Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar honoured Indian cricketer Sanju Samson at Lok Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday (16th March) for his outstanding contribution to India’s T20 World Cup win.

In a post on X (formely known as Twitter), the Governor said he welcomed the dashing right hand batter by draping a shawl over him and presented him with a kasavu mundu, an idol of Lord Padmanabhaswamy, and Sachin Tendulkar’s autobiography, Playing It My Way.

The X post read: “Hon’ble Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar honoured Shri Sanju Samson at Lok Bhavan. The Governor welcomed him with a shawl and gave him a kasavu mundu, an idol of Lord Padmanabhaswamy, and the autobiography Playing It My Way by Sachin Tendulkar.”

आज लोकभवन में क्रिकेटर श्री संजू सैमसन जी से भेंट की। उन्हें शॉल, कासवु मुंडु, भगवान पद्मनाभस्वामी की प्रतिमा और श्री सचिन तेंदुलकर जी की आत्मकथा Playing It My Way भेंट कर सम्मानित किया।
Met cricketer Sanju Samson at Lokbhavan today. Honoured him with a shawl, a kasavu mundu, an… pic.twitter.com/2mdxSCG5id

— Rajendra Arlekar (@rajendraarlekar) March 16, 2026

Also read: Sanju Samson receives special praise from football legend after ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 heroics

The 199 strike rate campaign that broke Virat Kohli’s historic record

The right hand batter played a very important role in India’s strong finish at the World Cup 2026. He was named the Player of the Tournament. He scored 321 runs in five innings with an average of 80.25 and a strike rate of 199.37. He hit 27 fours and 24 sixes and became the third-highest run-scorer in the tournament. He also broke Virat Kohli’s record of 319 runs in a single T20 World Cup for India.

At the start, the India opener did not score much in his first two matches. But later, he played very well. He scored an unbeaten 97 against the West Indies in an important match. Then he scored 89 runs against England in the semi-final and another 89 in the final against New Zealand.

In the T20 World Cup 2026, India defeated New Zealand by 96 runs on March 8. With this win, India defended their title. India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup at home. They also became the first team to win back-to-back titles after winning in 2024, and the first team to win the trophy three times (2007, 2024, and 2026).

Samson joined Chennai Super Kings in a record breaking ₹18 crore trade

Sanju Samson will play for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026. The 31-year-old cricketer from Kerala joined the team from Rajasthan Royals in a trade deal before the IPL 2026 auction. His move in November 2025 surprised many fans.

The dashing right hand batter played 11 IPL seasons for Rajasthan Royals and is their top player in matches and runs. He also played for the Delhi Capitals for two seasons before returning to the Rajasthan Royals. In IPL 2026, The talismanic opener will make his debut for the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led Chennai Super Kings against the Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati. He said he will not let emotions affect his game and will try to play his best against his former team.

The second match of the first double-header day in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 will be played between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR). The match will take place at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad at 7:30 PM. The first phase of the tournament will end on April 12.

The last time these two teams played against each other was on 28 April 2025 at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The team led by Shubman Gill faced the RR side led by Riyan Parag. Rajasthan won that match with a strong century from Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans have played eight matches against each other in the IPL since GT joined the league in 2022. In the head-to-head record, Rajasthan Royals have won 2 matches, while Gujarat Titans have won 6 matches.

Here are the complete details about ticket price, booking date, and how to book Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals IPL 2026 tickets, along with a full step-by-step guide.

Also read -DC vs MI IPL 2026 Tickets: Price, Booking Date & How to Book Full Step-by-Step Guide

The Rajasthan Royals (RR) shared a cinematic video to welcome Ravindra Jadeja in the city ahead of the IPL 2026 season. Before the mini auction, the former IPL winners traded the ace spin bowling all-rounder from Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to bolster squad strength. The trade was a surprising move, involving every party in it.

Ravindra Jadeja spent a total of 12 IPL seasons with CSK, in two phases. His IPL journey started with the Rajasthan Royals through the 2007-08 season, when Jadeja was a youngster. Now, when he made a return to Rajasthan, he is a decorated, seasoned campaigner.

It was the Rajasthan-based who claimed the trophy in the inaugural season of the league. In the 2007-08 season, a 19-year-old Ravindra Jadeja scored 135 runs in 14 matches, including a highest score of 36 not out. Jadeja left the Royals ahead of the IPL 2011 season to join Kochi Tuskers Kerala (Now defunct), and then joined CSK in 2012.

Read More: Watch: Sanju Samson gets emotional hug from parents after returning home following T20 World Cup 2026 win

The latest video of the Rajasthan Royals and Ravindra Jadeja attracted cricket fans' attention

𝐊𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐦𝐚 𝐆𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐢, 𝐑𝐚𝐣𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 🔥⚔️

Ravindrasinh Jadeja has arrived for IPL 2026 💗 pic.twitter.com/fVUVl5zTjZ

— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) March 10, 2026

Jadeja returned to the Rajasthan Royals after about 19 years. The franchise and the fans have a lot of expectations from the all-rounder, who has scored a total of 3260 runs so far in the league, and bagged 170 wickets as well with his spin bowling. 

The video, the franchise shared on social media platforms on the evening of March 10, is a reflection of the faith, trust, and confidence the team has in him. Can Ravindra Jadeja help the team revive their golden days? The answer is lying on time’s lap. As of now, cricket fans across social media platforms can enjoy the masterful video production. 

The IPL 2026 mini auction saw a fierce bidding war for Rajasthan’s young wicketkeeper-batsman Mukul Choudhary. The Lucknow Super Giants secured his services for ₹2.60 crore in the Indian Premier League, a massive jump from his base price of ₹30 lakh. His value soared after he played a blistering innings in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy just hours before the auction, catching the attention of franchises.

Soon after the auction, Mukul delivered an emotional statement about his plans for the money. He said his first priority is to repay his father’s loan, as his family has faced financial struggles for years. He revealed that his father even sold their house to support his cricket journey.

The young cricketer added that he now wants to build a new home for his family and improve their financial condition. His heartfelt words reflected both gratitude and determination, turning a successful auction moment into a deeply personal milestone.

Watch the video here: 

Interviewer: Lucknow Super Giants bought you for ₹2.60 crore. What will you do with your IPL money?

Mukul Choudhary: i will repay my father loan 🥹. My family financial is not good. I will make my house and we don't have house, father sold house for my cricket 🫂 pic.twitter.com/boqU5yNel5

— HARSHIT🕷 (@I_am_Harshit_17) February 25, 2026

Early Struggles and Strong Comeback

Mukul Choudhary has played only seven T20 matches so far, scoring 210 runs at an average of 42.00, including two half-centuries. He made his T20 debut for Rajasthan in 2023 but could not perform well at first and was dropped from the team. However, this year he made a strong comeback with consistent performances in domestic cricket.

Mukul comes from Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan. His father, Dalip Kumar Choudhary, always dreamed that his son would become a cricketer. Even though the family faced financial problems and had limited resources, his father never gave up. He later joined the real estate and hotel business and sent Mukul to the SBS Cricket Academy in Sikar to train properly.

At the academy, Mukul started as a medium-fast bowler. But when the team needed a wicketkeeper during a match, he took up the role. That decision changed his career. Mukul later said that from that moment, there was no looking back.

Rise to the IPL and Family Support

Over the years, Mukul worked hard and moved to Jaipur to train at the Aravali Cricket Academy. His mother and younger sister shifted with him so he could focus only on cricket. He says his mother took care of everything, and his only job was to play the game. He considers MS Dhoni as his idol.

Though he struggled in his early Ranji Trophy matches, he did not lose hope. This season, he performed brilliantly in the Men’s State A Trophy, scoring 617 runs at an average of 102.83. He also impressed in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with key innings.

His performances led to a bidding war in the Indian Premier League 2026 auction, where the Lucknow Super Giants picked him for ₹2.60 crore. Mukul said he is excited to learn and grow, but more than anything, he is happy to make his father proud.

As part of his Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 accolade leading into the 2026 IPL season, young prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi and his family have received a new Tata car. He will again wear the Rajasthan Royals shirt, and his spectacular output in IPL 2025 has led to Tata Motors presenting him with a Tata Curvv SUV. Together with his father and extended family, he shared a memorable moment when he received the vehicle keys during a grand celebration.

The teenage sensation was declared the "Super Striker" for IPL 2025. This accolade included a cash award of ₹10 lakh and the stylish Tata Curvv. While this award is the first in the budding cricketing career of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, it emphasises the impact of his power hitting during the tournament. This award ceremony was a time of pride and celebration for the Suryavanshi family, evidencing the rapid rise of this young star in Indian cricket.

At IPL 2025 auction, Rajasthan Royals purchased Suryavanshi for ₹ 1.1 crore, a decision that turned out to be very good value right away. In his first year, he scored 252 runs over seven matches with an average of 36 and an incredible strike rate of 206.55, which included one century and two half-centuries. With these remarkable stats at the age of 14, he is already becoming one of the most exciting young players in the league.

See Also: ‘Should speak up…’- Moeen Ali reacts to Pakistan players’ potential ban in The Hundred 2026

Watch the video here;

🚨Tata Motors has gifted a Tata Curvv car to Vaibhav Suryavanshi. He was seen personally receiving the car.

Vaibhav is steadily emerging as a future star. With his performances so far, he has impressed everyone and made his parents truly proud.

Looking ahead, he has all the… pic.twitter.com/KDsx1F4eak

— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) February 24, 2026

Vaibhav Suryavanshi head to IPL 2026 in rich form

Vaibhav Suryavanshi was involved with the Rajasthan Royals' pre-season camp in advance of IPL 2026. Left-handed batter Suryavanshi had strong performances consistently in domestic competitions and while playing for India U19 teams, particularly in white-ball formats. In the U19 World Cup campaign when India was successful, he had the best numbers with 439 runs in seven games at an average rate of 62.71 and a strike rate of 169.49. His total included one century and three half-centuries, displaying his dominance and consistency throughout the tournament.

His best innings in the World Cup was 175 runs against England U19 in the final, where he scored 175 runs off 80 balls, including 15 fours and 15 sixes, for a strike rate of 218.75. He had good success in domestic competitions, scoring 197 runs from six matches at a strike rate of 168.37 during the SMAT 2025-26. In the VHT 2025-26 season, he scored large numbers, including a century during his three total games and 220 runs at a strike rate of 235.10. The Royals will hope Suryavanshi can continue his success throughout IPL 2026.

Major news has arrived regarding the home venues of the Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the 2026 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL).The officials, led by the chairperson Ranjit Barthakur, have met the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal Sharma, as the discussions have resulted in a consensus, paving the way for the franchise to host a portion of their home games at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

The reports have claimed that the Rajasthan Royals have been hosting two matches in Guwahati and five in Jaipur. The new arrangement has represented a slight adjustment, with one additional match being shifted to the Barsapara Stadium. This year, the decision has been taken to host four clashes in Jaipur and three encounters in Guwahati.

See Also: Star Sports Experts pick their top 4 semifinalists in T20 World Cup 2026

The agreement follows the Royals’ earlier insistence on an indemnity waiver from the state government, prompted by the detailed 700-page independent audit by the Tata Projects that highlighted the serious deficiencies in the stadiums’ infrastructure and safety standards.

Rajasthan Royals (RR) gives update on IPL 2026 home venues 

The Rajasthan State Sports Council previously downplayed many of these concerns, deeming them minor and addressable through routine maintenance. The intervention by the chief minister appears to have been instrumental in breaking the deadlock, with the government demonstrating commitment to addressing the concerns of the franchise while ensuring the Indian Premier League (IPL) remains in the state.

The Royals tried for the DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai as the home venue for the next IPL before being rejected, as the Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise didn’t give the green light to the decision. On the other hand, they have had a discussion with the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium (MCA) in Pune for the home ground, which was turned down.

The Royals, who will be without their long-time contributor and captain Sanju Samson, will be under the leadership of Riyan Parag as they have welcomed their former and veteran Indian spin all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja, and the pace bowling all-rounder of England, Sam Curran, for the new season of the 20-over competition.

Rajasthan Royal's Young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi impressed everyone during the training camp of Rajasthan Royals ahead of the Indian Premier League 2026 season. The team has already begun preparations for the upcoming edition.

During a practice session, he played a powerful pull shot that went for a massive six. The ball came cleanly off the middle of the bat and travelled a long distance.

The hit was so strong that the ball went outside the ground and struck a water pipe, damaging it. The big shot quickly grabbed attention at the camp.

Watch the video of the incident below:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals)

Vaibhav Suryavanshi Focuses on Cricket Ahead of IPL 2026

Young sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi decided not to appear for his Class 10 CBSE exams. He chose to focus fully on cricket and joined the training camp to prepare for the Indian Premier League 2026 season.

He has been in excellent form in 2025–26 across formats. Recently, he played in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, which India won. He scored 439 runs in seven matches, including a brilliant century in the final.

Also read -Watch: Sri Pundrik Goswami Maharaj applauds Virat Kohli & Anushka Sharma’s spiritual visit to Vrindavan ahead of IPL 2026

Rajasthan Royals Expect Big Season from Vaibhav

The Rajasthan Royals bought Vaibhav for ₹1.1 crore before the IPL 2025 season. He made his IPL debut last year and played seven matches. He scored 252 runs at an average of 36 and a strike rate above 200. He also hit one century and one half-century.

In total, the left-handed batter has played 18 T20 matches. He has scored 701 runs at an average of over 41 and a strike rate above 200. He has three centuries and one half-century in the format.

Rajasthan Royals will hope he continues this form in IPL 2026. Along with Yashasvi Jaiswal, he can form a strong opening pair. Rajasthan finished ninth last season, so the team will depend on players like Vaibhav to help them improve and perform better this year.

Newly appointed Rajasthan Royals Captain Riyan Parag has started training ahead of the IPL 2026 season. The Rajasthan Royals skipper was seen batting in the practice camp before the new season.

Riyan Parag looked in good form during the open net session. He timed the ball well and looked confident. He played many shots like the reverse paddle sweep, pull shot, short-arm jab, and inside-out drive. He also hit some clean no-look sixes.

He played the no-look sixes with a straight bat and full confidence. This is a positive sign for the Rajasthan Royals before IPL 2026.

Watch the video here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals)

Riyan Parag in Good Form Before IPL 2026

Riyan Parag last played in India A’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up matches against USA and Namibia. In the match against Namibia, he scored 69 runs from 39 balls. He hit five fours and six sixes. His strike rate was 176.92.

Also read -ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Points table, most runs, most wickets after RSA vs UAE Match 34

Riyan Parag to Lead Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2026

The IPL 2026 season will be very important for Riyan Parag. He will lead the Rajasthan Royals this season. The team traded Sanju Samson to the Chennai Super Kings, so they needed a new captain.

The team has now made Riyan Parag their full-time captain. Last season, he led the side in a few matches when Samson was injured. Samson later played as an impact player.

Riyan started his IPL career with the Rajasthan Royals in 2019. He played seven matches in his first season. Since then, the team has kept him every year. He has played 84 IPL matches so far. He has scored 1,566 runs. His average is 26.10, and his strike rate is 141.84. He has also scored seven half-centuries.

Rajasthan Royals won the IPL title in 2008, the first season of the league. After that, they have not won the trophy again. In his first full season as captain, Riyan Parag will try to help the team win their second IPL title.

The Indian team is currently playing in the T20 World Cup, where they are the defending champions. Gautam Gambhir is the head coach of the team. India has won all three of their matches so far and has qualified for the Super 8 stage.

Amid this, Gambhir has reportedly received a big offer from the Rajasthan Royals. According to a report, he has been offered a triple role, including the posts of CEO and mentor, along with an equity stake in the franchise. Gambhir became India’s head coach in July 2024, and his contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) runs until the 2027 ODI World Cup.

As per a report in Dainik Jagran, the Rajasthan Royals is set to see a change in ownership. Most of the current shareholders are selling their stakes to new owners. One of the new owners has reportedly offered Gambhir a 2–3 percent minority stake in the franchise, along with the roles of CEO and mentor.

Also read -Watch: Mohammed Shami takes fiery 8-Wicket haul for Bengal in Ranji Trophy 2025-26 semi-final vs JK

Gambhir Unlikely to Join RR Amid India Duties

Gautam Gambhir had a very successful time with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL. He helped the team win three titles — two as a player and one as a mentor. He also worked as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for two seasons, and the team reached the playoffs both times.

However, Gambhir is unlikely to join Rajasthan Royals right now because of his role with the Indian team. According to the Supreme Court ruling based on the Lodha Committee rules, one person cannot hold a position with the national team and also work with an IPL franchise at the same time. This “one man, one post” rule is followed to avoid any conflict of interest.

RR WANTS GAMBHIR 👀

RR is set to get new owners soon. The new RR management wants Gautam Gambhir to join them as a partner, mentor, and CEO. Regarding this, one of RR’s three new owners has already sent a proposal to Gambhir

— Abhishek Tripathi 📰 pic.twitter.com/kNdlgAP1dr

— KKR Karavan (@KkrKaravan) February 17, 2026

Focus on India’s World Cup Campaign

If Gambhir wants to accept RR’s offer, he will have to step down as India’s head coach. His contract runs until the 2027 ODI World Cup, and he is expected to guide India in that tournament. He could also aim for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics if he gets an extension.

At present, Gambhir is focused on India’s T20 World Cup campaign. The team has already reached the Super Eight stage and is performing well. Rajasthan Royals is currently owned by Manoj Badale through Emerging Media, which holds a 65 percent stake. Other investors include RedBird Capital Partners and Lachlan Murdoch. For now, Gambhir’s main focus remains India’s World Cup journey.