For most IPL teams, the 2026 mini auction will be all about strategic buys and role-specific additions, while for a couple of others, it is going to be a captain-centric affair.
Shreyas Iyer, who led KKR to the IPL 2024 title, could be headed for the players' auction after failing to make a breakthrough in negotiations, while K L Rahul is also unlikely to be retained by LSG.
Dhawan shared a post on his Instagram, and wrote, "Open water, the greenery and fresh air = bliss."
Australia's stand-in captain Mitchell Marsh continued his fine run of form on Sunday, scoring 46 not out and leading his side to a seven-wicket triumph over India in the weather-affected first one-day international at Perth Stadium.
'I love the way Rinku got us till the end but unfortunately couldn't time it when two balls were remaining'
Test captain Shubman Gill also doesn't fit in the Indian T20 line-up, which has a settled top three in Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson and captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Shubman Gill might just want to be fit enough to bat, as even a half-fit skipper is seen as more effective than Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran or Sarfaraz Khan.
Star batter Shubman Gill endured his second successive unproductive outing as Punjab faltered against Saurashtra spinners, going down by 194 runs on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match, in Rajkot, on Friday.
The JioStar expert also analysed KKR's buys at the auction, saying that getting NZ all-rounder Rachin Ravindra at base price was smart and there is "serious batting power" in the squad.
Prithvi Shaw's inclusion comes as a fresh lease of life for the explosive batter who found himself out of reckoning in the Ranji Trophy.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for their first Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh on Thursday?
Nehal Wadhera and Shashank Singh struck half-centuries, while left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar took three wickets as Punjab Kings outclassed Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs.
Expect some fireworks for the highly-versatile Cameron Green along with Quinton de Kock, Matheesha Pathirana, Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi.
Folks who had previously mocked Gambhir on social media suddenly acknowledged his foresight. Some even apologised for doubting him, flooding SM with praise and memes celebrating his 'KKR quota' selections.
Punjab Kings' batter Priyansh Arya scripts massive milestone in IPL 2025 final
Jaiswal ticked a box in the third ODI with his maidan ton and Ruturaj Gaikwad chipped in with a hundred at Raipur, leaving Gambhir pleased as punch.
A selector told PTI that Shaw wasn't considered for selection at the moment because he is unfit, but if he passes fitness test before the game, he could be in.
It was a surreal feeling for Nehal Wadhera when he found out that Virat Kohli knew him by his first name.
Punjab Kings' head newly appointed head coach Ricky Ponting wants his team to be the best-ever Punjab Kings side.
Shreyas Iyer might have been the third biggest buy at the IPL auction but to fit into India's T20 combination, he would need to showcase all-round skills as that's what the team is looking for in the middle-order slot, captain Rohit Sharma said.
While the young Indian team showed great resolve to earn a creditable draw in England, the series exposed several weaknesses that need urgent attention.
Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting told his players not to lose focus as they "haven't achieved anything yet".
Struggling CSK look to turn around fortunes against PBKS
A round-up of Monday's action in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament.
Iyer had missed the first leg of the IPL after suffering a shoulder injury during the first ODI between India and England in March.
Mumbai recovered from a batting collapse to take a 136-run lead over Karnataka on Day 2 of their Ranji Trophy quarter-final.
Shreyas Iyer, who played his first Test under lights in the just-concluded series against Sri Lanka, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, had a different approach. His attacking style pay rich dividend in India's resounding victory over Sri Lanka in the second Test in Bengaluru.
Former India captain and spin legend Anil Kumble wants Shreyas Iyer to bat at the crucial No 4 position in the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies. Mumbai's Iyer has batted at No 5 in his last four One-Day matches for India, hitting 65 and 71 in the last two games against West Indies in August this year. But he made a mark at No 4 in the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh last month, where he scored 22, 24 not out and 62 respectively.
During the pre-match press conference, Patidar locked eyes with the trophy -- a long, lingering stare. Social media lit up. The moment instantly reminded fans of Rohit Sharma's haunting glance at the 2023 World Cup trophy, hours before India's heartbreaking loss in the final.
'They will bowl short at you. Therefore, you will have to come out with a plan.'
Former national selector Jatin Paranjpe has backed Shreyas Iyer to do well when he makes his Test debut for India against New Zealand on Thursday in Kanpur.
Virat Kohli struck a record 50th hundred and fast bowler Mohammed Shami's seven-wicket haul proved equally crucial as India overpowered New Zealand by 70 runs.
With Bumrah out of commission, speedsters Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana will have to take responsibility.
Rishabh Pant's place in the playing eleven is far from guaranteed, while Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy are locked in a tight contest for the additional all-rounder's slot as India confront several selection dilemmas ahead of the first ODI against South Africa in Ranchi.
Suryakumar Yadav (30) couldn't convert a start, Sarfaraz Khan (6) and Shreyas Iyer's (2) bids of spending quality time in the middle didn't fructify.
He also got clobbered along the way but was always in contention for wickets and weaved his magic particularly at the backend of the innings.
The former Australian spinner has straight away included both Ajinkya Rahane and Steve Smith in Delhi Capitals' probable playing XI and expects the top four batsmen to drive in fourth gear right from the word go.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru's bid for a maiden home victory this IPL season will depend on their batters' ability to handle the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Glenn Maxwell when they face the Punjab Kings on Friday.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings in Lucknow on Tuesday.
