Former India batter Suresh Raina believes that Sanju Samson should occupy the No.3 position for Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season, stating that the move would bring better balance to the team’s batting order.Samson heads into IPL 2026 in excellent form after an impressive campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he produced a string of strong performances. The wicketkeeper-batter scored back-to-back half-centuries in the Super 8s against West Indies, the semifinal against England, and the final against New Zealand while opening the innings.

Raina suggests reshaping CSK’s top order

Despite Samson’s success as an opener, Raina believes CSK should retain Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ayush Mhatre at the top of the order. According to Raina, Samson at No.3 would provide stability and help connect the top order with the middle order.“He was the captain of the Rajasthan Royals for so many years. I think his role will be clear here. If Sanju plays at number three, it will be good according to me, because then Dewald Brevis will come at number four,” Raina said while speaking on JioHotstar.Raina further explained that such a batting order would strengthen CSK’s lineup.“Shivam Dube will come at number five. At number six, it depends on who you bring — whether it is Prashant Veer, Akhil Hussain or Noor Ahmed. It will also depend on how many overseas fast bowlers they choose to play,” he added.

Samson backed to take wicketkeeping role

Raina also backed Samson to handle the wicketkeeping duties for CSK, suggesting that veteran captain MS Dhoni might only play a finishing role with the bat. “Sanju will be there as a keeper. We saw the atmosphere he created during the World Cup. His role will become very important at number three,” Raina said.He added that allowing Gaikwad and Mhatre to open would give CSK a more experienced middle order.“When Brevis comes in with Sanju and then Shivam Dube after him, it becomes very important to have someone like Sanju who brings experience,” Raina explained.Samson’s blockbuster move to CSKSamson joined CSK ahead of IPL 2026 after being traded from Rajasthan Royals in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran before the auction. The Kerala-born batter brings considerable IPL experience, having played 177 matches and scored 4707 runs at an average of 30.95.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath believes it would be extremely difficult for the Chennai Super Kings team management to leave MS Dhoni out of the playing XI in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.Dhoni is set to return for Chennai Super Kings in the 2026 campaign, with franchise CEO Kasi Viswanath already confirming that the veteran will be available for the entire tournament. However, the exact role he will play during matches is yet to be finalised. According to Viswanath, the decision will be taken by the team management, who will decide whether Dhoni features as the wicketkeeper or is used as an impact player depending on the match situation.The 44-year-old had a relatively quiet season in IPL 2025 season, scoring 196 runs from 14 matches. Batting mostly in the lower order, Dhoni averaged 24.50 and maintained a strike rate of 135.17 while often coming in during the closing stages of the innings to provide quick runs.Despite questions around his role, Badrinath feels the management would find it almost impossible to bench the legendary captain given the stature he holds within the franchise. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former CSK batter suggested that even head coach Stephen Fleming may not be in a position to make such a call.“I don’t know if it is an administrative decision where he (CSK CEO) said that he (Dhoni) is ready to play all matches. He said that he would support the cricketing decision and stop. Now, will Fleming go and tell Dhoni that you don’t play this match, we are dropping you. I don’t think Fleming has a chance at all. How will he go and tell Dhoni that you are dropped? I literally feel that it is not possible,” Badrinath said on his YouTube channel.Badrinath further emphasised the level of respect Dhoni commands inside the CSK dressing room. According to him, it would be extremely hard for any member of the coaching staff to even suggest that the former India captain should sit out or be used only as a substitute.“I don’t think any support staff in the world, be it even Fleming, can tell Dhoni you are an impact player, or you don’t play this match. There is no chance. We can take it that he is going to play all the matches,” he added.

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.

Kavya Maran, co-owner and head of SunRisers Leeds (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed was bought by SunRisers Leeds for £190,000 at the Hundred Player Auction 2026 on Thursday, putting an end to speculation that teams linked to the Indian Premier League (IPL) might avoid signing Pakistani players. The franchise, co-owned by Kavya Maran, competed strongly in the bidding and beat Trent Rockets to secure the mystery spinner.Earlier in the auction, Usman Tariq became the first Pakistani player to be picked when Birmingham Phoenix signed him for £140,000.

However, several other Pakistan stars did not find buyers. Fast bowler Haris Rauf and all-rounders Shadab Khan and Saim Ayub remained unsold at the time of writing.Meanwhile, Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi had already withdrawn from the auction before bidding began. The ECB confirmed that Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, AM Ghazanfar, and Peter Siddle also pulled out. The likely reason was scheduling clashes with the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and other international commitments.Afridi’s withdrawal still left 13 Pakistani players available in the men’s auction pool. The situation had drawn attention after speculation that franchises with IPL links might avoid picking Pakistani players.Responding to the debate, the ECB and the eight franchises issued a joint clarification, saying selections would be based on “performance, availability, and the needs of each team.”Pakistan also had a disappointing outcome in the women’s auction held a day earlier. None of the Pakistani women players were selected. Muneeba Ali, Diana Baig, Sadia Iqbal, and captain Fatima Sana had all entered the auction with a base price of £15,000, but they did not receive any bids.

India’s Sanju Samson (C) celebrates with his coach Gautam Gambhir (L) after their team’s win in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup final match against New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8, 2026. (AFP)

NEW DELHI: Gautam Gambhir, in the truest sense, is a Delhi boy. He wears his heart on his sleeve.And you cannot even blame him for it. There is a saying in Delhi cricket that playing for India is much easier than playing for Delhi. You have to be tough enough to survive in Delhi cricket’s ecosystem. Gambhir not only survived it, he also led Delhi to their Ranji Trophy triumph in 2007. He then went on to become one of India’s finest openers across formats.

Gambhir was India’s MVP in their two World Cup triumphs: the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup. In both finals, he stepped up on the big occasion. Whether it was his 54-ball 75 against arch-rivals Pakistan in Johannesburg or the crafty 97 that steered India to victory in Mumbai four years later, Gambhir proved to be a force in ICC tournaments. Now, as a coach, he has added a World Cup to his resume. Not to forget the Champions Trophy and his IPL exploits as captain and mentor.Gambhir has always shown a stomach for a fight. He is often remembered for those two knocks in World Cup finals, but to truly understand Gambhir one has to look at his marathon knock in Napier in 2009. Gambhir batted for 643 minutes, over 10 hours, and faced 436 balls to score 137 and secure a draw for India.

Gautam Gambhir, Head Coach of India, looks on during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Final between India and New Zealand at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 08, 2026 in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Stubbornness has been a defining characteristic of Gambhir and it has always been evident in his personality.There is a saying in Delhi cricket that if Gambhir trusts you, he will back you till the hilt.Before Suryakumar Yadav became the toast of Mumbai Indians, it was under Gambhir at KKR that he realised his pedigree and was made vice-captain of the Kolkata franchise. Surya has now become only the fourth Indian captain to win a World Cup.Sticking with Sanju Samson despite the batter not performing and continuing to back Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy—the two World No. 1s who were struggling in the World Cup—are just a few examples.

Gautam Gambhir Head Coach of India and Varun Chakravarthy of India during an India ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 net session at MA Chidambaram Stadium on February 23, 2026 in Chennai, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

During KKR’s title run in 2024, he noticed Ramandeep Singh training in the gym while the others were celebrating their first win of the tournament. The next day, he spoke to Ramandeep, explained his batting role at No. 7 and 8, and assured him that he would play all the matches. Ramandeep proved pivotal in KKR’s campaign and the Punjab all-rounder even went on to play for India.Then there is Harshit Rana. The keyboard warriors kept their knives sharp, but Rana has grown in confidence and is now looking like a million-dollar investment. Although the Delhi pacer got injured before the start of India’s campaign, Gambhir finally had a bowler who could also swing those crucial 20 runs with the bat.There is an interesting story about Ayush Badoni as well. When Vijay Dahiya urged Gambhir to call Badoni for the Lucknow Super Giants trials, the current India coach drove down to a local ground where Badoni was practising and watched him silently for an hour. Badoni had no clue. Later that evening he received a call for the LSG trials. Now he too is on the fringes of the national team.Gambhir went to war with figures like the late Bishan Singh Bedi and Chetan Chauhan over Navdeep Saini. After watching him bowl for just 15 minutes, Gambhir decided Saini was a rare talent who needed to be groomed properly.“Kudos Navdeep Saini on your India debut. You already have two wickets even before you have bowled, @BishanBedi and @ChetanChauhanCr. Their middle stumps are gone seeing the debut of a player whose cricketing obituary they wrote even before he stepped on the field, shame!!” Gambhir had written in 2019 after the Delhi pacer made his India debut.Former India U-19 World Cup-winning captain and Delhi opener Unmukt Chand believes there is no one like Gambhir when it comes to injecting confidence into a cricketer.“If he supports someone, he truly backs that player. There are many examples. He made Suryakumar Yadav vice-captain. It was a very unusual thing to do back then. When you know you are valued so much in your team, your performance improves. Once the fear of failure is taken away, you thrive,” Unmukt had told TimesofIndia.com.Gambhir hardly smiles. His face rarely gives away what he is thinking or feeling. He has always been a man of few words.Former India coach Ravi Shastri, while calling India’s win, even teased the current India coach by saying, “Come on GG, show us that priceless smile of yours.”Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh made a reel with his coach saying, “Oh paaji kade has bhi liya karo yaar,” leaving Gambhir in splits.MS Dhoni, in his congratulatory post, also teased his former teammate: “Coach sahab, smile looks great on you. Intensity with a smile is a killer combo.”In that one line, Dhoni summed up the man who helped him win two World Cup finals. When the stakes are highest and the stage is a World Cup final, Gautam Gambhir has a habit of showing up. “The first thing is that the players have made me win. I have been saying this for a long time that you are as good a coach or as good a captain as your players. So I think credit needs to go to the players. The way, the professionalism and most importantly the bravery with which this tournament was played,” Gambhir said in a press conference after the win.As a player, he had the habit of turning the biggest nights into his own but after tasting World Cup glory for the first time as a coach, Gambhir stepped aside to let the players enjoy the spotlight.

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif has urged the team management to consider a bold change ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 final, suggesting that out-of-form opener Abhishek Sharma should be rested for the title clash against New Zealand national cricket team. India will face the Kiwis in the summit clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.Kaif believes the Indian think tank, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, should not hesitate to make a change for such a crucial game. Abhishek has endured a difficult campaign in the tenth edition of the tournament, crossing the 50-run mark only once and repeatedly struggling against spin bowling.

Opposition teams have targeted this weakness by introducing spinners during the powerplay. On four occasions in the tournament, Abhishek has fallen to spin, often while trying to attack from the outset. The aggressive approach that usually defines his batting has not paid off this time, and he has struggled to adapt by rotating the strike or taking time to settle at the crease.The situation has also been complicated by a health issue before the tournament began. Abhishek suffered a stomach infection and had to be hospitalised shortly before the competition started. The illness resulted in noticeable weight loss, and the lack of physical strength appears to have affected his bat swing and overall confidence. His struggles have also extended to the field, with the left-hander dropping two catches during India’s Super 8s encounter against the West Indies cricket team.Considering these factors, Kaif believes the team could benefit from bringing in Rinku Singh for the final.“India can give Abhishek Sharma a break. He has played many matches now. There is no harm in making changes. You can make changes in the shortest format. Roston Chase opened against India as Brandon King was out of form. They backed him for five or six matches, but they gave him a break for a big match. I believe that, like you brought in Sanju, and he did a great job, so that change worked in your favour,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.“India have proven players. Rinku Singh scores runs everywhere, be it Tests, Ranji Trophy, or the IPL. Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj also take wickets everywhere. When you look in the dugout to see who can replace Abhishek Sharma, you see Rinku Singh sitting there. So, bring him in. A guy is struggling, and another guy is sitting outside despite doing well,” he added.Abhishek’s lack of runs at the top also prompted the team management to reintroduce Sanju Samson into the playing XI. The wicketkeeper-batter responded impressively, producing match-winning knocks against the West Indies and the England cricket team and earning Player of the Match awards in both games.Kaif also pointed out that Samson’s experience in high-pressure tournaments sets him apart from Abhishek, who is still relatively new to global events.“The biggest difference between Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson is that Abhishek Sharma is still quite new to ICC events. He has a fantastic record, if you leave ICC events aside. There is a big difference when playing in an ICC event like the World Cup,” said Kaif.“Sanju has scored over 8000 runs in T20S. Be it the runs or six-hitting ability, his name comes in the top 10 in the IPL. He is already an established player. Abhishek Sharma is still young and has to work on his game. He is not a finished product. Don’t compare him with Sanju. Sanju is already a finished product. He made his India debut 11 years ago,” he concluded.

M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
| Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Auqib Nabi’s family members watch Ranji Trophy final (TOI Photo)

BARAMULLA: Some 40 km west of Uri, close to the Line of Control, sits Sheeri village. Along the Jhelum Valley road, north west of Srinagar. There, a narrow lane off the main road takes you to the home of cricketer Auqib Nabi Dar. It is barely wide enough for three people to walk alongside each other, but remember the address. For it is not to be forgotten in a hurry.Usually bustling in the manner that tiny mountain villages can be, on Saturday however, shops in Sheeri were open, but business was slow. Men stood milling on the narrow streets, groups of boys were gathered, mobile phones in their hands. It looked aimless, but there was purpose. Constantly checking their phones, sharing updates, exhausting mobile data by the minute, they kept abreast with the Ranji Trophy final score in faraway Hubballi.

Inside the two-storey dwelling, family members sat in a small room, huddled before a modestly-sized TV set. Next to the TV, in the cramped room, tucked in was an almirah. In its chest, it contained the many cricketing medals that Auqib has won over the years. The room was quiet except for the sound of the TV commentary.His grandmother, Fazi, her wizened eyes fixed on the screen, smiled whenever the camera showed Auqib. Father Ghulam Nabi Dar, a government school teacher, leaned forward as he sat, closely following every ball. Like a prayer off a rosary, he quietly reeled off names of players and match details as the final reached its hour. When Jammu and Kashmir won, the family looked at each other. And smiled quietly. Women members hugged each other. Moments later came the announcement that Auqib Nabi Dar had been named Player of the tournament.

Auqib Nabi’s family members watch Ranji Trophy final (TOI Photo)

The room fell silent, again as if hushed before prayer, as he began his post-match interview.“He is a shy boy,” his father said, smiling, not taking his eyes off the screen. When the anchor on TV reminded Auqib that his father had once wanted him to become a doctor, and when Auqib smiled in response, Ghulam Nabi removed his spectacles and wiped his eyes. In Kashmir, most parents encourage their children to pursue medicine as it usually serves as a respectable and secure career. Ghulam Nabi said he often worried that cricket would pull his son away from studies. He spoke of a time when he stopped Auqib from going out to play, locked him inside a room and even tied him with a rope to keep him from leaving. Around 2015, he missed securing a medical seat by two marks, recalled Ghulam Nabi, as if banishing a bad memory.

Auqib Nabi’s family members (TOI Photo)

Medicine’s loss was to become cricket’s gain, and a father understood in time.“Later, I understood how serious my son was about the game, and I allowed him to play,” he said. He then added, smiling shyly, “I too used to play cricket when I was young.”Now, Ghulam Nabi only hopes to see his son play for India. “My dream is to see him in the Indian jersey,” he said.The proud father’s phone kept ringing with calls from relatives, neighbours and reporters as scenes of historic jubiliation unfloded on the TV. “People are calling with affection,” he said as he struggled to answer each one of them. Women from neighbouring houses came to congratulate Auqib’s mother and grandmother. They hugged them and offered prayers.In another room, Bilal Ahmad Dar, 30, Auqib’s cousin, watched the match alone on his phone, preferring to follow games quietly, he said. Bilal spoke of how there were no proper cricket facilities in Sheeri when Auqib was growing up. Even today there are only basic facilities around. To practice, Auqib would travel nearly five km to a small ground near Lower Jhelum across the river.

Auqib Nabi’s accolades over the years (TOI Photo)

Bilal closely tracks Auqib’s career. He remembers almost every match that his cousin has played since being selected for the Ranji team. Over the past two years, Bilal said that Auqib has taken 104 wickets, 44 last year and 60 this year, and feels proud seeing well-known cricketers praise Auqib on social media. “When senior players tweet about him, it means a lot,” he said.Auqib is a science graduate from the University of Kashmir and remains humble despite his success, Bilal said, recalling the day of the IPL auction. “Auqib and me were watching the auction in this room,” Bilal said. “At first, when his name came up, no team picked him for a few seconds, we were silent. Then Delhi placed a bid and we were relieved.”As the bidding increased and more franchises joined in, the price kept rising. “When it reached Rs 8.40 crore, we couldn’t believe it. We were happy,” he said. Within minutes, word spread across the village. People began gathering outside the house, beating drums and celebrating. “There was a huge rush,” Bilal said. “But he is very shy. He didn’t even come out.”

India’s Sanju Samson (ANI Photo)

India wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson opened up about the special reception he experienced at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, which has now become his home ground in the IPL following his move to Chennai Super Kings. The 29-year-old recently played at the venue during India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixture against Zimbabwe and spoke about the strong emotional connect he felt with the Chennai crowd and the responsibility that comes with their backing.Samson revealed that the affection was visible from the moment he landed in the city, pointing to the cultural closeness between Chennai and his native Kerala.“After the trade, this is the first time I’m coming to Chennai. Right from the airport, I can feel the special love. Normally, we do come to Kerala and Chennai is very close, we do often come here, and I do feel that energy here. Fortunate to be a part of such a great and passionate fans here in Chennai,” Sanju said in a video shared by bcci.tv on Saturday.

Known for his stylish strokeplay, the right-hander admitted that performing in front of such an enthusiastic fanbase brings not only happiness but also a deeper sense of duty.“Really happy to go out there and entertain them in this way. I’m happy. More than just happiness, there’s also a little extra responsibility. When everyone comes to cheer for you, I think there’s an extra added responsibility to actually entertain them. So yeah, I’m very happy. Yes, we’ll meet soon,” he said in Tamil.On the field, Samson gave India early momentum against Zimbabwe with a quickfire 24 from 15 balls in the powerplay. Opening the batting, he set the tone with a straight six off Richard Ngarava and soon followed it with a pull shot for another maximum off Blessing Muzarabani.He also struck a fluent cut for four and rotated the strike smartly, helping India race to 46 without loss inside three overs. His cameo came to an end when he mistimed a slower short delivery from Muzarabani and was caught at deep mid-wicket, cutting short what looked like a promising innings.