IPL (Indian Premier League) - Loktej English

Viewership of IPL on Digital Platforms Increases

Loktej English Team — Sat, 16 May 2026 15:19:45 +0530

Mumbai, May 15. The popularity of the Indian Premier League (IPL) continues to rise, with a seven percent increase in viewership on digital platforms, while the number of viewers on TV is nearing the 500 million mark.

According to the official broadcaster JioStar, there has been a 15 percent increase in the total digital reach of the IPL. This figure includes 51 matches broadcast on linear TV and 57 matches on digital platforms. The company claimed that the reach of CTV (Connected TV) has increased by 25 percent and 'watch time' has increased by 20 percent.

In regional languages, 'watch time' has seen a 42 percent increase. The broadcaster stated that this growth is attributed to the addition of 125 new advertisers compared to the previous season.

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Heavy fines on RCB head coach Flower and Tim David for arguing with umpire and obscene gestures

Loktej English Team — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:31:42 +0530

Hyderabad, May 12. The troubles for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) continue to escalate.

The BCCI has taken significant action against star batsman Tim David for inappropriate behavior during the thrilling match against Mumbai Indians on May 10. Following a viral video of him making obscene gestures from the dugout, the IPL committee has imposed a 30% fine on David's match fee and awarded him two demerit points. He was found to have violated Article 2.6 of the code of conduct, which the player has accepted.

Not only Tim David, but RCB's head coach Andy Flower has also come under the BCCI's radar. Flower has been fined 15% of his match fee for allegedly having a heated argument with the fourth umpire over a catch during the match. The BCCI has taken a strict stance, clarifying that it is mandatory to respect the dignity of the game and the decisions of the umpires.

The disciplinary action against two key members of the team in a single match has raised questions about the franchise's reputation. Amid this ongoing off-field controversy, the on-field competition remained highly interesting. In a tight contest that went down to the last ball, Royal Challengers Bangalore defeated Mumbai Indians by 2 wickets.

With this loss, Mumbai Indians have officially been eliminated from the race for the IPL 2026 title. However, despite RCB winning the match, the financial penalties and demerit points due to indiscipline have somewhat dampened their joy of victory. The team management is now planning to keep a close watch on players' behavior in upcoming matches.

Mumbai Indians eliminated from playoff race after thrilling loss to Royal Challengers Bangalore

Loktej English Team — Mon, 11 May 2026 16:24:34 +0530

In a highly exciting match played at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on May 11, Mumbai Indians (MI) faced a two-wicket defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). With this loss, the five-time champions Mumbai Indians have officially been knocked out of the IPL 2026 playoff race.

While defending a target of 166 runs, Mumbai stretched the match to the last ball, but ultimately, the victory went to Bangalore. Acting captain Suryakumar Yadav expressed disappointment after the match, stating that the team fell short by 10-15 runs during their batting, which was the main reason for the loss. During the match, Tilak Varma (57 runs) and Naman (47 runs) played resilient innings, helping the team reach a respectable score.

In bowling, Corbin Bosch delivered a remarkable performance, taking four wickets and keeping the match alive until the end. Suryakumar Yadav also praised young all-rounder Raj Bawa, who nearly secured the match for Mumbai by defending 15 runs in the final over. However, Bhuvneshwar Kumar's decisive six turned the tide.

Despite the loss, the captain praised the composure and improvement of young players during pressure moments. This season has been nothing short of a nightmare for Mumbai Indians, as they have only won three out of the 11 matches played so far, placing them ninth in the table with 6 points. Suryakumar Yadav acknowledged that being eliminated from the tournament in this manner is hard to digest for him and the team, as Mumbai has always been a strong contender for the playoffs.

He assured fans that the team would learn from this poor performance and return stronger next season. Mumbai has three matches remaining, which they aim to win with dignity. In Dharamshala, a close contest is expected today between Delhi and Punjab, with both teams needing a win to stay in the playoff race.

In the 55th match of IPL 2026, Punjab Kings (PBKS) will face Delhi Capitals (DC) today. The match, starting at 7:30 PM at the beautiful HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala, will see Shreyas Iyer's Punjab team trying to regain its momentum. After winning six out of their first seven matches, Punjab has faced three consecutive losses in their last three matches.

Currently sitting fourth in the table with 12 points from 10 matches, it is crucial for Punjab to win this match to ease their path to the playoffs. On the other hand, for Axar Patel's Delhi Capitals, it is a do-or-die situation. With only four wins from 11 matches, Delhi is in eighth place in the points table, and if they lose today, they will become the third team to be eliminated from the playoff race.

Even if they win all their remaining matches, they can only reach a maximum of 14 points, making their fate dependent on the results of other teams. The Delhi team has struggled for consistency this season but will enter today's crucial match with the intent to cause an upset. Historically, matches between the two teams have always been closely contested.

In their IPL journey so far, both teams have played against each other 35 times, with Punjab winning 18 times and Delhi winning 17 times. Interestingly, at the Dharamshala ground, both teams are tied at 2-2.

This slight statistical difference indicates a highly exciting match ahead. On the fast pitches of Dharamshala, the roles of bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and Mitchell Starc will be crucial, while fans can expect explosive innings from batsmen like David Miller and Shashank Singh.

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.

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.