For the third game in a row, Rajasthan Royals cruised during a chase, only to stumble right at the finish line. Losses against Delhi Capitals, Lucknow Super Giants, and now Royal Challengers Bangalore have pushed them into a frustrating spiral, despite being in winning positions each time.

After restricting RCB to what looked like a par score on a high-scoring surface, RR’s bowlers had done their job. But as has been the pattern lately, their batting once again faltered when it mattered most. “We’ve got ourselves to blame,” said a visibly disappointed team representative. “Didn’t show enough intent, especially against the spinners.”

While the mental aspect was acknowledged, the team emphasized the support they received from their coaching staff. “The freedom is there. But the onus is on us to express ourselves. In T20s, one small mistake can flip the game,” they admitted.

The Royals are now left to play for pride. “There are fans who cheer for us every single match. People are working day and night. We owe it to them and to this franchise.”

Meanwhile, the IPL rolls on. Tomorrow sees Chennai Super Kings take on Sunrisers Hyderabad—two sides struggling for consistency. Until then, rest easy, cricket fans, and keep the faith.

Continue the story here: Royals choke again as RCB finally win at home

Forwarded this message, subscribe here:

International games

• No international games today

Bangladesh Shuffle Squad: Anamul In, Nahid Dropped

Following a disappointing loss in the first Test against Zimbabwe, Bangladesh have made a couple of notable changes to their squad ahead of the must-win second Test in Chattogram, starting April 28.

Top-order batter Anamul Haque makes a return to the Test setup, replacing Zakir Hasan, who didn’t feature in the Sylhet Test. Anamul is in red-hot form in the Dhaka Premier League, where he has notched up four centuries in his last ten innings—three of them unbeaten. Despite playing only five Tests since his debut in 2013, the 31-year-old will hope to translate his domestic dominance into success on the international red-ball stage.

Pacer Nahid Rana, meanwhile, steps away from national duties as he heads to the Pakistan Super League to represent Peshawar Zalmi. His exit opens the door for uncapped left-arm spinner Tanvir Islam, a seasoned performer in the domestic circuit. Tanvir boasts 134 wickets from 41 first-class matches at an average of 27.06, including six five-wicket hauls and a best of 8 for 51.

With the series on the line, Bangladesh will look to bounce back strongly and level the two-match series. The second Test begins in Chattogram on April 28.

Domestic cricket + T20 leagues

• Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Rajasthan Royals

  RCB 205/5 (20)

  RR 194/9 (20)

  Royal Challengers Bengaluru won by 11 runs

On This Day

Few cricketers have carried the weight of expectation with such grace as Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, who was born on this day and seemed destined for greatness from the very beginning.

At just 12 years old, Sachin announced himself with a century in Mumbai’s Under-17 Harris Shield. By 14, he was rewriting records—a jaw-dropping 664-run partnership with Vinod Kambli, alongside unbeaten scores of 207, 329, and 346. He made his first-class debut for Bombay at 15, and within a year, at 16, he was facing the fiery pace of Pakistan in his Test debut at Karachi. By 17, he was already saving Test matches for India with a maiden hundred at Old Trafford, displaying a calm far beyond his years.

And then came the numbers—mind-bending, era-defining numbers.

In 2000, Tendulkar became the first player to score 50 international centuries. In the 2003 World Cup, he piled up a record 673 runs, a feat unmatched for the next two decades. He overtook Brian Lara in 2008 to become the highest run-scorer in Test cricket. And as if chasing limits was his habit, at 36, he smashed the first-ever double century in ODI cricket, breaking a 40-year-old barrier.

By the time he retired in 2013, in front of tearful fans at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, he had racked up 15,921 Test runs, 18,426 ODI runs, and a jaw-dropping 100 international centuries—records that feel untouchable even today.

More than the milestones, Tendulkar was a moment, a memory, a movement—for a billion hearts, he wasn’t just a cricketer, he was cricket itself.

Coming tomorrow

• Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

Match Preview

Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad

The usually buzzing Chepauk is eerily quiet on the eve of the clash between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The trademark fanfare is missing, a rare sight for a venue that once packed 10,000 fans just for a practice session. Even at the ticket counters, uncertainty hangs in the air—an unfamiliar situation in the heart of Chennai.

This subdued atmosphere mirrors CSK’s season so far. With just two wins from eight games, the five-time champions find themselves anchored to the bottom of the table. Coach Stephen Fleming, though, is clinging to hope. “We’re still hopeful of winning 6 out of 6,” he said in the pre-match press conference, referencing RCB’s late-season playoff push last year as a source of inspiration.

The Sunrisers aren’t much better off. After a demoralizing defeat to Mumbai at home, their coach Daniel Vettori echoed a similar sentiment, drawing parallels to RCB’s dramatic turnaround. Both sides now look to channel that underdog energy as they clash in what is shaping up to be a do-or-die encounter.

Yet, calling a favourite isn’t easy. CSK have lost three of their four home games this season. SRH, on the other hand, have yet to win on the road—and have never beaten CSK at Chepauk.

This might not be a clash of titans in form, but it’s certainly a battle of desperation and pride. Two former champions with playoff hopes hanging by a thread—expect nerves, surprises, and possibly, a spark that reignites a campaign.

What else is happening

• Durham sign South African Codi Yusuf amid injury crisis

• Andrew Flintoff: Cricket 'saved me' after Top Gear crash