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Rohit Sharma dismisses retirement rumours, says he has just stood down from Test because of not being in form

Rohit also commended Bumrah for his leadership, stating, “Bumrah sets high standards with his bowling; he’s truly exceptional. Since I saw him for the first time in 2013, he’s consistently improved and strengthened his game.”

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1 year ago

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Senior Indian batter Rohit Sharma dismissed retirement rumors on Saturday, stating he is not going anywhere, and explaining that his recent poor form led him to “stand down” from the ongoing Sydney Test against Australia.

Struggling with consistency, Rohit decided to rest for the Sydney match and passed the leadership responsibilities to Jasprit Bumrah, which sparked speculation about his cricketing future. “I have not retired. I stood down, and that’s how I see it. The conversation I had with the coach and the selectors was straightforward. My runs haven’t been coming, and with the importance of this match, we need players who are in form,” Rohit shared with Star Sports.

He added, “Our batting lineup has been struggling, and we can’t afford to have too many players out of form. This was a key consideration for me. I’m not going anywhere.” The 37-year-old indicated that the team management and selectors supported his decision.

“I wanted to express my thoughts to the coach and selectors, and they backed my choice. They acknowledged that I’ve been playing for many years and understand my situation,” he noted. “Making this decision was challenging, but when I laid everything out clearly, it seemed the right thing to do. I won’t dwell on it too much.”

In Rohit’s absence, Shubman Gill was added to the Indian XI for the critical fifth match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, with India currently trailing 1-2 in the series. Rohit struggled in Test cricket during 2024, managing only 619 runs in 26 innings over 14 matches, with a low average of 24.76. Before stepping down, he had scored just 31 runs in five innings in this series after rejoining the team following the Perth Test.

Rohit’s proactive decision raised speculations that he might consider retiring from Test cricket after this series. However, he clarified, “This is not a retirement decision. I am not leaving the game; there’s no such choice. I’m sidelined right now because my bat isn’t performing. But that doesn’t guarantee it won’t work again in two months or six months.”

He expressed hope for a revival of his form soon, stating, “In cricket, everything can change in an instant or over time. I have faith that things will improve. However, I also need to be realistic. Ultimately, those outside the game don’t dictate when I should play or when I should leave.”

When asked if his decision followed the Melbourne Test defeat, Rohit explained, “I made this decision after arriving in Sydney. With only two days between matches, one of which was New Year’s Eve, I didn’t want to discuss it then. But I was aware that my attempts weren’t yielding results, and I needed to accept that stepping aside was necessary.”

He emphasized the importance of focusing on the immediate future: “When I captain, I prioritize the here and now rather than what may happen in five or six months. Our focus was on winning these five matches to retain the trophy. Decisions like this are made with the team’s best interests in mind.”

Rohit also commended Bumrah for his leadership, stating, “Bumrah sets high standards with his bowling; he’s truly exceptional. Since I saw him for the first time in 2013, he’s consistently improved and strengthened his game.”

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IPL 2026 playoff race heats up as Sunrisers Hyderabad lead qualification odds at 75%

Sunrisers Hyderabad lead the IPL 2026 playoff race with the highest qualification probability, while Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings remain locked in a close contest for the final spot.

Published

7 days ago

on

May 18, 2026

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SRH

The IPL 2026 playoff race has intensified further, with the latest qualification projections showing a clear edge for Sunrisers Hyderabad, while the battle for the final knockout spot remains wide open among multiple contenders.

According to updated playoff probability estimates following recent matches, Sunrisers Hyderabad hold the strongest position among all teams still in contention, with a 75% chance of qualifying for the top four. Their consistent performances have kept them comfortably ahead in the mid-table scramble.

At the same time, the race behind them has become increasingly tight, with several teams separated only by small percentage margins and net run rate factors beginning to play a decisive role.

CSK, RR and PBKS in close fight for fourth spot

The most competitive battle is currently for the fourth playoff position, where three major franchises remain in contention.

Chennai Super Kings are placed at around 35.5% qualification probability, keeping their campaign alive but under pressure after inconsistent results in recent matches.

Close behind them are Rajasthan Royals, who continue to hover in a similar range with nearly identical chances, making every remaining fixture crucial for their campaign.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have seen their prospects weaken further, slipping to around 31% despite still being in the playoff mix. Their position in the points table remains vulnerable as they struggle to build momentum in the final stretch of the league stage.

Other contenders and overall standings

Elsewhere, teams like Gujarat Titans continue to maintain a strong hold on qualification scenarios with a high probability of finishing in the top four, despite occasional setbacks.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already secured qualification status, strengthening their position at the top end of the table.

The mid-table remains highly competitive, while Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders continue to fight mathematically but face tougher paths due to lower probabilities and net run rate challenges.

What the numbers mean going forward

With only a few league matches remaining, the playoff cutoff is expected to settle around the 16-point mark, making every remaining fixture critical. Net run rate is also likely to become a key deciding factor if multiple teams finish on similar points.

Sunrisers Hyderabad remain in the strongest position, while the battle between Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings is expected to go down to the final set of league matches.

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IPL 2026 playoff race tightens as RCB and CSK feature in key qualification projections

RCB and CSK feature in updated IPL 2026 playoff qualification projections, with Bengaluru at 92.6% and Chennai at 41.7% as the race tightens.

Published

2 weeks ago

on

May 14, 2026

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The IPL 2026 playoff race is intensifying as teams move deeper into the league stage, with qualification scenarios highlighting a closely contested battle for the top four spots.

According to recent playoff probability projections reported in media coverage, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) currently hold a strong position with a 92.6% chance of qualifying for the playoffs. Their consistent performances have placed them among the leading contenders for a top-four finish.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), meanwhile, remain in the mix but face a more challenging path ahead. Their qualification probability stands at 41.7%, meaning the five-time champions will need strong results in their remaining fixtures to stay in contention.

The updated projections underline how competitive the tournament has become, with small changes in form significantly impacting playoff chances at this stage of the league.

While only select team probabilities have been highlighted in the available data, the overall playoff race remains open, with several teams still competing for the remaining qualification spots as the league phase progresses.

The coming matches are expected to play a decisive role in shaping the final top four standings for IPL 2026.

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Who is Sahil Parakh? Teenager makes IPL debut for Delhi Capitals vs RCB

Sahil Parakh, an 18-year-old batter from Maharashtra, made his IPL debut for Delhi Capitals against RCB in IPL 2026.

Published

4 weeks ago

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April 27, 2026

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Sahil Parakh, an emerging batter from Maharashtra, made his Indian Premier League debut for Delhi Capitals during their 2026 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.

The 18-year-old was handed his maiden cap as the franchise made changes to its playing XI, looking to test fresh talent in a crucial stage of the tournament.

Opens innings alongside KL Rahul

Parakh was included as an opening batter and partnered experienced wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul at the top. The move reflected Delhi Capitals’ intent to experiment with their batting combination and give exposure to young players in high-pressure games.

Short stay at the crease

The debut outing did not last long for the youngster, as he was dismissed early in the innings. Despite the brief appearance, the opportunity marked an important milestone in his career.

Promising name from domestic circuit

Parakh is a left-handed batter who has impressed in age-group and domestic cricket, earning attention for his performances at the state level. His selection in the Delhi Capitals squad for IPL 2026 underlines the franchise’s focus on nurturing young talent for the future.

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