NEW DELHI: As IPL 2026 nears, a major off-field development has taken centre stage, with Rajasthan Royals, the champions of the inaugural edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), being acquired for a massive $1.63 billion by a consortium led by US-based entrepreneur Kal Somani. Despite the scale of the deal, the ownership transition will only come into effect after the conclusion of the 2026 season, meaning the current structure will remain in place for now.Somani is not new to the franchise, having been a minority investor since 2021.

NEW DELHI: As the IPL 2026 season is about to kick off, the biggest story off the field is the USD 1.63 billion (GBP 1.2 billion) acquisition of the Rajasthan Royals by a consortium led by US-based entrepreneur Kal Somani. While Somani has been a minority investor in the one-time IPL-winning franchise since 2021, this move marks a historic shift, making the Royals one of the most valuable sports properties globally.

Who is Kal Somani?

Kal Somani is primarily known as a serial entrepreneur with a deep footprint in the American tech ecosystem. He is the founder and CEO of several global giants, including IntraEdge (a leading technology services and solutions firm), Truyo & Truyo.AI (pioneers in data privacy rights automation and AI governance), and Academian (a major player in the ed-tech and digital content space).His transition into sports began with a focus on sports tech, but it quickly evolved into team ownership. Beyond the IPL, Somani is a co-owner of the Motor City Golf Club and was an early investor in TMRW Sports (the tech-focused sports venture founded by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy) and the TGL Golf League.ALSO READ: Kal Somani-led consortium buys Rajasthan Royals for $1.63 billion

Who are in the consortium?

What makes this deal truly remarkable is the “who’s who” of global finance backing Somani. His consortium includes Rob Walton, the heir to the Walmart fortune and owner of the NFL’s Denver Broncos. With a net worth exceeding USD 110 billion, he is considered the wealthiest sports owner in the United States.There is also The Hamp Family. It is led by Sheila Ford Hamp, the owner of the NFL’s Detroit Lions and a prominent member of the Ford Motor Company family.Somani’s vision for the Royals is rooted in a long-term belief in the IPL’s growth. Upon his initial investment in 2021, he noted the “huge potential” of the league.“We see huge potential with this investment, and we are excited for the future of the IPL”, Somani had said.

Koneru Humpy and Criton Tornaritis

NEW DELHI: Top Indian Grandmaster (GM) Koneru Humpy has pulled out of the 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament in Cyprus, saying she doesn’t feel safe travelling for the event. Her decision has sparked criticism, especially from the Cyprus Chess Federation.Humpy explained her stance clearly as she wrote on X, “After deep reflection, I have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from the FIDE Women’s Candidates Tournament. No event, no matter how important, can come before personal safety and well-being. Despite the assurances provided, I do not feel fully secure under the current circumstances. This is a painful but necessary decision, and I stand by it.”The tournament, starting March 28, is a major event and the only route to the Women’s World Championship match. Humpy had qualified after finishing runner-up at the 2025 Women’s World Cup. However, concerns linked to regional tensions reportedly influenced her choice.

Strong reaction from organisers

Her withdrawal didn’t go down well with Cyprus Chess Federation President Criton Tornaritis, who publicly criticised her comments. Taking the matter to X, he said, “As President of the Cyprus Chess Federation, I am sincerely disappointed by Koneru Humpy’s decision to withdraw, citing that Cyprus ‘is not safe.”He strongly rejected her claims, adding, “The 2026 Women’s Candidates Tournament is one of the largest and most important chess events in the world. This is simply incorrect. Spreading unfounded concerns harms the sport and shows a lack of respect for the organisers and the players who are participating. At the highest level of chess, decisions are based on calculation and facts, not on fear or misinformation. It was a bad move.”With Humpy out, Ukraine’s Anna Muzychuk will take her place, as already confirmed by FIDE. There could also be consequences, including possible fines under FIDE rules if her reason isn’t accepted. Despite her absence, India will still have representation in the women’s tournament through R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh. In the open category, R Praggnanandhaa will be the sole flagbearer for India.

Yash Dayal (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have been dealt a massive blow ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 as the franchise confirmed that the fast bowler Yash Dayal will miss the entire tournament due to personal reasons. Yash Dayal was not seen in the RCB’s training sessions and also in the poster of RCB which sparked rumours of his absence from IPL 2026. Now RCB’s director of cricket, Mo Bobat, has cleared all the doubts over his absence. “So, just to confirm that Yash will not be joining up with the squad. As you know, he is going through a personal situation currently, and just to clarify, we’ve been very supportive of Yash to date and that’s reflected in the fact that we retained him when we had the opportunity to either retain or release players. We wanted to retain him, and he remains under contract and will continue in the short term to remain under contract,” Bobat told the media during a press conference on Tuesday. “We are communicating with him regularly. I spoke to him earlier today as well, but it has been decided that it is not in his best interest or the franchise’s best interest for him to join up with us at this point. He retains our support, and he remains under contract, and we’ll continue to speak to him as he goes through his personal situation,” he added.Earlier, TimesofIndia.com had reached out to multiple RCB officials for an update on Dayal, but they didn’t respond. It has been learnt that the BCCI Centre of Excellence contacted the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) last September to check on the bowler, but the officials could not establish contact with him.“The case was going on against him, so he wasn’t considered for selection. I remember there was a call from CoE checking on him in September, but we weren’t able to establish any contact with Yash Dayal. He has even changed his number. Even his childhood coach doesn’t know his whereabouts,” a UPCA official tells TimesofIndia.com.

Yash Dayal for RCB in IPL

Yash Dayal has played two seasons (2024, 2025) with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), he has taken 28 wickets in 29 matches. He was a key figure in RCB’s bowling attack, notably helping the team reach the playoffs in 2024 and securing their first-ever IPL title in 2025. Dayal was the joint-highest wicket-taker for RCB in 2024 with 15 wickets. He has built a reputation as death over baller after conceding 5 sixes for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023, RCB backed him and made him one of the dependable for RCB. Dayal, recently tied the knot with social media influencer Shweta Pundir in a primate ceremony, has been at the centre of major controversies of late. He was denied anticipatory bail a few months ago after he was involved in a case where he allegedly raped a minor. The controversy started in July 2025 when a lawsuit was brought against him for allegedly exploiting a woman under the guise of marriage. Later, a new case under the POSCO Act surfaced in Jaipur.

Delhi Capitals predicted XI (Image: ANI)

Delhi Capitals (DC) are one of the most underachieving teams in the IPL and are one of the three franchises yet to lift the title. However, over the last 3-4 years, they have shown greater stability, consistently putting up strong performances and challenging top teams. Last season, they started impressively with four consecutive wins but struggled to maintain momentum in the latter half of the tournament. DC also hold a unique record as the only team to have played five Super Overs. Delhi Capitals (DC) entered the IPL 2026 season with a heavily revamped squad, spending Rs 124.75 crore of their Rs 125 crore purse. Delhi Capitals IPL 2026 auction signings: Auqib Nabi (Pacer): Rs 8.40 crore, Pathum Nissanka (Batter): Rs 4.00 crore, David Miller (Batter): Rs 2.00 crore, Ben Duckett (Wicket-keeper): Rs 2.00 crore, Lungi Ngidi (Bowler): Rs 2.00 crore, Kyle Jamieson (Bowler): Rs 2.00 crore, Prithvi Shaw (Batter): Rs 75 Lakh, Sahil Parakh (All-rounder): Rs 30 Lakh.

This season, Delhi Capitals have almost reset their squad, bringing in several new players while retaining a few experienced faces. It will be interesting to see how the new combinations perform.Here’s a look at the strongest predicted playing XI of Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026: Pathum Nissanka: Pathum Nissanka was one of Delhi Capitals’ key buys in the IPL 2026 auction, acquired for Rs 4 crore. He is likely to open alongside KL Rahul, although he may face competition from Ben Duckett for the spot. However, his century against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup makes him a strong contender for the opening role.KL Rahul (WK): KL Rahul, who played in the middle order last season, is expected to return to his preferred opening position. He scored 539 runs last season, including a memorable unbeaten 93 against RCB in Bengaluru. Rahul will also take on wicketkeeping duties for DC.Nitish Rana: Nitish Rana was traded to Delhi Capitals for Rs 4.20 crore ahead of IPL 2026. He is expected to play a crucial role at the No. 3 position, providing stability and experience in the top order.Tristan Stubbs: Tristan Stubbs was a standout performer for DC in IPL 2025, serving as their primary finisher. He scored 300 runs in 13 innings at an impressive strike rate of 150.75, playing a key role in the middle-to-death overs, likely at No. 4 this season.David Miller: David Miller was acquired by Delhi Capitals for Rs 2 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction, marking a significant price drop from previous seasons. The experienced South African finisher adds power and stability to DC’s middle order after being released by Lucknow Super Giants.Axar Patel (C): Axar Patel retains the captaincy this season. He displayed maturity and composure as a leader last year and will aim to build on that success in IPL 2026.Ashutosh Sharma: Ashutosh Sharma has established himself as a reliable finisher. Last season, he played a match-winning knock of 61* off 31 balls against LSG, guiding DC to a one-wicket victory. Coming in as an Impact Sub, he rescued the team from 7/3, smashing five fours and five sixes.Vipraj Nigam: Vipraj Nigam, a 20-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder from Uttar Pradesh, had an impressive debut season in IPL 2025. Bought for Rs 50 lakh, he scored 142 runs and picked up 11 wickets in 14 matches. His quick 39 off 15 balls against LSG was a highlight. He adds depth to the lower order with both bat and ball.Mitchell Starc: Mitchell Starc is set to lead DC’s pace attack, although he is still awaiting clearance from Cricket Australia and may miss the initial matches. Captain Axar Patel has indicated that if Starc is unavailable, T Natarajan will lead the pace unit.Kuldeep Yadav: Kuldeep Yadav was in excellent form in IPL 2025, picking up 15 wickets in 14 matches. As DC’s premier spinner, he will be a key weapon and could be a strong contender for the Purple Cap this season.Mukesh Kumar: Mukesh Kumar was an important part of DC’s bowling attack last season, taking 12 wickets in 12 innings. He will play a crucial supporting role alongside Starc and Natarajan in the pace department.Impact Player OptionsDelhi Capitals are likely to use Abhishek Porel or T Natarajan as their Impact Player, depending on match situations and pitch conditions.Delhi Capitals likely XII for IPL 2026: Pathum Nissanka, KL Rahul, Nitish Rana, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Impact – Abhishek Porel/ T Natrajan

Gujarat Titans squad at the ‘Shubharambh’ event in Ahmedabad ahead of IPL 2026.

NEW DELHI: Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill wants his fast bowlers to perform with the same intensity and aggression that former India pacer Ashish Nehra displayed during his playing days, ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Known for his fiery pace and on-field passion, Nehra never held back – often shouting, and at times even cussing, if there were misfields or dropped catches.Now the head coach of Gujarat Titans, Nehra’s old bowling clips remain a fan favourite. His aggression and loud instructions, which kept fielders on their toes, are still widely enjoyed.

In fact, one of the well-known clips shows Nehra shouting at MS Dhoni.Dhoni faced Nehra’s wrath during an ODI against arch-rivals Pakistan national cricket team in 2005. Nehra, bowling to Shahid Afridi, induced an edge, but Dhoni failed to take the catch behind the stumps. The pacer was visibly furious and lost his temper.During an interaction with host and TV personality Mandira Bedi, Gill said he wants Nehra-like aggression from his pace attack in IPL 2026.Gujarat Titans’ pace arsenal for the season includes Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma, Luke Wood, Prasidh Krishna, Ashok Sharma and Jason Holder.“I do not want my fast bowlers to be calm. I want them to be fierce just like Ashu Pa was. I’m sure you must have seen videos of how Ashu Pa acknowledged dropped catches when he was playing,” Gill said.Prasidh was the Purple Cap holder in IPL 2025 with 25 wickets in 19 matches.Gujarat Titans won their maiden IPL title in 2022 under Hardik Pandya’s captaincy.Last season, Gujarat Titans reached the Eliminator but lost to Mumbai Indians by 20 runs. Gill, however, is confident of a turnaround this time.“Even last year, we had a very successful season. We did not win the trophy, but that does not take away from the brand of cricket we played. We are now here to rectify the mistakes we made last season. We did fall short in some of the things,” he added.

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