Import King Of The Sea has thrown his hat into the ring for spring feature races after a commanding first-up triumph at Randwick, according to trainer Ciaron Maher.
In only his second Australian racing campaign, the former UK galloper was outstanding, producing a brilliant turn of foot from the tail of the field to capture the Drinkwise Mile (1600m) on Saturday.
The foreman for Maher’s Sydney stable, Jo Gerard-Dubord, expressed confidence in the five-year-old’s potential but noted that his campaign path would be shaped by his upcoming performances.
“He’s a horse with plenty of talent. He didn’t have a lot of luck last preparation, but the form out of his races has been very strong since, and there’s a lot more to come,” Gerard-Dubord advised.
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“He is still lowly rated, so we probably need to see what he does next start. There are plenty of options.
“When they’ve got a turn of foot like that, for a horse that can stay and do that over a mile, it’s very exciting.”
This win represents King Of The Sea’s fourth career victory from ten starts and his maiden success in Australia.
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Ridden by James Mcdonald, the gelding justified his $1.80 favouritism, crossing the line 1-3/4 lengths ahead of Puntin ($9), with Anthracite ($15) a further half-neck adrift in third. Punters who used the best horse racing betting apps saw their favoured runner deliver a superb first-up performance.
Manchester City are looking to secure a deal for Brazilian winger Allan Elias but Palmeiras are holding out for the fee they want
Palmeiras have warned Manchester City that they will not be able to buy winger Allan on the cheap as they look to replace Savinho. The Blues are making progress to seal a deal for the 22-year-old in the final days of the transfer window but there remains work to do.
Allan has a €100m release clause but City are hoping to complete a deal for less than half of that fee, having been encouraged that Palmeiras will be receptive to a deal. The winger played for the Brazilian club on Sunday evening against Vasco da Gama though and coach Abel Ferreira spoke afterwards about the value in the player the Blues are trying to sign.
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“These teams want a player like Allan because 90 per cent of wingers don’t do what he does, which is attack and defend. They’re going to have to pay. I know how Manchester City plays,” he said. “At Chelsea, there’s a player named Pedro Neto: if they want to go after him, they’re going to have to pay 100 million euros.
“Top teams don’t buy half a player, they buy players who attack and defend. When one comes along who can track back the entire time, play as a right-back – as was the case against Miami – slot into a back three out wide and drift inside for rotations, as happened today with [Agustin] Giay, everyone wants that kind of player. But you have to educate them, develop them and, if necessary, lose a few games along the way.”
Meanwhile, City have agreed a fee for Ayyoub Bouaddi with Lille to bolster their midfield. The total package is worth £85m (€100m) as City have ultimately paid what the French club wanted from the start in order to bring in another key signing.
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Elliot Anderson is already through the door for a club record £116m and started the 2-1 win over Bournemouth, but his partner in midfield for the game was centre-back Marc Guehi as coach Enzo Maresca searches for the right combination with Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders gone and Nico Gonzalez and Mateo Kovacic unfancied.
Twitch star Kai Cenat has spoken up about the viral GTA 6 leaks and has vowed to become the first-ever person to fully finish the game once it releases in November 2026. During a livestream on August 22, 2026, the content creator’s attention was drawn to his Twitch chat, where viewers claimed that the viral GTA 6 leaker, CyberLeek, had allegedly mentioned him.
For context, on August 21, 2026, alleged Telegram messages went viral on X, suggesting that CyberLeek claimed that popular streamers such as Kai Cenat, Darren “IShowSpeed,” and Adin Ross “already played GTA 6,” and that they “already got contracts” with Rockstar Games to “perma promote GTA 6.”
However, these Telegram messages were later debunked, as an X Community Note stated the following:
“This Telegram is not the real one from Cyberleek. The only correct TG is this one… and no other. The others are impostors.”
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At the 12-minute-27-second mark of the livestream, the two-time Streamer of the Year award winner stated that he had not seen any GTA 6 leaks because he was “committed to the actual game”:
“‘GTA 6 leaker mentioned you.’ What are you even talking about, bro? I don’t even, bro, what?! What do you mean, he mentioned me? I haven’t even seen one GTA 6 leak because I am so… what’s that word? Committed to the actual game. You know?”
Kai Cenat then expressed his intention to become the “first person ever in the world” to do a 100% playthrough of GTA 6:
“Y’all do know, in GTA 6, I will be the first person ever in the world to 100% the game. Okay, chat? Facts or nah? Facts or nah? But we’re going to do it at a pace that is natural and pure. Okay?”
Timestamp – 00:12:27
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Kai Cenat previously claimed he would have “unlimited time” to play GTA 6
On August 6, 2026, a 54-second video from Kai Cenat’s Just Chatting livestream went viral on X, in which he discussed his plans to play GTA 6 24/7, claiming that he would have “unlimited time” to enjoy the open-world game.
He elaborated:
“I promise, y’all, the day GTA 6 drops, I don’t know when I am getting off-stream. Yo, genuinely, when I say this – I don’t know when I am getting off. Hey, I get unlimited time, bro! Like, it’s going to be unlimited! And, honestly, when GTA drops, bro, y’all should be playing it, bro. Go and enjoy GTA 6.”
CHICAGO — Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from Sunday night’s Indiana-Chicago WNBA game after he was confronted by Sky guard Natasha Cloud late in the third quarter.
Kanter Freedom was sitting along the baseline. He had on a black shirt that read “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
The Fever called for a timeout after Cloud scored inside with 1:22 left in the third. Cloud then did a chest bump with teammate Aicha Coulibaly before turning around and walking in Kanter Freedom’s direction.
Cloud, 34, started yelling and pointing at Kanter Freedom, 34, as she approached him. A standing Kanter Freedom held his arms out and took one step on the court as security and a handful of Sky players moved in between the two.
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“There was just a fan incident and the security handled it, and we’re just going to focus on the game,” Chicago forward Azura Stevens said after the Sky’s 113-90 loss.
Chicago coach Tyler Marsh said Cloud was concerned about being a distraction for the team.
“I told her she wasn’t,” Marsh said. “I told her that we all embrace her as someone that protects our team and protects people that need to be protected and so Tash is always going to stand on that, and we stand for Tash.”
Kanter Freedom stopped near the basket to plead his case to security as he was escorted from the court area. He spun around while holding his shirt out and encouraged the crowd to respond as he walked toward the front lobby.
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He had a conversation with a group of police officers before departing Wintrust Arena.
“I didn’t see it, we were talking about the next play in our huddle,” Indiana star Caitlin Clark said, “so I think that’s probably a question for Chicago.”
Cloud met with team and league security after the game. She did not speak with the media.
The WNBA has been the subject of recent debates on whether transgender women — people assigned male at birth who transition to align with their gender identity — should be allowed to participate in the league. There has never been such a player in the WNBA.
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Although the league’s collective bargaining agreement says the WNBA is restricted to women, it contains no more specific language about gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
Fever guard Sophie Cunningham said in an ESPN profile published last month that she was opposed to transgender girls and women competing in girls’ and women’s sports. Kanter Freedom and Royce White, another former NBA player, have declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women.
Kanter Freedom joined a small rally in support of Cunningham outside the arena before the game.
Asked if he had a message for Kanter Freedom, Marsh praised the league and its players.
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“If you come to a game you should probably come to enjoy the basketball,” he said, “and that seems pretty simple to me. I think these players deserve that and have earned that. Being a former basketball player, you should probably understand and feel that too.”
Big Ten > SEC > ACC > Big 12 > Pac-12 > Mountain West
Study that closely. It’s the formula for this year’s Power Rankings. The Big Ten dominates college football. Not the SEC. Not the ACC. And certainly not the Big 12.
The last few years have changed the power dynamic. The Big Ten is the top power conference, and the Big 12 is the worst.
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So, how does that narrative affect teams in the West? For starters, preseason expectations.
Here’s my Preseason Power Ranking at the onset of the year.
1. Oregon
Oregon is gaining steam within the national media. Many view the Ducks as a favorite to win the National Championship.
The Big Ten has dominated college football over the last few years, and UO has capitalized.
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The program’s growth has been significant.
Is this the year they finally break through? Or is it another season destined for a disappointing finish?
2. USC
This season is critical for Lincoln Riley. The program has not performed up to expectations since he took over in 2022.
But all it takes is one year to flip the narrative.
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Realistically, anything less than a run to the Playoff would be considered a failure.
Riley should have the resources at USC to get the job done. If he can’t, perhaps his time in L.A. will be over.
3. BYU
The Cougars enter the 2026 season as a Playoff contender.
Bear Bachmeier is back after leading BYU to 12 wins as a true freshman.
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The program’s foundation is strong, its leadership is in good hands, and outside perceptions are trending upward.
This may be the year that the Cougars win the Big 12 and secure the auto-bid to the Playoff.
4. Washington
The Huskies are a dark horse entering the new year.
Quarterback Demond Williams Jr. nearly left the program over the offseason but is back in Seattle. The team will probably go as far as Williams takes them.
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The Big Ten is the toughest conference in America. Still, another year of mediocre results won’t be taken well by the UW fanbase.
The clock may be ticking on Jedd Fisch.
5. Utah
It’s a new era in Salt Lake City. Morgan Scalley takes over the program after Kyle Whittingham led the way for 21 seasons.
Quarterback Devon Dampier returns after throwing 24 touchdowns and rushing for 835 yards last year.
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The dual-threat quarterback scored 10 times on the ground and averaged 5.7 yards per rush.
Utah enters the year as a fringe Playoff contender.
6. Boise State
Boise State is the flagship football program of the new Pac-12.
The Broncos enter the season outside of the Top 25, though, showing the lack of respect the league has on a national level.
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As the Conference’s most-respected program, it comes with a target on their back.
All the other schools in the new Pac-12 will be looking to knock BSU off its top spot.
7. Arizona
Preseason expectations and Arizona generally do not mix well.
The Wildcats typically don’t have hype surrounding them before a year begins. But when they do, the results are usually poor. Yet, there are reasons why the optimism is high.
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Fifita enters his second year under offensive coordinator Seth Doege. And defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales is back after a strong year.
Don’t sleep on Arizona.
8. California
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is one of the top quarterbacks in the country.
Finding a way to keep him on the roster was a major win for new head coach Tosh Lupoi.
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The Bears have been knocking on the door the last few seasons, and the ACC is respected nationally.
Win a few early games, and the buzz around the team could grow.
9. Arizona State
Arizona State enters the season with a question at quarterback. But with a Top 25 transfer class, Kenny Dillingham has a solid roster.
If the quarterback situation is resolved early, the Sun Devils could have a better-than-expected year.
The Big 12 is always competitively balanced and any team can make a run to the championship game.
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ASU enters the year under the radar and staring down a tough schedule.
10. UNLV
The Rebels are the only team in the Mountain West that can legitimately be called a Playoff contender.
If UNLV runs the MWC, it could be in contention for the Group of Six’s guaranteed spot in the Playoff.
Without many respected conference games, the margins of victory could become important. The bigger the wins, the better.
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Perceptions always matter.
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
After BCCI dissolves national selectors’ role in picking zonal teams, sanctity of the tournament comes under scanner
CHENNAI/NEW DELHI: A few days before the Duleep Trophy got underway at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Sunday, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced that the final will be shifted to MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The reason given was that there will be fans who will come to watch the match, which doesn’t happen in the CoE.
Chennai is a cricket-crazy centre. But when you ask those who ‘book’ their IPL tickets long before the event, whether they would be interested in attending the Duleep final, the standard query is: “Will Shubman Gill play?”
Gill, in this case, stands for all the stars of Indian cricket. The Duleep final is from Sept 6-10, and it will be interesting to see that those who are not part of the Afghanistan T20 series starting on Sept 12 turn out at MAC.
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That said, the primary purpose of the inter-zonal tournament is to check out the best performers in the Ranji Trophy go head-to-head against each other. The relevance of the tournament, especially after the inception of IPL, has diminished drastically. Yet, it remains a stepping stone for a lot of players.
The tournament’s sanctity has been up for debate with the selection process. The BCCI, in the last decade, has often tried playing the tournament with national selectors picking the India ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ teams.
This year, the board has reverted to the inter-zonal format and has kept the national selectors out of the equation. The result? Delhi opener Sanat Sangwan, who scored 828 runs in seven Ranji Trophy matches, was on Sunday, benched by the North Zone management and instead middle-order batter Yash Dhull was played as an opener. The Central Zone team has only one player from semifinalist Uttarakhand while Madhya Pradesh was the only team from the zone to have qualified for the quarterfinals. There have been a few debatable selections in the South Zone team as well.
Former national selector Devang Gandhi believes that a national selector has to be involved in the selection process if the sanctity of the tournament is to be saved. “When we were selectors from 2016-2021, BCCI had given us the responsibility of picking the Duleep Trophy to maintain continuity in a player’s development. If the opener with the highest runs in the country doesn’t get to play Duleep Trophy, it defeats the purpose of the tournament. The board must at least ensure one selector from each zone is present in planning their respective zonal teams. Otherwise, politics at the state association level can crop up. There’s no accountability if BCCI selectors are not used,” Gandhi told TOI.
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“Today we are seeing Manav Suthar and Saransh Jain as products of domestic cricket. If that structure is compromised, then it will be difficult to see such journeys,” Gandhi added.
TOI understands that the selection committee has been asking for a greater role in Duleep Trophy teams. The board had given the Ajit Agarkar-led committee the responsibility for the last two years before handing complete authority to state associations in the zone.
For selectors, Duleep is a tournament from where players for India ‘A’ are selected. In this case, Australia ‘A’ will come to India in October and those who are part of this Duleep, will look to stake a claim in the ‘A’ side. It is definitely a step lower for the established stars and there’s not much to prove for them, unless it’s just a test of fitness, as is the case for Washington Sundar or Sai Sudharsan, who are coming back from injuries.
In recent times, we have often seen T20 performances have often been the benchmark for red-ball selection. Ajinkya Rahane came back into India’s WTC Final squad in 2023 on the basis of a great IPL while Sai Sudharsan’s entry into the Test squad has largely been due to his consistency in IPL for Gujarat Titans.
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When we look at the East Zone squad that took on NorthEast from Sunday, we see Vaibhav Sooryavanshi being named as the vice-captain ahead of Abhimanyu Easwaran. The Bengal opener has an average of 47.85 over 112 games while Sooryavanshi averages 17.25 in the eight games that he has played.
While it can raise a few eyebrows, Gandhi says it’s “a question of backing talent”. “Nothing against Abhimanyu, but we all know what Vaibhav brings to the table. He is one for the future with incredible talent and what’s the harm if he is put in the leadership group at a young age. The selectors will know how he reacts to it,” Gandhi said.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz goes through pregame warmups before a matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at U.S. Bank Stadium on Oct. 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The veteran passer prepared on the field prior to kickoff while serving as a depth option for the Vikings during the 2025 season. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Kevin O’Connell wants an “elevator” to start at quarterback (his word). Essentially, the Vikings want to roll with a QB1 who is himself a playmaker at point guard. Think Stephen Curry – a scoring assassin who can distribute – rather than a PG who can’t pile up points.
Is the same criteria applicable for the backup option?
Recent days have seen some chatter about who is going to solidify the main backup position. Carson Wentz got signed with the intention of putting him into that QB3 job, a role that’s about getting used as a fire extinguisher if injury ignites yet again. Kyler Murray is now the starter and J.J. McCarthy is looking like the QB2. Is that going to hold?
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The Vikings Need a QB2 Who is Smart Instead of Sizzling
Different coaches have a different philosophy for the backup quarterback job.
Some insist that the backup should be a coach in shoulder pads. Think back to the Sean Mannion days where he was the main arm behind Kirk Cousins. The plan has flaws but can work so long as the main guy is an ironman who never misses time. Mannion added value by helping Cousins to decode the game in real time and in the leadup to games.
Other coaches want somebody who can win games. Sometimes, that’s a young fella. In other instances, it’s veteran guys with talent and who can play. Think Jacoby Brissett, Mac Jones, Jameis Winston, and so on. These QBs can play ball but could struggle to move a team through a full seventeen game schedule (which is to say nothing of the playoffs thereafter).
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Nov 9, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) hands the ball off to running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) against the Baltimore Ravens in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
So, where does that leave the Vikings?
No matter what, Carson Wentz is going to be on the team. The veteran shepherd is precisely that: a veteran shepherd. All that remains to be determined is where he finds himself on the depth chart. Assuming good health all around, Wentz sees his floor at QB3 and ceiling at QB2.
Likewise, J.J. McCarthy has a QB2/QB3 ceiling and floor. In all likelihood, the kid is going to be the main backup.
When called upon, the best thing McCarthy can do is to keep things simple. Make solid plays and proceed from there. If, per chance, there’s a chance to get a kill shot – a deep bomb to Jordan Addison or something of a similar level of explosion – then by all means put points on the board.
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) calls signals during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Shifting to the young lad, though, likely means scaling things down and building up from there. He shines when driving his fastball toward the sideline but can then be erratic (as he showed yesterday versus the Ravens). McCarthy’s great task is to continue rallying around what he’s doing well while improving on the things where he isn’t doing as well.
And, crucially, J.J. McCarthy hasn’t see the final chapter of his story written, as Carson Wentz said earlier in the week. Thriving as a game manager QB2 isn’t where his story needs to end even if it’s what he needs to pursue in the present moment. Begin there and then keep stacking good habits, strong days, and better skills.
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Next up for McCarthy and the Vikings is a Denver Broncos road game. Afterwards, the great descent down to 53 will take place. Expect three quarterbacks to get onto the final team.
Michael La Sasso, the 2025 NCAA individual champion, needed just a tap-in birdie on his final hole on Sunday to beat Jon Rahm and win the first LIV Golf event of his career, and when he did it, his teammates doused him with champagne.
It was a big victory for La Sasso in what was a very weird week for LIV Golf.
Sunday at The Club at Chatham Hills was the final round of LIV Golf Indianapolis, the final event of the season for LIV and, well, who knows what else.
The league, you probably have read by now, will not be funded by the Saudi PIF beyond this season. The league and its CEO, Scott O’Neil, is scrambling to secure its own. There’s an unnamed lead investor that was announced weeks ago — believed to be Ted Goldthorpe of BC Partners — but few specifics have been made public beyond that.
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There’s also been all sorts of unsavory news: LIV late on checks to some players, missed vendor payments, canceling tournament-week concerts and the bizarre handling of its canceled team event in Michigan (the team event was instead folded into Indy).
Now questions remain regarding what’s next. LIV 2.0 is what the league is calling it, although LIV veteran Ian Poulter said just last week, “I think time might run out.”
Sunday’s final-round TV broadcast included several end-of-the-season sendoffs and farewells, but that’s also true with any season-ending broadcast in any sport. It’s that lingering uncertainty — about players, funding, the league itself — that made it feel different.
“Whatever the future holds,” Arlo White said as Rahm finished up on Sunday, “Jon Rahm has been colossal in the LIV Golf league.”
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Or when reporter Henni Zuel signed off after interviewing Rahm and his winning Legion XIII team: “For myself, it’s a goodbye for now of this last iteration of what LIV was.”
Bryson DeChambeau, who along with Rahm, is the league’s greatest asset, was asked post-round if he had any thoughts as LIV transitions from chapter one to chapter two.
“I think there’s a lot of potential moving forward,” he said. “It’s been an interesting ride, that’s for sure. You know just as much as I have everything that we’ve gone through and the tough moments that we’ve had. But it’s made us stronger. As much as we’re transitioning from LIV 1.0 to 2.0, I have great thoughts about what could happen next year. I wish I could be more up front about it. But ultimately I’m proud of the fact of what we’ve done, the good and some of the bad that we’ve unfortunately had, things that have occurred. I’m going to be real with it — not everything was perfect. But for the most part we’ve done a solid job. If there’s one thing that I could say, it’s we did something different in the game of golf, and I’m proud of that.”
Rahm was asked post-round to identify the main things he’s looking for as he decides what his future will hold.
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“I’m looking forward to going home and helping my very pregnant wife with the kids because it’s a 3-v-1 right now; it’s probably a 4-v-1 with the one that’s due in October,” he said. “Happy to be dad for a few days before I get back for the Irish Open, but mainly looking forward to a haircut tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. because I need one badly.”
Rahm had no interest in actually answering the question. Right now there are lots left unanswered.
Rishabh Pant plays a shot as Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella watches during day two of the second Test. (AP Photo)
NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant has moved past legendary MS Dhoni to become India’s highest run-scorer as a designated wicketkeeper in away or neutral Tests, adding another major milestone to his growing record book.Pant crossed 2,500 runs in the category during India’s second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Monday, edging past Dhoni’s previous mark of 2,496. Pant has achieved the tally at an average of almost 42, significantly better than Dhoni’s 32.84.Former India wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer is a distant third on the list with 1,209 runs at 32.67, followed by Syed Kirmani with 1,109 at 21.74 and Kiran More with 901 at 29.06.
Pant battles through injury scare
The milestone came a day after Pant had endured an injury scare at the SSC ground. The India wicketkeeper-batter was struck on his left arm by a short delivery from Sri Lanka pacer Lahiru Kumara during the third session on Sunday.Pant attempted to pull the delivery behind square but missed it, taking the full impact on his arm. He was visibly in discomfort and was attended to by the Indian team physiotherapist, who initially applied an ice pack before Pant’s arm was strapped.After making just three runs from 15 balls, Pant walked off the field alongside the physiotherapist in the 58th over. His early departure added to India’s concerns on a day when they were already being tested by Sri Lanka’s bowlers.Most runs as wicketkeeper in away/neutral Tests (India)
2501* – Rishabh Pant (Avg: 41.68)
2496 – MS Dhoni (Avg: 32.84)
1209 – Farokh Engineer (Avg: 32.67)
1109 – Syed Kirmani (Avg: 21.74)
901 – Kiran More (Avg: 29.06)
Pant returns to help India rebuild
Despite the blow, Pant returned to the middle on Monday after Sri Lanka claimed India’s sixth wicket through Asitha Fernando, who dismissed debutant Saransh Jain for six.Pant joined Dhruv Jurel with India needing stability and immediately faced another stern examination from the Sri Lankan pacers. Fernando and the other quicks repeatedly tested him with short-pitched deliveries, with Pant taking a couple of blows to the shoulder before the drinks break.The 28-year-old nevertheless showed considerable resilience and continued batting despite the discomfort. Jurel provided valuable support at the other end as the pair put together a crucial partnership to steady India’s innings.
Paris Saint-Germain snatched a draw away at Rennes (2-2) on the opening day of Ligue 1. Ferran Torres, Paris’s new signing, came on after the break and saved the day for PSG.
Lille and Monaco also got off to a winning start. It was a historic day for France in badminton. Arthur Fils won the Cincinnati Masters 1000. In basketball, Les Bleus beat Serbia in a friendly match. In Formula 1, Lando Norris won the Dutch Grand Prix.
Former NBA center Enes Kanter Freedom was ejected from Sunday night’s WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky after a confrontation with Sky guard Natasha Cloud late in the third quarter.
Freedom was seated along the baseline wearing a black shirt that read “WOMAN noun. adult human female.”
With 1:22 remaining in the third period, the Fever called a timeout after Cloud scored inside. Cloud shared a chest bump with teammate Aicha Coulibaly before turning around and walking toward Freedom.
Freedom was sitting along the baseline. He had on a black shirt that read “WOMAN noun. adult human female” (Getty)
Cloud, 34, began yelling and pointing at Freedom, 34, as she approached him. Freedom stood up, extended his arms, and took a step onto the court before security personnel and several Sky players stepped between them.
“There was just a fan incident and the security handled it, and we’re just going to focus on the game,” Chicago forward Azura Stevens said after the Sky’s 113-90 loss.
Chicago coach Tyler Marsh said Cloud was concerned about being a distraction for the team.
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The Fever called for a timeout after Cloud scored inside with 1:22 left in the third. Cloud then did a chest bump with teammate Aicha Coulibaly before turning around and walking in Kanter’s direction (Getty)
“I told her she wasn’t,” Marsh said. “I told her that we all embrace her as someone that protects our team and protects people that need to be protected and so Tash is always going to stand on that, and we stand for Tash.”
Freedom stopped near the basket to argue his case to security as he was escorted from the court area. He spun around while holding his shirt out to encourage a response from the crowd as he walked toward the front lobby.
He spoke with a group of police officers before departing Wintrust Arena.
Cloud, 34, started yelling and pointing at Kanter, 34, as she approached him. A standing Kanter held his arms out and took one step on the court as security and a handful of Sky players moved in between the two (Getty)
“I didn’t see it, we were talking about the next play in our huddle,” Indiana star Caitlin Clark said, “so I think that’s probably a question for Chicago.”
Cloud met with team and league security after the game but did not speak with the media.
The WNBA has recently been the focus of debate over whether transgender women — individuals assigned male at birth who transition to align with their gender identity — should be allowed to compete in the league. No transgender athlete has ever played in the WNBA.
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Sophie Cunningham #8 of the Indiana Fever celebrates a three pointer against the Chicago Sky (Getty)
Although the league’s collective bargaining agreement states it is restricted to women, it contains no specific language regarding gender identity or sex assigned at birth.
Fever guard Sophie Cunningham stated in an ESPN profile published last month that she was opposed to transgender girls and women competing in girls’ and women’s sports. Freedom and another former NBA player, Royce White, have declared themselves eligible for the WNBA draft, saying they identify as women.
Freedom joined a small rally supporting Cunningham outside Wintrust Arena before the game.
Cunningham said in an ESPN profile published last month that she was opposed to transgender girls and women competing in girls’ and women’s sports (AP)
Asked if he had a message for Freedom, Marsh praised the league and its players.
“If you come to a game you should probably come to enjoy the basketball,” he said, “and that seems pretty simple to me. I think these players deserve that and have earned that. Being a former basketball player, you should probably understand and feel that too.”
There were no major issues between Sophie Cunningham and DiJonai Carrington in Indiana’s 113-90 victory over Chicago on Sunday night. Cunningham scored three points for the Fever in 11 minutes, while Carrington recorded seven points for the Sky in 18 minutes.
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“There was just a fan incident and the security handled it, and we’re just going to focus on the game,” Chicago forward Azura Stevens said after the Sky’s 113-90 loss. (AP)
It was the first matchup between the teams since Cunningham was brought down by Carrington on a fast break earlier this month. Carrington was listed as questionable with a left foot injury, but was cleared after warmups.
Cunningham downplayed any lingering animosity between the teams going into the game. Indiana had dropped two straight games.
“My mindset has never changed. I think it is what it is,” Cunningham said. “I’m locked in on tonight. … I think we’re just out here trying to get the win.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert speaks after the 2026 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at the United Center on July 25 (Getty)
Cunningham and Carrington both checked in for the first time with 3::green-background[04] remaining in the first quarter, with no notable disputes between the players all night long.
Sky coach Tyler Marsh said he had no conversations with his players before the game about the tense atmosphere from their previous matchup.
“That kind of was what it was last game and anything that came out of it kind of lasted for that time,” Marsh said. “But for us, again, it was on to the next one in front of us.”
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Freedom stopped near the basket to plead his case to security as he was escorted from the court area (Getty)
Cunningham was going up for a layup in the first quarter of Indiana’s 90-86 win on Aug. 8 when Carrington came from behind and struck her in the head and neck, knocking her to the court as the shot went in. Cunningham got up, charged Carrington and pushed her as she was held back by a teammate.
A view of the shoes worn by Enes Kanter #13 of the Boston Celtics against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at State Farm Arena on November 17, 2021 (Getty)
The referees reviewed the play and upgraded it to a Flagrant 2 after citing windup, impact, and follow-through, resulting in Carrington’s ejection.
Shortly after being thrown out, Carrington posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on social media and tagged the Fever. Carrington is Black and Cunningham is white.
Days later, Carrington said she never claimed the Flagrant 2 assessment resulted from white privilege, though she did not elaborate further.
“I (couldn’t) care less about what she does, what she tweets, any of that,” Cunningham said before Sunday’s game. “I’m here to play basketball.
“There’s going to be people who are going to talk about it … but to me, it’s just another basketball game.”
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