Connect with us
DAPA Banner

Sports

IPL 2026: KKR asked to fix Rinku Singh ‘problem’ | Cricket News

Published

on

IPL 2026: KKR asked to fix Rinku Singh 'problem'

NEW DELHI: Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has flagged concerns over Rinku Singh’s form ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, stating that his dip in performances could be a key issue for Kolkata Knight Riders to address.KKR begin their campaign against five-time champions Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on March 29. Rinku heads into the season under scrutiny after a disappointing T20 World Cup, where he managed just 24 runs in five innings.

Watch

Shashi Tharoor & Samson’s Redemption Story: From Setbacks to Glory

The left-hander’s struggles come after a remarkable breakthrough in IPL 2023, highlighted by his unforgettable five consecutive sixes off Yash Dayal during a 200-plus chase against Gujarat Titans — an innings that catapulted him to stardom.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Pathan reflected on the decline in Rinku’s returns since that standout season and his inability to make the most of opportunities at the World Cup.“We will have to see how much opportunity he gets to play. His 2023 season was outstanding. He scored 400-450 runs with a strike rate of 150. But after that, his performance dipped, and many times he did not get enough opportunities. He will have to maintain his standard and maximise the opportunities he gets. Even in the World Cup, he played five matches, but he could not fully capitalise on the chances he got. This is another problem that Kolkata needs to rectify, and Rinku Singh is one of them,” he said.Rinku had enjoyed a stellar 2023 campaign, scoring 474 runs in 14 innings at an average of 59.25 and a strike rate of 149.52, including four fifties. Since then, however, his numbers have dipped, with 374 runs in 22 innings at an average of 23.37, and a highest score of 38*.Pathan also pointed out that managing Varun Chakravarthy’s form would be another challenge for KKR. The mystery spinner started the T20 World Cup strongly, picking up nine wickets in four group-stage matches at an economy rate of just over five, but saw a sharp decline later, managing only five wickets in five matches from the Super Eight stage to the final, with his economy rate rising significantly.Despite the dip, Pathan backed Varun to bounce back and deliver in familiar conditions.“The challenge is how to bring Varun back with confidence given his current dip in form. He will play 14 matches, some of which will be at Kolkata’s ground, and he has definitely performed well in this league before. With the good memories he has in Kolkata, perhaps in a slightly different atmosphere, he might perform even better. I believe he will manage it, so although this is a challenge, Varun Chakaravarthy will overcome it,” said Pathan.Last season, Varun finished as the seventh-highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps at an average of 22.52 and an economy rate of 7.66, with best figures of 3/22. Overall, he has claimed 99 wickets in 83 matches for KKR, including two four-wicket hauls, with best figures of 5/20.

Banner Insert

Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

You must be logged in to post a comment Login

Leave a Reply

Sports

Sports agent Leigh Steinberg proposes NFL ticket solution for families

Published

on

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Many football watchers will tell you the home viewing experience is ideal for them, but there are still those that love to watch NFL games from the seats at the stadium – truly taking it the experience with their own eyes. 

However, as demand for the sport continues to grow, so have ticket prices just to enter a stadium on gameday. As a result, some fans are simply getting priced out from watching their favorite teams. 

But legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg, who has represented over 300 professional athletes, especially in football with a record eight No. 1 overall picks and 64 first-rounders under his belt, believes teams and owners should be more “forward-thinking” with their tickets. 

Advertisement

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Leigh Steinberg smiles on red carpet

Leigh Steinberg attends the 39th Annual Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party at Storek on Feb. 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California.  (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

He has an idea. 

“I think that it would be prudent and forward-looking for them to reserve, like, 10,000 seats for every game for them to distribute to working families and younger people,” Steinberg told Fox News Digital on a recent phone call. “So, at least at the end of the year, you have a team planting the seeds for the future.”

Steinberg believes to “truly enjoy football” you either have played the game, or have seen it live. That, in his eyes, “totally sustains that interest level.”

Advertisement

BROADCASTER TIM BRADNO SUGGESTS SPORTS FANS GET CONFUSED WHERE TO WATCH GAMES AS STREAMING TAKES OVER

Yes, technological advancements have made it easier for fans of all demographics to catch their favorite teams, as well as the rest of the NFL schedule, from their living room. In fact, some may even tell you spending for the highest NFL package is better than going to games live at this rate. 

That’s because tickets are not the only thing to worry about when going to a game live. 

The Action Network did an analysis of the cost of a family of four to attend an NFL game in every stadium across the country. The study included ticket prices, which were primary and resale from Ticketmaster, food and drinks, and parking for said family. They even looked at the child admission policy to see what ages may be free to find out which stadiums were, somewhat, family friendly. 

Advertisement
NFL fans look on field

Fans of the Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos support their teams during the second quarter at Empower Field at Mile High on Dec. 14, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

At the highest was Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, who were the reigning Super Bowl champions when the season began in 2025. At $2,133.44, with $2,058.44 of that the price of four tickets, the family could enjoy the Eagles. Ford Field (Detroit Lions), Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders), Soldier Field (Chicago Bears) and Highmark Stadium (Buffalo Bills) round out the top five most expensive stadiums for families. 

The New York Jets and MetLife Stadium were the lowest at $555.94, though the league-wide average was $1,339 for four tickets. 

At the same time, though, Steinberg understands supply and demand, and the latter is through the roof for the NFL. In turn, those with means to pay the expensive ticket prices do so, while others are priced out. 

EX-NFL STAR SHAWNE MERRIMAN ADVOCATING FOR PLAYERS TO GET PAID MORE WHEN TV RIGHTS DEALS EXPLODE

Advertisement

“Right now, you have so much excess demand that they can price those tickets [high],” Steinberg added. “I used to say, ‘Look, we need to think about the future. I’m telling you that players could take a little less money if it meant sustaining the sport long-term. That means ticket prices.’ An owner once put his arm around me and said, ‘Son, that’ll never happen.’”

Could it happen one day? Steinberg sure hopes so, but as long as the insatiable appetite for football diminishes, it’ll likely be harder for some to acquire tickets at the current price tag, let alone secondary market upcharges. 

‘Again, my suggestion would be teams plan and build for the future by having a section each week – they wouldn’t be the best tickets, but who cares if you’re a young kid? I used to go to Rams games in the Coliseum back in the ‘50s and you would’ve needed a telescope. But you still create an interest in football. That’s what I would do if I owned a team,” Steinberg said. 

STEINBERG’S COMEBACK

While talking all things football, Steinberg also discussed life and how his fight through adversity led to him writing “The Comeback: A Playbook for Turning Life’s Setbacks into Victories.”

Advertisement
Leigh Steinberg looks out to crowd

Leigh Steinberg speaks onstage during the 39th Annual Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party at Storek on Feb. 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California.  (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Steinberg had built an empire by representing the best athletes in the world, but he also dealt with alcoholism and financial struggles, ultimately bringing him to rock bottom. But he rebuilt himself through those hard times, and with this book, he’s hoping to help others do the same. 

Also, sharing stories of athletes dealing with similar adversities, Steinberg believes all readers should come away with this lesson learned. 

“Internal introspection,” he said. “A realistic understanding of your own values and priorities, whether it’s short-term economic gain, long-term economic security, spiritual values, family. It’s to have clarity internally in terms of what really constitutes a fulfilling life. Then, coming up with a plan to get back to that.”

Advertisement

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Advertisement

Source link

Continue Reading

Sports

Real Madrid handed big boost as key player returns to full fitness, set to start Atletico Madrid: Reports

Published

on

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has reportedly regained full fitness and will start his side’s La Liga home match against city rivals Atletico Madrid on Sunday (March 22).

Mbappe, 27, returned to first-team action from his knee problem in Los Blancos‘ 2-1 UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg win over Manchester City this Tuesday (March 17). He completed 13 of his 13 passes and registered one shot in his 21-minute second half cameo.

Now, according to AS (h/t Madrid Universal), Mbappe will start in the upcoming La Liga game against Atletico Madrid at Estadio Bernabeu. He has recently trained at 100 per cent and is believed to replace Brahim Diaz in his club’s starting lineup on Sunday, hoping to continue his form.

Advertisement

Mbappe, who missed five matches in all competitions due to his recent knee injury, has undoubtedly been Real Madrid‘s best player this season. He has produced 38 goals and six assists in just 34 total appearances for his club in the ongoing 2025-26 campaign, scoring two hat-tricks.

On the other hand, Los Blancos are also reportedly set to welcome summer arrival Alvaro Carreras, who was out with a minor calf problem. They are also expected to have Jude Bellingham, David Alaba, and Ferland Mendy back at their disposal this weekend, according to AS.

Real Madrid icon hails Alvaro Arbeloa

Real Madrid icon Guti has lauded Los Blancos head coach Alvaro Arbeloa for aptly handling the high-pressure environment at the club this year. He stated (h/t Madrid Universal):

“When you join a team mid-season, with difficulties and injuries, it’s always a poisoned chalice. But he’s steering it in the right direction for now, and that’s what all Madrid fans hope for: that Madrid win titles and that Arbeloa can stay.”

Arbeloa’s outfit are second in the 2025-26 La Liga standings with 66 points from 28 games, trailing leaders Barcelona by four points.

Advertisement

Opining on Real Madrid’s Champions League chances after defeating Manchester City 5-1 in the round of 16, Guti responded:

“This sounds familiar… Madrid is going to win the Champions League. It’s not just the quarter-finals against Bayern Munich. After that, we could face a very tough semi-final against Liverpool or PSG. It’s a demanding Champions League.”

Los Merengues will take on Bayern Munich in the last four stage of the Champions League, with the two legs set to be held on April 7 and April 15.