#IPL #Sanju #Samson #hits #fifty #Chennai #Super #Kings">IPL 2026 — Sanju Samson hits first fifty for Chennai Super Kings
Sanju Samson on Saturday scored his maiden half century for five-time champion Chennai Super Kings during the side’s IPL 2026 match against Delhi Capitals at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
The 31-year-old was traded in by CSK from Rajasthan Royals ahead of the season, in place of Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran.
Samson picked boundaries against Mukesh Kumar, Auqib Nabi, Lungi Ngidi, T. Natarajan and Axar Patel as he raced away to a 26-ball half century.
This was the 27th fifty for Samson in the IPL. He had scored 19 for RR and another seven for Delhi Capitals. Samson also has three centuries under his belt.
#PBKS #SRH #IPL #live #streaming #info #watch #Sunrisers #Hyderabad #Punjab #Kings">PBKS vs SRH IPL 2026 live streaming info: When, where to watch Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab Kings?
An unbeaten Punjab Kings hosts Sunrisers Hyderabad which is looking to get back to winning ways at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium, Mullanpur in New Chandigarh on Saturday.
Out of the three games it has played, Punjab has won two of them whereas its last game ended up in no result due to rain, while Sunrisers Hyderabad has won only one game out of the three it has played.
In the 2025 season, Hyderabad comfortably chased down Punjab’s huge total of 246 by eight wickets in the only encounter of these teams.
Here are the live streaming and telecast details for the Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 match:
Where will the Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match be played?
The Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 match will be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh PCA Stadium, Mullanpur in New Chandigarh.
When will the Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match be played?
The Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 match will be played on April 11, 2026.
What time will the Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match start?
The Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 match will start at 3:30 PM IST.
What time will the toss for the Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match take place?
The toss for the Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 match will take place at 3:00 PM IST.
Which TV channel will broadcast Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad match?
The Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 match will be televised live on the Star SportsNetwork in India.
How can one watch the live streaming of Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Kings IPL 2026 match online?
The Punjab Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad IPL 2026 match will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website.
The backdown came as the SLC yesterday told the District Court in Colombo that objections will be filed on Thushara’s application for court intervention to enable his participation in the 2026 IPL.
The 31-year-old had filed a case seeking an order directing Sri Lanka Cricket to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC). the SLC had declined his request, citing failed fitness tests.
The court allowed the SLC plea and the next hearing was set for April 23.
Thushara has 30 T20 international appearances to his credit since 2022. He was to appear for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru this season having previously played in 2024 and 2025.
The backdown came as the SLC yesterday told the District Court in Colombo that objections will be filed on Thushara’s application for court intervention to enable his participation in the 2026 IPL.
The 31-year-old had filed a case seeking an order directing Sri Lanka Cricket to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC). the SLC had declined his request, citing failed fitness tests.
The court allowed the SLC plea and the next hearing was set for April 23.
Thushara has 30 T20 international appearances to his credit since 2022. He was to appear for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru this season having previously played in 2024 and 2025.
Published on Apr 10, 2026
#IPL #Sri #Lankas #Thushara #apologises #backs #standoff #SLC #NOC">IPL 2026: Sri Lanka’s Thushara apologises, backs down in stand-off with SLC over NOC
In a stunning climb-down, Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara, who had taken his cricket board to court for denying him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for IPL participation, has now extended an apology to the governing body and is considering withdrawing his case.
Sri Lanka Cricket sources said that Thushara had apologised in an e-mail to SLC, saying it was not his intention to “cause inconvenience to the governing body”.
He was “seeking fairness and justice”, as he felt he had been treated unfairly.
The backdown came as the SLC yesterday told the District Court in Colombo that objections will be filed on Thushara’s application for court intervention to enable his participation in the 2026 IPL.
The 31-year-old had filed a case seeking an order directing Sri Lanka Cricket to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC). the SLC had declined his request, citing failed fitness tests.
The court allowed the SLC plea and the next hearing was set for April 23.
Thushara has 30 T20 international appearances to his credit since 2022. He was to appear for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru this season having previously played in 2024 and 2025.
#IPL #Rajasthan #Royals #nurturing #talent #Talegaon #HighPerformance #Centre">IPL 2026 — How Rajasthan Royals is nurturing its talent at Talegaon High-Performance Centre
Over the last decade or so, Talegaon, a tiny town located about 150 kms from Nagpur, has risen in prominence in Indian cricket.
This surge in attention is all thanks to the Indian Premier League side Rajasthan Royals’ High-Performance Centre (HPC) located there.
Founded in 2010, it is a year-round establishment with over 25 pitches and a multitude of training facilities, aimed to function as a training base for the Royals – a sort of high-end cricketing garage aimed to reset and fine-tune their players.
Rajasthan Royals performance coach Siddhartha Lahiri, though, described the HPC through a different technical spectrum during a press conference in Guwahati on Monday
“I call it the ChatGPT of world cricket,” said Lahiri, making no effort to mask his pride.
Lahiri didn’t go on to explain his analogy. But the idea was clear – it is an establishment where players are equipped with the resources to work out solutions to their problems.
What Lahiri made clear, though, was his belief that the facility was a point of difference for Royals.
“I think the huge advantage which we have is our high-performance centre, where we can absolutely have unrivalled practice. Players, with their calendars, playing at different times, it’s not always easy for them to get that practice.
“For us, that’s a huge advantage. Anytime, anyone can go to Talegaon. We have enough infrastructure at Talegaon for coaches, even if they are not present, to work with the players and help them improve,” added Lahiri.
The RR HPC’s functioning isn’t limited to the framework of the Indian Premier League. Royals have also used the facility to mimic conditions and manufacture match situations for their players to perform at almost any level.
Wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal have utilised the facility extensively to prepare for Test cricket. Former captain Sanju Samson and current skipper Riyan Parag have trained in Talegaon ahead of the domestic season. This is all in addition to their pre-IPL season practice camps.
Dhruv Jurel training at the RR HPC in Talegaon with Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour.
| Photo Credit:
Dhruv Jurel/Instagram
Dhruv Jurel training at the RR HPC in Talegaon with Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour.
| Photo Credit:
Dhruv Jurel/Instagram
At their disposal have been a wide range of pitches and an unrelenting battery of net bowlers, allowing them to train at high volume and variability.
“The best thing about Rajasthan Royals is that they have an academy, which is open for 12 months. You can go there, you can call them, and they conduct everything from net bowlers to everything else,” hailed Jurel in 2025, while speaking in the AB de Villiers’ 360 Show.
The latest player to be nourished extensively by the Royals HPC has been teenage prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who was signed by the side at the IPL 2025 auction for Rs. 1.10 crore.
The left-handed batter took IPL by storm last season, when he scored a stunning hundred against Gujarat Titans. The 15-year-old has started IPL 2026 in a similar flamboyant fashion, scoring 122 runs from the first three games at a strike rate of 248.97.
“Vaibhav spends a lot of time in our HPC,” said Lahiri. “So, we have different types of wickets, we have hundreds and hundreds of net bowlers. The practice which he gets there, he would not get anywhere else.”
“There is a sync for us between our analytics team and our coaching team. The work is going on all through the year, and we always bring in a player with that confidence. So, I think we have a cutting edge in that,” added Lahiri.
#Shubman #Gill #injury #update #captain #play #Delhi #Capitals">Shubman Gill injury update: Will GT captain play vs Delhi Capitals?
Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill remains a fitness watch ahead of Wednesday’s IPL clash against Delhi Capitals after missing the previous game with a muscle spasm.
Gill had sat out the contest against Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad, where visuals showed him heavily bandaged around the shoulder and neck area. The concern is not entirely new. The 26-year-old had also dealt with neck spasms during India’s 2025-26 home Test season, raising questions about recurrence and workload management.
However, there was a positive update on Tuesday as Gill returned to training.
In Gill’s absence, Gujarat Titans pushed Rajasthan Royals to the brink, falling just six runs short while chasing 210. That performance could influence team management’s decision, allowing them the luxury of not rushing their captain back unless he is fully fit.
If cleared, Gill will slot straight back into the XI. If not, Titans may once again take the field with Rashid Khan as captain
#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.”
“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.
“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
#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?
“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
#IPL #Sai #Sudharsan #evolving #T20 #batter
In B. Sai Sudharsan’s case, it is usually his exquisite timing and effortless ability to…
#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.
“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.”
“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.”
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.
“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.”
“Against a hitter like Tim David (70 n.o. from 25 balls), you’ve got to be absolutely spot on. We missed, and got hurt in the hardest of fashions.”
This season, CSK has bet big on young batters like Kartik Sharma (19), Prashant Veer (20) and Ayush Mhatre (18), and Fleming was confident that their potential will eventually shine through.
“It’s going to be a really good core of Indian batters. You’re going to get a bit of inconsistency and also some brilliance. It’s a high octane pace and there are going to be some speed wobbles. It’s about marrying skill with a bit of game sense, and that does take time.”
“Against a hitter like Tim David (70 n.o. from 25 balls), you’ve got to be absolutely spot on. We missed, and got hurt in the hardest of fashions.”
This season, CSK has bet big on young batters like Kartik Sharma (19), Prashant Veer (20) and Ayush Mhatre (18), and Fleming was confident that their potential will eventually shine through.
“It’s going to be a really good core of Indian batters. You’re going to get a bit of inconsistency and also some brilliance. It’s a high octane pace and there are going to be some speed wobbles. It’s about marrying skill with a bit of game sense, and that does take time.”
To lose the first three games in an IPL season is a hellish scenario. But it is not quite a death-knell. Mumbai Indians lost its first four matches in 2015, and still won the trophy. In 2024, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won just one of its first eight fixtures, and yet made it to the playoffs.
But for the Chennai Super Kings faithful, these will bring little succour, for it is not just about the defeats but the manner of them. CSK lost to Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets, to Punjab Kings by five, and to RCB by 43 runs. In the T20 universe, these are like distances between the earth and the moon.
“It was a tough night,” CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said after Sunday’s loss to RCB. “We did some good things early on, but unfortunately lost our shape at the back end. We got a little bit shell-shocked and that flowed through into the early parts of our batting as well.
“Against a hitter like Tim David (70 n.o. from 25 balls), you’ve got to be absolutely spot on. We missed, and got hurt in the hardest of fashions.”
This season, CSK has bet big on young batters like Kartik Sharma (19), Prashant Veer (20) and Ayush Mhatre (18), and Fleming was confident that their potential will eventually shine through.
“It’s going to be a really good core of Indian batters. You’re going to get a bit of inconsistency and also some brilliance. It’s a high octane pace and there are going to be some speed wobbles. It’s about marrying skill with a bit of game sense, and that does take time.”
![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")
