SPORTS

March 26 (IANS) The Indian Premier League (IPL) has been pivotal in transforming modern franchise cricket, influencing not only India but also the international scene. Besides its commercial achievements, it serves as a significant platform for showcasing new talent, enhancing the reputation of domestic players, and making many of them well-known worldwide.Every season, a few high-profile players are absent due to injuries or dips in form. This year, too, many players have been ruled out before the start of the tournament, due to injury or availability concerns, forcing the franchises to look for replacements. But several players will be returning to the high-intense setup after having missed the previous edition. With this in mind, here are five players who missed IPL 2025 but are expecte...

Tangier (Morocco), March 26 (IANS) The Indian skeet squad is all set for action as the competition day of the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) Shotgun World Cup Tangier gets underway at the Club Tangérois de Tir in Tangier, Morocco, on Thursday. The opening event of the 2026 season will feature some of the world’s most accomplished shooters participating in a strong field.Day one of the competition will start with 75 targets for both men and women, which will be followed by 50 targets and the final on Sunday. The competitions will begin at 13:30 IST (9 AM local time) and the women's finals will start at 20:30 IST (4 PM local time), followed by the men's finals at 22:00 IST (5:30 PM local time) on Sunday.A highly competitive field consisting of Olympic and World Champions has...

New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Gujarat Titans head into the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season carrying both the weight of high expectations and the fuel of unfinished business after bowing out of the competition in the Eliminator stage last year.Winners in their debut season in 2022 and runners-up in 2023, the franchise will pin its hopes for another title on big names led by Shubman Gill and a batting core that has some vulnerabilities. IANS takes a look at how GT are shaping up ahead of a crucial IPL 2026 season: -Strength: GT’s foundation rests on a batting record that entered the history books last season. In IPL 2025, GT became the first team in the competition's history to have three batters – Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler -- each crossing the 500-run mark in a single season...

New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara is likely to miss out on the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) refused to give him a No Objection Certificate (NOC), following the implementation of a strict new fitness policy, a news report claimed on Thursday.Under the revised regulations, SLC has made it mandatory for players to meet newly introduced physical performance benchmarks before being cleared to participate in overseas franchise leagues, including the IPL and Pakistan Super League (PSL). Thushara’s participation depended on successfully passing these assessments, but he reportedly did not meet the required standards.According to Newswire Sri Lanka, SLC withheld the NOC, a decision that could cost the pacer his contract with Royal ...

New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Following a significant squad overhaul and a strategic tilt toward youth, five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) enter IPL 2026 seeking to achieve their success just like the good old times after finishing at the bottom of the points table last season.The CSK team management moved swiftly to address the failings of 2025, overhauling the squad with a clear eye on both the present and the years beyond after years of wearing the ‘Dad’s Army’ tag.The biggest statement of intent was the acquisition of wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson via trade, along with youngsters Prashant Veer and Kartik Sharma, snapped for Rs 14 crore each at the auction. IANS takes a look at how CSK are shaping up for IPL 2026, where all eyes will be on their redemption story.Strength: The...

Bengaluru, March 26 (IANS) England’s young batter Jacob Bethell has expressed admiration for the passionate fan base of Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), revealing that he could hear chants for the team even during a tense moment in the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal against India at the Wankhede Stadium.Bethell, who represents RCB, said the chants stood out during a quiet phase in the stadium when England were pushing hard in the chase. “I definitely heard a few RCB chants when the whole of the Wankhede was silent, which, I found remarkable, I guess that just shows the support,” he said in a video shared by the franchise on X.The 22-year-old produced a sensational innings in the semifinal, smashing 105 off just 48 deliveries and bringing England close ...

New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Banking on a mix of familiar players and fresh recruits, Delhi Capitals look stronger than ever to end their long wait for an Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Despite a strong start last year by winning their first four matches, DC faltered in the second half of the campaign and finished fifth to miss out on the playoffs for the fourth successive time. When the 2026 season gets underway on March 28, DC will be aiming to finally break their playoffs hoodoo and go all the way to that elusive silverware. IANS does a SWOT analysis of DC, one of IPL’s perennial trophy contenders, who have often promised much but fallen short when it mattered most.Strength: DC has the most formidable spin bowling attack in IPL 2026. At the heart of that confidence is Kuldeep Yadav. T...

New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has picked his playing 12 for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which is set to commence on March 28. LSG, which finished in seventh position last season, made a lot of changes to their squad ahead of IPL 2026. LSG improved their bowling, which was under attack in IPL 2025, by adding Mohammad Shami and Arjun Tendulkar through trade and purchasing Wanindu Hasaranga and Anrich Nortje in the Auction. Despite reports claiming that captain Rishabh Pant can open the innings for the team, Pathan suggested that LSG should not alter the Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh opening pair, who performed well in the last year.According to the former all-rounder, Pant is best suited for the number 3 position, as it will gi...

Mumbai, March 26 (IANS) The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the schedule for senior men’s international home matches for the 2026-27 season, which features an exciting, action-packed schedule with four visiting teams, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, and Australia, across multiple formats. The Men in Blue will play 22 international matches across 17 cities, giving fans nationwide the chance to see top-tier international cricket.Notably, the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is set to host international games for the first time since October 2024, when India played New Zealand in the third Test of a five-match series. The Karnataka State Cricket Association announced on Saturday that the venue had received the government’s permission to host Indian Premier Leagu...

Wellington, March 26 (IANS) New Zealand women’s captain Amelia Kerr and men’s fast bowler Jacob Duffy took the top honours at the 2026 New Zealand Cricket Awards on Thursday. While Amelia won an unprecedented fourth straight Debbie Hockley Medal, Duffy claimed the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal. Amelia led her side to a third straight Super Smash crown and topped New Zealand’s T20I run charts with 354 runs at an average of 70, also finishing second in wickets. She was also named Women’s T20I Player of the Year.“Quite simply, we’re talking about a dominant force in every facet of the game, and one of the most influential players in women’s cricket history,” said Debbie as she presented the medal to Amelia.Duffy, 31, had a prolific time in Tests, taking 25 wickets at an average of 16, including th...