Cricket | DD News

March 29, 2026 10:48 AM

Virat Kohli’s one-format focus fuels strong IPL start

Virat Kohli's decision to scale back his international commitments has not dampened his appetite for runs, with the former India captain guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to victory with an unbeaten 69 in the Indian ‌Premier League opener. The 37-year-old retired from Twenty20 Internationals after India's 2024 World Cup triumph and brought the curtain down on his 123-test career last year, leaving one-day internationals as his sole format. He featured in 13 ODIs last year, scoring 65...

March 29, 2026 10:46 AM

IPL 2026: Kohli and Duffy star as defending champions RCB overpower SRH

India great Virat Kohli and New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy led from the front as defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) opened their 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign with a commanding six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday. Kohli stamped ‌his authority early in the 202-run chase alongside local favourite Devdutt Padikkal as the duo kept the scoring rate firmly under control, with Bengaluru posting 76-1 in the power...

March 29, 2026 10:45 AM

Ashwin becomes first India international to join US Major League

Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is set to become the first India international to appear in U.S.-based Major League Cricket (MLC), ‌after San Francisco Unicorns announced his signing on Saturday for the Twenty20 competition's 2026 season. Ashwin, who represented India in 287 matches across all formats and took ⁠765 wickets, retired from international cricket in 2024 and ended his Indian Premier League (IPL) career last year. The 39-year-old, India's second-highest wicket-taker i...

March 29, 2026 10:42 AM

My off-field behaviour during Ashes was unacceptable, says England’s Ben Duckett

England batter Ben Duckett admitted on Friday that his behaviour during the team's humbling 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia had been inappropriate. The 31-year-old was caught on camera under the influence of alcohol following the second ‌test in December, when England were 2-0 down in the series. "I've held my hands up since then," Duckett told reporters. "It's not something any professional sportsman should be doing. We were having a break that was planned before the series and if w...

March 27, 2026 10:56 AM

IPL 2026: Dates, format, fixtures and team details

The Indian Premier League is a franchise-based Twenty20 cricket tournament organised by the Indian board (BCCI). First held in 2008, it quickly became the most lucrative cricket tournament in the world. Here is what you need to know about the 19th edition of the competition which starts next month: WHEN IS THE IPL HAPPENING? - The 19th edition of the IPL runs from March 28 to May 31. WHAT IS THE FORMAT OF THE IPL? - The 10 participating teams play in a double round-robin format in which th...

March 27, 2026 11:14 AM

BCCI snubs traditional venues for Border-Gavaskar Trophy

India will host Australia in a marquee five-match series early next year but several of the country's traditional test venues have not been selected to stage one of cricket's fiercest rivalries in this format of the game. Nagpur will host the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy from January 21, followed by tests in Chennai, Guwahati, Ranchi and Ahmedabad, the Indian cricket board said on Thursday. Kolkata, Mumbai and Bengaluru were not allotted matches despite being established test cent...

March 25, 2026 11:01 AM

IPL team RCB sold for $1.78 billion

A consortium comprising Aditya Birla Group, Times of India Group, Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone said on Tuesday it would acquire Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for $1.78 billion, ending a weeks-long bidding war. The seller United Spirits, the Indian arm of UK-based drinks giant Diageo, launched a strategic review of its 100% holding of the Bengaluru franchise in November, labelling the team "non-core" to its primary alcohol business. Royal Challengers Bengalu...

March 25, 2026 10:55 AM

Australia board to keep hands off pitches despite Ashes debacle

Australia's cricket board will resist calls to exert greater control over the nation's test wickets despite a pair of two-day matches during the Ashes that cost the local game millions of dollars. The first Ashes test against England at Perth Stadium and the fourth at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) were decided in two days, prompting widespread criticism of the pitches' preparation. While the Perth wicket was rated highly by the International Cricket Council's match referee, the MCG pitch ...

March 25, 2026 10:51 AM

Brendon McCullum to continue as England head coach: ECB

Brendon McCullum will continue as England's head coach in all three formats, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Monday, despite the team's lacklustre performances and lingering questions about their dressing-room culture. Ben Stokes will remain as test captain with Harry Brook his vice-captain and Rob Key will stay as managing director of England's men's cricket following an ECB review centred around a humbling Ashes series. England suffered a 4-1 defeat in Australia this year a...

March 25, 2026 10:49 AM

Ben Duckett pulls out of IPL to focus on England career, risks two-season ban

England opener Ben Duckett has withdrawn from the Indian Premier League (IPL) four days before the start of the tournament to focus on his international career, a decision that could leave him facing a two-season ban from the league. The 31-year-old, who scored 202 runs at an average of 20.20 during the Ashes, was bought by Delhi Capitals for 20 million rupees ($213,167) at the auction. Under IPL rules, any player who registers for the auction, is picked by a franchise and makes himself unavai...