The shift towards power-hitting in cricket has led to a revolution in bat manufacturing, with makers using scientific precision and customisation to meet the demands of modern batters.
Traditionally carved from top-quality willow, famous bat-makers, source the bulk of their willow wood from Kashmir.
The MCC has approved laminated cricket bats for adult amateur players to curb rising costs driven by the shortage and price of English willow.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins has become a fan of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, praising the young batter's explosive pyrotechnics in the IPL.
Virat Kohli has acknowledged the positive influence of Rahul Dravid and Vikram Rathour in helping him rediscover his passion for cricket after a difficult period following his departure from the India captaincy.
Anukul Roy, the Jharkhand all-rounder, has become a key player for Kolkata Knight Riders with his disciplined left-arm spin. He now seeks a more significant role with the bat, aiming to contribute more in the middle order and replicate his domestic success in the T20 league.
Lucknow Super Giants' global director of cricket, Tom Moody, attributes the team's IPL exit to inconsistent batting performances, particularly in the middle order. Jamie Overton of CSK credits his success to simple execution and praises the team environment.
Virat Kohli praises Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues for their performances in women's cricket, highlighting Rodrigues' World Cup semi-final knock as particularly special. He also acknowledges the impact of the Women's Premier League (WPL) on the rising standards of Indian women's cricket.
Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has lauded Sanju Samson's current form, particularly after his match-winning innings for Chennai Super Kings against Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. Pathan highlighted Samson's game awareness and ability to finish matches under pressure.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batting coach Dinesh Karthik praised his team's attitude and bowling effort despite a five-wicket loss to Gujarat Titans (GT) in Ahmedabad on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Gujarat Titans, eyeing a top-two finish in the IPL, face Chennai Super Kings, who are struggling to stay in playoff contention. Shubman Gill's form and Rashid Khan's spin will be key for GT, while CSK need their top order to fire to overcome injuries and inconsistent bowling.
A new exhibition highlighting the significant impact of the South Asian community on cricket in Britain has opened at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Museum at Lord's Cricket Ground in London.
Gujarat Titans batting coach Matthew Hayden praises Shubman Gill's clarity, confidence, and leadership skills ahead of their IPL 2026 opener against Punjab Kings.
Back home after nearly a month on the road and with their campaign hanging by a thread, Kolkata Knight Riders will look to stay alive in the IPL when they face a rampaging Gujarat Titans side chasing a top-two finish in Kolkata on Saturday.
Gujarat Titans will be determined to continue their winning streak and leapfrog Rajasthan Royals in their mid-table Indian Premier League clash.
Gujarat Titans opener B Sai Sudharsan said they are focused on sealing a top-two finish rather than obsessing over net run-rate going into their final IPL league match.
Former India batter Aakash Chopra has criticised the Gujarat Titans' over-reliance on their top three batsmen and questioned Shubman Gill's captaincy in the IPL.
Chennai Super Kings, still in the hunt for a play-off berth, will look to continue their recent resilient run when they take on the already-eliminated Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2026 match on Friday.
Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has praised Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, saying he deserves to be ranked among the best leaders in the Indian Premier League, alongside MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir.
Delhi Capitals spinner Kuldeep Yadav downplays concerns over the team's top-order struggles, asserting that there is no need to 'press the panic button' after just one game.
Australian leggie, Alana King's 5 for 19 against the West Indies in St Kitts, propelled her back to the top spot in the ICC ODI Rankings.
Gujarat Titans' batting coach Matthew Hayden believes the team has a destructive bowling attack and top-order batsmen, contributing to their recent success in the Indian Premier League.
Delhi Capitals assistant coach Ian Bell has identified batting inconsistency as the main reason for the team's struggles in IPL 2026, urging the batters to support KL Rahul.
Devdutt Padikkal's explosive 61 off 26 balls in the IPL 2026 opener against Sunrisers Hyderabad showcased a significant transformation in his batting style, earning widespread praise and solidifying his position as a top white-ball talent.
C D Gopinath was a member of the team that secured India's first-ever Test victory in 1952, beating England by an innings and eight runs--his contribution being a valuable 35 runs. Little did I imagine that within months of putting his journey into words as the oldest living Indian cricketer, he would pass away on April 9, 2026, at the age of 96.
Rajasthan Royals' head coach Kumar Sangakkara and Delhi Capitals' batting coach Ian Bell have both praised young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his talent and potential in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Sangakkara highlighted Sooryavanshi's understanding of the game and his ability to hold his own among senior players, while Bell described his talent as 'absolutely scary'.
Finn Allen credits shedding self-imposed pressure and rediscovering his enjoyment of batting for his improved form in the IPL 2026, after his explosive innings helped KKR secure a crucial win.
Former India cricketer Robin Uthappa has said former champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are not serious contenders for the IPL title this season, despite having an ultra-aggressive batting lineup.
Kevin Pietersen has expressed reservations about Rishabh Pant's desire to bat in the top order for Lucknow Super Giants, suggesting it may add unnecessary pressure. Pietersen also praised Sameer Rizvi's match-winning performance for Delhi Capitals.
Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis believes Rishabh Pant should bat at No. 3 to maximise his impact in T20 cricket, urging him to balance his aggressive style with a more consistent approach.
Smriti Mandhana retains her top position in the latest women's ODI batting rankings, while New Zealand players make significant gains after strong performances against Zimbabwe.
India's Jasprit Bumrah remains the top-ranked Test bowler in the latest ICC rankings, while Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill hold spots in the top 10 among batsmen.
Delhi Capitals' batting mainstay KL Rahul has praised RCB's experienced pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for showing that discipline and consistency can still succeed in modern T20 cricket, even without relying on extreme variations or unorthodox bowling styles.
Virat Kohli continued his remarkable run in T20 cricket as the Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting stalwart drew level with Alex Hales for the most 50-plus partnerships in men's T20 history. Both batters now have 210 fifty-plus stands in the format.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru aim to leverage their powerful batting lineup against Lucknow Super Giants' disciplined bowling attack in their upcoming IPL match
Several IPL captains are under pressure after their teams' disappointing performances this season. Axar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rishabh Pant face uncertainty as their franchises evaluate leadership roles and team strategies for future seasons.
Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag attributes his team's first IPL defeat of the season to a combination of factors, including misreading the pace of deliveries and shortcomings in bowling execution against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Babar Azam, Pakistan's key batter, is likely to play in the second Test against Bangladesh after missing the first match due to a knee injury. His return is anticipated to strengthen Pakistan's batting lineup after their loss in the first Test.
Abhishek Sharma continues to lead the IPL 2026 MVPI table, highlighting a worrying trend where batters overwhelmingly dominate the top positions and only one bowler features in the top 20. Purnendu Maji and Srinivas Bhogle present Rediff's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2026 after Game 54.
Cricket Australia has announced its contracted player list for 2026/27, with some notable changes including the omission of Glenn Maxwell and Sam Konstas, and the inclusion of Brendan Doggett.
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