Kapil Dev throws a quick glance at the bat and ball placed at the entrance of the Madras Management Association’s auditorium. They are a photo prop — for the members attending the launch of popular banker Shyam Srinivasan’s latest book, Better Never Stops, a part-memoir, part-practical leadership primer published by WYZR Books (Rs 495).

If not for the teeming autograph hunters and selfie seekers, Kapil might have been tempted to bowl a couple of yorkers or smash a few sixes.

The 67-year-old lanky cricketing legend has seen the highest of highs in the sport; the 1983 World Cup win being the peak. He is currently associated with another sport — golf — which he plays passionately.

Deep down, Kapil remains the boy who once loved hitting the grounds of Chandigarh with a bat and ball in hand.

“People like us… we know only thing: how to play. If we had it our way, we would be playing some kind of sport from childhood till death,” he says, “When we are born, our parents give us a bat and ball to play something, but once we turn six or seven, they take it back and replace it with a pencil to concentrate on education.”

A huge cheerleader for sporting activities, Kapil is peeved about India’s obsession with cricket. “I’m saying this despite being a cricketer myself and fully knowing the love and affection it fetched me,” he smiles, “As a nation, we give 99% to cricket. It’s unfair. Other sports should also get recognition…only then will the nation grow.”

Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev with author Shyam Srinivasan at the book launch of ‘Better Never Stops’ in the Madras Management Association auditorium, Chennai
| Photo Credit:
VELANKANNI RAJ B

The show goes on

Kapil is a content sportsman today, even as he speaks words of motivation at corporate events and sporting functions. When he is not travelling or playing golf, he enjoys watching movies.

“I grew up watching Amitabh Bachchan saab’s films and styling myself on his looks in the films,” recalls Kapil. Today, thanks to technology and the advent of OTT platforms, Kapil likes catching up on the dubbed versions of South Indian superhits too. “Baahubali was great, and I love watching Allu Arjun’s films too,” says Kapil, mimicking the trademark Pushpa beard-stroke swagger, “They make some people larger than life, but that’s how cinema works in this part of the world.”

Cricket, however, is never entirely out of his system — despite his own admission that he watches only “5% of the matches today”. Like most followers of IPL 2026, Kapil too is full of praise for young sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. “At the moment, he is a special talent, without doubt. But we have to give him time. He is very young and does not know anything other than cricket. Once he gets to know more about life, things might be different.”

A file photo of India captain Kapil Dev lifting the 1983 World Cup trophy on June 23, 1983 in London, England.
| Photo Credit:
Adrian Murrel/Getty Images

Blast from the past

Kapil can be credited for the obsession India has with cricket today. Leading India, the historic World Cup win in 1983 is considered the greatest triumph of the underdog that cricket has ever seen, heralding a young generation of Indian cricket players and enthusiasts. Apart from instilling self belief in the team, Kapil’s crucial batting knock when they were on the verge of elimination (175 against Zimbabwe) and iconic catch (to dismiss Viv Richards in the final) remains the highlight of his glittering career.

So, what was he telling himself when the chips were down? “It’s a story other people will tell better than me,” he says, “When you are in it, you don’t remember it as vividly as people watching it. It was my day, and I’m happy that I won the tournament for India.”

Is there a life lesson he has for people? “Never ever give up. The moment you give up, you are dead.”

Much of the work had been done by K.L. Rahul and Pathum Nissanka with their century stand for the opening wicket, but Delhi Capitals still needed somebody to finish the job, in its desperate bid to end a losing streak and to keep itself in contention in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

Ashutosh Sharma put his hand up. His unbeaten 25 off 15 balls, and his unbroken fourth-wicket partnership of 49 with Tristan Stubbs, helped Capitals score a seven-wicket victory against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium here on Friday (May 1, 2026) night.

Delhi Capitals pacer Kyle Jamieson has been handed one demerit point for giving a fiery send-off to Rajasthan Royals teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi during their Indian Premier League match here.

“Kyle Jamieson has accumulated one Demerit Point and received a warning for breaching Level 1 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct for Players and Team Officials during Match No. 43 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur,” an IPL statement read.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the youngest player, and the fastest by balls faced, to ​complete 1,000 runs in Twenty20 cricket as the 15-year-old ‌smashed a 36-ball century in the Indian ​Premier League on Saturday (April 25, 2026).

Suryavanshi hit 12 ⁠sixes and five boundaries as he completed his second century in the IPL, shortly after reaching 1,000 runs ‌in T20 cricket, having faced just 473 balls in the format.

While watching the cricket ball being ill-treated with such consistency in the IPL we could forget that cricket is meant to be a form of conversation. It would be a pity if one side stopped speaking. A total of 300 seems to be just around the corner, with nearly every side capable of that score.

As often happens in sport, once a barrier is broken by one performer, others quickly follow. It took just 46 days for Roger Bannister’s first sub-four minute mile record to be broken.

To call Vaibhav Suryavanshi the talk of the T20 circuit is quite an understatement. After showing flashes of promise last IPL, he has taken a giant leap forward this season, and the numbers reflect it emphatically.

Having scored 252 runs in seven innings in IPL 2025, he has taken just four games to reach 200 runs in this edition. His Rajasthan Royals teammate Tushar Deshpande believes the secret to his success lies in his mental strength.

These are still early days in IPL 2026. Teams are still working out their strengths, figuring out weaknesses and honing in on a winning strategy.

For Rajasthan Royals, this opening assessment has been a satisfying exercise, having won its first two games. The latest of those triumphs saw the side outlast Gujarat Titans by six runs in a high-scoring thriller, with pacer Tushar Deshpande delivering a nerveless final over.

On Tuesday, the Royals will have their cricketing faculties further examined as they host Mumbai Indians at the Barsapara Stadium here.

The opening salvo, though, hasn’t been a satisfactory one for MI. After bettering Kolkata Knight Riders in its first game, the five-time champion stumbled against Delhi Capitals in the second.

The much-vaunted MI batting line-up fell flat against the Capitals, as it eked out a below-par total of 162, which was overhauled with ease.

MI sorely missed the presence of skipper Hardik Pandya, who sat out of the game due to illness. Luckily for MI, the Indian all-rounder has recovered and will return to lead the side against the Royals, as confirmed by bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.

Meanwhile, Riyan Parag has enjoyed a fruitful start to his stint as the Royals’ full-time captain. The 24-year-old’s on-field calls, particularly with bowling choices, have been sharp and game-clinching.

The centre of attention in the Royals line-up, though, is teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The left-handed opener has batted with unbridled confidence, whipping up stormy starts in both games of the season.

If there is a sub-plot to look out for on Tuesday, it could be the potential first-ever in-game meeting between Suryavanshi and Jasprit Bumrah. The enticing prospect of the high-on-confidence 15-year-old going up against arguably the best bowler of this generation will only add sparkle to an already exciting contest.

Rajasthan Royals’ batting coach Vikram Rathour on Friday (April 3, 2026) reiterated his belief in Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s exceptional potential, describing the 15-year-old as a “very, very special player” who continues to justify the hype around him.

“He is a very, very special player. That’s what I believed last year as well. He has done really well post-IPL last year. He is still looking very good, working hard, and playing some really good cricket,” Rathour said on the eve of his team’s clash against Gujarat Titans (GT).

He also underlined the importance of the current season in Suryavanshi’s development. “It’s going to be an important season for him, but his mind is in the right space. He’s working really hard.”

Addressing how the franchise is managing expectations around the young batter, Rathour emphasised simplicity over needless tinkering. “Having loads of conversations with him. One thing that really stands out is that he is very calm. He is very relaxed. I know there’s a lot of attention on him. He’s really not under pressure. He enjoys playing, he enjoys hitting sixes. He loves his batting.”

GT assistant coach Aashish Kapoor backed Jos Buttler to rediscover his best, calling the England star a “top player” who is “on the right path” after a brief lean patch. “It’s a matter of one innings,” he said, stressing Buttler’s pride and hunger to return to form.

He also praised pacer Ashok Sharma as a “terrific talent,” highlighting his fearlessness despite being hit on his IPL debut against Punjab Kings. “He wanted the ball at any stage — that’s what matters,” Kapoor noted.

He added the current XI is “more or less” the ideal combination, with minor tweaks likely if results don’t go the team’s way.

The 14-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who has taken the cricket world by storm with his audacious stroke-play, and seven-year-old chess prodigy Vaka Lakshmi Pragnika were among a host of children who were on Friday (December 26, 2025) conferred with the prestigious Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar by President Droupadi Murmu.

Swimming sensation Dhinidhi Desinghu was also among the recipients of the award given for exceptional achievements in the field of sports, bravery, social service and environment.

Just a few days back, Suryavanshi slammed 190 runs off 84 deliveries, studded with 16 fours and 15 sixes, for Bihar against Arunachal Pradesh in a Vijay Hazare Trophy Plate group match in Ranchi.

With that effort, he became the youngest male cricketer to score a century in List A cricket at just 14 years and 272 days. He reached the three-figure mark off just 36 balls.

Suryavanshi’s unprecedented batting saw Bihar pile up 574 for 6, the highest total ever recorded in List A cricket.

Earlier in the year, Suryavanshi became the youngest centurion in men’s T20 cricket when he smashed 101 off 38 balls for Rajasthan Royals against Gujarat Titans an IPL game in Jaipur. His hundred, which came off 35 deliveries, was the second-fastest in IPL history.

The India U-19 cricketer had slammed a century in a four-day game against Australia Under-19 this year.

Hailing from Surat in Gujarat, Pragnika won the Under-7 Girls title at the 2025 FIDE World Schools Chess Championship in Serbia, where she scored a perfect 9 out of 9 points.

Karnataka swimmer Dhinidhi had qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics in women’s 200m freestyle, becoming the country’s youngest athlete at the quadrennial showpiece.

She has won seven gold medals at the National Games in Goa and also participated in the World Championships in Doha.