Cricket isn’t one of the most popular sports in Serbia, but tennis icon Novak Djokovic found a connection with the “Gentleman’s game” through none other than Team India legend Virat Kohli. The two stalwarts of their respective sports haven’t shared a stage often, but they have engaged in several social media interactions that have mesmerised their fans. Speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards, Djokovic expressed his admiration for Kohli, revealing that the iconic batter is the reason he started following cricket.

In the digital age, two people no longer need to be in the same vicinity to be “friends”. Despite living thousands of kilometres apart, Djokovic found a friend in Kohli and vice-versa.

“Yes, Virat is a friend and someone I, of course, respect and admire. He’s actually, to be honest, the reason why I started following cricket. I hadn’t followed it before, but through him, I started following it more. We keep in touch, and hopefully, when I come, I don’t want to say if, but when I come to India, hopefully he can join me. We could do a little bit of tennis and a little bit of cricket, have fun, and just spread positive, good vibes while celebrating sport,” Djokovic told Times Now.

Asked about his message for India, Djokovic said that he has admired the country and its fans for a long time. The Serb also mentioned that he has plans to visit India soon.

“My message is always love, respect, and appreciation for all the support I have personally been receiving from Indian tennis and sports fans around the world over the years. I’ve met so many of them during this time. My message would also be: ‘See you very soon in India,’ because I need to go there. I’ve been feeling a calling to visit for the last couple of years. I really hope that I’ll be able to come to India to host an event, play a match, or whatever it may be. I really wish for that because I feel very close to the Indian people,” Djokovic stated.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner also spoke about his rivalry with the sport’s two “young guns”, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

“I think the rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz is also great and unique in its own way. But for me, the ‘Big Three’ will always remain the greatest,” Djokovic asserted.

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Manchester City can create a new piece of Premier League history this season that will leave Mikel Arteta with sleepless nights

As Anthony Taylor blew his full time whistle with the sun fading behind the Colin Bell Stand, Arsenal’s Premier League title race looked to be crumbling. All the talk before kick off was how Manchester City beating the Gunners for a second time this season was inevitable.

That weight of expectation is a difficult burden to carry. While Mikel Arteta’s side have floundered when given the chance to run away with the title, City have taken it in their stride. Arsenal played better on Sunday than they did in defeat at Wembley, but that was still not good enough.

City only looked rocked when Gianluigi Donnarumma misjudged the situation to gift Kai Havertz an equaliser. After the break, they were the ones who came out the blocks better. While Eberechi Eze was denied by the post and Havertz was thwarted by Donnarumma, the result came as no surprise.

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Pep Guardiola’s side have timed their chase to perfection. Win on Wednesday night at Burnley and the Blues will return to the top of the Premier League. Arsenal will regain the lead if they avoid defeat to Newcastle on Saturday while City are across London playing Southampton in the FA Cup.

But with a game in hand still to come against a Crystal Palace side whose focus is on the Conference League, City have every reason to be confident of winning their 11th top tier title and their ninth in the Premier League era. Were the Blues to complete the astonishing comeback, they will have done it by spending the vast majority of this season off the top.

So far, the Blues have led the Premier League for just two per cent of the season. When they won the division in 2013/14, they were ahead for just six per cent of the campaign but on average teams spend 56 per cent of the season leading the way. Arsenal have so far been leading the table for 84 per cent of the campaign.

These figures will haunt Mikel Arteta and his supporters between now and the end of May if City claim the title. Less than two weeks ago, City sat nine points behind Arsenal.

Now, they are on the verge of overtaking them and winning the league in a manner that would taint Arteta’s legacy irreparably. If Arsenal were to mess this up, it is hard to see how this group of players can ever recover.

If City do not win it from here, yes, it would be disappointing. However, this is a squad transitioning and the narrative will be one of praise having still managed to claw back the title race when it seemed like Arsenal had made it a one-horse race.

All the pressure is now on the Gunners and this adds another reason for their club to worry. When the Gunners take to the field on Saturday, the tension will be palpable.

Every mistake will lead to groans, every minute without a goal will see the title slip further out of their reach. For City, the feel-good factor is back and they can enter this final stretch excited by the possibility of making yet more history.

There is no substitute for experience and City are using it fully to their advantage.

Alcaraz, Sabalenka headline Laureus awards 2026 (Screengrab/X)

Tennis dominated the grand stage at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2026 ceremony, as Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka were crowned Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year respectively. The star-studded event was held at the iconic Cibeles Palace in Madrid, celebrating the finest achievements across global sport. What are the Laureus world sports awards?The Laureus World Sports Awards are widely regarded as the “Oscars of Sport,” recognising excellence, inspiration, and achievement across disciplines.Established in 2000 by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the awards are decided by the Laureus World Sports Academy, a panel of legendary athletes from around the world. They honour standout performers in categories such as Sportsman, Sportswoman, Team, Breakthrough, and Comeback of the Year, while also promoting the role of sport in driving positive social change.Carlos Alcaraz’s golden era continuesAt just 22, Carlos Alcaraz continues to define a new era in men’s tennis. His incredible run, featuring titles at the French Open, U.S. Open, and Australian Open, made him the standout choice for the top honour. His electrifying rivalry with Jannik Sinner has become one of the most compelling narratives in modern tennis, pushing the boundaries of the sport.“To receive this recognition from people who understand sports so deeply, it makes it even more meaningful,” said Alcaraz as he accepted his award. “This is a night I will never forget, a moment I will keep in my heart forever.”Aryna Sabalenka’s dominance rewardedWorld No.1 Aryna Sabalenka was honoured after another commanding season on the WTA Tour. Her second consecutive U.S. Open title in 2025 marked her fourth Grand Slam triumph, underlining her dominance in women’s tennis.An emotional Sabalenka reflected on the moment:“I’m shaking right now… it feels crazy to know my name will be next to those legends I looked up to.” Aryna said after receiving award for sportswoman of the year. The ceremony was hosted by tennis legend Novak Djokovic and freestyle skiing sensation Eileen Gu, adding star power to an already glamorous evening.

A significant piece of Liverpool FC history is set to go under the hammer as the FA Cup winner’s medal belonging to former player Steve Nicol is expected to fetch up to £20,000 at auction.

The medal, a memento from the 1985-86 season, marks Nicol’s first FA Cup title, secured during a thrilling 3-1 victory over Everton FC at Wembley Stadium in 1986.

This coveted item leads a collection of memorabilia from the Scottish-born footballer’s illustrious career, which will be offered by Propstore auction house in London later this month.

The medal itself carries an estimate of £10,000 to £20,000, reflecting its historical significance.

Also among the items is Nicol’s European Cup winners’ medal from Liverpool’s tense 1984 clash against Roma in the Stadio Olimpico, anticipated to sell for between £8,000 and £16,000.

Furthermore, his 1989 Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year award, recognising his outstanding performance for the Premier League club, is listed with an estimate of £2,000 to £4,000.

Other items set to go under the hammer include the shirt he wore during the Scotland v England Rous Cup game in 1988, which is hoped to fetch £1,000 to £2,000.

The auction is taking place from April 21 to May 14 and will also include the shirt worn by Nicol during Liverpool and Everton’s FA Cup final match in 1989, which is expected to sell for £3,000 to £6,000.

Nicol, 64, is best known for his 13-year tenure at Liverpool FC, which saw him land three FA Cup victories and score 46 goals.

Nicol has also played for teams including Notts County FC, Sheffield Wednesday and Doncaster Rovers, and emigrated to the United States in 1999 to pursue a career in Major League Soccer (MLS).

Speaking about the upcoming auction, Nicol said: “I’ve been fortunate to be part of some incredible teams throughout my career, from representing Scotland to my years with Liverpool.

“These items hold many personal memories, but I’m pleased to be offering them through Propstore, where they’ll go to fans and collectors who share that passion for the game.

“It means a great deal to know they’ll continue to be appreciated for years to come.”

The event will offer more than 50 lots available for worldwide bidding, with other items up for sale, including an MLS all-star game shirt signed by stars including Sir David Beckham and Landon Donovan, which has a pre-sale estimate of £400 to £800.

Alastair McCrea, Propstore specialist, said: “This is a fantastic collection that really captures the breadth of Steve Nicol’s career, from domestic and European success with Liverpool to his time on the international stage.

“It’s not often that material of this quality and provenance becomes available, and Propstore expects strong interest from collectors and football fans around the world.”

Padres closer Mason Miller has utterly disgusting numbers right now. Have you seen them? 

Sure, the surface-level stuff jumps out, what with the 0.00 ERA and 0.35 WHIP with an MLB-best eight saves in eight tries. That’s all amazing. How about just looking at the individual results of each hitter he’s faced? It won’t take long. He’s faced 38 batters. He’s allowed four baserunners (two singles and two walks). He has 27 strikeouts. Again, that’s against 38 batters. That’s a strikeout against 71.1% of the batters he’s faced.

Entering Monday, only 25 starting pitchers had more than Miller’s 27 strikeouts. He’s thrown 11 ⅓ innings. 

It’s so early it’s almost ridiculous to even talk about it, but there are odds out for the NL Cy Young and only four players have shorter odds than Miller. Via DraftKings: 

2026 NL Cy Young odds

As of April 20

1. Paul Skenes, Pirates: +260
2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers: +380
3. Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies: +550
4. Chris Sale, Braves: +950
5. Mason Miller, Padres: +1500

This means we can talk about if he could win the Cy Young, right? His odds are shorter than Shohei Ohtani, Jacob Misiorowski and Sandy Alcantara. Let’s talk about it. 

Relievers have won Cy Young awards before. On the NL side, we’ve seen Mike Marshall, Bruce Sutter, Steve Bedrosian, Mark Davis and Eric Gagne take the honors while in the AL, the relievers to win the Cy Young have been Sparky Lyle, Rollie Fingers, Willie Hernandez and Dennis Eckersley. 

In this day and age, however, it’s pretty difficult. Aroldis Chapman was unbelievable last season (1.17 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 85 K, 61 ⅓ IP, 3.6 WAR) and finished seventh. In 2024, Emmanuel Clase had an off-the-charts good season (0.61 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, 66 K, 74 ⅓ IP, 4.4 WAR) and only managed to finish third. Prior to those that, we hadn’t seen a reliever finish higher than sixth since 2016. No reliever has won it since 2003. 

Part of the problem for relievers in Cy Young voting now is that we’ve all accepted how much more value starters accrue over the course of the season due to workload. Even the most dominant reliever will have 70-75 innings of that, while ace starters will work in the ballpark of 200 innings. 

At least for me as a voter, and I don’t think I’m alone here, if any reliever were to merit a first-place Cy Young vote, I’d need to see a lead in the rate stats that is exponentially overwhelming in order to justify voting for 70ish innings over 200ish innings. 

If anyone can do it, Mason Miller might just be the guy.

How Mason Miller could make a real Cy Young run

I think we could start with Clase’s ERA and WHIP and say something like 0.60 ERA and 0.70 WHIP could work, but we have to go into the strikeout overload. Fortunately, Miller has already built that foundation. He won’t strike out 71.1% of the hitters he faces all year, but there’s a good start here. 

Let’s try this line: 70 IP, 0.60 ERA, 0.70 WHIP, 50 saves in 52 chances, 124 K, 12 BB, 5.6 WAR

I went extreme just to see if we could get there. In case it needs to be said, no, I don’t think Miller is going to be this great this season. 

For the purposes of this exercise, let’s say Miller does post that line. And let’s say the best starting pitcher the NL ends up with is someone like 2021 Corbin Burnes, who won the Cy Young. Burnes was 11-5 with a 2.43 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 234 strikeouts against 34 walks in 167 innings, good for 5.3 WAR. 

I really think Miller would have a legitimate chance. 

If you believe this is possible, maybe those +1500 odds look juicy enough to you. 

I don’t think Miller can pull it off, but it’ll sure he fun to watch. He’s absurd. 

Lucknow Super Giants’ captain Rishabh Pant, second right, with teammates during a practice session. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Struggling Lucknow Super Giants are set to receive a timely boost in their IPL 2026 campaign, with explosive Australia wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis likely to join the squad ahead of their crucial clash against Mumbai Indians on May 4.The 31-year-old had opted out of the first half of the tournament due to his wedding commitments, tying the knot on April 18. After a short break, Inglis is now expected to travel to India and be available for the remainder of the season, offering a much-needed injection of firepower to an underperforming LSG lineup.According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, Inglis could be available for selection for the final six league matches, starting with the high-stakes encounter against MI. The franchise had secured his services for Rs 8.6 crore at the auction despite knowing he would miss the opening phase.

Josh Inglis (IANS Photo)

Much-needed boost for Pant’s struggling unitLed by Rishabh Pant, LSG have endured a disappointing run so far, losing three matches on the trot and languishing ninth in the standings with just two wins from six games. Their latest setback came in a heavy defeat to Punjab Kings, further denting their playoff hopes.The batting unit, despite featuring names like Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram and Nicholas Pooran, has struggled for consistency. Pooran, in particular, has been out of form, managing just 51 runs in six innings at a below-par strike rate.Inglis’ arrival could help rebalance the combination, especially as LSG have not consistently fielded a fourth overseas player. His aggressive batting approach and ability to accelerate the innings make him a valuable addition in the business end of the tournament.The Australian had an impressive IPL 2025 season with Punjab Kings, scoring 278 runs at a strike rate of 162.57, including a century, before being released ahead of the auction.Meanwhile, LSG have also been hit by the departure of Anrich Nortje, who left the camp after featuring in just one match.With a must-win phase approaching, LSG will be hoping Inglis’ arrival sparks a turnaround. They next face Rajasthan Royals at home on April 22.

Indian players celebrates the dismissal of South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder during the first Test in Kolkata in November. (AP)

New Delhi: The Indian cricket team faces a packed international calendar after the IPL 2026 concludes on May 31, and the management will monitor workloads before finalising squads for the subsequent assignments. With only a few days separating the IPL final and the one-off Test against Afghanistan (June 6-10), top players might be rested for the red ball contest and play the ODI series that follows instead.TimesofIndia.com has learnt that the management will make the final decision, but the idea is under discussion, and selectors will monitor how far the regular Test players advance in the IPL. The discussions around it will remain fluid since no World Test Championship points are on offer and there is a strong possibility that star players – including captain Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah and other regulars in both ODIs and Tests — will sit out.

The situation could well change if, for example, the Gujarat Titans and Mumbai Indians are not in playoff contention. With all options on the table, a final call is expected when the selectors finalise the squad for the Test and three ODIs.“There is not much gap between the IPL final and the Afghanistan Test, so the selectors and management will be wary of not burning out the players, as there are three ODIs, then the white-ball series in England. “There are no WTC points in the Afghanistan Test, and the stakeholders need to carefully manage the workload because some of the players would be on the road for close to two months and have a lot of cricket in the remainder of the year. “ODIs and WTC are priority right now, and you want your best players to be fit, fresh and available for the four Tests – two vs Sri Lanka and two vs New Zealand – and the many ODIs. Why even risk a Bumrah for this Test?” said a source tracking developments.

Shubman Gill (AP Photo)

It is further understood that the selectors have been tracking fast bowlers and spinners in the domestic circuit; maiden call-ups could be on the cards for the fixture in Mullanpur starting June 6. Gurnoor Brar has impressed the men who matter, and so has left-arm spinner Manav Suthar.Both have been part of the India A set-up and will be included in the scheme of things along with Harsh Dubey, Auqib Nabi and Devdutt Padikkal if the workload management opens up slots. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s improvement in the bowling department will keep him in discussions.“One thing is clear with this selection panel: they rarely jump the gun. It’s no secret that Gurnoor and Manav have been very impressive, as have Harsh, Auqib and Devdutt. It will all boil down to the discussions between the thinktank and the medical team because optimum utilisation of resources is going to be key here. No point putting your star players under the sun for a five-day fixture which offers no WTC points.

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Auqib Nabi. (Image: File)

“And there is little turnaround time between the Test and ODI series. So you will again be in the situation where a Test and ODI regular – say like Gill, Bumrah, KL Rahul and even Ravindra Jadeja – would switch formats from T20 to Test to ODIs in less than a month’s time. The captain and coach have been very vocal about such scheduling in the past and could have the final say,” adds the source.India have a packed schedule in June: Tests and ODIs vs Afghanistan, T20Is vs Ireland – and then a tour of England for a white-ball series featuring three T20Is and as many ODIs. Right after that, there is a three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe from July 23.