Punjab Kings spent 22 days at the top of the IPL 2026 Points table but still failed to qualify for the Playoffs. The Shreyas Iyer-led side made a dream start to the new season with 6 victories on the trot but ended up losing their next 6 matches while one match was abandoned due to rain. It was such a drop-off in form for the franchise that despite winning their last match against Lucknow Super Giants, they were fifth with 15 points from 14 matches. When it comes to days spent at the top of the table, Royal Challengers Bengaluru were second with 18, Rajasthan Royals third with 13 and Sunrisers Hyderabad fourth with 4. Gujarat Titans were number one in the IPL points table for just one day and ended up finishing in the second position.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s pursuit of back-to-back Indian Premier League (IPL) titles will run into the season’s most disciplined bowling attack when they face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday, with a direct place in the final at stake.

Both teams ended the league stage on 18 points after 14 matches, but RCB claimed the top spot owing to a superior net run rate. Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans have arguably been the two most complete sides of IPL 2026, though they have taken contrasting routes to the playoffs. RCB, under skipper Rajat Patidar, built their campaign around aggressive batting and a far more reliable bowling unit than in previous seasons.

The defending champions repeatedly crossed 200 this season and benefited immensely from the experience of the iconic Virat Kohli at the top and the pace duo of Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the ball.

Their ability to win away from home and close out tight matches made them one of the most consistent sides of the league phase. RCB also carry the advantage of recent familiarity with conditions in Dharamsala, where they sealed a crucial win against Punjab Kings earlier this month.

GT, meanwhile, have surged into the playoffs on the back of a formidable bowling attack and a top order that rarely allowed pressure to build. Captain Shubman Gill, the elegant Sai Sudharsan and explosive wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler have provided solidity and firepower in equal measure.

But it is GT’s bowling that has stood out in the second half of the season. The pace trio of Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada and Prasidh Krishna has consistently struck with the new ball, while Rashid Khan and left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore have controlled the middle overs expertly.

GT head into the knockout clash with strong momentum after hammering Chennai Super Kings by 89 runs in their final league game.

(With PTI inputs)

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IPL 2026 | Delhi Capitals Wins By 6 Wickets Against Mumbai Indians: Redemption For Sameer Rizvi

NEW DELHI: The emotions, tears, smiles, satisfaction and the feeling of finally holding the IPL trophy – the scenes of Virat Kohli and the entire Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp after winning the IPL 2025 title are still fresh in the minds of fans. And now, with another dominant campaign, RCB are back in the playoffs and dreaming of back-to-back titles.

With nine wins in 14 matches, 18 points and an impressive net run rate of +0.78, RCB became the first team to qualify for the IPL 2026 playoffs.

One of the biggest architects behind RCB’s success this season has once again been their talisman Virat Kohli. The former India captain has been in tremendous form throughout the season and the defending champions will hope he carries the same momentum into the playoffs as well.

RCB are set to face Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala.

The winner of Qualifier 1 will march directly into the IPL 2026 final, while the losing side will get another opportunity in Qualifier 2 against the winner of the Eliminator between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Rajasthan Royals.

But there is one statistic that may worry RCB fans.

Despite being one of the greatest batters in IPL history, Kohli does not boast a dominating record in the playoff stages of the tournament.

Yes, you read that right.

In his illustrious IPL career spanning 281 matches, Kohli has played 16 games, in playoffs, for RCB and scored 357 runs at an average of 25.50 and a strike rate of 121.42. He has registered two half-centuries in playoff matches and also has a duck to his name.

Kohli has been the face of RCB since the inception of the IPL in 2008. Signed by the Bengaluru franchise as a youngster, he has remained loyal to the team throughout his IPL journey.

After failing to qualify for the playoffsts in the inaugural season in 2008, RCB reached the playoffs for the first time in 2009. They defeated Chennai Super Kings in the semifinal to enter the final, but eventually lost the title clash to Deccan Chargers.

Now, as RCB gear up for another massive playoffst clash against Gujarat Titans, all eyes will once again be on Kohli.

Here’s a look at Kohli’s overall IPL numbers and his record in the playoff stage.

Virat Kohli in IPL

Virat Kohli in IPL playoffs

Virat Kohli in IPL playoffs – all matches

The Sports Ministry on Tuesday notified the rules of operation for the soon-to-be-formed National Sports Tribunal (NST) and the National Sports Board (NSB), stating that a dedicated portal would be set up for submission of disputes and maintenance of legal records.

In separate notifications addressing the roles of the two bodies, which will be formed under the National Sports Governance Act passed last year, the Sports Ministry reiterated that a search-cum-selection committee is in the process of being formed under the cabinet secretary.

The National Sports Board, that will function as the central authority for granting recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensuring compliance with governance, financial and ethical standards, will comprise a Chairperson and two members. It will have a three-year term.

The Tribunal’s strength has not been specified by the government. The rules for NST, however, have incorporated the provisions for techno-legal measures to ensure “digital implementation”.

“(These include) notification of a dedicated portal by the Central Government for submission of disputes, notices, responses, documents and clarifications, as well as communication from the Tribunal, publication of orders, virtual hearings and maintenance of records related to proceedings and orders,” the ministry stated.

The Tribunal will serve as a dedicated adjudicatory body for sports-related disputes in the country.

“It is aimed at reducing reliance on civil courts and ensuring independent, speedy, effective and cost-efficient disposal of disputes relating to sports governance and administration,” the ministry reiterated.

The government also stated once again that if the appointed Chairperson or member of the Tribunal is a serving judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court, “he shall either resign or obtain voluntary retirement from his parent service before joining the Tribunal.” 
In addition to granting affiliation, the National Sports Board will also maintain a roster of the National Sports Election Panel and a register of affiliate units of the National Sports Bodies 
The Board has also been empowered to specify model guidelines or regulations on sports governance. An age cap of 65 has been set for the members. 

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi gives captain Riyan Parag an ‘awkward’ stare (Screengrab)

NEW DELHI: A funny moment between Riyan Parag and teenage Rajasthan Royals star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has gone viral on social media. In a video taken at an airport, paparazzi asked the two players for a photo together. Responding casually, Parag said, “(Hum nahi hai flim star.) We’re not flim stars!” After hearing the comment, Vaibhav gave Parag an awkward and funny stare, which quickly became a talking point online.Watch:The viral clip arrived at a time when Rajasthan Royals secured a playoff spot in IPL 2026 after defeating Mumbai Indians by 30 runs. The team had faced criticism earlier in the season after losing several matches in the middle phase of the tournament, with many fans questioning Parag’s captaincy.Despite the criticism, Rajasthan Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara strongly defended Parag’s leadership. He said, “When we decided to offer Riyan the captaincy, he is the absolute right guy to lead this franchise.” Sangakkara praised Parag’s confidence, maturity, and the respect he has earned inside the dressing room. He also spoke about the trolling Parag has faced over the years, saying, “I think I’ve seen very few players who have been criticised like Riyan has for about seven years now.” Sangakkara added that Parag is misunderstood publicly and described him as “a lovely, soft, gentle, really determined, smart young man.”Meanwhile, 15-year-old Vaibhav continues to impress with a record-breaking season. Speaking on Kevin Pietersen’s YouTube show, the young batter revealed his huge ambitions. “I want to score 200 in T20s. I want to break Gayle’s record,” he said, referring to Chris Gayle’s famous unbeaten 175 in IPL history.Vaibhav has already scored over 580 runs this season with an explosive strike rate, becoming one of IPL 2026’s breakout stars.

A Dominican judge ruled Monday that Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco was criminally responsible for the sexual and psychological abuse of a minor, though he will not serve a sentence.

Judge José Antonio Núñez said the court found Franco had also been the target of extortion and blackmail by the minor’s mother, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually trafficking her daughter.

“It seems contradictory to declare criminal responsibility and at the same time exempt him from punishment. The court has granted Wander Franco a judicial pardon due to the particular circumstances that made him a material victim, but not a legal one,” explained Núñez.

The judge justified the judicial pardon as a “logical and legal reasoning.”

“Thank God for everything,” Franco expressed as he effusively embraced his mother, Nancy Aybar, and other family members who accompanied him in court.

Franco was arrested in January 2024 after being accused of having a four-month relationship with a girl who was 14 at the time and transferring thousands of dollars to her mother to consent to the illegal relationship.

After the ruling, Franco left the courthouse alongside his lawyer, Teodosio Jáquez, and briefly answered reporters’ questions, saying, “I feel calm,” and asking his fans to “continue supporting me and trusting in me.”

Franco also said he personally had not contacted the Rays but that his lawyers surely had.

“We are aware of today’s verdict in the Wander Franco trial and will conclude our investigation at the appropriate time,” Major League Baseball said in a statement.

Franco attorney Jáquez said: “We don’t have the physical sentence in our hands, but he was exempted from punishment because the president of the court established that he was also a victim and because he is exempted from punishment through judicial pardon.”

The full sentencing will be June 16.

“When we have the full sentence in hand, we will give you more details,” Jáquez said. “He was exempted from punishment and we think that’s fine, but we need to have the sentence in hand.

In November 2021, Franco signed an 11-year, $182 million contract with the Rays, but his career was upended when authorities in the Dominican Republic announced in August 2023 that they were investigating him for an alleged relationship with a minor. Franco was 22 at the time.

Six months after his arrest, Tampa Bay placed him on the restricted list, which cut off the pay he had been receiving while on administrative leave.

Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils bid farewell to the French Open. (AP Photos)

The curtains came down on two of the most beloved careers in modern tennis as Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils played their final matches at French Open on Monday, bringing an emotional close to more than two decades of memories on the Paris clay.Monfils’ farewell stretched close to midnight on Court Philippe-Chatrier, where the 39-year-old Frenchman lost a dramatic five-set battle to compatriot Hugo Gaston 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-0. Earlier in the day, 41-year-old Wawrinka bowed out after a four-set defeat to Jesper de Jong.Both veterans, who made their Roland Garros debuts 21 years ago, are set to retire at the end of the season.For Monfils, the goodbye carried the emotion of a hometown hero taking one final bow. Chants of “Ga-el! Ga-el!” echoed through the packed stadium as fans celebrated one of the sport’s greatest entertainers. Even while battling fatigue in the Paris heat, Monfils continued to thrill the crowd with spectacular winners and trademark theatrics.After fighting back from two sets down, however, he ran out of energy against an opponent 14 years younger. Following the match, Monfils was joined on court by former Davis Cup teammates Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon during a heartfelt ceremony.Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz praised Monfils in a tribute video, calling him “a true inspiration” and “a great person off the court.” An emotional Monfils also thanked his wife, Elina Svitolina, crediting her support for helping him continue his career.Wawrinka’s farewell carried a different weight — that of a champion reflecting on one of the greatest underdog careers of his era. The 2015 French Open winner received a standing ovation after his loss, with fans applauding one final time for the Swiss star whose thunderous backhand once conquered the sport’s biggest names.“It’s hard to say goodbye to you here,” an emotional Wawrinka told the crowd. “It’s because of Roland Garros that I wanted to become a tennis player.”Wawrinka’s remarkable career included three Grand Slam titles, all won against world No. 1 players — including victories over Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in major finals. Alongside Roger Federer, he also helped Switzerland win Olympic doubles gold and the Davis Cup.

Jannik Sinner will start his first bid to complete the career Grand Slam at Roland Garros on Tuesday, with Coco Gauff getting her French Open title defence under way. World number one Sinner is the overwhelming favourite in the men’s draw in the absence of injured rival Carlos Alcaraz. He will be hoping for a comfortable victory in his first-round tie against French wildcard Clement Tabur in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier, after a gruelling, albeit successful, clay-court season.

The Italian clinched his sixth successive Masters title at the Italian Open earlier this month, completing the set of all nine 1000-level trophies, adding to tournament wins on clay in Monte Carlo and Madrid.

Sinner will be playing at Roland Garros for the first time since his agonising loss to Alcaraz in last year’s final, in which he led by two sets and missed three championship points.

He is on a 29-match winning streak and has not lost since a defeat by Jakub Mensik in Doha in February.

“Everyone is trying to beat (me), but that’s also the most normal thing,” said Sinner.

“You need to be ready. Best-of-five matches, they are a bit different.

“It gives you a little bit more time to understand how to beat a player, and even if you have a wrong start, then potentially you can find a way in.”

Tabur will be playing in the main draw of a Grand Slam for only the second time at the age of 26, after a first-round loss to Corentin Moutet as a qualifier last year.

The world number 171 has lost all of the other six qualifying matches he has played at the majors.

Gauff faces Townsend

Gauff begins her defence of the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen against fellow American Taylor Townsend.

The women’s fourth seed has struggled for consistency since beating Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s title decider in Paris, but did reach the Italian Open final before losing to Elina Svitolina.

Gauff could reach at least the quarter-finals for a sixth successive year at Roland Garros, where she has by far her best record in Grand Slam events.

“Whenever I come to this tournament, I don’t even think about my past results here,” she said.

“It’s obviously different thinking about last year, but, I don’t know, last year feels like 10 years ago.”

Townsend won her only previous meeting with Gauff at an ITF event in Charleston seven years ago, when her opponent was a 15-year-old qualifier.

Sabalenka appeared poised to be a strong favourite for the French Open when she completed the ‘Sunshine double’ by emerging victorious at both Indian Wells and in Miami in March.

But the world number one enters Roland Garros with question marks around her form after a Madrid Open quarter-final loss to Hailey Baptiste and another shock defeat in the third round against Sorana Cirstea in Rome.

She believes she will be fresh, though, when she starts her latest tilt at a maiden French Open title, facing Jessica Bouzas Maneiro of Spain.

“I struggled at the beginning of the clay court (season) physically, to be honest, but right now I feel 100 percent,” Sabalenka said.

“We did a great recovery. We focused on recovery and making sure that I’m healed everywhere and I’m ready to go.”

Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, a potential last-16 opponent for Sabalenka, plays Laura Siegemund of Germany, while the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala faces a tough test against 17th-seeded teenager Iva Jovic.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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IPL 2026 News | Shami’s Sensation Leads Lucknow to First Win of Season

The New York Knicks are your 2026 Eastern Conference champions. For the first time since 1999, they will play in the NBA Finals, and if they win four more games, they’ll hoist their first championship trophy since 1973. The Knick drought has never been in more danger than it is today. Of course, the hardest part still remains.

On the other side of the country, the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs are playing a Western Conference Finals series that many assume will wind up serving as the true Finals. They were the two best teams in the regular season. They have two of the best players in the NBA in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Victor Wembanyama. Either of them will be favored in a matchup with the Knicks.

That series still has a ways to go. The two sides are tied 2-2. The series will shift back to Oklahoma for Game 5 on Tuesday, so the defending champions do have home-court advantage, but they’re severely shorthanded at this point. Both Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell missed Game 4 due to injury. Without them, the Thunder have really struggled to generate offense.

We don’t yet know who the Knicks will be playing in the Finals. We do at least know when the Finals will tip off. The Knicks, for the second consecutive round, will have a lengthy gap between games as the Finals begin in more than a week. Fortunately for the exhausted Western Conference champions, they will at least get a few days to recover from this brutal series before hosting New York for Game 1. Here is the schedule for the 2026 NBA Finals.

2026 NBA Finals schedule

Wednesday, June 3

• Game 1: Thunder/Spurs vs. Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC/fubo

Friday, June 5

• Game 2: Thunder/Spurs vs. Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC/fubo

Monday, June 8

• Game 3: Knicks vs. Thunder/Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC/fubo

Wednesday, June 10

• Game 4: Knicks vs. Thunder/Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC/fubo

Saturday, June 13

• Game 5*: Thunder/Spurs vs. Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC/fubo

Tuesday, June 16

• Game 6*: Knicks vs. Thunder/Spurs, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC/fubo

Friday, June 19

• Game 7*: Thunder/Spurs vs. Knicks, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC/fubo

2026 NBA Finals odds

Odds as of May 25 via FanDuel

• Thunder: +100
• Knicks: +220
• Spurs: +270

The last NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden was Game 5 in 1999, which came on June 25. When the Knicks host Game 3 in two weeks, it will be the first Finals game at MSG in 9,845 days. If the Spurs are able to win the West, it will set up a rematch of the 1999 Finals, which San Antonio won in five games.

The Knicks have won 11 straight playoff games in dominant fashion. They have not lost since Game 3 of their first-round series vs. the Hawks on April 23.

The Houston Astros capped their fourth straight win with a no-hit shutout on Monday. Tatsuya Imai started and pitched six innings before relievers Steven Okert and Alimber Santa took over to keep the Texas Rangers hitless.

The 9-0 victory marked the MLB’s first no-hitter since Shota Imanaga and two Chicago Cubs relievers combined for a 12-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in September 2024.

The last complete-game no-hitter came in August 2024, when Blake Snell held the Cincinnati Reds hitless.

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Houston Astros starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, on May 25, 2026. (Julio Cortez/AP)

Imai went six innings in the 17th regular-season no-hitter in Astros history and fourth that was a combined effort. Houston also threw a no-hitter in the 2022 World Series when four pitchers combined against Philadelphia.

Okert worked the seventh after Imai got 16 outs over the last 16 batters he faced. He walked three of his first four batters but benefited from a double play in the first inning before settling into a groove.

Santa made his big-league debut in the eighth and retired all six batters he faced. His 24th pitch was a called third strike against Brandon Nimmo that ended it after an ABS challenge by the batter was confirmed a strike.

Houston Astros pitcher Alimber Santa is doused with water after pitching in his major league debut and closing a combined no-hitter against the Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, on May 25, 2026. (Julio Cortez/AP)

The Rangers were held without a hit for the sixth time, the first since Corey Kluber threw a no-hitter against them for the New York Yankees on May 19, 2021.

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The 28-year-old Imai is in his first big-league season after coming over from Japan.

Imai joined the Astros in January after agreeing to a $54 million, three-year contract. He was a three-time All-Star during eight seasons in Japan, and went 10-5 with a 1.92 ERA last season for the Pacific League’s Seibu Lions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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On the court, Donovan Dent can read the floor like no other.

Off the court, the California kid who proved to be one of the best UNM Lobo point guards of all time still needs some work on reading the room. He just doesn’t seem to get how many people are so interested in what he’s doing.

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Take Saturday, for instance. The 6-foot-2 point guard, who finished his senior season in March at UCLA and recently moved back to Albuquerque, announced on Saturday he would host an inexpensive ($25) pop-up kids camp at ABC Prep Basketball Academy in Old Town.

“I was expecting like roughly 25 to 30 kids,” said Dent.

Monday morning, 120 kids showed up, many with Lobo fan parents, to catch a glimpse of, and three hours of working out with, the Lobo great now known by some as “Coach Dent.”

“I never expected this,” he said with a big smile after the camp concluded, and after he’d signed any and every autograph and took pictures with kids and parents alike.

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He just couldn’t quite figure out why so many wanted to come to his camp.

Also on Saturday, and certainly the more newsworthy part of the weekend for those outside of Albuquerque, Dent seemed to think nobody would be all that interested in what he told the Journal about his plans to get into basketball training and coaching rather than pursuing a professional playing career.

Yeah, he was fairly oblivious as to that being some information the college basketball world might latch onto.

“My phone started blowing up on Sunday about whether I was still playing or not and I couldn’t figure out why,” Dent said Monday. “I guess it was because of the article. It was crazy.”

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As the news started to spread Saturday and then into Sunday about Dent’s comments in Saturday’s Journal article — posted online Saturday, in print on Sunday — Dent was, at least initially, oblivious to it all.

Many Los Angeles-based and national media began citing sources close to Dent that the point guard was retiring. Some cited the Journal. Others just posted the information to their social media accounts without any indication where they learned about it.

To be clear, here is what Dent — a source as close to Dent as the Journal could find for this story — told the Journal on Saturday: “I’m done with pro basketball. That’s why I came back here. I want to give back to the youth and I want to start training. I want to start working in individual training, group sessions, things like that and I want to get started on that out here (in Albuquerque) — young kids, older kids, just help them with their game and I wanted to start it here because Albuquerque gave me so much.”

So, he did.

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He held his first camp on Monday, has another, larger one in Albuquerque July 13-15, and will also host camps in Farmington, Santa Fe and Las Cruces over the next couple months.

The lucrative UCLA experience — reportedly $3 million in total revenue share and NIL compensation to play one season for the Bruins — afforded Dent the luxury of pursuing his next step in the game before most players get that chance.

Sure, maybe people should have noticed he wasn’t taking part in any pre-NBA Draft team workouts or combines, but still, when you hear a guy with lucrative playing opportunities out there isn’t going to pursue them, it’s going to get some buzz.

And to be clear, Dent does still train daily and is staying in top shape. And he will be playing in the $2 million, winner-take-all TBT (The Basketball Tournament) in July as the captain of The Enchantment, a primarily UNM Lobo alumni team (there are also a couple NM State Aggies playing and a couple of players with New Mexico ties who didn’t play for either UNM or NMSU).

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So, is he really done playing basketball? Is that “R” word that so many used over the past 48 hours to describe his status in basketball (“retire” never appeared in a Dent quote or in the Journal’s article on his decision to get into coaching and training) an accurate one in Dent’s mind?

The Journal asked again on Monday in response to all the social media chatter, if he really meant it.

More specifically: “Is there a chance that one day you’ll still play basketball at a professional level?”

“I don’t know, I haven’t thought about that,” Dent said. “All I’m thinking about right now is doing what I’m doing right now (at the kids camp), and that’s not a pro career. So, I guess people can say I’m retired as of right now.”

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OK, then. Nice and clear.

As for the camp…

First off, Dent after the camp said there were 93 kids in attendance. Turns out that was just the online number he saw. Some in-person paying campers — a couple dozen, in fact — pushed the total to 120, according to Brandon Mason, President of ABC Prep where the camp was held in Old Town and where several current and former Lobos regularly work out and train in the offseason. That number has included Dent over the past year when not at UCLA.

The camp was controlled chaos — probably a few too many kids for that setup than ideal, but certainly a learning moment for all — and got handled, as Dent noted, thanks to so many of the players and coaches at ABC Prep. Those included prep star Brandon Mason Jr., a top-70 nationally ranked high school recruit for the Class of 2027, and Bella Hines, the Albuquerque native who was a top 100 recruit last year, played this past season at LSU and has transferred to TCU.

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As for the kids in the camp? It was everything Dent could have hoped for.

“Absolutely, it made me so happy,” Dent said. “I appreciate everyone who came out today, especially on short notice. They had high energy, everyone just had a lot of fun. That’s all I can ask for. It was a great time out here.”

Reach Geoff Grammer at ggrammer@abqjournal.com or follow him on Twitter (X) @GeoffGrammer.