IPL 2026 News March 21: KKR play Intrasquad Match, Sanju-Dhoni chat goes Viral

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As the IPL 2026 season nears, the teams are gearing up for the new season. Kolkata Knight Riders have started preparation with intrasquad matches, while Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer has set his sights on the new season.

Check out the latest, unmissable stories across the universe of IPL on March 21 in the Bulletin.

My Eye is on the Trophy: Shreyas Iyer

Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer aims to surpass last year's runners-up finish in IPL 2026, embracing high expectations. "Expectations are high, which is fun. I love the challenge. But the important thing is that whenever we step in, we have to win. My eye is on the trophy," he said at the jersey launch on March 20.

Post-spleen injury and 7kg weight loss in Australia, he shared: "It is always challenging to come back after an injury... I am glad I overcame that part of my life." PBKS face Gujarat Titans on March 31.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi scores unbeaten 100 in KKR Practice match

Angkrish Raghuvanshi put on a stellar show with a scintillating unbeaten century as KKR played their first intrasquad match on Friday at Eden Gardens. Chasing 200, Raghuvanshi scored an unbeaten 109 as Purple Knights beat the Golden Knights. Tim Seifert scored 46 while Rinku Singh also scored 40 runs. Varun Chakravarthy picked a couple of wickets while Kartik Tyagi picked three wickets for the Purples.

Cameron Green reaches Kolkata ahead of IPL 2026

Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has reached Kolkata on Friday night ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Green was picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for a whopping Rs 25.2 crore in the mini auction, and is expected to play a key part this season. The Australia international had a torrid outing in the T20 World Cup though.

Sanju Samson, MS Dhoni's engaged chat at CSK practice gets attention

A viral moment from Chennai Super Kings' practice session ahead of IPL 2026 captured Sanju Samson and MS Dhoni in a deep, candid conversation at Chepauk. The video, shared by CSK, shows the two wicketkeeper-batters engaged in what appeared to be an intense tactical discussion or light-hearted exchange on the field, with Samson seated initially before joining drills. Described as a passing of knowledge across generations, the interaction sparked massive excitement among fans, symbolizing a potential transition in CSK's keeping legacy. Samson has expressed huge eagerness to learn from "Mahi bhai" during their time together in the yellow jersey.

Pat Cummins ruled out for SRH matches

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the initial matches of IPL 2026 due to ongoing recovery from a lumbar stress injury (back issue), which previously sidelined him from the T20 World Cup. SRH confirmed he will miss the early fixtures, with no clear return timeline. Ishan Kishan will lead the team interim, supported by vice-captain Abhishek Sharma. This adds to SRH's challenges amid multiple Australian pace injuries.

Lockie Ferguson to miss out initial PBKS matches

New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson will miss the early phase of IPL 2026 for Punjab Kings, including the first seven league games, to prioritize family time following the birth of his son. The pacer, retained by PBKS, plans to join the squad in the latter stages after a short break. This personal decision follows his limited play last season due to injury, forcing PBKS to adjust their pace attack early on.

Australia's Jack Edwards ruled out of IPL 2026

Australia's Jack Edwards has been ruled out of IPL 2026 after sustaining a foot injury. The 25-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder, signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for INR 3 crore at the 2025 auction as the only uncapped overseas player, will miss his IPL debut. Fresh from a strong BBL 2025-26 (19 wickets, 133 runs for Sydney Sixers) and recent international debut, this compounds SRH's woes with captain Pat Cummins sidelined early due to lumbar stress. SRH open against RCB on March 28.