The Times of India
Elections 2026Sports / The Times of India
Guardiola, who still had one year left on his contract, will take charge of his final match against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.
Ravichandran Ashwin believes Chennai Super Kings must invest in quality cricketers and a balanced squad for future IPL seasons. He stated the franchise can no longer rely on past strategies, emphasizing the need for experienced bowlers and spinners. Ashwin also questioned if the current CSK squad is suited for Chepauk's batting conditions, suggesting a more patient approach is required.
Exclusive! Pat Cummins opens up on SRH, six-hitting era & Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Devdutt Padikkal lauded teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi as a are talent, deeming any attempt to replicate his unique batting style foolish. Sooryavanshi's explosive 93 off 38 balls made him the youngest to score 500+ T20 runs in a season, surpassing Padikkal's previous record. Both left-handers have been impactful players for their franchises.
The Delhi High Court strongly criticised the Wrestling Federation of India for deeming Vinesh Phogat ineligible, suspecting rule changes targeted her post-maternity break. The court questioned the federation's actions, emphasising motherhood shouldn't disadvantage athletes, and directed the Centre to form an expert panel to assess her fitness for the Asian Games trials, ensuring her participation.
Punjab Kings coach Ricky Ponting dismisses social media criticism amid a six-match winless streak, asserting the team remains focused. He believes qualifying for the playoffs will silence negativity and urges players to recall their early-season fearless brand of cricket to revive their fading hopes against Lucknow Super Giants.
Rashid Khan on GTs bowling, consistency and Shubman Gills leadership
Eric Simons provides update on MS Dhoni's future and recaps CSK's season
Former cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan revealed he was compelled to commentate shortly after his brother's cremation, highlighting immense professional pressure. He also cited this and alleged colour discrimination as reasons for his recent retirement from the BCCI commentary panel, detailing past struggles with mental health and appearance-based bias.
Ravichandran Ashwin has defended Ruturaj Gaikwad against fan criticism following Chennai Super Kings' IPL 2026 playoff exit. Ashwin urged supporters to stop abusing the young captain, emphasizing that poor form is common and highlighting the increased competitiveness of the IPL. He noted Gaikwad's struggles as both batter and captain during the season.
MS Dhoni's IPL future rests solely with him, according to CSK bowling coach Eric Simons. Despite a leg injury sidelining him from IPL 2026, Dhoni is reportedly striking the ball brilliantly in nets. Simons emphasised that Dhoni will only return if he feels he can contribute fully, prioritising the team's best interests over personal milestones.
Sunrisers Hyderabad host Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a crucial IPL 2026 playoff qualifier. The winner secures a top-two finish, with the Hyderabad pitch expected to favor batting first in this night match. SRH holds a slight head-to-head advantage, but RCB has a strong away record.
The world's largest esports tournament has relocated from Riyadh to Paris for its 2026 edition due to Middle East conflict concerns. This move, backed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, will feature a $75 million prize pool and over 2,000 players. French President Macron hailed the event as a 'historic first' for France, anticipating a significant tourism boost.
Virat Kohli is on the cusp of a historic IPL milestone, needing just 58 runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad to become the first player with four consecutive 600-plus run seasons. He is currently tied with Chris Gayle, David Warner, and KL Rahul, who each achieved the feat in three consecutive seasons.
Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill etched their names in IPL history with remarkable performances against Chennai Super Kings. Both batters surpassed 600 runs for the second consecutive season, a feat achieved by only a select few. Their dominant opening partnership also saw them climb various T20 and IPL record lists.
India is taking a bold stand against doping in sports by proposing strict penalties for those involved in the distribution and trafficking of banned substances. With proposed jail sentences reaching ten years and substantial fines, this legislation seeks to defend the integrity of athletics and bring down the criminal networks that undermine it.
Cricket legend Dilip Vengsarkar is absolutely fuming! He's slammed the selectors for completely snubbing Auqib Nabi, the Ranji Trophy's top bowler, for the Afghanistan Test. Despite Nabi's incredible 60 wickets and being named Player of the Tournament for leading J&K to their first title, they apparently passed him over due to 'pace concerns'.
Pat Cummins opens up on SRHs fearless brand of cricket, the changing landscape of T20 batting, workload management, and surviving as an all-format fast bowler. The Australia captain also reflects on leadership, adapting to modern cricket, and the wow moment Vaibhav Sooryavanshi produced while taking on bowlers in the IPL
Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad has been fined INR 24 lakh for a slow over-rate, marking their second offense this IPL 2026 season. The penalty came as Gujarat Titans crushed CSK by 89 runs, eliminating them from playoff contention. GT's strong batting, led by Gill and Sudharsan, set a massive target, while CSK's chase faltered significantly.
Shubman Gill's spectacular diving catch to dismiss Shivam Dube was a pivotal moment in Gujarat Titans' victory over Chennai Super Kings. This win officially eliminated CSK from the IPL 2026 playoffs and secured a top-two finish for GT. Gill's effort, coupled with strong batting performances, sealed a dominant season double over Chennai.
Gujarat Titans openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill have surged to the top two spots in the IPL 2026 Orange Cap standings after impressive performances against Chennai Super Kings. Sudharsan reclaimed the lead with 638 runs, while Gill sits second with 616 runs, highlighting their crucial role in GT's strong league stage finish.
Shubman Gill's Gujarat Titans secured a commanding victory over Chennai Super Kings, eliminating them from IPL 2026 playoffs. Following their second dominant win, Gill posted a witty social media caption, continuing a trend of viral post-match messages. GT's strong batting and bowling performance ensured their top-two finish, while CSK's campaign concluded.
The IPL 2026 playoff race intensifies with Gujarat Titans securing a dominant win, virtually confirming their top-two spot. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Sunrisers Hyderabad vie for the other top-two position. Rajasthan Royals are frontrunners for the final playoff berth, but Punjab Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals are still in contention, making the final league matches crucial deciders.
Cristiano Ronaldo finally clinched his maiden Saudi Pro League title with Al Nassr, scoring twice in a decisive 4-1 victory. The Portuguese superstar's emotional triumph came after two seasons of near misses, adding another domestic league crown to his illustrious career. His arrival has significantly boosted Saudi football's global profile.
Chennai Super Kings were eliminated from IPL 2026 after suffering their biggest-ever defeat, a crushing 89-run loss to Gujarat Titans. Gujarat Titan's dominant batting and Mohammed Siraj's fiery bowling consolidated their second spot in the IPL 2026 playoffs, while CSK's campaign ended in record disappointment.
MS Dhoni's participation in IPL 2027 is uncertain. Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad stated that even the team is unaware of Dhoni's return next season. Dhoni missed IPL 2026 due to injury. CSK's campaign ended with a loss to Gujarat Titans. The team faced challenges with injuries and a young squad.
Shubman Gill scored 64 off 37 balls while B Sai Sudharsan made 84 off 53 balls as the opening pair added 125 runs. It was their seventh century partnership in the IPL, the most by any pair in the tournaments history.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni's streak of playing in every IPL season for Chennai Super Kings ended in IPL 2026 due to a thumb injury. He missed the final league match against Gujarat Titans, marking his first absence from a game for the franchise he captained to five titles. His return hinges on CSK's playoff qualification.
East Bengal ended a 22-year wait for a national league title by clinching the 2025-26 ISL crown after a dramatic final matchday involving five title contenders. Dominant throughout the season, the Red and Gold Brigade combined attacking flair, consistency and resilience to edge rivals Mohun Bagan and script a historic triumph.
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan continued their dominant IPL 2026 form with a 125-run opening stand against CSK. This marks their second consecutive season with both batters crossing 600 runs, a unique feat in IPL history. Sudharsan also achieved his fifth consecutive 50-plus score.
Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan achieved their 10th century partnership in T20s, equalling a record held by legendary pairs. They reached this milestone in just 46 innings, significantly faster than others. The Gujarat Titans duo also set an IPL record with their seventh opening century stand.
Chennai Super Kings' Sanju Samson sustained an early finger injury during their IPL 2026 match against Gujarat Titans, forcing him off the field. The incident occurred in the second over while attempting to stop a wide delivery. Urvil Patel took over wicketkeeping duties as Samson received medical attention.
Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad won the toss and chose to bowl against Gujarat Titans. This is a crucial match for CSK in IPL 2026. Ruturaj Gaikwad made two changes to the playing XI. Gujarat Titans have already qualified for the playoffs. Shubman Gill made one change for Gujarat Titans.
Kohli and Rohit retired from Test cricket last year and now only play ODI cricket for India. Apart from international matches, most of their cricket now comes in the IPL.
Rajasthan Royals' 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi delivered a match-winning 93 off 38 balls, including 10 sixes, to chase down 221 against LSG. He reassured coach Sangakkara, stating, 'ho jayega,' and then proceeded to keep playoff hopes alive. Sooryavanshi also became the youngest Indian to hit 50 IPL sixes in a season.
The proposed amendments have been uploaded on the sports ministrys website for public feedback, with June 18 set as the deadline for suggestions.
Former cricketer Kirti Azad has debunked a viral social media image claiming to be the 1983 World Cup victory celebration bill. Azad clarified that the receipt, purportedly from London's Grosvenor Hotel, is fake, including a forged Kapil Dev signature. He stated the team actually celebrated at the Westmoreland Hotel, refuting the fabricated details of luxury items and the location.
Saurabh Dubeys selection as Kolkata Knight Riders injury replacement raised eyebrows after the left-arm pacer spent over two years out of competitive cricket. But KKRs faith in the former net bowler is beginning to pay off. After impressive spells against Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians, including wickets of Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, Dubey has emerged as one of the surprise stories of KKRs season.
Prince Yadav's father reacts to son's India ODI call-up vs Afghanistan
Speculation about Virat Kohli's potential return to Test cricket has resurfaced following comments from his childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma. Sharma hinted that discussions regarding a comeback are underway, igniting excitement among fans who believe the former captain still has unfinished business in the longest format. Kohli retired from Test cricket in May 2025 after a distinguished 14-year career.
Anukul Roy joins the India A squad for the upcoming tri-series in Sri Lanka. This change follows Harsh Dubey's maiden call-up to the senior India team for the home series against Afghanistan. The tri-series will feature India A, Sri Lanka A, and Afghanistan A. Anukul Roy has been a valuable player for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026.
Bangladesh achieved a historic 2-0 Test series whitewash against Pakistan, culminating in an emotional dressing room celebration. Players united to sing Amra Korbo Joy after their dominant 78-run victory in the second Test. This triumph signifies Bangladesh's growing confidence and consistency in Test cricket.
The Indian Super League 2025-26 season culminates in a thrilling title race, with five teams vying for glory. East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Bengaluru FC are level on points, but only the Kolkata giants can add to their tally. Punjab FC, Mumbai City FC and Jamshedpur FC are close behind, setting the stage for a dramatic finale.
ISL Highlights: Mohun Bagan Super Giant vs East Bengal on May 17
Paras Mhambrey on MI loss: 'it wasn't an easy wicket'

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