Mitchell Starc (Video grab)

NEW DELHI: There is finally some good news for Delhi Capitals ahead of their crucial IPL 2026 clash against Rajasthan Royals — and it revolves around the much-anticipated return of Mitchell Starc.Delhi’s bowling coach Munaf Patel confirmed that the left-arm quick is available for selection after recovering from injury, though stopped short of guaranteeing his place in the playing XI.“He is available from tomorrow. Our best bowler will definitely play, but the final decision will be taken tomorrow. His coming back definitely helps,” Munaf said on the eve of the match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.Starc’s return a timely boost for struggling attackStarc, who was sidelined with shoulder and elbow issues, only rejoined the squad recently and is set to feature in his first competitive game since January. His inclusion could not come at a better time for DC, whose bowling unit has struggled for consistency this season.Munaf emphasised how crucial a strong bowling attack is in T20 cricket, especially in high-scoring conditions.“I always say this: a match can be won by batters, but a tournament is won by bowlers. If bowlers bowl well, you can win the tournament. Batters can win you a game, but without good bowling, you cannot win consistently,” he asserted.With Starc likely to replace one of the overseas pacers, DC will hope his experience adds control, particularly in the powerplay where they have often leaked runs.‘No panic’: Munaf backs approach despite recent setbacksDC head into the contest after a turbulent run, including being bowled out for just 75 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, Munaf dismissed suggestions that the batting unit was rattled.“No, we were not nervous. We were playing with a different approach. The wicket was doing a bit, and they bowled well. It is not like if you lose one game, you become nervous in the next game,” he said.The DC have had a rollercoaster campaign so far, swinging between a 250-plus total in one match and a batting collapse in the next. With three wins and four losses, they find themselves in a must-win phase.“In do-or-die situations, the approach has to be 100 percent. You know if you lose one or two games, you are out. So as a unit, you have to give everything,” Munaf added.Strategy under wraps as DC aim turnaroundFacing a confident RR side boasting in-form batters like Yashasvi Jaiswal and teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, DC will need to be at their best.Munaf, however, kept tactical plans close to his chest. “If I tell you the strategy now, they will be ready tomorrow,” he said with a smile.He also ruled out sweeping changes to the lineup. “There won’t be too many changes. We have experienced players. It’s not like you lose and start changing everything.”

Canelo Alvarez‘s opponent for his return to the ring has been revealed.

Canelo was last in action in September when he suffered an upset defeat to Terence Crawford at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, losing his undisputed super-middleweight crown in the process.

Crawford retired shortly after the bout, meaning the world titles were fragmented, as different fighters began to get their hands on the belts.

It was announced earlier this year that Alvarez was scheduled to return to action this September, and it has now been announced that he will get the opportunity to face one of those newly-crowned world champion.

According to The Ring, Canelo is set to challenge WBC super-middleweight champion Christian Mbilli.

“BREAKING: Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli have a done deal to fight in September in Riyadh for the WBC super middleweight championship, @ringmagazine has learned. Canelo heads into a major fight in his first fight since his loss to Terence Crawford. What an action fight!”

Unbeaten star Mbilli was previously the WBC interim super-middleweight champion, with his last two fights seeing him claim a first round stoppage win over Maciej Sulecki in June 2025 before a draw against Lester Martinez three months later.

Despite that draw, he was later elevated from interim status to full WBC champion, and had made it clear over recent weeks that he was keen to land the showdown with Canelo.

Mbilli will now get his wish, as two of the best 168lb fighters prepare to collide later this year.

Nonito Donaire has made his prediction for Nayoa Inoue’s next undisputed title defence against Junto Nakatani.

The fight pits two pound-for-pound stars against one another. Inoue is well established as one of if not the best fighter in the world, but Nakatani – who will mark just his second appearance at super-bantamweight – is a man on the rise and eager to escape his countryman’s significant shadow.

Inoue and Donaire first met in the World Boxing Super Series bantamweight final in November 2019, with the Japanese superstar winning a unanimous decision to add Donaire’s WBA belt to his IBF title. The fight became an instant classic, with Inoue later revealing he had suffered a fractured orbital bone and broken nose.

They rematched in June 2022, again in Saitama, with Donaire this time bringing the WBC belt. ‘The Monster’ made a statement, dropping the Filipino great late in the first before stopping him in the second to further strengthen his pound-for-pound case.

When weighing up the Nakatani clash in an interview with the WBC, Donaire praised both men but ultimately landed on his old foe keeping his undefeated record by stoppage.

“A lot of people will favour Inoue because he has the experience and weight. Nakatani is coming up in weight, but I have to give the tall southpaw and not fearing Inoue. The one who establishes their style first will win the fight.

“I would go with Inoue. I believe it has to be a knockout because both guys are going to go for it. Nakatani needs to press the fight to have that distance. There is a huge difference in height, Nakatani does get hit because he fights in mid-range, a little step back utilising that distance. We know Inoue is devastating when he comes down to executing his punches and able to land them.”

The fight takes place this weekend at the Tokyo Dome – a historic event for Japanese boxing.

World number one Luke Littler won his fifth night of the Premier League Darts season to return to the top of the table.

The 19-year-old backed up his win in Liverpool last week with another impressive performance in Aberdeen to climb above Jonny Clayton.

The pair are already guaranteed a place at the season-ending play-offs at London’s O2 Arena on 28 May, but it was a big night for the chasing pack with world number two Luke Humphries reaching just his second final of the season.

He took Littler to a last-leg decider – the fourth between the pair in 13 weeks – but the teenager came out on top.

Humphries broke in leg seven, capitalising on Littler missing on bullseye, and then held to move within one leg of a first night win of the year.

But Littler, who is now one night win away from matching his record-breaking tally of six last year, claimed three legs on the spin.

He broke in leg 10 set up the decider and despite missing three match darts on his favourite double 10, he wrapped victory with his fourth.

In a high-quality affair, Littler averaged 104.11 to Humphries’ 103.10.

“I always want to be on the top and I think Jonny [Clayton], I don’t know if he’s much bothered about it,” Littler told Sky Sports.

“He just wants to get to the O2 and, obviously, we’ve both got Qs next to our names.

“Now it is just time to chase and hopefully break my own records.”

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ injury situation has somehow gotten worse.

Ayo Dosunmu, the Timberwolves’ hero in Game 4, has been ruled out for Game 6 against the Denver Nuggets due to a calf injury, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Kyle Anderson has also been ruled out with an illness.

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Minnesota currently leads the series 3-2, but faces a tall order closing the series out with its current injuries. The team was already missing starting guards Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo, who both sustained injuries in the first half of Game 4.

Edwards will miss multiple weeks with a bone bruise and hyperextension of his left knee, while DiVincenzo is out for the season and beyond with a torn Achilles tendon.

Dosunmu had been one of Minnesota’s remaining reasons for optimism after posting 43 points in its unlikely Game 4 win, but then he popped up on the injury report on Thursday morning and was ruled out hours later.

Game 6 is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, with Game 7 on Saturday if necessary.

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann tied an MLB record on Thursday, becoming the first position player to pitch in four games before May.

Alas, since Thursday was the last day of April, he won’t get an opportunity to surpass Christian Bethancourt, who also pitched in four April games for the San Diego Padres in 2017.

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McCann threw one inning in the D-Backs’ 13-1 first to the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing one unearned run and one hit with two walks. He got through the eighth inning on a barrage of soft, high-arching “eephus” tosses.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery was highly critical of the video assistant referee for not sending off Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson in two impassioned rants after his side’s 1-0 loss in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final.

Anderson avoided punishment for a first-half sliding tackle in which he won the ball but then caught the ankle of Ollie Watkins with a high, studs-up challenge.

Referee Joao Pinheiro did not take action – and there was only what appeared to be a very brief VAR review before the incident was cleared.

Forest would go on to win through a VAR-awarded penalty which Chris Wood scored – but Emery accepted that decision.

“Fantastic, the referee, fantastic,” Emery told TNT Sports. “But the VAR is so, so bad. It’s a clear red card – I don’t understand why the VAR is not calling the referee because it’s so clear.

“And it’s very, very important. It’s a huge, huge mistake. VAR is responsible.

“The referee – fantastic, fantastic job, 10 out of 10. I appreciated how he managed the match for 90 minutes.

“But I watched it back – wow. Huge. He could break his ankle. Wow, VAR – where are you? Please. It is your responsibility, we are professionals. You are doing very bad work because it was so clear for everybody [to see]. He could break his ankle.

“I respect the referees always but VAR, I don’t understand. It’s not fair.”

Uncertainty surrounding Iran’s participation in this summer’s World Cup on United States soil has been clarified after United States President Donald Trump gave his approval, stating, “Let them play.”

Iran’s place in the finals had been in doubt following air strikes launched by the US and Israel against the country on February 28.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino had consistently maintained Iran would compete as scheduled, with all three group matches taking place in the US, a position he reiterated at FIFA’s Congress on Thursday.

Asked about Infantino’s remarks later that day, Mr Trump responded: “Well if Gianni said it, I’m OK.”

“Did Gianni say it? Gianni Infantino – that’s a piece of work.”

Asked what would happen if Iran won, Trump replied: “If they win we’ll have to worry about that. I’m going to have to worry about that one.

“You know what, let them play. Gianni is fantastic, he’s a friend of mine, he talked about it, I said, ‘you do whatever you want’. You can have them, you don’t have to have them, they probably have a good team. Do they have a good team, do you have any idea?”

The reporter who posed the initial question said he had no idea.

Trump replied: “It would be hard to believe actually. But let them play, right?”

Iran would face the US in the last 32 in Dallas if both teams finished second in their respective groups.

Trump has previously said it would be “inappropriate” for Iran to play “for their own life and safety”.

Infantino opened his president’s address at Congress in Vancouver: “Let me start at the outset by confirming straight away, for those who maybe want to say something else or write something else, that of course Iran will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026.

“And of course, Iran will play in the United States of America. The reason for that is simple, because we have to unite. We have to bring people together.”

Iran will kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.

Iran were the only one of FIFA’s 211 member nations not represented by federation officials in Vancouver.

The Press Association understands two delegates were granted visas by the Canadian authorities to attend, but chose not to after another member of their group was denied entry in Toronto.

Matthew Krupovich, a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued a statement in relation to the incident.

“Canada is proud to host the FIFA World Cup and is working to facilitate a safe and successful event,” he said.

“As with all Games-related events, visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis by trained officers.

“While we cannot comment on individual cases due to privacy laws, the government has been clear and consistent: IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) officials are inadmissible to Canada and have no place in our country.

“We have taken strong action to hold the IRGC to account and will continue to do so, while protecting the safety of Canadians and upholding the integrity of our immigration system.”