Hardik Pandya in post match conference (Screengrab/X)

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya pointed fingers at his bowling unit after their 27-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in a rain-curtailed 11-overs-a-side IPL 2026 clash at the ACA Stadium.Opting to bowl first, Mumbai failed to make early inroads as Rajasthan’s openers, Yashasvi Jaiswal and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, launched a brutal assault. The duo powered RR to a flying start, smashing 56 runs in just 3.2 overs of the Power-play. Jaiswal remained unbeaten on 77 off 32 balls, while Sooryavanshi contributed a quickfire 39 off 14, helping Rajasthan post a daunting 150/3 in 11 overs.Chasing 151, Mumbai’s batting line-up crumbled under pressure. Reduced to 46/5 early on, they never recovered and finished at 123/9, falling short by 27 runs.Hardik Pandya blames the bowling unitSpeaking after the match, Pandya admitted the bowlers failed to execute their plans. He emphasised that the unit conceded too many boundaries in the initial overs, allowing RR to take control of the game.“We did not execute the deliveries we were supposed to. They played well. Bowlers need to take responsibility. As a bowling group, we were not up to the mark. They also played tremendously,” said Pandya in the post-match presentation.Pandya said he would not blame his batters for not scoring enough runs in the Power-play. “I would not put the blame on batting. Definitely the bowling unit, which had to take responsibility. It is always about bowling those good balls. If we had executed, we would have been in the game. Their openers threw us off our game, and we were playing catch-up,” he added.Asked about RR’s teenage batting sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Pandya said, “Quite fascinating to see a 17- or 16-year-old boy (15-year-old) play that way. Amazing to see the way he bats, the fearlessness he has. Wish him good luck for the future.”Pandya refused to get disheartened by the result and said they would learn from their mistakes. “Just learn from the mistakes. Morning will come tomorrow, the sun will rise, prepare well for the next game,” he said.Mumbai Indians next fixtureMumbai Indians will next face Royal Challengers Bengaluru at their home ground, the Wankhede Stadium. While Mumbai have historically dominated at this venue, registering eight wins over Bengaluru, RCB come into the clash with confidence as defending champions and having won four of their last six encounters against MI.

LSG pacer Mohsin Khan during a practice session.

LUCKNOW: Lucknow Super Giants left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan, who has made a comeback in IPL after a 14-15 months’ rehabilitation following an injury, said that he could return due to the inspiration of his mother who passed away two months ago.“The long injury layoff pushed me into self-doubt, but my mother kept encouraging me throughout my recovery. When I was unavailable for competitive cricket, and after surgery during rehab, many times negative thoughts came to my mind,” he said.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“I wondered if I would ever play again because I was out for 14-15 months. But my mother always supported me and told me that I would play again,” he said.“My mother’s dream was to see me play IPL and competitive cricket again. I was in the LSG camp and had returned from Bengaluru, and she passed away the same day,” Mohsin said.He said he was close to his mother and used to speak to her a lot on phone calls.“After her death, I was in trauma. I did not practice for a month,” he said.On being retained by LSG despite his injury struggles, Mohsin admitted he did not expect it.He credited LSG physio Vaibhav Daga, trainer Soham, and bowling coach Bharat Arun for helping him regain fitness and rhythm.“I also practised with pacer Mohammed Shami at his farm in Amroha. He has set up a good gym and ground at his farm. We discussed bowling nuances and told me about any shortcomings,” Mohsin explained.

Virat Kohli hail Dhurandhar 2 (Agency Image)

A day after Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026, star batter Virat Kohli switched gears off the field and shared his glowing review of the blockbuster film Dhurandhar 2. Taking to social media, Kohli heaped praise on director Aditya Dhar and lead actor Ranveer Singh, describing the film as an unparalleled cinematic experience.

Virat Kohli’s Instagram story for Dhurandhar.

“Saw the film today and dare I say that I’ve never ever seen a cinematic experience like this made in India. It brought out every kind of emotion to the surface and I didn’t flinch once for almost 4 hours. @adityadharfilms your talent and conviction is reflected in what you’ve created. Hats off to you. You’re a genius. And although all actors were great in their roles BUT @ranveersingh you have attained a different level after this movie and your performance was beyond brilliant. Absolutely WOW,” he posted. Released on March 19, Dhurandhar 2 has enjoyed a sensational run at the box office. As per Jio Studios, the film has grossed ₹1622 crore worldwide so far, including ₹1228 crore domestically and ₹394 crore overseas. Its net domestic collection stands at ₹1041 crore, underlining its massive success. The film opened strongly with ₹102.55 crore on day one, followed by ₹80.72 crore and ₹113 crore on the next two days. It continued its impressive run over the weekend, collecting ₹114.85 crore on March 22 before seeing a drop to ₹65 crore on the first Monday. Through the first week, it maintained steady collections between ₹40 crore and ₹60 crore, while Day 18 alone brought in ₹28.75 crore across 14,229 shows in India. Kohli was not the only one impressed. Actor Anushka Sharma also shared her appreciation for the film and her former co-star Ranveer Singh, applauding both the storytelling and performances.

Anushka’s Instagram story for Dhurandhar.

“What a fantastic film you’ve made @adityadharfilms! It takes so much conviction to make an almost 4 hr long film. Gripping and immersive, meticulously crafted, the film holds your attention through and through. You are a fiercely original and assured filmmaker @ranveersingh You seized a once-in- a-lifetime character and delivered a solid, flawless performance @actormaddy @rampal72 @therakeshbedi sir and each and every fantastic actor in the film – Every performance lands perfectly; the film is unthinkable without each of you. Many congratulations to everyone behind this one.” With praise pouring in from both the cricketing and film worlds, Dhurandhar 2 continues to dominate headlines as one of the biggest cinematic successes in recent times.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Devdutt Padikkal, right, with Virat Kohli. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have begun their IPL 2026 campaign in commanding fashion, and batter Devdutt Padikkal has revealed the tactical shift behind their early success. With two wins in two matches, RCB sit atop the standings, showcasing a refined batting approach that blends caution with calculated aggression.Speaking after their convincing 43-run win over Chennai Super Kings in Bengaluru, Padikkal explained that the team has consciously addressed its past batting frailties. The new strategy revolves around preserving wickets in the first half of the innings before unleashing an all-out assault in the latter stages.‘Keep wickets, then attack’Padikkal highlighted that the change in approach stems from lessons learned last season. “Even last season we had a couple of games early on where we struggled and ended up losing maybe three or four wickets and then it put us on the back foot,” he said.“We had a conversation midway through last year that we needed to make sure that when the wicket is behaving in such a way, you have to ensure you have wickets in hand. Once the ball gets older, it becomes much easier to bat on,” he added.The left-hander stressed that avoiding early collapses has been key. “We had to make sure we are not three or four down by the 10-over mark. Once we were able to do that, we could go hard at every ball. The way the entire unit has been batting since then has been incredible,” he noted.This approach has already paid dividends, with RCB posting big totals and maintaining pressure on opposition bowlers through well-timed acceleration.Padikkal’s evolution and confidence boostPadikkal, who has been in fine form with scores of 61 and 50 in the first two games, credited his improvement in white-ball formats to a conscious shift in mindset and technique.“It’s a lot of hard work and self-belief. It wasn’t easy to make that change because I had to alter the foundation of the kind of cricket I wanted to play growing up,” he admitted.“The change was something I had to make consciously, and RCB’s support staff have been brilliant in guiding me in the right way,” he added, underlining the role of the team environment in his transformation.Power-hitting balance and Tim David factorWhile T20 batting has seen an increasing emphasis on power-hitting, Padikkal believes the evolution is part of a natural progression. “Batting has gone to another level. Everyone is working hard to hit big sixes and fours. It’s now on the bowlers to raise their game as well,” he said, adding that conditions could eventually balance the contest.Padikkal also reserved special praise for teammate Tim David, whose explosive 70 off 25 balls dismantled Chennai’s attack. “We see him do this every day in practice. He’s very clear about which bowler to target and when. That clarity makes a huge difference,” he said.

NEW DELHI: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued their dream run in IPL 2026 with a commanding 43-run victory over Chennai Super Kings at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday, powered by a sensational batting display and timely strikes with the ball.Put in to bat, RCB endured a cautious start on a slightly tacky surface, going boundary-less in the first three overs. Virat Kohli looked the most assured early on, while Phil Salt gradually found his rhythm. The innings gained momentum after the PowerPlay, with Salt (46) and Devdutt Padikkal stitching a crucial stand.