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RR vs MI, IPL 2026: Fast-starting Rajasthan Royals takes on Mumbai Indians’ might

Sheets of rain lashed the square, the stands gradually emptied as spectators sought shelter, and puddles began forming despite the covers remaining firmly in place.

With no improvement in conditions, match referee Javagal Srinath eventually called off the contest, with both teams sharing a point.

Coincidentally, when the two sides met at the same venue last year, that match too had been washed out, earning both teams a point each.

A year later, it was a similar story, with the unpredictable April weather once again having the final word.

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#KKR #PBKS #IPL #Kolkata #Knight #Riders #secures #point #persistent #rain #forces #washout"> KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders secures first point after persistent rain forces washout The build-up was perfect. Shah Rukh Khan attended his first match of the season, while fans turned up in decent numbers to cheer for Kolkata Knight Riders despite the team’s recent struggles.But in the end, strong winds and torrential rain had the final say as the Indian Premier League 2026 fixture between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings was washed out on Monday.Despite predictions of rain, KKR opted to bat and was reeling at 25 for two in 3.4 overs when the showers arrived, halting play barely 17 minutes into the game at Eden Gardens.Coming off two consecutive defeats, KKR took the field without the injured Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. In a bid to strengthen the batting, Rovman Powell and Navdeep Saini were drafted into the XI.However, it was another disappointing start for KKR as neither Finn Allen nor Cameron Green managed to settle, both caught behind off a probing spell from Xavier Bartlett. With Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi attempting to rebuild, rain forced the players off the field.There was initial hope of a restart as the groundstaff swiftly covered the square and outfield. But as the evening wore on, the rain intensified and powerful gusts of wind swept across the ground.ALSO READ: RR vs MI, IPL 2026: Fast-starting Rajasthan Royals takes on Mumbai Indians’ mightSheets of rain lashed the square, the stands gradually emptied as spectators sought shelter, and puddles began forming despite the covers remaining firmly in place.With no improvement in conditions, match referee Javagal Srinath eventually called off the contest, with both teams sharing a point.Coincidentally, when the two sides met at the same venue last year, that match too had been washed out, earning both teams a point each.A year later, it was a similar story, with the unpredictable April weather once again having the final word.Published on Apr 06, 2026 #KKR #PBKS #IPL #Kolkata #Knight #Riders #secures #point #persistent #rain #forces #washout
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RR vs MI, IPL 2026: Fast-starting Rajasthan Royals takes on Mumbai Indians’ might

Sheets of rain lashed the square, the stands gradually emptied as spectators sought shelter, and puddles began forming despite the covers remaining firmly in place.

With no improvement in conditions, match referee Javagal Srinath eventually called off the contest, with both teams sharing a point.

Coincidentally, when the two sides met at the same venue last year, that match too had been washed out, earning both teams a point each.

A year later, it was a similar story, with the unpredictable April weather once again having the final word.

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#KKR #PBKS #IPL #Kolkata #Knight #Riders #secures #point #persistent #rain #forces #washout">KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders secures first point after persistent rain forces washout

The build-up was perfect. Shah Rukh Khan attended his first match of the season, while fans turned up in decent numbers to cheer for Kolkata Knight Riders despite the team’s recent struggles.

But in the end, strong winds and torrential rain had the final say as the Indian Premier League 2026 fixture between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings was washed out on Monday.

Despite predictions of rain, KKR opted to bat and was reeling at 25 for two in 3.4 overs when the showers arrived, halting play barely 17 minutes into the game at Eden Gardens.

Coming off two consecutive defeats, KKR took the field without the injured Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. In a bid to strengthen the batting, Rovman Powell and Navdeep Saini were drafted into the XI.

However, it was another disappointing start for KKR as neither Finn Allen nor Cameron Green managed to settle, both caught behind off a probing spell from Xavier Bartlett. With Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi attempting to rebuild, rain forced the players off the field.

There was initial hope of a restart as the groundstaff swiftly covered the square and outfield. But as the evening wore on, the rain intensified and powerful gusts of wind swept across the ground.

ALSO READ: RR vs MI, IPL 2026: Fast-starting Rajasthan Royals takes on Mumbai Indians’ might

Sheets of rain lashed the square, the stands gradually emptied as spectators sought shelter, and puddles began forming despite the covers remaining firmly in place.

With no improvement in conditions, match referee Javagal Srinath eventually called off the contest, with both teams sharing a point.

Coincidentally, when the two sides met at the same venue last year, that match too had been washed out, earning both teams a point each.

A year later, it was a similar story, with the unpredictable April weather once again having the final word.

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#KKR #PBKS #IPL #Kolkata #Knight #Riders #secures #point #persistent #rain #forces #washout

The build-up was perfect. Shah Rukh Khan attended his first match of the season, while…

14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum?

“As soon as you start to feel frustrated and stuff like that, you naturally think a little bit more negative about things. So for me, it’s just about getting better.

“Obviously, you always want to play games, but I’ve played a lot of cricket of late and even if I’m not playing, it’s about contributing to the team. I realise there are a lot of talented cricketers in this team. And if you’re missing out to, say, Finn Allen and Cameron Green, or Sunil Narine, or the likes of them, you have to understand that those are class players and they obviously make up the structure of the team. So, it doesn’t bother me too much.”

On back-to-back heartbreak in ICC finals against India

“It probably still hurts. I think it always is going to. And there are times I think back and hindsight is a great thing. So there’s a million things that go through your head and little decisions you feel could have made a difference. Maybe, it doesn’t. Obviously, it’s hurtful to have it two years in a row and we were a lot closer in the Champions Trophy final.

“Both games were extremely disappointing. But again, that’s cricket. There’s always going to be a winner and a loser. And India is a very, very good team, especially in those conditions of Dubai and in India, you know, it is a quality unit which has played so much cricket here.

Rachin Ravindra — T20 cricket is about pushing your team forward and forgetting about your wicket Rachin Ravindra may not have featured for Kolkata Knight Riders so far in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but the New Zealand all-rounder insists patience, perspective and constant evolution remain central to his approach as he navigates selection competition, the demands of three-format cricket and the rapidly shifting T20 landscape.On waiting for his chance at KKR“I wouldn’t ever really call it frustrating. First of all, it’s great to be part of a new franchise and it’s such a great crew to be with. I’m enjoying my time here.“For me, it’s understanding that the team is out there and I’m supporting them and I’m doing my best job to, one, help them prepare and, two, help us win games. And whether that’s part of the starting 12 or whether that’s on the bench or whatever it looks like. And that to me is important.ALSO READ | 14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum?“As soon as you start to feel frustrated and stuff like that, you naturally think a little bit more negative about things. So for me, it’s just about getting better.“Obviously, you always want to play games, but I’ve played a lot of cricket of late and even if I’m not playing, it’s about contributing to the team. I realise there are a lot of talented cricketers in this team. And if you’re missing out to, say, Finn Allen and Cameron Green, or Sunil Narine, or the likes of them, you have to understand that those are class players and they obviously make up the structure of the team. So, it doesn’t bother me too much.”On back-to-back heartbreak in ICC finals against India“It probably still hurts. I think it always is going to. And there are times I think back and hindsight is a great thing. So there’s a million things that go through your head and little decisions you feel could have made a difference. Maybe, it doesn’t. Obviously, it’s hurtful to have it two years in a row and we were a lot closer in the Champions Trophy final.“Both games were extremely disappointing. But again, that’s cricket. There’s always going to be a winner and a loser. And India is a very, very good team, especially in those conditions of Dubai and in India, you know, it is a quality unit which has played so much cricket here.Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini “There are always learnings about yourself — about batting, bowling — and also about clarity and decision making under pressure. And there’s all those things. As a team, I’m sure we’ve had a bit of time off, and we’ll come together later as a T20 group, especially later in the year, to discuss that.“The crazy thing about cricket is that it always moves on, right? I think that’s always going to be in the back of your head. But there’s always the next challenge. And that’s great. It means you can’t really dwell on what has happened. Obviously, like I said, take what you can and move on. That World Cup was a great learning curve for me and I have brought some brilliant learnings to Kolkata.”On dealing with pressure, setbacks and perspective“It’s a question that we’re all still trying to work out. Mostly for me, I’ve got some great mentors around me, and I lean on them, especially in that New Zealand setup. And I played under some brilliant captains. I’ve got Kane Williamson there, Mitchell Santner, all these guys to bounce ideas off.“I speak to Kane a lot and then read, do a little bit of self-discovery for myself. And then it’s about being patient. It might seem like a small career and only a period of time in our lives, but for me, it’s calmness and patience that matters. I genuinely believe that everything happens for a reason. If you don’t believe that, then it’s hard to be sane, you know.“As a player, you also need to accept that failure is part of our game. And it depends on what you see failure like, right? Is failure just not scoring runs? It’s probably not that. We all want to score runs. I think Rahul Dravid said this a while ago that, ‘You’re going to fail more than you succeed, especially as a batter…’ALSO READ | The heist of Mullanpur: KKR, PBKS clash with memories of last season’s humdinger still afresh“So, you have got to accept that you’re going to come to terms with that. But again, not scoring runs isn’t the failure. The failure is not consistently trying to improve yourself. And if you get too caught up in that, that’s when it stacks up and you’re trying to prove to others who you are and trying to show this and that.“But that’s not really me. I’m just here. Obviously, I love enjoying the game and I love trying to get better each and every time. That’s important. That’s something I can measure it all by. And all the other stuff and noise doesn’t really matter because, again, you’re not here just for personal accolades. It’s a team game, although you want to do as well as you can. But as soon as you start leaning too much towards that, you’re in trouble.“And if I look back to the Champions Trophy game against Bangladesh last year, I was very lucky to walk away with just a little scar leading up to the game (during the tri-series in Pakistan).“But I was very lucky. Otherwise, an inch down and my career would have probably been over as my eye would be gone. So, these things obviously happen and you never want them to happen, but they give you perspective.“Perspective is probably the biggest thing in our game — realising we get to do what we love for a living. And that’s important. Then there are so many things that happen to get us to this stage. So that’s at least how I see it and it helps me deal with it all.”Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash On adapting to evolving T20 demands“I think that’s going to be the ever-evolving thing about our game, right? I think we see how T20 is evolving. And if you’re not able to evolve as a player, then you’re going to be left behind.“There are plenty of guys who are in that mould who can consistently do it. You only look at Virat Kohli, who does the same thing, he sort of takes his time, but has also transformed his T20 game over the last two or three years.“So, the beauty is if the ability and skill is there, then you can transfer it across formats. And that, to me, is a challenge. I love playing all three formats. It’s a brilliant challenge. You love Test cricket, it’s beautiful. But then this part’s the freedom, right?“And you’ve almost got to give away the notion of your wicket. In the other formats, your pride lies in spending so much time in the crease. And I’m naturally a strokemaker, so that does help. But I think when you come to this format (T20), it’s about how you can push the team forward and forget about your wicket.“And also little technical changes which allow you to do that. But that’s always going to be the challenge for the all-format cricketer.”On managing workload across formats“It’s always going to be a challenge. So, if you look at it this way, me missing out on a couple of games here is actually not the worst thing for my game. We’ve got Chris Donaldson, strength & conditioning coach from New Zealand here as well. He’s an amazing guy.“On most days, I am in the gym and running on game days and stuff, which helps build that over time, makes me prepared for what’s to come. And also the quality of training you can get here in India is outstanding, with Watto (Shane Watson), Abhishek Nayar around. So we’ve got a great crew, I am learning from them as well. It allows you to have those little training blocks when you think you might not have.“That’s always going to be a challenge in terms of finding rest because since the ODI World Cup 2023, I really haven’t had a break. I’ve been very grateful for it because I’ve been able to play three formats and also franchise cricket around the world. But I think that there is a time where you probably do need to have a mental break and relax.“I’ll get that at the end of The Hundred this year, sort of mid-to-late August until India comes to New Zealand. I’ve got a good almost two months to rest up and work on a few things and work on my body.”Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini On learning from multiple coaches and having New Zealand teammates around“It’s ultimately up to the player. I think it’s awesome having all these coaches, who are very good at what they do. They’re able to filter through what they say and it’s not just information after information. Then it’s on us as players to take what we need and make that our own. You never listen to everything blindly and you also never ignore everything because these guys are here to help you.“They are different people, and earlier in my career, especially in the IPL, the amount of information could feel overwhelming because there’s stats, analysis, match-ups and so much data. But with experience, you get better at filtering what works for you.“And it’s obviously nice to have the Kiwi guys here. We hang out a lot and when you’re in a long tournament away from home, it’s nice to have familiar faces around you. That’s what makes the New Zealand environment so good — we’re all such good mates.”Published on Apr 06, 2026 #Rachin #Ravindra #T20 #cricket #pushing #team #forgetting #wicket

Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

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Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

“There are always learnings about yourself — about batting, bowling — and also about clarity and decision making under pressure. And there’s all those things. As a team, I’m sure we’ve had a bit of time off, and we’ll come together later as a T20 group, especially later in the year, to discuss that.

“The crazy thing about cricket is that it always moves on, right? I think that’s always going to be in the back of your head. But there’s always the next challenge. And that’s great. It means you can’t really dwell on what has happened. Obviously, like I said, take what you can and move on. That World Cup was a great learning curve for me and I have brought some brilliant learnings to Kolkata.”

On dealing with pressure, setbacks and perspective

“It’s a question that we’re all still trying to work out. Mostly for me, I’ve got some great mentors around me, and I lean on them, especially in that New Zealand setup. And I played under some brilliant captains. I’ve got Kane Williamson there, Mitchell Santner, all these guys to bounce ideas off.

“I speak to Kane a lot and then read, do a little bit of self-discovery for myself. And then it’s about being patient. It might seem like a small career and only a period of time in our lives, but for me, it’s calmness and patience that matters. I genuinely believe that everything happens for a reason. If you don’t believe that, then it’s hard to be sane, you know.

“As a player, you also need to accept that failure is part of our game. And it depends on what you see failure like, right? Is failure just not scoring runs? It’s probably not that. We all want to score runs. I think Rahul Dravid said this a while ago that, ‘You’re going to fail more than you succeed, especially as a batter…’

ALSO READ | The heist of Mullanpur: KKR, PBKS clash with memories of last season’s humdinger still afresh

“So, you have got to accept that you’re going to come to terms with that. But again, not scoring runs isn’t the failure. The failure is not consistently trying to improve yourself. And if you get too caught up in that, that’s when it stacks up and you’re trying to prove to others who you are and trying to show this and that.

“But that’s not really me. I’m just here. Obviously, I love enjoying the game and I love trying to get better each and every time. That’s important. That’s something I can measure it all by. And all the other stuff and noise doesn’t really matter because, again, you’re not here just for personal accolades. It’s a team game, although you want to do as well as you can. But as soon as you start leaning too much towards that, you’re in trouble.

“And if I look back to the Champions Trophy game against Bangladesh last year, I was very lucky to walk away with just a little scar leading up to the game (during the tri-series in Pakistan).

“But I was very lucky. Otherwise, an inch down and my career would have probably been over as my eye would be gone. So, these things obviously happen and you never want them to happen, but they give you perspective.

“Perspective is probably the biggest thing in our game — realising we get to do what we love for a living. And that’s important. Then there are so many things that happen to get us to this stage. So that’s at least how I see it and it helps me deal with it all.”

Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats.

Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash

lightbox-info

Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash

On adapting to evolving T20 demands

“I think that’s going to be the ever-evolving thing about our game, right? I think we see how T20 is evolving. And if you’re not able to evolve as a player, then you’re going to be left behind.

“There are plenty of guys who are in that mould who can consistently do it. You only look at Virat Kohli, who does the same thing, he sort of takes his time, but has also transformed his T20 game over the last two or three years.

“So, the beauty is if the ability and skill is there, then you can transfer it across formats. And that, to me, is a challenge. I love playing all three formats. It’s a brilliant challenge. You love Test cricket, it’s beautiful. But then this part’s the freedom, right?

“And you’ve almost got to give away the notion of your wicket. In the other formats, your pride lies in spending so much time in the crease. And I’m naturally a strokemaker, so that does help. But I think when you come to this format (T20), it’s about how you can push the team forward and forget about your wicket.

“And also little technical changes which allow you to do that. But that’s always going to be the challenge for the all-format cricketer.”

On managing workload across formats

“It’s always going to be a challenge. So, if you look at it this way, me missing out on a couple of games here is actually not the worst thing for my game. We’ve got Chris Donaldson, strength & conditioning coach from New Zealand here as well. He’s an amazing guy.

“On most days, I am in the gym and running on game days and stuff, which helps build that over time, makes me prepared for what’s to come. And also the quality of training you can get here in India is outstanding, with Watto (Shane Watson), Abhishek Nayar around. So we’ve got a great crew, I am learning from them as well. It allows you to have those little training blocks when you think you might not have.

“That’s always going to be a challenge in terms of finding rest because since the ODI World Cup 2023, I really haven’t had a break. I’ve been very grateful for it because I’ve been able to play three formats and also franchise cricket around the world. But I think that there is a time where you probably do need to have a mental break and relax.

“I’ll get that at the end of The Hundred this year, sort of mid-to-late August until India comes to New Zealand. I’ve got a good almost two months to rest up and work on a few things and work on my body.”

Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL.

Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

lightbox-info

Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

On learning from multiple coaches and having New Zealand teammates around

“It’s ultimately up to the player. I think it’s awesome having all these coaches, who are very good at what they do. They’re able to filter through what they say and it’s not just information after information. Then it’s on us as players to take what we need and make that our own. You never listen to everything blindly and you also never ignore everything because these guys are here to help you.

“They are different people, and earlier in my career, especially in the IPL, the amount of information could feel overwhelming because there’s stats, analysis, match-ups and so much data. But with experience, you get better at filtering what works for you.

“And it’s obviously nice to have the Kiwi guys here. We hang out a lot and when you’re in a long tournament away from home, it’s nice to have familiar faces around you. That’s what makes the New Zealand environment so good — we’re all such good mates.”

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#Rachin #Ravindra #T20 #cricket #pushing #team #forgetting #wicket"> Rachin Ravindra — T20 cricket is about pushing your team forward and forgetting about your wicket Rachin Ravindra may not have featured for Kolkata Knight Riders so far in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but the New Zealand all-rounder insists patience, perspective and constant evolution remain central to his approach as he navigates selection competition, the demands of three-format cricket and the rapidly shifting T20 landscape.On waiting for his chance at KKR“I wouldn’t ever really call it frustrating. First of all, it’s great to be part of a new franchise and it’s such a great crew to be with. I’m enjoying my time here.“For me, it’s understanding that the team is out there and I’m supporting them and I’m doing my best job to, one, help them prepare and, two, help us win games. And whether that’s part of the starting 12 or whether that’s on the bench or whatever it looks like. And that to me is important.ALSO READ | 14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum?“As soon as you start to feel frustrated and stuff like that, you naturally think a little bit more negative about things. So for me, it’s just about getting better.“Obviously, you always want to play games, but I’ve played a lot of cricket of late and even if I’m not playing, it’s about contributing to the team. I realise there are a lot of talented cricketers in this team. And if you’re missing out to, say, Finn Allen and Cameron Green, or Sunil Narine, or the likes of them, you have to understand that those are class players and they obviously make up the structure of the team. So, it doesn’t bother me too much.”On back-to-back heartbreak in ICC finals against India“It probably still hurts. I think it always is going to. And there are times I think back and hindsight is a great thing. So there’s a million things that go through your head and little decisions you feel could have made a difference. Maybe, it doesn’t. Obviously, it’s hurtful to have it two years in a row and we were a lot closer in the Champions Trophy final.“Both games were extremely disappointing. But again, that’s cricket. There’s always going to be a winner and a loser. And India is a very, very good team, especially in those conditions of Dubai and in India, you know, it is a quality unit which has played so much cricket here.Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini “There are always learnings about yourself — about batting, bowling — and also about clarity and decision making under pressure. And there’s all those things. As a team, I’m sure we’ve had a bit of time off, and we’ll come together later as a T20 group, especially later in the year, to discuss that.“The crazy thing about cricket is that it always moves on, right? I think that’s always going to be in the back of your head. But there’s always the next challenge. And that’s great. It means you can’t really dwell on what has happened. Obviously, like I said, take what you can and move on. That World Cup was a great learning curve for me and I have brought some brilliant learnings to Kolkata.”On dealing with pressure, setbacks and perspective“It’s a question that we’re all still trying to work out. Mostly for me, I’ve got some great mentors around me, and I lean on them, especially in that New Zealand setup. And I played under some brilliant captains. I’ve got Kane Williamson there, Mitchell Santner, all these guys to bounce ideas off.“I speak to Kane a lot and then read, do a little bit of self-discovery for myself. And then it’s about being patient. It might seem like a small career and only a period of time in our lives, but for me, it’s calmness and patience that matters. I genuinely believe that everything happens for a reason. If you don’t believe that, then it’s hard to be sane, you know.“As a player, you also need to accept that failure is part of our game. And it depends on what you see failure like, right? Is failure just not scoring runs? It’s probably not that. We all want to score runs. I think Rahul Dravid said this a while ago that, ‘You’re going to fail more than you succeed, especially as a batter…’ALSO READ | The heist of Mullanpur: KKR, PBKS clash with memories of last season’s humdinger still afresh“So, you have got to accept that you’re going to come to terms with that. But again, not scoring runs isn’t the failure. The failure is not consistently trying to improve yourself. And if you get too caught up in that, that’s when it stacks up and you’re trying to prove to others who you are and trying to show this and that.“But that’s not really me. I’m just here. Obviously, I love enjoying the game and I love trying to get better each and every time. That’s important. That’s something I can measure it all by. And all the other stuff and noise doesn’t really matter because, again, you’re not here just for personal accolades. It’s a team game, although you want to do as well as you can. But as soon as you start leaning too much towards that, you’re in trouble.“And if I look back to the Champions Trophy game against Bangladesh last year, I was very lucky to walk away with just a little scar leading up to the game (during the tri-series in Pakistan).“But I was very lucky. Otherwise, an inch down and my career would have probably been over as my eye would be gone. So, these things obviously happen and you never want them to happen, but they give you perspective.“Perspective is probably the biggest thing in our game — realising we get to do what we love for a living. And that’s important. Then there are so many things that happen to get us to this stage. So that’s at least how I see it and it helps me deal with it all.”Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash On adapting to evolving T20 demands“I think that’s going to be the ever-evolving thing about our game, right? I think we see how T20 is evolving. And if you’re not able to evolve as a player, then you’re going to be left behind.“There are plenty of guys who are in that mould who can consistently do it. You only look at Virat Kohli, who does the same thing, he sort of takes his time, but has also transformed his T20 game over the last two or three years.“So, the beauty is if the ability and skill is there, then you can transfer it across formats. And that, to me, is a challenge. I love playing all three formats. It’s a brilliant challenge. You love Test cricket, it’s beautiful. But then this part’s the freedom, right?“And you’ve almost got to give away the notion of your wicket. In the other formats, your pride lies in spending so much time in the crease. And I’m naturally a strokemaker, so that does help. But I think when you come to this format (T20), it’s about how you can push the team forward and forget about your wicket.“And also little technical changes which allow you to do that. But that’s always going to be the challenge for the all-format cricketer.”On managing workload across formats“It’s always going to be a challenge. So, if you look at it this way, me missing out on a couple of games here is actually not the worst thing for my game. We’ve got Chris Donaldson, strength & conditioning coach from New Zealand here as well. He’s an amazing guy.“On most days, I am in the gym and running on game days and stuff, which helps build that over time, makes me prepared for what’s to come. And also the quality of training you can get here in India is outstanding, with Watto (Shane Watson), Abhishek Nayar around. So we’ve got a great crew, I am learning from them as well. It allows you to have those little training blocks when you think you might not have.“That’s always going to be a challenge in terms of finding rest because since the ODI World Cup 2023, I really haven’t had a break. I’ve been very grateful for it because I’ve been able to play three formats and also franchise cricket around the world. But I think that there is a time where you probably do need to have a mental break and relax.“I’ll get that at the end of The Hundred this year, sort of mid-to-late August until India comes to New Zealand. I’ve got a good almost two months to rest up and work on a few things and work on my body.”Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini On learning from multiple coaches and having New Zealand teammates around“It’s ultimately up to the player. I think it’s awesome having all these coaches, who are very good at what they do. They’re able to filter through what they say and it’s not just information after information. Then it’s on us as players to take what we need and make that our own. You never listen to everything blindly and you also never ignore everything because these guys are here to help you.“They are different people, and earlier in my career, especially in the IPL, the amount of information could feel overwhelming because there’s stats, analysis, match-ups and so much data. But with experience, you get better at filtering what works for you.“And it’s obviously nice to have the Kiwi guys here. We hang out a lot and when you’re in a long tournament away from home, it’s nice to have familiar faces around you. That’s what makes the New Zealand environment so good — we’re all such good mates.”Published on Apr 06, 2026 #Rachin #Ravindra #T20 #cricket #pushing #team #forgetting #wicket
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14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum?

“As soon as you start to feel frustrated and stuff like that, you naturally think a little bit more negative about things. So for me, it’s just about getting better.

“Obviously, you always want to play games, but I’ve played a lot of cricket of late and even if I’m not playing, it’s about contributing to the team. I realise there are a lot of talented cricketers in this team. And if you’re missing out to, say, Finn Allen and Cameron Green, or Sunil Narine, or the likes of them, you have to understand that those are class players and they obviously make up the structure of the team. So, it doesn’t bother me too much.”

On back-to-back heartbreak in ICC finals against India

“It probably still hurts. I think it always is going to. And there are times I think back and hindsight is a great thing. So there’s a million things that go through your head and little decisions you feel could have made a difference. Maybe, it doesn’t. Obviously, it’s hurtful to have it two years in a row and we were a lot closer in the Champions Trophy final.

“Both games were extremely disappointing. But again, that’s cricket. There’s always going to be a winner and a loser. And India is a very, very good team, especially in those conditions of Dubai and in India, you know, it is a quality unit which has played so much cricket here.

Rachin Ravindra — T20 cricket is about pushing your team forward and forgetting about your wicket Rachin Ravindra may not have featured for Kolkata Knight Riders so far in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but the New Zealand all-rounder insists patience, perspective and constant evolution remain central to his approach as he navigates selection competition, the demands of three-format cricket and the rapidly shifting T20 landscape.On waiting for his chance at KKR“I wouldn’t ever really call it frustrating. First of all, it’s great to be part of a new franchise and it’s such a great crew to be with. I’m enjoying my time here.“For me, it’s understanding that the team is out there and I’m supporting them and I’m doing my best job to, one, help them prepare and, two, help us win games. And whether that’s part of the starting 12 or whether that’s on the bench or whatever it looks like. And that to me is important.ALSO READ | 14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum?“As soon as you start to feel frustrated and stuff like that, you naturally think a little bit more negative about things. So for me, it’s just about getting better.“Obviously, you always want to play games, but I’ve played a lot of cricket of late and even if I’m not playing, it’s about contributing to the team. I realise there are a lot of talented cricketers in this team. And if you’re missing out to, say, Finn Allen and Cameron Green, or Sunil Narine, or the likes of them, you have to understand that those are class players and they obviously make up the structure of the team. So, it doesn’t bother me too much.”On back-to-back heartbreak in ICC finals against India“It probably still hurts. I think it always is going to. And there are times I think back and hindsight is a great thing. So there’s a million things that go through your head and little decisions you feel could have made a difference. Maybe, it doesn’t. Obviously, it’s hurtful to have it two years in a row and we were a lot closer in the Champions Trophy final.“Both games were extremely disappointing. But again, that’s cricket. There’s always going to be a winner and a loser. And India is a very, very good team, especially in those conditions of Dubai and in India, you know, it is a quality unit which has played so much cricket here.Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini “There are always learnings about yourself — about batting, bowling — and also about clarity and decision making under pressure. And there’s all those things. As a team, I’m sure we’ve had a bit of time off, and we’ll come together later as a T20 group, especially later in the year, to discuss that.“The crazy thing about cricket is that it always moves on, right? I think that’s always going to be in the back of your head. But there’s always the next challenge. And that’s great. It means you can’t really dwell on what has happened. Obviously, like I said, take what you can and move on. That World Cup was a great learning curve for me and I have brought some brilliant learnings to Kolkata.”On dealing with pressure, setbacks and perspective“It’s a question that we’re all still trying to work out. Mostly for me, I’ve got some great mentors around me, and I lean on them, especially in that New Zealand setup. And I played under some brilliant captains. I’ve got Kane Williamson there, Mitchell Santner, all these guys to bounce ideas off.“I speak to Kane a lot and then read, do a little bit of self-discovery for myself. And then it’s about being patient. It might seem like a small career and only a period of time in our lives, but for me, it’s calmness and patience that matters. I genuinely believe that everything happens for a reason. If you don’t believe that, then it’s hard to be sane, you know.“As a player, you also need to accept that failure is part of our game. And it depends on what you see failure like, right? Is failure just not scoring runs? It’s probably not that. We all want to score runs. I think Rahul Dravid said this a while ago that, ‘You’re going to fail more than you succeed, especially as a batter…’ALSO READ | The heist of Mullanpur: KKR, PBKS clash with memories of last season’s humdinger still afresh“So, you have got to accept that you’re going to come to terms with that. But again, not scoring runs isn’t the failure. The failure is not consistently trying to improve yourself. And if you get too caught up in that, that’s when it stacks up and you’re trying to prove to others who you are and trying to show this and that.“But that’s not really me. I’m just here. Obviously, I love enjoying the game and I love trying to get better each and every time. That’s important. That’s something I can measure it all by. And all the other stuff and noise doesn’t really matter because, again, you’re not here just for personal accolades. It’s a team game, although you want to do as well as you can. But as soon as you start leaning too much towards that, you’re in trouble.“And if I look back to the Champions Trophy game against Bangladesh last year, I was very lucky to walk away with just a little scar leading up to the game (during the tri-series in Pakistan).“But I was very lucky. Otherwise, an inch down and my career would have probably been over as my eye would be gone. So, these things obviously happen and you never want them to happen, but they give you perspective.“Perspective is probably the biggest thing in our game — realising we get to do what we love for a living. And that’s important. Then there are so many things that happen to get us to this stage. So that’s at least how I see it and it helps me deal with it all.”Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash On adapting to evolving T20 demands“I think that’s going to be the ever-evolving thing about our game, right? I think we see how T20 is evolving. And if you’re not able to evolve as a player, then you’re going to be left behind.“There are plenty of guys who are in that mould who can consistently do it. You only look at Virat Kohli, who does the same thing, he sort of takes his time, but has also transformed his T20 game over the last two or three years.“So, the beauty is if the ability and skill is there, then you can transfer it across formats. And that, to me, is a challenge. I love playing all three formats. It’s a brilliant challenge. You love Test cricket, it’s beautiful. But then this part’s the freedom, right?“And you’ve almost got to give away the notion of your wicket. In the other formats, your pride lies in spending so much time in the crease. And I’m naturally a strokemaker, so that does help. But I think when you come to this format (T20), it’s about how you can push the team forward and forget about your wicket.“And also little technical changes which allow you to do that. But that’s always going to be the challenge for the all-format cricketer.”On managing workload across formats“It’s always going to be a challenge. So, if you look at it this way, me missing out on a couple of games here is actually not the worst thing for my game. We’ve got Chris Donaldson, strength & conditioning coach from New Zealand here as well. He’s an amazing guy.“On most days, I am in the gym and running on game days and stuff, which helps build that over time, makes me prepared for what’s to come. And also the quality of training you can get here in India is outstanding, with Watto (Shane Watson), Abhishek Nayar around. So we’ve got a great crew, I am learning from them as well. It allows you to have those little training blocks when you think you might not have.“That’s always going to be a challenge in terms of finding rest because since the ODI World Cup 2023, I really haven’t had a break. I’ve been very grateful for it because I’ve been able to play three formats and also franchise cricket around the world. But I think that there is a time where you probably do need to have a mental break and relax.“I’ll get that at the end of The Hundred this year, sort of mid-to-late August until India comes to New Zealand. I’ve got a good almost two months to rest up and work on a few things and work on my body.”Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini On learning from multiple coaches and having New Zealand teammates around“It’s ultimately up to the player. I think it’s awesome having all these coaches, who are very good at what they do. They’re able to filter through what they say and it’s not just information after information. Then it’s on us as players to take what we need and make that our own. You never listen to everything blindly and you also never ignore everything because these guys are here to help you.“They are different people, and earlier in my career, especially in the IPL, the amount of information could feel overwhelming because there’s stats, analysis, match-ups and so much data. But with experience, you get better at filtering what works for you.“And it’s obviously nice to have the Kiwi guys here. We hang out a lot and when you’re in a long tournament away from home, it’s nice to have familiar faces around you. That’s what makes the New Zealand environment so good — we’re all such good mates.”Published on Apr 06, 2026 #Rachin #Ravindra #T20 #cricket #pushing #team #forgetting #wicket

Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

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Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

“There are always learnings about yourself — about batting, bowling — and also about clarity and decision making under pressure. And there’s all those things. As a team, I’m sure we’ve had a bit of time off, and we’ll come together later as a T20 group, especially later in the year, to discuss that.

“The crazy thing about cricket is that it always moves on, right? I think that’s always going to be in the back of your head. But there’s always the next challenge. And that’s great. It means you can’t really dwell on what has happened. Obviously, like I said, take what you can and move on. That World Cup was a great learning curve for me and I have brought some brilliant learnings to Kolkata.”

On dealing with pressure, setbacks and perspective

“It’s a question that we’re all still trying to work out. Mostly for me, I’ve got some great mentors around me, and I lean on them, especially in that New Zealand setup. And I played under some brilliant captains. I’ve got Kane Williamson there, Mitchell Santner, all these guys to bounce ideas off.

“I speak to Kane a lot and then read, do a little bit of self-discovery for myself. And then it’s about being patient. It might seem like a small career and only a period of time in our lives, but for me, it’s calmness and patience that matters. I genuinely believe that everything happens for a reason. If you don’t believe that, then it’s hard to be sane, you know.

“As a player, you also need to accept that failure is part of our game. And it depends on what you see failure like, right? Is failure just not scoring runs? It’s probably not that. We all want to score runs. I think Rahul Dravid said this a while ago that, ‘You’re going to fail more than you succeed, especially as a batter…’

ALSO READ | The heist of Mullanpur: KKR, PBKS clash with memories of last season’s humdinger still afresh

“So, you have got to accept that you’re going to come to terms with that. But again, not scoring runs isn’t the failure. The failure is not consistently trying to improve yourself. And if you get too caught up in that, that’s when it stacks up and you’re trying to prove to others who you are and trying to show this and that.

“But that’s not really me. I’m just here. Obviously, I love enjoying the game and I love trying to get better each and every time. That’s important. That’s something I can measure it all by. And all the other stuff and noise doesn’t really matter because, again, you’re not here just for personal accolades. It’s a team game, although you want to do as well as you can. But as soon as you start leaning too much towards that, you’re in trouble.

“And if I look back to the Champions Trophy game against Bangladesh last year, I was very lucky to walk away with just a little scar leading up to the game (during the tri-series in Pakistan).

“But I was very lucky. Otherwise, an inch down and my career would have probably been over as my eye would be gone. So, these things obviously happen and you never want them to happen, but they give you perspective.

“Perspective is probably the biggest thing in our game — realising we get to do what we love for a living. And that’s important. Then there are so many things that happen to get us to this stage. So that’s at least how I see it and it helps me deal with it all.”

Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats.

Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash

lightbox-info

Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash

On adapting to evolving T20 demands

“I think that’s going to be the ever-evolving thing about our game, right? I think we see how T20 is evolving. And if you’re not able to evolve as a player, then you’re going to be left behind.

“There are plenty of guys who are in that mould who can consistently do it. You only look at Virat Kohli, who does the same thing, he sort of takes his time, but has also transformed his T20 game over the last two or three years.

“So, the beauty is if the ability and skill is there, then you can transfer it across formats. And that, to me, is a challenge. I love playing all three formats. It’s a brilliant challenge. You love Test cricket, it’s beautiful. But then this part’s the freedom, right?

“And you’ve almost got to give away the notion of your wicket. In the other formats, your pride lies in spending so much time in the crease. And I’m naturally a strokemaker, so that does help. But I think when you come to this format (T20), it’s about how you can push the team forward and forget about your wicket.

“And also little technical changes which allow you to do that. But that’s always going to be the challenge for the all-format cricketer.”

On managing workload across formats

“It’s always going to be a challenge. So, if you look at it this way, me missing out on a couple of games here is actually not the worst thing for my game. We’ve got Chris Donaldson, strength & conditioning coach from New Zealand here as well. He’s an amazing guy.

“On most days, I am in the gym and running on game days and stuff, which helps build that over time, makes me prepared for what’s to come. And also the quality of training you can get here in India is outstanding, with Watto (Shane Watson), Abhishek Nayar around. So we’ve got a great crew, I am learning from them as well. It allows you to have those little training blocks when you think you might not have.

“That’s always going to be a challenge in terms of finding rest because since the ODI World Cup 2023, I really haven’t had a break. I’ve been very grateful for it because I’ve been able to play three formats and also franchise cricket around the world. But I think that there is a time where you probably do need to have a mental break and relax.

“I’ll get that at the end of The Hundred this year, sort of mid-to-late August until India comes to New Zealand. I’ve got a good almost two months to rest up and work on a few things and work on my body.”

Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL.

Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

lightbox-info

Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

On learning from multiple coaches and having New Zealand teammates around

“It’s ultimately up to the player. I think it’s awesome having all these coaches, who are very good at what they do. They’re able to filter through what they say and it’s not just information after information. Then it’s on us as players to take what we need and make that our own. You never listen to everything blindly and you also never ignore everything because these guys are here to help you.

“They are different people, and earlier in my career, especially in the IPL, the amount of information could feel overwhelming because there’s stats, analysis, match-ups and so much data. But with experience, you get better at filtering what works for you.

“And it’s obviously nice to have the Kiwi guys here. We hang out a lot and when you’re in a long tournament away from home, it’s nice to have familiar faces around you. That’s what makes the New Zealand environment so good — we’re all such good mates.”

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#Rachin #Ravindra #T20 #cricket #pushing #team #forgetting #wicket">Rachin Ravindra — T20 cricket is about pushing your team forward and forgetting about your wicket

Rachin Ravindra may not have featured for Kolkata Knight Riders so far in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but the New Zealand all-rounder insists patience, perspective and constant evolution remain central to his approach as he navigates selection competition, the demands of three-format cricket and the rapidly shifting T20 landscape.

On waiting for his chance at KKR

“I wouldn’t ever really call it frustrating. First of all, it’s great to be part of a new franchise and it’s such a great crew to be with. I’m enjoying my time here.

“For me, it’s understanding that the team is out there and I’m supporting them and I’m doing my best job to, one, help them prepare and, two, help us win games. And whether that’s part of the starting 12 or whether that’s on the bench or whatever it looks like. And that to me is important.

ALSO READ | 14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum?

“As soon as you start to feel frustrated and stuff like that, you naturally think a little bit more negative about things. So for me, it’s just about getting better.

“Obviously, you always want to play games, but I’ve played a lot of cricket of late and even if I’m not playing, it’s about contributing to the team. I realise there are a lot of talented cricketers in this team. And if you’re missing out to, say, Finn Allen and Cameron Green, or Sunil Narine, or the likes of them, you have to understand that those are class players and they obviously make up the structure of the team. So, it doesn’t bother me too much.”

On back-to-back heartbreak in ICC finals against India

“It probably still hurts. I think it always is going to. And there are times I think back and hindsight is a great thing. So there’s a million things that go through your head and little decisions you feel could have made a difference. Maybe, it doesn’t. Obviously, it’s hurtful to have it two years in a row and we were a lot closer in the Champions Trophy final.

“Both games were extremely disappointing. But again, that’s cricket. There’s always going to be a winner and a loser. And India is a very, very good team, especially in those conditions of Dubai and in India, you know, it is a quality unit which has played so much cricket here.

Rachin Ravindra — T20 cricket is about pushing your team forward and forgetting about your wicket Rachin Ravindra may not have featured for Kolkata Knight Riders so far in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but the New Zealand all-rounder insists patience, perspective and constant evolution remain central to his approach as he navigates selection competition, the demands of three-format cricket and the rapidly shifting T20 landscape.On waiting for his chance at KKR“I wouldn’t ever really call it frustrating. First of all, it’s great to be part of a new franchise and it’s such a great crew to be with. I’m enjoying my time here.“For me, it’s understanding that the team is out there and I’m supporting them and I’m doing my best job to, one, help them prepare and, two, help us win games. And whether that’s part of the starting 12 or whether that’s on the bench or whatever it looks like. And that to me is important.ALSO READ | 14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum?“As soon as you start to feel frustrated and stuff like that, you naturally think a little bit more negative about things. So for me, it’s just about getting better.“Obviously, you always want to play games, but I’ve played a lot of cricket of late and even if I’m not playing, it’s about contributing to the team. I realise there are a lot of talented cricketers in this team. And if you’re missing out to, say, Finn Allen and Cameron Green, or Sunil Narine, or the likes of them, you have to understand that those are class players and they obviously make up the structure of the team. So, it doesn’t bother me too much.”On back-to-back heartbreak in ICC finals against India“It probably still hurts. I think it always is going to. And there are times I think back and hindsight is a great thing. So there’s a million things that go through your head and little decisions you feel could have made a difference. Maybe, it doesn’t. Obviously, it’s hurtful to have it two years in a row and we were a lot closer in the Champions Trophy final.“Both games were extremely disappointing. But again, that’s cricket. There’s always going to be a winner and a loser. And India is a very, very good team, especially in those conditions of Dubai and in India, you know, it is a quality unit which has played so much cricket here.Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini “There are always learnings about yourself — about batting, bowling — and also about clarity and decision making under pressure. And there’s all those things. As a team, I’m sure we’ve had a bit of time off, and we’ll come together later as a T20 group, especially later in the year, to discuss that.“The crazy thing about cricket is that it always moves on, right? I think that’s always going to be in the back of your head. But there’s always the next challenge. And that’s great. It means you can’t really dwell on what has happened. Obviously, like I said, take what you can and move on. That World Cup was a great learning curve for me and I have brought some brilliant learnings to Kolkata.”On dealing with pressure, setbacks and perspective“It’s a question that we’re all still trying to work out. Mostly for me, I’ve got some great mentors around me, and I lean on them, especially in that New Zealand setup. And I played under some brilliant captains. I’ve got Kane Williamson there, Mitchell Santner, all these guys to bounce ideas off.“I speak to Kane a lot and then read, do a little bit of self-discovery for myself. And then it’s about being patient. It might seem like a small career and only a period of time in our lives, but for me, it’s calmness and patience that matters. I genuinely believe that everything happens for a reason. If you don’t believe that, then it’s hard to be sane, you know.“As a player, you also need to accept that failure is part of our game. And it depends on what you see failure like, right? Is failure just not scoring runs? It’s probably not that. We all want to score runs. I think Rahul Dravid said this a while ago that, ‘You’re going to fail more than you succeed, especially as a batter…’ALSO READ | The heist of Mullanpur: KKR, PBKS clash with memories of last season’s humdinger still afresh“So, you have got to accept that you’re going to come to terms with that. But again, not scoring runs isn’t the failure. The failure is not consistently trying to improve yourself. And if you get too caught up in that, that’s when it stacks up and you’re trying to prove to others who you are and trying to show this and that.“But that’s not really me. I’m just here. Obviously, I love enjoying the game and I love trying to get better each and every time. That’s important. That’s something I can measure it all by. And all the other stuff and noise doesn’t really matter because, again, you’re not here just for personal accolades. It’s a team game, although you want to do as well as you can. But as soon as you start leaning too much towards that, you’re in trouble.“And if I look back to the Champions Trophy game against Bangladesh last year, I was very lucky to walk away with just a little scar leading up to the game (during the tri-series in Pakistan).“But I was very lucky. Otherwise, an inch down and my career would have probably been over as my eye would be gone. So, these things obviously happen and you never want them to happen, but they give you perspective.“Perspective is probably the biggest thing in our game — realising we get to do what we love for a living. And that’s important. Then there are so many things that happen to get us to this stage. So that’s at least how I see it and it helps me deal with it all.”Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash On adapting to evolving T20 demands“I think that’s going to be the ever-evolving thing about our game, right? I think we see how T20 is evolving. And if you’re not able to evolve as a player, then you’re going to be left behind.“There are plenty of guys who are in that mould who can consistently do it. You only look at Virat Kohli, who does the same thing, he sort of takes his time, but has also transformed his T20 game over the last two or three years.“So, the beauty is if the ability and skill is there, then you can transfer it across formats. And that, to me, is a challenge. I love playing all three formats. It’s a brilliant challenge. You love Test cricket, it’s beautiful. But then this part’s the freedom, right?“And you’ve almost got to give away the notion of your wicket. In the other formats, your pride lies in spending so much time in the crease. And I’m naturally a strokemaker, so that does help. But I think when you come to this format (T20), it’s about how you can push the team forward and forget about your wicket.“And also little technical changes which allow you to do that. But that’s always going to be the challenge for the all-format cricketer.”On managing workload across formats“It’s always going to be a challenge. So, if you look at it this way, me missing out on a couple of games here is actually not the worst thing for my game. We’ve got Chris Donaldson, strength & conditioning coach from New Zealand here as well. He’s an amazing guy.“On most days, I am in the gym and running on game days and stuff, which helps build that over time, makes me prepared for what’s to come. And also the quality of training you can get here in India is outstanding, with Watto (Shane Watson), Abhishek Nayar around. So we’ve got a great crew, I am learning from them as well. It allows you to have those little training blocks when you think you might not have.“That’s always going to be a challenge in terms of finding rest because since the ODI World Cup 2023, I really haven’t had a break. I’ve been very grateful for it because I’ve been able to play three formats and also franchise cricket around the world. But I think that there is a time where you probably do need to have a mental break and relax.“I’ll get that at the end of The Hundred this year, sort of mid-to-late August until India comes to New Zealand. I’ve got a good almost two months to rest up and work on a few things and work on my body.”Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini On learning from multiple coaches and having New Zealand teammates around“It’s ultimately up to the player. I think it’s awesome having all these coaches, who are very good at what they do. They’re able to filter through what they say and it’s not just information after information. Then it’s on us as players to take what we need and make that our own. You never listen to everything blindly and you also never ignore everything because these guys are here to help you.“They are different people, and earlier in my career, especially in the IPL, the amount of information could feel overwhelming because there’s stats, analysis, match-ups and so much data. But with experience, you get better at filtering what works for you.“And it’s obviously nice to have the Kiwi guys here. We hang out a lot and when you’re in a long tournament away from home, it’s nice to have familiar faces around you. That’s what makes the New Zealand environment so good — we’re all such good mates.”Published on Apr 06, 2026 #Rachin #Ravindra #T20 #cricket #pushing #team #forgetting #wicket

Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

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Learning from setbacks: Ravindra feels every loss is an opportunity to learn and improve as a player. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

“There are always learnings about yourself — about batting, bowling — and also about clarity and decision making under pressure. And there’s all those things. As a team, I’m sure we’ve had a bit of time off, and we’ll come together later as a T20 group, especially later in the year, to discuss that.

“The crazy thing about cricket is that it always moves on, right? I think that’s always going to be in the back of your head. But there’s always the next challenge. And that’s great. It means you can’t really dwell on what has happened. Obviously, like I said, take what you can and move on. That World Cup was a great learning curve for me and I have brought some brilliant learnings to Kolkata.”

On dealing with pressure, setbacks and perspective

“It’s a question that we’re all still trying to work out. Mostly for me, I’ve got some great mentors around me, and I lean on them, especially in that New Zealand setup. And I played under some brilliant captains. I’ve got Kane Williamson there, Mitchell Santner, all these guys to bounce ideas off.

“I speak to Kane a lot and then read, do a little bit of self-discovery for myself. And then it’s about being patient. It might seem like a small career and only a period of time in our lives, but for me, it’s calmness and patience that matters. I genuinely believe that everything happens for a reason. If you don’t believe that, then it’s hard to be sane, you know.

“As a player, you also need to accept that failure is part of our game. And it depends on what you see failure like, right? Is failure just not scoring runs? It’s probably not that. We all want to score runs. I think Rahul Dravid said this a while ago that, ‘You’re going to fail more than you succeed, especially as a batter…’

ALSO READ | The heist of Mullanpur: KKR, PBKS clash with memories of last season’s humdinger still afresh

“So, you have got to accept that you’re going to come to terms with that. But again, not scoring runs isn’t the failure. The failure is not consistently trying to improve yourself. And if you get too caught up in that, that’s when it stacks up and you’re trying to prove to others who you are and trying to show this and that.

“But that’s not really me. I’m just here. Obviously, I love enjoying the game and I love trying to get better each and every time. That’s important. That’s something I can measure it all by. And all the other stuff and noise doesn’t really matter because, again, you’re not here just for personal accolades. It’s a team game, although you want to do as well as you can. But as soon as you start leaning too much towards that, you’re in trouble.

“And if I look back to the Champions Trophy game against Bangladesh last year, I was very lucky to walk away with just a little scar leading up to the game (during the tri-series in Pakistan).

“But I was very lucky. Otherwise, an inch down and my career would have probably been over as my eye would be gone. So, these things obviously happen and you never want them to happen, but they give you perspective.

“Perspective is probably the biggest thing in our game — realising we get to do what we love for a living. And that’s important. Then there are so many things that happen to get us to this stage. So that’s at least how I see it and it helps me deal with it all.”

Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats.

Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash

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Switching between formats: Over the last two years, Ravindra has been a constant presence for the Kiwis across the three formats. | Photo Credit: K. Bhagya Prakash

On adapting to evolving T20 demands

“I think that’s going to be the ever-evolving thing about our game, right? I think we see how T20 is evolving. And if you’re not able to evolve as a player, then you’re going to be left behind.

“There are plenty of guys who are in that mould who can consistently do it. You only look at Virat Kohli, who does the same thing, he sort of takes his time, but has also transformed his T20 game over the last two or three years.

“So, the beauty is if the ability and skill is there, then you can transfer it across formats. And that, to me, is a challenge. I love playing all three formats. It’s a brilliant challenge. You love Test cricket, it’s beautiful. But then this part’s the freedom, right?

“And you’ve almost got to give away the notion of your wicket. In the other formats, your pride lies in spending so much time in the crease. And I’m naturally a strokemaker, so that does help. But I think when you come to this format (T20), it’s about how you can push the team forward and forget about your wicket.

“And also little technical changes which allow you to do that. But that’s always going to be the challenge for the all-format cricketer.”

On managing workload across formats

“It’s always going to be a challenge. So, if you look at it this way, me missing out on a couple of games here is actually not the worst thing for my game. We’ve got Chris Donaldson, strength & conditioning coach from New Zealand here as well. He’s an amazing guy.

“On most days, I am in the gym and running on game days and stuff, which helps build that over time, makes me prepared for what’s to come. And also the quality of training you can get here in India is outstanding, with Watto (Shane Watson), Abhishek Nayar around. So we’ve got a great crew, I am learning from them as well. It allows you to have those little training blocks when you think you might not have.

“That’s always going to be a challenge in terms of finding rest because since the ODI World Cup 2023, I really haven’t had a break. I’ve been very grateful for it because I’ve been able to play three formats and also franchise cricket around the world. But I think that there is a time where you probably do need to have a mental break and relax.

“I’ll get that at the end of The Hundred this year, sort of mid-to-late August until India comes to New Zealand. I’ve got a good almost two months to rest up and work on a few things and work on my body.”

Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL.

Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

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Learning from the best: Ravindra cherished the support from the world’s best at the IPL. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

On learning from multiple coaches and having New Zealand teammates around

“It’s ultimately up to the player. I think it’s awesome having all these coaches, who are very good at what they do. They’re able to filter through what they say and it’s not just information after information. Then it’s on us as players to take what we need and make that our own. You never listen to everything blindly and you also never ignore everything because these guys are here to help you.

“They are different people, and earlier in my career, especially in the IPL, the amount of information could feel overwhelming because there’s stats, analysis, match-ups and so much data. But with experience, you get better at filtering what works for you.

“And it’s obviously nice to have the Kiwi guys here. We hang out a lot and when you’re in a long tournament away from home, it’s nice to have familiar faces around you. That’s what makes the New Zealand environment so good — we’re all such good mates.”

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#Rachin #Ravindra #T20 #cricket #pushing #team #forgetting #wicket

Rachin Ravindra may not have featured for Kolkata Knight Riders so far in this edition…

14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum or will its ethos prevail?

“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.”

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#IPL #Fleming #exercises #caution #backs #CSKs #young #batting #core #shine"> IPL 2026: Fleming exercises caution, backs CSK’s young batting core to shine 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.READ | 14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum or will its ethos prevail?“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.”Published on Apr 06, 2026 #IPL #Fleming #exercises #caution #backs #CSKs #young #batting #core #shine
Sports news

14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum or will its ethos prevail?

“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.”

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#IPL #Fleming #exercises #caution #backs #CSKs #young #batting #core #shine">IPL 2026: Fleming exercises caution, backs CSK’s young batting core to shine

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.

READ | 14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum or will its ethos prevail?

“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.”

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#IPL #Fleming #exercises #caution #backs #CSKs #young #batting #core #shine

To lose the first three games in an IPL season is a hellish scenario. But…

Sports news

Former India off-spinner R Ashwin has revealed that he could have played the Indian Premier…

Kolkata Knight Riders hopes to get its act together against Punjab Kings

With KKR looking to bolster its pace resources, clarity on Green’s availability as a full-fledged all-round option could be crucial in shaping the team’s balance in the coming matches.

Shah Rukh in attendance for KKR

Having lost its first two games, KKR will hope for a turnaround against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens on Monday. In a boost for the side, franchise owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is expected to be in attendance. His absence during the previous home game against Sunrisers Hyderabad had sparked speculation, and his presence on Monday is likely to lift morale as the team looks to regain early-season momentum.

Published on Apr 05, 2026

#IPL #Green #bowling #KKRs #Southee #ahead #PBKS #clash"> IPL 2026: We will see Green bowling soon, KKR’s Southee ahead of PBKS clash Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has been in constant touch with Cricket Australia to determine when Cameron Green will be cleared to resume bowling duties in the Indian Premier League. The all-rounder, returning from injury, has been gradually building his workload under supervision, with the franchise keen to ensure his comeback is managed carefully.“Cameron has been bowling well, tracking his rehab and working towards being ready to bowl in games. We are in regular contact with Cricket Australia, and I’m sure we’ll see him bowling soon,” said KKR bowling coach Tim Southee.Green has spent considerable time bowling at the nets over the past few days, but the team management is wary of rushing him back prematurely. “You can’t suddenly expect him to bowl in a game. That’s why he has been putting in the work at the nets to build match fitness,” Southee added.READ | Kolkata Knight Riders hopes to get its act together against Punjab KingsWith KKR looking to bolster its pace resources, clarity on Green’s availability as a full-fledged all-round option could be crucial in shaping the team’s balance in the coming matches.Shah Rukh in attendance for KKRHaving lost its first two games, KKR will hope for a turnaround against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens on Monday. In a boost for the side, franchise owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is expected to be in attendance. His absence during the previous home game against Sunrisers Hyderabad had sparked speculation, and his presence on Monday is likely to lift morale as the team looks to regain early-season momentum.Published on Apr 05, 2026 #IPL #Green #bowling #KKRs #Southee #ahead #PBKS #clash
Sports news

Kolkata Knight Riders hopes to get its act together against Punjab Kings

With KKR looking to bolster its pace resources, clarity on Green’s availability as a full-fledged all-round option could be crucial in shaping the team’s balance in the coming matches.

Shah Rukh in attendance for KKR

Having lost its first two games, KKR will hope for a turnaround against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens on Monday. In a boost for the side, franchise owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is expected to be in attendance. His absence during the previous home game against Sunrisers Hyderabad had sparked speculation, and his presence on Monday is likely to lift morale as the team looks to regain early-season momentum.

Published on Apr 05, 2026

#IPL #Green #bowling #KKRs #Southee #ahead #PBKS #clash">IPL 2026: We will see Green bowling soon, KKR’s Southee ahead of PBKS clash

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has been in constant touch with Cricket Australia to determine when Cameron Green will be cleared to resume bowling duties in the Indian Premier League. The all-rounder, returning from injury, has been gradually building his workload under supervision, with the franchise keen to ensure his comeback is managed carefully.

“Cameron has been bowling well, tracking his rehab and working towards being ready to bowl in games. We are in regular contact with Cricket Australia, and I’m sure we’ll see him bowling soon,” said KKR bowling coach Tim Southee.

Green has spent considerable time bowling at the nets over the past few days, but the team management is wary of rushing him back prematurely. “You can’t suddenly expect him to bowl in a game. That’s why he has been putting in the work at the nets to build match fitness,” Southee added.

READ | Kolkata Knight Riders hopes to get its act together against Punjab Kings

With KKR looking to bolster its pace resources, clarity on Green’s availability as a full-fledged all-round option could be crucial in shaping the team’s balance in the coming matches.

Shah Rukh in attendance for KKR

Having lost its first two games, KKR will hope for a turnaround against Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens on Monday. In a boost for the side, franchise owner and Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is expected to be in attendance. His absence during the previous home game against Sunrisers Hyderabad had sparked speculation, and his presence on Monday is likely to lift morale as the team looks to regain early-season momentum.

Published on Apr 05, 2026

#IPL #Green #bowling #KKRs #Southee #ahead #PBKS #clash

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) has been in constant touch with Cricket Australia to determine when…

KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders hopes to get its act together against Punjab Kings

At 35 for four, its lowest score at the halfway mark, SRH looked completely adrift, with the Orange Army desperate for a moment of relief. Even a ball trickling past the 30-yard circle was enough to spark applause.

That relief finally arrived in emphatic fashion. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen stitched together a breathtaking counterattack, producing SRH’s best partnership for the fifth wicket or lower.

The duo added 79 runs in just 30 balls, as they both raced to half centuries. For the first time in the game, the Super Giants appeared rattled. Shami watched from the dugout. 

While the host ambitiously targeted a score in the 180s to give itself a chance in this contest, Manimaran Siddharth put the brakes on the 116-run stand when Nitish’s swing failed to clear Prince at deep extra cover. Klaasen followed three balls later, his attempted scoop ending in a diving Pant’s gloves. With their departures, the momentum drained away, and LSG quickly regained control to restrict SRH to 156.

The Super Giants turned to the tried-and-tested pair of Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh to marshal the chase, and Markram quickly provided evidence of his reputation at the top of the order, plundering 17 runs off Nitish’s opening over with crisp, authoritative strokeplay.

Eshan Malinga’s dismissal of Marsh was the lone bright spot for Sunrisers during the PowerPlay, which ended with Markram emphatically sending a short ball over fine leg. By the time he was undone by Shivang’s wrong’un in the tenth over, LSG was halfway to victory.

A struggling SRH bowling lineup persevered, triggering a brief wobble as it claimed Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran’s wickets in quick succession. But Pant remained unfazed, as the game dragged right down to the wire. His measured, unbeaten half-century braved all the late twists, taking LSG home with a boundary aimed at his dugout with just a ball to spare. 

Published on Apr 05, 2026

#SRH #LSG #IPL #Shamis #economical #spell #Pant #helps #Lucknow #Super #Giants #pip #Sunrisers #Hyderabad"> SRH vs LSG IPL 2026: Shami’s economical spell, Pant 50 helps Lucknow Super Giants pip Sunrisers Hyderabad A side already backed into a corner by injury and form was pinned to the wall a bit more by a man with a point to prove. Age had bent Mohammed Shami’s back, not his spirit. He arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday with the jersey changed, but the fire burning just as bright. And he struck, not with the fury of youth, but the precision of a legend to set up an eventual five-wicket win for the Lucknow Super Giants. Sunrisers Hyderabad had engraved its orange-hued initials into the PowerPlay with outlandish scoring patterns, but Shami decided to bring the ‘Travishek’ party to a screeching halt. The veteran cleverly mixed his variations to dismiss Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, both undone by the lack of pace. If Rishabh Pant’s call to bowl first drew roaring approval from the partisan home crowd, even as pundits were sceptical, it took twenty minutes for that decision to look inspired as that early excitement gave way to stunned silence around the stadium.Ishan Kishan had barely found his footing when Prince Yadav shattered his off stump, sending the home side’s top three back to the pavilion for their lowest combined total in IPL history. The collapse deepened just beyond the PowerPlay as Liam Livingstone fell, with Pant’s exquisite anticipation cutting short the Englishman’s bid to rebuild the innings.ALSO READ:KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders hopes to get its act together against Punjab KingsAt 35 for four, its lowest score at the halfway mark, SRH looked completely adrift, with the Orange Army desperate for a moment of relief. Even a ball trickling past the 30-yard circle was enough to spark applause.That relief finally arrived in emphatic fashion. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen stitched together a breathtaking counterattack, producing SRH’s best partnership for the fifth wicket or lower.The duo added 79 runs in just 30 balls, as they both raced to half centuries. For the first time in the game, the Super Giants appeared rattled. Shami watched from the dugout. While the host ambitiously targeted a score in the 180s to give itself a chance in this contest, Manimaran Siddharth put the brakes on the 116-run stand when Nitish’s swing failed to clear Prince at deep extra cover. Klaasen followed three balls later, his attempted scoop ending in a diving Pant’s gloves. With their departures, the momentum drained away, and LSG quickly regained control to restrict SRH to 156.The Super Giants turned to the tried-and-tested pair of Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh to marshal the chase, and Markram quickly provided evidence of his reputation at the top of the order, plundering 17 runs off Nitish’s opening over with crisp, authoritative strokeplay.Eshan Malinga’s dismissal of Marsh was the lone bright spot for Sunrisers during the PowerPlay, which ended with Markram emphatically sending a short ball over fine leg. By the time he was undone by Shivang’s wrong’un in the tenth over, LSG was halfway to victory.A struggling SRH bowling lineup persevered, triggering a brief wobble as it claimed Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran’s wickets in quick succession. But Pant remained unfazed, as the game dragged right down to the wire. His measured, unbeaten half-century braved all the late twists, taking LSG home with a boundary aimed at his dugout with just a ball to spare. Published on Apr 05, 2026 #SRH #LSG #IPL #Shamis #economical #spell #Pant #helps #Lucknow #Super #Giants #pip #Sunrisers #Hyderabad
Sports news

KKR vs PBKS, IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders hopes to get its act together against Punjab Kings

At 35 for four, its lowest score at the halfway mark, SRH looked completely adrift, with the Orange Army desperate for a moment of relief. Even a ball trickling past the 30-yard circle was enough to spark applause.

That relief finally arrived in emphatic fashion. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen stitched together a breathtaking counterattack, producing SRH’s best partnership for the fifth wicket or lower.

The duo added 79 runs in just 30 balls, as they both raced to half centuries. For the first time in the game, the Super Giants appeared rattled. Shami watched from the dugout. 

While the host ambitiously targeted a score in the 180s to give itself a chance in this contest, Manimaran Siddharth put the brakes on the 116-run stand when Nitish’s swing failed to clear Prince at deep extra cover. Klaasen followed three balls later, his attempted scoop ending in a diving Pant’s gloves. With their departures, the momentum drained away, and LSG quickly regained control to restrict SRH to 156.

The Super Giants turned to the tried-and-tested pair of Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh to marshal the chase, and Markram quickly provided evidence of his reputation at the top of the order, plundering 17 runs off Nitish’s opening over with crisp, authoritative strokeplay.

Eshan Malinga’s dismissal of Marsh was the lone bright spot for Sunrisers during the PowerPlay, which ended with Markram emphatically sending a short ball over fine leg. By the time he was undone by Shivang’s wrong’un in the tenth over, LSG was halfway to victory.

A struggling SRH bowling lineup persevered, triggering a brief wobble as it claimed Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran’s wickets in quick succession. But Pant remained unfazed, as the game dragged right down to the wire. His measured, unbeaten half-century braved all the late twists, taking LSG home with a boundary aimed at his dugout with just a ball to spare. 

Published on Apr 05, 2026

#SRH #LSG #IPL #Shamis #economical #spell #Pant #helps #Lucknow #Super #Giants #pip #Sunrisers #Hyderabad">SRH vs LSG IPL 2026: Shami’s economical spell, Pant 50 helps Lucknow Super Giants pip Sunrisers Hyderabad

A side already backed into a corner by injury and form was pinned to the wall a bit more by a man with a point to prove. 

Age had bent Mohammed Shami’s back, not his spirit. He arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday with the jersey changed, but the fire burning just as bright. And he struck, not with the fury of youth, but the precision of a legend to set up an eventual five-wicket win for the Lucknow Super Giants. 

Sunrisers Hyderabad had engraved its orange-hued initials into the PowerPlay with outlandish scoring patterns, but Shami decided to bring the ‘Travishek’ party to a screeching halt. The veteran cleverly mixed his variations to dismiss Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, both undone by the lack of pace. 

If Rishabh Pant’s call to bowl first drew roaring approval from the partisan home crowd, even as pundits were sceptical, it took twenty minutes for that decision to look inspired as that early excitement gave way to stunned silence around the stadium.

Ishan Kishan had barely found his footing when Prince Yadav shattered his off stump, sending the home side’s top three back to the pavilion for their lowest combined total in IPL history. The collapse deepened just beyond the PowerPlay as Liam Livingstone fell, with Pant’s exquisite anticipation cutting short the Englishman’s bid to rebuild the innings.

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At 35 for four, its lowest score at the halfway mark, SRH looked completely adrift, with the Orange Army desperate for a moment of relief. Even a ball trickling past the 30-yard circle was enough to spark applause.

That relief finally arrived in emphatic fashion. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen stitched together a breathtaking counterattack, producing SRH’s best partnership for the fifth wicket or lower.

The duo added 79 runs in just 30 balls, as they both raced to half centuries. For the first time in the game, the Super Giants appeared rattled. Shami watched from the dugout. 

While the host ambitiously targeted a score in the 180s to give itself a chance in this contest, Manimaran Siddharth put the brakes on the 116-run stand when Nitish’s swing failed to clear Prince at deep extra cover. Klaasen followed three balls later, his attempted scoop ending in a diving Pant’s gloves. With their departures, the momentum drained away, and LSG quickly regained control to restrict SRH to 156.

The Super Giants turned to the tried-and-tested pair of Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh to marshal the chase, and Markram quickly provided evidence of his reputation at the top of the order, plundering 17 runs off Nitish’s opening over with crisp, authoritative strokeplay.

Eshan Malinga’s dismissal of Marsh was the lone bright spot for Sunrisers during the PowerPlay, which ended with Markram emphatically sending a short ball over fine leg. By the time he was undone by Shivang’s wrong’un in the tenth over, LSG was halfway to victory.

A struggling SRH bowling lineup persevered, triggering a brief wobble as it claimed Ayush Badoni and Nicholas Pooran’s wickets in quick succession. But Pant remained unfazed, as the game dragged right down to the wire. His measured, unbeaten half-century braved all the late twists, taking LSG home with a boundary aimed at his dugout with just a ball to spare. 

Published on Apr 05, 2026

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