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Shane Watson says Virat Kohli is the best batsman in Test Cricket despite bad performances

Australian allrounder Shane Watson said that when it comes to Test Cricket, there is no better player than Virat Kohli. Watson was asked to pick his top five most favorite cricketers and much to everyone’s surprise, Shane kept Virat Kohli on the number one spot, despite Indian maestro’s failure to score a century since November 2019.

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Shane Watson says Virat Kohli is the best batsman

Former Australian allrounder Shane Watson said that when it comes to Test Cricket, there is no better player than Virat Kohli. Watson was asked to pick his top five most favorite cricketers and much to everyone’s surprise, Shane kept Virat Kohli on the number one spot, despite Indian maestro’s failure to score a century since November 2019.

Shane Watson picked Virat Kohli as the best batter among the top five in Test cricket, followed by Pakistan captain Babar Azam, Australia captain Steve Smith, then New Zealand captain Kane Williamson and lastly, England’s former captain Joe Root.  

When asked about the reason behind these numbers, Shane said that the former captain of India has pipped the likes of Babar Azam and the rest as well. While being interviewed by Isa Guha for the latest episode of the ICC Review, Watson said, “In Test match cricket, I am always going with Virat Kohli, because he’s nearly a superhuman. What he’s able to do because of his high intensity every time he goes out to play, is absolutely unbelievable.”

Read Also: Joe Root resigns as England Test captain

Despite slipping at 10th position on the ICC rankings, Virat Kohli still continues to hold a remarkable Test batting record with 27 Test centuries and 28 half-centuries. Australian player Marnus Labuschagne is currently world’s No.1 Test batter. But he was kept out of this list due to 40-Test minimum criteria.

Talking about the rest, Shane Watson said that he kept Babar Azam at second position because for some time now he has been playing incredibly well. About his third-best batter Smith, Watson said the Australian star has just started to come off a little bit.

About Kane Williamson, Shane Watson said, “Kane knows his game inside out and knows how to put pressure on bowlers in any conditions.” Coming to his fifth-best batter Root, Watson said, “Joe Root recently scored a hundred but he has had a bit of time along the lines of Steve Smith where he hasn’t been able to nail the big scores like he has done in the past.”

Did Wasim Jaffer suggest Hardik Pandya should be in the Indian Cricket Team for the upcoming T20 World Cup?

IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya’s back-to-back fifties gave Gujarat Titans another win

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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