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Deadspin | Robert Thomas’ hat trick helps Blues beat Avs, continue playoff push Apr 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Jonathan Drouin (92) attempts a shot against Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Robert Thomas completed his first career hat trick with a tiebreaking goal late in the third period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Sunday night. St. Louis (33-31-12, 78 points) moved within three points of Nashville for the second and final wild-card spot in the Western Conference and prevented Colorado from clinching the No. 1 seed. Jimmy Snuggerud assisted on all three goals, Dylan Holloway added two assists and Joel Hofer made 26 saves for the Blues. The Avalanche (50-16-10, 110 points), who remain highly likely to win the Presidents’ Trophy, can clinch the West’s top seed Tuesday night with a win at St. Louis or a Dallas regulation loss vs. Calgary. With the game tied, the Blues got an odd-man rush with Holloway carrying the puck down the right side and into the Colorado zone. Thomas went to the far side of the crease and tapped in Holloway’s pass with 2:50 remaining. The Avalanche pulled goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood soon after Gabriel Landeskog’s slashing penalty put them on the penalty kill for the final 1:54. Brent Burns had a goal and an assist, Parker Kelly also scored and Blackwood turned away 25 shots for the Avalanche. Colorado appeared to strike first when Ross Colton knocked a puck out of midair and into the net early in the first period. The goal was disallowed after St. Louis successfully challenged the play was offside. St. Louis opened the scoring when Blackwood made a save on an initial shot but the puck went out to Snuggerud in the right circle, who fed Thomas in the slot. His wrister beat Blackwood on the short side at 12:01 of the first period. The Avalanche leveled the score when Kelly tipped Burns’ shot from the point at 15:10 of the first to become the sixth Colorado player to reach 20 goals this season. Burns briefly gave the Avalanche a 2-1 lead at 3:40 into the second period, but Thomas scored his second of the night 29 seconds later to even it again. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Robert #Thomas #hat #trick #helps #Blues #beat #Avs #continue #playoff #push

Deadspin | Robert Thomas’ hat trick helps Blues beat Avs, continue playoff push
Deadspin | Robert Thomas’ hat trick helps Blues beat Avs, continue playoff push Apr 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Jonathan Drouin (92) attempts a shot against Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Robert Thomas completed his first career hat trick with a tiebreaking goal late in the third period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Sunday night. St. Louis (33-31-12, 78 points) moved within three points of Nashville for the second and final wild-card spot in the Western Conference and prevented Colorado from clinching the No. 1 seed. Jimmy Snuggerud assisted on all three goals, Dylan Holloway added two assists and Joel Hofer made 26 saves for the Blues. The Avalanche (50-16-10, 110 points), who remain highly likely to win the Presidents’ Trophy, can clinch the West’s top seed Tuesday night with a win at St. Louis or a Dallas regulation loss vs. Calgary. With the game tied, the Blues got an odd-man rush with Holloway carrying the puck down the right side and into the Colorado zone. Thomas went to the far side of the crease and tapped in Holloway’s pass with 2:50 remaining. The Avalanche pulled goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood soon after Gabriel Landeskog’s slashing penalty put them on the penalty kill for the final 1:54. Brent Burns had a goal and an assist, Parker Kelly also scored and Blackwood turned away 25 shots for the Avalanche. Colorado appeared to strike first when Ross Colton knocked a puck out of midair and into the net early in the first period. The goal was disallowed after St. Louis successfully challenged the play was offside. St. Louis opened the scoring when Blackwood made a save on an initial shot but the puck went out to Snuggerud in the right circle, who fed Thomas in the slot. His wrister beat Blackwood on the short side at 12:01 of the first period. The Avalanche leveled the score when Kelly tipped Burns’ shot from the point at 15:10 of the first to become the sixth Colorado player to reach 20 goals this season. Burns briefly gave the Avalanche a 2-1 lead at 3:40 into the second period, but Thomas scored his second of the night 29 seconds later to even it again. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Robert #Thomas #hat #trick #helps #Blues #beat #Avs #continue #playoff #pushApr 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Jonathan Drouin (92) attempts a shot against Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Robert Thomas completed his first career hat trick with a tiebreaking goal late in the third period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Sunday night.

St. Louis (33-31-12, 78 points) moved within three points of Nashville for the second and final wild-card spot in the Western Conference and prevented Colorado from clinching the No. 1 seed.

Jimmy Snuggerud assisted on all three goals, Dylan Holloway added two assists and Joel Hofer made 26 saves for the Blues.

The Avalanche (50-16-10, 110 points), who remain highly likely to win the Presidents’ Trophy, can clinch the West’s top seed Tuesday night with a win at St. Louis or a Dallas regulation loss vs. Calgary.

With the game tied, the Blues got an odd-man rush with Holloway carrying the puck down the right side and into the Colorado zone. Thomas went to the far side of the crease and tapped in Holloway’s pass with 2:50 remaining.


The Avalanche pulled goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood soon after Gabriel Landeskog’s slashing penalty put them on the penalty kill for the final 1:54.

Brent Burns had a goal and an assist, Parker Kelly also scored and Blackwood turned away 25 shots for the Avalanche.

Colorado appeared to strike first when Ross Colton knocked a puck out of midair and into the net early in the first period. The goal was disallowed after St. Louis successfully challenged the play was offside.

St. Louis opened the scoring when Blackwood made a save on an initial shot but the puck went out to Snuggerud in the right circle, who fed Thomas in the slot. His wrister beat Blackwood on the short side at 12:01 of the first period.

The Avalanche leveled the score when Kelly tipped Burns’ shot from the point at 15:10 of the first to become the sixth Colorado player to reach 20 goals this season.

Burns briefly gave the Avalanche a 2-1 lead at 3:40 into the second period, but Thomas scored his second of the night 29 seconds later to even it again.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Robert #Thomas #hat #trick #helps #Blues #beat #Avs #continue #playoff #push

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Apr 5, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; St. Louis Blues left wing Jonathan Drouin (92) attempts a shot against Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood (39) in the first period at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Robert Thomas completed his first career hat trick with a tiebreaking goal late in the third period to lead the St. Louis Blues to a 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche in Denver on Sunday night.

St. Louis (33-31-12, 78 points) moved within three points of Nashville for the second and final wild-card spot in the Western Conference and prevented Colorado from clinching the No. 1 seed.

Jimmy Snuggerud assisted on all three goals, Dylan Holloway added two assists and Joel Hofer made 26 saves for the Blues.

The Avalanche (50-16-10, 110 points), who remain highly likely to win the Presidents’ Trophy, can clinch the West’s top seed Tuesday night with a win at St. Louis or a Dallas regulation loss vs. Calgary.

With the game tied, the Blues got an odd-man rush with Holloway carrying the puck down the right side and into the Colorado zone. Thomas went to the far side of the crease and tapped in Holloway’s pass with 2:50 remaining.

The Avalanche pulled goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood soon after Gabriel Landeskog’s slashing penalty put them on the penalty kill for the final 1:54.

Brent Burns had a goal and an assist, Parker Kelly also scored and Blackwood turned away 25 shots for the Avalanche.

Colorado appeared to strike first when Ross Colton knocked a puck out of midair and into the net early in the first period. The goal was disallowed after St. Louis successfully challenged the play was offside.

St. Louis opened the scoring when Blackwood made a save on an initial shot but the puck went out to Snuggerud in the right circle, who fed Thomas in the slot. His wrister beat Blackwood on the short side at 12:01 of the first period.

The Avalanche leveled the score when Kelly tipped Burns’ shot from the point at 15:10 of the first to become the sixth Colorado player to reach 20 goals this season.

Burns briefly gave the Avalanche a 2-1 lead at 3:40 into the second period, but Thomas scored his second of the night 29 seconds later to even it again.

–Field Level Media

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#Deadspin #Robert #Thomas #hat #trick #helps #Blues #beat #Avs #continue #playoff #push

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Asian Boxing Championships 2026: Preeti beats Olympics medallist Aeji Im to reach final; Priya, Arundhati also advance <div id="content-body-70830151" itemprop="articleBody"><p>India’s Bantamweight dynamo Preeti Pawar downed Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aeji Im of Korea to book her place in the 54kg Elite Women’s final at the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 on Monday.</p><p>Indian women’s team’s Priya and Arundhati Choudhary also joined Preeti in the title bouts, easing past their respective semifinal opponents in Ulaanbaatar.</p><p>In the women’s 54 kg semifinal, Preeti, gold medallist from the World Boxing Cup Finals, delivered a composed and clinical performance, dominating all three rounds against Im to secure a 5:0 victory. She will now face Chinese Taipei’s Huang Hsiao-wen, a three-time World Champion (2019, 2023, 2025) and Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist, in a marquee gold medal clash.</p><p>In the women’s 60kg category, Priya produced a commanding display to defeat Namuun Monkhor (MGL) by a 5-0 unanimous decision, sealing her spot in the final. She will now take on North Korea’s Un Gyong Won in the title bout.</p><p>In the women’s 65kg category, Ankushita Boro went down 0-3 to Chinese Taipei’s Nien-Chin Chen, the Paris Olympics bronze medallist, in the semifinals. The bout was interrupted due to a power supply issue after the first round, following which the result was decided based on points.</p><p><b>ALSO READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/boxing/deontay-wilder-anthony-joshua-bout-boxing-match-when-update-news/article70826687.ece" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Deontay Wilder calls out Anthony Joshua for bout</a></b></p><p>In the women’s 70kg category, Arundhati impressed with a 4-1 victory over Oysha Toirova (UZB), showcasing control and composure to progress to the final. She is set to face Kazakhstan’s Bakyt Seidish next.</p><p>Meanwhile, in the women’s 51kg category, Nikhat Zareen went down 0-5 to China’s Wu Yu, the reigning Olympic gold medallist and one of the most dominant boxers in the division, in the semifinals.</p><p>In the women’s 75kg category, Lovlina Borgohain suffered a 0-5 defeat to Uzbekistan’s Aziza Zokirova, a World Championships bronze medallist in the 70kg category, known for her aggressive style and strong international performances.</p><p>In the women’s 80kg category, Pooja Rani bowed out after a 0-5 loss to Kazakhstan’s Nadezhda Ryabets, a 2023 World Championships bronze medallist and an experienced campaigner.</p><p>With four boxers already through to the finals, India’s campaign continues with two more semifinal bouts in the women’s 48kg and 57kg categories scheduled for April 7.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 06, 2026</p></div> #Asian #Boxing #Championships #Preeti #beats #Olympics #medallist #Aeji #reach #final #Priya #Arundhati #advance

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IPL 2026: Fleming exercises caution, backs CSK’s young batting core to shine <div id="content-body-70830233" itemprop="articleBody"><p>To lose the first three games in an IPL season is a hellish scenario. But it is not quite a death-knell. Mumbai Indians lost its first four matches in 2015, and still won the trophy. In 2024, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won just one of its first eight fixtures, and yet made it to the playoffs.</p><p>But for the Chennai Super Kings faithful, these will bring little succour, for it is not just about the defeats but the manner of them. CSK lost to Rajasthan Royals by eight wickets, to Punjab Kings by five, and to RCB by 43 runs. In the T20 universe, these are like distances between the earth and the moon.</p><p>“It was a tough night,” CSK head coach Stephen Fleming said after Sunday’s loss to RCB. “We did some good things early on, but unfortunately lost our shape at the back end. We got a little bit shell-shocked and that flowed through into the early parts of our batting as well.</p><p><b>READ | <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/ipl/csk-v-rcb-chennai-super-kings-loss-raises-ruturaj-gaikwad-captaincy-doubts-ipl-2026-latest/article70829140.ece" target="_blank">14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum or will its ethos prevail?</a></b></p><p>“Against a hitter like Tim David (70 n.o. from 25 balls), you’ve got to be absolutely spot on. We missed, and got hurt in the hardest of fashions.”</p><p>This season, CSK has bet big on young batters like Kartik Sharma (19), Prashant Veer (20) and Ayush Mhatre (18), and Fleming was confident that their potential will eventually shine through.</p><p>“It’s going to be a really good core of Indian batters. You’re going to get a bit of inconsistency and also some brilliance. It’s a high octane pace and there are going to be some speed wobbles. It’s about marrying skill with a bit of game sense, and that does take time.”</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 06, 2026</p></div> #IPL #Fleming #exercises #caution #backs #CSKs #young #batting #core #shine

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Deadspin | Cavs overcome slow start to beat Pacers, move to brink of top-four seed Apr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points and James Harden had 28 points and seven assists as the playoff-bound Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a slow start in a 117-108 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Thomas Bryant posted 14 points and 10 rebounds and Keon Ellis added 13 points for Cleveland (49-29), which did not lead in the first half before rallying for its eighth win in the last 10 games. Mitchell also had six rebounds and six assists. The Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round. They lead the fifth-place Atlanta Hawks by four games with four to play. Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points apiece for Indiana (18-60), which only dressed nine players and has the second-worst record in the league. Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, and Quenton Jackson had 15 points. The Pacers are 3-4 since ending their franchise-record losing streak at 16 on March 23 at the Orlando Magic. Potter grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out four assists, while Toppin had eight boards and made all 10 of his free-throw attempts. Cleveland scored five straight points early in the fourth on a Nae’Qwan Tomlin 3-pointer and a Mitchell runner, finally pulling ahead for good at 101-96. The Cavaliers tied the game on their first possession of the third quarter when Bryant drained a 3-pointer to make it 58-58. Mitchell hit a 3-pointer to put them in front for the first time at 61-60, but the Pacers held a 91-90 edge going into the fourth. Two free throws by Jackson allowed Indiana to take its largest lead at 47-35 four minutes into the second. It held a 58-55 edge at intermission with Potter and Slawson scoring 14 apiece, countering 19 points from Harden and 15 by Mitchell. Potter and Slawson made two 3-pointers apiece in the first five minutes as the Pacers buried 6-of-8 attempts beyond the arc in seizing a 20-10 advantage. Slawson had nine points in the period, while Mitchell paced the Cavaliers with 11. Cleveland gave the night off to starting forward Evan Mobley, guard Sam Merrill and center Jarrett Allen. It also was without forwards Jaylon Tyson (left great toe bone bruise) and Dean Wade (right ankle sprain), who have spent time in the first five due to injuries. All-Star Pascal Siakam (left ankle sprain), Andrew Nembhard (back pain), Aaron Nesmith (cervical strain), Jarace Walker (lower back bruise), Ben Sheppard (right hip sprain) and T.J. McConnell (bilateral hamstring soreness) were among the nine Pacers sidelined. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Cavs #overcome #slow #start #beat #Pacers #move #brink #topfour #seedApr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points and James Harden had 28 points and seven assists as the playoff-bound Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a slow start in a 117-108 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

Thomas Bryant posted 14 points and 10 rebounds and Keon Ellis added 13 points for Cleveland (49-29), which did not lead in the first half before rallying for its eighth win in the last 10 games. Mitchell also had six rebounds and six assists.

The Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round. They lead the fifth-place Atlanta Hawks by four games with four to play.

Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points apiece for Indiana (18-60), which only dressed nine players and has the second-worst record in the league. Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, and Quenton Jackson had 15 points.

The Pacers are 3-4 since ending their franchise-record losing streak at 16 on March 23 at the Orlando Magic. Potter grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out four assists, while Toppin had eight boards and made all 10 of his free-throw attempts.


Cleveland scored five straight points early in the fourth on a Nae’Qwan Tomlin 3-pointer and a Mitchell runner, finally pulling ahead for good at 101-96.

The Cavaliers tied the game on their first possession of the third quarter when Bryant drained a 3-pointer to make it 58-58. Mitchell hit a 3-pointer to put them in front for the first time at 61-60, but the Pacers held a 91-90 edge going into the fourth.

Two free throws by Jackson allowed Indiana to take its largest lead at 47-35 four minutes into the second. It held a 58-55 edge at intermission with Potter and Slawson scoring 14 apiece, countering 19 points from Harden and 15 by Mitchell.

Potter and Slawson made two 3-pointers apiece in the first five minutes as the Pacers buried 6-of-8 attempts beyond the arc in seizing a 20-10 advantage. Slawson had nine points in the period, while Mitchell paced the Cavaliers with 11.

Cleveland gave the night off to starting forward Evan Mobley, guard Sam Merrill and center Jarrett Allen. It also was without forwards Jaylon Tyson (left great toe bone bruise) and Dean Wade (right ankle sprain), who have spent time in the first five due to injuries.

All-Star Pascal Siakam (left ankle sprain), Andrew Nembhard (back pain), Aaron Nesmith (cervical strain), Jarace Walker (lower back bruise), Ben Sheppard (right hip sprain) and T.J. McConnell (bilateral hamstring soreness) were among the nine Pacers sidelined.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Cavs #overcome #slow #start #beat #Pacers #move #brink #topfour #seed">Deadspin | Cavs overcome slow start to beat Pacers, move to brink of top-four seed Apr 5, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Quenton Jackson (29) during the first half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Donovan Mitchell scored 38 points and James Harden had 28 points and seven assists as the playoff-bound Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a slow start in a 117-108 victory over the visiting Indiana Pacers on Sunday. Thomas Bryant posted 14 points and 10 rebounds and Keon Ellis added 13 points for Cleveland (49-29), which did not lead in the first half before rallying for its eighth win in the last 10 games. Mitchell also had six rebounds and six assists. The Cavaliers are on the verge of locking up fourth place in the Eastern Conference, which would give them home-court advantage in the first round. They lead the fifth-place Atlanta Hawks by four games with four to play. Micah Potter and Obi Toppin scored 21 points apiece for Indiana (18-60), which only dressed nine players and has the second-worst record in the league. Jalen Slawson scored a career-high 19 points, and Quenton Jackson had 15 points. The Pacers are 3-4 since ending their franchise-record losing streak at 16 on March 23 at the Orlando Magic. Potter grabbed 12 rebounds and dished out four assists, while Toppin had eight boards and made all 10 of his free-throw attempts. Cleveland scored five straight points early in the fourth on a Nae’Qwan Tomlin 3-pointer and a Mitchell runner, finally pulling ahead for good at 101-96. The Cavaliers tied the game on their first possession of the third quarter when Bryant drained a 3-pointer to make it 58-58. Mitchell hit a 3-pointer to put them in front for the first time at 61-60, but the Pacers held a 91-90 edge going into the fourth. Two free throws by Jackson allowed Indiana to take its largest lead at 47-35 four minutes into the second. It held a 58-55 edge at intermission with Potter and Slawson scoring 14 apiece, countering 19 points from Harden and 15 by Mitchell. Potter and Slawson made two 3-pointers apiece in the first five minutes as the Pacers buried 6-of-8 attempts beyond the arc in seizing a 20-10 advantage. Slawson had nine points in the period, while Mitchell paced the Cavaliers with 11. Cleveland gave the night off to starting forward Evan Mobley, guard Sam Merrill and center Jarrett Allen. It also was without forwards Jaylon Tyson (left great toe bone bruise) and Dean Wade (right ankle sprain), who have spent time in the first five due to injuries. All-Star Pascal Siakam (left ankle sprain), Andrew Nembhard (back pain), Aaron Nesmith (cervical strain), Jarace Walker (lower back bruise), Ben Sheppard (right hip sprain) and T.J. McConnell (bilateral hamstring soreness) were among the nine Pacers sidelined. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Cavs #overcome #slow #start #beat #Pacers #move #brink #topfour #seed

These are still early days in IPL 2026. Teams are still working out their strengths, figuring out weaknesses and honing in on a winning strategy.

For Rajasthan Royals, this opening assessment has been a satisfying exercise, having won its first two games. The latest of those triumphs saw the side outlast Gujarat Titans by six runs in a high-scoring thriller, with pacer Tushar Deshpande delivering a nerveless final over.

On Tuesday, the Royals will have their cricketing faculties further examined as they host the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.

The opening salvo, though, hasn’t been a satisfactory one for MI. After bettering Kolkata Knight Riders in its first game, the five-time champion stumbled against Delhi Capitals in the second.

The much-vaunted MI batting lineup fell flat against the Capitals, as it eked out a below-par total of 162, which was overhauled with ease.

MI sorely missed the presence of skipper Hardik Pandya, who sat out of the game due to illness. The Indian all-rounder’s absence had a cascading effect on both the batting and bowling setups.

Luckily for MI, Pandya has recovered and will return to lead the side, as confirmed by bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.

Meanwhile, Riyan Parag has enjoyed a fruitful start to his stint as the Royals’ full-time captain. The 24-year-old’s on-field calls, particularly with bowling choices, have been sharp and game-clinching.

At Parag’s disposal is a bowling attack that covers most bases. In Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, he has a left-right express pace combo which blew away Chennai Super Kings in the side’s first match, here in Guwahati. Backing them up will be the battle-hardened medium pace duo of Sandeep Sharma and Deshpande.

ALSO READ | This loss is on me: CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad after heavy loss to RCB

Ravi Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja prop up the Royals’ spin attack, with the former scalping four vital wickets against Titans.

The centre of attention in the Royals lineup, though, is teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The left-handed opener has batted with unbridled confidence, whipping up stormy starts in both games of the season.

If there is a sub-plot to look out for on Tuesday, it could be the potential first-ever in-game meeting between Suryavanshi and Jasprit Bumrah. The enticing prospect of the high-on-confidence 15-year-old going up against arguably the best bowler of this generation will only add sparkle to an already exciting contest.

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#IPL #Faststarting #Rajasthan #Royals #takes #Mumbai #Indians">RR vs MI, IPL 2026: Fast-starting Rajasthan Royals takes on Mumbai Indians’ might These are still early days in IPL 2026. Teams are still working out their strengths, figuring out weaknesses and honing in on a winning strategy.For Rajasthan Royals, this opening assessment has been a satisfying exercise, having won its first two games. The latest of those triumphs saw the side outlast Gujarat Titans by six runs in a high-scoring thriller, with pacer Tushar Deshpande delivering a nerveless final over.On Tuesday, the Royals will have their cricketing faculties further examined as they host the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.The opening salvo, though, hasn’t been a satisfactory one for MI. After bettering Kolkata Knight Riders in its first game, the five-time champion stumbled against Delhi Capitals in the second.The much-vaunted MI batting lineup fell flat against the Capitals, as it eked out a below-par total of 162, which was overhauled with ease.MI sorely missed the presence of skipper Hardik Pandya, who sat out of the game due to illness. The Indian all-rounder’s absence had a cascading effect on both the batting and bowling setups.Luckily for MI, Pandya has recovered and will return to lead the side, as confirmed by bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.Meanwhile, Riyan Parag has enjoyed a fruitful start to his stint as the Royals’ full-time captain. The 24-year-old’s on-field calls, particularly with bowling choices, have been sharp and game-clinching.At Parag’s disposal is a bowling attack that covers most bases. In Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, he has a left-right express pace combo which blew away Chennai Super Kings in the side’s first match, here in Guwahati. Backing them up will be the battle-hardened medium pace duo of Sandeep Sharma and Deshpande.ALSO READ | This loss is on me: CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad after heavy loss to RCBRavi Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja prop up the Royals’ spin attack, with the former scalping four vital wickets against Titans.The centre of attention in the Royals lineup, though, is teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The left-handed opener has batted with unbridled confidence, whipping up stormy starts in both games of the season.If there is a sub-plot to look out for on Tuesday, it could be the potential first-ever in-game meeting between Suryavanshi and Jasprit Bumrah. The enticing prospect of the high-on-confidence 15-year-old going up against arguably the best bowler of this generation will only add sparkle to an already exciting contest.Published on Apr 06, 2026 #IPL #Faststarting #Rajasthan #Royals #takes #Mumbai #Indians

as confirmed by bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.

Meanwhile, Riyan Parag has enjoyed a fruitful start to his stint as the Royals’ full-time captain. The 24-year-old’s on-field calls, particularly with bowling choices, have been sharp and game-clinching.

At Parag’s disposal is a bowling attack that covers most bases. In Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, he has a left-right express pace combo which blew away Chennai Super Kings in the side’s first match, here in Guwahati. Backing them up will be the battle-hardened medium pace duo of Sandeep Sharma and Deshpande.

ALSO READ | This loss is on me: CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad after heavy loss to RCB

Ravi Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja prop up the Royals’ spin attack, with the former scalping four vital wickets against Titans.

The centre of attention in the Royals lineup, though, is teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The left-handed opener has batted with unbridled confidence, whipping up stormy starts in both games of the season.

If there is a sub-plot to look out for on Tuesday, it could be the potential first-ever in-game meeting between Suryavanshi and Jasprit Bumrah. The enticing prospect of the high-on-confidence 15-year-old going up against arguably the best bowler of this generation will only add sparkle to an already exciting contest.

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#IPL #Faststarting #Rajasthan #Royals #takes #Mumbai #Indians">RR vs MI, IPL 2026: Fast-starting Rajasthan Royals takes on Mumbai Indians’ might

These are still early days in IPL 2026. Teams are still working out their strengths, figuring out weaknesses and honing in on a winning strategy.

For Rajasthan Royals, this opening assessment has been a satisfying exercise, having won its first two games. The latest of those triumphs saw the side outlast Gujarat Titans by six runs in a high-scoring thriller, with pacer Tushar Deshpande delivering a nerveless final over.

On Tuesday, the Royals will have their cricketing faculties further examined as they host the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Barsapara Stadium in Guwahati.

The opening salvo, though, hasn’t been a satisfactory one for MI. After bettering Kolkata Knight Riders in its first game, the five-time champion stumbled against Delhi Capitals in the second.

The much-vaunted MI batting lineup fell flat against the Capitals, as it eked out a below-par total of 162, which was overhauled with ease.

MI sorely missed the presence of skipper Hardik Pandya, who sat out of the game due to illness. The Indian all-rounder’s absence had a cascading effect on both the batting and bowling setups.

Luckily for MI, Pandya has recovered and will return to lead the side, as confirmed by bowling coach Paras Mhambrey.

Meanwhile, Riyan Parag has enjoyed a fruitful start to his stint as the Royals’ full-time captain. The 24-year-old’s on-field calls, particularly with bowling choices, have been sharp and game-clinching.

At Parag’s disposal is a bowling attack that covers most bases. In Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger, he has a left-right express pace combo which blew away Chennai Super Kings in the side’s first match, here in Guwahati. Backing them up will be the battle-hardened medium pace duo of Sandeep Sharma and Deshpande.

ALSO READ | This loss is on me: CSK skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad after heavy loss to RCB

Ravi Bishnoi and Ravindra Jadeja prop up the Royals’ spin attack, with the former scalping four vital wickets against Titans.

The centre of attention in the Royals lineup, though, is teenage sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi. The left-handed opener has batted with unbridled confidence, whipping up stormy starts in both games of the season.

If there is a sub-plot to look out for on Tuesday, it could be the potential first-ever in-game meeting between Suryavanshi and Jasprit Bumrah. The enticing prospect of the high-on-confidence 15-year-old going up against arguably the best bowler of this generation will only add sparkle to an already exciting contest.

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#IPL #Faststarting #Rajasthan #Royals #takes #Mumbai #Indians
Deadspin | Tigers, Twins focus on turning the page Apr 5, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Victor Scott II (11) gets tagged out by Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez (28) trying to steal second base in the ninth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images The Detroit Tigers do not have to spend much time dwelling about their prime-time loss against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. On Monday, the Tigers will welcome a new day, a new opponent and a new city. Detroit will open a four-game series at the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. It will be a chance for the Tigers to improve on the road, where they are 2-4 to start the season. Meanwhile, the Twins are eager to snap out of an early-season slump. They are 1-2 in each of their first three series and are coming off a 4-1 home loss in 10 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon. It marked the fourth time in nine games this season that the Twins have scored only one run. Manager Derek Shelton is well aware of his team’s struggles at the plate. He said the season is young and the group has time to find its rhythm. “We’re a little in between right now, and I think that’s showing,” Shelton said. “I think that’s why we’re not getting a lot of hard contact. … We need to make some hard contact. “If I had a solution for it, it would be a lot easier. But right now, we’re just … in a little bit of a funk. We need to figure it out.” Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (0-1, 4.82 ERA) will make his third start of the season. He is seeking his first win after matching a career high with 13 victories a season ago. In his most recent start, Ryan surrendered five runs on nine hits over four innings in a 13-9 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. He did not pitch at his typical velocity on a cold, wet day in which he struggled to get his footing on the mound. “The ‘velo’ being down, I’m going to contribute that a little bit to the fact that it was 40 degrees and rainy,” Shelton said. The forecast for Monday’s game calls for another cold day, with temperatures in the 30s. This will be Ryan’s 10th career start against Detroit. In his first nine appearances, he is 4-2 with a 3.42 ERA and has struck out 71 in 52 2/3 innings. The Tigers will counter with right-hander Casey Mize (0-0, 1.50 ERA). He will look to build on an impressive season debut in which he limited the Arizona Diamondbacks to one run on four hits in six innings on Tuesday. He walked two and struck out nine in Detroit’s 7-5 loss. “On a personal level, it was a pretty good start,” Mize said. “It’s just unfortunate we didn’t win the game.” Mize is 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA in 11 career starts against the Twins. He faced them four times in 2025, going 3-1 with a 4.74 ERA. The Twins and Tigers played each other 13 times last season. Detroit won the season series 8-5 and outscored Minnesota 59-54. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Tigers #Twins #focus #turning #pageApr 5, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Victor Scott II (11) gets tagged out by Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez (28) trying to steal second base in the ninth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

The Detroit Tigers do not have to spend much time dwelling about their prime-time loss against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

On Monday, the Tigers will welcome a new day, a new opponent and a new city.

Detroit will open a four-game series at the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. It will be a chance for the Tigers to improve on the road, where they are 2-4 to start the season.

Meanwhile, the Twins are eager to snap out of an early-season slump. They are 1-2 in each of their first three series and are coming off a 4-1 home loss in 10 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon.

It marked the fourth time in nine games this season that the Twins have scored only one run.

Manager Derek Shelton is well aware of his team’s struggles at the plate. He said the season is young and the group has time to find its rhythm.

“We’re a little in between right now, and I think that’s showing,” Shelton said. “I think that’s why we’re not getting a lot of hard contact. … We need to make some hard contact.

“If I had a solution for it, it would be a lot easier. But right now, we’re just … in a little bit of a funk. We need to figure it out.”


Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (0-1, 4.82 ERA) will make his third start of the season. He is seeking his first win after matching a career high with 13 victories a season ago.

In his most recent start, Ryan surrendered five runs on nine hits over four innings in a 13-9 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. He did not pitch at his typical velocity on a cold, wet day in which he struggled to get his footing on the mound.

“The ‘velo’ being down, I’m going to contribute that a little bit to the fact that it was 40 degrees and rainy,” Shelton said.

The forecast for Monday’s game calls for another cold day, with temperatures in the 30s.

This will be Ryan’s 10th career start against Detroit. In his first nine appearances, he is 4-2 with a 3.42 ERA and has struck out 71 in 52 2/3 innings.

The Tigers will counter with right-hander Casey Mize (0-0, 1.50 ERA). He will look to build on an impressive season debut in which he limited the Arizona Diamondbacks to one run on four hits in six innings on Tuesday. He walked two and struck out nine in Detroit’s 7-5 loss.

“On a personal level, it was a pretty good start,” Mize said. “It’s just unfortunate we didn’t win the game.”

Mize is 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA in 11 career starts against the Twins. He faced them four times in 2025, going 3-1 with a 4.74 ERA.

The Twins and Tigers played each other 13 times last season. Detroit won the season series 8-5 and outscored Minnesota 59-54.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Tigers #Twins #focus #turning #page">Deadspin | Tigers, Twins focus on turning the page Apr 5, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Victor Scott II (11) gets tagged out by Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez (28) trying to steal second base in the ninth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images The Detroit Tigers do not have to spend much time dwelling about their prime-time loss against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday. On Monday, the Tigers will welcome a new day, a new opponent and a new city. Detroit will open a four-game series at the Minnesota Twins on Monday night in Minneapolis. It will be a chance for the Tigers to improve on the road, where they are 2-4 to start the season. Meanwhile, the Twins are eager to snap out of an early-season slump. They are 1-2 in each of their first three series and are coming off a 4-1 home loss in 10 innings to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday afternoon. It marked the fourth time in nine games this season that the Twins have scored only one run. Manager Derek Shelton is well aware of his team’s struggles at the plate. He said the season is young and the group has time to find its rhythm. “We’re a little in between right now, and I think that’s showing,” Shelton said. “I think that’s why we’re not getting a lot of hard contact. … We need to make some hard contact. “If I had a solution for it, it would be a lot easier. But right now, we’re just … in a little bit of a funk. We need to figure it out.” Twins right-hander Joe Ryan (0-1, 4.82 ERA) will make his third start of the season. He is seeking his first win after matching a career high with 13 victories a season ago. In his most recent start, Ryan surrendered five runs on nine hits over four innings in a 13-9 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. He did not pitch at his typical velocity on a cold, wet day in which he struggled to get his footing on the mound. “The ‘velo’ being down, I’m going to contribute that a little bit to the fact that it was 40 degrees and rainy,” Shelton said. The forecast for Monday’s game calls for another cold day, with temperatures in the 30s. This will be Ryan’s 10th career start against Detroit. In his first nine appearances, he is 4-2 with a 3.42 ERA and has struck out 71 in 52 2/3 innings. The Tigers will counter with right-hander Casey Mize (0-0, 1.50 ERA). He will look to build on an impressive season debut in which he limited the Arizona Diamondbacks to one run on four hits in six innings on Tuesday. He walked two and struck out nine in Detroit’s 7-5 loss. “On a personal level, it was a pretty good start,” Mize said. “It’s just unfortunate we didn’t win the game.” Mize is 4-4 with a 4.95 ERA in 11 career starts against the Twins. He faced them four times in 2025, going 3-1 with a 4.74 ERA. The Twins and Tigers played each other 13 times last season. Detroit won the season series 8-5 and outscored Minnesota 59-54. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Tigers #Twins #focus #turning #page

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