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IPL 2026: Bowling unit will need tactical tinkering despite Praful, Sakib brilliance, says SRH coach Vettori  Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain announced themselves in emphatic fashion on their Sunrisers Hyderabad debuts, picking up four wickets each against Rajasthan Royals and easing long-standing concerns around the team’s bowling.Praful made an immediate impact with a searing opening spell, the 24-year-old dismantling the top order with three wickets in a single over. Sakib matched him with a composed, disciplined effort, ensuring the pressure never relented. Together, they provided the sharpness with the ball that Sunrisers had long been searching for.Head coach Daniel Vettori, while encouraged by the performance against the Royals, suggested that adjustments could still be made based on how conditions play out.“We’re playing on the same wicket as the last game. We’re anticipating it to be slightly different and that means we may have to make some tactical changes,” he said.Vettori also downplayed concerns over modest returns from openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.“Every opening partnership aims to be ultra-aggressive, but it’s unrealistic to expect that to come off every time. We want to stick with that approach because when those two fire, we usually win,” he said.ALSO READ | Prabhsimran Singh’s promise edges towards fulfilment at Punjab Kings“We’ve got a strong batting line-up behind them, and they’ve stepped up when the opening stand hasn’t delivered. But when it clicks, it’s one of the best partnerships in the competition. Other teams play in a similar way, so we know how important it is and want them to keep that freedom.”He also confirmed that Pat Cummins could make his first appearance of the season for SRH against the Rajasthan Royals on April 25.Published on Apr 17, 2026  #IPL #Bowling #unit #tactical #tinkering #Praful #Sakib #brilliance #SRH #coach #Vettori

IPL 2026: Bowling unit will need tactical tinkering despite Praful, Sakib brilliance, says SRH coach Vettori

Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain announced themselves in emphatic fashion on their Sunrisers Hyderabad debuts, picking up four wickets each against Rajasthan Royals and easing long-standing concerns around the team’s bowling.

Praful made an immediate impact with a searing opening spell, the 24-year-old dismantling the top order with three wickets in a single over. Sakib matched him with a composed, disciplined effort, ensuring the pressure never relented. Together, they provided the sharpness with the ball that Sunrisers had long been searching for.

Head coach Daniel Vettori, while encouraged by the performance against the Royals, suggested that adjustments could still be made based on how conditions play out.

“We’re playing on the same wicket as the last game. We’re anticipating it to be slightly different and that means we may have to make some tactical changes,” he said.

Vettori also downplayed concerns over modest returns from openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.

“Every opening partnership aims to be ultra-aggressive, but it’s unrealistic to expect that to come off every time. We want to stick with that approach because when those two fire, we usually win,” he said.

ALSO READ | Prabhsimran Singh’s promise edges towards fulfilment at Punjab Kings

“We’ve got a strong batting line-up behind them, and they’ve stepped up when the opening stand hasn’t delivered. But when it clicks, it’s one of the best partnerships in the competition. Other teams play in a similar way, so we know how important it is and want them to keep that freedom.”

He also confirmed that Pat Cummins could make his first appearance of the season for SRH against the Rajasthan Royals on April 25.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#IPL #Bowling #unit #tactical #tinkering #Praful #Sakib #brilliance #SRH #coach #Vettori

Praful Hinge and Sakib Hussain announced themselves in emphatic fashion on their Sunrisers Hyderabad debuts, picking up four wickets each against Rajasthan Royals and easing long-standing concerns around the team’s bowling.

Praful made an immediate impact with a searing opening spell, the 24-year-old dismantling the top order with three wickets in a single over. Sakib matched him with a composed, disciplined effort, ensuring the pressure never relented. Together, they provided the sharpness with the ball that Sunrisers had long been searching for.

Head coach Daniel Vettori, while encouraged by the performance against the Royals, suggested that adjustments could still be made based on how conditions play out.

“We’re playing on the same wicket as the last game. We’re anticipating it to be slightly different and that means we may have to make some tactical changes,” he said.

Vettori also downplayed concerns over modest returns from openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.

“Every opening partnership aims to be ultra-aggressive, but it’s unrealistic to expect that to come off every time. We want to stick with that approach because when those two fire, we usually win,” he said.

ALSO READ | Prabhsimran Singh’s promise edges towards fulfilment at Punjab Kings

“We’ve got a strong batting line-up behind them, and they’ve stepped up when the opening stand hasn’t delivered. But when it clicks, it’s one of the best partnerships in the competition. Other teams play in a similar way, so we know how important it is and want them to keep that freedom.”

He also confirmed that Pat Cummins could make his first appearance of the season for SRH against the Rajasthan Royals on April 25.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

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#IPL #Bowling #unit #tactical #tinkering #Praful #Sakib #brilliance #SRH #coach #Vettori

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Deadspin | Report: Mats Sundin discussing role with Maple Leafs <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/21935024.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/21935024.jpg" alt="NHL: Global Series-Toronto Maple Leafs at Minnesota Wild" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Nov 19, 2023; Stockholm, SWE; Mats Sundin during a Global Series NHL hockey game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Minnesota Wild at Avicii Arena. Mandatory Credit: Per Haljestam-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Mats Sundin, the all-time leading scorer for the Toronto Maple Leafs, is interviewing with the club for a job in the front office, The Athletic reported Friday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Per the report, Sundin was in Toronto on Friday to talk with team owners “about a potential role in the new setup,” with no specific job being mentioned as of now.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>The Maple Leafs fired general manager Brad Treliving on March 30, and they haven’t had a president of hockey operations since Brendan Shanahan was fired in May 2025.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Sundin, 55, was the No. 1 overall pick of the Quebec Nordiques in 1989 and was traded to Toronto on June 28, 1994, in a multi-player, multi-draft pick deal.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>He remained with the Maple Leafs through the 2007-08 season, then appeared in 41 games with the Vancouver Canucks the following season. He announced his retirement on Sept. 30, 2009.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>In the ensuing years, he moved with his family to his native Sweden but has started to become more involved with the Maple Leafs. He was part of the Toronto contingent at the NHL’s Global Series Games in Stockholm in November 2023.</p> </section> <section id="section-7"> <p>“Toronto’s management and coaches have taken me in, and it has been incredibly nice,” Sundin said during that event, per The Athletic. “Toronto has meant so incredibly much to my career; I was there for 13 years and the captain. Toronto is my second home; we live in Stockholm, but when I come there, it’s like coming home.”</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>He is the franchise’s leader in points (987), power-play goals (124) and game-winning goals (79). Auston Matthews overtook Sundin for the team leadership in goals this season with 428, eight more than Sundin.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012, Sundin finished with 1,349 points (564 goals, 785 assists) in 1,346 games.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>Should Sundin rise to a position of power within the Maple Leafs, he would not be the first franchise legend to assume a decision-making role with a former team.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>Steve Yzerman has done it with the Detroit Red Wings, and Matt Ryan (NFL), Buster Posey (MLB), and Joe Dumars, Danny Ainge and the late Jerry West (NBA) are among the players who have run their ex-teams, either now or in the past.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-12"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Report #Mats #Sundin #discussing #role #Maple #Leafs

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Deadspin | Stars D Nils Lundkvist signs 2-year, $3.5M extension <div id=""><section id="0" class=" w-full"><div class="xl:container mx-0 !px-4 py-0 pb-4 !mx-0 !px-0"><img src="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28144371.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28144371.jpg" alt="NHL: Winnipeg Jets at Dallas Stars" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Feb 2, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist (5) celebrates after he scores a goal against Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (37) during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Dallas Stars defenseman Nils Lundkvist signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract extension, the team announced Friday.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>The deal runs through 2027-28 and adds to a big week for the 25-year-old Swede, who announced the birth of his first child — a son — on Tuesday and whose team opens the playoffs on Saturday at home against the Minnesota Wild.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-3"> <p>“We’re excited to lock up Nils for two more years,” general manager Jim Nill said in a news release. “He is a highly skilled defenseman with excellent mobility and vision. His ability to move the puck and create offense makes him a valuable piece for our team moving forward.”</p> </section> <section id="section-4"> <p>Lundkvist recorded 11 points (three goals, eight assists) and a plus-12 rating in 52 games this season. He has 55 points (12 goals, 43 assists) in 235 career games with the New York Rangers (2021-22) and Stars.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>The Rangers selected him in the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Stars #Nils #Lundkvist #signs #2year #3.5M #extension

On Selection Monday, the Auburn Tigers were slotted in as the fourth overall team in the NCAA baseball field, thanks to a 38-19 overall record against the toughest schedule in all of college baseball. Their reward? A spot as a regional host, and a first-game date with Milwaukee out of the Horizon League, a 25-31 team that secured a spot in the field after winning the conference tournament.

Even better, Auburn would be sending left-hander Jake Marciano to the mound, he of the 2.65 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.

To say things were set up well for the Tigers would be putting it mildly. But by the top of the first inning the Panthers had put six runs on the board, Marciano was already in the showers, and Milwaukee was on its way to a stunning 13-8 win, putting Auburn on the brink of elimination.

The Panthers hung four runs on the board in the top of the first. A single from designated hitter Dom Kibler brought two runs home, staking Milwaukee to the early lead. That brought left fielder Bradyn Horn to the dish with a pair of runners aboard.

In the blink of an eye, it was 4-0 Panthers:

It was the fifth home run of the year for Horn, and an unexpected start to the contest. And after keeping the Tigers scoreless in the bottom of the first, Milwaukee chased Marciano in the top of the second with two more runs.

Milwaukee held a 6-0 lead in the top of the fourth, when they broke into double digits. Third baseman Grant Ross singled to bring home Connor Bozak, bringing Charlie Marion to the plate with a pair of Panthers aboard.

That’s when Marion blasted his 13th home run of the season:

Auburn would start chipping away at Milwaukee’s lead, and a blast from Eric Guevara in the bottom of the seventh cut the Panthers’ advantage to 12-7. And the Tigers got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, when Jett Johnston struck out Horn to keep Auburn within five.

But the Tigers could not complete the comeback.

Riley Peterson held Auburn scoreless in the eighth, retiring the side in order with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts. Milwaukee pushed another run across in the ninth, when Marion walked with the bases loaded, the fourth walk given up by Auburn pitchers in the frame.

The Tigers loaded the bases in the ninth and got a sacrifice fly from Guevara to cut the score to 13-8, but Peterson got catcher Chase Fralick to line out to center for the final out.

The celebration was on in the Panthers’ dugout.

For Milwaukee, it was just the second NCAA tournament win in program history, the first coming back in 1999 when the Panthers knocked off Rice. Milwaukee finished the afternoon having gone 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position, and the 13 runs were the most scored by the team in their NCAA tournament history.

As for the Tigers, they became just the sixth top four national seed in NCAA tournament history to lose a regional opener, joining Alabama (No. 3, 2002), Georgia Tech (No. 3, 2003), Florida State (No. 4, 2008), Baylor (No. 4, 2012), Florida (No. 2, 2014), and North Carolina (No. 2, 2017).

The Tigers will hope to join an even smaller list with Florida State and Baylor, as those two teams still went on to win their regional.

Milwaukee will take on the winner of No. 3 NC State and No. 2 UCF, while Auburn will face the loser of that contest in an elimination game.

#NCAA #baseball #tournament #Milwaukee #stuns #Auburn">NCAA baseball tournament 2026: Milwaukee stuns Auburn  On Selection Monday, the Auburn Tigers were slotted in as the fourth overall team in the NCAA baseball field, thanks to a 38-19 overall record against the toughest schedule in all of college baseball. Their reward? A spot as a regional host, and a first-game date with Milwaukee out of the Horizon League, a 25-31 team that secured a spot in the field after winning the conference tournament.Even better, Auburn would be sending left-hander Jake Marciano to the mound, he of the 2.65 ERA and 0.97 WHIP.To say things were set up well for the Tigers would be putting it mildly. But by the top of the first inning the Panthers had put six runs on the board, Marciano was already in the showers, and Milwaukee was on its way to a stunning 13-8 win, putting Auburn on the brink of elimination.The Panthers hung four runs on the board in the top of the first. A single from designated hitter Dom Kibler brought two runs home, staking Milwaukee to the early lead. That brought left fielder Bradyn Horn to the dish with a pair of runners aboard.In the blink of an eye, it was 4-0 Panthers:It was the fifth home run of the year for Horn, and an unexpected start to the contest. And after keeping the Tigers scoreless in the bottom of the first, Milwaukee chased Marciano in the top of the second with two more runs.Milwaukee held a 6-0 lead in the top of the fourth, when they broke into double digits. Third baseman Grant Ross singled to bring home Connor Bozak, bringing Charlie Marion to the plate with a pair of Panthers aboard.That’s when Marion blasted his 13th home run of the season:Auburn would start chipping away at Milwaukee’s lead, and a blast from Eric Guevara in the bottom of the seventh cut the Panthers’ advantage to 12-7. And the Tigers got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, when Jett Johnston struck out Horn to keep Auburn within five.But the Tigers could not complete the comeback.Riley Peterson held Auburn scoreless in the eighth, retiring the side in order with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts. Milwaukee pushed another run across in the ninth, when Marion walked with the bases loaded, the fourth walk given up by Auburn pitchers in the frame.The Tigers loaded the bases in the ninth and got a sacrifice fly from Guevara to cut the score to 13-8, but Peterson got catcher Chase Fralick to line out to center for the final out.The celebration was on in the Panthers’ dugout.For Milwaukee, it was just the second NCAA tournament win in program history, the first coming back in 1999 when the Panthers knocked off Rice. Milwaukee finished the afternoon having gone 8-for-16 with runners in scoring position, and the 13 runs were the most scored by the team in their NCAA tournament history.As for the Tigers, they became just the sixth top four national seed in NCAA tournament history to lose a regional opener, joining Alabama (No. 3, 2002), Georgia Tech (No. 3, 2003), Florida State (No. 4, 2008), Baylor (No. 4, 2012), Florida (No. 2, 2014), and North Carolina (No. 2, 2017).The Tigers will hope to join an even smaller list with Florida State and Baylor, as those two teams still went on to win their regional.Milwaukee will take on the winner of No. 3 NC State and No. 2 UCF, while Auburn will face the loser of that contest in an elimination game.  #NCAA #baseball #tournament #Milwaukee #stuns #Auburn

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