LSG suffers shocking 40-run loss to RR (BCCI photo)
New Delhi: Lucknow Super Giants’ batting collapses in shocking fashion with defeat Rajasthan Royals Defeated by 40 runs in the IPL match on Wednesday. Chasing 160, LSG failed to withstand the pressure and lost their wickets due to poor shot selection and were all out for 119 in 18 overs. The defeat came despite a strong bowling effort early in the game.
Shami sets it up, LSG messes it up
Mohammed Shami While, led Rajasthan’s bowling effort with class and control mohsin khan And Prince Yadav took crucial wickets to restrict RR to 159/6. Shami (2/30) and Mohsin (2/17) dismissed the top batsmen at crucial stages, including back-to-back strikes that tore apart Rajasthan’s top order. Prince Yadav also impressed with disciplined bowling and took two wickets, while Mayank Yadav had a difficult comeback and got no wickets.Saved Rajasthan’s innings. Ravindra JadejaWho played a calm inning of 43 unbeaten runs on 29 balls. He ensured his team reached a fighting score despite an early collapse, also adding value with the ball later on.
LSG collapse after Pant’s bad shot
The LSG pursuit never really came to fruition. Michelle Marsh He fought hard after playing an innings of 55 runs, but got little support due to the fall of wickets. captain Rishabh PantAn ugly sweep attempt triggered the slide, and the innings quickly fell apart. Poor shot selection from the middle order, including Nicholas Pooran and Himmat Singh, contributed to the collapse.The decision to use Himmat Singh as an impact sub also raised questions as LSG’s batting lacked consistency. Rajasthan bowlers kept attacking at regular intervals jofra archer (3/20) Finishing things off in style.LSG’s batting brilliance already overshadowed Shami’s brilliant bowling, which helped Rajasthan register a spectacular win and reach second place in the table.
Fans from Jaipur had come from Kanpur. From Patna. From Banaras. The stands at Lucknow’s Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium were unusually packed on a hot weekday. Hundreds of supporters of Vaibhav Suryavanshi were determined not to miss a glimpse of this player playing so close to home; After all, one night train journey is enough to reach Lucknow from Samastipur.
However, before that IPL During its visit to the city, Suryavanshi did not provide the grand celebration that the traveling crowd wanted. “If you play more than four overs, you will win the match,” predicted an auto-rickshaw driver on the eve of the game, fearing a Suryavanshi storm against the struggling Lucknow Super Giants team. However, the Super Giants knew this all too well and arrived with the necessary equipment to test the teen.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s fans have come to this area – Kanpur, Banaras, Patna. (Photo credit: Akshay Ramesh)
After winning the toss and electing to bowl, Rishabh Pant and his men executed a clinical plan. On a red clay pitch that offered remarkable bounce and pace, he resisted the urge to search for swing. Instead, he hit the tough length, forcing Suryavanshi and his opening partner, Yashasvi Jaiswal, to take risks and create shots of their own.
The first two overs were costly, yet both Mohammed Shami and fast bowler Prince Yadav stuck to their guns, troubling the young openers with well-directed short balls.
Prince, who can hit speeds above 150km/h, hit two fours when Suryavanshi flicked a half-volley before showing off his wrist art with a delicate late cut through point. However, Prince responded by reducing his length and adding pace to keep the youngster calm.
Initial shocks affect Vaibhav
The restrictive start thwarted Suryavanshi’s early dominance plans. At the other end, Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed by Mohammed Shami as the veteran used all his experience to stop the aggressive opener. After hitting three fours, Shami claimed the breakthrough with a well-directed bouncer, which was brilliantly caught by diving Rishabh Pant.
On his very next ball, Shami pitched full and pulled the ball away from right-hander Dhruv Jurel, who could only take a thick outside edge. The Agra-born wicketkeeper-batsman, who had honed his junior cricket skills on these same grounds in Lucknow, was out of luck due to Shami’s spectacular change in length.
After this, despite Prince’s effective spell, Pant fielded left-handed Mohsin Khan in his place. The gamble worked wonders; Mohsin used his high-arm action to hit the deck hard and force Suryavanshi to give way. Having seen two wickets fall in two balls in the previous over, the 15-year-old was quite cautious.
Ultimately, Suryavanshi’s patience ran out after five consecutive dot balls, leaving him facing the possibility of the first over. The youngster attempted a little cross-batting stroke on a length ball from the left-handed batsman, but could only get the edge.
On any other day, the ball might have fallen into no-man’s-land; However, Digvesh Rathi ran 20 meters from cover and took a good catch, leaving a large section of the Lucknow crowd stunned.
After a slightly shaky start born out of desperation to dismiss the wunderkind, Lucknow saved their chances brilliantly. By the end of the powerplay, Rajasthan Royals were reeling at 44 for 3, with skipper Riyan Parag and Shimron Hetmyer—two players in search of form—who were tasked with steadying the ship.
For Lucknow, the intensity only increased when Mayank Yadav, returning from injury, was seen clocking over 140 km/h at the start of his first over.
This is only the second time that Suryavanshi has been out on a single-digit score in the IPL 2026 season. Despite his early exit in Lucknow, he remains among the top five run-scorers of the tournament with 254 runs in seven matches.
New Delhi: Former India selector chris srikanth Opening up on one of the most infamous blunders in Indian cricket history, he admitted he still regrets his omission Rohit Sharma From the 2011 World Cup squad.Srikkanth told The Week, “I still feel bad for them. I told Rohit last year, I am sorry. It’s not on purpose, it’s just that we want to take half of those all-rounders. Our thought process was similar to the 1983 World Cup.”
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India won the 2011 World Cup ms dhoniThe wait of 28 years since the prestigious win of 1983 ended. Although the win remains one of the country’s greatest sporting moments, it also involved difficult selection decisions, with Rohit among the notable exclusions despite his stellar ODI performances at the time.Srikanth said that this decision was not based on lack of ability, but on the balance of the team. The selectors picked a team full of multi-dimensional players who could contribute with both bat and ball. The strategy reflected the 1983 blueprint, where flexibility and depth played a key role.That approach paid off handsomely, particularly through demonstrations. Yuvraj SinghWho emerged as the player of the tournament with 362 runs and 15 wickets. His all-round talent proved decisive in India’s title-winning campaign.“And at the end of the day, who was the best player of the tournament? Yuvraj Singh, with the ball and the bat. In some matches, Sehwag, Sachin and Suresh Raina Must have bowled a few overs. Yusuf Pathan is also a half all-rounder. So in all this, unfortunately, what happened, this half-all-rounder concept, poor Rohit Sharma did not find a place. He was actually good enough to play in the 2011 World Cup, but the poor boy missed out,” said Srikkanth.At the time of his exit, Rohit had already shown promise by scoring over 1,200 ODI runs. Although he missed the World Cup, he later became one of India’s finest white-ball batsmen.
Andy Murray has given a candid assessment of his brief coaching stint with Novak Djokovic and admitted it was eye-opening and humbling despite limited success on the court.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the former world No. 1 initially joked that he “probably didn’t learn anything”, before he quickly clarified that his experience was actually deeply educational. Murray explained that moving into a coaching role gave him a new perspective on the daily routine and demands of an elite player, especially one operating at Djokovic’s level.
Murray said, “It was interesting to see what their day-to-day looked like compared to what I was doing, and how those things differ. It was really insightful.” He said coaching requires a change in mindset, particularly in how messages are communicated and how players are listened to, which he believes has been shaped by his own experiences off the court.
Learning curve despite semi-final limit
Murray’s tenure began around the Australian OpenBut the partnership ultimately fell short of the title. Djokovic reached the semi-finals at several major events, including the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but was unable to convert those deep runs into trophies. He also crashed out of the US Open at the same stage.
Losses to top contenders such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev underlined the challenges Djokovic faced in regaining dominance, even as he won titles at smaller tournaments such as the Geneva Open and Athens Open.
Reflecting on the experience, Murray admitted that working with one of the game’s greatest players also revealed his own areas for improvement. “You’re very busy working with someone that great, so it highlights areas that you probably need to improve on if you want to be a great coach,” he said.
Djokovic’s condition is in danger due to injury concerns
Djokovic’s season has also been disrupted by fitness issuesThe 24-time Grand Slam champion has been struggling with a shoulder problem, which has caused him to miss major tournaments. He recently confirmed that he will not participate in the Madrid Open as his recovery continues.
The Serbian had earlier withdrawn from events in Miami and Monte Carlo, raising concerns over his preparation ahead of Roland Garros, which starts in late May. Despite the setbacks, Djokovic remains optimistic about returning to peak form in time for the clay-court majors, where he will chase a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.
For his part, Murray is confident in Djokovic’s enduring ability. “Given the level he’s still capable of, does he have another big win? I think he does,” he said, backing his former rival to add another chapter to an already historic career.
Rashid Khan of Gujarat Titans bowling during the Indian Premier League 2026. (ANI photo)
New Delhi: Rashid Khan According to the latest ICC rankings, he is the number one bowler in the world in both T20 and ODI today. But a new biography says Afghanistan’s spin magician – a crowd-pulling megastar in the cricket world – was rejected at the under-19 national selection trials. It was the summer of 2016, and despite the scorching heat, the teenager stood in line with thousands of hopefuls from different parts of the conflict-torn country at the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Stadium, about 15 kilometers from Jalalabad city in eastern Afghanistan.The farm-fresh book, ‘Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom’ written by Zafar Hand states that Daulat Ahmadzai and Abdul Wali Amin, two distinguished former cricketers who were coaches of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, were tasked with identifying talent.
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Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!The wait was long and Rashid, who was watching the open hearing for the first time, was eager to show his stuff. The book clearly states what actually happened.A coach asked him whether he was a batsman or a bowler. Rashid replied that he is an all-rounder. But the youngster was told that he could only choose one of two positions: bowler or batsman.Forced to make a choice, Rashid sought advice from the friends who had accompanied him. “I talked to my friends and chose batting as the preferred option of the two roles. They agreed it was the right choice. I faced three or four balls, hit two and missed the rest. The coach said, ‘That’s all. Thanks for coming,'” the book says. Rashid was rejected.Interestingly, both of them later became Rashid’s coaches. And coincidentally, as per the current update of the ICC rankings, the leg break and googly bowler from Nangarhar Province is rated the world No. 7 all-rounder in ODIs and No. 14 in T20Is. This is because the world’s foremost white-ball bowler has the rare gift of hitting big hits instantly and winning games for both the country (Afghanistan) and clubs around the world. IPLSunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans.IPL fans will remember how Rashid hit a six. david millerA sensational robbery was carried out against CSK in April, 2022. The cricketer recalls the excitement when he got the message from coach Ashish Nehra to become the stand-in captain for GT in place of the injured Hardik Pandya.The message read, “Khan Saheb, get ready. You will captain the team tomorrow. Pandya cannot play.” “That night, I couldn’t sleep,” Rashid recalls. “Not because I was nervous about captaining, but because I couldn’t believe it was happening. An Afghan player would go for the toss in the IPL against Chennai! I kept thinking: people will remember the name Afghanistan differently,” he says in the book, which was originally published in Pashto as ‘Rashid, Khan of Cricket’.That day, Rashid created history as the first Afghan to captain and win a match in the IPL. Hand writes, “Millions of spectators in India and beyond witnessed an exciting match and a new image of Afghanistan because of Rashid’s cool, smart leadership. It became a moment of national pride for Afghans everywhere.”
FIFA has started selling additional tickets for the FIFA World Cup 2026 following growing opposition over newly introduced premium pricing tiers. The move comes after fans raised concerns over transparency and affordability, with many questioning how tickets are being allocated.
The governing body confirmed that more tickets will be released for all 104 matches, including Categories 1, 2 and 3 as well as the newly added “Front Category” tier. This decision has been taken after criticism from supporters Who claimed that the better seats were first stopped and later reintroduced at much higher prices.
The scale of the price increase has been a major discussion point:
Initial ticket prices ranged from $140 (Class 3, Early Bird)
The final ticket price was initially set at $8,680.
Prices later rose to $10,990 for the finals
US vs. Paraguay tickets initially ranged from $1,120 to $2,735
New “front class” seats for the same match now go up to $4,105
Category 2 “Front” tickets cost between $1,940 and $2,330
Concerns have also been raised regarding seat allocation. Many fans alleged that their previously purchased tickets were reassigned to less favorable sections, fueling allegations of a “bait-and-switch” approach. FIFA has not publicly addressed these claims.
The issue is further complicated by reports of slow ticket sales for some matches, including the United States’ first match against Paraguay in Inglewood. Despite being a prime location, a large number of seats remain unsold, highlighting the impact of rising prices.
The World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, is already being billed as the most commercially elaborate edition of the tournament. However, the latest developments have raised concerns over whether it is becoming increasingly inaccessible to fans.
Why did fans criticize World Cup 2026 ticket prices?
Fans’ frustrations largely centered around the sudden introduction of higher-priced categories and the lack of communication regarding these changes. Many supporters raised questions on social media as to why premium seats were re-classified and later sold at increased rates.
Some also pointed to inconsistencies in seating categories at different matches, suggesting that sections initially sold under the lower tiers were later moved to more expensive brackets. Others claimed that the seating maps had been changed after purchase, giving them poor views.
The introduction of “front class” tickets – priced significantly higher than existing levels – has drawn particular criticism, with fans arguing that the process lacks transparency and fairness.
Will the new World Cup 2026 tickets be of any use?
Although FIFA’s decision to release more tickets may improve availability, it is unclear whether it will address the main concerns raised by fans. High prices remain a major hurdle, especially for early-round matches where demand is typically more price-sensitive.
The additional cost of participating in the tournament has also come under scrutiny. For example, Transportation services such as the Boston Stadium Express, The price per round trip is around Rs 8,840.90, raising concerns about overall affordability.
With the tournament expanding to 48 teams and establishing itself as a global celebration of football, the current ticketing situation presents a challenge. Unless pricing and transparency concerns are addressed, FIFA risks alienating a segment of fans at a time when inclusivity is expected to be at the heart of the World Cup experience.
Mumbai: is a great captain ms dhoni And England’s star all-rounder will jacks Are you ready to return to action in the big Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday night? After several days of anticipation, it may happen. Dhoni Took intensive training at CSK nets at Wankhede on Tuesday night. Notably, he kept wickets for about half an hour and also batted for about 30 minutes. The 44-year-old, who suffered a calf strain during the pre-season camp, was seen striking the ball fluently without any trouble. However, Dhoni was earlier practicing with the CSK team in Chennai. CSK is currently placed eighth in the IPL 2026 points table with two wins and four losses. His potential return will add valuable depth to their batting. Meanwhile, Jacques has finally arrived in India after missing MI’s first six matches. The England star, who was the standout performer at the 2026 T20 World Cup with four Player of the Match awards, trained in MI’s nets at the Wankhede between 5pm and 6pm on Monday, and also took part in an optional practice session under lights on Tuesday. The 27-year-old off-spinner bowled in the nets and batted for almost an hour. His arrival is a big boost for MI, whose campaign picked up momentum after an impressive 99-run win over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday night. Jack’s arrival was delayed due to unknown reasons, with the MI management avoiding giving details about his absence during the first three weeks of IPL 2026. His appearance was eagerly awaited by both the management and the fans. As a powerful middle-order batsman and a capable spinner, Jack strengthens both departments for MI. His inclusion may force the team to drop one of its overseas spinners – Allah Ghazanfar or Mitchell Santner. Having delivered several useful cameos at No. 6 and 7 for England during the T20 World Cup, Jacques also provides MI with a reliable finishing option. Spencer Johnson joins CSK team In another boost for CSK, Australian fast bowler Spencer Johnson, signed as a replacement for Nathan Ellis, joined the squad in Mumbai on Tuesday ahead of the marquee clash. The left-arm fast bowler trained with the team at the Wankhede and is expected to be included in the playing eleven on Thursday night, possibly replacing Khaleel Ahmed, who was sidelined with injury last week. After a slow start, injuries have significantly affected CSK’s campaign. In their previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, young batsman Ayush Mhatre suffered a hamstring injury, ruling him out of the remaining matches of IPL 2026.
When an opponent runs away with the game in the first innings, it becomes difficult to tell exactly what could have been done right. This sentiment was expressed by Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel after his team’s 47-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Uppal Stadium on April 21. However, the captain admitted that fielding was an area where his team could have done better.
Once again there was Abhishek Sharma The center of attention after scoring a spectacular knock. He scored a blistering century off just 47 balls and remained unbeaten on 135 off 68 balls, helping SRH post a mammoth total of 242 runs in 20 overs.
Axar Patel said after the match, “When a batsman is batting like this, the coach and the captain have to accept that even the leadership cannot stop such an innings. I was saying the same thing to the bowlers – if you execute your plans and still get hit for good shots, there is not much you can do.” “It should be treated as a holiday and forgotten.”
While Abhishek Sharma’s batting grabbed the headlines, SRH also produced a disciplined bowling performance. The standout bowler was Ishan Malinga, who took 4 wickets for 32 runs in his four overs. They received strong support from Saqib Hussain, Dilshan Madushanka and Harsh Dubey, all of whom contributed in keeping DC under pressure during the chase.
Abhishek Sharma has finally found his form this season, he has scored 3 fifties all with a strike rate over 200 and is now in the list of top 5 run getters.
Agarkar will have a big headache for the opening – Arya, Suryavanshi, Samson, Abhishek, Ishaan, Prabh, uff! pic.twitter.com/R4VpZdYoSv– Rajeev (@Rajeev1841) 21 April 2026
rue missed chances
Despite the heavy defeat, Akshar felt that Delhi Capitals had opportunities to make a difference, especially on the field. He pointed out the missed chances that could have helped limit SRH’s total.
“The run-outs and the catches we missed – if we had caught them we could have controlled things better,” he said. “Fielding is something that is completely under your control. Taking catches and run-outs are areas where you can support your bowlers. That’s where we could have done better.”
Akshar mentioned the crucial moment when Abhishek was nearing his fifty, which was his slowest half-century IPLAnd attempted to steal a double right under DC’s nose. The throw was accurate, but KL Rahul missed. The second example came late in the innings when the left-handed batsman was dismissed off the bowling of T Natarajan.
The DC captain’s tactical decision to play Nitish Rana as an all-rounder before Auqib Nabi also had an impact. Rana gave away 55 runs in his four overs, and though he made up for it with his half-century while trying to chase down the target for the team, it was too late.
After the heavy defeat, Delhi Capitals will return home to face undefeated Punjab Kings on April 25 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad will travel to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium to take on Rajasthan Royals on the same day with an aim to carry forward their winning momentum.
Abhishek Sharma Putting on a breathtaking display of power-hitting, he headlined Sunrisers Hyderabad’s batting masterclass against Delhi Capitals by scoring his second IPL century.After DC decided to bowl first, Abhishek turned the decision into a nightmare by scoring a brilliant century in just 47 balls. He remained unbeaten on 135 off 68 balls, an innings studded with 10 sky-high sixes, as SRH posted a mammoth total of 242 for 2 in their 20 overs.The innings marked Abhishek’s second IPL century and underlined his growing stature in T20 cricket. This was the second time he hit 10 sixes in a single IPL innings, making him the second player to hit 10 sixes in a single IPL innings. chris gayle To achieve the feat many times.
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With this innings, Abhishek reached the mark of nine T20 centuries. Virat Kohli Among Indian batsmen. In the all-time list, Gayle tops the list with 22 centuries, followed by Babar Azam (12) and David Warner (10), while Abhishek is now next along with names like Quinton de Kock, Riley Rossouw and Sahibzada Farhan.Abhishek achieved another major feat in this innings, completing 350 sixes in T20 cricket, highlighting his reputation as one of the most explosive batsmen in the format.SRH’s innings was a complete team effort with Travis Head at the top, Ishan Kishan And Heinrich Klaasen provided strong support, but it was Abhishek who stole the show. He wielded his bat throughout the innings and increased the pace at the right time to dismantle the attack.There was also a piece of luck. Abhishek escaped the chance of an easy run out on 49 runs. KL Rahul The chance was missed, a moment that proved costly as the left-hander produced one of the most disastrous innings of the season.Highest individual score in IPL175* C Gayle RCB vs PWI Bengaluru 2013158* B McCullum KKR vs RCB Bengaluru 2008141 Abhishek Sharma SRH vs PK Hyderabad 2025140* Q de Kock LSG vs KKR Navi Mumbai 2022135* Abhishek Sharma SRH vs DC Hyderabad 2026His 135* now ranks as the highest individual score in IPL history, behind iconic efforts like Gayle’s unbeaten 175 and Brendon McCullum’s 158*. Abhishek himself is already included in that elite list with his innings of 141 runs last season, which underlines his consistency in delivering big scores.On a night where everything went well for SRH, Abhishek Sharma’s innings stood out as pure dominance – a blend of timing, power and fearless intent that left Delhi Capitals with a tough chase.
MS Dhoni has given hope to Chennai Super Kings as they prepare for the El Clasico clash against Mumbai Indians. The former Indian captain has returned to the nets this time wearing wicket-keeping gloves. Dhoni, who has been away from the field this season due to a calf muscle strain, remained out of action for the first two weeks of the tournament.
On Tuesday, April 21, CSK shared a video of Dhoni practicing in the nets wearing gloves. The CSK legend looked excited and made fun of the batsman after stumping him. Full video is available to watch.
No clarity on Dhoni’s return
There is no confirmation from CSK yet regarding when Dhoni will return to the field. Questions remain about whether Dhoni will be a regular in the starting eleven or will he be used as an impact option when Chennai is batting.
When asked about Dhoni’s return, batting coach Michael Hussey said, “Not really, I’m not sure.” “He’s progressing well with his rehab, and I’m pleased with how he’s batting.”
Sanjay Manjrekar has expressed concern over how CSK will manage Dhoni’s return.Explaining, “Maybe, but then you have to play Dhoni on the field. And how do you do that? Increasingly, he is finding it difficult to bowl. It was a bit of a joke when he came down to face three or four balls and the coverage publicized it as ‘What an innings’. It lasted four balls.”
Manjrekar added, “So that’s not possible now, and it’s never going to be a long-term solution. I can’t pretend to know how Ruturaj felt when MS was on the field but not captaining, when he wasn’t there at all.”
Dhoni has a strong record against Mumbai Indians, having played 44 matches and scored 772 runs at an average of over 35.
