The Times of India

Mumbai Indians secured a crucial six-wicket victory against Punjab Kings, keeping IPL 2026 playoff hopes alive for several teams. While RCB and GT lead the standings, KKR and PBKS face must-win scenarios. MI and LSG are officially out, but the race for the remaining playoff spots remains intensely competitive with just a few games left.

Ravichandran Ashwin has demanded an urgent rule change for DRS after a controversial final-ball lbw reversal in the IPL. Punjab Kings were denied a leg-bye when an on-field 'out' decision was overturned, with Ashwin arguing the incorrect call cost them a run and the rule needs immediate IPL adoption.

The wicket came in the 14th over when Shardul Thakur bowled a full delivery on the pads. Shedge tried to flick it towards short midwicket, but the ball went in the air. Raj Bawa moved quickly to his left and completed the catch with a dive, ending Shedges innings on 8 off 5 balls.

Hockey legend PR Sreejesh publicly challenged Hockey India's decision not to renew his junior coaching contract, questioning the federation's development program and its heavy reliance on foreign coaches. He expressed concern over the perceived demotion from chief coach to goalkeeper coach, sparking a high-profile dispute over opportunities for Indian coaching talent.

Jasprit Bumrah captained Mumbai Indians for the first time in his 157th IPL match, a moment he found surprising. Stepping in due to unavailability of regular captains, Bumrah embraced the new challenge. Despite MI's tough season, he expressed a desire to enjoy the remaining games and learn from the experience, aiming to 'ruffle a few teams'.

Jasprit Bumrah captained Mumbai Indians for the first time, marking a unique IPL record. MI became the first team to have three Indian captains in a single season: Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Bumrah. This leadership shift highlights an unusual season for the franchise, with Bumrah making his captaincy debut after 156 matches.

Jannik Sinner has reached the Italian Open semi-finals, defeating Andrey Rublev to set a new ATP Masters 1000 record with 32 consecutive wins. This dominant performance, despite challenging conditions, solidifies his status as the favorite for the Rome title and a strong contender for the French Open.

Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjiv Goenka lauded teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's inclusion in the India A squad for the Sri Lanka tri-series. The 15-year-old's rapid rise, marked by an U19 World Cup final century, earned praise. Ayush Badoni also features, with selectors focusing on grooming young talent for future international commitments.

Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen has been surprisingly defeated in national trials, missing selection for the 2026 Commonwealth and Asian Games. Competing in the 51kg category, Zareen lost to Sakshi Chaudhary, marking a significant upset in Indian boxing. This outcome follows recent inconsistencies and a shift to a trial-based selection system.

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Aaron Finch warns that Mumbai Indians, despite their IPL 2026 standing, are a dangerous 'nothing to lose' opponent against Punjab Kings. Finch highlighted PBKS's poor fielding, citing 19 dropped catches this season as a major concern that has cost them crucial points and jeopardized their playoff hopes.

Virat Kohli's scintillating 105* off 60 balls powered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. The star batter's playful banter with Manish Pandey, caught on stump mic, also captured fan attention. Kohli's century propelled him past 14,000 T20 runs, making him the fastest Indian to achieve this milestone.

Regular captain Hardik Pandya is currently injured, while stand-in skipper Suryakumar Yadav has not traveled to Dharamsala for the match, as TimesofIndia.com reported.

Chennai Super Kings have signed South African all-rounder Dian Forrester as a replacement for the injured Jamie Overton for the remainder of IPL 2026. Forrester, a left-handed batter and right-arm pacer, brings T20 experience and a strong domestic record to the injury-hit CSK squad. The franchise hopes he can quickly fill the void as they push for a playoff spot.

Tilak Varma will lead the 15-member India A squad in a one-day tri-series in Sri Lanka, featuring Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A. The team includes emerging talents like Priyansh Arya and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, with Riyan Parag as vice-captain. The series will be followed by two multi-day matches against Sri Lanka A.

Mumbai Indians will be without both their regular captain Hardik Pandya and stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav for their match against Punjab Kings. Suryakumar is unavailable due to personal reasons, adding to the team's leadership challenges. The franchise faces a decision on who will lead the side for the fixture.

Indian selectors are poised to finalise squads for the Afghanistan Test and subsequent ODIs on May 19. Shubman Gill is expected to lead a strong batting lineup for the Test. With Jasprit Bumrah likely to be rested for the contest that doesn't form part of the World Test Championship, plenty of fresh faces are expected to make the cut. Regarding the ODI selection, no major surprises are expected

Pat Cummins has vehemently denied reports suggesting senior Australian cricketers might skip the home summer for lucrative overseas franchise leagues. While acknowledging the growing financial pull of T20 tournaments, Cummins stated that claims about SA20 NOCs and The Hundred offers are fabricated. He emphasized that current Australian players prioritize representing their country, though this commitment may not last indefinitely.

Thirteen Indian Super League clubs have presented a proposal to the AIFF, advocating for club-led commercialisation of the league. The plan suggests clubs hold 90% ownership in the ISL's operating entity, with AIFF retaining 10%. While acknowledging Genius Sports' tech expertise, clubs seek a reduced payment for the UK-based entity.

Dwayne Bravo praised Virat Kohli after his unbeaten 105 guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. In a viral dressing-room video, Bravo told Kohli, Play as long as possible, the sport needs you. Kohlis knock helped RCB chase 193 and move to the top of the points table.

Anshul Kamboj went viral after fans spotted a security guard resembling the Chennai Super Kings pacer during Vijays oath-taking ceremony as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. CSK later shared a video of Kamboj reacting to and meeting his lookalike. Even Ravichandran Ashwin joined the fun online as CSK stayed alive in the IPL playoff race.

Sunil Gavaskar lauded Virat Kohli's spectacular century, proving the enduring class of experienced players. Kohli's masterclass in chasing, his ninth IPL hundred, and becoming the fastest to 14,000 T20 runs silenced doubters. His innings highlighted his unparalleled ability to construct a chase, a feat few can match, reaffirming his legendary status.

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Mumbai Indians face Punjab Kings in Dharamsala, with captain Hardik Pandya highly unlikely to play due to back spasms. Suryakumar Yadav's availability is also uncertain as he remains in Mumbai after the birth of his child. Despite being eliminated, MI can impact Punjab's playoff hopes.

Faustino Oro, a 12-year-old Argentine chess prodigy known as the Messi of Chess, has become the second-youngest Grandmaster in history. TimesofIndia.com follows his journey from learning chess during the COVID lockdown in Buenos Aires to moving to Barcelona and competing globally. Despite tougher FIDE rules, Oros talent, discipline, and love for the game helped him succeed.

A looming rain threat in Dharamshala could significantly impact Punjab Kings' playoff aspirations as they face Mumbai Indians. A washout would grant both teams a point, potentially hindering PBKS's chances of securing a top-two finish and relying on split points rather than outright wins.

Rafael Nadal has denied rumours linking him to the presidency of Real Madrid following reports he could replace Florentino Perez after the clubs trophyless season. Nadal called the reports not true, while Perez insisted he would not resign despite criticism from fans after Madrid lost La Liga to Barcelona and exited the Champions League early.

Virat Kohli's spectacular unbeaten 105 against Kolkata Knight Riders propelled him from 10th to 3rd in the IPL 2026 Orange Cap race. This century guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a crucial victory and the top of the points table, re-establishing Kohli as a leading run-scorer.

Ankita Deokule, a US-born shooter of Indian origin, has been selected for the USA squad for the Munich World Cup starting May 24, where she will compete in the womens 25m sports pistol event. Her father, former Maharashtra shooter Amol Deokule, said it fulfilled his dream of competing globally. Ankita, inspired by Manu Bhaker, began shooting seriously after the pandemic.

Mohammed Siraj has become a formidable force for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026, forming a potent new-ball attack with Kagiso Rabada. His disciplined, Test-like bowling has revitalized his career after a stint with RCB, with former captain Kris Srikkanth praising his transformation into a 'deadly bowler' for GT.

Jacob Bethell accidentally dropped his gold chain while getting dismissed during Royal Challengers Bengalurus IPL 2026 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders in Raipur. Devdutt Padikkal later picked it up and returned it to him. The match, however, belonged to Virat Kohli, whose unbeaten 105 guided RCB to a six-wicket win and the top of the points table.

Virat Kohli delivered a masterful performance, smashing his ninth IPL century to lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a successful chase of 193 against Kolkata Knight Riders. This historic innings saw Kohli become the fastest player to 14,000 T20 runs and the first Indian with 10 T20 centuries, solidifying his legacy as a supreme chaser.

Virat Kohli made a strong comeback with his ninth IPL century. He guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. Kohli scored an unbeaten 106 off 60 balls. This win strengthened RCB's position in the IPL 2026 points table. Krunal Pandya had predicted Kohli's return to form.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru moved top of the IPL 2026 table after beating Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets in Raipur. Manish Pandey stole attention with a stunning one-handed catch to dismiss Tim David, leaving players shocked. However, Virat Kohli dominated the match with an unbeaten 105, becoming the fastest batter to reach 14,000 T20 runs and guiding RCB home comfortably.

Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 105 to guide Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026. Chasing 193 in Raipur, RCB won with five balls left as Kohli bounced back from two successive ducks. He called pressure a privilege after the match, while captain Rajat Patidar praised the teams collective effort as RCB moved top of the table.

With 13 league-stage games remaining, GT and RCB are almost assured of playoff spots, while SRH and PBKS remain well placed. CSK and RR have slightly better-than-even chances of making the top four, but KKR and DC are nearly out. Among 8,192 possible result combinations, GT and RCB also hold the strongest chances of finishing in the top two.

Virat Kohli etched his name in T20 history, becoming the fastest to 14,000 runs in just 409 innings. He celebrated this milestone with a match-winning unbeaten 105, his ninth IPL century, guiding Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a crucial victory. This stellar performance silenced recent critics and reaffirmed his status as a T20 legend.

South African pacer Kagiso Rabada lauded 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's fearless batting, calling him a rare talent with power and natural flair. Sooryavanshi has impressed by taking on elite bowlers. Rabada, enjoying a strong IPL season himself, emphasized his focus on outsmarting every batter, regardless of their reputation, highlighting Sooryavanshi as an 'X-factor' player.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru reclaimed the top spot in the IPL 2026 points table with a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders. Virat Kohli's unbeaten 105 guided RCB to their eighth victory, propelling them to 16 points and a superior net run rate. The defeat leaves KKR in eighth place, struggling to keep their playoff hopes alive.