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76ers star Joel Embiid adds appendicitis to bizarre injury history

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Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid had a successful appendectomy surgery on Thursday in Houston, the team announced during its game against the Rockets.

The Sixers didn’t give a timeline for Embiid’s return, but said “further updates will be provided as appropriate.” Embiid reported feeling ill to the team on Thursday morning, according to The Athletic, and was subsequently diagnosed with appendicitis. 

The center played in the Sixers’ loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday and logged 34 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks in 39 minutes. Embiid played through illness on March 30 against the Miami Heat and was held out of the team’s next game against the Washington Wizards because of the illness. He returned to the lineup on April 3 and then was held out the next night, the second game in a back-to-back.

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2026 NBA playoff picture: Projected bracket, standings and who’s clinched so far as OKC earns No. 1 seed

Brad Botkin

2026 NBA playoff picture: Projected bracket, standings and who's clinched so far as OKC earns No. 1 seed
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With the loss to the Spurs on Monday, the Sixers fell to 43-36 with three regular-season games remaining. Embiid, when on the court, has been stringing together strong performances as of late for a Sixers team that was starting to get everyone healthy at the right time. 

The 76ers are fighting to avoid the Play-In Tournament and enter Thursday night’s game with the Rockets in the No. 8 spot in the East. They’re only 1 ½ games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the No. 5 seed, as well as one game behind the No. 6 seed Toronto Raptors and a half-game back of the Orlando Magic, who occupy the No. 7 seed.

What does this mean for the Sixers’ playoff hopes?

We don’t know how long Embiid will be sidelined, but when OG Anunoby similarly underwent an appendectomy during the 2019 playoffs with the Raptors, he was sidelined for about a month. That’s not great news for Embiid and the Sixers, especially since they’ve posted a 19-22 record without him this season. A similar timeline to Anunoby’s would almost certainly keep Embiid out for the first round of the postseason, and perhaps more.

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At minimum, let’s assume Embiid will miss the remaining three games of the regular season for the Sixers. That has significant implications on the playoff race in the East, as Philly may not be able to catch the Raptors or Hawks in order to avoid the Play-In round. That means the Sixers may have to fight for their playoff spot, which will be more difficult without Embiid in the lineup.

If things don’t break right for the Sixers, there is a chance they could miss the playoffs entirely if they don’t survive the Play-In. But if they do manage to make it into the playoffs, it will be a daunting road ahead. Let’s say the Sixers nab the seventh seed; they’d have to face a dangerous Boston Celtics team that now has Jayson Tatum back. Embiid could’ve dominated against a Celtics roster that doesn’t have a ton of depth in the frontcourt, outside of Neemias Queta, to contend with his strength and size. If he’s out for that series, the Celtics would certainly have more of an advantage without having to worry about how to contain Embiid.

Similar problems would happen if the Sixers got the eighth seed and had to face the Pistons. Detroit’s size and physicality would overwhelm Philadelphia even with Embiid, and if he’s sidelined, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart could be even better positioned against the Sixers.

All hope shouldn’t be lost just yet, but Tyrese Maxey and Paul George will be asked to handle significantly more on offense to not just avoid the Play-In, but also keep things afloat until Embiid is able to return.

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Joel Embiid’s unfortunate injury history

You’d be hard-pressed to find a player with an unluckier run of injuries, especially around or during the playoffs, than Embiid. It’s so extensive, it would just be easier to list them all.

  • 2024 playoffs: Played through a knee injury that was later determined to be a torn meniscus. Embiid was also diagnosed with Bell’s Palsy during the first round of the playoffs against the Knicks, a series the Sixers lost 4-2.
  • 2023 playoffs: After dominating in the first three games against the Nets in the first round, Embiid suffered a knee sprain that sidelined him for the rest of that series, as well as Game 1 of the second round against the Celtics. The Sixers lost the Celtics series in seven games. 
  • 2022 playoffs: Missed the first two games in the second round against the Heat due to an orbital fracture and concussion. The Sixers lost to the Heat in six games. 
  • 2021 playoffs: Suffered a small tear in his meniscus in the first round against the Wizards, which sidelined him for Game 5 of that series. Despite that, Embiid still played in all seven games of the second-round series against the Hawks — a series the Sixers lost in heartbreaking fashion.
  • 2019 playoffs: Dealt with knee tendinitis throughout the playoffs as well as a respiratory infection. The Sixers lost in Game 7 of the second round to the Raptors on Kawhi Leonard’s famous buzzer-beater. 
  • 2018 playoffs: Missed the first two games of the playoffs after suffering an orbital fracture near the end of the regular season. The Sixers lost in five games in the second round to the Celtics.

That doesn’t even include the many knee surgeries and issues Embiid had early on in his career or at various points throughout the regular season over the years. With appendicitis added to the list, this is another unfortunate turn of events for Embiid and the Sixers yet again as the playoffs are about to start.

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Vikings Host Sleeper WR Prospect for Pre-Draft Visit

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Miami WR CJ Daniels in September 2025
Sep 6, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver CJ Daniels (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Minnesota Vikings have five selections after Round 4 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and one of those late picks might be used on Miami wide receiver CJ Daniels.

Minnesota is still digging into wideout help ahead of the draft’s middle rounds.

Daniels flew into the Twin Cities this week for a pre-draft visit, a decent indicator that the franchise has a keen eye on the Hurricane.

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Daniels Brings Production, Experience, and Midround Upside

The Vikings are widely known for drafting productive wideouts.

CJ Daniels celebrates a touchdown during a Miami Hurricanes game against Florida State. Vikings CJ Daniels.
Oct 4, 2025; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver CJ Daniels (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak S. Campbell Stadium, bringing energy to the sideline as Miami built early momentum in a rivalry matchup. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

Daniels to MIN for Pre-Draft Visit

Daniels showed up in Eagan on Wednesday, and NFL writer Dave Holcomb noted, “The Minnesota Vikings will again feature a potential top wide receiver duo with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison next season. But that doesn’t mean the Vikings won’t add a receiver in the later rounds of the 2026 NFL Draft. Should that happen, Minnesota targeting a potential sleeper such as CJ Daniels could make a lot of sense.”

“The Vikings are doing their research on Daniels two weeks ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft. NFL writer Arye Pulli reported Wednesday that the Vikings are hosting Daniels on a pre-draft visit. Pulli called the wideout a natural pass catcher and Day 3 sleeper.”

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Daniels ranks No. 193 on the Consensus Big Board as of April 9th, making him a 6th-Round prospect with the draft two weeks away.

Daniels’s Scouting Report

The short story on Daniels? He’s “old” (24) and slow — but polished, technically-refined, and handsy (in a good way). He logged 50 catches for 557 yards and 7 touchdowns last year at Miami. The main knock on him, causing his late-round draft stock, is a lack of speed and contested-catch process.

NFL Draft Buzz‘s Wyatt Brooks on Daniels: “Here’s the deal with Daniels: he fits best in an offense that values precision over explosiveness. Concepts built around timing throws, screen packages, and route combinations that create space through design rather than pure athleticism will get the most out of him.”

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“He’s not going to be a number one target at the next level, but as a complementary piece who can block, move the chains, and give you professional route running from multiple alignments, there’s genuine day-two value here. His six years of college experience and the fact that he produced at three different programs show a player who adapts quickly and earns trust wherever he goes.”

There’s actually a healthy debate on Daniels’s draft placement; some pundits peg him as high as a 3rd-Rounder. Others claim he’s an undrafted free-agent-to-be.

Brooks added, “That kind of reliability goes a long way on Sundays. Daniels is the type of receiver who probably won’t light up a room during the pre-draft process, but put his tape on and you see a guy who understands how to play the position. His route craft is legitimate.”

“He uses his lower body to deceive defenders, changes pace within his stems, and consistently wins out of breaks with quickness rather than raw speed. The savvy is real, and it shows up week after week regardless of the uniform he’s wearing.”

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Age a Slight Concern

By the time Week 18 rolls around — hopefully the Vikings are competing for the NFC North crown and a playoff spot — Daniels will turn 25. Yes, a 25-year-old rookie.

CJ Daniels makes a catch while defended by Lorenzo Styles Jr. during the Cotton Bowl. Vikings CJ Daniels.
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver CJ Daniels (7) secures a catch while defended by Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Lorenzo Styles Jr. (3) in the first quarter of the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium, battling through coverage in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Is that a death sentence? Absolutely not. But when Daniels turns 25, some wide receivers from years past would be negotiating a second contract or already have one. Or — consider this: Daniels will be 25 in January, and he hasn’t been drafted yet. Jordan Addison turned 24 this offseason.

Some draft heads hyperfocus on a rookie’s age; others don’t care. Choose your fighter.

The Need for Daniels

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Tai Felton is the Vikings’ WR3 on paper right now. That might be great; it could be terrible. Minnesota drafted him in Round 3 last year, and as a rookie, he hardly played on offense, instead seeing action on special teams. Drafting WRs in Round 3 generally indicates a role on offense, not just special teams assignments.

CJ Daniels dives for a first down during a College Football Playoff game. Vikings CJ Daniels.
Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver CJ Daniels (7) dives forward for a first down during first-quarter action against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium, extending the play with effort as Miami pushed the ball downfield in playoff action. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Then, Minnesota allowed Jalen Nailor to leave in free agency one month ago. He landed with the Las Vegas Raiders, reuniting with Kirk Cousins and Klint Kubiak in the AFC West. If Minnesota does not trust Felton as the WR3 this season, it needs an alternative, either a rookie or a free agent from the open market.

Because of Daniels’s “advanced age” as a rookie, he’s a curveball option for WR3. And the Vikings are clearly curious about him; he’s at team headquarters this week.


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Imane Khelif’s first pro opponent: ‘I’m not scared’

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German boxer Julia Igel has insisted she is not frightened of Olympic champion Imane Khelif, despite telling DW that she considers her Algerian opponent to be “male” amid questions over Khelif’s eligibility for the female category.

“Someone that might have something to do with the male gender shouldn’t be in women’s boxing,” Igel said ahead of the fight in Paris on April 23. “You can’t say you’re a woman and you feel like a woman. Just the punching power and the danger that you face when you have a male in front of you, it is different.”

Khelif is not transgender and was assigned female at birth, but has admitted that she has the SRY gene, which is found on the Y chromosome and triggers the development of male characteristics. Critics argue this gives her an unfair and dangerous advantage over other women in the ring.

Not that Igel appears bothered by the apparent additional risks.

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“I’m definitely not scared,” the 25-year-old told DW at her training camp in Berlin. “And that is the best part, because when my coach asked me if I wanted to do this fight, my last thought was fear. I know my skills, I know my abilities.”

Khelif’s controversial Paris gold medal

By making her professional debut in the French capital, Khelif is returning to the scene of not only her greatest triumph, but also the biggest controversy of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Her gold medal was overshadowed by accusations that she had failed unspecified sex tests in the two years before the Games.

Those tests, according to the International Boxing Association, which was expelled by the International Olympic Committee in 2023, allegedly showed Khelif and another female boxer, Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting, as having XY (male) chromosomes and “male levels” of testosterone. (Lin has since been “deemed to be female” by World Boxing, the body now in charge of the sport at the Olympics).

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While Igel still uses the pronoun “she” for Khelif, Ikram Kerwat, the German’s coach and manager, is far more blunt.

“Ever since it came out that he has XY chromosomes, he has balls, he produces testosterone … yes, it’s a he,” said Kerwat, a four-time world champion.

Imane Khelif throws a punch at Angela Carini during their fight
Imane Khelif defeated Angela Carini on her way to winning gold at the 2024 Paris OlympicsImage: John Locher/AP/picture alliance

Fresh in Kerwat’s mind is the case of Angela Carini. The Italian abandoned her fight against Khelif at the Paris Games after just 46 seconds, saying afterwards that she had never felt a punch like Khelif’s. “She saved herself,” Kerwat said. “He [Khelif] should go and compete with men.”

‘Put out a statement to the world’

It does all beg the question: Why then take on the fight? According to Kerwat, several other female boxers turned down the opportunity because of the questions surrounding Khelif, who hasn’t fought competitively since the Olympics.

Igel, for her part, sees no contradiction in complaining about safety, and yet not feeling scared.

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“I’m here for the challenge,” she said. “I think the special thing about this fight is the reach that it has, the people talking about it. This is really something that we will do to put out a statement to the world. So this one is definitely going to take us to new heights.”

While World Boxing, the amateur body, stipulates mandatory sex testing for its events, Khelif was granted her pro license by the French Boxing Federation, with no test required.

The 26-year-old’s February admission, to the French sports newspaper L’Equipe, has added further fuel to her critics. In the same interview, though, she said that her difference was “natural;” that she had lowered her testosterone levels; and that she had sent her medical records to World Boxing but hadn’t received a response.

“If she really is 100% female, then she can go fight in the women’s sport,” Igel said. “If not, then she should stop being so loud about it.”

DW has approached Khelif for comment via her promoter and PR company.

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Igel: I can beat Khelif

In contrast to her debutant opponent, Igel has had seven professional bouts, winning five (four by knockout) and losing two, her most recent a defeat on points to the American Stephanie Simon in Los Angeles.

The former kickboxer, who took up combat sports in her Swiss hometown for a “safe space” during her parents’ divorce, has enjoyed a steady rise under Kerwat’s tutelage, after the pair met in a Berlin gym two years ago.

This is the biggest fight of Igel’s career by far, although she says Khelif will also be feeling the heat.

“It’s a lot of pressure on her, because the boxing world is not that happy to see her in pro boxing with the women,” Igel said. “So that’s just what we’re going to use, because I think we have the world on our side.”

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As part of her preparations for the bout, Khelif had a training match against French boxer Davina Michel, who competes in a higher weight category. But Igel, who is conceding eight centimeters (3.15 inches) in height to Khelif, is confident of victory.

“I’ve got it all,” she said. “I’ve got the skills, I’ve got the power, I’ve got the precision, and I have something inside of me that if I unlock it and set it free, then it doesn’t matter who’s in front of me.”

Edited by: Chuck Penfold

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The Masters 2026: Robert MacIntyre faces action after angry Masters gesture

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Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre could face disciplinary action at The Masters after he directed a middle finger at the 15th green during a quadruple bogey.

The 29-year-old plunged towards the bottom of the leaderboard after his nine on the par-five hole, ultimately posting an eight-over par 80.

The left-hander offered the gesture after he struck his approach into the pond guarding the front of the green.

Having taken a penalty drop, his again found the water, and then his second drop flew to the back of the green.

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MacIntyre also reacted angrily to his second shot on the 17th, and did not speak to the waiting media after his round.

Masters organisers are known for their strict rules and MacIntyre could be in further trouble after his outward nine of 39 effectively ended his chance of tournament victory.

The 29-year-old left-hander was picked out by some observers as a potential contender after finishing fourth at the recent Players Championship.

He lead after the third round at the Texas Open last week, but was overtaken by JJ Spahn to finish as runner-up.

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Defending champion Rory McIlroy and American Sam Burns posted five-under par 67s to lead The Masters after the first round.

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Schedule of Known Spring Football Games in the West

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  By SuperWest Sports Staff


Spring Football is coming to a head with intrasquad games and showcases throughout the West.

After another wild offseason of recruiting and transfers, the games represent the first opportunity for fans and media to see the new players and units.

Here is a list of all of the region’s known spring games and showcases, sorted by date and time (All times PT).

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The events begin with Montana on April 10th and conclude with San Diego State on May 2nd.


Friday, April 10

Montana, 5:00 pm
Nevada, 6:00 pm


Saturday, April 11

Colorado State, 9:30 am (approx.)
USC (Fan Fest – no game), 9:00 am
Colorado, Noon
Idaho State, 1:00 pm
Stanford, 2:00 pm


Saturday, April 18

UC Davis, 10:15 am
Utah State, 11:00 am
Cal, 1:00 pm
San Jose State, 1:00 pm

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Saturday, April 25

UNLV, 11:00 am
Montana State, Noon
New Mexico, Noon
Oregon State, Noon
Boise State, 12:30 pm
Oregon, 1:00 pm
Sacramento State, 3:00 pm
Arizona, 4:30 pm
Fresno State, TBA
WSU, TBA
Wyoming, TBA


Friday, May 1

Eastern Washington, 5:00 pm
Idaho, 6:00 pm

Washington, 6:30 pm


Saturday, May 2

UCLA, Noon
San Diego State, 1:00 pm

No Spring Game/Showcase: Air Force, Arizona State, BYU, New Mexico State, Utah

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At the Masters, the player/coach relationship is crucial. And different

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Carlos Sainz Comments Add Fuel to Andrea Stella Ferrari Rumors After McLaren Shake-Up

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After news that Max Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is leaving Red Bull for McLaren went viral, rumors of McLaren team principal Andrea Stella moving back to Ferrari have gained traction, especially after comments made by Williams Racing driver Carlos Sainz resurfaced online, linking Stella to Ferrari.

MotorBiscuit reported Lambiase’s exit from Red Bull, set to happen at the end of 2027, as he joins the Papaya outfit in 2028 in a multi-million dollar deal. This comes less than two years after Lambiase became the head of racing at Red Bull during an internal restructuring in 2024.

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Lambiase’s McLaren signing has led to speculation about a potential change in McLaren’s leadership structure, especially amid rumors of Stella moving back to Ferrari, a team where he worked for 15 years as a performance engineer for Michael Schumacher and Kimi Räikkönen, before becoming a race engineer for Räikkönen and eventually for Fernando Alonso.

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Stella joined McLaren in 2015 as head of race operations and became team principal in December 2022. According to a report by F1 Oversteer, Stella is heading to Ferrari in the future, and as a result, Lambiase has been poached from Red Bull to potentially fill his role.

Read More from MotorBiscuit:

Atlassian Williams F1 Team on X | Carlos Sainz

Atlassian Williams F1 Team on X | Carlos Sainz

The report quoted F1 reporter Jacky Martens, who stated that Stella has already “signed a pre-contract with Ferrari.” But it remains to be seen who Stella replaces at the Italian team if the rumor turns out to be true. Could it be Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur?

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Amid Stella’s Ferrari rumors, Sainz’s statements from his time with McLaren resurfaced, in which he said he wished to take Stella and other key members with him to Ferrari.

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The Spaniard joined McLaren in 2019 but left after the 2020 season to join Ferrari. Appearing on F1’s Beyond the Grid Podcast last month, Sainz acknowledged Stella’s expertise, naming him among the McLaren figures he would bring to Ferrari. Sainz said:

“I remember telling my team when we were leaving McLaren, ‘This team is actually a very good race team. These people are going to go up, they’re going to keep climbing.’

“I know how good Andrea Stella is, I know how good [technical director] Pete Prodromou is and I remember leaving that team and having two, three or four names that if I could have taken them with me to Ferrari, I for sure would have taken them.”

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He added:

“I knew they were doing things well and they were really good people that I enjoyed working with a lot.”

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‘Gone upstairs for lesser things’: KKR star fumes over umpiring blunder | Cricket News

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‘Gone upstairs for lesser things’: KKR star fumes over umpiring blunder
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Finn Allen (R) walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket.

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders all-rounder Rovman Powell did not hold back after his side’s heartbreaking last-ball defeat to Lucknow Super Giants, pointing to an umpiring “blunder” while also admitting that conditions at Eden Gardens played their part in the result.Defending 181/4, KKR seemed in control when LSG slumped to 128/7 after 16 overs. But a sensational late onslaught from Mukul Choudhary, who smashed an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls, turned the game on its head as LSG sealed a three-wicket win on the final delivery.‘Maybe it was a blunder’The flashpoint came earlier in the innings when Finn Allen was dismissed in controversial fashion. His top-edge was caught at deep third man, but replays suggested the fielder may have brushed the boundary rope. Despite the close call, on-field umpires chose not to refer the decision upstairs.“Definitely more angles should have been looked at,” Powell said. “We thought we had seen in the IPL that umpires have gone upstairs for lesser things, and not as close as that.”“Maybe it was a blunder on their part, but we’re not going to say that is what cost us two points tonight,” he added, stopping short of placing full blame on the officials.‘Not a 220-wicket’Powell also highlighted the nature of the Eden Gardens surface, saying it was far from the high-scoring tracks typically associated with the venue.“It’s not that classic Eden Gardens wicket where you just go and blast. It was not a 220-wicket; there was a little bit in it for the bowlers, especially with slower balls,” he explained.Despite the loss, Powell credited Mukul’s composure under pressure. “You want to make Eden Gardens your fortress… but credit to the youngster, he batted really well,” he said.KKR’s struggles continue, with just one point from four matches so far. However, Powell remains optimistic.“If you see the history, winners build momentum in the middle and back end. It’s not easy when you don’t start well, but our destiny is still in our hands. We still have 10 games left,” he said.

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Arjun Tendulkar Warned IPL Of Mukul Choudhary In Advance. KKR Didn’t Listen

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The writings were on the wall as Lucknow Super Giants’ wicket-keeper batter Mukul Choudhary arrived at the Eden Gardens with the hope of reviving his team’s chase of 182 runs. After a cautious start, Mukul went bonkers with the bat, hitting an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls as LSG chased down the target against KKR on the final ball of the match. While many would say that Mukul Choudhary came out of the syllabus, his LSG teammate Arjun Tendulkar had warned the Indian Premier League (IPL) in advance of the six-hitting prowess the 22-year-old possesses.

During an interview with Shubhankar Mishra, Arjun narrated how amazed he was upon seeing Mukul’s 360-degree hitting ability.

“Mukul Choudhary hits amazing sixes. Yesterday, in a practice match, I saw his sixes. I was really impressed. He hits everywhere, square-leg, point, upper cut, behind the bowler. I was really impressed by his batting,” Arjun Tendulkar had said during an interview with Shubhankar Mishra.

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LSG needed 54 runs from the final 4 overs to win the match, with Mukul the only recognised batter in the middle. Despite the fact that he had to face some prominent bowlers in the form of Cameron Green, Kartik Tyagi and Vaibhav Arora in the death overs, the batter put his 360-degree skills to use and struck sixes all across the park. Narrating Mukul’s strength, Arjun had revealed how the batter can sixes even square of the wicket. But, KKR bowlers looked underprepared facing him.

After the game, even LSG skipper Rishabh Pant admitted that he had no words left to describe Mukul’s performance.

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“I do not have words to describe but what a fantastic effort. One thing I made sure of personally is trust, and when you believe in someone, a player can do wonders. The character, with each and every match like this, shows something is building. We don’t want to talk much about it, but something is cooking inside,” Pant said on the performance from the young wicket-keeper batter.

LSG coach Justin Langer was also full of praise for the batter from Rajasthan, saying he runs like Virat Kohli and chases totals like MS Dhoni.

“What I love most about him is that he’s a real athlete. The way he runs between the wickets is elite, like Virat. But the other thing is his game sense. We’ve had some practice games, and the way he talks about the game feels like he’s played 300 matches already. He’s got power, he’s a great athlete, and he’s got grace. As we both know, that’s a pretty good combination.”


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10 years ago, Jordan Spieth exited the Masters crushed. And with 1 lesson

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AUGUSTA. Ga. — Jordan Spieth swings. And Michael Greller screams. 

“Forrrre leeeeft!” 

And you salivate. The caddie’s two words — or their siblings, forrrre riiiight — now have a Pavlovian effect. When Spieth goes wayward with shots, you froth — because here comes a Spiethian treat, more often than not, so to the right of Augusta National’s 18th hole you must go, where, under a dozen or so thick tree branches, Spieth’s tee ball ended up. 

Spieth called for a rules official. Of course he did. “I just was curious as to how I could back in,” he said. “Like it’s supposed to be path of least resistance.” He pretzeled himself over the ball. Of course he did. He worked a punch shot back to the fairway. He dropped an iron to 10 feet right of the hole. 

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He somehow parred. Or course, he did. Spieth Spiethed. After day one of the Masters, he was at even par, and five back of the lead. “I did well to get it out in the fairway, and frankly I don’t know how many people in the world make a four from that tee ball,” Spieth said. “So that was — I’m walking off with a smile on my face. I’m happier than you walk off bogeying to shoot one-under … and it’s funny how the game works, right?”

Right?

A decade ago, that was the thought, too, if you were thinking kindly. In 2015, at the age of 21, Spieth was your Masters winner. In 2016, after 63 of 72 holes, he was your Masters leader by five. And he finished three behind winner Danny Willett. And he hasn’t won here since.

Late Thursday afternoon, he reflected on some of that. There have been years of other near-misses. But 2016 is “up there with memorable tournaments for me, good and bad,” Spieth said. The large lead. The large lost lead. The opportunity to repeat. The current search for a second Masters win. But he said he felt he exited with something more than a seemingly awkward moment of fitting Willett into the green jacket. 

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“I was super resilient,” he said in front of a couple of reporters. 

“It’s certainly gone both ways for me here, so stay within arm’s reach and try to make it go my way.”

If anything, it’s what made him charming over the past 10 years. There was some of that on Thursday. He was two-under through Amen Corner, then bogeyed the 14th hole, after his tee ball finished up against a tree, and the 15th hole, on a three-putt from 30 feet. But then came that par on 18.  

“What I’ve learned the last 10 years,” Spieth said, “is a lot — anything can happen.”

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This year, the results have been mixed. Eight starts. Just one missed cut. Five finishes in the top 30. But zero wins. He’s talked often of how things have felt right, but the scores haven’t reflected that, and Thursday was more of the same. The bogey on 15 was an example. 

In the par-5’s right greenside bunker after two shots. Made a bogey six. 

“Just I don’t take four to get in from a greenside bunker on 15 very often,” Spieth said. “You know, just had a lie that I thought it was going to come out super fast and didn’t. And then I was — I wasn’t tentative on the greens. I just thought they were quicker and I left a number of putts short. You can’t leave the five-footers downhill for your par putts if you can get it below the hole.

“So I made kind of a couple mistakes in that regard. Got away with one or two and didn’t on 15. That’s the kind of stuff that’s been happening. I’m in position to make birdie and walk off with a six on a random hole. Give me a dozen balls in there I probably make birdie on 10 and make bogey on one and par on the other, you know what I mean?

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“I feel good about it. It’s like close to clicking and it just didn’t quite click today.”

But maybe Friday. He’ll be back again. 

Funny how the game works, right?

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“Don’t See Cameron Green At KKR For Long”: Rs 25.2 Crore Star Trolled For Expensive Spell vs LSG

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Cameron Green finally rolled his arm over for Kolkata Knight Riders but failed to get the desired outcome from their IPL 2026 match against Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens on Thursday. The right-arm fast bowler started with a 12-run over that also included the wicket of Rishabh Pant, but followed it with an extremely poor one. When Green came in to bowl his second over, LSG needed 30 runs to win off the final 12 balls. He was smashed by Mukul Choudhary for two sixes and a four, leaking a total of 16 runs.

The Rs 25.2 crore KKR star was already under the scanner over his poor batting form, and his bowling struggles only added to the trouble. With the bat, Green has scored 56 runs at an average of 18.67 in four matches in IPL 2026. As he struggled with the ball too, fans on social media criticised and trolled him.

Check out some of the reactions:

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Mukul Choudhary was the star of the night as he scored an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls to guide LSG to a last-ball victory over KKR in the match. He smashed two fours and seven sixes.

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KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane backed his bowlers while praising LSG’s Choudhary after the game.

“For them (LSG), it was nothing to lose. Two overs, 30 runs to win. Every ball, it was about swinging. And I thought, as I said, he was really brave to play those shots. There were some brilliant shots. I thought there were a couple of brilliant deliveries (bowled), but the way he batted was amazing. Probably in the fielding, I’d say a couple of misfields, but apart from that, I thought our bowlers did a brilliant job,” the KKR skipper said after the game.

“When you lose a game, you can easily think about things we could have done better. I thought 180-185 was a very good total on this wicket. It wasn’t easy to play big shots. Slow balls were stopping; it was hard to hit. But in the end, I thought, let’s give credit to the batter, the way he (Mukul) batted,” Rahane added.


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