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As the IPL 2026 auction approaches on December 16 in Abu Dhabi, the Mumbai Indians (MI) are aiming to strengthen an already formidable lineup. The five-time champions are widely regarded as one of the most dangerous teams in the tournament, sharing the title of most successful IPL team with Chennai Super Kings.Last season, MI fell short in Qualifiers 2 against Punjab Kings, despite a stellar batting display by Shreyas Iyer. A slow start, including four losses in their first five matches due to Jasprit Bumrah missing early games, challenged the team. However, with Bumrah’s return, MI won six consecutive matches to qualify for the playoffs. Their 2025 win percentage of 56.2% was a significant improvement over the 28.6% in 2024, when they finished last in the points table.Squad Reshuffling ...

New Delhi: Jharkhand pulled off the biggest successful chase in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), chasing down a target of 236 runs against Punjab in a thrilling Super League Group A encounter on Friday.Salil Arora’s Century Goes in Vain:For Punjab, Salil Arora delivered a spectacular innings, scoring 125 runs off 45 balls, including 9 fours and 11 sixes. He reached his century in just 39 balls, helping Punjab post a challenging 235/6 in 20 overs, despite losing two early wickets at 28 runs. Arora’s explosive performance, particularly his aggressive strokeplay against left-arm pacer Sushant Mishra, is likely to attract IPL franchises in the upcoming mini-auction. However, captain Prabhsimran Singh took on wicketkeeping duties that day, with Arora primarily focusing on his batting....

New Delhi: After India’s defeat against South Africa in the second T20 International, team captain Suryakumar Yadav described the loss as part of a learning process and expressed disappointment over key batsmen not taking responsibility.Speaking after the match, Yadav said, “Yes, this is a learning process. We just need to learn and move forward. There was some dew, and if our first plan didn’t work, we should have had a second plan, but we didn’t follow through.” He added that the team observed South Africa’s bowling in the second innings and will use these insights to perform better in the next game.Top-Order Batsmen Need to Shoulder ResponsibilityYadav admitted that the top-order batsmen should not have relied entirely on Abhishek Sharma. He said, “I feel that Shubman Gill and I...

Brisbane: Australia’s left-arm pace spearhead Mitchell Starc continues his sensational form in the Ashes. After dismissing Zak Crawley in the first over of both innings in the opening Test at Perth, Starc has once again struck in the very first over of the second Test at the Gabba—this time removing England opener Ben Duckett for a golden duck.First-ball dismissal for DuckettEngland captain Ben Stokes opted to bat first after winning the toss, but Starc immediately put Australia on top. Delivering a full, away-swinging ball, the left-armer forced Duckett into a tentative defensive push. The ball caught the outside edge and flew straight to Marnus Labuschagne at first slip. Duckett walked back without scoring, falling on the very first ball he faced.Starc’s unmatched first-over ...

Lucknow | December 3, 2025: Mumbai registered a commanding 98-run victory over Assam in their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 group-stage encounter, courtesy of a blistering century from Sarfaraz Khan and a sensational five-wicket haul by skipper Shardul Thakur.Sarfaraz Khan Smashes 47-Ball CenturyAssam captain Riyan Parag won the toss and opted to bowl first, a decision that backfired spectacularly. Mumbai posted a massive 220/4 in 20 overs, powered by an explosive knock from Sarfaraz Khan.Sarfaraz hammered an unbeaten 100 off just 47 balls, striking 8 fours and 7 sixes at a remarkable strike rate of 212.77. His aggressive strokeplay dismantled Assam’s bowling attack and set up a daunting target.Shardul Thakur’s Fiery Spell Destroys AssamChasing 221, Assam crumbled under pressure and were ...

Cricket matches between India and Pakistan are always high-voltage affairs, capturing the imagination of fans across the subcontinent. While India has dominated in recent years, there was a moment when Pakistan gained the upper hand—most memorably during the 2021 T20 World Cup.In that tournament, Pakistan achieved their first-ever World Cup win against India, defeating them by 10 wickets in Dubai. Pakistan chased down India’s target of 152 runs without losing a wicket, finishing the match with 13 balls to spare. Captain Babar Azam scored an unbeaten 68 runs, while Mohammad Rizwan contributed a brilliant 79-run innings. India, meanwhile, was eliminated in the group stage, whereas Pakistan advanced to the semifinals.A Victory to RememberBabar Azam recently made his return to the T20 ...

New Delhi: The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 auction concluded with 67 players being bought by five franchises, including 23 international stars. A total of 277 players—194 Indians and 83 foreigners—were part of the bidding. While many top players secured contracts, several international stars surprisingly went unsold. Here’s a look at five such players whose performances speak volumes in international cricket:1. Tazmin Brits (South Africa)Opening batter for South Africa, Tazmin Brits has scored 1,719 runs in Women’s T20 Internationals at an average above 32, including 14 fifties in 65 innings. Despite her impressive record, no franchise picked her in the WPL 2026 auction.2. Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka)Sri Lanka’s captain and one of the finest all-rounders in women’s...

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 Mega Auction is all set for 27th November, with every franchise preparing to bid for 73 players to complete their squads. Ahead of the auction, each team has kept aside a substantial budget to secure the players they want, and cricket fans are eager to see if any new salary records will be set.After India’s triumph in the 2025 Women’s World Cup, the popularity of women’s cricket is at an all-time high, and this auction promises plenty of excitement. A total of 277 players – including 194 Indians and 83 overseas stars – are in the fray. Of these, 52 Indian and 66 foreign players are internationals, but only 73 players will finally be secured through the auction.Here’s what you need to know before the WPL 2026 Mega Auction:1. Team Budgets: Wh...

New Delhi: The wedding of Indian women’s cricket vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and singer-director Palaash Muchhal, originally scheduled for Sunday in Sangli, Maharashtra, was postponed after a sudden health scare involving Smriti’s father, Srinivas Mandhana.Father Now Out of DangerSrinivas Mandhana was admitted to a hospital in Sangli after his health deteriorated unexpectedly during breakfast on Sunday. Doctors performed an angiography, which confirmed there were no blockages, and his condition is now stable and out of danger. He was discharged on Tuesday.Wedding Postponed at Smriti’s RequestAccording to Smriti’s manager, Tuhin Mishra, the decision to postpone the wedding was made by Smriti herself. She prioritized her father’s recovery over the celebrations, stating that she want...

As excitement builds ahead of the IPL 2026 season, all ten franchises have finalized their retentions before the upcoming mini-auction. The spotlight remains firmly on Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant, who continues to hold the title of the most expensive player in IPL history with a staggering ₹27 crore price tag.Reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who lifted their maiden trophy in IPL 2025, have also retained their core group, while other teams have made strategic decisions to strengthen their squads ahead of the auction.Below is the complete list of the most expensive retained players of IPL 2026:Most Expensive Players Retained for IPL 2026TeamPlayerSalaryLucknow Super Giants (LSG)Rishabh Pant₹27 crorePunjab Kings (PBKS)Shreyas Iyer₹26.75 cror...