The former Australia fast bowler used a Bombay Times interview published on 5 August 2026 to put the record straight on a romance rumour that started inside the 2008 Kings XI Punjab dressing room and has followed him through every IPL season since.
FRANCHISE FILE · 2026
On 21 March 2026, with the season a week from start, three Australian quicks and four Sri Lankan all-format players were unavailable. A retrospective read on the pre-season reshuffle that shaped every franchise's opening week.
A dry, slightly tacky surface has brought finger-spin back into the match-up conversation. We look at what both teams have planned if the ball grips from overs 7 to 15.
A shoulder stiffness and a hamstring twinge have left two franchise openers race-against-time for the next fixture. We summarise the official injury bulletins and what the franchise physios are saying.
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Today's match callEvery fixture for the 2026 season, with venue, start time in IST, and links to previews and reports.
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Read latestHall of fame for the players and captains whose seasons shaped the IPL's competitive history.
See the list| Match | Start (IST) | Venue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
MIMumbai Indians vs Royal ChallengersMI vs RCB | 19:30 | Wankhede, Mumbai | LIVE |
CSKChennai Super Kings vs Kolkata Knight RidersCSK vs KKR | 19:30 | Chepauk, Chennai | LIVE |
DCDelhi Capitals vs Rajasthan RoyalsDC vs RR | 15:30 | Arun Jaitley, Delhi | LIVE |
SRHSunrisers Hyderabad vs Punjab KingsSRH vs PBKS | 19:30 | Uppal, Hyderabad | Upcoming · 2h |
GTGujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super GiantsGT vs LSG | 19:30 | Narendra Modi, Ahmedabad | Upcoming · 4h |
A 5 August 2026 Moneycontrol report quotes Brett Lee denying the long-running dating rumour and attributing the friendship to his 2008 Kings XI Punjab dressing room. Zinta made the same on-record point in 2010.
Houlihan Lokey's 2026 Brand Valuation Study puts the league at USD 20.6 billion and RCB at the top of the franchise table. We read the numbers for what they tell us about the competitive picture.
A change at the top after a four-game slide, with the franchise citing tactical clarity as the immediate priority.
A 12-match sample shows how the seventh-to-fifteenth-over economy gap has widened between playoff and non-playoff teams.
A breakdown of the three rain-affected fixtures, what the par scores looked like, and how teams have adapted mid-innings.
An 18-ball fifty at a slow surface is the kind of scoreboard line that demands a longer explanation than the highlights show.
Outfield renovation has shifted three upcoming home fixtures. We map the change and what the squad expects from the alternate surface.
A close call, a long review, and a captain unsatisfied. We walk through the three reviews and what the match referee noted.
A working snapshot of the 2026 IPL standings. Refresh for the latest after each match result. Full table lives at /points-table.html.
| # | Team | P | W | L | NRR | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RCBRoyal Challengers Bengaluru | 10 | 7 | 3 | +0.812 | 14 |
| 2 | CSKChennai Super Kings | 10 | 6 | 4 | +0.451 | 12 |
| 3 | GTGujarat Titans | 10 | 6 | 4 | +0.392 | 12 |
| 4 | MIMumbai Indians | 10 | 5 | 5 | +0.214 | 10 |
| 5 | KKRKolkata Knight Riders | 10 | 5 | 5 | +0.087 | 10 |
| 6 | SRHSunrisers Hyderabad | 10 | 4 | 6 | -0.142 | 8 |
| 7 | DCDelhi Capitals | 10 | 4 | 6 | -0.218 | 8 |
| 8 | LSGLucknow Super Giants | 10 | 3 | 7 | -0.467 | 6 |
Across this week's three completed fixtures, the side that finished with the higher Powerplay scoring rate won all three matches — a small sample, but consistent enough to revisit what "good Powerplay cricket" now means. We compare intent, fielder placement, and how the chasing side adjusted from over seven.
The interesting wrinkle is what teams are doing after the fielding restrictions lift: a quiet middle phase with two spin options on, then a calculated acceleration in overs 16 to 18. That's the structure we look at when forecasting totals and required rates later this season.
Three innings, two fifties, an average above sixty. Quiet, repeatable, and the biggest reason the franchise is in the top four.
Read the form fileTwelve dismissals in eight matches is the cleanest indicator at the position. Batting strike rate has climbed into the 140s since the move up the order.
Read the form fileA breakout month: fourteen wickets, an economy below the league average, and a death-over plan that survived three chases.
Read the form file540+ player files updated through the season — form trend, role, availability, and head-to-head match-up notes.
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A reasoned match call, not a guarantee: form favours Mumbai (five wins in eight home games this season), conditions favour a slightly slower surface that rewards the side batting second when dew is a factor from over 14 onwards, and selection-wise RCB have a question mark at No. 4 that we expect to surface if the top three fall early.
The counter-argument: RCB's Powerplay scoring rate is the highest in the league. If the openers reach 60 without loss in the first six, the required rate conversation disappears. We give the chase a 58% confidence rating, with the modal outcome being a Mumbai win with five to twenty balls to spare.
| Date | Match | Venue | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 16 Jul | CSKCSK vs KKR | Chepauk, Chennai | LIVE |
| Thu 17 Jul | DCDC vs RR | Arun Jaitley, Delhi | 15:30 IST |
| Fri 18 Jul | SRHSRH vs PBKS | Rajiv Gandhi, Hyderabad | 19:30 IST |
| Sat 19 Jul | RCBRCB vs GT | M. Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru | 15:30 IST |
| Sat 19 Jul | MIMI vs LSG | Wankhede, Mumbai | 19:30 IST |
| Sun 20 Jul | KKRKKR vs PBKS | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | 19:30 IST |
A fifth title, a third consecutive final, a captain who refused to chase in the Powerplay. The full season recap.
Open the recapThe all-round side that finally clicked. Three spinners in the XI and a death-over plan that survived seven playoffs.
Open the recapA veteran squad on its last legs turned in the calmest death bowling of the season. The full recap of an unlikely fifth.
Open the recapA debut season, a new franchise, a captain who finished with the lowest economy in the league. The recap of a storybook first year.
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