The ceasefire is still technically holding, to the extent that no overt hostilities have been reported yet, but the rhetoric has hardened dangerously. The week ahead will also clarify whether the Islamabad failure was a negotiating tactic or whether Washington has genuinely locked itself into a position from which the only exits are climb-down, escalation, or the slow bleed of a new status quo that nobody chose and nobody controls. Prem Panicker continues his must read blog on the Iran War.
Abhishek Sharma focuses on his batting against spin during a net session ahead of the T20 World Cup semifinal against England, recalling his past success at Wankhede Stadium.
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.
Sameer Rizvi's unbeaten 70 powers Delhi Capitals to a remarkable comeback win over LSG after early collapse, sealing the chase with a 119-run stand with Tristan Stubbs.
The core issues to be settled -- access to Hormuz, Israel's aggression in Lebanon, the question of Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and compensation -- are thorny enough to require weeks of patient negotiation. The most likely outcome of the opening sessions is that both sides take the measure of each other, establish what is and is not negotiable, and return home without having broken anything. That would count as progress.
Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey met in Islamabad in what analysts say is the formal opening of a new diplomatic formation that could reshape the post-war regional order. Their immediate goal is a ceasefire; their larger ambition is to ensure that neither Iran nor Israel emerges from this war in a dominant position. Pakistan's foreign minister then flew directly to Beijing and mooted a Chinese role as guarantor of any eventual agreement. Prem Panicker continues his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.
For a franchise that has waited for nearly two decades for an IPL crown, could this be the year when Punjab Kings finally create IPL history?
Harry Brook dropped Sanju Samson on 15 in the third over of the Indian innings and the missed opportunity had a big impact on the outcome of the T20 World Cup semi-final.
Mohammed Siraj's ferocious 143kph yorker that sent Gus Atkinson's stumps flying, securing India's narrowest ever Test win by runs.
'Was the five-day pause ever meant to hold, or was it simply another instrument of signaling, of positioning, of buying time in a war where even the pauses are tactical?' asks Prem Panicker in his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.
The question is no longer whether the war will expand. It has. The next few days will tell us whether the war stabilises around Hormuz or whether the Strait itself becomes the trigger for a far larger rupture. What to watch for over the next 48 hours is simple: Any move by the US toward direct naval control of the Strait; any credible Iranian attempt to disrupt or mine shipping lanes and, critically, whether energy infrastructure in the Gulf continues to be targeted.If those lines are crossed in tandem, the war will no longer be containable within the region.
Irfan Pathan backs Shreyas Iyer to replicate last season's form for Punjab Kings in IPL 2026, saying the batter is already a proven cricketer who doesn't need the league to prove his place in India's T20I team.
South African bowler Lungi Ngidi attributes his T20 bowling evolution to his time in the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he honed his slower ball variations.
Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru carried off from last season with dominating performances in their opening two games of IPL 2026.
The purge in Washington does not pause the war. Strikes continue, Hormuz remains closed, and Brent crude is still dancing around $109 a barrel. For India, the command chaos in the Pentagon is another layer of uncertainty piled on five weeks of conflict that was already straining every buffer Delhi has.
Chennai Super Kings head into IPL 2026 with a young squad, new signings like Sanju Samson and a focus on rebuilding as Mahendra Singh Dhoni's era nears its final chapter.
Aiden Markram's unbeaten 82 and a 95-run opening stand with Quinton de Kock powered South Africa to a nine-wicket win over West Indies, putting the Proteas on the brink of the T20 World Cup semi-finals.
IPL 2026 will feel like a fresh start for players like Prithvi Shaw, Jofra Archer and Rishabh Pant, it's not only about numbers on the scoreboard anymore but it's about getting their story back on track.
Kolkata Knight Riders are exploring options to replace injured pacer Harshit Rana, with Simarjeet Singh, KM Asif, and Sandeep Warrier under consideration. The team is also awaiting clearance for Matheesha Pathirana and integrating new players into their revamped setup.
India edged England by seven runs to reach the T20 World Cup final for the second successive time after Jacob Bethell's brilliant century went in vain.
Batters launched balls so high into the sky that they looked like rockets taking off from the centre square.
Faf du Plessis called upon KKR to prepare spin-friendly pitches for their home games at Eden Gardens, which will bring their spin duo Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy into contention.
The United States, which entered this war in expectation of a short, sharp win along the Venezuela model, is now preparing for deeper involvement in a conflict it does not fully control, without the allies it typically relies on, against an adversary that is not behaving as expected, in a global environment that is already absorbing economic shock. Prem Panicker continues his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.
Shimron Hetmyer smashed an unbeaten 48 in 22 balls to help West Indies to a six-run victory over hosts South Africa in a T20 International reduced to 10 overs per side.
Defending champions RCB head into IPL 2026 with a balanced squad, strong batting core and pace attack, aiming for back-to-back titles after their historic 2025 triumph.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner says India will face pressure in front of their home crowd in the T20 World Cup final in Ahmedabad as the Kiwis look to upset the hosts.
Israel and the United States had a plan. Iran punched back. And now the Gulf is reeling, the world is beginning to feel the pain and, as on date, no one in Washington or Tel Aviv appears willing to admit that the punch has landed, notes Prem Panicker, continuing his must-read blog on the war in the Middle East.
Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi praised England's Harry Brook for his match-winning century in the T20 World Cup, acknowledging it as potentially the best innings of Brook's career. Afridi also discussed Pakistan's chances of reaching the semi-finals.
Iran is fighting a different war: Older, slower, and in some ways more dangerous. Iran doesn't need to shoot down an F/A-18. It only needs to make the Strait of Hormuz feel dangerous long enough for insurance markets, shipping companies, and oil futures traders to do the rest. Prem Panicker continues his must-read daily blog on the war in the Middle East.
The pause gives the US time to breathe, to regroup, to move its expeditionary force into position without risk of interception along the way. It gives Iran nothing -- on the ground, attacks against its infrastructure continue apace. Prem Panicker in his must read daily blog on the Gulf War.
Ravichandran Ashwin praised Arshdeep Singh's crucial 19th over and Abhishek Nayar hailed Jasprit Bumrah's game-changing spell against West Indies in the Super 8 match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday.
Anil Kumble and Faf du Plessis analyze India's T20 World Cup strategy, highlighting the team's experimentation with part-time bowlers and potential vulnerabilities on flat pitches.
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner acknowledged India's dominance in the World Cup final, citing their explosive start and the difficulty of chasing a large total in Indian conditions. He admitted New Zealand were underdogs and needed everything to go their way, but India's batting performance proved too strong.
Many fans hadn't even bothered to change their Team India jerseys with which they watched the match. A few wanted to carry on the stadium atmosphere into the train singing songs like Chak De India and Vande Mataram. They played them so loudly and ensured no one got a wink of sleep. Of course, the main topic of discussion was Sanju Samson.
When missiles fly in this region, they are never just aimed at military targets.
Sunil Gavaskar believes Axar Patel's all-round skills and cricketing intelligence will make him one of India's greatest players.
'I suspect that Bangladesh being given permission stuck in India's official craw, and this story was an attempt to balance the scales by giving the impression that a similar waiver had been given to India as well.'
Aiden Markram and Mitchell Santner's individual performances could potentially decide the outcome of the T20 World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
Former India A skipper Priyank Panchal shares anecdotes about Jasprit Bumrah's early cricket career, highlighting his talent and dedication from a young age.
Azmatullah Omarzai delivered a match-winning all-round performance, taking four wickets and scoring an unbeaten 40, to lead Afghanistan to a five-wicket victory over UAE in the T20 World Cup.
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