IPL 2026: Living on the edge—The risk and reward of the wide yorker In Punjab Kings’ first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 against Gujarat Titans, Arshdeep Singh was entrusted with the final over of the first innings. The left-arm pacer ended up bowling an 11-ball over—the joint-longest in IPL history. Across that over, Arshdeep largely tried to go short and wide to the left-handed Rahul Tewatia, which resulted in multiple wides; against Rashid Khan, he switched to yorkers, both at the stumps and outside off.Twenty-four matches into the season, the PBKS bowler has delivered the most wides so far—18, four more than Mumbai Indians’ Shardul Thakur, who has 14. Of Shardul’s 14 wides, 13 have come while bowling wide outside off. In Arshdeep’s case, 11 of his 18 wides have come while operating around the tramline outside off.What often shows up as poor execution is more often than not a calculated attempt to keep the ball away from the batter, with modern T20 batters favouring the leg side for their big shots. Even deliveries just outside off stump are now being whipped over the on-side with ease, thanks to the natural swing arc and high bat speeds.In response, the bowlers have moved further away from the stumps, forcing batters to manufacture shots square of the wicket, particularly in the point and square regions, where power is harder to generate.“If the batter is set and there’s a longer boundary on one side, you use that and keep the ball away from their strength. If the batter is new, you attack the stumps. When you feel the yorker is coming out well, you go for it. When the batter is set, you go wide. You just have to adapt before the batter knows what’s coming,” Arshdeep explained after the win over Mumbai Indians on Thursday, after picking three for 22, continuing to back his wide line tactic. That constant adjustment, though, often pushes bowlers closer to the wide line, where the margin for error is smaller.One such option is the wide yorker, aimed just inside the wide line outside off stump. It is one of the hardest deliveries to execute because of the precision required—more often than not, it ends up as a full toss or a slot ball. But when nailed, it is extremely difficult to put away.“That’s probably one of the hardest balls to bowl,” Delhi Capitals pacer Lungi Ngidi said. “You’ve got to land it on a yorker length, just inside the wide line – everything has to be perfect. If you land that ball, it’s a huge advantage in an over.”Since his IPL debut in 2019, Arshdeep has bowled 99 wide-line yorkers – joint second-most with Harshal Patel, with Avesh Khan leading the list with 104.Despite the risk, the tactic remains popular. In the 2021 season, there was a more than 46 per cent increase in attempts to bowl around the tramline, resulting in 114 wides—an 87 per cent jump from the previous season’s 61.The shift became even more pronounced in 2022, when wides across the season rose from 521 to 861—jump of 340 (65.26 per cent). While part of that increase was due to the addition of two teams—Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants—and therefore more matches, venue conditions also played a major role.That season was held across four venues in Maharashtra during the league stage—the Wankhede Stadium, DY Patil Stadium, Brabourne Stadium, and MCA International Stadium. Smaller boundaries, flatter pitches, and heavy dew made execution significantly harder for bowlers.Since that spike, the increase from 2023 onwards has appeared more gradual. The average number of wides per season, which stood at around 530 until 2021, has now risen to roughly 810. The ongoing 2026 season is not included in that average, but it has already seen 289 wides in 24 matches and is projected to finish close to 900 at the current rate of six wides per innings.What changed in 2023?That season introduced the option for teams to review wides and no-balls. With technology in play, the margin for error has reduced. As Ngidi pointed out: “The margins are very small. The review system helps now because earlier, you could bowl it correctly and still get called for a wide.”Ahead of the 2025 season, another tweak followed—the introduction of the moving wide guideline, where the line shifts with the batter’s position. This has made adjudication clearer for umpires and players alike. It made an immediate impact last season as the wides bowled while attempting the wide yorker dropped from 182 to 101.For bowlers like Arshdeep, operating around the wide tramline is a risky trade-off, where the margin for error is minimal. But in a format where batters dictate terms, it is a risk they are willing to take. Because on the days it comes off, the wide yorker can set up the game for the bowling side. Published on Apr 17, 2026 #IPL #Living #edgeThe #risk #reward #wide #yorker

Sixteen-year-old Lisha Das, India’s lone para cyclist for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, is fearing the possibility of missing the multi-sport event after her coach was not accredited while a Cycling Federation of India (CFI) official was instead designated to accompany her in Glasgow.

Lisha, who qualified for the Glasgow CWG through continental rankings in the women’s C5 category, has written multiple e-mails to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), CFI, the Sports Secretary and the Union Sports Ministry seeking accreditation for her personal coach, Aditya Mehta.

The teenager, who has a deformity in her right hand, alleged that she was repeatedly asked to obtain a parental consent letter with CFI Executive Member K Dattatraya as her coach for the Games.

“Neither my parents, my coach nor I were ever informed that Mr K Dattatraya had been appointed as my accompanying official,” she wrote in an e-mail in possession of PTI.

“I am a minor female para athlete. Mr K Dattatraya should not be designated as my accompanying official. I require a female escort and a medical support professional.

“Initially, I was repeatedly asked to sign a consent letter stating that Mr K Dattatraya would accompany me as my coach for the Commonwealth Games.” She said she declined to do so as Dattatraya was never his coach.

“The coach who has trained me throughout my journey and guided me to qualify for the Commonwealth Games is Mr. Aditya Mehta.

ALSO READ | Initially named in Indian CWG contingent, para swimmer Nandakumar now declared ineligible by organisers

“However, without my knowledge or consent, his name was never recommended,” Lisha wrote in one of her e-mails.

She said that, being a minor athlete, she should be allowed to travel with the coach who understands both her sporting and medical requirements.

“Being a minor athlete, I have repeatedly requested to be accompanied by the coach who has trained me, understands my sporting and medical requirements, and has prepared me throughout this journey.

“Unfortunately, despite several representations, my genuine concerns have not been addressed,” she wrote.

However, personal coaches have not been included by the Sports Ministry in the Indian contingent for the Glasgow CWG.

As reported by PTI in March this year, the ministry had made it clear that “demonstrable contribution” and “regular association” to an athlete’s growth would be assessed in case of request for personal coaches but they would not be allowed over an above the sanctioned contingent even at no cost to government.

Lisha said Mehta was willing to bear his own expenses and was seeking only the accreditation required to accompany her in an official capacity.

“My coach is ready to travel entirely at his own expense. I am only requesting that he be granted accreditation so that he can accompany me in an official capacity,” she said.

ALSO READ | India’s 126-strong squad for Glasgow-2026 CWG

She alleged that the CFI recommended Dattatraya’s name.

“The Cycling Federation of India recommended the name of Mr. Dattatraya to the Paralympic Committee of India as my coach, despite the fact that he was not the coach who trained me or prepared me for qualification.

“This decision caused me immense distress and left me feeling unheard as an athlete,” she wrote.

“If I am unable to participate with the coach who has prepared me, it will be extremely difficult for me and my family to proceed with confidence.” CFI Secretary General Maninder Singh denied that the federation had recommended any coach’s name.

“We have not given any name. The long list for the Commonwealth Games was sent by PCI and CFI doesn’t have a role in that,” he told PTI.

However, in an e-mail on Monday, CFI wrote that it had recommended a panel of three support staff members, including Mehta and Dattatraya.

“This is with reference to the trailing mail and our communication dated July 10, 2026, wherein it was submitted that Mr K Dattatraya was not recommended by the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) as the personal coach for Ms Lisha Das, a para-cyclist,” the CFI wrote in an e-mail on Monday evening.

“However, we wish to clarify that in the long list of team support staff submitted by your esteemed office to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the following officials were recommended as team support staff: Mr Ramesh Pandi, Mr Aditya Jitendra Kumar Mehta and Mr Katkam Dattatraya,” the CFI said in its response to the PCI in the e-mail which was also marked to the IOA.

The PCI, meanwhile, maintained that it merely forwarded the names received from the concerned National Sports Federation.

“CFI governs para cycling and IOA is leading the Commonwealth Games, so it’s between them and the federation,” PCI Secretary General Jayawant Gundu Hamanawar told PTI.

Published on Jul 14, 2026

#Indias #para #cyclist #CWG #seeks #coachs #accreditation #fears #missing #Games">

India’s only para cyclist at CWG 2026 seeks coach’s accreditation, fears missing Games Sixteen-year-old Lisha Das, India’s lone para cyclist for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, is fearing the possibility of missing the multi-sport event after her coach was not accredited while a Cycling Federation of India (CFI) official was instead designated to accompany her in Glasgow.Lisha, who qualified for the Glasgow CWG through continental rankings in the women’s C5 category, has written multiple e-mails to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), CFI, the Sports Secretary and the Union Sports Ministry seeking accreditation for her personal coach, Aditya Mehta.The teenager, who has a deformity in her right hand, alleged that she was repeatedly asked to obtain a parental consent letter with CFI Executive Member K Dattatraya as her coach for the Games.“Neither my parents, my coach nor I were ever informed that Mr K Dattatraya had been appointed as my accompanying official,” she wrote in an e-mail in possession of PTI.“I am a minor female para athlete. Mr K Dattatraya should not be designated as my accompanying official. I require a female escort and a medical support professional.“Initially, I was repeatedly asked to sign a consent letter stating that Mr K Dattatraya would accompany me as my coach for the Commonwealth Games.” She said she declined to do so as Dattatraya was never his coach.“The coach who has trained me throughout my journey and guided me to qualify for the Commonwealth Games is Mr. Aditya Mehta.ALSO READ | Initially named in Indian CWG contingent, para swimmer Nandakumar now declared ineligible by organisers“However, without my knowledge or consent, his name was never recommended,” Lisha wrote in one of her e-mails.She said that, being a minor athlete, she should be allowed to travel with the coach who understands both her sporting and medical requirements.“Being a minor athlete, I have repeatedly requested to be accompanied by the coach who has trained me, understands my sporting and medical requirements, and has prepared me throughout this journey.“Unfortunately, despite several representations, my genuine concerns have not been addressed,” she wrote.However, personal coaches have not been included by the Sports Ministry in the Indian contingent for the Glasgow CWG.As reported by PTI in March this year, the ministry had made it clear that “demonstrable contribution” and “regular association” to an athlete’s growth would be assessed in case of request for personal coaches but they would not be allowed over an above the sanctioned contingent even at no cost to government.Lisha said Mehta was willing to bear his own expenses and was seeking only the accreditation required to accompany her in an official capacity.“My coach is ready to travel entirely at his own expense. I am only requesting that he be granted accreditation so that he can accompany me in an official capacity,” she said.ALSO READ | India’s 126-strong squad for Glasgow-2026 CWGShe alleged that the CFI recommended Dattatraya’s name.“The Cycling Federation of India recommended the name of Mr. Dattatraya to the Paralympic Committee of India as my coach, despite the fact that he was not the coach who trained me or prepared me for qualification.“This decision caused me immense distress and left me feeling unheard as an athlete,” she wrote.“If I am unable to participate with the coach who has prepared me, it will be extremely difficult for me and my family to proceed with confidence.” CFI Secretary General Maninder Singh denied that the federation had recommended any coach’s name.“We have not given any name. The long list for the Commonwealth Games was sent by PCI and CFI doesn’t have a role in that,” he told PTI.However, in an e-mail on Monday, CFI wrote that it had recommended a panel of three support staff members, including Mehta and Dattatraya.“This is with reference to the trailing mail and our communication dated July 10, 2026, wherein it was submitted that Mr K Dattatraya was not recommended by the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) as the personal coach for Ms Lisha Das, a para-cyclist,” the CFI wrote in an e-mail on Monday evening.“However, we wish to clarify that in the long list of team support staff submitted by your esteemed office to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the following officials were recommended as team support staff: Mr Ramesh Pandi, Mr Aditya Jitendra Kumar Mehta and Mr Katkam Dattatraya,” the CFI said in its response to the PCI in the e-mail which was also marked to the IOA.The PCI, meanwhile, maintained that it merely forwarded the names received from the concerned National Sports Federation.“CFI governs para cycling and IOA is leading the Commonwealth Games, so it’s between them and the federation,” PCI Secretary General Jayawant Gundu Hamanawar told PTI.Published on Jul 14, 2026 #Indias #para #cyclist #CWG #seeks #coachs #accreditation #fears #missing #Games

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Sixteen-year-old Lisha Das, India’s lone para cyclist for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, is fearing the possibility of missing the multi-sport event after her coach was not accredited while a Cycling Federation of India (CFI) official was instead designated to accompany her in Glasgow.
Lisha, who qualified for the Glasgow CWG through continental rankings in the women’s C5 category, has written multiple e-mails to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Paralympic Committee of India (PCI), CFI, the Sports Secretary and the Union Sports Ministry seeking accreditation for her personal coach, Aditya Mehta.
The teenager, who has a deformity in her right hand, alleged that she was repeatedly asked to obtain a parental consent letter with CFI Executive Member K Dattatraya as her coach for the Games.
“Neither my parents, my coach nor I were ever informed that Mr K Dattatraya had been appointed as my accompanying official,” she wrote in an e-mail in possession of PTI.
“I am a minor female para athlete. Mr K Dattatraya should not be designated as my accompanying official. I require a female escort and a medical support professional.
“Initially, I was repeatedly asked to sign a consent letter stating that Mr K Dattatraya would accompany me as my coach for the Commonwealth Games.” She said she declined to do so as Dattatraya was never his coach.
“The coach who has trained me throughout my journey and guided me to qualify for the Commonwealth Games is Mr. Aditya Mehta.
ALSO READ | Initially named in Indian CWG contingent, para swimmer Nandakumar now declared ineligible by organisers
“However, without my knowledge or consent, his name was never recommended,” Lisha wrote in one of her e-mails.
She said that, being a minor athlete, she should be allowed to travel with the coach who understands both her sporting and medical requirements.
“Being a minor athlete, I have repeatedly requested to be accompanied by the coach who has trained me, understands my sporting and medical requirements, and has prepared me throughout this journey.
“Unfortunately, despite several representations, my genuine concerns have not been addressed,” she wrote.
However, personal coaches have not been included by the Sports Ministry in the Indian contingent for the Glasgow CWG.
As reported by PTI in March this year, the ministry had made it clear that “demonstrable contribution” and “regular association” to an athlete’s growth would be assessed in case of request for personal coaches but they would not be allowed over an above the sanctioned contingent even at no cost to government.
Lisha said Mehta was willing to bear his own expenses and was seeking only the accreditation required to accompany her in an official capacity.
“My coach is ready to travel entirely at his own expense. I am only requesting that he be granted accreditation so that he can accompany me in an official capacity,” she said.
ALSO READ | India’s 126-strong squad for Glasgow-2026 CWG
She alleged that the CFI recommended Dattatraya’s name.
“The Cycling Federation of India recommended the name of Mr. Dattatraya to the Paralympic Committee of India as my coach, despite the fact that he was not the coach who trained me or prepared me for qualification.
“This decision caused me immense distress and left me feeling unheard as an athlete,” she wrote.
“If I am unable to participate with the coach who has prepared me, it will be extremely difficult for me and my family to proceed with confidence.” CFI Secretary General Maninder Singh denied that the federation had recommended any coach’s name.
“We have not given any name. The long list for the Commonwealth Games was sent by PCI and CFI doesn’t have a role in that,” he told PTI.
However, in an e-mail on Monday, CFI wrote that it had recommended a panel of three support staff members, including Mehta and Dattatraya.
“This is with reference to the trailing mail and our communication dated July 10, 2026, wherein it was submitted that Mr K Dattatraya was not recommended by the Cycling Federation of India (CFI) as the personal coach for Ms Lisha Das, a para-cyclist,” the CFI wrote in an e-mail on Monday evening.
“However, we wish to clarify that in the long list of team support staff submitted by your esteemed office to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), the following officials were recommended as team support staff: Mr Ramesh Pandi, Mr Aditya Jitendra Kumar Mehta and Mr Katkam Dattatraya,” the CFI said in its response to the PCI in the e-mail which was also marked to the IOA.
The PCI, meanwhile, maintained that it merely forwarded the names received from the concerned National Sports Federation.
“CFI governs para cycling and IOA is leading the Commonwealth Games, so it’s between them and the federation,” PCI Secretary General Jayawant Gundu Hamanawar told PTI.
Published on Jul 14, 2026

#Indias #para #cyclist #CWG #seeks #coachs #accreditation #fears #missing #Games">India’s only para cyclist at CWG 2026 seeks coach’s accreditation, fears missing Games