IPL Playoffs Race: પ્લેઓફ રેસ બની રોમાચંક,ગુજરાતને હરાવી KKRએ વધાયું …

કોલકાતા નાઈટ રાઈડર્સ અને ગુજરાત ટાઇટન્સ વચ્ચેની મેચ બાદ, IPL 2026 પ્લેઓફ રેસ ખૂબ જ રોમાંચક તબક્કામાં પહોંચી ગઈ છે. ઇડન ગાર્ડન્સ ખાતે ગુજરાત ટાઇટન્સને હરાવીને, કોલકાતા નાઈટ રાઈડર્સે માત્ર પોતાની આશાઓ જીવંત રાખી નથી પરંતુ પોઈન્ટ ટેબલની લડાઈને પણ ખૂબ જ રસપ્રદ બનાવી છે. હાર છતાં, ગુજરાત ટાઇટન્સ ટોચના બેમાં પોતાનું સ્થાન જાળવી રાખવામાં સફળ રહ્યું. 16 મેના રોજ રમાયેલી મેચમાં, કોલકાતા નાઈટ રાઈડર્સે ગુજરાત ટાઇટન્સને 29 રનથી હરાવ્યું. આ જીત સાથે, કોલકાતાએ સિઝનનો પોતાનો પાંચમો વિજય નોંધાવ્યો અને દિલ્હી કેપિટલ્સથી આગળ 12 મેચમાંથી 11 પોઈન્ટ સાથે સાતમા સ્થાને પહોંચી ગયું. ટીમનો નેટ રન રેટ -0.038 છે. જોકે KKRનો રસ્તો મુશ્કેલ રહે છે, તેઓ પ્લેઓફ રેસમાં રહે છે. કોલકાતાની જીતે પ્લેઓફ રેસમાં ઘણી ટીમો માટે તણાવ વધાર્યો છે.

RCB ટોચ પર મજબૂત સ્થિતિમાં

રોયલ ચેલેન્જર્સ બેંગ્લોર હાલમાં પોઈન્ટ ટેબલમાં ટોચ પર રહે છે. RCB 12 મેચમાંથી 16 પોઈન્ટ ધરાવે છે. ટીમે આઠ મેચ જીતી છે અને +1.053 ના પ્રભાવશાળી નેટ રન રેટ તેને અન્ય ટીમોથી આગળ રાખે છે. હાર છતાં, ગુજરાત ટાઇટન્સ બીજા સ્થાને છે. GT ના પણ 16 પોઈન્ટ છે, પરંતુ તેણે 13 મેચ રમી છે. KKR સામે ગુજરાતનો પાંચ મેચનો વિજય ક્રમ તૂટી ગયો હતો, છતાં ટીમ +0.400 ના નેટ રન રેટ સાથે મજબૂત સ્થિતિમાં છે. amunra-opinie.pl

સનરાઇઝર્સ હૈદરાબાદ ત્રીજા સ્થાને

સનરાઇઝર્સ હૈદરાબાદ ત્રીજા સ્થાને છે. SRH એ 12 મેચમાંથી 14 પોઈન્ટ મેળવ્યા છે અને તેનો નેટ રન રેટ +0.331 છે. પંજાબ કિંગ્સ 13 પોઈન્ટ સાથે ચોથા સ્થાને છે. પંજાબે 12 મેચમાંથી છ મેચ જીતી છે અને તેનો નેટ રન રેટ +0.355 છે. રાજસ્થાન રોયલ્સ 11 મેચમાંથી 12 પોઈન્ટ સાથે પાંચમા સ્થાને છે. રાજસ્થાન પાસે હજુ પણ ત્રણ લીગ મેચ બાકી છે, જેનાથી તેની પ્લેઓફની આશા મજબૂત છે. દરમિયાન, પાંચ વખતની ચેમ્પિયન ચેન્નાઈ સુપર કિંગ્સ 12 પોઈન્ટ સાથે છઠ્ઠા સ્થાને છે. CSKનો 12મેચમાં છ જીત અને છ હારનો સામનો કરવો પડ્યો છે, જેનો નેટ રન રેટ +0.027 છે.

બે ટીમની મુશ્કેલી વધી

દિલ્હી કેપિટલ્સ 10 પોઈન્ટ સાથે આઠમા સ્થાને છે. દિલ્હીએ આ સિઝનમાં માત્ર પાંચ મેચ જીતી છે અને તેનો નેટ રન રેટ 0-.993 છે, જે ટીમ માટે મોટી ચિંતાનો વિષય છે. દરમિયાન, પાંચ વખતની ચેમ્પિયન મુંબઈ ઈન્ડિયન્સ અને લખનૌ સુપર જાયન્ટ્સ સત્તાવાર રીતે પ્લેઓફ રેસમાંથી બહાર થઈ ગયા છે. મુંબઈ આઠ પોઈન્ટ અને -0.504 ના નેટ રન રેટ સાથે નવમા સ્થાને છે, જ્યારે લખનૌ, સમાન પોઈન્ટ હોવા છતાં, નબળા નેટ રન રેટને કારણે છેલ્લા સ્થાને છે.

આ પણ વાંચો - Shubman Gillએ લીધા સતત બે DRS, હરભજન સિંહ થયો ગુસ્સે

Sri Lanka National Cricket Team pace sensation Matheesha Pathirana has suffered a fresh injury scare in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, and it has put Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in panic mode.

The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team fast bowler, who recently joined the Kolkata Knight Riders after missing the initial part of IPL 2026, walked off the field midway through the match against the Gujarat Titans (GT) after bowling just eight deliveries at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Matheesha Pathirana makes his KKR debut

On May 16, the 23-year-old speedster Matheesha Pathirana finally made his much-awaited debut for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 after enduring a frustrating wait on the sidelines.

KKR had secured the services of the pacer for a whopping INR 18 crore at the IPL 2026 auction after he was released by Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Pathirana had emerged as one of the hottest properties in T20 cricket because of his unique slingy bowling action and exceptional death-over skills.

However, despite the massive price tag and huge expectations surrounding him, Pathirana's debut for KKR got delayed significantly. The Sri Lankan star was dealing with injury concerns before the start of the tournament and was undergoing rehabilitation.

Apart from the fitness issues, KKR also had to wait for clearance from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), as the board delayed issuing him the No Objection Certificate (NOC). Due to all these complications, Matheesha Pathirana remained unavailable for several matches before finally featuring against the Gujarat Titans.

The Kolkata Knight Riders management and fans were quite excited to finally see him in purple and gold colours, but his debut didn't last long.

Matheesha Pathirana gets injured on his KKR debut

Pathirana's debut turned into a nightmare as the pacer suffered a suspected hamstring injury during the clash against the Gujarat Titans.

Pathirana started the innings and bowled the fourth over of the powerplay. However, after delivering just 1.2 overs, the Sri Lankan speedster looked in discomfort and was immediately attended to by the physio.

The right-arm pacer was seen clutching the back of his leg before eventually walking off the field. He didn't look comfortable while leaving the ground, and KKR were left sweating over the fitness of their marquee overseas signing.

This injury immediately sparked concerns among the fans because the Sri Lankan pacer already has a history of fitness issues over the last couple of years.

Matheesha Pathirana, on his KKR debut, walks off the field after bowling just 8 balls due to discomfort in his left calf 🏏❌#Cricket #KKRvGT #IPL2026 pic.twitter.com/E2yQG0Mvai

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) May 16, 2026

The timing of the injury has come as a massive blow for Kolkata Knight Riders because they brought him into the playing XI with the hope that he would strengthen their bowling attack heading into the business end of the tournament.

Meanwhile, the Kolkata Knight Riders are yet to release an official medical bulletin regarding the pacer's injury and would be hoping he is good to go.

Matheesha Pathirana IPL stats

Despite being just 23 years old, Matheesha Pathirana has already established himself as one of the most impactful pacers in the Indian Premier League.

The speedster started his IPL journey with Chennai Super Kings in the 2022 season and quickly became one of MS Dhoni's most trusted bowlers.

Overall, Pathirana has played 33 IPL matches so far and picked up 47 wickets at an average of 21.80 and an economy rate of 8.66. His best bowling figures in the tournament are 4/28.

Also Read: Phil Salt injury update: RCB issue official medical bulletin amid IPL 2026

Chennai Super Kings skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad admitted that his bowlers failed to live up to expectations in the team’s seven-wicket defeat to Lucknow Super Giants in an IPL match here on Friday, and said the five-time winners will address the shortcomings ahead of their remaining two league games.

“Bowling had an off-day today,” said Gaikwad, adding, “the first challenge is getting to Chennai and make sure we improve on the areas we need to, and then adapt and assess the conditions [in the remaining to league games].”

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru would look to exploit vulnerabilities of a profligate Punjab Kings bowling line-up to seal an IPL Playoffs berth here on Sunday. In the only day game scheduled at the scenic stadium, the top draw without an iota of doubt is Virat Kohli, fresh off a hundred in the previous game.

A sizeable number of fans have already made their way up to the mountains from Delhi and Punjab to see the larger than life Kohli bat in the breathtaking backdrop of Dhauladhar range. The limited infrastructure in place in the city is pushed to its limits.

Shreyas Iyer

The defending champions, the only team which has maintained consistency throughout the tournament, are clear favourites against Punjab Kings, who are in a freefall having lost five games in a row after being the most dominant team in the first half of the tournament.

While Rajat Patidar’s RCB are sitting comfortably on the points table, a sixth loss for Punjab Kings would effectively shut the Playoffs door on the Shreyas Iyer-led side.

In both the games played here, Punjab Kings failed to defend 210 and 200. The team need to rejig its bowling combination with the likes of Xavier Bartlett and Marco Jansen proving expensive throughout the tournament.

One
No of games Punjab Kings have won against RCB in their last seven meetings

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever

It’s down to simple mathematics for Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals, who will lock horns at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday. Hosts DC have to win their remaining two matches by big margins and wait for a few others to lose. For visitors RR, it’s somewhat easier — win two of their remaining three games and they are through to the Playoffs.

For RR’s Director of Cricket and head coach Kumar Sangakkara, there were questions galore on teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and skipper Riyan Parag.

On skipper Riyan Parag, Sangakkara said, “Riyan has three roles. Captain, leader and batter and every single time, he’s got to separate the three out a little bit. Captaincy and leadership go a little bit more hand-in-hand, whereas with batting, he just has to enjoy and bat as Riyan Parag the batter.” Sangakkara added that Parag’s captaincy this season “has been excellent.”

Ian Bell

On Sooryavanshi, Sangakkara said the youngster will have good days and not so good ones given his exceptional ability. “Vaibhav is a supremely talented batter. He’s very young. The key for Vaibhav is to enjoy every moment. He’ll have good days, he’ll have not so good days. It’s absolutely fine. The worst thing we can do is clutter his mind,” Sangakkara said.

DC batting coach Ian Bell also lavished praise on Sooryavanshi, while admitting that his wicket will be very crucial. “I don’t want to give too much away. He’s a fantastic young player, isn’t he? The talent is absolutely scary and we want to get him out early, there’s no doubt,” Bell remarked.

After their last home game today, DC will go to Kolkata for their final league stage match. Bell said they will not be trying out their bench strength in the must-win matches. “We have to accept, and it has been a crazy season for that. The fact that we scored 265 here, and then followed that up by getting bowled out for 70. You can’t win competitions if you’re that inconsistent and we have to accept that reality,” Bell said.

Four
No of runs scored by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi when the two teams last met on May 1

16-15
DC’s win-loss record against RR across 31 matches

40
No of sixes hit by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — the most in the ongoing IPL