The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reached out to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), expressing interest in strengthening existing ties and exploring new avenues of cricketing cooperation between the two nations.Nazmul Abedin Fahim, BCB’s Director of Cricket Operations, confirmed the development in a conversation with ANI. He stated that communication between cricket boards is routine and part of maintaining strong international relations.“We maintain regular communication with various countries’ cricket boards. As part of that regular communication, we recently reached out to the Board of Control for Cricket in India via a letter, through an email, to communicate with them”, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, Director (Cricket Operations) of BCB, told ANI, over the phone. “In the letter, we mentioned that the Indian national cricket team is scheduled to come to Bangladesh in September to play a series, and after that, our women’s team is supposed to go to India. We also included in the letter a request to explore any other possibilities for reciprocal cricket collaborations,” he added.

How the BCB and BCCI Rift Began

The outreach comes after a period of tension between the two cricketing nations. Ahead of IPL 2026, Kolkata Knight Riders had signed Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman. However, due to political objections from local groups, the BCCI ordered KKR to release him, which led to friction between the boards. The situation escalated further when Bangladesh decided to boycott the T20 World Cup hosted in India, straining cricketing relations.However, diplomatic ties between the two countries have recently shown signs of improvement. Following the February 12 elections, the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has taken steps toward strengthening bilateral relations with India.In a significant diplomatic move, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, is scheduled to visit India on April 7 and 8. With improving political relations, cricketing cooperation between the two nations also appears to be back on track, signaling a positive phase for future engagements.

India’s tour of Bangladesh

The Indian national cricket team is set to tour Bangladesh in September 2026 for a six-match white-ball series, comprising three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). Originally scheduled for August 2025, the tour was postponed due to scheduling and security concerns. Following the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s proposal to the BCCI, the final schedule is expected to be confirmed between the two boards.

Shubman Gill and Ravindra Jadeja (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

NEW DELHI: Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium is set to host an exciting clash between Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans and Riyan Parag-led Rajasthan Royals on Saturday.Both teams have played one match so far this season. While Rajasthan Royals began their campaign with a win, Gujarat Titans started on a losing note. Gill will be eager to put his side back on track, whereas Parag will look to maintain the winning momentum.Gujarat Titans lifted the IPL title in their debut season in 2022, while Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural edition in 2008 but have not tasted success since.

Chennai Super Kings (ANI Photo)

Former India greats Sunil Gavaskar and Cheteshwar Pujara have lauded the fearless approach shown by young batters Ayush Mhatre and Priyansh Arya, highlighting how the new generation is redefining T20 batting with a focus on the present rather than past setbacks. Priyansh Arya set the tone for Punjab Kings’ daunting chase of 210 against Chennai Super Kings with a blistering start after being introduced as a substitute. From the outset, he took the attack to the bowlers, driving Khaleel Ahmed for a crisp boundary before launching him over midwicket for six. Despite some movement on offer, Khaleel conceded 14 runs in the opening over. Arya’s assault only intensified in the next over, as he went after Matt Henry with a sequence of 4, 6 and 4, racing to 25 off just six balls. By the time Punjab reached 50 in a staggering 3.2 overs, Arya had already smashed 27 off eight deliveries. His 39 off 11 balls, struck at a remarkable strike rate of 355, exemplified the modern T20 blueprint — maximise the PowerPlay and seize control early. Pujara was particularly impressed with Arya’s ability to read the game quickly and punish even the slightest errors. “Priyansh Arya is picking the length very early. On that pitch, whenever the ball was slightly short, he didn’t miss out and often hit it for six. We saw that against bowlers like Matt Henry and Khaleel Ahmed, he is not missing the fuller deliveries either, which means the margin for error for bowlers becomes very small. He is strong on the leg side but also comfortable on the off side, and that makes him a very difficult batter to bowl to,” Cheteshwar Pujara told ‘JioStar’. While Punjab’s batting firepower stood out, Gavaskar pointed to Chennai Super Kings’ bowling as a growing concern. “From what we’ve seen so far, CSK’s biggest concern for the rest of the tournament will be their bowling. It means they may have to consistently score around 225–230 to give their bowlers a chance. Most teams now have significant batting depth, like we saw with Punjab Kings where Marcus Stoinis came in at No. 7 and struck the ball cleanly with proper cricketing shots. With many sides batting deep, Chennai will need to get their bowling in order.” For Chennai, it was young Ayush Mhatre who provided the foundation with a fluent 73 off 43 balls, showcasing both composure and attacking intent. Reflecting on his role and temperament, Gavaskar backed him to thrive higher up the order while praising his mindset. “I believe Number 3 is a good position for Ayush Mhatre. He has batted lower down the order in the Under-19 setup, but three could suit him well. He was dismissed first ball in the previous game but showed no signs of being affected by it. That’s the beauty of the ‘Gen Next’ mindset, they don’t dwell too much on the past and focus on the present. It’s a fantastic attitude.” Together, Arya and Mhatre’s performances, coupled with the praise from two of India’s most respected voices, underline a clear shift in approach among young batters — fearless, instinctive and unburdened by past failures.

Chennai Super Kings’ captain Ruturaj Gaikwad (PTI Photo/R Senthilkumar)

Chennai Super Kings are in unfamiliar territory. For a franchise built on consistency and calm starts, losing the first two matches of an IPL season has been a rare occurrence. In fact, it has happened only twice in their history — first in 2022 under Ravindra Jadeja and now again in IPL 2026 under Ruturaj Gaikwad. What makes the stat even more striking is that under MS Dhoni, CSK went nearly two decades without such a start, highlighting just how unusual the current situation is for the five-time champions. The latest setback came against Punjab Kings, who chased down a stiff target of 209 at Chepauk to hand CSK their second successive defeat. Led by Shreyas Iyer, Punjab executed a near-perfect chase, winning by five wickets and registering their second consecutive victory. Iyer’s 50 off 29 balls was the cornerstone of the chase, as he stitched a crucial 59-run stand with Nehal Wadhera. The chase was set up early by Priyansh Arya’s explosive 39 off just 11 balls and further stabilised by contributions from Prabhsimran Singh and Cooper Connolly, ensuring the required run rate never spiralled out of control. Earlier, CSK had put up a competitive 209 for five, thanks largely to a brilliant 73 off 43 balls from young Ayush Mhatre. The youngster dominated the Punjab attack with fearless strokeplay, finding boundaries at will and showcasing his growing confidence. He was well supported by Gaikwad, who added 28 in a 96-run stand for the second wicket. However, the innings wasn’t without setbacks. Sanju Samson fell early, edging an ambitious shot behind the wicket, and the middle overs saw a slowdown as CSK managed just 45 runs between the 10th and 15th overs.Late contributions from Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube helped CSK add 64 runs in the final five overs, pushing the total past 200. But it ultimately proved insufficient against a composed Punjab batting unit. The numbers paint a deeper concern for CSK. Gaikwad is currently enduring the longest losing streak by a captain in the franchise’s history:

For a team that thrived on stability under Dhoni, these back-to-back defeats — and the extended losing run under Gaikwad — underline a phase of transition. The challenge now is not just about bouncing back in the tournament, but about rediscovering the consistency that once defined Chennai Super Kings.

Punjab Kings’ skipper Shreyas Iyer (ANI Photo)

Punjab Kings may be riding high on the field, but skipper Shreyas Iyer has landed in trouble off it after being fined ₹24 lakh for maintaining a slow over-rate during their win over Chennai Super Kings. The penalty comes as Punjab’s second over-rate offence of the season, which means the consequences extend beyond the captain. The rest of the playing XI, including the Impact Player, have also been fined ₹6 lakh or 25 per cent of their match fees, whichever is lesser. The bigger concern for Punjab, however, lies ahead. As per IPL regulations, another breach during the remainder of the season will result in Iyer being fined ₹30 lakh and handed a one-match suspension. With PBKS still having at least 12 matches left in the league stage, the margin for error is now extremely slim. The fine comes on a night when Iyer led from the front with the bat, scoring a fluent 50 off 29 balls to anchor Punjab’s five-wicket win while chasing 209. His 59-run stand with Nehal Wadhera proved decisive as Punjab chased down the target with composure. Punjab’s chase was set up early by Priyansh Arya’s explosive 39 off 11 balls, while Prabhsimran Singh and Cooper Connolly ensured steady progress through the middle overs. But it was Iyer who took control after a cautious start, accelerating against the spinners and playing a range of authoritative shots, including a standout inside-out six off Rahul Chahar. Earlier, Chennai Super Kings had posted 209 for five, powered by Ayush Mhatre’s impressive 73 off 43 balls. He shared a 96-run partnership with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who made 28, after an early setback with the dismissal of Sanju Samson. Despite the strong total, CSK were unable to contain Punjab’s batting depth, as late contributions from Sarfaraz Khan and Shivam Dube proved insufficient in the end. While the result strengthened Punjab’s position with a second consecutive win, the slow over-rate offence has added a layer of pressure on Iyer’s captaincy. With a long season still ahead, Punjab will need to be cautious, as another slip-up could see their skipper miss a crucial match at a decisive stage of the tournament.

R Praggnanandhaa (Photo by Yoav Nis)

NEW DELHI: You read that right. R Praggnanandhaa, India’s lone representative in the Open section, arguably squandered the best opportunity to score his second win at the Candidates Tournament on Friday at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort. Rather, the 2741-rated Grandmaster chose to settle for a lifeless draw, his third of the tournament.After Round 5, the leaderboard paints a formidable picture for those in the race. Javokhir Sindarov of Uzbekistan has stamped his authority on the field, winning four of his five games and drawing the other. However, with nine rounds still to be played, it remains far too early to conclude that his remarkable run will translate into the Candidates title and earn him the right to challenge reigning champion D Gukesh for the world title later this year.