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#IPL #win #lose #upcoming #games #depends #Starc #Capitals #bowling #coach #Munaf #Patel">DC vs GT, IPL 2026: Whether we win or lose upcoming games depends on Starc, says Capitals’ bowling coach Munaf Patel Delhi Capitals’ bowling attack hasn’t yet allowed the absence of spearhead Mitchell Starc to be felt. The Australian left-arm pacer has been unable to join the team owing to a shoulder and elbow injury sustained during the home season Down Under.
It hasn’t hindered DC from notching up two wins on the trot. In both performances, the bowlers played their part, bundling out Lucknow Super Giants for 141 and then restricting Mumbai Indians to 162 for six.
Still, DC’s bowling coach Munaf Patel is under no illusion about his team being able to make do without Starc.
“We have won two matches. So, people may think Starc’s absence is not being felt. But whether we win or don’t win in the coming games will depend on him. A big bowler is a big bowler. I don’t think there is a greater bowler than Starc in the IPL. There’s (Jasprit) Bumrah that Starc can be compared with.
“Starc has a lot of experience. He swings the new ball at 140kmph-plus. I am following his injury timeline regularly and asking every day when he will return. There is no update yet,” Munaf told the media on Tuesday.
While Starc is away, South Africa’s Lungi Ngidi has been doing a stellar job with his deadly off-cutters.
“Ngidi has a good idea of bowling on different wickets,” Munaf observed. “He knows his variations. He is not the sort of bowler who tries to bowl at 150 kmph and gets hit. He stays within his limitations.”
Published on Apr 07, 2026
Delhi Capitals’ bowling attack hasn’t yet allowed the absence of spearhead Mitchell Starc to be…
Sports news
#IPL #Sai #Sudharsan #evolving #T20 #batter">IPL 2026: Sai Sudharsan wants to keep evolving as T20 batter
In B. Sai Sudharsan’s case, it is usually his exquisite timing and effortless ability to pierce gaps that aid his prolific run-making.
He isn’t one to bludgeon the cricket ball, and yet he managed to achieve a strike-rate of 156.17 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year whilst compiling a chart-topping 759 runs for Gujarat Titans.
Impressive as that is, batters around the world are constantly enhancing their power game and pushing the envelope. Does that influence Sudharsan to tweak his own style?
READ | Gill set to return as Gujarat Titans visits Delhi Capitals
“The sport is definitely evolving, and T20 batting is getting greater and greater every season or even every five to six months. It’s very important to learn from it and be versatile enough to have that in my kitty and equip myself with that. So, definitely there are improvements to be made, and of course I’m looking at it,” the 24-year-old left-hand batter told reporters on Tuesday.
Probed on a specific area that he worked on in the tune-up to this season, Sudharsan pointed to preparing for steep run chases. “The biggest awareness I had was if we are going to chase something really big, how I’m going to approach the innings. So it was just about awareness and mindset,” he revealed.
Though Sudharsan forms a robust top-three for GT alongside Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler, there is a sense that the middle-order is fragile. “We believe in our middle-order. This is the team in which we played last year and we qualified,” the southpaw asserted.
Published on Apr 07, 2026
In B. Sai Sudharsan’s case, it is usually his exquisite timing and effortless ability to pierce gaps that aid his prolific run-making.
He isn’t one to bludgeon the cricket ball, and yet he managed to achieve a strike-rate of 156.17 in the Indian Premier League (IPL) last year whilst compiling a chart-topping 759 runs for Gujarat Titans.
Impressive as that is, batters around the world are constantly enhancing their power game and pushing the envelope. Does that influence Sudharsan to tweak his own style?
READ | Gill set to return as Gujarat Titans visits Delhi Capitals
“The sport is definitely evolving, and T20 batting is getting greater and greater every season or even every five to six months. It’s very important to learn from it and be versatile enough to have that in my kitty and equip myself with that. So, definitely there are improvements to be made, and of course I’m looking at it,” the 24-year-old left-hand batter told reporters on Tuesday.
Probed on a specific area that he worked on in the tune-up to this season, Sudharsan pointed to preparing for steep run chases. “The biggest awareness I had was if we are going to chase something really big, how I’m going to approach the innings. So it was just about awareness and mindset,” he revealed.
Though Sudharsan forms a robust top-three for GT alongside Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler, there is a sense that the middle-order is fragile. “We believe in our middle-order. This is the team in which we played last year and we qualified,” the southpaw asserted.
Published on Apr 07, 2026
In B. Sai Sudharsan’s case, it is usually his exquisite timing and effortless ability to…
Sports news
#IPL #Batters #picking #Varun #Chakaravarthy #concern #Sourav #Ganguly">IPL 2026: Batters picking Varun Chakaravarthy is a concern — Sourav Ganguly
Nothing seems to be going Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) way this season. The team management has come under scrutiny for some puzzling selection calls as the three-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champion has struggled to find rhythm in almost every department.
The batting has lacked consistency, the bowling has often been erratic and below par, and Varun Chakravarthy’s worrying dip in form has only compounded the problems. Once considered KKR’s trump card, the mystery spinner has looked a shadow of himself in the two games he has played so far, appearing out of rhythm and lacking control.
He was subsequently left out of the clash against Punjab Kings with an injury, though the team management has not clarified the exact nature of the setback or a possible timeline for his return.
In a way, the enforced break could offer Chakaravarthy an opportunity to reset after a difficult run. But it also raises a larger question: what has gone wrong for the spinner who, over the past few seasons, established himself as one of KKR’s most reliable match-winners?
“Varun is going through off-form, and the problem is that the batters are now being able to pick Varun as they know which delivery he would bowl. That’s a matter of concern,” former India captain Sourav Ganguly said.
Signs of this dip have been evident since the Super Eights stage of the T20 World Cup, with opposition teams increasingly attacking him during key phases of the innings. While the KKR camp maintains that the spinner remains mentally strong and confident of working his way through the lean patch, the numbers paint a stark picture. In two IPL appearances so far, Varun has bowled just six overs, conceding 79 runs without picking up a wicket.
Against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens, the leg-spinner was unable to complete his quota of four overs after conceding 25 runs in his very first over, immediately putting the pressure on the rest of the attack. Despite putting in extended hours in the nets in a bid to rediscover his rhythm, the desired turnaround has so far proved elusive.
For KKR, which has already struggled to build momentum this season, Varun rediscovering his bite could be key to turning its campaign around. Until then, the Knight Riders continue to search for answers in a tournament that is quickly beginning to slip away.
Published on Apr 07, 2026
Nothing seems to be going Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) way this season. The team management has come under scrutiny for some puzzling selection calls as the three-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champion has struggled to find rhythm in almost every department.
The batting has lacked consistency, the bowling has often been erratic and below par, and Varun Chakravarthy’s worrying dip in form has only compounded the problems. Once considered KKR’s trump card, the mystery spinner has looked a shadow of himself in the two games he has played so far, appearing out of rhythm and lacking control.
He was subsequently left out of the clash against Punjab Kings with an injury, though the team management has not clarified the exact nature of the setback or a possible timeline for his return.
In a way, the enforced break could offer Chakaravarthy an opportunity to reset after a difficult run. But it also raises a larger question: what has gone wrong for the spinner who, over the past few seasons, established himself as one of KKR’s most reliable match-winners?
“Varun is going through off-form, and the problem is that the batters are now being able to pick Varun as they know which delivery he would bowl. That’s a matter of concern,” former India captain Sourav Ganguly said.
Signs of this dip have been evident since the Super Eights stage of the T20 World Cup, with opposition teams increasingly attacking him during key phases of the innings. While the KKR camp maintains that the spinner remains mentally strong and confident of working his way through the lean patch, the numbers paint a stark picture. In two IPL appearances so far, Varun has bowled just six overs, conceding 79 runs without picking up a wicket.
Against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Eden Gardens, the leg-spinner was unable to complete his quota of four overs after conceding 25 runs in his very first over, immediately putting the pressure on the rest of the attack. Despite putting in extended hours in the nets in a bid to rediscover his rhythm, the desired turnaround has so far proved elusive.
For KKR, which has already struggled to build momentum this season, Varun rediscovering his bite could be key to turning its campaign around. Until then, the Knight Riders continue to search for answers in a tournament that is quickly beginning to slip away.
Published on Apr 07, 2026
Nothing seems to be going Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) way this season. The team management…
![Credit goes to skipper Riyan Parag for IPL 2026 start, says RR performance coach Rajasthan Royals performance coach Siddhartha Lahiri heaped praise on captain Riyan Parag for the side’s winning start to IPL 2026.Royals outclassed Chennai Super Kings in their tournament opener in Guwahati before pipping Gujarat Titans away from home as Parag began his stint as permanent captain on a high.“The credit goes to the captain. He is young, and a lot has been written about him.“It starts from the top. And remember one thing – [a] cricket [team] will always be led by the captain,” said Lahiri on Monday on the eve of Royals’ clash against Mumbai Indians in Guwahati.READ | Fast-starting Rajasthan Royals takes on Mumbai Indians’ might“Even though he is young, his cricketing mind is better than that. And he proved it. It is because he is calm and composed under pressure. Even last year, when he wasn’t the [full-time] captain, he never buckled under pressure,” he added.Lahiri pinpointed the execution of the final over in Royals’ win against Titans, when Tushar Deshpande defended 11 runs, as an example of Parag’s tactical acumen.“Giving the ball to Tushar was a very big move. Before the first ball [of the final over], third-man was pushed back. And if you see how Rashid Khan played that ball, it would have been a four if third-man was up.“When the captain believes that Tushar can deliver, when he gives the 19th over to Jofra Archer based on Dhruv Jurel’s input – it is only possible when there is chemistry and trust within the team. That is when the players perform,” suggested Lahiri.Despite the strong start, Lahiri believes it is important for the Royals to stay grounded and stick to their plans.“I think it’s still very early days for us. We have just played two games and we have done well. It’s a long season. So we can’t get excited. Our biggest challenge would be to stay level and just keep following the simple processes that we have been doing. And as long as we are doing that and not getting too worried about results, we will land up in good positions.”Published on Apr 06, 2026 #Credit #skipper #Riyan #Parag #IPL #start #performance #coach](https://i3.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/buhtb6/article70830930.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/PTI04_04_2026_000791A.jpg?ssl=1 "Credit goes to skipper Riyan Parag for IPL 2026 start, says RR performance coach Rajasthan Royals performance coach Siddhartha Lahiri heaped praise on captain Riyan Parag for the side’s winning start to IPL 2026.Royals outclassed Chennai Super Kings in their tournament opener in Guwahati before pipping Gujarat Titans away from home as Parag began his stint as permanent captain on a high.“The credit goes to the captain. He is young, and a lot has been written about him.“It starts from the top. And remember one thing – [a] cricket [team] will always be led by the captain,” said Lahiri on Monday on the eve of Royals’ clash against Mumbai Indians in Guwahati.READ | Fast-starting Rajasthan Royals takes on Mumbai Indians’ might“Even though he is young, his cricketing mind is better than that. And he proved it. It is because he is calm and composed under pressure. Even last year, when he wasn’t the [full-time] captain, he never buckled under pressure,” he added.Lahiri pinpointed the execution of the final over in Royals’ win against Titans, when Tushar Deshpande defended 11 runs, as an example of Parag’s tactical acumen.“Giving the ball to Tushar was a very big move. Before the first ball [of the final over], third-man was pushed back. And if you see how Rashid Khan played that ball, it would have been a four if third-man was up.“When the captain believes that Tushar can deliver, when he gives the 19th over to Jofra Archer based on Dhruv Jurel’s input – it is only possible when there is chemistry and trust within the team. That is when the players perform,” suggested Lahiri.Despite the strong start, Lahiri believes it is important for the Royals to stay grounded and stick to their plans.“I think it’s still very early days for us. We have just played two games and we have done well. It’s a long season. So we can’t get excited. Our biggest challenge would be to stay level and just keep following the simple processes that we have been doing. And as long as we are doing that and not getting too worried about results, we will land up in good positions.”Published on Apr 06, 2026 #Credit #skipper #Riyan #Parag #IPL #start #performance #coach")
