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Rishabh Pant
Cricket

Sunil Gavaskar Hails Rishabh Pant’s Knock, Says India Star Is Playing Without Leadership Burden

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Sunil Gavaskar Hails Rishabh Pant’s Knock, Says India Star Is Playing Without Leadership Burden India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant earned high praise from legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar after his impressive performance on Day 1 of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur. Pant played a crucial role alongside captain Shubman Gill, helping India dominate proceedings with an aggressive and confident batting display. The innings came at an important time for Pant, who has experienced a turbulent few months. While he remains one of India’s most impactful red-ball players, his IPL 2026 campaign as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants attracted scrutiny after the franchise finished at the bottom of the points table. His leadership and form were widely debated throughout the season. However, Pant looked completely at ease in the Test arena. The left-hander batted with freedom and intent, reminding fans why he remains one of the most dangerous wicketkeeper-batters in world cricket. His partnership with Gill put Afghanistan under immense pressure and shifted the momentum firmly in India’s favour. “It was good to see Rishabh Pant bat so freely in his 50th Test. He’s completely free from the pressure of being India’s vice-captain in Test Cricket and captaining an IPL side. He looked completely relaxed. You could see it in his body language when he walked out to bat. No tense shoulders and visible stress. He just looked calm and ready. Then came that one over where he broke free with three sixes. That changed everything. You could sense that he now wants to make a statement with a big hundred. He is already halfway there. Tomorrow, he might continue in the same way, maybe even a little more aggressively. If he does, he could take India to 500 or 550 quite quickly,” Gavaskar said. Sunil Gavaskar Believes Pant Is Thriving Without Captaincy Pressure Speaking after the day’s play, Gavaskar suggested that Pant is benefiting from being free of additional leadership responsibilities. The former India captain noted that the wicketkeeper appears more relaxed and focused solely on his batting, which is reflected in his performances. Pant’s recent journey has been a tale of resilience. Since returning to top-level cricket after his long injury layoff, he has re-established himself as a key member of India’s Test side. Despite criticism surrounding his IPL campaign, he has continued to deliver valuable performances in the longest format and remains one of India’s most dependable match-winners. Shubman Gill also received glowing praise from Gavaskar after producing a classy century. The batting great highlighted the Indian captain’s technique, balance, and shot selection, describing his batting as a delight to watch. Together, Gill and Pant laid a strong foundation for India, with their partnership emerging as the biggest talking point of the opening day.

Cricket

Anil Agarwal Pushes for Bihar IPL Team as Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Strengthen State’s Cricketing Case

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Anil Agarwal Pushes for Bihar IPL Team as Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Strengthen State’s Cricketing Case Bihar IPL team discussions have gathered fresh momentum after Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal publicly backed the idea of the state having its own IPL franchise. Highlighting Bihar’s growing contribution to Indian cricket, Agarwal pointed to talents like Ishan Kishan and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as examples of the region’s ability to produce elite cricketers and compete on a bigger stage. The Bihar IPL team debate has intensified at a time when players from the state are making headlines with standout performances across domestic and franchise cricket. Agarwal’s comments have sparked conversations around whether Bihar, a state with a passionate cricket following, deserves representation in the cash-rich T20 league just like other major cricketing centres in India. Agarwal’s backing comes as Bihar cricket continues to gain visibility, largely due to the rise of Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Their performances have strengthened the argument that Bihar has the talent pool to support a competitive IPL side and build a stronger cricketing ecosystem in the state. Anil Agarwal Highlights Bihar’s Rising Cricket Talent Anil Agarwal strongly endorsed the idea of a Bihar IPL team and said, “Bihar deserves its own IPL team.” He further praised the state’s cricketing talent, adding, “Players like Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can make it one of the best teams in the world.” His remarks underlined the belief that Bihar has both talent and passion to make a mark in the IPL if given a franchise of its own. “Ishan Kishan, born in Patna, scored the fastest ODI double century in terms of balls faced. Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Samastipur became the youngest player to make an IPL debut. And today, the eyes of the entire world are on the brilliant bowling of Saqib Hussain, born into an ordinary family in Gopalganj,” wrote Agarwal on X. “It has always been my dream and endeavor to ensure that the youth of Bihar get full opportunities to excel in every field, and that our players receive world-class infrastructure and support right here in Bihar. I’m fully confident that if our children get the right inspiration and facilities, the team emerging from our Bihar will become the best in the world,” he added. “And I stand firmly with the youth of Bihar in this effort. I will provide unconditional support from my side to advance Bihar’s cricket team and its players here. For me, Bihar is not just a state—it’s an emotion. And now the time has come for the talent of our soil to shine on the field,” wrote Agarwal. The argument gains weight when looking at recent performances. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has emerged as one of the brightest young stars in IPL 2026, smashing 579 runs in 13 matches at a remarkable strike rate above 230, including multiple fifty-plus scores and a century. His recent knocks of 93, 46, 36, and 43 have showcased consistency, making him one of Bihar’s biggest cricketing success stories. Ishan Kishan, meanwhile, remains Bihar’s established IPL face and has continued to be a vital performer in franchise cricket, even taking up leadership responsibilities for Sunrisers Hyderabad during IPL 2026. With Kishan’s experience and Sooryavanshi’s explosive rise, Bihar’s cricketing credentials have received a major boost, giving fresh life to the Bihar IPL team conversation and strengthening calls for the state to secure representation in the league.

Cricket

 “We were 15-20 runs short” : Rajat Patidar reflects on defeat to Delhi Capitals

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 “We were 15-20 runs short” : Rajat Patidar reflects on defeat to Delhi Capitals Delhi Capitals are back on track in IPL 2026, as they claimed a victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in Saturday’s first game. The Capitals managed to win by six wickets, as David Miller redeemed himself from his costly error against Gujarat Titans. The South African smashed two sixes, and one boundary in the final over to get his side over the line, with only one ball to spare. RCB skipper Rajat Patidar reflected on the defeat, and stated that they were 15-20 runs short in the first innings. RCB posted a first innings total of 175 runs, despite a strong start by openers Virat Kohli and Philip Salt. The middle order could not get going as DC chipped in with regular wickets. Rajat Patidar was nevertheless impressed with the team’s effort to take the game to the last over. “That was very close, but I feel that we were 15-20 runs short. The way we started initially, especially Virat bhai and Salt, they have given a good start, but from there, after 12-13 overs, we lost wickets in a couple of overs and that put us on the backseat. I think in the first inning, it was a bit tacky, I would say. But I think the way we stretched in the last over, I think that’s a positive sign for us. But I think I was just discussing with the bowlers that be clear whatever you do. It’s a long tournament, but I think we will go back and introspect where we put the errors and we’ll rectify them,” said Patidar. For RCB, they now have four wins in their six games, and will miss an opportunity to climb to the top of the points table. Delhi Capitals leapfrogged into the fourth place, as they now have three wins from their five games. For Delhi Capitals, they next travel to Hyderabad to face SRH on Tuesday. Meanwhile, RCB will have a couple of days off before their last game at Chinnaswamy against the Gujarat Titans on Friday.

Ruturaj Gaikwad
Cricket, IPL, T20 Cricket

“I feel he plays with that tunnel vision of scoring big” : Wasim Jaffer says Ruturaj Gaikwad needs to take more risks

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“I feel he plays with that tunnel vision of scoring big” : Wasim Jaffer says Ruturaj Gaikwad needs to take more risks Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer believes that CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad needs to be much more proactive during the early overs. The five-time champions got off the mark in IPL 2026 on Saturday, as the defeated Delhi Capitals by 23 runs. Chennai Super Kings posted 212 runs on the board, with Sanju Samson scoring a terrific century. However, the skipper’s struggles continued, as he managed to score only 15 runs off 18 deliveries. Wasim Jaffer believes that Ruturaj Gaikwad needs to take on much more risks in the powerplay, and get his team off to strong starts. Wasim Jaffer believes that Gaikwad has certainly got the game to back his skills, but wants to show much more intent. “He’s somebody who wants to score big. You know, being an opener, I don’t think you need to look at 80 or 100 from the outset. I think you need to look at giving a terrific start, the kind of start the openers want. He’s not somebody who is going at a 200-plus strike rate. If he’s asked to push the scoring rate, I think he needs to take a lot more risk. He’s got the game. He’s got hundreds in the IPL. But he just, I feel, holds himself [back],” Jaffer said, speaking on ESPNcricinfo. Wasim Jaffer believes Ruturaj Gaikwad can learn from Virat Kohli Wasim Jaffer believes Ruturaj Gaikwad can learn from someone like Virat Kohli who has developed his game over the years. The RCB batter plays much more fearlessly at the top of the order, and Jaffer believes Ruturaj Gaikwad can certainly learn from him. “I feel he plays with that tunnel vision of scoring big. We’ve seen [Virat] Kohli do that: change his game. He’s a different Kohli to what we saw at the start of his career. I am sure Ruturaj can do it [but] he needs to put the impact [first], not think about bulk of runs,” the 48-year-old added. Chennai Super Kings will face Kolkata Knight Riders in a crunch clash on Tuesday, before facing Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday. It will be vital for the five-time champions to continue their winning momentum, and climb higher on the points table.

Yashasvi Jaiswal
Cricket, IPL

‘I thought I can take Deepak Chahar on’ : Yashasvi Jaiswal reveals he targeted MI Pacer in the first over

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‘I thought I can take Deepak Chahar on’ : Yashasvi Jaiswal reveals he targeted MI Pacer in the first over Yashasvi Jaiswal was the star of today’s match as Rajasthan Royals defeated Mumbai Indians to claim their third successive win, and climb to the top of the points table. The southpaw smashed MI bowlers all around the park, scoring an unbeaten knock of 77 runs off just 32 balls, which includes 10 boundaries, and four maximums. For Jaiswal, the carnage began in the first over, when he smashed Deepak Chahar for 22 runs, which includes 4 boundaries, and a six. There were question marks raised around the decision to bowl Chahar up top, when you had the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. Yashasvi Jaiswal stated that for him, it was important to target bowlers, as it was for Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who impressed once again, scoring 39 runs off just 14 balls. He hit Jasprit Bumrah’s opening ball for a six, as the two left-handed batters got off to a dream start. Full quotes from Yashasvi Jaiswal: “I think I had something in my mind because only three over of powerplay. So I was thinking, how can I take down the overs or who I can take down. So I was planning the minute I saw Chahar Bhai is coming I thought I can take him on and then Bumrah Bhai came in. So I was thinking, okay, maybe Vaibhav can take on Bumrah. Then I will try to pick someone else. So I just keep thinking who can I go after and what shots I can play. So I was, I was just quite into the game. (Is it easy to switch between the three formats?) It’s not easy, but I’m trying my best every single time when I go into my preparation. I feel like what I can do, how I can improve and make sure that I’m developing different shots. So all the time I try to play different shots and try to understand what shots in what wickets. So it always helped me when I prepare well. (Do you plan that you’re going to play a certain way?) I just try to understand the situation and I think of what I can do for my team and how I can play for my team.” “So I’m trying to change my game all the time and if I know, okay, this is required, if I understand this shot is required at the moment. So I’ll go for it and I’ll try to… I try to put my team first and I will try and play according to how my team needs. (Conversations with Vaibhav?) The way he has been playing, it’s tremendous. He’s working so hard as well. So I also get motivated. Okay, I also need to develop some different shots. And all the time we have these discussions like, how can we go? And if he’s taking on someone, I’ll just keep giving him positive message that you can go after him and whatever, just play freely and khel bindaas, something like that (smiles). (So do you play the Bade Bhaiya?) I don’t think so. He’s amazing and he understands the game very well. He’s quite capable to do it himself. He’s enjoying his game and he’s playing unbelievably well.” Rajasthan Royals scored 150 runs off their 11 overs, whereas, Mumbai Indians could only manage 123 runs, losing by 27 runs. The Royals look like a well-drilled side, defeating Gujarat, Chennai and Mumbai to start their campaign.

Cricket, IPL, T20 Cricket

“I felt that everything comes down to money” : Devdutt Padikkal opens up on a disappointing IPL stint with LSG

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“I felt that everything comes down to money” : Devdutt Padikkal opens up on a disappointing IPL stint with LSG Devdutt Padikkal has been in the form of his life in the opening two matches of IPL 2026 for the defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore. The Indian batter has already scored 111 runs in two innings at an astonishing strike rate of over 200. RCB have stuck with the southpaw at number three for this season, after he played some vital knocks for the franchise in their title-winning season last run. He amassed 247 runs in 10 matches at a strike rate of 150.61. The Indian batter played for RCB in 2020, where he impressed the world with his batting skills. However, he later moved on to Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants, where he had two disappointing stints. Devudtt Padikkal reflects on how he felt when RCB snatched him up at the Mega Auction in 2024 for Rs 2 crores, and how it transformed his career. “I feel that auction was probably the turning point of my career in a lot of ways. I was at that stage of my career where I needed to really commit to the type of cricket I want to play, the kind of cricketer I wanted to be. And coming back to RCB paved my path towards the brand of cricket I wanted to play,” Padikkal said in a video shared by RCB. Devdutt Padikkal reflects on his LSG stint Devdutt Padikkal was bought by LSG ahead of the 2024 IPL for a whopping price of Rs 7.75 crores. The left-handed batter stated that the pressure of being a high-paid player was always there, and he was unable to justify his price tag through his performances. “I feel that auction was probably the turning point of my career in a lot of ways. I was at that stage of my career where I needed to really commit to the type of cricket I want to play, the kind of cricketer I wanted to be. And coming back to RCB paved my path towards the brand of cricket I wanted to play,” Padikkal said in a video shared by RCB. “I moved to LSG for that one year, and obviously, that didn’t go great either. It was really hard. I felt that everything comes down to money. When a franchise is putting their faith in you in terms of that much money they are paying you, you feel like you are letting them down when you don’t perform. At that point, honestly, I didn’t have any answers either,” he concluded.

Cricket

“Give Associate nations more opportunity to play against Full Members on a more regular basis” : Aaron Finch and Dale Steyn make calls to grow Cricket globally

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“Give Associate nations more opportunity to play against Full Members on a more regular basis” : Aaron Finch and Dale Steyn make calls to grow Cricket globally The ongoing T20I World Cup in India and Sri Lanka has been one to remember for Associate nations. USA put the hosts India under the pump in their first match of the World Cup campaign, and the likes of Netherlands, Italy, Nepal have all almost managed to pull off big upsets. However, the story of the tournament has been Zimbabwe who defeated Australia in their group stage encounter, and have booked a place in the Super Eight. Former Australian batter Aaron Finch, and former South African bowler Dale Steyn have made calls for ICC to give more opportunities to the Associate nations. Dale Steyn stated that with the players from Associate nations already playing against the world’s best in domestic T20 Leagues, they are all but ready to take on the big teams on the International stage. “Back in the day, players would go to the IPL to find that kind of experience… at almost an international level,” Steyn observed as quoted by Cricbuzz. “Now in South Africa, it’s much the same. You’re rubbing shoulders with the likes of Phil Salt, Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan… that wasn’t happening before,” Steyn said. Aaron Finch stated that he still believes International cricket is the pinnacle of the game, and he would like to see Associate nations play against Full Members on a more regular basis. Dale Steyn also added that Associate nations often only appear on the big stage during the World Cup, and disappear after that. \ “International cricket still [is] the pinnacle for me. I understand how hard it is getting because of so many T20 leagues popping up and all competing for the same space. But we have to find a way to continue to grow that game globally… giving Associate nations more opportunity to play against Full Members on a more regular basis,” Finch said. “Everybody wants a piece of cricket and the problem is that somebody is going to fall short. And most of the time it’s the guys that need it most that fall short. And then when they come to these World Cups, then we can’t stop waxing lyrical at how good they are. But then for the next two, three years. We don’t see them anywhere,” Steyn said.

Mohsin Naqvi
Cricket

“Bangladesh has been treated unfairly”: Mohsin Naqvi says Pakistan T20I World Cup participation to be decided by government

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“Bangladesh has been treated unfairly”: Mohsin Naqvi says Pakistan T20I World Cup participation to be decided by government A month of standstill between ICC, BCB and BCCI finally came to an end as Bangladesh has been officially replaced by Scotland in Group C of the T20I World Cup. This came after Bangladesh Cricket Board refused to play their matches in India, citing safety concerns following Mustafizur Rehman’s removal from IPL. Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi has lashed out at ICC and BCCI for unfairly treating their Asian neighbor, Bangladesh. Mohsin has also stated that Pakistan’s involvement in the tournament would come down to the Prime Minister’s decision. Mohsin Naqvi slammed the double standards of ICC to favor the BCCI. He argued that if India and Pakistan can play their round-robin matches in Sri Lanka, then an exception could have been made for Bangladesh as well, which Mohsin believes is a major stakeholder in world cricket. “We are waiting for the prime minister to return. Bangladesh has been treated unfairly. I said the same in the board meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC). You cannot have double standards, where one country can make whatever decision whenever and do the total opposite for another country. That is why we have taken the stand that Bangladesh is being treated unfairly and should be allowed to play the World Cup in any case. They are a major stakeholder, and this injustice should not be done. The thing is that Bangladesh is the same member as Pakistan. And our stance is that if you have done this favour with Pakistan and India, then you should do the same with Bangladesh. The main reason for this is that one country cannot dictate to another. And if this dictation is attempted, then Pakistan definitely has its own stance,” he said while speaking to reporters in Lahore as quoted by Dawn. This brings a fresh matter of controversy for the upcoming edition of the T20I World Cup. If Pakistan end up pulling out of the tournament, this would mean that two Asian sides will be replaced in the tournament.

Litton Das
Cricket

“Are you sure we are going to play in the World Cup?” : Litton Das reply leaves fans and reporters guessing about Bangladesh T20I WC involvement

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“Are you sure we are going to play in the World Cup?” : Litton Das reply leaves fans and reporters guessing about Bangladesh T20I WC involvement Bangladesh Cricket Board is currently involved in an ongoing tussle with ICC and BCCI in regards to scheduling of their T20I World Cup matches. With recent developments regarding Mustafizur Rahman’s release from IPL, BCB have demanded ICC to move their matches out of India citing players’ safety. While BCCI maintain their stance that their matches cannot be moved out of India citing logistical issues, there have been several rumors on whether Bangladesh will compete in the T20I World Cup. The T20I World Cup is scheduled to begin in early February, and will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Following the conclusion of their ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) encounter, Litton Das shocked the reporters by stating that there is no official confirmation if his national team will be competing in the event. Controversies have surrounded Bangladesh cricket in the last few weeks, with former BCB Director Nazmul Islam’s comments on the players and their performances leading to widespread boycott, and also brought BPL to a temporary halt. Litton Das also slammed the quality of pitches in the BPL, stating that it is not an ideal preparation for the World Cup. There were reports of Scotland replacing Bangladesh if the Asian side pulls out of the multi-team event in the subcontinent next month. “Are you sure we are going to play in the World Cup? In fact, there is still a long time to go before the World Cup, and we are not even certain whether we will go at all. This is by no means an ideal wicket for T20 cricket. We had expected a much better wicket for a qualifier match,” Litton was quoted as saying by The Daily Star.

Dinesh Karthik
Cricket

“Death bowling is a concern” : Dinesh Karthik on the issues Team Indian must address before the T20I World Cup

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“Death bowling is a concern” : Dinesh Karthik on the issues Team Indian must address before the T20I World Cup Former Indian cricketer Dinesh Karthik pointed out a key area of concern for Team India ahead of the T20I World Cup at home. He stated that Team India are the favorites to defend their World Cup crown, and applauded their performances in the shortest format of the game in the last two years. Team India have won 29 out of the last 36 T20I matches since the last T20I World Cup, which also includes an Asia Cup triumph in September last year. Dinesh Karthik applauded the team’s ability to be so consistent across bilateral series, which also includes victories over Australia away, and South Africa at home. “The Indian team is in a very strong position at the moment. As we sit here, they have won 29 out of the 36 matches they have played in T20 cricket post the World Cup, which is a phenomenal record to have. In a very fickle format like T20, where upsets are the norm, this level of consistency is remarkable. Winning 29 out of the last 36 games they have played is, I feel, very hard to replicate. For starters, it tells you about the strength of the team,” said Karthik on JioStar’s ‘The Experts’ View.’ “They have also played a very good Asia Cup in the recent past and went past Pakistan in the final, beating them three out of three times. If you look at the depth of this group, there’s India, there’s Pakistan, and then there are three associate nations who are still finding their feet at the international level. You would expect India or Pakistan to beat them, but the beauty of this format is that you cannot walk into any game thinking it is going to be easy,” he added. However, Dinesh Karthik was quick to point one issue in the Team India’s setup which is their death bowling. India have the best death bowler in their lineup in the form of Jasprit Bumrah, but given that they play three spinners in their lineup, they are often left with limited pace bowling options. In the last one year, we have often seen the likes of Shivam Dube bowling in the death overs, and also with the new ball. Dinesh Karthik stated that Team India will have to sort out the gaps in their death bowling department, given that they could be put well under pressure when defending scores in the upcoming World Cup. “You lose the toss, you are bowling, and suddenly, you are thinking this could be challenging at the back end. You need to get an above-par score to give yourself a chance to defend under dew. So, I would say India are in a very good place,” said Karthik. “Death bowling is a concern. I think it’s a challenge because of the way they stack up their eleven. When they have played in the subcontinent, they have gone with (Jasprit) Bumrah, Hardik (Pandya) as the second pacer, and Shivam Dube as the third, while backing their spinners heavily. At times, when the game goes deep, especially when they are defending a total, the back end can become a challenge,” he added.

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