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ISL 2025-26: Ryan Williams chases silverware with Bengaluru FC after shining for India on debut Ryan Williams arrived at Bengaluru FC, trying to find a new home thousands of miles away from his birthplace in Perth. Three years later, he has found one, as an India international and a first-team regular with 15 goals and five assists for club and country.“When I first came, it was actually Simon Grayson who was here (as head coach), whom I had played against a few times in the UK before,” Williams tells Sportstar.“For me, from a footballing point of view, the shoe fit really well because all the coaching staff were from the UK, the same methods that I was used to all the time I was in the UK.”But the defining moment was his India call-up. He became the first foreign-born player to switch allegiance to the Blue Tigers since Arata Izumi and scored on his debut against Hong Kong in a 2-1 win in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Ryan Williams celebrates scoring on his India debut, against Hong Kong, China, in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat Ryan Williams celebrates scoring on his India debut, against Hong Kong, China, in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat “(There were) many emotions at first. It was obviously joy, excitement and just pure happiness because it was such a long journey leading up to that point,” Williams remembers.“A bit of relief (too) because not only being able to be eligible and play was the first hurdle, the second hurdle was coming in and making sure that I made an impact.”The match marked the end of a three-year wait for the forward, who received assistance from JSW and Bengaluru FC to finally get his Indian passport.“This club is, and I can say from my point of view, a family club. I’ve got a lot of friends that are, you know, in the offices and stuff. It’s not only the boys on the pitch. Every chance I get, I go in there and say hello,” he adds.“Even towards the end of the application process, the club managed to get it a lot quicker than I would have done. So, it was really special for me.”But in professional football, one challenge follows another. Williams helped India to its first win in the Asian Cup qualifiers, but his club now demands his full focus.Bengaluru FC has had three coaches in the last six months, with new Spaniard Pep Munoz taking over mid-season last month.“With every new coach that comes in, there are different ideas. He’s only been here, like, maybe about a week. So it’s quite hard to tell. But from what I’ve seen so far, I’m enjoying it,” he says.“You can look at it two ways. You can think, I wish Renedy (Singh) were still here or you can think, ‘I’m going to take up this challenge and see if I can learn something from this new coach.’ I think everybody at the moment is really working hard with this coach. He’s got some great ideas, and I’m looking forward to the times ahead,” Williams says. Ryan Williams joined Bengaluru FC from Perth Glory in 2023, and has 14 goals and five assists for the club, across all competitions. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar Ryan Williams joined Bengaluru FC from Perth Glory in 2023, and has 14 goals and five assists for the club, across all competitions. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar Under Munoz, Bengaluru started with a 2-0 win over Super Cup champion FC Goa but stuttered against Kerala Blasters in their previous match, where his side was reduced to 10 men.“I felt we were in control up to that point. Probably as a unit, we could have defended a bit better, even with 10 players. But again, it was just another opportunity for us to learn. Obviously, it’s unfortunate that it happened against our rivals, but it is what it is,” Williams says.Bengaluru travels to Kolkata for its next match against in-form East Bengal, which beat two-time ISL winner Chennaiyin FC 3-1 last Saturday. A win here could propel the Blues into the top three.“We played three away games, and we’ve got three wins. So, we feel pretty comfortable going away anyway. These next three games, East Bengal, Mumbai and Jamshedpur, are super important for us because they’re all above us, and they (East Bengal) have an extra game in hand,” the forward adds.Williams’ pursuit of a new home might be complete, but the search for domestic silverware with the Blues remains elusive, one he will look to realise in the familiar blue kit in the Indian Super League.Published on Apr 15, 2026 #ISL #Ryan #Williams #chases #silverware #Bengaluru #shining #India #debut

ISL 2025-26: Ryan Williams chases silverware with Bengaluru FC after shining for India on debut

Ryan Williams arrived at Bengaluru FC, trying to find a new home thousands of miles away from his birthplace in Perth. Three years later, he has found one, as an India international and a first-team regular with 15 goals and five assists for club and country.

“When I first came, it was actually Simon Grayson who was here (as head coach), whom I had played against a few times in the UK before,” Williams tells Sportstar.

“For me, from a footballing point of view, the shoe fit really well because all the coaching staff were from the UK, the same methods that I was used to all the time I was in the UK.”

But the defining moment was his India call-up. He became the first foreign-born player to switch allegiance to the Blue Tigers since Arata Izumi and scored on his debut against Hong Kong in a 2-1 win in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

ISL 2025-26: Ryan Williams chases silverware with Bengaluru FC after shining for India on debut Ryan Williams arrived at Bengaluru FC, trying to find a new home thousands of miles away from his birthplace in Perth. Three years later, he has found one, as an India international and a first-team regular with 15 goals and five assists for club and country.“When I first came, it was actually Simon Grayson who was here (as head coach), whom I had played against a few times in the UK before,” Williams tells Sportstar.“For me, from a footballing point of view, the shoe fit really well because all the coaching staff were from the UK, the same methods that I was used to all the time I was in the UK.”But the defining moment was his India call-up. He became the first foreign-born player to switch allegiance to the Blue Tigers since Arata Izumi and scored on his debut against Hong Kong in a 2-1 win in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. Ryan Williams celebrates scoring on his India debut, against Hong Kong, China, in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat Ryan Williams celebrates scoring on his India debut, against Hong Kong, China, in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat “(There were) many emotions at first. It was obviously joy, excitement and just pure happiness because it was such a long journey leading up to that point,” Williams remembers.“A bit of relief (too) because not only being able to be eligible and play was the first hurdle, the second hurdle was coming in and making sure that I made an impact.”The match marked the end of a three-year wait for the forward, who received assistance from JSW and Bengaluru FC to finally get his Indian passport.“This club is, and I can say from my point of view, a family club. I’ve got a lot of friends that are, you know, in the offices and stuff. It’s not only the boys on the pitch. Every chance I get, I go in there and say hello,” he adds.“Even towards the end of the application process, the club managed to get it a lot quicker than I would have done. So, it was really special for me.”But in professional football, one challenge follows another. Williams helped India to its first win in the Asian Cup qualifiers, but his club now demands his full focus.Bengaluru FC has had three coaches in the last six months, with new Spaniard Pep Munoz taking over mid-season last month.“With every new coach that comes in, there are different ideas. He’s only been here, like, maybe about a week. So it’s quite hard to tell. But from what I’ve seen so far, I’m enjoying it,” he says.“You can look at it two ways. You can think, I wish Renedy (Singh) were still here or you can think, ‘I’m going to take up this challenge and see if I can learn something from this new coach.’ I think everybody at the moment is really working hard with this coach. He’s got some great ideas, and I’m looking forward to the times ahead,” Williams says. Ryan Williams joined Bengaluru FC from Perth Glory in 2023, and has 14 goals and five assists for the club, across all competitions. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar Ryan Williams joined Bengaluru FC from Perth Glory in 2023, and has 14 goals and five assists for the club, across all competitions. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar Under Munoz, Bengaluru started with a 2-0 win over Super Cup champion FC Goa but stuttered against Kerala Blasters in their previous match, where his side was reduced to 10 men.“I felt we were in control up to that point. Probably as a unit, we could have defended a bit better, even with 10 players. But again, it was just another opportunity for us to learn. Obviously, it’s unfortunate that it happened against our rivals, but it is what it is,” Williams says.Bengaluru travels to Kolkata for its next match against in-form East Bengal, which beat two-time ISL winner Chennaiyin FC 3-1 last Saturday. A win here could propel the Blues into the top three.“We played three away games, and we’ve got three wins. So, we feel pretty comfortable going away anyway. These next three games, East Bengal, Mumbai and Jamshedpur, are super important for us because they’re all above us, and they (East Bengal) have an extra game in hand,” the forward adds.Williams’ pursuit of a new home might be complete, but the search for domestic silverware with the Blues remains elusive, one he will look to realise in the familiar blue kit in the Indian Super League.Published on Apr 15, 2026 #ISL #Ryan #Williams #chases #silverware #Bengaluru #shining #India #debut

Ryan Williams celebrates scoring on his India debut, against Hong Kong, China, in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat

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Ryan Williams celebrates scoring on his India debut, against Hong Kong, China, in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat

“(There were) many emotions at first. It was obviously joy, excitement and just pure happiness because it was such a long journey leading up to that point,” Williams remembers.

“A bit of relief (too) because not only being able to be eligible and play was the first hurdle, the second hurdle was coming in and making sure that I made an impact.”

The match marked the end of a three-year wait for the forward, who received assistance from JSW and Bengaluru FC to finally get his Indian passport.

“This club is, and I can say from my point of view, a family club. I’ve got a lot of friends that are, you know, in the offices and stuff. It’s not only the boys on the pitch. Every chance I get, I go in there and say hello,” he adds.

“Even towards the end of the application process, the club managed to get it a lot quicker than I would have done. So, it was really special for me.”

But in professional football, one challenge follows another. Williams helped India to its first win in the Asian Cup qualifiers, but his club now demands his full focus.

Bengaluru FC has had three coaches in the last six months, with new Spaniard Pep Munoz taking over mid-season last month.

“With every new coach that comes in, there are different ideas. He’s only been here, like, maybe about a week. So it’s quite hard to tell. But from what I’ve seen so far, I’m enjoying it,” he says.

“You can look at it two ways. You can think, I wish Renedy (Singh) were still here or you can think, ‘I’m going to take up this challenge and see if I can learn something from this new coach.’ I think everybody at the moment is really working hard with this coach. He’s got some great ideas, and I’m looking forward to the times ahead,” Williams says.

Ryan Williams joined Bengaluru FC from Perth Glory in 2023, and has 14 goals and five assists for the club, across all competitions.

Ryan Williams joined Bengaluru FC from Perth Glory in 2023, and has 14 goals and five assists for the club, across all competitions. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

lightbox-info

Ryan Williams joined Bengaluru FC from Perth Glory in 2023, and has 14 goals and five assists for the club, across all competitions. | Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

Under Munoz, Bengaluru started with a 2-0 win over Super Cup champion FC Goa but stuttered against Kerala Blasters in their previous match, where his side was reduced to 10 men.

“I felt we were in control up to that point. Probably as a unit, we could have defended a bit better, even with 10 players. But again, it was just another opportunity for us to learn. Obviously, it’s unfortunate that it happened against our rivals, but it is what it is,” Williams says.

Bengaluru travels to Kolkata for its next match against in-form East Bengal, which beat two-time ISL winner Chennaiyin FC 3-1 last Saturday. A win here could propel the Blues into the top three.

“We played three away games, and we’ve got three wins. So, we feel pretty comfortable going away anyway. These next three games, East Bengal, Mumbai and Jamshedpur, are super important for us because they’re all above us, and they (East Bengal) have an extra game in hand,” the forward adds.

Williams’ pursuit of a new home might be complete, but the search for domestic silverware with the Blues remains elusive, one he will look to realise in the familiar blue kit in the Indian Super League.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

#ISL #Ryan #Williams #chases #silverware #Bengaluru #shining #India #debut

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Ryan Williams arrived at Bengaluru FC, trying to find a new home thousands of miles away from his birthplace in Perth. Three years later, he has found one, as an India international and a first-team regular with 15 goals and five assists for club and country.

“When I first came, it was actually Simon Grayson who was here (as head coach), whom I had played against a few times in the UK before,” Williams tells Sportstar.

“For me, from a footballing point of view, the shoe fit really well because all the coaching staff were from the UK, the same methods that I was used to all the time I was in the UK.”

But the defining moment was his India call-up. He became the first foreign-born player to switch allegiance to the Blue Tigers since Arata Izumi and scored on his debut against Hong Kong in a 2-1 win in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

Ryan Williams celebrates scoring on his India debut, against Hong Kong, China, in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
| Photo Credit:
Thulasi Kakkat

lightbox-info

Ryan Williams celebrates scoring on his India debut, against Hong Kong, China, in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
| Photo Credit:
Thulasi Kakkat

“(There were) many emotions at first. It was obviously joy, excitement and just pure happiness because it was such a long journey leading up to that point,” Williams remembers.

“A bit of relief (too) because not only being able to be eligible and play was the first hurdle, the second hurdle was coming in and making sure that I made an impact.”

The match marked the end of a three-year wait for the forward, who received assistance from JSW and Bengaluru FC to finally get his Indian passport.

“This club is, and I can say from my point of view, a family club. I’ve got a lot of friends that are, you know, in the offices and stuff. It’s not only the boys on the pitch. Every chance I get, I go in there and say hello,” he adds.

“Even towards the end of the application process, the club managed to get it a lot quicker than I would have done. So, it was really special for me.”

But in professional football, one challenge follows another. Williams helped India to its first win in the Asian Cup qualifiers, but his club now demands his full focus.

Bengaluru FC has had three coaches in the last six months, with new Spaniard Pep Munoz taking over mid-season last month.

“With every new coach that comes in, there are different ideas. He’s only been here, like, maybe about a week. So it’s quite hard to tell. But from what I’ve seen so far, I’m enjoying it,” he says.

“You can look at it two ways. You can think, I wish Renedy (Singh) were still here or you can think, ‘I’m going to take up this challenge and see if I can learn something from this new coach.’ I think everybody at the moment is really working hard with this coach. He’s got some great ideas, and I’m looking forward to the times ahead,” Williams says.

Ryan Williams joined Bengaluru FC from Perth Glory in 2023, and has 14 goals and five assists for the club, across all competitions.

Ryan Williams joined Bengaluru FC from Perth Glory in 2023, and has 14 goals and five assists for the club, across all competitions.
| Photo Credit:
K. Murali Kumar

lightbox-info

Ryan Williams joined Bengaluru FC from Perth Glory in 2023, and has 14 goals and five assists for the club, across all competitions.
| Photo Credit:
K. Murali Kumar

Under Munoz, Bengaluru started with a 2-0 win over Super Cup champion FC Goa but stuttered against Kerala Blasters in their previous match, where his side was reduced to 10 men.

“I felt we were in control up to that point. Probably as a unit, we could have defended a bit better, even with 10 players. But again, it was just another opportunity for us to learn. Obviously, it’s unfortunate that it happened against our rivals, but it is what it is,” Williams says.

Bengaluru travels to Kolkata for its next match against in-form East Bengal, which beat two-time ISL winner Chennaiyin FC 3-1 last Saturday. A win here could propel the Blues into the top three.

“We played three away games, and we’ve got three wins. So, we feel pretty comfortable going away anyway. These next three games, East Bengal, Mumbai and Jamshedpur, are super important for us because they’re all above us, and they (East Bengal) have an extra game in hand,” the forward adds.

Williams’ pursuit of a new home might be complete, but the search for domestic silverware with the Blues remains elusive, one he will look to realise in the familiar blue kit in the Indian Super League.

Published on Apr 15, 2026

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Deadspin | Lightning, with home ice vs. Habs assured, oppose Rangers in tune-up <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-900/28695338.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28695338.jpg" alt="NHL: Tampa Bay Lightning at Montreal Canadiens" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Apr 9, 2026; Montreal, Quebec, CAN;Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (86) plays the puck during the second period of the game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>When Tampa Bay hosts the New York Rangers in the regular-season finale on Wednesday, the Lightning know they won’t need to pack their bags postgame.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>Thanks to the Canadiens’ 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday, the Lightning (50-25-6, 106 points) clinched second place in the Atlantic Division, and Montreal (48-24-10, 106 points) will finish third. The Canadiens will open a first-round playoff series in Tampa this weekend.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>While the Lightning, if they lose in regulation to the Rangers, would finish level on points with the Canadiens, Tampa Bay owns the regulation-wins tiebreaker (40-34).</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>The Rangers (33-39-9, 75 points), who will finish a dreadful campaign last in the Eastern Conference, are 1-1-0 against the Lightning.</p> </section><section id="section-5"> <p>The previous matchups have been blowouts. New York won 7-3 at Tampa on Nov. 12, while the Lightning returned the favor in a 4-1 win on the road against the Rangers on Nov. 29.</p> </section><section id="section-6"> <p>Darker times were ahead for the Rangers after Black Friday.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Coach Mike Sullivan’s crew fell out of the wild-card race after going 10-17-5 during a three-month stretch in December, January and a truncated February due to the Winter Olympics.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>On Monday, the Rangers celebrated the career of retiring goaltender Jonathan Quick, who was starting his final game. However, they lost 3-2 as the Florida Panthers played a defensive-minded game and cashed in three times in their 16 shots and beat the 2011-12 Conn Smythe Trophy winner.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-9"> <p>“I thought Quicky played well for us,” said Sullivan, whose group all wore the goalie’s No. 32 sweater in warmups. “Obviously, tonight was about a celebration for him. … He’s an inspiration to all of us, just in his example and how he carries himself. In a lot of ways, he personifies what we hope to become as a group.</p> </section> <section id="section-10"> <p>“His work ethic, his attention to detail, just incredible attitude. His professionalism is second to no one’s. … We’re all better that we’ve had the opportunity to work with him.”</p> </section><section id="section-11"> <p>The Lightning recorded a 4-3 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, helping them keep pace with Montreal after they squandered a two-goal lead entering the third period.</p> </section><section id="section-12"> <p>Nikita Kucherov scored 27 seconds into overtime on his team’s first possession by finishing a give-and-go created by Brayden Point, leading to a two-on-one rush that produced the victory.</p> </section><section id="section-13"> <p>Lightning coach Jon Cooper thinks Kucherov should be awarded a second Hart Trophy after winning his first for the 2018-19 season. He leads Tampa Bay in goals (44), assists (86) and points (130).</p> </section><section id="section-14"> <p>“There are some fabulous players in this league. … He’s pretty darn important to us,” said Cooper after his team put itself in position to control its playoff destination this weekend. “Could you make a case for a bunch of guys? Yes. But I think it’s pretty evident that Kuch has made a name for himself this year, that he should be the guy.”</p> </section><section id="section-15"> <p>Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy got a toe on Alex DeBrincat’s breakaway try on the first shot in overtime, keeping the match alive and leading to Kucherov’s winner nine seconds later.</p> </section><section id="section-16"> <p>A strong Vezina Trophy candidate, Vasilevskiy leads the NHL in wins and owns a 39-15-4 record. The 2018-19 Vezina winner boasts a 2.31 goals-against average (second-best in the league) and a .912 save percentage (tied for third).</p> </section><section id="section-17"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Lightning #home #ice #Habs #assured #oppose #Rangers #tuneup

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Deadspin | Raiders receiving calls about No. 1 NFL draft pick <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-900/28330238.jpg" srcset="https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-900/28330238.jpg" alt="NFL: Scouting Combine" class="w-full" fetchpriority="high" loading="eager"/><span class="text-0.8 leading-tight">Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Las Vegas Raiders general manager John Spytek speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<!-- --> <!-- --> </span></div></section><section id="section-1"> <p>Despite all signs pointing to the Raiders selecting quarterback Fernando Mendoza No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, Las Vegas general manager John Spytek has fielded calls from teams inquiring about the availability of the pick.</p> </section><section id="section-2"> <p>“We’ve gotten a few calls, and those teams know where they stand,” Spytek said Tuesday at his pre-draft news conference.</p> </section><section id="section-3"> <p>The NFL draft will be held April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.</p> </section><section id="section-4"> <p>Spytek, who stated that he is keeping an open mind regarding trade offers, also addressed the topic of deals materializing during draft night.</p> </section><br/><section id="section-5"> <p>“If there’s a player that stands out that we feel it’s not worth losing, it’s not worth even picking up the phone, then we’ll just make the pick,” Spytek said. “But if it’s a player that we’re not as excited about, or there’s a group of players that we would love to pick from and we can get value for that, we’re certainly open to listening to that.”</p> </section> <section id="section-6"> <p>If the Raiders do select Mendoza, the former Indiana star and reigning Heisman Trophy winner would be the 30th quarterback to go No. 1 overall in the common draft era, which began in 1967.</p> </section><section id="section-7"> <p>Mendoza, who guided the Hoosiers to a 16-0 record and their first national title in football in 2025, would be competing with veterans Kirk Cousins and Aidan O’Connell in Las Vegas. Along with new head coach Klint Kubiak, Spytek would rather see a rookie QB begin as a backup to a veteran.</p> </section><section id="section-8"> <p>“Ultimately, this is a meritocracy, and the best guy will play,” Spytek said. “It’s just really hard to play really well at a young age. But we’ve seen plenty of quarterbacks do it recently. We added Kirk, we have Aidan, and we’ll see how it goes.”</p> </section><section id="section-9"> <p>–Field Level Media</p> </section></div> #Deadspin #Raiders #receiving #calls #NFL #draft #pick

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Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya was left searching for answers after yet another Indian Premier League (IPL) defeat — a seven-wicket drubbing at the hands of Punjab Kings — and admitted that his team needed to go back to the drawing board to identify its shortcomings, while hinting that some tough calls could be taken in the upcoming matches.

Mumbai Indians has lost four of its five matches and is languishing in ninth place with just two points, while Punjab Kings sits atop the table with an unbeaten run, having collected nine points so far.

Despite a much-improved showing from Mumbai Indians, powered by Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 112 off 60 balls to post 195 for six, it proved insufficient against a rampant Punjab Kings side.

Punjab chased down the target in just 16.3 overs for the loss of three wickets, with breakout opener Prabhsimran Singh continuing his fine form with an unbeaten 80 off 39 balls, while captain Shreyas Iyer hammered a 35-ball 66.

“To be very honest, I don’t have much to say right now. I think we really need to go back to the drawing board and see where we are lacking. Is it individuals? Is it as a group? Is it planning? We’ll just figure it out and see what we can do next,” said Pandya after another morale-shattering loss.

“No, I think we need to see, do we need to make some difficult calls, or do we need to keep continuing and hope that we’ll turn things around. These are some harsh questions which eventually we need to answer, and yeah, ownership has to be taken.”

Pandya also credited the opposition team for out-thinking the home side in all departments of the game.

“I think we need to give credit to them as well. The ball started reversing. In the second innings, the dew came, and it slightly got better, but having said that, they just outbeat us. They bowled better, they batted better, they fielded better definitely.

Iyer said staying grounded has helped the side execute its plans with precision.

“Certainly confident and optimistic the way we have been playing. Also we have our heads on our shoulder. I am glad that today we came out and got that victory,” said Iyer.

He also praised the coming-of-age of Prabhsimran, noting that the opener has consistently provided fluent starts and on Thursday carried the team through with an unbeaten knock.

“He (Prabhsimran) has certainly raised up his bar, even though he was getting runs, he was giving us excellent starts, this year he has been more mature, match by match he is getting more mature,” added Iyer.

Prabhsimran said self-belief helped him overcome a lean phase in the PowerPlay and take on the bowling more aggressively later in the innings.

“I was just believing in myself because in the PowerPlay, I didn’t get many balls to play. I think I played 6-7 balls in the PowerPlay. But then, in my mind, I thought that if I take a little longer, I will be able to play (better). So, I kept believing in myself that I would do it, and I did it. I just had this in mind that I will play the anchor,” added Prabhsmiran.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#IPL #difficult #calls #Hardik #Pandya #Mumbai #Indians #suffers #fourth #consecutive #loss">IPL 2026: ‘We need to make some difficult calls,’ says Hardik Pandya after Mumbai Indians suffers fourth consecutive loss Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya was left searching for answers after yet another Indian Premier League (IPL) defeat — a seven-wicket drubbing at the hands of Punjab Kings — and admitted that his team needed to go back to the drawing board to identify its shortcomings, while hinting that some tough calls could be taken in the upcoming matches.Mumbai Indians has lost four of its five matches and is languishing in ninth place with just two points, while Punjab Kings sits atop the table with an unbeaten run, having collected nine points so far.Despite a much-improved showing from Mumbai Indians, powered by Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten 112 off 60 balls to post 195 for six, it proved insufficient against a rampant Punjab Kings side.Punjab chased down the target in just 16.3 overs for the loss of three wickets, with breakout opener Prabhsimran Singh continuing his fine form with an unbeaten 80 off 39 balls, while captain Shreyas Iyer hammered a 35-ball 66.“To be very honest, I don’t have much to say right now. I think we really need to go back to the drawing board and see where we are lacking. Is it individuals? Is it as a group? Is it planning? We’ll just figure it out and see what we can do next,” said Pandya after another morale-shattering loss.“No, I think we need to see, do we need to make some difficult calls, or do we need to keep continuing and hope that we’ll turn things around. These are some harsh questions which eventually we need to answer, and yeah, ownership has to be taken.”Pandya also credited the opposition team for out-thinking the home side in all departments of the game.“I think we need to give credit to them as well. The ball started reversing. In the second innings, the dew came, and it slightly got better, but having said that, they just outbeat us. They bowled better, they batted better, they fielded better definitely.Iyer said staying grounded has helped the side execute its plans with precision.“Certainly confident and optimistic the way we have been playing. Also we have our heads on our shoulder. I am glad that today we came out and got that victory,” said Iyer.He also praised the coming-of-age of Prabhsimran, noting that the opener has consistently provided fluent starts and on Thursday carried the team through with an unbeaten knock.“He (Prabhsimran) has certainly raised up his bar, even though he was getting runs, he was giving us excellent starts, this year he has been more mature, match by match he is getting more mature,” added Iyer.Prabhsimran said self-belief helped him overcome a lean phase in the PowerPlay and take on the bowling more aggressively later in the innings.“I was just believing in myself because in the PowerPlay, I didn’t get many balls to play. I think I played 6-7 balls in the PowerPlay. But then, in my mind, I thought that if I take a little longer, I will be able to play (better). So, I kept believing in myself that I would do it, and I did it. I just had this in mind that I will play the anchor,” added Prabhsmiran.Published on Apr 17, 2026 #IPL #difficult #calls #Hardik #Pandya #Mumbai #Indians #suffers #fourth #consecutive #loss

Deadspin | Oddsmakers favor Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avs to win Stanley Cup Apr 16, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) and defenseman Brett Kulak (27) celebrate defeating the Seattle Kraken at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The Colorado Avalanche, out to end the miserable postseason history for Presidents’ Trophy winners, are the unanimous favorite to lift the Stanley Cup with the playoffs about to start. The regular season concluded Thursday night, and the final two first-round playoff matchups were confirmed. The Edmonton Oilers routed the Vancouver Canucks 6-1 and claimed second place in the Pacific Division, setting up a best-of-seven series against the Pacific’s third-place team, the Anaheim Ducks. The Kings fell 3-1 to the Calgary Flames and slipped into the Western Conference’s second wild-card slot. Los Angeles will open against the NHL-leading Avalanche on Sunday in Denver. The other six series were already confirmed before Thursday. In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars will have home-ice advantage on the Minnesota Wild, and the Pacific Division champion Vegas Golden Knights will oppose the wild-card Utah Mammoth. The Eastern Conference matchups are headed by the Metropolitan Division champion Carolina Hurricanes facing the wild-card Ottawa Senators and the Atlanta Division champion Buffalo Sabres meeting the wild-card Boston Bruins. In an Atlantic Division matchup, the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning will oppose the Montreal Canadiens, while the second-place Pittsburgh Penguins will skate against the third-place Philadelphia Flyers in a Metropolitan Division clash. Oddsmakers like the Avalanche’s chances of going all the way, with Colorado listed at +300 by both DraftKings and BetMGM and at +320 by FanDuel. The winner of the Presidents’ Trophy, given to the NHL team with the most regular-season points, hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since the Chicago Blackhawks accomplished the feat in 2012-13. Since then, 10 of the 12 Presidents’ Trophy recipients bombed out of the postseason in the first or second round, with just the New York Rangers (in 2014-15 and 2023-24) advancing to the conference finals. The Hurricanes and Lightning are next among the Cup favorites. Carolina has +475 odds at DraftKings and +500 at both BetMGM and FanDuel. Tampa Bay is +390 at FanDuel and +500 at both DraftKings and BetMGM. All other teams have odds of at least +1000, generally headed by the Stars, Golden Knights and Oilers. The biggest longshots are the Kings, Flyers and Ducks, all at least +5000 at each book. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Oddsmakers #favor #Presidents #Trophywinning #Avs #win #Stanley #CupApr 16, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) and defenseman Brett Kulak (27) celebrate defeating the Seattle Kraken at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The Colorado Avalanche, out to end the miserable postseason history for Presidents’ Trophy winners, are the unanimous favorite to lift the Stanley Cup with the playoffs about to start.

The regular season concluded Thursday night, and the final two first-round playoff matchups were confirmed.

The Edmonton Oilers routed the Vancouver Canucks 6-1 and claimed second place in the Pacific Division, setting up a best-of-seven series against the Pacific’s third-place team, the Anaheim Ducks. The Kings fell 3-1 to the Calgary Flames and slipped into the Western Conference’s second wild-card slot. Los Angeles will open against the NHL-leading Avalanche on Sunday in Denver.

The other six series were already confirmed before Thursday.

In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars will have home-ice advantage on the Minnesota Wild, and the Pacific Division champion Vegas Golden Knights will oppose the wild-card Utah Mammoth.

The Eastern Conference matchups are headed by the Metropolitan Division champion Carolina Hurricanes facing the wild-card Ottawa Senators and the Atlanta Division champion Buffalo Sabres meeting the wild-card Boston Bruins.


In an Atlantic Division matchup, the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning will oppose the Montreal Canadiens, while the second-place Pittsburgh Penguins will skate against the third-place Philadelphia Flyers in a Metropolitan Division clash.

Oddsmakers like the Avalanche’s chances of going all the way, with Colorado listed at +300 by both DraftKings and BetMGM and at +320 by FanDuel.

The winner of the Presidents’ Trophy, given to the NHL team with the most regular-season points, hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since the Chicago Blackhawks accomplished the feat in 2012-13. Since then, 10 of the 12 Presidents’ Trophy recipients bombed out of the postseason in the first or second round, with just the New York Rangers (in 2014-15 and 2023-24) advancing to the conference finals.

The Hurricanes and Lightning are next among the Cup favorites. Carolina has +475 odds at DraftKings and +500 at both BetMGM and FanDuel. Tampa Bay is +390 at FanDuel and +500 at both DraftKings and BetMGM.

All other teams have odds of at least +1000, generally headed by the Stars, Golden Knights and Oilers.

The biggest longshots are the Kings, Flyers and Ducks, all at least +5000 at each book.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Oddsmakers #favor #Presidents #Trophywinning #Avs #win #Stanley #Cup">Deadspin | Oddsmakers favor Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avs to win Stanley Cup Apr 16, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Avalanche goaltender Scott Wedgewood (41) and defenseman Brett Kulak (27) celebrate defeating the Seattle Kraken at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images The Colorado Avalanche, out to end the miserable postseason history for Presidents’ Trophy winners, are the unanimous favorite to lift the Stanley Cup with the playoffs about to start. The regular season concluded Thursday night, and the final two first-round playoff matchups were confirmed. The Edmonton Oilers routed the Vancouver Canucks 6-1 and claimed second place in the Pacific Division, setting up a best-of-seven series against the Pacific’s third-place team, the Anaheim Ducks. The Kings fell 3-1 to the Calgary Flames and slipped into the Western Conference’s second wild-card slot. Los Angeles will open against the NHL-leading Avalanche on Sunday in Denver. The other six series were already confirmed before Thursday. In the Western Conference, the Dallas Stars will have home-ice advantage on the Minnesota Wild, and the Pacific Division champion Vegas Golden Knights will oppose the wild-card Utah Mammoth. The Eastern Conference matchups are headed by the Metropolitan Division champion Carolina Hurricanes facing the wild-card Ottawa Senators and the Atlanta Division champion Buffalo Sabres meeting the wild-card Boston Bruins. In an Atlantic Division matchup, the second-place Tampa Bay Lightning will oppose the Montreal Canadiens, while the second-place Pittsburgh Penguins will skate against the third-place Philadelphia Flyers in a Metropolitan Division clash. Oddsmakers like the Avalanche’s chances of going all the way, with Colorado listed at +300 by both DraftKings and BetMGM and at +320 by FanDuel. The winner of the Presidents’ Trophy, given to the NHL team with the most regular-season points, hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since the Chicago Blackhawks accomplished the feat in 2012-13. Since then, 10 of the 12 Presidents’ Trophy recipients bombed out of the postseason in the first or second round, with just the New York Rangers (in 2014-15 and 2023-24) advancing to the conference finals. The Hurricanes and Lightning are next among the Cup favorites. Carolina has +475 odds at DraftKings and +500 at both BetMGM and FanDuel. Tampa Bay is +390 at FanDuel and +500 at both DraftKings and BetMGM. All other teams have odds of at least +1000, generally headed by the Stars, Golden Knights and Oilers. The biggest longshots are the Kings, Flyers and Ducks, all at least +5000 at each book. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Oddsmakers #favor #Presidents #Trophywinning #Avs #win #Stanley #Cup

The Indian women’s cricket team will begin its preparations for this year’s T20 World Cup with a five-match T20I series, starting at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.

The Women in Blue, the reigning 50-over World Cup champions, beat Australia 2-1 in their last T20I series assignment in February, and they will hope to carry that momentum into the upcoming series and the global showpiece, to be held in England and Wales.

South Africa, on the other hand, is coming off a 1-4 series defeat in New Zealand last month, and the Laura Wolvaardt-led side will need to bounce back if it wants to challenge Harmanpreet Kaur & Co.

The Proteas Women, who have lost 10 of the 16 completed T20Is they have played against India, will also need to overcome an unfavourable head-to-head record.

The last time the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 finalists faced off in T20Is was in Chennai in July 2024, when the series ended in a 1-1 tie.

SA-W vs IND-W 1st T20I – Match Details

When will the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women take place?

The first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will be played on Friday, April 17.

Where will the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women be held?

The first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will be played at Kingsmead in Durban.

At what time will the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women start?

The first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will begin at 9:30 PM IST.

At what time will the toss take place for the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women?

The toss for the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will take place at 9 PM IST.

Where to watch the live telecast of the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women in India?

The first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will be televised live in India on the Star Sports Network TV channels.

Where to watch the live stream of the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women in India?

The first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will be streamed live in India on the JioHotstar app and website.

THE SQUADS

South Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Kayla Reyneke, Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Anneke Bosch, Ayanda Hlubi, Tebogo Macheke, Eliz-mari Marx.

India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kashvee Gautam, Anushka Sharma, Uma Chetry, Bharti Fulmali.

Published on Apr 17, 2026

#INDW #Live #Streaming #Info #1st #T20I #watch #India #Women #tour #South #Africa #match #details #squads">SA-W vs IND-W Live Streaming Info, 1st T20I: When and where to watch India Women tour of South Africa 2026; match details, squads The Indian women’s cricket team will begin its preparations for this year’s T20 World Cup with a five-match T20I series, starting at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.The Women in Blue, the reigning 50-over World Cup champions, beat Australia 2-1 in their last T20I series assignment in February, and they will hope to carry that momentum into the upcoming series and the global showpiece, to be held in England and Wales.South Africa, on the other hand, is coming off a 1-4 series defeat in New Zealand last month, and the Laura Wolvaardt-led side will need to bounce back if it wants to challenge Harmanpreet Kaur & Co.The Proteas Women, who have lost 10 of the 16 completed T20Is they have played against India, will also need to overcome an unfavourable head-to-head record.The last time the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 finalists faced off in T20Is was in Chennai in July 2024, when the series ended in a 1-1 tie.SA-W vs IND-W 1st T20I – Match DetailsWhen will the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women take place?The first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will be played on Friday, April 17.Where will the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women be held?The first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will be played at Kingsmead in Durban.At what time will the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women start?The first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will begin at 9:30 PM IST.At what time will the toss take place for the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women?The toss for the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will take place at 9 PM IST.Where to watch the live telecast of the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women in India?The first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will be televised live in India on the Star Sports Network TV channels.Where to watch the live stream of the first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women in India?The first T20I between South Africa Women and India Women will be streamed live in India on the JioHotstar app and website.THE SQUADSSouth Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Kayla Reyneke, Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Anneke Bosch, Ayanda Hlubi, Tebogo Macheke, Eliz-mari Marx.India Women: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Arundhati Reddy, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud, Shreyanka Patil, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kashvee Gautam, Anushka Sharma, Uma Chetry, Bharti Fulmali.Published on Apr 17, 2026 #INDW #Live #Streaming #Info #1st #T20I #watch #India #Women #tour #South #Africa #match #details #squads

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