Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill on Sunday said they didn’t want to take the match so deep but was happy after securing two points against table-toppers Punjab Kings in an IPL 2026 match on Sunday. After restricting PBKS to 163 for 9, PBKS reached 167 six with a ball to spare. “Would have liked to not take it as deep as we did. But two points! We always knew this is not the kind of wicket where we can chase it in 15-16 overs. If someone is set, they should go deep,” said Gill during the post-match presentation.

“Length balls weren’t coming. Important for the batter who was set — lucky for us, Washy finished it off. It was all about the kind of situation we are in, and the best batter (on sending out left-handers),” Gill said.

PBKS skipper Shreyas Iyer was a little dejected, and thought 163 was a defendable total.

“I personally thought it was a great score. New ball was doing a bit at the start. Their bowlers made best use of the surface, the way they were hitting the deck. We lost four wickets in the powerplay, just to get to 160 from there was a phenomenal effort.

“With the new ball, I thought we would be able to hit line and length and be accurate and get wickets, but it didn’t work out. Kudos to the effort, attitude and approach. We missed on hitting the hard lengths, I think. Hitting over midwicket wasn’t easy on this wicket, there was variable bounce,” he said.

Iyer said his side misfired in the execution.

“In terms of execution, we fell short. We’re still top of the table, we’ll take positives from that…. Shows the character of the bowlers, wanted to win, didn’t click (today.

“Excited for the opportunity (in Hyderabad next). Boys putting in hard yards. If the character is high, attitude is right, results will come eventually,” he said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Nigeria Premier Football League leaders Rangers International produced one of the best performances of Matchday 34 after beating Bayelsa United 2-0 away in Yenagoa.

The Flying Antelopes showed great composure on the road as they continued their push for the league title.

In Aba, Enyimba defeated Remo Stars 2-1 in an exciting match.

Victor Mbaoma gave Remo Stars the lead in the 21st minute before Stanley Dimgba equalised seven minutes later. Chidera Michael then scored the winning goal early in the second half.

Kun Khalifat claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Kano Pillars.

Mmesoma Nnorom opened the scoring in the 55th minute before Luis Dadong equalised late for Kano Pillars. However, Oghenetega Ebetomame scored deep into stoppage time to secure all three points for Kun Khalifat.

Niger Tornadoes and Kwara United played out a 2-2 draw in Minna.

Abdulrasheed Shehu Dabai scored from the penalty spot for Tornadoes before Babatunde Bright equalised shortly after. Akeem Akanni later gave Kwara United the lead, but Ismail Sarki rescued a point for the home side late in the game.

In Ibadan, Shooting Stars edged Nasarawa United 3-2 in another entertaining encounter.

Lucky Emmanuel scored twice in the first half for Shooting Stars, while JoFrank Istifanus pulled one back for Nasarawa United. Habibu Alakija equalised after the break before Qamar Adegoke netted the winning goal in the 77th minute.

Rivers United boosted their continental hopes with a comfortable 3-0 win over Abia Warriors.

Goals from Wasiu Falolu, Timothy Zachariah and Bello Babatunde sealed the victory.

Barau FC also recorded a 3-0 win against El-Kanemi Warriors through goals from Sunday Anthony, Henry Ezeonye and Joseph Atule.

Meanwhile, Warri Wolves defeated Plateau United 1-0 thanks to a goal from Tejiri Emonena in the 60th minute.

Errol Spence has addressed health concerns ahead of his clash with Tim Tszyu, which takes place just under three years removed from his punishing defeat to Terence Crawford.

The 36-year-old has not fought since losing his WBC, IBF and WBA world titles to Crawford, who produced a masterful performance to claim the undisputed welterweight crown.

Prior to their encounter, Spence was considered by some to be a slight favourite, only for him to suffer a surprisingly one-sided ninth-round stoppage defeat.

This took place some years after his life-threatening car accident, from which the American had escaped with significant dental and facial damage.

He did, of course, return with a unanimous decision victory over Danny Garcia around 14 months later, before securing a 10th-round finish over Yordenis Ugas in 2022.

Yet still, many have argued that Spence was never the same fighter after experiencing such trauma, with the Crawford defeat only accelerating his athletic deterioration.

In response to suggestions of his supposedly slurred speech, though, ‘The Truth’ has told Sean Zittel that his dentures can provide some form of explanation.

“I’d say I’m all right. How’s my speech now? My speech [has] always been kind of slurred with these teeth right here, because they’re not spaced out, so air can’t even come through.

“That’s just from the car accident. I appreciate everybody [expressing their] concerns. I have my concerns, too. They’re right to have those concerns.”

Regardless of such concerns, Spence will return againse former world champion Tszyu on July 25 at a catchweight of 158lbs.

Despite much anticipation surrounding his comeback, the American will travel to Australia rather than headline a show in Texas, where he has been known to draw a sizeable crowd.

Manchester United are back in the Champions League and Michael Carrick looks on course to be handed the head coach job for next season.

Michael Carrick said he feels at home in the Manchester United dugout after making his strongest pitch yet to stay on as head coach at Old Trafford into next season.

The 44-year-old has steered United back into the Champions League with a run of 10 wins in 14 games since taking charge in January and his side sealed their return to Europe’s top table with a 3-2 win against Liverpool.

Carrick has now earned wins against Manchester City, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool since taking over and he looks almost certain to be handed a long-term contract at Old Trafford.

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The former United midfielder has been coy on talk about staying on previously, but he was more emboldened after the win against Liverpool and showed his confidence in the role by insisting he felt comfortable in it, despite the pressure it entails.

United officials have been impressed with the calm that Carrick has brought to the club since his appointment and he said his experience of being a player and a coach at Old Trafford had given him belief in the role.

“It’s been a good run. We’ve obviously beaten some very, very good teams and it’s been challenging,” he said. “Sometimes we’ve won it in some ways, sometimes we’ve got to win it in other ways.

“I love doing what I’m doing. It’s a great position for me to be in. It feels pretty natural, if I’m totally honest with that. I’m not being blasé, it’s a difficult role, but it feels that I’ve been here a long time in different times on and off, but I can even understand what it brings. To be sat in this position is a good position to be.”

Carrick was also asked whether he would be disappointed not to get the job after the results he has delivered, and responded that he felt he had now done enough to earn a shot long-term.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” he said. “When we came in, I think Champions League, to be honest, was a little bit in the distance, and we wanted to try and get back into Europe, so to be where we are with three games to spare is a good achievement.

“It has just been a step though, we’re not overcelebrating it, but whatever is going to happen is going to happen. I can always do my best for the club and for the players, especially and try and help them as best as we can and then see what happens after that.”

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Another New England Patriots player has his head coach’s back.

Star cornerback Christian Gonzalez was asked about Mike Vrabel’s controversial relationship with former The Athletic reporter Dianna Russini, specifically what Vrabel said he spoke to the team about.

Gonzalez didn’t mince any words with his response.  

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Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots looks on before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2026. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

“We ain’t gon’ speak on what we talked about inside the building,” Gonzalez told reporters. “But I mean, that’s my coach. That’s who I go out there and play for. He’s proven what he can do as a coach. That’s my guy, and I ride behind Vrabes any time of the day.”

Patriots captains Hunter Henry and Robert Spillane were both asked previously about the Vrabel situation as well.

“Obviously, you know, I know you guys want to hear about everything that’s going on, but to be honest with you, we’re just focused,” he told reporters on Tuesday, according to Yahoo Sports. “I’m focused on what we got going on right now in this building with this team.”

SHANNON SHARPE BELIEVES MIKE VRABEL DID NOTHING PROFESSIONALLY WRONG

Henry added he’s “just focused on the guys in this locker room and trying to build it from the ground up.” In other words, he’s not going to be commenting on his head coach’s off-the-field controversy.

Spillane echoed Henry’s sentiment.

“Coach coaches football. He keeps the main thing, the main thing,” he explained, per MassLive. “I know he’s dealing with personal issues. But when we’re in the building, we speak football.”

These Patriots are all on the same page with Vrabel despite the scandal that created a football firestorm off the field.

Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots runs on the field before Super Bowl LX against the Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Feb. 8, 2026. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)

The Patriots released a statement before the first round of the draft, saying they “fully support” Vrabel.

“Mike has been open with us about his commitment to being the best version of himself for his family, this team and our fans, and we respect the steps he is taking to follow through on that commitment,” the statement said.

“We are confident in the leadership and communication Mike has established with our personnel staff throughout this pre-draft process.” 

Vrabel was with the Patriots for the first two nights of the NFL Draft, but he stepped away for rounds four through seven to seek counseling.

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel stands on the field before the 2026 AFC Championship Game at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colo., on Jan. 25, 2026. (Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images)

“As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them,” Vrabel said in a statement, according to ESPN.

“In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.”

Vrabel also told reporters he’s had “some difficult conversations with people that I care about” regarding him and Russini being photographed together at a Sedona, Arizona, private resort in his first public comments about the controversial relationship. 

Since then, photos have surfaced from 2020 showing Vrabel and Russini kissing at a bar in New York City. The pictures exclusively obtained by the New York Post were taken in the early hours of March 11, 2020.

New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talks to quarterback Drake Maye during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Oct. 19, 2025. (Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

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Russini reportedly married Kevin Goldschmidt, her husband and a Shake Shack executive, six months after the photos were snapped. Goldschmidt and Russini also share two children. 

Vrabel has been married to his wife, Jen, since 1999, and they share two sons together. In the pictures, Vrabel’s wedding band is visible on his left hand while conversing with Russini. At the time, Russini was with ESPN, while Vrabel was coaching the Tennessee Titans.

Naoya Inoue has revealed his honest thoughts on Junto Nakatani, having shared 12 rounds of incredible focus and tension with the three-division world champion.

The pair squared off at a sold-out Tokyo Dome yesterday, headlining the most-attended Japanese boxing event in history as they collided in front of around 55,000 spectators.

Inoue, a sizable pre-fight favourite, was making the seventh defence of his undisputed super-bantamweight crown after amassing four victories last year.

Nakatani, on the other hand, was coming off a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Sebastian Hernandez in December, attempting to dethrone ‘The Monster’ in only his second outing at 122lbs.

It would have been an astounding achievement if he managed to do so, but the 28-year-old ultimately lost a unanimous decision to the generational great.

After banking the early rounds, Inoue encountered a spell of adversity as Nakatani came on strong, especially in the 10th frame, and looked as if he was gathering serious momentum.

Inoue, however, responded with the qualities of a true champion and managed to solidify his victory in the final six minutes.

In a typically respectful manner, the 33-year-old hailed Nakatani’s mental strength during his post-fight press conference, while also predicting that his countryman will become a four-weight world champion.

“He’s a mentally strong fighter, and I think he’s definitely a fighter who will become a champion in the super-bantamweight division.”

🗣️ “I AM RELIEVED”😅

Naoya Inoue reacts to defeating Junto Nakatani in the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history at the Tokyo Dome!🔥🇯🇵

Thoughts?🤔#InoueNakatanipic.twitter.com/joWShulYjv

— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) May 2, 2026

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If he chooses to remain at 122lbs, then Nakatani may be compelled to wait longer than expected for another world title shot.

This is because early talks have begun for Inoue to defend his belts against Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodruguez, the unified super-flyweight champion, in January.

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney was left red-faced on Match of the Day after host Gabby Logan made a cheeky joke about his hair during a debate about hair-pulling red cards in the Premier League

Gabby Logan delivered a savage quip about Wayne Rooney’s hair during Saturday night’s episode of Match of the Day. BBC pundit Rooney was analysing Dan Ballard’s dismissal during Sunderland’s 1-1 stalemate with Wolves on Saturday.

Ballard was issued a red card in the opening period at Molineux after referee Paul Tierney reviewed the incident involving Wolves striker Tolu Arokodare on the pitch-side monitor. Sunderland defender Ballard was deemed to have pulled his opponent’s hair, which was classified as violent conduct.

The decision proved pivotal in the match as the Black Cats were forced to play the majority of it with 10 men, before eventually conceding and drawing 1-1. It sparked a discussion on Match of the Day about how the regulations surrounding hair pulling are being enforced and whether the action should automatically be considered violent conduct.

Taking a tongue-in-cheek approach to the discussion, Manchester United legend Rooney remarked with a mischievous grin: “That’s why I didn’t grow a ponytail when I was playing,” before laughing

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Logan, seizing the moment, responded: “And that’s not the only reason, let’s be honest,” leaving pundit Joe Hart in fits of laughter. The presenter and Rooney were both alluding to the fact the former striker wore shaved or thinning hair for virtually the entirety of his career and probably couldn’t grow his hair long in the same fashion.

Turning to the more pressing matter at hand, Rooney expressed his disbelief at the harshness with which hair-pulling incidents have been dealt with in the Premier League this season. He said: “I just can’t believe I’m sitting on Match of the Day talking about players getting sent off for pulling hair.

“I think it’s ridiculous. I think if that’s the rule, the rule has to change because it’s getting absolutely ridiculous.

“When you are playing, it is a physical game and you do grab on to the shirt, you are trying to get an upper hand on your opponent. And sometimes if there’s a big flock of hair, then you’re going to grab it at some point.”

Logan highlighted the absence of clarity within the existing framework. She said: “Because there is a grey area. There has to be some nuance. And of course, at the moment, it sits in violent conduct. And there will be some which are violent, but not all.”

Hart added: “I’ve seen a lot more violent things happen this weekend and none of them punished for it.”

Ballard became the third player this season to receive his marching orders for hair pulling. Arokodare was also on the receiving end of a hair pull by Michael Keane in January, while Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez was shown a red card for a similar offence involving Dominic Calvert-Lewin the previous month.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

David Benavidez delivered the performance of his career so far this weekend in Las Vegas, moving up significantly in weight to become the first man to stop Gilberto Ramirez.

Benavidez competed just twice at light-heavyweight before signing this unified cruiserweight title fight against ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez, known for his durability and grit.

Despite packing on over 20lbs from his last contest, the 29-year-old star retained his hand speed and destructive style to drop Ramirez twice on his way to a sixth-round stoppage, becoming a three-weight champion in the process and climbing the pound-for-pound rankings.

Speaking on X after watching the fight, four-division champion Shakur Stevenson praised Benavidez and backed a fight against Dmitry Bivol next.

“Benavidez is everything he say he is, much respect to him and his craft. I would love to see Bivol get back healthy 100 percent and make that fight.”

Benavidez wants the fight too, naming the Russian number one on his hit list. According to promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Bivol, early discussions have taken place and both parties are interested in moving forward.

There is, however, one stumbling block in the form of Artur Beterbiev. Hearn pointed out that there is a ‘loose agreement’ for a trilogy with Beterbiev, who beat Bivol in their first meeting before losing the rematch, which will take precedence if called for.

Holding three belts over two divisions, Benavidez will not be short of options, thought he will soon have to decide which weight he wants to fight at next.

Kimi Antonelli in action.© AFP