The imprisoned fraudster Sukesh Chandrashekhar has gained public attention again because he contacted Diageo which owns the IPL team Royal Challengers Bengaluru to show his intention to purchase the franchise. Sukesh asserted in his letter that his company LS Holdings intends to purchase the franchise through a complete cash payment of US$1 billion which equals approximately ₹8,300 crore.

Sukesh proposed that the deal would transfer all RCB rights which include trademarks, player contracts, league entitlements, and legal ownership, to him after regulators give their approval. He declared his offer to be both “realistic” and competitive while demonstrating his capability to exceed the bid which Pune businessman Adar Poonawalla had submitted.

Sukesh informed Diageo that LS Holdings can finish the deal within 48 hours because the company will not require any external financial resources. He stated that his team would put the total sum into escrow before starting official discussions because his organization is ready to meet all IPL governing council and BCCI requirements.

ALSO SEE: Star Australia pacer ruled out as Australia confirm 15 member squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Sukesh calls charges allegations, says buying RCB would be a gift for Jacqueline

Sukesh contested all legal claims against him because he believed that the charges existed only as unproven allegations which had not yet reached a courtroom. He added that LS Holdings has no legal disputes and is registered and operational across several countries.

Sukesh considered RCB his "home team" and declared that purchasing the franchise would fulfill his lifelong ambition. He controversially added that owning the team would be a "gift" to his partner, Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez. He reiterated this sentiment in a separate letter addressed to her, expressing hope that the deal would materialise with "God's blessings".

Diageo has not yet provided any official response to Sukesh Chandrashekhar's letter which includes claims about the proposed takeover of Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

A hilarious video has gone viral on social media platforms where a wrong name of the West Indies and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder, Romario Shepherd, has been spelled by an unknown. He called the veteran as Romario Saif Ali which created laughter among the audience. 

Romario Shepherd is a vital member for the Caribbean side heading into the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka, as he has bagged 75 wickets in 68 innings at an average of 28.53 and a strike rate of 17 with an economy rate of just over 10, thanks to the best bowling figures of 4/31 in an innings.

See Also: “Gautam Gambhir will be…”- Temba Bavuma reacts to Indian head coach’s future

The right-handed batter has smashed 826 runs in 51 innings at an average of 26.64 and a strike rate of 144.40, thanks to the best score of 49 runs. He showed his power during the recent T20I clash against South Africa at SuperSport Park in Centurion, where he drilled a strong knock of 17 runs to cross the 200-run mark for the West Indies.

Romario Shepherd's wrong spelling name goes viral

Shepherd has overall collected 185 runs in 12 innings of the IPL at an average of 26.42 and a strike rate of 212.64 with the help of one half-century at the best score of undefeated 53 runs. In the last season when the RCB franchise won their maiden season of the IPL, the right-handed batter drilled 70 runs in three innings at a strike rate of over 290.

Watch the video here: 

pic.twitter.com/khw7IdGrCu

— gocvideo (@gocvideo) January 31, 2026

Overall in his T20 career, Shepherd has nailed 2462 runs in 166 innings at an average of 24.37 and a strike rate of 156.71 with the help of six half-centuries, while he recorded 206 wickets in 204 innings at an average of under 27 and an economy rate of 9.22, with the help of two four-wicket hauls.

West Indies will begin their event of the World Cup against Scotland at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata before travelling to the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for the second clash against England. At the same venue, they will take on Nepal before ending the group stage in Kolkata against Italy.

Indian cricket star Rishabh Pant is enjoying a relaxing break in the mountains with his close friends. A video shared on social media shows Pant spending quality time in a cold and beautiful mountain area, away from the busy cricket schedule.

In the video, Pant is seen with fellow cricketer Rahul Tewatiya and a group of friends. They look cheerful as they enjoy the fresh air and scenic views. The clip shows a lighter and happier side of the Indian wicketkeeper-batter.

The most heart-warming moment comes when Pant and his friends are seen giving candies to local children. The kids look excited and smiling, and fans on social media praised the kind gesture. Many users said it was good to see Pant sharing joy and happiness during his vacation.

Watch the video here:

Rishabh Pant is enjoying quality time in mountains 🏔️🥶 with rahul tewatiya and friends , And on top of that, they’re even handing out candies to little kids , such a kind hearted person he is 💞🥹 always on my proud idolo pic.twitter.com/DyJjyZW9or

— Stubbsy  (@spideypant_) January 28, 2026

Bakchod Rishabh Pant Is Back 😭 https://t.co/swmW8bMPc9 pic.twitter.com/PdxeewuAAs

— Stubbsy  (@spideypant_) January 29, 2026

Also read -Legendary Bangladesh cricketer may return in the upcoming Pakistan series amid ICC controversy

Rishabh Pant Misses T20 World Cup

Rishabh Pant, who was part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning team, will not play in the next tournament. The team has chosen other wicketkeeper-batters like Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Jitesh Sharma, and Dhruv Jurel instead. Pant last played a T20I in July 2024, and Samson and Kishan will lead India’s title defence from February 7.

Pant and Other Players Out of Ranji Trophy

Pant, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shardul Thakur are all recovering from injuries. They are not expected to play in the upcoming Ranji Trophy matches.

According to Times of India, Thakur is healing from a calf injury he got in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match. Pant is at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, recovering from a side strain he suffered before the India vs New Zealand 1st ODI. He has been out of action since then.

One of the new members of the Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Vishal Nishad, gave a heart-warming response when asked about his meeting with Virat Kohli, the star batter of world cricket, with whom everyone wants to have a conversation on the game and get a portion of his thought process. 

The youngster, who has not met Virat Kohli before, claimed that he would touch his feet if he got the wicket of the legendary batter in this IPL. The 37-year-old, who has been playing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) since the very first season of the tournament, is one of the most decorated batters in the tournament's history with 8661 runs in 267 games.

See Also: Watch: Jacob Duffy’s sensational reflection catch dismisses Suryakumar Yadav during IND vs NZ 4th T20I

“Abhi toh nahin mila hoon, lekin milunga. Is season mein 2 baar milunga unse. (Not yet, but I will meet him twice this season.) Agar wicket le liya toh, unka pair choo loonga kyunki mere idol hain woh. (If so, then I'll touch his feet because he is my idol.)” Nishad expressed in a video that was shared by Punjab Kings.

Vishal Nishad hopes to pick Virat Kohli's wicket in IPL 2026

The Delhi batter, who lifted the IPL title in the 2025 edition for the very first time as RCB defeated Punjab Kings in the final by six runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, will look to continue the same dominance with the bat from the previous edition of the tournament, where he was excellent at the opening position for the franchise.

Watch the video here: 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Punjab Kings (@punjabkingsipl)

The right-hander accumulated 657 runs in fourteen innings at an average of 54.75, which made him the third leading run-getter of the tournament, and contributed massively to the Rajat Patil left side in winning their title.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings will look to go a step further from the previous season under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, as Nishad may get a chance to feature in the tournament, but even if he doesn’t, it will be a great experience and learning curve for him in sharing the dressing room with some of the international and national stars.

As Indian Premier League (IPL) teams move on from the auction to squad planning, focus has now shifted to the Registered Available Player Pool, also called RAPP. Many fans do not talk much about this list, but it is very important. It helps teams choose replacement players after the auction is over.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has shared a list of 1,307 players with all IPL teams. These players took part in the auction held on December 16 in Abu Dhabi but were not sold. If a team needs a replacement during the season, they can only pick a player from this list.

The RAPP (Registered Available Player Pool) list includes many well-known international players. Former Australia captain Steve Smith, England players Reece Topley, Jamie Smith and Jonny Bairstow, and New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell are part of the list. Mitchell, who recently won the Player of the Series award in the ODI series between India and New Zealand, is listed at number 98 with a base price of Rs 2 crore.

Several Indian players with international experience are also included. Mayank Agarwal, KS Bharat, Deepak Hooda, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya, Sandeep Warrier and Umesh Yadav are among the Indian players in the list. Each of them has a base price of Rs 75 lakh.

Also read -“Thought About It”- Star Indian batter KL Rahul gives massive statement on retirement amid IND vs NZ series

Rules for Using the RAPP

The BCCI has shared strict rules for using the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP). Teams are not allowed to sign a replacement player for a price lower than the player’s reserve price set before the auction. Teams can also hire players from the RAPP as net bowlers during the season, but this does not give them any special rights to sign those players later.

Why Is the RAPP Important?

Kolkata Knight Riders are currently searching for a replacement for Mustafizur Rahman after the Bangladesh fast bowler was released from the squad. Since the auction is over, the three-time champions can only choose a new player from the RAPP list.

Recent Examples from the IPL

During IPL 2025, the Chennai Super Kings made several changes to their squad because of injuries to players. To fill those spots, they also had to use the RAPP list to select replacement players.

Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal has been in the news recently due to speculation about his personal life. From Yuzi’s widely discussed divorce from his ex-wife Dhanashree Verma to link-up rumours with RJ Mahvash, the spinner has often grabbed headlines for off-field reasons. Now, fresh speculation about his real-life romance has once again put him in the spotlight.

A video showing Yuzvendra Chahal with former Bigg Boss 13 contestant Shefali Bagga in Mumbai has gone viral on social media. The clip, shared by fan pages and various online platforms, shows the two leaving a dinner venue, which quickly sparked online discussions. Their public appearance came at a time when there is already strong interest in Chahal’s personal relationships.

Chahal and Bagga were seen leaving separately after dinner. Chahal wore a black shirt with blue jeans, while Bagga was dressed in a black outfit. Neither of them made any public statement about the meeting, and both stayed silent on social media. However, the visuals from the evening were enough to fuel speculation. Several fan pages claimed the two were spotted together after dinner, with short videos and photos circulating widely and keeping social media buzzing.

Watch the video here: 

🚨Yuzvendra Chahal giving tough competition to Hardik Pandya 💀

Yuzvendra Chahal dating Shefali Bagga after unfollowing RJ Mahvash?

Bro changes dating partners like cars — Chahal is becoming a real playboy cricketer 😬🔥

The two were spotted together after a dinner outing, and… pic.twitter.com/V3ArVwPwOf

— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) January 25, 2026

Also read -

Chahal–RJ Mahvash Link-Up Rumours Resurface

This sighting comes amid recent developments involving Yuzvendra Chahal and RJ Mahvash, a radio presenter who was earlier linked with the cricketer after his divorce from choreographer Dhanashree Verma in 2025. Social media users recently noticed that Chahal and Mahvash no longer follow each other on Instagram, a small but noticeable detail that has once again fuelled dating rumours that first surfaced last year.

What Happened Between Chahal and Mahvash?

Chahal and Mahvash were often seen together at public events and shared supportive posts for each other on social media. However, both repeatedly denied being in a romantic relationship. Addressing the rumours on a podcast, Chahal had said, “No, there’s nothing like that. People can think whatever they want.”

Unfollow Drama Sparks Fresh Speculation

Despite these clear denials, interest in Chahal’s personal life has not slowed down. Reports of the two unfollowing each other on Instagram went viral and triggered fresh speculation among fans and media. Last week, paparazzo Varinder Chawla also shared a post claiming that Chahal and Mahvash had unfollowed each other, hinting at a possible breakup.

Adding to the buzz, RJ Mahvash recently shared a cryptic Instagram story that read, “90% of the time, you will see me fixing my hair. Rest of the time – fixing my life. (sic)” The post further intensified online discussions around the cricketer’s personal life.

The former Indian and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain, MS Dhoni, has started his first practice session ahead of the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in Ranchi, as the video went viral on social media platforms. He returns to the field, nearly two months before the start of the 19th edition of the 20-over franchise event.

The Jharkhand State Cricket Association shared the clip on their social media as the former wicket-keeper batter, MS Dhoni, was seen enjoying the session. He was also seen to be having a chat with the former JSCA honorary secretary, Saurab Tiwary, while gearing up for the nets session.

See Also: “Fixing life…”- RJ Mahvash breaks silence on unfollowing Yuzvendra Chahal on Instagram

The 44-year-old retired from all forms of cricket in 2020 across the three international formats, except for the IPL, where he continues to be part of the CSK franchise. There was a rumor in the 2023 season of the tournament that Dhoni was reported to be playing his last season, but he has extended his stay in the side for the next three seasons since that period.

MS Dhoni returns to CSK’s practice session in Ranchi

CSK is now under the leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, who took over the responsibility in the 2024 season of the tournament. Despite this, Dhoni remains the most important member of the side, as he returned to captain the team when Gaikwad was out of the side when the Maharashtra-born was ruled out due to an injury in 2025.

Watch the video here: 

THALA DHONI PRACTICE SESSION FOR IPL. 💥 [JSCA] pic.twitter.com/U78LtGnwlV

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 24, 2026

CSK and MS Dhoni will be without their long-time server and the premier left-arm spin all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, for the new 2026 season of the tournament, as the Saurashtra player has made his way to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in place of Sanju Samson, who is now expected to open the batting for the yellow franchise.

“I am a part of CSK, so I can’t imagine any other team winning the IPL trophy. But it was long-awaited. They (RCB) played really well. Big congratulations to them.” Dhoni said recently in an event while responding to the query of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) winning their maiden IPL in 2025.

The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)and current New Zealand fast bowler, Adam Milne, has been ruled out of the upcoming 2026 T20 World Cup due to a hamstring injury that he picked up in the SA20 when he was featuring for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape in their last group-stage clash against the MI Cape Town side. 

Adam Mille picked up the injury in his first over for the Eastern Cape, and scans have shown the extent of the injury as he had taken 11 wickets at 16.27 and an economy rate of 7.61 during the tournament before being replaced by Kyle Jamieson in the T20 World Cup squad.

See Also: Watch: Steve Smith continues dream run of form with half-century in BBL 2025/26 Challenger 

“We're all gutted for Adam. He'd worked so hard to get himself ready for the tournament and was looking back to his best in his eight games for the Eastern Cape Sunrisers. It's unfortunate timing for Adam, and we wish him a speedy recovery.” The head coach of the Blackcaps, Rob Walter, expressed on the news.

Kyle Jamieson replaces injured Adam Milne in T20 World Cup 2026

The lanky New Zealand pacer, Kyle Jamiesonj, has already been part of the ongoing five-match T20I series for the Kiwis against India as he ended with a nightmarish figure of 2/54 in his four overs during the opening clash of the series at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, where the home side posted 238 runs for the lose of seven wickets in their allotted 50 overs.

“It's great that Kyle is already with us here in India. He's an integral member of our pace-bowling group and has hit the ground running on this tour. He's a hard worker with a good set of skills and experiences that will hold him in good stead for the tournament.” Walter shed light on the inclusion of Jamieson.

New Zealand had previously announced that Matt Henry and Lucky Ferguson may take brief periods of paternity leave during the World Cup, as a further traveling reserve will be added to the New Zealand squad before the tournament, which they will begin against Afghanistan on February 8 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Adar Poonawalla, the owner of the vaccine maker Sriram Institute, officially confirmed on January 22 that he will be putting a strong and competitive bid for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 defending champions Royal Challengers Bangaluru (RCB) over the next few months as the franchise looked for its new owner before the new edition of the tournament.

The official confirmation came after the speculation began in September that he is one of the front-runners to buy the franchise after the exit of IPL chairman, Lalit Modi, who tweeted about the possibility of Diego India RCB’s current owners deciding to put the franchise up for sale.

See Also: ICC security delegates reach Eden Gardens ahead of T20 World Cup 2026

“Over the next few months, we will be putting in a STRONG and COMPETITIVE bid for @RCBTweets, one of the best teams in the IPL.” Poonawalla expressed on his official X account (formerly known as Twitter) as the news went viral in a short time around the social media platforms.

Adar Poonawalla shows interest in bidding for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of IPL 2026

The news comes at an interesting time as the RCB franchise’s valuation is at its highest after the maiden IPL title win in 2025. Even their franchise in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) had already won in 2024 and has a massive fan base, which is only going to grow over time. The celebrations of the IPL champions last year were marred by the tragic death of 11 fans in the Stampede case on June 04.

Watch the video here: 

Over the next few months, will be putting in a STRONG and COMPETITIVE bid for @RCBTweets, one of the best teams in the IPL.

— Adar Poonawalla (@adarpoonawalla) January 22, 2026

In November last year, Diego took the first step towards divesting his stake in the franchise, as in a filing with India’s market regulator, the company revealed that it was conducting a strategic review of his investment in the Bengaluru franchise through the Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited (RCSPL).

The Royal Challengers franchise was founded in 2008 by the United Speeds Limited before being chaired by Vijay Mallya as one of the original IPL teams. Diageo took control of the side indirectly by acquiring a majority stake in the United States.

MS Dhoni demonstrated his status as a respected cricket figure when he congratulated Royal Challengers Bengaluru for their first Indian Premier League title victory which occurred in 2025. The legendary Chennai Super Kings icon delivered his assessment of RCB's performance and dedication to their fans shortly before IPL 2026 began. 

Dhoni balances rivalry with respect and praise

At a recent brand event Dhoni spoke about RCB finally achieving their championship victory after 18 years of unsuccessful attempts. Dhoni maintained his competitive nature by stating that he wanted his team to win all tournaments because he belonged to CSK. Dhoni showed respect to RCB by presenting their achievement with honest acknowledgment of their accomplishment.

Dhoni expressed his gratitude toward RCB players. The RCB fans have shown excellent support to their team throughout their entire history. RCB fans maintain their team support during matches despite the teams facing difficult times. His remarks created a strong emotional response among fans of different teams especially RCB fans who remained loyal to the team through difficult times. The rival legend praised their dedication which showed their deep love for the game.

ALSO SEE: Former India captain Rohit Sharma to be honoured with a Doctorate of Letters degree by Ajeenkya DY Patil University

From historic glory to home-ground uncertainty

The RCB team achieved their first title victory on June 3 2025 when they won the final match against Punjab Kings by six runs at Narendra Modi Stadium. Rajat Patidar led the team which demonstrated exceptional self-control during the entire season while achieving multiple breakthroughs of enduring obstacles.

The joyful atmosphere soon turned into a situation of uncertainty. The M Chinnaswamy Stadium has not held any events since a fatal stampede occurred during the victory parade. The RCB team needs permission from officials before they can play their home games which makes their fans worry about IPL 2026 upcoming matches. Dhoni used his statement to show that respect and sportsmanship serve as essential values which define the IPL beyond its competitive nature and match outcomes.