The Times of India

Royal Challengers Bengaluru achieved a record-breaking score of 254/5 against Gujarat Titans in IPL Qualifier 1. This marks the highest total ever in IPL playoff history. Rajat Patidar led the charge with an unbeaten 93 off 33 balls. Virat Kohli and Krunal Pandya also contributed significantly to the massive total.

Shubman Gill expressed visible frustration as Rajat Patidar received two crucial lifelines in the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. Dropped by Jos Buttler and Jason Holder, then Kagiso Rabada, Patidar capitalized on the errors, going on to score a blistering half-century off just 21 balls.

Virat Kohli's explosive 43 off 25 balls against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 was cut short by Jason Holder. Despite the dismissal, Kohli achieved a historic milestone, becoming the first player to score 600+ runs in four consecutive IPL seasons. His knock, though ending prematurely, showcased his formidable form.

Kagiso Rabada has set a new IPL record for the most wickets in the Powerplay in a single season, surpassing Mohammed Shami's previous record. This achievement came during Gujarat Titans' Qualifier 1 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The winner of this high-stakes encounter will advance directly to the IPL final.

Former Pakistan Test batter Haroon Rasheed highlighted India's success due to long-term planning and a strong domestic system. He contrasted this with Pakistan's struggles stemming from inconsistency, frequent leadership changes, and an outdated domestic structure, warning of further decline if reforms aren't implemented.

With Indian football team's paucity of attacking choices apparent, Ryan Williams, who gave up his Australian passport to play for India, gathered plenty of media attention. Canadian striker Shaan Hundal is eager to follow in his footsteps but faces bureaucratic delays. He continues to hope for support to join the Indian Super League and secure a national team spot.

Gujarat Titans will bowl first against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. The winner directly enters the final. Gujarat Titans made one change to their team. Royal Challengers Bengaluru also made changes for the knockout clash. Both teams aim for a strong performance to secure a spot in the final.

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Uganda are currently touring Mumbai for four one-day matches and four T20 games. The T20 matches are being played against four separate teams from the T20 Mumbai League, which begins on June 1.

Punjab Kings, after a stellar start to IPL 2026, suffered a dramatic collapse, losing six consecutive matches to miss playoffs. A weak bowling attack, over-reliance on pace, fielding errors, and middle-order inconsistency proved costly. Despite a strong batting unit, tactical missteps and venue changes derailed their title aspirations.

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson said Mohammad Rizwan was dropped from the ODI squad and removed as captain as part of plans for the 2027 World Cup. Rizwan struggled in the Bangladesh series, scoring only 54 runs in three matches. Hesson said Pakistan wanted to test new combinations and improve team performance after winning only two ODIs in 12 months under Rizwans leadership.

Former cricketer Aakash Chopra condemned online abuse targeting players' families after Travis Head's wife revealed hateful messages. This controversy stemmed from a heated exchange between Head and Virat Kohli during an IPL match. The abuse highlights a disturbing trend of fans crossing boundaries and even mistakenly targeting rapper Travis Scott.

Dharamsala braces for potential rain as RCB faces GT in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. Should the match be washed out, table-toppers RCB advance directly to the final. Gujarat Titans, finishing second in the league stage, will proceed to Qualifier 2. Both teams boast strong lineups, setting the stage for an exciting playoff encounter.

The IPL 2026 playoffs begin with Qualifier 1 featuring defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Gujarat Titans. Both teams finished the league stage with identical records, setting up a clash of RCB's strong batting depth against GT's potent bowling attack. The Powerplay overs are expected to be crucial in deciding the outcome of this high-stakes encounter.

The Sports Ministry has notified new 2026 rules under the National Sports Governance Act to improve transparency and dispute resolution in Indian sports. A National Sports Board will oversee governance standards, while a National Sports Tribunal will handle sports-related disputes through faster digital processes. The reforms also include online hearings, public records, annual audits, and stricter conflict-of-interest rules for officials.

A heated debate over the IPL versus county cricket has erupted, with Jason Gillespie launching a scathing attack on Kevin Pietersen. Pietersen criticised Alastair Cook's suggestion that young talent Jacob Bethell should leave the IPL 2026 for county cricket, but Gillespie defended Cook's point about the importance of game time.

Lionel Messi suffered a minor injury scare after leaving Inter Miamis MLS match against Philadelphia Union with discomfort in his left hamstring. Inter Miami later confirmed it was muscle fatigue, with his return depending on recovery. The update comes weeks before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Messi is expected to captain defending champions Argentina despite not officially confirming participation yet.

Kolkata Knight Riders faced a disappointing IPL 2026 season, missing the playoffs for the second consecutive year. A winless start and injuries to key players like Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman significantly impacted the team. Despite a strong fightback, KKR could not overcome the early damage, finishing seventh. Youngsters Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Kartik Tyagi emerged as positives.

Arshdeep Singh sparked online speculation after deleting over 200 Instagram posts, including his viral Champions Trophy reel with Virat Kohli, and changing his profile picture without explanation. The move came after several IPL 2026 controversies, including backlash over an alleged racial remark and social media spats. Arshdeep also endured a disappointing season, taking 14 wickets with an economy rate above 10.

A TOI Online poll reveals Royal Challengers Bengaluru as IPL 2026 playoff favourites, backed by 39% of fans. Young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi emerged as the standout talent, securing 89% of votes for most promising player. Concerns about batting dominance and technology's impact on game flow were also highlighted by a significant majority of respondents.

Tennis legends Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils bid adieu to the French Open, marking the emotional end of their illustrious careers on the Paris clay. Monfils' thrilling five-set battle and Wawrinka's champion's farewell captivated fans, celebrating over two decades of unforgettable performances and remarkable achievements on the court.

A viral airport video of Rajasthan Royals captain Riyan Parag and teenage star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi amused fans after Parag joked, we're not flim stars! and Vaibhav reacted with an awkward stare. The clip surfaced after RR reached the IPL 2026 playoffs. Coach Kumar Sangakkara backed Parags leadership despite criticism, while Vaibhav said he aims to break Chris Gayles T20 record and score 200.

From being released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru to returning as a mid-season replacement and eventually leading the franchise to its maiden IPL title, Rajat Patidar's journey has been one of persistence and patience. Built on calmness rather than flamboyance, the 32-year-old has grown into a composed leader who now stands two wins away from joining an elite list of IPL captains with back-to-back titles.

Mumbai Indians endured their longest title drought, finishing ninth in IPL 2026 despite a star-studded squad. A relentless injury crisis, Jasprit Bumrah's dip in form, and poor powerplay/death bowling contributed to their disastrous campaign. Hardik Pandya's captaincy also faced heavy scrutiny as the team struggled to find stability and lost their Wankhede fortress.

Nepal has never had a UFC fighter. Rabindra Dhant is now closer than anyone before him. Ahead of his Road to UFC quarterfinal in Galaxy Arena of Macau, the 27-year-old reflects on hardship, missed opportunities, and the mindset that has kept him grounded through the biggest moment of his career.

Amid the Virat KohliShubman Gill spotlight and Dharamsalas batting-friendly conditions, IPL Qualifier 1 could be decided not by the big hitters but by the bowlers. With both Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru boasting disciplined and in-form attacks featuring Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Rashid Khan, the battle for early breakthroughs and composure in key overs may determine who books a direct ticket to the final.

IPL Qualifier 1: Virat Kohli vs Shubman Gill set to hold key

Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath picked his IPL 2026 league-stage best XII, leaving out Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. He chose Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shubman Gill as openers, with Sai Sudharsan, Heinrich Klaasen, and Rajat Patidar in the batting lineup. His bowling-heavy squad included Krunal Pandya, Sunil Narine, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jofra Archer, and Kagiso Rabada.

India enjoyed a decent opening day at Norway Chess as 20-year-old debutante Divya Deshmukh held World Champion Ju Wenjun to a classical draw before defeating her in the Armageddon tiebreak. Joining her in the winner's circle were D Gukesh and R Praggnanandhaa, who also won their respective Armageddon matches, while Magnus Carlsen suffered a shock defeat.

Shresta Iyer, sister of cricketer Shreyas Iyer, responded to online trolling after Punjab Kings missed the IPL 2026 playoffs. An old celebratory banter reel resurfaced, leading to abuse targeting her, her workplace, colleagues, and family. Shresta said the video was harmless fun, not hate, and urged trolls to stop harassing people connected to her personally and professionally.

Despite batting at a high strike rate, Rahul has the lowest false shot percentage this season at 12.1

DC ended sixth in the table with seven wins and seven defeats, extending their playoff drought to five straight seasons. It was also the second consecutive season in which the combination of head coach Hemang Badani and captain Axar Patel failed to guide the franchise into the top four.

GT skipper Shubman Gill looks in pristine touch ahead of playoffs

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 for a direct spot in the IPL 2026 final, which will be held in Ahmedabad. RCB captain Rajat Patidar acknowledged the challenging conditions for bowlers this season, with even 200-plus scores not guaranteeing safety. He emphasized the team's focus on execution and staying calm under pressure.

Virat Kohli in full flow ahead of Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala

Salt had missed the latter part of the league stage because of injury after featuring in the first six matches of the season. Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Monday, Patidar said the England batter remains under observation.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru face Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. Both teams, finishing with equal points, boast strong batting and bowling units. GT assistant coach Vijay Dahiya highlighted the importance of bowlers and key players like Kohli, Gill, and Sudharsan in this high-stakes encounter.

Despite a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign where Jasprit Bumrah took only four wickets, former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn backed the Indian speedster to return strongly next year and potentially win the Purple Cap. Steyn highlighted Bumrah's crucial role in India's recent T20 World Cup triumph, emphasizing his human side after a tough IPL season.

India's young tennis talents, Manas Dhamne and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi, are honing their skills in Europe. Sixteen-year-old Revathi, now embracing clay courts, is preparing for the Junior French Open. Her coach emphasised on building confidence and a strong junior ranking for a future transition to the pro tour.

Hours after becoming joint national record holders, both athletes were seen travelling in an e-rickshaw with their poles and equipment loaded alongside them after leaving Birsa Munda Stadium.

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Gurindervir Singh has etched his name in Indian athletics history, becoming the nation's fastest ever in the men's 100m with a stunning 10.09-second run. This remarkable feat, which also shattered the national record, earned him praise from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. The sprinter's performance also secured his spot for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant used a curse word in a post-match interview. This led to criticism. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar defended Pant. He suggested broadcasters should give losing captains more time to recover. This would prevent such incidents. Pant's team had a poor IPL 2026 season. He also struggled with his batting performance.