DRS April 3: BCCI on Mustafizur Rahman, boost for Mumbai Indians and new Shreyas Iyer's IPL update?

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 continues to enthral fans as all the teams have played at least one match now. Recently, KKR and SRH played their second game, with SRH clinching the win easily on the back of Nitish Kumar Reddy’s all-round show. Speaking about KKR, there has been a word by the IPL chairman on the Mustafizur Rahman row that happened after the IPL 2026 auction. Meanwhile, there’s a boost for the Mumbai Indians (MI) and an update on Shreyas Iyer as well.

IPL Chairman on Mustafizur row

IPL chairman Arun Dhumal has broken his silence on KKR being forced to release Mustafizur Rahman due to BCCI’s directive, calling it “unfortunate”. The Bangladesh pacer was bought by KKR for Rs 9.20 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction but released amid India-Bangladesh tensions. Dhumal stated the government had no interest in running cricket day-to-day, but sometimes decisions are forced by circumstances. The move began a huge controversy, which led to Bangladesh pulling out of the T20 World Cup and Rahman playing in the PSL instead. Read more here.

Shreyas Iyer update

Shreyas Iyer’s hand injury, suffered during PBKS’ win over GT, isn’t a cause for concern. He was hit by a Cooper Connolly shot while batting, but PBKS assistant coach Brad Haddin says there’s no fracture, and Iyer’s available for selection against CSK on April 3. Iyer’s been optimistic, saying his hand is “nice, same as it was before”. If he plays, PBKS might field the same XI, but Musheer Khan could replace him if needed. The team has a strong squad with plenty of options. Read more here.

Boost for MI

Mumbai Indians (MI) got a boost as Mitchell Santner joined the squad ahead of their IPL 2026 match against Delhi Capitals. Santner, who recently led New Zealand to the T20 World Cup final, had missed MI’s season opener against KKR due to international duties. He’s likely to be available for selection against DC. Bought for INR 2 crore, Santner is a solid spin option, having picked up 25 wickets in 31 IPL matches. He has improved his batting vastly in recent times as well. England all-rounder Will Jacks is still awaited to join the squad. Read more here.

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Fight in an IPL match

A fight broke out between DC and LSG fans at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow during DC’s 6-wicket win over LSG. Videos show fans engaging in a heated altercation that turned physical, but security personnel intervened to calm the situation. This isn’t the first instance of fan violence at a cricket match. On the field, DC chased down LSG’s 141-run target in 17.1 overs, thanks to Sameer Rizvi’s 70* and Tristan Stubbs’ 39*. Read more here.

BCCI to expand IPL?

The BCCI has plans to expand the IPL after 2027, adding more matches and possibly two new teams. The league’s popularity is soaring year-on-year basis. However, the current international cricket schedule leaves little room for expansion. IPL chairman Arun Dhumal says a bigger window is needed, and the board is looking at the next FTP cycle from 2027 onwards. The idea is to increase matches first, then consider adding teams. There’s investor interest, but timing is crucial. The cricket might adopt a ‘football way’ model, with fewer bilaterals and more league cricket. Read more here.

Nuwan Thusara vs Sri Lanka Cricket Board

Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara is taking Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to court over their refusal to grant him a NOC for IPL 2026. Thushara, retained by RCB for ₹1.6 crore, failed SLC’s new fitness test and was denied the NOC. He’s arguing that his fitness levels are fine and SLC’s decision is unfair. The court hearing is on April 9, and Thushara’s seeking permission to play in IPL 2026. If he doesn’t join RCB by mid-April, he risks being replaced and losing income. Read more here.

Cricket Indian Premier League (IPL)IPL 2026 Mumbai Indians Mustafizur Rahman Shreyas Iyer