Former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh has expressed his desire to mentor young batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying he sees the teenager as the next stage in the evolution of Indian cricket after helping shape the career of Abhishek Sharma.

Speaking to JioStar, Yuvraj praised the youngster's talent and maturity while indicating that he would like to spend time working with him, just as he has done with Abhishek over the years.

"I have spent a lot of time training Abhishek, and I would love to spend time with Vaibhav as well. He has a great career ahead of him. He is a serious player in the making, and I believe he will get there," Yuvraj said.

Yuvraj Sees New Generation Emerging

Drawing comparisons across generations, Yuvraj described Indian cricket's progression through successive batches of talented players.

"I always call myself a Terminator. Now there is Terminator 4, Abhishek Sharma, who is four times better than me. And after him comes Terminator 6, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has evolved even more," he said.

According to the former World Cup-winning cricketer, each generation is raising the standard of the sport.

"I did my part in my time, Abhishek elevated it, and now Vaibhav is setting new standards. This is the third phase of the same journey," he added.

Inspired by Modern Sport

Yuvraj also pointed to the changing landscape of global sport, saying the rapid evolution witnessed in tennis is similar to what he sees in cricket.

Referring to world tennis stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, he said their performances reflect how elite sport continues to evolve, adding that he notices the same transformation in players like Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Vaibhav Calls Meeting 'Special'

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi described his first interaction with Yuvraj Singh as a memorable experience, revealing that the former India star has long been one of his biggest inspirations.

"Yuvi Paaji is my idol too. Meeting him for the first time was a special moment," Vaibhav said.

The young batter explained that Yuvraj spoke extensively about the mental aspects of cricket, including handling pressure, maintaining self-belief and preparing for high-level competition.

"He shared a lot of insights about the game. He spoke about the mental side of the game, how to handle pressure, and the importance of believing in yourself. It feels great to have so much to learn from someone like him. I am sure it will help me a lot in my career going forward," he added.

Abhishek Reflects on His Own Journey

India batter Abhishek Sharma, who has trained under Yuvraj Singh for several years, said he could relate to Vaibhav's excitement after meeting his idol.

Speaking to JioStar, Abhishek recalled the emotions of meeting Yuvraj for the first time and said the recent opportunity to watch the Wimbledon 2026 final alongside Yuvraj and Vaibhav made the occasion even more memorable.

"I can feel what Vaibhav is feeling right now because Yuvi Paaji is my idol as well. I remember when I first met him, it was kind of the same feeling. Watching my first Wimbledon final with Yuvi Paaji and Vaibhav was a special day for me," he said.

Focus on Long-Term Development

Yuvraj Singh has earned widespread recognition in recent years for mentoring several young Indian cricketers, with Abhishek Sharma emerging as one of the most successful examples of his guidance.

His latest remarks suggest that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi could become the next young talent to benefit from the former all-rounder's experience as Indian cricket continues to prepare its next generation of international stars.

The IPL 2026 final between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans has gone down as the most-watched match in the tournament's history, capping off what officials are calling a record-breaking season on the broadcast front as well as on the field. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, led by Rajat Patidar, lifted the trophy after beating Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 31, becoming only the third franchise after Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians to win back-to-back IPL titles.

RCB Wins Back-To-Back Crown

The final itself turned out to be fairly one-sided. Gujarat Titans, captained by Shubman Gill, batted first and were restricted to 155 for 8. RCB chased the target down comfortably inside 18 overs, with Virat Kohli, who has featured in every IPL season since the league's inception, hitting the winning six to seal the title for his side.

Record Viewership Numbers

According to a release issued by broadcaster JioStar, the final alone reached across 400 million, or 40 crore, screens, making it the most-watched single match in the competition's run so far. The season overall recorded a watch time of 870 billion minutes, translating to roughly 87,000 crore minutes, a figure JioStar described as a season-high benchmark for the tournament.

JioStar Reports Growth Numbers

The broadcaster's statement said the IPL 2026 season pushed overall reach past 1.2 billion, marking a 7 percent rise compared with the previous year. JioStar attributed part of the growth to new storylines and standout individual performances through the season that kept audiences engaged, noting separately that watch time touched 870 billion minutes across the competition.

CEO Hails Platform Integration

JioStar CEO Ishan Chatterjee, commenting on the numbers, said the broadcaster had worked through the season to build what it sees as a genuinely integrated sports platform, where fans were not just watching matches but engaging with content in more personalised ways. He said connected TV viewing and regional-language coverage had turned into significant drivers of growth this season, adding that the results reflected efforts across the platform and would not have been possible without every screen, every interaction, and every moment meaningful for viewers, alongside what he termed the BCCI's steady partnership through the season.

Sooryavanshi Sweeps Top Awards

On the individual honours front, teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi had a standout season, sweeping nearly every major batting award on offer. The 15-year-old finished with 776 runs to claim the Orange Cap, becoming the youngest player to do so in IPL history. He was also named Most Valuable Player and Emerging Player of the Season, besides picking up awards for the most sixes, with a tournament-record 72, and the highest strike rate of the season.

Other Award Winners Named

Gujarat Titans opener Sai Sudharsan was recognised for hitting the most fours through the season, while his teammate Kagiso Rabada claimed the Purple Cap after finishing with 29 wickets, the highest tally among bowlers in IPL 2026. Together, the individual honours rounded off a season that organisers and the broadcaster both described as one of the most competitive editions of the tournament in recent years.

With RCB's second straight title and the IPL's viewership numbers setting fresh benchmarks, attention will now shift to whether the franchise can extend its dominance into the next edition, even as broadcasters look to build on this season's reach heading into IPL 2027.

FIFA revenue hit at lead
FIFA is likely to get significantly lower returns from the sale of India TV rights for the 2026 World Cup after major broadcasters scaled back bids, according to industry sources and documents reviewed by Reuters and other outlets. The drop comes as media houses weigh the late-night, early-morning broadcast window for matches in North America and reassess advertising prospects.

Bidders thin out
Initial demands from FIFA reportedly sought about $100 million (roughly ₹955 crore) for a bundled television and streaming package for India, then later fell to a floor of around $60 million (₹573 crore). Sources familiar with broadcaster negotiations said offers on the table ended up near $20 million (about ₹191 crore) before bidders withdrew. JioStar — a large media group — exited the race after a final offer, leaving Zee Entertainment Enterprises as the principal bidder currently engaged in talks.

Why offers dropped
Media analysts said the time-zone mismatch is the primary deterrent. Matches hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico will often kick off in the early hours in India, undermining live viewership figures and reducing the appeal of peak-time ad inventory. “Late-night fixtures translate to lower real-time audiences and muted ad revenue, which directly hits the valuation,” an industry analyst familiar with the talks said on condition of anonymity.

Zee's strategy
Zee has indicated interest in using the tournament to expand its sports footprint and is planning new sports channels under the brand ‘Unite8 Sports’, according to people briefed on the matter. Industry executives said Zee is seeking a deal at a much lower price than FIFA’s initial expectations, aiming for a package that leaves room for subscription and digital monetisation given the time-shifted viewing behaviour.

Broadcasting context
In 2022, Viacom18 — now a Reliance-Disney joint venture — paid about $62 million (around ₹592 crore) for Indian broadcasting rights and streamed matches on Sports18 and JioCinema. The sharp softening of bids this cycle could mean FIFA receives roughly one-third of that amount, industry figures estimate, although final numbers will depend on whether Zee closes a deal and on the exact scope of rights (TV, streaming, highlights, sublicensing).

Ticketing row complicates optics
The rights debate comes amid wider controversy surrounding FIFA’s ticketing for the 2026 World Cup. Investigations by US state authorities, including in New York and California, were reported after fans and consumer groups accused FIFA of using dynamic pricing and creating a new “Front Category” that allegedly displaced early buyers. Ticket prices have soared — the cheapest public tickets start around $120 (about ₹11,460) while best-category final match seats climbed to as high as $10,990 (about ₹10.49 lakh) after dynamic pricing adjustments. The ticketing uproar has cast a shadow over FIFA’s wider commercial approach to the tournament.

Impact on viewers and advertisers
For Indian broadcasters and advertisers, the calculus is changing. Brands typically pay premiums for live events that guarantee mass, appointment viewing. With matches airing at inconvenient hours, advertisers may demand steep discounts or opt for targeted digital buys instead. That in turn reduces the pool of revenue a broadcaster can recoup, pressuring bid prices downward.

What’s next
Negotiations between FIFA and Zee were ongoing at the time of filing. If Zee signs a low-cost deal, FIFA’s India take will shrink markedly compared with 2022, forcing the governing body to rely more on other markets to meet revenue forecasts. Media houses are also weighing sublicensing or time-shifted streaming packages as backup monetisation strategies.

Broader significance
A reduced payout from India — one of the world’s largest football markets by viewership potential — would be notable for global sports rights trends, signalling how time zones and changing consumption patterns are reshaping the economics of mega-events.