Syed Mushtaq Ali

The BCCI has announced the 2026-27 domestic cricket schedule, featuring 1,788 matches across various men's and women's categories. The Ranji Trophy will continue its two-phase format, commencing on October 11, while the Duleep Trophy kicks off the season on August 23. Notable changes include the U-23 one-day and Vizzy Trophy inter-zonal university competitions shifting to T20 format.

Devdutt Padikkal lauded teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a "rare talent," deeming any attempt to replicate his unique batting style "foolish." Sooryavanshi's explosive 93 off 38 balls made him the youngest to score 500+ T20 runs in a season, surpassing Padikkal's previous record. Both left-handers have been impactful players for their franchises.

Ravi Singh debuts for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL against Delhi Capitals. The uncapped Railways batter replaces Ravindra Jadeja. Singh was bought for ₹95 lakh and impressed in domestic T20s. He is known for his aggressive batting. Rajasthan Royals hopes he makes an immediate impact as they push for the playoffs.

Prince Yadav’s maiden India ODI call-up caps a remarkable rise in Indian cricket. From playing tennis-ball cricket in Najafgarh he has taken the long route to the national side. Spotted by coach Amit Vashishtha because of his yorkers and backed despite multiple setbacks, including a two-year ban for age fudging, Prince has now earned a place in India’s squad for the ODI series against Afghanistan.

All-rounder Vijay Shankar has announced his retirement from all Indian domestic cricket and the IPL, concluding a career that saw him represent India in ODIs and T20Is, including the 2019 World Cup. Shankar, who played 12 ODIs and 9 T20Is, expressed gratitude for his journey and plans to explore new opportunities in cricket.

Sunil Gavaskar proposes rewarding bowlers with an extra over for taking three or more wickets in their spell, aiming to rebalance T20 cricket heavily favouring batters. He believes this encourages attacking bowling, citing recent high-scoring IPL matches as evidence of the need for change. Gavaskar suggests testing the idea in domestic tournaments first.

Urvil Patel delivered an explosive IPL start against LSG, becoming the first to hit six sixes in his first eight balls and reaching a 13-ball fifty. His 65 off 23 balls also secured the highest strike rate for a CSK batter facing at least 20 balls, showcasing his game-changing ability.

Urvil Patel etched his name in IPL history by smashing a 13-ball half-century for Chennai Super Kings against Lucknow Super Giants. This explosive innings equalled Yashasvi Jaiswal's record for the fastest fifty in the tournament. Patel, a 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Gujarat, has a proven track record of rapid scoring in domestic cricket.

Saurabh Dubey’s selection as Kolkata Knight Riders’ injury replacement raised eyebrows after the left-arm pacer spent over two years out of competitive cricket. But KKR’s faith in the former net bowler is beginning to pay off. After impressive spells against Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians, including wickets of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, Dubey has emerged as one of the surprise stories of KKR’s season.

Gujarat Titans' Ashok Sharma has become IPL 2026's breakout star, consistently bowling over 150 kph and even recording the tournament's fastest delivery at 154.2 kph. Inspired by legends like Brett Lee and Dale Steyn, the 23-year-old credits coach Ashish Nehra for honing his discipline and match awareness, focusing on Test-match lengths first.

Dubai-raised Karnataka all-rounder Macneil Hadley Noronha’s IPL dream finally came true after an emotional 4 PM call from Chennai Super Kings. The 24-year-old’s journey spans 14 years of struggle, family sacrifices across Dubai and Bengaluru, standout domestic performances and a memorable six-sixes tribute to his idol Yuvraj Singh.

Young allrounder Suryansh Shedge cherishes praise from Rohit Sharma after his explosive batting in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He also shares valuable insights from heart-to-heart conversations with PBKS coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer, focusing on preparation and staying present. Shedge is also receiving guidance from Jatin Paranjape on embracing the current moment.

Gujarat Titans handed a maiden IPL appearance to all-rounder Nishant Sindhu against Punjab Kings. Captain Shubman Gill confirmed the decision at the toss, emphasizing the team's momentum in chasing and the need to peak at the right time. Sindhu, a left-handed batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, previously impressed in junior cricket and the U-19 World Cup.

His performances have led to discussions about whether he could be selected for the India team after the IPL, and Manjrekar said he has done enough to be considered.

Urvil Patel’s explosive 65 off 23 balls against Lucknow Super Giants announced the arrival of CSK’s newest six-hitting sensation. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed six sixes within his first eight balls, rewrote IPL records. Backed by advice, and even a specially weighted bat from MS Dhoni, Urvil’s power-hitting philosophy is shaped by a gruelling routine of 200 practice sixes a day.

Shubham Dubey, a 31-year-old cricketer, seized his long-awaited opportunity with a match-winning unbeaten 31 off 12 balls. His explosive innings, coupled with Donovan Ferreira's support, secured a stunning six-wicket victory for Rajasthan Royals against Punjab Kings. Dubey's journey from humble beginnings to IPL success highlights his remarkable resilience and power-hitting prowess.

Kishan returned to the India setup earlier this year for the T20I series against New Zealand and the T20 World Cup after strong performances in domestic cricket, where he led Jharkhand to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) title and scored more than 500 runs.

Young Salil Arora's audacious 10-ball 30, featuring a stunning no-look six off Jasprit Bumrah, stole the show in a high-scoring IPL 2026 match. Despite a star-studded Sunrisers Hyderabad lineup, Arora's fearless finishing, including an unbeaten 30, sealed a dominant chase, repaying the franchise's faith in his potential. Despite modest returns initially, SRH continued to back Arora in the lower order. That faith was repaid last night.

Salil Arora’s fearless no-look six off Bumrah was no fluke but the result of relentless preparation. From facing 600–700 tennis-ball deliveries daily to simulating high pace in training, his power-hitting was built with precision. Backed by strong domestic performances and belief from teammates, the youngster’s calculated approach and fearless mindset are now translating into impactful moments on the IPL stage.