Deadspin | Behind Matt Savoie’s hat trick, Oilers wrap up 2nd in Pacific Apr 7, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris knoblauch watches play against the Utah Mammoth during the first period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images Matt Savoie finished the regular season with his first NHL hat trick, helping host Edmonton steam to a 6-1 win over Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, giving the Oilers home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs. With the victory in the regular-season finale, Edmonton (41-30-11, 93 points) clinched second place in the Pacific Division. The Oilers will host the third-place Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of a best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series on Monday. Savoie, a rookie forward paired with Connor McDavid for the past month due to Leon Draisaitl’s lower-body injury, got all three of his goals in the first period. Colton Dach added a goal and an assist, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins reached the 20-goal plateau for the seventh time in his career, and rookie Josh Samanski also scored. McDavid had four assists while Evan Bouchard finished with three. Connor Ingram needed to stop just 11 shots for the win. Rookie Ty Mueller got his first NHL goal for the Canucks (25-49-8, 58 points), who saw a three-game winning streak end. Vancouver finished with the worst record in the league. Kevin Lankinen made 29 saves and assisted on Mueller’s goal. Needing just a point to secure second place in the Pacific, the Oilers came out blazing as Samanski scored just 1:58 into the game, with an off-target shot that ricocheted in off Canucks defenseman Kirill Kudryavtsev. From there, the period belonged to Savoie, 22. He became the second Oilers skater to get his first hat trick off three first-period goals, joining Dave Hannan, who did it on Jan. 25, 1988. All three of Savoie’s goals came from almost the same spot, near the bottom of the faceoff circle to Lankinen’s right. His first came at 13:12, but Mueller cut the Edmonton lead to 2-1 on a breakaway at 7:50. Savoie got a power-play goal with 5:25 to go in the period and finished the hat trick when he scored with 58 seconds left in the first. McDavid assisted on all of Savoie’s goals and added his fourth on Nugent-Hopkins’ power-play goal with 3:14 left in the second. He recorded his second 90-assist season and secured his sixth Art Ross Trophy by leading the NHL with 138 points. Vancouver’s 12 shots on goal were the fewest Edmonton allowed in a game this season. The Canucks posted their second-lowest total, after the April 7 game against the Vegas Golden Knights in which they had 11 in a 2-1 loss. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Matt #Savoies #hat #trick #Oilers #wrap #2nd #Pacific

Deadspin | Behind Matt Savoie’s hat trick, Oilers wrap up 2nd in Pacific
Apr 7, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris knoblauch watches play against the Utah Mammoth during the first period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Matt Savoie finished the regular season with his first NHL hat trick, helping host Edmonton steam to a 6-1 win over Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, giving the Oilers home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

With the victory in the regular-season finale, Edmonton (41-30-11, 93 points) clinched second place in the Pacific Division. The Oilers will host the third-place Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of a best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series on Monday.

Savoie, a rookie forward paired with Connor McDavid for the past month due to Leon Draisaitl’s lower-body injury, got all three of his goals in the first period. Colton Dach added a goal and an assist, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins reached the 20-goal plateau for the seventh time in his career, and rookie Josh Samanski also scored.

McDavid had four assists while Evan Bouchard finished with three. Connor Ingram needed to stop just 11 shots for the win.

Rookie Ty Mueller got his first NHL goal for the Canucks (25-49-8, 58 points), who saw a three-game winning streak end. Vancouver finished with the worst record in the league.

Kevin Lankinen made 29 saves and assisted on Mueller’s goal.

Needing just a point to secure second place in the Pacific, the Oilers came out blazing as Samanski scored just 1:58 into the game, with an off-target shot that ricocheted in off Canucks defenseman Kirill Kudryavtsev.

From there, the period belonged to Savoie, 22. He became the second Oilers skater to get his first hat trick off three first-period goals, joining Dave Hannan, who did it on Jan. 25, 1988.

All three of Savoie’s goals came from almost the same spot, near the bottom of the faceoff circle to Lankinen’s right. His first came at 13:12, but Mueller cut the Edmonton lead to 2-1 on a breakaway at 7:50.

Savoie got a power-play goal with 5:25 to go in the period and finished the hat trick when he scored with 58 seconds left in the first.

McDavid assisted on all of Savoie’s goals and added his fourth on Nugent-Hopkins’ power-play goal with 3:14 left in the second. He recorded his second 90-assist season and secured his sixth Art Ross Trophy by leading the NHL with 138 points.

Vancouver’s 12 shots on goal were the fewest Edmonton allowed in a game this season. The Canucks posted their second-lowest total, after the April 7 game against the Vegas Golden Knights in which they had 11 in a 2-1 loss.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Matt #Savoies #hat #trick #Oilers #wrap #2nd #Pacific

Sports news April 17, 2026

Apr 7, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Edmonton Oilers head coach Kris knoblauch watches play against the Utah Mammoth during the first period at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

Matt Savoie finished the regular season with his first NHL hat trick, helping host Edmonton steam to a 6-1 win over Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, giving the Oilers home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

With the victory in the regular-season finale, Edmonton (41-30-11, 93 points) clinched second place in the Pacific Division. The Oilers will host the third-place Anaheim Ducks in Game 1 of a best-of-seven Western Conference playoff series on Monday.

Savoie, a rookie forward paired with Connor McDavid for the past month due to Leon Draisaitl’s lower-body injury, got all three of his goals in the first period. Colton Dach added a goal and an assist, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins reached the 20-goal plateau for the seventh time in his career, and rookie Josh Samanski also scored.

McDavid had four assists while Evan Bouchard finished with three. Connor Ingram needed to stop just 11 shots for the win.

Rookie Ty Mueller got his first NHL goal for the Canucks (25-49-8, 58 points), who saw a three-game winning streak end. Vancouver finished with the worst record in the league.

Kevin Lankinen made 29 saves and assisted on Mueller’s goal.

Needing just a point to secure second place in the Pacific, the Oilers came out blazing as Samanski scored just 1:58 into the game, with an off-target shot that ricocheted in off Canucks defenseman Kirill Kudryavtsev.

From there, the period belonged to Savoie, 22. He became the second Oilers skater to get his first hat trick off three first-period goals, joining Dave Hannan, who did it on Jan. 25, 1988.

All three of Savoie’s goals came from almost the same spot, near the bottom of the faceoff circle to Lankinen’s right. His first came at 13:12, but Mueller cut the Edmonton lead to 2-1 on a breakaway at 7:50.

Savoie got a power-play goal with 5:25 to go in the period and finished the hat trick when he scored with 58 seconds left in the first.

McDavid assisted on all of Savoie’s goals and added his fourth on Nugent-Hopkins’ power-play goal with 3:14 left in the second. He recorded his second 90-assist season and secured his sixth Art Ross Trophy by leading the NHL with 138 points.

Vancouver’s 12 shots on goal were the fewest Edmonton allowed in a game this season. The Canucks posted their second-lowest total, after the April 7 game against the Vegas Golden Knights in which they had 11 in a 2-1 loss.

–Field Level Media

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Explainer: Why English County Cricket’s new Replacement Rule is stirring debate <div id="content-body-70872418" itemprop="articleBody">The 2026 English domestic season has introduced one of the most radical shifts in cricket’s playing conditions. For the first time, teams can replace players mid-match not just for injuries, but also for illness and even significant life events.The move, trialled by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), is already sparking debate. Not because of the idea itself, but because of how it is being used.What exactly is the new rule?Traditionally, cricket has resisted full mid-match substitutions. Teams could only bring in substitute fielders, except in rare cases like concussion replacements.That changes in 2026.Teams can now bring in a fully participating replacementApplies to:<ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> Injury </li><li> Illness </li><li> Significant life events (birth of a child, family illness, bereavement) </li></ul>The replacement can bat, bowl, and field.How is it different from earlier trials?Other countries have experimented with substitutes, but England has gone further.<ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> No restriction on when a replacement can enter the match </li><li> Includes life events, not just injury or illness </li><li> Allows a full role replacement, not a limited substitute </li></ul>Compare that to Australia:<ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> Only one substitute allowed </li><li> Must be made before end of Day 2 </li><li> Longer stand-down period </li></ul>What safeguards are in place?To prevent misuse:<ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> Medical clearance required for injury/illness replacements </li><li> Mutual agreement between county CEOs for life-event replacements </li><li> 8-day stand-down period for injured/ill players </li></ul>But there are gaps:<ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> No stand-down period for life events </li><li> No restriction on timing of substitution </li><li> No hard cap on competitive advantage scenarios </li></ul>What has happened so far?<ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> Replacements used in 5 of 18 matches </li><li> Total of 9 substitutions (including concussion) </li><li> ECB expected usage in ~25% of matches </li></ul>Why are teams concerned?1. Late-entry advantageA fresh player entering deep into a four-day game can tilt the balance.2. Grey areas in injury assessmentWhat counts as “unfit enough” to justify replacement?3. Potential for tactical misuseEven without explicit tactical substitutions, teams could exploit loopholes.What happens next?<ul class="article-body article-bullet-list"><li> Trial runs through the entire 2026 season </li><li> No mid-season rollback </li><li> Review expected after initial Championship block </li></ul>Published on Apr 17, 2026</div> #Explainer #English #County #Crickets #Replacement #Rule #stirring #debate

Arshdeep Singh returned to basics and executed brilliantly, says PBKS’ spin bowling coach Bahutule <div id="content-body-70872489" itemprop="articleBody">India and Punjab Kings pacer Arshdeep Singh did not have the brightest of starts in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year, but a back-to-basics approach, including a lot of “target bowling” in the nets, has helped him regain his form, says his franchise coach Sairaj Bahutule.For the first time in three matches at the Wankhede Stadium, where batters have ruled the roost, Arshdeep turned up with a terrific opening spell, accounting for Ryan Rickelton (2) and Suryakumar Yadav (0). He later dismissed Sherfane Rutherford (1) to return 4-0-22-3 on Thursday night.Apart from striking in different spells, Arshdeep got the new ball to swing and move off the surface precariously while nailing most of his yorkers correctly at the death.“He started off with his first two games really well and then because of the (nature of) pitches, there are lots of demands in terms of variations and sometimes, what happens is (that) you forget to bowl your stock ball,” Bahutule, who is PBKS’ spin bowling coach, told reporters after the match.“But he is a very self-aware (bowler) and understands the nuances of the game. He went back to his basics in the last couple of days, did a lot of spot and target bowling, and he really came back with the understanding that he has to just focus on what he does best. He was very clear in his mindset…understand what works for you, what your strengths are and precisely that is what he did,” the former India player added.Bahutule said Arshdeep’s action and the pace with which he bowls were together responsible for his performance.“I think it is a mixture of both. He is a leading bowler in T20 cricket, in terms of wickets also, as well as the one who has the ability to swing,” he said about Arshdeep, who became the first bowler to complete 100 wickets for Punjab Kings in the IPL.Bahutule credited head coach Ricky Ponting’s presence for the change in Prabhsimran Singh’s approach, who smacked a match-winning 80 not out off 39 balls.“(It has) a lot to do with Ricky also being in the changing room. He himself being so positive, he rubs it across to all the batters in terms of approaching innings, and Prabh has responded really well to that,” Bahutule said.Bahutule said PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer also has a better understanding of what a bowler would attack him with. Iyer struck 66 from 35 balls with five fours and four sixes while forging a rapid 139-run stand with Prabhsimran.“Over a period of time, he’s really understood his game. He really works hard in knowing what is working for him and what is not working for him. Everybody has their understanding of bowling that short ball to him. But he’s become so smart at it that he understands when he is going to bowl that and he is very much ready for it,” Bahutule pointed out.“Not only his smartness, but his execution has also become very optimal, and with a lot of clarity and understanding the situation of the game,” he added.Published on Apr 17, 2026</div> #Arshdeep #Singh #returned #basics #executed #brilliantly #PBKS #spin #bowling #coach #Bahutule

#Deadspin #Anthony #Richardson #trade #situation #reflects #Colts #uncertainty">

Deadspin | Anthony Richardson trade situation reflects Colts’ QB uncertainty Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) watches the action on the field from the sideline Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Quarterback Anthony Richardson has made it clear that he wants a trade from the Indianapolis Colts. Whether or not (and when) that happens remains to be seen. “We’ve had some calls, but nothing’s come to fruition at this time,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said Monday. “So at this point he’s still an Indianapolis Colt.” Ballard also said Richardson is “still recovering a little bit” from a freak eye injury that ended his 2025 season. Ballard added that Richardson has been cleared for football activity. Richardson expressed his desire to be traded after the Colts retained Daniel Jones, but Ballard is not planning to give away the player drafted fourth overall in 2023. The Colts are taking into consideration that while Jones is on schedule to return from a season-ending Achilles injury, nothing is guaranteed and the team might be smart to hang onto Richardson if no attractive trade alternative emerges prior to training camp this summer. Both quarterbacks have had issues staying on the field. And the Colts are not exactly overflowing with experience at the signal-caller position. Richardson has started a mere 15 games during the three seasons of his career, a time period plagued by injuries and inconsistency. He did not play last season at all. Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in 2025, started just one game last season, and that was only after the Colts were eliminated from playoff contention. That leaves the Colts with a lack of clarity at quarterback: One is recovering from a significant injury, one wants a trade out, and a third will be looking for offseason reps to become a suitable backup while the GM works out a deal. Or not. -Field Level Media #Deadspin #Anthony #Richardson #trade #situation #reflects #Colts #uncertainty

mwasimuddin125 0

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) watches the action on the field from the sideline Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson has made it clear that he wants a trade from the Indianapolis Colts.

Whether or not (and when) that happens remains to be seen.

“We’ve had some calls, but nothing’s come to fruition at this time,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said Monday. “So at this point he’s still an Indianapolis Colt.”

Ballard also said Richardson is “still recovering a little bit” from a freak eye injury that ended his 2025 season. Ballard added that Richardson has been cleared for football activity.

Richardson expressed his desire to be traded after the Colts retained Daniel Jones, but Ballard is not planning to give away the player drafted fourth overall in 2023.

The Colts are taking into consideration that while Jones is on schedule to return from a season-ending Achilles injury, nothing is guaranteed and the team might be smart to hang onto Richardson if no attractive trade alternative emerges prior to training camp this summer. Both quarterbacks have had issues staying on the field.

And the Colts are not exactly overflowing with experience at the signal-caller position. Richardson has started a mere 15 games during the three seasons of his career, a time period plagued by injuries and inconsistency. He did not play last season at all.

Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in 2025, started just one game last season, and that was only after the Colts were eliminated from playoff contention.

That leaves the Colts with a lack of clarity at quarterback: One is recovering from a significant injury, one wants a trade out, and a third will be looking for offseason reps to become a suitable backup while the GM works out a deal. Or not.

-Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Anthony #Richardson #trade #situation #reflects #Colts #uncertainty">Deadspin | Anthony Richardson trade situation reflects Colts’ QB uncertainty

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson (5) watches the action on the field from the sideline Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson has made it clear that he wants a trade from the Indianapolis Colts.

Whether or not (and when) that happens remains to be seen.

“We’ve had some calls, but nothing’s come to fruition at this time,” Colts GM Chris Ballard said Monday. “So at this point he’s still an Indianapolis Colt.”

Ballard also said Richardson is “still recovering a little bit” from a freak eye injury that ended his 2025 season. Ballard added that Richardson has been cleared for football activity.

Richardson expressed his desire to be traded after the Colts retained Daniel Jones, but Ballard is not planning to give away the player drafted fourth overall in 2023.

The Colts are taking into consideration that while Jones is on schedule to return from a season-ending Achilles injury, nothing is guaranteed and the team might be smart to hang onto Richardson if no attractive trade alternative emerges prior to training camp this summer. Both quarterbacks have had issues staying on the field.

And the Colts are not exactly overflowing with experience at the signal-caller position. Richardson has started a mere 15 games during the three seasons of his career, a time period plagued by injuries and inconsistency. He did not play last season at all.

Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick in 2025, started just one game last season, and that was only after the Colts were eliminated from playoff contention.

That leaves the Colts with a lack of clarity at quarterback: One is recovering from a significant injury, one wants a trade out, and a third will be looking for offseason reps to become a suitable backup while the GM works out a deal. Or not.

-Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Anthony #Richardson #trade #situation #reflects #Colts #uncertainty

The 2026 NBA Playoffs promised a wide open championship race for a league that has seen seven unique champions over the last seven seasons. The playoffs are already delivering in the first-round, and they’re only going to get better as the march towards the NBA Finals continues.

The start of the first round has already positioned three series as all-out battles with the road team stealing a game. The Atlanta Hawks evened things up against the New York Knicks in Game 2 with an incredible fourth quarter rally led by C.J. McCollum. The Minnesota Timberwolves tied the series vs. the Denver Nuggets in what’s shaping up to be the most physical clash of the first round. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic knocked off the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in Game 1 to immediately raise the stakes in the East. The Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers series is shaping up to be competitive too despite major injuries on both sides.

With the first round in full swing, here’s one overreaction from every series so far. Check out our full rankings for every team in the NBA Playoffs, and a list of the top-50 players in the postseason, for more coverage.

The Magic really have a chance to upset the Pistons

Yes, the Magic were my preseason NBA Finals pick, and yes, I was deeply ashamed of it all year. Orlando failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons this season, but the big ones were: a) injuries, b) poor coaching, and c) a failure to maximize the fit between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It looked like the Magic wouldn’t even make the playoffs after they got drilled by the Philadelphia 76ers in their play-in opener, but they put up their best performance of the season in the next play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed, then topped it with an excellent Game 1 to knock off the heavily favored Pistons.

I really liked the way the matchups work out for the Magic in this series now that they’re finally healthy. The Pistons are known for their physicality, but they can’t bully Orlando. It was nice to see Banchero and Wagner get their high-low game going. Wagner looked deadly on drives to the rim, and Banchero was doing a good job of not settling for jumpers, where his touch is poor. Jalen Suggs is really one of the most impactful role players in the league, and he looked great in disrupting the Pistons’ perimeter offense. Wendell Carter Jr. had a masterful game switching defensively to deny Detroit’s drives while also spacing the floor on offense.

Detroit should roar back to form in Game 2. The Pistons can make some adjustments to force Banchero into his worst habits, and find more ways to free up Duren offensively. I’ve always been a little skeptical of JB Bickerstaff in the playoffs, though, and the talent gap doesn’t feel like a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 series here. Questions about Detroit’s halfcourt offense persisted all season, and they should be louder than ever right now. I doubt Game 1 will be Orlando’s only victory in this series. The Pistons will answer, but the Magic really have a chance to advance.

The Celtics are going to roll over the Sixers

Boston showed why they’re suddenly the favorites to reach the NBA Finals out of the East. The Celtics rocked the 76ers from the opening quarter in Game 1 in a display that showed their full might. Jayson Tatum looked fantastic in the first quarter, Jaylen Brown took over in the third, and the defense, three-point shooting, and rebounding were all humming at elite levels. Tatum’s comeback from a torn Achilles suffered 11 months ago has been so impressive, and somehow it feels like the Celtics are deeper than ever even after losing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. This organization is the gold standard in the game, from the front office to the coaching to the players. The Celtics look scary right now.

The James Harden trade looks genius for the Cavs

The idea of trading for James Harden to bolster a playoff run is objectively kind of hilarious on its face, but it sure feels like it’s working out well for the Cavs. Darius Garland was always going to get picked on in the playoffs for his diminutive frame, and it just didn’t feel like Cleveland could trust him to stay healthy through the entire postseason. Swapping out Garland for James Harden was a fascinating move that shortened the Cavs’ timeline but also gave them the best possible chance to win right now. Yes, Harden has an epic list of playoff failures in his career, but he’s still damn good at age-36, and his arrival has freed up Donovan Mitchell’s workload while maximizing Jarrett Allen’s offensive ceiling in the pick-and-roll. With rumors swirling that Mitchell could be on the trade block if he turns down an offseason extension, the Cavs had to go all-out to try to make the NBA Finals this season, and the Harden trade really did seem to improve their odds. I see this team winning more than one playoff series this year, and this opener against the Raptors shouldn’t be too suspenseful.

Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advance

This playoff run feels destined to become a referendum on every key piece for the Knicks, maybe no one more so than Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT badly needs a signature playoff run both for New York’s conference championship chances and his own reputation, and the Hawks’ matchup felt like it should be a favorable start for him. Game 1 showed just how much bigger, stronger, and more skilled Towns is than the Atlanta front court. In Game 2, Atlanta completely took Towns out of the game in the fourth quarter, limiting him to zero points and only two shot attempts. Towns needs to avoid falling into his usual traps — stupid fouls, bad defense, inexplicable moments where he trips for no reason — which is easier said than done. It does feel like his chemistry with Jalen Brunson hit another level late in the season, and he should be able to annihilate Atlanta if both are locked in. It’s time for KAT to remind everyone that he’s one of the best bigs in the league and a former No. 1 overall draft pick. Atlanta can’t stop him, and he has no excuses the rest of this series.

The Thunder will not be challenged by the Suns

I really respect the Suns’ success because I thought they would be terrible and trapped in eternal hell with all their draft picks out the door and the ghost Bradley Beal as an anchor on the cap sheet. Phoenix is a fun, gritty team with an excellent first-year head coach in Jordan Ott. There are levels to this, though, and the Thunder are multiple standard deviations better than the Suns. OKC was the big winner of the final seeding, because they get to watch the Nuggets and Spurs duke it out on the other side of the bracket. I don’t expect the Thunder to be tested until the West Finals.

Playoff Wemby is a legend in the making

Victor Wembanyama’s playoff debut was spectacular, scoring 21 points in the first half to kickstart a rout of the Trail Blazers. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the third best player in NBA history for my money — a year before he entered the NBA Draft, and I still don’t’ regret it. He’s already in the conversation for the best player in the world at age-22. If he stays healthy, it will feel like an upset he’s not a top-10 player of all-time when it’s all said and done. Wembanyama’s ascent cannot be stopped, and the Spurs have put a good enough team around him to make anything possible this year. Portland will be the first team to feel something many Western Conference adversaries will experience over the decade: Wembanyama is simply a problem without a solution, and your team has no chance if he’s on the other side.

Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the Nuggets

Rudy Gobert has to be the most maligned great player of his generation. There are a thousand podcast clips over the years of former players disrespecting his game. Meanwhile, all Gobert does is continue to lockdown the paint defensively all by himself, and he proved it again in Game 2 against the Nuggets. Gobert only scored two points, but his impact was was so much greater when it came to limiting the Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray two-man game. Gobert can bother Jokic’s 1-on-1 scoring, and he can hedge or switch out on Murray when he needs to. He also keeps himself in great shape to continue fighting deep into games. I expect the Nuggets to still win this series even after giving up a home game in Game 2, but it won’t be easy with an all-time great defensive center making life miserable for an elite offense.

Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the Lakers

Ime Udoka inherited a 22-win team when he was hired as head coach of the Rockets, and immediately led them to 41 wins in his first season and then 52 wins in back-to-back seasons after that. Udoka is an excellent defensive coach, and he’s working at a disadvantage right now without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams plus an unexpected injury to Kevin Durant in Game 1. The Rockets’ biggest problems are more personnel related than coaching, but Udoka could still face some heat if Houston actually gets eliminated to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. It’s hard to believe the Rockets had a top-10 offense this season after watching their pathetic display — a 106.5 offensive rating — in Game 1. Durant’s absence obviously contributed a lot to that, but it just feels like nothing comes easy for this team. I think firing Udoka would be a mistake even if Houston loses, but I would bet we get some hot seat rumors this summer as Houston ponders how to take the next step.

#NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series">

NBA Playoffs overreactions for start of every 2026 first-round series The 2026 NBA Playoffs promised a wide open championship race for a league that has seen seven unique champions over the last seven seasons. The playoffs are already delivering in the first-round, and they’re only going to get better as the march towards the NBA Finals continues.The start of the first round has already positioned three series as all-out battles with the road team stealing a game. The Atlanta Hawks evened things up against the New York Knicks in Game 2 with an incredible fourth quarter rally led by C.J. McCollum. The Minnesota Timberwolves tied the series vs. the Denver Nuggets in what’s shaping up to be the most physical clash of the first round. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic knocked off the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in Game 1 to immediately raise the stakes in the East. The Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers series is shaping up to be competitive too despite major injuries on both sides.With the first round in full swing, here’s one overreaction from every series so far. Check out our full rankings for every team in the NBA Playoffs, and a list of the top-50 players in the postseason, for more coverage.The Magic really have a chance to upset the PistonsYes, the Magic were my preseason NBA Finals pick, and yes, I was deeply ashamed of it all year. Orlando failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons this season, but the big ones were: a) injuries, b) poor coaching, and c) a failure to maximize the fit between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It looked like the Magic wouldn’t even make the playoffs after they got drilled by the Philadelphia 76ers in their play-in opener, but they put up their best performance of the season in the next play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed, then topped it with an excellent Game 1 to knock off the heavily favored Pistons.I really liked the way the matchups work out for the Magic in this series now that they’re finally healthy. The Pistons are known for their physicality, but they can’t bully Orlando. It was nice to see Banchero and Wagner get their high-low game going. Wagner looked deadly on drives to the rim, and Banchero was doing a good job of not settling for jumpers, where his touch is poor. Jalen Suggs is really one of the most impactful role players in the league, and he looked great in disrupting the Pistons’ perimeter offense. Wendell Carter Jr. had a masterful game switching defensively to deny Detroit’s drives while also spacing the floor on offense.Detroit should roar back to form in Game 2. The Pistons can make some adjustments to force Banchero into his worst habits, and find more ways to free up Duren offensively. I’ve always been a little skeptical of JB Bickerstaff in the playoffs, though, and the talent gap doesn’t feel like a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 series here. Questions about Detroit’s halfcourt offense persisted all season, and they should be louder than ever right now. I doubt Game 1 will be Orlando’s only victory in this series. The Pistons will answer, but the Magic really have a chance to advance.The Celtics are going to roll over the SixersBoston showed why they’re suddenly the favorites to reach the NBA Finals out of the East. The Celtics rocked the 76ers from the opening quarter in Game 1 in a display that showed their full might. Jayson Tatum looked fantastic in the first quarter, Jaylen Brown took over in the third, and the defense, three-point shooting, and rebounding were all humming at elite levels. Tatum’s comeback from a torn Achilles suffered 11 months ago has been so impressive, and somehow it feels like the Celtics are deeper than ever even after losing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. This organization is the gold standard in the game, from the front office to the coaching to the players. The Celtics look scary right now.The James Harden trade looks genius for the CavsThe idea of trading for James Harden to bolster a playoff run is objectively kind of hilarious on its face, but it sure feels like it’s working out well for the Cavs. Darius Garland was always going to get picked on in the playoffs for his diminutive frame, and it just didn’t feel like Cleveland could trust him to stay healthy through the entire postseason. Swapping out Garland for James Harden was a fascinating move that shortened the Cavs’ timeline but also gave them the best possible chance to win right now. Yes, Harden has an epic list of playoff failures in his career, but he’s still damn good at age-36, and his arrival has freed up Donovan Mitchell’s workload while maximizing Jarrett Allen’s offensive ceiling in the pick-and-roll. With rumors swirling that Mitchell could be on the trade block if he turns down an offseason extension, the Cavs had to go all-out to try to make the NBA Finals this season, and the Harden trade really did seem to improve their odds. I see this team winning more than one playoff series this year, and this opener against the Raptors shouldn’t be too suspenseful.Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advanceThis playoff run feels destined to become a referendum on every key piece for the Knicks, maybe no one more so than Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT badly needs a signature playoff run both for New York’s conference championship chances and his own reputation, and the Hawks’ matchup felt like it should be a favorable start for him. Game 1 showed just how much bigger, stronger, and more skilled Towns is than the Atlanta front court. In Game 2, Atlanta completely took Towns out of the game in the fourth quarter, limiting him to zero points and only two shot attempts. Towns needs to avoid falling into his usual traps — stupid fouls, bad defense, inexplicable moments where he trips for no reason — which is easier said than done. It does feel like his chemistry with Jalen Brunson hit another level late in the season, and he should be able to annihilate Atlanta if both are locked in. It’s time for KAT to remind everyone that he’s one of the best bigs in the league and a former No. 1 overall draft pick. Atlanta can’t stop him, and he has no excuses the rest of this series.The Thunder will not be challenged by the SunsI really respect the Suns’ success because I thought they would be terrible and trapped in eternal hell with all their draft picks out the door and the ghost Bradley Beal as an anchor on the cap sheet. Phoenix is a fun, gritty team with an excellent first-year head coach in Jordan Ott. There are levels to this, though, and the Thunder are multiple standard deviations better than the Suns. OKC was the big winner of the final seeding, because they get to watch the Nuggets and Spurs duke it out on the other side of the bracket. I don’t expect the Thunder to be tested until the West Finals.Playoff Wemby is a legend in the makingVictor Wembanyama’s playoff debut was spectacular, scoring 21 points in the first half to kickstart a rout of the Trail Blazers. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the third best player in NBA history for my money — a year before he entered the NBA Draft, and I still don’t’ regret it. He’s already in the conversation for the best player in the world at age-22. If he stays healthy, it will feel like an upset he’s not a top-10 player of all-time when it’s all said and done. Wembanyama’s ascent cannot be stopped, and the Spurs have put a good enough team around him to make anything possible this year. Portland will be the first team to feel something many Western Conference adversaries will experience over the decade: Wembanyama is simply a problem without a solution, and your team has no chance if he’s on the other side.Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the NuggetsRudy Gobert has to be the most maligned great player of his generation. There are a thousand podcast clips over the years of former players disrespecting his game. Meanwhile, all Gobert does is continue to lockdown the paint defensively all by himself, and he proved it again in Game 2 against the Nuggets. Gobert only scored two points, but his impact was was so much greater when it came to limiting the Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray two-man game. Gobert can bother Jokic’s 1-on-1 scoring, and he can hedge or switch out on Murray when he needs to. He also keeps himself in great shape to continue fighting deep into games. I expect the Nuggets to still win this series even after giving up a home game in Game 2, but it won’t be easy with an all-time great defensive center making life miserable for an elite offense.Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the LakersIme Udoka inherited a 22-win team when he was hired as head coach of the Rockets, and immediately led them to 41 wins in his first season and then 52 wins in back-to-back seasons after that. Udoka is an excellent defensive coach, and he’s working at a disadvantage right now without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams plus an unexpected injury to Kevin Durant in Game 1. The Rockets’ biggest problems are more personnel related than coaching, but Udoka could still face some heat if Houston actually gets eliminated to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. It’s hard to believe the Rockets had a top-10 offense this season after watching their pathetic display — a 106.5 offensive rating — in Game 1. Durant’s absence obviously contributed a lot to that, but it just feels like nothing comes easy for this team. I think firing Udoka would be a mistake even if Houston loses, but I would bet we get some hot seat rumors this summer as Houston ponders how to take the next step. #NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series

mwasimuddin125 0

The 2026 NBA Playoffs promised a wide open championship race for a league that has seen seven unique champions over the last seven seasons. The playoffs are already delivering in the first-round, and they’re only going to get better as the march towards the NBA Finals continues.
The start of the first round has already positioned three series as all-out battles with the road team stealing a game. The Atlanta Hawks evened things up against the New York Knicks in Game 2 with an incredible fourth quarter rally led by C.J. McCollum. The Minnesota Timberwolves tied the series vs. the Denver Nuggets in what’s shaping up to be the most physical clash of the first round. The No. 8 seed Orlando Magic knocked off the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in Game 1 to immediately raise the stakes in the East. The Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers series is shaping up to be competitive too despite major injuries on both sides.
With the first round in full swing, here’s one overreaction from every series so far. Check out our full rankings for every team in the NBA Playoffs, and a list of the top-50 players in the postseason, for more coverage.
The Magic really have a chance to upset the Pistons
Yes, the Magic were my preseason NBA Finals pick, and yes, I was deeply ashamed of it all year. Orlando failed to meet expectations for a variety of reasons this season, but the big ones were: a) injuries, b) poor coaching, and c) a failure to maximize the fit between Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. It looked like the Magic wouldn’t even make the playoffs after they got drilled by the Philadelphia 76ers in their play-in opener, but they put up their best performance of the season in the next play-in game against the Charlotte Hornets to earn the No. 8 seed, then topped it with an excellent Game 1 to knock off the heavily favored Pistons.
I really liked the way the matchups work out for the Magic in this series now that they’re finally healthy. The Pistons are known for their physicality, but they can’t bully Orlando. It was nice to see Banchero and Wagner get their high-low game going. Wagner looked deadly on drives to the rim, and Banchero was doing a good job of not settling for jumpers, where his touch is poor. Jalen Suggs is really one of the most impactful role players in the league, and he looked great in disrupting the Pistons’ perimeter offense. Wendell Carter Jr. had a masterful game switching defensively to deny Detroit’s drives while also spacing the floor on offense.
Detroit should roar back to form in Game 2. The Pistons can make some adjustments to force Banchero into his worst habits, and find more ways to free up Duren offensively. I’ve always been a little skeptical of JB Bickerstaff in the playoffs, though, and the talent gap doesn’t feel like a typical No. 1 vs. No. 8 series here. Questions about Detroit’s halfcourt offense persisted all season, and they should be louder than ever right now. I doubt Game 1 will be Orlando’s only victory in this series. The Pistons will answer, but the Magic really have a chance to advance.
The Celtics are going to roll over the Sixers
Boston showed why they’re suddenly the favorites to reach the NBA Finals out of the East. The Celtics rocked the 76ers from the opening quarter in Game 1 in a display that showed their full might. Jayson Tatum looked fantastic in the first quarter, Jaylen Brown took over in the third, and the defense, three-point shooting, and rebounding were all humming at elite levels. Tatum’s comeback from a torn Achilles suffered 11 months ago has been so impressive, and somehow it feels like the Celtics are deeper than ever even after losing Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason. This organization is the gold standard in the game, from the front office to the coaching to the players. The Celtics look scary right now.
The James Harden trade looks genius for the Cavs
The idea of trading for James Harden to bolster a playoff run is objectively kind of hilarious on its face, but it sure feels like it’s working out well for the Cavs. Darius Garland was always going to get picked on in the playoffs for his diminutive frame, and it just didn’t feel like Cleveland could trust him to stay healthy through the entire postseason. Swapping out Garland for James Harden was a fascinating move that shortened the Cavs’ timeline but also gave them the best possible chance to win right now. Yes, Harden has an epic list of playoff failures in his career, but he’s still damn good at age-36, and his arrival has freed up Donovan Mitchell’s workload while maximizing Jarrett Allen’s offensive ceiling in the pick-and-roll. With rumors swirling that Mitchell could be on the trade block if he turns down an offseason extension, the Cavs had to go all-out to try to make the NBA Finals this season, and the Harden trade really did seem to improve their odds. I see this team winning more than one playoff series this year, and this opener against the Raptors shouldn’t be too suspenseful.
Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advance
This playoff run feels destined to become a referendum on every key piece for the Knicks, maybe no one more so than Karl-Anthony Towns. KAT badly needs a signature playoff run both for New York’s conference championship chances and his own reputation, and the Hawks’ matchup felt like it should be a favorable start for him. Game 1 showed just how much bigger, stronger, and more skilled Towns is than the Atlanta front court. In Game 2, Atlanta completely took Towns out of the game in the fourth quarter, limiting him to zero points and only two shot attempts. Towns needs to avoid falling into his usual traps — stupid fouls, bad defense, inexplicable moments where he trips for no reason — which is easier said than done. It does feel like his chemistry with Jalen Brunson hit another level late in the season, and he should be able to annihilate Atlanta if both are locked in. It’s time for KAT to remind everyone that he’s one of the best bigs in the league and a former No. 1 overall draft pick. Atlanta can’t stop him, and he has no excuses the rest of this series.
The Thunder will not be challenged by the Suns
I really respect the Suns’ success because I thought they would be terrible and trapped in eternal hell with all their draft picks out the door and the ghost Bradley Beal as an anchor on the cap sheet. Phoenix is a fun, gritty team with an excellent first-year head coach in Jordan Ott. There are levels to this, though, and the Thunder are multiple standard deviations better than the Suns. OKC was the big winner of the final seeding, because they get to watch the Nuggets and Spurs duke it out on the other side of the bracket. I don’t expect the Thunder to be tested until the West Finals.
Playoff Wemby is a legend in the making
Victor Wembanyama’s playoff debut was spectacular, scoring 21 points in the first half to kickstart a rout of the Trail Blazers. I compared Wemby to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar — the third best player in NBA history for my money — a year before he entered the NBA Draft, and I still don’t’ regret it. He’s already in the conversation for the best player in the world at age-22. If he stays healthy, it will feel like an upset he’s not a top-10 player of all-time when it’s all said and done. Wembanyama’s ascent cannot be stopped, and the Spurs have put a good enough team around him to make anything possible this year. Portland will be the first team to feel something many Western Conference adversaries will experience over the decade: Wembanyama is simply a problem without a solution, and your team has no chance if he’s on the other side.
Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the Nuggets
Rudy Gobert has to be the most maligned great player of his generation. There are a thousand podcast clips over the years of former players disrespecting his game. Meanwhile, all Gobert does is continue to lockdown the paint defensively all by himself, and he proved it again in Game 2 against the Nuggets. Gobert only scored two points, but his impact was was so much greater when it came to limiting the Nikola Jokic/Jamal Murray two-man game. Gobert can bother Jokic’s 1-on-1 scoring, and he can hedge or switch out on Murray when he needs to. He also keeps himself in great shape to continue fighting deep into games. I expect the Nuggets to still win this series even after giving up a home game in Game 2, but it won’t be easy with an all-time great defensive center making life miserable for an elite offense.
Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the Lakers
Ime Udoka inherited a 22-win team when he was hired as head coach of the Rockets, and immediately led them to 41 wins in his first season and then 52 wins in back-to-back seasons after that. Udoka is an excellent defensive coach, and he’s working at a disadvantage right now without Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams plus an unexpected injury to Kevin Durant in Game 1. The Rockets’ biggest problems are more personnel related than coaching, but Udoka could still face some heat if Houston actually gets eliminated to a Lakers team without Luka Doncic or Austin Reaves. It’s hard to believe the Rockets had a top-10 offense this season after watching their pathetic display — a 106.5 offensive rating — in Game 1. Durant’s absence obviously contributed a lot to that, but it just feels like nothing comes easy for this team. I think firing Udoka would be a mistake even if Houston loses, but I would bet we get some hot seat rumors this summer as Houston ponders how to take the next step.

#NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series">NBA Playoffs overreactions for start of every 2026 first-round series

The Magic really have a chance to upset the Pistons

The Celtics are going to roll over the Sixers

The James Harden trade looks genius for the Cavs

Karl-Anthony Towns should be enough for Knicks to advance

The Thunder will not be challenged by the Suns

Playoff Wemby is a legend in the making

Rudy Gobert will get his flowers vs. the Nuggets

Ime Udoka will be on the hot seat if the Rockets lose to the Lakers

#NBA #Playoffs #overreactions #start #firstround #series

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma would like to bring out their ‘A’ games as the Indian women’s team tries to pull all its stops to get back to winning ways against South Africa in the third T20 International on Wednesday.

The Proteas women lead the five-match series 2-0 and would like to complete the series win in the third match at the Bull Ring.

Mandhana, easily team’s most impactful batter, scored 13 and 12 in the first two games. India put up an underwhelming show with totals of 157 and 147 which the home team surpassed without breaking much sweat.

As far as Deepti is concerned, her form has been more worrisome. She was demoted to No. 9 in the first game where she remained not out on one run and was dismissed for identical score in the second game where she was sent up the order at No. 6. In both games, she went wicketless.

The Indian batting is very much dependent on Mandhana’s free-flowing starts and the stylish southpaw would like to make amends for the poor returns in the first two games. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues did get some runs in the first match but came a cropper in the second outing.

With T20 World Cup in England only a couple of months away, Harmanpreet & Co. would like to get its mojo back and notch up a few victories which is essential to boost the morale of the team.

What has hurt India more is the fact that there has been no power-hitting at the back-end of the innings leading to below-par totals in both games.

“If you see both the games in 12 overs or so, we were at 100 and then after that we couldn’t finish the way we wanted them to but that always happens in cricket,” bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi said at the pre-match press conference.

On Deepti’s form, Salvi defended the veteran all-rounder, who was a star performer during India’s ODI World Cup triumph.

“One or two games or three games doesn’t justify the kind of talent she (Deepti) is, the kind of performances she has put in over the years. She is not at her best as of now but she has gone back to the drawing board, discussing all her game plans, what she wants to use during the games.

“It’s only a matter of a few instances where probably she just strikes and she comes back shining,” Salvi backed her with all intent.

For the Proteas, skipper Laura Wolvaardt has once again proved to be a thorn in the flesh for India with back-to-back half-centuries (51 and 54).

The Indian attack has also looked rudderless during PowerPlay and Salvi admitted that they are currently carrying out a trial and error as to which bowlers would work during the global event.

“We are actually giving opportunities to all the bowlers to operate into that segment so that we don’t rely only on a few bowlers coming into the main event (T20 World Cup).

“But obviously, yes, we would like to pick wickets, we would like to strike early, we would like to use the power play from the bowling point of view so that we create that impact initially into the game,” Salvi added.

Published on Apr 21, 2026

#INDW #3rd #T20I #Focus #Mandhana #Deepti #India #stay #afloat">

IND-W vs SA-W, 3rd T20I: Focus on Mandhana, Deepti as India tries to stay afloat Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma would like to bring out their ‘A’ games as the Indian women’s team tries to pull all its stops to get back to winning ways against South Africa in the third T20 International on Wednesday.The Proteas women lead the five-match series 2-0 and would like to complete the series win in the third match at the Bull Ring.Mandhana, easily team’s most impactful batter, scored 13 and 12 in the first two games. India put up an underwhelming show with totals of 157 and 147 which the home team surpassed without breaking much sweat.As far as Deepti is concerned, her form has been more worrisome. She was demoted to No. 9 in the first game where she remained not out on one run and was dismissed for identical score in the second game where she was sent up the order at No. 6. In both games, she went wicketless.The Indian batting is very much dependent on Mandhana’s free-flowing starts and the stylish southpaw would like to make amends for the poor returns in the first two games. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues did get some runs in the first match but came a cropper in the second outing.With T20 World Cup in England only a couple of months away, Harmanpreet & Co. would like to get its mojo back and notch up a few victories which is essential to boost the morale of the team.What has hurt India more is the fact that there has been no power-hitting at the back-end of the innings leading to below-par totals in both games.“If you see both the games in 12 overs or so, we were at 100 and then after that we couldn’t finish the way we wanted them to but that always happens in cricket,” bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi said at the pre-match press conference.On Deepti’s form, Salvi defended the veteran all-rounder, who was a star performer during India’s ODI World Cup triumph.“One or two games or three games doesn’t justify the kind of talent she (Deepti) is, the kind of performances she has put in over the years. She is not at her best as of now but she has gone back to the drawing board, discussing all her game plans, what she wants to use during the games.“It’s only a matter of a few instances where probably she just strikes and she comes back shining,” Salvi backed her with all intent.For the Proteas, skipper Laura Wolvaardt has once again proved to be a thorn in the flesh for India with back-to-back half-centuries (51 and 54).The Indian attack has also looked rudderless during PowerPlay and Salvi admitted that they are currently carrying out a trial and error as to which bowlers would work during the global event.“We are actually giving opportunities to all the bowlers to operate into that segment so that we don’t rely only on a few bowlers coming into the main event (T20 World Cup).“But obviously, yes, we would like to pick wickets, we would like to strike early, we would like to use the power play from the bowling point of view so that we create that impact initially into the game,” Salvi added.Published on Apr 21, 2026 #INDW #3rd #T20I #Focus #Mandhana #Deepti #India #stay #afloat

mwasimuddin125 0

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and senior all-rounder Deepti Sharma would like to bring out their ‘A’ games as the Indian women’s team tries to pull all its stops to get back to winning ways against South Africa in the third T20 International on Wednesday.
The Proteas women lead the five-match series 2-0 and would like to complete the series win in the third match at the Bull Ring.
Mandhana, easily team’s most impactful batter, scored 13 and 12 in the first two games. India put up an underwhelming show with totals of 157 and 147 which the home team surpassed without breaking much sweat.
As far as Deepti is concerned, her form has been more worrisome. She was demoted to No. 9 in the first game where she remained not out on one run and was dismissed for identical score in the second game where she was sent up the order at No. 6. In both games, she went wicketless.
The Indian batting is very much dependent on Mandhana’s free-flowing starts and the stylish southpaw would like to make amends for the poor returns in the first two games. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues did get some runs in the first match but came a cropper in the second outing.
With T20 World Cup in England only a couple of months away, Harmanpreet & Co. would like to get its mojo back and notch up a few victories which is essential to boost the morale of the team.
What has hurt India more is the fact that there has been no power-hitting at the back-end of the innings leading to below-par totals in both games.
“If you see both the games in 12 overs or so, we were at 100 and then after that we couldn’t finish the way we wanted them to but that always happens in cricket,” bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi said at the pre-match press conference.
On Deepti’s form, Salvi defended the veteran all-rounder, who was a star performer during India’s ODI World Cup triumph.
“One or two games or three games doesn’t justify the kind of talent she (Deepti) is, the kind of performances she has put in over the years. She is not at her best as of now but she has gone back to the drawing board, discussing all her game plans, what she wants to use during the games.
“It’s only a matter of a few instances where probably she just strikes and she comes back shining,” Salvi backed her with all intent.
For the Proteas, skipper Laura Wolvaardt has once again proved to be a thorn in the flesh for India with back-to-back half-centuries (51 and 54).
The Indian attack has also looked rudderless during PowerPlay and Salvi admitted that they are currently carrying out a trial and error as to which bowlers would work during the global event.
“We are actually giving opportunities to all the bowlers to operate into that segment so that we don’t rely only on a few bowlers coming into the main event (T20 World Cup).
“But obviously, yes, we would like to pick wickets, we would like to strike early, we would like to use the power play from the bowling point of view so that we create that impact initially into the game,” Salvi added.
Published on Apr 21, 2026

#INDW #3rd #T20I #Focus #Mandhana #Deepti #India #stay #afloat">IND-W vs SA-W, 3rd T20I: Focus on Mandhana, Deepti as India tries to stay afloat