Former India batter Aakash Chopra believes Rajat Patidar's T20I return is unlikely due to India's current batting lineup, which offers little room for him. Chopra cited the strong presence of left-handers in the top order and the established middle order as reasons why Patidar might not get a chance soon, despite his domestic T20 success.
India suffered a 2-0 T20I series defeat to Ireland, prompting former batter Sanjay Manjrekar to advocate for a specialist middle-order batter and the return of Shubman Gill, citing the team's over-reliance on all-rounders and struggle on seamer-friendly pitches.
India's Deepti Sharma is on the verge of breaking the record for most wickets in women's international cricket, needing just one more to surpass Jhulan Goswami. As India prepares to face Bangladesh in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, the team also grapples with middle-order inconsistency and fielding lapses.
Kieron Pollard became the leading run-scorer in T20 history on Sunday, surpassing Chris Gayle during Major League Cricket 2026. Pollard reached 14,582 career runs, batting primarily in the middle and lower order.
Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson's 61-run partnership from 21 balls against Scotland has provided England with much-needed finishing power. Their availability after injury and improved batting suggest England has finally found feared finishers for the World Cup.
Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson's record-breaking partnership of 61 from 21 balls against Scotland has given England's batting lineup a much-needed power boost, potentially solving a long-standing issue of hitting boundaries at the death.
KL Rahul is proving to be a vital middle-order batsman for India, showcasing stability, acceleration, and versatility. His recent form, including a century and a quick cameo, strengthens his bid for the 2027 ODI World Cup squad, offering crucial flexibility to the team.
Former Australia captain Michael Clarke believes Royal Challengers Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar deserves more recognition for his performances in the IPL. Clarke highlighted Patidar's leadership and batting prowess, suggesting he should be considered for the Indian T20 and potentially ODI teams.
Rajat Patidar scored 93 off 33 deliveries, hitting 9 sixes (7 against pacers), to power Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans, showcasing fearless batting and skill against both spin and pace.
Lucknow Super Giants finished last in IPL 2026 after a crushing 7-wicket loss to Punjab Kings. Shreyas Iyer's unbeaten century highlighted LSG's season of unfulfilled promise, disrupted by injuries, lack of bowling depth, and underperforming key players like Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran.
Lucknow Super Giants finished at the bottom of the IPL 2026 standings after a disappointing season. Key factors included the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga, lack of bowling depth, and underperformance from expensive players like Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran.
Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer maintained a positive outlook despite a 23-run loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which further dimmed their playoff hopes. Iyer cited early bowling struggles and a lack of batting foundation as key factors in the defeat, but emphasized his unchanged belief and strong attitude moving forward.
Shreyas Iyer's stellar IPL 2026 performance, marked by consistency and clutch batting, makes a strong case for his return to the Indian T20I squad. Despite Punjab Kings' struggles, Iyer's batting output and leadership potential are highlighted.
Shreyas Iyer's stellar IPL 2026 performance, marked by consistency and clutch batting, makes a strong case for his return to the Indian T20I squad. Despite Punjab Kings' struggles, Iyer's individual brilliance and leadership potential are highlighted.
Gujarat Titans won the toss and chose to bowl first against Punjab Kings in a crucial IPL match. Both teams made lineup changes as they navigate the intense playoff race.
Mumbai Indians suffered an emphatic eight-wicket defeat to Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk, leaving their IPL 2026 playoff hopes hanging by a thread. After cruising past 100 in the 11th over, MI collapsed to 159/7 despite fluent starts from Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir's 57. CSK chased with ease led by Ruturaj Gaikwad's unbeaten 67. With just 2 wins from 9 matches and -0.803 NRR, MI must win all 5 remaining games to reach 14 points — their recurring middle-order collapses have pushed them to 9th place.
Mumbai Indians suffered an emphatic eight-wicket defeat to Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk, leaving their IPL 2026 playoff hopes hanging by a thread. The five-time champions collapsed from 100+ in the 11th over to 159/7, with recurring middle-order failures proving fatal. MI now languish ninth with just 2 wins from 9 matches and require a perfect 5-0 finish to have any chance of reaching 14 points.
Jason Holder delivered a match-winning all-round performance for Gujarat Titans in their four-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru, taking 2/29, holding three catches, and adding 30 crucial runs with Rahul Tewatia. The 34-year-old West Indies allrounder, who was bought for Rs 7 crore at the auction, was named Player of the Match as GT chased down 155 runs with 25 balls remaining.
Shubman Gill's aggressive 43 off 18 balls, aided by early luck, propelled Gujarat Titans to a four-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Gill's powerplay blitz set the tone, despite a middle-order wobble, with Rahul Tewatia providing crucial late runs. RCB skipper Rajat Patidar acknowledged Gill's decisive impact, while praising his team's bowling effort in stretching the chase.
Gujatar Titans host Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday with GT struggling at 4-4 while RCB lead 6-2. GT's over-reliance on top three (Gill, Sudharsan, Buttler) was exposed in their five-wicket loss to RCB last week. RCB arrive with momentum from a nine-wicket win over Delhi Capitals, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood forming a potent new-ball pairing.
After a match-winning 44 off 14 balls for Karachi Kings, Khushdil Shah questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board regarding his exclusion from the national team despite consistent domestic success.
Khushdil Shah scored a blistering 44 not out off 14 balls with five sixes to guide Karachi Kings to a five-wicket win over Lahore Qalandars in the PSL. The left-handed batter, who was named Player of the Match, expressed frustration over his exclusion from the Pakistan national team, stating he has scored 700-800 runs at number 5-6 in domestic cricket yet remains overlooked.
Following their T20 World Cup win, selectors are prioritising the World Test Championship and 2027 ODI World Cup, focusing on managing Jasprit Bumrah's workload. Bumrah is expected to play all nine upcoming WTC Tests, with potential rest from ODIs. Middle-order prospects like Padikkal, Jurel, and Gaikwad are also being considered.
Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag's batting struggles persisted in IPL 2026, as he managed only 12 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders. Across six matches, Parag has scored a mere 61 runs, highlighting a worrying dip in form. His dismissal contributed to a middle-order collapse, leaving Royals with a below-par total.
