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England and Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Phil Salt's struggles at the top of the order continued as he fell to international team-mate Jofra Archer from the first ball of the match against Rajasthan Royals.

He was beaten for pace by Archer and top-edged to keeper Dhruv Jurel, which set the tone for Royals' six-wicket win in Guwahati.

Salt has scored 54 runs in three innings for RCB, with 46 of them coming in one knock, and averaged 16.25 across eight games in the preceding T20 World Cup which took place in India and Sri Lanka.

It is understandable why RCB would want to stick with Salt, who formed an effective opening partnership with Virat Kohli in last year's title-winning campaign when the pair scored 565 runs in 13 innings together, at a strike-rate of 174.3.

However, it could soon become difficult to ignore the other Englishman in RCB's ranks.

Jacob Bethell, 22, has remained on the bench so far, having found himself in a similar position in 2025 by making just two appearances for the franchise.

Bethell's lack of game time saw him struggle early in the UK summer but then went on a stunning run of form by scoring international centuries in all three formats - the most recent being his magnificent century against India in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup.

England's Jordan Cox is also in RCB's squad as a spare batter, but considering Bethell's recent exploits, he is the most likely candidate if they decide to rotate the squad.

RCB next play against Mumbai Indians on Sunday and the tight turnaround could give Salt another opportunity, but he likely needs to fire soon.

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Rawalpindiz remain winless in the Pakistan Super League after they suffered a 61-run thrashing by Quetta Gladiators.

Quetta posted 182-6 as Rilee Rossouw top-scored with 53 from 42 balls, having added 87 for the second wicket with Saud Shakeel, who made 42.

Cameos of 39 from Hasan Nawaz and 21 not out from Jahandad Khan pushed Quetta to a competitive total, which proved far too much for the horribly out-of-form Rawalpindiz.

Mohammad Rizwan was dismissed first ball to set the tone for the chase, shortly followed by Usman Khawaja who was run out for seven.

Sam Billings fell for one to kickstart a middle-order collapse of three wickets for no runs, leaving Rawalpindiz 82-7, before they slumped to 121 all out in 17.3 overs.

The win keeps Quetta comfortably in the middle of the PSL table with two wins from five, while Rawalpindiz are bottom with Hyderabad Kingsmen also yet to register their first win.

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By snatching victory with 54 not out for Lucknow Super Giants, 21-year-old batter Mukul Choudhary joined West Indies great Kieron Pollard as the only players to have scored 50 or more runs in the death overs of a successful Indian Premier League chase.

With 54 needed from the last four overs, he hit seven sixes before sprinting a bye from the final ball to complete the chase of 182.

Choudhary was only playing his third IPL match but announced himself on the biggest stage in domestic T20 cricket.

The right-hander, who was born in Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, has only played seven other top-tier T20s but was signed for 2.60 crore (£210,000) at last year's auction after bids from Lucknow, Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals.

In a clip on social media earlier this year, Lucknow's coach Justin Langer, the former Australia coach and batter, said suggested he could make Choudhary the "scariest batter in India" in four months.

After good form at Under-23 level, he scored 173 runs at a strike-rate of 198.85 across five matches in last year's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy - the domestic T20 competition in India below the IPL - shortly before the auction.

"I don't have words to describe," said his captain Rishabh Pant. "What an outstanding effort.

"When you believe in someone as player and captain a player can do wonders."

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Unheralded batter Mukul Choudhary hit a remarkable 54 not out to snatch a final-ball victory for Lucknow Super Giants against Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League.

LSG needed 54 from the last four overs with three wickets left before 21-year-old Choudhary hit a remarkable seven sixes to pull off a chase of 182.

Despite hitting two of the sixes in the 18th over, the visitors still needed 24 from eight balls only for Choudhary to finish the 19th bowled by Australia all-rounder Cameron Green with a four and six.

With 14 needed from the last, KKR bizarrely sat back to allow tailender Avesh Khan an easy single giving Choudhary the strike, and the right-hander followed by hitting two sixes and scampered a bye from the last ball.

Choudhary was playing on his third IPL match, having been signed for around £210,000 at last year's auction.

Kolkata's 181-4 came with contributions of 45 from Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 41 by captain Ajinkya Rahane, 39 not out by Rovman Powell and 32 not out by Green.

KKR remain winless after four matches at this year's IPL while Lucknow are fifth.

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Peshawar Zalmi scored 246-3 - their highest score in the Pakistan Super League - in a record 159-run thrashing of Karachi Kings.

Zalmi's huge total was largely built by a huge partnership of 191 between former Pakistan captain Babar Azam and Sri Lanka batter Kusal Mendis.

Babar scored 87 not out from 51 balls, while Kusal scored his first PSL century in making 109 from 52.

Their stand, which began with the score 0-1 after Mohammad Haris was dismissed second ball, was also the best in a PSL match. Abdul Samad also hit 40 not out from just 12 balls with four sixes.

Kings were led by David Warner, who returned to captain the side immediately after his drink driving charge in his native Australia, and were bowled out for 87 in 16.1 overs, meaning Zalmi's winning margin was the biggest in terms of runs in a PSL match.

Warner was out for a first-ball duck and fellow opener Muhammad Waseem also dismissed without scoring third ball.

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South Africa international Wiaan Mulder says the Indian Premier League's player impact rule is dangerous for the future of all-rounders.

The rule, brought in for the 2023 season, allows teams to substitute in a player during the match.

It means teams can, for instance, stack a team with batters but bring in a bowler for the second innings.

"It skews the game a little bit," said Mulder, who was regularly one of the options on the bench at Sunrisers Hyderabad last year but only played one game, on the Stumped podcast.

"If you look how many 200 plus scores already, teams bat until number 10.

"It has taken me out of the game completely, someone who bats in the middle and bowls.

"If you look at someone like [Australia all-rounder] Cam Green. who knows what it will look like for him going forward.

"The only one who seems to make it work is [India all-rounder] Hardik Pandya."

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Islamabad United moved up to second in the Pakistan Super League table by thrashing Lahore Qalandars by nine wickets.

Islamabad dismissed Qalandars for 100 in 18.3 overs and then knocked off their target in 10.2 to take the points and a significant net run-rate boost.

Australian spinner Chris Green took 3-19 while Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson and Shadab Khan took two wickets each.

New Zealand batter Devon Conway then struck 59 not out and Pakistani right-hander Mohammad Faiq 34 not out as Islamabad eased to victory.

They are now a point behind Multan Sultans at the top of the table. Lahore sit fifth of four points from four games.

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Peshawar Zalmi inflicted a fourth successive defeat on Hyderabad Kingsmen, edging home on the final ball despite an almighty stumble in the closing stages.

Zalmi needed 23 runs from the last 24 balls before run of seven consecutive dot balls and two further wickets set up an unexpectedly tight finish in their chase of 146.

No boundaries came in the 19th over, leaving 14 to get from the last but Pakistan international Iftikhar Ahmed hit a six and a four before singles were snatched from the final two deliveries for a four-wicket win.

Iftikhar finished 15 not out from 10 balls, having earlier taken 4-21 with his off-spin as Hyderabad were dismissed for 145.

Babar Azam hit 43 from 37 balls in Zalmi's chase before the collapse.

They move up to fourth in the table while Hyderabad are seventh, having failed to win any of their four matches.

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England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler said he "feels good" at the Indian Premier League as he looks to improve his poor form.

Buttler managed just 87 runs across eight innings at the T20 World Cup and has made 38 from 33 balls and 26 from 14 since for Gujarat Titans at the IPL.

The 35-year-old said he is "trusting my game, trusting my experience, and trying to let it happen".

Speaking on his For the Love of Cricket podcast, he said: "I feel good actually, feel good with the break after the [T20] World Cup, just putting the bat down and having some space.

"Basically, just focusing on my set-up and making sure when the ball is released I feel in a good position, which I do.

"I've got in some good positions, like getting in with a couple of starts.

"You always want to go on and make those match-winning contributions, but it's nice to be feeling calm in the middle and in a good space.

"Hopefully that can keep that going."

Buttler's Gujarat Titans play Delhi Capitals on Wednesday.

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Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi hit his first ball from India bowler Jasprit Bumrah for six and Yashasvi Jaiswal flogged 77 not out from 32 balls as Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians by 27 runs in a rain-reduced match in Guwahati.

Opener Suryavanshi, already one of the most discussed players at the Indian Premier League after his breakout season last year, impressed yet again by timing his first ball in professional cricket from Bumrah over long-on.

It was also the first delivery he faced in the match and, after taking a single from the next ball, Suryavanshi hit his third from India's superstar bowler for six over square leg.

In total, Suryavanshi faced five balls from Bumrah and scored 13 runs.

"It is quite fascinating to see a 16-year-old boy [sic] playing the way he played and at same point in time discussing him so much in preparation leading up to the game," said Mumbai captain and India all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

"[It is] Amazing to see the way he bats, the kind of fearless and shots he has.

"I wish him good luck for the future."

The teenager also hit New Zealand left-armer Trent Boult for six and Shardul Thakur for two more before being caught on the extra cover boundary off the bowling of India all-rounder Thakur for 39 from 14 balls.

In a match reduced to 11 overs per side, Suryavanshi and Jaiswal put on 80 in five overs for the first wicket. The hosts finished on 150-3.

England seamer Jofra Archer removed South Africa's Ryan Rickelton for eight in the first over of Mumbai's chase and the five-time champions were soon 46-5 after five overs.

West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford flogged 25 from eight balls to maintain some slim hope of a successful chase but Mumbai finished on 124-9.

The win puts Rajasthan top of the early standings with three wins from three. Mumbai Indians are seventh after back-to-back defeats.

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Monday's Indian Premier League match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Punjab Kings was washed out by rain.

Just 3.4 overs were possible before heavy rain arrived and though it did stop shortly before 23:30 local time, the match was called off when it was deemed the playing area would not be fit.

KKR are still searching for their first win of the competition and reached 25-2 in the play possible.

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green, who became the highest-paid overseas player in the IPL at last year's auction, failed again as he nicked off for four, following on from scores of 18 and two in his previous innings.

Punjab edge a point clear at the top of the standings and remain unbeaten.

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Multan Sultans extended their lead at the top of the Pakistan Super League table by easing to victory in a chase of 183 against Rawalpindiz.

Multan lost Steve Smith for five in the second over but in-form Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan and Australia's Josh Philippe combined for a second-wicket partnership of 110 in 58 balls.

Philippe fell for 56 and Sahibzada 68 but Multan needed only 44 from 41 balls after the latter was dismissed.

Captain Ashton Turner and Pakistan's Shan Masood made 26 and 27 respectively as Multan sealed a seven-wicket win with 22 balls to spare.

Former England wicketkeeper Sam Billings was Rawalpindiz's highest scorer with 56 not out in their 182-8. Left-arm wrist spinner Faisal Akram took 4-31.

Rawalpindiz remain winless after four games of this year's PSL. Multan are top with four wins from five, though have played two matches more than second-placed Karachi Kings.

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar has become the second player in the history of the Indian Premier League to take 200 wickets in the tournament.

The 36-year-old had been on 199 wickets heading into RCB's match with Chennai Super Kings and reached the milestone when he had Ayush Mhatre caught at mid-off.

Kumar, who played 21 Tests, 121 ODIs and 87 T20 internationals for India between 2012 and 2022, finished the pick of the RCB attack with 3-41.

"It was a tricky surface. A few balls stopped and then suddenly you felt it was a good wicket to bat on," Kumar said.

"The ground was very heavy and I was cramping as well, so tried to keep the plan simple because it's not an easy ground to defend on."

Kumar is second on the all-time list of IPL wicket-takers which is led by compatriot Yuzvendra Chahal who has 224.

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Tim David clubbed 70 off 25 balls as defending Indian Premier League champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru notched up back-to-back wins from their opening two games with a 43-run victory over Chennai Super Kings.

Australia's David hit eight sixes - including one over the roof at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium off Jamie Overton - and three fours in his knock at a strike-rate of 280 which helped RCB post a commanding 250-3.

Phil Salt (46), Devdutt Padikkal (50) and Rajat Patidar (48*) also made useful contributions as Overton claimed 1-42 for the Super Kings.

Kiwi seamer Jacob Duffy (2-58) then removed both CSK openers Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad for single-figure scores.

Sarfaraz Khan offered some hope with a half-century off 25 balls but at 84-5 in the seventh over CSK were running out of batters.

Overton biffed 36 off 16 balls before he was caught by substitute fielder Jacob Bethell at long-off and from that point the chase was forlorn.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar finished the pick of the RCB attack with 3-41 which took him past 200 wickets on the all-time list of IPL wicket-takers.

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Steve Smith's maiden Pakistan Super League half-century helped Multan Sultans claim a six-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators.

The 36-year-old Australian opened the batting and hit 53 off 35 balls to top score for the Sultans as they chased down 167 in Lahore.

Smith set the tone for Multan with an attacking start to his innings and walloped Tom Curran for four consecutive fours in the third over.

He was dismissed by Hasan Nawaz, who took 2-17, but Shan Masood (46*) got the Sultans home with 15 balls remaining.

The Gladiators had earlier posted 166-7 from their 20 overs thanks largely to captain Saud Shakeel's 41-ball 56.

Bevon Jacobs also chipped in with an unbeaten 49 off 31 balls as Mohammad Nawaz claimed an impressive 3-30 for the Sultans.

Multan are top of the PSL table with three wins from four matches but are level on points with unbeaten Karachi Kings who have played a game fewer.

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Rishabh Pant hit his first half-century of this year's Indian Premier League as the Lucknow Super Giants captain coolly guided his side to a five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad with a ball to spare.

Pant initially started slowly but the left-hander provided moments of usual trademark flair and idiosyncratic strokeplay as he finished unbeaten on 68 off 50 balls.

The India wicketkeeper was on strike on the final over of the game - bowled by Jaydev Unadkat - with nine runs required off six balls and whacked three fours to get the job done.

Earlier, LSG had bowled impressively at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad to restrict Sunrisers to 156-9.

Experienced seamer Mohammed Shami (2-9) removed Sunrisers openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma cheaply before skipper Ishan Kishan was bowled by Prince Yadav.

When Englishman Liam Livingstone top edged Digvesh Rathi for 14 the Sunrisers had slumped to 26-4 at the start of the eighth over.

A 116-run stand between Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy gave the total some respectability as they finished with 62 and 56 off 41 and 33 balls respectively but it would not turn out to be enough.

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Teenage opener Sameer Minhas made a blistering 70 off 36 balls as Islamabad United cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Rawalpindiz in the Pakistan Super League.

Minhas blasted an unbeaten 82 against Quetta Gladiators in just his second PSL match earlier in the week and played a key hand for Islamabad again in Lahore.

The 19-year-old whacked seven fours and four sixes as United chased down 157 in 14.2 overs with Mark Chapman and Haider Ali unbeaten on 24 and 26 respectively.

Earlier, Sam Billings had made just seven in Rawalpindiz's total of 156-7 from their 20 overs with Kamran Ghulam top-scoring with 50 off 39 balls as Richard Gleeson took 2-21 for United.

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Ravi Bishnoi bagged his best figures in the Indian Premier League as Rajasthan Royals edged to a tense six-run win over Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.

India leg-spinner Bishnoi, subbed in as an impact player, finished with 4-41 as the Titans fell just short of what would have been their highest chase in the IPL after being set 211 for victory.

Bishnoi removed the dangerous Sai Sudharsan after he had hammered 73 off 44 balls then ran through the middle order as the Titans slipped from 107-1 to 133-5.

England's Jos Buttler made 26 from 14 balls before stand-in Titans skipper Rashid Khan and Kasigo Rabada reignited the chase with a fluent partnership.

The Titans required 11 off the final over but Rashid and Rabada struggled to get away some tight bowling from Royals seamer Tushar Deshpande.

And when Jofra Archer, who took 1-38, pouched a catch in the deep to dismiss Rashid off the penultimate delivery of the match with seven required the game was up and Deshpande celebrated.

Earlier, half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Dhruv Jurel had powered the Royals to 210-6.

Jaiswal hit 55 off 36 balls as he shared a 70-run stand for the first wicket with 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who chipped in with 31 off 18 balls.

India wicketkeeper Jurel had top-scored for the Royals with 75 off 42 balls including five fours and five sixes.

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Sameer Rizvi's fine start to this year's Indian Premier League continued after he cracked a superb 90 off 51 balls which helped Delhi Capitals to a six-wicket win over Mumbai Indians.

Rizvi, is has yet to play international cricket for India at senior level, made 70 not out in Delhi's win over Lucknow Super Giants in their opening match and he eclipsed that score at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

The 22-year-old, who has been likened to Suresh Raina in style, looked on course to make the first century of this year's IPL only to be caught at long-off attempting to smack Corbin Bosch over the ropes.

Rizvi whacked seven sixes and seven fours as he claimed back-to-back player of the match awards and the orange cap in his 15th IPL match.

"I've worked on my weaknesses - I wasn't as good against fast bowlers," said Rizvi, who took 20 runs off one over from Bosch.

"I took time, got set and then played my shots. I tried to watch the ball as long as possible. If you score runs here, you get a lot of confidence and there are opportunities for us youngsters."

Pathum Nissanka and David Miller chipped in with 44 and 21 not out respectively as the Capitals comfortably chased down MI's total of 162-6 with 11 balls to spare.

Earlier, Suryakumar Yadav's 51 off 36 balls had provided the backbone of MI's total while his predecessor as India's T20 captain, Rohit Sharma, made 35 off 26.

However, the Capitals had been disciplined with their bowling, spearheaded by Mukesh Kumar, who finished with 2-26 to leave a target well within their grasp.

"We were 15 to 20 runs short, but I don't want to take credit away from their bowlers and Rizvi," Suryakumar said.

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