Azam Khan's rampage takes unbeaten Karachi Kings to nervy win

His brutal 34-ball 74 led the way in a chase of 198, after an excellent Hasan Ali had ripped out a three-for in the death for Kings

IPL 2026: I Was Just Happy To See All Of Them Putting Their Effort, Says Kishan

Kolkata Knight Riders: Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Ishan Kishan praised his teams collective commitment after their emphatic 65-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 clash at the Eden Gardens, saying he was delighted to see every player contribute to the sides first victory of the season. Not at the way I played, but the way the rest of the team. Its always the team. So, really happy the way they were committed on the ground and everyone was putting their energy, and that was something I asked for before the game. I was just happy to see all of them putting their effort, said Kishan at the conclusion of the game. He credited Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma for setting the tone with a blistering Power-play through an 82-run partnership. No, I dont think the pitch was that good, to be very honest. I think Head and Abhishek played beautiful knocks out there, and getting those all 80 runs in the power play made the game easy for us because I think every batter got that extra time to take singles and understand how the pitch is playing. So, to be very honest, I give credit to both the batters and Klassy taking it to the end, Nitesh playing a lovely knock. So, it was overall a team effort, I feel. On the bowling front, Kishan highlighted the importance of early breakthroughs, just like how Harsh Dubey took out Finn Allen. Our plan was to take wickets, you know, and we all know when Finn goes, its hard to stop him, but at the same time, we were just looking for wickets. Harsh just bowled that ball, and we were lucky enough to get his wicket. But Im really happy with the bowlers, the way they performed, and the way they were executing their plans. Harsh has been doing well for his domestic team as well. Now, he is keeping his nerves down, as you said. Hes been calm in tough situations as well. He also singled out debutant Shivang Kumar for his fearless approach. But I would love to talk about Shivang today because, you know, coming here, playing against KKR, not so big ground, good wicket in the second innings, he bowled exceptionally well, I feel. So, that is something; his hard work paid off. He was working a lot. He was in touch with all the coaches. He was trying to understand how this game works here. You can see how he was bowling with a big heart against Rinku, bowling those flighted balls. So, that is something you always want to see from a young bowler who comes into the team, and he did the job for us. Kishan admitted that fielding remains an area of concern. I think we are getting to know about the areas in every game. So, fielding is something we need to work on as a team. We cannot be giving 20-odd runs in each game. So, we will have to work there because in IPL, 20 or 10 runs make a huge difference in a T20 game. So, well work on it as a team. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane said KKRs chase faltered in the middle overs. I thought we did a couple of big partnerships. Guys who were set needed to take it deep in the end with the ball (bat). I thought we came back really well for 7-8 overs. Within the (10) overs, I thought they were 130, 140-odd. But with the ball, I thought we came back really well. In batting, when you're chasing the target, you know you need that partnership. We couldn't get that. On conditions, Rahane said, I thought the second innings, I felt the ball was slightly stopping. The slower balls were gripping a lot more than in the first innings. We thought the wicket would get better, but the ball was a little stopping. But again, see, no excuses. We got a good start. I thought the first six overs we were 78. We lost that one extra wicket, and Green was run out. But apart from that, we were going really well. As I said, the middle overs were the crucial time for us. We needed that partnership from the set batters. That just didn't happen. I thought SRH bowlers executed the slower balls, and the angles that they used were really good. On conditions, Rahane said, I thought the second innings, I felt the ball was slightly stopping. The slower balls were gripping a lot more than in the first innings. We thought the wicket would get better, but the ball was a little stopping. But again, see, no excuses. Also Read: Live Cricket Score But again, we got 3-4 days. We don't want to think too much. I think guys are doing really well. Just one off day with the bat. Last game we did really well. Just needed those small partnerships. I think if the batters can have that positive mindset and this extra awareness while batting, I think we'll be fine. Article Source: IANS

IPL 2026: It's The Match-winning Performance I Was Waiting For A Long Time, Says Reddy

Nitish Kumar Reddy: Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) seam-bowling all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy said he was relieved to finally deliver a decisive performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, adding that his all-round efforts in the 65-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders were something he was itching to dish out on the field. Reddy hit 39 off 24 deliveries and shared an 82-run stand with Heinrich Klaasen while taking 2-17 with the ball as SRH got their first win of the competition. It's the match-winning performance I was waiting for a long time. Thankfully, it came at the right time, and even my bowling has given me confidence. Just trying to be positive. There have been too many negative thoughts in my mind because the last season didn't go my way, and I couldn't bowl last season. I've worked really hard on my bowling, and it's paying off, and that really makes you feel happy, and I am happy now. Thanks to the trainers and physios, my body is fully fit now, said Reddy at the conclusion of the game, after being given the Player of the Match award. SRH had earlier posted 226/8, the highest total of the season, before bowling out KKR for 161 to secure their first win of the competition. Senior pacer Jaydev Unadkat, who finished with figures of 3-21 and currently holds the Purple Cap, also reflected on his performance. Its very early in the season, but I'm happy to get this whenever I can. I feel experience counts. Its about not worrying about what people on the outside say. Whatever works on the day works. Cutters were working today, so we stuck to that. We bowled into the pitch, got some good wickets in between, got a lucky breakthrough, and got that run out. So, pretty happy with the bowling performance. We didnt bowl well in the first game. I think we didnt execute our plans, but today was a good performance overall, he said. Unadkat added that communication with the batters during the innings helped the bowlers adapt to conditions. I think while our batting innings were going on, and obviously the feedback from our batters was that the wicket is double-paced, the ball was sticking on the pitch. So, always working together and the communication worked. Cutters were working today, so we stuck to that. We bowled into the pitch, got some good wickets in between, got a lucky breakthrough, and got that run out. So, pretty happy with the bowling performance. We didnt bowl well in the first game. I think we didnt execute our plans, but today was a good performance overall, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Changing the angles, trying to keep the batsman guessing all the time. Its obviously the pitches and the grounds make you feel like you get hit on good balls as well. So, just keep doing different stuff and make the batsman guess all the time. I think thats what worked for me today, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

Klaasen fifty, Travishek onslaught hand SRH first points of the season

KKR faded away after flying start and Raghuvanshi's fifty in 227 chase to remain winless

IPL 2026: Klaasen, Bowlers Help SRH Get First Win Of Season, Beat KKR By 65 Runs (ld)

Kolkata Knight Riders: Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat returned with impressive figures of 3-21 as Sunrisers Hyderabad delivered a commanding bowling performance to crush Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs and secure their first victory of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Thursday. After SRH posted 226/8, the highest total of the competition so far, thanks to Heinrich Klaasen hitting 52 and Abhishek Sharma smashing 48, Unadkats spell was the highlight of their successful defence. He was well supported by Eshan Malinga, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Harsh Dubey, who maintained relentless pressure throughout as KKR were bowled out for 161 all out in 16 overs, after being 110/3 at one point. The victory was significant not only because it gave SRH their first two points of the campaign, but also because it marked the first successful defence of a total in this years tournament. Barring Angkrish Raghuvanshis 52, KKR faltered against the disciplined SRH attack, with the pacers using slower balls very well. As a result, they never really threatened to chase down the uphill target. KKRs chase began explosively as Finn Allen smashed 28 off just seven balls, including four boundaries and two sixes in the 25-run opening over bowled by David Payne. But Dubey struck a crucial blow by dismissing Allen through a sharp caught and bowled chance. Ajinkya Rahane and Raghuvanshi carried the momentum through a 37-run stand for the second wicket, with the latter looking sublime in his strokeplay. But SRH soon made a comeback as Unadkat removed Rahane with a slower ball, which he hit to mid-wicket, while Cameron Green was run out on the last ball of the sixth over, leaving KKR at 74/3. Raghuvanshi continued to attack and reached his second consecutive fifty in 27 balls, before being run out for 52 in the 11th over. Nitish, on the money with his lines, accounted for Anukul Roy and Rinku Singh in quick succession to derail KKRs chase. Despite a brief counterattack from Sunil Narine, who struck two sixes in his 12-run cameo, Malinga dismissed him and Ramandeep Singh in successive overs. Unadkat then returned to remove Kartik Tyagi and Varun Chakaravarthy to end with figures of 3-21 and get their first win of the competition. Previously, blistering knocks from Abhishek and Klaasen helped SRH post the highest total of the season. For KKR, pacer Blessing Muzarabani ended with 4-41, and despite the side not conceding much in the back-end overs, they still had an uphill mountain to climb. After being put in to bat, SRH got off to a flying start, with Abhishek and Travis Head tearing into the new-ball attack, who erred in bowling too full and short. Head smashed 46 off 21 balls, laced with six fours and three sixes, while Abhishek struck 48 off 21 deliveries, including four fours and as many sixes. The pair added 82 runs in under five overs, setting the tone for a mammoth score. After Head was taken out by Tyagi, Muzarabani pulled things back for KKR with a double strike in the eighth over - removing Abhishek and a belligerent Ishan Kishan in quick succession. Though Narine and Chakaravarthy were expensive, Anukul Roy managed to hold his own by accounting for Aniket Verma, leaving SRH at 118/4 in 9.2 overs. Klaasen and Reddy (39 off 24 balls) steadied the innings with a crucial 82-run stand for the fifth wicket, the second-highest partnership for SRH in IPL history at that position. Whenever the bowlers erred, the duo were quick to send the ball over the boundary ropes with Reddy also given a reprieve by Chakaravarthy. Though Nitish and Salil Arora fell to Vaibhav Arora, Klaasen carried on and maintained his composure to complete a fluent half-century his first of this season. His 52 off 35 balls featured four boundaries and a six, ensuring SRH maintained momentum despite regular wickets. Dubey chipped in with a brisk cameo, striking successive boundaries off Arora in the 19th over. Muzarabani returned to claim two more wickets in the final, including Klaasen, to finish with his first four-fer in the IPL. Despite the late strikes, SRH crossed the 220-mark, which was more than sufficient to get them off the mark on the points table. Though Nitish and Salil Arora fell to Vaibhav Arora, Klaasen carried on and maintained his composure to complete a fluent half-century his first of this season. His 52 off 35 balls featured four boundaries and a six, ensuring SRH maintained momentum despite regular wickets. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Sunrisers Hyderabad 226/8 in 20 overs (Heinrich Klaasen 52, Abhishek Sharma 48; Blessing Muzarabani 4-41, Vaibhav Arora 2-47) beat Kolkata Knight Riders 161 all out in 16 overs (Angkrish Raghuvanshi 52, Rinku Singh 35; Jaydev Unadkat 3-21, Eshan Malinga 2-14) by 65 runs Article Source: IANS

CSK vs PBKS Match 7, IPL 2026: Preview, Predicted XIs, Player Tips & Match Prediction

CSK vs PBKSMatch 7, Cricket Tips :Chennai Super Kings had a tough beginning to the IPL 2026, and they suffered a defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. Now, they will be back at home and will face Punjab Kings. This contest has a scheduled start of 7:30 PM IST on Friday, taking place at Chapauk Stadium. CSK need this win to open their account and get going in this tournament. They looked below-par in the opening encounter and need to relook at the areas they failed. PBKS are coming off a win in their opening game against Gujarat Titans. They have done well against CSK in recent seasons and will be confident of doing it again. CSK vs PBKS: Match Details Date: April 03, 2026 (Friday) Time: 7:30 PM IST Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai CSK vs PBKS Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the CSK vs PBKS clash live on the Star Sports Networks. Fans can also enjoy the live action on the Jio Hotstar app or website. CSK vs PBKS Head-to-Head in IPL Total Matches : 32 CSK : 16 PBKS : 16 No-Result : 00 CSK vs PBKS: Ground Pitch Report Chepauk Stadium has offered good batting wickets in recent years. The batters have dominated here, and some good totals were scored in the T20 World Cup 2026 here. Teams have done well here in the chase, and there are chances that there will be dew, which makes it tough for the batting side. CSK vs PBKS Possible XIs CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Matt Short, Ayush Mhatre, Shivam Dube, Jamie Overton, Kartik Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed PBKS : Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal CSK vs PBKS: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Sanju Samson missed in the first game, but with the form he is in, he will be a dangerous batter for PBKS. Prabhsimran Singh showed that he is carrying good form in the IPL and will be a difficult bowler to face. Probable Best Bowler Noor Ahmad will be a tough bowler to face in the conditions in Chennai. For PBKS, the spell of Yuzvendra Chahal will be crucial, because he will get good purchase from the wicket. Today Match Prediction : CSK are playing at home, but they are not in good form. The injuries have also not helped them either. But PBKS have a good combination, and we predict them to win this game. CSK vs PBKS Match 7, IPL 2026, Today CSK vs PBKS Match, CSK vs PBKS Prediction, CSK vs PBKS Predicted XIs, Injury Update for CSK vs PBKS Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer: The predictions or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.