Sam Curran and Dasun Shanaka (Agency Image)

Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara has expressed disappointment over the absence of Sam Curran from the IPL 2026 season, calling it a significant setback for the franchise. The England all-rounder has been ruled out due to a groin injury just days before the tournament begins.In response, the Royals have moved swiftly to bring in Dasun Shanaka as Curran’s replacement, with the Sri Lankan T20I captain confirmed in an official announcement on Monday.Curran had arrived at Rajasthan Royals as part of a blockbuster pre-auction trade involving Chennai Super Kings. The deal saw CSK secure Sanju Samson, while the Royals acquired Curran alongside Ravindra Jadeja. However, his injury has now forced an early exit before he could make an impact this season.“We are disappointed to lose a player of Sam’s calibre so close to the start of the season,” said Sangakkara, who serves as Director of Cricket and Head Coach at Rajasthan Royals.“Sam brings immense value with both bat and ball. However, we are pleased to have found an ideal replacement in Dasun Shanaka, a finisher with the bat and a quality all-rounder who helps maintain the balance of our side,” he added.Shanaka arrives with considerable T20 experience and is expected to slot into the lower middle order, offering both finishing ability and all-round depth. He previously featured in the IPL during the 2023 season for Gujarat Titans, where he played three matches.Shanaka’s move to RR makes him the second international player after Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani to leave the Pakistan Super League for a stint in the Indian Premier League.Rajasthan Royals will open their IPL 2026 campaign against Chennai Super Kings on March 30 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Following that clash, they are scheduled to face Gujarat Titans on April 4, Mumbai Indians on April 7, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10.

Hardik Pandya at ‘MI MIX’ fan event on Sunday. (Pic credit: MI’s X post)

MUMBAI: The cricketing fraternity, today, acknowledges Hardik Pandya as one of the finest white-ball allrounders in the game, but when Mumbai Indians first spotted him in domestic cricket, he was just a hardworking youngster from Baroda, who only knew how to bat. Recounting his journey at a fireside chat with MI batting coach Kieron Pollard during the ‘MI MIX’ fan event at Jio World Garden on Sunday, Pandya said his rise was shaped by hard work and MI’s sharp scouting system.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Before I played for Mumbai Indians, I was just a pure batter for 17-19 years. The only thing I knew was hard work — if someone told me to run 12 rounds, I would run 15,” Pandya said, recalling his early days in domestic cricket.The turning point came during a Ranji Trophy match when MI scouts noticed him — almost by chance. “I was playing a Ranji game, and the scouts had not even come to watch me. That’s the beauty of the Mumbai Indians’ scouting system. They identified something special even when they were not there specifically for me. That shows the strength of their system,” he said.Pandya joined MI in 2015 as a young prospect and gradually transformed himself into a match-winning allrounder. The 32-year-old admitted that the transition from a pure batter to an allrounder was not an easy one and required him to adapt significantly, especially in terms of fitness and body management.“I had to adapt. I had no idea how to look after my body or what it takes to be an allrounder. The only thing I knew was to work hard, and that helped me come out of difficult phases,” he said, urging young cricketers to be disciplined.Now set to lead Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 for the third year in-a-row, Pandya made his ambitions clear — win a sixth Indian Premier League (IPL) title for the franchise.“My ultimate dream is to win the IPL for the sixth time for MI. The franchise already has an amazing legacy, but I want us to play the best cricket Mumbai Indians have ever played and win as many trophies as possible,” he said drawing loud cheers from fans, who he praised for their unconditional support through good times and bad.Pollard, who has watched Pandya’s journey from close quarters, credited him for inspiring the next generation of players at MI. “The bravery and youthful exuberance of the young players excite me. When Hardik came into the setup, he worked hard and produced results on the field. The next generation is seeing that and coming in fearless — that’s what Mumbai Indians are all about,” Pollard said.

Hardik Pandya with teammate Suryakumar Yadav (PTI Photo)

Mumbai Indians will once again head into the Indian Premier League 2026 season as one of the strongest contenders on paper, boasting a star-studded lineup featuring Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Tilak Varma. Despite their formidable squad, the five-time champions have not lifted the trophy since their last triumph in 2020.The franchise underwent a major shift in 2024 when Hardik Pandya returned from Gujarat Titans and took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma. The transition did not go smoothly, with fan backlash and on-field struggles culminating in a last-place finish that season. The following year saw improvement, as Mumbai reached the playoffs, but their campaign ended in Qualifier 2 with a defeat to Punjab Kings, led by Shreyas Iyer.Ahead of the 2026 season, former India selector Kris Srikkanth has weighed in on the leadership debate, suggesting a potential shift in captaincy. He believes that Suryakumar Yadav, fresh from leading India to T20 World Cup success, could be given the reins to see if it changes the team’s fortunes.“They have to come together again, the franchise owners and the team management with Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya, and set this right again. They should ask Surya to lead this year to see if there is a change of luck. They can always appoint Surya as the captain anytime. They don’t need to announce it right now,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.He further highlighted the unusual dynamic within the squad, pointing out that multiple World Cup-winning leaders are currently playing under Hardik.“It’s a funny situation. Hardik Pandya is a good captain. But, yes, they have two T20 World Cup-winning captains playing under him now. It’s some internal policy within their setup that they have to sort out. From the outside, the obvious choice should be Suryakumar Yadav. But this might be a franchise policy,” he added.Describing it as a “strange situation”, Srikkanth suggested that clarity could emerge if Hardik himself opts to step aside.“It’s a strange situation, as Hardik played under Rohit and Surya to help India win the World Cup. Otherwise, Hardik should himself say no to captaincy and allow Surya to lead. If Hardik himself says this to the management, things will get resolved. He should say, ‘Let Surya lead and I’ll support’. That’s one way of solving it,” said Srikkanth.Mumbai Indians will kick off their IPL 2026 campaign on March 29, facing Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Punjab Kings (Getty Images)

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan believes the Punjab Kings are finally “moving in the right direction” after making smart and bold decisions at the auction table, raising hopes of ending their long wait for an Indian Premier League (IPL) title.Speaking on IPL Today Live, Pathan highlighted how the franchise has shown renewed clarity in both leadership and squad-building. Punjab Kings finished as runners-up last season, narrowly losing the final to Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Clear Leadership Driving Punjab’s Turnaround

“Leadership has played a huge role in Punjab’s turnaround. You win half the IPL at the auction table. Big purses don’t necessarily mean you will always get what you want, but they did, and they reached the final,” he said.Smart auction moves key to Punjab’s rise Pathan pointed out that the franchise has not shied away from taking tough calls, including releasing underperforming players such as Glenn Maxwell, while also strengthening their bench. “They took bold but important calls… and now you see all-rounders like Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen and Marcus Stoinis, along with a young Indian batting core. They also went all-out for Shreyas Iyer after deciding he would be the captain. There is clarity of thought, and I feel Punjab have started to move in the right direction,” he said.

Punjab Kings in IPL 2025

The Punjab Kings enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in IPL 2025, emerging as one of the most consistent teams of the season. Under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer, they topped the league stage and advanced to the final, marking their first title clash after 2014. The team displayed remarkable balance, with Iyer leading from the front with the bat where he finished 604 runs, while Arshdeep Singh spearheaded the bowling attack finishing with 21 wickets. Punjab’s journey included a memorable win in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians after failing in Qualifier 1 from RCB to secure a place in the final, but they ultimately fell short against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in finals. Despite the loss, the 2025 season signaled a major turnaround for the franchise, establishing them as genuine contenders and laying a strong foundation for future success.

Hardik Pandya (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

Despite persisting with a strong core for years, Mumbai Indians have failed to win the Indian Premier League title since 2020. To end this drought in 2026, they will need their superstar players to put the team above individual ambitions and respond positively to Hardik Pandya’s leadership style.MI’s leadership group is vastly experienced, with Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah all capable of turning matches in pressure situations. With most of their top players in form, the fivetime champions would want their title drought to end this season.

With a lethal batting lineup, multiple allrounders, a worldclass pace spearhead in Bumrah and a crafty T20 spinner in Mitchell Santner, MI possess a combination most teams will envy. Being one of the most successful franchises in IPL history, they know the winning formula. They simply need to rediscover it.Less than a month ago, Pandya delivered another strong allround performance in India’s triumph at the 2026 T20 World Cup, earning praise for his bowling contributions, something R Ashwin recently highlighted as being underappreciated. As a senior player, Hardik played a crucial role in helping India lift the trophy under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy.When MI begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29, Pandya will expect a similar level of commitment from his India teammates — Suryakumar, Rohit, Bumrah and Tilak Varma.Add overseas firepower in Will Jacks, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton and New Zealand’s white-ball captain Santner and MI appear, on paper, to be one of the strongest franchise sides in world cricket.

Yet, this star-studded outfit — the IPL’s version of the Galacticos — has struggled to gel into a champion team since Pandya returned as captain in 2024. His first season as MI captain was disastrous, with the team managing only four wins in 14 matches.The situation worsened with the crowd booing him as he had replaced sentimental favourite Rohit as captain. Then, there were reports of dressing-room unrest. However, the management kept faith in Pandya and retained him for IPL 2025. The results improved as MI reached the playoffs, before Shreyas Iyer’s sensational innings knocked them out in Qualifier 2 against Punjab Kings.IPL 2026 could be a defining test for Pandya’s leadership. Suryakumar Yadav’s stature has risen after leading India to the T20 World Cup title and he too would be nursing captaincy ambitions in the IPL. Rohit too remains one of the most respected leaders in world cricket. If MI struggle early, calls for a leadership rethink may grow louder. The best approach for Pandya and head coach Mahela Jayawardene would be a collaborative leadership model that actively involves senior players in decision-making. Such a consultative approach would keep the dressing room united and focused on the trophy rather than individual egos.This season could also be crucial for Rohit. Now visibly leaner and fitter, the 38-year-old looks motivated for a strong campaign. Used as an ‘Impact Sub’ at times last season, Rohit could play a larger on-field role this year, allowing him to contribute more to tactical decisions. The Mumbaikar remains the emotional heartbeat of MI, though a prolonged dip in form could raise uncomfortable questions for the team.MI’s batting has tremendous depth. Rohit is likely to open with either Quinton de Kock or Ryan Rickelton, followed by a strong middle order featuring Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak and Hardik, along with power-hitters Sherfane Rutherford and Jacks. Pandya’s own batting position will be key — ideally, he should bat no lower than No. 6 to maximise his impact in the death overs.Much will also depend on Jasprit Bumrah, whose match-winning spells powered India’s T20 World Cup campaign. Pandya would be wise to use him as a strike bowler throughout the innings, much like Suryakumar did for India, rather than saving him only for the death overs.Beyond Bumrah and Santner, MI’s bowling could be vulnerable on the flat Wankhede pitch, especially against big-hitting lineups.Ultimately, Pandya’s biggest challenge is to ensure MI function as a happy, united team rather than a group of superstars with bruised egos. Keeping emotions in check and fostering harmony in the dressing room will be crucial. If MI get that right, Hardik could find himself smiling on the podium after the IPL final on May 31.THE MI SWOTBe it a power-packed batting unit, skillful allrounders or a bowling lineup with depth and potency, Mumbai Indians have most bases covered to go deep in IPL 2026…Strength : Mumbai Indians’ biggest strength is their batting core of India’s 2026 T20 World Cup winners— Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma—who bring stability and firepower. Overseas stars like Will Jacks, Sherfane Rutherford and Mitchell Santner add depth, while Jasprit Bumrah remains the side’s biggest USP, capable of changing games at any stage. A strong pool of allrounders gives MI flexibility and balance across conditions.Weakness: The lack of a reliable Indian opener alongside Rohit Sharma and an experienced Indian wicketkeeper could force MI to play both Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock, using up overseas slots. With Piyush Chawla retired, Santner becomes the frontline spinner, further limiting combinations and tactical flexibility.Opportunity: Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar offer a potent new-ball threat, while allrounders like Hardik, Santner, Jacks and Shardul Thakur provide balance. Hardik and Naman Dhir add finishing power, giving MI the ability to dominate key phases of the game. If their bowling unit clicks, and does so collectively, MI could dominate the powerplay and death overs.Threat: Ageing stars like Rohit, de Kock, Boult and Santner raise concerns over fielding and consistency. Heavy dependence on senior players and too many options could create selection confusion resulting in issues with role clarity. —Gaurav Gupta