Punjab Kings will begin their IPL 2026 campaign on March 31 against Gujarat Titans in New Chandigarh. After finishing as runners-up in 2025, Shreyas Iyer and his team are determined to replicate last year’s heroics and clinch their maiden IPL title. At the auction, PBKS retained their core squad and brought in four new players, including Australian all-rounder Ben Dwarshuis. The 31-year-old is no stranger to the PBKS setup, having previously been part of the franchise during the 2018 season. Ahead of their opening match, Dwarshuis interacted with NDTV and shared his insights on the team’s preparations and Shreyas Iyer’s leadership.
Here are the highlights of NDTV’s exclusive interaction with Dwarshuis:
NDTV: PBKS’ first match of IPL 2026 is against GT. How’s the mood in the camp?
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Ben: Yeah, the mood’s been really high. I think we’ve had a really nice lead-in. We’ve had a couple of really competitive practise games and we’ve got a few training sessions to go to sort of sharpen up our skills and really get ready for the 31st.
NDTV: You are not new in the PBKS setup as you were also there in the 2018 season. Does this familiarity in the camp helps in you any sense?
Ben: Yeah, I mean there’s a couple of familiar faces. Obviously, a lot has changed in the eight years that I haven’t been here, but you know it’s nice to be back here and have a little bit of familiarity to help you settle in. The stadium is also beautiful. Looking forward to seeing it packed out with fans and it be really loud and noisy. All the facilities are great and we’ve had a couple of great training and practise games, so vibes high and the ground looks great.
NDTV: How does it feel to work under the guidance of Ricky Ponting, who is widely known for his smart cricketing style?
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Ben: It’s great. I’ve had a little bit of experience with him in the past and really enjoyed those times, so to have a nice two months stint with him is gonna be really great and hopefully I can learn a few things.
NDTV: Some words on Shreyas Iyer and his captaincy?
Ben: I mean from all reports, he’s one of the strongest captains in the league. Great cricketing brain, really understands the game and I’m excited to hopefully get to play a few games and see out in the middle what he’s like.
NDTV: PBKS are filled with youngsters like Priyansh, Prabh, Nehal, Musheer. With whom do you get along the most?
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Ben: Initial take is that they’re all incredible cricketers. They all got an opportunity to showcase their skills in the practise matches and it’s been really impressive to see the young proper players, how strong they are. Maybe Mushir (whom you get along the most). He’s a funny character and he’s loud and outgoing, so it’s been nice to have a few conversations with him.
NDTV: IPL is played on various venues in India, you think that these different pitch conditions will be affecting the game?
Ben: Yeah, I think each ground you go to is always going to slightly alter the way that you want to go about your game and having that adaptability to be able to play not only in different conditions in India but all around the world I think is what makes great cricketers.
Two rounds into his title defense at the Golfweek Senior Division National Championship, Bryan Hoops has begun to pull away. Hoops began the tournament at Desert Willow Golf Resort’s Mountain View Course in Palm Desert, California, with a round of 4-under 68. In Saturday’s second round, Hoops had a 1-under 71 that left him at the top of the board as his chasers shuffled behind him.
Hoops, of Scottsdale, Arizona, began Saturday with a one-shot lead and by the end of the day, he was ahead by three shots. The 57-year-old has 11 total birdies this week and at 5 under for 36 holes, leads Chris Bailey of Rochester, Michigan, and John Wright of Oswego, Illinois, by three shots. Both Bailey and Wright had second-round 69s.
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While Bailey had a clean card that included only one bogey, Wright’s wild back nine included just one par. He also had five birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
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A year ago, Hoops won the Golfweek Senior Division National Championship before logging two more tournament wins in the following days in the California desert. He is currently the top-ranked player aged 55 and over in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Only seven players remain under par for 36 holes at Desert Willow, including four players tied for fourth at 1 under: John Adams of San Clemente, California; Todd Doss of Mandeville, Louisiana; Trae Cassell of Riverdale, Georgia; and Randy Haag of Orinda, California.
Scott Stevens of Encinitas, California, had the only other sub-70 round for the day – a 69 that moved him into a tie for eighth at even par.
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The 54-hole event concludes Sunday before the Golfweek Senior Amateur begins at Desert Willow’s Firecliff Course on March 30.
Mar 28, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) celebrates with team mates after the Capitals defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-4 in a shoot-out at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Dylan Strome scored the tying goal in the third period and the game-winner in the shootout to give the Washington Capitals a 5-4 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Strome, who hit the post on the first shot of the game, tied it at 4-all midway through the period with a power-play tally, one-timing a shot from the middle of the right circle to snap a 17-game goal drought. He then scored the only goal of the shootout at the start of the first round, roofing a backhand shot past Adin Hill.
Justin Sourdif had a goal and an assist, Cole Hutson had two assists and Hendrix Lapierre and Anthony Beauvillier also scored goals for Washington (37-28-9, 83 points), which is four points back of the second and final wild card in the Eastern Conference. Logan Thompson finished with 25 saves and stopped all three shots he faced in the shootout.
Jack Eichel scored a goal and had two assists, Rasmus Andersson had a goal and an assist and Nic Dowd and Mitch Marner also scored for Vegas (32-26-16, 80 points), which lost its third straight game and its sixth in the last seven. Hill made 17 saves for the Golden Knights, who fell three points behind second-place Edmonton in the Pacific Division.
Washington took a 1-0 lead at the 6:06 mark of the first period when Lapierre fired a wrist shot past Hill’s blocker side.
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Sourdif made it 2-0 early in the second period with a power-play goal. Connor McMichael set up the score with a pass from the right goal-line to Sourdif cutting down the slot where he one-timed a shot past Hill’s blocker side.
Less than four minutes later, Beauvillier deflected a spinning wrist shot from the left circle by Ryan Leonard to increase Washington’s lead to 3-0, the eighth time in the last 16 games that the Golden Knights fell behind 3-0 in a contest.
But Vegas rallied to tie it later in the period with three goals, including two short-handed, in the span of 2:40.
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Dowd, acquired by Vegas on March 5 from Capitals, started the comeback with his fifth career short-handed goal, stealing the puck from Leonard in the slot in front of the Washington net and then snapping a shot by Thompson’s stick side.
Andersson followed with another short-handed goal just 25 seconds later, driving through the Capitals defense and tucking in a forehand shot around Thompson’s left pad. It marked the second time in team history that Vegas scored two short-handed goals on the same penalty kill. Brayden McNabb and Eichel also performed the feat on Dec. 27, 2024, against San Jose.
Eichel tied it at 3-all with his first goal in eight games when he snapped a rebound of an Andersson shot past Thompson’s glove side at 13:18.
Vegas took the lead 31 seconds into the third period on a power-play goal by Marner, who fired a point shot from inside the blue line past Thompson’s blocker side.
Sol Ruca is a top star in WWE NXT right now. On a house show in Allen, Texas, she got into a brawl with her former tag team partner. She’s heading into Stand & Deliver 2026 to face her ally-turned-rival, and things recently got heated between them.
Ruca and Zaria engaged in a scuffle and took the Allen crowd by storm. In a video posted by WWE NXT on X, the two can be seen taking their brawl backstage. The duo seemingly locked horns, but the contest ended in a double countout after Zaria took things too far.
Thanks for the submission!
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Later in the video, they got back inside the ring, where referees separated them.
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NXT general manager Robert Stone announced that the duo will face off again at Stand & Deliver. However, for now, they need to be away from each other. In the end, Sol Ruca taunted Zaria while the latter was taken away by WWE officials.
What other matches are scheduled for WWE NXT Stand & Deliver?
Johnny Garagno is back in NXT and will be challenging for Myles Borne’s North American Championship. The main event of the show will see Joe Hendry put his NXT Championship on the line in a Fatal-Four-Way Match. Ricky Saints, Ethan Page, and Tony D’Angelo will go up against Hendry for the coveted gold.
The go-home episode of NXT before Stand & Deliver will likely confirm more matches for the show. Jacy Jayne will put her NXT Women’s Championship on the line against the winner of Lola Vice vs. Kendal Grey. The Vanity Project will battle either Birthright or Los Americanos, depending on which duo wins the tag team contest on Tuesday.
As of this writing, Tatum Paxley’s Women’s North American Championship match is up in the air. However, Blake Monroe is widely expected to challenge for Paxley’s title.
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Keith Thurman was stopped inside six rounds by towering WBC super-welterweight world champion Sebastian Fundora this weekend in Las Vegas.
The champion, who stands at 6-foot-5½, used his significant height and reach advantage from the off, making it hard for Thurman to settle and land any sustained attacks.
‘One Time’ showed impressive resilience as Fundora peppered the body and landed cleanly up top, but a steady decrease in output saw him, bloodied and bruised, stopped on his feet by referee Thomas Taylor.
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Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Thurman criticised Taylor for stepping in and waving the fight off.
“Fundora’s a tremendous champion, but whoever the f**k that referee was, don’t hire him for f***ing main event s**t again, real talk.”
“I never got dropped in the whole fight. I’m getting caught on the back end of punches. The referee told me in the locker room, ‘show me something, move your feet, duck your head – I won’t stop the fight.’ … The fight was getting fun. People were getting on their feet. We were just getting into the grind.”
As for his future, the 37-year-old former unified world champion made it clear he intends to fight on.
“I’ll be back, man. I want to do great things in boxing once again, and I’m gonna come back hard, I’m gonna come back strong.”
Fundora’s latest successful title defence opens the door to several high-profile match-ups in the division, with the likes of Vergil Ortiz Jr and a returning Jermell Charlo likely to be calling for a shot. There is also the prospect of a three-belt unification against the winner of Xander Zayas vs Jaron Ennis.
Manchester City have regenerated their squad in the past 18 months and decisions now loom on four senior players
Manchester City’s squad evolution gathered pace last weekend as the Blues won their first trophy since the 2024 Premier League title when they beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.
While the silverware absence was not even two years, the Wembley win reaffirmed the trajectory this squad is on after a trophyless 2024-25 campaign.
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City have a plethora of emerging talent alongside a core of experience and while there remain questions over Pep Guardiola’s future beyond the summer, the playing squad is in good shape.
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This summer will likely see the departure of two long-serving City players in John Stones and Bernardo Silva when their contracts expire. Skipper Bernardo said earlier in the campaign that he already knew what the future holds and there is little to suggest he will pen fresh terms at the Etihad even though Guardiola would happily hand a new deal to a player he values so highly.
For Stones, it’s injuries that look set to preclude a new City contract. The defender has suffered with fitness issues this term and pulled out of the England squad this week with a groin problem. Guardiola has spoken of how a decision on Stones would need to take into account what he has shown over the last two years and sadly for the centre-back, injury has prevented him from showing too much.
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The departures of Stones and Silva would see a huge amount of experience leaving the building but City are in a position to cope with both exits. A summer transfer move for a new midfielder, with Elliott Anderson at Nottingham Forest of interest, would certainly help offset the departure of Silva, while Abdukodir Khusanov, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias mitigate the loss of Stones.
It’s what might happen with two more City stalwarts that will carry plenty of intrigue over the coming months and potentially impact the Blues’ summer transfer plans.
Rodri and Phil Foden both see their contracts expire in 2027 and just now it’s difficult to confidently predict both will be here past that date.
Rodri spoke of his admiration for La Liga and Real Madrid this week, and while he then suggested people listen to the entire interview before jumping to conclusions, it’s difficult to ignore the prospect of Real signing the midfielder.
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The 29-year-old is beginning to show his best again having suffered a serious knee injury and a couple of setbacks. Guardiola doesn’t feel his star man will be back to full throttle until this summer’s World Cup but City and Rodri will need to make a decision on whether a new deal is offered sooner rather than later.
City will not stand in any player’s way if they do want to depart, and would potentially rather obtain a fee for Rodri this summer rather than risk losing him on a free transfer in 18 months.
The same would be true of Foden, although his future is more likely to be at City than not. The 25-year-old has struggled for form in recent months but remains a player capable of being among the best in the country and the hope at the Etihad is that he can return to the peak of his powers.
A probable World Cup and the uncertainty surrounding Guardiola’s future will play a part in any contract talks over the next few months but the feeling is club and player will come to an agreement for the boyhood Blue to extend his Etihad contract.
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City’s summer transfer business will offer a further indication as to what the future holds as we wait for answers.
Many observers view the highly touted heavyweight as a natural successor to Usyk, and the emphatic win over the durable American in Manchester last night has only intensified talk that the 21-year-old could be ready to dethrone the Ukrainian champion.
Franklin entered the bout having never been stopped in 26 professional fights, including decision defeats to Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte. He was expected by some to provide valuable time in the ring for a rising contender who had only gone a total twelve rounds in his previous nine contests.
Focus now shifts to what comes next. When asked whether he would be willing to face the unified champion before the end of the year, the rising star did not hesitate in his response.
“No, I’m not going to fight with Itauma because he’s a young guy. I don’t want to break this guy.”
The Ukrainian is set to return to the ring on May 23, where he will face kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven. Beyond that, the champion announced that he will target the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois, followed by a potential trilogy bout with Tyson Fury before bringing his career to a close.
Kolkata Knight Riders player Manish Pandey (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)
Indian batter Manish Pandey, one of only four players to have featured in every edition of the Indian Premier League since its start in 2008, describes his 19-year IPL journey as having “flown by in a flash.”Pandey will don the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) jersey in IPL 2026, as the three-time champions face five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium. Across 174 IPL matches, Pandey has scored 3,942 runs at a strike rate of 121.52.
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Greenstone Lobo predicts IPL 2026 winner
“It’s been an incredible journey for me – 19 years, and now going into my 19th season. I started with MI in the very first year after the U19 World Cup. That was a special memory, but honestly, it all feels like it just passed in a moment. From 2008 to now, 2026, it’s been a lot,” Pandey said in a video released by the IPL on Sunday.He added, “Overall, it’s been a fantastic experience. I’m glad to be among those few players who’ve been part of every IPL, and I always try to do justice to myself and the game. I’m here purely for the passion and love of cricket.”Reflecting on his landmark century for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2009, Pandey said, “Absolutely. We were just young, 18-19-year-olds, discovering the game and ourselves. In my second season, I scored a hundred in South Africa for RCB, and it felt amazing. I wasn’t expecting to open the innings and get that opportunity, but it helped me a lot. Being the first Indian to score a hundred and the youngest at the time is a great memory, even though someone else now holds that record.”On the IPL’s growth, Pandey noted, “This tournament has taught us so much. We were still understanding the dynamics back then. Over 19 years, IPL has evolved massively – for players, sponsors, and fans. The joy it has given to so many is unbelievable. It’s now one of the biggest platforms for young talent to shine.”Pandey also spoke about how the game itself has changed: “Back then, 160 was a good total, and 140 could be defended. Now, everything is faster, with high-scoring games and new bowling variations. IPL is at the centre of world cricket today, testing players who’ve been here one year or many. It has made the game bigger and helped cricket grow.”He added, “We always dream of playing for India, and tournaments like IPL are crucial. Selectors watch closely, and performing here is key to staying in the game. I’ve been lucky to do that over time.”Pandey concluded by recalling his pivotal knock in the 2014 final for KKR: “That innings of 95 in the final was life-changing. It helped me break into the Indian team, where I went on to play 29 ODIs and 39 T20Is. IPL has been very kind to me, giving me the chance to handle pressure while enjoying the game.”
In a bid for a key benefit, Chris Waller is bringing blinkers back for Autumn Boy in his Doncaster Mile renewal versus Randwick Guineas conqueror Sheza Alibi.
The colt donned blinkers en route to his Caulfield Guineas win during spring racing, but they were absent across his three appearances so far this campaign.
Waller is confident the blinkers will aid Autumn Boy in getting crisper now dropping from 2000m in the Rosehill Guineas.
“Coming back to a mile isn’t easy,” Waller said.
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“I don’t think he needs the blinkers as a racehorse, but I’ve put them on to make sure he’s there in Kerrin’s (McEvoy’s) hands when he asks him to quicken.”
Building momentum this prep, the three-year-old was third to Ninja in the 1400m Hobartville Stakes, runner-up to Sheza Alibi next in the Randwick Guineas, and then victorious in the Rosehill Guineas.
For the Doncaster Mile at 1600m, Sheza Alibi enjoys a 1kg weight advantage, though Waller pointed to gate draws and tempo as pivotal.
Ahead in betting, the Victorian-trained filly sits at $2, Autumn Boy at $5.
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“If he draws well and she doesn’t draw so well, the market will change a little bit,” Waller said.
“She was terrific, and he was great the other day. It comes down to luck in running.
You need a strong 2000-metre horse to win a tough Randwick mile. That’s what I’m going with, and he’s got a pretty good weight (52kg).”
Waller will have considerable strength in the mile feature via confirmed acceptors Sixties and Militarize, as Lazzura and Lady Shenandoah steer towards the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m), Beiwacht to the All Aged Stakes (1400m).
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The trainer boasts six victories in Randwick’s blue riband mile, including Winx’s in 2016.
April has been called the cruelest month. For golfers, though, it’s the coolest month. It means the active season for handicap posting is fully underway. On April 1, a cluster of states kicks goes live. By April 15, the whole country is posting.
Of course, “underway” doesn’t always mean “ideal.” In early April, some courses are still rounding into shape after winter, and plenty of regions are still at the mercy of unpredictable spring weather. Which makes it a perfect time to brush up on one of the quietly important features of the World Handicap System: the Playing Conditions Calculation, or PCC — a mechanism designed specifically for days when conditions are anything but normal.
Introduced when the WHS launched in 2020 and refined in 2024, the PCC is a tool implemented by the USGA to adjust score differentials if a course played significantly harder or easier than normal — whether due to weather, wind, firm or soft conditions, or an unusually tough setup. The goal is to keep your Handicap Index accurate no matter what Mother Nature or the superintendent throws at the field. And the effort required on your end is pretty much zilch. The adjustment happens automatically. All you have to do is post your score.
How to use Playing Conditions Calculation
Here’s how it works. Each night at midnight, if at least eight scores have been posted by players with a Handicap Index of 36.0 or below on that specific course and date, the PCC kicks in. It compares actual scores against what those players would be expected to shoot based on their ability. If scoring was abnormally high or low, the system adjusts.
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That adjustment can range from -1.0 (conditions played easier than normal) to +3.0 (significantly harder), with 0.0 being the most common outcome by design — the USGA built the PCC to be conservative. If a PCC adjustment is applied to your round, you’ll typically see a “^” symbol next to that score in your record.
The result is a kind of consistency in a game when conditions can be anything but. It means that a brutal day into a 30-mph wind doesn’t disproportionately affect your index, and that a perfect morning on a spongy, receptive course doesn’t, either.
If you don’t already have a Handicap Index, you can get one here.
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Former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya endured his fourth consecutive loss after being stopped by Joe Pyfer in their main event clash at Ultimate Fighting Championship Seattle.
The fight, held at the Climate Pledge Arena, started brightly for Adesanya, who controlled the early exchanges with sharp jabs and leg kicks while keeping his opponent at range. He also showed good awareness in defending takedown attempts in the opening round.
However, the momentum changed in the second round as Pyfer stepped up the pressure. The American landed a powerful left hook that forced Adesanya onto the back foot before taking the fight to the ground.
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Pyfer quickly gained a dominant position and delivered a series of punches and elbows, leading the referee to stop the contest at 4:18 of the second round.
The defeat is another setback for Adesanya, whose last win came in April 2023 when he regained the middleweight title against Alex Pereira. Despite the result, the 36-year-old has indicated he is not ready to retire.
Elsewhere on the card, both Pyfer and Alexa Grasso earned Performance of the Night bonuses, while the bout between Tofiq Musayev and Ignacio Bahamondes was named Fight of the Night.
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