Connect with us
DAPA Banner

Sports

IPL 2026: Defending champions RCB begin title defence against SRH at Chinnaswamy | Cricket News

Published

on

IPL 2026: Defending champions RCB begin title defence against SRH at Chinnaswamy
Ishan Kishan and Virat Kohli (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)

BENGALURU: Until June 3, 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru carried the tag of underachievers — a team that spent 17 previous seasons chasing an elusive trophy. On a muggy night in Ahmedabad, that narrative finally shifted. Built less on individual stardom and more on collective performances, RCB shed their long-standing baggage and got the monkey off their backs.When they return to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday evening, they do so with a title to defend, a reputation to protect and expectations recalibrated. Against fellow southerners Sunrisers Hyderabad, RCB begin their campaign as defending champions — a feat only Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians have managed to follow up with a successful title defence.

Watch

RCB’s big changes ahead of IPL: New rules, tribute & squad update

While it is a long season ahead, a strong start will be crucial. Chinnaswamy hasn’t always been a fortress for RCB, and against an SRH side packed with explosive batters, the challenge is immediate.On paper, the two teams share striking similarities. Both boast formidable batting units, both are without their premier Australian quicks, and they will rely on a blend of experienced Indian names and promising youngsters. The conditions only add to the intrigue. The last completed IPL game at the venue last season — RCB’s clash against CSK — saw a staggering 424 runs scored, with the hosts defending 215 by just two runs. If the surface stays true to its batting-friendly reputation, bowlers from both sides could be in for a long evening.RCB have largely retained the core that delivered their maiden title, using the mini-auction to plug specific gaps. The additions of Venkatesh Iyer and England’s Jordan Cox bring flexibility, while young Indian recruits like Mangesh Yadav and Vihaan Malhotra add depth and future promise.

.

Their batting remains their biggest strength. With Virat Kohli and Phil Salt expected to set the tone at the top, Jacob Bethell’s recent form adds another dynamic layer. The middle order is stacked with experience and firepower in Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Jitesh Sharma, Tim David and Venkatesh Iyer. The team management, in fact, faces the enviable headache of narrowing down a balanced playing XI.However, the absence of Josh Hazlewood — their most impactful bowler last season — could be a significant setback. The Australian pacer, still working his way back from injury concerns, only rejoined the squad on Thursday and will sit out of the match. His absence puts the onus on Bhuvneshwar Kumar to lead the attack, especially in conditions that traditionally offer little margin for error. RCB are also without Sri Lankan quick Nuwan Thushara, who is yet to clear the fitness test in his home country. In Hazlewood’s absence, New Zealand pacer Jacob Duffy could be handed an IPL debut. He is expected to slot into an otherwise Indian-heavy bowling unit, with youngsters Mangesh Yadav and Rasikh Dar pushing for inclusion. The spin department, featuring Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, will also have a key role in controlling the middle overs.SRH, meanwhile, look equally formidable with the bat. Led by Ishan Kishan, they have a destructive line-up comprising Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Reddy. However, their bowling appears relatively undercooked in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins, even though they can call upon the experience of Harshal Patel, Brydon Carse and Jaydev Unadkat.Away from the on-field contest, it will be a sombre homecoming for RCB. The players will wear black armbands in memory of the 11 lives lost in the stampede during last year’s title celebrations — a tragedy that continues to cast a shadow over the team and the venue.

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Sports

Tiger Woods arrested on suspicion of DUI after car crash in Florida | World News

Published

on


Golfer Tiger Woods showed signs of impairment Friday at the scene of a car crash in which he struck another vehicle and rolled his Land Rover, authorities said.


Woods was arrested on suspicion of DUI. The Martin County Sheriff’s Office said Woods was not injured.


The crash occurred just after 2 pm not far from where Woods lives on Jupiter Island.


Woods’ manager at Excel Sports did not immediately respond to a text message seeking information.

Advertisement


This was at least the third time Woods has been involved in a car crash, most recently in February 2021 when his SUV ran off a coastal road in Los Angeles at a high rate of speed, leading to multiple leg and ankle injuries. Woods said later doctors considered amputation.

 


Woods has played 11 tournaments since that 2021 crash, not finishing closer than within 16 shots of the winner the four times he finished 72 holes.


He also was arrested on a DUI charge in 2017 when south Florida police found him asleep behind the wheel of his car that was parked awkwardly with damage to the driver’s side. Woods said he had taken a bad mix of painkillers. He later pleaded guilty to reckless driving.

Advertisement


Woods won his fifth Masters, and 15th major, in 2019. He has 82 wins on the PGA Tour, tied for the all-time record with Sam Snead.


Woods, 50, had been working his way back to golf from a seventh back surgery in September. He had not decided whether he could play in the Masters on April 9-12.


His last official tournament was the British Open in 2024. Woods ruptured his Achilles tendon in March 2025 and that kept him off the course all season even before the back surgery. He managed to play in his indoor TGL golf league on Tuesday night.


He has kept deeply involved in PGA Tour affairs as chairman of the Future Competition Committee that is restructuring the model of the tour.

Advertisement


Woods also faced a soft deadline at the end of the month to decide whether to become US Ryder Cup captain for the 2027 matches in Ireland. Woods was offered the job for the last Ryder Cup and did not turn it down until June. The PGA of America wants a decision much sooner this time.

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Nikola Jokic triple-double lifts Nuggets past Jazz

Published

on

NBA: Utah Jazz at Denver NuggetsMar 27, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) looks to pass the ball as he is defended by Utah Jazz guard Elijah Harkless (16) during the first half at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

Nikola Jokic had 33 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists, Cam Johnson made a go-ahead 3-pointer late in the fourth, and the host Denver Nuggets rallied to beat the Utah Jazz, 135-129, on Friday night.

Jamal Murray finished with 31 points, including six in the final 1:15, and 14 assists to help Denver (47-28) win its fifth in a row. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 21 points, Aaron Gordon had 17 and Johnson finished with 12 for the Nuggets

Kyle Filipowski scored 25 points, Cody Williams contributed 24 points, John Konchar and Kennedy Chandler had 16 apiece off the bench, Ace Bailey added 15 and Elijah Harkless had 11 points for Utah (21-53), which led most of the second half.

Denver didn’t score for nearly three minutes at the start of the fourth but trimmed the lead to 110-104 on a Hardaway 3-pointer. The Jazz responded with a 10-3 run to lead by 13 with 6:49 left.

The Nuggets rallied, getting a 3-pointer by Murray, a dunk from Gordon and two free throws by Hardaway to make it 124-121 with 4:02 remaining.

Advertisement

Bailey hit a jumper to make it a five-point game, but Jokic hit a turnaround and Johnson a corner 3-pointer to tie it.

It was 129-all when Johnson hit a corner three, the Jazz turned it over and Murray made another from deep with 18.7 seconds to go.

The Nuggets led by 12 late in the first quarter but Utah rallied with a strong second quarter. Chandler came off the bench with seven points, including the first 3-pointer for the Jazz after 10 straight misses to begin the game.

Advertisement

Denver was ahead 59-53 late in the second but Utah closed on a 9-3 run to tie it at 62 at halftime.

The Jazz remained hot in the third quarter, building a 10-point lead on a Konchar tip midway through the period. They capitalized on eight Nuggets turnovers to go ahead 96-82, but Hardaway scored six consecutive points during an 8-0 run. Utah pushed the lead back to 10 before Jokic banked in a 39-footer at the buzzer to make it 105-98 as they headed into the fourth.

–Field Level Media

Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Sports

Triple H breaks silence after massive WrestleMania 42 match is confirmed

Published

on

A massive match for WrestleMania 42 was just confirmed. Triple H has now broken his silence about this.

Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu have been feuding with each other for the past several weeks. Drew has played a role in preventing Jacob from getting a WWE Title shot when he was the champion. Therefore, the Samoan Werewolf took it upon himself to cost the Scottish Warrior his WWE Title a few weeks ago. Since then, this feud between McIntyre and Fatu has only gotten more intense. Last week, both men brawled all over the arena before falling several feet from a staircase. Therefore, this week on the blue brand, Nick Aldis announced that Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu will settle their difference in an Unsanctioned match at WrestleMania 42.

Advertisement

Following this announcement, Triple H took to social media to break his silence on this match between Drew McIntyre and Jacob Fatu.

Advertisement

“They weren’t going to follow the rules anyway… @DMcIntyreWWE vs. @jacobfatu_wwe will face each other in an UNSANCTIONED MATCH at #WrestleMania!”

Check out his tweet here:


Triple H announced that latest WWE Hall of Fame inductee

With WrestleMania 42 around the corner, it is also time for the WWE Hall of Fame. Stephanie McMahon, AJ Styles, and Demolition have already been announced as inductees this year.

Triple H recently took to Instagram to announce that Bad News Brown will be inducted into the legacy class of the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

“From standing on the podium at the 1976 Summer Olympics to the center of the ring at #WrestleMania IV, Bad News Brown was a fierce competitor with an attitude to match. For his accomplishments in combat sports and contributions to @WWE, it is a pleasure to announce his induction into the 2026 Legacy Class of the #WWEHOF,” he wrote.

It will be interesting to see if anyone else will get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

Advertisement