College basketball isn’t a point guard’s game anymore. Size is king at Final Four once again The most anticipated big man matchup in the recent history of men’s college basketball seemed like a novelty at first. On one side, there was UConn center Donovan Clingan, who measured at 7’1¾ barefoot with a 7’6¾ wingspan, a 9’7 standing reach, and a 282-pound frame. On the other side was Purdue’s Zach Edey, who was somehow even bigger at 7’3¾ barefoot with a 7’10¾ wingspan, a 9’7 standing reach, and a 306-pound frame.Edey tipped the jump ball to teammate Braden Smith, and the 2024 men’s national championship game was underway. At the time, it felt like hardly anyone realized it was a matchup that would dictate the future of the sport.Even NBA scouts were comparing college basketball’s two great centers to a dying breed along the lines of an elite NFL running back. Giants like Edey and Clingan would have been a focal point at the highest levels of the game years ago, but not anymore. Now, the plodding big man was said to be a complementary piece in a small ball world defined by spreading the floor, jacking up three-pointers, and cranking the pace.NBA teams saw Edey and Clingan dominate college basketball, but they still decided to take a 3-and-D wing with the No. 1 overall pick in that year’s draft instead. Clingan fell to the seventh pick, where skeptics questioned his conditioning and his offensive impact. Edey was a surprise selection at No. 9 overall, and was criticized as “one of the worst picks in history” by respected outlets.A couple years later, that 3-and-D wouldn’t go in the lottery of a redraft, while Edey and Clingan should both be locks for the top-5, and may even go No. 1 and No. 2. Their most immediate legacy, though, comes in how they’ve shaped college basketball in the short time since they’ve left.All sports are copycat leagues, and college basketball is no exception. Top programs haven’t hid their desire to get bigger since Clingan and Edey ran roughshod over the sport, and their fingerprints are all over the 2026 Final Four.The Michigan Wolverines targeted three players who played center for their previous teams, and put them all together in the starting lineup to form college basketball’s best front line. The Arizona Wildcats’ success starts with Lithuanian center Motiejus Krivas, who is listed at 7’2, 260-pounds, with a 7’5 wingspan. The Illinois Fighting Illini have the tallest team in the country according to KenPom with an average height of 80 inches, or 6’6.5. The UConn Huskies needed a miracle to knock out college basketball’s second tallest team, Duke, in the Elite Eight, but they wouldn’t be here without star center Tarris Reed and his reported 7’5 wingspan and 260-pound frame.Point guard has long been considered the most important position in men’s college basketball. It sure doesn’t feel that way after watching this season.BOULDER, COLORADO – MARCH 07: Motiejus Krivas #13 of the Arizona Wildcats dunks the ball during the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center on March 07, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images) Getty ImagesHow did giants take back college basketball? You first have to start with the idea of scarcity.The average height in the United States is 5’9. Roughly one percent of the men on Earth are 6’4. At this point in basketball history, a player who is 6’4 is probably a point guard. Breakout freshman sensation Keaton Wagler will run the show for Illinois in the Final Four at 6’6. If the guards are getting bigger, it only makes sense the big men should be, too.To find more modern centers, college basketball coaches had to start looking in different places. The international basketball boom is a direct result of the Dream Team from the 1992 Olympics, and only recently have foreign-born players started to take over college basketball. Some coaches were on it earlier than others.“We scoured the earth for size,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said during the 2024 Final Four. “We try to go out there and get it because it’s proven, if you can work with it.”Painter’s peers have started catching on. Michigan’s starting center Aday Mara was born in Zaragoza, Spain, and he stands 7’3 with a reported 7’7 wingspan. Illinois went to the Balkins to secure commitments from twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, who are both listed at 7’2 but shoot three-pointers like wings. Arizona found Krivas in Lithuania, where he had already played Euroleague minutes for his club Zalgiris before coming to campus.The next step ties into how analytics have changed the way coaches and evaluators view the game, and this time it’s a little more nuanced than three points being worth more than two. For years, NBA coaches bypassed attacking the offensive glass because they believed it hurt their teams’ transition defense. As recently as 2020-21 season, only one team posted an offensive rebound rate above 30 percent. This year, 16 teams are above 30 percent in offensive rebounding rate, with four more on the cusp. The reason is because the numbers showed that the death of transition defense was greatly exaggerated by crashing the glass.These days, the possession game feels just as vital as three-point volume, if not more so. Want to increase your possessions? Hit the offensive glass. The best way to do it is by having bigs with a length and strength advantage over their opponents. Of course, having players who don’t turn the ball over and routinely get to the free throw line helps, too.The final piece is the transfer portal. Coaches used to wait for years for big men to develop. Now, they can let or smaller or lesser program handle the growing pains of those early years before college basketball’s top dogs hand-pick the players they want in the transfer portal every offseason.“We used to recruit guys for three years and spend 200 man hours away from our families begging these 15 to 18 year olds to come play at our university, and then they’d decide to go in another direction,” said May ahead of the Final Four. “Think about all the time and resources you wasted. Recruiting has definitely been streamlined and it is much more efficient than it’s ever been.”May got Mara from UCLA after he languished on Mick Cronin’s bench for two years. Illinois got ‘Big Z’ Ivisic after stops at Kentucky and Arkansas under John Calipari. Texas made the Sweet 16 this season with breakout 7-footer Matas Vokietaitis as a driving force a year after he started his college career at Florida Atlantic. No. 1 seed Florida’s elite front court was bolstered by bringing in Rueben Chinyelu and his 7’8 wingspan from Washington State.All these factors and more have led to the big man being back in vogue in college hoops. This may just be the start.HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 28: Tomislav Ivisic #13 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Toyota Center on March 28, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) NCAA Photos via Getty ImagesKentucky coach Mark Pope might have accidentally coined a defining term of college basketball’s big man obsession back in December when asked about what he expected when his team matched up with Rick Pitino’s St. John’s squad.“Smash. Mouth. Basketball,” Pope said. “I think it’s gonna be really fun and ugly and gruesome and brutal and violent. It’s awesome. It’s great. It won’t be (that style) forever; it’s just for now. Just for now.”The biggest teams in college basketball thrived this year. The teams that weren’t quite big enough enter the offseason doing everything they can to get more size. Look at the Houston Cougars, whose 6’8 big men were overwhelmed by Illinois’ big men in the Sweet 16. Next season, Kelvin Sampson has five-star recruit Arafan Diane — listed at 7’1, 300 pounds, with a 7’4 wingspan — coming in to take over in the middle.Arizona wouldn’t be in the Final Four without point guard Jaden Bradley, but he’s also only fourth on the team in BPM. If Michigan falls short of a national championship, it will probably be because their guard play can be a little shaky. UConn’s best player has been its center, and Illinois’ raw size feels every bit as important as Wagler’s rise to their success. The best teams in the country not to make the Final Four this season — Florida and Duke — also bludgeoned their opponents with size all season long.Most of the best players in college basketball history are bigs. Start with George Mikan and Bill Russell, go to Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton, stop at Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, and continue with Patrick Ewing, Tim Duncan, Anthony Davis, and now Edey. Wanting size isn’t exactly a new trend, but it suddenly feels more important than ever as teams have learned about the limits of small ball and the thin margins of volume three-point shooting. Arizona ranks No. 362 out of 265 DI teams in three-point rate this year, but it hasn’t mattered because they run over everything in their path with size, strength, and athleticism.It’s been said that wins are a point guard stat in college basketball. There’s certainly some truth to it — but after watching the sport this year, would anyone really take a star point guard ahead of a star big man? #College #basketball #isnt #point #guards #game #anymore #Size #king #Final

College basketball isn’t a point guard’s game anymore. Size is king at Final Four once again
The most anticipated big man matchup in the recent history of men’s college basketball seemed like a novelty at first. On one side, there was UConn center Donovan Clingan, who measured at 7’1¾ barefoot with a 7’6¾ wingspan, a 9’7 standing reach, and a 282-pound frame. On the other side was Purdue’s Zach Edey, who was somehow even bigger at 7’3¾ barefoot with a 7’10¾ wingspan, a 9’7 standing reach, and a 306-pound frame.
Edey tipped the jump ball to teammate Braden Smith, and the 2024 men’s national championship game was underway. At the time, it felt like hardly anyone realized it was a matchup that would dictate the future of the sport.
Even NBA scouts were comparing college basketball’s two great centers to a dying breed along the lines of an elite NFL running back. Giants like Edey and Clingan would have been a focal point at the highest levels of the game years ago, but not anymore. Now, the plodding big man was said to be a complementary piece in a small ball world defined by spreading the floor, jacking up three-pointers, and cranking the pace.
NBA teams saw Edey and Clingan dominate college basketball, but they still decided to take a 3-and-D wing with the No. 1 overall pick in that year’s draft instead. Clingan fell to the seventh pick, where skeptics questioned his conditioning and his offensive impact. Edey was a surprise selection at No. 9 overall, and was criticized as “one of the worst picks in history” by respected outlets.
A couple years later, that 3-and-D wouldn’t go in the lottery of a redraft, while Edey and Clingan should both be locks for the top-5, and may even go No. 1 and No. 2. Their most immediate legacy, though, comes in how they’ve shaped college basketball in the short time since they’ve left.
All sports are copycat leagues, and college basketball is no exception. Top programs haven’t hid their desire to get bigger since Clingan and Edey ran roughshod over the sport, and their fingerprints are all over the 2026 Final Four.
The Michigan Wolverines targeted three players who played center for their previous teams, and put them all together in the starting lineup to form college basketball’s best front line. The Arizona Wildcats’ success starts with Lithuanian center Motiejus Krivas, who is listed at 7’2, 260-pounds, with a 7’5 wingspan. The Illinois Fighting Illini have the tallest team in the country according to KenPom with an average height of 80 inches, or 6’6.5. The UConn Huskies needed a miracle to knock out college basketball’s second tallest team, Duke, in the Elite Eight, but they wouldn’t be here without star center Tarris Reed and his reported 7’5 wingspan and 260-pound frame.
Point guard has long been considered the most important position in men’s college basketball. It sure doesn’t feel that way after watching this season.
BOULDER, COLORADO – MARCH 07: Motiejus Krivas #13 of the Arizona Wildcats dunks the ball during the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center on March 07, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
Getty Images
How did giants take back college basketball? You first have to start with the idea of scarcity.
The average height in the United States is 5’9. Roughly one percent of the men on Earth are 6’4. At this point in basketball history, a player who is 6’4 is probably a point guard. Breakout freshman sensation Keaton Wagler will run the show for Illinois in the Final Four at 6’6. If the guards are getting bigger, it only makes sense the big men should be, too.
To find more modern centers, college basketball coaches had to start looking in different places. The international basketball boom is a direct result of the Dream Team from the 1992 Olympics, and only recently have foreign-born players started to take over college basketball. Some coaches were on it earlier than others.
“We scoured the earth for size,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said during the 2024 Final Four. “We try to go out there and get it because it’s proven, if you can work with it.”
Painter’s peers have started catching on. Michigan’s starting center Aday Mara was born in Zaragoza, Spain, and he stands 7’3 with a reported 7’7 wingspan. Illinois went to the Balkins to secure commitments from twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, who are both listed at 7’2 but shoot three-pointers like wings. Arizona found Krivas in Lithuania, where he had already played Euroleague minutes for his club Zalgiris before coming to campus.
The next step ties into how analytics have changed the way coaches and evaluators view the game, and this time it’s a little more nuanced than three points being worth more than two. For years, NBA coaches bypassed attacking the offensive glass because they believed it hurt their teams’ transition defense. As recently as 2020-21 season, only one team posted an offensive rebound rate above 30 percent. This year, 16 teams are above 30 percent in offensive rebounding rate, with four more on the cusp. The reason is because the numbers showed that the death of transition defense was greatly exaggerated by crashing the glass.
These days, the possession game feels just as vital as three-point volume, if not more so. Want to increase your possessions? Hit the offensive glass. The best way to do it is by having bigs with a length and strength advantage over their opponents. Of course, having players who don’t turn the ball over and routinely get to the free throw line helps, too.
The final piece is the transfer portal. Coaches used to wait for years for big men to develop. Now, they can let or smaller or lesser program handle the growing pains of those early years before college basketball’s top dogs hand-pick the players they want in the transfer portal every offseason.
“We used to recruit guys for three years and spend 200 man hours away from our families begging these 15 to 18 year olds to come play at our university, and then they’d decide to go in another direction,” said May ahead of the Final Four. “Think about all the time and resources you wasted. Recruiting has definitely been streamlined and it is much more efficient than it’s ever been.”
May got Mara from UCLA after he languished on Mick Cronin’s bench for two years. Illinois got ‘Big Z’ Ivisic after stops at Kentucky and Arkansas under John Calipari. Texas made the Sweet 16 this season with breakout 7-footer Matas Vokietaitis as a driving force a year after he started his college career at Florida Atlantic. No. 1 seed Florida’s elite front court was bolstered by bringing in Rueben Chinyelu and his 7’8 wingspan from Washington State.
All these factors and more have led to the big man being back in vogue in college hoops. This may just be the start.
HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 28: Tomislav Ivisic #13 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Toyota Center on March 28, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Kentucky coach Mark Pope might have accidentally coined a defining term of college basketball’s big man obsession back in December when asked about what he expected when his team matched up with Rick Pitino’s St. John’s squad.
“Smash. Mouth. Basketball,” Pope said. “I think it’s gonna be really fun and ugly and gruesome and brutal and violent. It’s awesome. It’s great. It won’t be (that style) forever; it’s just for now. Just for now.”
The biggest teams in college basketball thrived this year. The teams that weren’t quite big enough enter the offseason doing everything they can to get more size. Look at the Houston Cougars, whose 6’8 big men were overwhelmed by Illinois’ big men in the Sweet 16. Next season, Kelvin Sampson has five-star recruit Arafan Diane — listed at 7’1, 300 pounds, with a 7’4 wingspan — coming in to take over in the middle.
Arizona wouldn’t be in the Final Four without point guard Jaden Bradley, but he’s also only fourth on the team in BPM. If Michigan falls short of a national championship, it will probably be because their guard play can be a little shaky. UConn’s best player has been its center, and Illinois’ raw size feels every bit as important as Wagler’s rise to their success. The best teams in the country not to make the Final Four this season — Florida and Duke — also bludgeoned their opponents with size all season long.
Most of the best players in college basketball history are bigs. Start with George Mikan and Bill Russell, go to Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton, stop at Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, and continue with Patrick Ewing, Tim Duncan, Anthony Davis, and now Edey. Wanting size isn’t exactly a new trend, but it suddenly feels more important than ever as teams have learned about the limits of small ball and the thin margins of volume three-point shooting. Arizona ranks No. 362 out of 265 DI teams in three-point rate this year, but it hasn’t mattered because they run over everything in their path with size, strength, and athleticism.
It’s been said that wins are a point guard stat in college basketball. There’s certainly some truth to it — but after watching the sport this year, would anyone really take a star point guard ahead of a star big man?
#College #basketball #isnt #point #guards #game #anymore #Size #king #Final

Sports news Men's College Basketball, nba April 5, 2026

The most anticipated big man matchup in the recent history of men’s college basketball seemed like a novelty at first. On one side, there was UConn center Donovan Clingan, who measured at 7’1¾ barefoot with a 7’6¾ wingspan, a 9’7 standing reach, and a 282-pound frame. On the other side was Purdue’s Zach Edey, who was somehow even bigger at 7’3¾ barefoot with a 7’10¾ wingspan, a 9’7 standing reach, and a 306-pound frame.

Edey tipped the jump ball to teammate Braden Smith, and the 2024 men’s national championship game was underway. At the time, it felt like hardly anyone realized it was a matchup that would dictate the future of the sport.

Even NBA scouts were comparing college basketball’s two great centers to a dying breed along the lines of an elite NFL running back. Giants like Edey and Clingan would have been a focal point at the highest levels of the game years ago, but not anymore. Now, the plodding big man was said to be a complementary piece in a small ball world defined by spreading the floor, jacking up three-pointers, and cranking the pace.

NBA teams saw Edey and Clingan dominate college basketball, but they still decided to take a 3-and-D wing with the No. 1 overall pick in that year’s draft instead. Clingan fell to the seventh pick, where skeptics questioned his conditioning and his offensive impact. Edey was a surprise selection at No. 9 overall, and was criticized as “one of the worst picks in history” by respected outlets.

A couple years later, that 3-and-D wouldn’t go in the lottery of a redraft, while Edey and Clingan should both be locks for the top-5, and may even go No. 1 and No. 2. Their most immediate legacy, though, comes in how they’ve shaped college basketball in the short time since they’ve left.

All sports are copycat leagues, and college basketball is no exception. Top programs haven’t hid their desire to get bigger since Clingan and Edey ran roughshod over the sport, and their fingerprints are all over the 2026 Final Four.

The Michigan Wolverines targeted three players who played center for their previous teams, and put them all together in the starting lineup to form college basketball’s best front line. The Arizona Wildcats’ success starts with Lithuanian center Motiejus Krivas, who is listed at 7’2, 260-pounds, with a 7’5 wingspan. The Illinois Fighting Illini have the tallest team in the country according to KenPom with an average height of 80 inches, or 6’6.5. The UConn Huskies needed a miracle to knock out college basketball’s second tallest team, Duke, in the Elite Eight, but they wouldn’t be here without star center Tarris Reed and his reported 7’5 wingspan and 260-pound frame.

Point guard has long been considered the most important position in men’s college basketball. It sure doesn’t feel that way after watching this season.

BOULDER, COLORADO – MARCH 07: Motiejus Krivas #13 of the Arizona Wildcats dunks the ball during the second half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the CU Events Center on March 07, 2026 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)

Getty Images

How did giants take back college basketball? You first have to start with the idea of scarcity.

The average height in the United States is 5’9. Roughly one percent of the men on Earth are 6’4. At this point in basketball history, a player who is 6’4 is probably a point guard. Breakout freshman sensation Keaton Wagler will run the show for Illinois in the Final Four at 6’6. If the guards are getting bigger, it only makes sense the big men should be, too.

To find more modern centers, college basketball coaches had to start looking in different places. The international basketball boom is a direct result of the Dream Team from the 1992 Olympics, and only recently have foreign-born players started to take over college basketball. Some coaches were on it earlier than others.

“We scoured the earth for size,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said during the 2024 Final Four. “We try to go out there and get it because it’s proven, if you can work with it.”

Painter’s peers have started catching on. Michigan’s starting center Aday Mara was born in Zaragoza, Spain, and he stands 7’3 with a reported 7’7 wingspan. Illinois went to the Balkins to secure commitments from twins Tomislav and Zvonimir Ivisic, who are both listed at 7’2 but shoot three-pointers like wings. Arizona found Krivas in Lithuania, where he had already played Euroleague minutes for his club Zalgiris before coming to campus.

The next step ties into how analytics have changed the way coaches and evaluators view the game, and this time it’s a little more nuanced than three points being worth more than two. For years, NBA coaches bypassed attacking the offensive glass because they believed it hurt their teams’ transition defense. As recently as 2020-21 season, only one team posted an offensive rebound rate above 30 percent. This year, 16 teams are above 30 percent in offensive rebounding rate, with four more on the cusp. The reason is because the numbers showed that the death of transition defense was greatly exaggerated by crashing the glass.

These days, the possession game feels just as vital as three-point volume, if not more so. Want to increase your possessions? Hit the offensive glass. The best way to do it is by having bigs with a length and strength advantage over their opponents. Of course, having players who don’t turn the ball over and routinely get to the free throw line helps, too.

The final piece is the transfer portal. Coaches used to wait for years for big men to develop. Now, they can let or smaller or lesser program handle the growing pains of those early years before college basketball’s top dogs hand-pick the players they want in the transfer portal every offseason.

“We used to recruit guys for three years and spend 200 man hours away from our families begging these 15 to 18 year olds to come play at our university, and then they’d decide to go in another direction,” said May ahead of the Final Four. “Think about all the time and resources you wasted. Recruiting has definitely been streamlined and it is much more efficient than it’s ever been.”

May got Mara from UCLA after he languished on Mick Cronin’s bench for two years. Illinois got ‘Big Z’ Ivisic after stops at Kentucky and Arkansas under John Calipari. Texas made the Sweet 16 this season with breakout 7-footer Matas Vokietaitis as a driving force a year after he started his college career at Florida Atlantic. No. 1 seed Florida’s elite front court was bolstered by bringing in Rueben Chinyelu and his 7’8 wingspan from Washington State.

All these factors and more have led to the big man being back in vogue in college hoops. This may just be the start.

HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 28: Tomislav Ivisic #13 of the Illinois Fighting Illini looks on during the Elite Eight round game of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at Toyota Center on March 28, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Logan Riely/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

NCAA Photos via Getty Images

Kentucky coach Mark Pope might have accidentally coined a defining term of college basketball’s big man obsession back in December when asked about what he expected when his team matched up with Rick Pitino’s St. John’s squad.

“Smash. Mouth. Basketball,” Pope said. “I think it’s gonna be really fun and ugly and gruesome and brutal and violent. It’s awesome. It’s great. It won’t be (that style) forever; it’s just for now. Just for now.”

The biggest teams in college basketball thrived this year. The teams that weren’t quite big enough enter the offseason doing everything they can to get more size. Look at the Houston Cougars, whose 6’8 big men were overwhelmed by Illinois’ big men in the Sweet 16. Next season, Kelvin Sampson has five-star recruit Arafan Diane — listed at 7’1, 300 pounds, with a 7’4 wingspan — coming in to take over in the middle.

Arizona wouldn’t be in the Final Four without point guard Jaden Bradley, but he’s also only fourth on the team in BPM. If Michigan falls short of a national championship, it will probably be because their guard play can be a little shaky. UConn’s best player has been its center, and Illinois’ raw size feels every bit as important as Wagler’s rise to their success. The best teams in the country not to make the Final Four this season — Florida and Duke — also bludgeoned their opponents with size all season long.

Most of the best players in college basketball history are bigs. Start with George Mikan and Bill Russell, go to Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton, stop at Ralph Sampson and Hakeem Olajuwon, and continue with Patrick Ewing, Tim Duncan, Anthony Davis, and now Edey. Wanting size isn’t exactly a new trend, but it suddenly feels more important than ever as teams have learned about the limits of small ball and the thin margins of volume three-point shooting. Arizona ranks No. 362 out of 265 DI teams in three-point rate this year, but it hasn’t mattered because they run over everything in their path with size, strength, and athleticism.

It’s been said that wins are a point guard stat in college basketball. There’s certainly some truth to it — but after watching the sport this year, would anyone really take a star point guard ahead of a star big man?

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#College #basketball #isnt #point #guards #game #anymore #Size #king #Final

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This Special-Edition New Balance Pack Pays Homage to Brand’s Legacy and It’s Available Now

CRICKET

TG20 Eliminator:

For the first time this season, Hyderabad e-Champions blinked. And Khammam Aces seized the moment with both hands, riding Mickil Jaiswal’s electrifying unbeaten 76 to snap e-Champions’ unbeaten streak and storm into the TG20 final with a 10-run victory in Qualifier 1 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday..

Asked to bat, Aces stumbled early, losing two wickets in the PowerPlay. G. Sai Krishna Reddy steadied the innings with a composed knock, guiding his side to 87 for three at the halfway mark before Jaiswal ignited the charge. The right-hander raced to a 26-ball fifty and dominated the closing stages, smashing 71 of the 98 runs plundered in the final eight overs as Aces surged to 200 for six.

e-Champions threatened through the PowerPlay despite losing Abhirath Reddy early, racing to 71 for one. But once the field spread, Aces’ bowlers tightened the screws. Sai Vikas Reddy fought a lone battle with a gritty half-century, but disciplined bowling choked the chase, handing e-Champions their first defeat of the season.

Tanmay Agarwal smashed a scintillating century, his second in as many matches and third of the TG20 season, to power Karimnagar Diamonds to a commanding 75-run win over Ranga Reddy Risers. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Karimnagar Diamonds knocks out Ranga Reddy Risers

Cometh the hour, cometh the man. And once again, Tanmay Agarwal answered the call.

He smashed a scintillating century, his second in as many matches and third of the TG20 season, to power Karimnagar Diamonds to a commanding 75-run win over Ranga Reddy Risers in the Eliminator at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday, booking its place in Qualifier 2.

Tanmay set the tone from the outset. He and Satwik Reddy raced to 29 in three overs before Satwik fell to T. Arun Kumar. Unfazed, Tanmay tore into Aryan Cariappa for 27 runs in an over, lifting Diamonds to 75 for one in the PowerPlay.

The skipper reached his fifty in 24 balls and then shared a match-defining 69-ball 139-run stand with Hrishikesh Simha. His century came in just 48 balls, putting Risers firmly on the back foot. Nitin Sai Yadav broke the partnership by dismissing both set batters, sparking a late collapse as Diamonds lost five wickets for 28 runs to finish on 238 for seven.

Risers’ chase faltered immediately with Aaron George falling in the first over. Though Tanay Thyagarajann and Aditya Javvaji counterattacked to take the score to 72 for two in the PowerPlay, Ashish Srivastav’s twin strikes in the seventh over swung the contest decisively. T.V.S. Narayana Teja then removed Venkat Karthik to deepen the damage.

Tanay’s 26-ball fifty and a brisk 48-run stand with Nitin Sai Yadav briefly revived hopes, but Shubham Sharma ended the resistance by dismissing Tanay. Nitin reached a fighting half-century, but it was only a consolation as Ashish Srivastav’s five-fer ensured Risers folded meekly.

Diamonds and e-Champions will face off in Friday’s Qualifier 2.

THE SCORES

Khammam Aces 200/6 in 20 overs (Paras Raj 32, G. Sai Krishna Reddy 40, Mickil Jaiswal 76 n.o., Akhil Rathod 2/33) bt Hyderabad e-Champions 190/8 in 20 overs (Sai Vikas Reddy 69, Ved Reddy 2/33, Sahendra Mallu 3/31).

Karimnagar Diamonds 238/7 in 20 overs (Tanmay Agarwal 137, Hrishikesh Simha 50, Aryan Cariappa 2/52) bt Ranga Reddy Risers 163 in 16.3 overs (Tanay Thyagarajann 63, Nitin Sai Yadav 50, Ashish Srivastav 5/16, Shubham Sharma 2/14).

-Anirudh Velamuri

Pondy Premier League: Aman Khan ton powers Villianur Mohit Kings to win over Ruby White Town Legends

Defending champions Villianur Mohit Kings rode on skipper Aman H Khan’s 60 (32b, 3×4, 5×6) to beat Ruby White Town Legends by 23 runs at the CAP-Siechem Stadium on Thursday to register their second win in as many outings in the Shriram Capital-Pondicherry Premier League 2026.

Put in to bat, Villianur posted 198/6 on the back of a 74-run fourth-wicket stand between Aman and Prithvi Rajan Khanna (38), and then put the brakes on RWTL with spinners Alim Shaikhlal Shaikh and Jishan Adil sharing five wickets. It was RWTL’s second loss in two matches.

A 74-run fourth-wicket stand between Aman (in pic) and Prithvi Rajan Khanna helpe Villianur Mohit Kings post 198/6. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Brief scores: Villianur Mohit Kings 198/6 in 20 overs (P Akash 44, Aman H Khan 60, Prithvi Rajan Khanna 38, Md Tahir Abhay 2-48) bt RWTL 175 all out in 19.1 overs (Neyan Shyam Kangayan 36, Bharat Rawat 32, Shiva Subash 34 n.o., Alim Shaikhlal Shaikh 3-27, Jishan Adil 2-25). Player of the match: Aman Khan.

Ritik Sharma stars in Mahe victory

Left-handed Ritik Sharma struck 82 (32b, 4×4, 8×6) to set up last year’s runners-up Mahe Strikers’ four-wicket win over Genid Yanam Royals at the CAP-Siechem Stadium on Thursday for their first win in two outings in the 2026 Shriram Capital-Pondicherry Premier League.

Brief scores: Genid Yanam Royals 184/7 in 20 overs (R Pravin 48, S Tarun 72 n.o., S Parameeshwaran 36, R Nithyananda 3-38, Raghav Goyal 2-17, Srujan Sinhasan 2-18) lost to Mahe Strikers 188/6 in 19 overs (D Wilson 32, Ritik Sharma 82, A Shrikaran 32 n.o., Pradeep Jakhar 2-22). Player of the match: Ritik Sharma.

-Team Sportstar

ARCHERY

Indian recurve archers had a disappointing day as the country’s men and women teams lost their respective quarterfinal matches to the USA at the Archery World Cup Stage-4 in Madrid on Thursday.

The men’s team suffered a 0-6 defeat, while the women’s side lost 2-6.

Asian champion and Stage-3 gold medallist B. Dhiraj scored his season best performance (691) to finish second among men in the individual qualification round on Wednesday. Kirti shot her career best score (668) to take the fourth place among women.

RESULTS

Recurve: Qualification:

Men: B. Dhiraj (2nd, 691), Neeraj Chauhan (8th, 677), Atanu Das (26th, 668), Yashdeep Bhoge (54th, 658); Women: Kirti (4th, 668), Kumkum Mohod (14th, 654), Ankita Bhakat (15th, 654), Deepika Kumari (16th, 654).

Team: India: Men (2nd, 2036), Women (3rd, 1976), Mixed (2nd, 1359).

Elimination: Individual: Men: Yashdeep Bhoge lost to Willem Bakker (Ned) 4-6 (1st round); Atanu Das bt Archie Bromley (Gbr) 6-0 (1st round), bt Christian Stoddard (USA) 6-4 (2nd round).

Women: Deepika Kumari got a bye (1st round), lost to Karina Kozlowska (Pol) 5-6 (shoot-off: 9-10) (2nd round); Kumkum Mohod got a bye (1st round), bt Kristine Andersen (Den) 6-2 (2nd round); Ankita Bhakat got a bye (1st round), bt Huang Yuwei (Chn) 7-1 (2nd round).

Team: Men: India (B. Dhiraj, Neeraj Chauhan, Yashdeep Bhoge) got a bye (1st round), bt Slovenia 6-2 (2nd round), lost to USA 0-6 (QF); Women: India (Kirti, Kumkum Mohod, Ankita Bhakat) got a bye (1st round), bt Italy 6-2 (2nd round), lost to USA 2-6 (QF).

-Team Sportstar

ATHLETICS

West Bengal state athletics meet: Tanushri shines

Tanushri Mahalder threw the spear to 43.37m to break Abha Khatua’s 13-year-old meet record and win the women’s under-20 javelin gold medal in the West Bengal state athletics championships at the SAI Complex in Kolkata on Thursday.

Important results (winners only): Men: 100m: Sourav Saha 10.91; U-23: 100m: Rohan Ghosh 10.68; Triple jump: Dablu Roy 15.29m (NMR, Old 15.22, Yadav Roy, 2023); Women: 100m: Tamashree Mishra 12.20; U-23: 100m: Anushka Kar 12.08; U-20: Javelin: Tanushri Mahalder 43.37m (NMR, Old 41.03m, Abha Khatua, 2013); U-16: Long jump: Priya Biswas 4.03m (EMR, Obami Murmu, 2024); Shot put: Saswati Ghosh 10.46m (NMR, Old 9.23m, Dipti Rajbanshi, 2024).

-Team Sportstar

PICKLEBALL

Harsh Mehta to lead Indian Pro category charge at Pickleball World Cup

The Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) on Thursday announced the Indian team, led by Harsh Mehta, for the Pickleball World Cup to be held at Da Nang, Vietnam from August 30 to September 6.

Harsh, a recurring name on the international pickleball circuit, will be accompanied by Arjun Singh, who is also representing and captaining India in the U-18 category at the World Cup. Anish Frolian and Aman Patel also made the cut in the men’s category.

Mihika Yadav, Aaliyah Ebrahim, Pearl Amalsadiwala and Naomi Amalsadiwali comprise the women’s side.

“Talent wins matches, but unity wins championships. As Team India, our greatest strength is playing for each other and for our country. We are confident that we will perform well to the best of our potential and I expect us to go very far in the cup,” said Harsh in a release.

“Extremely happy and grateful to be chosen as the captain for Team India at the World Cup and I look forward to giving my absolute best along with the rest of the squad.” Following corporate backing from Lucknow Leopards, Athletiq, Picklebay, and Electrorush, the Indian contingent enters the 2026 World Cup with renewed ambition after securing a bronze medal in the previous edition.

The selected athletes will participate in a structured high-performance development program featuring intensive training camps focused on technical excellence, physical conditioning, mental resilience, and sports nutrition.

Final Squad: Harsh Mehta (Captain), Arjun Singh, Anish Frolian, Aman Patel, Mihika Yadav, Aaliyah Ebrahim, Pearl Amalsadiwala, Naomi Amalsadiwala.

-PTI

BOXING

India assured of eight medals in U-19 women’s category at Asian U-19 and U-23 boxing C’ships

Indian women boxers continued their impressive run at the Asian U-19 and U-23 Boxing Championships with six pugilists advancing to the semifinals to assure themselves of medals on day 5 of the tournament here on Thursday.

Leading the charge, Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari (51kg) delivered a dominant 5:0 victory over Kazakhstan’s Zhadyra Kaltay, while Joyshree Devi (54kg) registered a convincing 5:0 win against Kazakhstan’s Maral Tolepbergen.

Prachi (57kg) continued her fine form with a clinical 5:0 win over Uzbekistan’s Robiya Ravshanova, while Chahat (60kg) secured a comprehensive 5:0 victory against Kazakhstan’s Zhasmin Abramyan.

In the 48kg category, Gunjan edged past Mongolia’s Altanzul Altangadas in a closely contested 3:0 split decision, while Anshika (75kg) added to India’s medal tally with a hard-fought 4:1 win over Kazakhstan’s Altyngul Aimukhan.

India also saw two closely fought bouts not go their way, with Vanshika (65kg) going down to Uzbekistan’s Rushanabonu Isoeva via RSC in the first round, and Lakshu (70kg) losing to Uzbekistan’s Maftuna Yangieva by a 5:0 decision.

With these results, India have now assured eight medals in the U-19 women’s competition, highlighting the depth and promise of the country’s youth boxing programme.

-PTI

GOLF

Amandeep takes two-shot lead in 9th leg of Hero WPGT

Amandeep Drall fired a second straight 4-under 68 to open up a two-shot lead over her best friend, Vani Kapoor, who also shot a 68 in the second round of the ninth leg of the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour here on Thursday.

Amandeep fired a bogey free round with two birdies on either side of the course.

Even as the first-round leader, amateur Alysha Dutt (67-78) slipped down to T-17 with a score 11 shots higher than her first round effort, Vani, the five-time winner in 2025, shot up to second place with 70-68.

Vani, who like Amandeep had a bogey free round, is tied second with Eti Chaudhary (69-69) at 6-under 138.

Four players were in tied fourth place and they were led by Nayanika Sanga (73-66), who improved on her first-round card by seven shots and moved alongside Jasmine Shekar (72-67), Anvvi Dahhiya (70-69) and Durga Nittur (69-70) as the leaderboard continued to be crowded.

Jahnavi Prakhya (70-70) was sole eighth at 4-under 140, while experienced Neha Tripathi (71-70) shared the ninth place with youngsters Kashika Misra (72-69) and Lavanya Jadon (71-70) at 3-under 141.

Four more players, Khushi Khanijau, Shweta Mansingh, Jahaanvie Walia and Ananya Garg were also under par at 2-under 142 as Ridhima Dilawari, three-time winner this season, was even par with cards of 75-69.

Amandeep, a former runner-up at the Hero Women’s Indian Open, birdied the second, fifth, 10th and 15th and did not drop a single shot in a very steady performance.

Vani opened with birdies on the first, second and third in a row and another one on the ninth as she was 4-under for the first nine, but she parred the entire back nine in a steady showing.

The Par-72 Clover Greens course continued to be generous with Nayanika Sanga (66) firing seven birdies against one bogey for the day’s best card of six under that included four gains on the front nine and three more on the back nine. Her sole bogey was on the Par-4 13th.

Apart from Amandeep and Vani, there were quite a few others who had a bogey free day. They included Jasmine Shekar (67), Durga Nittur (70) and Kashika Misra (69).

Hitaashee Bakshi (72-73), hoping to rediscover her form on the domestic Tour, was way behind in T-17 alongside amateurs Diya C Patil and Alysha Dutt, the first-round leader.

The cut fell at 7-over 151 and 35 players made it to the third and final round.

-PTI

OTHER SPORTS

My vision is to see Hyderabad hosting Olympics in 2036: T’gana CM

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday said that his vision is to see Hyderabad hosting the Olympics in 2036.

Speaking at the launch of the logo and website of Young India Physical Education and Sports University (YIPESU) here, he said sports policy should be formulated first, followed by the establishment of training institutes, academies and other institutions.

The state government is keen on establishing such institutions, he said.

Telangana had no sports policy during the last 12 years (during the previous BRS regime), he said.

Recalling that Hyderabad had hosted the Afro-Asian Games and Military World Games during 1999-2004, he said no such major events were held in Hyderabad in the last two decades.

The sports infrastructure, including sports stadiums, built in Hyderabad during undivided Andhra Pradesh, was used for organising marriages and political programmes in the last several years, which is unfortunate, he said.

“I have decided to revive sports culture in Hyderabad, Telangana. In 2036, India wants to host the Olympics. We are preparing our state, our Hyderabad to host the Olympics. That’s my dream,” he said.

It feels sad to see India, a country with a population of 140 crore, not winning medals in world sports events like the Olympics, he said.

The state government has initiated the sports university in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, with the government acting only as a facilitator.

The board of the university comprises industrialists and sports personalities, including Kapil Dev and Abhinav Bindra, he said.

He sought the support of Indian Olympic Association president P T Usha, who was present on the occasion, in promoting sports in Hyderabad.

He also said that Telangana would host the Khelo India Games in November this year.

He said the sports university would come up in 82 acres and that he would inaugurate the university by December, 2028.

Meanwhile, a government statement said Telangana would host the 8th Edition of Khelo Youth Games 2026 and the National Inter-District Junior Athletics Meet (NIDJAM).

The state would also play host to the Hockey India League, World Pickleball League, Archery Premium League, Tennis Premier League, it said.

-PTI

Published on Jul 09, 2026

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