Sep 28, 2025; Paradise, Nevada, USA; A general view of Chicago Bears helmets before the start of the game against Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Remember James Lynch? A Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle draftee six years ago? He’s a Chicago Bear, signing with Ben Johnson’s team on Wednesday.
Another ex-Viking found his way to the NFC North.
Lynch will fight for a roster spot later this summer, but he has a decent chance to continue a career once ravaged by injuries in the Twin Cities.
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Lynch Could Fit on the Bears’ Reworked Defensive Front
After Teddy Bridgewater, Tyler Conklin, and D.J. Wonnum to the Detroit Lions within the last week, another former Viking has joined a rival.
Jan 4, 2026; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive lineman James Lynch (97) stands on the field before kickoff against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium, going through pregame routines as Tennessee prepared for a divisional matchup to close out the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Lynch to CHI
Chicago already added center Garrett Bradbury via trade, also an ex-Viking, this offseason; Wednesday was the time for defense.
NBC Sports‘Josh Alper wrote, “The Bears are set to add a defensive lineman to their roster. According to multiple reports, they have agreed to a deal with James Lynch. It’s a one-year deal in Chicago for the veteran lineman.”
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“Lynch spent the last two seasons with the Titans and appeared in all 34 of the team’s games. He had 45 tackles and 1.5 sacks. The move to the Bears will be a return to the NFC North for Lynch, who entered the league as a Vikings fourth-round pick in 2020.”
If Lynch earns a spot on Chicago’s 53-man roster in August, the Vikings will see him twice next year as the enemy.
The Bears’ Revised DT Group
With Lynch now in the house, these are the Bears’ defensive tackles from a March viewpoint:
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Gervon Dexter Sr.
Grady Jarrett
Neville Gallimore
Kentavius Street
Shemar Turner
James Lynch
Lynch’s fate this summer may boil down to whether the Bears draft a DT or two somewhere in the draft. If so, Lynch might be staring at the practice squad in 2026 or an outright roster release.
Bear Goggles On‘s Anthony Miller on the Lynch signing: “Many Bears fans would prefer to have a starting-caliber defensive tackle join the team, but Lynch at least gives Chicago more depth at a position that saw multiple players leave the team. If Chicago looks at a starter at defensive tackle, it would most likely come in the NFL Draft in one of the earlier rounds.”
“Lynch joins Kentavius Street and Neville Gallimore as the new additions to the defensive line after almost two weeks of free agency in the books. While this is a group with a lot of experience, they are all good rotational players who can help the defense. Chicago got better with Lynch on the team, even if it doesn’t feel like it had a massive effect on the team.”
Lynch’s Career Bio
Drafted by Rick Spielman in the 4th round of the 2020 draft, Lynch’s tenure with the Minnesota Vikings lasted roughly three and a half years — longer than some might have anticipated — before he joined the Tennessee Titans last season.
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Dec 28, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans defensive linemen Sebastian Joseph-Day (69), James Lynch (97), and Jeffery Simmons (98) stand alongside quarterback Cam Ward (1) during the national anthem before facing the New Orleans Saints at Nissan Stadium, united on the sideline ahead of kickoff. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images
In 37 games with the Vikings, including three starts, Lynch showed glimpses of potential, recording 53 tackles and 2 sacks and demonstrating his ability to contribute as a rotational player.
However, consistent availability was a challenge. Injuries hampered his development and prevented him from securing a regular role. Although the Vikings briefly brought him back in 2023, he ultimately failed to make the final 53-man roster.
So, he turned to Tennessee for a career reclamation. The plan worked. Lynch played 34 games for the Titans in 2024 and 2025, logging 45 total tackles and a sack and a half. He saw action on 579 defensive plays in two years — or about 30% of the time. By now, Lynch is a depth defensive lineman.
In free agency, Chicago has fired up these signings and extensions:
Coby Bryant (S) SEA → CHI
Braxton Jones (T) CHI → CHI
Jaylon Jones (S) CHI → CHI
Case Keenum (QB) CHI → CHI
Cam Lewis (CB) BUF → CHI
James Lynch (DL) TEN → CHI
Jordan McFadden (G) LAC → CHI
Kalif Raymond (WR) DET → CHI
Kentavius Street (DL) ATL → CHI
Neville Gallimore (DL) IND → CHI
Elijah Hicks (CB) CHI → CHI
Oct 16, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle James Lynch (92) walks off the field after a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium, concluding a road matchup as players headed toward the locker room following the final whistle. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports
And the Bears have lost these players to new teams. Warning: the list is unusually huge:
Dec 21, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (17) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
One of the perks of being traded to the Denver Broncos for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is the opportunity to be a teammate of close friend Patrick Surtain II.
The former Alabama teammates often discussed being on the same NFL team at some point during their careers, even more so when both were top-10 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft. Waddle went sixth overall to the Miami Dolphins and Surtain, a cornerback, was chosen at No. 9 by the Broncos.
But Wednesday, the duo officially became NFL teammates when the Broncos formally announced they acquired Waddle and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft from the Dolphins for three 2026 picks – a first-rounder, a third-rounder and a fourth-rounder.
“It was special,” Waddle said of learning he’d be playing with Surtain, the 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. “He was one of the first calls that I made. We talked about this earlier in our careers, we wanted to get together and play with each other. Just seeing it happen, it’s special.”
The frequent conversations allowed Waddle to glean some information about Denver coach Sean Payton’s methods.
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“Not too many details,” Waddle said. “We kept in contact through the years when Coach Payton has been here. He’s been keeping me in the loop without even knowing.”
The acquisition of Waddle gives Denver another solid target for quarterback Bo Nix. The Broncos feature two-time Pro Bowl wideout Courtland Sutton, who led the team in catches (74), receiving yards (1,017) and receiving touchdowns (seven) in 2025.
The 5-foot-10 Waddle recorded 64 catches for 910 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games last season for the Dolphins. He is signed through the 2028 season.
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“I don’t think there are No. 1s, everyone is here to make plays and try to win,” Waddle said of the receiving room. “That’s ultimately the goal for the team and for the organization.”
Waddle, 27, has 373 receptions for 5,039 yards and 26 touchdowns in 78 career games (all starts) since entering the NFL. He topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons and had a career-high 104 catches as a rookie in 2021.
Best of the deal for Waddle is he gets to play on a team expected to contend for a second straight AFC Championship Game berth. The Dolphins aren’t part of that conversation after going 7-10 last season and entering a rebuilding phase.
“It’s exciting, like I said, just playing with great players,” Waddle said. “Everyone is talking about how great and close the team is. I’m excited to be around the guys, get to know them, and they get to know me and go from there.”
Wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson had his introductory press conference on Wednesday after joining the Tennessee Titans.
During this interview, quarterback Cam Ward crashed the press conference, which was held virtually. He questioned Robinson about his thoughts on playing alongside him on the Titans.
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“Wandale, how excited are you to play with Cam Ward,” the Titans quarterback asked.
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Wan’Dale Robinson was initially surprised by Ward’s presence in the press conference. He then revealed that the quarterback was one of the reasons why he decided to join the team.
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“My dog! I appreciate you,” Robinson said. “You know, I’m ready to play with you. That’s part of the reason I came.”
Wan’Dale Robinson began his NFL journey with the New York Giants. They drafted him with the 43rd overall pick in 2022. In four seasons, he recorded 2,465 yards on 268 receptions and nine touchdowns. However, the wide receiver failed to make the playoffs even once.
Last season, the Giants finished dead last in the NFC East with a 4-13 record. Robinson recorded 1,014 yards on 92 receptions and four touchdowns. Last Thursday, he finalized a four-year deal worth $78 million with the Titans.
This move reunites him with his former coach Brian Daboll. He coached the Giants from 2022 to 2025, but was fired midway through last season. In January, Titans new coach Robert Saleh hired him as the new offensive coordinator of the team.
Wan’Dale Robinson reveals what the Titans can expect from him in 2026
During his introductory press conference, Wan’Dale Robinson did not shy away from talking about his strengths. He also opened up about what to expect from him as he joins the Titans for a new journey.
“I think the biggest thing is toughness, and making impact plays,” Robinson said as per SI. “Just doing a lot of different things for an offense, being able to move the chess piece that can always line up in different places where defenses can’t exactly know what and when I’m going to do stuff.
“Obviously, they believed in me, and it’s great to have that feeling of being wanted. So obviously, you want to make them proud and make them feel like they made the right decision in choosing me. And for myself, I want to show I can have success here and help this thing get going on the right track.”
Last season, the Titans finished fourth in the AFC South with a 3-14 record. This resulted in the firing of coach Brian Callahan in October after a 1-5 start. In February, new Giants coach John Harbaugh hired him as the quarterbacks coach and pass game coordinator.
Mar 18, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A worker dries Butch Buchholz Court during a rain delay on day 2 of the 2026 Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Heavy, unrelenting rain prevented play at the Miami Open on Wednesday, with all matches being postponed.
Among the matchups that originally were scheduled for the day included France’s Alexandre Muller against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini as well as American Reilly Opelka vs. Portugal’s Nuno Borges.
The Thursday WTA slate will feature an all-Polish matchup of No. 2 Iga Swiatek against Magda Linette. Eighth-seeded Mirra Andreeva of Russia will oppose the United States’ McCartney Kessler, and Jennifer Brady will take on Sloane Stephens in an all-U.S. clash. Three-time Miami champion Venus Williams is set to oppose Great Britain’s Francesca Jones.
On the ATP side, Alex Michelsen of the U.S. will face Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci, Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas will meet British qualifier Arthur Fery, and Croatia’s Marin Cilic will square off with Australia’s Alexei Popyrin.
Mar 18, 2026; Dayton, OH, USA; Prairie View A&M Panthers guard Dontae Horne (2) shoots the ball over Lehigh Mountain Hawks guard Joshua Ingram (4) in the first half during a first four game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Dontae Horne scored 25 points as Prairie View A&M earned its first ever NCAA Tournament victory with a 67-55 win over Lehigh in a First Four matchup Wednesday in Dayton, Ohio.
In a contest between 16th-seeded longshots, the Panthers (19-17) dominated the second half, outscoring the Mountain Hawks (18-17) by a 40-26 margin. Prairie View A&M advances to face South Region No. 1 seed Florida, the defending tournament champion, on Friday in Tampa.
Cory Wells contributed 19 points, 11 rebounds, three steals and three blocks for the Panthers, who only had five players score. Lance Williams pitched in with 10 points, while Horne added seven rebounds and four steals.
“I believed in these guys from the very start,” Panthers coach Byron Smith said. “A great group of kids. … I knew we were going to get it going.”
Hank Alvey notched 23 points and a career-high 15 rebounds for Lehigh, which was in the Big Dance for the first time since 2012. Nasir Whitlock, who came in averaging a team-leading 21.0 points, managed only five points on 2-of-15 shooting from the field.
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After trailing by two at halftime, Prairie View A&M scored eight of the first nine points in the second half to go in front 35-30.
Lehigh got within 37-36 on Alvey’s layup a few minutes later, but the Panthers promptly made another push.
Horne scored 10 points in about four minutes to help Prairie View A&M take a 49-41 lead. Wells followed with a jumper to give the Panthers their first double-digit advantage.
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Joshua Ingram countered with a 3-pointer for the Mountain Hawks, but Williams and Horne responded with a bucket apiece to restore a double-digit lead.
Horne made multiple contested layups down the stretch to highlight his 16-point second half.
“First half, we kind of struggled,” Horne said. “We were trying to feel them out. But the second half, we came out playing harder, playing tougher. And we all had to really lock in. That was it.”
The game was tied at 15-all midway through the first half before Andre Urosevic made back-to-back 3-pointers as part of an 8-0 Lehigh run.
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The Panthers never caught up in the first half, although Horne’s bucket in the final minute got Prairie View A&M within 29-27 at the break.
Alvey led all players with 10 points and nine rebounds in the first half.
Manchester City’s Champions League hopes are over for another year after defeat to Real Madrid in the last-16. It means the Blues’ triumph in 2023 remains their sole success in the competition
It may well have been Bernardo Silva’s final Champions League act for Manchester City – thrusting out his elbow to block a Real Madrid shot on the line.
The skipper saw red after a VAR review and trudged off the Etihad pitch knowing his side’s long odds of a stunning comeback had just got longer. In the end the task was beyond the 10 men of City and their European aspirations are over for another year.
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It’s prompted the debate of whether Pep Guardiola and City should have achieved more than one Champions League victory, achieved in 2023 as part of an historic treble. For his part, Guardiola has been steadfast in his belief that the competition is incredibly difficult to win.
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Real are the only side to defend the title since 1990 and the only multiple winner in the last 12 editions. Madrid may have cracked the continental formula but few others have. Guardiola himself has three Champions League victories, second only in manager terms to Carlo Ancelotti, while City were beaten in the 2021 final by Chelsea and suffered scarcely believable exits to Tottenham in 2019 and Real in 2022.
Guardiola referenced the Real game after the midweek defeat: “The 4-3 was the most unfair result I have ever experienced in my career.
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In the build-up to the second leg he was asked by Marca about a ‘culture of failure’ and the possibility that City could be out early again in the Champions League. Guardiola referenced how Real have ‘only’ won 15 European Cups out of ‘probably 100 attempts,’ and highlighted the ‘Quinta del Buitre’ team that Real had in the 1980s – one that dominated Spanish football yet failed to win the biggest European prize – as one of the best he has ever seen to make his point that failure is a matter of personal opinion.
But while the manager pointed out the context and complications competing in Europe poses, his skipper – one of the central figures of the latest early exit – was more forthright.
“I’m not happy so he’s probably not very happy,” Bernardo said when asked by Amazon Prime on the eve of the game if he felt Guardiola was content with just one Champions League victory at City. “Of course one is better than zero, and we are very happy with the one we have won, but with the team that we have and the way our team has played in the past, we should have won more.”
For Bernardo, that ship looks to have sailed, with the 31-year-old widely expected to depart in the summer. For his manager, there might be one last European dance at City.
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Peter Moody expresses optimism regarding Alpha Sofie’s ability to turn things around in her upcoming Stakes race at Caulfield.
Her pristine record with trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman took a hit when Alpha Sofie bombed out badly in the $1 million Inglis Sprint (1200m) over Flemington’s track on February 28.
Post a detailed inspection of the mare, Moody is convinced Alpha Sofie is fit to race once more, entering her in the Group 3 Don Casboult Classic (1200m) this Saturday.
Starting out in Queensland with two closing wins for Jason Edwards, Alpha Sofie wasted no time making her mark for Moody and Coleman via success in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in the prior spring carnival.
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Spelled after that triumph, she came back firing with a firm Caulfield win on February 7 in the Group 3 Peter Le Grand Stakes (1100m) before faltering along the Flemington straight.
Moody indicated Alpha Sofie has shaken off that result and he looks ahead to the filly navigating turns in her next outing.
“She’s flying,” Moody said.
“She just got a bump at the start the other day and then pulled her head off, which she’s never done before.
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“That was down the straight for the first time for her. She charged and got lost.”
Such is Moody’s conviction in the filly that plans include the Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville late in April for Alpha Sofie.
“Hopefully this run will set her up to go to Adelaide for the Sangster,” Moody said.
“That was where she was going the other day if she had won, so she can have this one to get her back on track.”
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Zac Spain, having partnered the filly in all three of her runs for Moody and Coleman, travels to Sydney for Group 1 contention on Victorious Spirit in the Rosehill Guineas, leaving Luke Nolen to ride on Saturday.
Visit leading online bookmakers to check betting markets for the race in the Don Casboult Classic.
Veteran cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has reacted to news of India all-rounder Shivam Dube commuting by train following the 2026 T20 World Cup final. Hours after India defeated New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 8, Dube, accompanied by his wife and a friend, boarded a train from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. The moment went viral on social media, with fans praising Dube’s simplicity. The all-rounder later revealed he was anxious to reunite with his son and father and chose the 5:10 am train over waiting for the official team flight.
Reacting to the hype during a RevSportz event, Ashwin dismissed the “big deal” surrounding the journey, stating: “I’m seeing news pieces on how Shivam Dube traveled by train. I don’t want to read pieces like that. What’s the big deal? I have traveled by train.”
Ashwin elaborated his opinion further. He wants star cricketers, who is always in the spotlight and under scrutiny, to get the chance to enjoy small joys of life.
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“I would love for us… for international cricketers to be able to go to the chaiwalas and have chai with the people. In fact, we have forgotten that life’s joys are in very small moments,” he added.
Dube had boarded the Mumbai-bound Sayaji Nagari Express from Ahmedabad in the early hours of Monday, along with his wife Anjum and a friend.
To avoid being recognised by co-passengers, Dube reportedly wore a cap, mask and a full-sleeved T-shirt as he boarded the train at 5.10 am and climbed onto his upper berth after entering an AC three-tier coach.
An official said that after noticing his name on the train reservation chart, a ticket checker wondered if he was the cricketer Dube. However, his wife deftly handled the situation, saying why the cricketer would travel by train.
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A Government Railway Police official said that before the train reached Borivali, Dube sought police assistance to ensure his exit was as discreet as it had been in Ahmedabad.
Policemen in plain clothes were sent to escort the cricketer to his vehicle outside the station to avoid drawing public attention, the official added.
The 2026 NCAA Tournament has arrived, and women’s March Madness officially began Wednesday with the First Four. The 68-team field was unveiled Sunday night, and we know when and where everyone will be playing this weekend.
UConn, the undefeated reigning champion, was named the No. 1 overall seed. UCLA, Texas and South Carolina joined them on the top line. Those four teams, the title favorites, are among the 16 teams that will host games in the first and second rounds next weekend. Every 1-4 seed in the field will play host before the action shifts to the regional sites later in the month. Once again, there are just two regional sites for the women’s tournament: Sacramento and Fort Worth. The 2026 Final Four is set for Phoenix, with the championship game on Sunday, April 5.
Game times and TV information for the First Four and the first round were announced on Sunday night as well. The full schedule for the first four days of the 2026 NCAA Tournament is below.
2026 NCAA Women’s NCAA Tournament schedule
All times Eastern. All games are available to stream on fubo (Try for free).
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Wednesday, March 18: First Four
Nebraska 75, Richmond 56
Missouri State 85, Stephen F. Austin 75
Thursday, March 19: First Four
Southern vs. Samford, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Virginia vs. Arizona State, 9 p.m., ESPN2
Friday, March 20: First round
No. 3 Duke vs. No. 14 Charleston, 11:30 a.m., ESPN2
No. 3 TCU vs. No. 14 UC San Diego, 12 p.m., ESPN
No. 8 Oregon vs. No. 9 Virginia Tech, 1:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 6 Baylor vs. No. 11 Nebraska/Richmond, 2 p.m., ESPN
No. 6 Washington vs. No. 11 South Dakota State, 2:30 p.m., ESPNews
No. 4 West Virginia vs. No. 13 Miami (Ohio), 5 p.m., ESPNU
No. 8 Iowa State vs. No. 9 Syracuse, 5:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 2 Vanderbilt vs. No. 15 High Point, 7 p.m., ESPNews
No. 8 Oklahoma State vs. No. 9 Princeton, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 7 Illinois vs. No. 10 Colorado, 9:30 p.m., ESPN2
No. 1 UCLA vs. No. 16 Cal Baptist, 10 p.m., ESPN
Sunday, March 22: Second round
Monday, March 23: Second round
Friday, March 27: Sweet 16
Four Sweet 16 games in Fort Worth and Sacramento
Saturday, March 28: Sweet 16
Four Sweet 16 games in Fort Worth and Sacramento
Sunday, March 29: Elite Eight
Two Elite Eight games in Fort Worth and Sacramento
Monday, March 30: Elite Eight
Two Elite Eight games in Fort Worth and Sacramento
Friday, April 3
Two Final Four games in Phoenix
Sunday, April 5
Championship game in Phoenix, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC/fubo
And here’s the full NCAA Tournament bracket, which will be updated as the field is revealed:
2026 NCAA Tournament women’s bracket
UConn, led by Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd, is the heavy favorite to win it all and complete another perfect season. If the Huskies win it all, they will become the 11th team to go undefeated and the first team to win back-to-back titles since they won four in a row from 2013-16.
Ignored Indian cricket team spinner Yuzvendra Chahal revealed that he has stopped consuming alcohol as he prepares for the upcoming IPL 2026. Chahal, who will be part of the Punjab Kings side, opened up about his personal life during a recent podcast with South Africa legend AB De Villiers. Chahal had a decent outing in IPL 2025 as Punjab Kings finished runners-up after losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final. The veteran cricketer revealed that he is eager not only to win the title but also to enter the season with confidence and better fitness levels.
“I’ve stopped drinking alcohol, and it’s been more than six months. I am now 35, so I want to be more active and give my 150% for my team. As a senior player, I want people in the IPL to learn something from me,” Chahal told De Villiers.
Punjab Kings had an impressive run in IPL 2025 with Chahal producing a number of important performances. However, the Shreyas Iyer-led side fell agonisingly close to the title as they suffered a 6-run loss in the summit clash. Chahal was left extremely disappointed and he pointed out the major reason behind their failure.
“In the final, we missed (Marco) Jansen as he was not there. If he were there, we would have definitely won the championship,” Chahal told AB de Villiers on his YouTube show.
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“The way he bowled throughout the tournament was brilliant, and batting too, he was capable of hitting two to three sixes in the end. We are even more confident now because of the way he is bowling. It’s not going to be easy for the opposition openers,” he added.
Chahal also said that he was disappointed with himself as he was not able to perform at the highest level and vowed to come back with better fitness in the upcoming season.
“I was a bit disappointed with myself. After the KKR game, I had a rib fracture, and later, my knuckle got fractured. So in the semifinal and final, I wasn’t able to bowl my proper leg-spin. This year, I want to take care of my body first,” he said.
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