Rajasthan is about to make history in Indian sports and hospitality with the launch of Radisson Blu Miraj Stadium. This will be India’s first 5-star hotel built inside a cricket stadium. The project is located in Nathdwara, near Udaipur, and is developed by the Miraj Group. The stadium is currently marked as “Opening Soon.”

First-look images shared on social media have created a lot of excitement. The visuals show a unique concept that combines modern cricket facilities with luxury hotel living, something never seen before in India.

The most special feature of Radisson Blu Miraj Stadium is its direct connection with a 5-star Radisson Blu hotel. Around 75% of the hotel rooms face the cricket ground, allowing guests to watch matches from their private balconies. This offers a premium and unforgettable viewing experience.

Watch the video here: 

INDIA’S FIRST 5 STAR HOTEL INTEGRATED CRICKET STADIUM. 🏟️

- The Radisson Blu Miraj Stadium all set to be inaugurated soon in Nathdwara, near Udaipur.

pic.twitter.com/dJRL5SlslF

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 4, 2026

This unique project brings sports tourism, destination weddings, corporate events, and live entertainment together at one place, creating a new standard for cricket venues in India.

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Radisson Blu Miraj Stadium Overview

Radisson Blu Miraj Stadium is located in Nathdwara, close to Udaipur in Rajasthan. The stadium can seat around 50,000 spectators and is connected to a 5-star Radisson Blu hotel. The hotel has 234 luxury rooms and suites, and nearly 75 percent of these rooms offer a direct view of the cricket field. The project is developed by the Miraj Group under the Madan Paliwal Miraj Sports Centre and is designed for cricket matches, luxury stays, weddings, and large events. The stadium is currently marked as “Opening Soon,” with full operations expected in 2026.

Architecture and Guest Experience

The stadium features modern design with parametric architecture, metal finishes, and eye-catching lighting at night. These elements give the venue an international look and feel. Guests can enjoy beautiful sunset views of the Aravalli hills and exciting floodlit matches in the evening. The design focuses on comfort, visuals, and a premium experience both inside and outside the stadium.

Apart from cricket, the property also offers large wedding lawns that can host up to 1,000 guests, premium dining areas, event and celebration spaces, and stadium-side hospitality suites. This makes the venue suitable for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations.

Opening Timeline and Match Plans

Construction of the stadium was completed in 2025, and the project is now moving toward full-scale operations in 2026. While approval from the BCCI for regular international matches may still be awaited, the stadium is expected to host private tournaments, domestic and local matches, exhibition games, and high-profile events. The ground has already hosted limited matches, including events like the Asian Legends League.

A New Chapter for Cricket Tourism

Radisson Blu Miraj Stadium is expected to change the future of cricket tourism in India, especially in Rajasthan. The state is already known for its heritage, spiritual importance, and luxury travel. Nathdwara’s close location to the Shrinathji Temple also adds value for destination weddings and international visitors.

Watching a live cricket match from a luxury hotel balcony may soon become a real experience for fans. This project brings together comfort, sport, and entertainment in one memorable destination.

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.

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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.

Interest from global investors in IPL teams continues to grow, and the Rajasthan Royals are the latest franchise to come under the spotlight. One of the league’s original teams has received an early bid of $1.3 billion, led by U.S. investor Kal Somani, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Somani, who already holds a minority stake in the Rajasthan Royals, is leading one of four bidding groups that have moved to the next stage of the process. The sale is being managed by the Raine Group, which has reportedly fixed the base price at around $1.1 billion. Two large U.S.-based private equity firms are also among the shortlisted bidders.

The franchise is currently majority-owned by Emerging Media Ventures, with additional stakes held by RedBird Capital Partners and Tiger Global. The ongoing sale gives the ownership group a chance to restructure. Reports suggest that some early investors are looking to exit, as IPL team values continue to rise due to strong media rights deals and growing global interest.

🚨 IPL team Rajasthan Royals gets $1.3 billion offer in valuation. pic.twitter.com/Sv9DnCELcE

— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) January 29, 2026

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IPL Ownership Shifts and Rising Investor Interest

This development follows a broader trend of changes in IPL ownership. Last year, CVC Capital Partners Plc exited its stake in Gujarat Titans in a deal that valued the franchise at around $800 million. At the same time, Diageo Plc’s Indian unit, United Spirits Ltd., is also reported to be reviewing its stake in Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Big global investors continue to show strong interest, with firms like Blackstone Inc. and Carlyle Group Inc. exploring opportunities to invest in IPL teams, highlighting the league’s growing value as a long-term asset.

Major Squad Changes Ahead of IPL 2026

On the cricket side, the Rajasthan Royals have seen mixed results over the years. After winning the first IPL title in 2008, they have reached only one final since, in 2022, where they finished runners-up to the Gujarat Titans. A decline followed, leading to a major reset after the 2025 season. Despite these struggles, investor interest has stayed strong. Ahead of IPL 2026, the Royals made big squad changes, including trading captain Sanju Samson to Chennai Super Kings in exchange for Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran, and bringing in Donovan Ferreira from Delhi Capitals in a deal involving Nitish Rana.

As of the sixth edition in 2026, the organizers of The Hundred have announced their plan to implement an auction-based system to recruit players into the tournament in preparation for the start of the sixth tournament. The first auction will take place on two separate days in London: the women's auction on March 11 and the men's auction on March 12. All players wishing to participate in the auction will need to register before February 16.

The introduction of an auction-based system for recruiting players aligns The Hundred with other global cricket competitions, such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), which has long utilized an auction system for recruiting its players. The collaboration between the IPL and the Hundred is the result of increased investment into the tournament from private sources. For this reason, the ECB deemed it necessary to update the player recruitment process of the Hundred and improve both the level of competitiveness and the transparency of how teams build rosters.

In conjunction with the introduction of an auction-based recruitment process, the ECB has increased the salary caps for all teams. The budget for men's teams has increased by 45%, to £2.05 million per franchise, and the minimum salary for women's players has been increased by 50%, to £15,000. This is a significant advancement for both the welfare of women players and for placing an emphasis on professionalizing the women's game.

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How the Auction System Will Operate

Prior to the auction process, all teams were able to retain or to acquire up to four players Prior to their auction, each of the teams in the tournament could retain or acquire via direct signings up to four players. One of those players could be retained from their squad from the 2025 tournament. Other players could include either current players who have contracts to play cricket in England or overseas players.

Players may be offered multi-year contracts. All players who did not receive a contract during the retention window will be placed in the auction pool. All teams will be competing and purchasing these players in the auction, which will take place prior to the tournament.

Some of the best-known players in England have been retained prior to their entry into this auction, including Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, Jofra Archer, and Jacob Bethell. Other very well-known players are expected to attract intense interest in this auction, such as Liam Livingstone, Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Rehan Ahmed, and Jamie Smith. 

Another change to the auction system is that there is no longer a 'Right to Match' option. Any acquisitions made during the retention or acquisition period will be deducted from the remaining capital allotment.

Since its inception, the tournament has undergone a significant change, with several teams now being part-owned by IPL-associated investors. This has introduced new team identities, such as MI London, Sunrisers Leeds, and the Manchester Super Giants. The sixth edition of The Hundred will take place between July 21 and August 16, 2026. The availability of the new auction model, the tournament's organizers believe, will increase the level of competitiveness and buzz in international cricket.

Frequently Asked Question

When will The Hundred’s first player auction take place?

The first-ever auction for The Hundred will be held in London across two days: March 11, 2026, for the women’s auction and March 12, 2026, for the men’s auction.

What is the deadline for players to register for the auction?

All players wishing to participate must complete their registration by February 16, 2026. Unregistered players will not be eligible to enter the auction pool.

Why is The Hundred replacing the draft system with an auction?

The England and Wales Cricket Board introduced the auction to improve transparency, competitiveness, and alignment with global leagues like the IPL

How will team retention and squad building work under the new system?

Each team can retain or directly sign up to four players before the auction, including one player from their 2025 squad. All other players enter the auction pool, and there is no Right to Match (RTM) option.

What changes have been made to salary caps for 2026?

Men’s team budgets have increased by 45% to £2.05 million per franchise, while the minimum women’s salary has risen by 50% to £15,000, a major step toward strengthening professionalism and player welfare in the women’s game.

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.

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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.

With the growing market of franchise T20 leagues across the globe, cricket boards have started to sense the urgency to protect their cricketers. An excessive amount of matches and workload can end in a devastating injury, which ultimately can harm the national team. It is reported that the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) is set to put some restrictions on their player from participating in franchise leagues. 

After the massive success of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the number of franchise leagues has increased at a rapid pace. Star Afghan players like Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmed have played in multiple leagues, which might cause worries for the ACB officials. According to recent reports, Afghanistan players will be allowed only to play three T20 leagues in a calendar year for workload management.

Rashid Khan and other star Afghan players are likely to skip the Pakistan Super League (PSL) because of the recent political tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. But will they opt to quit IPL as well? The question also rises as there are multiple Afghan cricketers who have been playing in the league for years. 

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Afghanistan players not to play in IPL 2026?

Ahead of the 2026 edition of the Indian Premier League, fans are curious about the availability of the Afghanistan cricketers. As of now, Rashid Khan and other Afghan cricketers, who have secured IPL 2026 contracts, are all set to play in the tournament. Along with Khan, Noor Ahmed, AM Ghazanfar, and Azmatullah Omarzai will play for their respective IPL teams in the 2026 season. 

Team-wise Afghanistan Players in IPL 2026:

Gujarat Titans: Rashid Khan

Chennai Super Kings: Noor Ahmad

Mumbai Indians: AM Ghazanfar

Punjab Kings: Azmatullah Omarzai

MS Dhoni is not only a legendary figure of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) but also a cornerstone of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The former India skipper, who was known for his match-finishing abilities, attracted a lot of criticism regarding his batting positions during the last couple of IPL seasons.

During his days as an active international cricketer, he used to bat at number 7, but in the last couple of IPL seasons. Especially during the IPL 2025 campaign, the keeper-batter came to bat after his usual batting position, which annoyed many cricket fans. During a recent event, Dhoni explains why he came late to bat in the IPL. The legendary cricketer compared the game with a full-course meal, and his batting position as the dessert. Through the comparison, he tried to highlight the importance of timing in cricket.

"Right now, I’m the dessert, while others are the starter and the main course. My role is to come in later and finish strong. If you make the dessert your main course, you might get diabetes! Cricket, like a meal, needs timing; play your part at the right moment, and the result will be sweet," MS Dhoni said.

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MS Dhoni explains his late batting positon in IPL for CSK

From these comments, it is now assumed that in the upcoming IPL season (IPL 2026), he could maintain the tendency to come to bat from a deeper position. In IPL 2025, Dhoni, 44, batted in 13 innings to score only 196 runs in total at an average of 24.50 with a best score of 30 not out.

The previous season was a huge setback for the 5-time IPL-winning team, as they finished in the bottommost position in the points table. In 14 games, CSK managed to win only 4 and lost on 10 occasions, mostly because of a series of poor batting performances.

A cheerful day for Sunrisers Hyderabad, as one of their latest recruits from the IPL 2026 auction shines for impressive bowling figures. Shivang Kumar, an all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh, claimed a 5-wicket figure against Karnataka on January 8.

During the Karnataka vs Madhya Pradesh Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 (VHT 2025-26) match in Ahmedabad, the spin bowling all-rounder took 5 wickets in his 10-over spell for only a 4.50 economy rate. He produced a magical delivery to fox the seasoned campaigner Shreyas Gopal. An inch-perfect googly from Kumar completely bowled out the right-handed batter of Karnataka.

Along with the wicket of Gopal, Kumar clinched the wickets of Ravichandran Smaran, Krishnan Shrijith, Abhinav Manohar, and Shreesha Achar. Shivang Kumar was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for his base price of INR 30 lakh in the IPL 2026 auction, marking his first entry into the IPL as a young all-rounder from Madhya Pradesh.

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Watch the magical delivery from Shivang Kumar

You're not the only one watching this on loop 😮🪄pic.twitter.com/LjGQZqaftc

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) January 8, 2026

SRH, from their official social media account, shares the googly delivered by Shivang Kumar to dismiss Shreyas Gopal. The caption of the post reads, "You're not the only one watching this on loop."

Cricket fans across social media platforms also praised the 23-year-old's bowling effort. In the previous VHT 2025-26 match, Kumar took 3 wickets and scored a half-century as well against Jharkhand, which marked his all-round abilities.

SRH full squad for IPL 2026:

Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, R. Smaran, Ishan Kishan, Heinrich Klaasen, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse, Jaydev Unadkat, Eshan Malinga, Zeeshan Ansari, Salil Arora, Shivang Kumar, Sakib Hussain, Onkar Tarmale, Krains Fuletra, Praful Hinge, Amit Kumar, Shivam Mavi, Liam Livingstone, Jack Edwards

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have to find a proper replacement for pacer Mustafizur Rahman. After spending a record amount of over INR 9 crore on the Bangladeshi pacer, the franchise had to release him as per BCCI's instruction. Now, ahead of the IPL 2026 season, KKR will have to find a suitable player who can fill the vacant place.

According to some speculations, the multi-time IPL-winning franchise can rope in Afghanistan pacer Naveen-Ul-Haq for the upcoming season. The Afghan pacer, who has a lot of experience in the T20 format, can add extra firepower in KKR's bowling department. The chances of seeing the Afghan pacer joining KKR have increased as he skipped the players draft of the Pakistan Super League 2026 (PSL 2026).

In a separate report, it is claimed that star cricketers of Afghanistan are not going to take part in PSL 2026; Naveen-Ul-Haq is one of them.

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KKR can sign Afghan pacer Naveen-Ul-Haq for IPL 2026 season

So far, the 26-year-old has played only a couple of Indian Premier League seasons. For the IPL 2023 and IPL 2024 seasons, he was with Lucknow Super Giants. But more than his bowling skills, it was the controversial moment with Virat Kohli that took him under the spotlight. The on-field fight between Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq became one of the major controversies during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. During the match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Kohli got involved in a heated argument with Naveen, with the fight taking an ugly turn.

Now, if we talk about the seamer's bowling stats in the IPL, then in those two campaigns with LSG, he claimed a total of 25 wickets in 18 matches, but with an economy rate of 9.16, which is slightly on the higher side. Still, his wicket-taking ability is undeniable. 

Ahead of the IPL 2026, an old video is resurfacing on the social media platform 'X.' The video was shared by Delhi Capitals (DC) on August 22, 2019. The video captured a rare moment when MS Dhoni and Shreyas Iyer were engaging in a table tennis match together. 

Back in 2019, Shreyas Iyer was playing for DC, and Dhoni was with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In the IPL 2019 season, the Mumbai Indians won the league, defeating CSK in a thriller by only 1 run. DC was another strong contender in the title race, under the leadership of Shreyas Iyer. Iyer and his boys reached the play-offs only to be knocked out by Dhoni's CSK. For the 59th match of the tournament, DC faced CSK. A 50-run innings by Faf du Plessis helped Chennai to win the match by 6 wickets. 

Now. Indian cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the IPL 2026, where Iyer will be featured for Punjab Kings (PBKS) as their captain for the second straight season. Last season, in IPL 2025, PBKS faced Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the summit clash. RCB claimed their maiden title by defeating Punjab. 

Read More: Watch: All 4s and 6s Shreyas Iyer hit in 82-run knock for Mumbai in VHT 2025-26 match

Watch the table tennis match between MS Dhoni and Shreyas Iyer 

#ThrowbackThursday

Can't get better than Shreyas and Mahi Bhai playing a round of Table Tennis before fighting it out on the field! 🤩🤩

Raise your 🙌 if you remember this match-up from #IPL2019! 😎#ThisIsNewDelhi #DelhiCapitals @msdhoni pic.twitter.com/dMqFRiKSKo

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) August 22, 2019

After the IPL 2026 mini auction, PBKS, on paper, is looking strong enough for a title shot. After a promising season, they hold most of their key players. On the other side, CSK spent heavily to reinforce their team. MS Dhoni, 44, is all set to play another IPL season for the Super Kings. There are speculations that the IPL 2026 could be his last IPL season as a cricketer. 

Fans will be curious to see the matches between CSK and PBKS. Both of the teams have multiple underrated cricketers who can make differences in matches. Iyer, who has evolved into a resounding captain, will do their best to lift the trophy again.