Sports
Kohli ton trumps Klaasen’s as RCB coast to clinical win
RCB’s playoff hopes remained intact as their openers blazed past the target of 187 set by the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium on Thursday (18). The Bangalore franchise won the toss and asked SRH to bat first, and the hosts responded duly with a competitive total of 186-5, riding on the explosive hundred by Heinrich Klaasen, by far their best batsman of the season. However, an inspired performance by the RCB openers left the SRH bowling unit clueless as they coasted home by eight wickets.
Over the course of the tournament, many batting teams have gotten off to a terrific start in the powerplay before squandering it in the middle overs. A tight opening spell from Wayne Parnell and Mohammed Siraj had Abhishek Sharma and Rahul Tripathi in check. However, as soon as they cut loose against Parnell with a 16-run over to get the run-rate from sub-3rpo to almost 7rpo, Michael Bracewell scalped them both in his very first over, rendering the powerplay a failure for the SRH innings.
It was then that Heinrich Klaasen entered the arena and after blazing a flurry of boundaries got to his fifty off just 24 deliveries to rescue SRH. However, the supporting role from Markram ended up costing SRH 20 balls, in which he scored only eighteen runs, and despite a good innings from Harry Brook in the end, which contained a few lusty blows, it was undoing some of the good work done by Klaasen, who by the penultimate over got to his hundred with a six, at a strike-rate of over 200! If only the supporting roles had played their part, SRH would have gotten 200. Outside of Klaasen’s 51-ball 104 and extras, SRH scored 76 runs in 69 balls at a strike-rate of just over 100!
In retrospect, it was all over from Ball 1. The intent with which Virat Kohli hit the first two balls of the innings for boundaries, it looked like it was over for SRH. Kohli and orange-cap holder Faf du Plessis wreaked havoc, taking on the SRH bowlers indiscriminately, hitting through the line and invariably finding the gaps, leaving the SRH contingent clueless in defence of an admittedly-competitive target. As compared to previous innings, this time, the mayhem did not cease, despite a touch of luck – Nitish Reddy was denied a maiden IPL wicket, because he overstepped, rendering a terrific catch by Mayank Dagar futile, and handing Faf du Plessis a life.
It didn’t quite have the asterisk on his score as it used to, but Virat Kohli was back, and this time, he was taking no half-measures in taking RCB to the title. The two openers continued to toy with the SRH bowling, and Kohli eventually got to his sixth IPL hundred, fittingly, with a six lofted over midwicket off the bowling of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, equalling the IPL record of Chris Gayle for the most hundreds in the history of the tournament. Kohli fell the very next ball, targeting the same area, but this time he had all but secured victory for his side.
It wasn’t exactly a scare, but the scars of the past couldn’t stop the thought of the inevitable choke. Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis had fallen, with 10 required off 10, and two new batsmen at the crease. Stranger things had happened in cricket, and perhaps in this very edition of the IPL. However, a typical reverse-swat from Maxwell off the final ball of Natarajan’s spell sealed the deal leaving 3 to get off the final over, which the pair managed to get in the first two balls of the final over, sealing victory for RCB, and keeping them well and truly alive in this competition.
This win gets RCB into the top four, for now, and gives them enough control, with them playing the final game of the league stages too (albeit against the top ranked side of the tournament). Despite that hundred by Klaasen, SRH remain at the bottom, and look like strong contenders for the wooden spoon this year. Both the teams play their last games on the final day of the league stage – Sunday, May 21. T
Brief Scores:
Sunrisers Hyderabad 186-5 in 20 overs(Heinrich Klaasen 104, Michael Bracewell 2-17)lost to Royal Challengers Bangalore 187-2 in 19.2 overs(Virat Kohli 100, Faf du Plessis 71, T Natarajan 1-34)by 8 wickets.
(Cricbuzz)
Sri Lanka’s men begin this match having won an international in the past week. This is more significant than it sounds. Their 2026 has been abysmal, with the team losing 22 matches to the 10 they have won. New captain Kusal Mendis had carried his team to that victory with his 87 not out off 48 balls, after Sri Lanka’s seamers had also had an encouraging outing.
But the game was only a dead rubber, Pakistan having sewn up the T20I series already. Pakistan have hardly been lighting up 2026 either, but they have had substantially more success than Sri Lanka. They had won their most recent ODI series, against Australia, 2-1. In that series, Pakistan may even have discovered a bright young all-round talent, left-arm spinner and lower-order batter Arafat Minhas, who claimed the Player of the Series award for his seven wickets at an average of 12.28. He has been in penetrative form in the past 10 days as well, having claimed five wickets across the three T20Is against Sri Lanka. Against Australia, Pakistan had also had excellent performances from Shaheen Afridi and legspinner Abrar Ahmed. It had, in fact, been Pakistan’s bowlers who dominated in a low-scoring series.
The tri-series is important for all three sides because there is now officially less than 12 months before the World Cup, which is set to begin on October 2 next year. Sri Lanka still have plenty to figure out – their white-ball squads having been in serious flux this year, as a new set of selectors searches (often fruitlessly) for a winning combination. Pakistan have players and stratetgies to trial as well.
In the series against Australia, Babar Azam had top-scored for Pakistan, hitting 40, 16, and 69 to average 41.66 across the matches. No one will call it a return to his heyday, but it was an encouraging sign following a modest run in 2025, in which he averaged 34 across 17 innings. Sri Lanka has been one of his favoured opponents over the years, Babar having struck four of his 20 centuries against them, averaging 58.33. The tracks in Rawalpindi at least are expected to be good for batting. Can he build up some form in the one format he now plays?
Lahiru Udara has reason to feel miffed at the selectors, many think. Having hit 188 against West Indies three Tests ago, he was left out of the squad entirely for the forthcoming Test series. But with Pathum Nissanka having been ruled out of the ODIs through an ongoing hamstring problem, Udara has surged into ODI contention on the back of a good T20I innings last week. At age 32, he knows his chances at this level are numbered. With the World Cup on the horizon, there is perhaps no better format to impress in right now than ODIs.
With neither Sahibzada Farhan nor Maaz Sadaqat in the ODI squad, Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman may open.
Pakistan (possible): Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Nawaz, Babar Azam, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Ghazi Ghouri (wk), Minhas Arafat, Shaheen Afridi (capt.), Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Sri Lanka may bring Avishka Fernando straight into the XI, with Kamil Mishara having had a run of modest scores. Sri Lanka also have some decisions to make on the spin-bowling front, although they are likely to favour Maheesh Theekshana over legspinner Sachindu Colombage.
Sri Lanka (possible): Lahiru Udara, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige/Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando
(Cricinfo)
Mumbai Indians and their IPL head coach Mahela Jayawardene have parted ways ahead of the 2027 auction. Jayawardene was the MI head coach for the last two seasons, in his second stint with the franchise in that position. He had previously served in that role from 2017 to 2022.
“Mumbai Indians has been a very special part of my journey for over a decade now,” Jayawardene said in an MI statement. “The players, coaching team, the incredible support of the #OneFamily and above all the fans have made this an experience I will always treasure. Together, we have shared some unforgettable moments, overcome challenges and built something we can all be proud of. I want to sincerely thank Mrs. Nita Ambani and Akash Ambani for their unwavering trust, support and friendship over the years. I leave with immense pride in what we have achieved together and will always carry a special place in my heart for MI. I wish the team every success in the years ahead.”
Cricinfo has learned that the question of a possible change in coaching staff came up during the 2026 season review in August, when both the player leadership group and the franchise agreed they needed to look for a change. It is understood Jayawardene, too, agreed with the viewpoint of bringing in younger coaches to bring in fresh perspectives.
The new coach will have the choice of taking a call on the rest of the existing MI coaching staff which includes Kieron Pollard (assistant coach) and Paras Mhambrey (bowling coach).
Jayawardene’ departure leaves MI’s team management in a tricky position, with captain Hardik Pandya also under the spotlight after their second-from-bottom finish in IPL 2026. Not long after MI finished with just four wins from 14 games, rumours of a Hardik trade began circulating in reports and social media. Hardik’s individual performance also didn’t inspire much confidence: he took just four wickets in 10 games and scored 206 runs from 10 innings, striking at 138.25 with a high score of 40.
Jayawardene took over as the MI head coach before IPL 2025, replacing Mark Boucher. Before that, Jayawardene had served as their global head of performance from 2022 to 2024. In that position, Jayawardene had also overseen MI’s three other franchises – MI Emirates in the ILT20, MI New York in MLC and MI Cape Town in SA20.
In his first stint as head coach, Jayawardene won three IPL titles. The second one was less successful, with MI finishing fourth on the league table in 2025 before losing in Qualifier 2, and ninth in 2026.
“Mahela has made a significant contribution to Mumbai Indians over the years,” MI owner Nita Ambani said, “His calm leadership, integrity and deep love for the game have meant so much to us. On behalf of the entire MI family, I want to thank Mahela for his immense contribution and unwavering commitment over the years. We will always cherish the journey we have shared and the memories we have created together. Mahela will always be a part of our #OneFamily, and we wish him every happiness and success in the journey ahead.”
MI now need to look for a head coach with under a month left for the IPL retention deadline – November 15. The IPL auction is expected to take place around a month later in Goa.
MI last won the IPL in 2020 when they became the first team to successfully defend their title. Both trophy wins came under Jayawardene.
(Cricinfo)
The Rose Bowl, which has been awarded to the winner of ODI series between the women’s teams of Australia and New Zealand since 1985, has now been expanded to include T20Is as well.
New Zealand’s three match T20I tour of Australia, which begins on Sunday at the North Sydney Oval, will be the first T20I edition of the Rose Bowl. The teams will get to face off again for the trophy in March 2027 when they meet again for three ODIs, also in Australia.
For Rose Bowl series that include matches in both white-ball formats, the trophy will go to the team with the most wins overall. In case of a drawn series, the current holder will retain the trophy.
“The Rose Bowl is a prestigious trophy that holds a lot of meaning to current and past players, and it’s a series we’ve always taken a lot of pride in competing in,”Catherine Campbell, NZC’s chief cricket operations officer and a former New Zealand player, said. “With so much T20I cricket now being played, this is a brilliant opportunity to keep the Rose Bowl relevant and to build on the history between us and our Australian rivals.”
New Zealand captain Melie Kerr was excited by the broadening of opportunities to compete for the Rose Bowl.
“We’re all aware of what the Rose Bowl represents and the importance it holds in the White Ferns whakapapa [genealogy],” said Kerr. “Great players and teams have fought for it over the years and we’d love the opportunity to claim our own piece of that history.”
Australia have held the Rose Bowl continuously since wresting it back from New Zealand in 2000. Since that 3-0 win, Australia have won 18 times with one series – in 2008-09 – shared 2-2. Overall, Australia have won 26 of the 31 ODI series played for the Rose Bowl, with New Zealand winning three times and three series drawn.
North Sydney will host all three T20Is of the upcoming Rose Bowl series, on October 18, 20 and 22.
[Cricinfo]
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