G. S. Vivek

I would think that everyone is in agreement that SRH definitely has the worst bowling attacks this IPL. KKR and Chennai would definitely give them a run for money....and feel that would resonate why these three will be fighting for.the wooden spoon this year than chase the trophy.

Will Team India dare to recreate the Sachin Tendulkar moment with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and hand him the big cap? Also, is he just a T20 format player or has scope in ODIs too? A crowded market with Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Yashasvi Jaiswal. Looks very good to read but very confusing for the management.

Every IPL or domestic season we get 1 or 2 fast bowlers who everyone races about and are the stars to look forward to. And then they fade away and disappear... This year it's Ashok Sharma, Prince Yadav, Aquib Nabi.... Before that it was Umran Malik, Navdeep Saini, Anshul Kamboj, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Ashwani Kumar..... We tend to forget them just as easily as they excite us for a year.

Strange but if IPL is proper business model then why are owners quiet on such costly aquisitions being wasted! Chennai isn't using their All-rounder Prashant Veer to bowl while KKR and LSG are handicapped with Cameroon Green, Mitchell Marsh not being allowed to bowl!

IPL in the first week has shown the impressive effort put in by both teams to keep the viewers interested despite everyone knowing the script. That winning the toss means fielding, dew and eventually winning the match --- by chasing. The match is over even before the real match starts. If any innovation the tournament needs, it is the desperate need to take the coin out of the equation.

Rishabh Pant throwing an open challenge for white ball spot. So it's officially Sanju Samson vs Ishan Kishan vs Rishabh Pant -- as openers cum wicketkeeper. For ODI and T20s. Lets see who is consistent, because all of them are anyways attacking! Pant making good use of his captaincy power to bargain an opening slot in the IPL team seeking towards Tea India. Else who will seprate Aiden Makram and Mitchel Marsh.

Rohit Sharma looks sublime, more relaxed and in control of things. The big question remains ....can he sutain this form in this IPL...can he translate this into ODI form...and can he take this form into the next year and be part of the World Cup. Looks easy now....tough practically but possible theoretically.

What do we expect from Virat Kohli now? He has retired from T20s and he now has IPL trophy to his name. He is locked to play the 2027 World Cup as well. So what exactly will fuel him this IPL 2026? Will he be the same fiery material on the field with his animated celebrations or will he be the more composed matured senior player who has been there, done that and still has to carry the burden of batting on his shoulders --- year after year. Virat is definately much more fresh, and well rested. He has a new set of owners to look forward to. Will that work more in favour of RCB this year? Let me know your comments.

@karhacter He hasn't played any serious cricket. I have played during that time and also covered cricket and know every single cricketer in those batches .. ..so I let it be at that

+1 Unless and until he played in local circuits of Delhi and/ or Bangalore, that could be it. Haven't been able to find Aditya Dhar in formal representative cricket - at least among those who came close to playing for a state age-group side.

This IPL 2026 will give clarity on plenty of players: Rohit Sharma: If he still has the magic intact for big scores and strje rate Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: If boy wonder can be a consistent talent for Team India Abhishek Sharma: Ofhis struggles against spinners are temporary or permanent Rishabh Pant: If he will remain just a Test match player or sneak into white ball as first choice Sanju Samson: If his recent form can eventually translate into a consistent run of scores. Ravindra Jadeja: If he has ability to score runs as finisher and take wickets. Shubman Gill: If the crown prince come back into 2028 T20 equation? Please add if I have missed some points...

This is the sportsman spirit between two countries that recently showed brotherly love and almost spoilt a T20 World Cup. Btw, looks like poetic justice...after what Pakistan cricket board did towards Bagladesh cricket board last month!

Talking of Sanju Samson and his resurrection...when you say God has other plans..none thought it would have been God of Cricket...Sachin Tendulkar. Yuvraj for Abhishek, Sachin for Sanju, Gauti, Zaq....the golden generation is still contributing quite a lot.

Reasons for this phenomenal World Cup win. Which one is your Top 3 reason? a) Realizing abt Ishaan Kishan by dropping Gill b) Realizing about sanju and getting him into XI. c) utilizing Bumrah effectively as semi new and death bowling d) playing first 10 as the last ten overs...India hitting max sixes and boundaries. e) backing your players no matter what...Surya, Abhishek despite bad form and varun who ends up as highest wicket taker of the WC.

What are the chances that Abhishek Sharma in 2026 will do a Virat Kohli in the 2024 final. Both had a sratchy tournament til the final. And that's when Virat got counted in 2024. Ditto for Abhishek? Actually, hearing things about Varun ...how can anyone drop a guy like him? If you don't drop Abhishek so far...how can you drop Varun, who has had much better days in this world cup. Remember it was a 499 run fest...everyone got belted.

Team India with the bat: Surya, Hardik, Ishan, Dube, Abhishek, Tilak and now Sanju Samson. Different match, different guy getting the big scores. Can't just plan only for one, but surely one of them alone will be enough for the opposition on the day.

Notes on Pakistan cricket from the friendly neighborhood: 1) Appoint a captain who can bat, bowl or keep. Not just for giving quotes in post match conferences. 2) Wk in T20 is a batter in top order. Like all other Super 8 teams. Not a specialist job like Tests. 3) There is life beyond Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohd Nawaz. T20 cricket needs a specialist team. Not bits and pieces. 4) Play your openers as openers. Not as middle order batters just to fill slots. 5) Teach the team that Finishers mean who can score big to finish the innings. Not to finish your own chances of winning. 6) Death over bowling means bowling tight in the last overs. Not giving heart attacks to fans to die. 7) Practice an hour of high catching and hitting stumps while fielding in domestic cricket. 8) Apply for TUE ( Therapeutic Usage Exemption) certificate as have anti-anxiety pills before India Pakistan match. Can go on and on...but just hearing that PCB set up will change again... New coach, selectors and captain. So will wait for the annual new batch post ICC event.

Pakistan is the only team in the World Cup which has top order batter and then tail enders. Their batting has no middle order. The only team that ridiculously shows how Babar Azam is crucial to just stand straight and not collapse. They have made a hash of the good efforts of Fakhar and Farhan.

Even as all eyes are on J&K cricket, it's important to mention that @delhi_cricket girls have won the ODI trophy beating traditional powerhouse Railways. Big congratulations to the team and support staff. Of course to the office bearers for making this possible @rohanjaitley Shikha Khanna, Ashok Sharma, Shyam Sharma...and others.

Honestly, Pakistan doesn't have the aggressive batting to chase a target in 13 overs or win by a margin of 65 runs. They have been timid to say the least. Their bowling in Sri Lankan conditions is much better. They remain in contention, but believe NZ is better placed for semis against South Africa. You agree?

Honestly, Pakistan doesn't have the aggressive batting to chase a target in 13 overs or win by a margin of 65 runs. They have been timid to say the least. Their bowling in Sri Lankan conditions is much better. They remain in contention, but believe NZ is better placed for semis against South Africa. You agree?