एमपीपीएससी की ये दोनों परीक्षाएं सबसे अहम मानी जाती हैं। यही कारण है कि परीक्षाओं…
India all-rounder Deepti Sharma’s breakout show against South Africa in the fourth T20I has provided a timely boost ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup, with the seasoned campaigner saying self-belief and tweaks to her bowling helped her snap a prolonged lean patch and return to form at the right time.
Deepti had endured a prolonged lean run with both bat and ball since the T20I series in Australia in February, managing just one double-digit score in nine matches across formats before her unbeaten 36 and match-winning five-for in India’s 14-run win over South Africa on Saturday — a timely return to form that eased selection concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup in England and Wales in June.
ALSO READ | Match report: Maiden T20I fifer for Deepti Sharma as India manages 14-run win over South Africa
Even though the host had already sealed the series 3-1 with one game to spare, Deepti, a vital cog in India’s maiden ODI World Cup-winning campaign, said unwavering self-belief through a prolonged slump helped her fight her way out of the hole.
“First is, I always keep believing in myself and second is line and length, which line I have to bowl. And basically today, I was more focused on my offspin ball other than the little faster one,” said the spin-bowling all-rounder after her sterling show on Saturday.
She said that approach gave her confidence, while adding the dew made it tricky for bowlers to judge their pace, but discussions within the bowling group helped them make the right adjustments.
“Yeah, because it was a little dewish over here. So, we just had a conversation with the bowlers as well. Just bowl in the right areas and that will give you results,” added Deepti, who had gone wicketless in the previous three T20Is here and managed just two runs, a lean run that had also contributed to India’s heavy defeats.
On the batting front, Deepti said she and Richa Ghosh (34 not out) had decided to preserve their wickets and bat deep, a plan that helped India post a competitive 185 for five through an unbroken 65-run stand.
Deepti then capped the effort with a stellar bowling spell as India restricted the Proteas to 171 for nine in the chase.
“I think Richa batted well. She finished well. And we were just talking that we have to play till the 20th over and make sure we will have a good partnership. And then we finished well. So, we’re calculating each and every over and that’s how we played there,” added the 28-year-old Deepti.
She added that despite the series defeat, India would carry plenty of learnings into the T20 World Cup, along with renewed self-belief drawn from the way the team responded.
“I think a lot of positive from this series. And especially today’s game gave us a lot of confidence going forward and future games as well. Whenever we play, we play as a team, as a bowling unit or as a batting unit. Same belief we have to keep going forward as well,” she said.
“I think, as a bowling unit and as a batting unit, both played really well (on Saturday).So, we will see then how we will do it (in the final game) and definitely will finish well as well,” concluded Deepti.
Published on Apr 26, 2026
India all-rounder Deepti Sharma’s breakout show against South Africa in the fourth T20I has provided a timely boost ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup, with the seasoned campaigner saying self-belief and tweaks to her bowling helped her snap a prolonged lean patch and return to form at the right time.
Deepti had endured a prolonged lean run with both bat and ball since the T20I series in Australia in February, managing just one double-digit score in nine matches across formats before her unbeaten 36 and match-winning five-for in India’s 14-run win over South Africa on Saturday — a timely return to form that eased selection concerns ahead of the T20 World Cup in England and Wales in June.
ALSO READ | Match report: Maiden T20I fifer for Deepti Sharma as India manages 14-run win over South Africa
Even though the host had already sealed the series 3-1 with one game to spare, Deepti, a vital cog in India’s maiden ODI World Cup-winning campaign, said unwavering self-belief through a prolonged slump helped her fight her way out of the hole.
“First is, I always keep believing in myself and second is line and length, which line I have to bowl. And basically today, I was more focused on my offspin ball other than the little faster one,” said the spin-bowling all-rounder after her sterling show on Saturday.
She said that approach gave her confidence, while adding the dew made it tricky for bowlers to judge their pace, but discussions within the bowling group helped them make the right adjustments.
“Yeah, because it was a little dewish over here. So, we just had a conversation with the bowlers as well. Just bowl in the right areas and that will give you results,” added Deepti, who had gone wicketless in the previous three T20Is here and managed just two runs, a lean run that had also contributed to India’s heavy defeats.
On the batting front, Deepti said she and Richa Ghosh (34 not out) had decided to preserve their wickets and bat deep, a plan that helped India post a competitive 185 for five through an unbroken 65-run stand.
Deepti then capped the effort with a stellar bowling spell as India restricted the Proteas to 171 for nine in the chase.
“I think Richa batted well. She finished well. And we were just talking that we have to play till the 20th over and make sure we will have a good partnership. And then we finished well. So, we’re calculating each and every over and that’s how we played there,” added the 28-year-old Deepti.
She added that despite the series defeat, India would carry plenty of learnings into the T20 World Cup, along with renewed self-belief drawn from the way the team responded.
“I think a lot of positive from this series. And especially today’s game gave us a lot of confidence going forward and future games as well. Whenever we play, we play as a team, as a bowling unit or as a batting unit. Same belief we have to keep going forward as well,” she said.
“I think, as a bowling unit and as a batting unit, both played really well (on Saturday).So, we will see then how we will do it (in the final game) and definitely will finish well as well,” concluded Deepti.
Published on Apr 26, 2026
India all-rounder Deepti Sharma’s breakout show against South Africa in the fourth T20I has provided…
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Apr 25, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen (9) scores at home plate as Athletics catcher Austin Wynns (29) attempts to make the tag during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Josh Jung hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning as the Texas Rangers beat the Athletics 4-3 on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
Corey Seager had two hits and an RBI for Texas, which evened the three-game series after losing the opener 8-1 on Friday.
Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore allowed three runs on six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts over five innings. Cole Winn (2-1), Jalen Beeks and Jakob Junis each pitched a scoreless inning before left-hander Jacob Latz retired the Athletics in order in the ninth for his first save.
Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson had two hits apiece for the Athletics, who lost despite out-hitting the Rangers 7-5. The Athletics were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and fell back into a tie with the Rangers for first place in the American League West.
The Athletics claimed a 1-0 run in the second inning when Wilson doubled and scored on Darell Hernaiz’s two-out single.
Gore allowed two more runs in the third. With two on and no outs, Colby Thomas singled in a run before Tyler Soderstrom grounded out. Wilson followed with a sacrifice fly to score Nick Kurtz from third.
Texas answered with two runs in the third against Jeffrey Springs (3-2). The Rangers loaded the bases with no outs and pushed a run across on Brandon Nimmo’s sacrifice fly before Seager singled in a run with two outs.
Springs gave up four runs on five hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out four.
The Rangers pulled ahead on Jung’s two-run homer in the sixth. Seager hit a leadoff single and Jake Burger flied out before Jung deposited Springs’ 0-1 slider over the right-center field wall.
The 381-foot blast was Jung’s fourth homer of the season. After going 0-for-17 in March, Jung is batting .371 (26-for-70) with 14 RBIs in his last 20 games.
The Athletics put the tying run in scoring position with one out in the eighth on Carlos Cortes’ double, but Jeff McNeil and Austin Wynns each flied out to end the threat.
–Field Level Media
Apr 25, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen (9) scores at home plate as Athletics catcher Austin Wynns (29) attempts to make the tag during the third inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images Josh Jung hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth inning as the Texas Rangers beat the Athletics 4-3 on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
Corey Seager had two hits and an RBI for Texas, which evened the three-game series after losing the opener 8-1 on Friday.
Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore allowed three runs on six hits with three walks and seven strikeouts over five innings. Cole Winn (2-1), Jalen Beeks and Jakob Junis each pitched a scoreless inning before left-hander Jacob Latz retired the Athletics in order in the ninth for his first save.
Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson had two hits apiece for the Athletics, who lost despite out-hitting the Rangers 7-5. The Athletics were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and fell back into a tie with the Rangers for first place in the American League West.
The Athletics claimed a 1-0 run in the second inning when Wilson doubled and scored on Darell Hernaiz’s two-out single.
Gore allowed two more runs in the third. With two on and no outs, Colby Thomas singled in a run before Tyler Soderstrom grounded out. Wilson followed with a sacrifice fly to score Nick Kurtz from third.
Texas answered with two runs in the third against Jeffrey Springs (3-2). The Rangers loaded the bases with no outs and pushed a run across on Brandon Nimmo’s sacrifice fly before Seager singled in a run with two outs.
Springs gave up four runs on five hits over six innings. He walked two and struck out four.
The Rangers pulled ahead on Jung’s two-run homer in the sixth. Seager hit a leadoff single and Jake Burger flied out before Jung deposited Springs’ 0-1 slider over the right-center field wall.
The 381-foot blast was Jung’s fourth homer of the season. After going 0-for-17 in March, Jung is batting .371 (26-for-70) with 14 RBIs in his last 20 games.
The Athletics put the tying run in scoring position with one out in the eighth on Carlos Cortes’ double, but Jeff McNeil and Austin Wynns each flied out to end the threat.
–Field Level Media
Apr 25, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen (9) scores at home…
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah will miss the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in a 3-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace, Egypt national team director Ibrahim Hassan said on Saturday.
The 33-year-old Egyptian winger, who has announced he will leave the reigning Premier League champions at the end of the season, applauded the crowd as he walked off injured in the 60th minute.
Liverpool did not announce any update on Salah’s condition. However, Hassan said the Egyptian talisman has played his last game for the reds.
“He has suffered a hamstring tear and will require four weeks of treatment,” Hassan told Reuters. After nine trophy-filled seasons, Salah’s journey with Liverpool reaches its conclusion. His farewell will be marked by words rather than goals, addressing the fans following the season finale against Brentford.
Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, Salah has recorded 12 goals and nine assists across all competitions this season. | Photo Credit: AP
Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, Salah has recorded 12 goals and nine assists across all competitions this season. | Photo Credit: AP
Liverpool has two home fixtures remaining – against Chelsea on May 9 and Brentford on May 24 – and visits Manchester United on May 3, a side Salah has regularly tormented, and play Villa away on May 17.
Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, Salah has recorded 12 goals and nine assists across all competitions this season.
Hassan said Salah will be fit for the 2026 World Cup, where Egypt will face Belgium, New Zealand and Iran in Group G.
However, Salah is determined to recover in time for the tournament in North America, which starts on June 11 and avoid a repeat of the injury setback he suffered before the 2018 edition.
He injured his shoulder in a 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League final, and despite scoring twice in two matches, Egypt were eliminated at the group stage in Russia.
Published on Apr 26, 2026
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah will miss the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring injury in a 3-1 Premier League win over Crystal Palace, Egypt national team director Ibrahim Hassan said on Saturday.
The 33-year-old Egyptian winger, who has announced he will leave the reigning Premier League champions at the end of the season, applauded the crowd as he walked off injured in the 60th minute.
Liverpool did not announce any update on Salah’s condition. However, Hassan said the Egyptian talisman has played his last game for the reds.
“He has suffered a hamstring tear and will require four weeks of treatment,” Hassan told Reuters. After nine trophy-filled seasons, Salah’s journey with Liverpool reaches its conclusion. His farewell will be marked by words rather than goals, addressing the fans following the season finale against Brentford.
Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, Salah has recorded 12 goals and nine assists across all competitions this season. | Photo Credit: AP
Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, Salah has recorded 12 goals and nine assists across all competitions this season. | Photo Credit: AP
Liverpool has two home fixtures remaining – against Chelsea on May 9 and Brentford on May 24 – and visits Manchester United on May 3, a side Salah has regularly tormented, and play Villa away on May 17.
Liverpool’s third-highest goalscorer of all time, Salah has recorded 12 goals and nine assists across all competitions this season.
Hassan said Salah will be fit for the 2026 World Cup, where Egypt will face Belgium, New Zealand and Iran in Group G.
However, Salah is determined to recover in time for the tournament in North America, which starts on June 11 and avoid a repeat of the injury setback he suffered before the 2018 edition.
He injured his shoulder in a 3-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the Champions League final, and despite scoring twice in two matches, Egypt were eliminated at the group stage in Russia.
Published on Apr 26, 2026
Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah will miss the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring…
Apr 22, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver (1) makes a save against the San Jose Earthquakes in the first half at PayPal Park. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images Myrto Uzuni scored a goal and assisted on a tally by Jayden Nelson as host Austin FC defeated the Houston Dynamo 2-0 on Saturday in the latest edition of the Copa Tejas series between the Lone Star State rivals.
Austin (2-4-4, 10 points) bounced back from a 5-1 thrashing at San Jose on Wednesday with a dominating first half and then held on as the Dynamo never mounted more than a tepid rally in the second half.
The Verde snapped a seven-match MLS winless streak dating back to a 1-0 home victory over D.C. United on March 1 as goalkeeper Brad Stuver stopped five shots to record his third clean sheet of the year. Austin improved to 6-1-1 in eight all-time league matches against the Dynamo at home.
Houston (4-5-0, 12 points) had a two-game MLS winning streak snapped and was held without a goal for the third time this year.
The Verde were the aggressor through the match’s early minutes and earned a dividend for that strategy when Nelson found the net in the 13th minute.
Uzuni started the scoring play with a pass in the box to Facundo Torres, who drew the Houston defense toward the right side of the area. Torres then passed across the box to Nelson, who steadied the ball onto his right foot before whipping a curving shot past Houston goalkeeper Jonathan Bond off the inside of the right post and over the goal line to give Austin the lead.
That was the first goal Bond and the Dynamo defense had allowed in 193 minutes after recording back-to-back clean sheet wins in the team’s past two league matches.
Bond stopped a pair of low-percentage shots from Christian Ramirez in the 21st and 27th minutes before Houston tested Stuver with shots from Hector Herrera in the 30th minute and Mateusz Bogusz a minute later.
Uzuni had to feel unlucky when he clanged a shot off the left post in the 35th minute but was repaid when his free kick two minutes into first-half stoppage time deflected off Houston’s defensive wall and bounded past Bond into the bottom-left corner of the goal to double the Verde’s advantage.
Neither team produced a serious scoring threat after halftime.
–Field Level Media
Apr 22, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver (1) makes a save against the San Jose Earthquakes in the first half at PayPal Park. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images Myrto Uzuni scored a goal and assisted on a tally by Jayden Nelson as host Austin FC defeated the Houston Dynamo 2-0 on Saturday in the latest edition of the Copa Tejas series between the Lone Star State rivals.
Austin (2-4-4, 10 points) bounced back from a 5-1 thrashing at San Jose on Wednesday with a dominating first half and then held on as the Dynamo never mounted more than a tepid rally in the second half.
The Verde snapped a seven-match MLS winless streak dating back to a 1-0 home victory over D.C. United on March 1 as goalkeeper Brad Stuver stopped five shots to record his third clean sheet of the year. Austin improved to 6-1-1 in eight all-time league matches against the Dynamo at home.
Houston (4-5-0, 12 points) had a two-game MLS winning streak snapped and was held without a goal for the third time this year.
The Verde were the aggressor through the match’s early minutes and earned a dividend for that strategy when Nelson found the net in the 13th minute.
Uzuni started the scoring play with a pass in the box to Facundo Torres, who drew the Houston defense toward the right side of the area. Torres then passed across the box to Nelson, who steadied the ball onto his right foot before whipping a curving shot past Houston goalkeeper Jonathan Bond off the inside of the right post and over the goal line to give Austin the lead.
That was the first goal Bond and the Dynamo defense had allowed in 193 minutes after recording back-to-back clean sheet wins in the team’s past two league matches.
Bond stopped a pair of low-percentage shots from Christian Ramirez in the 21st and 27th minutes before Houston tested Stuver with shots from Hector Herrera in the 30th minute and Mateusz Bogusz a minute later.
Uzuni had to feel unlucky when he clanged a shot off the left post in the 35th minute but was repaid when his free kick two minutes into first-half stoppage time deflected off Houston’s defensive wall and bounded past Bond into the bottom-left corner of the goal to double the Verde’s advantage.
Neither team produced a serious scoring threat after halftime.
–Field Level Media
Apr 22, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver (1) makes a…
Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City’s feat of becoming the first side to ever reach four consecutive FA Cup finals after a late fightback denied Southampton a shock victory at Wembley.
Saints were heading towards their first final in 23 years when Finn Azaz’s brilliant finish put the Championship side in front 11 minutes from time.
City, though, hit back immediately through Jeremy Doku before Nico Gonzalez’s sensational strike edged the semifinal 2-1.
Guardiola’s men have lost their last two FA Cup finals to Crystal Palace and Manchester United. They beat the Red Devils in 2023.
City, which will face Chelsea or Leeds in the final, is now well in contention for a domestic treble.
MATCH REPORT | Man City fights back to beat Southampton and reach fourth straight FA Cup final
Guardiola’s men lifted the League Cup last month and are locked in a tight battle for the Premier League title with Arsenal.
“No team has made four finals in a row. It’s extraordinary and hopefully we can arrive with a good momentum,” said Guardiola.
The City manager’s decision to make eight changes from the side that beat Burnley 1-0 on Wednesday looked misguided as Southampton enjoyed the better of the first half.
But Guardiola’s side improved markedly after the break and were aided by the introduction of Doku, Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva off the bench.
“It was difficult but the wingers (Doku and Savinho) when they came in changed the pace,” added Guardiola.
“The first time they crossed the halfway line they made a fantastic goal. Football is always unpredictable but the way we played in the second half was extraordinary.”
Published on Apr 26, 2026
Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City’s feat of becoming the first side to ever reach four consecutive FA Cup finals after a late fightback denied Southampton a shock victory at Wembley.
Saints were heading towards their first final in 23 years when Finn Azaz’s brilliant finish put the Championship side in front 11 minutes from time.
City, though, hit back immediately through Jeremy Doku before Nico Gonzalez’s sensational strike edged the semifinal 2-1.
Guardiola’s men have lost their last two FA Cup finals to Crystal Palace and Manchester United. They beat the Red Devils in 2023.
City, which will face Chelsea or Leeds in the final, is now well in contention for a domestic treble.
MATCH REPORT | Man City fights back to beat Southampton and reach fourth straight FA Cup final
Guardiola’s men lifted the League Cup last month and are locked in a tight battle for the Premier League title with Arsenal.
“No team has made four finals in a row. It’s extraordinary and hopefully we can arrive with a good momentum,” said Guardiola.
The City manager’s decision to make eight changes from the side that beat Burnley 1-0 on Wednesday looked misguided as Southampton enjoyed the better of the first half.
But Guardiola’s side improved markedly after the break and were aided by the introduction of Doku, Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva off the bench.
“It was difficult but the wingers (Doku and Savinho) when they came in changed the pace,” added Guardiola.
“The first time they crossed the halfway line they made a fantastic goal. Football is always unpredictable but the way we played in the second half was extraordinary.”
Published on Apr 26, 2026
Pep Guardiola hailed Manchester City’s feat of becoming the first side to ever reach four…
Apr 25, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar (10) shoots the ball during the first half of their game against Charlotte FC at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images Sam Surridge came off the bench to score a brace in the second half of Nashville SC’s 4-2 win over visiting Charlotte FC on Saturday.
Nashville (7-1-1, 22 points) is on a three-match winning streak in MLS play and sits in first place in the Eastern Conference.
Between the MLS regular season and their run to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals, Nashville SC has lost only one of 15 matches (10-1-4) in all competitions this season.
Morrison and Pep Biel scored for Charlotte FC (4-4-2, 14 points), who are 1-3-0 in their last three regular-season matches. Two of those losses were to Nashville SC, who also earned a 2-1 victory in Charlotte on April 11.
Surridge missed Nashville’s previous match due to a hamstring injury, and only entered Saturday’s action as a halftime substitute. The forward looked to be fully fit in scoring his eighth and ninth goals of the season.
Hany Mukhtar and Ahmed Qasem each scored within the opening 25 minutes of a dominant first half for Nashville SC. The home side held 61% of the possession, a 9-2 edge in total shots, and a 5-1 edge in shots on target in the opening 45 minutes.
Charlotte FC’s first shot on target salvaged an otherwise miserable first half for the visitors. In the 42nd minute, Ashley Westwood’s free kick found Morrison at the near post, who dove forward with a header to knock the ball home.
After replacing Warren Madrigal at halftime, it took Surridge only 15 minutes to strike. Mukhtar intentionally avoided an Andy Najar pass to let the ball get to Surridge, who buried the shot.
Biel’s team-leading fifth goal narrowed Charlotte’s deficit in the 68th minute. Nashville’s defenders left Biel with too much space outside the box, and the midfielder capitalized by firing a terrific shot under the bar.
Before Charlotte could gather more momentum, Surridge scored again in the 74th minute. A corner kick bounced back to Mukhtar in the box, and Mukhtar’s shot was redirected by Surridge into the net.
Charlotte FC defender Harry Toffolo left in the 35th minute with an apparent hamstring injury.
–Field Level Media
Apr 25, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar (10) shoots the ball during the first half of their game against Charlotte FC at Geodis Park. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images Sam Surridge came off the bench to score a brace in the second half of Nashville SC’s 4-2 win over visiting Charlotte FC on Saturday.
Nashville (7-1-1, 22 points) is on a three-match winning streak in MLS play and sits in first place in the Eastern Conference.
Between the MLS regular season and their run to the CONCACAF Champions Cup semi-finals, Nashville SC has lost only one of 15 matches (10-1-4) in all competitions this season.
Morrison and Pep Biel scored for Charlotte FC (4-4-2, 14 points), who are 1-3-0 in their last three regular-season matches. Two of those losses were to Nashville SC, who also earned a 2-1 victory in Charlotte on April 11.
Surridge missed Nashville’s previous match due to a hamstring injury, and only entered Saturday’s action as a halftime substitute. The forward looked to be fully fit in scoring his eighth and ninth goals of the season.
Hany Mukhtar and Ahmed Qasem each scored within the opening 25 minutes of a dominant first half for Nashville SC. The home side held 61% of the possession, a 9-2 edge in total shots, and a 5-1 edge in shots on target in the opening 45 minutes.
Charlotte FC’s first shot on target salvaged an otherwise miserable first half for the visitors. In the 42nd minute, Ashley Westwood’s free kick found Morrison at the near post, who dove forward with a header to knock the ball home.
After replacing Warren Madrigal at halftime, it took Surridge only 15 minutes to strike. Mukhtar intentionally avoided an Andy Najar pass to let the ball get to Surridge, who buried the shot.
Biel’s team-leading fifth goal narrowed Charlotte’s deficit in the 68th minute. Nashville’s defenders left Biel with too much space outside the box, and the midfielder capitalized by firing a terrific shot under the bar.
Before Charlotte could gather more momentum, Surridge scored again in the 74th minute. A corner kick bounced back to Mukhtar in the box, and Mukhtar’s shot was redirected by Surridge into the net.
Charlotte FC defender Harry Toffolo left in the 35th minute with an apparent hamstring injury.
–Field Level Media
Apr 25, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar (10) shoots the ball…
With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the absurd has been the normal.
A sub-40-ball hundred is probably a once-in-a-career occurrence for a good T20 batter. On Saturday, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Sooryavanshi smashed his second such hundred. At this point, no one should be surprised.
Almost a year after he had reeled in a 35-ball ton against Gujarat Titans at the same venue, Sooryavanshi eviscerated a stunned Sunrisers Hyderabad to score a 36-ball century.
If the context has eluded you, these two are the second and third-fastest hundreds in the history of IPL. Absurd? Not anymore.
ALSO READ | MATCH REPORT: Ishan-Abhishek partnership trumps Sooryavanshi ton as Sunrisers ease past Royals
Unfortunately for Sooryavanshi, he ended the day on the losing side, after Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma orchestrated a masterful SRH chase.
Nevertheless, with his blazing hundred, Sooryavanshi earned himself a brand-new admirer – SRH skipper Pat Cummins.
“Yeah, I think he’s my new favourite player. He hits the ball so hard, and it’s great to watch. It’s good fun,” said Cummins in the post-match press conference.
Cummins could afford to be this magnanimous because his side had triumphed on the day of his return from injury.
Even if we were to take away that fact, there is the cold, hard truth of what he had witnessed and experienced.
Earlier in the day, as the Aussie pacer ran into bowl to Sooryavanshi in the second over – their first-ever meeting – the Royals opener was in scorching touch.
He had just torn into Praful Hinge in the first over, belting him for four consecutive sixes, to four parts of the ground – a pull, a whip of the pads and two sumptuous lofted drives past long on and long off.
Before Saturday, no player had ever hit four sixes in the first over of an IPL game. With Sooryavanshi, logic flies out of the window, as do records.
What was also evident was that this first-over decimation was Sooryavanshi’s way of payback, as Hinge had dismissed him for a first-ball duck earlier this season.
And we cut back to Cummins. Over his short but eventful IPL career, Sooryavanshi has almost always made a point to assert himself early on against the opposition’s premier bowler.
Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t spared, nor was Josh Hazlewood. There was no reprieve for Cummins either.
The SRH skipper had parked two fielders in the leg-side outposts and dished out a shortish delivery, sliding it away from Sooryavanshi.
The seemingly obvious trap had no impact on the Royals opener. Without even retreating to his back foot, he flat-batted the ball for a six in front of the leg-side square.
“You’ve got to be right on the money as a bowler, because if you’re not, it’s going a long way. He’s impressive. He’s had a great start to his career. I like the way he plays,” admitted Cummins.
At the end of the second over, Sooryavanshi had faced six deliveries and had dispatched five of them beyond the fence. Even for him, this was an unsustainable momentum to maintain.
Even as he consolidated, the boundaries kept flowing to all parts of the ground. Scarily for opposition bowlers – of the present and the foreseeable future – there were glimpses of an evolving batter.
Sooryavanshi displayed a rare touch of innovation when he employed a reverse hit to score a four against left-arm wrist spinner Shivang Kumar.
Even more outrageous was the way he picked an off-cutter from Sakib Hussain early and dismissively swept it away for a six over square leg.
When you thought Sooryavanshi can’t surprise you anymore, he finds a way to do so. What is normal anymore?
Published on Apr 26, 2026
With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the absurd has been the normal.
A sub-40-ball hundred is probably a once-in-a-career occurrence for a good T20 batter. On Saturday, at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Sooryavanshi smashed his second such hundred. At this point, no one should be surprised.
Almost a year after he had reeled in a 35-ball ton against Gujarat Titans at the same venue, Sooryavanshi eviscerated a stunned Sunrisers Hyderabad to score a 36-ball century.
If the context has eluded you, these two are the second and third-fastest hundreds in the history of IPL. Absurd? Not anymore.
ALSO READ | MATCH REPORT: Ishan-Abhishek partnership trumps Sooryavanshi ton as Sunrisers ease past Royals
Unfortunately for Sooryavanshi, he ended the day on the losing side, after Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma orchestrated a masterful SRH chase.
Nevertheless, with his blazing hundred, Sooryavanshi earned himself a brand-new admirer – SRH skipper Pat Cummins.
“Yeah, I think he’s my new favourite player. He hits the ball so hard, and it’s great to watch. It’s good fun,” said Cummins in the post-match press conference.
Cummins could afford to be this magnanimous because his side had triumphed on the day of his return from injury.
Even if we were to take away that fact, there is the cold, hard truth of what he had witnessed and experienced.
Earlier in the day, as the Aussie pacer ran into bowl to Sooryavanshi in the second over – their first-ever meeting – the Royals opener was in scorching touch.
He had just torn into Praful Hinge in the first over, belting him for four consecutive sixes, to four parts of the ground – a pull, a whip of the pads and two sumptuous lofted drives past long on and long off.
Before Saturday, no player had ever hit four sixes in the first over of an IPL game. With Sooryavanshi, logic flies out of the window, as do records.
What was also evident was that this first-over decimation was Sooryavanshi’s way of payback, as Hinge had dismissed him for a first-ball duck earlier this season.
And we cut back to Cummins. Over his short but eventful IPL career, Sooryavanshi has almost always made a point to assert himself early on against the opposition’s premier bowler.
Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t spared, nor was Josh Hazlewood. There was no reprieve for Cummins either.
The SRH skipper had parked two fielders in the leg-side outposts and dished out a shortish delivery, sliding it away from Sooryavanshi.
The seemingly obvious trap had no impact on the Royals opener. Without even retreating to his back foot, he flat-batted the ball for a six in front of the leg-side square.
“You’ve got to be right on the money as a bowler, because if you’re not, it’s going a long way. He’s impressive. He’s had a great start to his career. I like the way he plays,” admitted Cummins.
At the end of the second over, Sooryavanshi had faced six deliveries and had dispatched five of them beyond the fence. Even for him, this was an unsustainable momentum to maintain.
Even as he consolidated, the boundaries kept flowing to all parts of the ground. Scarily for opposition bowlers – of the present and the foreseeable future – there were glimpses of an evolving batter.
Sooryavanshi displayed a rare touch of innovation when he employed a reverse hit to score a four against left-arm wrist spinner Shivang Kumar.
Even more outrageous was the way he picked an off-cutter from Sakib Hussain early and dismissively swept it away for a six over square leg.
When you thought Sooryavanshi can’t surprise you anymore, he finds a way to do so. What is normal anymore?
Published on Apr 26, 2026
With Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, the absurd has been the normal.A sub-40-ball hundred is probably a once-in-a-career…
