The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season will commence on a markedly subdued note, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to cancel the traditional opening ceremony. Known for its extravagant blend of cricket, Bollywood glamour, and global entertainment acts, the IPL’s curtain-raiser has long been a spectacle that sets the tone for the tournament. However, this year, fans will witness a more restrained beginning, reflecting a deeper sense of respect and remembrance.

Reason why IPL 2026 will have no opening ceremony

The BCCI’s move comes in the wake of a tragic stampede that occurred in Bengaluru during celebrations for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s maiden IPL title in 2025. On June 4, a massive crowd gathered outside the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium to celebrate the historic victory. Unfortunately, the situation spiraled out of control, leading to a deadly stampede that claimed the lives of 11 fans, including a minor, and left several others injured.

In response, the BCCI has chosen to forgo all celebratory events at the start of IPL 2026. Secretary Devajit Saikia reportedly confirmed that the decision was taken to show solidarity with the grieving families and to respect the sentiments of the local community. The board believes that a grand celebration would be inappropriate given the tragic events linked to the city’s cricketing festivities.

Also READ: Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook predict the winner of IPL 2026

Tributes to honour the victims

Instead of the usual high-energy performances, the opening match between RCB and Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 will feature a series of heartfelt tributes. As a mark of remembrance, 11 seats at the Chinnaswamy Stadium will remain permanently unoccupied, symbolizing the lives lost in the tragedy.

Players of RCB have also paid their respects in meaningful ways. During practice sessions, members of the squad donned jerseys bearing the number 11, while black armbands are set to be worn on the opening day. Additionally, a minute of silence will be observed before the first ball is bowled, allowing players, officials, and fans to collectively honour the victims.

Notably, this is not the first instance where the BCCI has prioritised humanitarian concerns over celebration. In 2019, following the Pulwama attack, the board similarly scrapped the IPL opening ceremony and redirected the allocated funds to support the families of the martyred CRPF personnel. Such decisions highlight the governing body’s willingness to align cricketing events with broader national sentiment and empathy.

While the opening ceremony has been cancelled, preparations for the tournament itself remain firmly on track. The BCCI has already announced the schedule for the second phase of IPL 2026, meaning the complete league-stage fixtures are now available to the public. Details regarding the playoffs are expected to be released in due course.

Also READ: BCCI announces schedule for the second phase of IPL 2026

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially released the much-anticipated schedule for the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, setting the stage for an intense and decisive stretch of the tournament. With 50 league matches still to be played, the league stage will resume on April 13 and run until May 24, 2026, promising a thrilling battle for playoff spots.

Second phase resumes with a blockbuster clash

The second phase will kick off with an exciting encounter between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad. This fixture is expected to set the tone for what lies ahead, as teams return with renewed focus and urgency. With the league entering its business end, every match will carry significant weight. Teams currently hovering around the mid-table will look to build momentum, while frontrunners aim to solidify their positions in the top four.

Matches spread across 12 cities

To ensure widespread fan engagement, the BCCI has scheduled matches across 12 venues in India. The cities hosting the remaining league matches include Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Dharamshala, Raipur, and New Chandigarh. This diverse venue lineup not only brings the action closer to fans across the country but also introduces varying pitch conditions and climates, adding another layer of complexity for teams as they strategize for crucial games.

The second phase will feature eight double-header days, giving fans the chance to enjoy back-to-back matches. These high-intensity days are expected to play a key role in shaping the points table, as teams could quickly rise or fall depending on their performances. The packed schedule will test squad depth, fitness levels, and tactical flexibility, especially for teams dealing with injuries or form concerns.

Also READ: Irfan Pathan flags ‘key concern’ in Arshdeep Singh’s bowling ahead of IPL 2026

Home advantage and venue adjustments

Several franchises will benefit from playing multiple games at their designated home venues. Punjab Kings will split their home fixtures between New Chandigarh and Dharamshala, including three matches in the picturesque hill venue. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals are set to host four matches in Jaipur, giving them a solid home advantage. Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play three matches at their home ground in Bengaluru, along with two fixtures scheduled in Raipur. These venue allocations could play a crucial role in determining outcomes, as teams often rely heavily on familiar conditions to gain an edge.

While the league phase schedule has been confirmed, the BCCI has stated that the venues for the playoffs will be announced at a later date. This decision keeps fans and teams guessing, adding to the anticipation surrounding the knockout stage.

Complete schedule of IPL 2026 league stage

Also READ: Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook predict the winner of IPL 2026

There was a time not too long ago when Prithvi Shaw looked like a certainty for India’s future. He burst onto the scene as a teenager, captained the Under-19 World Cup-winning side in 2018, and made his Test debut shortly after with a hundred on the very first day. But cricket, as it often does, had other plans. A string of injuries, inconsistency, fitness concerns, and a long stretch away from the national side slowly pushed him to the margins. His last appearance for India came back in July 2021, and since then, the wait has only grown longer.

Now, with IPL 2026 just around the corner, Shaw is using every opportunity to make a statement. Signed by Delhi Capitals for ₹75 lakh in the accelerated phase of the auction after going unsold initially he is not taking this second chance lightly. If anything, it seems to have lit a fire under him.

Prithvi Shaw opens up on the 200% mindset

Shaw has been open about the shift in his preparation and the effort he is putting in to make a comeback to the Indian team and achieve that goal. He admitted he is working “three times harder” and feels he is giving more than his full capacity, while also acknowledging the ups and downs in his career with maturity. Shaw emphasized that he has learned from past mistakes and believes consistent hard work, discipline, and staying positive are the only ways to make a strong comeback.

“I think that’s why I’m playing. There’s no doubt that I have to come back to the Indian team. That’s why I’m working very hard. The amount of hard work I used to put in, I put in three times more today”, Shaw said during an interaction with PTI.

“Actually, I don’t like to talk about it, but I feel that I’m giving not 100%, but 200% to come back to the Indian team, to win this trophy or to give 100% on a match day or on a practice day as well.”

“Whatever ups and downs happened in the last few years, I took it all with a lot of respect and a smile. And obviously, it stays in my mind when I’ll be back. But there’s only one way to do it work hard and give your 100%. If you’ve made some mistakes, learn from them,” he added.

His domestic numbers in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025–26 also support this, as he recorded a strike rate of over 160 in the tournament.

Also READ: Faf du Plessis picks ideal batting number for KL Rahul in IPL 2026

Where does he fit at Delhi Capitals?

Even with all this motivation, Shaw’s path at Delhi Capitals is not without its complications. Captain Axar Patel has indicated that KL Rahul is likely to open for the side, which leaves Shaw’s exact role a little unclear. There are overseas options being considered too, and with Ben Duckett having pulled out, the team’s top-order puzzle has a few moving pieces.

But Shaw has taken a mature view of the situation.

“I haven’t thought about it actually. If KL (Rahul) is opening and with whosoever is opening with him should have a great season. I won’t say that I should open. Whoever opens, should win us the match. Obviously, there is competition. Cricket is such a thing that whether you play Ranji Trophy, IPL, India, or India A, there will be competition. Today, there are 10 openers as you can see. So there will be competition,” Shaw said.

Delhi Capitals are set to begin their IPL 2026 campaign on April 1 against Lucknow Super Giants, and whether Shaw is in the playing XI from the first game or not, what is clear is that he is showing up as a genuinely transformed cricketer, one who has gone through the fire and come out more determined than before.

The IPL has always been a stage where careers are resurrected and reputations rebuilt. For Shaw, this season is exactly that a chance to remind everyone, including the Indian selectors, what they have been missing.

Also READ: Delhi Capitals address speculation over Mitchell Starc’s availability for IPL 2026

The gentleman’s game has long been celebrated for its spirit of sportsmanship, yet for former Indian leg-spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, the reality behind the boundary ropes was often far from noble. Recently, the 60-year-old veteran took to social media and interviews to detail a harrowing history of alleged racism and colourism that spanned his journey from a 14-year-old prodigy to a seasoned commentator. His revelations have sparked a necessary, albeit uncomfortable, conversation about the deep-seated prejudices within the cricketing ecosystem.

Sivaramakrishnan’s ordeal began long before he donned the India cap. At just 14, while serving as a net bowler at Chepauk, he was reportedly mistaken for ground staff by a senior India batter due to his dark complexion. The senior player demanded that the teenager clean his shoes. Though the young spinner stood his ground, the incident served as a chilling introduction to the systemic bias he would face for decades.

Laxman Sivaramakrishnan opens up on alleged racism he experienced in Indian cricket

The discrimination was not limited to isolated encounters with seniors; it permeated his domestic career and international appearances. Sivaramakrishnan recalled how his own Tamil Nadu teammates frequently referred to him as ‘karupa’—a Tamil term used to mock his dark skin. This internal friction was mirrored by external hostility. During matches in North Indian cities like Mumbai, Chandigarh, and Jalandhar, the spinner was often subjected to derogatory chants from the stands. Crowds would taunt him with the phrase “Kalia, tera kya hoga,” a racially charged jab that reduced his athletic merit to the shade of his skin.

Perhaps the most poignant moment of his career occurred on his 17th birthday. What should have been a celebration turned into a source of lasting trauma when a senior cricketer mocked the dark chocolate cake brought for the occasion. The player reportedly joked that the cake was the ‘right color’ for a ‘dark boy.’

“Hey Sunny, you ordered the right colour cake. Such a dark chocolate cake for a dark boy,” Sivaramakrishnan told The Indian Express.

The comment was so hurtful that Sivaramakrishnan broke down in tears and refused to cut the cake, eventually finding solace only when Sunil Gavaskar stepped in to comfort him.

Also READ: IPL 2026: Ananya Birla addresses speculation around renaming RCB after massive ₹16,700 crore sale

The lasting impact on mental health and the sport

Sivaramakrishnan, who claimed 41 international wickets across 9 Tests and 16 ODIs, was widely considered one of the most gifted leg-spinners of his generation. However, the mental scars from these incidents remained long after his playing days ended. Even during his 33-year tenure as a commentator, a role from which he recently retired, the veteran suggested that colourism continued to play a role in how he was perceived and treated.

The statistics regarding representation and treatment of players from Southern India have often been a point of quiet debate, but Sivaramakrishnan’s vocal stance brings the issue into the spotlight. His story highlights a broader cultural challenge within India, where colourism (prejudice based on skin tone) is often dismissed as banter despite its devastating psychological effects. By coming forward, the former spinner isn’t just recounting personal grievances; he is challenging the BCCI and the global cricketing community to address the toxic culture that allows such discrimination to persist in the locker rooms and the stands alike.

Also READ: Vijay Mallya reflects on RCB’s historic ₹16,700 sale ahead of IPL 2026

The 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to begin soon. As the league’s popularity grows year by year, with new teams and international players joining, former cricketers and experts have begun speculating about players like MS Dhoni, who will turn 45 this year.

Dhoni is currently the oldest player in the IPL, having represented his team since 2008 and played a total of 278 IPL matches, holding the record for the most appearances in the tournament’s history. He has represented Chennai Super Kings and Rising Pune Supergiant (2016–2017), scoring over 5,000 runs as a wicketkeeper-batsman.

However, since his surgery in 2023, Dhoni’s performance has declined; he has mostly played as an impact player or batted at number 7 or 8, typically in the final overs. In the last season, he averaged around 25 runs at a sub-par strike rate of 135.7 across 14 games.

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The Role of MS Dhoni in Today’s IPL

Many Indian fans tune in to the IPL to watch players who have retired from international cricket, such as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. With new franchises emerging and auction prices rising every year, the league has evolved significantly.

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra recently questioned whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) still requires Dhoni’s presence to maintain the league’s growth and popularity.

From 2023 to 2026: Will This Be MS Dhoni’s Last Season?

After CSK’s last title win, MS Dhoni said in the post-match presentation that he had “one more year of cricket left.” He later underwent knee surgery under sports medicine specialist Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala. When asked how long he planned to continue, Dhoni replied simply: at least another year.

As the 2026 season approaches, his longevity remains the sport’s biggest talking point. Chopra believes Dhoni’s self-awareness will dictate his exit. He told RevSportz: “Whenever Mahendra Singh Dhoni comes on the field, his reputation precedes him, and with that comes responsibility. He is playing because he loves the game. He has achieved everything there is to achieve. But the day he feels he is a liability if he can’t hit a six, drops catches, or misses stumpings he will leave on his own. He will say, ‘that’s it.’”

Does the IPL Still Need MS Dhoni?

Chopra raised the question: despite the league’s global popularity, is Dhoni’s presence still essential? He pointed out that the IPL has grown tremendously and does not depend solely on any single player. International interest in the league remains high, even as players leave other competitions, such as the PSL or ECB, to participate.

“With due respect to MS and others, the IPL has become incredibly big. A small child doesn’t learn to walk until you hold his finger. But holding his finger has helped him grow. Now he is running, and when he is running, he doesn’t need anyone to hold his finger. The ecosystem will not be significantly affected whether it is MS or someone else. The IPL can take care of itself,” Chopra said.

However, the decision of whether to play or not ultimately depends on MS Dhoni and the CSK team management. There is no doubt that his presence can influence any team’s performance, as we saw during the concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Dhoni was seen motivating the Indian team from the stands alongside last year’s World Cup-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, during the semi-final and final games against New Zealand and England.

No team would want to risk losing such a genius, who can even change the course of a match from the pavilion. Chennai Super Kings will play their first match of the season against Rajasthan Royals on March 30 in Guwahati.

Also Read: “Should not play”: CSK legend suggests MS Dhoni to skip IPL 2026

Only a couple of days before the Indian Premier League 2026 (IPL 2026), it was confirmed that Rahul Chahar, who will play for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL 2026 season, is all set to make a return to England‘s County cricket club, Surrey, for the last eight Rothesay County Championship matches this summer.

The Surrey cricket club confirmed the signing of the Indian leg spinner, who played only one match for them before. In the solitary match for the team, Chahar recorded a historic figure of 8/51 against Hampshire.

The exceptional bowling performance by the CSK spinner

In September 2025, Surrey faced Hampshire for a crucial County Championship Division One match in Southampton. In the low-scoring multi-day game, Rahul Chahar caused the difference between the two teams.

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After taking a couple of wickets in the first innings, the Indian spinner claimed 8 wickets in the second. Meanwhile, another Indian spinner, Washington Sundar, was also part of the game, playing for the Hampshire cricket team.

It was Chahar’s lone match for the English club. Ahead of another exciting domestic season, the team values the skills of the Indian spinner. He will be available to play for the team for the final eight matches of the Championship matches, starting with the clash with Hampshire at the Oval, starting on 7 June.

Official statement by the club

“Indian leg spinner Rahul Chahar will return to Surrey for the last eight Rothesay County Championship matches this summer,” the club informed on their official website.

With his impactful bowling spells, especially the second innings’ 8/51, he became the club’s all-time best debutant, breaking William Mudie’s 166-year-old record when he took 7/61 in 1859.

“I’m so excited to be coming back to Surrey this season. I really enjoyed my short spell in 2025 and jumped at the opportunity to come back this season when I spoke to Alec Stewart. Surrey is a successful club, and I want to help the team achieve its goals in 2026,” Rahul Chahar said about the signing.

The official of the club is excited to bring back the CSK spinner

Director of Men’s Cricket of the club, Alec Stewart, said that they are excited to welcome Rahul Chahar again after his heroics in the match. The team is looking forward to winning matches in the championship.

“Rahul came in last year and did an excellent job at Hampshire, showing his qualities. We’re. Looking forward to welcoming him back to the group and seeing how he can contribute to winning games of cricket for Surrey,” Stewart mentioned.

Meanwhile, for the IPL 2026 season, CSK roped in Rahul Chahar for an amount of INR 5.2p crore in the auction. He is expected to feature in the playing eleven of the former IPL champions. He joined CSK after a brief spell with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025, where he got to play only one game.

Read More: “Should not play”: CSK legend suggests MS Dhoni to skip IPL 2026

For the IPL 2026 season, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have a power-packed batting order. Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, Prashant Veer, Dewald Brevis, Kartik Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan… All are well capable of scoring runs at a rapid pace, which doesn’t mean that they all will score tons of runs in the upcoming season. Who will be the highest run getter for the team? Former Team India and CSK spinner Ravichandran Ashwin answered the challenging question.

Unlike any of the big hitters, Ravichandran Ashwin selected the captain Ruturaj Gaikwad as the possible contender to score the most amount of runs for the Yellow brigade in IPL 2026. Gaikwad will enter the campaign with a clinical domestic season with Maharashtra.

Why Ruturaj Gaikwad could be the top run scorer for CSK in the IPL 2026 season?

In the previous edition of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the top order batter recorded 413 runs from seven games, averaging 82.60 and a strike rate of 115.04. These stats are supported by a couple of centuries and a half-century.

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Ashwin senses that Ruturaj Gaikwad will try to play an anchor role, while the other batters around him will score runs at a fast pace. If, according to Ashwin’s prediction, Gaikwad remains on the track from the beginning to the end of an innings, then his run-scoring chances will increase automatically.

“Best batter – Ruturaj. I think he will bat at three. His role will be to play till the end. I feel he will look to anchor and the others will keep hitting around him. That is why I think he could get the volume of runs,” Ravichandran Ashwin said on his official YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’.

Can the former champions qualify for the play-offs?

The former spinner believes that the team has the potential to qualify for the play-offs. To do that, Ashwin suggests the top order batters score tons of runs.

He also stated that to qualify for the knockout phase, the bowlers also need to perform according to the plans as well. On paper, CSK’s bowling attack is looking not among the best on paper, especially after the injury of Nathan Ellis.

“CSK will compete very hard to be at three or four. I feel they are a part of the three, four, five, and six contenders. If their top three or two at least score 500 runs each, and they find bowlers to execute plans and get their top two firing, I definitely feel they will get through. The bowling might not look strong, but in the past, they have found bowlers to do the job. I feel they are in contention,” Ashwin added.

Injuries to top bowlers can be beneficial for the team

Ashwin further explained that as some of the ace bowlers like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood are expected to miss multiple early matches, the Chennai Super Kings will have a great chance to gain an advantage, utilising the situation.

“If CSK start well, then before guys like Cummins, Starc, and Hazlewood come, you will feel RCB and SRH are having to catch up. If they start slow, and you hit the ground running as CSK, then you are set for a very good finish,” he pointed out.

Read More: “Should not play”: CSK legend suggests MS Dhoni to skip IPL 2026

The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will be entering its 19th edition as the oldest running franchise league is set to start from March 28, 2026, with reigning champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) hosting the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Previously, the IPL managing committee and the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the first 20 matches fixture.

Now, the full schedule for the IPL 2026 has been released. Initially, only four games for each team’s schedule were announced due to the Assembly Elections in India. On Thursday evening. Though the dates for the playoff matches are yet to be announced, the venues for the same. The fans will be excited after the full schedule is announced.

IPL full schedule announced

The remaining 50 matches in the league stage would be contested between April 13 and May 24, 2026, at 12 sites across India. Matches in the second phase will take place in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Dharamsala, Raipur, and New Chandigarh.

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The second round will have eight double-headers, with afternoon matches starting at 03:30 PM IST and evening matches beginning at 07:30 PM IST. During this phase, the Punjab Kings will play home matches in New Chandigarh and Dharamsala.

Three matches are taking place in Dharamsala. The Rajasthan Royals will play four home games in Jaipur, and the rest at the Basarpara Stadium, Guwahati, while the Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play three in Bengaluru and two in Raipur. The venues for the Playoffs will be announced at a later date.

No opening ceremony

There will be no celebrations ahead of the first IPL match. However, according to The Times of India, the IPL governing council is planning a closing ceremony on May 31.

“Due to last year’s tragic incident on June 4 last year, there will be no formal function on the day of the start of IPL-2026 (in Bengaluru). The BCCI is not organizing any cultural or entertainment show at the start of IPL-19 as a mark of respect to the departed souls due to that tragedy on June 4, 2025.”

“However, the BCCI and the IPL governing council are planning a grand entertainment function at the closing of the IPL, on the day of the final (May 31),” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Times of India.

Full schedule

Also Read: Shaheen Afridi lashed out at journalists after asked about Pakistan Team during PSL press-conference

Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Shubman Gill makes a huge announcement ahead of the IPL 2026 season. In a press conference on March 26, the top order batter confirmed the opening combination of the team for the upcoming season.

Last season, GT looked impressive because of the batting performances by Sai Sudharsan. Will GT continue trusting in the batter for an opening slot for the IPL 2026? The question was directly asked to the Gujarat captain Shubman Gill.

Shubman Gill confirms his opening partner ahead of IPL 2026

Like the question, the answer also came in a direct, fluent way. Gill said that it will be wrong to demote a batter who won the Orange Cap in the previous IPL season.

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So, the Gujarat Titans are likely to keep the opening pair of Gill and Sudharshan, which is commonly known as ‘Sai-Su’, in the upcoming Indian Premier League campaign. In the previous edition, Sudharshan registered a staggering amount of 759 runs in 15 matches, averaging 54.21 to become the best batter of IPL 2025.

We want this 𝙎𝙖𝙞𝙎𝙝𝙪 partnership again 🫶 pic.twitter.com/0e507DUsRX

— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) March 26, 2026

Sai Sudharsan ruled IPL 2025 with his individual batting skills

In the previous season, both Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan were firing all cylinders with their blades. Whilst Sudharshan registered 759 runs to become the top run scorer of the tournament, Gill finished in fourth place on the top run-scoring batters list with 650 runs in 15 matches for an average of 50.00. Gill was only behind Sudharshan, Suryakumar Yadav (Mumbai Indians) who got 717 runs, and Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) who scored 657 runs in the campaign.

With the top-performing batters, the Gujarat Titans secured their place in the play-offs, but failed to reach the finals.

The pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan produced multiple memorable partnerships for the Gujarat Titans

Gill and Sudharshan both share a strong bond on the pitch. They have founded some of the most elusive partnerships for the Gujarat Titans. In 2024, the pair of ‘Sai-Su’ registered a formidable partnership of 210 against the Chennai Super Kings, which is the highest partnership for the Gujarat Titans.

On May 18, 2025, they registered a 205-run partnership against the Delhi Capitals, which is the second-highest for the team. In the same season, they stitched 100-plus runs partnerships against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as well.

So, for obvious reasons, there is no need for the team management to break the partnership that has done well so far in the past. With the left-hand and right-handed combination, the opposing bowlers might have found it difficult to break the pair.

Unlike relying on fancy shots, both of them are known for technical batting skills. They will try to bring on another stellar season, as they will aim to make their way into the T20I set-up.

Read More: Not Sanju Samson! EX-CSK star picks RuturaGaikwadrd as orange cap winner in IPL 2026

Former South Africa captain, and a legendary batter of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) warned the Mumbai Indians (MI) about one of their experienced pacers. Ahead of the IPL 2026, the five-time league winners might be confident enough to claim their sixth title, but Villiers gave them a reality check with his key assessments on their bowling attack.

The bowling attack of the former champions is looking strong enough for another title shot as Jasprit Bumrah is in form, and the team will expect to see the pace spearhead to carry the same rhythm that he exhibited in the T20 World Cup 2026.

Trent Boult is set to pair up with Jasprit Bumrah in IPL 2026

For the pace bowling duties, Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya could trust Bumrah and New Zealand star Trent Boult. Boult is a proven bowler across all formats, but can he deliver the best in the 2026 campaign for the Mumbai Indians? AB de Villiers has a plethora of doubts.

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According to Villiers’ observation, the New Zealand pacer has way past his prime and lost the edge. The former batter compared Boult’s decreasing pace with RCB pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar. For Villiers, Boult has lost a yard like the Indian pacer.

The one worry for me is Trent Boult: AB de Villiers

“The one worry for me is Trent Boult. It’s similar to a Bhuvi situation, where he has lost a yard. He is not as spicy as he was from 2018 to 2020. He seems to be more expensive over the last while that I have watched him play. MI probably feels they have a lot of insurance there, but maybe it’s a false sense of security. It could be an area some of the opposition batters will target,” the former international cricketer explained on his YouTube channel.

The Kiwi pacer did a decent job for MI in IPL 2025

The Kiwi pacer made a comeback in the team last season to pair up with Jasprit Bumrah. Boult was a bit expensive, especially during the initial stage of the IPL 2025. In the latter part of the session, as the matches progressed, the left-handed pacer proved effective in taking wickets.

In 16 matches for the Mumbai Indians, the seamer took 22 wickets, including a best of 4/22, for an economy rate of 8.96. The franchise bought Trent Boult for INR 12.50 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction.

For MI Cape Town, Trent Boult proved expensive in the previous season as he conceded runs at an economy rate of 9.82, which was not satisfying for a bowler of his calibre. In the 10 SA20 2025-26; campaign, he managed to take only 8 wickets, while in the previous season of the tournament, Boult snatched 11 wickets in 11 games, and the economy rate was less than seven.

So, what AB de Villiers observed and explained, has a valid ground to talk about. Mumbai Indians team management might have also noticed the recent below-par stats of the bowler.

Read More: Shubman Gill takes cheeky dig at journalist, names opening partner for IPL 2026