NEW DELHI: India’s T20 World Cup hero Sanju Samson has opened up on his much-discussed exit from Rajasthan Royals, revealing that the decision stemmed from a simple realisation — his journey with the franchise had run its course.Now gearing up for a new chapter with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Samson made it clear that emotions won’t cloud his focus when he comes up against his former side.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“This is the first time I will play against Rajasthan Royals, but I don’t let emotions rule me on the field. I left Rajasthan Royals because I felt my time in the team was over. Even if we face them now, I will play my best cricket,” Samson said.

The highly anticipated clash will come early, with CSK set to face the Royals in their opening game of the season in Guwahati. While Samson admitted the occasion would feel “unusual,” he struck a balanced tone about the emotional aspect of the reunion.“I don’t think much about emotions on the ground as the situation dictates the game. But certainly before and after the match there will be emotions, as there are players and support staff with whom I have shared a long association,” he added.

Samson eyes fresh start with CSK

Samson’s move to CSK has already generated significant buzz, not least because of the opportunity to share a dressing room with MS Dhoni. The Kerala batter revealed he has already spoken to the CSK legend and is eager to learn from him.“I am really excited to be part of CSK. I had spoken to Dhoni bhai earlier and always had positive vibes. Spending close to two months with him will be a great opportunity to observe and learn,” he said.Samson also fondly recalled the support he received from Chennai fans during the T20 World Cup. “I was surprised by the support from the Chennai crowd. Maybe they see me as one of them. I don’t want to disappoint them and will give my best for CSK,” he said.Fresh off a stellar World Cup campaign, Samson now turns his focus to IPL 2026, determined to make a strong impact in yellow.

Ricky Ponting (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has praised the India national cricket team after their dominant victory in the T20 World Cup 2026, calling the current Indian side one of the strongest T20 teams ever. India secured their third T20 World Cup title with a convincing 96-run win over the New Zealand national cricket team in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

The win also made India the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup.

Ponting praises India’s depth and consistency

Ponting highlighted India’s impressive performances in recent ICC tournaments and their strong record in white-ball cricket. According to him, the team’s combination of talent, experience and depth makes them extremely difficult to beat.“It’s really hard to argue a point against that. If you look at this, not just the T20I team but their white-ball record in ICC events over the last five or six years, it’s quite remarkable,” Ponting said on International Cricket Council’s The ICC Review.“A lot of people probably identified before this tournament started the depth and the strength that this current Indian team had, and also the experience that they have.“This is a very, very strong Indian white-ball team, not just a T20 team. Back-to-back World Cups, hats off to them.”

Experience and IPL influence

The former Australian captain believes the players’ experience from both international cricket and the Indian Premier League has helped them handle pressure situations better.“The one thing that’s probably overlooked with this current team is the amount of experience and the amount of cricket a lot of these guys have played, whether it’s international cricket or even just the IPL,” said Ponting, who is also head coach of Punjab Kings.“The IPL games are every bit as big as international games anyway, so this Indian team came in well primed with great balance and a great squad.”

Learning from a rare defeat

India had suffered a defeat against the South Africa national cricket team during the Super Eight stage, but Ponting felt the loss actually helped the team refocus.“You win 12 matches on the trot, there’s bound to be an off day. And I am glad it’s come early. It might just be the shake-up India needed,” he said. “They would have learned from that experience and won’t take things for granted.”After that loss, India bounced back strongly with powerful batting displays, scoring over 250 runs in three matches, including the semifinal and the final.“Maybe it just allowed them to regroup, get together and talk about the things that are important to them as a team,” Ponting added. “They solidified what they felt was their strongest playing XI and didn’t make many changes at the back end of the tournament.”

Harshit Rana and Mustafizur Rahman (Agency Photo)

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders have run into multiple problems ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The team first lost Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked the franchise to release him from the squad.KKR had bought Mustafizur for Rs 9.20 crore during the auction after a bidding battle with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals. The team had hoped the experienced left-arm pacer would strengthen their bowling attack.

However, the move sparked controversy amid political tensions, leading the BCCI to intervene.BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the board had asked KKR to release the player because of the sensitive situation surrounding the signing.

Injury concerns for Harshit Rana

KKR then suffered another setback with young Indian pacer Harshit Rana. His participation in IPL 2026 is uncertain after he appeared on crutches during the BCCI Naman Awards 2026 in Mumbai.Rana was supposed to receive the Best International Debut (Men’s) award but could not walk to the stage due to his injury, prompting Arun Dhumal to step down and present the award to him.The fast bowler later underwent knee surgery on February 9 and is expected to need two to three months for recovery, which raises doubts about whether he will be fit for the upcoming IPL season. His possible absence could weaken KKR’s pace attack, where he has played an important role in recent years.

Possible boost with Matheesha Pathirana

Despite the setbacks, there may be some positive news for KKR. Player agent Amila Kalugalage recently posted a “person fencing” emoji on X, which many believe hints at good news regarding Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana.Matheesha Pathirana suffered an injury while playing for the Sri Lanka national cricket team during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, forcing him to miss the remainder of the tournament and raising doubts about his availability for the Indian Premier League 2026. The pacer had taken two wickets in three matches with an economy of 6.05 before being sidelined. The post, however, confirms that he may’ve fully recovered and is fit to play, and he is expected to play a key role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ pace attack.KKR have also added Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani as a backup option. Even so, replacing Rana’s role, especially in the crucial death overs, could still be a challenge for the team as they prepare for the new season.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav with his teammates. (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav believes the country’s talent pool in the shortest format has grown so vast that multiple international-quality teams could be formed at the same time — a reflection of the depth created by domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Suryakumar said the current generation of players represents perhaps the strongest T20 group India has produced, highlighting how franchise cricket and domestic competitions continue to produce new stars every season.“If you talk about talent, I feel you can find talent regularly. There is IPL cricket, franchise cricket, then there is domestic cricket. You can see how many players come every year,” Suryakumar said in a podcast interview with PTI Videos.

“So I feel talent is unlimited. If you can make two-three playing XIs, our base is so strong, of the Indian team. So this is not a modest and diplomatic reply. But now it is so strong, so there is no shame in telling the truth.”Since taking over the captaincy after Rohit Sharma stepped down following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph in Barbados, Suryakumar has overseen a period of remarkable success. Under his leadership, India have won 42 of their 52 T20 Internationals, establishing themselves as one of the most dominant sides in the format.The 35-year-old credited the team’s impressive run to a collective mindset within the dressing room.“I don’t pay too much attention to statistics but I hate losing any game. If everyone in the dressing room moves in the same direction, only then can you achieve such a percentage,” he said, referring to India’s near 80 per cent win rate.Known for his innovative 360-degree strokeplay, Suryakumar also described T20 batting as largely instinctive and reactive once a player steps onto the field.“I feel batting is about 70–75 per cent reaction. The remaining 25 per cent is instinct, what you decide to do in the moment. Once you enter the ground, you are almost in autopilot mode. You try to bat with rhythm and according to the situation,” he explained.Suryakumar also highlighted his strong working relationship with India head coach Gautam Gambhir, revealing how closely aligned their thinking has been while building the current squad.“Out of 15 names we both suggested, 14 were common. That means the thinking was the same. When the goals are clear, there are no arguments, only discussions,” he said.

Kuldeep Yadav (R) with Vanshika Chaddha (Pic credit: Kuldeep’s Instagram post)

NEW DELHI: Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav began a new chapter in his life after marrying childhood friend Vanshika Chaddha in a private yet star-studded ceremony in the hill town of Mussoorie on Saturday. A day after the celebrations, the left-arm wrist spinner shared his first social media post since the wedding, writing: “Our Forever begins now. 14.03.2026.” alongside pictures from the ceremony.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The wedding was held at the iconic Welcomhotel The Savoy, Mussoorie, which was reportedly reserved for several days to host the ceremonies and guests. The celebrations were attended by several current and former cricketers, including Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal and Suresh Raina, who joined the couple in marking the special occasion.

Social media soon filled with glimpses of the festivities, including viral clips of the newlyweds walking hand-in-hand as fireworks lit up the backdrop. Photos from the colourful sangeet ceremony also spread widely online, with Raina and Chahal sharing pictures of the couple dressed in coordinated traditional outfits.India batter Tilak Varma, who arrived in Dehradun to attend the ceremony, said the focus would soon shift to cricket again with the upcoming Indian Premier League season. “We’re going to Kuldeep’s wedding to have fun. After that, we’ll prepare for IPL,” Tilak told reporters ahead of the wedding. Reports suggest the wedding was originally planned for November 2025 but was postponed as Kuldeep prioritised preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year. The spinner was part of India’s title-winning squad, although he featured only once during the tournament, returning tidy figures against arch-rivals Pakistan.Kuldeep and Vanshika, both from Kanpur and known to have grown up just a few kilometres apart, had got engaged last year in a private ceremony in Lucknow. Vanshika currently works with LIC.The wedding celebrations began with traditional haldi and sangeet functions earlier in the week, attended by several cricket personalities and close family members.

Kevin Pietersen (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has stepped down as mentor of Delhi Capitals ahead of the 19th season of the Indian Premier League. The 45-year-old said he would not be able to give the role the time it demands, though fans will still see him during the tournament as a commentator.Pietersen had joined the franchise as a mentor in February last year for the 2025 season.

In that role, he worked closely with the coaching staff that included Director of Cricket Venugopal Rao, head coach Hemang Badani, assistant coach Matthew Mott and bowling coach Munaf Patel.Confirming his decision on social media, Pietersen explained that his schedule would not allow him to continue in the position. “I cannot be a mentor for Delhi Capitals in this IPL season,” he wrote on X. “I can’t commit to the time that the job requires. Best wishes to all the players for this season! However, I’ll see you back in the commentary box! IPL is the world’s best league, and I can’t wait to see all of you soon!”Pietersen remains one of England’s most recognised cricketers. During his international career with the England national cricket team, he scored more than 8,000 runs in Tests and over 4,000 runs in ODIs. He also played 36 IPL matches for teams including Delhi Daredevils, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (then Royal Challengers Bangalore), Sunrisers Hyderabad and Pune Warriors India, scoring 1,001 runs in the league. Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the first phase of the IPL 2026 schedule, which will run from March 28 to April 12. The season will begin with defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru facing Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Indian Premier League (IPL) is set for his blockbuster start from March 28, and fans are eagerly waiting for the thrilling performance of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi who heads into his second IPL season after an impressive breakthrough campaign with Rajasthan Royals. While expectations around the young batter are high, former India cricketer Robin Uthappa believes the upcoming season could prove to be a learning phase for the youngster.

From fearless newcomer to studied opponent

Vaibhav made his debut last season and emerged as the fearless teenager who surprised opposition bowlers with his aggressive batting and quickly became a key part of the Rajasthan Royals lineup.However, things could be different this year as teams now have more information about his strengths and weaknesses. According to Uthappa, Sooryavanshi is entering a phase where opponents have started analysing his game and building strategies to counter him.“I have been keenly observing every game Vaibhav is playing over the last 12 months. He is phenomenal. But if you are going to watch him bat, I feel he is riding his luck a little bit. And when the standard gets a little bit higher, little tougher, and people now know where to bowl to him. The novelty has worn off. I think that right now, he is riding that luck a little bit, which is fine. I think this season will be educational for him and will serve him in the long run. He will still score runs, but I don’t think he will be all that he was last year,” Uthappa said on Star Sports.

Why Uthappa’s warning matters

Unlike last season, when he entered the tournament as a relatively unknown youngster with little pressure, Sooryavanshi now returns with greater expectations and increased scrutiny. Opposition teams have had time to analyze his batting approach, meaning the young opener will likely face more calculated bowling strategies this year.

All eyes on Sooryavanshi in IPL 2026

As the IPL gears up for another blockbuster season, the spotlight will once again be on the league’s emerging stars. For Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, IPL 2026 represents an opportunity to prove that his debut season was not just about surprise and luck, but the beginning of a promising career.

Abrar Ahmed and Kavya Maran

NEW DELHI: Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed was signed by Sunrisers Leeds during the Hundred Auction 2026, but the move sparked backlash online. After the franchise announced the signing on X, the post was flooded with negative comments, with some fans criticising an IPL-linked team for picking a Pakistani player.

Some posts even target Kavya Maran, co-owner of Sunrisers Leeds, for roping in the Pakistani bowler. Sunrisers Leeds, which is owned by the same group that runs Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, bought the 27-year-old leg-spinner for £190,000. Meanwhile, another Pakistan spinner, Usman Tariq, was picked by Birmingham Phoenix for £140,000.Before the auction, there had been speculation that franchises connected to the IPL might avoid signing Pakistani cricketers due to political tensions between India and Pakistan. Players from Pakistan have not featured in the IPL since 2009, and the two nations only face each other in global tournaments.Addressing the debate earlier, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the eight franchises had clarified that selections would be made purely on merit. The joint statement said picks would be based on “performance, availability, and the needs of each team.”Despite Ahmed’s signing, several Pakistan players had a mixed outcome at the auction. Fast bowler Haris Rauf went unsold at his reserve price of £100,000, while star pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi withdrew before the auction began.Pakistan also struggled in the women’s auction held a day earlier, where Fatima Sana and Sadia Iqbal failed to attract any bids.Elsewhere in the auction, London Spirit paid £390,000 for uncapped English all-rounder James Cole, while Welsh Fire spent £540,000 combined on batter Jordan Cox and former England captain Joe Root.The 2026 season of The Hundred, featuring both men’s and women’s tournaments, will begin on July 21 and run for four weeks.

West Indies spinner Akeal Hosein took to social media to express frustration over the team’s delayed return from India after their exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup, even jokingly asking football star Cristiano Ronaldo to “rescue” him. International travel has been disrupted since tensions escalated following the conflict involving the USA, Israel and Iran, leading to flight cancellations and heightened alerts at several airports in West Asia.After their T20 World Cup campaign ended in the subcontinent, the West Indies players and support staff have faced difficulties travelling back home because of cancelled flights linked to the situation in West Asia. The development came despite Cricket West Indies (CWI) stating on Thursday that it was working to arrange a charter flight for the squad that could take them home within 24 hours.“At this point, I’m better off asking Cristiano Ronaldo to send the jet and come rescue me, yes?” Hosein said on X.

The Caribbean side has been in Kolkata since their tournament ended with a five-wicket defeat to India at Eden Gardens last Sunday. Earlier on Thursday, West Indies head coach Darren Sammy also sought clarity from the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the team’s travel plans.Soon after, CWI issued a statement confirming that efforts were underway to arrange the team’s return.“During a high-level call earlier today involving CWI, ICC officials, a representative of team management, and a representative of the players, it was confirmed that a charter flight is currently being arranged for the team’s departure from India, with the expected departure scheduled within the next 24 hours,” the CWI said in a statement. The departure time remains subject to final air traffic approvals. The team remains safe and well as arrangements continue to be finalized,” the governing body added.“CWI has remained in constant dialogue with the players, team management, and the International Cricket Council (ICC) since their last match against India. While the situation remains complex and fluid due to international airspace restrictions arising from security concerns in the Gulf region, CWI assures the public that every precaution is being taken to ensure the safe return of the team to the Caribbean,” said CWI.There is also a possibility that several players may not travel back immediately and could stay in India to join their respective franchises for the upcoming Indian Premier League.