Abhishek Sharma and Eshan Malinga (BCCI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Opener Abhishek Sharma played a stunning innings and completely dominated Delhi Capitals as Sunrisers Hyderabad won comfortably by 47 runs in Hyderabad on Tuesday. This was their third consecutive victory in IPL 2026.His unbeaten 135 off just 68 balls powered SRH to a massive 242/2 on a flat pitch, leaving DC with no real chance in the chase.Abhishek was in destructive form right from the start, smashing 10 sixes and 10 boundaries as he tore apart the bowling attack. Even though Travis Head was not at his best, he still helped build a strong opening stand of 97 runs. After his dismissal for 37, skipper Ishan Kishan joined Abhishek and added another quick 79-run partnership, pushing SRH into complete control.Towards the end, Heinrich Klaasen added the finishing touch with a blistering 37 off 13 balls, helping SRH reach an unthinkable total of 242/2. Abhishek’s knock was so dominant that even a so-called slower century for him came at a strike rate above 200.Delhi Capitals started their chase with some hope, reaching 107/1, but things quickly fell apart. Eshan Malinga (4/32) and Sakib Hussain broke the backbone of the innings, triggering a collapse that DC never recovered from. They slipped from 107/1 to 107/4 and eventually finished at 195/9.Nitish Rana’s bowling backfired badly, going for 55 runs in four overs, while DC’s spin and pace options were poorly used. Even key bowlers like Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav were underutilised, adding to their problems.SRH’s bowlers used smart variations and kept taking wickets at regular intervals, making the chase impossible.SRH’s powerful batting and disciplined bowling proved far too strong, while DC’s poor tactics and repeated mistakes made the difference in a one-sided contest.

Roughly 5,000 feet of elevation separate Denver and New York City.

Still, gravity works the same regardless of where one stands. Just ask the NBA teams in both towns.

“You get too high, and you get, I don’t want to say cocky, but feeling yourself,” Nuggets guard Tim Hardaway Jr. said.

That sensation went south on either side of the country Monday night.

After squandering sizable leads that would have cemented commanding 2-0 advantages in their respective first-round playoff series, the Nuggets and Knicks now find themselves bracing for a fight.

Should their opponents ultimately have their number, Denver and New York will look back with disdain on 19 and 14. Those were the Game 2 cushions the teams coughed up as the No. 3 seeds in the Eastern and Western Conference.

“It’s a game we should’ve won,” Knicks guard Josh Hart said. “In the playoffs, we can’t give away games.”

Be that as it may, the Knicks did just that against the Atlanta Hawks. They controlled the outcome for much of the night and took a 12-point edge into the fourth quarter after leading by as many as 14.

Then New York shot 5-for-22 from the floor in the final 12 minutes compared to 10-for-15 for Atlanta. Fighting through vulgar chants from the Madison Square Garden faithful, Hawks star CJ McCullom scored six straight points down the stretch during one key sequence on the way to a game-high 32.

“In that fourth quarter, you could tell [the Hawks] were playing with a level of desperation,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “There were four 50-50 balls, and they got three of the four. We always use that stat to gauge the level of aggression in a game. In that fourth quarter, their aggression stepped up.”

New York’s melted at the same time. How many late possessions saw the Knicks pass or hold the ball around the perimeter before settling for subpar looks from 3-point range? The Knicks went 3-for-11 from deep as part of their flop.

Denver led the Minnesota Timberwolves by 19 points early in the second quarter before crumbling. The Nuggets still were ahead by three points to start the fourth quarter but a combined 2-for-12 shooting effort from pillars Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray in the final 12 minutes took a toll.

“I feel like we had the game in hand, and then we just didn’t make our shots,” Murray said.

As with the Knicks and Hawks, the reversal of fortunes stemmed both from the hosts’ miscues and an outstanding effort from a visiting player, as Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards had 30 points.

“Great leadership, positive,” Timberwolves coach Chris Finch said. “He recognized he needed to get into attack mode and get downhill a little bit more. He did that.”

The Knicks and Nuggets no doubt sensed the need to amp up their own urgency as things started slipping away Monday.

That neither could act upon it didn’t signal the end for either New York or Denver, of course. But now there’s unnecessary added weight for the climb back to the top.

On Episode 184 of the USA Soccercast, FC Dallas and USMNT defender Shaq Moore joins the show for a great interview!

Shaq Moore is playing well for FC Dallas in their start to the season, and he’s also excited to talk World Cup. We get to ask him about his career to date, which took him to Spain for several years before he came to Nashville SC and ultimately FC Dallas. The 29-year-old may be on the outside looking in for this summer’s World Cup roster, but he’s in a similar position to what he was 4 years ago when he not only surprised in making the roster, but also playing in two World Cup matches for the United States. He also speaks on the World Cup coming to the United States and the excitement around Dallas-Fort Worth for the matches…and make sure you stay for his one recommendation on where to eat if you’re in town!

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Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Abhishek Sharma celebrates his century (ANI Photo)

Abhishek Sharma produced one of the most dominant knocks of IPL 2026, smashing an unbeaten 135 off 68 balls to power Sunrisers Hyderabad to a commanding 47-run win over Delhi Capitals. On a placid Uppal surface, Abhishek dismantled a listless DC attack, striking 10 sixes and as many boundaries as SRH piled up a massive 242 for 2. He set the tone early alongside Travis Head, adding 97 for the opening wicket despite the latter not being at his fluent best. Skipper Ishan Kishan then accelerated with a brisk 25 off 13, stitching a 79-run stand in just 5.5 overs. Towards the end, Heinrich Klaasen provided the finishing flourish with a quickfire 37* off 13 balls. Reflecting on his innings, Abhishek said the team had a clear plan to attack the powerplay but had to quickly reassess conditions. “The way we started, I felt we had a plan… but the wicket was a bit slow, so we had to re-plan it again. I just wanted to utilise the powerplay and entertain the crowd,” he said, adding that judging a par score wasn’t easy until the innings progressed. The left-hander also credited the environment within the SRH setup for allowing him to play freely. “You have to have the backing from the captain and coach… that is very important. The environment in Sunrisers in 2024 was a game-changer. It felt like they wanted to grow the youngsters,” he explained, pointing out that such freedom has helped him express himself consistently. Delhi’s tactics, however, raised plenty of questions. The decision to persist with part-time off-spinner Nitish Rana backfired badly as he conceded 55 runs in his four overs, with left-handers targeting him repeatedly. More puzzling was the underutilisation of frontline spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, who bowled only two overs each despite the onslaught. The game slipped away decisively in the middle phase, where SRH hammered 116 runs between overs 7 and 15. Despite a strong start in the powerplay, DC had no answers once Abhishek shifted gears. In reply, Delhi looked comfortable at 107 for 1 before a dramatic collapse. Eshan Malinga (4/32) and Sakib Hussain (1/29) used clever variations to dismantle the middle order, reducing DC to 107 for 4. They never recovered from that slide and eventually finished on 195 for 9. For Abhishek, the knock carried emotional significance as well. “My parents are here… it’s a very special moment. My sister is missing today because she had some infection. So this is for you as well,” he said, while also explaining his celebration as a gesture of love for the fans who have backed the team throughout. He also revealed how his father continues to influence his game even now. “Since U12 days, my dad has been sitting next to the screen… even when I am at the non-striker’s end, he keeps giving me instructions. It actually helps me,” Abhishek added with a smile. With this emphatic win, SRH climbed to third on the points table, and Abhishek’s breathtaking innings not only headlined the result but also underlined his growing stature as one of the most destructive batters in the tournament.

The San Francisco 49ers have made a key addition to their front office ahead of this week’s NFL Draft: AI.

The Niners own six picks this draft, including the 27th overall selection, and it sure sounds like artificial intelligence will be playing a role in who they select.

“If you aren’t using it, you’re already behind,” Lynch told reporters Monday.

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Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with John Lynch after defeating the Detroit Lions 34-31 in the NFC championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Jan. 28, 2024. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Lynch is not wrong, but the continuation of that remark may raise some eyebrows.

“And the cool thing is, what we found is you don’t need to be an expert,” Lynch said. “Just like you at home, planning a travel itinerary, you can just ask the thing, and it can spit out pretty good things, some pretty good ideas.”

Analytics has obviously taken over in sports, but this undoubtedly could take things to a whole new level.

Head Coach Kyle Shanahan and General Manager John Lynch of the San Francisco 49ers talk during rookie training camp at the SAP Performance Facility in Santa Clara, Calif., on May 12, 2023. (Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images)

FROM MR IRRELEVANT TO GENERATIONAL WEALTH, BROCK PURDY WANTS TO USE HIS LIFESTYLE FOR GOOD

“Some pretty good ideas, our developers, I think we’re fortunate to be where we are down at the epicenter of the innovation there, and we’ve tried to take advantage of that,” Lynch added. “And I do think every team is probably using it in some form or fashion. And I think that will only increase as we move forward.”

San Fran made a big splash this offseason when they signed wide receiver Mike Evans to a three-year deal with $42.5 million. The Niners have struggled with consistency from their wide receivers, largely due to injuries.

Jauan Jennings led all Niners wide receivers with 90 targets, and Kendrick Bourne and Ricky Pearsall were both tied for second with 53. Brock Purdy largely relied on Christian McCaffrey (129 targets) and George Kittle (69). However, Kittle’s timetable is uncertain after rupturing his Achilles in the NFL playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk celebrates with general manager John Lynch after the NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Sept. 17, 2023. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Who knows what AI could have come up with when Brock Purdy was taken with the last selection in 2022, though.

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The Minnesota Vikings signed defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings from the CFL a few months ago, and he has basically done the Simpsons meme, leaving before he got started.

The move showed Hutchings never climbed out of the Vikings’ fringe roster tier despite the early buzz around his name.

Minnesota waived Hutuchings on Tuesday, and that’s a wrap, at least for now.

The Vikings’ DT Picture Looks a Little Different Now

What was your favorite Hutchings moment in the Twin Cities?

MIN Drops Hutchings

No one expected an exit so soon, but that happened this week for Hutchings.

NFL writer Dave Holcomb noted, “Days before the 2026 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings are releasing a defensive tackle they signed to a reserve contract in January — Jaylon Hutchings. NFL insider Aaron Wilson reported on X the Vikings cut Hutchings on Tuesday. As Wilson indicated, most of Hutchings professional football success has come in the Canadian Football League.”

“He also spent a brief time with the Chicago Bears during 2024 training camp after becoming an undrafted free agent. During the 2024 draft process, Hutchings received praise for some of his physical traits and natural instincts. The Bears signed Hutchings as an undrafted free agent but not until August 11. Chicago waived him a few weeks later toward the end of the preseason on August 26.”

The move coincided with the Vikings players and coaches’ first official get-together in Eagan on Monday.

The DTs without Him

Hutchings lived at the bottom of the Vikings’ interior defensive line depth chart, needing to prove himself in the summer to earn an active roster spot for September. That is now moot.

Without Hutchings, here’s the Vikings’ DT room:

• Jalen Redmond
• Levi Drake Rodriguez
• Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins
• Taki Taimani
• Elijah Williams

Most fans think Minnesota will draft a defensive tackle this week, perhaps early in the event, with names like Peter Woods (Clemson), Kayden McDonald (Ohio State), and Lee Hunter (Texas Tech) getting particular attention in various mock drafts.

Hutchings’s Career to Date

Hutchings was a CFL all-star in 2025, believe it or not. It’s why Vikings fans immediately compared him to Redmond.

Here’s his pro and semi-pro resume to date:

• Chicago Bears (2024)
• Calgary Stampeders (2024–2025)
• Minnesota Vikings (2026)

Before the 2024 NFL Draft, NFL Draft Buzz summarizes his skill set: “He’s very instinctive when it comes to countering and solid with overall hand usage. Flashes enough quickness off the snap to threaten gaps at three-technique, especially when slanting. Quick off the snap in the pass rush, Hutchings has violent hands and a good feel for working inside counter moves.”

“Provides some secondary interior pass rush, getting most penetration when playing three technique. His spin move is already NFL-caliber, and he displays a very good motor. Combines strength and footwork to fill holes inside, as well. Recovers from cut blocks or falling on his way to make a tackle.”

Hutchings banked 8 sacks for the Stampeders last season. That was his claim to fame and springboard to the temporary Vikings contract.

Our Janik Eckardt added in January on Hutchings’s background: “PFF graded him as the best interior defender in the CFL last season. In fact, his 90.7 was the highest grade of any non-quarterback in the entire league. Minnesota’s new defender went undrafted in 2024. Coming out of Texas Tech, he joined the Chicago Bears during the preseason, but he was axed a couple of weeks later.”

“That’s when he crossed the border to compete in the CFL. Hutchings had a remarkably long college career in the Big 12, registering 61 appearances. He made 193 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks in those contests. The Red Raiders also used him as a short-yardage back a few times.”

Perhaps the Vikings will draft the aforementioned Hunter on Friday night, and it will be one Red Raider out and another in.

Eckardt added, “His three rushes resulted in ten yards and a touchdown. A knee injury suffered late in the 2023 season knocked him out of his final college season and he missed most pre-draft workouts. That certainly didn’t improve his draft prospects.”

Not Quite Redmond after All

To reiterate, because Minnesota had so much success with Redmond, who came from the UFL, most saw the Hutchings signing in early January and thought, “They’re going to do it again, aren’t they?”

Not so much.

Finding gems from the UFL or CFL is so rare that it would actually be strange for Minnesota to strike oil twice in two years, let alone players from the same position. Redmond is a unique, a true diamond in the rough. So far, Hutchings is not.

In fact, Hutchings fell victim to the typical UFL or CFL fate: a roster cut before showtime.

He’ll turn 27 on New Year’s Eve. Some credible reports also indicate that Hutchings suffered an injury setback this spring, and he could be part of the Vikings’ roster in the future. Stay tuned.

NEW DELHI: Sunrisers Hyderabad’s dominant win over Delhi Capitals was once again defined by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive batting and a disciplined bowling effort led by Eshan Malinga. However, DC skipper Axar Patel remained calm after the defeat, suggesting no immediate panic or changes to the XI despite the heavy loss.Speaking after the match, Axar backed his squad and stressed that the team’s overall process was still on track. He said, “No, right now it doesn’t feel like that, because the kind of cricket that is going on – if you see, obviously we are batting well and bowling well. It feels like, I think you know, when the wicket is so good, then this should be considered an off day and forgotten.”