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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know News India Times (June 20, 2026 - June 26, 2026) June 26, 2026 26 Sports I ndian Premier League champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru have no immediate plans to follow rivals and buy franchises in overseas leagues, co-owner Satyan Gajwani said, as the new owners prioritise fan engagement over expansion. A consortium including the Aditya Birla Group, Times of India, Bolt Ventures and Blackstone bought the franchise for $1.78 billion in March, ending United Spirits’ tenure. Despite IPL teams including Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Kol- kata Knight Riders building a presence in leagues in the United States, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean, RCB are taking a cautious approach. “Don’t think we have any plans as of now. We’re a bit ahead of ourselves as we’re still focusing on closing the trans- action and then thinking about where we’re going from there,” Times Internet Chairman Gajwani told Reuters. “I think RCB as a brand is very centred around Bengaluru and around cricket.” Gajwani said the franchise’s immediate focus was on strengthening its core rather than stretching into new markets, even though he acknowledged the brand’s global potential. “The RCB brand warrants a global presence and that could be through other forms like academies that we could do on the ground, it could also be poten- tially through expanding into franchise cricket and other markets,” Gajwani said. “It’s still a little bit in the air to decide whether or not we want to do that.” RCB ended a 17-year wait for the men’s IPL title last season and retained it this year, while their women’s team have won titles in 2024 and 2026. However, Gajwani said the consor- tium’s immediate priority is to drive en- gagement beyond the IPL’s two-month window and address the persistent demand-supply gap for tickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium which has a capacity of only 33,800. “One of the issues we have is the stadium can only fit as many people and it’s not easy to buy tickets for RCB games. So, hopefully, we’ll find ways to grow the stadium and ways to bring more fans into it,” he added. - Reuters Royal Challengers Bengaluru In No Rush To Join Overseas Leagues, Says Co-Owner PHOTO: REUTERS/AMIT DAVE By Suramya Kaushik Cricket – Indian Premier League – IPL – Final – Royal Challengers Bengaluru v Gujarat Titans – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India – May 31, 2026 Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Rajat Patidar lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Indian Premier League. Cricket-Centurions Gill And Kishan Lead India To Series Win Over Afghanistan C aptain Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan led the way with centuries as they set up India’s massive 170-run victory over Afghanistan onWednesday, sealing the three-match one-day international (ODI) series with two straight wins. Gill and Kishan added 224 runs for the third wicket as India scored 402 after being put in to bat first in Lucknow. Afghanistan could only reach 232- 9 in reply, with Darwish Rasooli retiring hurt. After Yashasvi Jaiswal (4) fell early and Rohit Sharma (48) was bowled by Rashid Khan (3-48), Gill and Kishan kept the runs flowing, punishing the Afghan bowlers through the middle overs. When India neared the 200-run mark, the two batters upped the tempo, scoring 121 runs in nine overs to get India to 307-2 after 36 overs. Gill and Kishan both completed their centuries with bound- aries in the 33rd over, while collecting 21 runs from Bilal Sami. But spinner Nangeyalia Kharote (4-76) limited the damage, getting both of them out. Kishan, who scored his first ODI century since 2022, hit seven sixes and 14 boundaries en route to an explosive 125 off 79 balls before getting caught trying to pull Kharote for six. Gill was more measured, hitting only two sixes and 22 fours as he scored 154 off 110 balls, his ninth ODI hundred. But his tactful attempt to reverse sweep Kharote backfired, and the mis-timed shot got caught at deep point. Kharote dismissed KL Rahul for a golden duck in the very next ball, leaving India at 360-5 in the 43rd over. India lost the rest of their batters within 42 runs, and were bowled out with one ball to spare. SHAH’S LONELY BATTLE FALLS SHORT Afghanistan were up against the odds chasing a target of 403, and their chances looked thinner after Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who had scored a 48-ball century in the previous match, got dismissed at 41 by Gurnoor Brar (3-60). Sediqullah Atal (42) failed to get the visitors back on track. Darwish Rasooli had to retire hurt with a right hamstring injury soon after, and Brar bowled captain Hashmatullah Shahidi two balls later. By the time Arshdeep Singh (3-45) dismissed Rashid Khan and Allah Ghazanfar in two successive deliveries in different overs, it was all but over with Afghanistan at 190-7. “I did not realise I was on a hat-trick… now I have a regret,” said Singh in a post-match interview. But Rahmat Shah’s lonely resistance, with a defiant 79 off 89 balls, helped the visitors get to 232 before the fall of their ninth wicket ended the match in the 45th over. - Reuters Indian cricketer Shubhman Gill. PHOTO:TWITTER @SHUBHMANGILL