The Indian cricket team’s plans for the ODI series against Afghanistan have suffered a major blow, with Virat Kohli reportedly ruled out of the three-match contest due to a hamstring injury. The series starts on June 13. Kohli was until recently playing in IPL 2026 for champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In the final, Kohli could be seen in discomfort. A report in The Indian Express claimed that Chennai Super Kings captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is likely to replace Kohli in the Afghanistan series. Gaikwad is part of the India A squad travelling to Sri Lanka. If Gaikwad is picked, Rajat Patidar might get a look-in for the India A squad, which will travel to Sri Lanka for a tri-series involving Afghanistan.

The three-match series begins on June 13 in Dharamsala. Kohli suffered the injury during the IPL final, which his side, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, won on Sunday.

“He is out of the ODI series due to a hamstring injury. He got injured during the final. Scans have revealed a distal semimembranosus tendon tear,” a BCCI source told PTI.

A distal semimembranosus tendon tear is a rare hamstring injury affecting the thick tendon that attaches a muscle to the inner part of the shinbone, just below the knee.

Kohli, known for his unmatched fitness even at 37 years of age, was in stellar form in the IPL, where he steered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a second consecutive title. He hit the winning runs in the final against Gujarat Titans.

Reinventing his T20 game, Kohli amassed 675 runs in RCB’s triumphant campaign, including a hundred and five fifty-plus scores. Kohli’s absence will take the sheen off the upcoming series.

Though the former India captain is now a one-format player, he remains a top draw for fans worldwide. It is extremely rare for Kohli to miss games due to injury, given his exemplary fitness standards.

It also remains to be seen if Rohit Sharma is available for the whole series against Afghanistan. The opener was included in the squad subject to fitness after a hamstring injury affected his IPL appearances. Ever since both Kohli and Rohit retired from Tests last year, there has been immense speculation over their ODI future.

The next 50-over World Cup is scheduled to be held in South Africa in October-November 2027, and they would be included in the squad on the basis of their form and fitness leading up to the tournament.

The second ODI against Afghanistan will be played in Lucknow on June 17, followed by the third and final match in Chennai on June 20.

After the Afghanistan series, India’s next ODI assignment will be in England – a three-match series beginning on July 14.

Featured Video Of The Day

IPL 2026 News | RCB Outplay CSK For 2nd Win On Trot, Ruturaj Gaikwad & Co Suffer 3rd Loss

Suncorp Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 14 NRL game between Brisbane Broncos and
Gold Coast Titans. The game kicks off at 7:35 pm with Brisbane Broncos heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Brisbane Broncos vs.
Gold Coast Titans
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday June 6, 2026 at 7:35 pm

Where: Suncorp Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans Odds

Brisbane Broncos vs Gold Coast Titans Preview

A struggling Brisbane side will look to halt a four-game losing streak when it hosts fellow Queensland battlers Gold Coast in a derby that carries significant importance for both clubs. The defending premiers have endured a dramatic fall from grace over the past month, culminating in last week’s shock loss to St George Illawarra. Coach Michael Maguire has responded by making changes in the halves, while the absence of Pat Carrigan places additional pressure on Brisbane’s forward pack. The Titans have problems of their own, sitting near the foot of the ladder after five straight defeats and failing to score more than 12 points in their last four matches. Encouragingly for Gold Coast, Origin representatives Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Jojo Fifita return. Brisbane has dominated recent meetings and, despite its poor form, this shapes as an opportunity to rediscover some confidence.

O’Neill used the friendly against the side ranked 80th in the world as a chance to give younger players a chance in the green and white shirt.

Both Liverpool’s Kieran Morrison and Arsenal’s Ceadach O’Neill made their senior debuts during the lacklustre match.

Stopper Luke Southwood also came off the bench at half-time to make just his second appearance, in what was the first ever meeting between the nations.

“That was Tom [Atcheson’s] first start and I thought he played terrific, Ciaron Brown was excellent in the back three and Ruairi McConville,” Northern Ireland boss O’Neill added.

“I thought young Ceadach O’Neill did really well when he came on and showed great strength to stay on the ball, but it was really good to see the togetherness of the group.

“Ethan Galbraith has not played since March and Ali McCann has not played after March and gave us a great shift as well. Right through the squad, they worked really hard to keep a clean sheet and win the game.”

Northern Ireland will now travel to Lille to face France in their final preparation match before the World Cup.

O’Neill added that there will be “no expectation” on his side on Monday (20:10 BST) against the nation who sit second in the Fifa rankings.

“They are certainly one of the major favourites for the World Cup,” he added.

“It will be a tough challenge and a different approach from our side, we will be as strong as we can be from the start.

“It is a great game, there is no expectation on us, but we have to give a good account of ourselves as well.”

Polish qualifier Maja ​Chwalinska continued her fairytale run with a 7-6(4) 6-4 win ​over Diana Shnaider on Thursday, reaching her maiden Grand Slam final at the French Open and booking a title showdown with ​Russian ‌Mirra Andreeva.

After 19-year-old Andreeva sealed a 6-1 ⁠6-3 semi-final win over Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, it was Chwalinska’s turn to shine ‌under the roof of Court Philippe Chatrier, and the ⁠24-year-old delivered her best tennis when it mattered to go through.

Read moreAndreeva races past error-prone Kostyuk to reach French Open final

Shnaider cut a frustrated figure in the opening ​set as her opponent came up with ‌some stunning winners that showcased her power and precision, but the 22-year-old Russian hit back to recover a second break and ‌draw level at 4-4.

Chwalinska turned up the style further in the battle of the ​left-handers, unleashing a backhand winner to hold in a marathon 11th game, before earning a set point in the ensuing ​tiebreak with the perfect lob.

The crowd favourite, playing in ​her ninth match at Roland Garros this ​year and sporting strapping on her left thigh, took the opening set to roaring ​applause before going toe-to-toe with Shnaider in the opening eight games of the next.

A decisive break in the next game gave Chwalinska a great opportunity to close out an absorbing ⁠contest in two sets, and the world number 114 stayed focused to ⁠finish her opponent ​off on her first match point with a forehand winner.

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AFP)

Why Today’s Rally Elite Are Sprinting for 15 Days Straight

The old-school philosophy of the Dakar Rally was simple: survive, pace yourself, navigate accurately, and let the race come to you. But as stated by two-time champion Ricky Brabec in episode 26 of the Bore & Stoke podcast, that era is officially dead. Modern rally racing has evolved into a hyper-competitive, 15-day maximum-effort sprint where strategy has taken a backseat to raw velocity.

Advertisement

The Death of “Rally Games”

In past decades, riders could utilize tactical positioning – sometimes intentionally slowing down to avoid leading the navigation on subsequent days, or playing psychological games in the dunes. Today, the depth of talent at the front of the field makes those tactics obsolete.

“Within the last five years, it’s been a sprint every single day,” says Brabec. “The only game that you can play now is just not making a mistake. Because dude, you make one mistake and you can lose three minutes. That’s the game now. There are no games where you’re trying to lead people in the wrong direction or hide behind a bush.”

Advertisement

Because the top ten riders start at three-minute intervals, catching a competitor ahead requires making up substantial time on someone who is already riding on the absolute limit. It is common for top riders to spend 8 to 10 hours completely alone in the wilderness, only to find out at the finish line that the top eight competitors are separated by less than two minutes.

The Cognitive Overload

While the physical demands of hanging onto a 450cc rally bike through shifting sand dunes are immense, Brabec emphasizes that the cognitive exhaustion is what truly breaks competitors.

1. Constant Focal Shifting: Riders must constantly look down at a roadbook to process navigation notes, look back up to read unpredictable terrain at speeds exceeding 90 mph, and simultaneously monitor digital compass headings (caps) and speed zones.

2. Zero-Relaxation Liaisons: Even after the timed special stage concludes, the mental tax continues. Riders must navigate public highways for hours on end to return to the bivouac, battling high winds, traffic, and fatigue.

The Closest Finish in History

This relentless pace culminated in the most tightly contested Dakar finish in history, where two seconds dictated the victory after thousands of miles. While Brabec acknowledges the immense stress of the hyper-sprint format, he admits the intensity is exactly what keeps him returning to the start line: “The level is insane, and I don’t see it slowing down.”

Advertisement

Check out the Bore & Stoke episode with Ricky Brabec here to listen to the full interview.

Become a Motorcycle.com insider. Get the latest motorcycle news first by subscribing to our newsletter here.

The Cleveland Browns pulled off one of the most shocking decisions of the offseason when they decided to trade Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday. 

The Browns decided to get rid of Garrett, even though he’s coming off a 2025 season in which he set an NFL record with 23 sacks. The only way a trade like this can even begin to make sense is if you’re able to get something solid in return and the Browns did exactly that. 

Not only did the Browns get Jared Verse as part of the deal, but they also landed three draft picks: 

• 2027 first-round pick
• 2028 second-round pick
• 2029 conditional third-round pick

For now, the deal only includes one first-round pick, but the Browns could actually end up scoring a SECOND first-round pick thanks to a bizarre conditional clause in the deal. 

How the Browns could score an extra first-round pick

Of the three draft picks that Cleveland will be getting, the selection coming in 2029 is a conditional pick, which means the round of the pick could change if certain conditions are met and that’s where things get kind of interesting. 

The Browns did their best to make sure that Garrett won’t end up back in the AFC North by inserting a unique clause in the deal: If the Rams trade Garrett to an AFC North team at any point between now and the 2029 NFL Draft, then Los Angeles will have to cough up a 2029 first-round pick instead of a third-rounder. 

That’s it. That’s the one condition. If the Rams ship Garrett off to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati or Baltimore, then the Browns will get a first-round pick from L.A. in 2029. 

Although it’s an unusual condition, it’s not unheard of. As a matter of fact, the Dallas Cowboys used this exact condition when they sent Micah Parsons to Green Bay. Under the terms of the deal, the Cowboys would get a 2028 first-round pick from the Packers if they decided to trade Parsons to another NFC East team. 

Now, you might think the Browns are a little crazy for doing this, but when you’re dealing with the Rams, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Back in 2019, the Rams sent two first-round picks to Jacksonville in a trade for Jalen Ramsey. The cornerback won a Super Bowl in 2021 and got voted to three Pro Bowls during his time in L.A., but after the 2022 season, the Rams turned around and traded him to the Miami Dolphins. 

The Dolphins obviously aren’t in the same division as Jacksonville, but the Rams showed that their open to trading away a star player just a few years after acquiring him. And since that’s the case, the Browns did their best to make sure Rams general manager Les Snead thinks twice before trying to trade Garrett to the Steelers, Ravens or Bengals. 

Garrett is 30 years old and he’s under contract through the 2030 season, so he probably won’t be leaving L.A. unless the Rams decide to trade him, and if that happens, it almost certainly won’t be to an AFC North team thanks to this unique condition buried in the trade terms. 

Devin Haney got his hands on the WBO welterweight world title back in November but ‘The Dream’ has been unable to agree to a first defence.

Now, it seems as though the American is willing to face an unbeaten former champion.

Haney dethroned Brian Norman Jr back in November, registering one of the standout performances of the year as he handed the Georgia-born operator a first career defeat, following a move up from the super-lightweight division.

Fast-forward seven months and Haney has still not signed for a first defence of the belt or for a unification against his fellow 147lb champions, despite being linked to an in-demand rematch with fierce rival, Ryan Garcia, and a clash with WBA titleholder, Rolando Romero.

However, after being inserted as the WBO’s number one welterweight contender, unbeaten former WBO lightweight world champion, Keyshawn Davis, took to social media to call for his shot at Haney’s belt.

On X, Haney responded to the call-out, publicly accepting the proposed all-American scrap by stating ‘Let’s do it KEYSHAWN’. 

Let’s do it KEYSHAWN.. https://t.co/plq9hqQpBP

— Devin Haney (@Realdevinhaney) June 3, 2026

Advertisement

Haney previously beckoned for the fight following Davis’ triumph over Ortiz, but those talks soon went quiet when murmurs of a potential meeting with Romero emerged, only for that fight to collapse, reportedly because Haney was not offered a guaranteed purse.

With Haney-Romero seemingly off the table, the door may now be open for Chorley’s Jack Catterall to capitalise and secure a bid for Romero’s ‘WBA Super’ crown, after winning the WBA (Regular) welterweight title last month.

Omar Berrada, Manchester United’s chief executive offer, has unveiled the club’s transfer plan for the summer window with five new signings targeted

Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada has confirmed the club are set to replicate last summer’s transfer plan and sign a mix of experienced Premier League and non-English based stars.

United spent more than £200million on four players during the 2025/26 summer transfer window. The Reds’ first piece of business was signing Matheus Cunha in a £62.5million deal from Wolves, before Bryan Mbeumo arrived from Brentford for £71m. They then brought Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig for £73m and Senne Lammens in a late £18m move from Royal Antwerp.

As for those who left United, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Andre Onana, Toby Collyer, Ethan Wheatley, Harry Amass and Rasmus Hojlund were sent out on loan, while Alejandro Garnacho was sold to Chelsea for £40m and Antony joined Real Betis for £21m. Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans all departed the Reds at the end of their contract.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

In the end, it proved to be a successful transfer window for United, as with the team eventually finishing third in the Premier League and securing Champions League qualification after Michael Carrick took over midway through the season. Cunha, Mbeumo, Sesko and Lammens all impressed during their debut campaign at Old Trafford and contributed to the Reds sealing a return to Europe’s elite competition.

And going into another important summer for the club, United’s CEO Berrada has claimed the Reds have a “clear plan” and want to mirror the success they had in the transfer market 12 months ago.

Speaking to United’s YouTube channel, Berrada said: “I think the template for what we did last summer will be replicated in many ways. You always go into a window, you don’t know how you’re going to come out of it, but you have to be really prepared. You have to have a clear plan.

“You have to know exactly what positions you’re looking to strengthen. And you also have to be prepared for any eventuality, there could be exits that we’re not expecting, there could be opportunities in the market that perhaps weren’t there at the beginning of the window. So, we have to be ready.

“We have to be agile and flexible, but we have a clear plan. Jason Wilcox and his team are very well set up to to execute that plan. And I do think that what we saw last season is a good way forward for us, which is we want a mix of experience and youth.

“We want a mix of players that have demonstrated they can perform in the Premier League and perhaps also with players that are doing very well outside the Premier League. But we will always do it within our terms and ensuring that whatever decision we take is not just for the short term but also for the long term.”

Get MEN Premium now for just £1 HERE – or get involved in our United WhatsApp group by clicking HERE. You can also join our United Facebook page by clicking HERE and don’t miss out on our brilliant selection of newsletters HERE.

United are eyeing up at least five new signings this summer. Atalanta midfielder Ederson is poised to become the club’s first arrival after they agreed a £38m deal earlier this week.

Alongside that, the Reds have an interest in Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, West Ham United star Mateus Fernandes and Carlos Baleba at Brighton. Elliot Anderson has been linked, but Manchester City look to be leading the race to sign the Nottingham Forest midfielder.

A striker is also on United’s radar, with the club already confirming that Hojlund has left on a permanent deal this summer. A left-back is another position that has been discussed with Newcastle star Lewis Hall a possible target.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.