mushtaq ali trophy

Grandmother The Force Behind His Cricket Ambitions

The BCCI has announced the 2026-27 domestic cricket schedule, featuring 1,788 matches across various men's and women's categories. The Ranji Trophy will continue its two-phase format, commencing on October 11, while the Duleep Trophy kicks off the season on August 23. Notable changes include the U-23 one-day and Vizzy Trophy inter-zonal university competitions shifting to T20 format.

After a 12-year hiatus, the desert state is back in the Test arena, thanks to a young left-arm spinner from Sriganganagar, Manav Suthar.

Shreyas Iyer's journey from overlooked talent to India's T20I captain is a testament to resilience. Overcoming injuries and selector doubts, his consistent performances in domestic and IPL cricket, coupled with leadership acumen, have finally earned him a prominent role. Iyer's unwavering determination shines through his remarkable comeback.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, once seen as India's next batting star, faces inconsistent white-ball opportunities and is overshadowed by his IPL partner Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Former cricketer Ambati Rayudu suggests Jaiswal needs a team change, proposing Mumbai Indians as a logical destination for his development.

At 36, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is still outrunning younger pacers. While generations of fast bowlers have come and gone since his IPL debut in 2011, the RCB veteran remains a constant. TOI traces the fitness transformation, meticulous preparation and daily discipline that have helped him stay relevant in cricket's most demanding format for more than a decade.

Rajasthan Royals' Vaibhav Sooryavanshi etched his name in T20 history, becoming the highest-scoring teenager in a single tournament with 583 runs in IPL 2026, surpassing Devdutt Padikkal's record. Despite a rare off-day against Mumbai Indians, the young sensation's stellar season, marked by an incredible strike rate and a century, has propelled RR to the playoffs.

Sarfaraz Khan lauded young Vaibhav Sooryvanshi's skill and mindset, recalling his impressive Ranji Trophy debut. Sarfaraz also reflected on his own IPL comeback, emphasizing his dedication to improving his white-ball game and fitness after a two-year absence. He stressed the importance of continuous growth and simple cricket principles.

Moments after RCB’s IPL 2026 victory, Patidar shared an emotional embrace with childhood friend Abhishek Pathrod, saying, “Dekha, jeet gaye. Kar diya na maine." The triumph capped a remarkable rise for the soft-spoken leader, whose calm captaincy and prolific batting helped transform RCB from perennial underachievers into back-to-back champions.

In an exclusive conversation with TimesofIndia.com following his retirement announcement, former India allrounder Vijay Shankar reflected on the emotional decision to step away, the injuries that altered his career, handling public criticism, his love for all-round cricket and why he still wants to continue playing overseas leagues.

Soft-spoken away from the spotlight and measured in his demeanour, Rajat Patidar never fit the image of a franchise-defining superstar. Yet the injury replacement who once went unsold at auction became the captain who delivered RCB's maiden IPL title. Now, after another evolution in his leadership and batting, Patidar stands one victory away from achieving what only Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni have managed.

After a breakthrough IPL season with Lucknow Super Giants, Mukul Choudhary is set to fulfil a dream far bigger than cricket: helping his family clear a long-standing bank loan. From overnight bus journeys between Gurugram and Bharatpur to years of living in rented homes, the youngster's rise has been built on sacrifice, hard work and unwavering family support. Now, armed with lessons from Rishabh Pant, Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran, Mukul believes the IPL has changed his life and opened the road to bigger ambitions.

Devdutt Padikkal lauded teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a "rare talent," deeming any attempt to replicate his unique batting style "foolish." Sooryavanshi's explosive 93 off 38 balls made him the youngest to score 500+ T20 runs in a season, surpassing Padikkal's previous record. Both left-handers have been impactful players for their franchises.

All-rounder Vijay Shankar has announced his retirement from all Indian domestic cricket and the IPL, concluding a career that saw him represent India in ODIs and T20Is, including the 2019 World Cup. Shankar, who played 12 ODIs and 9 T20Is, expressed gratitude for his journey and plans to explore new opportunities in cricket.

Fresh off back-to-back IPL titles, Krunal Pandya reflects on his journey, emphasizing resilience and reinvention. He discusses his evolution as a bowler in the high-scoring T20 era, the influence of his late father, and his unwavering hunger for success. Pandya also shares insights on his son's unique cricket critiques and his hopes for an India recall.

Ravi Singh debuts for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL against Delhi Capitals. The uncapped Railways batter replaces Ravindra Jadeja. Singh was bought for ₹95 lakh and impressed in domestic T20s. He is known for his aggressive batting. Rajasthan Royals hopes he makes an immediate impact as they push for the playoffs.

Prince Yadav’s maiden India ODI call-up caps a remarkable rise in Indian cricket. From playing tennis-ball cricket in Najafgarh he has taken the long route to the national side. Spotted by coach Amit Vashishtha because of his yorkers and backed despite multiple setbacks, including a two-year ban for age fudging, Prince has now earned a place in India’s squad for the ODI series against Afghanistan.

Saurabh Dubey’s selection as Kolkata Knight Riders’ injury replacement raised eyebrows after the left-arm pacer spent over two years out of competitive cricket. But KKR’s faith in the former net bowler is beginning to pay off. After impressive spells against Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians, including wickets of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, Dubey has emerged as one of the surprise stories of KKR’s season.

Dubai-raised Karnataka all-rounder Macneil Hadley Noronha’s IPL dream finally came true after an emotional 4 PM call from Chennai Super Kings. The 24-year-old’s journey spans 14 years of struggle, family sacrifices across Dubai and Bengaluru, standout domestic performances and a memorable six-sixes tribute to his idol Yuvraj Singh.

Sunil Gavaskar proposes rewarding bowlers with an extra over for taking three or more wickets in their spell, aiming to rebalance T20 cricket heavily favouring batters. He believes this encourages attacking bowling, citing recent high-scoring IPL matches as evidence of the need for change. Gavaskar suggests testing the idea in domestic tournaments first.

Urvil Patel delivered an explosive IPL start against LSG, becoming the first to hit six sixes in his first eight balls and reaching a 13-ball fifty. His 65 off 23 balls also secured the highest strike rate for a CSK batter facing at least 20 balls, showcasing his game-changing ability.

Urvil Patel etched his name in IPL history by smashing a 13-ball half-century for Chennai Super Kings against Lucknow Super Giants. This explosive innings equalled Yashasvi Jaiswal's record for the fastest fifty in the tournament. Patel, a 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter from Gujarat, has a proven track record of rapid scoring in domestic cricket.

Young allrounder Suryansh Shedge cherishes praise from Rohit Sharma after his explosive batting in the Syed mushtaq ali trophy. He also shares valuable insights from heart-to-heart conversations with PBKS coach Ricky Ponting and captain Shreyas Iyer, focusing on preparation and staying present. Shedge is also receiving guidance from Jatin Paranjape on embracing the current moment.

Gujarat Titans' Ashok Sharma has become IPL 2026's breakout star, consistently bowling over 150 kph and even recording the tournament's fastest delivery at 154.2 kph. Inspired by legends like Brett Lee and Dale Steyn, the 23-year-old credits coach Ashish Nehra for honing his discipline and match awareness, focusing on Test-match lengths first.

Gujarat Titans handed a maiden IPL appearance to all-rounder Nishant Sindhu against Punjab Kings. Captain Shubman Gill confirmed the decision at the toss, emphasizing the team's momentum in chasing and the need to peak at the right time. Sindhu, a left-handed batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, previously impressed in junior cricket and the U-19 World Cup.

His performances have led to discussions about whether he could be selected for the India team after the IPL, and Manjrekar said he has done enough to be considered.

Urvil Patel’s explosive 65 off 23 balls against Lucknow Super Giants announced the arrival of CSK’s newest six-hitting sensation. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed six sixes within his first eight balls, rewrote IPL records. Backed by advice, and even a specially weighted bat from MS Dhoni, Urvil’s power-hitting philosophy is shaped by a gruelling routine of 200 practice sixes a day.

Shivang Kumar made his name in the Madhya Pradesh T20 League as an opener. His exploits with the bat helped him become a marquee player for Bundelkhand Bulls, who picked him for Rs 13 lakh for the 2026 season. But within a year, he learnt the art of wrist-spin from his father, a former Bengal U-19 cricketer, and made instant impact. The IPL franchises noticed and multiple trials later, he was roped in by the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Salil Arora’s fearless no-look six off Bumrah was no fluke but the result of relentless preparation. From facing 600–700 tennis-ball deliveries daily to simulating high pace in training, his power-hitting was built with precision. Backed by strong domestic performances and belief from teammates, the youngster’s calculated approach and fearless mindset are now translating into impactful moments on the IPL stage.