Bowlers calling the shots in a format dominated by big hitters is a rarity, but that script played out at Chepauk on Sunday as Gujarat Titans exploited a bounce-friendly surface to stifle Chennai Super Kings before chasing down the target through a Sai Sudharsan masterclass to win the IPL contest by eight wickets.
South Africa showcased their T20 World Cup title aspirations with a commanding 76-run victory over India in their Super Eight clash, fuelled by David Miller's explosive batting and a dominant bowling performance.
Struggling former champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings will be eyeing consistency as they await the return of their former captains Rohit Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Finn Allen's record-breaking century powered New Zealand to a dominant victory over South Africa in the T20 World Cup semi-final, securing their place in the final.
With this victory, CSK finished last with four victories and 10 losses, giving them eight points. On the other hand, GT ended the campaign with a loss, which could hamper their top two chances, with nine wins and five losses, giving them 18 points.
The Proteas have included three frontline spinners in the squad with Keshav Maharaj leading the attack, while also consisting of Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy, who was the player of the series against Pakistan.
Varun Chakravarthy defends his recent form, attributing his struggles to unhelpful pitches rather than any flaws in his bowling, after a match-winning performance for Kolkata Knight Riders.
Bavuma said his hamstring was 'feeling good' ahead of his return, and the South African skipper also confirmed he would bat at number three for the opening match of the three-game series behind openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram.
A toe injury suffered before the fourth T20I is set to keep Gill out of the final T20I here as India would want to take a cautious route, more so when there is a ready replacement for the top order slot in Sanju Samson.
'I think we've seen on various stages around the world now that they are proper X-factor players and that they have taken to international cricket quite easily.'
Opener Saim Ayub scored a quickfire 71 from 38 balls and seamer Faheem Ashraf took 4/23 as Pakistan cruised to a nine-wicket win over South Africa in the second T20I.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be optimistic about securing their second consecutive win in the IPL as they face Chennai Super Kings, who are struggling with Sanju Samson's form and a lack of strong bowling options.
The controversial decision to select Shubman Gill in place of a well-settled Sanju Samson as the opener has backfired for the Indian team so far.
India faced a heavy defeat against South Africa in their T20 World Cup Super Eights opener after a batting collapse while chasing 188. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav admitted the failure to build partnerships cost them the game.
Sanju Samson rediscovered his batting range with a fabulous hundred and bowlers' fangs regrew as Chennai Super Kings outclassed Delhi Capitals by 23 runs to register their first win of IPL 2026.
Spinner Noor Ahmad excelled with the ball as a clinical Chennai Super Kings outclassed Kolkata Knight Riders by 32 runs.
Former Chennai Super Kings batter Suresh Raina believes the five-time IPL champions should look at buying the in-form Sarfaraz Khan at the auction on Tuesday.
IMAGES from the 3rd T20I between India and South Africa in Dharamsala on Sunday.
Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra believes MS Dhoni should retire if he's relegated to an 'Impact Player' role for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), suggesting it's time for the veteran to consider hanging up his boots.
The West Indies and South Africa, both undefeated, will battle in a Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup. The West Indies' powerful batting will be tested by South Africa's balanced bowling attack. The result could significantly impact India's chances of reaching the semi-finals.
'We lost the match between the 7th and 15th over. You used Bumrah's two overs early and kept the remaining two for the death. But Rohit Sharma never used Bumrah like this.'
South Africa registered one of the most thrilling victories in T20 Internationals when they edged past Afghanistan in a tense finish in the second Super Over.
'I'm not sure how many games he will play. But his presence in the dressing room will help a lot.'
India's mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy is becoming less effective in T20 Internationals as top teams develop strategies to decode his variations.
South Africa pace spearhead Anrich Nortje played down the Proteas' injury concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup, saying the team has the depth and quality to absorb the setbacks.
Reflecting on the defeat, Markram acknowledged the challenging conditions but stressed the need for adaptability.
India will look to address several lingering selection puzzles when they take on South Africa in Ranchi on Sunday in the first ODI of the three-match series, where Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli return to the set-up for a short audition that could well shape their 2027 World Cup fate.
Chennai Super Kings will need to improve significantly in all departments of the game to trouble a potent Punjab Kings in their first home game of the Indian Premier League. It was a uninspiring start for CSK in their opener against Rajasthan Royals.
After a star turn at the ICC U-19 World Cup 2026, India star Vaibhav Suryavanshi shifts focus to Class 10 board exams, balancing cricketing glory with academics.
To witness over 100,000 people sitting in stunned silence is not a sight one can forget easily.
'India is struggling against spin. So how do you solve that? Try to rearrange the batting order in a way that naturally good players of spin are batting up the order, and people like Tilak Varma, who is struggling a little bit, can come down the order.'
India skipper KL Rahul said his side needed to be sharper in key moments but felt the toss played a decisive role in the home team's four-wicket loss to South Africa in the second ODI, in Raipur, on Tuesday.
Aiden Markram will replace Temba Bavuma as South Africa captain for the first Test against Bangladesh later this month, Cricket South Africa said on Friday.
Skipper Aiden Markram led from the front with a flamboyant half-century as South Africa registered a comprehensive 57-run win over Canada in their opening Group D T20 World Cup match.
'Marco has been out of cricket for a while and to run in with that energy and set the tone was very important for us.'
'I think it's an ongoing process, just continuously putting in hours of work and speaking to people that have played in these conditions, have done well in these conditions.'
Architect of South Africa's series-levelling win in the second ODI against India here, Aiden Markram says scoring runs matters only when the team wins and he felt responsible for the visitors' defeat in the first ODI by a small margin.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has been ruled out of the two-Test series against Zimbabwe that starts in Bulawayo on June 28 after he failed to recover from a hamstring injury sustained in the World Test Championship final win over Australia at Lord's.
Hardik Pandya marked his return to the Indian team from a two-month injury layoff with a match-winning half-century.
Kolkata's 'Knight Rider' Allen blows away South Africa, takes NZ into final
