Hardik Pandya's IPL 2026 wishlist: A sixth title, and the extension of legacy Hardik Pandya expressed his ambition to win the Indian Premier League for a sixth time with Mumbai Indians, while emphasizing his desire to leave a legacy rooted in passion and hard work. The Mumbai Indians captain, who has already secured five IPL titles with the franchise, shared his thoughts during an interaction with fans at the MI fan zone, known as MIX. "The ultimate dream is to win the IPL for the sixth time," Pandya said. "At the same time, it's about building a legacy. Mumbai Indians already have an incredible legacy, but I still remember when I was a new kid—the passion, the hard work, and how the team backed me and helped me grow." Pandya, 32, highlighted his commitment to maintaining the culture of dedication and teamwork that has defined Mumbai Indians. "Going forward, I want that culture to continue—where players step up, work hard, and play the best kind of cricket. I want us to represent the best cricket Mumbai Indians have ever played, and the best cricket I've ever played. That's the legacy I want to leave—for myself and for the franchise." Mumbai Indians have won five IPL titles—2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020—while Pandya has five titles to his name, including four with MI and one with Gujarat Titans in 2022. His journey with the franchise began during the 2014-15 Ranji Trophy season, when he was spotted by MI scouts during a match in Baroda. "I was just a batter who had spent my entire youth—17, 18, 19 years—doing one thing: working hard," Pandya recalled. "If someone asked me to run 12 rounds, I'd run 15. Then, out of the blue, someone noticed me. A year later, I was playing the Ranji Trophy. During one of those games, Mumbai Indians scouts were in the stadium—not even to watch me. But that's the beauty of it.#wankhede_stadium #hardik_pandya #mix #mumbai_indians #kieron_pollard
RIZIN 52: Akimoto vs. Mix Full Results Patchy Mix returns to the octagon in a high-profile main event at RIZIN 52 on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Tokyo, Japan. The fight pits the former Bellator bantamweight grand prix winner against Kyoma Akimoto, marking Mix’s first appearance since his departure from the UFC. After a successful stint with Bellator, where he claimed the promotion’s undisputed title, Mix struggled in his UFC debut, leading to his release from the organization. Despite the setback, he has secured a main event spot at RIZIN 52, where he will compete at featherweight—a move he had previously announced. The event also features Canadian flyweight Tony Laramie, who aims to improve his record to 3-1 under the RIZIN Fighting Federation banner. Laramie, the younger brother of former UFC fighter TJ Laramie, faces Takaki Soya in a key matchup. The Ariake Arena in Tokyo will host the action, with live streaming available via RIZIN.tv starting at 11 PM ET on March 6 for international audiences. The main event saw Kyoma Akimoto defeat Patchy Mix by TKO in the second round, combining punches and soccer kicks to end the fight. Other notable results include Luiz Gustavo’s knockout of Taisei Sakuraba in the second round, Ryo Takagi’s first-round TKO over Shuya Kimura, and Koji Takeda’s unanimous decision victory over Viktor Kolesnik. Saori Oshima and Yuki Ito also secured wins via unanimous decision and TKO, respectively. In additional bouts, Jinnosuke Kashimura submitted Hideo Tokoro with an Anaconda choke, Kim Kyung-pyo defeated Yusuke Yachi via TKO after a cut, and Shoko Sato submitted John Sweeney with a triangle choke. Tony Laramie continued his winning streak with a third-round TKO over Takaki Soya, while Lee Jung-hyun and Noeru Narita each secured victories via TKO and submission.#japan #rizin #akimoto #mix #tokyo
