After another underwhelming IPL season that saw Lucknow Super Giants finish at the bottom of the table, the franchise may be heading toward major changes ahead of IPL 2027. But amid the disappointment, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has emerged as one of the few positives for the team. LSG’s global director of cricket, Tom Moody, admitted after the season that the side struggled to balance performances with both bat and ball. “Both bat and ball performing at the same time was always a challenge,” Moody said after LSG endured a poor campaign following seventh-place finishes in IPL 2024 and IPL 2025. Inglis, who was surprisingly released by Punjab Kings after disagreements over his availability due to his wedding during IPL 2026, proved to be one of LSG’s smartest acquisitions. The franchise backed him despite concerns around his availability, and he repaid that faith with a string of impactful performances in the latter half of the season. Playing only the final five matches of the tournament, Inglis scored 266 runs at a stunning strike rate of 186.01, including three half-centuries. Remarkably, despite featuring in just five games, he finished as LSG’s third-highest run-scorer of the season behind Mitchell Marsh (563 runs) and captain Rishabh Pant (312 runs). His tally also surpassed contributions from established stars such as Aiden Markram, who scored 231 runs in 11 innings, and Nicholas Pooran, who managed 234 runs in 14 matches. Former India batter Ambati Rayudu praised Inglis for his adaptability and batting intelligence, describing him as one of the most complete overseas batters in the tournament. “He’s so versatile,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo TimeOut. “He’s good against slower deliveries, good against every length, and perfectly suited to subcontinent conditions. He plays spin brilliantly, uses lap shots well, hits straight down the ground, and has every shot in the book.” Rayudu also compared Inglis favourably with Finn Allen of Kolkata Knight Riders, highlighting Inglis’ superior shot selection and ability to score all around the wicket. “Finn Allen is aggressive but one-dimensional. Josh Inglis is not. He manipulates the field brilliantly and plays spin exceptionally well,” Rayudu added. Former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher echoed those sentiments, calling Inglis one of the toughest batters to bowl to during the powerplay. “There’s a smartness to his cricket,” Boucher said. “He keeps moving the field around and adapts quickly. If bowlers bring fielders up, he hits over them. If they go fuller, he can still hit straight. He’s incredibly difficult to bowl to when he’s confident.” Despite Inglis’ late-season heroics, LSG’s overall campaign was plagued by inconsistency. Moody admitted the team failed to click collectively, particularly in the batting department. “The batting didn’t click at all for a large part of the season,” Moody explained. “We didn’t get the dynamic starts we wanted, and our middle order failed to contribute consistently.” The disappointing campaign has already sparked speculation over significant structural changes within the franchise, including a possible rethink around Pant’s leadership. Moody confirmed that “all things” would be considered during the team’s review process. However, one thing appears increasingly certain: Inglis has likely done enough to secure a major role in LSG’s future plans. With his aggressive yet intelligent batting style complementing compatriot Marsh perfectly, the Australian could become a key pillar around which the franchise rebuilds for IPL 2027.

Punjab Kings may have finally snapped their six-match losing streak in IPL 2026, but concerns around star pacer Arshdeep Singh continue to grow after another expensive outing against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow. Arshdeep endured yet another difficult spell on Saturday, conceding runs at an alarming economy rate of 17.33 as Lucknow Super Giants scored at 9.80 runs per over. The left-arm pacer was so ineffective that Punjab Kings chose not to give him his final over. Former India batter Ambati Rayudu believes the issue lies primarily in Arshdeep’s bowling lengths. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, Rayudu pointed out that the pacer has drifted away from the fuller lengths that once made him such a dangerous bowler. “He’s not someone who should be bowling a lot of short deliveries,” Rayudu said. “Even at the death, he should rely more on yorkers. His strength has always been pitching the ball up and allowing it to swing.” Rayudu also suggested that Arshdeep may not possess the same sharpness he showed earlier in the year, hinting at possible physical fatigue after a packed international season. “Maybe because of his body being tired, he doesn’t have the same juice as a few months back,” Rayudu added. “If he has to compensate, he needs to bowl fuller.” Statistically, Arshdeep’s dip in form has been evident throughout IPL 2026. In IPL 2025, the pacer enjoyed significant success with fuller and good-length deliveries, taking 10 wickets at an economy rate of 8.45. This season, however, those same deliveries have produced only seven wickets while leaking runs at 9.91 per over. Against Lucknow, Arshdeep bowled 12 of his 18 deliveries either full or on a good length, while only six deliveries were short or back of a length. Despite that, almost every variation he attempted was punished by the batters. Former South Africa wicketkeeper-batter Mark Boucher believes fatigue from international cricket and the IPL workload may be the main reason behind the decline. “I think it’s just being tired after the T20 World Cup and then coming straight into the IPL,” Boucher said. “It’s natural for fatigue to catch up with players. I don’t think it has anything to do with his skill or talent.” Arshdeep was one of India’s standout performers during the 2024 T20 World Cup campaign, operating as the team’s second frontline pacer behind Jasprit Bumrah. He finished the tournament with nine wickets from eight matches as India lifted the trophy. However, his IPL 2026 campaign has been far from convincing. The left-arm quick has managed 14 wickets in 14 matches while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.20. He is also one of only two bowlers this season to concede more than 500 runs, alongside Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings. Despite the poor form, Arshdeep remains a crucial part of Punjab Kings’ setup. With the team still mathematically in contention depending on Sunday’s results, the pacer could get another opportunity to rediscover his rhythm and salvage what has otherwise been a disappointing season.

The race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap in IPL 2026 has intensified as the league stage nears its conclusion, with several players making significant moves after the clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Friday. Despite no change at the top, Heinrich Klaasen surged to third place in the Orange Cap standings after a blistering 51 off 24 balls against RCB. The explosive SRH batter now has 606 runs from 14 innings this season. The leaderboard continues to be headed by B Sai Sudharsan of Gujarat Titans, who has accumulated 638 runs, while teammate and captain Shubman Gill remains second with 616 runs. Young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of Rajasthan Royals occupies fourth position with 579 runs. Another SRH batter, Ishan Kishan, moved into the top five after his match-winning 79 off 46 deliveries against RCB. Kishan now has 569 runs in the tournament and continues to enjoy his best-ever IPL season. Purple Cap Battle Tightens In the Purple Cap standings, Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kagiso Rabada of Gujarat Titans remain tied at the top with 24 wickets each. Bhuvneshwar, however, continues to hold the Purple Cap due to his superior economy rate of 8.07, compared to Rabada’s 9.18. The RCB pacer went wicketless in Friday’s game but retained his position at the summit. Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings is next on the list with 21 wickets. GT spinner Rashid Khan sits fourth with 19 wickets, narrowly ahead of SRH pacer Eshan Malinga, who also has 19 wickets after registering figures of 2 for 33 against RCB. Rashid remains ahead because of his better economy rate of 8.71, while Malinga’s economy stands at 9.27. With the playoffs approaching, both the batting and bowling charts remain closely contested, setting up an exciting finish to the IPL 2026 league stage.

A brief moment involving Virat Kohli and Travis Head grabbed attention after the IPL 2026 match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Hyderabad on Friday, as Kohli appeared to ignore Head during the customary post-match handshake line. As players from both teams lined up after the match, Kohli was seen shaking hands with SRH captain Pat Cummins and opener Abhishek Sharma. However, when Head extended his hand to greet him, Kohli walked past without acknowledging the gesture and moved on to the next player. The incident quickly drew attention among fans and on social media, though there was no immediate explanation from either player regarding the exchange. Earlier in the match, Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a massive 255 for 4, putting Royal Challengers Bengaluru under pressure in a crucial league-stage encounter. RCB needed at least 166 runs to secure a top-two finish and 178 to finish at the top of the table. Prioritising net run rate despite the difficult chase, RCB ended on 200 for 4. Opening the innings, Kohli managed 15 runs off 11 balls before being dismissed by Sakib Hussain in the final over of the powerplay. Despite the defeat, RCB finished among the top two teams and will now face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala on May 26. Sunrisers Hyderabad secured a third-place finish and will play the Eliminator in New Chandigarh on May 27. Meanwhile, the race for the final playoff spot remains open, with Rajasthan Royals, Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals still in contention with three league matches remaining.

Gujarat Titans (GT) star spinner Rashid Khan believes handling failure is just as important as enjoying success, a mindset he says has helped him rediscover his best form during IPL 2026. Fresh from GT’s commanding 89-run win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) that confirmed a top-two finish for the franchise, Rashid signed off his post-match media interaction with a cheerful Gujarati phrase — “Ekdum majama” (absolutely fine) — a reflection of both his team’s dominant season and his own return to form. Rashid Returns to His Best Rashid produced another match-winning spell against CSK, dismantling the lower middle order with figures of 3 for 18 in just two overs. The performance lifted him to fourth place in the Purple Cap standings with 19 wickets this season. After enduring two underwhelming IPL campaigns in 2024 and 2025, Rashid has bounced back strongly in 2026. He has not only improved his wicket tally but also tightened his economy rate, showing signs of the bowler who has dominated T20 cricket for nearly a decade. Against CSK, however, his spell did not begin smoothly. Introduced in the 11th over with CSK struggling at 109 for 5 while chasing 230, Rashid was immediately attacked. Shivam Dube smashed him for six off a full delivery, but the Afghanistan spinner responded instantly. Dube fell on the next ball thanks to a brilliant running catch from GT captain Shubman Gill. Rashid was hit for another six by Anshul Kamboj later in the over but recovered superbly to finish with three wickets. “In a game where you are defending 230, you are going to go for runs,” Rashid said after the match. “The batters have no option but to attack you. As a bowler, the challenge is to make it as difficult as possible for them to hit boundaries.” He admitted his first delivery to Dube was too easy to hit and said he quickly adjusted his line and length to force the batter into riskier shots. Learning From Failure Rashid credited his comeback to mental resilience and his ability to remain consistent even during difficult phases. “You have good days and bad days, and the way you manage yourself on good days, you must manage yourself similarly on bad days,” he explained. “Whenever I had a bad day, I never let it stay too much in my mind. Bad days teach you a lot, and that is how you improve.” The 27-year-old reflected on one of the toughest moments of his career — conceding 110 runs in nine overs against England during the 2019 ODI World Cup. “That game taught me a lot,” he said. “You cannot suddenly change your action or pace. The one thing you can control is hitting the right areas consistently.” Rashid revealed that despite results, his practice routines remain unchanged. After every game, he studies his bowling pitch maps closely with the team analyst to assess where he landed most of his deliveries and identify areas for improvement. “What matters most to me is where I pitch the ball,” he said. “If I miss my line or length, I want to understand why. I focus on that rather than the result.” Strong Season for GT Rashid’s improved form has mirrored Gujarat Titans’ resurgence this season. After winning the IPL title in their debut season in 2022 and finishing runners-up in 2023, GT slipped to eighth place in 2024. They reached the playoffs in 2025 largely due to the batting brilliance of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler, while Rashid struggled for consistency. This season, however, both GT’s batting and bowling units have clicked together. Rashid has already taken 19 wickets at a much-improved economy rate of 8.72 compared to his difficult 2025 campaign, where he managed only nine wickets in 15 games. GT have also continued to establish themselves as one of the IPL’s most successful modern franchises. Since joining the tournament in 2022, they possess the best win-loss ratio in the league at 1.642, ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s 1.433. “Winning nine games out of 14 is a great feeling,” Rashid said. “We are not thinking too much about finishing top two or top four. The focus is simply on keeping things simple, and the results will follow.

The Gujarat Titans (GT) continued their dominant IPL 2026 campaign with a crushing 89-run victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Ahmedabad on Thursday, a result that not only strengthened their playoff momentum but also reshaped both the Orange Cap and Purple Cap leaderboards. Sai Sudharsan Reclaims Orange Cap The race for the Orange Cap witnessed another dramatic twist, with GT opener B Sai Sudharsan reclaiming the top spot after a superb innings of 84 off 53 balls. His knock took his tally to 638 runs for the season, pushing teammate and captain Shubman Gill back to second place. Gill had briefly overtaken Sai Sudharsan during their magnificent 125-run opening partnership. Entering the match with 552 runs, Gill smashed 64 off just 37 deliveries to move to 616 runs and temporarily claim the Orange Cap before Sai Sudharsan’s bigger score restored his lead. The Titans now occupy the top two spots in the batting charts, underlining their dominance this season. Rajasthan Royals youngster Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sits third with 579 runs, while Lucknow Super Giants’ Mitchell Marsh follows with 563. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Heinrich Klaasen rounds out the top five with 555 runs. The race, however, remains wide open ahead of Friday’s clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Klaasen will have another opportunity to climb higher, while Virat Kohli, currently sixth with 542 runs, could also close the gap. SRH batters Abhishek Sharma (507 runs) and Ishan Kishan (490 runs) remain within striking distance as well. Rabada Joins Bhuvneshwar at the Top The Purple Cap standings also saw major movement after GT’s pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada delivered a match-winning spell of 3 for 32 against CSK. Rabada’s performance lifted him to 24 wickets for the season, level with Royal Challengers Bengaluru seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar at the top of the wicket-taking charts. However, Bhuvneshwar retains the Purple Cap due to his superior economy rate of 7.70 compared to Rabada’s 9.18. GT’s bowlers dominated throughout the evening. Mohammed Siraj struck early with three wickets inside the powerplay, helping reduce CSK to 63 for 5 in seven overs. Although Siraj has not been among the leading wicket-takers this season, his three-wicket haul pushed him to 17 wickets and seventh place on the leaderboard. CSK pacer Anshul Kamboj also climbed the rankings after dismissing Sai Sudharsan, moving to third place with 21 wickets. GT spinner Rashid Khan added another impressive performance with a three-wicket haul of his own, taking his season tally to 19 wickets and fourth place overall. Rajasthan Royals speedster Jofra Archer and Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Kartik Tyagi are tied on 18 wickets each, keeping the race for the Purple Cap highly competitive heading into the final phase of the tournament. With Gujarat Titans players dominating both batting and bowling charts, IPL 2026 is increasingly becoming a season to remember for the Ahmedabad franchise.

Three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders have staged one of the most remarkable turnarounds of the IPL 2026 season, bouncing back from a disastrous start to emerge as serious playoff contenders. After 25 matches of the season, KKR’s campaign appeared all but over. The side had suffered five defeats in their first six matches, with another game ending in a washout, leaving them near the bottom of the points table and struggling for momentum. However, the Kolkata-based franchise has since scripted an impressive revival, winning six of their last seven matches to reignite their playoff hopes. Their latest triumph — a four-wicket victory over Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens on Wednesday — further strengthened belief within the camp. Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, former India batter Abhinav Mukund praised KKR’s tactical improvements and growing confidence. “They’ve got their tactics and combinations right now,” Mukund said. “Their batting may still not be firing on all cylinders, but they’ve become very effective in the areas we expected them to dominate, especially spin bowling. A form team is always dangerous.” KKR’s resurgence has largely been built around their spin attack. Veteran all-rounder Sunil Narine has been exceptional, claiming 14 wickets while maintaining a tournament-best economy rate of 6.40. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, despite a difficult start to the season, has rediscovered rhythm and contributed ten wickets at an economy rate of 8.78. Support from spinner Anukul Roy and pacer Kartik Tyagi has further strengthened KKR’s bowling unit, while all-rounder Cameron Green has chipped in with crucial breakthroughs. Former India opener Wasim Jaffer highlighted how KKR’s slow start was partly due to unsettled combinations and player availability issues. “Finding the right opening pair, deciding where Cameron Green fits, and dealing with bowling absences hurt them early on,” Jaffer explained. “Players like Mustafizur Rahman and Harshit Rana missed games, while Matheesha Pathirana joined late. But they’ve found the right balance at the perfect time.” With just one league-stage match remaining — against Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens on Sunday — KKR now stand on the brink of an unlikely playoff qualification. A victory, combined with favorable results elsewhere, could complete what many are calling one of the season’s great comeback stories.

Assistant coach Shane Watson has praised Varun Chakravarthy for continuing to play through injury as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive with a victory over Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens on Wednesday night. Watson revealed after the match that Varun has been “playing through a bit of pain,” amid reports that the mystery spinner is carrying a hairline fracture in his left foot. Despite the injury, Varun has continued to feature for KKR during the crucial final phase of the season. Against Mumbai Indians, the spinner returned economical figures of 0 for 28 from his four overs, helping KKR maintain pressure during the middle overs even though he went wicketless. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Watson praised Varun’s determination and commitment to the franchise.“He’s obviously playing through a bit of pain at the moment, which just shows how brave he is and how much he wants to contribute for KKR,” Watson said. The former Australia all-rounder also highlighted Varun’s impressive turnaround this season after a difficult start. The spinner had gone wicketless while conceding heavily in KKR’s opening games but later emerged as one of the side’s most dependable performers alongside veteran spinner Sunil Narine. Watson added that KKR were fortunate to have a player willing to push through discomfort for the team’s cause.“With the pain that he’s managing, he could have easily decided to rest. But he’s all in for KKR,” he said. Varun’s injury has also reportedly come under the observation of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), although the board has left the management of his fitness to the franchise during the IPL season. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that while the board’s Centre of Excellence physios continue monitoring player workloads and injuries, franchises are primarily responsible for player management during the tournament. The match also saw a worrying collision involving Varun and young batter-wicketkeeper Angkrish Raghuvanshi. During the 11th over of Mumbai’s innings, Raghuvanshi sprinted toward a top-edged catch off Varun’s bowling and collided with the spinner just as the catch was being completed. The impact caused Varun to spill the ball. Raghuvanshi later left the field in the 14th over and did not return to bat. Watson confirmed that the youngster experienced neck pain, dizziness and headaches following the collision.“He ran a long way for that catch, but unfortunately the collision caused some neck pain, dizziness and a headache,” Watson explained. The KKR coach also praised Raghuvanshi’s fighting spirit, calling him one of the toughest competitors in the squad. His absence was felt, especially given that he has been KKR’s leading run-scorer this season. KKR will now prepare for their final league-stage fixture against Delhi Capitals on Sunday, with the team hopeful that Raghuvanshi recovers in time while Varun continues his rehabilitation ahead of the crucial clash.

Former India batter Ambati Rayudu has heaped praise on Dhruv Jurel, calling the young wicketkeeper-batter a player with “extraordinary potential” after his composed unbeaten half-century guided Rajasthan Royals to a thrilling chase against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur. Jurel played a crucial role in Rajasthan Royals’ successful pursuit of 221, remaining unbeaten on 53 off 38 balls in a high-pressure encounter. His innings helped RR keep their playoff hopes alive and further highlighted his growing influence in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2026 season. The 24-year-old is enjoying his most productive IPL campaign so far, having scored 420 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 150.00, including five half-centuries. Only teammate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has scored more runs for Rajasthan Royals this season. “I think he has at least four or five levels to unlock in his batting,” Rayudu said. “He is one guy I feel who has extraordinary potential. He is so clean, so neat. He has such a good technique.” Rayudu praised Jurel’s composure and all-round batting ability, particularly his comfort against pace bowling and his game awareness under pressure. “His temperament is top-class. His play against pace, he is so comfortable. There are so many good things — he steps out, he plays spin well, reads length well, runs brilliantly between the wickets. I think he is a complete package that just needs to be properly unlocked and trained,” he added. Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim also lauded Jurel’s ability to control a chase but pointed out areas where the batter could improve, especially when setting a target. Karim highlighted the contrast in Jurel’s performances while batting first and second this season. While Jurel has struck at 157.37 in successful chases, his strike rate drops to 144.30 when batting first. “When he bats second, it seems he is in complete control of the situation,” Karim said. “He has the match awareness, the ability to take the game deep and finish matches, which is a special quality.” However, Karim believes Jurel can become even more dangerous if he shows greater attacking intent earlier in his innings while batting first. “His strike rate in the first ten balls is slightly on the lower side when batting first. That’s when I want him to free himself, back his talent and play the big shots early. That will boost both his confidence and strike rate,” Karim explained. With consistent performances and growing praise from former cricketers, Jurel’s rise has emerged as one of the bright stories of Rajasthan Royals’ campaign this season.

The race for the Orange Cap in the Indian Premier League 2026 took another dramatic turn on a thrilling night in Jaipur as Mitchell Marsh and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced stunning knocks during the clash between Rajasthan Royals and Lucknow Super Giants. Marsh continued his remarkable late-season surge with a blistering 96 off 57 balls for Lucknow Super Giants. The Australian allrounder, who was outside the top run-scorers just a week ago, has now smashed scores of 111, 90, and 96 in three of his last four innings. His latest effort lifted LSG to an imposing total of 220 for 5 and briefly pushed him to the top of the Orange Cap standings with 563 runs. However, Marsh’s stay at the summit was short-lived thanks to a breathtaking innings from teenage sensation Sooryavanshi. The Rajasthan Royals batter hammered 93 off just 38 deliveries in a must-win encounter for his side, propelling RR to a crucial victory that kept their playoff hopes alive. Unlike some of his earlier explosive starts this season, Sooryavanshi began cautiously. He reached 25 from 16 balls after eight overs and initially struggled against Mohsin Khan. But once settled, the youngster unleashed a flurry of boundaries and sixes across the ground. He brought up his half-century in 23 balls before accelerating further, smashing ten sixes in total. The assault included multiple maximums against Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, and Digvesh Rathi. His innings finally ended when Mohsin deceived him with a slower delivery. The knock took Sooryavanshi to the top of the Orange Cap leaderboard with 579 runs for the season, overtaking Marsh’s 563. Heinrich Klaasen of Sunrisers Hyderabad sits third with 555 runs, closely followed by B Sai Sudharsan on 554 and Shubman Gill on 552 for Gujarat Titans. Archer Moves Up Purple Cap Standings In the Purple Cap race, Rajasthan Royals pacer Jofra Archer made gains after dismissing Ayush Badoni during the first innings. Archer now has 18 wickets this season, moving into fourth place on the wicket-takers’ chart. Lucknow Super Giants fast bowler Prince Yadav, meanwhile, endured a third consecutive wicketless outing and remains on 16 wickets for the campaign. At the top of the Purple Cap standings, Bhuvneshwar Kumar of Royal Challengers Bengaluru continues to lead with 24 wickets. Kagiso Rabada of Gujarat Titans follows with 21 wickets, while Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings occupies third place with 20 wickets.

Mumbai Indians have suffered a double injury setback with batter Quinton de Kock and allrounder Raj Bawa ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2026. The franchise confirmed on Tuesday that de Kock sustained a tendon injury in his left wrist ahead of MI’s clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 29, while Bawa suffered a ligament tear in his right thumb during the match against Punjab Kings last week. In an official statement, Mumbai Indians said both players would continue rehabilitation at home under the supervision of the team’s medical staff. “Both Quinton and Raj Bawa will continue their rehab in their respective homes, with support and guidance from the Mumbai Indians medical team to help them return to play as soon as possible,” the franchise said. The team added that replacements for the injured duo would be announced according to IPL regulations. De Kock featured in only three matches this season for MI. After making an impressive start with an unbeaten 112 in his opening appearance, the left-handed wicketkeeper-batter managed scores of 13 and 7 in his following innings. His last outing came against Chennai Super Kings on April 23. Bawa also played three games during the campaign. The young allrounder scored 16 runs in his only innings with the bat and picked up two wickets at an average of 25 before his injury setback. Mumbai Indians’ disappointing season has already ended their hopes of reaching the playoffs. The five-time champions are currently ninth on the IPL 2026 points table with eight points from 12 matches. MI will next take on Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Wednesday as they look to finish a difficult campaign on a positive note.

Sunrisers Hyderabad may have entered IPL 2026 with the spotlight firmly on the explosive opening pair of “Travishek” — Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma — but it is the emerging middle-order duo of Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen that has quietly become the backbone of the team’s playoff push. The pair once again delivered under pressure on Monday night, guiding SRH to a crucial win over Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk and securing a place in the IPL playoffs. On a slow and challenging surface, Kishan scored a composed 70 off 47 balls while Klaasen smashed 47 from 26 deliveries in a match-defining partnership of 75 runs from just 41 balls. Their consistency this season has transformed SRH into one of the tournament’s most balanced batting units. Klaasen currently leads the Orange Cap race with 555 runs, while Kishan has accumulated 490 runs and sits among the top scorers of the season. Abhishek Sharma has also crossed 500 runs, though Head’s campaign has been comparatively modest with 367 runs so far. While Head and Abhishek continue to provide explosive starts at the top, Kishan and Klaasen have excelled in stabilising innings and accelerating through the middle overs. The duo has added 434 runs in seven partnerships at an average of 62 and a run rate close to 11 per over — remarkable numbers considering most of their batting comes outside the powerplay. Monday’s innings highlighted their adaptability. SRH lost Head early for just six runs before Abhishek departed in the eighth over after struggling on the sluggish pitch. Kishan then anchored the chase with maturity and control, batting from the third over until the 19th and falling just six runs short of the target. SRH assistant coach James Franklin described Kishan’s knock as one of his finest in the tournament. “So far in this year’s IPL, that was probably his best innings,” Franklin said after the match. “Batters had to craft their innings differently on this surface, and I thought Ishan assessed the conditions brilliantly and played with great maturity.” Franklin also praised Klaasen’s impact throughout the campaign, calling his performances among the best middle-order displays of the season. “It’s one of the best middle-order batting performances you’ll see through an IPL season,” he said. “He reads situations well, maintains the tempo and has had a huge influence on games for us.” Former India batter Ambati Rayudu was particularly impressed by Kishan’s evolution as a batter and leader. “He has stood up on a lot of difficult wickets this season,” Rayudu said during a post-match discussion. “That shows his versatility. He can attack bowlers but also adapt when conditions are tough. He’s an amazing asset to have in any team.” Rayudu also highlighted Kishan’s composure during the chase and his leadership qualities when standing in for captain Pat Cummins earlier in the season. Former New Zealand fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan, who previously played alongside Kishan at Mumbai Indians, said the wicketkeeper-batter’s growth has been evident. “He was just a kid when he played with us,” McClenaghan said. “But the way he’s matured as a person, leader and batter has been sensational.” Despite the growing attention on Kishan and Klaasen, SRH’s batting strength remains rooted in a collective approach. Alongside Head and Abhishek, all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has also played an important supporting role throughout the season. “Those four at the moment — it’s a pleasure for us to have them in our team,” Franklin said. “The way they’re assessing games and putting pressure back on opposition bowling attacks has been outstanding.” With SRH becoming only the second side to qualify for the playoffs, their formidable batting depth has made them one of the most dangerous teams remaining in IPL 2026.