Samson seeks exit from Rajasthan Royals before IPL 2026 auction; Franchise yet to decide
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Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Samson seeks exit from Rajasthan Royals before IPL 2026 auction; Franchise yet to decide
Rajasthan Royals' (RR) captain Sanju Samson has informed the franchise that he wants to be released ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 auction. Samson conveyed his decision to the RR management soon after the conclusion of IPL 2025, ESPNcricinfo reported. While the Royals held their season review meetings in June, they haven't yet responded to Samson's request. There's still a possibility that the franchise might try to persuade him to stay. Lead owner Manoj Badale declined to comment on the matter. However, the final call will be taken jointly by Badale and head coach Rahul Dravid. If RR agree to release Samson, they could either trade him to another franchise or let him go into the auction pool. According to IPL contract, the franchise has the final say in such situations. A potential trade could be in the form of a player swap or an all cash deal. The 30-year-old first represented RR from 2013 to 2015, and returned in 2018 after a couple of seasons with Delhi Daredevils. He took over as captain in 2021, and in 2022 led the team to the IPL final, their first since the inaugural title win in 2008. Samson was among six players retained by the Royals with a tag of Rs 18 crore. RR have around two months to take a final decision on Samson, as the retention deadline is in November. (ANI)
Qatar Tribune
5 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Siraj's fire and good planning made the difference at The Oval, says Akram as he hails India's young guns
Shahid Hashmi Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has heaped glowing praise on Mohammed Siraj and India's young Test side, following their nail-biting six-run win at The Oval to level the series 2-2 against England. The former left-arm great, regarded as one of the finest pacers in the history of the game, described Siraj's performance as 'the best I have seen in the recent past' in an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport ( 'I rarely watch cricket when I'm not working,' Wasim confessed, 'but I was glued to the last day. Siraj was full of hunger and passion – it was an incredible effort.' Siraj, who finished the five-match series with 23 wickets at an average of 24.30, delivered a scintillating spell on the final day that helped India defend a modest fourth-innings total. 'To bowl nearly 186 overs across five Tests and still be that fiery on the final day shows remarkable stamina and mental strength,' said Wasim. 'He's not just a support bowler anymore. He's leading the attack and doing it with heart. Even when a catch went down – that of Brook – he didn't lose focus. That's the mark of a fighter.' Akram, who was the guest of honour at the Old Trafford Test and rang the bell to signal its start, lauded the overall competitiveness of the series. 'The tactics, the on-field duels, the off-field narratives – this series had it all. 'Test cricket is alive and kicking. Anyone who watched this series knows that this format still delivers the ultimate drama.' The final day at The Oval saw England fall agonisingly short, with Siraj and Prasidh Krishna ripping through the lower order. Akram admitted he backed India at the start of the day. 'I gave India a 60% chance on Day 5. They just needed that first breakthrough. With Woakes injured and India sensing blood, it was game on. Siraj made it possible.' Akram also praised India's rotation strategy with Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the final two Tests of the series to manage his workload. 'It takes a brave team to rest their best bowler. But India had the bench strength, and the plan worked perfectly,' he said. 'With the Asia Cup in 2025 and the T20 World Cup in 2026 coming up, this kind of foresight is essential. Bumrah is vital across formats, and managing him well is key.' Akram was particularly impressed by Shubman Gill's leadership, after the 25-year-old led India in the absence of regular captain Rohit Sharma. 'Gill is confident and composed. He scored crucial runs and handled the added pressure of captaincy very well. 'It's early days, but you can see that he's learning quickly. A good captain leads by example, and Gill did just that.' Gill ended the series as India's top run-getter, scoring 432 runs at an average of 48, including two centuries. India's ability to win without some of its biggest names — Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R. Ashwin — was not lost on Akram. 'That's the beauty of the Indian system,' he noted. 'Their first-class structure and the IPL give players great exposure. They're prepared when called upon. It speaks volumes that India could compete – and win – without three of their all-time greats. Their bench strength is unmatched right now.' 'What a series,' Wasim said with a smile. 'It had everything – emotion, skill, unpredictability. A very, very amazing series.' With the India vs England rivalry continuing to deliver thrilling contests, and young stars like Siraj and Gill stepping up under pressure, cricket fans have plenty to look forward to. (
Al Jazeera
18-07-2025
- Al Jazeera
Indian state blames cricket team for deadly stampede
State authorities have blamed the management of India's Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricket team for last month's deadly stampede during celebrations for their first Indian Premier League (IPL) title. Karnataka state authorities singled out the RCB, its partners and the state cricket association for their mismanagement of the event in a report made public on Thursday. Eleven fans were crushed to death and more than 50 wounded in a stampede near the M Chinnaswamy Stadium after hundreds of thousands packed the streets in the southern city of Bengaluru on June 4, to cheer their hero Virat Kohli and other RCB team members. The report said organisers had not submitted a 'formal request' or provided enough detail for permission to be granted for the celebrations. 'Consequently, the permission was not granted,' it said. The team went ahead with its victory parade despite police rejecting RCB's request, according to the report. The RCB did not offer any comment on the report. Four people, including a senior executive at RCB, representatives of event organisers DNA, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association, were detained by police in the days following the stampede. Players were parading the trophy near the stadium a day after their win over Punjab Kings in the final in Ahmedabad when the stampede occurred. The dead were aged between 14 and 29. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it 'absolutely heartrending', and Kohli, who top-scored in the final, was 'at a loss for words' after it unfolded. India coach Gautam Gambhir said he was never a fan of roadshows, and the authorities should not have allowed the mass celebrations if they were not prepared.
