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Deadspin | Kyle Higashioka’s homer helps Rangers extend Mariners’ skid  Apr 7, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images   Nathan Eovaldi pitched six quality innings and Kyle Higashioka hit a go-ahead home run, rallying the Texas Rangers to a 3-2 win over the struggling Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.  Eovaldi, making his 300th career major league start, picked up his first win of the season after two losses, allowing two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks.  George Kirby (1-2) threw an eight-inning complete game for Seattle, which lost its fourth straight and its sixth in the last seven games.  The Mariners took a quick lead against Eovaldi, who was seeking his first win and first effective start of the season as he entered with an 11.42 ERA.   Eovaldi reached 1,500 career strikeouts when he got Josh Naylor swinging to end the top of the first inning but not before serving up a first-pitch leadoff home run to Seattle’s Brendan Donovan to begin the game.  The Mariners went up 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out rally. A Cole Young single, Eovaldi wild pitch and Cal Raleigh’s RBI single had the Mariners up two with Kirby and his 8-0 career record against the Rangers on the mound.   But the Rangers were able to get to Kirby in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back singles for Joc Pederson and Evan Carter — with a throwing error from Donovan on the first — made it 2-1. Higashioka drilled a Kirby fastball into the seats in left field to give Texas the lead for good with a two-run homer.  Kirby (1-2) needed just 90 pitches to get through eight innings, allowing three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.   The Rangers got two scoreless innings of relief from left-hander Jacob Latz, who has not given up a run in five appearances this season.  Jakob Junis allowed back-to-back singles to open the ninth inning, but got the next three hitters in order for his second save in as many nights.   –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Kyle #Higashiokas #homer #helps #Rangers #extend #Mariners #skid

Deadspin | Kyle Higashioka’s homer helps Rangers extend Mariners’ skid
Deadspin | Kyle Higashioka’s homer helps Rangers extend Mariners’ skid  Apr 7, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images   Nathan Eovaldi pitched six quality innings and Kyle Higashioka hit a go-ahead home run, rallying the Texas Rangers to a 3-2 win over the struggling Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.  Eovaldi, making his 300th career major league start, picked up his first win of the season after two losses, allowing two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks.  George Kirby (1-2) threw an eight-inning complete game for Seattle, which lost its fourth straight and its sixth in the last seven games.  The Mariners took a quick lead against Eovaldi, who was seeking his first win and first effective start of the season as he entered with an 11.42 ERA.   Eovaldi reached 1,500 career strikeouts when he got Josh Naylor swinging to end the top of the first inning but not before serving up a first-pitch leadoff home run to Seattle’s Brendan Donovan to begin the game.  The Mariners went up 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out rally. A Cole Young single, Eovaldi wild pitch and Cal Raleigh’s RBI single had the Mariners up two with Kirby and his 8-0 career record against the Rangers on the mound.   But the Rangers were able to get to Kirby in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back singles for Joc Pederson and Evan Carter — with a throwing error from Donovan on the first — made it 2-1. Higashioka drilled a Kirby fastball into the seats in left field to give Texas the lead for good with a two-run homer.  Kirby (1-2) needed just 90 pitches to get through eight innings, allowing three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.   The Rangers got two scoreless innings of relief from left-hander Jacob Latz, who has not given up a run in five appearances this season.  Jakob Junis allowed back-to-back singles to open the ninth inning, but got the next three hitters in order for his second save in as many nights.   –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Kyle #Higashiokas #homer #helps #Rangers #extend #Mariners #skidApr 7, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Nathan Eovaldi pitched six quality innings and Kyle Higashioka hit a go-ahead home run, rallying the Texas Rangers to a 3-2 win over the struggling Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.

Eovaldi, making his 300th career major league start, picked up his first win of the season after two losses, allowing two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks.

George Kirby (1-2) threw an eight-inning complete game for Seattle, which lost its fourth straight and its sixth in the last seven games.

The Mariners took a quick lead against Eovaldi, who was seeking his first win and first effective start of the season as he entered with an 11.42 ERA.

Eovaldi reached 1,500 career strikeouts when he got Josh Naylor swinging to end the top of the first inning but not before serving up a first-pitch leadoff home run to Seattle’s Brendan Donovan to begin the game.


The Mariners went up 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out rally. A Cole Young single, Eovaldi wild pitch and Cal Raleigh’s RBI single had the Mariners up two with Kirby and his 8-0 career record against the Rangers on the mound.

But the Rangers were able to get to Kirby in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back singles for Joc Pederson and Evan Carter — with a throwing error from Donovan on the first — made it 2-1. Higashioka drilled a Kirby fastball into the seats in left field to give Texas the lead for good with a two-run homer.

Kirby (1-2) needed just 90 pitches to get through eight innings, allowing three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

The Rangers got two scoreless innings of relief from left-hander Jacob Latz, who has not given up a run in five appearances this season.

Jakob Junis allowed back-to-back singles to open the ninth inning, but got the next three hitters in order for his second save in as many nights.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Kyle #Higashiokas #homer #helps #Rangers #extend #Mariners #skid

Apr 7, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka (11) celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Nathan Eovaldi pitched six quality innings and Kyle Higashioka hit a go-ahead home run, rallying the Texas Rangers to a 3-2 win over the struggling Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas.

Eovaldi, making his 300th career major league start, picked up his first win of the season after two losses, allowing two runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and a pair of walks.

George Kirby (1-2) threw an eight-inning complete game for Seattle, which lost its fourth straight and its sixth in the last seven games.

The Mariners took a quick lead against Eovaldi, who was seeking his first win and first effective start of the season as he entered with an 11.42 ERA.

Eovaldi reached 1,500 career strikeouts when he got Josh Naylor swinging to end the top of the first inning but not before serving up a first-pitch leadoff home run to Seattle’s Brendan Donovan to begin the game.

The Mariners went up 2-0 in the top of the fifth inning on a two-out rally. A Cole Young single, Eovaldi wild pitch and Cal Raleigh’s RBI single had the Mariners up two with Kirby and his 8-0 career record against the Rangers on the mound.

But the Rangers were able to get to Kirby in the bottom of the fifth. Back-to-back singles for Joc Pederson and Evan Carter — with a throwing error from Donovan on the first — made it 2-1. Higashioka drilled a Kirby fastball into the seats in left field to give Texas the lead for good with a two-run homer.

Kirby (1-2) needed just 90 pitches to get through eight innings, allowing three runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

The Rangers got two scoreless innings of relief from left-hander Jacob Latz, who has not given up a run in five appearances this season.

Jakob Junis allowed back-to-back singles to open the ninth inning, but got the next three hitters in order for his second save in as many nights.

–Field Level Media

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IPL Valuations Surge: What It Reveals About Indian Sport’s Imbalance <div id="content-body-70836947" itemprop="articleBody"><p>There is a moment in every boom when the numbers stop feeling real.</p><p>When Royal Challengers Bengaluru commands a sale price of USD 1.78 billion and Rajasthan Royals follows at USD 1.63 billion, it is tempting to read this as the triumph of Indian sport. It is, in truth, the triumph of one sport and an indictment of the rest.</p><p>In India, cricket is no longer merely leading the pack; it has lapped every other sport in the country.</p><p>The Indian Premier League is not a league in the conventional sense. It is a tightly held, 74-match property, compressed into a two-and-a-half-month window to engineer maximum yield. Its economic engine is calibrated and controlled: centralised media rights, franchise permanence, revenue sharing, all designed to compound value, season after season.</p><p>But to credit the IPL alone is to mistake the fruit for the tree.</p><p>Its extraordinary valuation rests on foundations laid long before April 18, 2008, when Brendon McCullum unleashed bedlam in Bengaluru. Beneath the spectacle lies a domestic system that stages over 2,000 matches a year, giving the league the depth it leans on. Without it, the IPL would be hollow.</p><p>No other sport in India has built that base.</p><p>Football comes closest in ambition. The All India Football Federation conducts roughly 1,800 matches across 22 national tournaments. The Indian Super League arrived in 2014 with money, momentum and a touch of glamour, with names like Alessandro Del Piero, Roberto Carlos and David Trezeguet briefly turning Indian stadiums into something resembling a global stage. But without promotion, relegation or a coherent calendar, it drifted, uncertain of an identity to build or sustain.</p><p>The Hockey India League flickered. The Pro Kabaddi League, once a television disruptor, now carries the fatigue of repetition, its novelty worn thin without a deeper sporting ecosystem to support its growth.</p><p>While others chased the IPL’s visibility, they missed the harder, slower work that makes such visibility durable.</p><p>This is where a comparison with the United States sharpens the contrast. In the US, sporting success is diversified, with the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL operating as self-sustaining, deeply rooted systems. Talent advances through collegiate pathways, revenues are equitably distributed, and calendars are respected, each league playing its part in a wider sporting economy.</p><p>India, for now, has built excellence in isolation. The spectacle has been replicated in parts, but not the system.</p><p>And so Indian sport sits at an inflection point. Cricket’s rise has not come at the cost of others, but its dominance has exposed their structural fragility.</p><p>The money has arrived. The system, beyond cricket, remains a work in progress.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 08, 2026</p></div> #IPL #Valuations #Surge #Reveals #Indian #Sports #Imbalance

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In an age of hurry, Sai Sudharsan keeps his own time <div id="content-body-70836961" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Unlike most of his contemporaries, B. Sai Sudharsan employs a bat-down technique. He awaits the bowler in his crease with the bottom edge of the bat resting on the ground.</p><p>He raises his bat to load his shot only when the bowler reaches the popping crease, adjusting the extent of his backswing based on his reading of length and shot choice.</p><p>It is a batting style from a bygone era, one that makes the process seem tougher than it should be. For Sai Sudharsan, it is a habit born of childhood frailty, one he has considered changing but ultimately retained.</p><p>“I started playing by keeping my bat down when I was young,” explains Sai Sudharsan in an interview with <i>Sportstar</i>.</p><p>“The main reason at the time was that I was not very strong. My coaches would say, ‘You’re not so strong. So, don’t lift your bat. Otherwise, you’ll get tired soon. Just keep your bat down.’ That’s how I started.”</p><p>“But it is helping me. Yes, I had some temptations in between to change it. But I think I had more trust in this. The way I batted, the set-up I have, I trusted this more,” he added.</p><p>The 24-year-old’s faith in his natural style has brought rich rewards, most notably the Orange Cap in IPL 2025, when he accumulated 759 runs at an impressive strike rate of 156.17 for Gujarat Titans.</p><p>That massive haul was the punctuation mark on an upward trajectory that has defined his IPL career: 145 runs in 2022, 362 in 2023, and 527 in 2024.</p><p>At the heart of his progression has been a willingness to adapt by adding new shots to his repertoire, particularly behind square. The southpaw has integrated a variety of ramps and scoops into his strokeplay as he has expanded his run-scoring methods.</p><p>This evolution has been the result of conscious planning and focused off-season training, driven by a desire to add new tools without unsettling his batting foundation.</p><p>“I definitely do it [prepare for such shots] beforehand. The way the sport is going, we need multiple options against the bowler. Without disturbing my strengths, how can I still improve my range? That is the thought process. It takes time to develop a new shot, but I think I’ve done a very good job.”</p><p>While Sai Sudharsan has impressed individually, it is his opening partnership with skipper Shubman Gill that has underpinned Gujarat Titans’ team plan.</p><p>Over the last two seasons, the pair has aggregated a league-leading 1453 runs at an average of 63.17. With an emphasis on accumulation and risk minimisation, the two are expected to provide a stable base for the middle order to capitalise on.</p><p>Sai Sudharsan believes this is a perfect alignment of team strategy and individual strengths.</p><p>“I think it was in unison, where our strengths aligned with what the team required. The team requirement was also very similar. We focus more on taking the game deeper and winning it from there,” he says.</p><p>In addition to his appetite for runs, the Tamil Nadu batter is known for his quirky preparation routines. During the England Test series in 2025, he was spotted jotting in his journal before walking out to bat and engaging in visualisation exercises. This is in addition to his habit of not batting on the eve of a game and assessing the pitch by walking on it barefoot.</p><p>It would be easy to label these as superstitions and dismiss them. But in a high-pressure environment like competitive sport, such forms of pattern-building are essential for performance, he believes.</p><p>“Most sportsmen do it. It’s a feel-good thing. Whatever you do, even practice, it’s about making you feel good and confident. So, whatever helps us feel that way is good. There is a reason for me to do these things — to be in a good headspace and be expressive and natural when I step onto the ground.”</p><p>Sai Sudharsan also admits that he has toned down his routines, sticking only to pragmatic ones.</p><p>“I used to have a lot of superstitions, but over time I have reduced them and made everything more practical and logical. Sometimes I would eat the same food — it could be ice cream or biryani. If the game went well, I would repeat it for 14 games. I have done that before, but now I have taken it out of my system. It’s just an example,” he says.</p><p>The left-hander was last in action in national colours against South Africa in a home Test series, where India suffered a 2-0 defeat.</p><p>Sai Sudharsan featured only in the second Test in Guwahati and managed just 29 runs across both innings. It was a failure that prompted serious introspection.</p><p>“I had so much anger towards myself that I was not able to execute when the team needed it. But once the series finished, I understood that I need to work more, be better prepared, and be ready when the situation comes again. That was the biggest thing on my mind.”</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 08, 2026</p></div> #age #hurry #Sai #Sudharsan #time

Deadspin | Reds avoid near-blanking, force extras to stun Marlins  Apr 7, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA;  Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott (41) pitches against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images   The Cincinnati Reds — scoreless against Sandy Alcantara until the ninth inning — rallied to defeat the host Miami Marlins 6-3 in 10 innings on Tuesday night.  Cincinnati tied the score in the ninth on a two-out wild pitch by Anthony Bender, and the Reds took control in the 10th on Nathaniel Lowe’s go-ahead RBI single and Matt McLain’s two-run double.  Alcantara, who was removed after 95 pitches, took a tough-luck no-decision as his 30-inning streak of not allowing an earned run was broken in the ninth.  He allowed just three hits — two singles and one double — plus two walks and two runs in 8 1/3 innings, striking out six. Miami started the ninth with a 2-0 lead, and both runs were scored while Bender was on the mound.  Marlins center fielder Jakob Marsee, who entered the game batting just .105, went 2-for-4 with one walk, two runs and a career-high four stolen bases. In 65 previous major league games, Marsee had stolen only 15 bases.  Reds starter Andrew Abbott took a no-decision, allowing six hits, two walks and two runs in 5 1/3 innings.  Alcantara retired Cincinnati’s first 12 batters before Miami native Sal Stewart singled to open the fifth.   Meanwhile, the Marlins opened the scoring in the fourth. The rally started with leadoff batter Agustin Ramirez’s blistering 113-mph double that was nearly caught by left fielder Spencer Steer, who retreated only to have the ball deflect off the top of his glove.  Next, Marsee tried a sacrifice bunt that turned into a single when he beat the throw at first. That put runners on the corners, and Miami cashed in with Otto Lopez’s RBI groundout. Marsee, who had stolen second base, scored on another RBI groundout, this one by Heriberto Hernandez.  The Reds tied the score in the ninth. With one out and none on, the Reds chased Alcantara after McLain’s double and Elly De La Cruz’s walk. Bender allowed a double steal, and Stewart delivered a sacrifice fly to spoil the shutout. Bender then bounced a wild pitch, allowing De La Cruz to score from third.  In the top of the 10th, the biggest hits were Lowe’s 106-mph single to center that made it 3-2 and McLain’s 386-foot drive to left for a pair of insurance runs.  Graham Ashcraft allowed one run in the bottom half on a fielder’s choice before a game-ending double play.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Reds #avoid #nearblanking #force #extras #stun #MarlinsApr 7, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott (41) pitches against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Reds — scoreless against Sandy Alcantara until the ninth inning — rallied to defeat the host Miami Marlins 6-3 in 10 innings on Tuesday night.

Cincinnati tied the score in the ninth on a two-out wild pitch by Anthony Bender, and the Reds took control in the 10th on Nathaniel Lowe’s go-ahead RBI single and Matt McLain’s two-run double.

Alcantara, who was removed after 95 pitches, took a tough-luck no-decision as his 30-inning streak of not allowing an earned run was broken in the ninth.

He allowed just three hits — two singles and one double — plus two walks and two runs in 8 1/3 innings, striking out six. Miami started the ninth with a 2-0 lead, and both runs were scored while Bender was on the mound.

Marlins center fielder Jakob Marsee, who entered the game batting just .105, went 2-for-4 with one walk, two runs and a career-high four stolen bases. In 65 previous major league games, Marsee had stolen only 15 bases.

Reds starter Andrew Abbott took a no-decision, allowing six hits, two walks and two runs in 5 1/3 innings.


Alcantara retired Cincinnati’s first 12 batters before Miami native Sal Stewart singled to open the fifth.

Meanwhile, the Marlins opened the scoring in the fourth. The rally started with leadoff batter Agustin Ramirez’s blistering 113-mph double that was nearly caught by left fielder Spencer Steer, who retreated only to have the ball deflect off the top of his glove.

Next, Marsee tried a sacrifice bunt that turned into a single when he beat the throw at first. That put runners on the corners, and Miami cashed in with Otto Lopez’s RBI groundout. Marsee, who had stolen second base, scored on another RBI groundout, this one by Heriberto Hernandez.

The Reds tied the score in the ninth. With one out and none on, the Reds chased Alcantara after McLain’s double and Elly De La Cruz’s walk. Bender allowed a double steal, and Stewart delivered a sacrifice fly to spoil the shutout. Bender then bounced a wild pitch, allowing De La Cruz to score from third.

In the top of the 10th, the biggest hits were Lowe’s 106-mph single to center that made it 3-2 and McLain’s 386-foot drive to left for a pair of insurance runs.

Graham Ashcraft allowed one run in the bottom half on a fielder’s choice before a game-ending double play.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Reds #avoid #nearblanking #force #extras #stun #Marlins">Deadspin | Reds avoid near-blanking, force extras to stun Marlins  Apr 7, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA;  Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Andrew Abbott (41) pitches against the Miami Marlins in the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images   The Cincinnati Reds — scoreless against Sandy Alcantara until the ninth inning — rallied to defeat the host Miami Marlins 6-3 in 10 innings on Tuesday night.  Cincinnati tied the score in the ninth on a two-out wild pitch by Anthony Bender, and the Reds took control in the 10th on Nathaniel Lowe’s go-ahead RBI single and Matt McLain’s two-run double.  Alcantara, who was removed after 95 pitches, took a tough-luck no-decision as his 30-inning streak of not allowing an earned run was broken in the ninth.  He allowed just three hits — two singles and one double — plus two walks and two runs in 8 1/3 innings, striking out six. Miami started the ninth with a 2-0 lead, and both runs were scored while Bender was on the mound.  Marlins center fielder Jakob Marsee, who entered the game batting just .105, went 2-for-4 with one walk, two runs and a career-high four stolen bases. In 65 previous major league games, Marsee had stolen only 15 bases.  Reds starter Andrew Abbott took a no-decision, allowing six hits, two walks and two runs in 5 1/3 innings.  Alcantara retired Cincinnati’s first 12 batters before Miami native Sal Stewart singled to open the fifth.   Meanwhile, the Marlins opened the scoring in the fourth. The rally started with leadoff batter Agustin Ramirez’s blistering 113-mph double that was nearly caught by left fielder Spencer Steer, who retreated only to have the ball deflect off the top of his glove.  Next, Marsee tried a sacrifice bunt that turned into a single when he beat the throw at first. That put runners on the corners, and Miami cashed in with Otto Lopez’s RBI groundout. Marsee, who had stolen second base, scored on another RBI groundout, this one by Heriberto Hernandez.  The Reds tied the score in the ninth. With one out and none on, the Reds chased Alcantara after McLain’s double and Elly De La Cruz’s walk. Bender allowed a double steal, and Stewart delivered a sacrifice fly to spoil the shutout. Bender then bounced a wild pitch, allowing De La Cruz to score from third.  In the top of the 10th, the biggest hits were Lowe’s 106-mph single to center that made it 3-2 and McLain’s 386-foot drive to left for a pair of insurance runs.  Graham Ashcraft allowed one run in the bottom half on a fielder’s choice before a game-ending double play.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Reds #avoid #nearblanking #force #extras #stun #Marlins

Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill remains a fitness watch ahead of Wednesday’s IPL clash against Delhi Capitals after missing the previous game with a muscle spasm.

Gill had sat out the contest against Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad, where visuals showed him heavily bandaged around the shoulder and neck area. The concern is not entirely new. The 26-year-old had also dealt with neck spasms during India’s 2025-26 home Test season, raising questions about recurrence and workload management.

However, there was a positive update on Tuesday as Gill returned to training.

In Gill’s absence, Gujarat Titans pushed Rajasthan Royals to the brink, falling just six runs short while chasing 210. That performance could influence team management’s decision, allowing them the luxury of not rushing their captain back unless he is fully fit.

If cleared, Gill will slot straight back into the XI. If not, Titans may once again take the field with Rashid Khan as captain

Published on Apr 08, 2026

#Shubman #Gill #injury #update #captain #play #Delhi #Capitals">Shubman Gill injury update: Will GT captain play vs Delhi Capitals?  Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill remains a fitness watch ahead of Wednesday’s IPL clash against Delhi Capitals after missing the previous game with a muscle spasm.Gill had sat out the contest against Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad, where visuals showed him heavily bandaged around the shoulder and neck area. The concern is not entirely new. The 26-year-old had also dealt with neck spasms during India’s 2025-26 home Test season, raising questions about recurrence and workload management.However, there was a positive update on Tuesday as Gill returned to training.In Gill’s absence, Gujarat Titans pushed Rajasthan Royals to the brink, falling just six runs short while chasing 210. That performance could influence team management’s decision, allowing them the luxury of not rushing their captain back unless he is fully fit.If cleared, Gill will slot straight back into the XI. If not, Titans may once again take the field with Rashid Khan as captainPublished on Apr 08, 2026  #Shubman #Gill #injury #update #captain #play #Delhi #Capitals

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