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IPL 2026: ‘He has all ingredients to be an all-format player’ – Ex-CSK batter praises Priyansh Arya

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IPL 2026: ‘He has all ingredients to be an all-format player’ - Ex-CSK batter praises Priyansh Arya
IPL 2026: ‘He has all ingredients to be an all-format player’ – Ex-CSK batter praises Priyansh Arya (Photo source: IPL)

Former Indian cricketer Murali Vijay praised Priyansh Arya, the opener for Punjab Kings, calling him a potential all-format player ahead of IPL 2026. Arya made a sensational impact in his debut season, scoring 475 runs at a strike rate of nearly 180 in 17 matches.

He notably smashed 103 off 42 balls against Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025 and added two more fifties, playing a key role in PBKS reaching the final. Vijay particularly lauded the left-handed batter for his composure and effectiveness during the middle overs of the innings.

“Priyansh Arya seems to be a very interesting personality with a brilliant sense of timing. He has all the ingredients to become a great player. The ability to strike against spinners between overs 7 to 15 is very important. It’s the toughest phase to tackle in T20s, but Priyansh Arya does that well as a left-hander with the ability to access all areas. I believe he will play at several levels and has the ability to become an all-format player,” said Vijay on Star Sports.

“His basics are so strong, and his balance is impeccable, which is why he is able to access both sides of the wicket. It helps him direct the good deliveries from bowlers to different parts of the ground. As he plays more matches, his flair and strengths will come out even more. It is important not to be harsh on such players,” he added.

Former Indian cricketer Sadagoppan Ramesh described Priyansh Arya as an X-factor player, highlighting his ability to perform across all phases of a T20 game. Arya excelled against both pace and spin in IPL 2025 while maintaining a high strike rate even outside the powerplay. He is set to be seen in action in IPL 2026 when PBKS face Gujarat Titans on March 31.

“To be an X-factor player like Bumrah, you have to be useful to the side at all stages of a game. If you are only a phase-dependent player, then you are not an X-factor. That way, Priyansh Arya has shown the ability to play well in the powerplay, middle, and death overs. So he is automatically an X-factor,” said Ramesh.

“Middle overs are the toughest for a batter, where their strike rates drop. But Priyansh Arya maintains the same tempo in the powerplay and the middle overs, which is the main reason why he can play the long innings. But this year is going to be another big challenge for him. Only if he performs well this year, he can enter that big zone. He has the talent but whether he has the consistency remains to be seen,” he added.

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[WATCH] Yuvraj Singh issues apology to MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev over father Yograj’s remarks

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[WATCH] Yuvraj Singh issues apology to MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev over father Yograj’s remarks
[WATCH] Yuvraj Singh issues apology to MS Dhoni, Kapil Dev over father Yograj’s remarks (Source:SportsTak)

Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has publicly apologised to legendary India captain MS Dhoni and Kapil Dev following the repeated controversial statements made by his father, Yograj Singh. 

In a recently released teaser of a podcast, Yuvraj made it clear that he does not endorse his father’s views.

“I would like to apologise to Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni,” Yuvraj said in an exclusive video to Sport Tak, addressing the long-standing issue.

Yograj Singh has, over the years, frequently targeted MS Dhoni, accusing the former India captain of sidelining Yuvraj from the national team. His comments have resurfaced multiple times, often reigniting debate within the cricketing fraternity.

Yuvraj, however, has largely maintained a distance from the controversy and refrained from publicly responding, until now. In the same teaser, the 2011 World Cup hero revealed that he has addressed the matter privately as well. “I have told dad that it’s not ok,” he added, expressing his discomfort over the nature of those statements.

The upcoming episode marks one of Yuvraj’s rare podcast appearances in recent times. The teaser also shows him speaking on various cricketing topics, including insights on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and young talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

The left-hander, in the same video, also lashed out at Sunrisers Hyderabad for not giving Abhishek Sharma captaincy in the absence of Pat Cummins in IPL 2026, as Ishan Kishan has given the captaincy instead. 

Watch the clip here:

While Yograj’s criticism of Dhoni has been widely documented, he also grabbed headlines last year with explosive allegations against Kapil Dev. He claimed that Kapil had threatened him, alleging that the former India skipper hampered his career during the early 1980s.

In a shocking revelation, Yograj stated that he once went to Kapil’s residence with a pistol to confront him. Kapil, however, chose not to engage in a prolonged back-and-forth, offering only a brief response at the time. Yograj has long expressed dissatisfaction over his exclusion from the Indian side during Kapil Dev’s tenure, with the issue continuing to resurface even decades later, highlighting a strained relationship with former teammates. 

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IPL 2026: KKR vs SRH Today's Match Highlights: Unmissable video recap, turning points, match analysis, stats and more

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IPL 2026: KKR vs SRH Today's Match Highlights: Unmissable video recap, turning points, match analysis, stats and more
IPL 2026: KKR vs SRH Today’s Match Highlights: Unmissable video recap, turning points, match analysis, stats and more (Photo Source: IPL)

Sunrisers Hyderabad registered a commanding 67-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 6 of the Indian Premier League 2026 on Thursday, April 2 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Batting first, SRH posted a massive 226/8 in 20 overs, riding on a blazing start from Travis Head, who smashed 46 off 21 and a quickfire 48 off 21 from Abhishek Sharma. The middle order chipped in effectively as well, with Heinrich Klaasen contributing a crucial 52 off 35, while Nitish Kumar Reddy added 39 off 24 to power SRH to a daunting total.

In response, KKR’s chase never gained sustained momentum despite a few promising contributions. Angkrish Raghuvanshi top-scored with 52 off 29, while Rinku Singh made 35 off 25 after Finn Allen provided a quick start with 28 off just 7. However, regular wickets derailed the innings as KKR were bowled out on 161, falling well short of the target.

The clinical all-round performance ensured SRH secured their first win of the season in dominant fashion.

Key Moments from Match 6 of IPL 2026:

1. Travishek set the tone with blistering stand 

Sunrisers Hyderabad got off to a flying start, thanks to an explosive opening partnership between Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma. The duo stitched together a rapid 82-run stand, putting the Kolkata Knight Riders bowlers on the back foot right from the outset.

Head was the aggressor-in-chief, smashing a brilliant 46 off 21, while Abhishek complemented him perfectly with a fiery 33-run contribution in the partnership. Their fearless approach and relentless boundary-hitting ensured SRH dominated the powerplay.

2. KKR’s epic batting surrender 

Chasing a mammoth target of 227 runs on their home turf, KKR batters failed miserably. New Zealand’s Finn Allen gave them a blistering start, scoring 28 runs in just seven deliveries. But after his dismissal, KKR’s innings failed to gather momentum. 

Youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi tried to build the innings with his 52-run knock, but it was not enough as none of the other KKR batters managed to stay at the crease for long enough to have a crack at the chase. In the end, they were bowled out for 161 runs.   

3. SRH’s clinical bowling

It was a clinical bowling display by the Sunrisers Hyderabad bowlers, led brilliantly by the experienced Jaydev Unadkat, who picked up three crucial wickets for just 21 runs in his three overs. 

Apart from him, Sri Lanka’s Eshan Malinga and all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy picked up two wickets each to give their side a huge advantage while defending the total. KKR’s batting line-up faltered in front of a disciplined bowling performance.

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IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Match 6 – Who Said What?

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IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Match 6 - Who Said What?
IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Match 6 – Who Said What? (Photo Source: IPL)

The Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated the Kolkata Knight Riders by 65 runs in dominant fashion in Match 6 of the 2026 Indian Premier League at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to claim their first victory in the IPL this season. 

Asked to bat first, SRH made full use of the conditions and got off to a flying start as Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma came out all guns blazing, stitching together a rapid 82-run opening stand that put KKR under immediate pressure. Head smashed a quickfire 46 off 21 balls, while Abhishek contributed 48 off just as many deliveries.

The momentum was carried forward by the middle order, with Heinrich Klaasen playing a vital hand of 52 runs, while Nitish Kumar Reddy adding 39 in 24 balls. Despite a few late wickets, SRH managed to post a formidable 226/8 in their 20 overs.

In response, KKR needed a strong start but lost wickets at regular intervals, hampering their chase. Finn Allen provided some early fireworks with a brisk 28 off 7 balls, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi tried to keep the innings afloat with a well-made 52 off 29 deliveries.

Rinku Singh chipped in with 35, but the lack of partnerships hurt KKR as they kept falling behind the required rate. Eventually, they were bowled out on 161 in 16 overs, falling well short of the target. They lost the match by 65 runs. 

Talking Points

1) Head-Abhishek blitz sets the tone

The opening partnership between Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma proved to be the defining phase of the match. Their aggressive intent and fearless strokeplay in the powerplay allowed SRH to seize early control.

The 82-run stand ensured Hyderabad dictated terms right from the start, leaving KKR chasing the game from the outset. It was a carnage from the SRH openers.

2) Middle-order prevents slowdown

After the explosive start, SRH’s middle order ensured the momentum wasn’t lost. Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy played some crucial contributions after getting themselves in, keeping the scoring rate high through the middle overs. Their ability to maintain pressure meant KKR never got a chance to pull things back.

3) KKR’s inconsistent chase

Chasing a daunting total, KKR never managed to build a solid partnership. While there were flashes of brilliance from Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, and Finn Allen, the lack of sustained partnerships and regular wickets meant they were always behind in the chase

Jaydev Unadkat was the star of the show, picking up three wickets. He was well complimented by Reddy and Eshan Malinga. Reddy was named the Player of the Match for his all-round brilliance. 

Who said what?

Ajinkya Rahane, KKR captain

Yeah, I thought, no, we did a couple of big partnerships. Guys who were set, they 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. So, we’ll have to just go back in the drawing room, just think about our combination. If bowling, if we can get extra batter in our lineup, we’ll have to think about that. 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.”

Ishan Kishan, SRH captain 

“Yeah, not at the way I played, but the way the rest of the team. (“When I say you, it’s always the team,” corrects Murali Karthik) It’s always the team, yeah. So really happy the way they were committed on the ground and, you know, everyone was putting their energy, and that was something I asked for before the game. And I was just happy to see all of them putting their effort. (Was he happy with the score?) No, I don’t think the pitch was that good, to be very honest. I think Travis Head and Abhishek played a beautiful knock out there and, you know, getting those all 80 runs in the powerplay 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, Nitish playing a lovely knock. So, it was overall a team effort, I feel.  I think we are getting to know about the areas in each and every game. So, yeah, fielding is something we need to work on as a team. We cannot be giving 20 odd runs in each game. So, yeah, we will have to work there because, you know, in IPL, 20 or 10 runs, it makes a huge difference in a T20 game. So, yeah, we’ll work on it as a team.”

Nitish Kumar Reddy, Player of the Match

“I mean, it’s really good. It’s just the match-winning performance I’ve been waiting for a long time. Thankfully, I have delivered at the right time. Even for my bowling, I got some boundaries on my own runs as well. (What you have been through in the last few months and what have you worked on?) It’s just I’m trying to be positive because there have been very… too many negative thoughts in my mind because the last season was not gone in my way and too many injuries. I didn’t bowl last season and I know I wanted to work on my bowling a bit and I got some break. But just before coming to IPL season, I really worked hard on my bowling and it’s really good and I worked really, really hard and it’s shown on the ground and really, really happy. (How good is your body feeling?) I’m feeling very good now. I mean, thanks to the trainers and the physios who have been taking care of me. I mean, my body is feeling fit now.”

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