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IPL 2026: Fleming exercises caution, backs CSK’s young batting core to shine 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.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.“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.READ | 14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum or will its ethos prevail?“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.”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.“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.”Published on Apr 06, 2026 #IPL #Fleming #exercises #caution #backs #CSKs #young #batting #core #shine

IPL 2026: Fleming exercises caution, backs CSK’s young batting core to shine

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.

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.

“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.

READ | 14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum or will its ethos prevail?

“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.”

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.

“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.”

Published on Apr 06, 2026

#IPL #Fleming #exercises #caution #backs #CSKs #young #batting #core #shine

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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.

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.

“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.

READ | 14 defeats in 22 matches: Does CSK have a captaincy conundrum or will its ethos prevail?

“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.”

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.

“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.”

Published on Apr 06, 2026

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Deadspin | Robert Thomas’ hat trick helps Blues beat Avs, continue playoff push <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-900/28667533.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28667533.jpg" alt="NHL: St. Louis Blues at Colorado Avalanche" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">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<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>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.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>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.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>Jimmy Snuggerud assisted on all three goals, Dylan Holloway added two assists and Joel Hofer made 26 saves for the Blues.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>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.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>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.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-6"> <p>The Avalanche pulled goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood soon after Gabriel Landeskog’s slashing penalty put them on the penalty kill for the final 1:54.</p> </section> <section id="section-7"> <p>Brent Burns had a goal and an assist, Parker Kelly also scored and Blackwood turned away 25 shots for the Avalanche.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>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.</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>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.</p> </section><section id="section-10"> <p>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.</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>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.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-12"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section> </div> #Deadspin #Robert #Thomas #hat #trick #helps #Blues #beat #Avs #continue #playoff #push

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Deadspin | Ailing Ryan Feltner to make scheduled start for Rockies against Astros Mar 31, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner (18) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Ryan Feltner had a scary moment in his first start of the season, but it wasn’t as frightening as the one the Colorado Rockies’ right-hander experienced three years ago. Feltner took a line drive off his hip in Toronto on Tuesday and left the game after three innings with tightness in his right glute, but he won’t miss any playing time. Feltner (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his scheduled start when Colorado faces the Houston Astros on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series in Denver. Houston will send right-hander Cody Bolton (0-0, 3.00) to the mound. It is a testament to Feltner’s mental fortitude that he didn’t have a big reaction to taking a liner off his hip. On May 13, 2023, Feltner suffered a fractured skull when Nick Castellanos, then with Philadelphia, hit him with a 92-mph liner behind his right ear. Feltner missed four months before starting two games that September and then made 30 starts in 2024, but injuries limited him to six outings last season for the Rockies. He looked sharp in his three scoreless innings against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, giving up only one hit, one walk and striking out four. “He pitched awesome,” catcher Hunter Goodman said. “He had command of all of his pitches. That was the best I have seen him throw this year, including spring training. I’m excited for his next few outings. I think he can build momentum off those.” Feltner has faced the Astros once in his career — on June 26, 2024, in Houston. He allowed four runs — two earned — on six hits over six innings and was the pitcher of record in Colorado’s 7-1 loss. He will try to pitch the Rockies to their first winning streak of the season. Colorado salvaged the finale of a three-game series with Philadelphia on Sunday, 4-1. Houston is coming off a disappointing 12-10 loss in 10 innings to the Athletics on Sunday and enter the series in Denver with some uncertainty. Astros ace Hunter Brown was slated to start Monday night but went on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. “He’s disappointed,” Houston manager Joe Espada told reporters on Sunday. “Never been injured, and this is new for all of us, so we’ll see. He didn’t sound concerned, which is good. But also, it’s new, right, so we’re going to let the doctors evaluate him and then we’ll see where we go from there.” Before deciding on Bolton — who pitched one scoreless inning in his lone career appearance against the Rockies in April 2024 — to start, the Astros were considering bringing up Jason Alexander from Triple-A Sugar Land. Alexander last pitched Wednesday and would have been on four days’ rest. Other options went away Sunday when Espada used Christian Roa, who was recalled from Sugar Land before the game, and AJ Blubaugh out of the bullpen. However, either could have served as an opener Monday night but would have been limited in innings. Houston’s offense has been putting up runs heading into hitter-friendly Coors Field. The Astros, who had won five games in a row before losing two of the three games against the A’s, have scored 10 or more runs three times already this season. They have 21 in the last two games and are averaging 8.5 runs over the last eight. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Ailing #Ryan #Feltner #scheduled #start #Rockies #AstrosMar 31, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner (18) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Ryan Feltner had a scary moment in his first start of the season, but it wasn’t as frightening as the one the Colorado Rockies’ right-hander experienced three years ago.

Feltner took a line drive off his hip in Toronto on Tuesday and left the game after three innings with tightness in his right glute, but he won’t miss any playing time.

Feltner (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his scheduled start when Colorado faces the Houston Astros on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series in Denver.

Houston will send right-hander Cody Bolton (0-0, 3.00) to the mound.

It is a testament to Feltner’s mental fortitude that he didn’t have a big reaction to taking a liner off his hip. On May 13, 2023, Feltner suffered a fractured skull when Nick Castellanos, then with Philadelphia, hit him with a 92-mph liner behind his right ear.

Feltner missed four months before starting two games that September and then made 30 starts in 2024, but injuries limited him to six outings last season for the Rockies.

He looked sharp in his three scoreless innings against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, giving up only one hit, one walk and striking out four.

“He pitched awesome,” catcher Hunter Goodman said. “He had command of all of his pitches. That was the best I have seen him throw this year, including spring training. I’m excited for his next few outings. I think he can build momentum off those.”


Feltner has faced the Astros once in his career — on June 26, 2024, in Houston. He allowed four runs — two earned — on six hits over six innings and was the pitcher of record in Colorado’s 7-1 loss.

He will try to pitch the Rockies to their first winning streak of the season. Colorado salvaged the finale of a three-game series with Philadelphia on Sunday, 4-1.

Houston is coming off a disappointing 12-10 loss in 10 innings to the Athletics on Sunday and enter the series in Denver with some uncertainty. Astros ace Hunter Brown was slated to start Monday night but went on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain.

“He’s disappointed,” Houston manager Joe Espada told reporters on Sunday. “Never been injured, and this is new for all of us, so we’ll see. He didn’t sound concerned, which is good. But also, it’s new, right, so we’re going to let the doctors evaluate him and then we’ll see where we go from there.”

Before deciding on Bolton — who pitched one scoreless inning in his lone career appearance against the Rockies in April 2024 — to start, the Astros were considering bringing up Jason Alexander from Triple-A Sugar Land.

Alexander last pitched Wednesday and would have been on four days’ rest.

Other options went away Sunday when Espada used Christian Roa, who was recalled from Sugar Land before the game, and AJ Blubaugh out of the bullpen. However, either could have served as an opener Monday night but would have been limited in innings.

Houston’s offense has been putting up runs heading into hitter-friendly Coors Field. The Astros, who had won five games in a row before losing two of the three games against the A’s, have scored 10 or more runs three times already this season. They have 21 in the last two games and are averaging 8.5 runs over the last eight.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Ailing #Ryan #Feltner #scheduled #start #Rockies #Astros">Deadspin | Ailing Ryan Feltner to make scheduled start for Rockies against Astros Mar 31, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Ryan Feltner (18) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images Ryan Feltner had a scary moment in his first start of the season, but it wasn’t as frightening as the one the Colorado Rockies’ right-hander experienced three years ago. Feltner took a line drive off his hip in Toronto on Tuesday and left the game after three innings with tightness in his right glute, but he won’t miss any playing time. Feltner (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his scheduled start when Colorado faces the Houston Astros on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series in Denver. Houston will send right-hander Cody Bolton (0-0, 3.00) to the mound. It is a testament to Feltner’s mental fortitude that he didn’t have a big reaction to taking a liner off his hip. On May 13, 2023, Feltner suffered a fractured skull when Nick Castellanos, then with Philadelphia, hit him with a 92-mph liner behind his right ear. Feltner missed four months before starting two games that September and then made 30 starts in 2024, but injuries limited him to six outings last season for the Rockies. He looked sharp in his three scoreless innings against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, giving up only one hit, one walk and striking out four. “He pitched awesome,” catcher Hunter Goodman said. “He had command of all of his pitches. That was the best I have seen him throw this year, including spring training. I’m excited for his next few outings. I think he can build momentum off those.” Feltner has faced the Astros once in his career — on June 26, 2024, in Houston. He allowed four runs — two earned — on six hits over six innings and was the pitcher of record in Colorado’s 7-1 loss. He will try to pitch the Rockies to their first winning streak of the season. Colorado salvaged the finale of a three-game series with Philadelphia on Sunday, 4-1. Houston is coming off a disappointing 12-10 loss in 10 innings to the Athletics on Sunday and enter the series in Denver with some uncertainty. Astros ace Hunter Brown was slated to start Monday night but went on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. “He’s disappointed,” Houston manager Joe Espada told reporters on Sunday. “Never been injured, and this is new for all of us, so we’ll see. He didn’t sound concerned, which is good. But also, it’s new, right, so we’re going to let the doctors evaluate him and then we’ll see where we go from there.” Before deciding on Bolton — who pitched one scoreless inning in his lone career appearance against the Rockies in April 2024 — to start, the Astros were considering bringing up Jason Alexander from Triple-A Sugar Land. Alexander last pitched Wednesday and would have been on four days’ rest. Other options went away Sunday when Espada used Christian Roa, who was recalled from Sugar Land before the game, and AJ Blubaugh out of the bullpen. However, either could have served as an opener Monday night but would have been limited in innings. Houston’s offense has been putting up runs heading into hitter-friendly Coors Field. The Astros, who had won five games in a row before losing two of the three games against the A’s, have scored 10 or more runs three times already this season. They have 21 in the last two games and are averaging 8.5 runs over the last eight. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Ailing #Ryan #Feltner #scheduled #start #Rockies #Astros

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

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