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IPL 2026 | Never felt I was under more pressure due to price tag: Green

admin — Sat, 09 May 2026 12:07:00 +0000

Kolkata Knight Riders player Cameron Green in action during the Indian Premier League 2026 Twenty20 cricket match against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on May 08, 2026.
| Photo Credit: SHASHI SHEKHAR KASHYAP

As the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) most expensive overseas recruit ever at ₹25.2 crore, Australia’s Cameron Green had many more eyeballs fixed on his exploits for Kolkata Knight Riders this season.

A patchy start to the tournament, coupled with KKR’s streak of losses, meant Green was in the firing line, but the all-rounder from Perth — an imposing presence at 6’6” — has got better as the competition has progressed.

The 26-year-old has contributed 232 runs and four wickets in 10 matches for the three-time champion. While he would have certainly liked to make more of an impact, he hasn’t felt any additional pressure because of his price tag.

A night of sheer dominance @KKRiders chase down the with 34 deliveries to spare and make it 4⃣ wins on the trot

Scorecard https://t.co/NaWLphmJKY #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #DCvKKR pic.twitter.com/e3cpW0J2Xq

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 8, 2026

“The support staff never put any pressure on me. They have been awesome to me since day one. I was never made to feel that there was any extra pressure compared to anyone else,” Green said after Knight Riders defeated Delhi Capitals on Friday (May 8, 2026).

“There’s always pressure on the international guys. You have to be performing at all times because the guys on the bench are also ready to go. But, no, I’ll probably have the support staff to thank for that.”

KKR’s hopes of reaching the playoffs appeared derailed when it went winless in its first six matches. Now, a run of four victories on the trot has given Ajinkya Rahane and Co. a fresh lease of life. Asked for his view on the resurgence, Green argued that the belief was always intact.

“I didn’t think the belief was ever gone. We’ve had a really good culture this whole tournament,” he opined.

Published – May 09, 2026 05:37 pm IST

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IPL 2026 | DC grapples with wide variance in home pitches

admin — Wed, 06 May 2026 12:02:00 +0000

Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel, right, and coach Hemang Badani during the IPL T20 match against Chennai Super Kings at the Arun Jaitley cricket stadium in New Delhi on May 05, 2026.
| Photo Credit: R.V. MOORTHY

Comfort has eluded Delhi Capitals at home in IPL’s 19th edition. The Axar Patel-led franchise has won just one out of five matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. On its visits to other venues, it has fared much better, notching up three wins in five games.

Contributing to the travails at home has been the large deviation in the nature of surfaces, hindering DC from cultivating a consistent style of play in its backyard.

The last three matches in the national capital make for pertinent examples. Having engaged in a run-fest against Punjab Kings on a featherbed where Shreyas Iyer’s side chased down a record 265 on April 25, 2026, Capitals’ duel against Royal Challengers Bengaluru just two days later swung to the other extreme.

Woke up, chose swing, and completely dismantled the batting

Describe Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s phenomenal opening spell in just one word

Updates https://t.co/HIiNNEutP0 #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #DCvRCB | @RCBTweets pic.twitter.com/7GrRElK5QZ

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 27, 2026

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood extracted swing and seam movement, reducing the host to eight for six inside four overs. DC folded up for 75 and lost by nine wickets.

On Tuesday (May 5, 2026) night, the strip in use was on the slower side. DC’s batters couldn’t adapt quickly enough, allowing Chennai Super Kings to register an eight-wicket victory.

DC head coach Hemang Badani conceded that the lack of homogeneity with the pitches at home wasn’t ideal. At the same time, the 49-year-old explicitly stated that the franchises didn’t have a role in the preparation of pitches.

A dominant outing for @ChennaiIPL in Delhi to chase down the with 1⃣5⃣ deliveries to spare

Scorecard https://t.co/f1bRZthndy #TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #DCvCSK pic.twitter.com/yL1HzbE5H5

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 5, 2026

“We don’t have any control over the surfaces. There is a clear mandate from the BCCI that it looks after the surfaces and it is the one which ensures that no local side benefits. You play on what is presented to you,” Badani told reporters.

“Yes, it’s been a bit of an up-and-down curve for us to understand what we are going to get in Delhi. I think the whole competition is quite neutral that way. But ideally, yes, you want to have some consistency.”

Published – May 06, 2026 05:32 pm IST

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IPL 2026 | The angle of invention: how Kamboj answered CSK’s death-bowler SOS

admin — Sun, 03 May 2026 12:10:00 +0000

CSK’s Anshul Kamboj bowling against DC during the TATA IPL 2026 cricket match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk in Chennai on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
| Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

The adage ‘necessity is the mother of invention’ stands true for Anshul Kamboj and his emergence as a bankable death-bowler.

From bowling just three deliveries in overs 16 to 20 in his first two IPL seasons to being the first to take 10 wickets in that phase in the 2026 edition, Kamboj’s evolution has come at the right time for Chennai Super Kings.

Published – May 03, 2026 05:40 pm IST

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T20 WORLD CUP | What secrets does the under-cover Wankhede pitch hold?

admin — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 15:36:00 +0000

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, head coach Gautam Gambhir and Ramesh Mhamunkar, chief curator of Wankhede Stadium, near the playing surface on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI

Twenty-four days after launching its Men’s T20 World Cup title defence with a scratchy win over the United States, Suryakumar Yadav’s men returned to the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday night — this time with a semifinal against England looming large.

As the Indian squad went through its fielding drills under lights, the curators quietly covered the 22-yard strip that will dictate fortunes on Thursday. Two days out, the surface wore a greener look than is customary at the Wankhede — even by First-Class standards, let alone a T20 International.

With temperatures climbing steadily over the past fortnight, the decision to retain a healthy grass cover was understandable, a protective measure to prevent the pitch from drying out and breaking up. The pertinent question now is how much of that grass will be shaved off before match time.

Interestingly, while head coach Gautam Gambhir took a close look at the strip before it was covered, none of the Indian players ambled across to inspect it. Perhaps they are content to wait until match day, drawing cues from the two fixtures already played on this surface earlier in the tournament.

The red-soiled surface slated for Thursday’s semifinal was used for England’s clash against West Indies on February 11 and the Italy-Nepal game the following day. On both occasions, it offered assistance to spinners, particularly as the games progressed. Yet, much has changed since then — not least the weather and the stakes.

India’s preference for truer, flatter decks has been indulged through the Super Eights. Whether that pattern continues at the semifinal stage remains to be seen. For now, beneath the covers and the coastal humidity, the Wankhede strip holds its secrets close — waiting to reveal them on the biggest night of India’s campaign.

Published – March 03, 2026 09:06 pm IST

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Jansen banks on variation, improvisation

admin — Sun, 15 Feb 2026 21:13:00 +0000

South Africa’s Marco Jansen during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between New Zealand and South Africa, at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad, on February 14, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The ability to generate pace and bounce is Marco Jansen’s natural gift, but the 6.8-feet-tall pacer’s subtler variations are a result of improvisation and relentless training.

Jansen dug deep into his bag of tricks and pulled out a delivery that he developed on his own to take the sting out of New Zealand’s innings in their T20 World Cup contest on Saturday (February 14, 2026). On the face of it, it was a slower delivery that induced Mark Chapman’s leading edge to the backward point fielder.

“It is not a knuckleball, but it is not a back-of-the-hand palm ball either. It is a mixture of the two. If I bowl the knuckleball, you can see my knuckles. So, I specialised my own version,” Jansen said.

“For me, it was about getting another ball in my arsenal, so I would not get hit for a six.”

Necessity is indeed the mother of invention.

Published – February 16, 2026 03:50 am IST

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CRICKET | My role is to take the game deep and finish things off: Smaran

admin — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:50:00 +0000

Karnataka’s Smaran in action during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy cricket match against Uttarakhand at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

Format, opposition, conditions — nothing seems to matter to R. Smaran in his current vein of form. The Karnataka batter continued his prolific run with a career-best 67 (41b, 7×4, 2×6) — his second T20 fifty — to set up a successful chase of 198 against Uttarakhand in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament here on Wednesday. Karnataka got home with five wickets to spare.

Smaran later reflected that coming into the tournament on the back of a heavy run-scoring Ranji season helps, allowing him to “carry over the confidence” and have a positive start to the campaign.

The 22-year-old explained that his role in the T20 setup is “very simple” — “to take the game deep and finish things off.”

A compact, clean-hitting batter, Smaran is especially strong against spin, using his long levers to access both sides of the wicket. He displayed it against leg-spinner Himanshu Bish, launching two towering sixes down the ground. There were no funky strokes in his knock — just pure, orthodox ball-striking.

“You need to get your basics right in order to get those big hits. But I think I’m not a guy who can straight away go in and get those big hits. That is something I’m trying to work on — to get going from ball one,” he said.

He added that he’s been working on playing the reverse sweep. “Both point and short third will be in (inside the circle) for the spinners. And I think if you get that shot right, it straightaway puts pressure on the bowler.”

Published – November 26, 2025 08:20 pm IST

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England wins rain-affected T20 World Cup match and must sweat on Scotland

admin — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 00:35:00 +0000

: Harry Brook of England hits a six as he bats during the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 match between Namibia and England at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on June 15, 2024 in Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

England’s defense of the Twenty20 World Cup title lived on for a few more hours after a must-win over Namibia in a rain-affected match on June 15.

To reach the Super Eight, England first had to beat Namibia in their maiden T20 matchup. Persistent showers almost ruined the chance, but the match started three hours late and was reduced to 11 overs, then 10 overs after another heavy shower.

England was made to bat first and rallied to 122-5.

Namibia, given a rain-adjusted target of 126, managed only 84-3 and lost by 41 runs.

England did what it had to, then had to wait a few more hours and hope Scotland lost to Australia in Saint Lucia to be sure of advancing from Group B.

England was anxious for most of the day, thanks to the weather. It had already suffered one washout — its opener against Scotland — and a second washout in four group games would have sent it home.

Because of what was at stake, the umpires waited as long as possible at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium to get play underway.

England lost the plot early. Only one run was taken from the opening over bowled by 39-year-old David Wiese, captain Jos Buttler was bowled for a duck by fast bowler Ruben Trumpelmann, and Wiese returned to nick out the other opener, Phil Salt.

England was 13-2 after 13 balls.

Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook counterattacked. Bairstow made 31 off 18 balls just before the last rain delay. Brook finished with an unbeaten 47 off 20, and had late support from Moeen Ali and Liam Livingstone, who both contributed to taking 21 runs off the last over.

Namibia’s chase was relatively fast but not fast enough. Opener Michael van Lingen, after 33 off 29, was pulled out under the pretense of retiring hurt, and Wiese inserted to up the run rate. He duly delivered 27 off 12 but it was too late.

India washout

The India-Canada game in Florida was abandoned without a ball bowled.

The outfield in Broward County Stadium was too wet for play, and the match was called off only an hour after its scheduled morning start.

While there was light rain on Saturday morning, the outfield was damp from Friday showers which led to a second straight abandoned game at the venue. The United States-Ireland game on Friday never started. Pakistan and Ireland are scheduled to play at the ground on Sunday.

While the teams waited for a decision, India’s Rishabh Pant and coach Rahul Dravid went to the boundary to sign autographs, and Virat Kohli posed with some of the Canada players.

Unbeaten India had already qualified for the Super Eight as the Group A winner. Canada finished group play with only a precious win over Ireland.

India starts the Super Eight against Afghanistan on Thursday in Barbados.

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Women’s Premier League | Chaffing at its last-place finish Giants opt for wholesale changes

admin — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 12:56:31 +0000

D. Hemalatha is among the few to have been retained by Gujarat Giants. Here she is seen in action during WPL Match between UP Warriors and Gujarat Giants held at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on 20/03/23.
| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI

Gujarat Giants looks keen to make some significant changes for the second edition of the Women’s Premier League, with the franchise heading the list for releasing the highest number of players.

Giants, which finished at the bottom of the five-team league last year, has released 11 players, while the runner-up Delhi Capitals has let go just three. The champion Mumbai Indians has released four.

Also read | Women’s cricket has finally arrived in India in its full glory!

In all, 29 players have been released by the franchises, while 60, including 21 from abroad, have been retained. The biggest names released are Megan Schutt (Royals Challengers Bangalore) and Shabnim Ismail (UP Warriorz).

One of the big names to get the axe, Megan Schutt of Royal Challengers Bangalore, during match sixteen of the Women’s Premier League between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Gujarat Giants held at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on the 18th March 2023.
| Photo Credit:
Sportzpics

In the mini auction, likely to be held in December, Giants will have the largest purse of Rs. 5.95 crore, followed by Warriorz (Rs. 4 crore), RCB (Rs. 3.35 crore), Capitals (Rs. 2.25 crore) and MI (Rs. 2.1 crore).

Also read | Data | Women’s Premier League is no stroke of luck but a hard-fought win

The teams have been talent-scouting at the various domestic tournaments, including ones for juniors. The WPL is likely to start in mid-February.

The list: Delhi Capitals: Retained: Alice Capsey*, Arundhati Reddy, Jemimah Rodrigues, Jess Jonassen*, Laura Harris*, Marizanne Kapp*, Meg Lanning*, Minnu Mani, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav, Shafali Verma, Shikha Pandey, Sneha Deepthi, Taniya Bhatia and Titas Sadhu.

Released: Aparna Mondal, Jasia Akhter and Tara Norris*.

Gujarat Giants: Retained: Ashleigh Gardner*, Beth Mooney*, D. Hemalatha, Harleen Deol, Laura Wolvaardt*, Shabnam Shakil, Sneh Rana and Tanuja Kanwar.

Released: Annabel Sutherland*, Ashwani Kumari, Georgia Wareham*, Hurley Gala, Kim Garth*, Mansi Joshi, Monica Patel, Parunika Sisodia, Sabbineni Meghana, Sophia Dunkley* and Sushma Verma.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZgG3xmu_Hg

Mumbai Indians: Retained: Amanjot Kaur, Amelia Kerr*, Chloe Tryon*, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews*, Humairaa Kaazi, Isabelle Wong*, Jintimani Kalita, Natalie Sciver*, Pooja Vastrakar, Priyanka Bala, Saika Ishaque and Yastika Bhatia

Released: Dhara Gujjar, Heather Graham*, Neelam Bisht and Sonam Yadav.

Also read | Winning crucial moments key to Mumbai Indians’ success in WPL, says captain Harmanpreet Kaur

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Retained: Asha Shobana, Disha Kasat, Ellyse Perry*, Heather Knight*, Indrani Roy, Kanika Ahuja, Renuka Singh, Richa Ghosh, Shreyanka Patil, Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine*.

Released: Dane Van Niekerk*, Erin Burns*, Komal Zanzad, Megan Schutt*, Poonam Khemnar, Preeti Bose, Sahana Pawar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HajaYeOMIwc

UP Warriorz: Retained: Alyssa Healy*, Anjali Sarvani, Deepti Sharma, Grace Harris*, Kiran Navgire, Lauren Bell*, Laxmi Yadav, Parshavi Chopra, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, S. Yashasri, Shweta Sehrawat, Sophie Ecclestone* and Tahlia Mcgrath*.

Released: Devika Vaidya, Shabnim Ismail*, Shivali Shinde and Simran Shaikh.

(* overseas players)

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