IPL 2026 week one review: Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma & Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shine
Five games into IPL 2026, a clear trend has emerged: chasing sides have won all five matches.
The superstars - Virat Kohli (69 vs SRH) and Rohit Sharma (78 vs KKR) - wasted no time stamping authority.
But the breakout story belongs to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
The 15-year-old sensation lit up the opening week with a sensational joint third-fastest half-century in IPL history, giving us a glimpse of what lies ahead.
Here’s Sports News Blitz cricket writer Himanshu Sharma’s team-by-team review after the opening round of matches.
IPL betting tips: Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Sunrisers Hyderabad preview
Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, March 28 to kick off the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
RCB, eyeing back-to-back titles, head into the tournament as one of the frontrunners in the outright winner market.
However, this shouldn’t be a comfortable opener for them against a power-packed Sunrisers Hyderabad, and offers potential early value for bettors.
Here, Sports News Blitz cricket betting writer Himanshu Sharma previews the opening fixture of the tournament and offers his best betting tips.
IPL 2026 preview: Team-by-team analysis, winner odds and predictions
The 18th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) returns on March 28, 2026.
In the lead-up to the IPL 2026, Sports News Blitz cricket writer Himanshu Sharma previews all 10 teams with a look at how the season could unfold.
The guide also looks at tournament winner odds, along with key stats and facts from previous IPL editions.
Cricket news: Five English players to watch at IPL 2026 as Royal Challengers Bengaluru defend title
With the IPL kicking off this Saturday, Sports News Blitz writer Sai Raghav Balakrishnan looks at five English players who will be looking to make their mark on the competition.
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) kick off the world’s premium franchise tournament on March 28. And 12 English players, ranging from first-team essentials to bench-warmers, will aim to enhance their reputation on the white-ball circuit.
Cricket opinion: Top five uncapped Indians to watch out for in the 2026 IPL
With the 2026 IPL on the horizon, a lot of the focus will be on the many uncapped Indian players who garnered a lot of attention in the IPL auction.
Sports News Blitz writer Dejan Johal previews the top five uncapped Indians to watch out for in this IPL.
Cricket opinion: Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s top five IPL moments
With the 2026 Indian Premier League starting soon, all eyes will be on the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
Sports News Blitz writer Dejan Johal takes a trip down memory lane, as he looks at RCB’s top five moments in the history of the IPL
Cricket opinion: The top five players from the 2026 T20 World Cup
In one of the most one-sided finals in the history of the sport, India became the first side to ever go back-to-back in T20 World Cups.
Sports News Blitz writer Dejan Johal reviews some of the star performers by looking at the top five players from the 2026 T20 World Cup.
New Zealand vs South Africa 1st T20I betting tips - Back Black Caps to pip inexperienced SA
The dust has barely settled on the T20 World Cup 2026, and now the T20I internationals resume. New Zealand and South Africa are back in action in a bilateral series that may not carry the weight of a mega ICC event but still offers plenty of intrigue.
Here, Sports News Blitz cricket betting writer Himanshu Sharma previews the fixture and offers his best betting tips.
T20 World Cup betting tips: India vs New Zealand – Fireworks expected at Narendra Modi Stadium
The T20 World Cup 2026 final pits hot favourites India against New Zealand in a high-stakes encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
Here, Sports News Blitz cricket writer Himanshu Sharma previews the clash and offers his best betting tips.
England cricket analysis: The impressive transformation of Will Jacks
England all-rounder Will Jacks has seen a resurgence batting at number seven while being the go-to bowling option for captain Harry Brook.
Sai Raghav Balakrishnan writes here for Sports News Blitz on why Jacks is so important for the England cricket team.
England were the first team to make the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, having flattered to deceive in most of their wins.
T20 World Cup 2026 betting tips: South Africa vs New Zealand – Can the Kiwis stop the Proteas?
The first semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026 sees unbeaten South Africa take on New Zealand.
The Proteas stormed through to the semi-finals thanks to a string of dominant performances. Riding high on winning momentum and having ticked every box so far, they are now touted as title contenders. The Kiwis, on the other hand, have been far from their best so far and barely squeezed into the top four courtesy of a better net run rate.
To pass this litmus test, the Men in Black must produce a near-flawless performance, writes Sports News Blitz’s cricket expert Himanshu Sharma.
T20 World Cup betting tips: India vs England – Two-time winners eye third title
The second semi-final of the T20 World Cup 2026 pits India against England.
Having won two titles each, India and England now chase history as they look to become the first team to win three T20 World Cups.
Here, Sports News Blitz’s cricket betting writer Himanshu Sharma previews India vs England in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup.
Cricket analysis: Harry Brook’s coming-of-age innings for England
Promoted to No.3 for the first time, England’s captain played a blistering innings, sprinkled with a hint of newfound maturity.
If you want it done, do it yourself. Harry Brook took matters into his own hands by promoting himself to No.3 and smashing a 50-ball century to pull a sloppy England past an even sloppier Pakistan to become the first team to reach the semi-finals.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Sai Raghav Balakrishnan discusses Brook’s first T20I 100 against Pakistan in the Super 8’s.
T20 World Cup betting tips: India vs Zimbabwe - What to expect and players primed to shine
The T20 World Cup 2026 co-hosts India face Zimbabwe in a Super 8 fixture that feels like a knockout.
The Men in Blue are in a ‘no-slip zone’, while Zimbabwe arrive believing they can cause more chaos, writes Sports News Blitz’s cricket betting writer Himanshu Sharma.
Cricket news: Brilliant Brook takes England into the semi-finals after incredible century
England defeated Pakistan by two wickets on Tuesday, February 24, to seal a semi-final spot in the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
Sports News Blitz writer Dejan Johal reviews the match and what this result now means for both teams.
T20 World Cup news: England look to quiet off-field controversies with performances on the pitch
England have always been amongst the best T20 teams in the world, but do they have the muscle to lift the World Cup trophy for the second time?
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Sai Raghav Balakrishnan previews their chances ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Cricket news: England head coach Brendon McCullum’s moment of truth as T20 World Cup looms
As pressure grows on England’s Bazball regime, more white-ball failures may prove costly for head coach Brendon McCullum.
The Kiwi and the ECB must have let out a huge sigh of relief when England recently beat Sri Lanka by five wickets to finally win their first away ODI in 11 matches. Yet, that result and the subsequent series win are scant consolation for a team that has faced immense scrutiny both on and off the pitch after a wretched Ashes campaign.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Sai Raghav Balakrishnan takes a look at an evolving situation.
Cricket opinion: Five players to look out for in England’s ODI series against Sri Lanka
With the 2025/26 Ashes series wrapped up, England’s attention has turned to the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Ahead of the competition, the white-ball side led by Harry Brook will play three ODIs and three T20s against Sri Lanka, so which players are eyeing up a big tour?
Here, Sports News Blitz’s Jacob Howson looks at five potential key performers for England against Sri Lanka.
Cricket news: Time for change? Evaluating Brendon McCullum as England head coach
England’s rapid Ashes defeat in Australia has reignited debate over Brendon McCullum’s leadership and whether Bazball is delivering enough results at the highest level.
The ‘Bazball’ approach has undoubtedly transformed English cricket, bringing an exciting and aggressive brand of play. The question now is whether it has delivered the results many expected.
Sports News Blitz writer Jacob Howson offers his thoughts.
Cricket news: Where does Jacob Bethell’s Ashes ton rank among his best moments as a pro?
Jacob Bethell put on a masterclass of stroke-playing to take him to an unbeaten 142 at the SCG on day four of the fifth and final Ashes Test in what is not only his first Ashes hundred but also his first in Test cricket.
This is only the second match Bethell has been involved in during the series as he came in for Ollie Pope after the third Test. Many England fans are now asking the same question: Why on earth has Bethell not been playing all along?
As he finally finds his feet in an England shirt, Sports News Blitz writer Finn Littlewood takes a look back at his greatest moments so far.