Nicholas Pooran and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi

NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants batter Nicholas Pooran continues to redefine power-hitting in the IPL, and this time he has moved past Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in one of the league’s most explosive batting records.With his breathtaking 16-ball fifty against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday, Pooran now has five IPL half-centuries scored in fewer than 20 balls — the second-most in tournament history. Only Abhishek Sharma, with six, stands ahead of him on the elite list.

Most 50s in less than 20 balls in IPL:

Pooran’s latest blitz was more than just another quickfire innings. It felt like a statement. Batting at No. 3 for the first time this season for Lucknow Super Giants, the left-hander looked completely unleashed from the moment he walked in.

Fastest fifties for LSG (by balls)

He raced to 63 off just 21 deliveries, smashing one four and eight sixes at a staggering strike rate of 300. The landmark moment came in the 8th over when he pulled a short ball from Deepak Chahar over fine leg for six to bring up his fifty in only 16 balls. The shot itself summed up the innings — fearless, inventive, and brutally clean.The celebration also hinted at the significance of the knock. Pooran blew a kiss before raising his bat to acknowledge the crowd, almost as if sending a message to the team management that this role suits him perfectly.On a night where even bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah struggled for control, Pooran turned the Wankhede into his personal launchpad. If this innings is any indication, Pooran at No. 3 could become one of the most dangerous tactical shifts of IPL 2026.

Group 1 winner Sepals remains on course for a Queensland foray under trainer Cliff Brown.

Last spring’s conqueror of the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield, the gelding delivered Brown’s breakthrough Group 1 triumph post his 2021 homecoming from Singapore.

The trainer targets the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm June 13, emphasising a swift withdrawal if the four-year-old shows any concern.

Von Hauke’s Listed Golden Mile (1600m) victory at Bendigo on Saturday positions the stable with possible dual Stradbroke challengers.

After filling fourth in the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington first-up, Sepals journeyed to Sydney as the market fancy for the Doncaster Prelude (1500m) at Rosehill on March 28.

The performance disappointed, with Brown citing a stern weight and a track at Rosehill debilitated by Sydney Carnival exertions, leaving the gelding subdued back in Melbourne.

A proposed Sydney revisit for the Group 1 All-Aged Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on April 18 was shelved in favour of a concise paddock respite for Sepals.

“He had 10 days off and he’s come back in tremendous order,” Brown said.

“He just wasn’t himself, but he seems right now.

“I don’t think he appreciated the track up in Sydney, but just afterwards when we got him home, he just wasn’t himself.

“We know him intimately and he wasn’t right.

“I gave him a jump-out, which was OK, without being great, but then he had the 10 days off and I thought, if he’s OK, we’ll be able to continue on and if he’s not, we’ll go to the paddock.

“At this point he seems good and if he’s right, we’ll head up to Queensland, and he can have a run at the end of the month with the aim of hopefully getting him to the Stradbroke.”

Discover competitive racing betting markets ahead of the Stradbroke Handicap.

Mourinho and Benfica will surely view this season as a missed opportunity – although an invincible campaign would be some solace.

They could even finish third given they are only three points ahead of Sporting, who have a game in hand and a supeerior goal difference.

Portuguese sports publication A Bola, external said Benfica had “gifted” rivals Porto 12 points, after letting a lead slip in six of their 10 draws.

However, after seeing their title hopes disappear following a 2-2 draw at Famalicao on Saturday, Benfica president Rui Costa instead took aim at the officials.

“No-one has the right to decide who wins championships or who goes to the Champions League other than the players and coaches on the field, and what happened here today was not that,” Costa said.

Costa complained that Famalicao were unfairly awarded a penalty, while their second goal “came from a corner which wasn’t a corner”.

“It unequivocally explains what this referee came here to do today. Trying to make sure Benfica got beaten here.”

Portuguese sports newspaper Record, external has reported that the Portuguese Association of Football Referees will file a complaint against Costa after his comments.

Mourinho, who was also unhappy with the officiating in Saturday’s match, said: “This game is a good reflection of what has happened in this championship.”

The Portuguese manager has been one of the names linked to the Real Madrid job in the summer if the Spanish club decide to part ways with Alvaro Arbeloa.

However, O Jogo report, external that Benfica are set to offer Mourinho a new contract this week.

Roxanne Perez received her WWE main roster call-up nearly a year ago when she qualified for the women’s Money in the Bank ladder match with a win over Becky Lynch and Natalya.

A few weeks later, Perez joined the Judgment Day faction as she replaced an injured Liv Morgan as one-half of the women’s tag team champions. Perez and Raquel Rodriguez held the title for more than a month before losing the titles on Night 1 of SummerSlam to Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair.

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Roxanne Perez and Liv Morgan enter the ring during “WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event” at Bell Centre in Montreal on Jan. 24, 2026. (Craig Melvin/WWE)

Morgan has had high praise for Perez since she joined “Monday Night Raw.”

“I think Roxanne is so incredibly talented,” Morgan said. “She’s so young and is so aware in the ring. She really knows what she’s doing. For us, the Judgment Day, to take our little Roxy under our wing and set her up as the next great for the next generation.

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Roxanne Perez celebrates her win with Liv Morgan during “Monday Night Raw” at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo., on Dec. 8, 2025. (Bradlee Rutledge/WWE/Getty Images)

“She’s definitely under my tutelage. I’m teaching her a lot. I’m teaching her everything that I know. I’m teaching her a lot. The future of WWE is more than safe in my little Roxy’s hands.”

Morgan warmed up to Perez when she returned on screen.

Perez recently rejoined the Judgment Day after being out for a few weeks recovering from back surgery. She and Rodriguez were in Morgan’s corner as she won the Women’s World Championship against Stephanie Vaquer at WrestleMania 42.

Liv Morgan enters the arena with Raquel Rodriguez, Roxanne Perez and Dominik Mysterio during “Monday Night Raw” at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 20, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE)

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Perez is only 24 and has risen quickly through the WWE ranks. She was a two-time NXT women’s champion and a one-time NXT women’s tag team champion.

Clemson baseball didn’t just win a series over the weekend… it gave its postseason chances a real jolt where it matters most.

The Tigers jumped to No. 41 in the RPI after taking two of three from a ranked Boston College team, and that number is now the biggest thing keeping their season alive. At 28-20 overall with an 8-16 mark in ACC play, Clemson isn’t getting any help from its conference record. But RPI doesn’t ignore who you beat, and that series win added something meaningful to a résumé that badly needed it.

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Right now, everything revolves around that number. Sitting in the low 40s keeps Clemson within striking distance of the NCAA Tournament conversation, but it’s still a fragile spot. Projections have the Tigers finishing in that same range by the end of the regular season, which means there’s very little margin for error over these final games.

The reality is Clemson can’t count on a deep ACC Tournament run to bail them out. With their current standing, they’d likely need to win five straight games just to secure the automatic bid, which is a long shot. That puts even more pressure on improving their RPI before Selection Monday rolls around.

There are still chances to do that. A midweek matchup against a top-10 Coastal Carolina team and a home series with a ranked Florida State squad both present opportunities to stack quality wins. Those are the kinds of results that could push Clemson out of the danger zone and into a more comfortable position.

Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has praised Alex Iwobi for his consistency and contribution to Nigerian football over the years.

Iwobi has remained one of the most dependable players in the Super Eagles squad since making his debut for Nigeria in 2015 during a friendly defeat against the Democratic Republic of Congo after replacing Ahmed Musa in the second half.

Since then, the Fulham midfielder has gone on to make 99 appearances for Nigeria, placing him third on the country’s all-time appearance list. He is now closing in on Ahmed Musa’s record of 111 caps.

At club level, Iwobi has also enjoyed a successful career in the English Premier League. The 30-year-old has played 318 Premier League matches, the highest by any Nigerian player and the third-most by an African footballer in the competition’s history.

Speaking in an interview with Footy-Africa, Sodje said Iwobi deserves greater respect for what he has achieved with both club and country.

“I think he has done really well because when he first came to the national team, his ability was questioned because of his uncle (Jay-Jay Okocha). But I think he has improved so much because of the career he has had in England,” Sodje said.

The former Brentford defender also praised Iwobi’s experience and importance to the national team.

“We have to give him a lot of respect. He has become a very experienced and important player for the national team,” he added.

Sodje further explained that many fans may not fully appreciate Iwobi’s qualities, but former players understand his importance better because of his tactical discipline and understanding of the game.

“I would rate him among the best because he is a player that follows instructions and understands the technical side of football,” Sodje stated.

Iwobi recently achieved another milestone in the Premier League after becoming the first Nigerian player to record at least 35 goals and 38 assists in the competition. He also passed the 300-game mark earlier this season, strengthening his reputation as one of Nigeria’s most experienced stars in England.

Eight teams have been eliminated from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and eight remain as the second round begins. With the field now cut in half, there are some heavyweight matchups with a spot in the conference finals on the line.

The marquee showdown of the second round is between the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild — two legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. The fact that Quinn Hughes (Minnesota) and Cale Makar (Colorado) will be on the ice at the same time is enough of a selling point, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. This series could provide seven games of world-class hockey.

After snapping a 14-season playoff drought, the Buffalo Sabres are now trying to reach the conference finals for the first time since 2007. The Montreal Canadiens stand in their way after taking down the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round, and that series will showcase two of the most electric buildings in the NHL.

Elsewhere, the Vegas Golden Knights and Anaheim Ducks will do battle in a clash of styles with one elite defensive team taking on a high-powered offense. Speaking of defense, don’t expect there to be much room on the ice when the Carolina Hurricans and Philadelphia Flyers go head to head.

Only four teams will be left standing after the second round, and here are our expert predictions for each series winner.

Note: All second-round picks were submitted before Game 1 between the Carolina Hurricanes and Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday (Carolina won 3-1) and Game 1 between the Minnesota Wild and Colorado Avalanche on Sunday (Colorado won 9-6). 

2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs second-round picks

(1) Carolina Hurricanes vs. (3) Philadelphia Flyers

Nivison: After picking against both of these teams in the first round, I have to pick one to reach the Eastern Conference Final. Once again, I’m reluctant to pull the trigger and pick the Hurricanes, even if I shouldn’t be. The second line featuring Taylor Hall, Logan Stankoven and Jackson Blake was outstanding. More importantly, Frederik Andersen shook off his regular season struggles to post 5.22 goals saved above average, which leads all playoff goalies. The main concern with this Carolina team is about its lack of true offensive firepower, and an impressive first-round sweep did nothing to diminsh that.

The top line — which features all three of the Canes’ best offensive weapons in Seth Jarvis, Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov — was outscored 1-0 at five-on-five against the Senators. To make matters worse, that trio didn’t even control 33% of the expected goals share, per Natural Stat Trick. Just as they did against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round, the Flyers could cause serious problems for the Hurricanes with their defense. Additionally, rookie Porter Martone has injected some much-needed offensive life into the Philadelphia roster, and Dan Vladar was every bit as good as Andersen in goal. This will be another slugfest of a series, and the Flyers will continue their magical run. Pick — Flyers def. Hurricanes 4-3

Baumgartner: The Flyers pulled off a minor upset in the first round, taking a 3-0 lead against a veteran Penguins team before closing out the series in Game 6. Philadelphia was able to spread the wealth offensively with 14 different players scoring at least a goal in round 1. Rookie Porter Martone made his presence known, scoring twice against their cross-state rivals, including the game-winner in Game 1. Goaltender Dan Vladar was Philadelphia’s MVP, posting a remarkable 1.61 goals-against-average across the six games, capped by a 42-save shutout in the series clinching win.

The Hurricanes didn’t have much trouble in the opening round of the playoffs, sweeping the Senators to reach the second round for the sixth consecutive season. 34-year-old Taylor Hall led Carolina in scoring with seven points (2 goals, 5 assists) and 23-year-old Logan Stankoven had a team-high four goals. Similar to Vladar’s standout performance in the crease for Philadelphia, Frederik Andersen stood on his head for Carolina, leading all goaltenders this postseason with a 1.10 goals-against-average and .955 save percentage. I won’t sleep on the Flyers ability after their performance in round 1, however, the Hurricanes are arguably the most complete team in the Eastern Conference and showed that when they swept Ottawa. I’m not fading them yet. Pick — Hurricanes def. Flyers 4-2

(1) Buffalo Sabres vs. (3) Montreal Canadiens

Nivison: First of all, this series will be must-see TV, if for no other reason than the atmosphere in each building. It also helps that this is a battle of two evenly matched teams with a spot in the conference final on the line. The x-factor in this series may be how each team’s top line performs, especially since they’re trending in different directions after the first round.

The Canadiens’ star trio of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky was great in the regular season, but they struggled mightily against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Those three posted an expected goals share of 43.9% and a goal differential of minus-4 at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick. In Buffalo, Peyton Krebs, Alex Tuch and Tage Thompson were outstanding against the Boston Bruins. Not only did they post a five-on-five expected goals share of 56.6%, but they got the results with a plus-6 goal differential. On the one hand, it’s impressive that Montreal got past Tampa Bay without its top line firing on all cylinders. On the other — if that continues against the Sabres — the Canadiens will be playing with fire. Considering there is so little daylight between these squads from the net outward, I’ll ride with hot hand(s) in a long series. Pick — Sabres def. Canadiens 4-3

Baumgartner: The Sabres failed to disappoint in their first playoff appearance since 2011, knocking out the Boston Bruins in six games for their first series win since 2007. Goaltender Alex Lyon was exceptional after taking over the net in relief of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen during Game 2. Lyon, who had a 2.77 goals-against-average in 36 regular season games, allowed just five goals in four games against Boston. There were no passengers for Buffalo in round 1. Their top players showed up, like forwards Alex Tuch (4 goals, 7 points), Tage Thompson (2 goals, 7 points), Peyton Krebs (2 goals, 6 points), and defensemen Bowen Byram (3 goals, 5 points) and Rasmus Dahlin (1 goal, 4 points).

I correctly predicted Montreal and Tampa would need seven games before finding a winner. However, I was wrong in favoring a veteran Lightning team that entered the series with three straight first-round exits over a Canadiens squad on the upswing.  Jakub Dobes was clutch in net down the stretch, stopping 28 of 29 shots faced in the series decider to become just the fifth rookie goaltender in Canadiens history to win a Game 7, a feat accomplished only by all-time greats Jacques Plante, Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy and Carey Price. Forwards Nick Suzuki and Cole Caulfield scored just one goal respectively against Tampa, but it’s only a matter of time before the Habs’ star players take over a game. Montreal already slayed one of the Cup favorites, I think they get it done again vs Buffalo. Pick — Canadiens def. Sabres 4-3

(1) Colorado Avalanche vs. (3) Minnesota Wild

Note: Colorado beat Minnesota on Sunday night in Game 1, 9-6. 

Nivison: For the first time since 2015, the Wild have reached the second round of the playoffs, snapping a streak of eight consecutive first-round losses. Will they reach their first Western Conference Final since 2003? Maybe, but it will take a Herculean effort. The Avalanche looked like the Presidents’ Trophy winners in their clean first-round sweep of the Los Angeles Kings. Colorado allowed just five goals while finding different ways to beat one of the NHL’s best defensive teams. The Kings actually gave the Avalanche a decent preview of what they’ll see in the second round, except Minnesota is a much bigger threat offensively.

The Wild — particularly Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber — defended the Stars exceptionally well. Dallas was limited to four five-on-five goals over the course of six games, and Jesper Wallstedt was impeccable in goal for the Wild. All that said, the Avalanche will present two major problems for Minnesota. The first is center depth. Roope Hintz missed the entire series for the Stars, and that leveled the playing field down the middle, but Colorado has a huge postional edge there. The Avalanche have been rolling with Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, Nazem Kadri and Jack Drury as their centers. The Wild simply can’t match that, even if Ryan Hartman and Joel Eriksson Ek are playing well. The second issue for Minnesota is that its penalty kill was a sieve against Dallas. The Wild killed off just 60% of the power plays they face, and while the Avs’ power play hasn’t exactly been humming this season, there are enough weapons on the ice to do major damage. Center depth and special teams carry Colorado to the conference finals. Pick — Avalanche def. Wild 4-2

Baumgartner: The Wild-Stars series is what we expected from two of the West’s top teams. For the most part, the games were fairly close and high-scoring. Minnesota got the better end of Dallas, taking out the team that made three straight Western Conference Finals in six games. Rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, who was the No. 2 goalie most of the regular season, was surprisingly given the crease over fellow countryman Filip Gustavsson. The risky decision paid off; Wallstedt was very good in net for the Wild. The biggest takeaway for me in round 1 was Minnesota’s star players showing up when it mattered most. Matt Boldy (6 goals, 3 assists), Kirill Kaprizov (2 goals, 7 assists), Quinn Hughes (2 goals, 6 assists) and Brock Faber (3 goals, 3 assists) were on their game all series.

On the other hand, Colorado had to sit back and wait for their second-round opponent after sweeping the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings kept the first two games to within a goal, but they missed their chance to steal a game from the Presidents’ Trophy winning Avalanche. Colorado is a team with few flaws, if any. Offensive contributions are across the board and plentiful. Their defensemen, highlighted by Cale Makar and Devon Toews, play a 200-foot game, making life easier for goaltender Scott Wedgewood – who gave up just five goals in the first round. Minnesota could be the toughest opponent Colorado gets all postseason, but I’m sticking with my Avalanche to win the Cup prediction. Pick — Avalanche def. Wild 4-2

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(1) Golden Knights vs. (3) Anaheim Ducks

Nivison: This series is going to be a battle of wills. The Ducks want to create as much offense as possible, even if it turns the game into a track meet. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights are determined not to give an inch in their own zone. That’s reflected in the numbers from the first round. Anaheim generated expected goals at the third-highest rate, and Vegas allowed expected goals against at the lowest rate. So, which team will get its way?

I’m inclined to lean toward the Golden Knights because their top four defensemen — Shea Theodore, Noah Hanifin, Rasmus Andersson and Brayden McNabb — are among the best in the league. They just did a pretty good job containing a Utah Mammoth offense that’s loaded with skill and speed. It was good practice for what they’re about to see from the Ducks. The great equalizer could be goaltending. Carter Hart was somewhat of a liability against Utah, and players like Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson could give him fits in this series. Unfortunately for Anaheim, Lukas Dostal was even worse from a statistcal perspective, allowing 5.64 goals above average in six games. Vegas smothers Anaheims’ offense and makes reaches the Western Conference Final in relatively short order. Pick — Golden Knights def. Ducks 4-1

Baumgartner: No matter how disappointing the Edmonton Oilers were in the regular season, the Ducks were dealt the difficult task of playing a team led by Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the first round of the playoffs. Instead of wavering in the presence of star power, Anaheim forced Edmonton to play their game, ultimately taking down the back-to-back Stanley Cup finalists in six games. The Ducks’ youngsters like Cutter Gauthier, 22, Leo Carlsson, 21, and Jackson LaCombe, 25, were all top contributors in the opening round, while veterans Alex Killorn (2-time Stanley Cup champion), Mikael Granlund (960 NHL games), Chris Kreider (129 postseason games) and Troy Terry (8 years in NHL) also found themselves atop the scoresheet.

The Golden Knights won three straight games against the Utah Mammoth, overcoming a 2-1 series deficit to advance to the second round for the third time in four years. Vegas showed resilience in a tight series, winning back-to-back overtime games – Game 5 in double overtime – despite suboptimal goaltending from Carter Hart. Anaheim got past two of the league’s top players in the first round; they’ll once again have to face firepower up front, with Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner already showing their impact early this postseason. If the Golden Knights get sufficient goaltending, I give them the edge. Pick — Golden Knights def. Ducks 4-3

Badale, who has been associated with RR since its inception, will continue to support the franchise in a transitional role.

Besides the IPL team, RR owns Paarl Royals in South Africa’s SA20 league and Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League. 

The deal is subject to customary closing conditions, including approvals from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Competition Commission of India, the IPL Governing Council, and other regulatory authorities. It is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026. 

Lakshmi Mittal said the investment was both a personal and strategic decision, pointing to his roots in Rajasthan and a longstanding association with cricket. He said he has followed the sport since his school days and looks forward to being closely involved with the franchise and engaging with fans. He also referenced the team’s history of producing and backing leading players, including those who have gone on to inspire younger talent. “I cannot wait to join fans pitch-side to cheer our future success,” he said. 

Lakshmi Mittal, Aditya Mittal, daughter Vanisha Mittal-Bhatia, Poonawalla, and Badale will join the board of RR following the completion of the transaction. 

The deal comes amid a wave of ownership changes and high valuations in IPL franchises. In March, a consortium comprising Aditya Birla Group, Bennett Coleman & Co. (The Times Group), Bolt Ventures, and Blackstone’s perpetual private equity strategy BXPE signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100 per cent of Royal Challengers Bengaluru from United Spirits, a subsidiary of Diageo plc. The transaction valued the franchise at ₹16,660 crore and includes both the IPL and Women’s Premier League teams. 

Earlier, in 2025, Torrent Group acquired a 67 per cent stake in Gujarat Titans from CVC Capital Partners for about ₹5,000 crore, while JSW Group acquired a 50 per cent stake in the then Delhi Daredevils (now known as Delhi Capitals) from GMR Group for around ₹550 crore. 

By partnering Aditya Mittal on the investment, Poonawalla sees RR as a franchise with a strong legacy and room for “continued growth”. He added that he looks forward to “supporting its long-term success”. 

Given that the IPL has rapidly grown into one of the world’s leading sporting leagues, Aditya Mittal described RR as one of its “original and most recognisable teams”. He said the franchise’s focus on identifying and nurturing young talent resonates with the group’s approach, and that the new owners intend to build on that foundation while harnessing its global standing. He also acknowledged the role of players, coaching staff, management, and fans in shaping the franchise so far. 

Mittal-Bhatia credited her interest in the investment to a longstanding family association with sport and cricket, adding that it represents an opportunity to be part of the next phase of growth of the league. 

Badale said it had been a privilege to be involved with RR since the beginning and to help build the franchise into a competitive and widely followed team. He said the incoming investors bring both a strong connection to Rajasthan and a long-term vision for the franchise and that he looks forward to supporting them as the team enters its next phase.