NEW DELHI: Sanju Samson, who was named Player of the Tournament in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, recently spoke about his journey after India’s historic title win. The wicketkeeper-batter played a crucial role in the tournament, scoring 321 runs in five innings at an average of 80.25 and a strike rate close to 200. His performances included several match-winning knocks as India went on to lift the trophy at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad after defeating the New Zealand national cricket team in the final.

Long relationship with Gautam Gambhir

While speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram, Samson talked about his long-standing bond with India head coach Gautam Gambhir. According to him, their connection goes back many years to when he played for Kolkata Knight Riders.“Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) and I have a very old relationship. I think I met him when I was in KKR. He was the captain of the team and he also lives in Delhi. I also played in the same academy where he was…so it’s a very long relationship and what has happened from there till now, I think cannot be expressed in words,” he told PTI.Samson’s impressive run in the tournament also helped him surpass Virat Kohli’s record of 319 runs in a single T20 World Cup edition by an Indian, which Kohli had set in 2014.

Emotional message from Sachin Tendulkar

The 31-year-old also shared that he received a special message from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar after India’s victory.“I got a message from Sachin, sir. It was a very emotional message for me,” said Samson.India’s triumph was historic, as the India national cricket team became the first side to win three T20 World Cup titles and also the first team to successfully defend the trophy on home soil.

Sanju Samson reflects on his journey

Samson described his comeback in the tournament as one of the most memorable phases of his career. After facing inconsistency and spending time on the bench earlier, he emerged as India’s top performer when it mattered the most, delivering key innings from the Super Eight stage against the West Indies national cricket team to the final.Reflecting on his approach to the game, Samson said he always focuses on being true to himself and playing for the team.“I never wanted to be selfless. I’ve always wanted to be myself. So I bring a lot of different qualities, a lot of strengths, a lot of weaknesses. I like to look at cricket as a team sport. So I think we play to win. And looking at what things have happened in my life lately, I definitely carry a lot of dreams with me. So a lot of youngsters, a lot of people, not even in cricket, a lot of people in different careers, they look at me like their own careers, like their own life,” Samson concluded.

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal will be inspired by Max Dowman’s youthful exuberance as they chase silverware on four fronts.

Arteta is deciding whether to involve the 16-year-old wonderkid in Tuesday’s Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen at Emirates Stadium after he made history against Everton on Saturday.

Having stepped off the bench to set up the opener for Viktor Gyokeres, he then ran the length of the pitch and rolled home the second to become the Premier League’s youngest ever goalscorer.

Arsenal face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and with the season approaching the decisive phase, Arteta insists Dowman can lift the team through his energy.

“It’s very inspiring when you see someone, almost naive, making decisions and flowing and careless playing in that manner, in that context. It’s great,” Arteta said.

“And I think probably our players realised as well. It’s a good example, playing with that flow and enthusiasm is actually very beneficial for the team.

“I didn’t expect that kind of goal, that’s for sure, but his attitude and his decision making, yes. If not, I wouldn’t have made the decision to play him.

“But then to be that precise and deliver the moment that he delivered, that’s something difficult to imagine.”

Arteta uses a “cook slowly” approach for bringing through young players and while he has been impressed by Dowman’s confidence on and off the field, he is wary of him becoming overburdened by hype.

“I think they have to cook at the optimal speed in relation to what they need and what they demand,” he said.

“He is knocking on the door at 16, saying ‘I am good enough and I can impact this team whenever it is needed’. And he is doing it when he is playing.

“We just need to bring the temperature down and understand what is the best thing for this boy at his age.

“He’s doing something phenomenal. We all know that. Let’s keep it down a little bit and respect his nature to do what he has to do, which I’m sure is going to be something really good.”

Arsenal drew the first leg of their round-of-16 tie against Leverkusen 1-1 and Arteta has called for his players to rise to the occasion when they battle for a place in the quarter-finals.

Leverkusen, positioned sixth in the Bundesliga, have published a photo on their X account showing a can of paint and the corner area at the Emirates Stadium having been removed.

The playful post – a reference to Arsenal’s goalscoring prowess at corners – is accompanied by the caption ‘That’s better!’.

“When you come to this stage in the competition, you really have to elevate your game to a different level, collectively and individually,” Arteta said.

“For sure, this will be one of those nights where we need the best from all of us in a really consistent way to go through.

“We know what’s at stake, how much we want it and we’re going to show that.”

Jermall Charlo may be presented with an opportunity to become a three-weight world champion.

Charlo made his long-awaited return to the ring last May, as he claimed a sixth-round stoppage victory over Thomas LaManna.

It was just his second fight at 168lbs and only his third since June 2021, having previously reigned as IBF super welterweight and WBC middleweight champion before a long lay-off due to injury and mental health issues.

He now may get the chance to add the WBA super-middleweight title to that list, after it was reported by Inside The Ring that he is in talks to face Armando Resendiz on the Gilberto Ramirez vs David Benavidez card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 2.

Resendiz claimed the WBA interim strap at 168lbs after an upset victory over Caleb Plant last year, with that win actually scuppering plans for a match-up between Plant and Charlo.

Nearly a year on, Mexico’s Resendiz now looks likely to secure the Charlo fight himself, in what would be the first defence of his WBA title after he was elevated from that interim status and given the vacant belt following Terence Crawford’s retirement in December.

It would be a tough test against Charlo, who is ranked number three with the WBA. Despite his inactivity, the American still possesses an unbeaten record of 34-0 with wins over fighters such as Jose Benavidez Jr, Sergiy Derevyanchenko, Matt Korobov and Austin Trout. Resendiz will look to take advantage of any ring rust to put a win over a standout name on his record.

The possible championship clash would be a strong addition to the Las Vegas card before Ramirez puts his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles on the line against Benavidez in the main event.

A $1 million race at Caulfield has seen success for the colours linked to one of Australia’s greatest turf performers.

Big Wigs surged from the outermost stall down the far side of the Caulfield straight to win the Showdown (1200m) on Saturday.

Phillip Stokes’ colt donned the colours celebrated by Makybe Diva, the three-time Melbourne Cup winner who died from colic just two weeks back.

Lachlan Neindorf steered Big Wigs ($3.70) to hold back the resolute $3.10 favourite Miss Chanel by half a head, as Knurl ($10) ended up third, 5-¼ lengths further adrift.

Rider Jordan Childs aboard Miss Chanel examined the head-on film prior to correct weight being declared.

Tommy Stokes, filling in for dad Phillip, hailed the win in the Santic colours as exceptional.

In South Australia, where Phillip Stokes began his training career, Santic gained recognition as Port Lincoln’s tuna fishing personality.

“It means a lot to have these colours aboard,” Tommy Stokes said.

“Mr Santic is here on course today and he’s brought a whole heap of owners with him. It’s a massive prize money race and it’s a race we targeted for a fairly long time. He’s been to Adelaide, he’s come back, we thought he’d be winning at Ballarat, but he ran into a smart one, but he’s been able to hold himself nicely here and Lachie summed it up perfectly.”

Pre-race in the enclosure, Neindorf devised a plan regardless of the wide barrier.

“I think we were all a bit worried when the barrier draw came out, but it was a blessing in disguise in the end because we had all the three main dangers drawn inside of us,” Neindorf said.

“I wasn’t sure where they were going to be but I was confident that I would end up on the back of one of them and I was confident that my horse had a good turn of foot and the extra rise in distance was going to suit him that little bit more. To be honest, I probably still let him go a little bit early. I probably could have straightened up and held onto him for an extra 50 metres before putting him through his gears because, jeez, he got there fast, but full credit to the runner-up, it was tough. I was really worried the last 50 (metres) that she was going to come back and almost get me on the line again.”

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On this episode of The Cooligans, Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros dive into the early MLS season and ask a big question: are LAFC already pulling away from the rest of the league? With Vancouver and Inter Miami chasing close behind, the guys break down whether anyone can keep up with LAFC’s dominant start or if we’re witnessing the beginning of another runaway season.

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Across the Atlantic, Liverpool’s frustrating habit of dropping points late in matches continues, raising questions about whether new manager Arne Slot deserves some blame. The hosts also take a look at Pep Guardiola and whether his legendary run with Manchester City F.C. might finally be losing its edge.

Meanwhile, Chelsea F.C. receive what feels like a light punishment for breaking Premier League financial rules—did they get off too easy? Plus, the guys fire off quick reactions to some of the week’s strangest and funniest football moments: Erling Haaland blasting a shot straight into someone’s face, Chelsea’s awkward pre-game huddle, the latest United States Men’s National Team World Cup kit reveal, and the big question facing Orlando City SC—who should be their next head coach?

Timetamps:

(7:00) –  LAFC already separating themselves from the rest of the league?

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(13:30) – Inter Miami too dependent on Messi?

(23:45) – Arne Slot to blame for Liverpool’s late game woes?

(31:30) – Pep Guardiola’s time at Man City coming to an end?

(36:30) – Arsenal closing in on PL title

(45:30) – Chelsea fined for financial breach: but is it enough?

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The Minnesota Vikings did not onboard Kyler Murray late last week as a one-hit wonder. According to SI.com‘s Albert Breer, the franchise envisions a long-term role for Murray, assuming 2026 goes swimmingly.

Minnesota’s previous long-term quarterback picture may not be as locked in as it seems.

And that’s pretty splashy news for a club that spent a 1st-Round pick on J.J. McCarthy less than two years ago.

Albert Breer’s Nugget Turned up the Volume on Minnesota’s QB Questions

Murray’s immediate future in Minnesota takes shape

SI.com: Murray Is Not a Band-Aid

Albert Breer dove deep this week, examining Murray’s choice to become a Viking, and the main takeaway centered around more than just a one-year deal.

Breer wrote, “While Murray still has to win the job from McCarthy, what O’Connell said to Murray did stick with him — that he was the one guy on the market that they could see as a potential longer-range answer, rather than a one-year Band-Aid. The idea of growing with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Christian Darrisaw and O’Connell and his staff was already wildly attractive to begin with. The chance to, perhaps, put down roots only made it more so.”

Breer also added, “Murray and Burkhardt had identified Minnesota as, far and away, his best option, with the plan being to prioritize winning, sign a one-year deal and then hope for a long-term landing spot, be it in his 2026 home or elsewhere, in 2027. As part of it, they’d even come up with the idea to do Zooms with teams that might not have an interest in 2026, but could in 2027—to take advantage of the fleeting freedom Murray would have to do so.”

A “longer-range answer” means O’Connell would love for Murray to be his quarterback for the next half-decade. Perhaps longer.

The Contract Is a “Prove It” Situation

This is Murray’s big chance, although the Vikings might need him to stabilize the quarterback spot more than he needs them. So long as Murray isn’t an utter trainwreck in 2026 — he won’t be — oodles of teams will knock on his door in 2027 free agency, a list that might include the Los Angeles Rams after Matthew Stafford’s eventual retirement.

The important part is that Murray picked the Vikings this go-round — the team he grew up cheering for — and he has one big chance to prove the relationship is worth it for the long haul.

Minnesota hasn’t employed a long-term quarterback since Kirk Cousins for 5.5 seasons, between 2018 and 2023, and even he was good but never elite. Murray has a chance to showcase his elite talent skill set — and then just be the Vikings’ QB1 henceforth. He’s 28 years old, and he could headline the franchise for a decade if all goes according to plan.

But he must nail the 2026 audition.

How Will McCarthy Respond?

Meanwhile, McCarthy is just 23. Sam Darnold showed the universe last month that teams shouldn’t give up on quarterbacks too early, and Minnesota might be on the verge of doing precisely that.

Barring a trade request, McCarthy will have a chance to compete against Murray this summer, probably lose the battle, and then watch and learn in 2026, emulating a path the Green Bay Packers have forged where the young passer just sits indefinitely.

Thankfully for the Vikings’ sake, McCarthy appears to have the humble personality needed for such an arrangement, and the self-awareness to know he’s missed 70% of all games since turning pro in 2024. Minnesota needs a quarterback who can be on the field; to date, McCarthy emphatically is not that.

The Almighty Escape Hatch for O’Connell

The Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on January 30th, a gesture that could be interpreted as a statement that the club got the McCarthy draft pick wrong. Of course, no one in the building will come out and say that — it’s too soon — but actions speak louder than words.

If one operates under the pretense that McCarthy was a draft pick by Adofo-Mensah that O’Connell merely signed off on or settled for, well, O’Connell has a dazzlingly clean slate with Murray. For example, if Murray cooks in Minnesota, O’Connell’s quarterback-whispering reputation will be restored in a matter of weeks, letting O’Connell off the hook for failing to cultivate McCarthy and his wacky mechanics in 2025.

Murray can be O’Connell’s savior. Twenty years ago, the San Diego Chargers got rid of Drew Brees, and he landed in New Orleans for a Hall of Fame career. There’s no reason that can’t happen in Minnesota with Murray and O’Connell running the show.

Overall, know that Murray is in the Twin Cities to be the franchise quarterback. He’s not a “bridge” or “patchover” guy, used to get McCarthy over the hump of growing pains. Some fans will recommend that pro-McCarthy path, but the long-term QB1 job is Murray’s to lose.