Former Karnataka Ranji cricketer SL Akshay, 39, died Sunday after suffering a heart attack during a local division match in Bengaluru. Akshay, a fast bowler, also played in the Karnataka Premier League and later coached junior cricketers.
Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar criticized the selection committee for overlooking Auqib Nabi, the top wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy, for the Test against Afghanistan. Nabi took 60 wickets and led J&K to their maiden title.
The BCCI announced the 2026-27 domestic cricket schedule, featuring 1,788 matches. The Ranji Trophy will be split into two phases, starting October 11. The Duleep Trophy begins August 23, with U-23 and Vizzy Trophy moving to T20 format.
Thirty-five years ago, the 1990-91 Ranji Trophy final between Mumbai and Haryana delivered an unforgettable thriller. Haryana, led by Kapil Dev, clinched their maiden title by a mere two runs in a dramatic finish at the Wankhede Stadium. The match featured stellar performances and a nail-biting conclusion, cementing its place as a classic in Indian domestic cricket history.
Venkatesh Iyer, the 31-year-old all-rounder, has featured in just one game for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their first six matches this season after being picked up for Rs 7 crore at the mini-auction — significantly less than his previous KKR price. Despite being unused to sitting out, Iyer has embraced his role, stating he places team success above个人 glory and understands the dynamics of a defending champion side. He credits coaching staff including Mo Bobat, Andy Flower and Dinesh Karthik for providing clarity on his role.
Danish Malewar, a 21-year-old right-handed batsman from Nagpur, made his IPL debut for Mumbai Indians against Gujarat Titans at Narendra Modi Stadium. The Vidarbha player was signed for INR 30 lakh base price after an impressive 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season where he scored 783 runs at an average of 52, including two centuries and six fifties. He also excelled in the Vidarbha T20 League with 318 runs at a strike rate of 161.42. MI, currently struggling with four consecutive losses, turned to fresh talent as they sit near the bottom of the table.
