English cricket faces a potential shortfall of Dukes balls amid Gulf shipping disruption

IANS | March 19, 2026 6:20 PM

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) The upcoming English cricket season may face an unusual challenge due to a shortage of Dukes balls, which could affect preparations for both domestic and international matches. Delays in Gulf shipping routes, caused by the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran, have slowed the transportation of cricket balls from South Asia to the UK, posing logistical hurdles for the organisers.

IPL 2026: After doing the quiet work, Kumar Kushagra ready to deliver for Gujarat Titans

Niharika Raina | March 19, 2026 5:10 PM

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) When Kumar Kushagra didn’t get a game for the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, he could have retreated into the comfortable anonymity of the franchise’s bench strength. Instead, he worked tirelessly in the nets, enhancing his skillsets in batting and keeping, and returned to Jharkhand to apply everything in a domestic season, which said that he was ready to do more heavy lifting through multi-tasking.