{"_id":"69f1a83f21b61f611402167a","slug":"vaibhav-suryavanshi-shows-clear-ms-dhoni-influence-with-three-helicopter-shots-vs-pbks-ipl-2026-2026-04-29","type":"feature-story","status":"publish","title_hn":"वैभव सूर्यवंशी का बल्ला बोला: धोनी जैसे अंदाज से पंजाब पर कहर बनकर टूटे, इन…
Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag could face disciplinary action from India’s cricket board after he was seen vaping in the dressing room during his team’s win over Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Images of Parag, 24, using an e‑cigarette during Tuesday’s match in Chandigarh were broadcast live on television and quickly went viral on social media.
E‑cigarettes are banned in India under a 2019 law that prohibits their manufacture, import, sale and storage, regardless of nicotine content.
Violations can attract fines of up to Rs. 500,000 and jail terms. Personal possession and vaping in public is also banned.
Parag scored 29 runs as Rajasthan handed table‑topper Punjab its first defeat of the season, successfully chasing down 222.
The captain has struggled with the bat this season, scoring just 117 runs in nine matches at an average of 14.62.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) could fine Parag for breaching IPL rules and setting a poor example.
Rajasthan recently had its team manager, Ravinder Singh Bhinder, fined Rs. 100,000 for using a mobile phone in the dugout during a match.
Published on Apr 29, 2026
Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag could face disciplinary action from India’s cricket board after he was seen vaping in the dressing room during his team’s win over Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Images of Parag, 24, using an e‑cigarette during Tuesday’s match in Chandigarh were broadcast live on television and quickly went viral on social media.
E‑cigarettes are banned in India under a 2019 law that prohibits their manufacture, import, sale and storage, regardless of nicotine content.
Violations can attract fines of up to Rs. 500,000 and jail terms. Personal possession and vaping in public is also banned.
Parag scored 29 runs as Rajasthan handed table‑topper Punjab its first defeat of the season, successfully chasing down 222.
The captain has struggled with the bat this season, scoring just 117 runs in nine matches at an average of 14.62.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) could fine Parag for breaching IPL rules and setting a poor example.
Rajasthan recently had its team manager, Ravinder Singh Bhinder, fined Rs. 100,000 for using a mobile phone in the dugout during a match.
Published on Apr 29, 2026
Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag could face disciplinary action from India’s cricket board after he…
A fortnight is a long time in a fast-moving tournament like the Indian Premier League.
Two weeks ago, the Rajasthan Royals was on top of the world, having won its first four IPL 2026 games. Around the same time, Sunrisers Hyderabad was floundering, having lost four of its five games.
But, as the two teams come together at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Saturday for the first game of the season in Jaipur, the narrative has transformed.
Over their last three games, the Royals have tasted the bitterness of the law of averages, as their seemingly hypersonic top-order has screeched to a near halt.
Consecutive failures by openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have denied the Royals an early launch, exposing their undercooked middle-order.
Incidentally, the first team to apply the brakes on the Jai-Soorya duo was SRH, in their first meeting of the season in Hyderabad.
Riding on four-wicket hauls from debutant pacers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain, the Sunrisers had handed Royals their first defeat of the season.
READ: The boy who asked for more: Behind the rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The Royals then suffered another away defeat, to Kolkata Knight Riders, before recuperating with a hard-fought win against Lucknow Super Giants.
Meanwhile, SRH has added two more wins to its kitty – against Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings – and now finds itself fourth in the table.
Adding fuel to its momentum, full-time captain Pat Cummins has returned from injury and will make his first appearance of the season in Jaipur.
For rival skipper Riyan Parag, IPL 2026 has been a mixed bag. With the bat, he has cut a sorry figure, aggregating just 81 runs from seven innings.
But, on the leadership front, Parag has shone, marshalling his side adeptly to win five out of seven games and occupy the second spot in the standings.
The sharpest tool at Parag’s disposal has been the express-pace duo of Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger.
Rajasthan Royals’ Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, and Nandre Burger celebrate after winning against Lucknow Super Giants. | Photo Credit: PTI
Rajasthan Royals’ Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, and Nandre Burger celebrate after winning against Lucknow Super Giants. | Photo Credit: PTI
With their combined prowess with the new ball, Royals have claimed 18 wickets in the PowerPlay, the most by any team in IPL 2026.
On Saturday, the Archer-Burger axis will look to unsettle SRH’s in-form opener Abhishek Sharma, who smashed a blazing hundred (135*) against Delhi Capitals in the last game.
On the opposite corner, Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi would be on the lookout for payback against Hinge and Sakib.
Both these early-game tussles and their outcomes could determine the course of Saturday’s game. The Jaipur crowd, which had to wait half a season to watch its team in flesh, would naturally be yearning for the game to swing the Royals’ way.
Published on Apr 24, 2026
A fortnight is a long time in a fast-moving tournament like the Indian Premier League.
Two weeks ago, the Rajasthan Royals was on top of the world, having won its first four IPL 2026 games. Around the same time, Sunrisers Hyderabad was floundering, having lost four of its five games.
But, as the two teams come together at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Saturday for the first game of the season in Jaipur, the narrative has transformed.
Over their last three games, the Royals have tasted the bitterness of the law of averages, as their seemingly hypersonic top-order has screeched to a near halt.
Consecutive failures by openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have denied the Royals an early launch, exposing their undercooked middle-order.
Incidentally, the first team to apply the brakes on the Jai-Soorya duo was SRH, in their first meeting of the season in Hyderabad.
Riding on four-wicket hauls from debutant pacers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain, the Sunrisers had handed Royals their first defeat of the season.
READ: The boy who asked for more: Behind the rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The Royals then suffered another away defeat, to Kolkata Knight Riders, before recuperating with a hard-fought win against Lucknow Super Giants.
Meanwhile, SRH has added two more wins to its kitty – against Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings – and now finds itself fourth in the table.
Adding fuel to its momentum, full-time captain Pat Cummins has returned from injury and will make his first appearance of the season in Jaipur.
For rival skipper Riyan Parag, IPL 2026 has been a mixed bag. With the bat, he has cut a sorry figure, aggregating just 81 runs from seven innings.
But, on the leadership front, Parag has shone, marshalling his side adeptly to win five out of seven games and occupy the second spot in the standings.
The sharpest tool at Parag’s disposal has been the express-pace duo of Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger.
Rajasthan Royals’ Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, and Nandre Burger celebrate after winning against Lucknow Super Giants. | Photo Credit: PTI
Rajasthan Royals’ Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, and Nandre Burger celebrate after winning against Lucknow Super Giants. | Photo Credit: PTI
With their combined prowess with the new ball, Royals have claimed 18 wickets in the PowerPlay, the most by any team in IPL 2026.
On Saturday, the Archer-Burger axis will look to unsettle SRH’s in-form opener Abhishek Sharma, who smashed a blazing hundred (135*) against Delhi Capitals in the last game.
On the opposite corner, Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi would be on the lookout for payback against Hinge and Sakib.
Both these early-game tussles and their outcomes could determine the course of Saturday’s game. The Jaipur crowd, which had to wait half a season to watch its team in flesh, would naturally be yearning for the game to swing the Royals’ way.
Published on Apr 24, 2026
A fortnight is a long time in a fast-moving tournament like the Indian Premier League.
Two weeks ago, the Rajasthan Royals was on top of the world, having won its first four IPL 2026 games. Around the same time, Sunrisers Hyderabad was floundering, having lost four of its five games.
But, as the two teams come together at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Saturday for the first game of the season in Jaipur, the narrative has transformed.
Over their last three games, the Royals have tasted the bitterness of the law of averages, as their seemingly hypersonic top-order has screeched to a near halt.
Consecutive failures by openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi have denied the Royals an early launch, exposing their undercooked middle-order.
Incidentally, the first team to apply the brakes on the Jai-Soorya duo was SRH, in their first meeting of the season in Hyderabad.
Riding on four-wicket hauls from debutant pacers Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain, the Sunrisers had handed Royals their first defeat of the season.
READ: The boy who asked for more: Behind the rise of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
The Royals then suffered another away defeat, to Kolkata Knight Riders, before recuperating with a hard-fought win against Lucknow Super Giants.
Meanwhile, SRH has added two more wins to its kitty – against Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings – and now finds itself fourth in the table.
Adding fuel to its momentum, full-time captain Pat Cummins has returned from injury and will make his first appearance of the season in Jaipur.
For rival skipper Riyan Parag, IPL 2026 has been a mixed bag. With the bat, he has cut a sorry figure, aggregating just 81 runs from seven innings.
But, on the leadership front, Parag has shone, marshalling his side adeptly to win five out of seven games and occupy the second spot in the standings.
The sharpest tool at Parag’s disposal has been the express-pace duo of Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger.
Rajasthan Royals’ Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, and Nandre Burger celebrate after winning against Lucknow Super Giants. | Photo Credit: PTI
Rajasthan Royals’ Brijesh Sharma, Jofra Archer, and Nandre Burger celebrate after winning against Lucknow Super Giants. | Photo Credit: PTI
With their combined prowess with the new ball, Royals have claimed 18 wickets in the PowerPlay, the most by any team in IPL 2026.
On Saturday, the Archer-Burger axis will look to unsettle SRH’s in-form opener Abhishek Sharma, who smashed a blazing hundred (135*) against Delhi Capitals in the last game.
On the opposite corner, Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi would be on the lookout for payback against Hinge and Sakib.
Both these early-game tussles and their outcomes could determine the course of Saturday’s game. The Jaipur crowd, which had to wait half a season to watch its team in flesh, would naturally be yearning for the game to swing the Royals’ way.
Published on Apr 24, 2026
A fortnight is a long time in a fast-moving tournament like the Indian Premier League.Two…
In a rare slow-burn Indian Premier League (IPL) contest, Rajasthan Royals defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 40 runs at the Ekana Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday by successfully defending this season’s lowest total.
After the Royals managed just 159, Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger reduced the Super Giants to 11 for three in the PowerPlay, as Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram fell for ducks.
Nicholas Pooran’s painstaking 25-ball 22 ended just as the West Indian looked to tee off in the face of a mounting required rate. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi’s stranglehold through the middle meant the host was always behind the eight ball.
With 61 runs needed from five overs, Mitchell Marsh’s steady presence in the middle gave the home fans hope before the Australian was undone by Burger’s slower one.
Riyan Parag’s low diving catch at extra-cover to dismiss the dangerous Mukul Choudhary was the last nail in LSG’s coffin. Brijesh Sharma and Archer later completed the formalities.
ALSO READ: IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings: A familiar rivalry seeks new relevance
Earlier, after the Super Giants elected to bowl, Mohammed Shami steamed in, with a slip in place on a spicy pitch, and delivered a pearler that was angled on leg-side but moved away late to kiss Dhruv Jurel’s outside edge and into the wicketkeeper’s gloves. A ball earlier, Shami had dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with a bouncer after he had carted Shami for three consecutive fours.
In the following over, Mohsin Khan stemmed the flow of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s exuberance by homing in on a good length consistently, which resulted in five dot balls, before Sooryavanshi rushed into a fatal slog.
Sensing the situation, Parag didn’t go feeling for the ball when Shami strode in again, with the RR skipper leaving one in the channel before solidly defending—pure Test match stuff.
RR’s top-order juggernaut had ground to a halt, crawling to 44 for three inside the PowerPlay.
Mayank Yadav’s 0 for 56 in four overs was the sole blemish in an otherwise spotless Super Giants bowling performance.
However, Jadeja and Impact Player Shubham Dubey’s 49-run partnership off 25 balls was crucial in consigning the Super Giants to their third straight defeat at home.
Published on Apr 22, 2026
In a rare slow-burn Indian Premier League (IPL) contest, Rajasthan Royals defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 40 runs at the Ekana Cricket Stadium here on Wednesday by successfully defending this season’s lowest total.
After the Royals managed just 159, Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger reduced the Super Giants to 11 for three in the PowerPlay, as Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant and Aiden Markram fell for ducks.
Nicholas Pooran’s painstaking 25-ball 22 ended just as the West Indian looked to tee off in the face of a mounting required rate. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi’s stranglehold through the middle meant the host was always behind the eight ball.
With 61 runs needed from five overs, Mitchell Marsh’s steady presence in the middle gave the home fans hope before the Australian was undone by Burger’s slower one.
Riyan Parag’s low diving catch at extra-cover to dismiss the dangerous Mukul Choudhary was the last nail in LSG’s coffin. Brijesh Sharma and Archer later completed the formalities.
ALSO READ: IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings: A familiar rivalry seeks new relevance
Earlier, after the Super Giants elected to bowl, Mohammed Shami steamed in, with a slip in place on a spicy pitch, and delivered a pearler that was angled on leg-side but moved away late to kiss Dhruv Jurel’s outside edge and into the wicketkeeper’s gloves. A ball earlier, Shami had dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with a bouncer after he had carted Shami for three consecutive fours.
In the following over, Mohsin Khan stemmed the flow of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s exuberance by homing in on a good length consistently, which resulted in five dot balls, before Sooryavanshi rushed into a fatal slog.
Sensing the situation, Parag didn’t go feeling for the ball when Shami strode in again, with the RR skipper leaving one in the channel before solidly defending—pure Test match stuff.
RR’s top-order juggernaut had ground to a halt, crawling to 44 for three inside the PowerPlay.
Mayank Yadav’s 0 for 56 in four overs was the sole blemish in an otherwise spotless Super Giants bowling performance.
However, Jadeja and Impact Player Shubham Dubey’s 49-run partnership off 25 balls was crucial in consigning the Super Giants to their third straight defeat at home.
Published on Apr 22, 2026
In a rare slow-burn Indian Premier League (IPL) contest, Rajasthan Royals defeated Lucknow Super Giants…
Lucknow Super Giants will take on Rajasthan Royals at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Rajasthan Royals holds a healthy lead in the head to head stats between the two sides. In the six matches played between LSG and RR, RR has won four times while LSG has won twice.
One of LSG’s two wins came last year when the Lucknow based team edged Rajasthan Royals by two runs in Jaipur.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is the highest run scorer and Avesh Khan is the highest wicket taker in LSG vs RR matches.
Ahead of the Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 match, here are some important statistics to know:
Matches played- 6
Rajasthan Royals- 4
Lucknow Super Giants- 2
MOST RUNS IN LSG VS RR MATCHES
| Player | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | HS |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 5 | 207 | 41.40 | 141.78 | 74 |
| Sanju Samson | 5 | 200 | 66.66 | 160.00 | 82* |
| KL Rahul | 5 | 183 | 36.60 | 127.08 | 76 |
| Deepak Hooda | 5 | 162 | 32.40 | 145.94 | 59 |
| Riyan Parag | 6 | 138 | 27.60 | 140.81 | 43 |
MOST WICKETS IN LSG VS RR MATCHES
| Player | Innings | Wickets | Average | Economy Rate | BBI |
| Avesh Khan | 6 | 9 | 19.55 | 8.00 | 3/25 |
| Trent Boult | 5 | 8 | 17.50 | 7.00 | 2/18 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 5 | 6 | 31.66 | 10.00 | 4/41 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 5 | 5 | 28.20 | 7.05 | 2/23 |
| Sandeep Sharma | 4 | 5 | 28.00 | 9.33 | 2/31 |
Published on Apr 22, 2026
Lucknow Super Giants will take on Rajasthan Royals at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Rajasthan Royals holds a healthy lead in the head to head stats between the two sides. In the six matches played between LSG and RR, RR has won four times while LSG has won twice.
One of LSG’s two wins came last year when the Lucknow based team edged Rajasthan Royals by two runs in Jaipur.
Yashasvi Jaiswal is the highest run scorer and Avesh Khan is the highest wicket taker in LSG vs RR matches.
Ahead of the Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 match, here are some important statistics to know:
Matches played- 6
Rajasthan Royals- 4
Lucknow Super Giants- 2
MOST RUNS IN LSG VS RR MATCHES
| Player | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | HS |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | 5 | 207 | 41.40 | 141.78 | 74 |
| Sanju Samson | 5 | 200 | 66.66 | 160.00 | 82* |
| KL Rahul | 5 | 183 | 36.60 | 127.08 | 76 |
| Deepak Hooda | 5 | 162 | 32.40 | 145.94 | 59 |
| Riyan Parag | 6 | 138 | 27.60 | 140.81 | 43 |
MOST WICKETS IN LSG VS RR MATCHES
| Player | Innings | Wickets | Average | Economy Rate | BBI |
| Avesh Khan | 6 | 9 | 19.55 | 8.00 | 3/25 |
| Trent Boult | 5 | 8 | 17.50 | 7.00 | 2/18 |
| Yuzvendra Chahal | 5 | 6 | 31.66 | 10.00 | 4/41 |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 5 | 5 | 28.20 | 7.05 | 2/23 |
| Sandeep Sharma | 4 | 5 | 28.00 | 9.33 | 2/31 |
Published on Apr 22, 2026
Lucknow Super Giants will take on Rajasthan Royals at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana International…
Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder has been fined Rs 1 lakh and given a warning by the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) for using a mobile phone inside the dugout during his team’s Indian Premier League match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati last week.
“The BCCI ACSU was not satisfied with the Bhinder’s response (to the showcause notice). As it is his first breach, so under the protocols, he has been fined an amount (of Rs 1 lakh) and also handed a warning, clearly mentioning that he needs to be more careful in the future,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Sportstar.
The decision came after the BCCI issued a show-cause notice to Bhinder to explain his position. “The rules are set clearly for all the stakeholders, including the players and the staff, and we hope this incident will be taken as a deterrent by everyone,” Saikia added.
Footage of the incident, showing Bhinder on his phone with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi seated beside him, quickly went viral on social media, prompting the ACSU to take cognisance.
READ | Living on the edge—The risk and reward of the wide yorker
According to the IPL’s official guidelines under the PMOA protocol, no one is allowed to use mobile phones in the dugout area. Only the team managers and media managers can use their devices, but even they are restricted to inside the dressing room, not the dugout.
Ahead of every season, the IPL conducts mandatory briefings for team captains and managers, taking them through the PMOA framework and anti-corruption protocols.
Bhinder, a long-serving figure with Rajasthan Royals, has been part of that system for years. During the franchise’s suspension between 2016 and 2018, he also worked with Rising Pune Supergiant as team manager before returning to his old franchise in 2018.
The Royals will take on Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
Published on Apr 17, 2026
Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder has been fined Rs 1 lakh and given a warning by the BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (ACSU) for using a mobile phone inside the dugout during his team’s Indian Premier League match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati last week.
“The BCCI ACSU was not satisfied with the Bhinder’s response (to the showcause notice). As it is his first breach, so under the protocols, he has been fined an amount (of Rs 1 lakh) and also handed a warning, clearly mentioning that he needs to be more careful in the future,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Sportstar.
The decision came after the BCCI issued a show-cause notice to Bhinder to explain his position. “The rules are set clearly for all the stakeholders, including the players and the staff, and we hope this incident will be taken as a deterrent by everyone,” Saikia added.
Footage of the incident, showing Bhinder on his phone with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi seated beside him, quickly went viral on social media, prompting the ACSU to take cognisance.
READ | Living on the edge—The risk and reward of the wide yorker
According to the IPL’s official guidelines under the PMOA protocol, no one is allowed to use mobile phones in the dugout area. Only the team managers and media managers can use their devices, but even they are restricted to inside the dressing room, not the dugout.
Ahead of every season, the IPL conducts mandatory briefings for team captains and managers, taking them through the PMOA framework and anti-corruption protocols.
Bhinder, a long-serving figure with Rajasthan Royals, has been part of that system for years. During the franchise’s suspension between 2016 and 2018, he also worked with Rising Pune Supergiant as team manager before returning to his old franchise in 2018.
The Royals will take on Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
Published on Apr 17, 2026
Rajasthan Royals manager Romi Bhinder has been fined Rs 1 lakh and given a warning…
New blood doesn’t ask how things have always been done; it demands to know why they must only be done one way at all. When seasoned hands failed to steady the Sunrisers Hyderabad ship, it was the restless, untested duo – debutants Praful Hinge and Sakib Hasan, who shared eight wickets between them – who steered SRH to a 57-run win over the Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Monday.
When handed the daunting task of taming the JaiSurya phenomenon, Praful came through spectacularly. No bowler in the history of IPL had scalped three in the opening over – until the 24-year-old pacer from Vidarbha came knocking.
After a single to get the 217-run chase going, Yashasvi Jaiswal could only watch helplessly as Praful blazed through the in-form, on-song Royals’ top order with irreverence. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel and Lhuan-dre Pretorius walked back shell-shocked for ducks.
Sakib took care of Jaiswal before Praful returned to send Riyan Parag trudging back to the dugout and took flight à la Shoaib Akhtar.
Ravindra Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira arrested the rapid slide with a risk-free century stand, helped generously by an opponent that took its foot off the brakes. Just when the pair threatened to take Royals towards an unlikely win, Sakib returned to outfox Ferreira with a beautifully-disguised back of the length slow ball.
Two deliveries later, Jadeja followed and the resistance soon collapsed, as Sunrisers held their nerve to hand the Royals their first defeat of the season.
SRH’s 216 was, in hindsight, easier on the cardiac muscles. After Jofra Archer removed Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck and Travis Head perished after riding his luck, Kishan did bulk of the heavy lifting with a raucous home crowd swaying to his every move.
Just 19 balls after reaching his 19th IPL fifty, Kishan surged into the nineties, hammering Archer for three consecutive boundaries. A brief floodlight failure broke momentum, with Royals using it to remove the 27-year-old and Heinrich Klaasen.
Nitish Kumar Reddy then proved why the No. 5 spot should have never left him, with a brutal 24-run over off Sandeep – the most expensive of the night – pushing Sunrisers to an eventually insurmountable score.
Nothing about this contest unfolded as expected. Fans, regardless of allegiance, arrived bracing for a bruising shootout between two of the league’s most feared batting units.
Instead, they were treated to something else entirely: precision under pressure and nerve over reputation. In the end, it wasn’t pedigree but fearlessness that defined the night, as two unheralded names embodied a generation that doesn’t wait its turn – it takes it.
Published on Apr 13, 2026
New blood doesn’t ask how things have always been done; it demands to know why they must only be done one way at all. When seasoned hands failed to steady the Sunrisers Hyderabad ship, it was the restless, untested duo – debutants Praful Hinge and Sakib Hasan, who shared eight wickets between them – who steered SRH to a 57-run win over the Rajasthan Royals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here on Monday.
When handed the daunting task of taming the JaiSurya phenomenon, Praful came through spectacularly. No bowler in the history of IPL had scalped three in the opening over – until the 24-year-old pacer from Vidarbha came knocking.
After a single to get the 217-run chase going, Yashasvi Jaiswal could only watch helplessly as Praful blazed through the in-form, on-song Royals’ top order with irreverence. Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel and Lhuan-dre Pretorius walked back shell-shocked for ducks.
Sakib took care of Jaiswal before Praful returned to send Riyan Parag trudging back to the dugout and took flight à la Shoaib Akhtar.
Ravindra Jadeja and Donovan Ferreira arrested the rapid slide with a risk-free century stand, helped generously by an opponent that took its foot off the brakes. Just when the pair threatened to take Royals towards an unlikely win, Sakib returned to outfox Ferreira with a beautifully-disguised back of the length slow ball.
Two deliveries later, Jadeja followed and the resistance soon collapsed, as Sunrisers held their nerve to hand the Royals their first defeat of the season.
SRH’s 216 was, in hindsight, easier on the cardiac muscles. After Jofra Archer removed Abhishek Sharma for a golden duck and Travis Head perished after riding his luck, Kishan did bulk of the heavy lifting with a raucous home crowd swaying to his every move.
Just 19 balls after reaching his 19th IPL fifty, Kishan surged into the nineties, hammering Archer for three consecutive boundaries. A brief floodlight failure broke momentum, with Royals using it to remove the 27-year-old and Heinrich Klaasen.
Nitish Kumar Reddy then proved why the No. 5 spot should have never left him, with a brutal 24-run over off Sandeep – the most expensive of the night – pushing Sunrisers to an eventually insurmountable score.
Nothing about this contest unfolded as expected. Fans, regardless of allegiance, arrived bracing for a bruising shootout between two of the league’s most feared batting units.
Instead, they were treated to something else entirely: precision under pressure and nerve over reputation. In the end, it wasn’t pedigree but fearlessness that defined the night, as two unheralded names embodied a generation that doesn’t wait its turn – it takes it.
Published on Apr 13, 2026
New blood doesn’t ask how things have always been done; it demands to know why…
On expected lines, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACSU) has issued a show-cause notice to Romi Bhinder, team manager of Rajasthan Royals, for using a mobile handset during the side’s Indian Premier League fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati last week.
According to the notice, Bhinder and the franchise have been asked to respond within 48 hours.
The charge pertains to the use of a mobile phone in the dugout. As per tournament guidelines, players and team officials are barred from using mobile phones in Players and Match Officials Areas (PMOA) to prevent any potentially corrupt transfer of information. Teams are, however, permitted to use walkie-talkies for communication between the dressing room and the dugout in specific situations.
While PMOA protocols allow a team manager to use a mobile phone inside the dressing room, its use in the dugout is prohibited.
Sources indicated that Bhinder had sought prior permission from the ACU before the tournament to use a mobile phone due to a medical condition that had led to his hospitalisation for three weeks ahead of the IPL. However, BCCI officials clarified that mobile phones cannot be used to make or receive calls in the dugout, which is accessible to the squad and coaching staff during matches.
On Sunday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the “veracity of the incident” would be established before any conclusions are drawn.
“Managers using a mobile phone is permissible, but we need to find out whether there was any violation of rules. That fact-finding exercise is now on. Once it is complete, we will take necessary steps depending on the outcome,” Saikia told Sportstar.
Footage of the incident, showing Bhinder on his phone with Vaibhav Suryavanshi seated beside him, quickly went viral on social media, prompting the ACU to take cognisance.
Rajasthan Royals will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on Monday.
Published on Apr 13, 2026
On expected lines, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACSU) has issued a show-cause notice to Romi Bhinder, team manager of Rajasthan Royals, for using a mobile handset during the side’s Indian Premier League fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati last week.
According to the notice, Bhinder and the franchise have been asked to respond within 48 hours.
The charge pertains to the use of a mobile phone in the dugout. As per tournament guidelines, players and team officials are barred from using mobile phones in Players and Match Officials Areas (PMOA) to prevent any potentially corrupt transfer of information. Teams are, however, permitted to use walkie-talkies for communication between the dressing room and the dugout in specific situations.
While PMOA protocols allow a team manager to use a mobile phone inside the dressing room, its use in the dugout is prohibited.
Sources indicated that Bhinder had sought prior permission from the ACU before the tournament to use a mobile phone due to a medical condition that had led to his hospitalisation for three weeks ahead of the IPL. However, BCCI officials clarified that mobile phones cannot be used to make or receive calls in the dugout, which is accessible to the squad and coaching staff during matches.
On Sunday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the “veracity of the incident” would be established before any conclusions are drawn.
“Managers using a mobile phone is permissible, but we need to find out whether there was any violation of rules. That fact-finding exercise is now on. Once it is complete, we will take necessary steps depending on the outcome,” Saikia told Sportstar.
Footage of the incident, showing Bhinder on his phone with Vaibhav Suryavanshi seated beside him, quickly went viral on social media, prompting the ACU to take cognisance.
Rajasthan Royals will face Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on Monday.
Published on Apr 13, 2026
On expected lines, the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Anti-Corruption Unit (ACSU)…
Rajasthan Royals’ long-time team manager Romi Bhinder has found himself in the middle of a controversy after television cameras caught him using a mobile phone in the team dugout during an Indian Premier League fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati earlier this week.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has swung into action and initiated a probe, Board secretary Devajit Saikia said the “veracity of the incident” would be established before any conclusion is drawn.
“Managers using a mobile phone is permissible, but we need to find out whether there was any violation of rules. That fact-finding exercise is now on. Once it is complete, we will take necessary steps depending on the outcome,” Saikia told Sportstar.
Footage of the incident, showing Bhinder on his phone with Vaibhav Suryavanshi seated beside him, quickly went viral on social media, prompting the ACU to take cognisance.
However, Saikia reiterated that due process would be followed. “We will conduct an internal examination before reaching a logical conclusion. We need to review the video footage and gather evidence,” he added.
According to the IPL’s official guidelines under the PMOA (Players and Match Officials Area) protocol (2026), “The Team Manager may use a phone in the dressing room but NOT in the dugout.”
Ahead of every season, the IPL conducts mandatory briefings for team captains and managers, taking them through the PMOA framework and anti-corruption protocols.
Bhinder, a long-serving figure with Rajasthan Royals, has been part of that system for years. During the franchise’s suspension between 2016 and 2018, he also worked with Rising Pune Supergiant as team manager, before returning to his old franchise in 2018.
Published on Apr 12, 2026
Rajasthan Royals’ long-time team manager Romi Bhinder has found himself in the middle of a controversy after television cameras caught him using a mobile phone in the team dugout during an Indian Premier League fixture against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Guwahati earlier this week.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) has swung into action and initiated a probe, Board secretary Devajit Saikia said the “veracity of the incident” would be established before any conclusion is drawn.
“Managers using a mobile phone is permissible, but we need to find out whether there was any violation of rules. That fact-finding exercise is now on. Once it is complete, we will take necessary steps depending on the outcome,” Saikia told Sportstar.
Footage of the incident, showing Bhinder on his phone with Vaibhav Suryavanshi seated beside him, quickly went viral on social media, prompting the ACU to take cognisance.
However, Saikia reiterated that due process would be followed. “We will conduct an internal examination before reaching a logical conclusion. We need to review the video footage and gather evidence,” he added.
According to the IPL’s official guidelines under the PMOA (Players and Match Officials Area) protocol (2026), “The Team Manager may use a phone in the dressing room but NOT in the dugout.”
Ahead of every season, the IPL conducts mandatory briefings for team captains and managers, taking them through the PMOA framework and anti-corruption protocols.
Bhinder, a long-serving figure with Rajasthan Royals, has been part of that system for years. During the franchise’s suspension between 2016 and 2018, he also worked with Rising Pune Supergiant as team manager, before returning to his old franchise in 2018.
Published on Apr 12, 2026
Rajasthan Royals’ long-time team manager Romi Bhinder has found himself in the middle of a…
Over the last decade or so, Talegaon, a tiny town located about 150 kms from Nagpur, has risen in prominence in Indian cricket.
This surge in attention is all thanks to the Indian Premier League side Rajasthan Royals’ High-Performance Centre (HPC) located there.
Founded in 2010, it is a year-round establishment with over 25 pitches and a multitude of training facilities, aimed to function as a training base for the Royals – a sort of high-end cricketing garage aimed to reset and fine-tune their players.
Rajasthan Royals performance coach Siddhartha Lahiri, though, described the HPC through a different technical spectrum during a press conference in Guwahati on Monday
“I call it the ChatGPT of world cricket,” said Lahiri, making no effort to mask his pride.
Lahiri didn’t go on to explain his analogy. But the idea was clear – it is an establishment where players are equipped with the resources to work out solutions to their problems.
What Lahiri made clear, though, was his belief that the facility was a point of difference for Royals.
“I think the huge advantage which we have is our high-performance centre, where we can absolutely have unrivalled practice. Players, with their calendars, playing at different times, it’s not always easy for them to get that practice.
“For us, that’s a huge advantage. Anytime, anyone can go to Talegaon. We have enough infrastructure at Talegaon for coaches, even if they are not present, to work with the players and help them improve,” added Lahiri.
The RR HPC’s functioning isn’t limited to the framework of the Indian Premier League. Royals have also used the facility to mimic conditions and manufacture match situations for their players to perform at almost any level.
Wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal have utilised the facility extensively to prepare for Test cricket. Former captain Sanju Samson and current skipper Riyan Parag have trained in Talegaon ahead of the domestic season. This is all in addition to their pre-IPL season practice camps.
Dhruv Jurel training at the RR HPC in Talegaon with Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour. | Photo Credit: Dhruv Jurel/Instagram
Dhruv Jurel training at the RR HPC in Talegaon with Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour. | Photo Credit: Dhruv Jurel/Instagram
At their disposal have been a wide range of pitches and an unrelenting battery of net bowlers, allowing them to train at high volume and variability.
“The best thing about Rajasthan Royals is that they have an academy, which is open for 12 months. You can go there, you can call them, and they conduct everything from net bowlers to everything else,” hailed Jurel in 2025, while speaking in the AB de Villiers’ 360 Show.
The latest player to be nourished extensively by the Royals HPC has been teenage prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who was signed by the side at the IPL 2025 auction for Rs. 1.10 crore.
The left-handed batter took IPL by storm last season, when he scored a stunning hundred against Gujarat Titans. The 15-year-old has started IPL 2026 in a similar flamboyant fashion, scoring 122 runs from the first three games at a strike rate of 248.97.
“Vaibhav spends a lot of time in our HPC,” said Lahiri. “So, we have different types of wickets, we have hundreds and hundreds of net bowlers. The practice which he gets there, he would not get anywhere else.”
“There is a sync for us between our analytics team and our coaching team. The work is going on all through the year, and we always bring in a player with that confidence. So, I think we have a cutting edge in that,” added Lahiri.
Published on Apr 08, 2026
Over the last decade or so, Talegaon, a tiny town located about 150 kms from Nagpur, has risen in prominence in Indian cricket.
This surge in attention is all thanks to the Indian Premier League side Rajasthan Royals’ High-Performance Centre (HPC) located there.
Founded in 2010, it is a year-round establishment with over 25 pitches and a multitude of training facilities, aimed to function as a training base for the Royals – a sort of high-end cricketing garage aimed to reset and fine-tune their players.
Rajasthan Royals performance coach Siddhartha Lahiri, though, described the HPC through a different technical spectrum during a press conference in Guwahati on Monday
“I call it the ChatGPT of world cricket,” said Lahiri, making no effort to mask his pride.
Lahiri didn’t go on to explain his analogy. But the idea was clear – it is an establishment where players are equipped with the resources to work out solutions to their problems.
What Lahiri made clear, though, was his belief that the facility was a point of difference for Royals.
“I think the huge advantage which we have is our high-performance centre, where we can absolutely have unrivalled practice. Players, with their calendars, playing at different times, it’s not always easy for them to get that practice.
“For us, that’s a huge advantage. Anytime, anyone can go to Talegaon. We have enough infrastructure at Talegaon for coaches, even if they are not present, to work with the players and help them improve,” added Lahiri.
The RR HPC’s functioning isn’t limited to the framework of the Indian Premier League. Royals have also used the facility to mimic conditions and manufacture match situations for their players to perform at almost any level.
Wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal have utilised the facility extensively to prepare for Test cricket. Former captain Sanju Samson and current skipper Riyan Parag have trained in Talegaon ahead of the domestic season. This is all in addition to their pre-IPL season practice camps.
Dhruv Jurel training at the RR HPC in Talegaon with Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour. | Photo Credit: Dhruv Jurel/Instagram
Dhruv Jurel training at the RR HPC in Talegaon with Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour. | Photo Credit: Dhruv Jurel/Instagram
At their disposal have been a wide range of pitches and an unrelenting battery of net bowlers, allowing them to train at high volume and variability.
“The best thing about Rajasthan Royals is that they have an academy, which is open for 12 months. You can go there, you can call them, and they conduct everything from net bowlers to everything else,” hailed Jurel in 2025, while speaking in the AB de Villiers’ 360 Show.
The latest player to be nourished extensively by the Royals HPC has been teenage prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who was signed by the side at the IPL 2025 auction for Rs. 1.10 crore.
The left-handed batter took IPL by storm last season, when he scored a stunning hundred against Gujarat Titans. The 15-year-old has started IPL 2026 in a similar flamboyant fashion, scoring 122 runs from the first three games at a strike rate of 248.97.
“Vaibhav spends a lot of time in our HPC,” said Lahiri. “So, we have different types of wickets, we have hundreds and hundreds of net bowlers. The practice which he gets there, he would not get anywhere else.”
“There is a sync for us between our analytics team and our coaching team. The work is going on all through the year, and we always bring in a player with that confidence. So, I think we have a cutting edge in that,” added Lahiri.
Published on Apr 08, 2026
Over the last decade or so, Talegaon, a tiny town located about 150 kms from…
