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Chasing history, Rabindra Dhant carries Nepal into the UFC spotlight | More sports News
Rabindra Dhant, 27, will walk into the Galaxy Arena in Macau on May 28 and do something no Nepali fighter has ever done: compete in a Road to UFC tournament, two wins away from a UFC contract.After trying for a few years, Dhant has got his big opportunity with Road to UFC – a win-and-advance tournament offering top MMA prospects from across Asia-Pacific a direct path to the UFC, and he will be taking on Kimbert Alintozon of the Philippines in the Quarterfinals.Ask him what it felt like to be selected for Road to UFC Season 5, and he will not give you the answer you expect.“Indifferent,” he says, through his coach and interpreter Diwiz Piya Lama while speaking to TimesofIndia.com. “This is not the first year we tried. As a team, we had been pushing for this for probably the second or third year running. So when it finally happened, it felt like a step in the right direction, but there’s still a long way to go. He’s been putting the work in the gym. It’s a job. Just a job he’s got to keep doing.”It’s a calm and measured response, even though he stands at the cusp of history. No Nepali has ever signed a UFC contract. No Nepali fighter has ever competed at this level of the sport’s global infrastructure. Dhant is, by any measure, in unprecedented territory for his country, yet when asked about pressure, his response remains unchanged.“The questions are putting more pressure on him than the fight,” Lama says, laughing. “He feels no pressure from the fight itself.”The Making of Nepal’s Top MMA ProspectDhant’s journey to the doorsteps of UFC tells a lot more about his mindset ahead of the biggest night of his career.Coming from Bajhang, a village in far-western Nepal, where there is no visibility for the sport, Dhant has had a tough and long journey that took him to India at a young age, doing manual labour, and an office job of serving tea and cleaning. MMA was never in the picture, but karate training at odd hours kept him going quietly, without family support or institutional structure.The results, however, were anything but quiet.He went 15 fights unbeaten across Indian regional amateur circuits. He won the Indian National Amateur MMA Championship back-to-back in 2019 and 2020, a feat that should have made him eligible for the World Amateur Championships.However, Nepal’s MMA infrastructure at the time was not equipped to send a fighter to an international amateur competition. He had qualified, but he simply could not go.“It was a salty phase,” he says, through his coach and interpreter Lama. “He had put in the work, won two tournaments back to back, and it counted for nothing on the international stage.”Then came a lucrative offer. Recognising his talent, he was given a way out: to assume Indian citizenship, compete internationally, and build a career on a more resourced platform. He turned it down. He decided to keep his Nepali passport.“Thank God he didn’t do that,” Lama says on his behalf, breaking into a laugh. “Right now, with where things stand, people would have burned us alive.”Diwiz Piya Lama: The Coach Who Backed HimLama, who has been Dhant’s voice throughout this interaction, has also been his guiding light. A jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai practitioner based in Kathmandu, Lama saw Dhant fight and decided to invest in him personally. Lama funded a training camp at the Fairtex Gym in Thailand, covering the costs out of his own pocket. It proved worth his while.In September 2023, Dhant made his ONE Championship debut in Bangkok, defeating Russia’s Torepchi Dongak by TKO in the third round. He became the first Nepali fighter to win a bout in ONE Championship. Then in August 2025, at Matrix Fight Night 17 in Greater Noida, he stopped unbeaten Indian bantamweight champion Chungreng Koren in the third round to become the first Nepali to win a major international MMA title.“The win was more important than anything else,” he says, when asked about the reception that followed – meeting the Mayor of Kathmandu, a cash reward, and recognition.“If he had lost, there would have been no President, no Mayor, no Minister. At the end of the day, it’s the win and the task at hand. These side quests don’t really mean much.”His original opponent, Australia’s Matty Iann, withdrew injured before the bout. Filipino fighter Alintozon, a 7-3 bantamweight with six finishes on his record, stepped in on short notice. Dhant’s preparation, he says, required no dramatic overhaul.“He didn’t train so specifically for Matty that an entire system needed to change. He did his due diligence and kept doing what he was doing. No drastic change.”Despite the accolades, Dhant is grounded, and as he says, it’s a job. A win moves Dhant to the Road to UFC semifinals. Two wins deliver a UFC contract: the first in Nepal’s history. So what does winning in Macau on May 28 mean to him?“A stepping stone towards what he’s destined for.”Watch Road to UFC (Day 1) – Round of 16 – Day 1 ( Rong Zhu vs. Martinez) on May 28th 2026 at 3:30 PM IST live and exclusive on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD & HD.
Captain Dean Henderson has challenged Crystal Palace to “finish the movie off” when their Conference League final brings down the curtain on Oliver Glasner’s glittering spell in south London.
The Austrian manager has already guided the Eagles to an historic FA Cup and a Community Shield, and on Wednesday night in Leipzig could leave Palace with the ultimate parting gift, should they beat Rayo Vallecano and require even more room in their trophy cabinet.
Henderson inherited the armband following Marc Guehi’s January departure to Manchester City, and, despite admitting to feeling “depressed” during the post-FA Cup comedown, wants nothing more than to polish off a “sensational” script for his departing boss.
“The togetherness in this group is phenomenal,” said the England goalkeeper. “All the lads are pushing in the right direction for each other. All the staff at the training ground, everyone.
“It’s just like a family club. We’re all pushing towards the same end goal. Obviously, it would be a great way to finish the movie off for Glasner as well. Everyone wants that happy ending and everyone’s working towards that.
“It’d be unbelievable for him, wouldn’t it? Obviously the best manager this club’s ever had and to finish on such a high would be sensational.”
Henderson was instrumental in Palace’s 2025 FA Cup triumph over Manchester City, saving Omar Marmoush’s first-half penalty in their 1-0 win at Wembley, where they secured their first major silverware and a proper European campaign.
The passionate and popular skipper is candid about how he felt after that day, admitting: “The high to the low. I remember after the FA Cup final, three days after, I didn’t want to get out of bed. I was like, ‘what has gone on here?’
“I swear. I don’t know whether that was alcohol, or… but I actually think it was like, I felt depressed. It was mad. But I don’t know why. I’ve never really spoken about it.”
Henderson admitted Wednesday’s European final has been playing on his mind during the final stages of the campaign.
“Naturally, you’re thinking about it,” he said. “Even for the last couple of weeks, you’re probably thinking, ‘let’s try and win the final’. It’s natural. No one speaks about it. No one speaks about it to each other. It’s just about your individual battles, isn’t it?”
While it remains uncertain who will follow in Glasner’s indelible footprints, when the credits finally roll on Palace’s topsy-turvy campaign, Henderson and his fellow Premier League protagonists want to be holding a trophy.”
He added: “When the tournament’s got real, we’ve turned up haven’t we? We’ve delivered some great performances and some good results, obviously, since we got out of the group stage.
“So, yeah, as I say, we’re looking forward to it. We won’t freeze. We’ll play with no fear and we’ll have confidence.”
MONTREAL — Two nights after becoming just the second team in NHL history to have as few as 12 shots in a Stanley Cup Playoff game that extended beyond regulation time, the Montreal Canadiens generated just 13 and ended up with the same result.
It was a 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, who hadn’t beaten them all season before responding to Montreal’s Game 1 win with a 3-2 overtime win on Saturday.
In both games, the Canadiens were one shot away from winning. In both games, they couldn’t find a way to have that shot hit the net, let alone put it in, hence their first consecutive losses in 71 days.
The Canadiens had chances. Heck, they had three of them in overtime before Andrei Svechnikov launched the point shot that tipped off Juraj Slafkovsky 74:04 into the game.
But Nick Suzuki missed the net on a breakaway 35 seconds into the extra period. Mike Matheson shot his into the crossbar 25 seconds later. And Alex Newhook’s shot through a screen hit Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen’s toe and didn’t originally count as a shot on net until it was reviewed and added long after Svechnikov ended the game.
Lane Hutson, who got caught between two decisions and made the wrong one on that play, blamed himself twice for the loss, which was sealed shortly after his turnover near his own blue line.
But the Canadiens had a chance to recover from Hutson’s gaffe and didn’t. And their own mismanagement of the puck near the offensive blue line was the biggest reason they found themselves in overtime to begin with.
“I think we’re missing too many chances to get in on the forecheck and go get the puck back,” said Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis. “They’re a team that is hard to put good pucks in on because they’re really on top of you. But you have to find a way. I found that, at the blue line, we didn’t read situations well enough. We should’ve put more pucks deep and gotten in on the forecheck, and there’s a balance between possessing on the other side of the blue line and getting it past them and going to get it.”
The Canadiens never quite found that balance, with SportLogiq tracking their zone-entry success rate at just 40 per cent.
When the Canadiens got in, St. Louis said he felt they made better plays in possession than they did in Game 2.
But they didn’t make enough of them.
“We can still do a better job of holding onto pucks in the offensive zone,” said Mike Matheson, “and generating more time in the O-zone.”
The task has felt monumental over the last two games.
The Hurricanes, who were disconnected and gave the Canadiens far too much space in a 6-2 Game 1 loss, have rebounded with the same pristine execution that netted them eight consecutive wins before the Eastern Conference Final. They smothered the Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers, and now they’ve spent the better part of two games suffocating the Canadiens.
“They’ve been on top of the league for the last couple of years and you know there’s a reason why they’ve consistently been in this position (The Hurricanes are in their third conference final since 2023),” said Cole Caufield. “You can ask every team; they’re a tough team to play and they’ve been doing it for a while. So, I guess they’re all really on the same page and we’ve just got to find ways to break them down.”
On this night, the Canadiens broke themselves down too much.
Giving up 38 shots to the volume-shooting Hurricanes was one thing. Giving them 11 from nine feet or less was a recipe to lose by more than one goal, which assuredly would’ve happened had Jakub Dobes not conjured miraculous saves.
He made two on Taylor Hall and Logan Stankoven in succession before Svechnikov shot one off Slafkovsky as the Slovak was passing right through his Czech netminder’s crease.
“(Dobes has) been great all playoffs. Not surprised,” said Hutson. “He battled so hard. It sucks that I blew it for him, but it is what it is.”
Taking the blame was a noble gesture from the 22-year-old, but, as St. Louis said afterwards, the outcome of this game wasn’t on him.
“I didn’t love the play (from Hutson), but whatever,” said St. Louis. “It’s what’s next, and we didn’t do what’s next. We didn’t get the job done.”
He was talking about the winning goal, but he just as easily could’ve been referring to the decisions that led to the Canadiens getting less than 23 minutes of offensive-zone time to take some pressure off themselves and apply it on the Hurricanes.
It’s a Herculean lift against a team that has fired on all cylinders for all but one game of these playoffs.
And while the Hurricanes were undoubtedly rusty after an 11-day break between the second round and the third before playing that one game, the Canadiens showed in that one game to what extent they can make that heavy lift.
They pushed in spurts of Games 2 and 3 but wobbled too much to win, even if they were one shot away in each game.
“We definitely have another level,” said Hutson.
He and Matheson, who each scored Monday, need to find it. As do the rest of their teammates come Wednesday’s Game 4, which will present the Canadiens a chance to even the series 2-2 and improve their playoff home record to 3-5.
It will take everyone playing their best, and much more.
“You need everything working against a team like that,” said St. Louis. “You’re at this stage right now, you’ve got to put it all together. Execution’s part of that. Jam is part of that. It’s not one thing. We’ve just got to put it all together.
“I know we can. We didn’t expect this to be easy, and we’re OK with that.”
Pacer Yash Dayal has finally opened up on missing the ongoing season of the IPL for the defending champions, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, saying that he is still part of the squad despite his absence this year. Before the start of the season, RCB Director of Cricket Mo Bobat revealed that Dayal would not feature for the Bengaluru side this year due to a “personal situation.” However, the 28-year-old has differed from the explanation given by Bobat regarding his absence from the team this season.
Speaking on the Talk with Manvendra podcast, Dayal revealed that he misses the team and insisted that opting out of the ongoing season was not his decision.
“Obviously, if you are sitting outside. When I watch them on television, sometimes I just get up. But then it is my team, and they haven’t removed me. They kept me on the retain list and didn’t get me a replacement. They probably think that I am an important part. The other thing is that my opting out of this season wasn’t my personal decision. The statement could be controversial, but the decision is always made by the authority. I don’t know what was the reason was behind RCB’s decision. I miss them a lot. I don’t know if the team misses me, the fans will say that,” said Dayal.
Dayal added that he remains in regular contact with the RCB management, including team mentor Dinesh Karthik, despite his absence from the field this season.
“I have been in conversations with the management. I have spoken to the director, and with the coach too, and also Dinesh Karthik. We communicate in intervals, and the connection hasn’t broken. There is no communication gap. Everything is clear and sorted,” he added.
For context, Dayal’s absence is linked to ongoing legal proceedings that have prevented him from returning to competitive cricket.
The pacer faces allegations of sexual exploitation in one matter, alongside a separate case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The first FIR against 27-year-old Dayal, who plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL, was registered on July 6 at the Indirapuram police station in Ghaziabad district under Section 69 (Sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means etc.) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Dayal has been accused of sexually exploiting a woman on the pretext of marriage.
Regarding the second instance, NDTV accessed the FIR report, which was registered against Dayal at Jaipur’s Sanganer Police Station for allegedly raping a girl over a period of two years while emotionally blackmailing her. It was revealed that Dayal lured her with promises of a cricketing career and invited her to a hotel in Sitapura, where the first sexual assault took place. The girl was only 17 when the abuse began, prompting the police to register the case under the POCSO Act.
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The Garden crowd isn’t ready for this.
The New York Knicks demolished the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-93, capping a dominant four-game sweep to reach the franchise’s first NBA Finals since 1999.
The Knicks controlled Game 4 from the opening tip, racing out to a double-digit lead and never allowing Cleveland back into contention.
New York buried 19 of 43 3-pointers while dominating the rebounding battle.
Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks celebrates during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 25, 2026. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)
OutKick founder Clay Travis summed up Cleveland’s no-show effort perfectly …
“The Cavs just totally quit this series after the fourth-quarter collapse in Game 1. Embarrassing effort since then,” Travis posted on X. “Congrats to the Knicks, party like it’s 1999.”
The blowout capped a stunning collapse for Cleveland, which entered the series viewed by many as the East’s most complete team.
KNICKS STAR JOSH HART LEAVES KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS BEWILDERED WITH HILARIOUS ANALYTICS ANALOGY
With more than eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of Game 4, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson pulled his starters, effectively conceding the series as the Knicks turned the final minutes into a celebration.
On Sunday, Atkinson told reporters he believed the Cavaliers had “analytically” won two of the first three games. Instead, New York responded with overwhelming physical dominance.
Head coach Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during the third quarter against the New York Knicks in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena on May 25, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Jalen Brunson of the New York Knicks is defended by James Harden of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the third quarter in Game Four of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 25, 2026. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Karl-Anthony Towns anchored the interior with 19 points and 14 rebounds, while Jalen Brunson orchestrated the offense without committing a turnover.
Even Donovan Mitchell’s 31-point performance wasn’t enough to keep Cleveland competitive as the Knicks’ defense smothered the Cavaliers’ perimeter attack for the fourth straight game.
The victory also marked New York’s sixth consecutive road playoff win.
The Finals appearance serves as a massive validation for the organization after the Knicks moved on from Tom Thibodeau following last season and hired Mike Brown amid heavy skepticism and immense pressure to win immediately. Under Brown, the Knicks have become the NBA’s hottest team, carrying an undefeated streak of more than a month into the Finals.
New York will now face either the Oklahoma City Thunder or San Antonio Spurs in the NBA Finals, which begin June 3.
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The road to the Larry O’Brien Trophy runs through Madison Square Garden.
Send us your thoughts: alejandro.avila@outkick.com / Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Punjab Kings spent 22 days at the top of the IPL 2026 Points table but still failed to qualify for the Playoffs. The Shreyas Iyer-led side made a dream start to the new season with 6 victories on the trot but ended up losing their next 6 matches while one match was abandoned due to rain. It was such a drop-off in form for the franchise that despite winning their last match against Lucknow Super Giants, they were fifth with 15 points from 14 matches. When it comes to days spent at the top of the table, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were second with 18, Rajasthan Royals third with 13 and Sunrisers Hyderabad fourth with 4. Gujarat Titans were number one in the IPL points table for just one day and ended up finishing in the second position.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s pursuit of back-to-back Indian Premier League (IPL) titles will run into the season’s most disciplined bowling attack when they face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, with a direct place in the final at stake.
Both teams ended the league stage on 18 points after 14 matches, but RCB claimed the top spot owing to a superior net run rate. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans have arguably been the two most complete sides of IPL 2026, though they have taken contrasting routes to the playoffs. RCB, under skipper Rajat Patidar, built their campaign around aggressive batting and a far more reliable bowling unit than in previous seasons.
The defending champions repeatedly crossed 200 this season and benefited immensely from the experience of the iconic Virat Kohli at the top and the pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the ball.
Their ability to win away from home and close out tight matches made them one of the most consistent sides of the league phase. RCB also carry the advantage of recent familiarity with conditions in Dharamsala, where they sealed a crucial win against Punjab Kings earlier this month.
GT, meanwhile, have surged into the playoffs on the back of a formidable bowling attack and a top order that rarely allowed pressure to build. Captain Shubman Gill, the elegant Sai Sudharsan and explosive wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler have provided solidity and firepower in equal measure.
But it is GT’s bowling that has stood out in the second half of the season. The pace trio of Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Prasidh Krishna has consistently struck with the new ball, while Rashid Khan and left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore have controlled the middle overs expertly.
GT head into the knockout clash with strong momentum after hammering Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs in their final league game.
(With PTI inputs)
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Virat Kohli’s IPL playoff record becomes major talking point before Qualifier 1 vs Gujarat Titans
NEW DELHI: The emotions, tears, smiles, satisfaction and the feeling of finally holding the IPL trophy – the scenes of Virat Kohli and the entire Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp after winning the IPL 2025 title are still fresh in the minds of fans. And now, with another dominant campaign, RCB are back in the playoffs and dreaming of back-to-back titles.
With nine wins in 14 matches, 18 points and an impressive net run rate of +0.78, RCB became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs.
One of the biggest architects behind RCB’s success this season has once again been their talisman Virat Kohli. The former India captain has been in tremendous form throughout the season and the defending champions will hope he carries the same momentum into the playoffs as well.
RCB are set to face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.
The winner of Qualifier 1 will march directly into the IPL 2026 final, while the losing side will get another opportunity in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.
But there is one statistic that may worry RCB fans.
Despite being one of the greatest batters in IPL history, Kohli does not boast a dominating record in the playoff stages of the tournament.
Yes, you read that right.
In his illustrious IPL career spanning 281 matches, Kohli has played 16 games, in playoffs, for RCB and scored 357 runs at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 121.42. He has registered two half-centuries in playoff matches and also has a duck to his name.
Kohli has been the face of RCB since the inception of the IPL in 2008. Signed by the Bengaluru franchise as a youngster, he has remained loyal to the team throughout his IPL journey.
After failing to qualify for the playoffsts in the inaugural season in 2008, RCB reached the playoffs for the first time in 2009. They defeated Chennai Super Kings in the semifinal to enter the final, but eventually lost the title clash to Deccan Chargers.
Now, as RCB gear up for another massive playoffst clash against Gujarat Titans, all eyes will once again be on Kohli.
Here’s a look at Kohli’s overall IPL numbers and his record in the playoff stage.
Virat Kohli in IPL
|
Tournament |
Team |
Mat |
Inns |
NO |
Runs |
HS |
Ave |
SR |
100s |
50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
OVERALL |
RCB |
281 |
273 |
43 |
9218 |
113* |
40.07 |
134.39 |
9 |
67 |
|
IPL 2026 |
RCB |
14 |
14 |
3 |
557 |
105* |
50.63 |
163.82 |
1 |
4 |
|
IPL 2025 |
RCB |
15 |
15 |
3 |
657 |
73* |
54.75 |
144.71 |
0 |
8 |
|
IPL 2024 |
RCB |
15 |
15 |
3 |
741 |
113* |
61.75 |
154.69 |
1 |
5 |
|
IPL 2023 |
RCB |
14 |
14 |
2 |
639 |
101* |
53.25 |
139.82 |
2 |
6 |
|
IPL 2022 |
RCB |
16 |
16 |
1 |
341 |
73 |
22.73 |
115.98 |
0 |
2 |
|
IPL 2021 |
RCB |
15 |
15 |
1 |
405 |
72* |
28.92 |
119.46 |
0 |
3 |
|
IPL 2020 |
RCB |
15 |
15 |
4 |
466 |
90* |
42.36 |
121.35 |
0 |
3 |
|
IPL 2019 |
RCB |
14 |
14 |
0 |
464 |
100 |
33.14 |
141.46 |
1 |
2 |
|
IPL 2018 |
RCB |
14 |
14 |
3 |
530 |
92* |
48.18 |
139.10 |
0 |
4 |
|
IPL 2017 |
RCB |
10 |
10 |
0 |
308 |
64 |
30.80 |
122.22 |
0 |
4 |
|
IPL 2016 |
RCB |
16 |
16 |
4 |
973 |
113 |
81.08 |
152.03 |
4 |
7 |
|
IPL 2015 |
RCB |
16 |
16 |
5 |
505 |
82* |
45.90 |
130.82 |
0 |
3 |
|
IPL 2014 |
RCB |
14 |
14 |
1 |
359 |
73 |
27.61 |
122.10 |
0 |
2 |
|
IPL 2013 |
RCB |
16 |
16 |
2 |
634 |
99 |
45.28 |
138.73 |
0 |
6 |
|
IPL 2012 |
RCB |
16 |
15 |
2 |
364 |
73* |
28.00 |
111.65 |
0 |
2 |
|
IPL 2011 |
RCB |
16 |
16 |
4 |
557 |
71 |
46.41 |
121.08 |
0 |
4 |
|
IPL 2010 |
RCB |
16 |
13 |
2 |
307 |
58 |
27.90 |
144.81 |
0 |
1 |
|
IPL 2009 |
RCB |
16 |
13 |
2 |
246 |
50 |
22.36 |
112.32 |
0 |
1 |
|
IPL 2008 |
RCB |
13 |
12 |
1 |
165 |
38 |
15.00 |
105.09 |
0 |
0 |
Virat Kohli in IPL playoffs
|
Player |
Team |
playoffst Matches |
Runs |
Average |
Strike Rate |
50s |
100s |
0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Virat Kohli |
RCB |
16 |
357 |
25.50 |
121.42 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
Virat Kohli in IPL playoffs – all matches
|
Score |
BF |
4s |
6s |
SR |
Pos |
Dismissal |
Inns |
Opposition |
Ground |
Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
24* |
17 |
1 |
2 |
141.17 |
5 |
Not out |
2 |
CSK |
Johannesburg |
23 May 2009 |
|
7 |
8 |
1 |
0 |
87.50 |
6 |
Stumped |
2 |
Chargers |
Johannesburg |
24 May 2009 |
|
9 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
128.57 |
6 |
Caught |
2 |
MI |
DY Patil |
21 Apr 2010 |
|
70* |
44 |
5 |
3 |
159.09 |
3 |
Not out |
1 |
CSK |
Wankhede |
24 May 2011 |
|
8 |
12 |
0 |
0 |
66.66 |
3 |
Bowled |
1 |
MI |
Chennai |
27 May 2011 |
|
35 |
32 |
1 |
1 |
109.37 |
3 |
LBW |
2 |
CSK |
Chennai |
28 May 2011 |
|
12 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
66.66 |
2 |
Caught |
1 |
RR |
Pune |
20 May 2015 |
|
12 |
9 |
1 |
1 |
133.33 |
2 |
Caught |
1 |
CSK |
Ranchi |
22 May 2015 |
|
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
2 |
Bowled |
2 |
Guj Lions |
Bengaluru |
24 May 2016 |
|
54 |
35 |
5 |
2 |
154.28 |
2 |
Bowled |
2 |
SRH |
Bengaluru |
29 May 2016 |
|
6 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
85.71 |
1 |
Caught |
1 |
SRH |
Abu Dhabi |
6 Nov 2020 |
|
25 |
24 |
2 |
0 |
104.16 |
1 |
Caught |
1 |
LSG |
Eden Gardens |
25 May 2022 |
|
7 |
8 |
0 |
1 |
87.50 |
1 |
Caught |
1 |
RR |
Ahmedabad |
27 May 2022 |
|
33 |
24 |
3 |
1 |
137.50 |
1 |
Caught |
1 |
RR |
Ahmedabad |
22 May 2024 |
|
12 |
12 |
2 |
0 |
100.00 |
2 |
Caught |
2 |
Punjab Kings |
New Chandigarh |
29 May 2025 |
|
43 |
35 |
3 |
0 |
122.85 |
2 |
Caught |
1 |
Punjab Kings |
Ahmedabad |
3 Jun 2025 |
The Sports Ministry on Tuesday notified the rules of operation for the soon-to-be-formed National Sports Tribunal (NST) and the National Sports Board (NSB), stating that a dedicated portal would be set up for submission of disputes and maintenance of legal records.
In separate notifications addressing the roles of the two bodies, which will be formed under the National Sports Governance Act passed last year, the Sports Ministry reiterated that a search-cum-selection committee is in the process of being formed under the cabinet secretary.
The National Sports Board, that will function as the central authority for granting recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensuring compliance with governance, financial and ethical standards, will comprise a Chairperson and two members. It will have a three-year term.
The Tribunal’s strength has not been specified by the government. The rules for NST, however, have incorporated the provisions for techno-legal measures to ensure “digital implementation”.
“(These include) notification of a dedicated portal by the Central Government for submission of disputes, notices, responses, documents and clarifications, as well as communication from the Tribunal, publication of orders, virtual hearings and maintenance of records related to proceedings and orders,” the ministry stated.
The Tribunal will serve as a dedicated adjudicatory body for sports-related disputes in the country.
“It is aimed at reducing reliance on civil courts and ensuring independent, speedy, effective and cost-efficient disposal of disputes relating to sports governance and administration,” the ministry reiterated.
The government also stated once again that if the appointed Chairperson or member of the Tribunal is a serving judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court, “he shall either resign or obtain voluntary retirement from his parent service before joining the Tribunal.”
In addition to granting affiliation, the National Sports Board will also maintain a roster of the National Sports Election Panel and a register of affiliate units of the National Sports Bodies
The Board has also been empowered to specify model guidelines or regulations on sports governance. An age cap of 65 has been set for the members.
Sports
IPL 2026: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gives captain Riyan Parag an ‘awkward’ stare after ‘hum nahi hai flim star’ remark – Watch | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: A funny moment between Riyan Parag and teenage Rajasthan Royals star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has gone viral on social media. In a video taken at an airport, paparazzi asked the two players for a photo together. Responding casually, Parag said, “(Hum nahi hai flim star.) We’re not flim stars!” After hearing the comment, Vaibhav gave Parag an awkward and funny stare, which quickly became a talking point online.Watch:The viral clip arrived at a time when Rajasthan Royals secured a playoff spot in IPL 2026 after defeating Mumbai Indians by 30 runs. The team had faced criticism earlier in the season after losing several matches in the middle phase of the tournament, with many fans questioning Parag’s captaincy.Despite the criticism, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara strongly defended Parag’s leadership. He said, “When we decided to offer Riyan the captaincy, he is the absolute right guy to lead this franchise.” Sangakkara praised Parag’s confidence, maturity, and the respect he has earned inside the dressing room. He also spoke about the trolling Parag has faced over the years, saying, “I think I’ve seen very few players who have been criticised like Riyan has for about seven years now.” Sangakkara added that Parag is misunderstood publicly and described him as “a lovely, soft, gentle, really determined, smart young man.”Meanwhile, 15-year-old Vaibhav continues to impress with a record-breaking season. Speaking on Kevin Pietersen’s YouTube show, the young batter revealed his huge ambitions. “I want to score 200 in T20s. I want to break Gayle’s record,” he said, referring to Chris Gayle’s famous unbeaten 175 in IPL history.Vaibhav has already scored over 580 runs this season with an explosive strike rate, becoming one of IPL 2026’s breakout stars.
A Dominican judge ruled Monday that Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, though he will not serve a sentence.
Judge José Antonio Núñez said the court found Franco had also been the target of extortion and blackmail by the minor’s mother, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually trafficking her daughter.
“It seems contradictory to declare criminal responsibility and at the same time exempt him from punishment. The court has granted Wander Franco a judicial pardon due to the particular circumstances that made him a material victim, but not a legal one,” explained Núñez.
The judge justified the judicial pardon as a “logical and legal reasoning.”
“Thank God for everything,” Franco expressed as he effusively embraced his mother, Nancy Aybar, and other family members who accompanied him in court.
Franco was arrested in January 2024 after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time and transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship.
After the ruling, Franco left the courthouse alongside his lawyer, Teodosio Jáquez, and briefly answered reporters’ questions, saying, “I feel calm,” and asking his fans to “continue supporting me and trusting in me.”
Franco also said he personally had not contacted the Rays but that his lawyers surely had.
“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,” Major League Baseball said in a statement.
Franco attorney Jáquez said: “We don’t have the physical sentence in our hands, but he was exempted from punishment because the president of the court established that he was also a victim and because he is exempted from punishment through judicial pardon.”
The full sentencing will be June 16.
“When we have the full sentence in hand, we will give you more details,” Jáquez said. “He was exempted from punishment and we think that’s fine, but we need to have the sentence in hand.
In November 2021, Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays, but his career was upended when authorities in the Dominican Republic announced in August 2023 that they were investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was 22 at the time.
Six months after his arrest, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, which cut off the pay he had been receiving while on administrative leave.
Sports
End of an era at Roland Garros: Stan Wawrinka, Gael Monfils bid emotional farewell to French Open | Tennis News
The curtains came down on two of the most beloved careers in modern tennis as Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils played their final matches at French Open on Monday, bringing an emotional close to more than two decades of memories on the Paris clay.Monfils’ farewell stretched close to midnight on Court Philippe-Chatrier, where the 39-year-old Frenchman lost a dramatic five-set battle to compatriot Hugo Gaston 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0. Earlier in the day, 41-year-old Wawrinka bowed out after a four-set defeat to Jesper de Jong.Both veterans, who made their Roland Garros debuts 21 years ago, are set to retire at the end of the season.For Monfils, the goodbye carried the emotion of a hometown hero taking one final bow. Chants of “Ga-el! Ga-el!” echoed through the packed stadium as fans celebrated one of the sport’s greatest entertainers. Even while battling fatigue in the Paris heat, Monfils continued to thrill the crowd with spectacular winners and trademark theatrics.After fighting back from two sets down, however, he ran out of energy against an opponent 14 years younger. Following the match, Monfils was joined on court by former Davis Cup teammates Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon during a heartfelt ceremony.Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz praised Monfils in a tribute video, calling him “a true inspiration” and “a great person off the court.” An emotional Monfils also thanked his wife, Elina Svitolina, crediting her support for helping him continue his career.Wawrinka’s farewell carried a different weight — that of a champion reflecting on one of the greatest underdog careers of his era. The 2015 French Open winner received a standing ovation after his loss, with fans applauding one final time for the Swiss star whose thunderous backhand once conquered the sport’s biggest names.“It’s hard to say goodbye to you here,” an emotional Wawrinka told the crowd. “It’s because of Roland Garros that I wanted to become a tennis player.”Wawrinka’s remarkable career included three Grand Slam titles, all won against world No. 1 players — including victories over Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in major finals. Alongside Roger Federer, he also helped Switzerland win Olympic doubles gold and the Davis Cup.
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