Someday an IPL team is going to quietly (and smartly) trade in or buy Washington Sundar and play him as an opener. Paired correctly and given a long rope, he'll improve a side significantly.

Based on their lack of usage/form in IPL 2026, here are some 10cr cost players who could well feature in the next mini-auction. Especially since their high current value might price them out of a trade. 1. Nicholas Pooran 2. Trent Boult 3. Phil Salt 4. Liam Livingstone 5. Marcus Stoinis 6. Shimron Hetmyer 7. T Natarajan 8. Prashant Veer 9. Mayank Yadav 10. Rishabh Pant 11. Hardik Pandya 12. SKY 13. Rohit Sharma

From an interested team's POV, I think IPL players at a wage/price point of 15 crore or above, are better off being picked up at an auction. More chances that the player won't be that expensive, and worst case the player will end up coating roughly what they do now. From a player's POV, it's better to be traded. Preserves and protects their current wage, despite difficulties with their current team.

Good heavens. Just a 25% strike rate! 😭

I'll stand by this.

Unfortunate as it might seem, I'd say at least one of Bournemouth and Sunderland will get relegated next season, precisely because of the push and pull of a European campaign. Brighton might suffer domestically too, but that said, they could also end up winning the Conference League.

Tough scenario ahead for KKR if they need to overcome PBKS on NRR in their last game. Will likely need to win by around 60 runs, or chase down the target in 14 overs or so.

Finally went to Avijit Sarkar’s house, 5 years after he was lynched during post poll violence in 2021. Even today, his brother runs a shelter for rescued strays. He has built a little memorial to the murdered puppies right next to Avijit’s memorial. 3 murdered puppies were laid to rest under a Tulsi plant. Bishwajeet told us how Avijit’s killers’ family still lives next door to them, but they never hurt them even when BJP came to power. Because violence is NOT ‘political culture of Bengal’

Could GTA 6 release before the new TN government is formed? 🤔

Don't mind Finn Allen coming in. Or indeed Manish. But what role is Anukul going to play, apart from batting depth at number 8/9? KKR might be a pace option short here.

So is it okay to refer to him as just 'Ashley' now? I mean, there's your proof.

Movie promotions have gone too far.

Against SRH in a day game, given the current SRH top 5 (quite competent against spin plus 3 LHBs too), KKR would probably look to bring in a quick for Anukul. Purely tactical. If Pathirana is fit, he becomes that quick. Would also mean Seifert probably dropping out for Dahiya (in at 4/5). If it's an extremely dry pitch, could also bring in Rachin for Powell.

Penalise grounds if 3 games or more out of 7 hosted by them have scores outside of the band of 170-220. It's still a wide enough band for plenty of big hits as well as skillful bowling, but ensures games aren't boring. So if a ground has 5 matches a season where a team batting first makes 235 or so, it loses hosting rights for the next IPL.

People who board an aeroplane for the first time. People who use an escalator for the first time. People with the happiness of the first one...

If Pooran plays the next game, think it's likely that he'll come out charging and in all probability, get out within his first 10 balls, albeit possibly at a high strike rate.

If you ever want to assess how valuable a T20 all-rounder is, run a simple test. Look at all the IPL teams. Now, take only the player's batting, and check for how many teams that player could easily fit into the top 7. (Preferably top 6) Now, remove the batting, and basis only that player's bowling, check for how many teams that player would slot in at most as the 4th or 5th bowler most days. Done? Now you see the value of a player like Hardik Pandya or Russell? Or why Nitish Reddy's value is higher this season?

In my opinion, this is how it should ALWAYS be. For every sportsperson. Regardless of their status, stature or skill level. Also, extremely immature bait-laced interviewing. I have no doubt for example, that every time Virat Kohli goes out to bat for RCB, if possible he'd hit Bumrah or Arshdeep for 6 sixes in an over. That doesn't mean he personally hates either the bowler, or that team or its fans. And if he got out cheaply and his team lost, he'd feel sad, even if his best friends were on the opposing team. It's your primary dharma as a sportsperson, to do your best to dominate and win.

Given Finn Allen's all round strong numbers against different kinds of bowling, it's been a little surprising to see him not have a standout knock yet, with the base expectation currently being that he fires big once in every 5 games. Was wondering, if premium quality of bowling in the first 2-3 overs, especially outswing, is an issue and if so, would he be a better fit at 3 in the IPL? Behind a shield opening duo for the first 15 balls or so? What do you folks reckon? @c_soubhagya @IndianMourinho @Fancricket12

I laughed more than I thought I would. 😄