Rohit Sharma and New Zealand [Source: @Cricsam01, @BLACKCAPS/x]Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene clarifies the role of Rohit Sharma in the upcoming IPL 2026 season. KL Rahul will be appointed as an opener by the Delhi Capitals team management. In other news, New Zealand thrashed South Africa to level the five-match T20I series 1-1. Capping an eventful day in the world of cricket, here we take a look at five of the biggest cricketing news that emerged out of Tuesday, March 17. Conway, Santner sink South Africa as New Zealand level series New Zealand decimated South Africa by 68 runs in Hamilton in the second T20I to level the five-match series 1-1. Batting first, a sublime 49-ball 60 from opener Devon Conway and a whirlwind nine-ball 26* from Josh Clarkson elevated the New Zealand total to 175-6 in 20 overs. In response, South Africa folded up for just 107 in 15.3 overs, despite featuring a sizzling 12-ball 33 from George Linde. Lockie Ferguson and Ben Sears picked up three wickets each in the innings, while captain Mitchell Santner snared impressive figures of 2-19. KL Rahul to open for Delhi Capitals in IPL 2026: Report Senior India batter KL Rahul will likely be opening the innings for the Delhi Capitals franchise in the upcoming IPL 2026 season. The cricketer joined the Capitals for IPL 2025 last year after spending three seasons with the LSG as skipper. Batting mostly in the middle-order, Rahul aggregated 539 runs in just 13 innings of the tournament at a prolific average of 53.90 and with an explosive strike rate of nearly 150. Also Read- Aakash Chopra Predicts Orange Cap, Purple Cap Winners, Backs 'This' Team To Win IPL 2026Despite his middle-order pyro techniques in IPL 2025, KL Rahul will likely be promoted as an opener as the Capitals management is reportedly looking for a reliable batter at the top. Marnus Labuschagne to lead Hyderabad Kingsmen in PSL 2026 The Hyderabad Kingsmen franchise has appointed Marnus Labuschagne as team captain for the upcoming PSL 2026 season. The franchise confirmed the same after Labuschagne made himself fully available for the season as his domestic team got knocked out of the 2025-26 Sheffield Shield season in Australia. It is worth noting that Labuschagne was preferred over star all-rounder Saim Ayub, and it was earlier assumed that veteran Pakistan batter Hammad Azam would be leading the franchise instead. Josh Hazlewood to miss first two matches for RCB in IPL 2026 Josh Hazlewood is set to miss the first couple of matches of the RCB franchise at the start of the IPL 2026 season. The legendary Australian fast bowler is yet to attain full recovery from the injury he sustained prior to the 2025-26 Ashes series late last year. According to Cricbuzz, Hazlewood is being closely monitored by Cricket Australia medical staff back home, and is still expected to play a major part of RCB’s title-defence in IPL 2026. He recently missed the entire 2025-26 Ashes series and the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Mumbai Indians coach confirms Rohit Sharma’s role for IPL 2026 Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has confirmed that seasoned campaigner Rohit Sharma will not be utilized as an ‘Impact Sub’ in the upcoming IPL 2026 season. The former Sri Lanka captain stated that he is aiming to keep Rohit on the field as “much as possible”, as opposed to the IPL 2025 last year where he was utilized as an ‘Impact Substitute’ in 14 of the 15 matches he played throughout the tournament.Also Read- Ishan Kishan Vs Abhishek Sharma: Who Should Lead SRH In Pat Cummins’ Absence?
