The Times of India

Pat Cummins' leadership has been pivotal for Sunrisers Hyderabad's resurgence into the IPL playoffs. Despite a mid-season injury, he guided the team to five wins in their final seven games. His empathetic approach, stemming from his own bowling experience, provides crucial guidance to young bowlers under pressure, normalizing knockout game situations for the team.

Rajat Patidar's explosive unbeaten 93 off 33 balls powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a commanding 254/5, the highest IPL playoff total ever. RCB then bowled out Gujarat Titans for 162, securing a dominant 92-run victory and their second consecutive IPL final appearance.

India's Yuki Bhambri and New Zealand's Michael Venus advanced to the second round of the French Open men's doubles, defeating Argentines Francisco Cerundolo and Mariano Kestelboim 7-5, 6-2. The Indo-Kiwi pair, who reached the Geneva final last week, overcame a slow start to secure their victory. Meanwhile, Sriram Balaji and Marcelo Demoliner also progressed, beating their opponents in three sets.

In an IPL season bereft of the talent and regular presence of MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has seemingly taken over the mantle. As the teenager dazzles with explosive batting, IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal says the BCCI and Rajasthan Royals must help nurture his rise and prepare him for the challenges ahead.

Naomi Osaka made a dramatic entrance at Roland Garros, revealing a sparkling gold-sequined dress beneath a black ensemble, stating her clothes allow her to express herself. Meanwhile, top seed Aryna Sabalenka also focused on her appearance, wearing layered diamond necklaces, believing feeling good about her outfit enhances her performance.

Rajat Patidar backed his pre-match claim of preferring pace over spin with a breathtaking 93 off 33 balls against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. The RCB skipper smashed nine sixes -- seven against pacers -- and now has 41 sixes this IPL season, with 27 coming against fast bowlers. Batting at No. 4, Patidar has scored 486 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 196.76, underlining his impact as one of RCB's most destructive middle-order batters.

Glenn Phillips reacted angrily after Gujarat Titans 92-run loss to RCB in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1. When a reporter asked if GT had mentally given up while chasing 255, Phillips called it a silly and terrible question, insisting professional cricketers never quit. He admitted scoreboard pressure hurt GT after early wickets, but said the team must now stay calm and prepare for the Eliminator.

Youngster Divya Deshmukh continued her fine start at Norway Chess by defeating country No. 1 Koneru Humpy in an Armageddon tiebreak after a tactical classical draw. It was a bleak day for India in the open section, however, as R Praggnanandhaa lost in classical to Alireza Firouzja, while D Gukesh fell to Wesley So in Armageddon.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru stormed into the IPL 2026 final after thrashing Gujarat Titans by 92 runs. Rajat Patidar starred with an unbeaten 93 off 33 balls as RCB posted 254/5. Gujarat collapsed during the chase, with Sai Sudharsan creating an unwanted IPL record after a bizarre hit-wicket dismissal. Rahul Tewatias 68 was not enough as GT were bowled out for 162.

Rajat Patidar's explosive 93* powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a dominant 92-run victory over Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1, securing their spot in a second consecutive IPL final. This remarkable win places RCB among elite franchises and Patidar in a select group of captains achieving this feat.

Mo Bobat hails RCBs complete team performance after Qualifier 1 win

Glenn Phillips reflects on GTs tough loss in Qualifier 1

Rajat Patidar's explosive 93 off 33 balls, featuring 9 sixes, propelled Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a record 254/5 and a dominant 92-run victory over Gujarat Titans. This commanding performance secured RCB's spot in their second consecutive IPL final, showcasing a fearless, attacking mindset.

Gujarat Titans suffered a crushing defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026 Qualifier 1, failing to chase a record 254/5. Skipper Shubman Gill admitted the team's fielding and bowling were below par, leading to a heavy loss. GT now heads to Qualifier 2 after RCB secured a direct final spot.

Gujarat Titans faced an unlucky start in Qualifier 1 as Sai Sudharsan was dismissed hit wicket after his bat slipped and dislodged the bails. This followed a massive 254/5 posted by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, powered by Rajat Patidar's explosive 93. The early wicket put immense pressure on the Titans' chase.

Rajat Patidar unleashed a destructive 93 off 33 balls, including nine sixes, to power Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a massive 254/5 against Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1. Dropped twice in the 14th over, Patidar turned anger into a breathtaking knock, leading RCB's late surge and ensuring a historic playoff batting performance.

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.

IPL 2026 playoffs decoded by astrology | Greenstone Lobo special

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