Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have been one of the biggest success stories of the recent IPL cycle. Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, SRH reinvented themselves from perennial bottom-table finishers into the most ruthless, boundary-hitting unit in the league. Their ultra-aggressive brand of cricket, both with bat and ball, not only delivered results but also reshaped the team’s identity. However, as the franchise looks ahead to IPL 2026, a crucial question looms large: what if Cummins is unavailable?

Cummins is currently managing a persistent back injury. During the ongoing Ashes 2025–26, the Australian skipper featured in only one Test, missing the first two matches and then being ruled out of the final two after the third game to protect his long-term fitness. With Australia’s packed international calendar and Cummins’ importance across formats, SRH cannot afford to be caught unprepared.

Why SRH need a strong contingency plan?

Replacing Cummins is not just about finding another overseas fast bowler. His value to SRH went far beyond wickets. Cummins brought calm leadership, tactical clarity, and a relentless edge that perfectly complemented SRH’s fearless batting lineup. If he misses IPL 2026, the void would be as much psychological as it would be tactical.

Fortunately for the Orange Army, the unsold pool from the IPL 2026 auction offers several high-quality options. These players may not replicate Cummins exactly, but they can help SRH preserve the aggressive blueprint that has defined their resurgence.

3 players SRH can sign to replace Pat Cummins for IPL 2026

1) Gerald Coetzee

If SRH want to retain the “fear factor” Cummins injected into their pace attack, Gerald Coetzee stands out as the most natural fit. One of the surprises of the 2026 auction was Coetzee going unsold at his base price of ₹2 crore, despite his proven impact at the international level.

Why SRH should sign him: Coetzee mirrors the current SRH culture perfectly. He bowls with hostility, thrives on confrontation, and hits hard lengths that force batters onto the back foot. Much like Cummins, he brings visible intensity that lifts the entire bowling unit.

Replacement value: At a young age, Coetzee offers long-term returns. He is also not a liability with the bat, capable of striking a few big blows at No. 8 — a trait SRH valued highly in Cummins during tight matches.

Also READ: IPL 2026: 3 players RCB can sign to replace Josh Hazlewood if he misses out

2) Alzarri Joseph

Another major name to slip through the cracks at the 2026 auction was Alzarri Joseph. With franchises spoiled for overseas quicks, Joseph found no buyers, but for SRH, he could be a strategic goldmine.

Why SRH should sign him: Cummins’ greatest weapon was his ability to exploit bounce, especially on truer surfaces. Joseph offers the same attribute in abundance. With express pace consistently above 145 kmph, he can intimidate top orders and set the tone early.

Tactical fit: SRH play half their matches in Hyderabad, where bounce can be a decisive factor. With explosive batters like Travis Head at the top, the team needs a bowler who can apply instant pressure. Joseph, who still holds the record for the best bowling figures in IPL history, fits that role seamlessly.

3) Daryl Mitchell

While pace is an obvious area of concern, SRH could also look to replace Cummins’ leadership presence rather than his raw skill set. In that context, Daryl Mitchell emerges as an intriguing option. Despite being unsold at ₹2 crore, Mitchell brings immense tactical depth.

Why he fits: With Liam Livingstone already part of the SRH setup for 2026, Mitchell adds balance rather than brute force. He is among the best players of spin in world cricket and acts as a stabilising bridge between SRH’s explosive openers and power-hitters.

The ‘Moose’ factor: Mitchell’s street-smart cricketing brain could partially compensate for Cummins’ absence. His medium-pace variations are effective on slower tracks, offering SRH flexibility when express pace is taken apart.

Also READ: Not CSK! Amit Mishra predicts the top 4 of IPL 2026

Navi Mumbai: The meticulous probe for five days by Vashi GRP in the attempt to murder case wherein a man was stabbed multiple times by a man over previous enmity, the accused has been arrested by tracing him to Tamil Nadu.The arrested accused Rajesh Arunvihari (21) had attacked Siraj Shaikh (24) with a knife, striking him on the neck, chest, and back inside a CSMT-Panvel near Vashi station. The accused had managed to escape by jumping from the moving train. The injured Shaikh was first rushed to NMMC Hospital in Vashi and was subsequently transferred to Sion Hospital, where doctors said he was out of danger. What followed the violence, however, was a show of unity between the two families, who live side by side in Cheetah Camp. They were trying to piece together a motive for the sudden assault. Even Shaikh, they said, had no explanation. “We have never quarrelled. We have been neighbours for decades,” said Rajalaxmi Rajendran, Arunvihari’s mother.Siraj’s brother, Firoz said, “We were told just a day ago that the person was arrested from Tamil Nadu. My brother is still recovering, we will be seeing the case to conclusion in the court now.”The Vashi Govt Railway Police (GRP) have filed an FIR in the case with an attempt to murder charge.Three police teams were formed to trace the accused. On Dec 23, the victim Siraj Abdullah Sheikh (23) and his friend Mubarak Khan were travelling in the 7.50 am CSMT-Panvel local in the general compartment. Around 8 am, Shaikh was attacked by the accused Rajesh Arundvihar alias Rajesh Arunthadiyar (24) by stabbing on the neck, right side of the back, lower left side, near the waist and chest with a sharp knife, causing serious injuries and attempting to kill him. While the complainant was undergoing treatment at NMMC hospital, Vashi his statement was recorded and a case was registered.Kiran Undre, senior inspector of Vashi GRP said, “In the probe, it was learnt that the accused Rajesh Arundvihar alias Rajesh Arunthadiyar is a resident of his maternal aunt Rajamani Vepangkuruchi from Tamil Nadu. Accordingly, the police team was sent there and the accused was arrested on Dec 27 using police intelligence and technical expertise.”

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India’s batting depth got a stern stress test under Thiruvananthapuram’s evening skies against Sri Lanka. But captain Harmanpreet Kaur stood calm as a lighthouse in choppy waters to score a dazzling 43-ball 68, after the hosts were asked to take first strike. A late ambush — 47 runs plundered from the final three overs — was turbocharged by Arundhati Reddy’s jaw-dropping 27 off 11 (4×4, 1×6), lifting India to a commanding 175/7.Arundhati’s late onslaught proved decisive as Sri Lanka’s chase fizzled despite a mid-innings surge to 99/2 in 13 overs. Lacking the firepower to sustain the charge, the visitors closed on 160/7, falling 15 runs short. India sealed a comprehensive victory and completed a commanding 5–0 series sweep.

This was the first such series defeat for Sri Lanka in bilateral T20Is.En win, allrounder Deepti Sharma became the highest wicket-taker in women’s T20Is, when she trapped Nilakshika Silva for 3 in the 14th over.India wore a distinctly experimental look tonight, with an in-form Smriti Mandhana rested and Jemimah Rodrigues still sidelined while recovering from fever.Shafali Verma fell early, while debutant opener Gunalan Kamalini showed flashes of promise. Her 12 off 12, studded with two boundaries, hinted at intent before she was trapped lbw. Harleen Deol tried to keep things moving, but wickets kept arriving in clusters.Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma couldn’t quite impose themselves as Sri Lanka, led by Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu and a tidy spell from Kavisha Dilhari, applied the pressure. Amanjot Kaur’s lively 21 provided the thrust, while Harmanpreet made sure the batting didn’t unravel, playing a knock that crackled with authority. Nine fours pierced the infield, a lone six sailed over it, and the tempo never dipped when she was around.Sri Lanka, though, missed a trick, with Dilhari, their best bowler of the night, was strangely restricted to just two overs, despite finishing with excellent figures of 2/11.Sri Lanka’s chase of 176 stuttered early but was steadied by the halfway mark under lights. Athapaththu’s stay was fleeting, falling cheaply to Reddy, leaving the visitors wobbling at 7/1. From there, Hasini Perera and Imesha Dulani stitched together a calm, counterpunching stand. Perera played with intent, racing to her maiden T20 fifty in 37 balls, while Dulani swept her way to half-century as well.At 75/1 after 10 overs, Sri Lanka stayed afloat. But India kept chipping away with timely scalps, courtesy Vaishnavi Sharma, Amanjot and Sneh Rana. When Sree Charani bowled Hasini for 42-ball 65, Sri Lankans needed 44 from 22. By then, you could sense that the match was beyond the visitors’ grasp.

Fast-moving consumer goods distributors’ body AICPDF has urged the market regulator Sebi to pause the Initial Public Offerings (IPO) of loss-making quick-commerce companies. In a representation, the All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF) has urged Sebi “to consider immediate measures including a temporary pause on IPO approvals” for quick-commerce and closely related e-commerce companies until ongoing proceedings in the Competition Commission of India are conclusively resolved. It has urged the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to take urgent regulatory action to protect small retail investors and India’s retail trade ecosystem from the risks posed by loss-making quick-commerce and e-commerce companies seeking public listings, said AICPDF, which claims to represent over 4.5 lakh distributors and more than 1.3 crore kirana and retail outlets across India. “Several quick-commerce companies continue to operate with large cumulative losses, negative operating cash flows, and unproven unit-level profitability. Their business models are sustained primarily through repeated infusions of private capital, which are used to fund consumer subsidies, discounts, and capital-intensive dark-store and logistics infrastructure,” it said. Despite the absence of demonstrated profitability, valuations are often built on gross merchandise value and market share rather than earnings or free cash flow, AICPDF added. Recent listings in the sector by Zomato and Swiggy illustrate this trend. “Both companies listed after years of sustained losses, with IPO structures allowing significant exits by early shareholders. Large venture and institutional investors monetised their stakes either at the time of listing or through post-listing sales, even as the companies continued to report substantial losses and negative operating cash flows,” it said. AICPDF has already filed formal complaints before the Competition Commission of India (CCI) alleging predatory pricing and anti-competitive conduct by quick-commerce platforms. “These proceedings remain active and unresolved, with the CCI having sought additional evidence. Proceeding with IPO approvals while competition-law investigations are ongoing raises serious concerns regarding material disclosure, regulatory arbitrage, and investor protection,” it said. Their business models are sustained primarily through repeated infusions of private capital, which are used to fund consumer subsidies, discounts, and capital-intensive dark-store and logistics infrastructure. Despite the absence of demonstrated profitability, valuations are often built on gross merchandise value and market share rather than earnings or free cash flow. “India’s capital markets must not become exit routes for business models that are structurally loss-making and sustained only by continuous cash burn. When early investors exit through IPOs while losses persist, the risk is unfairly transferred to small retail investors. “At the same time, predatory pricing funded through investor money is destroying lakhs of kirana livelihoods. Sebi has a constitutional responsibility to ensure transparency, fairness, and investor protection. We urge the regulator to intervene decisively before irreversible damage is done to both investors and India’s retail ecosystem,” said Dhairyashil Patil, National President, AICPDF. PTI

Silver rate today: Silver prices climbed by Rs 1,000 to Rs 2.41 lakh per kilogram in the national capital on Tuesday, hitting a new all-time high with positive global sentiment and robust demand supporting prices, All India Sarafa Association date was quoted by PTI. The demand has been underscored by silver’s growing appeal as an industrial and investment asset amid tight global supply.Gold prices, however, weakened for a second consecutive session. 99.9 per cent pure gold fell by Rs 2,800, reaching Rs 1,39,000 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes), falling from Rs 1,41,800 per 10 grams in the previous session despite international gold prices moving higher.Global markets played a major role in providing a strong tailwind for silver. Spot silver jumped $3.72, or 5.15 per cent, to $75.85 per ounce, while spot gold gained $69.61, or 1.61 per cent, to $4,401.59 per ounce. Market participants attributed silver’s sharper rise to sustained industrial offtake, particularly as a result of solar, electronics and data centre sectors.On the domestic derivatives front, silver futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) for March 2026 delivery rallied sharply, rising Rs 9,590, or 4.27 per cent, to Rs 2,34,019 per kilogram, with a turnover of 11,915 lots. The metal has witnessed heightened volatility in recent sessions, reflecting aggressive positioning by traders.Analysts remain constructive on silver’s medium-term outlook despite near-term swings. Silver continues to find support from structural supply constraints and strong industrial demand. However, stricter margin norms could limit sharp upside in the short term,” said Jigar Trivedi, Senior Research Analyst at Reliance Securities. He added that MCX Silver March contracts could move towards ₹2.26 lakh per kg as global undertones remain bullish.Notably, silver had already staged a sharp rally on Monday, skyrocketing Rs 14,387, or 6 per cent, to hit a record high of Rs 2,54,174 per kilogram on the MCX, highlighting the intensity of the ongoing uptrend in the white metal.

BENGALURU: A metro security staffer was assaulted by four male passengers at the Kempegowda Interchange Metro Station, Majestic, on Sunday afternoon after he asked them to stand in a queue before boarding a Green Line train. Metro officials said one of the accused slapped the staffer, identified as Indrajit, seven times and abused him for enforcing the queue rule. Another passenger allegedly kicked him. The accused are said to be from Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh and work at IT firms. The incident occurred around 12.45 pm on Platform 3 of the Green Line when the four men arrived at the crowded platform, planning to travel towards Madavara. Indrajit asked the group to move to an empty space and form a queue so they could board safely in the last coach of the train when it arrived at the platform. However, the men ignored the instructions and missed the train that arrived at 12.47 pm. When the staffer repeated his request to queue up and board the next train, one of them turned violent and physically assaulted the metro security personnel. “One of them slapped the security staffer seven times and abused him. Another passenger kicked the security staffer. Metro staff immediately alerted the police about the incident,” said a source in the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL). As the accused attempted to board the following train, two elderly commuters confronted them and stopped them from entering the coach in protest against the assault. Police personnel from Upparpet Police Station soon reached the platform and took all four men to the police station. Indrajit later filed a complaint, based on which an FIR was registered. A metro official said, “Despite the attack, the metro security staffer stayed calm and reported the incident to his seniors. Shockingly, many commuters witnessed the assault, but no one came forward to help the security staffer.”

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India’s squad selection for the upcoming T20I series against New Zealand and the long-term planning for the 2026 T20 World Cup has sparked fresh debate after star batter Shubman Gill was left out of the T20I setup. While the decision raised eyebrows among fans, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has urged calm, insisting that Gill’s exclusion is more about team balance and fierce competition rather than a dip in form or trust.

Selectors opt for Sanju Samson at the top

The selection committee’s decision to move forward with Sanju Samson as one of the preferred opening options underlines India’s intent to maximize flexibility and explosiveness at the top of the order. With the T20 format becoming increasingly demanding, the management has prioritized combinations that suit specific conditions and opposition strengths, especially with a global tournament approaching.

Gill, despite being one of India’s most consistent batters across formats in recent years, has found himself edged out due to the sheer depth India currently enjoys in white-ball cricket. Several openers and middle-order batters are vying for limited spots, making selection calls tougher than ever before.

Also READ: Top 5 contenders for the 2025 ICC Cricketer of the Year Award

Harbhajan highlights Shubman Gill’s technique and mindset amid star batter’s exclusion from T20 World Cup 2026

Coming to Gill’s defence, Harbhajan stressed that the decision should not be viewed as a setback or warning sign for the 26-year-old. According to the veteran spinner, Gill’s classical technique and strong temperament remain his biggest assets, which will eventually help him reclaim his place in the shortest format as well.

Harbhajan pointed out that Gill has never taken his spot in the side for granted and continues to work on his game despite intense scrutiny. He added that competition is a healthy sign for Indian cricket and sometimes even top players have to sit out when team combinations demand change.

One of the strongest arguments in Gill’s favour, Harbhajan noted, is the leadership responsibility entrusted to him in other formats. Gill continues to lead India in Tests and One-Day Internationals, a clear indication that the selectors and team management see him as a long-term leader and cornerstone of Indian cricket.

“It is not a signal for Gill. He was not taking his place for granted, but the competition is so tough that there are many players who can take that slot and perform well for the team. This is not the end of the road for him. He is a great player with beautiful technique. I believe he will make a brilliant comeback, and we should not forget that he is still the Test captain,” Harbhajan said as quoted by India Today.

Also READ: Former cricketer explains why Shubman Gill cannot be all-format captain of India

Arjun Erigaisi (Photo by FIDE/Lennart Ootes)

NEW DELHI: India had a proud moment at the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships as Arjun Erigaisi delivered a double medal performance on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar.The 22-year-old chess star won bronze medals in both the Rapid and Blitz events. With the medals, he also became the first Indian player to register podium finishes at both events since Viswanathan Anand won the Rapid section and finished third in Blitz back in 2017.

This came after he had already won a bronze in the Rapid section earlier in the tournament. Winning medals in both formats at the same championship is very rare and shows the player’s consistency. However, the result could have been even better for the Telangana-born Grandmaster. On Tuesday, Arjun faced Nodirbek Abdusattorov in the semifinals of the World Blitz Championship. Abdusattorov won the first two games, while the third game ended in a draw. As a result, Arjun had to settle for the bronze medal, while five-time World Champion and top-ranked chess player Magnus Carlsen and Abdusattorov moved on to play the final, where Carlsen’s astute end-game manoeuvres eventually earned him a coveted win over Abdusattorov with a 2.5-1.5 score. Subsequently, Carlsen clinched the Blitz gold here as well after becoming champion in the Rapid section on Sunday. On the other hand, Bibisara Assaubayeva of Kazakhstan became the Women’s World Blitz Champion.Despite the disappointment at the end, Arjun’s overall performance in the Blitz Championship was impressive. On both occasions, Arjun came very close to reaching the final and fighting for the championship title.He topped the Swiss segment of the Blitz tournament with a strong score of 15 points out of 19. But perhaps luck was not in his favour.Still, the bigger picture remains very positive. Arjun Erigaisi finished third in the Blitz event and added another bronze medal to his tally, meaning he has wrapped up his final tournament of the year, the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, with two bronze medals.While the ending may have been painful for him and his fans, as the result could’ve been better, Arjun’s performance showed that he belongs among the world’s best.ALSO READ: World champion at 7 in her first international event; ‘nervous’ while meeting PM Modi: How Pragnika Lakshmi became a chess prodigy

Mumbai: BEST appears to have not have learned a lesson from the fatal bus tragedy of Dec 2024, just a little over a year ago, which left 9 dead and 40 injured. In the latest mishap at Bhandup, a full-time, experienced BEST driver lost control of a bus on Monday night, and 4 people lost their lives while 10 were injured.After last year’s fatal crash, BEST introduced a comprehensive two-tier training by wet lease operators for drivers on the latest buses with advanced technology. This was followed by training, utilisation of simulators, and implementation of breathalysers at a few depots. BEST also planned to finalise a uniform speed limit for buses operating in Mumbai, with speed governors. Despite these measures, BEST failed to curb mishaps, with two big fatal crashes in a span of a year, said a transport activist.Former BMC opposition leader and former BEST panel member Ravi Raja demanded the BEST administration arrange a sensitisation programme on road safety for all bus drivers in Mumbai—whether BEST staffers or those on wet lease. Considering that they were plying buses with the BEST logo, there had to be accountability, he added. Another former panel member said BEST should not become like the blueline buses, which earned notoriety and a “killer” tag, and were phased out by the Delhi govt in the past.Statistics showed a 43% rise in fatalities involving BEST bus crashes and a 53% increase in injuries in 2024-25 compared with the previous year. From April to Sept of this financial year, 14 people died while 33 were injured in BEST crashes.Passenger rights activist Nikhil Desai said driver training should be conducted exclusively by BEST, and the organisation cannot delegate this responsibility to contractors.BEST general manager Sonia Sethi told TOI a few weeks ago that she directed the staff to complete three weeks of compulsory on-road training and road safety discipline for all drivers. She added the Kurla crash was an eye-opener, and the undertaking was serious about public safety. “We have zero tolerance for bus fatalities,” she said.A senior BEST official also blamed the crowds outside the station area, with illegal hawkers, illegally parked vehicles, and two-wheelers, as a major challenge for drivers who found it stressful to operate buses there. “While drivers should be blamed for negligence, the station area should also be cleared for smoother bus movement,” he said. On Tuesday morning, the Bhandup station West area was cleared of hawkers, and there was adequate space for buses to operate near the bus stops.