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CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad in action against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk in Chennai on May 18, 2026. | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam Chennai Super Kings, following its five-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday, is on the brink of failing to qualify for the playoffs for a third straight year. While there were quite a few shortcomings, the franchise’s main concern in IPL 2026 has been the indifferent form of skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad.Though the 29-year-old is the side’s second-highest scorer (321 runs), he has been inconsistent with just two half-centuries in 13 innings.His staid approach in the first six overs feels like an…

Gurnoor has been involved in the India-A set-up since September 2025. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO: K. MURALI KUMAR Gurnoor Brar came to know of India’s squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan just like the vast majority: via the BCCI’s social media post a little after 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Never mind that Gurnoor was one of the 15 members chosen for the red-ball assignment in New Chandigarh.Following his maiden Test call-up, there were no imminent plans for a grand celebration on his part.“I’m just about to head out for training with Gujarat Titans,” the right-arm pacer from Punjab told…

KKR opener Finn Allen could take the game away from the opponents in a jiffy. | Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak Kolkata Knight Riders, one of the five teams vying for the remaining solitary playoff berth, will try to exact revenge on Mumbai Indians at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday and stay alive in IPL 2026.KKR must have regained some self-belief after defeating Gujarat Titans in its previous outing.The host, which has struggled through the season due to injuries to its key players, will be keeping a close eye on spinner Varun Chakaravarthy and pacer Matheesha Pathirana. Varun bowled against…

Chief selector of India’s men’s cricket team, Ajit Agarkar. File | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector of India’s men’s cricket team, has stated that Mohammed Shami was not considered for the Afghanistan series because the veteran pacer is only available for T20 cricket for now. Agarkar also mentioned that Auqib Nabi came very close to his maiden Test call-up.“As far as we have been told, at this point, his body is allowing him to [play only the shortest format]. I know he has played the domestic season this year. But the information I have is that, at…

K.L. Rahul has been re-appointed vice-captain of India’s men’s Test squad, while the spin duo of Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey along with lanky pacer Gurnoor Brar have earned their maiden Test call-ups for the one-off Test against Afghanistan to be played in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10.Prince Yadav, one of the standout performers of the ongoing Indian Premier League season, has received his maiden ODI call-up for the three-match series to follow beginning on June 14. India A’s Manav Suthar, on day one of the 1st unofficial Test match between India A and South Africa A, played…

Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to reduce spending on petroleum products, cut edible oil consumption, delay non-essential gold purchases by a year, avoid unnecessary foreign travel, and prioritise the purchase of locally made products. He also advised increased use of public transport and electric vehicles, and called for the revival of Covid-era measures such as work-from-home, all aimed at reducing petrol and diesel consumption.Mr. Modi’s appeals have a singular focus — reducing the country’s foreign currency spending. This is an alarm bell that no government has sounded before, not even during the severe economic crisis of 1991,…

Flamboyant wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant was dropped from the ODI squad and also loses his vice-captaincy to Rahul for the one-off Test against Afghanistan. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Flamboyant wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant was on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) removed as vice-captain of the Indian Test squad for the upcoming one-off match against Afghanistan and dropped from the ODI line-up for the ensuing three-match series against the same opponents.K.L. Rahul replaced Pant as the vice-captain of the Indian Test team that is being led by Shubman Gill. Senior all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been rested from the Test match.The Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI…

French ​Finance Minister ‌Roland Lescure said on ​Tuesday ⁠(May 19, 2026) that G7 Finance Ministers had ‌agreed that the International Monetary ‌Fund ‌(IMF) and ⁠the World ⁠Bank needed to step up efforts ​to ‌aid vulnerable countries.Mr. Lescure, who is hosting a ‌G7 Finance ​Ministers’ meeting in Paris, made ⁠the comments as he ‌arrived for the second and last day of talks.A ‌joint G7 statement, ​resulting from the meeting, ⁠is expected later on ⁠Tuesday (May 19, 2026).Finance ⁠Ministers and central bank governors from G7 countries met in the French capital for a second day of talks to discuss the economic fallout…

Mumbai Indians Quinton de Kock has been ruled out of the remainder of the IPL 2026 season due to injury. | Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock and pace-bowling all-rounder Raj Angad Bawa were on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) ruled out of the remainder of the IPL season due to injuries.Already eliminated from the playoff race, Mumbai Indians have two matches left this season — against Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata on Wednesday (May 20, 2026) and Rajasthan Royals on Sunday (May 24, 2026).De Kock has been ruled out with a tendon injury in his left…

Chennai Super Kings’ head coach Stephen Fleming acknowledged that Ruturaj Gaikwad is still a work in progress as captain after the side’s playoff hopes in the ongoing IPL were left massively dented by a loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in Chennai.CSK suffered a five-wicket defeat to SRH on Monday (May 18, 2026), leaving their playoff hopes dependent on a complex set of mathematical possibilities.They now face a must-win final league game against Gujarat Titans on Thursday (May 21), while depending on other results to fall in their favour. SRH, on the other hand, sealed their playoff berth on Tuesday night.”Ruturaj will…