Kuldeep Yadav (Photo by @BCCI on X)

NEW DELHI: India spinner Kuldeep Yadav says his attention is firmly on Test cricket as he prepares to spearhead the team’s spin attack in the one-off Test against Afghanistan.Despite a disappointing IPL 2026 campaign with Delhi Capitals, where he picked up only 10 wickets and the team missed the playoffs, the early exit has given him valuable time to switch gears and focus on the longer format. The left-arm wrist-spinner, who has taken 76 wickets in 17 Tests, believes his primary responsibility is to deliver breakthroughs for the team. “As an attacking spinner, I want to get breakthroughs for the team regularly, and that’s my only mindset. My focus is fully on playing red-ball cricket,” the spinner said on JioHotstar’s “Follow the Blues” segment.Kuldeep admitted that moving from T20 cricket to the demands of Test matches is never easy. He used the extra time after the IPL to prepare specifically for red-ball cricket and get accustomed to the different challenges it presents.“It is tough when you switch from IPL cricket to red-ball cricket. Preparation becomes very necessary. Luckily, I have time. I practised for at least 10 to 15 days and got the feel of the red ball,” he added.He explained that patience and consistency are far more important in Test cricket than in T20s, saying, “Bowling in Test cricket is different. In T20, you are always attacking. You always think about going after the batter. But in Test cricket, the batter has a lot of time.”Kuldeep also stressed the importance of having a strong spin attack, especially with major Test assignments against Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand coming up, adding, “I believe that if you have a quality spin attack in your team, you can break the game open in any situation.”With Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel rested, Kuldeep will have added responsibility in Afghanistan Test. However, he is confident that youngsters Harsh Dubey and Manav Suthar are ready for the challenge.“The preparations have been going well for the Afghanistan Test match. We have had two net sessions so far. Yes, Jaddu bhai is not there. He is a regular in Tests. We will also miss Axar Patel. But the preparations have been good,” he revealed. Kuldeep praised the young spinners for their domestic experience and red-ball exposure. He added, “They might lack international experience, but when it comes to preparation and match awareness when it comes to red-ball cricket, they are absolutely on top because they have been playing regularly.” He believes their recent involvement in India A tours and domestic tournaments has prepared them well for the international stage.

The last thing the Minnesota Vikings will do this summer is trade Justin Jefferson, but that didn’t stop Bleacher Report from dreaming big this week, pounding home a Jefferson trade theory from a Buffalo Bills perspective.

Fresh off the steam of two colossal NFL trades — Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams and A.J. Browns to the New England Patriots — BR Alex Kay decided it was reasonable to ship Jefferson east.

Vikings Have No Practical Path to Move Jefferson

BR: Jefferson to Bills Would Be Like Garrett to LAR

Kay sized up five bombastic NFL trades, and Jefferson to Josh Allen’s team made the cut.

He explained, “Buffalo Bills receive: WR Justin Jefferson. Minnesota Vikings receive: 2027 first-, second- and fourth-round picks, 2028 third- and fifth-round picks. Dealing Jefferson in exchange for a massive amount of capital would position the Vikings to land one of the coveted quarterback prospects set to be available in the 2027 draft.”

“With a slew of high-end signal-callers set to enter the league next offseason, Minnesota can’t afford to miss out if it wants to return to prominence in the brutally tough NFC North. A team all-in on winning a Super Bowl this coming season would be the ideal suitor for Jefferson. The Buffalo Bills would be an intriguing choice after they came up painfully short last season.”

Ironically, Jefferson ended up with the Vikings because of a WR trade to the Bills in 2020: Stefon Diggs.

“While they did trade for DJ Moore to bolster an undermanned receiving corps, they failed to land a true needle-mover to pair with star QB Josh Allen. An Allen-Jefferson battery could put up historic numbers akin to what Randy Moss and Tom Brady accomplished with the 2007 New England Patriots,” Kay continued.

“It would cost the Bills a haul of future picks to bring the tandem together, but doing so would give the club perhaps its best shot yet at a championship.”

Fun — but Not Realistic

The spirit of Kay’s article was dream trades … hypothetically — and that’s fine. Vikings fans can stand around and imagine a Bijan Robinson trade all day if they’d like. That’s what daydreaming is for. But Jefferson to Buffalo this summer or Robinson to Minnesota anytime soon simply are not realistic. Minnesota has no incentive to subtract its best player; neither does Atlanta.

In fact, new Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley said Wednesday that his team is competing for a Super Bowl as early as now. The Vikings are not in a rebuild mode or anywhere close to it. Therefore, if Minnesota is “in it to win it” in 2026, trading Jefferson just doesn’t move the needle.

It would’ve been like the New York Knicks trading Jalen Brunson last October.

The Money Doesn’t Work

Trading Jefferson this summer would be a financial disaster for Minnesota, costing them approximately $70.5 million in dead cap. Such a move is typically reserved for players who are underperforming, who are forcing a trade, or who are creating significant locker-room issues. Jefferson, however, is none of these; he remains a top-tier talent, the cornerstone of their franchise, and a reliable asset for the team’s future.

That financial reality alone makes any trade speculation premature, even before considering the on-field implications. A trade only becomes financially viable after June 1, 2027, when the financial impact would decrease to roughly $19 million (but with more hitting the books in 2028). Even then, the Vikings would require an exceptionally compelling reason to ponder such a move.

Until then, any discussion of trading Jefferson is baseless. While Minnesota can explore options for linebackers and centers in free agency, for example, trading Jefferson this summer is an entirely different proposition.

A Jefferson trade is virtually impossible for now.

Beware of 2027 Jefferson Trade Takes, Though

The real worry emerges a year from now.

Consider the Damian Lillard drama in Portland. For years, NBA analysts urged him to leave, but he remained loyal, carrying imperfect teams until he finally reached his breaking point. That should serve as a warning for Minnesota. Elite players typically preach patience, but only until the team gives them too many reasons to quit.

It places the spotlight squarely on the Vikings’ quarterback plan. Jefferson cannot be chasing 1,000 yards in December while the rest of the season drifts into discussions about draft order. Minnesota needs Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy, or both to make the offense dangerous enough to genuinely contend.

McCarthy received a full season tryout and ended up at the bottom of the league in efficiency while battling three injuries. That performance opened the door for Murray. It’s likely Murray’s turn in September.

Trading Jefferson now would be an unholy decision. A Vikings 2026 finish sans the playoffs would open a can of worms on the topic.

Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

After blitzing out Dave Allen last month, Filip Hrgovic looks set for a second consecutive outing on British soil, expected to collide with Moses Itauma next.

Now, after recently facing the imposing Croatian, Allen has provided a prediction for that proposed fight.

Hrgovic suffered a first career defeat when he lost to Daniel Dubois by stoppage in a bid for the IBF Interim heavyweight title; a loss which ultimately cost him world honours, with ‘Triple D’ elevated to full world champion soon after.

However, ‘El Animal’ has since bounced back, with last month’s three-round beatdown of Allen marking three wins over British opponents within a 13-month spell and teeing up a fifth straight clash against an opponent from the UK.

The victor of Itauma-Hrgovic is expected to move on to a shot at the heavyweight throne, but despite his recent one-sided defeat, Allen picked 21-year-old Itauma to come out on top, on his TikTok account. 

“It’s a great fight, it is a big step up, I think. I think that Franklin was a good fight but Hrgovic is another step up again, a lot more danger.

“Hrgovic, I think, is a world-class fighter. I think that he is very, very, very good, but I think that with Itauma’s speed and variation, I think that Itauma wins. I think that he is that special.”

It is believed that Itauma vs Hrgovic will take place on Saturday, August 8, at the O2 Arena. However, an alternative date has also been suggested for what would be Itauma’s toughest test to date.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off across the North American continent, hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, Oliver Farry is pleased to welcome Thando Sibiya, Sports Presenter and Journalist. While the tournament was initially met with great fanfare: an expanded 48-country tournament hosted by three countries, Sibiya warns that the “deplorable issues” and multiple controversies risk “killing the ambiance” and keeping football fans and country supporters away. From exorbitant ticket prices to Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration policies, many fans will now be forced to follow their team from their home country. This could very well be ‘one of the least anticipated World Cups of this era’, laments Sibiya.

The Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres wrap up a three-game set when they meet on Thursday’s MLB schedule. The Phillies (32-29) won the first two contests of the series, both by 3-2 scores. The Padres (32-28) have now dropped four in a row for the third time this season, which ties for their longest losing streak of the year. Zack Wheeler (4-1, 2.27 ERA) will take the ball for Philly, countered by San Diego RHP Lucas Giolito (2-0, 4.97 ERA).

First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. ET from Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The Phillies have won six straight versus San Diego dating back to last season. Philadelphia is the -191 favorite on the money line (risk $191 to win $100) in the latest Padres vs. Phillies odds, while the over/under for total runs is 8. Before making any Phillies vs. Padres picks, or MLB predictions, be sure to see the Padres vs. Phillies predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model. 

Visit our DraftKings promo code review to see their latest offers and get started.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every MLB game 10,000 times and enters Week 11 of the MLB season on a red-hot 17-5 run (77%) on all top-rated MLB picks. It also excelled at making home run prop picks in 2025, returning nearly 30 units of profit. Anybody following its MLB betting picks at sportsbooks and on betting sites could have seen strong returns.   

Now, the model has set its sights on Padres vs. Phillies and just locked in its picks and MLB predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several MLB odds and betting lines for Phillies vs. Padres:

New to sports trading? Visit our Kalshi promo code review to see their latest offers and get started. 

Top Phillies vs. Padres predictions 

After 10,000 simulations of Padres vs. Phillies, the model is going Over 8 combined runs. For over/under betting, the pitchers on the mound indicate there could be plenty of runs on the scoreboard. Wheeler is coming off his worst outing, allowing 4 ER and 4 HR last Friday. As for Giolito, he also gave up 4 ER in his last start, and that came in just 2.2 innings. He’s also been roughed up by Philadelphia’s best hitters as Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner have combined for five homers across just 27 ABs versus Giolito.

The model projects each of those three Phillies to have at least 1.5 total bases, while several Padres batters will have impressive games as well. Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts are all forecasted to score at least 0.5 runs. With both teams projected to score more than 4 runs, on average, the value is backing the Over in this contest. Get the Phillies vs. Padres money-line pick at SportsLine.

How to make Padres vs. Phillies picks

After simulating every pitch of Phillies vs. Padres 10,000 times, the model also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can get that pick at SportsLine. 

So who wins Padres vs. Phillies, and which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its MLB picks, and find out.

It’s a getaway day around Major League Baseball on Thursday, and that means a handful of matinees. I think the best value play is in a 1:35 ET first pitch from Fenway Park as the Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox conclude their three-game AL East set. They won’t see one another again until after the All-Star break.

Fans who want to bet on MLB need to see the latest DraftKings promo code.

 Orioles vs. Red Sox single-game parlay

• Boston +1.5
• Alt Under 12.5

DraftKings SGP price: +104

The Red Sox’s firing of highly respected manager Alex Cora and pretty much his entire coaching staff in late April has given the team a minor boost, if perhaps not quite what the front office/ownership hoped for, as Boston was 10-17 under Cora and is 16-17 under interim manager Chad Tracy. The Sox sit last in the AL East and are +370 to reach the playoffs with No at -500.

If the team turns things around at Fenway, maybe a wild card spot is doable, as the Red Sox are 10-20 in their park compared to a very solid 16-14 away. They had been the only team in the majors without double-digit home victories but got there with Wednesday’s 8-0 blowout victory over Baltimore. Still, it’s Boston worst start at Fenway through 30 games since the 1932 club was 7-23. That team finished 43-111 overall.   

“Sick of it,” infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa said this week of the home struggles before Wednesday’s breakout. “Gotta figure out a way to gain some momentum here, score early. Get the fans on our side early. Get the environment early. It’s hard to get the place jumping when you’re not out in front early.”

Indeed, the Red Sox scored in the bottom of the first Wednesday. All nine starting position players had at least one hit overall. And the bullpen is in fabulous shape today because Boston used only two total pitchers in that victory and no high-leverage guys.

The team is far from whole right now, with shortstop Trevor Story, outfielder and former top prospect Roman Anthony, ace Garrett Crochet and top setup man Garrett Whitlock all on the injured list. It doesn’t appear that any but Whitlock might be close to a return – Story could be out until August — with Crochet suffering a setback this week.

Boston isn’t going anywhere without the lefty atop the rotation, especially with a punchless lineup that has managed only 45 homers, fewest in the American League. Willson Contreras and Jarren Duran each have double-digit homers, but no one else has more than seven.

If you want to tail Matt Severance and other SportsLine and CBS experts, you can check out the latest FanDuel promo code and start making MLB wagers.

One piece of recent good news, though, has been the turnaround of right-hander Brayan Bello, who takes the mound today. The 27-year-old is 2-5 with a 5.63 ERA, which obviously isn’t great, but at one point he was 1-4 with a 9.12 ERA. In five May outings, he had a 2.67 ERA and three quality outings – seven shutout innings last time out in Cleveland, his second straight outing with no runs allowed — but the Red Sox went 1-4 overall because of a lack of run support.

Bello is only getting 3.29 runs of support per start and has been worth minus-$513 to bettors who wagered $100 on each of his seven starts for Boston to win. He has followed an opener four times and has a 0.71 ERA in those appearances (9.68 ERA in 30.2 innings as a starter), but Boston is still 1-3 because the opener has struggled. Bello has said he would like to no longer follow one, but it’s not up to him. And he has an 11.57 ERA in the first inning this year (nine earned runs in seven innings).

Pitching coach Andrew Bailey explained to NESN why following an opener has helped Bello: “You’re wanting to set [pitchers] up for success … if we can minimize the amount of lefties that he faces, the Red Sox and Brayan are in a better position to succeed.”

Yet it appears that he will not follow one today as of publication, but that might change. Bello started in Baltimore on April 24 and was absolutely shredded to the tune of eight runs on 13 hits (five homers) over 3.1 innings of a blowout loss. Adley Rutschman went yard twice off him. Bello had never allowed more than three homers or 10 hits in his 104 previous MLB outings. He was good vs. Baltimore in 2025 with a 2.53 ERA in 10.2 innings.

The SportsLine Projection Model forecasts Bello at 5.1 innings pitched, 4.2 strikeouts, 5.3 hits allowed and 2.3 earned runs. At DraftKings, he’s set at Over/Under 15.5 outs recorded and +213 for a win.

The Orioles hit rock bottom May 20 when they were swept at Tampa Bay to fall to 21-29, but the Birds have been playing a lot better since – Wednesday excluded — to get out of the AL East cellar. Baltimore doesn’t have the starting pitching, though, to really be much of a playoff threat.

Lefty Trevor Rogers (2-6, 6.84 ERA) is on the mound Thursday, and the 28-year-old might have been the worst pitcher in the majors in May at 0-3 with a 10.31 ERA and 24 hits allowed in 18.1 innings over four starts.

The Orioles won his first three starts of 2026 (Rogers had a 1.89 ERA) and have dropped the past seven, so Rodgers has been worth minus-$479 to those who wagered $100 on each of his starts for the O’s to win. He has been a bit unlucky, as opponents’ batting average on balls in play (BABIP) this year is nearly 100 points higher at .323 than his .226 number last year.

Rogers lost at home to Boston on April 25, lasting just 1.2 innings and allowing three runs and four hits. The Red Sox won that game 17-1 … and fired Cora and his staff right after.  On the road this year, Rogers is 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA and opponents’ BA of .308. 

Check out our bet365 promo code to see the great new offer available when you wager on MLB futures.

The winds are blowing out some, but 12.5 is a pretty big number outside of Coors Field and in a getaway day game after a night one and where a regular or two might sit on either side. The model has 9.1 runs scored, 4.8 of those by Boston. Looking for a second straight MLB parlay win after cashing on Padres-Phillies +106 last night. Check out other expert picks in the SportsLine daily newsletter. 

First Published: Jun 04 2026 | 12:42 PM IST

First Published: Jun 04 2026 | 1:14 PM IST

Ocean Protect Stadium will play host to Sunday’s
Round 14 NRL game between Cronulla Sharks and
St. George Illawarra Dragons. The game kicks off at 4:05 pm with Cronulla Sharks heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the Cronulla Sharks vs.
St. George Illawarra Dragons
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Sunday June 7, 2026 at 4:05 pm

Where: Ocean Protect Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Odds

Cronulla Sharks vs St. George Illawarra Dragons Preview

One of rugby league’s fiercest rivalries takes centre stage on Sunday as Cronulla looks to continue its climb up the ladder against a St George Illawarra side buoyed by a long-awaited breakthrough victory. The Sharks have won back-to-back matches to re-establish themselves as a finals contender, overcoming injuries to key personnel and finding ways to grind out results. The Dragons finally celebrated their first win of the season last week, upsetting Brisbane in a performance that showcased the potential of their emerging young forwards. Valentine Holmes played a major role in that success and now faces a significant challenge against Cronulla’s experienced backline. While the Dragons snapped a lengthy losing streak in this fixture last season, the Sharks have dominated the rivalry for much of the past decade and remain particularly difficult to beat at home.

Brexton Busch, the 11-year-old son of NASCAR legend Kyle Busch, returned to the racetrack Tuesday for the first time since his dad’s death nearly two weeks ago.

Busch ran practice laps at Charlotte Motor Speedway ahead of the CookOut Summer Shootout, a Legend Car Series race. Kyle Busch, 41, died unexpectedly late last month after a battle with pneumonia turned into sepsis.

A private memorial was held for Busch on Tuesday afternoon. The family announced that a public memorial would take place later this year.

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, and his son Brexton Busch walk onstage during driver introductions before the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway in Hampton, Ga., on Feb. 21, 2026. (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

“On behalf of the Busch family, everyone at Richard Childress Racing and all of NASCAR, we are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch,” the family said in a statement following Busch’s death on May 21.

TWO-TIME NASCAR CUP SERIES CHAMPION KYLE BUSCH TRAGICALLY DIES AT 41 AFTER HOSPITALIZATION

“Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled and he cared deeply about the sport and fans.”

Brexton Busch has a NASCAR ride at RCR

Busch was a two-time Cup champion and undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer. He’d been in the Cup Series since 2004, making 762 career starts with 63 wins. The 41-year-old won the championship in 2015 and 2019, and had 234 victories across all three NASCAR national series.

Busch is the all-time record-holder for wins in both the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (102) and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (69). Busch’s 234th and final NASCAR win came at Dover one week before his death, when he led 147 laps in a dominating Truck Series victory. 

Kyle Busch, driver of the No. 7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, is congratulated by his son Brexton Busch after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 at Echo Park Speedway in Hampton, Ga., on Feb. 21, 2026. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

One day after his death, car owner Richard Childress told reporters that RCR would suspend the use of Busch’s No. 8 until Brexton is eligible to use it.

“Richard Childress Racing has elected to suspend use of the No. 8 and will run the No. 33 at Charlotte Motor Speedway and beyond,” the team said in a statement. “Kyle Busch was instrumental in the design of RCR’s stylized No. 8, and it has become synonymous with Kyle and an important symbol for his fans and the NASCAR industry. No one can carry it forward to the level that he did.

“The No. 8 is reserved and ready for Brexton Busch when he is ready to go NASCAR racing.”

Brexton, 11, has been an up-and-coming racer for some time now. In recent years, Kyle had spent much of his own racing season following Brexton around during the week.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch and his wife Samantha stand before the start of the 1000Bulbs.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala., on Oct. 14, 2018. (Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports)

Samantha Busch is among the most active of the drivers’ wives on social media, and has spent several years now documenting life with both Kyle and Brexton racing.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Earlier this year, Brexton raced against his dad for the first time at the Tulsa Shootout.

The age limit to race in the NASCAR Cup Series is 18. Brexton would, however, be eligible to race in the Truck Series when he turns 16.