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Behind the scenes at Manchester United’s training camp – watching Real Madrid, head tennis and Westlife

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Man Utd have spent three days training in Ireland this week as they look to set up a strong finish to the Premier League season. This is the story of the camp.

They had a split-screen set up in the Manchester United team room at the opulent Carton House on Tuesday night. On one TV, Manchester United Under-21s were taking on their Real Madrid counterparts in the quarter-final of the Premier League International Cup.

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Had Michael Carrick and his staff not been in County Kildare, they would have been at Old Trafford, casting an eye over some of the club’s talented youngsters as they underwent a technical test of the kind they don’t often face domestically.

Being across the Irish Sea wasn’t going to stop Carrick from continuing his support of the club’s academy, and staff made sure that MUTV was on after dinner on Tuesday, allowing those who wanted to watch United’s youngsters lose a good game 4-2 in extra-time.

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But that wasn’t the only entertainment available on Tuesday night. On the other screen, and attracting plenty of interest from players desperate to return to this stage themselves, was the Champions League quarter-final between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. A battle between European heavyweights and an open, end-to-end classic that looked nothing like some of the fare served up in the Premier League this season.

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You can understand those players keen to watch that game. It is where United want to be themselves and this three-day jaunt to Ireland was about setting them up for one final push. A run of 23 points from a possible 30 under Carrick has moved United into third and they look on course to return to Europe’s blue-riband competition.

This was also a chance for the players to regroup after two weeks apart. The media were granted access to the first 15 minutes of the week’s first training session, and it was noticeable how buoyant the atmosphere was. The togetherness in the squad was noted by staff who saw them together at close quarters, and one felt it was a “nice reminder” of how tight-knit the players had become.

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They trained on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning on the pristine pitches at Carton House, and were put through punishing gym sessions after being granted time off during the long break between fixtures. At times, the staff couldn’t drag the players off the training pitch, with the head tennis net proving a popular addition. Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha were declared the champions at the end of the week.

It wasn’t all work for the players, either. They had time off on Tuesday afternoon, with some hitting the venue’s two championship golf courses and others opting for clay pigeon shooting. Some just had a relaxing couple of hours in the hotel’s spa.

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These days, Carton House is mostly used by the Ireland rugby team, but it has played host to football clubs including Real Madrid, Chelsea, Newcastle and Burnley in the past. United did their best to keep their use of the venue quiet, but a few hundred fans were there when they arrived at around 7pm on Monday, and numbers grew as the week progressed.

By the time training finished on Wednesday, it is estimated that at least 3,000 fans lined the road between the training pitch and the hotel. Every player spent at least 20 minutes signing autographs and posing for selfies, and one United staffer said they had seen Fernandes sign at least 1,000 items across the three days. The captain also spent time with the club’s Sligo supporters branch, who presented him with their player of the year award.

The geography of Carton House makes it an appealing venue for clubs. United players could use the gym in their own area of the hotel before making the short walk down a tree-lined road and then a slight hill to training. With fans lining both sides of the one-track road, some players said it felt like a matchday arrival at Old Trafford.

United’s players weren’t the only head-turning attraction on site, however. Some members of the media were surprised to see Nicky Byrne from Westlife in attendance on Tuesday morning. As the wait for Amad and Bryan Mbeumo to arrive for their press conference ticked up towards 30 minutes, one remarked we were in danger of ‘filing without wingers’, offering a surprising knowledge of Westlife’s back catalogue.

Byrne was actually there for a meet-and-greet with the players, along with GAA star Carla Rowe and Irish influencer John Nellis. Also in attendance was nine-year-old Harry McCormack. The youngster is named after legendary United goalkeeper Harry Gregg, who survived the Munich air disaster. Young Harry is a lifelong patient at Crumlin Hospital after he was born with half a heart.

United’s presence in Ireland was partly to promote August’s pre-season friendly with Leeds, which will take place at the iconic Croke Park stadium, an 82,000-capacity GAA venue, which last hosted football 17 years ago.

It is a famous and historic site, and on arrival on Tuesday, striker Benjamin Sesko was whisked away for a photo opportunity. The size of the stadium shocked the Slovenian, who then shocked his hosts by showing some knowledge of GAA, having seen the sport on TV previously.

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Back at Carton House, it was a different kind of football on the agenda. United staff were delighted with the focus and application in training after more than two weeks without a game, with the intensity levels cranked up following the return of Lisandro Martinez, who always brings an extra edge.

They checked out on Thursday afternoon and could return in the summer for a training camp around that Leeds fixture. But for now, Carrick and his staff will hope three days in Ireland and a round of golf or two have teed them up for a strong finish, and a return to playing in the Champions League, rather than watching it on TV.

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

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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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