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Gautam Gambhir demands ‘special effort’ as India gear up for semi-final against England | Cricket News

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‘Opportunity to do something special’: Gambhir demands ‘special effort’ as India gear up for semi-final against England
India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir and skipper Suryakumar Yadav. (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India head coach Gautam Gambhir has warned that nothing short of a “special effort” will be enough when the defending champions face England in a blockbuster T20 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai, even as he lavished praise on Sanju Samson for keeping their title defence alive.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Samson produced a sublime unbeaten 97 off just 50 balls to power India to a five-wicket win over the West Indies at a packed Eden Gardens, chasing down 196 in a winner-takes-all Super Eights clash. His knock, studded with 12 fours and four sixes, lifted India to 199/5 and into the last four.

T20 World Cup: Gautam Gambhir on Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah and record chase vs West Indies

“We all know how good a player Sanju is,” Gambhir said after the match. “It was all about backing him and when the team needed him the most. Obviously today was the day when he probably showed his full potential.”Samson had played just one group-stage match, scoring 22 against Namibia, as India preferred a left-hand opening pair. Recalled for the Super Eights to add a right-handed option at the top, he made 24 against Zimbabwe — enough for Gambhir to persist with him.“I have always said that he is a world-class player. He is a great talent and hopefully he can kick on from now and we can see a lot more innings like this,” Gambhir added.

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But the focus now shifts to Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, where a formidable England side awaits on Thursday. Harry Brook’s men arrive unbeaten in the Super Eights and peaking at the right time.“Look, they’re a world-class team, they’re a quality team, they’ve got a lot of quality players as well,” Gambhir said in a post-match news conference.He acknowledged the new challenge posed by Wankhede’s conditions after Kolkata. “We all know that playing at the Wankhede is a tough game, but it’s another opportunity to do something special for the team and for the country.”India, he stressed, must be flawless.“Hopefully we play our best game, that is going to be very important and we can keep ticking all the boxes. Because we will need a special effort to beat a quality side like England,” Gambhir further added.

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IPL 2026: Jofra Archer scripts history vs KKR, becomes only second bowler to… | Cricket News

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IPL 2026: Jofra Archer scripts history vs KKR, becomes only second bowler to...

Jofra Archer struck with the first ball of the second innings to equal a record held by Mohammed Shami during Rajasthan Royals’ IPL 2026 match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on Sunday.Opening the bowling for Rajasthan Royals, Archer bowled KKR opener Tim Seifert for a golden duck with the first delivery of KKR’s innings. With this, Archer now has five wickets on the first ball of an IPL innings, matching Shami’s record.He had also taken wickets on the opening ball in RR’s previous two matches — against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 10 and Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 13 — dismissing Phil Salt and Abhishek Sharma respectively.Wickets off the first ball of an IPL innings (most):

  • 5 – Mohammed Shami
  • 5 – Jofra Archer

Earlier, after winning the toss, Rajasthan Royals chose to bat. Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine combined to take five wickets and restricted RR to 155 for nine.It could have been worse for RR had KKR not conceded ground in the power play.Rajasthan made a strong start, reaching 63 without loss as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored at over 10 runs per over against the pace attack.The match changed after spin was introduced. Sooryavanshi hit Narine for a six off his second ball, but Narine followed it with five dot deliveries. Chakravarthy then dismissed Sooryavanshi with his fourth ball, completing his 200th T20 wicket. The batter was caught by Ramandeep Singh at deep midwicket.Rajasthan Royals slipped from a strong position to 118 for four in 15 overs, with the run rate dropping below eight.

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New Draft Clue, Kenny Moore, Adam Thielen

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Kenny Moore II celebrates after an interception during a game against the Rams at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II reacts after securing an interception in the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at Lucas Oil Stadium, with the moment unfolding on Oct 1, 2023 in Indianapolis. The defensive play sparked energy for the Colts, though the game ultimately extended into overtime and ended in a narrow loss. Mandatory Credit: Jenna Watson-USA TODAY Sports.

The NFL draft will get cracking in four days, and with the event so close you can taste, we take one final look at the weekend rumor mill before showtime.

Minnesota has roster questions to solve, and the rumor mill keeps supplying new angles.

The Minnesota Vikings have a handful of roster needs in mid-April and nine picks to address them.

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Three Late-April Storylines for the Vikings’ Next Moves

The Purple Rumor Mill for Sunday, April 19th.

Matt Yurk lines up for a punt during his collegiate season at Elon University. vikings rumor mill
Elon punter Matt Yurk sets up for a kick during team action, continuing his development as a specialist during the fall campaign, with the sequence taking place during the 2025 season at Elon University. Yurk builds consistency and hang time while drawing attention as a potential NFL prospect for the 2026 draft cycle. Mandatory Credit: Brad Puckett-ElonPhoenix.com.

Rumor: Don’t rule out a rookie punter for the Vikings.

Punter chatter has stayed quiet since Minnesota signed Johnny Hekker in March, but the team will still put in its rookie homework.

NBC Sports’ Ryan Fowler tweeted Thursday, “The Minnesota Vikings will hold a private workout with Elon punter Jeff Yurk tomorrow morning, per source. The FCS’ all-time leader in yards per punt and a two-time first-team FCS All-American, Yurk averaged 58.6 yards per punt at Hula a few months back.”

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And there you have it. Minnesota provided a special teams clue for next Thursday’s draft. A punter is in play, even if the new guy might come from undrafted free agency.

Yurk likely won’t require a draft pick; he profiles as a post-draft addition through undrafted free agency. If Minnesota wants to stir competition at punter, Georgia’s Brett Thorson would enter the mix as the top prospect in the class. Some pundits expect Thorson to be picked in the middle rounds, believe it or not.

Rumor: The Vikings are a trade landing spot for cornerback Kenny Moore II.

Credible reporting suggested this week that the Indianapolis Colts would trade Moore II, and it didn’t take long for Minnesota to make the cut as a possible landing spot, courtesy of SI.com‘s Albert Breer.

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Breer wrote, “As for potential landing spots, I think Dallas would be one, with the nickel being an important piece in new coordinator Christian Parker’s defense and the Cowboys having a hole after Jourdan Lewis’s departure to the Jaguars last year. The Vikings are another potential fit, with Moore’s versatility meshing, at least on paper, with how DC Brian Flores builds his defense.”

“Those teams being in the NFC should also make them likely suitors, assuming Indy would rather not help out a conference rival. Moore, who will turn 31 in August, is in a contract year, so that’ll drive down his value some. But if the price was a Day 3 pick on the higher end, and I had a need like Dallas and Minnesota, I’d probably do it.”

Kenny Moore II returns an interception for a touchdown during a game at Nissan Stadium. vikings rumor mill
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II jumps the route and returns an interception for a touchdown during first-quarter action at Nissan Stadium, with the play unfolding on Sep 21, 2025 in Nashville. The defensive score sparks momentum early as Moore showcases instincts and playmaking ability against a division opponent. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.

Do the Vikings need Moore II? Not really — unless the plan leans into a much deeper cornerback room than last year’s thin setup.

Right now, the group includes Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre, Dwight McGlothern, and Zemaiah Vaughn. That unit could use a dependable CB4, but Moore II probably sits above that kind of role.

Rumor: Adam Thielen is eyeing the booth for his next career move.

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Vikings.com’s Rob Kleifield reported Thielen’s next career path this week, noting, “Last month, the Vikings organization celebrated the amazing careers of C.J. Ham and Adam Thielen. This month, Thielen took a baby step toward what could wind up being a focus in his life after football. Thielen was one of 24 players who got ‘suited and booted’ for the NFL’s annual broadcasting and media workshop in Los Angeles last week.”

“Thielen was picked from a pool of 90 applicants, and he participated alongside the likes of LB Demario Davis and WR Brandin Cooks. Alumni of the workshop include All-Pro Maurice Jones-Drew, as well as Super Bowl Champions Jason McCourty and Jason Kelce. Thielen sounded hesitant about a career in media during his retirement ceremony, alluding to the frequent traveling, but he stated his desire to be involved with the game in whatever is next.”

This sounds right up Thielen’s alley, truth be told.

Adam Thielen warms up before a game against the Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. vikings rumor mill
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen moves through pregame warmups at U.S. Bank Stadium, preparing for kickoff as the home crowd fills in, with the moment captured on Dec 24, 2022 in Minneapolis. The veteran receiver goes through routine drills ahead of a late-season matchup against the New York Giants. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

The Athletic’s Vic Tafur on the details of Broadcast Bootcamp: “It’s tough to get a spot at the workshop, which was first held in 2007. There were 90 applicants for 24 spots in this year’s program. Each player was asked to answer questions to make sure this is something he is serious about and then asked to submit reels.”

“Some players sent in old interviews at their lockers. They were told this was their chance to be their own content creator and their reels should reflect what they want to do in the space. After the reels were screened, players were ranked 1-90, with no clear-cut criteria.”

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Kleifield even teased Thielen doing some Vikings draft content next week.


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Knicks Hold Off Hawks to Take Game 1

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The New York Knicks made a good start to their playoff run, beating the Atlanta Hawks 113-102 to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

Jalen Brunson led the way with 28 points and seven assists, setting the tone early with 22 of those points coming in the first half. Karl-Anthony Towns took over after the break, finishing with 25 points, while OG Anunoby added 18. Josh Hart filled in everywhere, contributing 11 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and three steals.

The Knicks were sharper at the free throw line, outscoring Atlanta 25-12, and made better use of their depth. Their bench gave them energy and helped them maintain control.

  • Nuggets take Game 1 behind Jokić Impressive PlayNuggets take Game 1 behind Jokić Impressive Play

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Defensively, New York tightened up as the game went on. The third quarter proved decisive, with the Knicks limiting the Hawks’ rhythm, forcing turnovers, and making scoring difficult. Even when Atlanta found success from three, they struggled to get consistent.

After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder pointed out what his team needs to improve.

“The formula for us and our identity has been to run and move the ball… we need to do more of it.”

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Game 1 goes to the Knicks, who now have the early advantage as the series moves forward.

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Giants 4-round mock draft after blockbuster Dexter Lawrence trade with Bengals

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Giants 4-round mock draft after blockbuster Dexter Lawrence trade with Bengals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

With just days to go before the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Giantspulled off a blockbuster trade with the Cincinnati Bengals that jettisoned star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

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The deal saw the Giants send Lawrence to the Bengals for the No. 10 overall pick, which was no doubt more than anyone was expecting them to get. Now, Big Blue stands armed with two first-round picks, with the other coming at No. 5 overall.

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With needs on both sides of the ball, the Giants can now take care of the offense and defense with blue-chip prospects inside the top 10 of the draft later this week.

And that’s exactly what we have them doing in our new mock draft in the wake of the Lawrence trade with the Bengals.

Giants 4-round mock draft after Lawrence trade

Sonny Styles

Sonny Styles

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Round 1, Pick 5: LB Sonny Styles, Ohio State

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ESPN’s Jordan Raanan mentioned Styles as one of three players the Giants like with the No. 5 pick, and it’s not hard to see why.

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“Staying at No. 5, the three players who seem to be most squarely on their radar are Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles and  (Ohio State safety Caleb) Downs,” Raanan wrote.

Styles is a freak athlete with sideline-to-sideline speed and great length. He’s a strong tackler, good in run defense and has shown elite skills in coverage after posting an 87.4 Pro Football Focus grade in that area last season.

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The Ohio State product can wear the green dot and will be a leader in New York’s defense for a decade.

Round 1, Pick 10 (via CIN): WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State

The Giants were one of the teams to attend Tyson’s workout, which was his last opportunity to quell fears about his injury history. By all accounts, Tyson did manage to do that.

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“I think Jordyn Tyson goes much higher than earlier expected,” ESPN’s Matt Miller said. “Teams are comfortable with the INJ history. Conversation for him starts at 5 but he’s off the board no later than 16.”

If not for his injury history, Tyson would likely be the undisputed No. 1 receiver in this class. The 6-foot-2, 203-pound pass-catcher can line up anywhere on the field, is a polished route-runner and can even block.

After losing Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency, the Giants need another weapon for quarterback Jaxson Dart across from star wideout Malik Nabers. Not only would Tyson check that box, he could very well provide an upgrade over Robinson.

Round 2, Pick 37: DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

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kayden mcdonald

kayden mcdonald

The loss of Lawrence will leave a void in the middle of the Giants’ defense, hurting both the pass-rush and run defense. Making matters worse, New York was already weak upfront, even with Lawrence on the roster.

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While McDonald isn’t much of a pass-rusher, he showed improvement in that area last season with a career-high three sacks. He really shines as a run defender, with the Ohio State product posting the best PFF grade in the nation in run defense.

Once viewed as a first-round pick, the belief is most teams now have him with a second-round grade because of his lack of pass-rush prowess.

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That’s just fine for the Giants, as McDonald can provide the kind of boost to the run defense from Day 1 that New York needs.

Round 4, Pick 105: CB Tacario Davis, Washington

The loss of Cor’Dale Flott leaves the Giants with a big void after the team failed to adequately address the position in free agency, leaving a potential starting duo of Paulson Adebo and uninspiring free-agent signing Greg Newsome outside.

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After taking a step back in 2024, Davis rebounded with a strong showing after he transferred to Washington. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound cornerback gave up a passer rating of just 50.6 in coverage, notched a personal bests two interceptions and he showed out in the run game with an impressive PFF grade of 81.8.

Davis can offer some competition for Newsome on the boundary, and it’s not crazy to think he could win that competition in Year 1.

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Munich 2026 Final: Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds, and betting tips

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Match Details

Fixture: (2) Ben Shelton vs (4) Flavio Cobolli

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Date: April 19, 2026

Tournament: Bavarian International Tennis Championships

Round: Final

Venue: MTTC Iphitos e.V. tennis club in Munich, Germany

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Category: ATP 500

Surface: Clay

Prize Money: €2,561,110

Live Telecast: USA – Tennis Channel | UK – Sky Sports | Canada – TSN

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Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli preview

Shelton pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: GettyShelton pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty
Shelton pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty

Second seed Ben Shelton will face off against fourth seed Flavio Cobolli in the final of the 2026 BMW Open on Sunday, April 19.

Shelton started his season with a quarterfinal run at the ASB Classic and followed it up with another quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open, where he lost to Jannik Sinner. He then went on to win the Dallas Open and reached the quarterfinals in Houston before arriving in Munich. There, he defeated Emilio Nava, Alexander Blockx, Joao Fonseca, and Alex Molcan 6-3, 6-4 to reach the final.

Cobolli pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: GettyCobolli pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty
Cobolli pictured at the 2026 BMW Open | Image Source: Getty

Meanwhile, Cobolli’s standout result this season is his title run at the Mexican Open. He also made the semifinals of the Delray Beach Open, losing to Sebastian Korda, but hasn’t had many other notable results. In Munich, he beat Diego Dedura, Zizou Bergs, Vit Kopriva, and Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-3 to set up a clash with Shelton.


Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli head-to-head

Shelton leads Cobolli 3–2 in their head-to-head. Cobolli won their first two meetings in Geneva and Washington in 2024, while Shelton has taken the last three in Acapulco, the Canadian Open, and the Paris Masters in 2025.

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Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli odds

Player Moneyline Handicap Bets Total Games
Ben Shelton -525 -4.5 (-105) Over 21.5 (-115)
Flavio Cobolli +360 +4.5 (-140) Under 21.5 (-125)

(Odds via BetMGM)


Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli prediction

Shelton plays with clear intent. The serve sets the tone, the forehand follows, and he looks to finish points before rallies really take shape. When he’s confident, everything happens quickly and on his terms.

Cobolli is more about structure and balance. He moves well, absorbs pace, and is comfortable building points rather than rushing them. He’s willing to stay in rallies and wait for openings instead of forcing them.

The key is whether Shelton can keep control early. If he’s landing first serves and dictating with his forehand, Cobolli may struggle to settle. But if rallies extend, Cobolli’s consistency and movement can start to make things uncomfortable. The American’s firepower gives him the edge, but he’ll need to stay disciplined to avoid letting the match drift.

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Pick: Shelton to win in straight sets.


Ben Shelton vs Flavio Cobolli betting tips

Tip 1: The match will have over 21 games.

Tip 2: Shelton to win at least one set with a score of 7-5 or better.