Sports news
#RCB #IPL #Kohli #Padikkal #fifties #trump #Sudharsan #century #Royal #Challengers #Bengaluru #wins">RCB vs GT IPL 2026: Kohli, Padikkal fifties trump Sudharsan century as Royal Challengers Bengaluru wins again A scintillating century by Sai Sudharsan was not enough as half centuries from Virat Kohli (81 off 44 balls) and Devdutt Padikkal (55 off 27 balls) helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeat Gujarat Titans by five wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday night.
Batting first, GT posted 205 thanks to Sudharsan’s innings (100 of 58 balls), his third century overall in the IPL. GT looked well set to amass 230 at the halfway stage of the first innings.
But some tight bowling by the RCB bowlers in the back end of the innings, not conceding a single boundary in the last four, helped the home side pull things back.
The second innings would have panned out very differently had Washington Sundar held onto a simple catch when Kohli was batting at 0, but as it happened, the opening batter made the visitor pay for the costly drop.
Chasing totals is Kohli’s bread and butter and it was just not Kohli, but also Padikkal from the other end who managed the pace of the chase to perfection, unleashing the big shots at regular intervals to leave the middle order with very little to do.
GT staged a brief fightback in the back end of the innings by dismissing Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma in quick succession, but Krunal Pandya and Tim David took RCB home.
Published on Apr 24, 2026
A scintillating century by Sai Sudharsan was not enough as half centuries from Virat Kohli…
Sports news
#IPL #familiar #middleorder #collapse #hurts #Gujarat #Titans">IPL 2026: A familiar middle-order collapse hurts Gujarat Titans yet again
The familiar script played out yet again in this edition of the IPL as Gujarat Titans’ brittle middle-order caved in without a fight against the Mumbai Indians.
On a day when Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler failed to fire, none of the remaining Titans batters showed the resilience required in a demanding chase. The collective failure prompted batting coach Matthew Hayden to label it a “horrible day” for his side.
The most worrying aspect wasn’t just the defeat, but the manner of it. The Titans couldn’t even bat out their 20 overs, as their innings rapidly unravelled.
The result also dealt a blow to their Net Run Rate and reignited concerns over an under-performing middle-order comprising Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan.
Only Washington managed to score at a brisk rate, while Phillips and Tewatia struggled to get going and their strike rates were well below the demands of modern T20 cricket. “The middle order was undoubtedly exposed,” Hayden admitted, pointing to the early damage in the PowerPlay.
“The thing about the PowerPlays is that you can’t win from there, especially in a run chase, but you can definitely lose it. And we lost it in the PowerPlay,” Hayden said.
The early dismissals of Sai Sudharsan, Buttler and Gill left the middle order with too much to do — a scenario Hayden believes the side must avoid. He stressed that players like Tewatia and Shahrukh are built for impact, not accumulation, and sending them in too early only adds pressure.
So far, Shahrukh has scored 35 runs, while Tewatia has chipped in with just 49 runs. “We are putting a lot of pressure on the middle-order. When you look at how the middle-order operates, it’s vastly different from how the top three handle those preparations. They are batting for impact,” Hayden said.
Published on Apr 21, 2026
The familiar script played out yet again in this edition of the IPL as Gujarat Titans’ brittle middle-order caved in without a fight against the Mumbai Indians.
On a day when Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler failed to fire, none of the remaining Titans batters showed the resilience required in a demanding chase. The collective failure prompted batting coach Matthew Hayden to label it a “horrible day” for his side.
The most worrying aspect wasn’t just the defeat, but the manner of it. The Titans couldn’t even bat out their 20 overs, as their innings rapidly unravelled.
The result also dealt a blow to their Net Run Rate and reignited concerns over an under-performing middle-order comprising Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Rahul Tewatia and Shahrukh Khan.
Only Washington managed to score at a brisk rate, while Phillips and Tewatia struggled to get going and their strike rates were well below the demands of modern T20 cricket. “The middle order was undoubtedly exposed,” Hayden admitted, pointing to the early damage in the PowerPlay.
“The thing about the PowerPlays is that you can’t win from there, especially in a run chase, but you can definitely lose it. And we lost it in the PowerPlay,” Hayden said.
The early dismissals of Sai Sudharsan, Buttler and Gill left the middle order with too much to do — a scenario Hayden believes the side must avoid. He stressed that players like Tewatia and Shahrukh are built for impact, not accumulation, and sending them in too early only adds pressure.
So far, Shahrukh has scored 35 runs, while Tewatia has chipped in with just 49 runs. “We are putting a lot of pressure on the middle-order. When you look at how the middle-order operates, it’s vastly different from how the top three handle those preparations. They are batting for impact,” Hayden said.
Published on Apr 21, 2026
The familiar script played out yet again in this edition of the IPL as Gujarat…
Sports news
#IPL #Tilaks #maiden #century #helps #Mumbai #Indians #snap #game #losing #streak">GT vs MI IPL 2026: Tilak’s maiden century helps Mumbai Indians snap four game losing streak
Tilak Varma found his form when it mattered most, producing a scintillating maiden IPL century to power Mumbai Indians to a commanding 99-run victory over Gujarat Titans on Monday.
After a string of underwhelming outings, Tilak began cautiously before shifting gears dramatically, finishing unbeaten on 101 off 45 balls (8×4, 7×6).
Much to the delight of a 40,000-strong crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium, he went on a rampage in the final six overs, smashing 82 runs off just 23 deliveries. Mumbai Indians plundered 96 runs in that phase to post a formidable 199 for five and seize complete control of the contest.
Tilak led the charge with ruthless precision, hammering 26 runs in an over from Ashok Sharma before dismantling Prasidh Krishna with calculated aggression.
He reached his century with a boundary off the final ball of the innings, his animated celebration reflecting both relief and redemption. The knock also equalled the joint-fastest hundred for MI, matching Sanath Jayasuriya.
In response, Gujarat Titans faltered early and never recovered. Jasprit Bumrah struck with the very first ball, removing Sai Sudharsan, and the middle order failed to deliver.
With Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill falling cheaply, the chase lost direction as wickets fell at regular intervals. The Titans were eventually bowled out for 100, unable to mount any sustained resistance.
ALSO READ:IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad hosts Delhi Capitals in clash of aggression and pragmatism
It was a dominant show from the Mumbai bowlers. Mitchell Santner marked his return with two key wickets, removing Washington Sundar and Glenn Phillips, while Impact substitute Ashwani Kumar kept the pressure on with four wickets. With the bowlers maintaining discipline, the Titans’ fragile middle-order was exposed once again.
Earlier, Mumbai’s innings began shakily. Debutant Danish Malewar lasted just four deliveries, while Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav also fell early, leaving it at 45 for three in the Powerplay. Kagiso Rabada remained the biggest threat, consistently breaching the 150kph mark .
However, the recovery was orchestrated by Naman Dhir, whose composed 45 laid the platform in a 52-run stand with Tilak Varma. Tilak then took complete control, while skipper Hardik Pandya provided stability in an 81-run stand, ensuring MI returned to winning ways after four successive defeats.
Published on Apr 20, 2026
Tilak Varma found his form when it mattered most, producing a scintillating maiden IPL century to power Mumbai Indians to a commanding 99-run victory over Gujarat Titans on Monday.
After a string of underwhelming outings, Tilak began cautiously before shifting gears dramatically, finishing unbeaten on 101 off 45 balls (8×4, 7×6).
Much to the delight of a 40,000-strong crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium, he went on a rampage in the final six overs, smashing 82 runs off just 23 deliveries. Mumbai Indians plundered 96 runs in that phase to post a formidable 199 for five and seize complete control of the contest.
Tilak led the charge with ruthless precision, hammering 26 runs in an over from Ashok Sharma before dismantling Prasidh Krishna with calculated aggression.
He reached his century with a boundary off the final ball of the innings, his animated celebration reflecting both relief and redemption. The knock also equalled the joint-fastest hundred for MI, matching Sanath Jayasuriya.
In response, Gujarat Titans faltered early and never recovered. Jasprit Bumrah struck with the very first ball, removing Sai Sudharsan, and the middle order failed to deliver.
With Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill falling cheaply, the chase lost direction as wickets fell at regular intervals. The Titans were eventually bowled out for 100, unable to mount any sustained resistance.
ALSO READ:IPL 2026: Sunrisers Hyderabad hosts Delhi Capitals in clash of aggression and pragmatism
It was a dominant show from the Mumbai bowlers. Mitchell Santner marked his return with two key wickets, removing Washington Sundar and Glenn Phillips, while Impact substitute Ashwani Kumar kept the pressure on with four wickets. With the bowlers maintaining discipline, the Titans’ fragile middle-order was exposed once again.
Earlier, Mumbai’s innings began shakily. Debutant Danish Malewar lasted just four deliveries, while Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav also fell early, leaving it at 45 for three in the Powerplay. Kagiso Rabada remained the biggest threat, consistently breaching the 150kph mark .
However, the recovery was orchestrated by Naman Dhir, whose composed 45 laid the platform in a 52-run stand with Tilak Varma. Tilak then took complete control, while skipper Hardik Pandya provided stability in an 81-run stand, ensuring MI returned to winning ways after four successive defeats.
Published on Apr 20, 2026
Tilak Varma found his form when it mattered most, producing a scintillating maiden IPL century…