JAIPUR: The wait had lasted over a decade, but for Rajasthan’s cricket fraternity, the dry spell finally ended on a historic Saturday morning in New Chandigarh. Not since Pankaj Singh stepped out in the pristine India whites has a cricketer from the state earned a coveted Test cap. After a 12-year hiatus, the desert state is back in the Test arena, thanks to a young left-arm spinner from Sriganganagar, Manav Suthar.With this monumental feat, 23-year-old Manav enters an elite club, becoming only the fifth cricketer from the state — after the legendary Salim Durani, Hanumant Singh, Parthasarthy Sharma and Pankaj Singh — to represent the state in Test cricket.Long before the national selectors took notice, the foundation for this historic moment was being laid in the domestic trenches. Vineet Saxena, the former Rajasthan player and senior men’s team coach in the 2022-23 season, vividly remembers the quiet morning during a Ranji Trophy match that year when he got his very first glimpse of Manav during a competitive game.“He was the guy who was getting players out in defense and in slips,” Saxena recalls.For an experienced mentor like him, wickets on a scorecard can sometimes be deceptive, but the technical purity of a dismissal reveals a bowler’s true ceiling. Saxena points out that what truly makes Manav an exceptional left-arm spinner is his ability to outsmart batsmen fundamentally, beating them when they are actively trying to protect their stumps.“So normally, when we look at a bowler, numbers don’t really suggest the way they pick the wickets. But if a bowler is getting a batsman out in his defense, that means that bowler has got really good quality,” the former state coach added.It was not just his tactical brilliance that caught the eye, but the incredible physical attributes of his bowling. Suthar possessed an innate ability to manipulate the ball in the air, giving it a heavy tweak that became a nightmare for domestic batters.“The second thing I observed was the revs on the ball that he gives, that is amazing,” Saxena says. “In our slang, we say that the ball is turning and drifting, and biting off the surface. So it is something to do with that revs that he is able to impart on the ball. This is something special that he has in him.”That special quality exploded into reality during Manav’s second Ranji Trophy season in 2022-23. The young spinner tore through opposition lineups, capturing 39 wickets in just six matches at an incredible economy of 2.90, punctuated by two five-wicket hauls and a match-winning ten-wicket haul.Yet, what makes Suthar the ideal modern cricketer, and why many are already looking at him as a potential successor to Ravindra Jadeja, is his immense all-around capability. Suthar was never content being a one-dimensional specialist.“In a game that season, he took five wickets against Pondicherry and just narrowly missed scoring a century. So that would have been a big, big feat,” Saxena notes. “He can develop into a good all-rounder. And in batting also, what I observed at that time was he was very keen to learn. So he had that mindset and attitude.”Naturally, any young left-arm orthodox spinner who can bat and rack up massive domestic numbers will draw immediate comparisons to Jadeja. As Manav officially embarks on his Test journey, the hype is palpable, but Saxena urges a balanced perspective while validating the youngster’s immense talent.“Jadeja is probably one of the greatest all-rounders India has produced. So I think as of now, it will be wrong to compare Manav with him. It’s a long way what Manav has to go to accomplish that,” Saxena says.Suthar’s adaptability became even more evident when he translated these red-ball performances into the high-stakes white-ball cricket. Saxena recalls how seamlessly the spinner held his own against some of the most feared, established pinch-hitters in the country, proving he is a genuine all-format asset.“Facing a star-studded Mumbai side in the practice games before Mushtaq Ali Trophy in Ahmedabad, he delivered a standout performance against Shivam Dube. Despite Dube’s notorious dominance over left-arm spinners, he choked the all-rounder’s scoring rate to under a run-a-ball and capped it off by dismissing him. That fearlessness wasn’t a one-off,”When the tournament officially got underway, Manav made his T20 debut as an Impact Player against Madhya Pradesh, tasked with containing an in-form Venkatesh Iyer.“Iyer is a good striker of the ball. In that game, he scored some 60 off 30 balls. Out of that, against Manav, it was just run-a-ball, and Manav bowled around 8 to 10 balls to him. So against pinch hitters also, he was able to contain them. He has that skill set for T20s as well. He is an all-format player, it’s not like he can only survive in the longer format,” he further added.

The major storylines for the Minnesota Vikings are apparent this summer: Will Kyler Murray easily win the quarterback battle? Will Christian Darrisaw be a full go? Is Caleb Banks trending for Week 1? When will Harrison Smith announce his return-or-retire decision, if at all?

But we are this weekend for the “under the radar” stuff, storylines you perhaps haven’t spent that much time pondering. They’re listed in ascending order of importance (No. = most important under-the-radar storyline).

The Stealthy Stuff to Ponder about the Vikings’ Summer

4. Will Tai Felton (WR) Turn into Something?

Felton’s fight for a roster spot begins under a new regime. General manager Nolan Teasley, who did not draft Felton, has no inherent loyalty to him. There’s no “we spent a 3rd-Rounder on him” pride or a need to justify a past investment. Felton must prove his worth anew.

His potential is obvious, though. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah drafted him in the 3rd Round, valuing his speed despite most draft experts projecting him as a 4th or 5th-Round pick. The strategy was clear: acquire a player who could stretch the field, threaten defenses with the deep ball, and provide the Vikings with another explosive option.

However, Felton saw minimal playing time in his rookie year.

The lack of initial opportunity is the primary hurdle Felton faces. Most mid-round wide receivers are given an immediate chance to demonstrate their abilities. Felton was not, which sets the stage for a critical summer. An exceptional training camp could elevate him to the WR4 position, while a lackluster performance could place him all the way off the team.

3. The Punters

It’s young versus old in Minnesota at punter this summer. The young? The Vikings found Georgia punter Brett Thorson via undrafted free agency in late April, and he won the award for best college punter in 2025. On paper, he should have no problem finding a job in the NFL.

But he’s never held field goals or extra points, and the Vikings need a punter and holder to replace Ryan Wright, who performed precisely those roles in Minnesota for four years.

The “old” option, Johnny Hekker, has holding experience and, a decade ago, was the single best punter in the league. Fans don’t often care about punters, but they control field position to the utmost. This battle matters.

Thorson basically has three months to learn how to hold kicks for Will Reichard.

2. Back-End CB Depth (no injuries last year)

Normally, a CB group of Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, James Pierre, and rookie Charles Demmings would give some confidence to a Vikings roster that has entered the past season with slimmer depth than this.

However, in 2025, Murphy Jr. and Rodgers played all 17 games, remaining totally healthy. The bill is likely coming due. It is unlikely for Minnesota to have perfect health among its top two cornerbacks — two years in a row.

Therefore, studying the CB3, CB4, and CB5 spots this summer will be intriguing. Teasley might want to re-sign Fabian Moreau, who played quite well in 2025 despite no fanfare or kudos.

Zone Coverage‘s Nelson Thielen wrote in April, “Corners get drafted at a high rate in the first three rounds of the draft, and good ones get paid quickly. Many other franchises would look at Minnesota’s cornerback situation. They wouldn’t consider a player like James Pierre to be enough to get in the way of further investment in that position.”

“For a defense that’s predicated on bringing pressure like Flores’, it seems counterintuitive not to invest in corners that they can trust in single coverage. But if you’ve watched the Flores defense the past few seasons, you’ve seen how he’s worked around this deficiency.”

You’ve heard of “zero running back” strategies in fantasy football. The Vikings are the zero-corners team under Flores.

Thielen added, “His scheme hasn’t necessitated elite, high-end cover corners. Whether that’s by design or adapting to his personnel deficiencies is up to interpretation, but the results speak for themselves. Minnesota’s passing defense has been elite under Flores; they posted the fewest passing yards against last year.”

“Opposing QBs had the second-lowest QBR in the league against Minnesota (46.3), and the Vikings forced the second-lowest yards per completion at 9.72. That’s really, really good.”

1. Rookie RB Demond Claiborne’s Game-Readiness

A little secret: Aaron Jones will probably get hurt in 2026. That happens to him. When that occurs, the Vikings will need a replacement, at least for a couple of games, and by that time, fans should have a good indication whether Claiborne is ready.

Make no mistake: Jones and Jordan Mason will receive the bulk of rushing attempts in 2026, but the scene is ripe for a youngster like Claiborne to emerge because Jones and Mason are only under contract through the end of 2026. It’s Claiborne’s first impression — and formal RB1 audition.

The summer of 2026 should offer evidence on Claiborne’s moxie as the real deal. Remember DeWayne McBride. Minnesota does not want a redo of that wasted late-round pick.

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

Olympic legend Simone Biles revealed that she “almost died” in a cryptic Instagram post on Saturday.

On her Instagram story, Biles shared vague details about the experience, without recounting any specifics, with the background just being a photo of her hand.

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Simone Biles of the United States waits for her turn to perform during the women’s artistic gymnastics final at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo on July 27, 2021. (Gregory Bull/AP)

“I’m not one to normally share things like this because I value privacy in today’s age. But almost dying wasn’t on my bingo card this week,” Biles wrote.

“This was one of, if not the scariest experience of my life, especially since Jonathan was in Indy for practices. I’ve been in bed resting this week. I’ll explain sooner or later, but [shoutout] to my close circle who reached out, checked in, visited & or sent flowers.”

AMERICAN OLYMPIAN ANITA ALVAREZ RECALLS NEAR-DROWNING INCIDENT

American gymnast Simone Biles and her husband Jonathan Owens watch the men’s single skating event on day seven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 13, 2026. (Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)

Biles’ husband, Jonathan Owens, is a safety for the Indianapolis Colts. The couple has been married since 2023, though Owens’ NFL career has occasionally forced them to spend time apart. Since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2018, he has played for five different teams.

The two met while Owens was with the Houston Texans in 2019. Biles lives in Texas, where the couple has built a massive home together. Since his time in Houston, Owens has also played for the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and now the Colts.

Back in November, Biles revealed that she had recently undergone three plastic surgeries.

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American gymnast Simone Biles watches the NFC Divisional Playoffs game between the Chicago Bears and the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill., on Jan. 18, 2026. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

“I’ve had three plastic surgeries and two of them you would never be able to tell,” she said in a TikTok that month.

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David Sullivan has announced he will step down as chairman of West Ham with immediate effect to fight “false allegations” about his private life.

The 77-year-old is leaving his role of 16 years and two weeks after the East London club was relegated from the Premier League.

A BBC spokesperson has since confirmed in a statement that “BBC Panorama and The Times newspaper have been working together on a joint investigation into the behaviour of David Sullivan”, which is due to be broadcast and published on Monday.

In a statement released on Saturday, Mr Sullivan said: “After very careful consideration and with a heavy heart, I have decided to resign as joint-chair and director of West Ham United FC with immediate effect.

“This has been an incredibly painful decision to make, but it is one made out of love, respect, and responsibility toward a football club and a fan base that deserve absolute unity and focus moving forward.”

West Ham announced that interim chief executive officer Karim Virani, reporting into the current board of directors, will continue to be responsible for leading the club’s day-to-day operations.

A club statement said: “West Ham United can confirm that Joint-Chair David Sullivan has stepped down from his position with immediate effect.

“Mr Sullivan has also resigned as a director of both WH Holding Limited and West Ham United Football Club, having been made aware of the impending publication of serious historic allegations.

“It is understood none of the allegations relate to West Ham United or any of its operations.”

Sullivan and business partner David Gold completed their takeover of West Ham after selling Birmingham, and brought Karren Brady with them as vice-chairman.

Their tenure oversaw the unpopular move from Upton Park to the former Olympic Stadium in 2016, making the three of them the focus of numerous anti-board protests among club’s supporters.

Gold died in 2023 aged 86, while Baroness Brady left her role before the end of a challenging season which ended in relegation from the Premier League.

“None of these allegations relate to my more than 30 years in football,” added Sullivan.

“West Ham United has been one of the greatest passions and privileges of my life. I care deeply about the club, its supporters, its players, its staff, and its future.

“At what is already a challenging and important time for the club, I refuse to allow personal matters concerning me to become an unnecessary distraction or a source of instability.”

West Ham say they will give “an update on the future structure of the board of directors in due course, but will make no further comment at this time”.

Czech businessman Daniel Kretinsky bought a 27 per cent stake in the club in 2021 and is reportedly set to increase his stake.

The opponent for Katie Taylor’s swansong at Croke Park has left many scratching their heads, wondering who, exactly, is Flora Pili?

It has been confirmed that the 82,300-capacity stadium will play host when Taylor looks to reclaim her undisputed super-lightweight crown at Croke Park, Dublin, on September 5.

The Irish phenom currently holds the IBF, WBO and WBA world titles but, as the WBC’s ‘emeritus’ champion, she will also face Pili for the full green and gold belt.

This is because Sandy Ryan, now WBC champion in recess, will take time away from the sport while pregnant, presenting Taylor with the opportunity to become a three-time undisputed champion.

Standing in the 39-year-old’s way of a successful farewell fight, meanwhile, is Pili, who represents a somewhat unheralded opponent for one of the all-time greats.

Was Flora Pili a successful amateur?

Most notably, Pili became a French Youth champion and won a Senior National title in 2015 and 2019, respectively, while also competing in several international tournaments during her amateur career.

Interestingly, she fought in an international round robin tournament in Dublin, only to suffer defeats against vastly-accomplished amateurs Kellie Harrington and Irma Testa in 2017.

Pili also lost to Lucy Wildheart during her unpaid campaign, only this came in 2016 and could hardly be used as ammunition against her professional credibility.

What are Flora Pili’s professional accolades?

Pili boasts a professional record of 12-0 (2 KOs) but the majority of her performances have come against limited opposition, at least in comparison to the level at which Taylor has been competing.

She did, however, edge a split decision against Silvia Bortot to claim the European title in 2023, while her last outing resulted in a majority points win over Jelena Janicijevic for the IBO strap in December.

Where is Flora Pili ranked by the sanctioning bodies?

Pili is the leading contender with both the WBC and IBF, while the WBA have her placed at No.4 in their super-lightweight rankings.

The 28-year-old seemingly earned her lofty rankings by outpointing Janicijevic, who gave a strong account of herself in their 10-round contest.

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson rises to block a shot. —AP

SAN ANTONIO—New York Knicks center Mitchell Robinson was neither offended nor frustrated when the San Antonio Spurs began intentionally fouling him in the first quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Friday night.

While he did go 3 of 6 on free throws in the opening quarter, the Hack-a-Mitch strategy inspired Robinson and the rest of the Knicks.

“It means a lot when I ruin their strategy, but I mean, it seems like they just want me off the court,” Robinson said. “So, in my eyes, I feel like I’m a threat.”

Was he ever.

Robinson, Landry Shamet and the Knicks’ role players came up huge as New York held on to beat the San Antonio Spurs 105-104 for their 13th straight postseason victory and a 2-0 lead in the finals.

Karl-Anthony Towns led the Knicks with 21 points, but said in a postgame interview with ESPN that those players, along with the likes of Deuce McBride and Jose Alvarado, were the MVPs of the game.

“Our team play had got us here,” Towns said.

Big burst

After Towns went to the bench with foul trouble and fellow All-Star Jalen Brunson was resting, Knicks coach Mike Brown went to his reserves and they rewarded him with a big burst.

“Somebody is always there,” Brown said.

“Again, a lot of contributions from a lot of guys, and that’s why you like having a team, because it could be anybody’s night on any given night. Our guys don’t care. They sacrifice for one another and we found a way to get a win.”

New York’s bench accounted for 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Robinson defended Victor Wembanyama when the Spurs’ star missed a jumper that would have won the game.

“Our effort, it’s been crazy,” Robinson said. “We just came out there just fighting, you know, talking to each other. Communication, that’s been key for us.”

Clinging to a four-point lead late in the third quarter, the Knicks bridged the third and fourth quarters on an 11-3 run fueled by Robinson, Alvarado, McBride, Shamet and starting guard Mikal Bridges.

Shamet finished with 13 points, Robinson had seven, McBride added five and Alvardo had two. Shamet’s 3-pointer put New York ahead 87-75 a minute into the fourth quarter.

Defensive stands

Bridges had four points, one assist and one rebound during the run and helped the Knicks hold the Spurs to 1-of-5 shooting.

“I think started just defensively getting stops,” Bridges said. “I think that’s the biggest thing, us getting stops and getting out. Just him giving me confidence to try to make the right play.”

Robinson did the same.

After thwarting the Hack-a-Mitch strategy in the first quarter, Robinson sealed the victory in the final minute with two defensive stands against Wembanyama.

With the game tied at 104, Wembanyama missed a 17-footer with 30 seconds remaining with Robinson defending. Wembanyama then missed a 20-footer with two seconds remaining and the Spurs trailing by one point.

“In my mind, I was just like, defend without fouling,” Robinson said. “So, that was kind of like how it went. Just great contest, and just kind of how it went.” —AP

Anthony Joshua will return to action next month, seeking to tee up an in-demand clash with Tyson Fury by delivering a statement knockout against Albania’s Kristian Prenga. If successful in both of those bouts, there are five opponents on Joshua’s mind for 2027.

Since an unsuccessful attempt to dethrone Daniel Dubois and become a three-time heavyweight world champion in September 2024, Joshua has appeared only once; banking six rounds in a gimmick fight against YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Now, ‘AJ’ is back amongst the chasing pack, keen to remind fight fans of his pedigree and power, beginning with a July ‘tune-up’ against Prenga, who is expected to pose little threat ahead of a showdown with ‘The Gypsy King’ in November.

Speaking with Ring Magazine, Joshua highlighted five ‘massive fights’ that he is eyeing up after his feud with Fury is settled.

“With me and Fury, it can’t be the only one [left], because I know that if I stay around long enough there is a rematch with [Daniel] Dubois, there is a potential Fabio [Wardley] fight, there is the Agit [Kabayel] fight out there, provided he becomes champion, I like how big that would be.

“There is the [Moses] Itauma fight, as he is coming up the rankings, there is still the [Deontay] Wilder fight out there. These are going to be massive fights.

“Fury is just another number and I am trying to say that I don’t put him on no pedestal, he ain’t above no-one, they are all in my way, all on the same level. I am not putting him above no-one.”

Joshua-Prenga takes place on Saturday, July 25, with a new fight location of Jeddah since being confirmed for the event, despite it previously being announced that the card would take place in Riyadh.

Optus Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 13 AFL game between West Coast Eagles and
Port Adelaide Power. The game kicks off at 8:15 pm with Port Adelaide Power heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the West Coast Eagles vs.
Port Adelaide Power
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday June 6, 2026 at 8:15 pm

Where: Optus Stadium

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West Coast Eagles vs Port Adelaide Power Odds

West Coast Eagles vs Port Adelaide Power Preview

West Coast will be chasing a season sweep of Port Adelaide when the sides meet at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. The Eagles claimed one of the surprises of the season when they edged the Power by two points in Adelaide earlier this year and arrive with confidence after defeating Essendon last weekend. Youngster Willem Duursma continues to impress, while Jake Waterman has rediscovered strong form in attack. Port Adelaide, meanwhile, returns from a bye looking to halt a four-game losing streak. The Power have struggled for consistency in 2026 despite the brilliance of Jason Horne-Francis, who remains one of the competition’s standout performers. With both clubs desperate to build momentum heading into the second half of the year, Saturday night’s clash could prove pivotal to their respective seasons.