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By K.R. Nayar  Mumbai Indians’ (MI) show in the Indian Premier League 2026 is not just disappointing but baffling. They seem to be losing irrespective of what they do. Despite posting 243 for 5 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground, the Wankhede, they still lost by six wickets on Tuesday, April 29, 2026. These five-time champions seem to be on a race to finish at the bottom of the table. At this point it seems like this team is running around in circles. Watching them, one feels that their acts are an exercise in futility—a bottling side or, in one word, a hapless and doomed side. Their fans have a hundred reasons to be disappointed, especially when their team is being seen as the league’s punching bag. Are they under a cloud, jinxed, or stuck in a rot? In the end, if they finish at the bottom of the table, it will not just be disappointing—it will be downright tragic. A close look at their defeats will reveal that, over and above the absence of their star player R...

By K.R. Nayar Mumbai. The Indian Premier League (IPL) on April 25 (Saturday) and April 26, 2026 (Sunday) saw its players and teams produce unreal cricket. It was a Saturday where a staggering 986 runs poured out from just two matches, and Sunday ended with a tied match, with the result emerging from a Super Over. It was a reminder of why the IPL is cricket’s most popular and exciting tournament. The two days of action also proved it is a festival of fearless cricket, where every match was a spectacle and fans got their money’s worth. Any match or a knock that will linger in one’s memory for days together is a special one. From the first ball on Saturday to the last delivery on Sunday, the roar of the crowd never dipped. Every over was exciting, and every shot had glory attached to it. Punjab Kings’ (PBKS) win over Delhi Capitals (DC) was one that raised the question of whether 300 runs will, from now on, be a safe score. PBKS chased a target of 265 and won with seven balls to spare...

By K.R. Nayar  Mumbai. April 24 is not just another date on the calendar in Mumbai—it is an emotion that runs through the veins of the city. It marks the birthday of Sachin Tendulkar, the son of the soil, a figure the city holds close to its heart with immense pride. Here, he is not just a retired cricketer; he is a living legend. Even 13 years after reporting his final Test at the Wankhede Stadium, everyone enjoys recalling every glorious moment this legendary batter has carved out during his career. It felt so special to be a part of his birthday celebration organised by The Legends’ Club at the C.K. Nayudu Hall at the Cricket Club of India in Brabourne Stadium. A welcome from The Legends' Club for the Sachin Tendulkar birthday function. Photo by K.R. Nayar The Legends' Club, founded by Rajsingh Dungarpur and supported by the CCI, has long been a custodian of cricket’s rich heritage. It celebrates the birthdays of icons such as Vijay Merchant, Vijay Hazare, Vijay Manjrek...

By K.R. Nayar  Mumbai. Sanju Samson seems to be swelling the number of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans at every stadium during the Indian Premier League 2026 edition. His second century for CSK on Thursday (April 23, 2026) at the Wankhede Stadium, in his team’s 103-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI), resulted in the chants of “CSK, CSK”, outscoring the MI fans’ roar. Sanju created more occasions for his team’s fans to rejoice, and it was surprising to see the huge number of CSK fans, in their yellow colours, in the stands here. Mumbai is a major hub for South Indian communities, including a large and longstanding population of people from Chennai and Kerala who have lived and worked here for generations. Sanju hails from Kerala, the neighbouring state of Chennai, but for people in Mumbai he is a Madrasi (Madras is the old name of Chennai). Sanju’s Madrasi tag is also due to historical reasons—during the British Raj, the Madras Presidency included present-day Tamil Nadu, ...

By K.R. Nayar  Mumbai. To address someone as the ‘Tilak’ of an organisation is to crown him as its finest, distinguished, honourable, or a defining member of that group. On Monday (April 20, 2026), Tilak Varma turned out to be exactly that for Mumbai Indians (MI), becoming their pride by cracking an unbeaten 101 off 45 balls and giving his team a 99-run win over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This was Varma’s maiden IPL century. After having reported his match-winning knock of 69 against Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup final in Dubai, it was evident that once he is allowed to settle down, the result will almost always be in favour of the team he bats for. In Dubai, Varma walked in to bat at 20 for 3 and anchored the chase of 147. On Monday, he walked in with Mumbai reeling at 44 for 3 and ensured a fighting total of 199 for 5, something that seemed improbable at one stage. Varma’s innings turned the night into a spectacle, his knock erupting after ...

  By K.R. Nayar Mumbai. While the IPL matches are creating a major buzz in Mumbai, it was also interesting to get the chance to interact with those who are knowledgeable about the game. Sachin Bajaj, founder and managing director of Global Cricket School, is one such person who can talk cricket for hours and also initiate debates on the game.  Sachin Bajaj (extreme right) addresses the gathering introducing Angus Frase  and Fraser Stewart. Photo by K.R. Nayar   Bajaj hosted an evening of conversation on “Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Laws of Cricket,” inviting Fraser Stewart, MCC Head of Cricket, and Angus Fraser, former England cricketer, at the Bombay Yacht Club. The hall was packed with sharp cricketing brains— analysts, thinkers, and a strong contingent of Mumbai Cricket Association umpires. As a qualified umpire myself, it was nothing short of an enlightening experience. A few journalists, those who go beyond match reports to inte...