

“RCB, PBKS, SRH, RR, CSK have been bowled out by GT bowlers, Gill has told his bowlers to stick to Test match line and length. Gill plays proper cricket – he has great batting technique and knows how to use his bowlers.”

Despite Gujarat’s strong campaign, Gill’s captaincy has been under heavy scrutiny, especially after he was dropped as India’s T20I vice-captain and was overlooked for India’s T20 World Cup 2026-winning squad. But the Gujarat captain has given a strong response to IPL 2026, both as a leader and a batsman.

Apart from becoming the third captain after David Warner and KL Rahul to score more than 600 runs in consecutive IPL seasons, Gill also joined an elite list along with Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar by scoring more than 500 runs in multiple IPL seasons as captain.

The innings against CSK also made him the seventh fastest batsman to complete 6000 T20 runs.

Speaking after the match, Gill said that Gujarat’s focus is on maintaining consistency rather than looking for anything extra to get into the playoffs.

“It’s about maintaining the good things and delivering game after game with the same impact. We don’t need to add anything else. But if we can continue what we are doing, it will put us in a good place,” Gill said.

Gill also admitted that the memories of GT’s defeat against the same opponent last season are still fresh in his mind.

He said, “After 12 matches, we were number one last season. We had lost the last two games. We played the last game against the same opponent. I think they scored around 230 and we got bowled out at 120 or something. So, there were some flashbacks coming in this game.”

How has been Shubman Gill’s GT captaincy in IPL 2026?

Shubman Gill’s second full season as Gujarat Titans captain has quietly turned into one of the strongest leadership campaigns of IPL 2026.

GT have looked one of the most balanced teams in the tournament and much of that has come from the clarity shown by Gill with his bowling rotation and tactical discipline. Gujarat’s bowling attack has dominated the opposition by sticking to tight lengths and disciplined lines rather than constantly chasing variations.

Their bowlers have now taken 108 wickets in 14 matches, with teams including RCB, Punjab Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings losing to GT this season.

Gill has also continued to perform well as the batting leader at the top of the order. Taking on the additional responsibility of captaincy, he has scored 616 runs at an average of 47.38 and strike rate of 161.68.

More importantly, the GT gained momentum at exactly the right time. The win over CSK marked their sixth win in the last seven matches as they head into the playoffs looking like one of the strongest contenders for the IPL 2026 title.

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MS Dhoni and Ruturaj Gaikwad (Image Credit: BCCI/IPL)

New Delhi: Will ms dhoni Play in IPL 2027? The future of Dhoni, who did not play a single match in IPL 2026, remains uncertain. After Chennai Super Kings suffered an embarrassing 89-run defeat at the hands of Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2026 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was asked about his team’s disappointing campaign, with the main question being whether Dhoni will be a part of the team next season.When asked, “Will MS Dhoni play next year?” Gaikwad admitted that even the dressing room is unsure about the veteran’s return in IPL 2027.“Obviously you’ll find out next year. Even I’ll find out next year. Obviously, it’s definitely a tough, tough miss for us. He’s someone who can strike fear into the opposition, especially in those last overs. Being at the crease can really change the game, really change the momentum. So, he’s someone we’ve definitely missed a lot this season. But, I mean, we never know about next season, but obviously we’re very happy with the guys we have and the experience they’ve got this year,” Gaikwad said.Dhoni was initially ruled out for the first two weeks of the season due to a calf injury. However, the former India captain never returned as the tournament progressed. He also did not accompany the team to Ahmedabad for the final league match against Gujarat Titans.CSK’s defeat on Thursday officially ended their playoff hopes and their IPL 2026 campaign. He played 14 matches, winning 6 and losing 8, finishing with 12 points and a net run rate of -0.345.After being invited to bat by CSK, Gujarat Titans posted a massive score of 229/4 thanks to a 125-run opening partnership between Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan. In reply, CSK failed to mount a challenge and were bowled out for 140 runs.“Yes, also keeping that in mind, we wanted to chase the target as quickly as possible. And, obviously, when you are chasing 230 runs, in 20 overs anyway, it is not going to be easy with the kind of bowling attack they have. But, why not just give it a chance and just go out there and express. And obviously, credit to them. They outplayed us in all departments,” Gaikwad said.Asked if there were any regrets on winning the toss and choosing to field first in a crucial match, Gaikwad said: “Not really. I thought it was a little spongy in the beginning. Obviously, he got a good start. There were some mistakes in our bowling, we could not perform that well in the powerplay, especially in the case of those two. And once their opening batsmen get going, it is very difficult to stop them. So, obviously, even in between, there were phases where we could put capital in, we could limit them to 200. But we failed to do that today.”CSK lost the momentum after three consecutive wins against Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants and then suffered three consecutive defeats against LSG, SRH and GT, causing a serious loss to their campaign.“Well, tough season to start, especially the hat-trick of defeats. And then after that, once we got that momentum, obviously we found people playing in the right places, the right combinations, everything started working. And then obviously, some injuries again and again didn’t really help much, especially Jamie and, you know, the absence of another all-rounder in Ramakrishna Ghosh made our playing 12 unstable. Gave. In the last three matches we played, we were always playing one batsman less or one bowler less. So obviously, a lot of people don’t really appreciate the fact that we are a young team, we are in a transition period and there are not a lot of players who are experienced enough, especially in the toughest competition,” he said.

CSK IPL 2026 season summary

“But given the fact that there are more than eight to ten players who have played less than 20 games, it’s good for them to have that experience, especially this year. We found out what areas we lacked and of course we still have to get six wins and some great wins. Really proud of the unit. There were a few games, as I said, when we traveled to Hyderabad, we missed chasing 80 in 10 overs and then the last time we played in Chennai, We could have limited them to 180 also. “So, there were some games where we could have crossed the line but failed to do so, but still very proud,” Gaikwad said.

East Bengal’s 22-year drought for a major Indian trophy ended on 21 May. And it ended in the most dramatic fashion.

Ultimately it was “Ilish” who won after 22 years of pain, near misses, mismanagement and even a fight for survival in the top flight of Indian football. All those stories came to an end when East Bengal beat Inter Kashi FC 2-1 in Kolkata, with goals from their star striker Youssef Ezzari and crowd-favourite Palestinian midfielder Mohammed Rashid.

And the icing on the cake for many anxious and distressed Bengalis who have waited for this moment for over two decades could be that East Bengal triumphed over arch-rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giants in the title race itself.

Mohun Bagan won their encounter against Sporting Club Delhi 2-1 and even celebrated with hopes of sealing their fate, but missed out on winning the title on goal difference. After years of dominance, this year it was Mohun Bagan’s turn to see their arch-rivals finally cross the finish line ahead of them.

The Indian Super League, no matter how chaotic the season felt before and during the campaign, somehow produced its best performance on the final day of the tournament.

Heading into the final round, four teams still had a realistic chance of winning the title. East Bengal entered the night on top of the table, followed by defending champions Mohun Bagan Super Giants, while Mumbai City FC and Punjab FC also remain in the race. Even Jamshedpur FC still has a chance of a mathematical miracle to pull off one of the wildest titles ever seen by Indian football.

The tension was running high in exactly the way East Bengal fans have become painfully accustomed to over the years, with the anxiety lasting till the very end. And on the final day of this ISL, the anxiety set in almost immediately.

Within just nine minutes against a lowly Inter Kashi team, East Bengal had already conceded defeat. And this was not even a common goal. Alfred Planas produced a thunderous volley that flew with such technique and theatrics that it immediately felt dangerous beyond the scoreline.

For a few seconds, it felt as if half of West Bengal had their hands on his head, mouth or perhaps heart.

The flashbacks started returning immediately.
2012.
2014.
2018.
They all finished as runners-up. All those league titles are slipping away. All those final day heartbreaks.

But as the Bengali saying goes, “Hal Cherona Bandhu” – don’t lose hope, my friend. And for once football finally smiled on the East Bengal supporters.

Oscar Bruzon, in charge of East Bengal, stood on the historic touchline in what might have been his final match, his eyebrows furrowed with nervousness. He knew exactly what this night meant.

In the 49th minute, Yousuf Ezejari scored the equalizing goal for East Bengal. Despite the attendance being only around 9,000, Kishore Bharti Krirangan burst into flames. The fear broke. Hope returned.

And then suddenly, the night started turning completely red and golden.

In the 62nd minute, Clarence Fernandes gave Sporting Club Delhi the lead against Mohun Bagan Super Giant. The noise inside the Salt Lake Stadium subsided, almost so much that it felt like you could hear the loud celebration coming to Kishore Bharti from the other end of Kolkata.

But East Bengal did not want a repeat of the past. And it was their Palestinian strongman Mohammed Rashid who ensured this.

72nd minute.
East Bengal took the lead.
East Bengal got the trophy with one hand

A hand that had waited for more than two decades to finally touch silver again.

And after that, nothing else matters.

Mohun Bagan has no equal.
Not Mumbai City, who scored two late goals against Punjab FC.
Later Mohun Bagan did not take the lead.

Nothing matters.

The dream of East Bengal refused to end.

While this ISL season will probably be remembered with bitterness due to the turmoil surrounding Indian football, uncertainty over the future of the league and the exhausting battle to keep the competition alive, East Bengal fans will happily enjoy every bit of it.

And honestly, after 22 years of waiting, they deserve it.

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Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Image Credit: BCCI/IPL)

New Delhi: Rajasthan Royals‘Teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi and his habit of terrorizing bowlers is no secret. It started in the last IPL, continued during India’s victorious 2026 Under-19 World Cup campaign, and is still going strong in IPL 2026. The boy from Bihar has created havoc by hitting sixes, instilling fear in bowlers and opposition teams alike. More importantly, he is delivering on his promises.Rajasthan Royals were in a position to win at all costs against the Lucknow Super Giants team, which was already eliminated after suffering three consecutive defeats. the head coach is watching Kumar SangakkaraThe 15-year-old came up to him with a stressed face and said, “It will be done.”Then he stood up and went towards the middle.The conversation took place after Rajasthan Royals opted to bowl first against LSG.After LSG posted a mammoth score of 220/5, Suryavanshi was at his best with a blistering 93 off just 38 balls as Rajasthan Royals easily chased down 221 to keep their playoff hopes alive. RR won by seven wickets with five balls to spare.Suryavanshi hit 10 sixes and seven fours in his breathtaking innings.After the match, Suryavanshi spoke to Rajasthan Royals team manager Romi Bhinder and revealed the promise he made to Sangakkara.“He was really not going well for us for the last 2-3 matches. We were losing. He was under a lot of pressure as I saw him. Even today when I was padding up to score 220, he had a lot of stress and tension on his face. But I am confident today that I will get my game back.” I will do it and I will do it well [Actually, things hadn’t been going well for us for the last 2-3 matches. We were losing games. I could see that he was under a lot of pressure. Even today, when I was padding up to chase 220, there was a lot of tension and stress on his face. But I was confident that today I would back my game again and do well]Suryavanshi said.“So I told him, ‘It will be done’, it is not a big score according to this wicket. Don’t take tension.” [So I told him, ‘It will happen.’ It’s not a very big score according to this wicket. There’s no need to take tension],” He said.The 15-year-old opening batsman has already hit 53 sixes this season, leaving him just six sixes short of Chris Gayle’s record of 59 sixes in an IPL edition.In the process, the teenage genius became the first Indian batsman in IPL history to hit 50 sixes in a single season.He also became the youngest player in the history of the tournament to reach 500 runs and maintained the highest strike rate of 236.3 in an IPL season with more than 500 runs.

Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Anukul Roy has been included in the India A squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka for the tri-series. Anukul has been included in the team in place of Harsh Dubey. Who was included in India’s Test and ODI team for the first time For the home series against Afghanistan.

The triangular series between India A, Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A is scheduled to take place in Dambulla from June 9 to June 21, 2026. Aditya has played a vital role for KKR especially in their turnaround, which makes them still contenders for a playoff spot this season.

“The men’s selection committee has included Anukul Roy in the India A squad for the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka. He replaces Harsh Dubey, who has been included in India’s Test and ODI squad for the first time for the upcoming IDFC First Bank home series against Afghanistan.”

“The tri-series will feature Sri Lanka A, India A and Afghanistan A and will be played in Dambulla from June 9 to June 21, 2026,” the BCCI statement said.

Tilak Verma will captain a strong team with Riyan Parag serving as his deputy. All focus will be on Vaibhav SuryavanshiWho aims to impress in India A colors as he continues his bid for a senior team call-up.

Indian team updated for tri-series

Tilak Verma (captain), Priyansh Arya, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Riyan Parag (vice-captain), Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Suryansh Shedge, Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Kumar Kushagra (wicketkeeper), Vipraj Nigam, Yash Thakur, Yudhveer Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Arshad Khan, Anukul Roy.

friendly in IPL 2026

Anukul comes into the IPL 2026 season on the back of a brilliant Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign with Jharkhand, in which he was named as the Player of the Tournament.

IPL 2026 has been the first season when Anukul has been successful in securing a permanent place in the KKR team by taking eight wickets in 13 matches.

He has acted as the third spinner for Kolkata. With Sunil Narine and Varun Chakraborty.

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Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings will face each other in their final league stage encounter of IPL 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Ahead of the much-awaited clash, Gujarat Titans star opener Sai Sudarshan revealed about his deep emotional bond with CSK, the franchise he has grown up idolising.Sai Sudarshan has once again enjoyed a stellar IPL campaign and continues his rise as one of the most consistent batsmen in the league. After winning the Orange Cap in IPL 2025 with a brilliant innings of 759 runs, the 24-year-old has maintained his form in IPL 2026 as well and remains firmly in the race for another dominant season. Despite a relatively quiet start to the campaign, Sudarshan has rediscovered top gear and crossed the 500-run mark for the second consecutive season. In 13 matches so far, the stylish left-hander has scored 554 runs and is currently placed fourth in the Orange Cap standings heading into GT’s final league clash.Ahead of the CSK clash, Sudarshan reflected on one of the most memorable innings of his IPL career, his maiden IPL century against Chennai Super Kings in Ahmedabad in 2024. Speaking on JioStar about his maiden IPL century against CSK, Sudarshan admitted that the innings holds extra emotional significance because of his childhood association with the Chennai-based franchise.“It wasn’t a conscious decision; I think it was God’s grace, and it came at the right time. But spending time in between is always special, especially when I play against CSK because, whatever is said and done, I have a deep emotional connection with CSK,” Sudarshan said.“I have grown up watching CSK play. We used to stand on the road to watch the team bus pass by our school. Those are great memories.” I am thankful to God that I was able to put up some memorable performances against CSK,” he said.Sai Sudarshan played a brilliant inning of 103 runs in just 51 balls and made a record opening partnership of 210 runs with the captain. Shubman GillWho also scored 104 runs on 55 balls. This stand equaled the record for the highest opening partnership in IPL history, which was previously made by KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock in 2022.

Aston Villa won their first Europa League title under Unai Emery on Wednesday, May 20, as the Spanish coach once again proved why he remains the undisputed king of the competition. Remarkably, all five of Emery’s Europa League wins have come with clubs having ‘Villa’ in their name – Sevilla, Villarreal and now Aston Villa.

Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in the final in Istanbul, capping a stunning rise under Emery, who took charge of the club in 2022 when they were hovering dangerously close to the Premier League relegation zone. Less than four years later, he had transformed Villa into one of the strongest teams in England, taking them back to the Champions League and now leading them to their first European trophy since 1982.

Wednesday’s performance was perhaps the perfect representation of Emery’s Aston Villa project. They were organized without the ball, brutal in transition and clinical in front of goal, completely outclassing Freiburg on the biggest night of their season.

“This final is confirmation of how we are progressing,” Emery told TNT Sports after the match. “Europe gave us a lot.”

As the final whistle blew in Türkiye, thousands of Aston Villa supporters began celebrating inside the stadium. They included Prince William, possibly the club’s most famous fan, who delightedly watched Villa lift European silverware once again.

“Amazing night!! Congratulations to all the players, team, staff and everyone associated with the club! 44 years since the last taste of European silverware!” Prince William posted on

“With this manager in charge, anything is possible.”

UNAI Emery: MR Europa League

Emery, dubbed “Mr. Europa League” by fans across Europe, has created a unique legacy in the competition. He dominated the tournament with Sevilla, winning three consecutive titles between 2014 and 2016, before leading Villarreal to glory in 2021. Aston Villa has now become the latest club to benefit from his remarkable European touch.

The win also marks Villa’s first major trophy since the League Cup in 1996, underlining how dramatically the club has progressed under the Spaniard.

Emery said after the game that he was proud to have enhanced Aston Villa’s reputation in Europe and stressed that the ambition is now to establish the club among the Premier League elite by competing strongly in the Champions League next season.

Villa captain John McGinn dedicated the win to the supporters who stood by the club through some of the darkest moments in recent history, including their three-year stint in the Championship between 2016 and 2019.

“I can’t believe what we’ve been through as a club, to be honest,” McGinn said.

“Seven years ago this club was in a terrible state. Tonight was everything we’ve built together.”

“Ten minutes before 3-0, thinking we were European champions, it was something I can’t even describe. It’s very special.”

Forward Morgan Rodgers echoed those sentiments after Villa completed a historic night in Istanbul.

“We’ve worked very hard for this,” Rogers said.

“We knew we had to play another game to give everything we had and we performed well. Great moment for the fans, great moment for the club. We will go down in history.”

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