"He Is Bowling Without Any Fear": Cheteshwar Pujara Praises Delhi Capitals Bowler Delhi Capitals (DC) began their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign with a dominant six-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday. The win marked DC’s fifth consecutive triumph against LSG in the tournament, positioning them as the third team to face such a streak in IPL history. Cheteshwar Pujara, the former Indian cricketer and current DC player, highlighted the transformative journey of DC spinner Kuldeep Yadav, crediting his newfound confidence as a key factor in his improved performance. Speaking on Star Sports, Pujara emphasized that Yadav’s growth over the past two years has been instrumental in his success. “Confidence plays a very important role in a bowler’s performance. The way Kuldeep Yadav has bowled in the last two years is because of his confidence. He is bowling without any fear,” Pujara said. He added that Yadav’s confidence has evolved significantly since joining DC, enabling him to execute his skills more effectively. “When a bowler’s confidence increases, he starts picking up wickets, and the hunger to do well increases,” Pujara noted. The match saw LSG collapse to 141 all out, with DC’s seamers Lungi Ngidi and T Natarajan playing pivotal roles. Both bowlers claimed three wickets each, dismantling LSG’s batting lineup. DC’s chase was anchored by Sameer Rizvi’s unbeaten 70, which helped the team reach the target comfortably. Kuldeep Yadav contributed with two crucial wickets, dismissing opening batter Mitchell Marsh and Mukul Choudhary. Marsh, who scored 35 off 28 balls, was dismissed by Yadav with a soft ‘caught and bowled’ catch.#kuldeep_yadav #lucknow_super_giants #delhi_capitals #cheteshwar_pujara #ekana_stadium
Four cricket experts have predicted that 25-year-old Abhishek Sharma will hit the most sixes in the upcoming IPL 2026 tournament. The tournament is set to begin on March 28, with Sharma, who plays for Sunrisers Hyderabad, expected to dominate the power-hitting department. The forecast was shared by Cheteshwar Pujara, Mohammad Kaif, Piyush Chawla, and Varun Aaron during a press conference. Rohit Sharma, the veteran opener, was also named by Pujara as a contender for the top-sixes list, though the experts leaned toward Abhishek’s potential. Meanwhile, spin legend Harbhajan Singh predicted that 15-year-old Vaibhav Surya, who recently scored a rapid IPL century, will make a mark. Surya, playing for Rajasthan Royals, is seen as a rising star. The competition for the top spot is also expected between Abhishek and Ishan Kishan, both Sunrisers players. While Kishan was mentioned by two experts, the majority of the analysis focused on Abhishek’s consistency and power-hitting ability. The experts highlighted his ability to clear the boundaries under pressure, making him a key player for the tournament’s high-scoring matches. The predictions come as the IPL 2026 season approaches, with teams preparing for a thrilling competition. Fans are eagerly awaiting the debut of young talents like Surya and the continued dominance of seasoned stars like Rohit Sharma.#abhishek_sharma #sunrisers_hyderabad #cheteshwar_pujara #modhmad_kaif #piyush_chawla
