Sports news
#Deadspin #Timo #Werners #1st #MLS #goal #leads #San #Joses #road #rout #LAFC">Deadspin | Timo Werner’s 1st MLS goal leads San Jose’s road rout of LAFC
Apr 19, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Jose Earthquakes forward Ousseni Bouda (7) runs with the ball against Los Angeles Football Club defender Eddie Segura (4) during the first period at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images Timo Werner scored a goal with an assist in a three-minute stretch and the San Jose Earthquakes continued their franchise-record start to the season with a 4-1 road victory over Los Angeles FC on Sunday.
Ousseni Bouda scored a pair of goals for the Earthquakes, who took charge in a dominating five-minute stretch of the second half. Bouda scored in the 53rd minute for a 1-0 lead, Werner followed with a goal in the 56th minute and LAFC coughed up an own goal in the 58th minute to make it 3-0.
Daniel made three saves as San Jose (7-1-0, 21 points) moved even on points with the Vancouver Whitecaps atop the Western Conference.
Werner, who was acquired from Germany’s RB Leipzig in January, was making just his second MLS start and had not played in a league game since March 21 because of a lower-body injury.
After advancing to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals on Tuesday, LAFC (5-2-1, 16 points) allowed more than two goals in an MLS game for the first time this season while dropping their second consecutive league match.
LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who had not allowed a goal all season, made two saves. His club-record scoreless streak of 594 minutes ended with Bouda’s first goal of the match. LAFC opened the season with an MLS-record six consecutive shutouts.
Bouda’s initial goal came off a cross from Werner as he blasted a shot short side against Lloris. Werner scored his first career MLS goal a short time later when he picked up an LAFC turnover near midfield and worked his way through the defense to score from just outside the 6-yard box.
The Earthquakes made it 3-0 when Jamar Ricketts sent a cross in front of the goal and LAFC defender Ryan Porteous deflected the ball into the goal.
The Earthquakes saw the lead cut to 3-1 on an own goal when defender Reid Roberts deflected a ball past Daniel with his left foot.
Bouda made it 4-1 in the 80th minute when he scored again on the short side past a flat-footed Lloris.
–Field Level Media
Apr 19, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Jose Earthquakes forward Ousseni Bouda (7) runs with the ball against Los Angeles Football Club defender Eddie Segura (4) during the first period at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images Timo Werner scored a goal with an assist in a three-minute stretch and the San Jose Earthquakes continued their franchise-record start to the season with a 4-1 road victory over Los Angeles FC on Sunday.
Ousseni Bouda scored a pair of goals for the Earthquakes, who took charge in a dominating five-minute stretch of the second half. Bouda scored in the 53rd minute for a 1-0 lead, Werner followed with a goal in the 56th minute and LAFC coughed up an own goal in the 58th minute to make it 3-0.
Daniel made three saves as San Jose (7-1-0, 21 points) moved even on points with the Vancouver Whitecaps atop the Western Conference.
Werner, who was acquired from Germany’s RB Leipzig in January, was making just his second MLS start and had not played in a league game since March 21 because of a lower-body injury.
After advancing to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals on Tuesday, LAFC (5-2-1, 16 points) allowed more than two goals in an MLS game for the first time this season while dropping their second consecutive league match.
LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who had not allowed a goal all season, made two saves. His club-record scoreless streak of 594 minutes ended with Bouda’s first goal of the match. LAFC opened the season with an MLS-record six consecutive shutouts.
Bouda’s initial goal came off a cross from Werner as he blasted a shot short side against Lloris. Werner scored his first career MLS goal a short time later when he picked up an LAFC turnover near midfield and worked his way through the defense to score from just outside the 6-yard box.
The Earthquakes made it 3-0 when Jamar Ricketts sent a cross in front of the goal and LAFC defender Ryan Porteous deflected the ball into the goal.
The Earthquakes saw the lead cut to 3-1 on an own goal when defender Reid Roberts deflected a ball past Daniel with his left foot.
Bouda made it 4-1 in the 80th minute when he scored again on the short side past a flat-footed Lloris.
–Field Level Media
Apr 19, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Jose Earthquakes forward Ousseni Bouda (7) runs with the ball against Los Angeles Football Club defender Eddie Segura (4) during the first period at BMO Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images Timo Werner scored a goal with an assist in a three-minute stretch and the San Jose Earthquakes continued their franchise-record start to the season with a 4-1 road victory over Los Angeles FC on Sunday.
Ousseni Bouda scored a pair of goals for the Earthquakes, who took charge in a dominating five-minute stretch of the second half. Bouda scored in the 53rd minute for a 1-0 lead, Werner followed with a goal in the 56th minute and LAFC coughed up an own goal in the 58th minute to make it 3-0.
Daniel made three saves as San Jose (7-1-0, 21 points) moved even on points with the Vancouver Whitecaps atop the Western Conference.
Werner, who was acquired from Germany’s RB Leipzig in January, was making just his second MLS start and had not played in a league game since March 21 because of a lower-body injury.
After advancing to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semifinals on Tuesday, LAFC (5-2-1, 16 points) allowed more than two goals in an MLS game for the first time this season while dropping their second consecutive league match.
LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, who had not allowed a goal all season, made two saves. His club-record scoreless streak of 594 minutes ended with Bouda’s first goal of the match. LAFC opened the season with an MLS-record six consecutive shutouts.
Bouda’s initial goal came off a cross from Werner as he blasted a shot short side against Lloris. Werner scored his first career MLS goal a short time later when he picked up an LAFC turnover near midfield and worked his way through the defense to score from just outside the 6-yard box.
The Earthquakes made it 3-0 when Jamar Ricketts sent a cross in front of the goal and LAFC defender Ryan Porteous deflected the ball into the goal.
The Earthquakes saw the lead cut to 3-1 on an own goal when defender Reid Roberts deflected a ball past Daniel with his left foot.
Bouda made it 4-1 in the 80th minute when he scored again on the short side past a flat-footed Lloris.
–Field Level Media
Apr 19, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Jose Earthquakes forward Ousseni Bouda (7) runs…
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Kate Hudson and Brenda Song Tease Kids’ Potential Careers
Kate Hudson’s and Brenda Song’s kids may be running toward the big screen someday. The…
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#India #extremely #high #doping #risk #Athletics #Integrity #Unit">India ‘extremely high’ doping risk: Athletics Integrity Unit
India has been elevated to a list of nations including Russia where there is an “extremely high” risk of doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit said on Monday.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) joins the likes of Russia, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine in the AIU’s highest rating of Category A after being moved up from Category B.
Category A means India’s athletes must now comply with more stringent anti-doping requirements.
The world’s most populous country ranked in the top two for the most anti-doping violations in athletics between 2022 and 2025, the AIU said.
“The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk,” AIU chair David Howman said.
“While the AFI has advocated for anti-doping reforms within India, not enough has changed.
“The AIU will now work with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of the sport of athletics, as we have done with other Category A member federations.”
The AIU is an independent body tasked with fighting corruption and wrongdoing, including doping, in athletics.
India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, seen as a stepping stone for its ambition of staging the 2036 Olympics.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Witold Banka was in New Delhi last week and said India is the biggest producer of performance-enhancing drugs.
However, he noted that India consistently leading the list of drug cheats will not hamper its chances of hosting prestigious global sporting events.
Published on Apr 20, 2026
India has been elevated to a list of nations including Russia where there is an “extremely high” risk of doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit said on Monday.
The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) joins the likes of Russia, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine in the AIU’s highest rating of Category A after being moved up from Category B.
Category A means India’s athletes must now comply with more stringent anti-doping requirements.
The world’s most populous country ranked in the top two for the most anti-doping violations in athletics between 2022 and 2025, the AIU said.
“The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk,” AIU chair David Howman said.
“While the AFI has advocated for anti-doping reforms within India, not enough has changed.
“The AIU will now work with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of the sport of athletics, as we have done with other Category A member federations.”
The AIU is an independent body tasked with fighting corruption and wrongdoing, including doping, in athletics.
India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, seen as a stepping stone for its ambition of staging the 2036 Olympics.
World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Witold Banka was in New Delhi last week and said India is the biggest producer of performance-enhancing drugs.
However, he noted that India consistently leading the list of drug cheats will not hamper its chances of hosting prestigious global sporting events.
Published on Apr 20, 2026
India has been elevated to a list of nations including Russia where there is an…
Sports news
#Deadspin #Hannah #Green #heats #late #wins #playoff #title">Deadspin | Hannah Green heats up late, wins in playoff for third LA title
Aug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Australia’s Hannah Green stormed back from a six-shot deficit on the back nine and won a three-way playoff with a birdie putt to capture her third title in four years at the JM Eagle LA Championship on Sunday in Tarzana, Calif.
Green defeated South Koreans Jin Hee Im and Sei Young Kim when the trio replayed the par-4 18th hole at El Caballero Country Club.
Before that, Green made a late charge with four straight birdies and five in a six-hole span, and she needed help in the form of a bogey by then-leader Kim at the par-3 17th hole to create a tie at 17 under par. Green signed for 68, Kim settled for a 70 and Im had a 67 in the fourth round before they returned to the tee box for the playoff.
While Im missed the fairway and the green, Green and Kim were in the fairway and Green stuck her approach reasonably closer than Kim. After Kim missed a long birdie try and cleaned up for par, Green’s putt in the 12-foot range curled right to left and dropped.
Green, 29, has won three of the four editions of the LA Championship and three of her eight LPGA victories have come at the event. She claimed the 2023 and 2024 editions that were played at Wilshire Country Club, the former coming in a three-way playoff as well.
“I’m definitely nervous,” Green said about experiencing nerves in a playoff. “I felt like that wedge (second shot) probably flew a little bit further because of the nerves from within. No, I don’t think I would be doing this or be in contention if I wasn’t nervous. Those are the feelings that you want when you’re out here. That’s what makes you want to just do it over and over again.”
Green was 12 under for the tournament while starting the 11th hole. Kim eagled that hole to push the lead to 18 under, but Green made birdie before getting on a white-hot run with birdies at Nos. 13-16.
“Felt like I was doing what I kind of said I wanted to do yesterday: Hit more greens,” Green said. “Felt like it was quite difficult to get it close to the green. I felt like I was giving myself good opportunities but I had so many downhill putts and you just can’t really be aggressive with them.
“I honestly didn’t think I was in the tournament still. I was just like, ‘Oh well, just go for as many pins as possible,’ and got on a nice stretch there. … I’m just fortunate enough that I at least got into the playoff.”
Green, Im and Kim all will benefit from Saturday’s surprise announcement that the CEO of JM Eagle, Walter Wang, was raising the purse by $1 million to a total of $4.75 million. Across women’s golf, only the major championships and the CME Group Tour Championship are more lucrative.
South Korea’s Ina Yoon (69) finished one shot out of the playoff at 16 under. Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (70) tied for fifth at 14 under with Haeran Ryu of South Korea (66).
With her second win of the season, Green rose into third in the season-long Race to CME Globe points standings, behind only Nelly Korda and South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim.
–Field Level Media
Aug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Australia’s Hannah Green stormed back from a six-shot deficit on the back nine and won a three-way playoff with a birdie putt to capture her third title in four years at the JM Eagle LA Championship on Sunday in Tarzana, Calif.
Green defeated South Koreans Jin Hee Im and Sei Young Kim when the trio replayed the par-4 18th hole at El Caballero Country Club.
Before that, Green made a late charge with four straight birdies and five in a six-hole span, and she needed help in the form of a bogey by then-leader Kim at the par-3 17th hole to create a tie at 17 under par. Green signed for 68, Kim settled for a 70 and Im had a 67 in the fourth round before they returned to the tee box for the playoff.
While Im missed the fairway and the green, Green and Kim were in the fairway and Green stuck her approach reasonably closer than Kim. After Kim missed a long birdie try and cleaned up for par, Green’s putt in the 12-foot range curled right to left and dropped.
Green, 29, has won three of the four editions of the LA Championship and three of her eight LPGA victories have come at the event. She claimed the 2023 and 2024 editions that were played at Wilshire Country Club, the former coming in a three-way playoff as well.
“I’m definitely nervous,” Green said about experiencing nerves in a playoff. “I felt like that wedge (second shot) probably flew a little bit further because of the nerves from within. No, I don’t think I would be doing this or be in contention if I wasn’t nervous. Those are the feelings that you want when you’re out here. That’s what makes you want to just do it over and over again.”
Green was 12 under for the tournament while starting the 11th hole. Kim eagled that hole to push the lead to 18 under, but Green made birdie before getting on a white-hot run with birdies at Nos. 13-16.
“Felt like I was doing what I kind of said I wanted to do yesterday: Hit more greens,” Green said. “Felt like it was quite difficult to get it close to the green. I felt like I was giving myself good opportunities but I had so many downhill putts and you just can’t really be aggressive with them.
“I honestly didn’t think I was in the tournament still. I was just like, ‘Oh well, just go for as many pins as possible,’ and got on a nice stretch there. … I’m just fortunate enough that I at least got into the playoff.”
Green, Im and Kim all will benefit from Saturday’s surprise announcement that the CEO of JM Eagle, Walter Wang, was raising the purse by $1 million to a total of $4.75 million. Across women’s golf, only the major championships and the CME Group Tour Championship are more lucrative.
South Korea’s Ina Yoon (69) finished one shot out of the playoff at 16 under. Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (70) tied for fifth at 14 under with Haeran Ryu of South Korea (66).
With her second win of the season, Green rose into third in the season-long Race to CME Globe points standings, behind only Nelly Korda and South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim.
–Field Level Media
Aug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third hole during first round play at the CPKC Women’s Open golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Australia’s Hannah Green stormed back from a six-shot deficit on the back nine and won a three-way playoff with a birdie putt to capture her third title in four years at the JM Eagle LA Championship on Sunday in Tarzana, Calif.
Green defeated South Koreans Jin Hee Im and Sei Young Kim when the trio replayed the par-4 18th hole at El Caballero Country Club.
Before that, Green made a late charge with four straight birdies and five in a six-hole span, and she needed help in the form of a bogey by then-leader Kim at the par-3 17th hole to create a tie at 17 under par. Green signed for 68, Kim settled for a 70 and Im had a 67 in the fourth round before they returned to the tee box for the playoff.
While Im missed the fairway and the green, Green and Kim were in the fairway and Green stuck her approach reasonably closer than Kim. After Kim missed a long birdie try and cleaned up for par, Green’s putt in the 12-foot range curled right to left and dropped.
Green, 29, has won three of the four editions of the LA Championship and three of her eight LPGA victories have come at the event. She claimed the 2023 and 2024 editions that were played at Wilshire Country Club, the former coming in a three-way playoff as well.
“I’m definitely nervous,” Green said about experiencing nerves in a playoff. “I felt like that wedge (second shot) probably flew a little bit further because of the nerves from within. No, I don’t think I would be doing this or be in contention if I wasn’t nervous. Those are the feelings that you want when you’re out here. That’s what makes you want to just do it over and over again.”
Green was 12 under for the tournament while starting the 11th hole. Kim eagled that hole to push the lead to 18 under, but Green made birdie before getting on a white-hot run with birdies at Nos. 13-16.
“Felt like I was doing what I kind of said I wanted to do yesterday: Hit more greens,” Green said. “Felt like it was quite difficult to get it close to the green. I felt like I was giving myself good opportunities but I had so many downhill putts and you just can’t really be aggressive with them.
“I honestly didn’t think I was in the tournament still. I was just like, ‘Oh well, just go for as many pins as possible,’ and got on a nice stretch there. … I’m just fortunate enough that I at least got into the playoff.”
Green, Im and Kim all will benefit from Saturday’s surprise announcement that the CEO of JM Eagle, Walter Wang, was raising the purse by $1 million to a total of $4.75 million. Across women’s golf, only the major championships and the CME Group Tour Championship are more lucrative.
South Korea’s Ina Yoon (69) finished one shot out of the playoff at 16 under. Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (70) tied for fifth at 14 under with Haeran Ryu of South Korea (66).
With her second win of the season, Green rose into third in the season-long Race to CME Globe points standings, behind only Nelly Korda and South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim.
–Field Level Media
Aug 21, 2025; Mississauga, Ontario, CAN; Hannah Green plays her tee shot at the third…
![Sanjay Manjrekar slams Dhoni fandom, CSK approach: “Sycophancy has seeped into cricket” Chennai Super Kings has endured a poor start to IPL 2026, winning just two of its first six matches to sit seventh on the points table.Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has come under scrutiny for the team’s struggles, with his own batting form also a concern. In six innings, he has managed only 82 runs.Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, however, believes the CSK management must also shoulder the blame.“This blame, I’m going to put at the doorstep of the owners and people who make the big decisions. Because Gaikwad, before he was captain, was phenomenal at the top of the order,” said Manjrekar on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.Manjrekar added that the overwhelming fandom surrounding CSK legend M.S. Dhoni has not helped Gaikwad’s situation.“And then that thing with M.S Dhoni, whether he’s going to be playing, whether he’s going to be captain, they handled that very badly. And this is where you see the sycophancy of Indian culture that has seeped into cricket as well. I mean, there isn’t just a fan following of Dhoni, there is sycophancy around it,” he added.He also recalled an incident that highlighted the intensity of Dhoni’s fandom.“There was [this] one instance of Dhoni trying to put his bat into the crease, and it was a very close call. And I said, well, he is clearly short of the crease, and it should be run out. They [fans] got angry with me for saying that because it was anti-Dhoni. So somewhere they lost sight of the whole picture.”Dhoni has not featured for CSK in IPL 2026 after suffering a calf strain in the lead-up to the season.When asked if Dhoni’s return could ease Gaikwad’s burden, Manjrekar expressed doubts about how CSK would accommodate him in the XI.“Maybe, but then you have to play Dhoni on the field. And how do you do that? I mean, increasingly, he’s finding it tough to deliver. So it was a bit of a joke when he used to come down the order and just play three or four balls. The coverage would hype that up as well – ‘What an innings.’ And it lasted four balls.“So that’s not feasible anymore, and it was never going to be a long-term thing. So I can’t pretend to know how Ruturaj felt when M.S. was on the field, but not captaining, as opposed to M.S. not being there and he being solely in charge,” said Manjrekar.Manjrekar also drew parallels between CSK and Mumbai Indians, pointing to an overreliance on big-name players.“CSK and Mumbai Indians are slightly guilty of being emotionally connected and invested in the big-name, big-brand players a bit too much. CSK even more so with Dhoni. This means that you’re not getting people who are in their prime. It’s like living in the past a little bit. It’s just about getting guys who are in their prime in T20 cricket. It’s such a modern-day format, so it’s best to be current with everything that you do with your team,” he added.Published on Apr 20, 2026 #Sanjay #Manjrekar #slams #Dhoni #fandom #CSK #approach #Sycophancy #seeped #cricket](https://i2.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/bgffx8/article70883769.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/IMG_IPL_2024__2__2_1_JECQPB3Q.jpg?ssl=1 "Sanjay Manjrekar slams Dhoni fandom, CSK approach: “Sycophancy has seeped into cricket” Chennai Super Kings has endured a poor start to IPL 2026, winning just two of its first six matches to sit seventh on the points table.Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has come under scrutiny for the team’s struggles, with his own batting form also a concern. In six innings, he has managed only 82 runs.Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, however, believes the CSK management must also shoulder the blame.“This blame, I’m going to put at the doorstep of the owners and people who make the big decisions. Because Gaikwad, before he was captain, was phenomenal at the top of the order,” said Manjrekar on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.Manjrekar added that the overwhelming fandom surrounding CSK legend M.S. Dhoni has not helped Gaikwad’s situation.“And then that thing with M.S Dhoni, whether he’s going to be playing, whether he’s going to be captain, they handled that very badly. And this is where you see the sycophancy of Indian culture that has seeped into cricket as well. I mean, there isn’t just a fan following of Dhoni, there is sycophancy around it,” he added.He also recalled an incident that highlighted the intensity of Dhoni’s fandom.“There was [this] one instance of Dhoni trying to put his bat into the crease, and it was a very close call. And I said, well, he is clearly short of the crease, and it should be run out. They [fans] got angry with me for saying that because it was anti-Dhoni. So somewhere they lost sight of the whole picture.”Dhoni has not featured for CSK in IPL 2026 after suffering a calf strain in the lead-up to the season.When asked if Dhoni’s return could ease Gaikwad’s burden, Manjrekar expressed doubts about how CSK would accommodate him in the XI.“Maybe, but then you have to play Dhoni on the field. And how do you do that? I mean, increasingly, he’s finding it tough to deliver. So it was a bit of a joke when he used to come down the order and just play three or four balls. The coverage would hype that up as well – ‘What an innings.’ And it lasted four balls.“So that’s not feasible anymore, and it was never going to be a long-term thing. So I can’t pretend to know how Ruturaj felt when M.S. was on the field, but not captaining, as opposed to M.S. not being there and he being solely in charge,” said Manjrekar.Manjrekar also drew parallels between CSK and Mumbai Indians, pointing to an overreliance on big-name players.“CSK and Mumbai Indians are slightly guilty of being emotionally connected and invested in the big-name, big-brand players a bit too much. CSK even more so with Dhoni. This means that you’re not getting people who are in their prime. It’s like living in the past a little bit. It’s just about getting guys who are in their prime in T20 cricket. It’s such a modern-day format, so it’s best to be current with everything that you do with your team,” he added.Published on Apr 20, 2026 #Sanjay #Manjrekar #slams #Dhoni #fandom #CSK #approach #Sycophancy #seeped #cricket")
![Sanjay Manjrekar slams Dhoni fandom, CSK approach: “Sycophancy has seeped into cricket” Chennai Super Kings has endured a poor start to IPL 2026, winning just two of its first six matches to sit seventh on the points table.Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has come under scrutiny for the team’s struggles, with his own batting form also a concern. In six innings, he has managed only 82 runs.Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, however, believes the CSK management must also shoulder the blame.“This blame, I’m going to put at the doorstep of the owners and people who make the big decisions. Because Gaikwad, before he was captain, was phenomenal at the top of the order,” said Manjrekar on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.Manjrekar added that the overwhelming fandom surrounding CSK legend M.S. Dhoni has not helped Gaikwad’s situation.“And then that thing with M.S Dhoni, whether he’s going to be playing, whether he’s going to be captain, they handled that very badly. And this is where you see the sycophancy of Indian culture that has seeped into cricket as well. I mean, there isn’t just a fan following of Dhoni, there is sycophancy around it,” he added.He also recalled an incident that highlighted the intensity of Dhoni’s fandom.“There was [this] one instance of Dhoni trying to put his bat into the crease, and it was a very close call. And I said, well, he is clearly short of the crease, and it should be run out. They [fans] got angry with me for saying that because it was anti-Dhoni. So somewhere they lost sight of the whole picture.”Dhoni has not featured for CSK in IPL 2026 after suffering a calf strain in the lead-up to the season.When asked if Dhoni’s return could ease Gaikwad’s burden, Manjrekar expressed doubts about how CSK would accommodate him in the XI.“Maybe, but then you have to play Dhoni on the field. And how do you do that? I mean, increasingly, he’s finding it tough to deliver. So it was a bit of a joke when he used to come down the order and just play three or four balls. The coverage would hype that up as well – ‘What an innings.’ And it lasted four balls.“So that’s not feasible anymore, and it was never going to be a long-term thing. So I can’t pretend to know how Ruturaj felt when M.S. was on the field, but not captaining, as opposed to M.S. not being there and he being solely in charge,” said Manjrekar.Manjrekar also drew parallels between CSK and Mumbai Indians, pointing to an overreliance on big-name players.“CSK and Mumbai Indians are slightly guilty of being emotionally connected and invested in the big-name, big-brand players a bit too much. CSK even more so with Dhoni. This means that you’re not getting people who are in their prime. It’s like living in the past a little bit. It’s just about getting guys who are in their prime in T20 cricket. It’s such a modern-day format, so it’s best to be current with everything that you do with your team,” he added.Published on Apr 20, 2026 #Sanjay #Manjrekar #slams #Dhoni #fandom #CSK #approach #Sycophancy #seeped #cricket](https://i2.wp.com/ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/bgffx8/article70883769.ece/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1200/IMG_IPL_2024__2__2_1_JECQPB3Q.jpg?w=150&resize=150,150&ssl=1 "Sanjay Manjrekar slams Dhoni fandom, CSK approach: “Sycophancy has seeped into cricket” Chennai Super Kings has endured a poor start to IPL 2026, winning just two of its first six matches to sit seventh on the points table.Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad has come under scrutiny for the team’s struggles, with his own batting form also a concern. In six innings, he has managed only 82 runs.Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, however, believes the CSK management must also shoulder the blame.“This blame, I’m going to put at the doorstep of the owners and people who make the big decisions. Because Gaikwad, before he was captain, was phenomenal at the top of the order,” said Manjrekar on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.Manjrekar added that the overwhelming fandom surrounding CSK legend M.S. Dhoni has not helped Gaikwad’s situation.“And then that thing with M.S Dhoni, whether he’s going to be playing, whether he’s going to be captain, they handled that very badly. And this is where you see the sycophancy of Indian culture that has seeped into cricket as well. I mean, there isn’t just a fan following of Dhoni, there is sycophancy around it,” he added.He also recalled an incident that highlighted the intensity of Dhoni’s fandom.“There was [this] one instance of Dhoni trying to put his bat into the crease, and it was a very close call. And I said, well, he is clearly short of the crease, and it should be run out. They [fans] got angry with me for saying that because it was anti-Dhoni. So somewhere they lost sight of the whole picture.”Dhoni has not featured for CSK in IPL 2026 after suffering a calf strain in the lead-up to the season.When asked if Dhoni’s return could ease Gaikwad’s burden, Manjrekar expressed doubts about how CSK would accommodate him in the XI.“Maybe, but then you have to play Dhoni on the field. And how do you do that? I mean, increasingly, he’s finding it tough to deliver. So it was a bit of a joke when he used to come down the order and just play three or four balls. The coverage would hype that up as well – ‘What an innings.’ And it lasted four balls.“So that’s not feasible anymore, and it was never going to be a long-term thing. So I can’t pretend to know how Ruturaj felt when M.S. was on the field, but not captaining, as opposed to M.S. not being there and he being solely in charge,” said Manjrekar.Manjrekar also drew parallels between CSK and Mumbai Indians, pointing to an overreliance on big-name players.“CSK and Mumbai Indians are slightly guilty of being emotionally connected and invested in the big-name, big-brand players a bit too much. CSK even more so with Dhoni. This means that you’re not getting people who are in their prime. It’s like living in the past a little bit. It’s just about getting guys who are in their prime in T20 cricket. It’s such a modern-day format, so it’s best to be current with everything that you do with your team,” he added.Published on Apr 20, 2026 #Sanjay #Manjrekar #slams #Dhoni #fandom #CSK #approach #Sycophancy #seeped #cricket")
