IPL (Indian Premier League) - Loktej English

After Hyderabad's Dominant Victory, Punjab Kings Captain Shreyas Iyer Blames Fielding for Loss

Loktej English Team — Thu, 07 May 2026 19:37:44 +0530

In the 49th match of the IPL held at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 33 runs. Hyderabad set a massive score of 235 runs for 4 wickets while batting first.

After the match, Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer acknowledged that poor fielding and dropping catches of Ishan Kishan and Heinrich Klaasen early on were the main reasons for the loss. Taking advantage of these lifelines, Kishan scored 55 runs and Klaasen made 69 runs, which completely put Punjab out of the match. Punjab Kings had a disappointing start while chasing the huge target of 236 runs.

Hyderabad's bowlers delivered sharp bowling, sending both openers, Priyansh and Prabhsimran, back to the pavilion within just seven balls. The fall of captain Shreyas Iyer's crucial wicket during the powerplay put the team on the back foot. After six overs, Punjab's score was 57/3.

Iyer stated that the wicket became slower in the second innings, making it nearly impossible to chase such a large score after the early setbacks. In difficult circumstances, young player Cooper Connolly showed courage by scoring an unbeaten 107 runs, but he did not receive adequate support from the other end. Shreyas Iyer praised Connolly, calling him an excellent player under pressure.

The captain warned the team that despite a good start to the season, this loss has exposed the team's shortcomings. If Punjab wants to remain in the tournament, they need to improve their fielding and middle-order batting immediately.

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Sanju Samson's explosive innings leads Chennai Super Kings to victory over Delhi Capitals

Loktej English Team — Wed, 06 May 2026 19:28:22 +0530

Chennai Super Kings defeated Delhi Capitals by eight wickets in an IPL match, thanks to Sanju Samson's unbeaten 87 runs. This victory marked Chennai's fifth win in ten matches, enhancing their playoff prospects.

After restricting Delhi Capitals to 155 runs for seven wickets in 20 overs, Chennai chased down the target in 17.3 overs, scoring 159 runs for two wickets. Sanju Samson played a crucial role, scoring 87 runs off 52 balls with seven fours and six sixes. On a pitch that posed challenges for other batsmen, Sanju made batting look easy, receiving good support from Karthik Sharma, who scored an unbeaten 41 runs off 31 balls.

Chennai appears to have found their rhythm, having previously defeated Mumbai Indians at their home ground and now overcoming Delhi at their own venue. Chennai's bowlers effectively limited Delhi to 155 runs, setting the stage for their victory. Sanju Samson's innings and Karthik Sharma's contribution ensured a comfortable win, improving the team's net run rate.

With this win, Chennai now has 10 points and remains in sixth place in the standings. Earlier, Delhi Capitals managed to score 155 runs, with Tristan Stubbs contributing 38 runs off 31 balls and Sameer Rizvi scoring an unbeaten 40 runs off 24 balls. At one point, Delhi was struggling at 69 runs with five wickets down, but Stubbs and Rizvi formed a partnership of 65 runs off 47 balls to bring the team to a respectable total.

Rizvi played aggressively in the final overs, hitting three sixes in the last over, which yielded 20 runs. When Rizvi came to bat at 69 runs with five wickets down, his team was in deep trouble, but as an 'impact substitute', he ensured a competitive score. The pitch was challenging, and CSK's bowlers capitalized on the conditions, with fast bowlers maintaining a hard length and spinners adjusting their pace.

Several top-order batsmen got off to good starts, but wickets fell consistently, putting the team in a precarious position. Tristan Stubbs held one end, allowing Rizvi to play his preferred shots. In the last seven overs, 78 runs were scored, with Noor taking two wickets and the other bowlers performing impressively, although Anshul Kamboj was slightly expensive.

IPL: Rajasthan Royals acquired by Mittal family and Adar Poonawalla for $1.65 billion

Loktej English Team — Mon, 04 May 2026 12:04:04 +0530

New Delhi: Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, known as the Steel King, and Aditya Mittal announced on Sunday that they have reached an agreement to acquire Rajasthan Royals (RR) in partnership with Adar Poonawalla, Manoj Badale, and a consortium.

The Mittal family will hold approximately 75 percent of Rajasthan Royals, while Adar Poonawalla will own about 18 percent. Around 7 percent will be held by existing approved investors, including Manoj Badale. It is believed that the consortium led by Kal Somani, which previously made a successful bid to acquire RR, faced funding issues in completing the purchase, leading to the deal falling through.

Badale will continue to support Rajasthan Royals and act as a bridge between the past and the present, bringing his deep knowledge and experience of cricket to the franchise. In addition to the IPL team, Rajasthan Royals also owns Paarl Royals in the South Africa T20 League (SA20) and Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). RR was sold for approximately $1.65 billion, reflecting the enterprise value of the Rajasthan Royals men's franchise, Paarl Royals, and Barbados Royals.

The completion of the agreement is subject to standard closing conditions, including approvals from BCCI, CCI, IPL governing council, and other applicable regulatory authorities, and is expected to occur in the third quarter of 2026. Lakshmi N. Mittal stated that he loves cricket and his family is from Rajasthan, so there is no other IPL team he would want to be a part of besides Rajasthan Royals.

He expressed excitement about being part of this great team and looks forward to cheering for future successes alongside all the fans on the sidelines. Aditya Mittal mentioned that IPL has become one of the largest sporting leagues in the world in a short time, and Rajasthan Royals is one of the iconic teams of the league, known for developing new talents, which he finds very appealing. They are committed to continuing this legacy and utilizing the best talents in the world for future success.

Vanisha Mittal-Bhatia expressed that their family loves sports and India, so being part of the future success of the world's largest cricket league with Rajasthan Royals is an honor and privilege. Adar Poonawalla expressed happiness in partnering with Aditya Mittal on this investment, stating that Rajasthan Royals is a premier IPL franchise with a strong legacy, and he is eager to contribute to its continued growth and long-term success. Badale remarked that being associated with Rajasthan Royals from the beginning and playing a small role in creating one of the most exciting and successful cricket leagues has been a lifelong privilege.

He expressed gratitude to the most important people—fans, players, coaches, and management teams, both old and new—who have made the team what it is today. He welcomed the Mittal family and Adar Poonawalla as the new owners of Rajasthan Royals.

IPL 2026: Kyle Jamieson Faces Consequences for Aggressive Celebration After Dismissing Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Loktej English Team — Sat, 02 May 2026 19:40:27 +0530

Kyle Jamieson of Delhi Capitals has landed in controversy following an aggressive celebration after dismissing Vaibhav Suryavanshi during a match against Rajasthan Royals on May 1. According to an official statement released by the IPL, Jamieson was found guilty of violating Article 2.5 of the code of conduct, which pertains to the use of abusive language or provocative gestures towards an opposing player.

For this misconduct, Jamieson received one demerit point and a strict warning. During the match, after dismissing Suryavanshi for just 4 runs, Jamieson celebrated by clapping loudly near the young batsman's face and gestured sharply for him to head towards the dugout. The 15-year-old Suryavanshi has been in excellent form this season, having scored half-centuries in just 15 balls on two occasions, making his wicket crucial for Delhi.

However, fans on social media criticized the excessive behavior of an experienced foreign bowler towards a teenage player. Jamieson admitted his mistake before match referee Rajiv Seth. In terms of the match result, Delhi Capitals defeated Rajasthan Royals in a high-scoring encounter.

Rajasthan set a massive score of 225/6, thanks to Riyan Parag's impressive 90 runs. Chasing the target, Delhi secured victory with five balls to spare, bolstered by a strong opening partnership of 110 runs between KL Rahul (75 runs) and Pathum Nissanka (62 runs). With this win, Delhi has strengthened its position in the points table, but the disciplinary action against Jamieson remains a concern for the team.

Surat's Excitement for IPL 2026, Fan Park to Offer Stadium-like Experience

Loktej English Team — Fri, 01 May 2026 20:47:28 +0530

Surat is becoming a major attraction for cricket fans as the excitement for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 grows this year. The IPL Fan Park has been organized at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, where fans can enjoy live matches on a big screen.

The live broadcast of each match aims to provide an authentic stadium experience, allowing spectators to feel as if they are in a real stadium. Entry to the fan park is completely free, enabling more people to participate in this cricket festival. The atmosphere is further enhanced by music, merchandise, food stalls, drinks, and various exciting activities.

The crowd, filled with cheers, slogans, face painting, and support for their teams, creates a vibrant cricketing environment. Fans are openly cheering for their favorite players and teams while enjoying their special 'fan moments.' These fan parks, organized in about 50 cities across the country, are spreading the IPL craze to every corner. Millions of cricket enthusiasts are expected to participate this season, making this event one of the largest fan experiences to date.

Organizers state that the excitement for the IPL is increasing every year, and this time they are making efforts to make it even more memorable through the fan park. For cricket lovers in Surat, this is a golden opportunity to enjoy live matches with stadium-like energy right in their city.

With RCB's victory, Virat Kohli makes history, becoming the first batsman to achieve this in IPL

Loktej English Team — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:16:22 +0530

Virat Kohli made history by scoring 11 runs against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026. He became the first batsman in the world to complete 9000 runs in IPL.

In the 39th match of IPL 2026, Royal Challengers Bangalore secured a significant victory, defeating Delhi Capitals by a margin of 9 wickets. This match was also special for the team's star batsman, Virat Kohli. On April 27, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, Kohli achieved a major milestone, becoming the first batsman in IPL history to reach 9000 runs.

Kohli was playing his 275th match in the IPL and needed only 11 runs to reach this milestone. He achieved this historic feat by taking a single on the last ball of the sixth over of RCB's innings. To reach this record, Kohli faced a total of 6732 balls, showcasing his consistency and outstanding performance.

Kohli remains at the top of the list of highest run-scorers in IPL, followed by Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, David Warner, and KL Rahul. Rohit Sharma has scored over 7000 runs in 276 matches, while Shikhar Dhawan has ended his IPL career with over 6700 runs in 222 matches. David Warner is the top foreign batsman with over 6500 runs in 184 matches, and KL Rahul has scored over 5500 runs in 153 matches.

The highest run-scorers in IPL are: Virat Kohli – 9012 runs, Rohit Sharma – 7183 runs, Shikhar Dhawan – 6769 runs, David Warner – 6565 runs, KL Rahul – 5580 runs, Suresh Raina – 5528 runs. Kohli had another opportunity to set a record against Delhi Capitals. However, Royal Challengers Bangalore achieved the target of 76 runs in just 6.3 overs.

If Kohli had scored 27 runs in this match, he would have become the first batsman to score 1200 runs against a single team in T20 cricket. Currently, he has 1184 runs in 34 matches against Delhi.

RCB Secures Second Place in Standings by Defeating Gujarat Titans by Five Wickets

Loktej English Team — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 19:35:00 +0530

Bengaluru, April 25. Thanks to half-centuries from Virat Kohli (81) and Devdutt Padikkal (55), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Gujarat Titans by five wickets with seven balls to spare in the 34th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Friday.

With this victory, RCB moved to second place in the points table. Chasing a target of 206 runs, RCB lost their first wicket in the third over when Mohammed Siraj dismissed Jacob Bethel (14). Following this, the partnership between Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal stabilized the innings, accumulating runs quickly.

The duo shared a second-wicket partnership of 115 runs. Rashid Khan ended this partnership by dismissing Devdutt Padikkal in the 13th over. Padikkal scored 55 runs off 27 balls, hitting two fours and six sixes.

In the next over, Jason Holder bowled out Virat Kohli, who was approaching a century. Kohli scored 81 runs off 44 balls, hitting eight fours and four sixes. These two batsmen had brought the team close to victory.

However, after the fall of captain Rajat Patidar (8) and Jitesh Sharma (10), RCB faced a crisis. Subsequently, the partnership between Krunal Pandya and Tim David played cautiously to ensure RCB's victory. RCB finished their innings at 206 runs for the loss of five wickets in 18.5 overs.

Krunal Pandya remained unbeaten on 23 runs off 12 balls, hitting three fours and one six, while Tim David scored an unbeaten 10 runs off nine balls. For Gujarat Titans, Rashid Khan took two wickets, while Mohammed Siraj, Jason Holder, and Manav Suthar each took one wicket. Earlier, Sai Sudharsan's explosive batting (100) helped Gujarat Titans set a massive score of 205 runs for three wickets against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

RCB won the toss and opted to bowl first. The opening pair of Sai Sudharsan and captain Shubman Gill added 128 runs for the first wicket, giving their team a strong start. SuYash Sharma broke this partnership by dismissing Shubman Gill in the 13th over.

Gill scored 32 runs off 24 balls, hitting two fours and one six. In the 16th over, Josh Hazlewood caught and bowled Sai Sudharsan, who had scored a century. Sudharsan made 100 runs off 58 balls, hitting 11 fours and five sixes.

In the 18th over, Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismissed Jos Buttler, giving RCB their third wicket. Buttler scored 25 runs off 16 balls, hitting two fours and one six. In the final over, Jason Holder hit two sixes and a four, scoring one run to take Gujarat's score past 200 runs.

Gujarat Titans set a massive score of 205 runs for three wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Jason Holder scored an unbeaten 23 runs off 10 balls, while Washington Sundar remained not out on 19 runs off 12 balls. For RCB, SuYash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar each took one wicket.

IPL 2026: Sanju Samson Moves to Third Place in Orange Cap Race, Anshul Kamboj Retains Purple Cap

Loktej English Team — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 19:52:56 +0530

In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) secured a significant victory over Mumbai Indians (MI) by 103 runs, leading to important changes in the Orange Cap and Purple Cap races. Sanju Samson has moved to third place in the Orange Cap race, having scored a total of 293 runs with two centuries.

However, Abhishek Sharma of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Heinrich Klaasen remain in first and second places with 323 and 320 runs respectively. Shubman Gill is in fourth place with 265 runs, while Virat Kohli is sixth with 247 runs, and Rajat Patidar is ninth with 230 runs. Changes in the rankings of these players are possible in upcoming matches.

Meanwhile, in the Purple Cap race, Anshul Kamboj of Chennai Super Kings has regained the top position. He took 1 wicket for 10 runs in 3 overs against Mumbai, bringing his total to 14 wickets.

Prince Yadav of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is in second place with 13 wickets, while Ishan Malinga of SRH and Prasidh Krishna of Gujarat Titans (GT) are in third and fourth places with 12 wickets each. The Purple Cap race is expected to become even more exciting in the upcoming matches, with potential changes in the top positions based on bowlers' performances.

Emotional players celebrate Kolkata Knight Riders' first win after five consecutive losses

Loktej English Team — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:09:48 +0530

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) finally secured their first win in IPL 2026 after five consecutive losses and one match being abandoned. In an exciting match against Rajasthan Royals, Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine's lethal bowling restricted the opposing team to just 155 runs.

KKR had a poor start while chasing the target, losing six wickets for just 85 runs at one point. However, Rinku Singh (not out 53) and Anukul Roy (not out 29) formed an unbeaten partnership of 76 runs for the seventh wicket, leading the team to a memorable victory in 19.4 overs. After the match, player of the match Varun Chakravarthy revealed that many players had tears in their eyes in the dressing room after this first win.

He compared this moment to winning the trophy in 2024, stating that this victory is no less than a title for the team. Varun credited the coaching staff for keeping the team united and maintaining morale despite external criticism and rumors. Despite this win, KKR remains in ninth place in the points table with three points.

However, this victory has instilled new confidence in the team and reduced the pressure of previous losses on the players. KKR now has a long break of a week before facing Lucknow Super Giants at their home ground on Sunday, April 26. The team management hopes that the form of Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy will continue in upcoming matches, allowing the team to make a comeback in the playoff race.

Shreyas Iyer Takes an Incredible Catch in Mid-Air, Rohit and Surya Left Astonished, Reaction Video Goes Viral

Loktej English Team — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 19:27:26 +0530

Shreyas Iyer completed a remarkable relay catch at the boundary line, resulting in Hardik Pandya's dismissal, which left Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav astonished. Relay catches at the boundary line have always been a special attraction for fans in the IPL, and a similar spectacular moment was witnessed in the 24th match of IPL 2026.

In the match against Mumbai Indians, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer surprised everyone with his agility and presence of mind by completing an excellent relay catch. Despite losing his balance near the boundary, he managed to throw the ball towards his teammate to secure the wicket, creating a memorable moment in the match. This incredible catch was seen when Hardik Pandya played a big shot off Marco Jansen's delivery.

Shreyas Iyer, standing at long-on, ran to catch the ball but lost his balance and was about to go over the boundary line. In a moment of brilliance, he threw the ball in the air towards Marco Jansen, who completed the catch without any error, ending Hardik Pandya's innings. This relay catch is being considered one of the finest examples of fielding.

The remarkable feat of Shreyas Iyer occurred right in front of the Mumbai Indians' dugout, where Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were seated. Both players were left astonished by the brilliant fielding. Suryakumar Yadav was left speechless, while Rohit Sharma looked on in surprise.

Following this, Iyer celebrated the wicket by gesturing towards the audience, and the video of this moment quickly went viral, with fans praising it extensively. In terms of the match, Mumbai Indians batted first, scoring 195 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs. Quinton de Kock played a brilliant innings, remaining unbeaten on 112 runs, scoring at a strike rate of 186 off 60 balls, including 8 fours and 7 sixes.

Additionally, Naman Dheer contributed with a crucial 50 runs off 31 balls. Arshdeep Singh was the most successful bowler for Punjab Kings, taking 3 wickets and completing his 100 IPL wickets during the match.

Chennai Super Kings Approaches BCCI Against RCB

Loktej English Team — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 18:52:34 +0530

Chennai, April 15. The on-field battle between Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) has now reached the BCCI's doorstep.

CSK has raised strong objections to songs like 'Dosa, Idli, Sambar, Chutney' played by RCB's DJ during the match on April 5 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Chennai alleges that this was not only a conservative mockery of South Indian culture but also a calculated attempt to belittle the opposing team's players.

A senior IPL official has confirmed that the governing council is seriously investigating the matter. CSK's Managing Director, Kashi Vishwanathan, clarified the seriousness of the issue, stating that the DJ's main job is to boost the home team's morale, but the situation in Bengaluru was the opposite. There are also allegations that derogatory comments were made through the public address system when CSK players were dismissed.

According to Vishwanathan, they have written to the BCCI requesting an investigation to maintain sportsmanship. Previously, a similar song was played at Chennai's Chepauk Stadium, but at that time, CSK management had given strict instructions to their DJ to avoid such activities. The rivalry between Chennai and Bengaluru, referred to as the 'Southern Derby,' has become quite aggressive recently.

Since 2024, RCB has defeated Chennai in four consecutive matches, escalating tensions between fans and management off the field. Franchise officials believe that the atmosphere on the field should be positive and not mock the opposing team. It remains to be seen what disciplinary action the BCCI will take against RCB in this matter and what new guidelines will be issued for DJs and commentators for upcoming matches.

In a thrilling match, Lucknow Super Giants defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets

Loktej English Team — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 19:17:45 +0530

Lucknow Super Giants defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by three wickets in the 15th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, thanks to explosive innings from Mukul Chaudhary and Ayush Badoni, both scoring 54 runs. This marks Lucknow Super Giants' second consecutive win in the tournament.

After losing six wickets for 125 runs, Mukul Chaudhary emerged as the savior for Lucknow, scoring an unbeaten 54 runs off 27 balls, including two fours and seven sixes, leading his team to a total of 182 runs for seven wickets. In pursuit of 182 runs, Lucknow Super Giants' opening pair of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram added 41 runs for the first wicket. In the fifth over, Vaibhav Arora took two wickets, dismissing Aiden Markram for 22 runs off 15 balls and Mitchell Marsh for 15 runs.

Captain Rishabh Pant and Ayush Badoni then attempted to stabilize the innings. In the ninth over, Kamran Green dismissed Rishabh Pant for 10 runs. Nicholas Pooran and Abdul Samad were also dismissed for 13 and 2 runs, respectively.

In the 15th over, Anukul Roy dealt a significant blow to Lucknow by dismissing Ayush Badoni, who scored 54 runs off 34 balls with seven fours and two sixes. In the next over, Sunil Narine took the wicket of Mohammad Shami. Mukul then showcased aggressive batting, hitting a flurry of sixes, and secured the victory for his team with a single off the last ball.

For KKR, Vaibhav Arora and Anukul Roy took two wickets each, while Sunil Narine, Kartik Tyagi, and Kamran Green claimed one wicket each. Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders set a challenging score of 181 runs for four wickets, thanks to impressive performances from Angkrish Raghuwanshi (45), captain Ajinkya Rahane (41), Rovman Powell (unbeaten 39), and Cameron Green (unbeaten 32). Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and opted to bowl first.

KKR lost their first wicket at a score of 15 runs when Finn Allen was dismissed for 9 runs by Prince Yadav. Angkrish Raghuwanshi then partnered with Ajinkya Rahane to add 84 runs for the second wicket. Dighvish Rathi broke this partnership by dismissing Ajinkya Rahane in the 11th over, who scored 41 runs off 24 balls with four fours and two sixes.

In the next over, M Siddharth dismissed Angkrish Raghuwanshi, who scored 45 runs off 33 balls with five fours and two sixes. Rinku Singh was bowled out for four runs by Avesh Khan. A partnership of 70 runs for the fifth wicket between Rovman Powell and Cameron Green took KKR's score to 181 runs for four wickets.

Powell scored an unbeaten 39 runs off 24 balls with four fours and two sixes, while Cameron Green scored an unbeaten 32 runs off 24 balls with three fours and one six. For Lucknow Super Giants, Prince Yadav, M Siddharth, Dighvish Rathi, and Avesh Khan took one wicket each.