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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“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.”
Zac Lloyd maintained his excellent run in the Sydney autumn carnival, posting four triumphs at Rosehill including a Group 1 score astride Kiwi filly Belle Cheval in the Vinery Stud Stakes.
Exactly seven days after his $5 million Golden Slipper win on Guest House – one of three that weekend – Lloyd proved his prowess once again.
He began with a win on Annie’s Rose in the Midway Handicap (1300m), then delivered successes via Belle Cheval in the Vinery (2000m), Idle Flyer in the Emancipation Stakes (1500m), and Welwal in the Doncaster Prelude (1500m).
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, like Guest House, Welwal benefited from blinkers and wet conditions to notch his maiden win since November 2024.
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“He was fantastic, that horse. Geez, he let rip and he’s won that convincingly,” Lloyd said.
“The blinkers have done good work, and he was just there ready to go.”
Victors of the Doncaster Prelude bypass the ballot for next Saturday’s Doncaster Mile (1600m), yet Welwal remains un-nominated and ineligible for late inclusion owing to handicaps.
Price was thrilled regardless, seeing the success as earned after multiple unlucky outings.
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“Trainers always say, my horse had no luck after the race, but it is true,” Price said.
“He needs a bit of room around him and a soft track, and this distance, and he’s a nice horse. (Owner) Alf Gauci has been a client of ours for thirty years and hopefully he’s having a few tears right now, because he does wear his heart on his sleeve.”
At $11, Welwal quickened impressively in the run home, defeating Feroce ($12) by 1-1/2 lengths, as Lord Penman ($15) surged to third three-quarters behind.
Nigeria’s Samson Adamu has been appointed Acting Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football.
The appointment was confirmed on Sunday, making him the first Nigerian to hold the position since CAF was established over 70 years ago.
Adamu takes over from Véron Mosengo-Omba, who resigned from the role on the same day.
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Before his new appointment, Adamu served as CAF’s Director of Tournaments and Events, where he played a key role in organising major competitions across the continent.
His appointment was proposed by the CAF Executive Committee and approved by the Congress during its meeting at the Giza Palace Hotel.
Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl first against Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League 2026 clash at the Wankhede Stadium.Mumbai Indians have opted to field on what appears to be a slightly greener surface than usual at the Wankhede. Notably, Suryakumar Yadav is not part of the starting XI and is expected to feature later as an Impact Player.
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Kolkata Knight Riders (Playing XI): Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Blessing MuzarabaniMumbai Indians (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton(w), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, AM Ghazanfar, Trent Boult, Jasprit BumrahSpeaking at the toss, Pandya explained the decision to bowl first and expressed confidence in his squad.“We are going to bowl. Looks like a good track, it appears greener than it used to. Let’s see how it plays. This is our fortress, the crowd is behind us and we’re looking to play a good game. We started a couple of weeks earlier, have plenty of experience and a mix of youth. Rohit, Surya, Mitchell Santner – so there’s no shortage of captains; I’m just excited to go out there and perform. We’re going with 6 batters and 5 bowlers.”On the other side, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted he would have preferred to bowl first as well, given the unusual grass cover on the pitch.“We were looking to bowl, never seen this amount of grass at Wankhede. Preparations have been good, couple of camps in Kolkata and in Mumbai as well. Know that MI is a champion team and we’re looking forward to be playing against them. Just stay at the moment and don’t look at the past. A couple of injuries – we’re going with 6 batters and 5 bowlers. Four overseas players – Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Sunil Narine and Blessing Muzarabani.”Mumbai Indians also handed out debut caps to AM Ghazanfar and Sherfane Rutherford, while Shardul Thakur marked his return to the franchise.Interestingly, MI will be looking to break a long-standing trend, as they have not won their opening match of an IPL season since 2012.
It was a usually dominant performance from the 21-year-old, once again utilising his speed and power to first drop Franklin in the third round, before getting the finish in round five with a devastating uppercut which left Franklin flat on his face in the middle of the canvas.
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The career progression of Itauma has been similar to that of Dubois, who also rose up the heavyweight ranks as an exciting youngster and stopping most of those that crossed his path, and ‘DDD’ has given his take on his countryman’s latest win.
“What a shot, he put that together well. It was a good test up to that point. He’s on his path and he’s looking good.”
Dubois then admitted he could see a fight against Itauma in the future, but is currently focused on his WBO heavyweight title clash which takes place against Fabio Wardley in May.
“Eventually I think everything can happen, but I’ve got to take care of business first.”
Dubois finished by answering if he sees any weaknesses in Itauma.
Senegal on Saturday paraded the Africa Cup of Nations trophy they have been ordered to return ahead of a friendly against Peru at the Stade de France in Paris. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on March 17 reversed Senegal’s 1-0 final victory over Morocco in Rabat on January 18 and awarded a 3-0 victory to the hosts.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo will not be retiring anytime soon.
The 71-year-old head coach was asked what he would be doing in five years after his team’s 67-63 loss to UConn in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16, and he brushed off the possibility of retirement.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts during the first half against North Dakota State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., March 19, 2026.(Yuki Iwamura/AP Photo)
“We all talk about retirement,” Izzo said. “Why? What the hell am I going to do? The minute I don’t feel good, the minute I don’t feel like I’m giving my AD or president or school every ounce of energy I have every day or that energy drops, you don’t have to worry about it. I don’t steal money. I won’t steal anybody’s time.”
Izzo said he still has some things that he wants to accomplish before calling it a career. He said he would be going into the portal the day after the team’s loss.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts during the second half against Louisville in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in Buffalo, N.Y., March 21, 2026.(Jeffrey T. Barnes/AP Photo)
“Tomorrow I’m going to the portal,” Izzo said. “The only difference is the portal at Michigan State is different than the portal at most places. I’m going right to my frickin’ locker room, and I’m going to talk to each and every player right there. I’m going to make some decisions about what we’re going to do that I feel very comfortable with.”
The Iron Mountain, Michigan, native said he has seven or eight guys returning next season and a recruiting class he feels good about.
Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo yells during the second half of a Sweet 16 game in the NCAA Tournament against UConn in Washington, D.C., March 27, 2026.(Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo)
Izzo began coaching at Michigan State in the 1995-96 season and has been the team’s head coach ever since. He has amassed a 764-310 record, including a 61-27 record in the NCAA Tournament. Michigan State went 27-8 this season.
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“I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’m just not lucky enough to be playing on Sunday,” Izzo said. “I’ll get to play on another Sunday. Hang around.”
Minnesota Vikings defensive back Harrison Smith (22) looks on from the sideline prior to kickoff against the Seattle Seahawks, with the scene unfolding on Aug 18, 2019 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, as Smith surveys the field and prepares mentally for preseason action at home. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.
April is three days away, which means it’s draft month for the Minnesota and 31 NFL teams, one of the most suspenseful months on the football calendar — perhaps even more than some regular season months. Accordingly, let’s get some Vikings-themed predictions on record.
April could swing a few major Vikings storylines into focus.
The club is expected to win eight or nine games next season, which is pretty much what oddsmakers say every year about Minnesota.
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Projecting the Vikings Developments Most Likely to Hit Next
Ranked in no particular order, these are Vikings predictions for April and beyond.
Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (DL21) appears on the SiriusXM NFL Radio set during Combine week, Feb. 25, 2026, at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, as prospects rotate through interviews and media sessions while teams gather information ahead of the upcoming NFL Draft. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
5. If Not Dillon Thieneman, the Vikings’ First Draft Pick Is a DT
There is a ghost going around, a ghost that changes every mock-drafter’s mock draft before it publishes on the internet. That ghost ghosts into the network and connects Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman to the Vikings, and the ghost is undefeated.
Yes, Thieneman to Minnesota is all over the place in late March, thanks to Thieneman’s fantabulous Combine showing.
It just seems to good to be true that every ghost has it right, so let’s predict this: if the Vikings buck the Thieneman trend, they will pick a defensive tackle in Round 1 or early in Round 2, depending on a trade, either Peter Woods (Clemson), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), Caleb Banks (Florida), or Lee Hunter (Texas Tech).
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4. The Vikings Sign DT Christian Wilkins or D.J. Reader
Brian Flores worked with Wilkins down in Miami to start Wilkins’s career, and in fact, the very first draft pick of the Flores era was Wilkins in 2019.
ESPN reported last week that “26 teams” have called Wilkins’s agent about a 2026 contract, though that feels like agent-driven fluff. If remotely true, Minnesota has an inside track to Wilkins based on the Flores connection. Flores spoke glowingly about Wilkins as recently as last summer.
The Vikings will add Wilkins and showcase him next to Jalen Redmond this fall. If it’s not Wilkins, nose tackle D.J. Reader will be the choice because of his more affordable price tag.
The Viking Age‘s Lior Lambert noted on the prospect of Reader to Minnesota this week, “Reader is one of the biggest names left on the open market. He’d be a legitimate difference-maker for the Vikings (or any club that signs him). Plus, his arrival in Minnesota would be even sweeter knowing it comes at the expense of their NFC North rivals, the Detroit Lions.”
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“After spending the past two seasons with the Lions, Reader can remind them of what they’re missing and go over to the enemy. The Vikings present him with a unique opportunity to step into a meaningful role and exact revenge on Detroit twice annually. The Vikings can kill two birds with one stone by signing Reader.”
Reader is 6’3″ and 335 pounds. He’s a unit.
Lambert continued, “As a fifth-round pick in 2016 with a decade of experience in the league, Reader has seen it all. His knowledge and steady presence could do wonders for an incoming rookie. However, perhaps more notably for the Vikings, he also has plenty left in the tank from an on-field standpoint.”
“Turning 32 in July, there’s a possibility Father Time comes for Reader. Be that as it may, his 2025 efforts suggest that age shouldn’t be a problem yet, as he was PFF’s 30th-highest-graded interior defender out of 134 qualified options (68.9).”
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3. Jordan Addison’s 5th-Year Option Is Locked In
Minnesota isn’t making this mysterious.
It let Jalen Nailor leave in free agency, refusing to match the Las Vegas Raiders‘ offer of $35 million over the next three years.
The Vikings signed zilch for free-agent wide receivers.
Had the front office used just one of those maneuvers, there might be real uncertainty about Addison’s fifth-year option. But they didn’t, and it’s wildly apparent that the Vikings believe in Addison. Hell or high water.
2. Jonathan Greenard Gets an Extension — Not Traded
After signing Kyler Murray two weeks ago, the Vikings, through their actions, showed they’re “in it to win it” in 2026. If they were not, they would’ve let J.J. McCarthy run the show and let the chips fall on his development.
Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) is brought down by Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58), Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, during a playoff matchup as Greenard closes quickly to limit yardage in a high-stakes postseason game. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Rondone-Imagn Images.
“In it to win it” teams don’t sell premium EDGE rushers; they actually go out of their way to hoard them. While Greenard wants a handsome extension, Minnesota will realize he is not easily replaceable and pay the man.
Unless Greenard had fundamentally soured on the Vikings as an organization, it never made any sense whatsoever to trade him.
Greenard stays.
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1. Harrison Smith Returns
These are the clues to indicate Smith’s return for Year No. 15:
He hasn’t retired yet; most retirees announce it by this point in the offseason.
Smith played his strongest ball in the final six weeks of 2025; he’s not washed.
Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham sent in retirement paperwork; Smith did not.
Kyler Murray is in the house, renewing the Vikings’ playoff and Super Bowl hopes.
The Vikings signed no safeties in free agency.
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) prepares on the field before kickoff, Oct. 20, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ahead of a divisional matchup against the Detroit Lions as the veteran defender readies for another NFC North contest. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Perhaps Smith will stick around in 2026 to cross paths with the aforementioned Thieneman, the mock-draft favorite to be chosen by the Vikings at No. 18 in 25 days.
The Formula 1 community held its collective breath during the Japanese Grand Prix when Haas F1 driver Ollie Bearman was involved in a violent 50G crash. After limping away from his destroyed 2026 challenger at the notoriously fast Suzuka Circuit, fans and pundits alike were deeply concerned about the 20-year-old’s condition.
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Now, just hours after medical evaluations confirmed he escaped with only a severe right knee contusion, Bearman has released a personal audio message to reassure his supporters, apologize to his team, and look ahead to the rest of the season.
Bearman’s Message to the Fans
In a direct address to his followers, a winded but optimistic Bearman broke down the incident and praised the Haas garage for their efforts. Here is exactly what the young British driver had to say:
“Hey everyone, it’s Ollie here. Happy to report that everything is okay. Really sorry to the team for what happened. It’s been a bit of a freak accident with such a huge closing speed. So we need to go back and understand everything. But on the other hand, I’m really happy that Esteban has scored points today, even if my safety car was very poor timing for him.
“But now, you know, we have a month off to come back. I’m going to use this time to rest up and feel better before the next race in Miami. Thank you so much for your support. It means the world, and see you all soon.”
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The “Huge Closing Speed” Explained
Navigating the ultra-fast Spoon Curve, Bearman rapidly caught the Alpine of Franco Colapinto, who was heavily harvesting electrical energy.
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The massive speed differential forced Bearman to take immediate evasive action onto the slick grass, resulting in the violent, broadside impact into the tire barrier. As Bearman noted, the team will use their downtime to analyze the telemetry and better understand how to navigate these dangerous harvesting speed differentials in the future.
A Silver Lining for Haas and a Road to Miami
Despite the multimillion-dollar repair bill Haas will face to replace Bearman’s pulverized chassis, the team didn’t leave Japan empty-handed. As Bearman graciously mentioned, his teammate Esteban managed to fight through the chaotic, strategy-scrambling Safety Car period, caused by Bearman himself, to secure vital World Championship points for the American outfit.
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The Formula 1 calendar now offers a much-needed reprieve. With a four-week spring break before the Miami Grand Prix, the young driver has a full month to ice his bruised knee, undergo physical therapy, and mentally reset before getting back behind the wheel under the Florida sun.
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.
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