Nuwan Thushara of RCB celebrates (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Sri Lanka pacer Nuwan Thushara is set to miss the upcoming Indian Premier League after being denied a No Objection Certificate by Sri Lanka Cricket, following the introduction of a strict new fitness policy. As part of the revised guidelines, the board has made it compulsory for players to meet newly established physical performance benchmarks before receiving clearance to feature in overseas franchise leagues, including the IPL and the PSL. Thushara’s participation hinged on clearing these fitness tests, but reports suggest he fell short of the required standards. According to Newswire Sri Lanka, the board’s decision to withhold the NOC could result in the pacer losing his contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, which is believed to be worth around INR 1.6 crore. The development adds to a challenging period for Thushara. After playing a key role in Sri Lanka’s 2025 Asia Cup campaign, he was later sidelined ahead of the T20 World Cup, even as the team dealt with multiple injuries in the pace department. His absence from selection raised concerns about his standing within the national setup. While Thushara is reportedly not dealing with any injury and remains fit to bowl, questions over his overall fitness levels appear to have influenced the selectors’ decision under the new policy framework. The board has taken a firm stance, granting NOCs only to players who meet the prescribed fitness criteria. Several Sri Lankan players, including Dushmantha Chameera, Dasun Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka, and Kamindu Mendis, have cleared the benchmarks and secured approval to participate in the IPL. In contrast, Kusal Janith Perera has been allowed to feature in the PSL without undergoing the fitness tests, with the board clarifying that he is not currently in contention for national selection. At RCB, Thushara had a realistic chance of breaking into the playing XI. With lead overseas pacer Josh Hazlewood ruled out at the start of the season and Yash Dayal also unavailable, the franchise was left with limited options. Alongside New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy, Thushara was among the frontrunners, especially given his prior IPL experience. He was part of RCB in 2025, where he featured in one match and returned figures of 1 for 26 from four overs. The previous season, he represented Mumbai Indians, claiming eight wickets at an average of 32.12.

Retired US Army colonel and geopolitical adviser Douglas Macgregor has dismissed Pakistan’s attempt to mediate in the Iran war, calling the move “ludicrous nonsense” and questioning Islamabad’s credibility.In an interview with news agency ANI, Macgregor said Pakistan’s internal instability and economic troubles make it an unlikely broker. “For the Pakistanis to offer help is sort of like a man who is in a burning building offering you a spare room,” he said. He added that Israel would not see Pakistan as neutral, but rather “part of the problem”, making any talks in Islamabad unrealistic.“They’re going to view Pakistan as part of the problem. Why would you go to Pakistan to Islamabad to try and close a deal, if you will, on ending the war? That’s an impossibility. It strikes me as just ludicrous nonsense,” he added.“If the Israelis heard that they were supposed to show up in Islamabad for a meeting, I think they’d laugh it off. This is ridiculous. Why should we trust anything those people say?” he asked.Macgregor suggested that India could be in a stronger position to facilitate dialogue, pointing to its ties across competing blocs. He said Narendra Modi commands global respect and maintains working relationships with leaders including Vladimir Putin, as well as Iran and Israel. He also indicated that Donald Trump would be more likely to engage with New Delhi’s efforts.His remarks come as the conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran enters its fourth week, with both sides hardening their positions. The war has intensified across the region, with continued Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran.Meanwhile, tensions continue to centre on the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has tightened control over shipping lanes. Analysts say Tehran is effectively restricting passage for vessels linked to the US and Israel, contributing to a sharp rise in global oil prices and fears of wider economic disruption.Trump has warned that Iran needs to “get serious soon” about negotiations, linking any ceasefire to the reopening of the strait. However, Tehran has rejected US demands and insists it will end the conflict only on its own terms, dismissing indirect communication through intermediaries.With casualties rising across multiple fronts and no breakthrough in talks, Macgregor warned the conflict could drag on. He said there is currently “no off-ramp”, cautioning that prolonged disruption particularly to global energy flows could have far-reaching consequences.

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin terms Shubman Gill a bit like a don, who would be coming into the season “really hungry” to make it back to Indian T20I side and urged him to not chase a high strike rate and just play normally. After a T20 World Cup snub following a run as the team’s vice captain leading upto the tournament, Gill would be aiming to be among the thick of action and score as fast as he can to regain his place into Indian T20I spot.Gill was recalled into the T20I side as its vice-captain and Sanju Samson was dropped and sometimes played down the order to accommodate Gill at the top. However, the experiment to make Gill a three-format player failed as he could make just 291 runs in 15 innings at an average of 24.25, with a strike rate of 137.26 and best score of 47.

Applications for unemployment benefits in the United States rose slightly last week, signalling continued labour market resilience even as hiring momentum has slowed over the past year.New filings for jobless aid increased by 5,000 to 210,000 for the week ended March 21, up from 205,000 in the previous week, the US Labour Department said on Thursday, according to AP. The figure was in line with expectations of analysts surveyed by FactSet.Weekly jobless claims are widely viewed as a near real-time gauge of layoffs. Though layoffs have largely remained within a historically healthy range of 200,000–250,000 in recent years, several major companies — including Morgan Stanley, Block, UPS and Amazon — have recently announced job cuts.Earlier this month, the Labour Department reported that US employers unexpectedly shed 92,000 jobs in February. Payroll data for December and January were also revised lower by a combined 69,000 jobs, pushing the unemployment rate up to 4.4%.The weaker employment picture has added to economic uncertainty amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which has driven oil prices more than 40% higher and increased cost pressures for businesses and households. Inflation was already elevated before the conflict, with the Commerce Department noting that the Federal Reserve’s preferred price gauge rose 2.8% year-on-year in January, above the central bank’s 2% target.Against this backdrop, the Federal Reserve left its benchmark lending rate unchanged at its latest policy meeting. Policymakers had earlier voted to raise rates three times towards the end of 2025, citing concerns about a softening job market.Economists say the labour market remains in a “low-hire, low-fire” phase — keeping unemployment historically low but making it harder for jobseekers to find new work.The report also showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims dipped by 250 to 210,500. Meanwhile, the number of Americans continuing to receive unemployment benefits for the week ended March 14 declined by 32,000 to 1.82 million.

With excitement building for the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League, predictions from former cricketers have started pouring in. Among the latest voices are two ex-England captains — Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook — who have picked different favourites to lift the coveted trophy. While both acknowledged the competitiveness of the league, their choices reflect contrasting beliefs about experience versus momentum.

Michael Vaughan backs comeback of 5-time champions

Vaughan has tipped Mumbai Indians to reclaim glory and secure their sixth IPL title. The five-time champions have not won the tournament since 2020, when they defeated Delhi Capitals in a dominant final performance. The former England skipper believes that Mumbai’s squad depth and winning pedigree make them strong contenders to end their title drought. He pointed out that despite a few underwhelming seasons, the franchise still possesses a balanced mix of experienced stars and emerging talents.

According to Vaughan, Mumbai’s ability to handle pressure in crunch moments could prove decisive over the course of a long and demanding tournament. He suggested that teams with a history of success often find ways to bounce back, and MI might be primed for exactly that in 2026.

“Mumbai Indians are winning it this year. They haven’t won it in a few [years] but they have got an incredible team,” Vaughan said on The Overlap Cricket YouTube channel.

Alastair Cook goes with star-studded side to repeat the history

In contrast, Cook has backed Royal Challengers Bengaluru to defend their title successfully. The Bengaluru-based side enters the season as defending champions and will be aiming to become only the third team in IPL history to win consecutive titles. Cook expressed confidence in the team’s leadership and structure, particularly highlighting the influence of head coach Andy Flower. He believes that RCB’s recent success has instilled a winning mentality within the squad, something that could carry them through another successful campaign.

If RCB manage to win again, they would join an elite list alongside Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians — the only teams to have previously achieved back-to-back titles.

Also READ: IPL 2026: Who is Aryaman Birla? Meet the new chairman of RCB

Season opener sets the tone

The IPL’s 18-year history has seen a handful of teams dominate the competition. Apart from Mumbai and Chennai, Kolkata Knight Riders have also established themselves as a successful unit with multiple titles. However, every new season brings fresh challenges and surprises, making predictions far from certain. RCB’s recent rise has added a new dimension to the competition, while traditional powerhouses like Mumbai will be eager to reassert their dominance. With several teams strengthening their squads, IPL 2026 is expected to be one of the most competitive editions yet.

The tournament is set to kick off with an exciting clash between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians will begin their campaign a day later against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium.

Also READ: Pat Cummins reveals when he will be available to play for SRH in IPL 2026