Cricket - Loktej English

Demand for a new point system in IPL, qualification calculations may change

Loktej English Team — Fri, 22 May 2026 19:40:30 +0530

Mumbai, May 22. The playoff race in the Indian Premier League (IPL) is always exciting, but discussions about the point system arise from time to time.

This time, former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has suggested a change that has sparked a new debate among cricket fans. He believes that teams achieving big wins in the tournament should receive additional points, making the competition even more interesting. Currently, what is the rule in IPL?

The IPL started in 2008, and since then, there has been no major change in the point system. According to the current rule, the winning team in any match receives two points, while the losing team receives no points. If a match is abandoned due to rain or other reasons, both teams receive one point each.

Interestingly, regardless of how large the victory margin is, the points remain the same. Whether a team wins by one run on the last ball or by 100 runs, they receive only two points. The advantage of a large victory margin is only reflected in the net run rate.

Aakash Chopra has suggested that a bonus point system should be considered in the IPL. He shared his opinion on the social media platform X, stating that he wishes the IPL would adopt the option of bonus points for big wins. In fact, Aakash Chopra believes that this would motivate teams not just to win but to achieve impressive victories, and viewers would also get to see more aggressive and competitive cricket.

This rule is already in place in the South African T20 league SA 20, where if a team wins the match while chasing the target within 16 overs, they receive an additional point. The team batting first receives a bonus point if they restrict the opposing team to more than 20 percent below their score. The purpose of this rule is to encourage big and impressive wins.

If such a rule is implemented in the IPL in the future, the calculations in the points table could change completely. Sometimes, a team with fewer match wins could rise up the table with the help of bonus points. This would keep the playoff race open until the final stages, increasing the importance of every match.

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BCCI releases mega domestic cricket calendar: Season to start with Duleep Trophy, 1788 matches to be played across the country

Loktej English Team — Thu, 21 May 2026 19:35:32 +0530

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a busy domestic cricket calendar for 2026-27. The season will begin with the Duleep Trophy on August 23, featuring six zonal teams.

Following this, the Irani Cup will be held in the first week of October. To manage players' workload, BCCI has decided to conduct several important tournaments in two phases this time. The main highlight of the domestic season, the Ranji Trophy, will start on October 11 and conclude in March in two phases, divided into Elite and Plate groups.

Meanwhile, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will commence on November 14, and the Vijay Hazare Trophy will start on December 14. These tournaments will provide players ample opportunity to showcase their talent in various formats and prepare for international levels. BCCI has also focused on youth and women's cricket this time.

Several tournaments at junior and senior levels, along with the Under-23 State A Trophy and the Viji Trophy, have been converted to T20 format to help young talents adapt to the needs of modern cricket. In the women's category, efforts will be made to nurture new talents through Under-23, Under-19, and Under-15 competitions.

Entry of Four Young Stars in Team India: Are the International Careers of These Big Players at Risk? Selectors' Big Gamble

Loktej English Team — Wed, 20 May 2026 20:43:33 +0530

The BCCI has announced the Indian team for the upcoming Test and ODI series against Afghanistan. Four new players, Prince Yadav, Harsh Dubey, Manav Suthar, and Gurnoor Barad, have been given their first international opportunity.

This decision by the selectors is aimed at future preparations. However, the selection of these young players seems to complicate the return of several experienced players, raising questions about their future. The inclusion of all-rounders Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar poses a challenge for veterans like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.

If these young players perform effectively in the upcoming matches, it may become difficult for Jadeja and Patel to secure their spots in the team. Meanwhile, the impressive domestic form of fast bowlers Gurnoor Barad and Prince Yadav has cast doubts on the return of Mohammad Siraj in ODIs and the career of Mohammad Shami. The exclusion of Rishabh Pant from the ODI team and the removal of his vice-captaincy from the Test team clearly indicates that the team management wants to explore new options for the 2027 World Cup.

By resting experienced bowlers like Bumrah, new fast bowlers have been given a full opportunity to prove themselves in powerplay and death overs. The performance of these young players will determine the future of Indian cricket and whether the veterans can salvage their reputations.

IPL 2026: Kohli is the 'Number-1' Partner in T20 Cricket, Statistics Confirm

Loktej English Team — Mon, 18 May 2026 11:34:22 +0530

Dharamshala: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) opener Virat Kohli has set a significant record in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Kohli has jointly reached the top of the list of batsmen with the most half-century partnerships in men's T20 matches. On Sunday, in IPL 2026 against Punjab Kings (PBKS), Kohli partnered with Devdutt Padikkal for the second wicket, scoring 76 runs off 41 balls. Kohli is now tied with Alex Hales, who has also been part of 210 half-century partnerships in T20 cricket.

David Warner (200) is second on this list, while Babar Azam (196) is third. Chris Gayle (191) ranks fourth. In the ongoing match against Punjab Kings at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Kohli scored 58 runs off 37 balls.

Kohli is also the highest run-scorer against three different IPL teams. He has scored 1,215 runs against Punjab Kings at an average of 37.15, 1,174 runs against Chennai Super Kings at an average of 37.87, and 1,172 runs against Delhi Capitals at an average of 48.83. Kohli's name appears in the top three for the most runs scored against a single opposing team in IPL history.

Rohit Sharma is fourth on this list, having scored 1,161 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders at an average of 40.03. David Warner has scored 49.3 runs against Punjab Kings. In the match against Punjab Kings, Kohli and Padikkal reached the joint second position for the most half-century partnerships in a single IPL season as a non-opening pair.

This duo has achieved half-century partnerships for the sixth time in nine innings this season, equaling the record set by Michael Hussey-Suresh Raina (2013) and Suryakumar Yadav-Tilak Varma (2025). Kohli and AB de Villiers hold the top record, having achieved this feat seven times in 13 innings in 2016.

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.

After IPL 2026, BCCI to make a major decision, several names including Balaji shortlisted for coaching roles

Loktej English Team — Thu, 14 May 2026 19:35:12 +0530

Reports suggest that significant changes may soon be seen at the BCCI's Center of Excellence (COE), a crucial part of Indian cricket. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shortlisted names for the coaching staff of the team.

Popular names such as former Indian bowler Lakshmipathy Balaji and VRV Singh have emerged in this list. According to media reports, they may be assigned new responsibilities immediately after the conclusion of IPL 2026. After Troy Cooley's departure from the Center of Excellence last year, BCCI has been looking for a new bowling specialist for its high-performance center in Bengaluru.

During this time, the board had also engaged in discussions with renowned English bowling coach Stephen Jones. Reports indicate that discussions between both parties had progressed significantly, but the matter has not yet been finalized. Following this, BCCI shifted its focus from foreign options to Indian coaches.

Applications were sought for a total of 10 new coaching positions in February, and the selection process has now reached its final stages. It is believed that an official decision on these names may be made after IPL 2026 concludes. According to a report from Cricbuzz, experienced coach P.

Krishnakumar, who has done excellent work with the Jammu and Kashmir team, may be assigned the role of bowling coach at the BCCI Center of Excellence. Krishnakumar is credited with developing fast bowlers like Umran Malik, Yudhveer Singh, and Aaqib Nabi. Meanwhile, former Karnataka all-rounder Yere Goud is being considered as the leading candidate for the batting coach position.

The 54-year-old Goud has played 134 first-class and 49 List A matches in his career. Additionally, former Indian women's cricketer Sunetra Paranjpe is also likely to be included in the batting coaching setup. Dishant Yagnik's name is almost confirmed for the role of fielding coach.

Yagnik is currently working as a fielding coach with Kolkata Knight Riders and has previously been part of Rajasthan and Rajasthan Royals. However, the situation regarding foreign coach Stephen Jones remains unclear. The 52-year-old Jones was recently seen involved in a private coaching project in Hyderabad, which has kept discussions about his name ongoing.

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.

Shubman Gill's strength is his ability to convert a good start into a big innings: Anil Kumble

Loktej English Team — Mon, 11 May 2026 12:39:59 +0530

On May 10, a match was played between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) in Jaipur during IPL 2026. GT captain Shubman Gill played a crucial role in the team's 77-run victory by scoring 84 runs off 44 balls.

Former Indian cricket team captain and legendary spinner Anil Kumble praised Gill, mentioning that he is one of the best batsmen in modern cricket and that watching his batting is quite enjoyable. Kumble noted that Gill's game does not seem artificial and that he trusts playing each ball on its merit. He highlighted that even when Gill hits big shots, he remains completely in control, which sets him apart from many power hitters.

Kumble emphasized that Gill's greatest strength is his ability to convert a good start into a big innings. Once he gets set, he takes the game deep and transforms good starts into long, impactful innings, which puts the team in a very strong position. This is why Gujarat consistently manages to post big totals.

Kumble also praised Rashid Khan's bowling, stating that Rashid consistently attacked the stumps and stuck to his plan. He mentioned that Rashid is a bowler who likes to bowl fast in the air. In the previous season and the first half of this IPL season, he had reduced his pace, which diminished his impact.

However, against RR, Rashid's pace was just right. The former player remarked that Rashid's fast deliveries remain his biggest weapon in T20 cricket, forcing batsmen to make mistakes instead of relying solely on spin or flight.

In the match, Gujarat batted first and scored 229 runs for 4 wickets, thanks to Gill's 84 runs. With Rashid taking 4 wickets for 33 runs in 4 overs, GT bowled out RR for 152 runs in 16.3 overs, winning the match by 77 runs.

Vaibhav Suryavanshi Joins Team India! BCCI Announces

Loktej English Team — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:04:52 +0530

Mumbai, May 8. Team India is set to play a long series against Australia in India soon.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the series. Although there is still time before the series begins, discussions have intensified regarding the inclusion of young player and explosive batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi in the squad. Vaibhav Suryavanshi has been in the spotlight over the past year.

He has been performing well in IPL 2026, scoring 404 runs in 10 matches for Rajasthan Royals and remaining in the race for the Orange Cap. The BCCI has also announced the schedule for India Under-19, India A, and women's teams. The series between India A and Australia A will feature two Test matches from September to October, as per BCCI's announcement.

Both Test matches will be played in Puducherry from September 22 to October 11, with the first unofficial Test scheduled from September 22 to 25 and the second from September 29 to October 2. Additionally, India's Under-19 team will play three One Day matches against Australia Under-19 in Rajkot, with the series taking place between September 18 and October 5. It is being said that Vaibhav Suryavanshi may get a chance in the Under-19 series.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be held in January next year, with the BCCI having already released its schedule. Before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Australia A team will visit India to assess the weather and pitches.

The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will commence on January 21 next year, under the World Test Championship. It is noteworthy that the Australia A team had previously toured India in 2025, providing opportunities to several young players who performed well against a team like Australia.

BCCI Issues Strict Warning on Security and Discipline in IPL

Loktej English Team — Fri, 08 May 2026 16:03:49 +0530

New Delhi. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a detailed eight-page security directive to all 10 franchises of the IPL.

In a letter written by BCCI Secretary Devjeet Saikia, players have been warned about serious threats such as 'honey trapping' and targeted sexual exploitation. The board has made it clear that unauthorized individuals are strictly prohibited from entering players' hotel rooms. Now, written permission from the team manager will be mandatory for any guest meeting, and meetings can only take place in the hotel lobby or public areas.

The board believes that non-compliance with these protocols could pose a significant risk to player safety and the board's reputation. The BCCI has also emphasized maintaining the sanctity of reserved areas (PMOA) for players and match officials during matches. The board has expressed concern over incidents where franchise owners attempt to make physical contact with players or hug them during matches.

According to the new directives, owners and their representatives are strictly prohibited from communicating with players in the dugout, dressing room, or on the field during matches. The board has clarified that even if such behavior is well-intentioned, it will be considered interference in match operations, and disciplinary action will be taken for any violations. To maintain discipline during the tournament, the board has also taken a strict stance on the consumption of banned substances.

Recently addressing incidents of 'vaping' (e-cigarettes) in the dressing room, the BCCI reminded that e-cigarettes are completely banned under Indian law. The directive clearly states that the use of vaping or any other narcotic substances in the dressing room, dugout, team hotel, and practice areas not only violates BCCI rules but is also a legal offense. The board has instructed all franchise managers to ensure that all stakeholders are fully informed of these rules before each match.

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.