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Deadspin | Shea Langeliers, Jacob Wilson homer as A’s hold on to defeat Rangers  Apr 15, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) hits a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images   Shea Langeliers smashed a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning and Jacob Wilson hit a two-run shot one inning later to help the Athletics post a 6-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night at West Sacramento, Calif.  Tyler Soderstrom had an RBI double while reaching base three times and Denzel Clarke added a run-scoring single as the Athletics won for the seventh time in the past eight games. Langeliers and Wilson each had two hits.  Joel Kuhnel retired four straight hitters to register his third save of the season for the A’s.  Jake Burger hit a three-run blast and Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer for Texas, which lost for the second straight night after winning the opener of a four-game series that concludes Thursday. Wyatt Langford had two hits for the Rangers.  Lawrence Butler singled off Jalen Beeks (1-1) to start the sixth inning before the left-hander retired the next two batters.  Righty Cole Winn was called on to face Langeliers, who drilled a 2-1 sinker a whopping 467 feet to left center to give the Athletics a 4-2 lead. It was his first blast since April 1.  One inning later, Soderstrom walked to start the inning and Wilson followed with a two-run shot to left off Winn, who hadn’t allowed a run in eight appearances entering the contest.  The Rangers got back into the game in the eighth against Mark Leiter Jr. Seager walked with one out and Langford singled. Burger then jumped on a first-pitch curveball and slugged a three-run homer to left to bring Texas within 6-5.   The homer was Burger’s third of the series to go with eight RBIs.  Kumar Rocker allowed two runs and four hits over 4 2/3 innings for the Rangers. He struck out six and walked four.  The Athletics’ T.J. Ginn gave up two runs and two hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out three.  Hogan Harris (1-0) retired two straight batters to complete the sixth inning.  Texas trailed 2-0 entering the third inning when Brandon Nimmo drew a one-out walk and Seager followed by sending a 1-0 cutter over the fence in right center to knot the score.  The Athletics scored in the first when Carlos Cortes drew a two-out walk and scored on Soderstrom’s double to deep left.  The A’s made it 2-0 in the second when Max Muncy was hit by a pitch with one out, stole second, moved to third on Butler’s groundout and scored on Clarke’s ground single to left.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Shea #Langeliers #Jacob #Wilson #homer #hold #defeat #Rangers

Deadspin | Shea Langeliers, Jacob Wilson homer as A’s hold on to defeat Rangers
Deadspin | Shea Langeliers, Jacob Wilson homer as A’s hold on to defeat Rangers  Apr 15, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) hits a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images   Shea Langeliers smashed a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning and Jacob Wilson hit a two-run shot one inning later to help the Athletics post a 6-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night at West Sacramento, Calif.  Tyler Soderstrom had an RBI double while reaching base three times and Denzel Clarke added a run-scoring single as the Athletics won for the seventh time in the past eight games. Langeliers and Wilson each had two hits.  Joel Kuhnel retired four straight hitters to register his third save of the season for the A’s.  Jake Burger hit a three-run blast and Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer for Texas, which lost for the second straight night after winning the opener of a four-game series that concludes Thursday. Wyatt Langford had two hits for the Rangers.  Lawrence Butler singled off Jalen Beeks (1-1) to start the sixth inning before the left-hander retired the next two batters.  Righty Cole Winn was called on to face Langeliers, who drilled a 2-1 sinker a whopping 467 feet to left center to give the Athletics a 4-2 lead. It was his first blast since April 1.  One inning later, Soderstrom walked to start the inning and Wilson followed with a two-run shot to left off Winn, who hadn’t allowed a run in eight appearances entering the contest.  The Rangers got back into the game in the eighth against Mark Leiter Jr. Seager walked with one out and Langford singled. Burger then jumped on a first-pitch curveball and slugged a three-run homer to left to bring Texas within 6-5.   The homer was Burger’s third of the series to go with eight RBIs.  Kumar Rocker allowed two runs and four hits over 4 2/3 innings for the Rangers. He struck out six and walked four.  The Athletics’ T.J. Ginn gave up two runs and two hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out three.  Hogan Harris (1-0) retired two straight batters to complete the sixth inning.  Texas trailed 2-0 entering the third inning when Brandon Nimmo drew a one-out walk and Seager followed by sending a 1-0 cutter over the fence in right center to knot the score.  The Athletics scored in the first when Carlos Cortes drew a two-out walk and scored on Soderstrom’s double to deep left.  The A’s made it 2-0 in the second when Max Muncy was hit by a pitch with one out, stole second, moved to third on Butler’s groundout and scored on Clarke’s ground single to left.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Shea #Langeliers #Jacob #Wilson #homer #hold #defeat #RangersApr 15, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) hits a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

Shea Langeliers smashed a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning and Jacob Wilson hit a two-run shot one inning later to help the Athletics post a 6-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night at West Sacramento, Calif.

Tyler Soderstrom had an RBI double while reaching base three times and Denzel Clarke added a run-scoring single as the Athletics won for the seventh time in the past eight games. Langeliers and Wilson each had two hits.

Joel Kuhnel retired four straight hitters to register his third save of the season for the A’s.

Jake Burger hit a three-run blast and Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer for Texas, which lost for the second straight night after winning the opener of a four-game series that concludes Thursday. Wyatt Langford had two hits for the Rangers.

Lawrence Butler singled off Jalen Beeks (1-1) to start the sixth inning before the left-hander retired the next two batters.

Righty Cole Winn was called on to face Langeliers, who drilled a 2-1 sinker a whopping 467 feet to left center to give the Athletics a 4-2 lead. It was his first blast since April 1.

One inning later, Soderstrom walked to start the inning and Wilson followed with a two-run shot to left off Winn, who hadn’t allowed a run in eight appearances entering the contest.


The Rangers got back into the game in the eighth against Mark Leiter Jr. Seager walked with one out and Langford singled. Burger then jumped on a first-pitch curveball and slugged a three-run homer to left to bring Texas within 6-5.

The homer was Burger’s third of the series to go with eight RBIs.

Kumar Rocker allowed two runs and four hits over 4 2/3 innings for the Rangers. He struck out six and walked four.

The Athletics’ T.J. Ginn gave up two runs and two hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out three.

Hogan Harris (1-0) retired two straight batters to complete the sixth inning.

Texas trailed 2-0 entering the third inning when Brandon Nimmo drew a one-out walk and Seager followed by sending a 1-0 cutter over the fence in right center to knot the score.

The Athletics scored in the first when Carlos Cortes drew a two-out walk and scored on Soderstrom’s double to deep left.

The A’s made it 2-0 in the second when Max Muncy was hit by a pitch with one out, stole second, moved to third on Butler’s groundout and scored on Clarke’s ground single to left.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Shea #Langeliers #Jacob #Wilson #homer #hold #defeat #Rangers

Apr 15, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) hits a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

Shea Langeliers smashed a tiebreaking two-run homer in the sixth inning and Jacob Wilson hit a two-run shot one inning later to help the Athletics post a 6-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night at West Sacramento, Calif.

Tyler Soderstrom had an RBI double while reaching base three times and Denzel Clarke added a run-scoring single as the Athletics won for the seventh time in the past eight games. Langeliers and Wilson each had two hits.

Joel Kuhnel retired four straight hitters to register his third save of the season for the A’s.

Jake Burger hit a three-run blast and Kyle Seager hit a two-run homer for Texas, which lost for the second straight night after winning the opener of a four-game series that concludes Thursday. Wyatt Langford had two hits for the Rangers.

Lawrence Butler singled off Jalen Beeks (1-1) to start the sixth inning before the left-hander retired the next two batters.

Righty Cole Winn was called on to face Langeliers, who drilled a 2-1 sinker a whopping 467 feet to left center to give the Athletics a 4-2 lead. It was his first blast since April 1.

One inning later, Soderstrom walked to start the inning and Wilson followed with a two-run shot to left off Winn, who hadn’t allowed a run in eight appearances entering the contest.

The Rangers got back into the game in the eighth against Mark Leiter Jr. Seager walked with one out and Langford singled. Burger then jumped on a first-pitch curveball and slugged a three-run homer to left to bring Texas within 6-5.

The homer was Burger’s third of the series to go with eight RBIs.

Kumar Rocker allowed two runs and four hits over 4 2/3 innings for the Rangers. He struck out six and walked four.

The Athletics’ T.J. Ginn gave up two runs and two hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out three.

Hogan Harris (1-0) retired two straight batters to complete the sixth inning.

Texas trailed 2-0 entering the third inning when Brandon Nimmo drew a one-out walk and Seager followed by sending a 1-0 cutter over the fence in right center to knot the score.

The Athletics scored in the first when Carlos Cortes drew a two-out walk and scored on Soderstrom’s double to deep left.

The A’s made it 2-0 in the second when Max Muncy was hit by a pitch with one out, stole second, moved to third on Butler’s groundout and scored on Clarke’s ground single to left.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Shea #Langeliers #Jacob #Wilson #homer #hold #defeat #Rangers

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A clenched fist, a quiet revolution — The idea of East Bengal under Oscar Bruzon <div id="content-body-70867822" itemprop="articleBody"><p>At full-time in Chennai, Oscar Bruzon barely showed any expression of joy. He clenched his fist, glanced at his watch and took a deep breath of relief. His team, Emami East Bengal, had just beaten two-time ISL champion Chennaiyin FC 3-1.</p><p>In 2024, when he took charge, East Bengal had six wins in its previous 20 games. After this victory, that number stands at 12. The Red-and-Gold Brigade, which had never finished in the top half of the Indian Super League, is now fourth on the table.</p><p>The man driving this transformation is Bruzon, a serious-looking figure who keeps his tactics close to his chest and bristles when the press probes too deeply into the dressing room.</p><p>“This is what my family, my father, especially asked me many times. When we win, I am relieved. When we lose, I’m already looking for the next game to come as soon as possible to rectify our problems,” Bruzon tells Sportstar after the game.</p><p>“In football, you need to control your emotions. Every five to seven days, you have a game. So, there is no time for being happy.”</p><p><b>From player to tactician</b></p><p>Bruzon’s caution stems from his formative years. The Spaniard began as a winger, marauding along the flanks and contributing in the final third before an injury pushed him deeper into midfield.</p><p>The flair of offence gave way to a quieter, more authoritative role in front of the backline as a defensive midfielder.</p><p>It was here that Bruzon, the manager, took shape, much like several defensive midfielders-turned-managers such as Xabi Alonso, Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone.</p><p>“You are always watching the game from the back; you need leadership and energy. I can give you the example of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri. He is not the best playmaker, not the fastest player, not the strongest, not the best in duels, but he’s the best at reading the situation,” Bruzon says.</p><p>Handling situations, and at times turning the tide, has been the central challenge wherever Bruzon has coached.</p><p>In the Maldives, he helped New Radiant win the domestic treble after three years and then turned Bashundhara Kings into a serial champion in Bangladesh, breaking the long-standing dominance of Abahani Dhaka.</p><p>East Bengal proved no different.</p><p>“When I came here, probably, the team was a bit imbalanced. We had injuries at the start of the season, and the confidence level of players was very low,” Bruzon says.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/football/indian-football/5vwuiu/article70867829.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/CFC%20vs%20EBFC%2011.04.26%20ISL%20122.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/football/indian-football/5vwuiu/article70867829.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/CFC%20vs%20EBFC%2011.04.26%20ISL%20122.jpg" alt="East Bengal is fourth in the ISL table, with four wins and one loss from seven games." title="East Bengal is fourth in the ISL table, with four wins and one loss from seven games." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> East Bengal is fourth in the ISL table, with four wins and one loss from seven games. | Photo Credit: East Bengal Media </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> East Bengal is fourth in the ISL table, with four wins and one loss from seven games. | Photo Credit: East Bengal Media </p></div><p>Bruzon’s first game as East Bengal coach saw him arrive the night before the Kolkata derby and watch his side lose to Mohun Bagan Super Giant. A defeat to Odisha followed.</p><p>“It’s not easy for a coach to be accepted when they were kind of supporting the former coach, a high-profile manager who did very good things in India. Even all the coaching staff were on his side. Many of the players were chosen by him. So for me, it was not easy,” he adds.</p><p><b>Building belief through chemistry</b></p><p>His first foothold came in the AFC Challenge League, a 2-2 draw against FC Paro of Bhutan that he describes as “the first big moment of help”.</p><p>East Bengal then lost just once in its next 10 matches.</p><p>“The team started to understand that there was a way forward. We got a good result there, and from there, things got easier,” he says.</p><p>For Bruzon, football extends beyond structure to relationships.</p><p>“In India, people like to talk a lot about formations and systems; it seems that without them, you can’t win games. I’m radically against this idea because a formation or system is only a reference for players to know where they need to be, to adjust,” he says.</p><p>“My approach to football is about relationships between players rather than systems. In one game, we can use five or six different setups, and that depends on the players on the pitch.</p><p>“Depending on their chemistry, their movement and what we need to do in that particular moment, we use one shape or another. Our defensive organisation is not the same as our attacking one,” he adds.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/roqqmh/article70867882.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-03-22%20at%2019.39.40%201.jpeg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/roqqmh/article70867882.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-03-22%20at%2019.39.40%201.jpeg" alt="Oscar Bruzon during one of the practice sessions of East Bengal during the Indian Super League." title="Oscar Bruzon during one of the practice sessions of East Bengal during the Indian Super League." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Oscar Bruzon during one of the practice sessions of East Bengal during the Indian Super League. | Photo Credit: East Bengal Media </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Oscar Bruzon during one of the practice sessions of East Bengal during the Indian Super League. | Photo Credit: East Bengal Media </p></div><p>That cohesion is evident in the way the team dines, jokes and stays connected off the pitch. Bruzon, whose stern presence is visible on the touchline, moves between tables more like a father than a coach after matches.</p><p>“A coach, at times, has to be a psychologist. We have four players who were out with suspensions or injuries (for the match against Chennaiyin). I don’t want to mention the names, but when players do badly, they need love and confidence,” he says.</p><p>“We put a lot of effort into making our players feel like a team. Many people say, ‘We are a family.’ But it’s not a word, it’s an attitude. One of the things that we do is make a lot of rotations, giving a chance to everybody. When you have a full squad connected to the game, you can get the best from everyone.”</p><p><b>What is Bruzon ball?</b></p><p>Football, at its core, demands a philosophy. And for Bruzon, that was evident at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday: fluid structures, one-touch passing and clinical finishing.</p><p>“Possession-based football is a consequence of hard work, team chemistry and players understanding that we want to dominate matches. Last year, I could not implement this kind of idea,” Bruzon explains.</p><p>“We were using the system 4-4-2, only three lines, waiting more in the centre of the park with a mid-block, trying to win the ball and launch quicker counterattacks. This year, we wanted to be dominant and build from the back, and we have excellent players (for that), Anwar (Ali), Jeakson (Singh) and Kevin (Sibille), players who understand build-ups.”</p><p>In midfield, there is a balance between physical presence, like (Mohammad) Rashid, and Saúl (Crespo), who operates as a playmaker. Up front, the side has the flexibility to link play and form quick connections in tight spaces.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/football/indian-football/a01pag/article70867841.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-03-23%20at%2020.30.21.jpeg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/football/indian-football/a01pag/article70867841.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-03-23%20at%2020.30.21.jpeg" alt="East Bengal heads into the BFC clash high on confidence after a 3-1 away win over Chennaiyin FC." title="East Bengal heads into the BFC clash high on confidence after a 3-1 away win over Chennaiyin FC." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> East Bengal heads into the BFC clash high on confidence after a 3-1 away win over Chennaiyin FC. | Photo Credit: East Bengal Media </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> East Bengal heads into the BFC clash high on confidence after a 3-1 away win over Chennaiyin FC. | Photo Credit: East Bengal Media </p></div><p>The result: East Bengal has scored the most goals in the league so far, including a 7-0 rout of Mohammedan Sporting, and has not lost a Kolkata derby in regulation time this season.</p><p>“East Bengal has a rich history of challenging for titles. So, we needed to step back from the previous seasons where things were not working. Today, fans of East Bengal are proud, at least, of the model that we are trying to use,” Bruzon adds.</p><p>But the Spaniard is careful not to get ahead of himself.</p><p>“I would like to be in the top six. Things are going well. Maybe we need to be more ambitious, and I understand that our fans don’t like to hear that this is not the title fight,” Bruzon says.</p><p>“I am not going to talk about that because I know where we have come from. We are just in the middle of the process. There is room for improvement.”</p><div class="inline_embed article-block-item"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">East Bengal FC put 7⃣ past Mohammedan SC to equal the biggest win in ISL history. 🔥</p><p>A night to remember for the Red and Gold Brigade at the VYBK. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ISL12?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ISL12</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EBFCMSC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EBFCMSC</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JoyEastBengal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JoyEastBengal</a><a href="https://t.co/xqiYCWL6r2">pic.twitter.com/xqiYCWL6r2</a></p>— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) <a href="https://twitter.com/IndSuperLeague/status/2036111067823440064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2026</a></blockquote></div><p>The Red-and-Gold Brigade returns home to host Bengaluru FC on Thursday, a team it failed to beat in both meetings in the ISL last season. But Bruzon believes his side has the momentum to continue its run.</p><p>“We are going to compete with every club in India, trying to finish in the top positions. Let’s say that we are on the way to bring back those golden days of East Bengal,” Bruzon says with a smile.</p><p>He rolls his closed fist to look at his watch once more, this time at the team hotel, before heading off to rest, prepare and perhaps give East Bengal fans another reason to celebrate.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 16, 2026</p></div><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> #clenched #fist #quiet #revolution #idea #East #Bengal #Oscar #Bruzon

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From MRF Pace Foundation to IPL spotlight—Charting Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain’s meteoric rise <div id="content-body-70867956" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Sunrisers Hyderabad’s bowlers have been among the most expensive in this Indian Premier League (IPL). Across their first four games, they have returned an economy of 10.42 and an average of 36.65, the third-highest in the competition, while their dot-ball percentage of 28.9 is the lowest in the tournament.</p><p>The PowerPlay has been even worse. SRH’s four wickets in this phase have come at an economy of 12.04 and an average of 72.25, with seven different bowlers used in the first six overs and only one taking more than a single wicket.</p><p>So, when Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain were handed their IPL debuts against a free-swinging Rajasthan Royals line-up, expectations were low.</p><p>Not, however, for M. Senthilnathan, head coach at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai.</p><p>“Praful’s strength was always the line and length; the length he had was always very solid,” Senthilnathan told  <i>Sportstar</i>. “When he keeps on hitting that length, there could always be some deviation in and out.”</p><p>Monday night delivered. Hinge, as well as Sakib, combined for eight for 58 in eight overs, removing RR’s top five inside the first three overs. Hinge set it up with four wickets in his first two overs, including three in the opening over — the first bowler to do so in an IPL match — before Sakib ensured there was no way back.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Built on repeatable lengths</h4><p>Hinge ripped through the RR top order with the new ball, first dismissing Vaibhav Suryavanshi with a delivery that climbed sharply on him, before splattering Dhruv Jurel’s stumps and having fellow debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius caught in the deep.</p><p>Senthilnathan, who worked with Hinge from 2023 to 2024, first met the 24-year-old during the foundation’s selection trials three years ago, where his potential was immediately apparent.</p><p>“Praful had some injury, so he didn’t bowl much, but from whatever he bowled, we could see that he’s got something. Then he went to rehab, and we got him ready in the off-season from March to August,” he said.</p><p>The recovery from a back injury dominated his 2023 stint, bringing its own physical and mental uncertainties.</p><p>“He had a lot of doubts, everybody goes through it, whether he would be able to play and bowl, those kinds of things will come to anyone,” the coach said. “So, he was doing his rehab, and mentally we were talking to him, just telling him that he would be OK.</p><p>“When he came to the bowling phase, we felt that if the L4 is fractured, then there must be something in his bowling that we need to get right,” Senthilnathan explained. “Nobody has such injuries without any technical fault; there will be something. He was falling off and trying to muscle the ball instead of going forward, so automatically the lateral refraction was happening.</p><p>“So, we started doing a lot of short runs and putting in his mind what we needed to do—go forward rather than twisting or curving his back. We worked on it, and then he went in August, September and played. They (Vidarbha) were also surprised that he was ready, and he had a very reasonable season.”</p><p>Hinge returned to MRF in 2024, this time focused on skill development.</p><p>“We couldn’t put him into hard training when we met in 2023 because of his injury, so in 2024, we really took on the challenge, and he took the challenge as well. He worked on his bowling areas and then worked on skills, looking for the right areas, moving them all from that length.”</p><p>Alongside the technical work came lessons in handling pressure from Aussie fast bowling great Glenn McGrath, who serves as Director at the MRF Pace Foundation.</p><p>“A lot of mental work was also put in by Glenn, about taking the pressure and how to handle pressure in a crunch situation, and at the same time, when there is success, how to handle it,” he noted.</p><p>“These are all very important points, only experience like Glenn McGrath’s would have been able to share.”</p><p>Hinge also went on an exchange programme in Australia, where he trained on the centre wicket at the Gabba alongside current Australian pacers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson.</p><div class="verticle article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/tmkxsn/article70867987.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Praful_MRF.jpeg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/tmkxsn/article70867987.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Praful_MRF.jpeg" alt="Praful Hinge at the CA Centre of Excellence." title="Praful Hinge at the CA Centre of Excellence." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Praful Hinge at the CA Centre of Excellence. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Praful Hinge at the CA Centre of Excellence. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT </p></div><p>“That’s a great experience for these boys,” Senthilnathan said. “When they go there, the wickets are different, they’ll be bowling to different kinds of batters, and the wicket is helpful. When the wicket is helpful, you have to be patient and hitting the right areas is what you need to look at. The length also differs in Australia, so all these things they learn, along with professionalism, how to keep yourself fit, what to eat, how to hydrate, how to train, and taking initiative.”</p><p>That work was evident on Monday night. Hinge later said he had been “manifesting” his performance, but Senthilnathan had a more grounded explanation.</p><p>“You can’t do what Jasprit Bumrah is doing, or Prasidh [Krishna] is doing, but Praful is known for something, which has taken him there. You have got to keep on repeating the same thing, so that’s why he’s confident, because he knows that he can bowl those lengths.”</p><h4 class="sub_head">A peculiar action, and a slower ball</h4><p>While Hinge took the spotlight, Senthilnathan was equally impressed by Sakib.</p><p>“Sakib will bowl 140kmph, and he’s very slippery, somewhere close to Bumrah, everything (his action) is quite fast. He’s got good speed; people have not seen his slower one, which he can also execute easily because of his action, so picking it also will be difficult for the batsmen,” he said.</p><p>“I feel a lot of importance has gone to Praful, but this boy has not bowled any less; he’s given a lesser number of runs, and he’s also got four wickets.”</p><p>Sakib, originally from Bihar, was introduced to the Pace Foundation through fellow cricketers and quickly made an impression.</p><p>“Sakib comes from a very humble background, and everything was new for him when he first came here. Everything is taken care of, and they only have to worry about the training they have to do. That phase was good,” Senthilnathan said.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/j891vb/article70867994.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Sakib_MRF.jpeg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/j891vb/article70867994.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/Sakib_MRF.jpeg" alt="Sakib with McGrath and Senthilnathan at the MRF Pace Foundation." title="Sakib with McGrath and Senthilnathan at the MRF Pace Foundation." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Sakib with McGrath and Senthilnathan at the MRF Pace Foundation. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Sakib with McGrath and Senthilnathan at the MRF Pace Foundation. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT </p></div><p>He was later called up as a net bowler with Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2023, but an injury cut his stint short.</p><p>“He did go to CSK as a net bowler, and they were all impressed, but to his bad luck, he had a stiff back,” Senthilnathan explained. “Had he been able to bowl, CSK probably would not have left him, so he went off. Next year, he went to Kolkata Knight Riders, and they actually won that year.”</p><p>The match against RR showcased both sides of his skill set. He hurried an in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal into a catch at third man and later worked through the middle and lower order, including Donovan Ferreira, with a cleverly disguised slower ball after the batter had crossed fifty.</p><p>Senthilnathan believes there is more to come.</p><p>“I still think we have a lot to see of him at the death. Slower ones will come, and yorkers will come, so 140 kmph+ yorkers, if he handles them too, I think then it will be very good. Picking his action is a bit difficult; it’s not easy, not conventional. He sort of falls in front, so that means there’s no lateral reflection.”</p><h4 class="sub_head">A look to the future</h4><p>The immediate challenge for SRH’s new fast-bowling pair is to sustain this impact through the rest of the IPL.</p><p>For Senthilnathan, the message remains simple.</p><p>“IPL is like a lottery, I won’t say anything more than that, because you’re restricted to bowl only four overs. With four overs, you cannot have too many strategies, so basically, you have to bowl what you know to do. You should do what you know best, simple as that.”</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 16, 2026</p></div> #MRF #Pace #Foundation #IPL #spotlightCharting #Praful #Hinge #Sakib #Hussains #meteoric #rise

LIV Golf’s 2026 season will proceed as scheduled with the full backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, sources close to the matter told Reuters on Wednesday, pushing back ​against reports that the rebel circuit was on the verge of collapse.

The sources, who have knowledge of the PIF’s ‌investment and LIV operations, said funding would continue and the remaining nine tournaments of ​the 14-event schedule would go ahead as planned.

Earlier on Wednesday, The Daily Telegraph reported ⁠that LIV Golf executives had been summoned to an “emergency meeting” in New York, before the Financial Times reported that the PIF was on the verge of cutting its support, though no final decision had been made.

The news comes one ‌week after LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil was in Augusta, Georgia, for the Masters along with several members of the circuit’s communications team. There were 10 LIV Golf players ‌in the 91-player starting field at the Masters, including Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, who finished two shots ‌behind ⁠winner Rory McIlroy in a share of third place.

The sixth LIV event of the ⁠season tees off on Thursday at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico. O’Neil was on site on Wednesday as the pro-am was being played.

Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia, who signed with LIV Golf in 2022, was among the players who spoke to ​media in Mexico and was asked to ‌comment on the reports that financial support to the circuit was on the verge of being cut.

“No, honestly, we haven’t heard anything other than what Yasir (Al-Rumayyan, LIV Golf Chairman) told us at the beginning of the year – that he’s behind us, that they have a long-term project,” said Garcia. “And ‌well, honestly, you know how these rumours are. There are always a lot of them. And ​I can’t tell you anything more than what we already know.”

LIV Golf, which launched in 2022, is bankrolled by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund and critics ⁠have decried it as a vehicle for the country to attempt to improve its reputation in the face of criticism of its human rights record.

Through big-money contracts and lucrative purses, LIV managed to lure a number ‌of golf’s biggest names, including major champions Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.

After a year of acrimony, the PGA Tour, PIF and Europe-based DP World Tour announced a framework agreement in June 2023 to house their commercial operations in a new entity and set December 31 of that year as a deadline to reach a definitive agreement.

That announcement brought an end to legal battles between the parties but raised concerns in Washington from lawmakers who are mistrustful of Saudi Arabia and critical of the country’s human rights record.

The ‌sides extended the deadline and as talks with the PIF dragged on, outside investor interest in the PGA Tour heated ​up by way of Strategic Sports Group, which invested an initial $1.5 billion into the for-profit entity PGA Tour Enterprises.

The divide has even captured the attention of U.S. President Donald ⁠Trump, an avid golfer who was part of two meetings on the matter at the White House in ⁠February 2025 when there was optimism that the schism between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour would be resolved.

In recent months, LIV has lost notable names including five-time major winner Brooks ‌Koepka and former Masters champion Patrick Reed.

Earlier this year, LIV Golf Adelaide set a record as the highest-attended golf tournament in Australian history, with more than 115,000 spectators and in March more ​than 100,000 fans attended the circuit’s tournament in South Africa, making it the country’s highest-ever attended golf event.

Published on Apr 16, 2026

#LIV #Golf #continue #reports #funding #crisis">Will LIV Golf 2026 continue amid reports of funding crisis?  LIV Golf’s 2026 season will proceed as scheduled with the full backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, sources close to the matter told        Reuters on Wednesday, pushing back ​against reports that the rebel circuit was on the verge of collapse.The sources, who have knowledge of the PIF’s ‌investment and LIV operations, said funding would continue and the remaining nine tournaments of ​the 14-event schedule would go ahead as planned.Earlier on Wednesday,        The Daily Telegraph reported ⁠that LIV Golf executives had been summoned to an “emergency meeting” in New York, before the        Financial Times reported that the PIF was on the verge of cutting its support, though no final decision had been made.The news comes one ‌week after LIV Golf CEO Scott O’Neil was in Augusta, Georgia, for the Masters along with several members of the circuit’s communications team. There were 10 LIV Golf players ‌in the 91-player starting field at the Masters, including Englishman Tyrrell Hatton, who finished two shots ‌behind ⁠winner Rory McIlroy in a share of third place.The sixth LIV event of the ⁠season tees off on Thursday at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico. O’Neil was on site on Wednesday as the pro-am was being played.Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia, who signed with LIV Golf in 2022, was among the players who spoke to ​media in Mexico and was asked to ‌comment on the reports that financial support to the circuit was on the verge of being cut.“No, honestly, we haven’t heard anything other than what Yasir (Al-Rumayyan, LIV Golf Chairman) told us at the beginning of the year – that he’s behind us, that they have a long-term project,” said Garcia. “And ‌well, honestly, you know how these rumours are. There are always a lot of them. And ​I can’t tell you anything more than what we already know.”LIV Golf, which launched in 2022, is bankrolled by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund and critics ⁠have decried it as a vehicle for the country to attempt to improve its reputation in the face of criticism of its human rights record.Through big-money contracts and lucrative purses, LIV managed to lure a number ‌of golf’s biggest names, including major champions Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.After a year of acrimony, the PGA Tour, PIF and Europe-based DP World Tour announced a framework agreement in June 2023 to house their commercial operations in a new entity and set December 31 of that year as a deadline to reach a definitive agreement.That announcement brought an end to legal battles between the parties but raised concerns in Washington from lawmakers who are mistrustful of Saudi Arabia and critical of the country’s human rights record.The ‌sides extended the deadline and as talks with the PIF dragged on, outside investor interest in the PGA Tour heated ​up by way of Strategic Sports Group, which invested an initial .5 billion into the for-profit entity PGA Tour Enterprises.The divide has even captured the attention of U.S. President Donald ⁠Trump, an avid golfer who was part of two meetings on the matter at the White House in ⁠February 2025 when there was optimism that the schism between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour would be resolved.In recent months, LIV has lost notable names including five-time major winner Brooks ‌Koepka and former Masters champion Patrick Reed.Earlier this year, LIV Golf Adelaide set a record as the highest-attended golf tournament in Australian history, with more than 115,000 spectators and in March more ​than 100,000 fans attended the circuit’s tournament in South Africa, making it the country’s highest-ever attended golf event.Published on Apr 16, 2026  #LIV #Golf #continue #reports #funding #crisis

Deadspin | Brewers pitch way past Blue Jays to snap 6-game skid  Apr 15, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA;  Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Chad Patrick (39) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images   Chad Patrick and three relievers combined on a five-hitter and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied with two runs in the eighth inning for a 2-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, snapping a six-game losing streak.  After being held to three hits through seven innings, the Brewers broke through for two runs in the eighth against right-hander Tyler Rogers (1-1), who relieved to open the inning.  David Hamilton opened with an infield single when Rogers was unable to barehand the slow roller toward third. Sal Frelick then reached on an error when catcher Brandon Valenzuela mishandled the dribbler in front of the plate.  William Contreras followed with an RBI single to right, sending Frelick to third. Frelick scored on Brice Turang’s groundout to second.  Aaron Ashby (4-0) got the win with a scoreless eighth. Abner Uribe finished with a perfect ninth for his first save.  The first six innings were a pitcher’s duel between Patrick and Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease.   The Blue Jays got their only run off Patrick in the first. Daulton Varsho drew a one-out walk, took third on a single by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and scored on Jesus Sanchez’s sacrifice fly to left.  Cease left with a 1-0 lead, allowing two hits over six innings, striking out six and walking three in a 106-pitch outing.  Patrick, a right-hander, matched his career-high 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits, striking out two and walking two.  The Brewers’ best chance against Cease was in the fifth when Joey Ortiz singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout, but the righty struck out Frelick to end the inning.  The six-game losing streak was Milwaukee’s longest since June 2023. The Brewers had an eight-game skid in June 2022.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Brewers #pitch #Blue #Jays #snap #6game #skidApr 15, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Chad Patrick (39) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Chad Patrick and three relievers combined on a five-hitter and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied with two runs in the eighth inning for a 2-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, snapping a six-game losing streak.

After being held to three hits through seven innings, the Brewers broke through for two runs in the eighth against right-hander Tyler Rogers (1-1), who relieved to open the inning.

David Hamilton opened with an infield single when Rogers was unable to barehand the slow roller toward third. Sal Frelick then reached on an error when catcher Brandon Valenzuela mishandled the dribbler in front of the plate.

William Contreras followed with an RBI single to right, sending Frelick to third. Frelick scored on Brice Turang’s groundout to second.

Aaron Ashby (4-0) got the win with a scoreless eighth. Abner Uribe finished with a perfect ninth for his first save.


The first six innings were a pitcher’s duel between Patrick and Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease.

The Blue Jays got their only run off Patrick in the first. Daulton Varsho drew a one-out walk, took third on a single by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and scored on Jesus Sanchez’s sacrifice fly to left.

Cease left with a 1-0 lead, allowing two hits over six innings, striking out six and walking three in a 106-pitch outing.

Patrick, a right-hander, matched his career-high 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits, striking out two and walking two.

The Brewers’ best chance against Cease was in the fifth when Joey Ortiz singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout, but the righty struck out Frelick to end the inning.

The six-game losing streak was Milwaukee’s longest since June 2023. The Brewers had an eight-game skid in June 2022.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Brewers #pitch #Blue #Jays #snap #6game #skid">Deadspin | Brewers pitch way past Blue Jays to snap 6-game skid  Apr 15, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA;  Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Chad Patrick (39) throws a pitch in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images   Chad Patrick and three relievers combined on a five-hitter and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied with two runs in the eighth inning for a 2-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays, snapping a six-game losing streak.  After being held to three hits through seven innings, the Brewers broke through for two runs in the eighth against right-hander Tyler Rogers (1-1), who relieved to open the inning.  David Hamilton opened with an infield single when Rogers was unable to barehand the slow roller toward third. Sal Frelick then reached on an error when catcher Brandon Valenzuela mishandled the dribbler in front of the plate.  William Contreras followed with an RBI single to right, sending Frelick to third. Frelick scored on Brice Turang’s groundout to second.  Aaron Ashby (4-0) got the win with a scoreless eighth. Abner Uribe finished with a perfect ninth for his first save.  The first six innings were a pitcher’s duel between Patrick and Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease.   The Blue Jays got their only run off Patrick in the first. Daulton Varsho drew a one-out walk, took third on a single by Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and scored on Jesus Sanchez’s sacrifice fly to left.  Cease left with a 1-0 lead, allowing two hits over six innings, striking out six and walking three in a 106-pitch outing.  Patrick, a right-hander, matched his career-high 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits, striking out two and walking two.  The Brewers’ best chance against Cease was in the fifth when Joey Ortiz singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout, but the righty struck out Frelick to end the inning.  The six-game losing streak was Milwaukee’s longest since June 2023. The Brewers had an eight-game skid in June 2022.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Brewers #pitch #Blue #Jays #snap #6game #skid

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