Australian Squad Announced for Tours of Pakistan and Bangladesh

Australia has announced its squads for the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan and the white-ball series against Bangladesh. These series are scheduled to take place in May-June 2026. Mitchell Marsh, who is currently playing in the 2026 IPL, will be seen captaining the team in both formats.

Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc have been rested. Billy Stanlake and Riley Meredith are making a comeback to the ODI squad. Ollie Peake, Liam Scott, and Joel Davies have been included in the Australian squad for the first time. Peake has been selected exclusively for the ODI series against Pakistan, while Scott has been given a spot solely in the ODI series against Bangladesh. Joel Davies will play only in the T20 series against Bangladesh.

Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, and Xavier Bartlett who are playing in the 2026 IPL will replace Peake, Stanlake, Meredith, and Matt Short in the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh. Glenn Maxwell, who has retired from the ODI format, has not been included in the T20 squad.

Peake, Scott, and Davies have been rewarded for their stellar performances in domestic cricket. Scott was named the 'Sheffield Shield Player of the Year' for the 2025/26 season, while Davies was a standout performer in the 2025/26 Big Bash League. Ollie Peake captained the Australian team at the 2026 Under-19 World Cup, following which he was included in the Australia 'A' squad.

Selection Committee Chairman George Bailey said, It is always exciting to see new players get the opportunity to play international cricket and become part of the national team. This blend of experienced players, along with new and returning players, will prove to be extremely crucial on the tour of the subcontinent.

Australia tour of Pakistan 2026

Match	Date	Venue
1st ODI	May 30, 2026	Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium
2nd ODI	June 2, 2026	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
3rd ODI	June 4, 2026	Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

Australia Squad for the ODI Series Against Pakistan

Mitchell Marsh (Captain), Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Riley Meredith, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Billy Stanlake, and Adam Zampa.

Australia tour of Bangladesh, 2026

Match	Date (2026)	Venue
1st ODI	June 9	Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
2nd ODI	June 11	Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
3rd ODI	June 14	Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
1st T20I	June 17	Bir Sreshtho FL Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram
2nd T20I	June 19	Bir Sreshtho FL Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram
3rd T20I	June 21	Bir Sreshtho FL Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chattogram

Australia Squad for the ODI Series Against Bangladesh

Mitchell Marsh (Captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, and Adam Zampa.

Australia Squad for the T20 Series Against Bangladesh

Mitchell Marsh (Captain), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Matthew Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, and Adam Zampa.

IPL 2026: Can Mumbai Indians still qualify for the playoffs?

The Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians (MI) suffered another crushing defeat—this time at the hands of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). This marked MI's fourth loss in their last five matches a result that has now jeopardized the five-time champions' chances of reaching the playoffs. While other teams are frequently posting scores in excess of 200, MI managed to score only 159 runs in the 'El Clásico' clash against the 'Yellow Army' at Chepauk. In this match, Naman Dhir and Ryan Rickelton were the only players from the Mumbai side to score 30 runs or more.

Can Mumbai Indians still reach the IPL 2026 playoffs?

The team led by Hardik Pandya has won only two matches so far in IPL 2026—one against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the other against the Gujarat Titans (GT). The 'Men in Blue' are on the verge of being eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoffs; although, on paper, MI remains in the race, their chances of advancing are negligible. Yes, you read that absolutely right! Let's take a look at a potential scenario outlining how MI could still reach the next round, despite their disappointing performance thus far.

• To reach 14 points in the standings, Mumbai must win all five of their remaining matches.
• Even with 14 points, qualification is not guaranteed, as the team will have to rely on the results of other teams.
• Furthermore, to stay in the race, MI must win all their remaining matches by a large margin to improve their Net Run Rate (NRR).

MI Remaining Matches in IPL 2026

Match No.	Opposition	Date and Time (IST)	Venue
47	Lucknow Super Giants	May 4, 7:30 PM	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
54	Royal Challengers Bengaluru	May 10, 7:30 PM	Shahed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur
58	Punjab Kings	May 14, 7:30 PM	Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala
65	Kolkata Knight Riders	May 20, 7:30 PM	Eden Gardens, Kolkata
69	Rajasthan Royals	May 24, 3:30 PM	Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Will Mitchell Starc play in the RR vs DC match of IPL 2026?

In the 43rd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Delhi Capitals (DC) will face each other on Friday, May 1. This contest will be played at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. DC has suffered humiliating defeats in their last two matches of IPL 2026. In their previous match, Axar Patel and his team were bowled out for a mere 75 runs against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and lost by nine wickets.

In their earlier encounter against Punjab Kings (PBKS), despite posting a massive total of 264/2 in the first innings, they suffered a six-wicket defeat. Out of the eight matches played so far, they have won only three; to bolster their chances of qualifying for the playoffs, they must deliver exceptional performances in their upcoming matches.

Will Mitchell Starc play in the RR vs DC match of IPL 2026?

Since the very beginning of the tournament, the Capitals have sorely missed their star fast bowler, Mitchell Starc. The left-arm pacer was recovering from shoulder and elbow injuries and was unable to participate in the matches played during the first half of the tournament. Last week, he joined the DC squad and took part in training sessions.

Although he joined the team last week, he did not play in the previous match. Now, fans are eager to know whether the left-arm pacer will feature in the upcoming clash against the Rajasthan Royals (RR).

During a pre-match press conference, DC's bowling coach, Munaf Patel, stated that Starc would be available for the encounter against RR. He also added that Starc is fit to play, but the final decision will rest with the team management.

Mitchell Starc IPL Career

IPL season	match	over	run	wicket	Average	Economy	best	4 wickets
2025	11	36	366	14	26.14	10.17	5/35	0
2024	14	41.5	444	17	26.12	10.61	4/33	1
2015	13	43	291	20	14.55	6.76	4/15	1
2014	14	53.4	402	14	28.71	7.49	2/21	0
Total IPL	52	174.3	1503	65	23.12	8.61	5/35	2

RR vs DC Playing 11s

Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel (Wicketkeeper), Riyan Parag (Captain), Dasun Shanaka, Donovan Ferreira, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Brijesh Sharma, Nandre Burger, Yash Raj Punia

Impact Player: Shubham Dubey

Delhi Capitals (DC)

Abishek Porel (WK), KL Rahul, Nitish Rana, Sameer Rizvi, Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel (C), David Miller, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar

Impact Player: T Natarajan

List of Orange Cap Winners from All IPL Seasons: Who Won How Many Times?

 In the IPL, the 'Orange Cap' is awarded to the batsman who scores the most runs in each season. It is not merely an award, but a symbol of a batsman's consistency and dominance throughout the entire season. Since the tournament's inception in 2008, many legendary batsmen have claimed this cap. Notably, across 18 seasons, 14 different players have won the Orange Cap a fact that underscores the competitive nature of this tournament.

List of IPL Orange Cap Winners

Year	Winner	Runs	Team
2008	Shaun Marsh	616	KXIP
2009	Matthew Hayden	572	CSK
2010	Sachin Tendulkar	618	MI
2011	Chris Gayle	608	RCB
2012	Chris Gayle	733	RCB
2013	Michael Hussey	733	CSK
2014	Robin Uthappa	660	KKR
2015	David Warner	562	SRH
2016	Virat Kohli	973	RCB
2017	David Warner	641	SRH
2018	Kane Williamson	735	SRH
2019	David Warner	692	SRH
2020	KL Rahul	670	KXIP
2021	Ruturaj Gaikwad	635	CSK
2022	Jos Buttler	863	RR
2023	Shubman Gill	890	GT
2024	Virat Kohli	741	RCB
2025	Sai Sudharsan	617	GT

Over the past few seasons, young players have truly made their mark. Batsmen like Ruturaj Gaikwad (2021), Shubman Gill (2023), and Sai Sudharsan (2025) delivered magnificent performances to win the Orange Cap. In 2024, Virat Kohli once again showcased his class by scoring 741 runs.

Which Players, How Many Times? Orange Cap

Player	Season	Total Orange Caps
David Warner	2015, 2017, 2019	3
Virat Kohli	2016, 2024	2
Chris Gayle	2011, 2012	2
Shaun Marsh	2008	1
Matthew Hayden	2009	1
Sachin Tendulkar	2010	1
Michael Hussey	2013	1
Robin Uthappa	2014	1
Kane Williamson	2018	1
KL Rahul	2020	1
Ruturaj Gaikwad	2021	1
Jos Buttler	2022	1
Shubman Gill	2023	1
Sai Sudharsan	2025	1

When it comes to winning the Orange Cap the most number of times, David Warner leads the pack. He has claimed this title three times (2015, 2017, 2019). Meanwhile, Chris Gayle has won the Orange Cap twice—a feat also achieved by Virat Kohli. Kohli's 2016 season (973 runs) is still regarded as the finest batting performance in the history of the IPL.

IPL 2026 Orange Cap Winner

Player	Matches	Innings	Runs	Average	Strike Rate	Fours	Sixes
Virat Kohli	7	7	328	54.67	163.18	36	12
Abhishek Sharma	7	7	323	53.83	215.33	25	27
Heinrich Klaasen	7	7	320	53.33	153.11	22	13
Shubman Gill	6	6	297	49.50	149.25	29	11
Sanju Samson	7	7	293	58.60	178.66	31	15

Why did the RCB team wear the green jersey against Delhi?

In the match against the Delhi Capitals, the Royal Challengers Bangalore team has taken the field wearing green jerseys. This match is being played at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. While RCB's standard jersey features a combination of black and red, why have the team's players stepped out in green jerseys for this match against Delhi? The primary reason for this is the 'Go Green' initiative, which aims to raise awareness regarding environmental conservation.

It is worth noting that today, Royal Challengers Bangalore is playing its 100th match at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. This is another reason why the RCB team has taken the field in green jerseys—to truly make this day a special occasion. They have also become the first team in the history of the IPL to set the record of playing 100 matches at a single venue.

Why did the RCB team wear the green jersey?

In 2011, Royal Challengers Bangalore launched the 'Go Green' initiative. Since 2011, the RCB team has taken the field wearing a green jersey in at least one match every season. By doing so, the Bangalore team works to spread awareness regarding global warming and environmental conservation. Rajesh Menon, CEO of the Royal Challengers Bangalore franchise, states that it is the result of years of hard work that the franchise has today achieved the status of being carbon-neutral. He further added that this initiative also serves to inspire the general public.

RCB's management takes special care to ensure that carbon emissions at the team level are minimized. To this end, records are maintained regarding the team's travel, hotel stays, electricity consumption, and emissions generated by diesel generators. Furthermore, the team has endeavored to involve fans in this initiative; arrangements have been made to provide metro tickets alongside match tickets.

Rubel Hossain has announced his retirement from international cricket

 Veteran Bangladeshi fast bowler Rubel Hossain has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 36-year-old Rubel shared this news with his 3.5 million followers on Facebook, announcing his decision to bring an end to his journey spanning 159 international matches. Rubel played his final international match—a T20 International against the New Zealand national cricket team—in Auckland in April 2021. Since then, he had been battling persistent injuries, which significantly limited his participation even in domestic cricket.

For Bangladeshi fans, Rubel's most memorable performance will undoubtedly remain the match played against England in Adelaide during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. In that contest, he dismissed both Ian Bell and captain Eoin Morgan within the span of just four deliveries; subsequently, by sending Stuart Broad and James Anderson back to the pavilion, he finished with figures of 4 wickets for 53 runs—a bowling spell that proved to be match-winning.

Rubel wrote, I am Rubel Hossain, a fast bowler. I have played 27 Tests, 104 ODIs, and 28 T20 Internationals for Bangladesh. The national team has been my passion, but there comes a time when one must bid farewell to international cricket. It is with this sentiment that I have made this decision. However, I will continue to play domestic cricket." Expressing his gratitude to his family, friends, the media, and his fans, he also expressed hope for their continued support in the future.

Rubel Hossain Career

Rubel's international journey began in 2009, when the then-Bangladesh fast bowling coach, Champaka Ramanayake, discovered him during a nationwide talent hunt. With his slingy action and speeds reaching up to 140 km/h, Rubel quickly made a name for himself. In his very ODI debut against Sri Lanka, he claimed 4 wickets for 33 runs to guide Bangladesh to victory, becoming the first bowler to achieve this feat. He did not find as much success in Test cricket—taking 36 wickets in 27 matches at an average of 76.77—but he proved to be highly effective in the limited-overs formats.

In the ODI format, Rubel established himself as one of Bangladesh's most reliable bowlers, taking 129 wickets in 104 matches at an average of 34.31. His record includes seven instances of taking four wickets in an innings and one instance of taking five wickets. His performance against New Zealand in 2013—where he took 6 wickets for 26 runs, including a hat-trick—stands as one of the standout achievements of his career. Interestingly, just one week prior to this, he had also taken a hat-trick in a domestic match, although he hadn't even realized it at the time.

Rohit Sharma Update: 3 players could replace Rohit Sharma against Punjab

Mumbai Indians have suffered a major setback ahead of their next match. The team is scheduled to face Punjab Kings in their upcoming fixture, and there is a strong possibility that Mumbai Indians' star opener, Rohit Sharma, will be unable to play in this game. Rohit sustained a hamstring injury during the previous match against RCB, which forced him to leave the field and return to the pavilion in the middle of his innings. Consequently, the biggest question now is which player will be given the opportunity to take Rohit Sharma's place in the match against Punjab Kings. We are going to name three players who could step in to replace Rohit in this match.

Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock could be the best option to open the innings for Mumbai Indians in place of Rohit Sharma. He possesses considerable experience playing in the IPL and has already amassed over 3,300 runs in the tournament. Consequently, he could prove to be an excellent replacement for Rohit Sharma. De Kock is renowned for his aggressive batting style.

The 33-year-old De Kock has played for several franchises in the IPL and has delivered some exceptional innings over the past few years. However, to incorporate him into the squad, MI would need to make certain adjustments to their combination of overseas players. To accommodate De Kock in the team, either Mitchell Santner or Trent Boult might have to sit out.

Naman Dheer

Another player who could open the innings in place of Rohit Sharma is Naman Dhir. Naman Dhir was part of the Mumbai Indians' Playing 11 in the previous match; therefore, there is a strong possibility that he will retain his spot in the Playing XI for this match as well. Should the situation demand it, he is also capable of opening the innings. This 26-year-old player has played 27 IPL matches so far, in which he has scored 451 runs at a strike rate of over 176. He could prove to be a key player in Mumbai's top order and is capable of batting effectively against the Punjab Kings' bowling attack.

Robin Minz

In the match against Punjab Kings, the Mumbai Indians team might give Robin Minz an opportunity in place of Rohit. Minz does not possess extensive experience playing in the IPL, but he has proven his capabilities in domestic cricket. In the 2024 IPL, Gujarat Titans acquired him for ₹3.60 crore; subsequently, ahead of the 2025 IPL, Mumbai Indians inducted him into their squad for ₹65 lakh. Minz has not received many opportunities so far, having played only 7 T20 matches. Therefore, if he gets a chance in this match, he will undoubtedly be eager to deliver a stellar performance.