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Deadspin | Timberwolves get off schneid with 124-104 win over Pacers Apr 7, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) passes the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 124-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in Indianapolis. Julius Randle and Bones Hyland added 19 apiece and Naz Reid contributed 17 for Minnesota (47-32), which strengthened its hold on sixth place in the Western Conference. A loss by the Phoenix Suns later Tuesday would guarantee the Wolves clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in. Rookie Ethan Thompson posted 17 points for the Pacers (18-61), who suffered their third straight defeat. Obi Toppin and Jalen Slawson both had 14 points. Indiana’s season-long injury crisis continued when forward Kobe Brown, who was in the starting five, was unable to play after halftime with lower back soreness. The Pacers jumped ahead 7-3 before the Timberwolves turned the tables with a 26-7 tear to take control of the contest for good. Minnesota instigated its fightback from the perimeter, going 6 of 9 from deep for the quarter — led by Randle and Donte DiVincenzo — to lead 35-27 after one. Toppin helped Indiana close the gap to 58-53, but turnovers continued to be a big problem. The Pacers coughed up the ball 10 times in the second period, and 16 for the first half for 21 points conceded, to trail 63-53 at the break. Veteran Mike Conley was active as the Wolves pressed home their advantage with a 15-3 run either side of the halftime interval. Conley finished the game with eight points, three assists and three steals. Dosunmu had 11 points in the third period, during which Minnesota shot 15 of 23 for a 39-24 quarter to lead 102-77 with one to play. The Timberwolves’ advantage grew to 116-85 when DiVincenzo buried his third three, capitalizing on another Indiana turnover. DiVincenzo and Jaylen Clark each posted 11 points for Minnesota. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Timberwolves #schneid #win #Pacers

Deadspin | Timberwolves get off schneid with 124-104 win over Pacers
Deadspin | Timberwolves get off schneid with 124-104 win over Pacers Apr 7, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) passes the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 124-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in Indianapolis. Julius Randle and Bones Hyland added 19 apiece and Naz Reid contributed 17 for Minnesota (47-32), which strengthened its hold on sixth place in the Western Conference. A loss by the Phoenix Suns later Tuesday would guarantee the Wolves clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in. Rookie Ethan Thompson posted 17 points for the Pacers (18-61), who suffered their third straight defeat. Obi Toppin and Jalen Slawson both had 14 points. Indiana’s season-long injury crisis continued when forward Kobe Brown, who was in the starting five, was unable to play after halftime with lower back soreness. The Pacers jumped ahead 7-3 before the Timberwolves turned the tables with a 26-7 tear to take control of the contest for good. Minnesota instigated its fightback from the perimeter, going 6 of 9 from deep for the quarter — led by Randle and Donte DiVincenzo — to lead 35-27 after one. Toppin helped Indiana close the gap to 58-53, but turnovers continued to be a big problem. The Pacers coughed up the ball 10 times in the second period, and 16 for the first half for 21 points conceded, to trail 63-53 at the break. Veteran Mike Conley was active as the Wolves pressed home their advantage with a 15-3 run either side of the halftime interval. Conley finished the game with eight points, three assists and three steals. Dosunmu had 11 points in the third period, during which Minnesota shot 15 of 23 for a 39-24 quarter to lead 102-77 with one to play. The Timberwolves’ advantage grew to 116-85 when DiVincenzo buried his third three, capitalizing on another Indiana turnover. DiVincenzo and Jaylen Clark each posted 11 points for Minnesota. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Timberwolves #schneid #win #PacersApr 7, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) passes the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 124-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in Indianapolis.

Julius Randle and Bones Hyland added 19 apiece and Naz Reid contributed 17 for Minnesota (47-32), which strengthened its hold on sixth place in the Western Conference. A loss by the Phoenix Suns later Tuesday would guarantee the Wolves clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in.

Rookie Ethan Thompson posted 17 points for the Pacers (18-61), who suffered their third straight defeat. Obi Toppin and Jalen Slawson both had 14 points.

Indiana’s season-long injury crisis continued when forward Kobe Brown, who was in the starting five, was unable to play after halftime with lower back soreness.

The Pacers jumped ahead 7-3 before the Timberwolves turned the tables with a 26-7 tear to take control of the contest for good.


Minnesota instigated its fightback from the perimeter, going 6 of 9 from deep for the quarter — led by Randle and Donte DiVincenzo — to lead 35-27 after one.

Toppin helped Indiana close the gap to 58-53, but turnovers continued to be a big problem.

The Pacers coughed up the ball 10 times in the second period, and 16 for the first half for 21 points conceded, to trail 63-53 at the break.

Veteran Mike Conley was active as the Wolves pressed home their advantage with a 15-3 run either side of the halftime interval. Conley finished the game with eight points, three assists and three steals.

Dosunmu had 11 points in the third period, during which Minnesota shot 15 of 23 for a 39-24 quarter to lead 102-77 with one to play.

The Timberwolves’ advantage grew to 116-85 when DiVincenzo buried his third three, capitalizing on another Indiana turnover. DiVincenzo and Jaylen Clark each posted 11 points for Minnesota.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Timberwolves #schneid #win #Pacers

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Apr 7, 2026; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) passes the ball while Indiana Pacers forward Obi Toppin (1) defends in the first half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 124-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in Indianapolis.

Julius Randle and Bones Hyland added 19 apiece and Naz Reid contributed 17 for Minnesota (47-32), which strengthened its hold on sixth place in the Western Conference. A loss by the Phoenix Suns later Tuesday would guarantee the Wolves clinch a playoff spot and avoid the play-in.

Rookie Ethan Thompson posted 17 points for the Pacers (18-61), who suffered their third straight defeat. Obi Toppin and Jalen Slawson both had 14 points.

Indiana’s season-long injury crisis continued when forward Kobe Brown, who was in the starting five, was unable to play after halftime with lower back soreness.

The Pacers jumped ahead 7-3 before the Timberwolves turned the tables with a 26-7 tear to take control of the contest for good.

Minnesota instigated its fightback from the perimeter, going 6 of 9 from deep for the quarter — led by Randle and Donte DiVincenzo — to lead 35-27 after one.

Toppin helped Indiana close the gap to 58-53, but turnovers continued to be a big problem.

The Pacers coughed up the ball 10 times in the second period, and 16 for the first half for 21 points conceded, to trail 63-53 at the break.

Veteran Mike Conley was active as the Wolves pressed home their advantage with a 15-3 run either side of the halftime interval. Conley finished the game with eight points, three assists and three steals.

Dosunmu had 11 points in the third period, during which Minnesota shot 15 of 23 for a 39-24 quarter to lead 102-77 with one to play.

The Timberwolves’ advantage grew to 116-85 when DiVincenzo buried his third three, capitalizing on another Indiana turnover. DiVincenzo and Jaylen Clark each posted 11 points for Minnesota.

–Field Level Media

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Sooryavanshi vs Bumrah — Much-awaited duel offers expected fireworks in Royal win against Mumbai Indians <div id="content-body-70837310" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Everybody knew. The moment the revised playing conditions for the rain-affected Rajasthan Royals-Mumbai Indians clash confirmed that only one bowler per team can bowl three overs, everybody nodded in agreement. Jasprit Bumrah is going to get three.</p><p>Why bother thinking?</p><p>The one other thing everyone knew, or rather expected, was the coming together of Bumrah and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.</p><p>The two had never faced off in a competitive setting. It was an intriguing prospect – this fearless teenage batter, taking the world by storm, going up against the most-feared bowler of this generation.</p><p>There was also a sense of curiosity. Would Sooryavanshi treat the pace ace with reverence? Would Bumrah go extra hard at the 15-year-old?</p><p>It could have helped Sooryavanshi’s cause that this was an 11-over shootout. But would we have played any differently if this were a longer game? Highly doubtful.</p><p>And after all the narrative-building, Bumrah and Sooryavanshi did square off in the second over, right after Yashasvi Jaiswal had ripped apart Deepak Chahar in a 22-run over.</p><p>In all fairness, Bumrah’s first offering to Sooryavanshi was a gift – an overpitched delivery that was in the batter’s hitting arc.</p><p>But what can’t be missed was the Royals’ opener’s intent. He had already shuffled into his hitting position. There was nothing half-measured about his much-talked-about bat swing. The contact and follow-through fell in place. The ball soared over the long-on fence and deep into the stands, while Sooryavanshi looked on unbothered.</p><p>As the crowd erupted in applause, Bumrah walked back to his run-up mark with a smile on his face. Was it amusement or bewilderment? Or was it helplessness? One can never be sure.</p><p>Nevertheless, Bumrah’s reaction can probably be observed as an amalgamation of our collective thoughts on Sooryavanshi.</p><p>It has been proven beyond doubt that he is an inexplicable talent who poses more questions than answers for all stakeholders.</p><p>As a teammate, a coach or a captain, how do you nurture his prodigious talents while insulating him from innumerable treasures and boundless fame that await him?</p><p>As an opponent, what do you do against this batter who strikes the ball with such relentless ferocity and could do it for two more decades?</p><p>As a viewer, how do you comprehend the fact that a kid born in 2011 is dominating world-class bowlers, tampering with one’s own sense of time?</p><p>Let’s keep the existential questions aside for now and circle back to the Bumrah-Sooryavanshi mini-battle. Having been swatted away for a six, the MI pacer went to his go-to option for the second ball – a back-of-a-length off-cutter into the batter’s body.</p><p>Sooryavanshi, though, was ready for it. He had put himself inside the line and then safely tucked it to the legside for a single – a bit of ‘smart and sensible’ cricket for the traditionalists.</p><p>Jaiswal would immediately return the strike to Sooryavanshi. If there was a feeling that the teenager wasn’t going to take any further risks against Bumrah, it was to be proven wrong immediately.</p><p>Bumrah stuck to the same hard length. In fact, he had shifted the line further away from the stumps. But Sooryavanshi was ready for it, again. A swivel pull, and the ball zooms over square leg for another six.</p><p>This was already in the realms of ridiculousness. This is ‘The Bumrah.’ And this 15-year-old is going after him without a care in the world.</p><p>There were two more deliveries in this match-up. Both full-tosses. Both presumably attempted yorkers. Almost bafflingly, Sooryavanshi failed to put both those easier pickings away.</p><p>And in the end, we get five balls from this battle – two sixes, one single and two dot balls. Dramatic enough to write about.</p><p>So we go back to the bigger question. What do you do with Sooryavanshi? At least for one part, it is safe to assume that he has found himself in the right place.</p><p>Rajasthan Royals has, so far, encouraged and set him up to play his natural style of cricket. The team also has, through its High Performance Centre, allowed the youngster to train at an unrivalled standard, both in terms of quality and quantity.</p><p>For the other parts of the Sooryavanshi conundrum, we will just have to wait and watch as it unfolds.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 08, 2026</p></div> #Sooryavanshi #Bumrah #Muchawaited #duel #offers #expected #fireworks #Royal #win #Mumbai #Indians

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Don’t think Dhoni had a big impact at CSK except for his leadership over the last year: Klaasen <div id="content-body-70837212" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Heinrich Klaasen entered this season of the Indian Premier League carrying a few lingering self-doubts.</p><p>The South African has been away from the intensity and grind of international cricket for nearly a year, a gap that can unsettle even the most seasoned players in a format as unforgiving as Twenty20.</p><p>Determined to stay competitive, Klaasen explored new ways to keep himself in rhythm. If the first three matches are any indication, those efforts have paid off handsomely. With 145 runs at a strike rate of 147.95, including two half-centuries, the Sunrisers Hyderabad star has not only found his groove but also shifted the pressure firmly onto the opposition—and then some.</p><p>In a media interaction facilitated by the <i>JioStar Press Room</i>, Klaasen reflected on his form and that of his team, his dominance against spin, his electric partnership with Nitish Kumar Reddy, and more.</p><p><b>Q: Starting the IPL with back-to-back 50s must feel good…</b></p><p>A: Unfortunately we’ve lost two games, but on a personal note, it’s been a good start. One of my biggest concerns was not playing as much cricket as I used to. ‘Can I still keep up with the standard that I set myself with?’ It’s been a pretty good start and hopefully this form will continue.</p><p><b>How have you adapted to stepping away from international cricket?</b></p><p>International cricket is a big miss in my game, but there are small things that I do that just keep me up to the pace of normal cricket speed. I’ve been working with a lady in Cape Town called Sherylle, who’s an eye doctor. We call it an EyeGym. It just helps you make a lot of decisions under pressure and in a certain amount of time. That has been working for me over the last year in making sure that my decision-making and reaction times are good. </p><p>It’s just that one percent that you have to take a little bit more care of and give yourself a little bit more training right before coming into a competition like this. Normally, you can have a week or two off before you come into a long tournament like this. I just had to change my training schedules and make small tweaks like that to make sure that I get up to speed as quickly as I can.</p><p><b>How would you assess Sunrisers Hyderabad’s performances so far?</b></p><p>It’s a tough question. I will give us about a six at this moment.</p><p>We have played some brilliant cricket in parts, but we’re just losing the plot in the crucial phases of the game. We lose it so badly that it just puts us out of the game entirely. If you take the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, we lost three wickets in the PowerPlay. Same against Lucknow Super Giants.</p><p>I honestly do think the bowlers are hanging on exactly as planned. That aspect is doing very well. The rest of the batting unit is doing well. There are a lot of positives. I’ll say about 80 per cent positive.</p><p><b>READ: <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/ipl/interviews/vyshak-vijaykumar-journey-india-call-up-injury-ipl-2026-pbks-impact-player/article70829406.ece" target="_blank">The Space Between: Vyshak Vijaykumar on a journey to find himself</a></b></p><p>Our fielding in the first two games hasn’t been up to standard at all. In our last game, against LSG, it was better. We’re working on that, and we’re setting a new standard for ourselves to put teams under pressure and make sure we hang on to our catches. But it’s not at the standard that we set for ourselves, as it stands.</p><p>I’ll give us a six and not go with seven, which is an easy cop out. We want to get to eight and nine to make sure that we get some momentum. There’s no panic in the changing room yet. We’re looking forward to getting on a roll and putting all three compartments of the game together.</p><p><b>SRH’s batting lineup is probably the most fearsome in the league. But with Pat Cummins missing, there are some concerns over the bite in the bowling unit, at least on paper. What do you make of it? </b></p><p>Our batting has been good so far, but we’ve missed out on about 40 runs over the three games. So there’s still a lot of work to do for our batters. </p><p>Obviously, if you miss a bowler like Pat Cummins, it’s a loss for any team in any format. Same with (Brydon) Carse. The rest of the bowlers are super experienced, especially our pace department. The wickets have been good in the two games in which we struggled in. We just didn’t execute with the bat like we wanted. It’s easy to say our bowlers don’t have the experience or are under the pump, but in the two games that we’ve lost, the batters left about 20 to 30 runs on the board.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/f1qgzr/article70837354.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-02T135102Z_934424001_UP1EM4212H1F5_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-IPL-KKR-SRH.JPG" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/f1qgzr/article70837354.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-02T135102Z_934424001_UP1EM4212H1F5_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-IPL-KKR-SRH.JPG" alt="Sunrisers Hyderabad's Pat Cummins during a warm-up session." title="Sunrisers Hyderabad's Pat Cummins during a warm-up session." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Pat Cummins during a warm-up session. | Photo Credit: REUTERS </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Pat Cummins during a warm-up session. | Photo Credit: REUTERS </p></div><p>We saw it against KKR, we put enough runs on the board… That’s our job. We need to get to that 220-230 mark. That’s why we have set up the team we have now, so we give our bowlers a proper chance at defending.</p><p><b>SRH’s spin pool looks relatively inexperienced with players like Harsh Dubey and Shivang Kumar. What have you made of their ability to work under pressure? Is that lack of experience really such a big factor, especially in the middle overs? </b></p><p>They’ve been fantastic so far. Our fielding has been poor against them, so that makes their figures look bad. The team should take it on the chin and keep encouraging them to do what they do. Having faced them in the nets, I can tell you that they may be inexperienced on paper, but they’re definitely experienced in playing the game and know what to do with the plan.</p><p>They bowl extremely well. They haven’t really played on wickets that have been spinning too much. They’re just hanging on at the moment, picking up crucial wickets when we need it. I can’t wait till we get to a wicket that just suits them a little bit more, and then people will see the brilliant skill set that they have.</p><p><b>What do you make of Ishan Kishan, the captain, so far? </b></p><p>He’s been superb so far. He’s a guy who asks for advice. We’ve got a lot of experience in the changing room, so he leans on that as well. But his decision-making, the way he changes the bowler, the way the team listens to him, has been phenomenal so far.</p><p>We’re in superb hands and luckily, he’s not an arrogant guy at all, which makes it a lot easier. He’s a really enjoyable captain to play under. There are a lot of jokes in between which helps because this game brings quite a tough environment to play in. He’s been superb and he has had some success in the domestic scene as well. I think his domestic team won a competition recently, so there’s a lot of experience in that aspect.</p><p><b>TraviShek’s wonderful starts – how much of a cushion does that give the team?</b></p><p>It depends on how you see it. Sometimes, when they go at 14 or 15 an over, you feel like the wicket is extremely flat or they make it look flat and you want to keep up with that pace. Sometimes that can put you under pressure a bit. </p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/mfohsi/article70837356.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-02T143407Z_596927915_UP1EM4214GTFD_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-IPL-KKR-SRH.JPG" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/mfohsi/article70837356.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/2026-04-02T143407Z_596927915_UP1EM4214GTFD_RTRMADP_3_CRICKET-IPL-KKR-SRH.JPG" alt="Sunrisers Hyderabad's Travis Head bumps fists with Abhishek Sharma." title="Sunrisers Hyderabad's Travis Head bumps fists with Abhishek Sharma." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Travis Head bumps fists with Abhishek Sharma. | Photo Credit: REUTERS </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Travis Head bumps fists with Abhishek Sharma. | Photo Credit: REUTERS </p></div><p>But having played with them for three seasons now, I do understand that you can play on tempo as well. They give you the luxury to hold on and get yourself in and then go again so that the run rate never really drops below 11 or 12. </p><p><b>How has your role in this side evolved?</b></p><p>It’s a role that I’ve played my whole life and in my whole career. You have to adapt to those situations and you have to be able to play different roles in the team. My role in the team is to keep on going if TraviShek and Ishan have put the opposition under pressure. But the days that doesn’t happen, I need to make sure we get into a position to defend a total. </p><p>I know that’s my role. I have to play four or five different games, but that’s just what is required to be a professional cricketer at this moment. Every game is going to present different situations. It takes a different set of skills to understand those things and execute plans accordingly. </p><p><b>You have a great partnership going with Nitish Kumar Reddy. How are you both finding a rhythm in the middle order?</b></p><p>It helps when you play together for a couple of years. You start to understand each other, you understand what makes each other tick. Our communication this season has been incredible. We’ve been taking a lot of pressure off each other, especially from his side. He’s been taking a lot of pressure off me at the start of my innings. So a lot of credit needs to go to Nitish. He’s in form at the moment, so that makes it a lot easier as well to drop and change our plans as we go and to identify the bowlers each of us likes to take down.</p><p>He reminds me of playing with David Miller. In your career, you get a few guys you just enjoy batting with. Nitish is extremely quick so when you feel like you’re under pressure a bit, you can always run two or three and make the over a little easier instead of just searching for boundaries. Running between the wickets becomes a crucial part of the game then. I love seeing him grow as well. It’s just been fantastic this season and hopefully we can put on a couple of bigger partnerships.</p><p><b>You have been known as the spin destroyer of SRH. How did that come about for you?</b></p><p>South Africa has some quality spinners and I’ve played a lot of four-day cricket at a stage where my career really needed it. It is a stage where probably all of those spinners played four-day cricket as well.</p><p>I’m used to the ball turning away from me. I faced a lot of Tabraiz Shamsi in the nets, who is a quality spinner as well. A lot of training, a lot of hours have been spent experimenting. I’ve been in India for five to six years now. Over the years, I’ve gained some experience. </p><p>Earlier in my career, we went to Sri Lanka, where the ball actually spun quite a bit. We had to figure things out for ourselves and learn new tricks. I’m very blessed to be able to play spin well. It’s always a challenge to keep taking them on because I know they’re looking to get my wicket.</p><p><b>Is it safe to say that you love playing in India against the spinners specifically?</b></p><p>The boundaries here are not the biggest in the world. We’re used to some big boundaries. But the wickets are fantastic, so it’s a nice place to come to. It’s still a big challenge. I know they’re coming for me and they know I’m coming for them. This season, I see that they’ve got a couple of game plans, so I need to get back to doing some good homework against them and finding new ways of scoring against them.</p><p><b>Is there any Indian spinner that you enjoy playing against the most?</b></p><p>It’s an easy answer, Yuzi (Yuzvendra) Chahal. We’ve had a few great battles over the last couple of years. He’s a quality bowler and very clever. I think we’re about 50-50 on winning those battles. He’s a good mate of mine as well, which makes it even better to fight against him on the pitch.</p><p><b>You are going to play against CSK soon, who are struggling this year. The unavailability of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, how big is that an advantage for you guys?</b></p><p>They’ve obviously got an incredible IPL record and they’ve always been a strong side. Not having Dhoni doesn’t make them less of a good side and the players they have currently are unbelievable as well. </p><p>They’re going to get (Dewald) Brevis back. So that’s going to strengthen their middle order. The two openers haven’t really scored anything yet, so they’re due for runs. It’s not going to be an easy game. Hopefully their form continues to struggle a little bit against us so we can really put them under pressure. But they’re always a good side. </p><p>It’s always nice (to) play against them because you want to play against the best sides in the world. Dhoni not being there doesn’t really make a difference, because he’s still in the dugout sharing his experience with the guys. Normally, over the last few seasons, he probably bats the last 10 balls only anyway. So it’s the other guys in the team that you have to worry about more.</p><p><b>What’s the mood in the camp when you face a side like CSK? Does it feel like just another game or does the prospect of facing a team like that brings that extra intensity into the setup?</b></p><p>Look, it’s always fun playing against them and knowing that our owners are also coming from Chennai, they do put an emphasis on that. We need to beat them. There will always be added pressure on that game, but it’s still a good game. All the teams that you have to play in the IPL, you have to be at your best and give your best performance. </p><p><b>ALSO READ: <a href="https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cricket/ipl/ipl-2026-exclusive-interview-punjab-kings-pbks-ben-dwarshuis-on-bowling-variations-consistency/article70832950.ece" target="_blank">Adaptability is Currency — PBKS seamer Ben Dwarshuis on surviving the grind in IPL 2026</a></b></p><p>Hopefully we can get a little bit of momentum going into the next game and then facing Chennai back home. The wicket hopefully will be a little bit better and then if we can, if we can get one over them going into their home ground, I think we should be in a good position to take them down this season.</p><p><b>You haven’t been at your best against CSK. What are the learnings that you have taken from these past battles against CSK and how do you plan to improve your performances against the Men in Yellow?</b></p><p>Chennai is probably not the easiest place to play cricket, especially if you have someone like Jadeja who can bowl at 100 kilometers an hour and the ball spins and just holds a little bit. Luckily he’s not there this season. It’s a completely different team. </p><p>I probably just need to hit the ball a little bit longer and make sure I clear the boundary. I need to give myself enough opportunity to make a bigger impact. I’m not too worried about it, it’s just about finding form and when I do, it’s about just cherishing it and making sure that I hold on to it.</p><p><b>When you face a CSK team without its talismanic skipper Dhoni, does his absence play at the back of your mind?</b></p><p>I think the crowd will be a little bit quieter. Normally when he walks onto the ground, you can’t hear anything around you. So that would be a nice addition to playing them. </p><p>I don’t think he had such a big impact except for his leadership over the last year. He’d normally just face 10 balls and then try to make an impact. But they do have quality additions to their side and we need to make good plans to get them out.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/tzvl9e/article70837358.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/DSC_0340.JPG" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/tzvl9e/article70837358.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/DSC_0340.JPG" alt="An injured MS Dhoni is seen batting during a practice session in Chennai." title="An injured MS Dhoni is seen batting during a practice session in Chennai." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> An injured MS Dhoni is seen batting during a practice session in Chennai. | Photo Credit: RAGU R </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> An injured MS Dhoni is seen batting during a practice session in Chennai. | Photo Credit: RAGU R </p></div><p>A guy like Brevis is in good form and then you know the two openers got an unbelievable IPL record. We need to make sure that we keep putting them under pressure. When the calm head of Dhoni is not there, it’s an opportunity for us to maybe just put the pedal down and squeeze them a little bit more.</p><p><b>Does the IPL stand out in any way compared to the other leagues?</b></p><p>It’s by far the toughest there is in franchise cricket. I sometimes feel it’s tougher than international cricket. It depends on who you play but the standard of cricket and obviously the conditions play a big part. Every year, you just see a new Indian player coming through who you never knew about. </p><p>The talent just sets the standard so high. It is by far the best competition in the world. There are a couple of tournaments they are striving to reach the same standard. But it’s tough.</p><p><b>Do you have a message for the Sunrisers Hyderabad faithful?</b></p><p>Just be patient. You can’t win a competition in the first week of the IPL. We’re getting everything together and hopefully, we can make it to the playoffs and then we’re going to have an extremely good chance of winning this trophy. I think we’re long due and we’ve got the squad to win a trophy. Keep supporting us and we’re looking forward to producing some good performances.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 08, 2026</p></div> #Dont #Dhoni #big #impact #CSK #leadership #year #Klaasen

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FIFA President ⁠Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth ‌term in a bid to continue to lead the governing ‌body of world soccer.

Infantino confirmed ‌he ⁠would run for the 2027–2031 ⁠term in the closing moments of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, which comes less than ​two months before ‌the start of the World Cup.

The Italian-Swiss took office in 2016, replacing Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed ‌in 2019 and 2023.

Infantino has ​pushed for the expansion of FIFA competitions during his tenure, ⁠with this year’s World Cup in North America the first to feature 48 ‌teams, while the women’s tournament in 2023 has been expanded to 32 teams.

Infantino’s tenure has also drawn some criticism over issues such as high World Cup ticket prices and ‌the decision to award the inaugural FIFA ​Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump at the World Cup ⁠draw in December.

Earlier this month, the council ⁠of South American football’s governing body (CONMEBOL) said in a statement ‌it would unanimously support the 56-year old if he decided to ​seek another term.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Gianni #Infantino #seek #fourth #term #FIFA #president">Gianni Infantino to seek fourth term as FIFA president FIFA President ⁠Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth ‌term in a bid to continue to lead the governing ‌body of world soccer.Infantino confirmed ‌he ⁠would run for the 2027–2031 ⁠term in the closing moments of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, which comes less than ​two months before ‌the start of the World Cup.The Italian-Swiss took office in 2016, replacing Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed ‌in 2019 and 2023.Infantino has ​pushed for the expansion of FIFA competitions during his tenure, ⁠with this year’s World Cup in North America the first to feature 48 ‌teams, while the women’s tournament in 2023 has been expanded to 32 teams.Infantino’s tenure has also drawn some criticism over issues such as high World Cup ticket prices and ‌the decision to award the inaugural FIFA ​Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump at the World Cup ⁠draw in December.Earlier this month, the council ⁠of South American football’s governing body (CONMEBOL) said in a statement ‌it would unanimously support the 56-year old if he decided to ​seek another term.Published on May 01, 2026 #Gianni #Infantino #seek #fourth #term #FIFA #president

Deadspin | Brianna Do, Melanie Green tied for first-round lead at Riviera Jun 19, 2025; Frisco, Texas, USA; Brianna Do plays her shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images Brianna Do birdied the 18th hole to forge a tie atop the leaderboard at 6-under-par 66 with fellow American Melanie Green after the opening round of the Riviera Maya Open on Thursday in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Green, an LPGA rookie, sank a hole-in-one amid a busy first nine and went birdie-bogey on her last two holes to settle at 6 under. The co-leaders are one shot ahead of Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, alone in third at 5-under 67 after mixing seven birdies with a pair of bogeys. Do started strong with four birdies in the first five holes of her round at El Camaleon Golf Course. After closing the front nine with her lone bogey, she responded with consecutive birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 as part of a 3-under back nine. On a windy day, Do credited a critical round she recently played in heavy wind for helping keep her calm Thursday. “I actually had my U.S. Open qualifier, I don’t know, like two weeks ago or a week ago, and it was very windy, so it kind of helped me prepare myself for this week mentally,” Do said. “(My strong start) kind of gave me a good start and a good cushion to kind of play aggressive the rest of the round.” Green, who began on the back nine, was 6 under through nine holes (one ace, five birdies, one bogey). After birdies at Nos. 17 and 18, Green briefly moved to 7 under with a birdie at the par-3 8th but bogeyed the finishing par-4. The highlight of Green’s round came at the par-3 15th hole. However, she didn’t see the ball go in and didn’t believe her caddie when he informed her. “I’m like, ‘Shane, that’s not nice. It’s not in the hole. That’s not nice,'” Green recalled. “I walk up there and all I could see was the cross. I was so excited. Yeah, thought I just went way left. But whatever. Good bounce. “I can’t say that (a hole-in-one) was a goal of mine this year, but always fun to have. It’s more fun when you can see it go in, but that’s OK.” Do, 36, debuted on the tour in 2013 while Green, 24, debuted this season. But both are searching for their first LPGA victories. In fact, Do’s only career top-10 came last year in the inaugural Riviera Maya Open, tying for ninth at 3 under. “Having a good week here last year brought good vibes coming back, so I was excited to be back here and try and better how I played last year,” Do said. Nelly Korda, who reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf rankings with last week’s victory at the Chevron Championship, is one of six players tied for fourth at 4 under. Also in that group are Japan’s Erika Hara, Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, Japan’s Cocona Sakurai, South Korea’s Soo Bin Joo and Thailand’s Suvichaya Vinijchaitham. Chizzy Iwai of Japan, who won the inaugural event last season, is tied for 85th at 3-over 75, weighed down by a double bogey at the par-3 8th. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Brianna #Melanie #Green #tied #firstround #lead #RivieraJun 19, 2025; Frisco, Texas, USA; Brianna Do plays her shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Brianna Do birdied the 18th hole to forge a tie atop the leaderboard at 6-under-par 66 with fellow American Melanie Green after the opening round of the Riviera Maya Open on Thursday in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Green, an LPGA rookie, sank a hole-in-one amid a busy first nine and went birdie-bogey on her last two holes to settle at 6 under.

The co-leaders are one shot ahead of Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, alone in third at 5-under 67 after mixing seven birdies with a pair of bogeys.

Do started strong with four birdies in the first five holes of her round at El Camaleon Golf Course. After closing the front nine with her lone bogey, she responded with consecutive birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 as part of a 3-under back nine.

On a windy day, Do credited a critical round she recently played in heavy wind for helping keep her calm Thursday.

“I actually had my U.S. Open qualifier, I don’t know, like two weeks ago or a week ago, and it was very windy, so it kind of helped me prepare myself for this week mentally,” Do said.

“(My strong start) kind of gave me a good start and a good cushion to kind of play aggressive the rest of the round.”

Green, who began on the back nine, was 6 under through nine holes (one ace, five birdies, one bogey). After birdies at Nos. 17 and 18, Green briefly moved to 7 under with a birdie at the par-3 8th but bogeyed the finishing par-4.


The highlight of Green’s round came at the par-3 15th hole. However, she didn’t see the ball go in and didn’t believe her caddie when he informed her.

“I’m like, ‘Shane, that’s not nice. It’s not in the hole. That’s not nice,'” Green recalled. “I walk up there and all I could see was the cross. I was so excited. Yeah, thought I just went way left. But whatever. Good bounce.

“I can’t say that (a hole-in-one) was a goal of mine this year, but always fun to have. It’s more fun when you can see it go in, but that’s OK.”

Do, 36, debuted on the tour in 2013 while Green, 24, debuted this season. But both are searching for their first LPGA victories.

In fact, Do’s only career top-10 came last year in the inaugural Riviera Maya Open, tying for ninth at 3 under.

“Having a good week here last year brought good vibes coming back, so I was excited to be back here and try and better how I played last year,” Do said.

Nelly Korda, who reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf rankings with last week’s victory at the Chevron Championship, is one of six players tied for fourth at 4 under. Also in that group are Japan’s Erika Hara, Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, Japan’s Cocona Sakurai, South Korea’s Soo Bin Joo and Thailand’s Suvichaya Vinijchaitham.

Chizzy Iwai of Japan, who won the inaugural event last season, is tied for 85th at 3-over 75, weighed down by a double bogey at the par-3 8th.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Brianna #Melanie #Green #tied #firstround #lead #Riviera">Deadspin | Brianna Do, Melanie Green tied for first-round lead at Riviera Jun 19, 2025; Frisco, Texas, USA; Brianna Do plays her shot from the 16th tee during the first round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images Brianna Do birdied the 18th hole to forge a tie atop the leaderboard at 6-under-par 66 with fellow American Melanie Green after the opening round of the Riviera Maya Open on Thursday in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Green, an LPGA rookie, sank a hole-in-one amid a busy first nine and went birdie-bogey on her last two holes to settle at 6 under. The co-leaders are one shot ahead of Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, alone in third at 5-under 67 after mixing seven birdies with a pair of bogeys. Do started strong with four birdies in the first five holes of her round at El Camaleon Golf Course. After closing the front nine with her lone bogey, she responded with consecutive birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 as part of a 3-under back nine. On a windy day, Do credited a critical round she recently played in heavy wind for helping keep her calm Thursday. “I actually had my U.S. Open qualifier, I don’t know, like two weeks ago or a week ago, and it was very windy, so it kind of helped me prepare myself for this week mentally,” Do said. “(My strong start) kind of gave me a good start and a good cushion to kind of play aggressive the rest of the round.” Green, who began on the back nine, was 6 under through nine holes (one ace, five birdies, one bogey). After birdies at Nos. 17 and 18, Green briefly moved to 7 under with a birdie at the par-3 8th but bogeyed the finishing par-4. The highlight of Green’s round came at the par-3 15th hole. However, she didn’t see the ball go in and didn’t believe her caddie when he informed her. “I’m like, ‘Shane, that’s not nice. It’s not in the hole. That’s not nice,'” Green recalled. “I walk up there and all I could see was the cross. I was so excited. Yeah, thought I just went way left. But whatever. Good bounce. “I can’t say that (a hole-in-one) was a goal of mine this year, but always fun to have. It’s more fun when you can see it go in, but that’s OK.” Do, 36, debuted on the tour in 2013 while Green, 24, debuted this season. But both are searching for their first LPGA victories. In fact, Do’s only career top-10 came last year in the inaugural Riviera Maya Open, tying for ninth at 3 under. “Having a good week here last year brought good vibes coming back, so I was excited to be back here and try and better how I played last year,” Do said. Nelly Korda, who reclaimed the No. 1 spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf rankings with last week’s victory at the Chevron Championship, is one of six players tied for fourth at 4 under. Also in that group are Japan’s Erika Hara, Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, Japan’s Cocona Sakurai, South Korea’s Soo Bin Joo and Thailand’s Suvichaya Vinijchaitham. Chizzy Iwai of Japan, who won the inaugural event last season, is tied for 85th at 3-over 75, weighed down by a double bogey at the par-3 8th. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Brianna #Melanie #Green #tied #firstround #lead #Riviera

Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa said Thursday he will retire from the national team after the World Cup and that the tournament could also mark the end of his playing career.

Ochoa, who will turn 41 during the World Cup, has appeared in the previous five editions and is expected to be called for a sixth, although his place on the roster has not been officially confirmed.

The goalkeeper, who plays for AEL Limassol in Cyprus, said in an interview with TUDN that his departure from the national team is a certainty and that his full retirement “could also be on the cards.”

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre announced a partial roster with two goalkeepers from Liga MX and left a spot open for a third who plays abroad. Although he didn’t name him, Ochoa is the only one who has been called up for recent matches.

“Retiring is undoubtedly difficult, but in my case it won’t be so hard because I’ve enjoyed it for so many years, for so long,” Ochoa told the network. “There comes a point when your mind and body say, ‘You’ve given it your all,’ and you leave peacefully, and that’s going to be my case.”

Ochoa is currently one of four Mexicans to have appeared in five World Cups, along with Antonio Carbajal, Rafael Márquez, and Andrés Guardado.

Ochoa could join Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in appearing in a sixth World Cup.

Ochoa was the starter at the past three World Cups. For now, he seems to be considered as Raúl “Tala” Rangel’s backup.

Mexico is co-hosting the tournament with the United States and Canada.

Published on May 01, 2026

#Mexican #goalkeeping #legend #Guillermo #Ochoa #retire #FIFA #World #Cup">Mexican goalkeeping legend Guillermo Ochoa to retire after FIFA World Cup 2026 Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa said Thursday he will retire from the national team after the World Cup and that the tournament could also mark the end of his playing career.Ochoa, who will turn 41 during the World Cup, has appeared in the previous five editions and is expected to be called for a sixth, although his place on the roster has not been officially confirmed.The goalkeeper, who plays for AEL Limassol in Cyprus, said in an interview with TUDN that his departure from the national team is a certainty and that his full retirement “could also be on the cards.”Mexico coach Javier Aguirre announced a partial roster with two goalkeepers from Liga MX and left a spot open for a third who plays abroad. Although he didn’t name him, Ochoa is the only one who has been called up for recent matches.“Retiring is undoubtedly difficult, but in my case it won’t be so hard because I’ve enjoyed it for so many years, for so long,” Ochoa told the network. “There comes a point when your mind and body say, ‘You’ve given it your all,’ and you leave peacefully, and that’s going to be my case.”Ochoa is currently one of four Mexicans to have appeared in five World Cups, along with Antonio Carbajal, Rafael Márquez, and Andrés Guardado.Ochoa could join Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in appearing in a sixth World Cup.Ochoa was the starter at the past three World Cups. For now, he seems to be considered as Raúl “Tala” Rangel’s backup.Mexico is co-hosting the tournament with the United States and Canada.Published on May 01, 2026 #Mexican #goalkeeping #legend #Guillermo #Ochoa #retire #FIFA #World #Cup

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