Even at the top of the table, there’s no such thing as a flawless team. At the other end of the spectrum, every squad that qualifies for the Stanley Cup Playoffs has a punch or two they can throw at an opponent.
With less than two weeks to go before the puck drops on the post-season, the goal here is to highlight the good and bad — or, at least, slightly worrisome — elements of every club that still has a reasonable shot to qualify for the big dance.
It’s a plus/minus of sorts, as we pat some backs while raising some flags.
We’ll start in the Western Conference — with teams ordered by their points percentage — before heading to the East.
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Colorado Avalanche (.724) Colorado scores the most goals per game (3.74) and gives up the fewest (2.50). You can’t ask for much more than that. That said, with all those weapons, the Avs power play ranks 26th in the NHL (17.6 per cent).
Dallas Stars (.662) The Stars are a high-end, balanced team. It’s worth noting, though, that Dallas has played a lot of hard hockey while skating in three consecutive Western Conference finals. Also, this would be just the second post-season appearance as the head man for coach Glen Gulutzan. In his first, Gulutzan’s Calgary Flames were swept by the Anaheim Ducks in 2017.
Minnesota Wild (.649) Every trade rumour surrounding the Wild involves the team’s need for a top centre. In a conference where you have to go through the likes of Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel and Wyatt Johnston, Minny is lacking down the middle. On the plus side, how many teams can lean on a defence pair like Quinn Hughes and Brock Faber?
Utah Mammoth (.566) Utah’s PP has been humming since play resumed after the Olympics, clipping along at 31.4 per cent (second-best in the NHL). You have to think the atmosphere in Salt Lake City will be outrageous when this club plays Games 3 and 4 at home as part of the first playoff action in Mammoth history. Finally, Utah is likely to face the Pacific Division winner in Round 1, meaning the Mammoth — despite being a wild-card club — could well face an opponent with a worse record than their own. Of course, beyond the blueline trio of Mikhail Sergachev, Ian Cole and Nate Schmidt, there’s not much in the way of playoff experience on this roster.
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Edmonton Oilers (.565) Connor McDavid has the third-best playoff points-per-game mark in the history of the league (1.56) and Leon Draisaitl has the fourth (1.47). Of course, Draisaitl’s status for Game 1 is up in the air at this point, and that’s a monster concern for Edmonton. As always, questions about the Oilers crease are one crappy goal away.
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Anaheim Ducks (.565) The Ducks, on the whole, might be inexperienced, but first-year Anaheim coach Joel Quenneville has 121 playoff wins and will pass Al Arbour for second place on the all-time list if Anaheim can win three second-season contests this year. (Nobody is catching Scotty Bowman at 223 career playoff victories). The problem for the Ducks is they allow more goals per game (3.52) than every team currently holding down a post-season slot.
Vegas Golden Knights (.558) The Knights have Cup pedigree and the potential for some new-coach bump, under John Tortorella, that spills into April and May. The problem all year has been goaltending, with Vegas sporting an .876 team save percentage that ranks 29th in the league.
Los Angeles Kings (.539) As always, the Kings have good underlying numbers, with an expected goals mark on the site Moneypuck that ranks fourth in the West and seventh in the NHL (51.89 per cent). Also, as always, the Kings struggle to score. Los Angeles ranks 29th on the season in goals per game 2.68, though the club has pushed that up to 3.17 since March 1 (11th-best in the NHL during that span).
San Jose Sharks (.533) Ever heard of a young fella named Macklin Celebrini? He just might win the Hart Trophy if the Sharks squeeze into the playoffs. The issue in San Jose is keeping the puck out of their net; only the lowly Vancouver Canucks allow more goals per game than the 3.53 the Sharks surrender.
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Nashville Predators (.532) The Preds boast strong special teams, with a league-best penalty-kill since the Olympics (86.4 per cent) and a PP that ranks seventh during that timeframe (25.9 per cent). The issue, as you might guess, is Nashville’s five-on-five goal-differential is minus-29 on the season. The six teams worse than that are all lottery-bound.
Winnipeg Jets (.519) Kyle Connor has 36 goals, Mark Scheifele has 34 and Gabe Vilardi is on 28. After that, the next-highest total among Jets forwards is Cole Perfetti with 12. This team’s high-end players can kill you, but there hasn’t been enough support behind them.
St. Louis Blues (.513) The Blues have the best points percentage in the league since the Olympic break (.763), so they’re clearly on a roll. St. Louis is managing to rip off all these wins with a power play that ranks 27th in the NHL (16.7 per cent) during that time.
Carolina Hurricanes (.675) The Canes power play is on fire since the break, converting at an NHL-best rate of 34.5 per cent. Saves, though, are hard to come by, with a team save percentage of just .855 — worse than everybody except the Canucks — in that span.
Tampa Bay Lightning (.662) Tampa has been a little loose down the stretch, allowing 3.41 goals per game (23rd in the league) since the Olympics. And, overall, the Bolts are a fairly flat 10-9-2 in their past 21 outings. Of course, they’ve got an absolute killer in Nikita Kucherov, all kinds of playoff know-how and a hunger to go deep again after failing to make it out of the first round in three straight springs.
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Buffalo Sabres (.654) It’s hard to believe the vibes will be better anywhere in the NHL come playoff time than in Buffalo, where the local team will be seeing its first post-season action since 2011. The Sabres are the story of the second half, with a league-best .718 points percentage in 2026. Buffalo is only average by advanced metrics like expected goals for, and this will obviously be the first playoff action for a number of very prominent Sabres.
Montreal Canadiens (.649) The Canadiens have a deadly first line, with Nick Suzuki playing between Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky. The drop off to the second unit is precipitous, though, and Montreal will need offence from more than just its top three dudes to do post-season damage.
Pittsburgh Penguins (.615) Only two teams — the powerhouse Avs and Bolts — have a better five-on-five goal-differential than the wildly surprising Penguins (plus-28). The goaltending could be an issue, however, with neither Arturs Silovs nor Stuart Skinner seizing the net. Pittsburgh called up promising youngster Sergei Murashov on Tuesday, with Skinner listed as day-to-day.
Boston Bruins (.609) The Bruins are the best home team in the NHL, posting a .731 points percentage in Boston this season. They’re also surrendering a league-best 2.62 goals per game in the second half and goalie Jeremy Swayman has the most goals saved above expected (28.5) in the entire league.
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Strange as it is to say about a team we still associate with Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, the B’s are a little weak down the middle. Rookie Fraser Minten has been great and Pavel Zacha is on a heater, but they definitely don’t stack up with what some of the better teams in the conference have at centre.
Ottawa Senators (.584) The Senators have had strong underlying numbers all year and hold the third-best expected goals mark (55.82 per cent) in the NHL behind only Carolina and Colorado. The bugaboo has been goaltending and — in related news — a penalty-kill that ranks 30th in the league (74.7 per cent). That said, the PK has been better since the Olympic break.
Philadelphia Flyers (.584) This team seemed dead and buried coming out of the February hiatus, but Philly has gone 14-5-1 in its past 20 outings to vault back into a playoff spot. The Flyers really struggle to score (2.71 goals per game since the Olympics, 27th in the NHL), but have become one of the best teams at keeping pucks out of their own net down the stretch (2.38 goals against per game, 2nd in the league).
New York Islanders (.571) The Isles have a new coach in Pete DeBoer, who’ll debut with the team when it hosts the Leafs on Thursday. New York is among the worst clubs in the NHL in terms of expected goals (47.01 per cent, 28th in the league), but has a goalie — in Ilya Sorokin — who gives them a chance to hang with anybody.
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Detroit Red Wings (.571) Detroit has been trending the wrong way for some time, posting a .423 points percentage since Jan. 22 that’s worse than all but five teams in the league and every squad on this list. The Wings are decent defensively, but have scored just 2.54 goals per game in 26 contests since that Jan. 22 date. Only Chicago (2.28) is worse in that timespan.
Columbus Blue Jackets (.571) Columbus has gone into a tailspin at the wrong time, losing six straight games. The Jackets have been stingy in the second half (2.79 goals against per game, 3rd in the NHL), but the offence can be lacking in stretches. Case in point: Columbus is scoring just 1.60 goals per game in its past eight showings.
Washington Capitals (.558) The Capitals have a strong foundation with Logan Thompson in goal, but even as they’ve picked up points down the stretch, the offence and power play have only been OK. Washington is also the worst road team on this list, ranking 27th in the NHL with a .447 points percentage away from home.
Australian opening batter David Warner, who is currently playing for the Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League, has been charged with drink-driving following an incident in Maroubra, Sydney, on Tuesday. It has been reported by Australian media that the 39-year-old was pulled over by New South Wales Police during a random breath test. Reports indicate that Warner attempted to stop and park his vehicle shortly before reaching the testing site, prompting officers to approach the stationary car. After being subjected to a roadside test, he was found to have consumed alcohol above the acceptable limit.
At the station, Warner reportedly returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.104, more than double the legal limit in Australia. He was subsequently charged, arrested, and taken to Maroubra Police Station. The former Australian batter has been ordered to appear in court next month.
“About 5:30pm today (Sunday 5 April 2026), police were conducting stationary random breath testing on Malabar Road, Maroubra,” the police statement read. “A van was seen to allegedly stop short of the testing site and park. Officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command approached the vehicle and subjected the driver – a 39-year-old man – to roadside testing which returned a positive result.”
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Warner was taken to the Maroubra police station in Sydney. He has been asked to appear in the courty next month.
“He was arrested and taken to Maroubra Police Station where a second test allegedly returned a reading of 0.104.
“The man was issued with a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive with middle-range PCA to appear before the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 7 May 2026.”
Impact on PSL Campaign
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The timing of the incident does put question marks on his campaign for the Karachi Kings in the PSL. Warner, who is the captain of his franchise, had been granted a brief personal leave from the tournament to visit his family between fixtures. But what happened in Australia might force the franchise management to overlook such requests in the future.
Karachi Kings sit at the top of the PSL table with three consecutive wins. Warner has been pivotal to their success, amassing 93 runs so far, including a crucial half-century against Rawalpindiz. The Kings are scheduled to face Peshawar Zalmi on Thursday, April 9, at the National Stadium in Karachi.
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Toronto Blue Jays All-Star catcher Alejandro Kirk is expected to miss about six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a fractured left thumb, manager John Schneider told reporters Tuesday (via MLB.com).
The 27-year-old Kirk suffered the injury during the Jays’ 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Friday when a sharp foul tip off the bat of Austin Hays struck the bottom part of Kirk’s mitt. Soon after, Kirk was removed from the game and replaced in the lineup and behind the plate by Tyler Heineman.
The loss figures to be a significant one for the defending American League champions. Kirk was off to a slow start at the plate, but overall, he’s a career .267/.343/.398 (108 OPS+) hitter across parts of seven MLB seasons. That’s strong production by the standards of catchers, and Kirk is also a plus defender at the position. Last season, he earned his second All-Star selection.
The Jays, 4-3 to start the season despite having played the Athletics, Rockies, and White Sox thus far, have been hit hard by injuries in the early going. They have, in essence, a full rotation on the IL, including offseason addition Cody Ponce, who is likely to miss the entire remainder of the 2026 season. On the position players front, Kirk joins outfielder Anthony Santander and Addison Barger on the IL.
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What’s next at catcher for the Jays?
Heineman, 34, immediately becomes the regular behind the plate for Toronto. He was highly effective in that role in 2025, as he put up an OPS+ of 114 and a WAR of 1.9 in just 61 games. Across a much larger sample, however, Heineman has a career OPS+ of 83. The Jays could use something more in line with his 2025 outputs, but those were probably driven by the small sample.
To take Kirk’s spot on the active roster, the Jays have called up catcher Brandon Valenzuela, whom MLB.com ranks as the No. 24 prospect in the Jays system. The 25-year-old is, like Kirk, a native of Mexico, and he has an OPS of .712 in 586 games across eight minor league seasons. He’d been on the Triple-A Buffalo roster before his promotion. Valenzuela figures to work as Heineman’s backup while Kirk is out.
Former Super Eagles winger Garba Lawal has explained why Paul Onuachu continues to impress at club level with Trabzonspor but struggles to show the same form for Nigeria.
The 31-year-old striker has been in outstanding form in Turkey, scoring 22 league goals this season, according to Transfermarkt. However, his record for the Super Eagles tells a different story, with just four goals in 34 appearances.
Lawal believes Onuachu’s success in Turkey is largely due to regular playing time and a system built around his strengths. At Trabzonspor, the team’s style suits his aerial ability and hold-up play, allowing him to thrive and remain confident in front of goal. His steady run of matches and clear attacking structure have helped him stay sharp, unlike his difficult spell in England where limited minutes affected his performance.
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In contrast, Lawal said international football is a completely different challenge.
“It’s important to remember that national team football is a different ball game. Even in my day, we had strikers like Jonathan Akpoborie, who struggled internationally but would return to his club and score a brace or a hat-trick immediately,” he told Footy Africa.
The former winger also pointed to limited preparation time as a key issue.
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“At club level, you have the luxury of time and consistent minutes to find your rhythm. With the national team, you don’t have time to gel; you might only get two or three sessions before a match. If you don’t produce instantly, you risk being dropped,” Lawal added.
The situation reflects a wider issue within the Super Eagles setup, where players often struggle to adapt when their club roles differ from the national team system. This is not unique to Nigeria, as many top players, past and present, have performed better for their clubs than for their countries.
Despite his challenges in green and white, Onuachu remains one of Nigeria’s most reliable scorers in Europe. His fine form in Turkey continues to raise questions about how best to use him at international level, with many believing the team must adopt a system that allows him to show the same clinical edge he displays week in, week out for Trabzonspor.
Oct 11, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Drew Allar (15) looks to throw a pass during the first quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images
Every year, football fans are stunned when prospects come off of the NFL Draft board sooner than anticipated.
NFL mock drafts will get closer to accuracy as April 23rd’s first round grows nearer.
Yet still, every year, there are still players who will surprise everybody.
Let’s take a look at three NFL Draft prospects who will be selected a lot sooner than you might think.
Drew Allar, Penn State QB
At one point, it felt like Allar was poised to be a first-round pick. But his college career at Penn State never materialized that way, James Franklin was fired, and Allar missed half of his final year with the Nittany Lions after a season-ending broken left ankle.
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Allar is healthy. He showcased his arm strength at the NFL Combine.
But it’s Allar’s 6-foot-5, 228 pound frame that NFL decision makers could fall in love with.
Allar’s big size, paired with his big arm and above average athleticism drew Josh Allen player comparisons early in his college football career. Even though he never progressed that way as a prospect with the Nittany Lions, an NFL general manager will gamble on his intangibles.
The size and arm strength projects more as a starting quarterback than a project, developmental backup. These are all reasons why Allar should be a Day 2 – not a Day 3 – draft selection.
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Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State WR
Nov 28, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson (0) against the Arizona Wildcats during the 99th Territorial Cup at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Similar to Allar, Tyson dealt with some injury troubles during his career at ASU. As a result, there’s been some speculation that the 6-foot-2 wide receiver could slide to the end of the first round.
But NFL executives understand that premium wide receivers don’t grow on trees. Players like Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson don’t come around too often. While Tyson can’t be compared to those two prospects, he could develop, add weight and stay healthier with an NFL training regimen.
Don’t buy that Tyson will be available at the end of the first round. It simply isn’t happening.
Sonny Styles, Ohio State LB
Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles (LB25) runs the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
It’s rare to see an off-ball linebacker like Styles drafted in the top 10. But could Styles sneak his way into the top five?
At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, there was some chatter that the New York Giants would have no qualms about selecting Styles at No. 5 overall. The Giants picked up free agent linebacker Tremaine Edmunds on a three-year, $36 million deal in free agency.
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But they still have a need at linebacker, and Styles could be a talented player for many years to come.
The visitors raced into the lead inside the opening two minutes thanks to Shevlin’s 15th league goal of the season.
Midfielder Mark Coyle spotted the run of the striker and played the ball in behind a hesitant Larne defence and Shevlin raced clear of Matthew Ridley before rounding Larne goalkeeper Rohan Ferguson and firing into an unguarded net.
Shevlin passed up a great chance to double his and his side’s advantage moments later but Rohan Ferguson produced a smart save to deny him while, at the other end, Ryan Schofield brilliantly saved from Andy Ryan after being set up by Sean Graham.
Both goalkeepers continued to impress – Ferguson blocking Zane Okoro’s low shot with an outstretched foot while Schofield got his body behind an ambitious volley from Ronan Doherty.
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Larne’s frustrations were compounded when they were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Bent following a challenge on Shevlin in the 35th minute.
But they regrouped and drew level on the stroke of half-time when top goal scorer Ryan slotted home his sixth penalty of the season after Dylan Boyle handled inside the penalty area.
Rohan Ferguson came to the home side’s rescue shortly after the restart when he touched Shevlin’s goal bound header onto the post.
However, he was powerless to prevent the visitors regaining the lead just before the hour mark when Wylie was left unmarked six yards out to glance a header into the bottom corner of the net from a pinpoint Levi Ives delivery.
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It was 3-1 with 20 minutes remaining when Patching netted his ninth goal of the season from the spot after Tomas Cosgrove was adjudged to have handled inside the area.
The scoring was completed with seven minutes remaining when Shevlin capitalised on some slack Larne defending to rifle home from 12 yards for his second goal of the night.
Dec 28, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins running back De’Von Achane (28) warms up before a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Dolphins running back De’Von Achane did not attend the first day of voluntary offseason workouts on Tuesday.
“It’s part of the business,” new head coach Jeff Hafley told reporters.
Achane, 24, is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is looking for a long-term extension.
“Those are talks for another time between Achane and Sully (general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan) … that’s part of the business, it’s part of what every team goes through. They’ll work it out,” Hafley said.
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The Dolphins overhauled their offense this offseason under Hafley and Sullivan, trading or releasing veterans such as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill.
Achane is expected to play a featured role alongside new quarterback Malik Willis and new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik.
A third-round draft pick in 2023, Achane ran for a career-high 1,350 yards (fifth in the NFL) and eight touchdowns and made his first Pro Bowl last season. He led the league with 5.7 yards per carry and added 67 catches for 488 yards and four scores in 16 starts.
Achane has gained 4,334 yards from scrimmage and scored 35 touchdowns in 44 career games (36 starts). He has rushed for more than 100 yards 10 times, including a career-high 203 yards with four total TDs as a 2023 rookie in a 70-20 blowout of the Denver Broncos.
He has been a huge player for the Aussie heavyweights, helping himself to five goals and 12 assists in 23 A-League appearances this season. However, he suffered a fracture to his left elbow during Victory’s clash against Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park.
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It’s understood there are “further surgical consultations” ahead for the Spaniard, with more steps set to be taken. However, he sent a message to his followers on social media with a post on Instagram.
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Mata uploaded a selfie of himself from his hospital bed with his left arm in a sling. He said: “Thanks very much to everyone at St John of God Berwich Hospital. And special thanks to Dr Jason Harvey and his team. One day less to be back.”
The status of his injury was confirmed in a statement released by Victory on their club website. It read: “Melbourne Victory is able to provide the following update for Juan Mata.
“The Spaniard will undergo surgery today on a fracture to his left elbow sustained during the first half of last weekend’s Isuzu UTE A-League match against Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park.
“Scans on Sunday evening confirmed the fracture, with further surgical consultations dictating the next steps. A-League Men’s Head Coach, Arthur Diles, commented: ‘It is disappointing to be without Juan through injury.
“But our priority as Melbourne Victory is supporting his recovery in every way we can. We remain hopeful of him re-joining the team during the 2025/26 season.”
Mata was recently named as the club’s Player of the Month for March, after the club’s fanbase voted for him. As well as topping the assist charts for the division, he has also created the most chances in the league, while also ranking second for expected assists.
Mata has been playing in Australia since the summer of 2024, when he joined Western Sydney after a short spell with Japanese side Vissel Kobe. He made the move to Melbourne the following summer and has been there since.
When he joined the club, he said he wants to inspire the young players within Victory’s academy. The World Cup winner said: “They know that I’m here for anything they might need.
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“I’ll try to help them as much as I can on the pitch with my game and with my years of experience. I really believe that the future can be bright in Australian football, because the willingness and potential is there, they only need the confidence.
“I only see a way up. I only see that this country is going to keep improving.”
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
The Indian senior women’s hockey team will tour Argentina for a four-match series, set to be held at the CeNARD in Buenos Aires from April 13 to 17.
Indian team will play its matches on April 13, 14, 16, and 17 at Argentina’s National Centre of High Performance Athletics (also known as CeNARD).
India and Argentina have enjoyed competitive encounters in recent years, including a thrilling 2-2 draw decided by shootout in the FIH Pro League 202425 last June.
This upcoming tour will offer valuable match practice against quality international opposition ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup in Belgium and Netherlands and the Asian Games later this year.
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The series will serve as important preparation for India, offering four high-tempo matches, while also giving the team an opportunity to explore different combinations and tactics.
Speaking on the tour, Indian women’s hockey team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said, “We are travelling to Argentina with a squad of 24 players, and that is a very deliberate choice. This tour is about giving more players the chance to perform at the highest level. Argentina is one of the best teams in the world, and that environment will tell us a lot about where each player stands. We want to see who steps up when it matters.
“To earn a place in this team, you need to show everyone that you are a team player first. Individual quality is important, but if you cannot connect with the group and work for each other, it will be very difficult to make this squad.”.
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Both the men’s and women’s World Cup will be held simultaneously in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30, while the Asian Games will be hosted by AichiNagoya, Japan from September 19 to October 4.
Delhi Capitals bowling coach Munaf Patel has lauded young Jammu and Kashmir pacer Auqib Nabi for his discipline and strong work ethic, highlighting his commitment despite being in his debut Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Speaking at a pre-match press conference ahead of Delhi Capitals’ clash against Gujarat Titans, Patel said Nabi has shown remarkable focus and maturity.
“He’s a very disciplined and patient young bowler with a strong work ethic. Despite this being his first IPL, he hasn’t been distracted by the glamour. He’s always eager to bowl extra in the nets; in fact, we sometimes have to stop him,” he said.
Patel pointed out the challenges of transitioning from domestic cricket to the IPL, where the level of competition is significantly higher.
“There’s a big difference between domestic cricket and the IPL, where even good balls can get hit. He’s working towards becoming a complete all-round package,” he added.
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The coach also referred to Nabi’s impressive domestic form, particularly his performance in the recent Ranji Trophy season for Jammu and Kashmir. “Coming off a historic Ranji season with J&K is a very big achievement. IPL is a different challenge. We’re ensuring he stays ready, as not all bowlers will play every match,” Patel said.
He further indicated that Nabi could be utilised as an impact player when required. “He could also be used as an impact player when needed. So we’re ensuring he is ready whenever the time comes,” he added.
Delhi Capitals, after registering wins in both their games so far, find themselves positioned fourth on the IPL 2026 points table with a Net Run Rate (NRR) of 1.170.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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