Chennai Super Kings MS Dhoni (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)

The batting position of MS Dhoni in the Chennai Super Kings line up has become a talking point in recent seasons. Fitness concerns have often seen the legendary wicketkeeper batter walk in much lower down the order, sometimes at No. 8 or even No. 9. As a result, Dhoni has been left with only a handful of deliveries to influence the game with the bat.In his prime, Dhoni built a reputation as one of the most destructive finishers in world cricket. Even now, the former CSK captain has produced several quick cameos that remind fans of his finishing ability. Those flashes have sparked debate among supporters and experts who feel he should bat higher to maximise his impact.

India Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara is among those who believe Dhoni should be given a bigger role with the bat. Speaking on JioHotstar, Pujara said he struggles to understand the logic behind sending the former India captain so far down the order.“I don’t see a point in MS Dhoni batting at No. 8 or 9, because he has the potential to turn games around single-handedly, something no other batter in the CSK team can do. If he bats for only five or ten balls, imagine what Mahi bhai can do if he plays 25 or 30 balls,” Pujara said on JioHotstar.Pujara, who was part of the CSK squad that lifted their record-equalling fifth Indian Premier League title in 2021, also spoke warmly about the franchise’s dressing room culture.“I’ve been in the CSK setup. In that environment, players are very comfortable; it’s like a family. When you’re in that setup, there is clarity about what is expected of you as a player,” Pujara said.He added that loyalty has always been a defining feature of the franchise’s philosophy.“Loyalty also comes into the picture because most of CSK’s players, if you look at the history, stay for a long time once they become part of that setup. There is a transition in the team now, so there is a bit more preference for young players,” he added.Meanwhile, CSK chief executive Kasi Viswanathan has expressed confidence that Dhoni will feature regularly for the team throughout the season.“He (Dhoni) will play all the matches, according to me,” Kasi said.CSK recently secured the services of wicketkeeper batter Sanju Samson from the Rajasthan Royals, a move that has raised fresh questions about what role Dhoni will perform in the playing eleven.Kasi clarified that the final call on Dhoni’s responsibilities will rest with the team’s coaching staff rather than the administrative management.“That is a cricketing decision which will be taken by the cricketing staff, not by the administrative staff. So they will decide whether he is going to play as a batsman, as a wicketkeeper-batter, or as an impact player,” he said.

Rushbrook Primary Academy recognised at Youth Sport Trust Awards

A school in Manchester has been recognised for making huge strides through its approach to PE, sport and physical activity by winning one of the prestigious prizes at the 2026 Youth Sport Trust Awards.

Rushbrook Primary Academy in Gorton was the proud winner of the Transformational Achievement Award at the ceremony, which was held at the Telford International Centre. Four years ago, the school was going through some significant challenges, including limited facilities, low engagement in sport, high exclusion rates, and attendance issues.

Since then, Rushbrook has made huge investments into its facilities and now has a multi-use sports pitch, Daily Mile track, Forest School and a pop-up swimming pool, and recently achieved the School Games Gold Mark, such was the improvement in their provisions.

Headteacher Matt Carroll said: “I think it’s a reward for four years of solid hard work and commitment towards PE and ensuring our children get every opportunity possible, because they deserve it. Our kids deserve this award because they’ve contributed everything.

“The statistics speak for themselves; to go from 157 fixed-term exclusions down to zero is a massive achievement. It’s taken a lot of hard work but it took a lot of commitment from the whole team at the school to rebuild our culture, our visions and our values to ensure that our children are getting the right provisions so they can access and achieve, and they have.”

The awards were a celebration of inclusivity and were attended by key figures from the sporting world, including former England women’s rugby captain Sarah Hunter and director of sport at the British Olympic Association Sarah Massey. The 2026 Youth Sport Trust Conference Awards spotlighted the dedicated and innovative approaches from schools, trusts, and individuals who have used the power of sport to make a positive impact on children’s health and wellbeing throughout the year.

Hosted by TV personality, Radzi Chinyanganya, the evening was filled with insightful discussions and inspiring stories that highlighted the power of sport and play to foster positive change and inclusivity in schools.

Hunter said: “It’s massively important to reward the grassroots level of sport. It’s recognition for all the hard work that they’ve done through the year, but for most of these teachers and sports co-ordinators it’s not just this year, it’s over multiple years that they’ve embedded sport into their community.

“Without grassroots sport – and I’m speaking now as an international coach – we don’t have a game, we don’t have that pipeline for our future sport stars, whether that be rugby, football or athletics. Having started rugby at school, I know how important it is to reward and recognise the hard work that quite often goes unseen.”

The Youth Sport Trust Annual Conference Awards, sponsored by Sports Directory and Outdoor Play and Learning, celebrate schools, settings, trusts, and individuals who, working alongside Youth Sport Trust, have made a real and impactful change to the lives of young people. Find out how the Youth Sport Trust is building brighter futures for children through sport and play: https://www.youthsporttrust.org/

The sun may be shining as the 2026 Players Championship gets underway at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday morning. But sun is not the only defining weather phenomenon in Florida. It’s also infamous for its unpredictable thunderstorms.

And as the Players continues, the weather is forecasted to take a turn for the worse.

Here’s what we know about the forecast for Players Championship week.

2026 Players Championship weather forecast

There isn’t a threat of inclement weather for every round at this year’s Players Championship. But two days currently feature an ominous forecast: Thursday and Sunday.

Let’s start with Thursday’s opening round.

The first groups teed off at 7:40 a.m. ET and were treated to partly-cloudy skies, low wind and temperatures in the high-60s. That helped Max Homa, who teed off at 7:52 a.m. ET, hole-out for eagle on the 1st hole to quickly move to two under. (Homa then birdied the 2nd to take the early lead at three under, before making double at 3 to fall back to one under).

But the groups scheduled to tee off midday will face a very different atmosphere.

Thunderstorms are expected to roll through TPC Sawgrass between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, with the wind forecasted to pick up as well. Unlike with light rain, lightning would force an immediate suspension of play.

Star players like Rory McIlroy (1:42 p.m. ET), Jordan Spieth (1:30 p.m. ET) and Rickie Fowler (1:30 p.m. ET) all have tee times during the thunderstorm window on Thursday. That means the start of their opening rounds could be delayed.

If play is suspended for three full hours, there will likely be several players who will have to return Friday morning to complete their rounds. Scottie Scheffler, who tees off at 8:52 a.m. ET, should have a good chance to finish Round 1 on Thursday.

The players who don’t finish on Thursday could be at a distinct disadvantage come Friday.

Prior to the new league year kicking off on March 11, reports suggested that the Minnesota Vikings would be releasing veteran running back Aaron Jones. Then, just minutes before free agency opened, the former Green Bay Packers star was taken off the open market.

Rather than release Jones, the Vikings opted to restructure his contract. Rather than play at a $9 million salary and bloated cap hit in 2026, Jones is back on a $5.5 million deal that will have a diminished hit on the bottom line.

Aaron Jones’ Return Doesn’t Solve Minnesota’s Running Back Future

After being healthy for all 17 games with the Vikings during his first season in Minnesota, Jones played in just 12 games last season. His 4.2 yards per carry were the lowest of his career, and the offense hummed better with Jordan Mason toting the rock.

The reality is that a 32-year-old Aaron Jones has almost equal value in the locker room as he does on the field. There should be no expectation that he can get through a full season, and finding a renewed sense of production is a lofty bet as well. That said, the Minnesota Vikings don’t have to lean into him being their answer.

Jordan Mason is back, but the only other running backs on the roster are Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott. For a team that hasn’t found youth at the position since Dalvin Cook, the time is now. It would be wild, but fun, to jump up and grab Jeremiyah Love. They don’t have to be that aggressive, though.

This running back class has talent, and there’s a guy with local ties who seems like a logical fit. Nebraska’s Emmett Johnson hails from Minnesota, and he led the Big Ten in rushing last year. He may need time to acclimate at the next level, but a second or third round pick thrown his way could pay significant dividends.

After bringing Jones back, I don’t envision a scenario in which another running back is signed in free agency. One has to be taken before the fourth round, though, and Jones back or not, his presence shouldn’t get in the way of that player’s development or playing time.

Ted Schwerzler is a Minneapolis based blogger that covers the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. Sharing thoughts constantly on Twitter, … More about Ted Schwerzler

The memory shortage crisis continues to fuel nightmares for hardcore PC builders, but even the biggest players like Valve are feeling the squeeze. In a recent talk at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2026, Valve revealed that the company is actively “in the market” for RAM supply as it plans for the triple hardware launch this year.

After sharing the current statistics on the state of Steam at the conference and talking about the Daily Deals program, Valve admitted to the challenges of building new hardware equipment. Reportedly, the company representatives even joked that there would be no new hardware announcements unless they get more RAM.

“If you have a line on a bunch of RAM, we are in the market and would like to buy it.”

Valve’s 3 new gaming hardware still set for a 2026 release

Despite the limited availability of RAM and the growing prices of components, Valve is showing no signs of slowing down. While the launch of the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller has been delayed from the original ‘early 2026’ to now, just ‘2026’ the company hinted that its hardware launches are still on track.

The casual joke about the lack of RAM is worrisome for consumers who are excited to get their hands on the new equipment. Moreover, the hunt for RAM from the consumer market just underscores how serious Valve is about expanding its hardware lineup.

For now, there hasn’t been any official word on when we can get hold of the first-party hardware by Valve, and we have yet to see how competitive the component market can become behind the scenes.

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