West Ham climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since December with a 4-0 win over Wolves at the London Stadium that dropped Tottenham into the bottom three.
Mikel Arteta revealed talks over a contract extension at league leaders Arsenal are on ice, while Enzo Fernandez’s Chelsea future remains up in the air.
Nuno: Keep calm and carry on
Nuno Espirito Santo insisted nothing has changed after West Ham beat Wolves 4-0 to exit the Premier League relegation zone for the first time since December and push Tottenham into the bottom three.
Two goals each from Konstantinos Mavropanos and Taty Castellanos saw the Hammers sweep away the league’s bottom side and win for the fifth time in their last 11 matches, leaving their rivals from north London facing the unthinkable prospect of dropping into the Championship.
However, Nuno believes climbing above their rivals alters nothing in the wider picture.
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“It doesn’t change anything,” he said. “Next week we play after all our opponents. We have to focus on ourselves and today we did the job.”
Arteta wants to fire with Gunners
A “fully committed” Mikel Arteta said discussions over his next contract have been put on hold until the end of the season – after he insisted he has so much more to achieve at Arsenal.
Arteta’s three-year deal is up for renewal in 2027 and both the Spaniard and the club are understood to be keen for him to extend his six-and-a-half-year stay, regardless of what happens between now and the summer.
Quizzed about his future, Arteta, still hunting just the second trophy of his reign, said: “There’s no news on that. The full focus is on what we have to do from here until the end of the season. I am fully committed and really happy and I feel good.
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“This job is about the present and what you do on the day. Give your very best and feel that you are the person that can lead and inspire the group to achieve great things for the club.”
Fernandez’ future hangs in the balance
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has cast further doubt on Enzo Fernandez’s future by admitting a “few hurdles” need to be overcome to resolve the midfielder’s situation.
Fernandez will sit out the Blues’ Premier League clash with Manchester City after Rosenior confirmed he will not overturn an internal two-match suspension following comments the Argentina international made during the international break in which he appeared to court Real Madrid.
“I had three or four (conversations) with Enzo,” said Rosenior. “He’s apologised to me, he’s apologised to the club, and we’ll deal with that after a massive game on Sunday.
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“There are still are few hurdles that need to be overcome that I won’t go into, but at the same time I want every player really, really focused on a huge run-in.”
Pep in the dark over Bernardo Silva
Pep Guardiola has paid tribute to Bernardo Silva as his captain nears the end of his Manchester City career – but claims he is yet to be told of his departure.
Silva looks set to leave City when his contract expires this summer after nine years at the Etihad Stadium, and assistant manager Pep Lijnders all but confirmed as much last week.
There has been no official confirmation by the club or Silva, however, and Guardiola insists he is still in the dark.
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The City manager said: “I’m so grumpy with Bernardo because a month ago I said, ‘If you take a decision I have to be the first to (know)’ and he didn’t say anything to me yet. I said, jokingly, ‘Tell me, I deserve it’ but he didn’t tell me so I don’t know what’s going on!”
What’s on today?
Arsenal welcome Bournemouth in the lunchtime kick-off and victory for the Gunners will take them 12 points clear of Manchester City, who are not in action until Sunday afternoon.
Liverpool will seek to solidify their top-five spot against Fulham at Anfield, Brentford and Everton try to bolster their European ambitions in west London, while Brighton travel to relegation-threatened Burnley.
Coventry can all but book promotion to the Premier League by beating already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday, while Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts take on Motherwell.
Ok, here we go! The players are just being introduced to the crowd by human Energizer bunny, MC Rob Walker.
Wu Yize is first up. A great reception for the Chinese star, who Rob describes as a “lean, mean potting machine”. The chants of “Wuuuuuuuuu” go up from the crowd.
Shaun Murphy is then introduced – roars from the crowd as he strolls down the steps looking relaxed.
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The 2026 World Snooker Championship final is about to get underway.
(Reuters)
Luke Baker3 May 2026 13:13
Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize format
So, how will this final work? We’re in for a treat, with a best-of-35 contest lined up over the next two days – 18 frames is the target for victory.
Here’s the session times:
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1pm: Session one – 8 frames
7pm: Session two – 9 frames
1pm: Session three – 8 frames
7pm: Session four – 9 frames
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Luke Baker3 May 2026 13:09
Mark Allen’s moment of heartbreak defines Crucible semi-final classic for the ages
In a semi-final that looked set to be remembered for the farcical scenes that led to the longest frame in Crucible history, Mark Allen produced a defining moment so heartbreaking that the 100-minute marathon became a mere footnote.
Allen had one foot and four-and-a-half toes in the World Snooker Championship final when he potted a spectacular long pink while leading Wu Yize 16-15 and landed perfectly on the final black. Black on its spot, cue ball perfectly positioned – it’s a simple pot that Allen makes 100 times out of 100. Except on this one, most important occasion.
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Read Luke Baker’s full report from a semi-final of high drama:
Luke Baker3 May 2026 13:01
Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize
What a final we have in store here. Shaun Murphy is already a world champion, having won the title in 2005 but, 21 years on, he’s desperate to join an elite club by becoming a multiple world champion.
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He’s lost three finals since that 2005 triumph, so will it be fourth time lucky for the 43-year-old Englishman.
Standing in his way is 22-year-old Chinese wonderkid Wu Yize. A potting machine, Wu is trying to become just the second Chinese world champion, 12 months after Zhao Xintong made history as the first.
He’ll be fearless, especially after coming back from the brink to beat Mark Allen in the semi-finals, and given both men’s propensity for attacking snooker, this one should be a high-scoring thriller.
Wu Yize battled past Mark Allen in the semi-finals (Reuters)
Luke Baker3 May 2026 12:54
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The lucky underpants that won Shaun Murphy his first world snooker title
Shaun Murphy has revealed that a pair of lucky underpants helped him win his first World Snooker Championship title, yet it wasn’t him who was wearing them.
Murphy begins the final of the 2026 tournament against 22-year-old Wu Yizethis afternoon but his first world title came back in 2005, when he was a relatively unknown 22-year-old himself.
Having come through qualifying to reach the Crucible, Murphy blitzed the field with his attacking snooker, seeing off Chris Small, John Higgins, Steve Davis and Peter Ebdon before beating Matthew Stevens 18-16 in the final.
Twenty-one years later, the now 43-year-old has revealed the victory may have been down to his nephew Joshua, who was just a child at the time and ensured that his uncle kept winning by wearing the same underwear each day he was at the Crucible.
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Luke Baker3 May 2026 12:50
Shaun Murphy v Wu Yize
Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the 2026 World Snooker Championship final between Shaun Murphy and Wu Yize.
After a hugely dramatic day of semi-final action, can the final live up to the same standard?
With the first round in the rearview mirror, it’s time for the conference semifinals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The NHL announced the schedule for Round 2, with all games available on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.
Here are the schedules for all second-round matchups (all times ET):
Carolina Hurricanes vs. Philadelphia Flyers Carolina leads series 1-0
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Game 1: Carolina 3, Philadelphia 0 Game 2: Philadelphia at Carolina, Mon. May 4 at 7 p.m. Game 3: Carolina at Philadelphia, Thurs. May 7 at 8 p.m. Game 4: Carolina at Philadelphia, Sat. May 9 at 6 p.m. *Game 5: Philadelphia at Carolina, Mon. May 11 at TBD *Game 6: Carolina at Philadelphia, Wed. May 13 at TBD *Game 7: Philadelphia at Carolina, Sat. May 16 at TBD
Buffalo Sabres vs. Montreal Canadiens/Tampa Bay Lightning Series tied 0-0
Game 1: Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, Wed. May 6 at 7 p.m. Game 2: Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, Fri. May 8 at 7 p.m. Game 3: Buffalo at Montreal/Tampa Bay, Sun. May 10 at 7 p.m. Game 4: Buffalo at Montreal/Tampa Bay, Tue. May 12 at TBD *Game 5: Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, Thurs. May 14 at TBD *Game 6: Buffalo at Montreal/Tampa Bay, Sat. May 16 at TBD *Game 7: Montreal/Tampa Bay at Buffalo, Mon. May 18 at TBD
Colorado Avalanche vs. Minnesota Wild Series tied 0-0
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Game 1: Minnesota at Colorado, Sun. May 3 at 9 p.m. Game 2: Minnesota at Colorado, Tue. May 5 at 8 p.m. Game 3: Colorado at Minnesota, Sat. May 9 at 9 p.m. Game 4: Colorado at Minnesota, Mon. May 11 at TBD *Game 5: Minnesota at Colorado, Wed. May 13 at TBD *Game 6: Colorado at Minnesota, Fri. May 15 at TBD *Game 7: Minnesota at Colorado, Sun. May 17 at TBD
Vegas Golden Knights vs. Anaheim Ducks Series tied 0-0
Game 1: Anaheim at Vegas, Mon. May 4 at 9:30 p.m. Game 2: Anaheim at Vegas, Wed. May 6 at 9:30 p.m. Game 3: Vegas at Anaheim, Fri. May 8 at 9:30 p.m. Game 4: Vegas at Anaheim, Sun. May 10 at 9:30 p.m. *Game 5: Anaheim at Vegas, Tue. May 12 at TBD *Game 6: Vegas at Anaheim, Thurs. May 14 at TBD *Game 7: Anaheim at Vegas, Sat. May 16 at TBD
Apr 15, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Dustin May (3) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Busch Stadium. Players and coaches are wearing number 42 in recognition of Jackie Robinson Day. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
Two teams trending in opposite directions meet when the St. Louis Cardinals aim for a sweep of their three-game series against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
St. Louis beat the Dodgers 3-2 on Saturday for their sixth straight win, while Los Angeles’ offense has gone quiet during its four-game losing streak.
Michael McGreevy tossed six scoreless innings on Saturday to help the Cardinals move a season-best seven games over .500 at 20-13.
“We’re going to give you hell when you play us,” McGreevy said. “There (were) a ton of expectations put on us in the offseason, and it’s been so freeing for the guys just to be able to show up and play.”
Jordan Walker hit his 10th home run of the season Saturday and is 6-for-8 with four RBIs in the first two games of the series.
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“It just feels nice that the work that I put in during the offseason is showing up here,” Walker said. “Now the main focus is just keeping it consistent, and it feels like I know what it feels like, so when I get (off track), just get back on.”
The Dodgers have gone five straight games without a home run and have hit a total of three homers in their past 11 games. Los Angeles also hit into four double plays in Saturday’s loss.
“It’s what every team is going to go through in baseball throughout the course of a season,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I felt tonight, although it didn’t show for the first eight innings, I thought the intentions were better on balls in the hitting zone.”
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Los Angeles has been held to two runs or fewer in six of its last 11 games.
After opening the season on a tear at the plate, Dodgers center fielder Andy Pages has eight hits in his last 38 at-bats. He struck out twice Saturday.
“Just trying to focus on what I can do, not focus so much on the whole,” Pages said through an interpreter. “Just focus on taking good at-bats, doing good turns, not really trying to get too ahead of myself. Baseball is really hard. So offensively, there’s gonna be times where we’re not clicking, and that’s one of those times right now.”
Left-hander Justin Wrobleski (4-0, 1.50 ERA) will take the mound for the Dodgers. He won his fourth straight start last Sunday, allowing four hits over six solid innings in a 6-0 home win over the Chicago Cubs.
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Wrobleski, 25, has allowed two runs on 16 hits in 26 innings across his last four outings.
Pedro Pages is 4-for-6 with two homers against Wrobleski, who is 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA in three career games (two starts) versus St. Louis.
The Cardinals will counter with right-hander Dustin May (3-2, 5.28), who spent the first five-plus seasons of his career from 2019-25 with the Dodgers.
May, 28, gave up two runs over six innings in a no-decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates last Monday. He has allowed two earned runs or fewer in each of his last four starts, going 3-0 in those outings. May is facing his former team for the first time.
Ulster welcome Exeter Chiefs to the Kingspan Stadium on Saturday evening (5:30pm) with a place in the EPCR Challenge Cup final on the line—and the bookmakers have them slight favourites at -2.
It’s a tight spread for a knockout game, but the team news from Richie Murphy suggests Ulster are going all-in to get the job done on home soil.
Big Guns Return at the Right Time
There are 14 changes from last week’s URC outing, which tells you everything about where Ulster’s focus has been. This is close to full strength—and it shows.
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Captain Iain Henderson returns to lead the side, partnering Cormac Izuchukwu in the second row. More importantly, the back row gets a serious lift with the return of Nick Timoney from injury, alongside David McCann and Juarno Augustus.
That trio gives Ulster real bite at the breakdown and ball-carrying power—something they’ve lacked at times this season.
Up front, Tom Stewart anchors the front row between Sam Crean and Tom O’Toole. It’s a solid unit, but it will need to stand up physically against a typically abrasive Exeter pack.
Midfield Power and Back Three Threat
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Ulster’s strength arguably lies in their midfield. Stuart McCloskey is back pulling the strings at 12, bringing his usual mix of direct running and distribution. Alongside him, Jude Postlethwaite continues to grow into the role at 13.
Out wide, Jacob Stockdale returns on the left, with Zac Ward—Ulster’s leading try-scorer this season—on the right. Add in Michael Lowry at 15, and there’s plenty of attacking spark if Ulster can get quick ball.
The half-back pairing of Nathan Doak and Jack Murphy will be key. Doak’s control and kicking game, in particular, could decide whether Ulster play this in the right areas.
Bench Impact Could Be Decisive
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Murphy has gone with a 5:3 split on the bench, signalling a clear intent to win the physical battle late on.
Eric O’Sullivan and Tom McAllister provide fresh legs in the front row, while Bryn Ward adds energy in the back row.
In the backs, Jake Flannery and Ethan McIlroy offer versatility and attacking threat if the game opens up.
In tight knockout matches, that depth often proves the difference—and Ulster look well covered.
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The Betting Angle: Is -2 Too Low?
A -2 handicap is about as tight as it gets. It’s essentially asking one question: do Ulster win the match?
Given the return of key players, home advantage, and Exeter’s patchy away form, the line looks slightly on the conservative side.
That said, semi-finals are rarely straightforward. Exeter will bring physicality, set-piece pressure, and enough experience to keep this close if Ulster don’t start well.
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The biggest risk for Ulster is discipline and game management. If they give Exeter territory or easy points, this turns into a dogfight quickly.
Verdict
Ulster have named a team capable of winning this—and more importantly, one built for knockout rugby.
With Henderson leading, Timoney back, and McCloskey carrying in midfield, they should have enough control and power to edge it.
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It won’t be pretty, and it won’t be comfortable—but it doesn’t need to be.
Joshua is set for the biggest payday of his career for the fight with Fury but the latter’s promoter, Frank Warren, has said the bout fight will not happen if Joshua loses to Prenga.
“There is a lot of pressure going into this fight but there’s also a lot of questions to be answered,” said Hearn. “Physically, mentally, fighting again at all and that’s why it’s needed.
“We want the best Anthony Joshua against Tyson Fury. We don’t want a guy that, ‘maybe he should’ve had a warm up fight – he wasn’t quite ready’.
“We want to be 100% ready for that fight and, if he is, he’ll beat him and he’ll knock him out.”
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Joshua’s was beaten by Daniel Dubois in his last fight before beating Paul and his last win against a recognised opponent came against Otto Wallin in December 2023.
“100%, I think there is no doubt about that,” said Hearn when asked if Joshua’s fight against Fury would be off he lost to Prenga. “There’s no doubt, and that’s the risk that we take.
“Even before the incident in Nigeria, we were always having this fight. Now he has been through that, we probably need this fight even more, if I’m honest.
“Now don’t get me wrong, the risk of that versus the pot of gold at the end, it is a risky game, especially when you are fighting a guy that not many people know about, has had 20 knockouts in 21 wins and has got absolutely nothing to lose.
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“We know it’s dangerous, but if you can’t beat that guy then you don’t really deserve to be in a ring with Tyson Fury.
“I think with AJ that is a fair assessment and he understands that as well.
“It’s not about trying to protect money here – ‘Oh we don’t want to take that fight because if we get beat we won’t get paid the money’.
“We have to look good in that fight because we want to beat Tyson Fury. We’ve got no interest in just turning up and taking the money.”
Nico O’Reilly expects the title race to go to the wire as Manchester City chase Arsenal.
City, trailing the Premier League leaders by six points but with two games in hand, need to win at Everton on Monday to keep the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side.
Three successive wins — including a crucial victory over Arsenal — have given City a momentum they are determined to maintain.
O’Reilly, who has excelled in left-back and midfield roles this term, said: “We’re confident in ourselves. There are still a few games to go and it could go down to the last game.
“We’re going to try and win every game and score as much as we can. We’re going into every game trying to put a good performance in and win.”
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City moved top of the table on goals scored by beating Burnley last time out but FA Cup involvement and the league schedule have since allowed Arsenal to move back in front.
The Gunners now have the advantage of points on the board, but O’Reilly insists that has not affected City’s approach.
The 21-year-old said: “I’m feeling good and positive and ready for the last few weeks. Everyone is feeling good and we’re excited for the last few weeks of the season.”
O’Reilly has been one of the stars of City’s campaign, first establishing himself as a member of the back four before being handed opportunities in his more natural midfield position.
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He is among the leading contenders for young player of the year awards, but O’Reilly is focusing only on the immediate task.
“It would be a great achievement but there are still a few games to go and we’ll see what happens,” said O’Reilly, whose form also looks set to earn him an England World Cup spot.
“I just need to knuckle down and keep working hard.
“With all the games and how intense it is, I don’t think there’s much time to reflect yet. I think that’s when we have time off.”
With all of the playoff basketball going on, it seems like I’ve forgotten all about baseball. However, that’s not the case. I’ve still been monitoring it, and we’ve collected some cash on the few bets I’ve put out on the game lately. Today, I have a really strong look at the game between the Reds and Pirates that takes place in Pittsburgh.
The Reds are one of the best teams in baseball, which is not exactly something that I expected to write this season. They made the postseason last year, but considering the lack of moves in the offseason, I just didn’t expect them to be great.
What is probably the most surprising about the Reds is just how good they have been on the road this season. Last year, there wasn’t really any good road team. Those that were above .500, with the exception of the Astros, made the postseason.
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A Cincinnati Reds cap with a special logo is seen during a game against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on July 3, 2021. Cincinnati defeated Chicago 3-2.(Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
Today, the Reds look to keep that success going with Rhett Lowder on the hill. For the year, Lowder is 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He has made six starts for the year, with exactly half coming at home and on the road. He has an ERA a full run lower on the road than at home, allowing five earned over 17.1 innings. Four of those runs came in one game against the Marlins. The Pirates are hitting just 2-for-11 against Lowder in their careers.
The Pirates are better than they were last year, but not exactly a successful club at the moment. They are hovering around .500 for the season, which is about what they were doing last year. The team still needs to figure out hitting, but they are doing better than last year.
They lost five straight games before this series, losing one to the Brewers and four to the Cardinals. Maybe it was just a bad stretch, or maybe it is a sign of things to come. In those games, they allowed 35 runs and scored 18. That’s an average of seven allowed and 3.6 scored.
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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Rhett Lowder pitches against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on April 26, 2026.(Katie Stratman/Imagn Images)
Trying to get the Pirates back on track is Carmen Mlodzinski. For the year, he is 1-2 with a 4.13 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. He has been substantially better at home, but most of his opportunities have come on the road. He is pitching to a 1.69 ERA and allowed just two earned runs over 10.2 innings. His lone home start saw him go six scoreless innings and allow two hits and two walks. In his history, he has allowed just three hits in 27 at-bats against the Reds.
We have two starters today who are in better situations for them. Mlodzinski has been better at home, and Lowder better on the road. These are still small sample sizes, but it is a bit encouraging. The way the Pirates have been bleeding runs makes me concerned that the under will be toast. The Reds have been a bit all over the place with scoring and runs allowed.
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Carmen Mlodzinski throws a pitch during a game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on April 21, 2026.(Jerome Miron/Imagn Images)
In this particular situation, I think it makes the most sense to back the under. Both teams have been playing higher-scoring games right now, but with these two hurlers, we should see fewer runs.
For more sports betting information and plays, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has expressed concern over the continued detention of Senegalese football supporters in Morocco after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.
The fans were reportedly arrested after the final match between Senegal and Morocco during the tournament hosted by Morocco.
Speaking on the issue, President Faye said he personally reached out to Mohammed VI in a bid to secure the release or pardon of the detained supporters, but efforts have not produced any positive outcome.
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“I wrote to the King of Morocco to congratulate him on hosting the Africa Cup of Nations and to ask him to pardon our fans,” Faye said.
“I addressed the legal, diplomatic, and religious aspects, but he did not issue any positive response.”
The situation has continued to attract reactions from football fans in Senegal, with many urging both governments to find a diplomatic solution to the matter.
Mumbai Indians etched their name in cricket history on May 2, 2026, becoming the first team ever to surpass the 50,000-run mark in T20 cricket. The milestone was achieved during their IPL 2026 clash against Chennai Super Kings at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium. Entering the match needing 114 runs to reach the landmark, MI crossed the historic threshold in the 15th over of their innings.Interestingly, the record came in a game where Mumbai posted a below-par total, but the significance of the achievement overshadowed the result. In their 308th T20 appearance, the franchise became the first to breach the 50,000-run barrier, underlining their longevity and dominance in the shortest format.Mumbai Indians’ tally includes runs accumulated across 286 IPL matches and 22 Champions League Twenty20 games. Their consistency over the years has made them one of the most successful and prolific teams in T20 history.Top ContributorsLeading the charge is former captain Rohit Sharma, who has been the backbone of MI’s batting with 6,286 runs. He is followed by Suryakumar Yadav (3,933 runs) and Kieron Pollard (3,915 runs), both of whom have played crucial roles in the franchise’s success.Global T20 Run Leaders (as of May 2, 2026)
Mumbai Indians – 50,003 runs (308 matches)
Somerset County Cricket Club – 48,244 runs (303 matches)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 47,304 runs (295 matches)
Chennai Super Kings – 46,438 runs (286 matches)
India national cricket team – 45,241 runs (281 matches)
Coming to the match, MI collapsed from a promising position to finish at 159/7, with Naman Dhir top-scoring with 57. The middle order once again faltered, unable to capitalise despite a solid platform. CSK’s bowling was led by Anshul Kamboj (3/32), while Noor Ahmad and Jamie Overton applied consistent pressure through the middle overs.In reply, CSK chased down the target comfortably, powered by an unbeaten 67 from captain Ruturaj Gaikwad and a steady 54* from Kartik Sharma. The victory at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium not only completed a league double over their arch-rivals but also dealt a significant blow to Mumbai Indians’ playoff hopes, while keeping CSK firmly in contention.
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