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Kohli’s art of singles and his antidote for pressure

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By K.R. Nayar  Virat Kohli is known by many nicknames, but the most popular one is King Kohli. For a team that has the name “Royal,” it should have a king, and that is Kohli. When a king rules with devotion, it is bound to flourish, and that is what happened in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on May 13, 2026, in Raipur. When Kohli cracked a match-winning century to propel defending champions RCB to the top of the table, many addressed him as the Chase Master. When Kohli dominates bowlers, fans rise in chorus to hail their King. When he pursues a target, he transforms into the Chase Master. Bestowing him with a title is easy, but to score runs to be addressed in such a manner, especially after two ducks in the previous innings, is tough. Despite being the highest run-getter in the history of the IPL with over 9000 runs, when he played a delivery from KKR’s Saurabh Dubey to square leg for a single, he punched the air in celebration fo...
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What’s behind the child labour FIR attempt against Rajasthan Royals to “protect” Sooryavanshi?

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By K.R. Nayar  It was amusing to learn that a Karnataka-based activist had threatened to file a complaint seeking an FIR against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) franchise for "child labour". The reason given was that a 15-year-old cricketer, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, playing in a high-pressure commercial league like the IPL, violates child labour laws, and that the minor should instead be focusing on his studies. It is not clear whether the activist did this for publicity or fame just to portray himself as a man who stood up to “rescue” Suryavanshi. Every Indian has the right to file a complaint. At the same time, there are these myopic thinking individuals like this activist who are actually a threat to talented and successful teenagers. They find reasons to create roadblocks to brilliance. Many believe teenagers must be focusing only on academics. Their travel must be limited to classrooms, tuition centres, and examination halls, with no detours allowed for dreams. It is like...
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Is the IPL the ultimate factory of cricket’s hardest hitters?

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By K.R. Nayar  Has India become a cricketing nation with the hardest hitters in the game? In IPL 2026, we have seen some of the fastest knocks and many brilliant six-hitters. After Urvil Patel of Chennai Super Kings hit a half-century in 13 balls to equal the IPL record for the fastest fifty held by Yashasvi Jaiswal in IPL 2023, one wonders from where are these fearless batters emerging. Urvil hit 63 off just 23 balls, with eight sixes and two fours. There was a time when the cricket world believed that unrestrained hitting was the exclusive signature of the West Indies. Their dominance did not last long with many other nations also throwing up hard hitters and breaking records. Soon, the world realized that one need not be strongly built like West Indies batters to become a power-hitter. With modern bats that boost hitting, all that is needed is timing, balance, and the ability to pick the ball early. These are qualities many of the present batters have earned through hours of...
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IPL’s crackdown on honey traps, vaping, and dark forces were long overdue

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By K.R. Nayar  It is indeed laudable that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued strict guidelines to all the ten Indian Premier League’s (IPL) franchises, specifically aimed at preventing honey trapping and anti-corruption risks. The more popular and valuable a product is, the more it should be protected. Scenes that often happen in hotels where players stay have made one wonder why these guidelines were not issued earlier. That could have saved a few from falling into these traps. In cricketing terms, this was long overdue—like bringing in a slip cordon after edges have already been missed from many overs. Be aware of the dangerous IPL fan The IPL is today one of the world’s most popular events and hence runs the risk of evil forces trying to disparage its image and, in the process, its players too. Almost all players playing in the IPL, including teenagers, are flushed with money. It is sometimes impossible to control one’s urges, because with bulging wa...
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IPL enters the danger zone where no topper is safe and no champion secure

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By K.R. Nayar The Indian Premier League (IPL) remains the most keenly followed franchise tournament in the world because of the excitement it creates through its unpredictability. Be it the rise of the underdog, the stumbling of a champion, or the table turning upside down, every match is a suspense thriller where scripts take a stunning turn.  On May 7, 2026, bottom-placed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) stunned defending champions Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by nine runs through the DLS method. A day earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) scripted a commanding 33-run victory over table-toppers Punjab Kings (PBKS) to claim the top slot.  These are examples of teams that, despite the odds being against them, work hard to record creditable wins. Over the years, the IPL has taught a ruthless lesson: complacency is fatal. Every team circles its opponent like a hawk, waiting to expose the slightest weakness. While all teams are strong, when a team slips in any departmen...
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Sanju’s character drives his match-winning knocks

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By K.R. Nayar  Sanju Samson’s match-winning knocks emerge from his thinking and character. After his match-winning unbeaten knock of 87 in Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, he revealed how much more important his team’s victory was than basking in the glitter of a personal century. Having trailed his career and witnessed many of his knocks, one truth about Sanju shines unmistakably– he plays for the team, something larger than himself.  Those who watched his modest knock of 26 against Namibia on February 12, 2026, in the T20 World Cup in Delhi can get a peek into his character. He was coming back into the side after being discarded for a long time, and despite wanting to cement his place, he went for his shots. His role was to pile up as many runs as possible during the power-play. Critics were quick to dismiss him—“another wasted chance,”.  In the next match too, against Zimbabwe in Chennai, a mere 2...
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Can Rohit Sharma transform the mood and momentum of Mumbai Indians?

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By K.R. Nayar  Whenever Rohit Sharma produces a big knock, it is inspirational—not just for his team but for his fans too. He is an assassin of bowlers, yet he massacres them without expressing any hatred or anger towards them. Often, he carries a smile and goes about the task of demolishing the attack as if it is a habit he cannot change. His knock of 84 in Mumbai Indians (MI)’s win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 4, 2026, at the Wankhede Stadium was one such unforgettable exhibition. Rohit is on the verge of his 50th IPL fifty. He crafted his 49th half-century off just 27 balls. He wiped away the usual belief that missing a few matches can affect one’s form and rhythm, showing no signs of having been away since April 12 due to a hamstring injury. Watch his innings closely, and one can see the beauty of his method unfold - there is patience before the storm. He took 15 balls for his first 15 runs and then shifted gears to blaze his way to a scintillating 44-ball 84. T...
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