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KKR vs SRH, IPL 2026: 5 players to watch in today’s match | Cricket News

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KKR vs SRH, IPL 2026: 5 players to watch in today’s match
Aniket Verma, Varun Chakravarthy and Ishan Kishan

Kolkata Knight Riders will be eager for their spinners to rediscover form against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a clash of two batting-heavy sides on Thursday.The match begins a crucial home stretch for KKR, with three games in seven days before a long break due to assembly polls. With four away fixtures to follow, building momentum at Eden Gardens — where they have won 54 of 95 matches — is vital.

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IPL 2026: Ajinkya Rahane backs KKR’s young pace attack after loss

KKR’s campaign has been hampered by a weakened bowling unit. Injuries to Harshit Rana and Akash Deep, Matheesha Pathirana’s absence, and Cameron Green’s limited role have reduced their depth. However, the bigger concern is spin, with Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy struggling in the opener.SRH are in a similar spot after losing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Despite a strong top order, their bowling looks vulnerable without Pat Cummins, placing added pressure on both departments to deliver.

Five players to watch in KKR vs SRH

Abhishek Sharma (SRH)The World No. 1 batter is enduring a torrid time since the start of the T20 World Cup 2026, and it has continued in IPL 2026. Despite a triumphant campaign for India, Abhishek was heavily scrutinised for his dismal showing, even though he scored a 52 in the final. In the opening match of the new IPL season, the left-handed opener failed to fire and was out for 7 off 8 balls. SRH posted 201, but RCB chased it down in just 15.4 overs. The explosive batter will be looking to turn around his fortunes against KKR at Eden. The 25-year-old is now in his eighth season with SRH, and the team will be hoping for another 400-plus season from their star batter after achieving a similar feat in the last two seasons.Varun Chakravarthy (KKR)India’s X-factor in the T20I bowling setup, Varun Chakravarthy also had a below-par T20 World Cup despite finishing as joint highest wicket-taker with teammate Jasprit Bumrah. Most of his wickets came in the early stages of the tournament, with his performances in must-win games not up to the mark. He is now under the scanner again in IPL 2026, as the premier KKR spinner returned dismal figures of 0 for 48 in the high-scoring opener against MI at Wankhede. Varun had three consecutive good seasons for KKR, and the team will be looking to him again for crucial breakthroughs in their first home game.Ishan Kishan (SRH)Ishan Kishan has been the talk of the town in recent months. One of the stars of India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, Ishan is now leading SRH in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins. Continuing his rich vein of form from the World Cup, he started IPL 2026 with a gritty 80 off 38 balls against RCB. Even though his team was beaten comprehensively, Ishan remains a force to reckon with. He will be looking for another big knock on the high-scoring Eden pitch against KKR.Aniket Verma (SRH)Young middle-order batter Aniket Verma showcased his power-hitting in SRH’s season opener against RCB. The 24-year-old smashed four sixes and three fours in his 18-ball 43 late charge to take SRH to a competitive 201/9. Even though the total proved insufficient, Aniket’s power game caught attention. After a decent debut season last year, the youngster will be aiming for another strong campaign.Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR)The young keeper-batter was in his element in KKR’s opener, smashing 51 off 29 balls against MI. KKR posted 220/4 at Wankhede, but it was chased down with ease. The 21-year-old will be looking for another good outing this time at home. In his third season with KKR, Raghuvanshi will be aiming for a breakthrough year.

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WWE stars Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley open to bringing TNA matches into WWE

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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Total Nonstop Action (TNA) brought pro wrestling fans a bevy of unique and interesting gimmick matches over the years.

Two that come to mind were the Ultimate X and King of the Mountain matches.

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Chris Sabin celebrating his win at SmackDown in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Chris Sabin celebrates his win during SmackDown at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., on March 20, 2026. (Craig Melvin/WWE)

The Ultimate X match would have high-wire ropes above the ring with pillars on the sides. In order for a wrestler to win the match, they would have to climb the pillar, make their way across the rope and grab the prize that hung in the middle. The match would often feature the X-Division’s highflyers and provided some heart-stopping moments.

The King of the Mountain match was essentially a reverse ladder match that included a penalty box for those who were pinned – which is also featured in the Iron Survivor Challenge that takes place during WWE NXT events. Each wrestler begins as ineligible to win and the only way to be eligible is to score a pinfall or a submission.

The only way to win the match is to hang the title belt on the top, retrieving it from the official to do so. Jeff Jarrett won the match three times in TNA. The men’s match hasn’t been seen since 2016. A women’s match took place in 2022 for the Knockouts World Championship.

Alex Shelley entering the wrestling ring at Bell Centre in Montreal

Alex Shelley enters the ring during SmackDown at Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, on Aug. 8, 2025. (Michael Marques/WWE)

WWE STAR DANHAUSEN REFLECTS ON FIRST MONTHS WITH COMPANY, GIVES UPDATE ON DANHAUSENETTES

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WWE’s partnership with TNA could provide that opportunity for WWE to incorporate the match types into their own plans. Fox News Digital asked former TNA stars – current WWE wrestlers – Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley if they would like to see that happen one day.

“I guess the door is open with WWE and TNA working together,” Sabin said. “So, I guess it’s always possible.”

Shelley said a King of the Mountain match could be a “good idea.”

“Man, I’ve never thought about King of the Mountain,” he said. “I think that’s a good idea. I love King of the Mountain.”

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Sabin added, however, he wouldn’t want to be a part of anymore Ultimate X matches.

“Myself, I would like to take my name of the hat for Ultimate X matches because I lost count of how many I’ve done – north of 20. So, I’ve done plenty of those,” he told Fox News Digital. “Had my fill of those matches.”

WWE has already produced some interesting matches of their own in recent years, including the aforementioned Iron Survivor Challenge and the Underground Match, which is its own take on the BloodSport style matches.

Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin entering arena during SmackDown event

Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin enter the arena during SmackDown at First Horizon Center in Savannah, Ga., on May 23, 2025. (Craig Melvin/WWE)

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It’s unclear if WWE would ever use TNA’s gimmick matches, but, like Sabin said, the door is open given the partnership between both companies.

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Marc Cucurella’s barber appears to leak Chelsea team news before Brighton defeat

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Marc Cucurella may be in hot water after his barber appeared to leak Chelsea’s team news ahead of their dismal defeat to Brighton on Tuesday night.

An image of Cucurella getting his hair cut was posted on X prior to kick-off, accompanied by the caption: “[Cole] Palmer and Joao Pedro both injured tonight. There’s your exclusive.”

The post was then hastily removed and the account has since been deleted.

Both Palmer and Joao Pedro were absent from the clash at the Amex Stadium, which saw a spineless Chelsea side slump to a 3-0 loss at the hands of the Seagulls.

Marc Cucurella's barber appears to leak Chelsea's team news on X before hastily deleting the post
Marc Cucurella’s barber appears to leak Chelsea’s team news on X before hastily deleting the post (X)

Liam Rosenior has already been forced to deal with team news leaks during his Chelsea reign, with details on his line-up being revealed to French media ahead of both his side’s Champions League last-16 legs with PSG.

At the time, Rosenior said the “mole” had been “dealt with” and that it had “not come from any place of malicious intent towards me or the team”.

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“It’s not the first time it’s happened, it won’t be the last time,” he said.

“I’m not talking in terms of me, I’m talking about any team or any club. These things happen. It’s disappointing, but I’m sure it won’t happen again.”

Rosenior was left furious as his team were dismantled by Brighton, suffering their fifth straight loss in the Premier League without scoring goal – their worst run of form in 114 years.

“It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game,” Rosenior said. “Unacceptable in attitude. I keep coming out and defending the players but that’s indefensible, that performance tonight. The manner of the goals we conceded, the amount of duels we lost, the lack of intensity in the team.

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“Something needs to change drastically right now. We need to look in the mirror. I need to look in the mirror but I can’t keep coming out here defending some of the things we are seeing.

Liam Rosenior laid into his players after Chelsea’s defeat to Brighton
Liam Rosenior laid into his players after Chelsea’s defeat to Brighton (Reuters)

“We lost 80 per cent of duels. We didn’t win a header. Two of the goals came when we can head the ball, the basics of football, and we don’t. At any level, if you make those errors, you’re not going to win games of football.

“I haven’t criticised them up until now. I’ve defended them. They have deserved that. But I will tell the truth. I always come out here and tell the truth. And I blame myself as well. It’s not just blaming the players. I’m part of that process.”

The Chelsea manager’s future is now in doubt, with the club’s hierarchy holding a meeting on Wednesday over whether to end his time at the club just four months after his appointment.

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Dustin Baker’s Prediction for the Vikings’ 2026 1st-Round Pick

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Clemson helmet sitting on bench during game at BB&T Field
A Clemson Tigers helmet rests on the sideline bench at BB&T Field, on Oct 6, 2018 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, sitting unattended during game action against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons as players remained on the field in the middle of a competitive ACC matchup. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings have nine picks between now and Saturday evening, but everyone cares about the first one at the moment. Accordingly, we’re here to publish our 1st-Round prognostication for the Vikings, and in 2026, that’s defensive tackle Peter Woods, whether via trade or remaining at the No. 18 spot.

Woods gives Minnesota juice inside.

Interim general manager Rob Brzeznski could reasonably pick about 10 different players, and no one would be too befuddled, but for the official forecast, we say Woods.

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Woods Fits the Vikings’ Long-Term Defensive Plan

The Clemson DT could marry “best player available” and roster need.

Peter Woods stands on the field during pregame warmups before Clemson’s game against Georgia. vikings draft predictions
Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) stands on the field during pregame warmups as he prepares for a high-profile matchup, showcasing his size and presence along the defensive front on Aug. 31, 2024, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta before Clemson faced Georgia in a nationally watched season opener. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images.

The Main Case for Woods

Brian Flores presumably has more control over the defensive personnel now that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is no longer employed, and when he ran the Miami Dolphins, his very first draft pick seven years ago was Christian Wilkins, a defensive tackle.

Meanwhile, Minnesota tossed Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to the curb in March, signing no replacements from free agency. If the Vikings’ season started tonight, they’d play Jalen Redmond, Levi Rodriguez, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins in the middle of the defensive line. It is unclear if that’s enough oomph and experience.

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Too, Minnesota has drafted offensive players in Round 1 in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025. It’s time for a defensive player.

Woods is gettable at pick No. 18 and possibly after a slight trade back. He’s also the top defensive tackle in the draft, per most pundits. So, we say Woods to Minnesota on Thursday night.

Dropping Allen and Hargrave Isn’t Nothing

During Adofo-Mensah’s final free agency, he added two starting defensive tackles: Allen and Hargrave. The excitement was palpable because, although not overly young, the two had plenty of experience and Hargrave had a Pro Bowl to his name. Then, the regular season played out, with each man playing decently but nowhere near the value of their contracts.

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So, the Vikings kicked them out. Allen landed in Cincinnati and will play next to Sexy Dexter Lawrence. Hargrave picked the Green Bay Packers.

Combined, the pair played over 1,300 defensive snaps. It would just seem strange to hand those snaps to Rodriguez and Ingram-Dawkins. The Vikings would be gambling on “maybes.”

Therefore, the evidence points to a DT addition early in the draft. Remember: in 2023, Minnesota needed a wide receiver. It drafted Jordan Addison. In 2024, it needed a quarterback. J.J. McCarthy was the first pick. How about 2025? A guard was the most pressing need. Donovan Jackson joined the Vikings. If you don’t overcomplicate it, Woods to Minnesota make sense.

Time to End the Drought

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The Vikings haven’t drafted an interior defensive lineman in the first three rounds of the draft since 2013. If you remember Sharfif Floyd, he was the last guy. Minnesota got away with this, mainly because Linval Joseph cooked for six seasons.

Peter Woods celebrates after sacking Duke quarterback Darian Mensah during a game at Clemson. vikings draft predictions
Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods (11) celebrates after bringing down Duke quarterback Darian Mensah (10), flashing his interior pass-rush ability and energy following a key defensive play on Nov. 1, 2025, at Memorial Stadium in Clemson during an ACC matchup that highlighted his disruptive presence. Mandatory Credit: Alex Martin-Imagn Images.

Generally speaking, the Vikings and all other teams should take a swing at a promising DT at least once every five or eight years or so. In that regard, the purple team is overdue.

Draft Woods. End the drought. Complement the Vikings’ fantastic outside linebackers from the inside out.

Get to Know Woods

At 6’2″ and 300 pounds, Woods possesses surprising agility for his size. His exceptional 4.75-second forty-yard dash, especially notable for a defensive tackle, demonstrates a quick first step and impressive leverage when engaging opponents. His signature swipe move is particularly effective on film, allowing him to penetrate the backfield rapidly. Over his last two seasons at Clemson, he amassed 5 sacks and consistently disrupted plays.

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The Ringer‘s Todd McShay on Woods: “He locates the ball quickly, violently sheds blocks as a run defender, and uses his quick hands and feet to make plays in the backfield. He’s on the lighter side (298 pounds) with shorter arms (31 1/4 inches), and the latter shows up on tape. He can win with his hands and still get stuck on the block as a pass rusher.”

“He doesn’t get enough separation to locate the ball at times as a run defender. He gets washed down the line of scrimmage and needs to do a better job of getting vertical when defending zone runs. And he’s an inconsistent tackler. He has upside as a pass rusher, but he did not take the next step as one in 2025.”

For context, defensive tackles often take a few years to hit their groove — longer than players at other positions — so Woods may not be a total stud as a rookie. Give him time.

Peter Woods walks into the stadium before a game at Williams-Brice Stadium prior to kickoff. vikings draft predictions
Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods (11) walks through the stadium before kickoff, focused and composed as he prepares for a rivalry matchup on Nov. 29, 2025, at Williams-Brice Stadium, with his size and build standing out among players during pregame arrivals ahead of Clemson’s regular-season finale. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images.

McShay continued, “His hands are powerful, and he has an effective push-pull move. He can advance his rush while remaining engaged when he stays low. Woods compares well with New England defensive tackle Milton Williams, who lacks ideal length and mass but wins with his hands and athletic ability.”

“He should compete for a starting role as a rookie. Woods compares well with New England defensive tackle Milton Williams, who lacks ideal length and mass but wins with his hands and athletic ability. He should compete for a starting role as a rookie.”

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McShay also mock-drafted Woods to Minnesota on Wednesday in his final set of predictions.

Woods turned 21 last month.

If the Woods prediction is wrong, the Vikings will likely draft Dillon Thieneman (Oregon), Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (Toledo), or Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon) instead.


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LPGA star reveals 1 reason men’s pro golf is ‘boring’: ‘I don’t watch’

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‘He doesn’t trust himself…’: Finch questions ‘attitude’ of India’s ‘double-World Cup winner’

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Delhi Capitals conceded their highest total of IPL 2026, 242 runs, powered by a sensational unbeaten 135 from Abhishek Sharma, who batted through the entire 20 overs. Following the defeat, former Australian captain Aaron Finch has criticised Axar Patel for bowling just two overs while allowing part-time Nitish Rana to complete his full quota during Delhi Capitals’ (DC) clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

Sunrisers Hyderabad continued their strong run with a commanding 47-run win, driven by Abhishek’s 68-ball masterclass, which included 10 fours and 10 sixes. He was well supported by Travis Head (37) and Heinrich Klaasen (37* off 13), helping SRH post a daunting 242/2.

In reply, Delhi Capitals showed early promise through a partnership between KL Rahul (37) and Nitish Rana (57), but lost momentum after their dismissals. Eshan Malinga starred with the ball, picking up 4/32, as DC were restricted to 195/9.

Finch was openly critical of the decision, saying, “We’ve been sitting there scratching our heads, haven’t we? Your two Indian premier spin bowlers, Axar Patel, the skipper, and Kuldeep Yadav, bowled four overs between them. A part-time offspinner in Nitish Rana has wheeled out four overs. To me, that makes no sense,” he told ESPNcricinfo.

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He further questioned Axar’s reluctance to bowl to left-handers, even after dismissing Travis Head, suggesting it reflects an issue with mindset.

“It’s the responsibility of your captain, your senior player, your retained player, your best bowler, an Indian bowler, he’s one of your core bowlers in the Indian cricket team. That’s no small bit. He’s a double World Cup winner. So the fact that he doesn’t trust himself to execute under pressure and to defend himself against any left handers, as soon as a left hander walks to the crease, not for me today, thanks. To me, that says more about his attitude towards it than anything else,” he added.

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Earlier, Ravichandran Ashwin also highlighted the overuse of part-time bowler Nitish Rana, while frontline spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel bowled just two overs each.

“In DC’s bowling attack, they have Axar Patel, Kuldeep, Lungi, Mukesh, and Natarajan. But the first player to complete his 4-over quota was Nitish Rana, and that’s where they lost the match. It has to be the biggest blunder so far,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat.

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Lewis Hamilton goes viral as his photos with Kim Kardashian surface

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Ferrari star Lewis Hamilton and his girlfriend took to a beach in Malibu, California, with images and videos from the same surfacing on the internet. The couple’s cozy moments, which were captured in the videos and images, broke the internet.

With the F1 races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia cancelled due to the conditions in the Middle East, the F1 drivers have the months of April to themselves. While Max Verstappen decided to race in the NLS, Hamilton has been spending time with his girlfriend, Kim Kardashian.

On April 21, 2026, images and videos of Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian on a beach in Malibu surfaced. The seven-time F1 champion gave the supermodel a surf lesson before the couple spent time on the beach and in the shallows.

The images included the couple standing on the shore, with Hamilton’s arm around the supermodel’s waist. A video of Hamilton giving his girlfriend a surf lesson also surfaced.

Another couple of images showed the couple sharing some pleasant moments together. The first one was of Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian hugging in the shallows, with the other one being an image of the Briton kissing his supermodel girlfriend.

As the images and clips surfaced, they spread like fire on the internet with multiple accounts sharing, reposting, and uploading them on various social media platforms, including X and Instagram. The images were reshared thousands of times with millions of views.

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Image credits: X/ @TMZ and @TheSunImage credits: X/ @TMZ and @TheSun
Image credits: X/ @TMZ and @TheSun

Kim Kardashian was spotted with Lewis Hamilton in Tokyo ahead of the Japanese GP. The supermodel also featured in his Instagram reel of him drifting through Tokyo. After the Japanese GP, the couple was spotted together at Coachella attending Justin Bieber’s performance.


Lewis Hamilton and Kim Kardashian’s dating timeline: From Paris Hotel reports to Instagram hard launch

Kim Kardashian and Lewis Hamilton have known each other for over a decade and were first seen together at the GQ Men of the Year awards. Over the years, the Briton became a good friend and was even invited by the Kardashians to family events.

Earlier this year, after the Barcelona shakedown, Hamilton and Kim Kardashian were spotted getting out of the same car at a hotel in Paris, which gave birth to the dating rumors. This was followed by their appearance at Super Bowl LX, where they sat together in the VIP box.

Just before the 2026 F1 season began, Kim Kardashian and Hamilton were spotted in Arizona, enjoying a sunset. The seven-time F1 champion was recently seen in Tokyo with his girlfriend, and eventually hard-launched his relationship via an Instagram reel uploaded by him, captioned “TOKYO DRIFT VOL. III”.