Sports

NEW DELHI: As IPL 2026 nears, a major off-field development has taken centre stage, with Rajasthan Royals, the champions of the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), being acquired for a massive $1.63 billion by a consortium led by US-based entrepreneur Kal Somani. Despite the scale of the deal, the ownership transition will…

NEW DELHI: As the IPL 2026 season is about to kick off, the biggest story off the field is the USD 1.63 billion (GBP 1.2 billion) acquisition of the Rajasthan Royals by a consortium led by US-based entrepreneur Kal Somani. While Somani has been a minority investor in the one-time IPL-winning franchise since 2021, this…

Koneru Humpy and Criton Tornaritis NEW DELHI: Top Indian Grandmaster (GM) Koneru Humpy has pulled out of the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, saying she doesn’t feel safe travelling for the event. Her decision has sparked criticism, especially from the Cyprus Chess Federation.Humpy explained her stance clearly as she wrote on X, “After deep…

Yash Dayal (Image credit: BCCI/IPL) Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been dealt a massive blow ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 as the franchise confirmed that the fast bowler Yash Dayal will miss the entire tournament due to personal reasons. Yash Dayal was not seen in the RCB’s training sessions and…

The BCCI has barred IPL teams from holding practice sessions on match days in IPL 2026, according to a note sent to team managers. Teams will be allotted two nets in the practice area and one side wicket on the main square for range-hitting during practice. At Wankhede Stadium, if both teams train at the…

Delhi Capitals predicted XI (Image: ANI) Delhi Capitals (DC) are one of the most underachieving teams in the IPL and are one of the three franchises yet to lift the title. However, over the last 3-4 years, they have shown greater stability, consistently putting up strong performances and challenging top teams. Last season, they started…

Gujarat Titans squad at the ‘Shubharambh’ event in Ahmedabad ahead of IPL 2026. NEW DELHI: Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill wants his fast bowlers to perform with the same intensity and aggression that former India pacer Ashish Nehra displayed during his playing days, ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Known for his fiery pace and…

MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina (Image credit: Instagram) NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings’ current stars and former legends came together under one roof during an event hosted by the five-time champions at Chepauk. From exhibition matches and cracking jokes to nostalgia-filled moments, recalling memories, juniors picking up tips from seniors, big hits, playful teasing, and…

On match day, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will also lead tributes before the start of play. (Image credit: Agencies) BENGALURU: June 4, 2025 — a date that left an indelible scar on the city’s sporting landscape. The tragic loss of 11 lives outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL title celebrations continues…

Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen (Image credit: IPL/KKR) KKR rely on explosive batting and spin strength, but pace concerns and leadership questions remainStrength : A battery of power hitters could give KKR the edge this season, with Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Rovman Powell, Cameron Green and Angkrish Raghuvanshi all capable of…