‘There were literally no plans…’: Dale Steyn slams SRH bowlers after crushing loss against RCB in IPL 2026 season opener

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 29, 2026 | Sports

Former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn has criticised the bowling approach of Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their six-wicket defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2026, saying the side lacked clear plans in their bowling, which led to them losing despite posting a strong total of 201/9 on board.

At the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB made 76 runs in the power-play phase of the chase, with Jaydev Unadkat, Harshal Patel and Eshan Malinga leaking runs. With no Pat Cummins, Nitish Kumar Reddy took the new ball, but didn’t complete his full quota of overs.

“SRH skipper Ishan Kishan batted beautifully. His knock of 80 runs was beautiful to watch. I felt he controlled the innings well and allowed SRH to maintain their aggressive batting intent in the first half. But in the second half, there were literally no plans being implemented by SRH’s bowlers.

“It is difficult to defend high targets with the kind of bowling attack they have. I was a bit surprised that Nitish Kumar Reddy bowled only those two overs in the Powerplay and never got the chance to bowl after that. So, there are quite a few discussions that need to happen between the SRH team management and the Captain on how best to use their resources,” said Steyn on JioStar.

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SRH’s next game is against three-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on April 2 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Steyn, who worked as SRH’s bowling coach from 2021 to 2024, after having earlier played for them in the competition, further stressed the side’s aggressive batting template will only succeed if bowlers can complement it with wicket-taking spells, especially on flat tracks at home in Hyderabad.

“The kind of aggressive cricket they play, even in Hyderabad, the pitch will be a flat deck. So, they need their bowlers to take wickets and put pressure on the opposition batters.

“Otherwise, it will be a massive challenge defending a score of 200-plus runs for this SRH side with the kind of bowlers they have. They need to be smarter. They have to bowl differently and stick to a plan, which unfortunately against RCB they could not,” he added.

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Not Virat Kohli or Jacob Duffy, SRH coach credits ‘This youngster’ for RCB win in IPL 2026 opener

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 29, 2026 | Sports

In the IPL 2026 opener, Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a commanding six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, but for SRH head coach Daniel Vettori, the defining moment came through the bat of 25-year-old Devdutt Padikkal. Despite SRH posting a strong 201/9, Vettori admitted that Padikkal’s fearless strokeplay turned the game decisively in RCB’s favour.

Explosive Knock Shifts Momentum

Batting at No. 3, Padikkal continued in his familiar role and delivered a blistering 61 off just 26 balls at a strike rate exceeding 230. He walked in after Phil Salt fell early for 8, but immediately seized control of the innings. His aggressive intent not only put SRH on the back foot but also allowed Virat Kohli to settle before accelerating. The pair added a crucial 101-run partnership for the second wicket, taking RCB to 110/2 in nine overs and effectively sealing the chase.

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Reflecting on the innings, Vettori said, “Padikkal’s innings, I think. Came and hit the first ball for six, striking over 200, taking on all bowlers, allowing Virat to get into his innings, even though he was striking quickly too. The impetus that he showed when he came in was the real difference. Maybe a couple of years ago, you thought you were safe with 200, but I do think we understand where the game has gone and how destructive that RCB line-up is.”

Bowling Let SRH Down

SRH’s struggles extended beyond just handling Padikkal’s assault. The bowling unit failed to maintain control, with the absence of Pat Cummins clearly felt. Brydon Carse couldn’t make an impact, and apart from Jaydev Unadkat and Nitish Kumar Reddy, the rest of the attack conceded at over 10 runs per over.

Duffy’s Discipline Stands Out

In contrast, Vettori highlighted the performance of RCB debutant Jacob Duffy, who impressed with figures of 3/22. His ability to consistently hit the right lengths stood in sharp contrast to SRH’s execution. “You don’t want to have a rusty performance because of how important every game is in the IPL, especially at the start. I think we missed our lengths and Duffy, in particular, showed the length to bowl on that surface,” Vettori added.

RCB Begin with Authority

Chasing 202, RCB cruised to 203/4, underlining their batting depth and intent early in the tournament. With contributions across departments and a standout knock from Padikkal, the Bengaluru side couldn’t have asked for a stronger start to their IPL 2026 campaign

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Axar Patel led Delhi Capitals excited ahead of IPL 2026 clash vs LSG; says this

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 29, 2026 | Sports

Delhi Capitals (DC) captain Axar Patel and key bowler Kuldeep Yadav expressed excitement ahead of the team’s Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign opener against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 1 at Lucknow.

Axar Patel said the team is “very excited” about the new season.

“It’s a new squad. Mostly, the players from last time are the same. So, we are very excited about that journey, and we are looking forward to it,” Axar said at the DP World-Delhi Capitals global logistics partnership renewal event on Saturday in New Delhi.

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Axar Patel also emphasised that while players on the field get the spotlight, the team’s success depends on the collective effort of both players and support staff and everyone involved behind the scenes, and winning a tournament requires full-team collaboration.

“As a leader, you know that everyone sees the success of 11 people who are on the field doing all the work. But we all know, off the field, our support staff and all. And off the field, these guys are doing all the things and all the hard work. Everyone doesn’t know what they are doing. As a team, if you win, you collectively win. As an individual, you can’t do better. Individually, in one or two matches, you can do better things. But to win the entire tournament, you need the complete team effort.”

Kuldeep Yadav also expressed his excitement about returning to training and said the team is now focused on the IPL.

“The focus now shifts to the IPL, and it is lovely to see the teammates training well. It is good to be back,” Kuldeep Yadav said.

Delhi Capitals will open their IPL 2026 campaign against the Lucknow Super Giants at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 1.

Squad: Axar Patel (C), K.L. Rahul, Karun Nair, David Miller, Pathum Nissanka, Sahil Parakh, Prithvi Shaw, Abishek Porel, Tristan Stubbs, Sameer Rizvi, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Ajay Mandal, Tripurana Vijay, Madhav Tiwari, Auqib Dar, Nitish Rana, Mitchell Starc, T. Natarajan, Mukesh Kumar, Dushmantha Chameera, Lungisani Ngidi, Kyle Jamieson, Kuldeep Yadav

WITH ANI INPUTS

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Virat Kohli told to reverse Test retirement by This Ex-CSK Star and replace Shubman Gill as captain after knock vs SRH

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 29, 2026 | Sports

Former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu has sparked a significant conversation by suggesting that Virat Kohli still has five to six years of international cricket remaining. Despite Kohli’s shock retirement from the Test format last year, his masterclass performances in the ongoing IPL 2026 and recent ODI series have triggered a massive wave of fans and experts calling for his return to red-ball cricket.

Masterful Form in IPL 2026

On Saturday, Kohli displayed vintage form during the IPL 2026 season opener for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He anchored the defending champions’ chase of 202 with an unbeaten 69, securing a comfortable victory. This performance followed a prolific ODI run against South Africa and New Zealand, where he scored multiple centuries.

While Kohli previously stated after the South Africa series that he intends to focus solely on the 50-over format for the national team, Rayudu believes the star batter has much more to offer the Test arena.

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The Argument for a Test Comeback

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s ‘Time Out’ show, Rayudu emphasized that Kohli’s physical condition remains elite. He argued that leadership could be the catalyst needed to bring the veteran back to the longest format.

“I feel his best is yet to come in the IPL. What we have seen is just a trailer. Fitness was never an issue with him. I don’t think he would ever get into any trouble with his physical fitness, getting late on the ball, or slowing down on the field. The only thing that can make him take a step back is his mental state. I don’t think he’s anywhere closer to the end of his career. I still see quality five to six years in him,” Rayudu remarked.

Rayudu further suggested that the BCCI should consider reinstating Kohli as captain to provide a fresh “challenge” and reignite his hunger for the red-ball game.

“I think he should make a comeback in Test cricket. Hopefully, as a captain. He’s been the best red-ball captain that at least I have seen in Indian cricket. He should, the way he’s batting, I think it’s a loss for Indian cricket,” he added.

A Legacy Left Unfinished

Kohli concluded his Test career with 123 matches, amassing 9,230 runs, 30 centuries, and 31 fifties. He retired just 770 runs shy of the prestigious 10,000-run milestone following a difficult Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

As a leader, Kohli is widely celebrated for taking India to the No. 1 Test ranking, securing a historic series win in Australia in 2018–19, and guiding the team to the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final. Rayudu believes the pursuit of a WTC title could be the ultimate motivation.

“It would be a great drive for him if you give him the captaincy. I think it will be a great challenge for him to win the WTC. He’s so fit, so I don’t see how that can be a concern,” Rayudu concluded.

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Enjoyed it a lot, Especially Virat Bhai’: Ishan Kishan makes a baffling remark after embarrasing loss vs RCB by 6 wickets in IPL 2026 opener

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 29, 2026 | Sports

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Ishan Kishan attributed his team’s six-wicket loss in their IPL 2026 opening match to a loss of momentum during a vital period of their innings. Despite Kishan’s own aggressive 80 runs off 38 deliveries, SRH struggled early on, collapsing to 29 for three during the initial six-over powerplay. While his efforts helped the team reach a total of 201 for nine, consistent wicket-falling hindered them from achieving the higher score necessary on a flat M Chinnaswamy Stadium surface.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully reached the target in 15.4 overs. Virat Kohli led the chase with a 69-ball 38, supported by Devdutt Padikkal’s rapid 61 off 26 balls.

Reflecting on the performance and the challenge of facing Kohli, Kishan stated:

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“We did well after losing track, which gives a lot of confidence to us. You know, especially you have to give some credit to the batters as well, the way they batted, especially Virat bhai while chasing. It was very important to get his wicket as soon as possible. Otherwise, if he keeps on going, it’s hard to stop him.”

Looking Ahead

Kishan noted that while the team needs to ensure these errors are not repeated, he remained optimistic given it is the start of the tournament.

“We’ll have to work a little hard. It’s the first game and these mistakes are acceptable for now. We’ll be a little more cautious with the bowling, areas where we need to execute, and we might be stronger from this game.”

RCB’s Debut Success

RCB seamer Jacob Duffy made a significant impact in his debut, filling in for the injured Josh Hazlewood. Duffy claimed three wickets during his opening spell to stifle SRH early.

“Awesome, hell of a way to start the campaign. Great win. I am just keeping the big fellow’s (Hazlewood) seat warm. I just wanted to bowl the hard lengths, just keep the ball there. Even better that I got to walk off the field after seven overs. We talked about the lengths and stuff, what works here. Just build on what Josh did.”

Duffy also expressed relief at dismissing Abhishek Sharma, a player who has frequently challenged him in recent T20Is.

“I am sick of bowling to Abhishek for sure (jokes). Haven’t seen such bounce in India before as we saw here. But that was the case today. Rajat said you go and I happily obliged. When the ball is hard and new is the best time to bowl on this surface.”

Full Statement from Ishan Kishan

Regarding the match conditions and the team’s outlook, Kishan provided a comprehensive breakdown:

“I think definitely the wicket played well after the first 3 to 4 overs. You know, we lost a few early wickets, and we have to take care of that maybe next time because, looking at the wicket in the second innings, it was pretty much easier to bat on and the ball was coming on quite well. So yeah, we’ll have to be a little smart with the shot selection next time. But yeah, we did well after losing track, which gives a lot of confidence to us. You know, especially you have to give some credit to the batters as well, the way they batted, especially Virat Bhai while chasing. It’s very important to get his wicket as soon as possible. Otherwise, if he keeps on going, it’s hard to stop him. We’ll have to work a little hard. It’s the first game and these mistakes are acceptable for now. We’ll be a little more cautious with the bowling, areas where we need to execute, and we might be stronger from the next game. I actually enjoyed it a lot, you know, enjoyed every moment of it. It’s IPL, so sometimes nerves are there. But we’ll get better with this as a team. What else can I say about the captaincy? If we win the games coming ahead, it will be much easier for us going ahead in the tournament.”

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‘I’ve put enough work physically…’: Virat Kohli opens up on batting rhythm after his match-winning knock in RCB vs SRH IPL 2026 match

by Hansraj Agrawal | Mar 28, 2026 | Sports

Talismanic batter Virat Kohli said his recent ODI form played a crucial role in helping him maintain rhythm and momentum as he returned to T20 cricket with an unbeaten 69 and star in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s emphatic six-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

“It’s good to get back out there. You mentioned T20 cricket, the last game I played was the final last year, but I think the way I batted in the one-day series quite recently really helped me to stay in that same kind of momentum. I wasn’t playing shots that I don’t usually play.

“So I knew as long as I have the rhythm, and I’ve put enough work physically behind the scenes with my fitness, things should come together nicely. Tonight was another chance to start strong and build on this,” said Kohli to broadcasters at the conclusion of the game.

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Kohli enthralled the RCB home crowd with an unbeaten 69 off 38 balls, laced with five fours and five sixes, as he registered his 64th IPL fifty and became the first batter in IPL history to cross 4000 runs in chases.

Reflecting on the breaks he has due to playing only ODIs for India, Kohli stated, “The kind of scheduling that we’ve had over the last 15 years and the amount of cricket I’ve played, for me, there was always a risk of getting burnt out rather than being undercooked. So these breaks help me mentally. I stay fresh and excited.

“Whenever I come back to play, it’s 120 percent. I’m not coming back underprepared. In fact, the extra rest helps me mentally freshen up. As long as you’re physically fit and mentally excited, both those things come together nicely. Then you’re able to contribute to the team’s cause, and that’s what you want to do as a player. You don’t want to just hold on to a spot; you want to keep performing and keep putting in the work for the team.”

Kohli also hailed Devdutt Padikkal’s rollicking 61 off 26 balls that set the tone for RCB’s chasing down SRH’s 201/9 with 26 balls to spare and begin their title defence in style. “Outstanding knock. I mean, right from the word go, I had plans of going aggressive in the powerplay. But when I saw him play, I was like, just keep putting him back on strike and pick the odd boundary here and there. He completely took the game away from the opposition.

Asked on his chat with Padikkal in the middle, Kohli said, “I even told him, that shot he hit off the slower ball over mid-on for six, at that moment I said, just keep going. You’re hitting the ball amazingly well, just keep pushing and take the game away from the opposition.

“If we finish with 25-26 balls to spare, we’ll also benefit in terms of net run rate. His knock was tremendous. I’ve seen him at close quarters, the skill he has and now he’s applying it.

“This is also at the back of a great domestic red-ball season. His timing, head position, balance, absolutely world-class. I know what he can do with the bat when he’s confident, and tonight was a display of his sheer talent,” he concluded.

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