RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya played a key role in the franchise’s first IPL title win in 2025 with a stellar performance. However, he is not satisfied and is already aiming for more success with the Virat Kohli-starrer team in the upcoming season.

Krunal was player of the match in the IPL opener last year and capped the campaign with another POTM award in the final, helping Royal Challengers Bangalore end their 18-year wait for the title. In the process, he became the only player to win the Player of the Match award in two IPL finals, a feat he first achieved during Mumbai Indians’ title win in 2017.

Read the full story

The 2025 season was the best season of his IPL career. Krunal finished as the top finger spinner in the tournament and recorded his personal best bowling performance. He took 17 wickets, the second-highest for RCB after Josh Hazlewood’s 22, and established himself as a key option in pressure situations.

Krunal Pandya told ESPNcricinfo, “It feels really good that everything I said in 2022 has turned out exactly like that. After a 17-year drought, and again in the 18th season, RCB won the trophy and I’ve been a part of it – I had a nice, small contribution to their success – can’t ask for more than that. Going forward, I’m still hungry. I think this is just the beginning.”

Krunal also credited RCB spin-bowling coach Malolan Rangarajan for supporting his approach and encouraging him to expand his bowling, including using bouncers as options. He comes into IPL 2026 after his best season in the tournament and has more weapons in his bowling arsenal than ever before.

“Agreed. I’ll give Malolan a lot of credit. What happens as a player is, sometimes you know certain things are going to work for you but he gave me so much legitimacy, and he pushed me [into] doing that. He encouraged me to bowl slow and bowl bouncers, to take wickets. He said if you feel like this then you bowl a bouncer.”

“He supported me and trusted my understanding of the game to the point where it was just do what you want to do, don’t hold back [out]“Krunal said.

RCB will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28, with Krunal looking to build on what he believes is the start of a successful phase.

– ends

Mayank Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah (Agency Image)

Mayank Yadav has spoken about a major change in his approach towards fitness and recovery after battling multiple injuries, admitting that he had neglected his body before the surgery, which forced him to rethink everything. The 23-year-old fast bowler, who represents Lucknow Super Giants, went through a tough phase which started with an injury IPL 2024, then a serious back problem kept him out for the remainder of the 2025 season. After completing his rehabilitation at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, he is now preparing for his comeback. Reflecting on his journey, Mayank admitted how much his mindset has changed after the surgery. “Everything has changed for me after the surgery. Earlier, I never took care of myself. Whenever I had to do a recovery session, I used to put it off and ignore many aspects. But after the surgery, I paid a lot of attention to recovery, nutrition and sleep. The more I respect my body, the more my body respects me on the field,” he said on Geostar’s ‘IPL Today Live’. During his time at the National Cricket Academy, Mayank received valuable guidance Jasprit BumrahWho had gone through a similar process. Description of young fast bowler boomrah As a mentor figure during the recovery phase. He said, “When I was in rehab at NCA, Bumrah bhaiya was also there. I have a very good bonding with him. He is like a teacher to me. He also had the same surgery, same scenario.” He said, “Bumrah bhaiya shared his experience of how to come back after surgery and what things to pay attention to. He told me how the body will be during recovery, how it will react. Sometimes it will feel good, sometimes not. Whenever we talk on call or message, he shares his experience as much as possible.” Mayank, who holds the record for bowling the fastest ball by an Indian during IPL 2024, also revealed when he first realized his ability to bowl at extremely fast speeds. He said, “When I first came to the IPL, our trainers used to measure our bowling speed with a speed gun. At that time I realized that I have this talent, I have this gift. So now I have to respect it.” He also acknowledged the physical and mental challenges associated with fast bowling. “With fast bowling, things are always a bit difficult, whether you can do it or not. There is a lot of stress on the body, physically and mentally.” Referring to his love for pace since childhood, Mayank said that he was always inclined towards fast bowling rather than spin. “When I used to play in the streets, I didn’t know how to bowl spin so I used to bowl only fast. My passion for fast bowling started from my childhood. My father also used to show me a lot of videos of fast bowling. “Mostly, when India played in South Africa, I used to watch those matches a lot. I really liked their two fast bowlers, our current bowling coach morne morkel And dale steyn. It was from him that I got the passion for fast bowling,” he said.

Former India batsman Aakash Chopra has given a strong statement on MS Dhoni’s role in Chennai Super Kings, saying that the veteran should be the obvious choice of captain in the team in IPL 2026. With speculation rising about Dhoni’s role, Chopra’s comments have reignited the debate.

Dhoni, who is set to play in his 19th IPL season, He is expected to be a part of the CSK squad, although his role is likely to be more flexible. Speaking on JioHotstar, Chopra explained that he believes if Dhoni is part of the playing eleven then he should lead the team:

Read the full story

“Look, if Dhoni is playing, he has to be the captain. It is clear in my mind that if he keeps for 20 overs, he will be on the field for the entire game.

I have to find a better captain than Mahendra Singh Dhoni among the 22 players on that field. If there is anyone then I will accept my point. But if he is there, why is he not leading?”

“For me, if CSK wants to get the best out of Dhoni for a change, he has to become the captain.”

Chopra’s comments come at a time when CSK is going through a transition, with Ruturaj Gaikwad leading the team after Dhoni stepped down from the captaincy ahead of the 2024 season.

Dhoni’s role is under question

In the last few seasons, Dhoni’s responsibilities on the field have gradually reduced. He has largely operated as a finisher, often coming on during the final overs, with his involvement further limited due to the impact substitution rule.

At the same time, CSK’s team composition suggests long-term change. With players like Sanju Samson now part of the setup, the franchise is planning for the future, including a possible change in wicketkeeping responsibilities.

Despite this, Dhoni’s influence remains significant both on and off the field. His experience remains a vital asset, especially as CSK faced a tough IPL 2025 season, where they finished bottom of the table.

CSK CEO Kasi Viswanathan has already confirmed that Dhoni will be available for the entire IPL 2026 season, although his exact role will be decided by the team management.

As the team looks to bounce back under Gaikwad, the question about Dhoni’s role remains central – whether as a guiding presence or, as Chopra suggests, as captain once again.

– ends

England head coach Brendon McCullum with captain Ben Stokes. (File photo/PTI)

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday decided to make no changes to its leadership group following England’s 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia following a review of the tour.“The easy thing would be to fire people,” Gould said, but he stressed, “This is not the time to throw everything out.”Managing director Rob Key, head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes will continue in their roles. England, described as having their strongest team on tour to Australia in 14 years, lost the Ashes in 11 days, with two Tests still left to be played.“It may sometimes be easier said than done to move people forward. That’s not the path we’re going to take,” Gould was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. “I have seen the inspiring ambition and determination that we are so fortunate to have in our leadership group to learn the lessons from the Ashes and move forward.”Gould, who previously served as chief executive of Bristol City Football Club, said cricket operates differently from football and does not follow a hire-and-fire approach.He said, “Cricket is a very unique game that requires a team of leadership… It is not like football where the manager has a single point of failure or success.” He said the ECB “will not select or deselect management on the basis of a popularity campaign.”The review identified issues relating to preparation, player behavior and selection decisions during the tour.At a press conference at Lord’s, Gould and Key said there was no disagreement between McCullum and Stokes. He said McCullum was not expected to “completely change” but to “evolve”, while acknowledging that the behavior of some players was “unprofessional”. He also pointed to tougher consequences for poor performances and a focus on “better long-term planning” ahead of key Test series.Some adjustments were already made during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where England reached the semi-finals. Gould suggested that the performance played a role in McCullum retaining his position.Key acknowledged that supporters may have expected tougher action.“I know people want punishment and people should be fired for this,” Key said. “That doesn’t mean we don’t feel like we’ve been through some serious pain: Brendan, me, Ben. It’s been as tough a time as I think I’ve been.”

Cristiano Ronaldo has eased concerns over his fitness ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after sharing positive injury details on social media. The Portugal captain posted a photo of himself working out during training and recovery, suggesting his return is not far off.

Ronaldo was dropped from Portugal team For the upcoming March friendlies against Mexico and the United States after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for Al Nassr in late February. Speaking during the team announcement, head coach Roberto Martínez explained that the decision to rest Ronaldo was precautionary, aimed at avoiding any long-term setbacks:

Read the full story

Ronaldo’s update suggests he is actively working on his recovery, providing reassurance to fans amid growing concerns over his availability.

Portugal are scheduled to face Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on March 28 before taking on the United States in Atlanta on March 31. The coaching staff have opted to manage the workload carefully, with Bernardo Silva among the notable absentees, as the focus remains on long-term fitness rather than short-term stability.

Ronaldo is expected to recover over the next few weeks, allowing him to return in time for the World Cup starting in June. Portugal begin their campaign on June 17 in Houston as they aim for a strong performance in the tournament.

Will Ronaldo be fit for the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Despite early concerns, all signs suggest Ronaldo will be fit in time for the World Cup. The injury has been described as manageable, and the decision to rest him for the friendly matches is part of a wider strategy to ensure he is fully prepared for the tournament.

At the age of 41, Ronaldo continues to make history as he eyes a record sixth World Cup appearance. Having achieved almost everything in the game, the elusive World Cup title remains a big trophy missing from his collection.

– ends

DC Akshar Patel (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma)

Ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season, Akshar Patel has expressed his dissatisfaction with the Impact Player rule, admitting that he is personally not a fan of this regulation. The Delhi Capitals captain believes that this rule reduces the importance of all-rounders in the tournament starting on March 28.Introduced in 2023, the Impact Player rule allows teams to bring in a specialist batsman or bowler as a substitute during a match. However, Akshar feels that this has brought about a lot of changes in the team composition. “To be honest, I don’t like this rule because I am an all-rounder. Earlier, you used to choose an all-rounder for batting and bowling.

“But because of this rule, the team management picks a particular batsman or bowler, thinking ‘why do we need an all-rounder?’ Since I am an all-rounder, I don’t like this rule. Besides, rules are rules and we have to follow them. However, from a personal point of view, I don’t like this rule,” he said during a pre-season press conference.Delhi Capitals will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on April 1. This is not the first time Akshar has raised concerns about the rule. In 2024, when he served as vice-captain, he had mentioned that the impact player rule had affected his batting position.Despite maintaining a career IPL economy rate of 7.3, Axar endured a difficult bowling season in 2025, which was his least effective since joining Delhi in 2019. He gave runs at the rate of 8.5 per over and could take only five wickets in 11 innings. However, he clarified that his struggle was due to a finger injury suffered during India’s successful 2025 champions trophy Campaign, not Impact Player rules.“It was just before the 2025 Champions Trophy IPL. During the whistle, I got a cut on my spinning finger: as I was bowling, it was getting cut further because of the seam of the ball. It turned into a deep wound. Because of this I could not create pressure and rotation on the ball.“I was bowling less because of this and was thinking about bowling only where needed and saving my finger. After seven matches, when my finger healed, I started bowling again. It was not because of the Impact Player rule,” he said.While his bowling numbers declined, Axar compensated for it with the bat, enjoying one of his most productive IPL seasons in 2025. He scored 263 runs at a strike rate of 158 in 11 innings, including four scores above 30, and maintained a strike rate of 159 in the middle overs to provide the momentum for Delhi.