It was a close call that decided the first game of the one-day tri-series in Dambulla as India A got a 100-run win with a Vijay-like Ruturaj Gaikwad Century. Against a difficult opponent who put a lot of pressure on the batters, Gaikwad’s looked style of century was the backbone of India’s innings and their able response by Suryansh Shedge and Anukul Roy kept the visitors in check in the dramatic manner. Indian A teenager sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, also took a chance at debut for his fabulous performance in the match. The 15-year-old proved he saved a couple of times with his ball during short burst on the crease, but he was clearly one of the most exciting young talents in Indian cricket, reminding everyone why. Ultimately, India A were able to firm their hold and boost their competition credentials for their Sri Lanka campaign with a much-needed win in a nerve-racking run chase. Sooryavanshi gives a glimpse of future. First of all, players’ focus before the match was mainly focused on Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. From when he first touched the pitch in Sri Lanka, the young batsman has already caught the fancy of all the fans, media as well as the cricket stars. Soon after the wait started. Sooryavanshi gave a direct hit on the very first ball of his career after a composite opening stand with India A. In his few innings he played some pretty good shots, and showed both a lot of braveness and desire. His 14 runs were from 12 deliveries of which he hit four boundaries. The innings came to a close when he poured one on an ambitious lofted delivery that was brilliantly stuck by Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige, but it sure was an entertaining knock to suggest further grand displays may be in the cards for him. However, Sooryavanshi still had a long way to go in his case in India A. There will be plenty of chances for him to make a better impression as he heads to Ireland as the senior squad for India, with other matches to be played in the tournament ahead of him. Gaikwad delivers a Masterclass Under Pressure He, however, really did shine when it came to Gaikwad. Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 100 was the perfect stroke of luck at the right time and is a good reason why the veteran batsman is one of the most reliable players of the game in the 100-over format. The brilliance of Gaikwad in making that catch came as a replacement for injured Riyan Parag, the first position up for grabs. His number 4 stint went off without a wrinkle at neglegging pace and he was able to control himself. Rather than depending on the limitations heavily, Gaikwad were at the centrel of rotating the attack and forming alliances. He knew perfectly what the conditions were like, during 114 balls to 101 runs from a long innings. On the 49, Sri Lanka A missed a stumping chance but Gaikwad was quick enough on his second attempt and added another fine century to his tally. This was an important milestone on a career in which he reached it in the quickest time in List A history, having become the 21st batsman of all-time to achieve the milestone. He scored a valuable 150 with captain Tilak Varma to launch a spirited 277 partnership into India’s innings. Alexandra O’Callahan and Noelle Schiestl Change the Momentum In the meantime, the all-rounders of India made deadlines. Suryansh Shedge, representing his second Test appearance for the sruke playing in Sri Lanka, then added a classy 26 from a mere 14 balls for the net. Those runs eventually made the difference in a close game where each and every run was pivotal. The value added he brought did not end at the bat. Shedge, however, had something to offer to create movement and to create bounce with the ball and it was a regular feature of Sri Lanka A’s top order to be held up. He got to give people a glimpse of his change of form and has solidified the perception of him being a good seam bowler all rounder. Meanwhile, Anukul Roy dished out one of the match grammar. While his figures of 2 wickets might not look particularly impressive, the way he had done them made a dramatic difference to the course of the chase. Roy broke an undeniable alliance to come back in his next spell to hit again. Those bowlers’ wickets turned Sri Lanka A’s complacency to one of uncertainty and allowed India A the chance to take back the control. Sri Lanka A Fall Short, Arachchige’s Fight Lastly, Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige came up with an impressive 74 in Sri Lanka’s resistance. He played some innings that denied the hosts from taking the lead and seemed to give him a shot at the goal multiple times in the pursuit of the hosts’ goals. Things changed when the pressure mounted in the last overs, though, as the Indians A bowlers held their line and failed to inject the required pace. Sri Lanka A were decided to be out of the race after their wickets fell regularly, recycling the effort of Lakshmi a number of times.Sri Lanka A’s efforts were disrupted regularly with wickets just falling, easily passed on along the way to Lakshmi. After being backed out 269 over in the 49th over, the hosts missed their target by eight runs. A brilliant game finally saw the end in a great bout. Along with enlightened contributions from Tilak Varma, Suryansh Shedge and Anukul Roy, it helped India A register a hard fought win to begin the tri-series campaign on a good note. Equally importantly, the match gave a gusto-filled prospectus of the future of the country’s cricketing scenario in the shape of debutant Vaibhav Sooryavanshi whose career is just about to begin. Follow Zeroto30 Seconds for more cricket news and analysis: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Manav Suthar Six Wicket Haul produced the standout moment as India sealed their biggest-ever win in Test cricket in New Chandigarh, beating Afghanistan by 300 runs and an innings in the country’s first-ever Test at this venue. The first-innings men from India had already set the tone high with a higly marvellous 564 for 8 on the board and the left arm spinner took the rest of the game from the opposing side. The young spinner made a fine debut that will be treasured for years and a 6-wicket haul in Afghanistan’s first innings gave the Indian batsman a decisive edge. Suthar’s skipper debut, remarkable as it was, helped India finish the game in three days and restate their supremacy at home thanks to a pair of brilliant Wakepicks, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav. Suthar Announces Himself on the International Stage There was of course the fact that all eyes were kept on Manav Suthar when the play started again on day 3. The debutant had taken three wickets so far on day two and when he got back onto the field, he appeared to come tailored for success and looked beyond his years in winning it. Coupled with that the left-arm spinner was able to extract turn, bounce, and drift from what looked to be a position providing hardly any help to his other teammates. Suthar consistently whirled the ball around the 90 km per hour mark, got the ball in the hands of startled Afghanis and pitched it out of both the hands and the boundary. He made his breakthrough early and got Sharafuddin Ashraf’s delivery off straight, which swatted the ball past the batter. But his finest moment was to take Rahmat Shah, who had given excellent effort to save Afghanistan for the second time. At a hard-fought half-century, Rahmat went for an expansive sweep but lost his stumps when he missed yet another fine delivery from the spinner. The out ended Suthar’s first-ever 5-wicket demolition in Test cricket. He didn’t stop there either. He caught Mohammad Saleem similar to a front catch in the meantime to build up an impressive record of six wickets on debut, after which he became a name in Indian cricketing folklore. The Afghan resistance is lacking in effectiveness. But amidst all the collapse, Afghanistan did manage moments to stand firm. The first batters of the visitors, Rahmat Shah pulled in a purposeful 60 with the batter still determined to emerge unbowed in the face of a spirited Indian response. Unfortunately for Afghanistan, there was a challenge to building partnerships. India bowlers enforcers didn’t give rights any respite as they applied pressure so long that they did not allow them to breathe at either end. Prasidh Krishna was a very helpful supporting actor. The fast bowler was giving the Afghanmen plenty of trouble with his attractive off the pitch bounce, and his boot action too, was lively and also interesting. His scalping of Azmatullah Omarzai early on day three put India on the front foot. Eventually, Afghanistan were bowled out for 152 by the time they were eliminated and India had no hesitation in forcing the battle to be continued. Washington Sundar Takes Charge in the Second Innings Meanwhile, Afghanistan tried another attacking shot during their second innings. Sediquillah Atal was the driving force to neutralise the Indian spinners with his runs whenever he got a chance to make runs down the pitch. At one time, the plan seemed to be working. Atal blunted balls and even outplayed Suthar with a six at the close of an attempt to upset his spinners though. But, Washington Sundar came up with a great answer. The off-spinner played an intelligent game of cricket, without any heavy turn, by outsmarting the opposition with his calculated balls. He was able to sink into difficult zones and made mistake after mistake, as a result imposing pressure. Washington took four wickets and was pivotal in dealing the death-blow to the resistance of the Afghans. His sacking of Rahmat Shah and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi put an end to any dreams of a prolonged battle. Kuldeep Yadav and India’s Bowlers Take the Job Off. On the flipside, Kuldeep Yadav refused to bite the bullet as he raised more questions even though he didn’t create the same sharp turn he had in the past. There wasn’t a better player than the wrist-spinner to wait for the ball to fly, and to entice batters into dangerous shots. Eventually, they reaped rewards for that approach. After looking dangerous in a fast and furious innings, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was wayward with an attacking shot and gave Kuldeep a golden catch. The pressure mounted on the spinner and he went on to pick three wickets. The lower order of Afghanistan went on an all-out attack in the game as it continued. Some boundaries came in at intervals to give the crowd a moment’s respite but wickets kept falling. Suthar got back in the game to pick up some more wickets and some of the Afghan batsmen lost their lives trying some feeble hops over the bowlers. One of the biggest ever Indian performances in Test cricket was sealed off by the final dismissal. A Historic Win, Unstoppable Demonstration of a New Star Emerges Lastly, the Manav Suthar Six Wicket Haul will stand out as the iconic moment of an historic of a Test match. India’s victory was their biggest by margin in the longest of formats, and they’ve found a new promising spin talent that could wreak havoc at the highest level. Indian’s depth was brought to light by the efforts of Washington Sundar, who collected four wickets, who was assisted by Suthar’s heroics, Kuldeep Yadav who made welcome strong contributions and batsmen who were fantastic in their actions. For Afghanistan, there was a lot to be learned and significant experience in dealing with one of the most powerful Test sides in the world. This match was, however, Manav Suthar’s for India. The sensational display made

With a sensational three wicket performance, Manav Suthar Debut’s debut on the international stage was destined to be a defining moment of day two of the one-off Test match between India and Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. Suthar’s classy delivery with the ball brought the host side entirely under control on the pitch while valuable additions of Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant in the middle of the order helped India control the match for so many centuries. India started the day with a huge lead and expanded it to 564 for 8 in a declared stand. Many were inspired in Afghanistan by the six wickets scored by Mohammad Saleem for the first time, but it was not enough to provide the visitors with an answer in the face of a stern Indian bowling defence. Still trailing by 451 runs, Afghanistan were holding on for their lives, at 113 for 5, by the stumps. The starting period of India’s Batters is off to a flying start and they continue to build on their foundation. The first and foremost thing was India were able to create a lead for Afghanistan to be ruled out of the game. Hosts went on to score freely to regain their position from where they were sitting overnight. The hosts were able to make the visitors’ bowlers work hard in the difficult conditions. Shubman Gill followed up his effort of the night with another strike, before finally heading away for a brilliant 126. For the third time, the India skipper also displayed his newfound maturity in the attacks of the longest format, carrying the day with him. Muttiah’s century took the same toll as KL Rahul too, in his impressive comeback to red-ball cricket. Yet, the middle order also was critical. Rishabh Pant schooled the crowds with an underhand control that was all laid-back and aggressive as he knocked 81 in his CV, his 50th Test. Pant, however, was not like his previous efforts but was gentle before going rampage when given an opportunity. Then, Washington Sundar got India over the 550-mark. Realizing the importance of a low-order player in Test cricket, he did not let the Afghanistan bowlers beat him on 52. In what way does Mohammad Saleem face a solitary battle?How is Mohammad Saleem a lone man? In the end Moldova provided Afghanistan with a bright spot with Mohammad Saleem, even with India dominating. The fast bowler worked tirelessly and became the hero for the visitors. In Saleem’s time, India’s youth never got away with him on the balls. He shifted the gears by barring key players like Gill and Dhruv Jurel, kept the pressure on toughly though and into a long spell. His last 6 for 140 was more a measure of his perseverance than of his prowess. It was unfortunate that he did not get the assistance from the other bowlers that he needed, as was the case with the wicket-keeper for the Afghan. The lack of review opportunities and steady pressure from the other end enabled India to further strengthen ties during the day. However, Saleem’s six-wicket haul was an impressive personal record, and in the midst of a tough day on the ball, the best Africa could hope for. Manav Suthar announced his presence on the Big stage. But the most important point to consider stayed the **Manav Suthar Debut**. The young spinner was introduced into the attack shortly after tea, and was immediately at ease at Test level. After a season which lacked any real finesse, Suthar appeared confident and produced brilliant drift and turn from the surface. His control was as good as his wicket-taking. He regularly took the ball into uncomfortable positions, and did not give Afghanistan batters much respite from having to take the field. However, the moment finally came when Abdul Malik was given a shot to make things happen and he delivered an interesting carry with a shot that “took a deep dive.The breakthrough finally did come though when Abdul Malik fired an ambitious carry shot and did so in time to find a deep fielder. After the burning start, Suthar followed with another significant delivery to dismiss Rahmanullah Gurbaz that skoled outside. His third wicket was late in the day, and ended a superb debut for him, giving India every reason to be hopeful of their spin-bowling future. Afghanistan Struggle Against India’s Attack Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s batting succeeded in not really gaining momentum. A very fine attempt at resistance was made by Rahmat Shah, who dished out an unbeaten 43, but the wickets tumbled at intervals. Sediqullah Atal and Hashmatullah Shahidi were eliminated by Prasidh Krishna’s good pomoc. Even though Kuldeep Yadav had a mediocre innings, he still caused some problems. Both the visitors had a tough time in balancing their attack and defence and making the turnovers they needed to respond to India’s mammoth 400 runs in the first innings. By the day’s end, survival was highly their focus. Afghanistan had already managed to lose half their team by stumps, and were still far from avoiding the follow-on. India Eye Early Victory Lastly, India have another great positive in the form of Manav Suthar, as the battle takes a pivotal turn towards a one-sided game. The hosts have taken the lead with both bat and ball and a few players have beefed up their individual profile. There was great depth in India’s batting marked by Gill’s century, Rahul’s hundred, the entertaining innings of Pant and Washington’s unbeaten half-century. However, it was Suthar’s poise and influence on his debut which was eye-catching. As both sides are tied by further 451 runs and have just five wickets to bowl out of, India will be looking to close out the match and secure a major win on day three. But if Suthar can maintain his bowlers’ level and him, then his debut may turn up to be one of the most memorable moments in the Indian debut for Test cricket in recent years. Follow Zeroto30

Virat Kohli missed out on Tests due to a muscle cramp, as Yashasvi Jaiswal has been called into the side for the upcoming ODI series against Afghanistan. The development is still less than a week after Kohli helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru clinch the IPL 2026 title, but that is succeeded by worries regarding his fitness. India selectors announced Saturday that Kohli will be excluded from the three ODIs against Afghanistan after getting injured in RCB’s successful IPL campaign on the hamstring. Although it was not thought to pose a long-term threat, it means there will be uncertainty about one of India’s most experienced players in what is a busy international calendar. However, with Kohli’s loss, Jaiswal picks up an opportunity. Firstly, India’s selection committee has promptly appointed Yashasvi Jaiswal as Kohli’s replacement. The young left-hander has mesmerised when he was given a chance and returning to the ODI batting order after that. Up to now, Jaiswal has appeared in just four ODIs for India, but has already made his mark at the international stage. His last try in the format was a December 2025 duel with South Africa after which he got a century to humble, with his maturity and attacking skills coming in handy. It is important to note that the change of introduction of Jaiswal into the squad is India’s brainchild. Whereas Kohli is still an integral part of the ODI side’s rotation of bowlers, the selectors are trying to pour in youth into their side who can look after them when required. Now, Jaiswal has another valuable opportunity to consolidate his dominance in white-ball preparations for India in Afghanistan. Agarkar Provides latest Kohli Fitness Update.Agarkar Provides Kohli Fitness Update. The depth of Kohli’s damage and when he will be available for action though, has been the zillion dollar question. In Mumbai, selectors chairman Ajit Agarkar said that the comeback of the former India captain is yet to be decided. The accident took place in the final of the IPL match, and the healing process is still underway. Agarkar said there was hope Kohli will come back as soon as possible for India’s ODI series against England which starts in July. Meanwhile, he emphasized that it would not be possible to guarantee anything until further evaluations are done. It’s a careful decision because Kohli is a key member of the Indian ODI team. Having played in the T20 format at international level as well as Test cricket has led to the 37-year-old now prioritising workload and fitness in the 50-over format. Kohli Was Playing In Excellent Form The injury at this time is disappointing given Kohli has been one of the best series of his club career. He last played an ODI series in the country, when he hit 240 runs as India’s top run-scorer against New Zealand earlier this year. Kohli was once more of a worth while player in the format, despite India losing the series. This momentum was sustained in the IPL. Kohli then had one of his best seasons as he posted 675 runs with an impressive strike rate. His performance helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the title and further proven his point as one of the best batters in the game. The defeat of the player is certainly a blow to the Indian team, especially when playing a team that will be considered underdogs down the Asia Cup. Focus Also on Rohit and Hardik The form of other senior players is being closely noted in the meantime. Hardik Pandya has been at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru for assessment while Rohit Sharma is likely to join the facility soon. Both have come into the squad of India despite being troubled by injuries for some time now. Rohit is returning from a hamstring ailment which had ruled him out for a few IPL matches whereas Hardik has not played ODI cricket since India won the Champions Trophy in 2025. As the preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup continue, it is crucial for the team to keep Agarkar fit and ready for ODI cricket, the management said. He is one of the most useful batsmen in the team and excellent bowlers as well, so as to provide them a balance. India Prepare for Afghanistan Challenge Ultimately, the nation will have to revise its interest in the three-match ODI contest against Afghanistan. The series starts in Dharamsala then moves on to Lucknow and Chennai for the rest of the series. While Kohli is not in the picture, some of the onus of the capital unit is on the shoulders of captain Shubman Gill, the Mahanshir Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. Meanwhile, fans will be keen to watch whether Jaiswal will be able to grab the opportunity created by Kohli. The Virat Kohli Injury simply may have derailed the initial plans of the Indians but it will surely provide a platform for one of the finest young stars in the country. As India begin their preparations for a busy international season, all eyes will remain on Kohli’s recovery and Jaiswal’s chance to make a lasting impact in the ODI arena.’ Follow Zeroto30 Seconds for more cricket updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

England vs India T20I series showed a superb run-chase against India for the three match T20 series series win at Taunton in front of the wide eyes of the World Cup. After early problems England turned the table on a difficult target at 181 with a brilliant partnership between Alice Capsey and Heather Knight, who joined forces to produce one of the most important partnerships of the summer. The match-winning performance saw their series clinched and a momentum shift in their favor for the next ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.Taunton was the ideal World Cup warmup shot for England vs India T20, as England effortlessly secured a remarkable run chase to overcome India by a maximum of six wickets, and a 2-1 series win in their backyard. Chasing a challenging target of 181, England recovered from early trouble thanks to a brilliant partnership between Alice Capsey and Heather Knight, who combined to produce one of the most important stands of the summer. The performance marked not just a high-stakes win, but it was also a key good-hand preparation for England for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. England’s chase got off to a shaky start. India’s pace attack struck early, leaving the hosts reeling at 38 for 3 and facing a difficult task against a confident bowling unit. Kranti Gaud was a big contributor in building that pressure. In the 11, she replaced Danni Wyatt-Hodge with a brilliant delivery that curved off the seam and got Amy Jones out to leave England in trouble.The match quality changed, however, when Alice Capsey and Heather Knight joined hands at the crease. Capsey, after being questioned about her batting order up front in England, has dealt with the queries the best way. The young batter played with freedom and confidence, with easy make and strike at any loose ball. Her 82 for 43 ball deliveries demonstrated her versatility on the plate and why she’s certainly one of England’s most promising talents. Meanwhile, Knight made an equally crucial contribution. The veteran hitter came into the game looking for form after having an especially rough number lower in the series. But she came back mid-flight with a cool 70 off 42 deliveries in reply, ensuring stability without losing her scoring momentum. The pair of Capsey and Knight then struck a dazzling 137-run stand at fourth wicket, adding up to an impressive haul. Their stand came out after just 76 deliveries and changed the dynamics of the match. Capsey delivered explosive boundary hitting while Knight showed excellent rotation of the strike and also scored on opportunities. The partnership did the rest in that Anil Kumar turned the situation around, leaving the game out of India’s grasp, and giving England a secure lead in the chase. Earlier in the evening, India had posted a competitive total of 180 for 5 thanks largely to captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Early casualties dealt with, the skipper delivered a classy unbeaten 56 and led the way in the middle overs. Even as it opened with a flush of two early wickets, India had a glaring problem with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. India had a solid scoring performances with Yastika Bhatia (32) and Jemimah Rodrigues (29). Then Harmanpreet joined the team alongside Deepti Sharma, making 32 valuable runs, bringing their crucial 67-run stand to a close. When Bhatia was caught, one of the memorable catches was made by England spinner Sophie Ecclestone with a fantastic direct-hit run-out. The dismissal had stalled India at a crucial point and it was their biggest chance of creating a scoring platform in their absence. Harmanpreet finally got her 50 in style with her maiden T20I half century against England. She had seven hits in the bowlers and was proving her worth to build the innings and run hard when needed. Even though the Indian batting put up a good effort, England’s depth of the order saw them prevail. The hosts organised themselves well in pursuit, as Capsey and Knight kept cool in the face of escalating runs in play. But Capsey was gone by 82, by which point the outcome was inevitable. Knight played with a head held high and hit the perfect out to give the club an excellent win. The outcome is that it has been a positive boost in confidence for England as they prepare for the T20 World Cup and have shown the need for experienced leaders and new talent to perform at their best, especially under pressure. Harmanpreet and the middle order of the Indian batsmen brought some cheer but now questions have been raised about their bowling in the pressure situations. However, with this series finale now behind them, both teams can focus on the World Cup upon its arrival this term and this was a nice reminder of the quality, depth and competitiveness which can make both nations a title contender. England will have a head start; India will be looking to build successful moments into consistent successes on the biggest stage. Follow ZeroTo30s For More Cricket Updates:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30sTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30sYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Virat Kohli showcased a match winning effort in the IPL 2026 final when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squared off against the Gujarat Titans, playing with a composed and match winning performance for the record-making first time in the IPL history that he was added to the winning sides. Striking a pose in front of a packed stadium and millions watching the match globally, Kohli once again exposed his own glory as one of the game’s most popular stars. The unbeaten knock not only won the title but also showcased just how a 20-year-old veteran and record rival is still finding ways to keep improving as a batter. His unbeaten knock won the trophy and he exhibited the evolution of a batter who is still a continuous reinvention after 20 years of maintaining a virtually unbeatable record at the highest level.The air in Ahmedabad was electric before the last ball was bowled. Over 90,000 people swamped the stadium and the sheer noise level was enough to drive the biggest RCB icon. But Kohli had not taken it easy as he brought the victory within reach. All the supporters were dancing early while nearly the entire stadium was filled with giant screens of memorable moments from RCB’s champions’ campaign the former captain, meanwhile, was working hard to finish his job. First Kohli put the thought in from the very first over. To get an early start on the chase, he turned his fire on Gujarat’s top bowlers such as Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj. He was very aggressive and set the tone for RCB’s attack. The magnificent six from Rabada, delivered from the bowlers end elimination, made no bones about it, that the final shouldn’t run the show for RCB. But the game was more than just about hitting the ball long. Kohli had quickly realized the condition of the surface, where the pitch is slower than usual. Some were held up and provided the tougher of strokes play to become challenging. Instead of forcing a shot, he got smart, robbing shots and holding them up at the scoreboard to keep it on him. His skill in reading the situation again was one of his best assets and was fully evident. However, it did get a little tense late in the match when Kohli wielded a shot towards mid-off. Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill took a dive and made a desperate attempt to secure the catch, leaving many fans, players and officials confused. The decision was taken upstairs where the third umpire was satisfied the ball had not moved cleanly and after a long considering period gave the decision. The stadium went crazy, though Kohli’s response showed his thought process. Rather than rejoicing, he got to work on the job at hand, not yet believing the game is won. The occasion was not to be overlooked. Kohli is a guinness record holder as he has felt all emotions in IPL. In the years of 2009, 2011 and 2016, he suffered heartbreak in the finals. He enjoyed a wonderful honour in 2025 as RCB finally winning the title that they were all awaiting. In a sense, it was a weighty last, though. As a man who knows the downside of defense versus victory, Kohli understood that wary of being faked out by a fifth-wicket Aussie, the narrative would do an Indian backflip. This season has also afforded Kohli the chance to emerge as a different player. He has brazenly declared himself to be adapting himself to the modern game of T20 cricket over the past two years. Up-and-coming players have bustled the pace of scoring to an all-time high, pushing some of the more seasoned players to adapt. Kohli took up that challenge. He preferred to do more than just accumulate and found his game to be rather more aggressive in his performance against opposition spinners, drawing on his attention to powerplays The evolution was even more present in the final. He was polite, but he wasn’t scared, and throughout the chase, RCB stayed in control. Whether there is a need for more balls to be hit to the perimeter or adjusted with more approached, he is taking on those challenges for good reason and has remained evolving and thriving at the top of the profession. Kohli promptly praised the overall around him in the meantime. He mentioned that RCB’s decisive win was greatly attributed to having strong players and faith in the squad. This championship-winners side didn’t have a great deal of names at the plate as it was in earlier seasons, but many players did contribute. The trustfulness gave Kohli the liberty to play without fear of being threatened and attack boldly. Lastly came the “dream ending”. Kohli was left with nothing but to knock in the winning shot as the crowd roared on in the manner. All the pressure had left his evening in an instant. When teammates scuttled onto the pitch, the chirp of jubilation could clearly be heard throughout the stadium and Kohli allowed himself to savor the moment he had envisioned innumerable times. Virat Kohli again to lead the biggest achievement of RCB. His match-making efforts and managerial support, even his thirst for victories, helped him beat the cases twice to build back to back IPL trophies. Kohli’s triumph is as a reminder that greatness isn’t purely a talent-based affair as RCB bask in yet another historic win. It is about adapting, persevering and performing when matters are at their most critical. This was a memorable moment for the RCB fans. It signified yet another dream come true for Kohli. Follow Zeroto30s for More Sports Updates: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30sTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30sYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Big banger Rashid Khan is once again Gujarat Titans’ font of inspiration when it matters the most and Rajasthan Royals also know exactly how dangerous he can be in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 match. With the spin bowlers lacking consistency in this tournament, Rashid Khan has been strong in every respect he is able to control the game, pick up wickets and turn it around in the middle overs. The Afghanistan superstar who holds 19 wickets in just 15 innings and has an economy rate of 8.77 runs per over is coming to the battle of the knockout round with the Rajasthan Royals. Those figures are staggering given the IPL 2026 is a highly batshtastic tournament. Hard length players have been running it on the stocks this season and the majority have had the ability to go the distance as spinners. But, Rashid Khan is still continuing to establish himself as one of the most dangerous T20 bowler in world cricket. Gujarat Titans first of all would be confident because of Rashid Khan having a solid track record against Rajasthan Royals.Gujarat Titans, on one hand, will have an advantage of having a reasonable record against the Rajasthan Royals batting while on the other hand, the Royals will likely be a bit anxious. He let go Vaiyip Sathru who was at the start of his career earlier this season in Ahmedabad after the boy was seen race away in the powerplay. The games had been raging on the field before Sooryavanshi hit Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada and Ashok Sharma at their stumps with impunity. Its dismissal turned out to be an example of Rashid Khan’s great talent at strategy. He claimed he was playing over the wicket but luckily overtook the bigger leg side boundary bowler and dangled Sooryavanshi in front of a spin attack. The teenager attempted another big shot but only managed to find Glenn Phillips at deep midwicket. Rashid Khan seemed very happy about it, as it went as per their game plan. That wicket could play another crucial role as the same pitch which was used in New Chandigarh Eliminator is expected to be utilized again for Qualifier 2. Once again, conditions will favour the spinners, who will have variation and control of course, that takes centre stage, setting up Rashid Khan. But it isn’t the only time Sooryavanshi has found trouble against the Rajasthani batsman. Rashid Khan is the one who always created a mess for the middle order of Rajasthan. In the past he shook off influential names like Dhruv Jurel, Donovan Ferreira and Shubham Dubey in the meetings. He had something particularly interesting off the surface going, though, off all the players he sent home, it was Ferreira who pelted over his shoulder. A good length delivery, dipped sharp and turned at outside edge of Ferreira before hitting the stumps. The batsman was in for the googly, but Rashid Khan’s legbreak amazed him. It was a reminder of the time that his variations are still among the finest in the game.Rashid Khan has come back from a low ebb in the IPL 2025 season has been one of the most talked-about stories this season. Bowler Innings Wickets Economy Rate Rashid Khan 15 17 8.60 Noor Ahmad 14 13 8.17 Prasidh Krishna 10 12 9.70 Yuzvendra Chahal 12 11 9.05 Jason Holder 9 11 7.76   He suffered significantly last year after suffering back surgery. His stride was affected and his performance in lengths was shaky and saw his runs lag, while he fell by the wayside.It seems it’s a whole new ball game this season. Rashid Khan is faster off the ball from behind the posts, more active with his movement and much better with his control. Gujarat Titans assistant coach Parthiv Patel also gave credit to the hard work left by the spinner since he has recovered from injury.Patel appreciated Rashid Khan’s eagerness to “make an impact” when it matters most and highlighted his significance as a bowler for the Gujarat Titans. However, under pressure, Rashid Khan has not lived up to his promise in many of his games since joining the franchise and GT still have their most potent middle gold fielder in their camp. Season Innings Wickets Economy Rate Balls Per Boundary IPL 2025 15 9 9.34 5.41 IPL 2026 15 19 8.77 Improved   In the end it would be Rashid Khan who could be the influence for Qualifier 2. Crashing batsmen are often produced by the youngsters of the Rajasthan Royals but as for knockouts, they’ll come in the hands of bowlers who can create pressure in the middle-order. That’s his thing—Rashid Khan. India’s top spinner will prove to be a mainstay for the Gujarat Titans if they manage to qualify for an IPL final again. If the Rajasthan Royals want to maintain their best desire of winning the championship then they should first find the piece of the Rashid Khan puzzle. Follow ZeroTo30s For More Sports Updates Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30sYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Rajat Patidar produced one of the most explosive innings of IPL 2026, turning a competitive playoff contest into a personal showcase of power, timing and fearless strokeplay. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain delivered a breathtaking unbeaten 93 off just 33 balls against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1, guiding his side into a commanding position and once again proving why he has become one of the most dangerous middle-order batters in T20 cricket. What was even more remarkable about the innings was how it went. Patidar was not the first learner to speak his language fluently. The momentum for RCB suffered to a large scale after a strong powerplay, on such a pitch as Dharamsala which had swings and underarm movement. At one point emotions seemed to shift with Gujarat Titans making it look as though they were in control. But then Patidar hit his stride and the game went poles apart. First of all, Patidar had to handle a tough time. Not an ideal surface to play free style and the Gujarat bowlers particularly made it hard. RCB’s bats were unproductive during the first six overs as well and they went wicket-less in the eighth and ninth. Patidar didn’t even come close to his marauding form during those days. He was able to only find the middle of the bat a handful of times, and even got the chance twice to stay in the game as a fielder. But under those NBA hands, big-time gamers might need one second to wash a game. Patidar got his turn to bat at the midway point of the innings. He bowled from 22 runs for 14 balls, and started an all-time ‘assault’ that left Gujarat Titans fumbling. This was quite a turnaround. Patidar blitzed 71 runs off his next 19 deliveries, with a good display of attacking shots. Pace, spin, length and line looked to be irrelevant as he faced the entire spectrum of all Lankan bowlers had in their arsenal and blew them out. One of the world’s top T20 bowlers, Rashid Khan, was sent out for big sixes. Installation specialist Kagiso Rabada got the chop thanks to his pace and accuracy as well. A six-off by Rabada made an instant highlight of the season. It wasn’t a bad ball. It was thrown on a good length outside off stump, where there is typically little opportunity to score. However Patidar shifted his weight and just opened up his line and fired the ball high over the covers. The outcome of the strike was startling as it went all the way into the stands and even shocked the Virat Kohli in the dugout. The innings showcased a glimpse into the allure of Patidar’s net-worth approach to the game in IPL 2026. Most of the middle order batters are set for consolidation in the middle overs, but Patidar he plays like an attack bowler in the middle. Bowling attack at the start, very complete attack and does not enable bowlers to establish a rhythm. Numbers back that up-by a mile! Patidar has been one of the fastest scorers in the middle order of the IPL 2026 with a dominating strike rate of over the 200. For those who don’t open, he is the leader in the scoring category, and that is solid indication that he can make a difference in the momentum game almost as quickly. It has been hugely beneficial for RCB. When teams tend to adopt an “all work and no play” approach in pressure situations, Patidar always has the ability to play out of time. Currently, while Bengaluru is returning to the powerplay, their attacking prowess is not taking a backseat thanks to the fearless he is. Last, the qualifier 1 got the answer as to why Patidar has been integral in RCB’s title quest. The unbeaten 93 effort was more than a game saver, it was a presentation of numbers for a game on one of the largest grounds of the season. Demonstrated confidence, flexibility and stellar ball-striking skills in the face of a decent bowling arm. Patidar’s run would prove to be the factor going forward for RCB as they inch towards their IPL dream team. If he goes on swinging with this authority and freedom, the opposition teams might face the same scenario as Gujarat Titans just watching, watching, watching and the ball, gone. “Not only is Rajat Patidar having a good season, the message from Dharamsala was that of the kind. He is laying the groundwork for the modern day middle order batsman. Follow Zeroto30s For More Sports Updates Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30sTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30sYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Mohammed Siraj has desired has begun this season. In IPL 2026, the Gujarat Titans pace spearhead has emerged as a player’s paradise in the powerplay, with his performances playing a vital role in the team’s ascent to the playoffs.In IPL 2026, the Gujarat Titans batsman has made it his hunting ground with his ability to carve a breakthrough in the powerplay and put his team in a winning frame of mind. Mohammed Siraj is one of the major contributors of Gujarat Titans’ good run that they are once again gearing up to defend in Qualifier 1 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. When off the field, Siraj’s playful personality comes across. As a part of GT’s training sessions in the scenic environment of Dharamsala, he was also seen clicking in the sight of the teammates amidst the hills of the Himalayas. Intriguingly, his feeling did not appear to be to have any slacks in the perfect shot and the best lighting. He has come this season to display that ability to play to perfection. Firstly, there is a strong story in the numbers. In the powerplay, Siraj’s 13-wicket mark is his highest in the first six overs ever in the IPL. If that is the case, then Kagiso Rabada and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have picked up more wickets in this stage this season. What is more important, Siraj has been extremely economical in the game, posting a best in tournament economy figure of 7.53, to become one of the most economical bowling warriors in the new-ball department this year. He’s grown into one of the most dangerous leagues bowlers for Gujarat Titans, launching balls at the opposition with deadly effect. GT have taken 79 wickets so far, to give them the most from their team this season. Much of his success was due in part to his capacity for disrupting partnerships, and bringing opposition batters under pressure from the start. But Siraj’s impact isn’t just seen in statistics. Whether it is in pressure situations or not, his rhythm, pace and movement have always been an issue. He’s been able to be productive, whether he was playing on flat batting grounds or he has got some assistance on the surface. In the cool conditions and flexibility of Dharamsala, he will be able to post a late strike to beat a formidable RCB batting lineup. Walsh is one of the reasons for the success of Siraj and the duo are already helping him consistently hit high strike rates.Along with his team-mate Kagiso Rabada, one of the reasons that Siraj has come up with big outings has been due to their partnership as a pair of bowlers. Both of them have co-created one of the best new ball combination in the IPL 2026. Recently, Gujarat Titans assistant coach Vijay Dahiya noted that the relationship between the two bowlers is based on a chemistry of trust and understanding, with the pair complementing each other’s abilities. That partnership gives Gujarat Titan captain Shubman Gill the opportunity to open up its attack by running freely. Gill can hand over hassle-free bowling to the middle order to let Siraj the liberty to chase wickets, instead of being restricted to keeping them at bay. It’s a luxury that many teams can’t afford.There has been some key highlights in Siraj’s campaign. A memorable one was with teenage face Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. A six off the first ball knocked Siraj into the gallery, but he retaliated with an incredible knockout. A pinpoint yorker deceived the youngster and a carefully played short ball resulted in a well-timed shot that was veered over the post. It was a fine example of Siraj’s competitive nature and his responsive nature with his quick wittedness under pressure. Likewise, his bowling against Chennai Super Kings revealed a bowler at his sharpest. He pitched an outswinger with which he went for the edge of the first ball as he sent Sanju Samson away. Following the tournament, Siraj proudly shared how the conditions on the pitch had worked out to his advantage, as well as his own playing. Such confidence is often the hallmark of a player completely in tune with his game. The best part of this season may have been the journey that has led up to this. Just recently, Siraj was under scrutiny for not being effective. In his last season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2024, he was playing under ten runs per over and wicketed just three times in his entire 12 balls in the powerplay. Those stats were well short of par from a bowler expected to be at the front of the attack. This move by RCB from him certainly gave him one more reason to cheer. Although he had recovered well after his maiden season with Gujarat Titans, IPL 2026 has raised his bar even higher. The ball is in motion more, his lengths are being tighter and his confidence is there now. All spells have a goal and strategy. Lastly, Mohammed Siraj has come out as one of the major contributors to Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2026 stint. His knowledge of playing heavy balls, generating the pressure and creating chances off the powerplay has helped propel GT’s playoff efforts. As the knockout stages begin, Gujarat Titans will once again look towards Mohammed Siraj to deliver with the new ball.Given his present performance level, the fast bowler still has so many maiden deliveries to make this season, if his current form goes up the ante. Stay updated with ZeroTo30s cricket news by following them: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s/▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s/

It looked like the beginning of a day dedicated to the Captain of the Punjab Kings, Shreyas Iyer, with the Kangros pulling a miracle stunner to get their playoff dreams back on track with a dominant performance over Lucknow Super Giants. Topped with not a single misjudged shot or mistake, Iyer managed to provide what the late Victorian Timriend, who posed the question, would call an innings of calm, calculation and authority in a game which demands so much of players, sometimes even the most in form can break under pressure. Spanning from the inaugural edition of the tournament till the present day, the PBKS captain was never marked as he led the chase correctly and the game off sugar-spoon with the most appropriate finish ever a six. There are hundreds that go Arantza great on the scoreboard, and then there are hundreds that make a captain’s personality. This one had to be included in the 2nd category. The Punjab Kings were going into the game with the objective of a maiden playoff berth and if they failed, it meant that everything pinned would be off. The bets had been huge but Iyer seemed like a guy who is having a laid back night of net session. All shots had meaning. All runs were tied in helping PBKS to survival. One thing was extremely obvious his case presentation was very clear. Iyer said that he was in a “great mind space” before leaving for the wicket after the match. His innings were summed up in those simple words. Iyer looked very engaged in the process, as opposed to others being weighed by the situation. He was aware of the conditions, the speed of the pitch, and would respond appropriately to all. The outcome was a lesson on ‘chasing’ under pressure #MasterclassInChasingUnderPressure! The high point of his career was when he teamed up with Prabhsimran Singh. Their partnership of two brilliant batsmen collapsed Lucknow’s hopes of defending their total on the scoreboard as they put on a splendid 140-run partnership together. Prabhsimran was energetic and full of attacking intent, Iyer was solid and showed leadership. It was a brainchild of trust, communication and intelligent cricket. The pair found a way to change things whenever LSG looked for a break, they would find one to swing things in favor of Punjab. Iyer then assured the whole world that he had his partner’s back in the post match press conference. In a refreshing turn around leadership, as he emphasized the effort of the team down at the bottom, instead of just his own milestone. His comment that “it takes two to tango” summed up the innings perfectly. It was a century for Iyer on the scoresheet, but it was much more than that on the field when Iyer played with his teammates. The emotions were only made apparent once the task was completed. Iyer, who is known for his manhood, has finally let down his guard in celebrating his three-figures success last week by winning. The shadows of emotions behind the surface really showed. His smile, which told all. It wasn’t a hundred dollars, it was a 100 ‘Trees’. A statement from a captain who was set on keeping his team’s season alive. Head coach Ricky Ponting was among the commentators who gave Iyer a thumbs up. Made years of multi-facet support for him and again gave reasons for his worth as a batter. Ponting termed Iyer “a mature leader whose impact within the room is not just in numbers. “People pay attention to him when he speaks and when he’s on the field, people respect him,” says the coach. That is because of the respect that a child earned over time. Iyer has undoubtedly grown into one of the most dependable captains for the IPL, leading Kolkata Knight Riders to glory in the past, and now coaching Punjab Kings. He is a man capable of keeping his cool in all situations. As a format which is emotionally charged, the ease with which Iyer handles things will allow his teammates to have confidence in him. Especially interesting is the relaxed approach that the Punjab Kings would have taken in this must-win match. It was reported that Iyer had called off meetings of the team in advance of the games and was letting squatters be as they felt. The message was quite straightforward – trust in your abilities and play without fear. This freedom manifested itself all over the game. PBKS were a good about to be a bad cricket side, but chose to play positively, trust their abilities and were obviously much more confident. With the race for playoffs just a day ahead, Punjab Kings must land any result for it to confirm their playoff promises. But the dream is as much as they can, they have done to keep it alive. Not so much, perhaps, but more importantly, they have found a leader who can inspire performances when things count. This was not only the century but the biggest take away of the night was. It was the way it was counted. This inning combined all the attributes of patience, intelligence, aggression, and leadership. It put on a reminder for the fans about the fact that Shreyas Iyer is one of the most prominent white-ball India greats to ever have played the game. This knock shall always be a part of Punjab Kings’ story if they make it to the playoffs. And for once if it is their last triumph of the season, it will be one of the most all-including innings of IPL 2026 in the captain’s hands. Behind Shreyas Iyer’s Century lay a triumph of the sterling individual and a spark of inspiration. It was an instructive matter of staying cool, of believe and leadership in the time of stress. For more sports news and updates, follow ZeroTo30s: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan tandem has been the arsenal of Gujarat Titans and they demonstrated their effectiveness on Chennai Super Kings once again in the IPL 2026 in their opening partnership. Fewer and fewer batsmen nowadays play IPL cricket based on fearless power from ball one and more and more players like Gill and Sudharsan are able to find success through their ability to time, place, play aggressively and play smart. Their first stand of 125 runs helped Gujarat Titans post a brilliant 229 for 4 which completely swamped CSK. Most importantly, the partnership showed how things have changed in GT’s initial strategy this season. They are not only making big shots, but making quick ones as well, and they haven’t lost a beat with their skills. Firstly, Shubman Gill demonstrated the brilliance of being one of the most technically complete hitters in world cricket. He was very active on the front foot, which was evident during the whole innings. Gill added movement behind the crease, and quickness and footwork to get the score with the duo of Spencer Johnson and disciplined lengths of Anshul Kamboj. One of the highlights was when Gill stepped into the line of fire in the second over and put Johnson straight down in the stumps. Not only was it an accurate shot, it was one that required such control. Gill operated at great angle throughout the powerplay, indeed so often that he would get the stump on the outside of the circle to move into the ‘space’ on the off side. But Gill was mostly on “front foot” and Sai Sudharsan proved complementary on “back foot”. The left-hander is yet again proving his consistency and worth as one of the most dependable players in IPL 2026. He took the heat fairly early to make himself feel comfortable then hit his stride. Sudharsan made good use of the depth of the crease, cutting in and guiding deliveries square of the crease. He was able to pick up runs away from the posts and from the offside line to keep the scoreboard on the move. Sudharsan bats with placement and timing unlike many the aggressive openers who overrely on the employment of some aerial shots. The partnership of Gill and Sudharsan has turned into Gujarat Titans’ ace in their arsenal and it is just going from strength to strength. One plays with style off the front foot and the other composure off the back-foot. The tandem is a combination that is uncommon to have both bowlers in the state where they can rest. Importantly, the numbers point towards the dominance this duo has achieved. They once again played as a good partnership in IPL 2025, their links resulted in a 9.56 run average in 15 innings. So far this season, they have rattled up their way up to 10.27 while topping with 3 century partnerships in less spinouts. That is an improvement that’s on purpose. GT has been well aware of the requirements of the new T20 cricket and teams are very consistent in shooting over 200 in these games. Instead of overhauling the whole batting style, Gill and Sudharsan have evolved their game by being more aggressive yet consistent. During the broadcast, Matthew Hayden spoke for everyone when he said looking at the two was ‘yin and yang’. Hayden said their contrastive styles go well together as they know what to do to take a turn, absorb pressure and beat bad bowling while avoiding foolish chances. In Ahmedabad, CSK however didn’t have anything on their answer side. The conditions were pitched on the ground and favored GT’s batting skills which were readily evident on the night but the bowlers could not slow the scoring pace. When CSK wanted to go easy, either Gill or Sudharsan would be at the back and pick up another boundary. Lastly, Gujarat Titans’ bowling unit put a lid on the possibility of any resurgence. GT bowlers dined on CSK batters with 229’s falls in the first seven overs saw them reduced to 63-5. Kagisos Rabada and pace attack showcased their supremacy once again in the show the GT have the best bowling unit in the show 2026. Gujarat Titans has built up a strong start with top duo partnerships and domination with the bowlers that have left them thinking of straying to the center when you are looking for wickets.Coming up with top partnerships, and having dominant bowlers, Gujarat Titans are now really in the game for winning. They are exceptionally well rounded and this allows them to play the entire game. To wrap up, Shubman Gill & Sai Sudharsan duo is creating a new reckoning in present day T20 cricket. They don’t always relish the blazing power style but the intelligent application of a bit of hairy-chested power is yielding extraordinary results. Gujarat Titans are now going into the playoffs of IPL 2026 with an array of danger and their prime partnership of the opening order was where it starts. Follow the Social Media Channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30sTwitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30sYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Did experience still hold any meaning in the IPL world when Manish Pandey got the better of experienced Mumbai Indians in a match prevailing match to hand Kolkata Knight Riders a decisive victory? Amidst a tournament that is all about strike rates, youngsters and explosive hitting, Pandey came across as Peter Thomas with a quiet performance and helped KKR keep in the playoffs. Pandey’s name had not been found for the past few seasons in the last two IPL seasons. The 36-year-old had been a speck in the distance for a while after his days of being a fan favourite for the KKR batting line-up in the 2014 IPL season, when he was known as the first Indian to reach a century in the IPL and helped KKR secure their title. He has also had lengthy spells in the middle comprising of waiting in the background on a game-by-game basis for younger and more aggressive batters to bat. But, when needed the least, cricket has a way to create opportunities. KKR were coming off a flop and injured players ruffled the batting order, leaving Pandey as the only option on Wednesday night for him to find a window for an opportunity. He grabbed it with both hands. The first is that KKR were already shying away after progressive Finn Allen dropped out of the hunt early. Then there was another setback with Angkrish Raghuvanshi being ruled out for the same reason. Suddenly, Pandey has moved to the crease at #3 in a high-pressure situation as Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack, spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, faced the batters. KKR was sitting at 54 FOR 3. Mumbai Indians were in possession now and the Eden Gardens fans felt threatened. But Pandey introduced a sense of serenity into the middle. He didn’t take risks and try to get a quick boundary, instead prioritising the timing, placement of runs, and intelligent passing between the boundary and halfway and the stumps. His 45 non-scattered off 33 deliveries might not have looked like a boom years record but turned out to be the night’s telling innings. The most jaw dropping moment was when Pandey took a natural effort down Bumrah’s quiet wicket. It instantly brought to mind his glory days with KKR. By the way, Pandey has featured a very positive IPL partnership with Bumrah, to his credit.It is interesting to note that this was not the first time that Pandey has touched the ball with Bumrah in the IPL, and it was a very successful one. He was steady against the pace, intelligent against the spin and had a good feel for the situation in the match. Pandey’s efforts were however not restricted to just the batting though. His influence on the game, in the form of fantastic fielding, had led up to the innings. The old timer was precise with his catching, helped save many runs at the boundary and contributed with his energy to the Mumbai attack. In a modern-day of T20 cricket, where experts tend to dominate the debate, Pandey reminded the supporters of the value of all-round performance. Playing ability on the field coupled with his level of maturity in the batter’s box brought a much sought-after mix of abilities to the plate that younger players still hope to achieve. But after the match, Pandey said it was an emotional game for him as it was his first decent bowling opportunity of the campaign. So far, he has been wearing a helmet in the dugout the last four times without hitting a ball. But he didn’t get frustrated, he was focused on being ready. It’s always been kind and nice of KKR towards me,” Pandey added in his acceptance speech for the Player of the Match award. “So I wanted to stay there, I wanted to make our team win and that’s what we did. Assistant coach Shane Watson had high praise for Pandey’s attitude and commitment behind the scenes, which were exemplified by that professionalism. Watson said the veteran is playing remarkably well in the tournaments’ training and would not be surprised if he’s become a better player because of that before the next World Cup convenes.The veteran was having a stellar training session throughout the tournaments despite his cramped opportunities in matches, said Watson, who was not surprised if he’s improved because of it before the next World Cup rolls around. The timing of Pandey’s 6 was an added emotional touch as well. When he finally got to the pavilion, the date was May 21 the day of his own IPL century from 2009 that made his international debut as a future star of India. To many fans, it was more than simply runs on a scoreboard. It was a reminder of a player who had played a significant role in building up the IPL in the initial days. Although the stars of the recent era are now in the headlines, debutants such as Pandey have been successful due to their consistency, commitment and spectacular performances in the nearly 20 years they have been involved in the tournament. Most importantly, KKR’s triumph over Mumbai Indians just prolonged their playoff run, but it also did something for the sensibility around the sport: It made it easy for people to reminisce about how classy these guys were. After leaving the headlines of last season, Manish Pandey is yet to return in the red and yellow garb and looked the other way this time, but on the big screen, in high pressure atmosphere of Kolkata, he proved himself to be quite a character. Stay updated every aspect of IPL and cricket games through Zeroto30s: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30sTwitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30sYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

The loss that marked the close of Lucknow Super Giants’ second game of IPL 2026 had a sole story and it was the problems faced by Rishabh Pant, who suffered through the innings and night in the face of the stiff competition in the Indian Premier League. In a year when everything seems to be slipping through the cracks for Pant as well as his team the cauldron of criticism was again hot after suffering a rough time when putting pressure on him for a toss and a poor performance near the end of the match. But the pressure was already mounting against Pant in the lead up to the match. He was given a snark by the selectors, who cut him out of their selection camps and even his one-day team. He was, more significantly removed from the leadership group that primarily leads the national team in Test matches. It was a major turnaround in the confidence for this player who was once regarded as the future captain of the Indian cricket team. The tough day would not get easier from then on, either. The first awkward moment was dealing with the commentator Ian Bishop at toss, which had quickly become an internet tradgemare.The first awkward moment was dealing during toss with commentator Ian Bishop, which was a little more than being miscommunicative, but became an internet tradgemare. It was another bruising defeat for LSG after which an angry post-match with Pant would likely see him called to account over his comment about the back problems in his side. The answer to the question lies however with his cricket, and not with the headlines and controversy. Pant joined the game at the crease with Lucknow Super Giants dominating at 151 for 2 by the 13th over when they were facing Rajasthan Royals. Then it was possible to see that a total of over 240 was comfortable. Instead LSG lost immense steam in the final few overs to finish on 220  a score far too low. Pant managed to get 35 runs off 23 deliveries, but he wasn’t the explosive power the team were going for in the end. Such lag time showed once again on the death when he was called upon to bat, put pressure on his shot and even gave some doubt with his confidence at the crease. What were before the scary numbers. Pant has not been able to spread his financial muscle-packing record of INR 27 crore price tag for the Lucknow Super Giants to his performances since his debut in the IPL. In 27 matches as LSG, he has run 555 runs with an average of 21.36 runs per delivery and hit the plate at 136.69 strike rate compared to his career IPL strike rate of 144.18. The decline has proved to be hard to overlook, though, for a player who is widely feared for his fearless forward play in cricket. The other thing however, is that questions are also troubling regarding leadership clarity in Lucknow setup. For his part, Pant has confessed that there could be “too many minds” in the team environment. It seemed not always possible to figure out a direction with the likes of prosecco figures Justin Langer, Tom Moody, Kane Williamson and Bharat Arun in place. After losing the game, LSG head coach Justin Langer did not want to shy away from the discussion. During post match press conference, Langer quite frankly said, “Numbers don’t lie.” “Rishabh would not be lying if he said that it’s been two bad seasons in front of the ball. Those remarks echoed the rock the Russo Community was in while Pant was about it. Gautam Gammon was once an extremely prestigious and talented cricketer and his reputation remains huge; however, it is not the same that is materialised in his performance. Another issue is that he doesn’t know where to bat. Pant started his LSG career at No. 4, but moved to No. 3 as he put up a century late last season. He even batted an even minute and half this year before relocating further down to give room to Nicholas Pooran’s power play role in the top. But the regular switchups indicate that neither the player nor the management can clearly determine the setting-up that best suits Pant. Interestingly, some are even suggesting Pant has to reshuffle his role in cricket altogether in the white-ball format. Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis & Aiden Markram have comfortably found some comfort in the top order thus far and there has been a trend of debate regarding the change of approach that Pant might consider in the lower order now as MS Dhoni did in his later years. This comparison is intriguing as Dhoni is still Pant’s cricketing idol. Last but not least, the intellectual hurdle for Pant is as big as the physical one. He has gone through a lot of the ups and downs in the world of cricket in the recent couple of years, which is the prerogative of few players. It is still a hot topic in regeneration from injury, as it has become with the captaincy and is now with criticism of the captain. However, Pant is no different than he has been all season, and his skill is undeniable. Today he remains one of the most useful assets in the Indian cricket squad, owing to his match-winning ability, instinctive aggression and leadership qualities. What he is looking for at the moment is clarity, consistency and a clear role for him to gain his confidence. For Lucknow Super Giants, time is quickly running out this season. The greater hurdle for Pant might be getting back on track in a critical period of his international journey. For more cricket updates and breaking sports news, follow Zeroto30s on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Ruturaj Gaikwad is getting the support of the Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming after another poor performance, which saw the CSK bowlers close a tough match early, leaving the side threatened to miss out on the playoffs for the third consecutive season in the IPL. Questions have been increasingly mounting about the franchise’s transition from MS Dhoni to Gaikwad ever since they lost dispiritingly in the five-wicket battle against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Chennai. But Fleming still believes the up-and-coming skipper could help bring the team into a new future – just if it will take longer than the quarter he had hoped for. Their defeat against the Sunrisers Hyderabad has left the Chennai Super Kings playoff dreams hanging in the balance and shed light on some of the concerns that have marred their performance in the IPL so far. CSK have had the power play hurt them, inconsistency on the ball and injuries suffered this season. The name of Gaikwad has held the spotlight amid all of this when it comes to the likes of him captaining as well as opening the innings in white-ball cricket. The first piece of news was when Fleming admitted that Gaikwad’s season long average remains below par compared to the previous ones. But the CSK captain had just 9 runs off 11 balls in the powerplay session in the format, which is set to be defined by the aggressive starts this season, against SRH once again. “In fact, Fleming said in a remark that Gaikwad himself knows what he has to do to improve. The CSK coach also said that Gaikwad has been a good batter in a class before and added that he hasn’t been generating the “quantity of runs” or “pace of runs” so far this season. Those remarks are indicative of the problem that Chennai have in its endeavours to adapt to the present-day hyper-attacking mode of T20 cricket. But as other franchises continue to push scoring rates to the extreme, CSK had looked to be dancing on a tightrope between rebuilding or sticking to the traditional approach. But, Fleming also said that the dispensation of MS Dhoni’s leadership of the team and a new captain will always be difficult going. Dhoni was a personality who influenced the Chennai Super Kings not just psychologically but also with tactics. He had been molding the character, coolness and culture of a franchise for over 10 years. It’s not an easy task for any team to take the place of someone of this caliber. “Gaikwad is still learning every day and he is in the process of developing his skills little by little,” said Fleming. He pointed out the kind of respect Gaikwad earns in the camp, and said the 28-year-old possesses all the ingredients to establish himself as a good long-term leader for CSK. The comments by the coach Indra Josyula hint at the franchise’s continued support for Gaikwad in spite of the poor campaign of the year. Intriguingly, it was also noted that Fleming has been crucial in his barring absence around the squad, despite not being at the pitch in an active role. This was the first time in the season that the legendary wicketkeeper-batter has turned out to be in the stadium as he said that Dhoni still has a great impact on the younger players and everyone playing in the team. Nonetheless, doubts still linger on both counts – about Dhoni as well as about Fleming for the franchise. When contacted about Dhoni’s next season plans, Fleming could only give a scant response and said the team was in the here and now. The speculation about Dhoni is now looming on every IPL season, but all the more, his teammate CSK is having a rough year. In the meantime, Fleming himself admitted that his fate with Chennai Super Kings now depends on ‘the management’. The New Zealander has been successful with the franchise over the years, but results are most important in professional sport, he acknowledged. It has been tough for the CSK team to keep the consistency in form and qualitative discussion about changes is imminent, given the inability to qualify in the last three seasons. Meanwhile Fleming did stand up for some of the upsides of the ongoing season. He also noted that CSK also had the youngsters rising up besides adding what he called as a ‘generation player’ for the future of the team. They have failed to satisfy their fans till now, but it does not seem as if the management is thinking about rebuilding from the ground up with newer players to run the franchise in the post Dhoni era. Last but not least, it is not just one season, one captain or one CSK challenge that is looming ahead for the latter. The franchise is trying to shift their approach from relying on stability and leadership of one of the finest cricket captains of all-time to developing into a new team. Such a process involves increasing stress, instability and aches and pains. IPL 2026 has turned into an endurance trial for the players like Ruturaj Gaikwad. He is now under the microscope as captain of one of the most prep-heavy and challenging times faced by one of the IPL’s most formidable teams. Stephen Fleming’s performance of sorts has made it evident that CSK still have faith in their skipper and the next 3-4 months will only make it more evident whether Gaikwad is, indeed, the next big leader of CSK or not. For more updates of IPL and cricket information, follow Zeroto30 on social networks. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30s/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

The matchup between KKR vs GT is shaping up to be a pivotal affair in the coming battle in IPL 2026 as GT looks to climb closer to the playoffs with their dying breath, while KKR’s fight to survive continues. How different the pressure would feel for both teams towards Eden Gardens. Gujarat Titans have come into the game with momentum, confidence and five-match winning record while KKR have entered the game with four draws and a next game may shake their chances of reaching the playoffs. Gujarat Titans were in a right befuddlement just a few weeks ago. Their middle order produced reputable questions that highlighted their reliance on the top order, and poor standability. But things can change rapidly in the cricket season, however GT have now become one of the most complete sides in the season. Shubman Gill’s side has now taken charge of their second-place tie and has collected more and more points, as their regular measurements remain steady with wins in every department heading to one more to guarantee a playoff large scale. First, Gujarat Titans have become the biggest reason for the company’s dramatic turnaround, given their bowling attack is in the best possible shape.But QPR’s top reason to their dramatic turnaround is their bowling attack. Rabada has been sensational on the new ball, driving the powerplay wicket leaders this season with 16 wickets. Also making a comeback is Jason Holder, who has neatly taken out the aggression in his shots and hammered in the death overs in calm fashion, alongside Siraj Mohammed, who has found the rhythm and aggression again. The powerplay bowling line-up is now in better hands for GT in IPL 26 and that early spring is always a spring training for them as well. But it’s not all the bowling has wowed the crowd with. One of the major issues facing GT had been the absence of consistent middle order batters and that’s where Washington Sundar has come up handy. Sundar has worked his way into becoming one of the most effectual players in the side because of his quiet, but relatively intense performance in pressure moments. His impartial approach coupled with the finishing power of his 150 plus strike rate has provided a counterbalance to Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler’s shining qualities. GT director of the cricket match Vikram Solanki did not raise any eyebrow about the middle order concern this week as Sundar and Nishant Sindhu proved their worth in recent cricket matches. The picture is quite different for Kolkata Knight Riders. The season started badly for them, but they collected no points in their first six contests and were always looking to reclaim the top here. Fortunately for KKR, four days of victories brought a glimmer of hope back into the arena around four of the team. However, the failure to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore a year ago has again thrown up the issues they had on their side of the fence. KKR has big question marks on Ajinkya Rahane’s girth. The veteran ex-Captain sombered his campaign dramatically after the first few games but he is now in need of some form of stability since having a poor season scoring-wise and failing to hold at the powerplay position. He hasn’t lived up to the edgy nature of the new-age T20 cricket in the first six overs, and that will only worsen when he is up against GT’s imminent new ball attack. Mohammed Siraj, in particular, has been successful against Rahane not just in the IPL, but in his previous games against him too, as he has been dismissive of the Pakistan teenager two times and has yet to register any runs. Meanwhile, KKR are still looking to find the correct combination in their playing XI. Matheesha Pathirana is up for the game but hasn’t played this period yet and if Varun Chakravarthy is battling a toe injury, it may not be possible to sustain as he, too will be available for the game. The lack of harmony in the household has also made it difficult. Unfortunately, it isn’t the fortress KKR fans thought it would be as the side has only won once in three home games this season. Yet things are looking up. Sunil Narine is soon to make his first major IPL record – the first overseas player to make 200 appearances in the tournament. His multi-faceted abilities are still very important, particularly on ‘Kidapin plates in Kolkata where he can turn the game around in the powerplay phase. With Cameron Green and Rinku Singh, KKR have the requisite temperament and pace to contest any bowling attack when they play well as a pair. Needing scoring in a game in which neither side has posted a tally under 100 in previous victories, the next awaywill be another big game at Eden Gardens. Although it rained recently in Kolkata, the weather looks perfect for batsmen with no grass seen on the playing surface. Runs should be given more credence and gears seem to go much smoother, and if they do, then early wickets/T $4_6$s will matter more. Last but not least: This is less of a contest and more of a war for both. Gujarat Titans to win the match would prove that they had earned the title as a serious contender and will qualify for the playoffs after a stellar comeback mid-season. This is a match that’s a lifeline to Kolkata Knight Riders. While it won’t do them any harm from a mathematical standpoint, another loss would get them heavily reliant on the results of others. KKR vs GT could potentially be one of the most crucial matchups in the playoffs as the hat-tick count goes down during IPL 2026.As the hat tick count drops in the decisive stages of IPL 2026, KKR vs GT could be a major turning point in the playoffs. Gujarat Titans enter Kolkata with the momentum and confidence in their favour but the desperate can be dangerous

But before Gujarat Titans carved out one of the biggest victories of this IPL season with their bowling attack, Shubman Gill was having faith in his team for the win. On paper, the capacity of 168 for 5 was a fine challenge and not too many balls for SRH to face at the Ahmedabad surface, though the captain of the GT knew it would be very difficult for Sunrisers Hyderabad. That, however, proved to be correct all along and SRH lost 86 runs in 14.5 overs in the process to secure a huge win and propel Gujarat Titans to the top of the points table. The margin of victory was a complete control by Gujarat Titans, but the gaam that started the match was earlier when scoring was there. It was a slow-moving, slightly under-tempo and never free-swinging pitch. To strike the ball crisply one needed a lot of patience and both Shubman Gill and Washington Sundar knew that going overboard would only result in the attack quickly getting out of hand. Rather than looking solely for the big score, GT worked with defending a score and relying on the quality of their bowling attack. Shaikh Afy Ali and Jos Buttellal were the rock stars as they guided the innings from the wings with Gujarat Titans in trouble early.First, B Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar steeled the blow in the early lapse of the Gujarat Titans’ batting order. SRH bowlers played the game to the best of their ability, adding variations of pace and hard lengths, to deny the boundaries in the middle. There seemed to be no point in crossing 160 for GT at one point. After some time to evaluate the pitch, however, Washington slowly eased into the groove. A 50-off-33 by him marked the highlight of his batting for the match. Later Washington admitted that his strategies were more based on reading conditions and never prematurely forcing strokes. The all-rounder started off slowly and scored eight runs in nine deliveries. But, when he knew the batting speed, he started to beat on the right places, aggressively. Both confidence and awareness were evident in his death overs in the form of the scoop and swipes that he found as with everything else in the rest of the innings. Instead of being high on innovation, Washington, waited for bowlers to leave yorkers as they missed, and then they attacked. That explosive bounce was the difference as Gujarat Titans scored 74 runs in the last seven overs. It wouldn’t have been much if it had sat on a flat pitch like 168. But the surface had inevitably gotten even tougher for Shubman Gill. But, during the innings break, the Gujarat Titans were confident that they would make the chase uncomfortable for SRH’s firecracker batting lineup with good discipline in the bowling line up. But very few anyone would have thought would follow such an eventuality. Gujarat Titans’ bowlers knocked SRH to bits in their ruthless powerplay. Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder protecting their understanding of pace, bounce, and movement were brilliant, revealing the pitch’s unpredictability. A few deliveries skidded through here and there was a ball that occasioned a stoppage on the surface. While they were making those shots for the attackers, SRH’s top order did not find a rhythm in the conditions as they continued to lose wickets. In the sixth over, SRH were 32 for 4, struggling. The chase there after just got out of hand. Rabada’s hostility led to a frenzied state of affairs, whilst the pressure was maintained with Holder’s token bounce. Gujarat Titans further provided the bowlers a positive example in the field, restricting SRH and forcing them out of their safe zones. The scoreboard added to the pressure for every wicket and the target suddenly seemed much bigger than it was at half time. Shubman Gill’s stalwart leadership was also found as the side went down. Despite some early successes with the break, he kept blitzing home with the chasing runners and the changes of bowlers. That was confidence gained from their own innings as they had correctly diagnosed the situation. The team discussion subsequently became one of the possibility of something contesting the size being decided in the range of degrees of 160 to 170 being competitive on that surface.Later, Gill disclosed that the team discussion turned to whether anything in the range 160 to 170 might be competitive on that surface. Washington Sundar’s all-round performance helped GT a great deal, meanwhile. Besides the bat, his nerves didn’t wobble would emphasize that his nerves were steady as the game could easily turn completely in Sri Rahul’s favor. His versatility in the game rather than playing in a fixed style was a sign of a maturing side that the Gujarat Titans were unable to mistake from Gujarat as the tournament began in its crucial phase. Lastly, this victory highlighted the importance of Gujarat Titans being one of the well-rounded squads in IPL 2026. Not necessarily with big scores but God helps their ability to read the situation in a match and believe in their own strength when they are bowling, they can be extremely dangerous. Shubman Gill believed in keeping 168 now because of just optimism. It was the result of interpreting the pitch and getting into the right mindset to trust in a bowling unit able to pick up every lock. Gujarat Titans had improved their playoff form after this defeat, and made it hard for the other teams of the league not to take notice. GT still appear to be one of the cleverest teams here, on the toughest of surfaces when adaptability is more important than power. Follow Zeroto30s for more sports updates and exclusive coverage: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30sTwitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30sYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

It’s someone like David Miller, whose name can’t be equaled by those of any other batter in T20 cricket. The South African man was the cause of yet another IPL colossal walk, which saw him essentially carry his side over the finish line with the Delhi Capitals and the Punjab Kings in a tussle in Belfast .It was yet another long walk that almost led the side of the South Africa to the wicket in a heavy-fire IPL game between Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings at Belfast. His 51 off 28 balls wasn’t just a do-positive in what was an extended career of do-positives. Another reminder of why Miller is one of the most mentally sound players to play in the modern game. Others are pulled to the 프로모otional advertised speed when it comes to hitting scores, but somehow Miller seems to slow time down around him. This is his signature demeanour and here it was almost another “unforgettable ending” against the Punjab Kings. This is the beauty of T20 cricket and the middle order players of expectation to oust any other keeper don’t have much time to relax. Openers have the luxury of coming in to read the weather and then building innings. Fans of finishers such as Miller do not receive such privileges. They come when the match is in full flow, the fielders are placed up and down the boundary and the bowlers are down the wicket, belting out yorkers and slower balls under pressure. However, Miller has spent a career promoting his success in those moments. He was another example of how he takes pressure with ease and launches a deliberate counter attack against the Punjab Kings. Miller will first have to fly Delhi Capitals out of the deep trap as wickets stalked the chase. Punjab Kings have successfully developed the pressure in the scoreboard, with disciplined bowling in the middle overs. But Miller was never in a hurry. He didn’t start looking for magic shots too early and waited length after length for bowlers to make a mistake. In the make-up of the sport what is overlooked is that patience is often required in T20 cricket and the one who doesn’t show that, is the one who gets all the glory. Miller knows that chasing can’t be secured in one over. They are won through a correct reading of situations, and making a pot of luck when it strikes them. His shot echoism more precisely highlighted how the veteran finishers have a dire need in a franchise cricket. But the word ‘modern’ batting packs in no sense connotations of fearlessness in the first few balls; that’s what Miller is.But modern, in time T20 batting, does not carry a connotation of fearlessness in the first few balls that’s what Miller is. When it reached the concluding over, Miller made a quick switch to her other side. He bowled to the straight boundary, returned anything he overpitched and was vital to keeping the Delhi Capitals alive late in the chase. Though sometimes his line of demarcation ran dry, his body language never showed any panic. What’s most interesting about Miller’s career from yes though, is the success. It’s the heartbreak that haunts him. T20 cricket is brutal on the finishers as a single loss can be burned out in their minds while they will keep recollecting ten thousand victories without a decade having passed. Miller has been through the highs and lows of his career time and time again. For a lot of fans, the 2024 T20 World Cup final lives in their minds.Many of the supporters of the 2024 T20 World Cup can still remember the agony that South Africa experienced after being in the driving seat. Miller, who also collapsed in the middle, was there. It would have been harder for lesser players to bounce back from the massive defeat on the grandest level. Rather, Miller keeps repeating his jumps and moves into places over and over. Elite finishers have that resilience; they are different from talented hitters. Once again, he took the blame for his miss when the pressure was on against Punjab Kings. Although he missed out the opportunity to lead Delhi Capitals to the title, his performance marked the importance of having a cool head in a hot situation and provided the foundation for the team’s success. His T20 chase record is remarkable with a record of almost unbeaten finishes among any batsman in cricket history. There is also a “technical” side to Miller’s hitting that’s often overlooked. He does not interpret being a power-hitter by being all innovation or being too offbeat with your strokeplay like many hitters today. He excels on angles and is a clean hitter. He is the guy who strains to extend his arms with a solid fundamental stance to hit a square shot. Like the late great South Africa pacer Lance Klusener before him, Miller believes that bowlers will eventually lose their yorkers too. If they do, it’s very seldom he forfeits. It transcended the talk and was reflected in the behavior of Dharamsala. Miller went all guns blazing from the off and took advantage of the errors then when PKs had had a decent game for most of the day. A full shot was lost. There was carving of a slower delivery outside off. All hits included purposeful intention. No wild hoofing, just what was considered ‘just plain old execution’ from the man who has years of experience chasing the Butter. Lastly, Miller also illustrated the importance of experience in T20 cricket with his mannerisms. Even if younger players could care about nothing but fearlessly mow down a reel of highlighted cards, it’s still the battle-tested seasoned veterans that teams take to. Delhi Capitals were in a need of a man who could take the risk, control the chase properly and create the belief. Miller went right into the role of delivering just that. David Miller has been flying the flag for one of

RCB vs MI delivered one of the most sensational finishes in the blur day night encounter of IPL 2026 in Raipur where RCB chased after Mumbai Indians for the two winning wickets in the final over. The high pressure culmination of the day delivered all the toss-ups key ingredients in a marquee IPL clash sensational pace bowling over here, middle order resistance there runs and run-backs on the outside and that deceptive ending demeanor that left both Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants, unable to clear themselves of the contaminants of the playoff race. Bengaluru not only came up with a winning streak but also became the championship of the side to top the IPL Points table with their win that would shape their season. The first half of the night saw RCB’s veterans in control on a tough two-paced surface. Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave a classic powerplay performance which put a spanner in Mumbai’s works right from the start. Ryan Rickelton was marked for several times as he tried to run for a hard-length delivery and Rohit Sharma got caught for many by a brilliant knuckle-ball outswinger giving a thin edge behind the wicket. Yet another breakthrough came in the very next delivery as Suryakumar Yadav come bowling for a golden duck to slip past a late swinging delivery. The Mumbai Indians woefully found themselves in trouble at 28-3, shouldering the burden of getting to grips with the unpredictable bounce and movement on the Raipur surface. Bhuvneshwar wasn’t just taking wickets, he was playing with his head above the ground as well. Played his pace around with intelligence and attacked the right length over a considerable period of time. His cool and methodical temperament made it all too risky to bat on a surface where timing was tricky. But relatively Mumbai bounced back via a composed partnership of come together tillak Varma and Naman Dhir. Both batters gave careful thought to recovery in the situation where there was an early defeat. They struck smart and kept it low-risk for once they re-entered the game, little Mumbai was slowly revived. Tilak was mature doing her job now yet again. His 57 accustomed the middle over and Dhir added some momentum with his fearless front actions square of the wicket. The pair put together an 82-run stand, and took the focus back at Bengaluru. In one phase Mumbai appeared to be in fist fists to add 180 which would be a tremendous tally in this format of the pitch. On the other hand, RCB played brilliantly in the death overs. Rasikh Salam was toasted Dhir with an unusually low delivery and Bhuvneshwar made his comeback to dismiss Tilak at a crucial moment. The pair then played a brilliant crucial bowlers duel in the final over, holding Mumbai to 166 for 7. As per the terms of the game, it was a competitive overall total but Mumbai were left with a chance to score an additional 10-15 runs. RCB’s chase began in a rather poor manner, with Virat Kohli getting stuck off to a golden duck. Instead Deepak Chahar took advantage of the change of their form and Kohli sheltered too early. Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar also failed to find even an oasis of comfort for Bengaluru and the crumbling side were 39 for 3 in powerplay. It was when Krunal Pandya radically took over the game. Rising up the order, Krunal was able to fill the void with great confidence when the challenge came his way. Faced with increasing pressure, he was quick to understand and not panic under the circumstances. He didn’t look to make any wild overambitious moves, but it was more about picking open space and putting the ball away from every loose ball. His ability to go for the spin seemed to have helped him when Mumbai were looking to slack in the middle. Krunal’s 73 off 46 balls was the winning streak of the match. Although some others had their difficulty in getting the time on score consistently, he found boundaries out regularly with the required run rate almost entirely with his own name on the scoreboard. When cramps started to bother him late in the innings, he kept topping the goals but still finding it a way to get the goals through despite the pain. While Jacob Bethell had manacled his own rhythm after an opening break, Krunal had kept Bengaluru going with his cool decision making and non-messing hitting. But the Mumbai Indians rallied back in spectacular fashion with Corbin Bosch driving him out with Jitesh Sharma and Tim David in quick succession. Suddenly the game swung once more in Mumbai’s favour. Then came Jasprit Bumrah with a sterling 19th over, conceding three runs only and EWC in need of nine to run up final over. Mumbai had lined up its frontline seamers and it left the defending the batter to Raj Bawa. The last over was a tumultuous affair. Both sides had nervous moments, wides and pressure errors. Bengaluru still had a big lead when the lower order of Mumbai had 10 runs to pick up, for the last three overs, though. It was then that Bhuvneshwar Kumar made another glorious difference in the game for the team, this time on the bat. The senior unleashed a quick and brilliant six over the cover to jumpstart RCB. The last ball to wrap up the madness of the night. Bengaluru needed two runs to win when Rasikh Salam clipped the ball straight back towards Bawa. Esiebtvation looked all set to mete out a tie to Mumbai but Bawa stretched it out under pressure. They gave Rasikh time to take a desperate second pass, with a full-length dive at the mark. Bengaluru Players’ Party was a testament to the importance of the result. This win was not just a win, it was a story of resilience and calm in the face of adversity. Krunal Pandya’s all-round performance and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s match defining performances secured

Shubman Gill once again combined style and strategy with a measure of destruction in the high-octane cricket clash between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals, which saw the former race to 400 goals in their 11 innings and secure a commanding win. Much of the league’s focus is turning to sparks of powerpair blasting such as Abhishek Sharma, Priyansh Arya and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi but Gill is quietly manufacturing the numbers to match the league’s most lethal openers that are flying out fires. It is against the Rajasthan Royals that Gill has yet again shown how his style of shooting a ball can get confused. He’s not a big hitter who daintily teases his spinners but, his brain for handling bowlers in his hands, possessiveness of angles and his capacity to keep his eye on the dot at his feet even in a dead delivery can make him one of the best T20 batsmen in the world today. First of all, it was the stroke play of Gill that stood out at Jaipur. He had hit his first outside off into the waiting arms of the fielder standing at square from the batsman himself, Tushar Deshpande, and showcased the brilliance of his play. Gill sneakily took fast stride early across the crease, giving the bowler trouble with length. Although delivery hurtled at him in towards the leg stump, Gill found himself a brilliant target and the ball executed a perfectly-timed backward point. He soon made another incredible move against Jofra Archer. Gill rode the hard-length ball which was coming up around chest height outside of the off stump, minimum movement and put it in the off side without any issues. It wasn’t only time, but anticipation, too, balance and supreme confidence in one shot. But Gill’s flip side of the coins in IPL 2026 is how much he has become an underhander. People tend to talk about raw intent and the percentage of boundaries in T20 cricket, but not Gill’s numbers. Though his level of composure and calmness is up there with some of the league’s bigger-potatoes at the get-go, this season Prabhsimran Singh and Travis Head have his strike rate up a notch. That figure shows that Gill is a good team to control, and he is really effective at it. Rajasthan Royals bowlers failed to extract ball from the grip of the line and length in the early exchanges like wide, half-volley & loose deliveries were issued profusely. But Gill’s movement obstruction of the ball was equally to blame for bringing about that pressure. His mesmerizing shuffles and rapid speed shifts ended up interfering with the bowlers’ rhythm and creating scoring opportunities. Not only was Gill attacking pace, but it wasn’t her sole purpose as an innings. The Jaipur surface unwittingly brought spin into the contest as the Jaipur surface gradually started to slow the ball down. But both Gill and Sai Sudharsan saw through the flux and responded accordingly, for Gujarat Titans were initially looking at a huge total of 250-plus runs. Gill took a small step back for a spell after making it to 39 from 19 balls. Instead of under-pressuring into spin he was able to absorb, turn and re-establish pressure on him patiently. It’s about the tactical approach, that is what separates an elite from a hitman. Then came the speed-up. Gill played a converted Rajasthan Royals batsman, who powered his way to 67 off 35 to put the Royals on a fast track to elimination. During that period, he played his entire arsenal at the spin bowlers including slog sweeps, lofted drives inside-out over extra cover and reverse hits over point. His intentions and innovations were never questioned, even as he outscored teammates with a couple of off-target passes that hit on their mark. However, in the meanwhile, the situation just lifted Gill’s bar to perfection regarding his capacity to handle spin. Re: IPL 2025 & 2026, Gill is the only batsman who has the maximum run in the tournament in front of spin bowler. He has played an incredible 460 innings battling spin, averaging more than 90 and hitting more than 160 times. To give perspective on the speed they’re operating at, even one of the best spinners in the world, Heinrich Klaasen, runs at about the same pace. Does not require too much after a player has become the top gentleman to dominate spin after roof of the pitch, Gill adds a ton of flexibility to Gujarat Titans in the middle. Last but not least, Gujarat Titans’ win also revealed Gill’s progressive leadership and tactical skills. He had the intention of adding pace to the bowling changes with the toss but the surface conditions decided the other way as he would get left arm spinner R Sai Kishore into the bowling change. That was certainly a killer combination with Rashid Khan’s match winning spell. Gill’s batting style is hardly frenzied or even frenetic like some of the modern power hitters in the IPL, but it is in that area where he differs from them. He’ll match the speed of the league’s most explosive openers with a controlled style and attack so he maintains consistency. The curtain is now set to rise on the significant phase of IPL 2026, and Shubman Gill isn’t simply steering Gujarat Titans’ innings; he is shaping the game’s new narrative in the process, a tale of sheer power in an era where T20 cricket is increasingly defined by elegance. Follow Zeroto30s On Social Media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30sTwitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30sYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s

Mitchell Marsh blasted out one of the most lethal displays of IPL 2026 in the first game of the tournament, as Lucknow Super Giants’ opener crumbled Royal Challengers Bengaluru, leaving the bowlers in awe of his crushing swing and unbeatable presence at the crease. A surface that was once fraught with difficulty and doubt in hitting the ball was suddenly transformed by Marsh into a place where all seemed easy and it was a place from where even veteran bowlers such as Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were left without answers. Playing so much with only 56 deliveries, the 111 scored were instrumental in bringing over a much-needed win to LSG while demonstrating that Mitchell Marsh is one of the most dangerous powerplay runners of the era in T20 cricket. What was most impressive about the innings was the way Marsh got at the delivery in front of many defenders. The first three sixes he hit were against pitches around seven metres where the bowler gets his control from. Usually this space will keep batters from going on the run since they are not close to the plate to hit the ball hard but still have room to bounce around. However, Marsh turned those deliveries into boundaries by just stretching and speeding up their bats. First, the Tiki Bolk teams were hoping to pick up the pace that they are used to, further down the pitch we saw Marsh moving towards the halfway state when Josh Hazlewood tried and failed. Faced with a hostile spin, Hazlewood seemed to have no hesitation in firing his length back to the comfortable good-length route, as he held off off stump. But Marsh had been prepared to take a brave stance. He took a chance on the pitch and leveraged his range and made the ball fly over the fence. It was by no means a wild run. It was nothing but a long shot off the drive, well played–and played for all it had got! It’s the ability to get good-length deliveries that sets Marsh apart from the other openers in the league. He is taller than most other batters in the top 10 and reaches his arm and length from a wider angle than many other top order hitters, would be able to comfortably reach these lengths and angles which others would not be able to play. Hard lengths that usually provide bowlers with their safest base becomes dangerous. But even textbook deliveries can be lost down the court with a player with Marsh’s reach and technique. But, it was not only a matter of physical advantages in this innings. Marsh’s faith in the surface was a tremendous factor. This season Lucknow has proved to be quite an unpredictable partner for batsmen when the results have remained unpredictable with an occasional low batting average as well. LG had to chase down only 156 off in their previous appearance here. But prior to the match, several members of the Indian side were reported to have briefed Marsh on it being a much improved surface. It was this small piece of insight that altered his trajectory. As soon as Marsh caught sight of the ball trying to tumble in right direction in the on-bat part of the opening over, both of them knew they were in attack mode from here. Australian all-rounder later concedes it was his intention to play for power and get the points in their absence. The aggressive mindset put RCB on pressure right from the start and denied him and Bhuvneshwar the chance to impose on them. In the meantime, Marsh’s title battle with Hazlewood took an interesting turn. He had hit 16 runs in 15 competitive deliveries from his fellow Australian before this game. Hazlewood has wrought many brilliant hitters in his capacity throughout his career. But this time, it seemed Marsh wasn’t going to let him have it. The years Hazlewood had trained Marsh might also have kindled some trust and confidence that he knows the Marsh’s patterns and lengths.Facing each other many times at training sessions may also have added confidence to Marsh in knowing Hazlewood’s patterns and lengths. This was also the innings that gave hope of Lucknow Super Giants, who had a tough 2020. Prior to this win, LSG had only won two of their last nine games and their batting order was very inconsistent. That’s when Captain Rishabh Pant was not afraid to speak brutal truths about being prepared for the future at the toss. However, Marsh’s performance got everyone’s attention that there is still match-winning stuff in the team which can turn the game on a dime. Importantly, Marsh’s approach was technically correct throughout the knock. Never overbalanced, overswing or lose shape on relentlessly attacking. His excellent base made his power production even more remarkable at a time when control wasn’t sacrificed. All of the athletic episodes of stroke were premeditated rather than a desperate move. For the final time, it was a Mitchell Marsh reminder that top T20 cramming skills don’t always lie in the pocket of waiting for loose deliveries. It can be more about re-evaluating the definition of a “good ball.” His reach and timing made good scores and his fearless stroke gave him one of the best knocks in IPL 2026. For Lucknow Super Giants, it could be the innings that gives a sense of hope to their campaign. Follow the Social Media Channels :Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeroto30s/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zeroto30s/Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeroto30sYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@Zeroto30s