If you search the golf forums online for all of 10 seconds, you’ll see some shaft arguments centered around the idea of playing something like a Fujikura Ventus Black or a Project X Titan.
These super-stout, low-launch, low-spin shafts are all the rage in the forums “because that’s what the pros play”. Usually, those names include guys like Rory McIlroy, Gary Woodland, Aldrich Potgieter and other high-speed players on the PGA Tour.
But we’ve got a new name to add to that list: Auston Kim of the LPGA Tour.
It’s pretty rare to see a shaft like Fujikura Ventus Black out on the LPGA Tour. In general, the LPGA doesn’t have as much aggression as the PGA Tour does, and even the players who are a bit more aggressive will typically opt for something that still provides them with a bit more help launching the ball. Something like a Fujikura Ventus Red profile or the popular Mitsubishi Diamana WB with its softer handle and mid-soft tip would be better driver shaft profiles for these types of swings.
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But Kim isn’t anywhere near the “standard” female profile. She’s currently ranked fourth on the LPGA in driving distance, and she has a swing that more closely mimics something like Cam Young; very wide, very long, and adds a small pause at the top of the swing before unleashing in transition.
Auston goes for a Fujikura Ventus Black Velocore+ 5-S that’s tipped an inch. I asked PXG LPGA Tour Manager Scotty Kim how many times he tips a driver shaft an inch out on the LPGA.
He simply replied, “Not often.”
He also mentioned, “Auston could probably actually play something a little bit stiffer than this if she wanted, but tipping the stiff flex gives her a good blend of giving her the feel she wants with the performance she needs.” Auston simply added, “I’m good” with a laugh.
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Auston combines her Ventus Velo+ Black with a PXG Lightning Tour, the lowest spinning head in the new Lightning lineup. The combination of a shaft keeping up with her aggression and the speed and spin profile of the Lightning Tour provides her with a very stable package that helps her hit the signature cut shot that she wants to see off the tee.
And she’s got all the speed she needs to earn that No. 4 rank in driving distance on the LPGA Tour. Auston sits in the low 160s for ball speed, similar to me, if that’s any indication of her greatness, and she plays with a little bit more spin, too. I’m a big advocate for playing with a little bit more spin, and with such a consistent cut shot, she’s utilizing the stability and speed of the Lightning Tour in every way she can.
A good reminder that just because something says what it might be on paper doesn’t mean that in practice it’s what that gear is going to do. As an industry, we frequently get caught up trying to bucket equipment into speed and spin buckets. In Auston’s case, it was about consistency and deviation from shot to shot. Something that Johnny Wunder and I both noticed during our own testing of the PXG Lightning Tour back in October.
Another surprising option on the LPGA Tour getting a ton of use is the Diamana WB. Compared to the Ventus Black, it’s a bit of a softer profile, but it’s still created as the low-launch, low-spin part for the slightly stronger player. Something that’s been in the hands of guys on the PGA Tour like Xander Schauffele, Viktor Hovland, and Justin Rose.
You might guess a profile like the Diamana BB would be a more popular part for the women’s game, but with athletes of all genders getting stronger and faster, the need for profiles to keep up with the more athletic fields is more apparent.
Making sure you’re in a profile that activates at the right time in your swing is critical. Weight and flex are then there to make sure that you’re squeezing every bit of performance out of it that you can.
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In Auston Kim’s case, they decided to stick with a lighter-weight, stiff flex shaft that they tipped one inch. This tipping stabilized the tip a tad while also making the handle a bit softer, which is very helpful for a wider, more aggressive swing that stays very connected. Again, think Auston, Rory, Cam Young, or Xander.
They don’t yank down on the golf shaft in transition; they keep it wide and long with their wrists relatively stable, and they create separation until impact.
HOUSTON — Farah O’Keefe spent all of Friday scrambling around Memorial Park. When she rolled in a birdie putt on the final hole, the amateur looked at the Chevron Championship leaderboard to see herself tied for second at 7 under.
Then, she looked up one spot and saw the task that awaits her and everyone else this weekend at the LPGA’s first major.
Despite the massive deficit, O’Keefe walked toward scoring, chatting with her caddie about a recent large major championship lead that quickly evaporated on the weekend.
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“I compared it to Rory at the Masters,” O’Keefe said. “Really golf, you never know what can happen in golf. There is so much random out there that you can get a bad break and it’s just kind of that thing.”
Two weeks ago, McIlroy held a Masters-record six-shot lead heading into the weekend. By the time he reached the 13th hole on Saturday, his lead was gone. McIlroy shook off a rough third round and survived a chaotic Sunday to win his second consecutive green jacket but shot over Scottie Scheffler.
But the rout that was promised at Augusta National didn’t materialize. A lot can change over 36 holes.
“My dad and I called it that golf is a staring contest and all you have to do is not blink first,” O’Keefe said. “So I’m just trying not to blink.”
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So far, O’Keefe, the University of Texas junior, has done just that on a big stage in front of her family and friends.
She has made only one bogey through 36 holes, riding a hot putter and dazzling short game into contention. O’Keefe arrived at the first tee on Thursday and didn’t feel nerves. Those came during the warm-up, but the tee box, competition, is her safe space. When she got up and down from the bunker on her first hole, she realized the nerves were there, and she needed to focus to ensure a major championship opportunity wasn’t wasted. When she made a par on No. 18 on Thursday, her ninth hole, she thought she’d see that the leaders were way out in front. Instead, she saw she was just two off the pace. She shot a 4-under 68 in Round 1 and followed it with a 69 on Friday to become the first amateur in Chevron history to open with consecutive rounds in the 60s.
O’Keefe is personable and talkative by nature. She’s always talking with her caddie. Her game plan at the start of the week was to focus only when over her shots and then detach from the intensity of the moment between shots by talking about anything and everything with her caddie.
The pressure is huge at major championships. Everyone feels it. It’s even bigger for amateurs when they put themselves in the mix for the first time. Farah O’Keefe feels the nerves; she welcomes them.
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“I kind of like the nerves,” O’Keefe said. “If you’re not nervous, then you’re not supposed to be there. I don’t know. This is what I do. This is my livelihood, my joy. I play golf, but I do more than that. When I have the opportunity to come play in a tournament like this, I just enjoy it. I feel like everybody kind of plays better golf when they’re happy anyway, so the fact that I have been so happy to be here is helping my golf game. No matter what happens, it’s like, well, you’re playing that major. Like just smile.”
O’Keefe recalled her caddie in Scotland, who preached positivity and its power on the golf course. “He just kept saying, happy days. Every time we end up in a bunker, happy days. We’re good. I think that positivity, if you beat down on yourself, really if you’re negative in any way, it hurts you.”
That has been her guide this week.
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The amateur will arrive at Memorial Park on Saturday facing a big deficit but believing Nelly Korda can be reeled in — that if she refuses not to blink, and smiles along the way, she’ll be right there with the LPGA’s marquee star come Sunday.
“I think it’s a dream,” O’Keefe said. “You know, it’s something that you think about every once in a while and hope for, but I wouldn’t — I feel like I’m trying to stay composed. There is a lot more golf left to be played. The job is not done and I’m just going to keep doing what I have been doing because it just happens to be working.
“I’m not going to force anything. Try not to get too flustered. Just keep playing my game.”
And see if the golf gods open the door for her on the weekend.
Delhi Capitals have received a major boost as their star overseas pacer, Mitchell Starc, has officially joined the camp ahead of their clash against Punjab Kings.Starc’s arrival was delayed in IPL 2026 due to ongoing shoulder and elbow injuries. These issues stemmed from a high workload during the Ashes series (where he bowled over 153 overs) and were compounded by a heavy fall while diving for a catch during the Big Bash League (BBL) in late January. Starc experienced persistent soreness when he attempted to return to bowling in February, necessitating a longer rehabilitation period in Sydney.Following his recovery, Cricket Australia officially cleared him to join Delhi Capitals on 23 April 2026. In his absence, Delhi Capital’s pace attack was led by Mukesh Kumar, T Natarajan, and Lungi Ngidi.In IPL 2025, Starc represented Delhi Capitals after being bought for Rs 11.75 crore in the mega auction. He was one of the franchise’s standout performers, finishing with 14 wickets in 11 matches. He also claimed his maiden IPL five-wicket haul (5/35) against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Visakhapatnam, becoming the first overseas pacer in DC’s history to achieve the feat. However, he did not complete the season, opting to return to Australia to prepare for the World Test Championship Final.
Will he play against Punjab Kings today?
Starc is unlikely to feature in the immediate home game against Punjab Kings on 25 April. Instead, he is expected to play his 1st match of IPL 2026 for Delhi Capitals on 1 May against Rajasthan Royals. Before returning to match action, he will undergo a brief training and acclimatisation phase with the DC support staff to gradually build up his bowling intensity after a three-month injury layoff.Barring any setbacks, Starc is expected to be available for the remainder of the season, including the final league matches and the playoffs. In the meantime, Delhi Capitals’ pace attack will continue to be led by Ngidi, who has taken seven wickets in the first six matches.
Shubman Gill did not shy away from pinpointing where the game slipped for the Gujarat Titans after their five-wicket defeat against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 34th match of the Indian Premier League (2026) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday. “Definitely. From the 16th to the 19th, those three overs, we couldn’t get any boundaries. Those overs were crucial for us. At the end of the Powerplay, we were in a good situation. We needed to take wickets,” he said. “I mean, when a batsman gets dropped on nought, it’s always tough on the fielder. But it’s about how you come back in the game. We had our moments. But we weren’t able to hit the right lengths consistently, which was important. But they batted very well in the middle overs.”
The dropped chance he referred to allowed Virat Kohli to flourish, and the veteran made GT pay with a commanding 81 off 44 balls.
Alongside him, Devdutt Padikkal produced a stunning 55 off 27, dismantling the attack through the middle overs. Their partnership ensured RCB stayed ahead of the asking rate, even as GT’s bowlers searched for control. Gill admitted there was some assistance in the pitch, particularly from Krunal Pandya’s bowling: “When we were batting, the balls that Krunal bowled, it was gripping a bit. I thought if we could get a few wickets, we would come back in the game.”
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Earlier, the Gujarat Titans had posted a formidable 205/3, powered by a superb century from Sai Sudharsan, who struck 100 off 58 balls and became the fastest to 2000 IPL runs. Contributions from Gill and Jos Buttler added heft, but the total ultimately proved insufficient.
Despite a brief wobble when Rashid Khan and Manav Suthar removed Jitesh Sharma and Rajat Patidar in quick succession, Krunal’s late flourish sealed the outcome. His unbeaten 23 off 12 balls, including a decisive 18th over assault, shut the door on GT.
Gill also hinted at expectations from his top order moving forward: “He was quite upset with the way he got out in the previous game. But in the upcoming games, hopefully, he gives me some more strike in the Power-play.” It was a telling note from a captain whose side had their chances, but were ultimately outplayed in the moments that mattered most.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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While Nottingham Forest struck the first blow of the weekend on Friday, Tottenham and West Ham – unusually – both play at the same time on Saturday.
The Hammers host Everton and former manager David Moyes, with Spurs visiting already relegated Wolves.
Tottenham boss De Zerbi, whose side conceded a last-minute equaliser to draw 2-2 with Brighton in their previous fixture, said “a win can change this part of the season”.
“We are suffering, they are suffering because it is not easy to play in Tottenham in this condition of the table, but I said they have to be stronger,” he added.
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“We have to live every part of the day waiting for a win and preparing for a win.”
Tottenham and West Ham have to contend with similar run-ins, with Spurs arguably facing the slightly easier of the two. The average position of the teams they still have to play is 11th, while for the Hammers it is 10th.
What West Ham do have which Tottenham do not, however, is some semblance of form.
Nuno’s team have won two and lost just one of their past five matches. Spurs have not won since last year.
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“The players are improving their levels and the standards,” said Nuno. “We have been solid in defence, good in attack… sometimes not so good. Finding that balance in the remaining matches is going to be crucial for us.”
LUCKNOW: Former Ranji player from Lucknow, Tanmay Srivastava, is set to make his debut as an on-field umpire in the IPL during the Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals match at Mullanpur on April 28.Srivastava, who made his IPL debut as a player for Punjab Kings in 2008, will return in a new role after 18 years in a match of the same team.He became the first umpire from Uttar Pradesh to officiate an IPL match as an on-field umpire. Last year, he made his IPL debut as a fourth umpire.
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Bombay Sport Exchange: Munaf Patel on Gautam Gambhir, Virat vs Bumrah & Indian bowling.
He has been assigned four matches as an on-field umpire this season: Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals (April 28), Delhi Capitals vs Chennai Super Kings (May 5), Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians (May 10), and Chennai Super Kings vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (May 18). He will also serve in several matches as a fourth umpire and TV umpire.A member of India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning team, Srivastava began his cricket journey in the lanes of Lucknow. He initially played at Chowk and KD Singh Babu Stadium before moving to Green Park Hostel, where he progressed from Under-14 cricket to first-class cricket while representing Kanpur.Srivastava also worked as a scout with RCB and later moved into coaching and cleared the Level 2 coaching examination. He also served as fielding coach of the Jammu & Kashmir Ranji team and was part of the National Cricket Academy set up as batting coach of the Under-16 side.He then turned to umpiring and has been involved in officiating over the past three years. Srivastava, a former India Under-19 captain, played 90 first-class matches and scored 4,918 runs.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) celebrates after a fourth-quarter sack against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sep 22, 2024, reacting to a key defensive play that energized teammates and the crowd during a strong late-game showing by Minnesota’s pass rush. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
The Jonathan Greenard era in Minneapolis lasted two seasons, and the rumors since early March were accurate. The Minnesota Vikings did business with the Philadelphia Eagles, extracting a pair of 3rd-Rounders for the Pro Bowl outside linebacker.
Minnesota wanted more, but the final deal still gives interim general manager Rob Brzezinski some ammunition.
The Vikings allegedly wanted nothing less than a 2nd-Rounder for Greenard, but that stance did not work out.
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Minnesota’s EDGE Depth Takes the Spotlight after the Deal
A Philadelphia Eagles helmet rests on the turf at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Feb 9, 2025, following Super Bowl LIX, capturing a quiet postgame moment after the championship clash with the Kansas City Chiefs on football’s biggest stage. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images.
Eagles Nab Greenard from Vikings in Trade
It’s a done deal. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert and Tim McManus wrote Friday night, “The Philadelphia Eagles have acquired Jonathan Greenard in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings and agreed to a lucrative new deal with the star linebacker. The Eagles sent two third-round draft picks — the No. 98 pick in this year’s draft and a third-rounder next year — to the Vikings for Greenard, who then agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension with Philadelphia, his agents told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.”
“The new deal also includes $50 million in guaranteed money, according to his agents. Philadelphia also received a 2026 seventh-rounder in the trade, which was announced Friday. Greenard had been one of the Vikings’ top defensive players over the past two seasons. He spent the first four years of his career with the Texans before signing a four-year, $72 million contract with the Vikings in 2024.”
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Greenard was scheduled to earn $19 million in Minnesota next season. Instead, he gets a ticket to Philadelphia and $50 million in guaranteed cheddar.
The Eagles’ & Vikings’ New-Look Defensive Lines
While the Vikings’ draft is still unfolding, and they could land mid- or late-round EDGE as a Greenard replacement, here’s a look at the current defensive line:
OLB: Andrew Van Ginkel DT: Jalen Redmond DT: Caleb Banks NT: Levi Drake Rodriguez OLB: Dallas Turner OLB: Bo Richter
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It’s unclear if Richter is ready to handle an OLB3 workload in Greenard’s absence. Perhaps, perhaps not.
In Philadelphia, the defensive line has these names:
OLB: Jonathan Greenard DT: Jalen Clark DT: Moro Ojomo NT: Jordan Davis OLB: Jalyx Hunt OLB: Nolan Smith
Adding Greenard solves the Eagles’ problem — they need one more dependable EDGE. That’s Greenard.
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USA Today‘s Tyler Nettuno opined on the swap, “Greenard may be coming off a down season, but if he can stay healthy, he could be due for a major bounce-back campaign as he becomes the latest addition to a talented Eagles defense.”
“Now, he could give that unit, which had just one player with more than five sacks last season, a true pass-rushing threat. Two third-rounders isn’t an awful price to pay, but there is some added risk involved with the extension. Still, Greenard will be just 29 by the start of the season, and if he can get back to playing at a high level, this move will pay immediate dividends.”
Value = Mid-3rd-Rounder
While Minnesota maintained a posture that suggested a 2nd-Rounder in return, it settled on a puny package, at least compared to trades involving Maxx Crosby (nullified) and Dexter Lawrence in the last couple of months.
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Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard (58) celebrates after a sack against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sep 14, 2025, reacting with energy during second-half action as the defense tightens and the home crowd responds to the impact play. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
On most trade charts, the sum of the Vikings’ trade haul is the equivalent of the 73rd pick in the draft. Brzezinski basically got a solid 3rd-Rounder for Greenard.
Go Birds Go host Eliot Shorr-Parks tweeted from an Eagles perspective, “Wow. This is a major, major investment in Greenard. More than usual for Howie when it comes to an EDGE, who prioritizes the position but also doesn’t usually pay this kind of money. They clearly love him as a player.”
On the other hand, Vikings fans were led to believe Minnesota would land a 2nd-Rounder for Greenard and were hence disappointed that it didn’t pan out.
Free-Agent OLBs to Replace Him?
Looking for solace? Well, the Vikings can rather easily sign a pass rusher or two from free agency, especially after freeing up cap space from the Greenard trade.
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These men are available on the open market:
Denico Autry
Derek Barnett
Joey Bosa
Jadeveon Clowney
Michael Danna
A.J. Epenesa
Dante Fowler Jr.
Leonard Floyd
Anfernee Jennings
Cameron Jordan
Von Miller
Haason Reddick
Kyle Van Noy
Clowney especially makes sense as a reliable veteran.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (7) runs onto the field carrying an American flag at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Nov 24, 2024, leading the pregame entrance as the team prepares for kickoff in front of a home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images.
Greenard tallied 3 sacks in 12 games last season. Minnesota signed him instead of Danielle Hunter, who joined the Houston Texans in 2024 free agency. In hindsight, keeping Hunter probably would’ve been the wiser move.
The Vikings’ end of the bargain all depends on the fruits of the 3rd-Round picks. If they draft duds, the trade will look silly. And vice versa.
Earlier this month, Michigan defeated UConn in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game.
Shortly after the Wolverines captured the program’s first title since 1989, Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. announced he would enter the NBA Draft.
Despite declaring for the NBA Draft, Johnson has maintained his NCAA eligibility throughout the process. However, he has until May 27 to withdraw if he plans to return for his junior season.
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Johnson played for Illinois during the 2024-25 season before transferring to Michigan last offseason.
Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. walks on the court against UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026.(Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated)
After joining Michigan, Johnson quickly emerged as a key contributor, averaging the second-most points on the team. He also led the Wolverines in rebounding, averaging 7.3 per game.
Michigan head coach Dusty May eventually dubbed Johnson “The Enforcer” and “Junkyard Dog,” a nod to his tenacity on the defensive end. Johnson was named to the Big Ten’s All-Defensive Team.
But Johnson’s offensive prowess didn’t take a back seat to his defensive strengths. His shooting from beyond the 3-point line showed improvement as the season progressed.
Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines cuts down the net after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the 2026 NCAA national championship game in Indianapolis April 6, 2026.(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Many early NBA projections gave Johnson a first-round grade. It’s unclear how much name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation he would command if he returns to Michigan or transfers elsewhere.
Johnson has been active on social media, interacting with teammates as they consider returning to Michigan for another championship push.
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Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after scoring in the second half against the UConn Huskies during the 2026 NCAA national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026.(Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Michigan added a key piece this week, with Jalen Reed transferring from LSU, On3 reported. Reed was limited during the 2025-26 season by an Achilles injury.
Six-division world champion and Golden Boy Promoter Oscar De La Hoya has not fought since 2008 but has revealed that he would be willing to make a return for one man.
De La Hoya is a modern pound-for-pound legend, being one of just two six-division champions in the history of the sport – joined by Filipino fan-favourite Manny Pacquiao, who reached eight, in that extremely elite club.
Whilst De La Hoya has moved into the promotional side of the sport, ‘Pac Man’ recently made his professional comeback, as he challenged Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight world title last July in an attempt to break his own record as boxing’s oldest 147lbs ruler.
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Pacquiao could only muster a draw in that fight, but is now set for an even bigger fight – at least in terms of money – having signed for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, who famously defeated him in ‘The Fight of the Century’ back in 2015.
Should that fight go ahead in September and Mayweather come out on top once again, De La Hoya told FightHype that he would also be willing to rematch Mayweather.
“I am a fighter. I will always be a fighter. If Mayweather beats Pacquiao, Floyd, you owe me a rematch! Let’s go!”
Devdutt Padikkal’s comeback continued to gain steam as his impressive 55 off 27 balls set the stage for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday. Reflecting on his return to form, Padikkal emphasised the effort behind the scenes. “Feels great. I’ve been working hard to get where I am, and I’m glad it’s paying off. I think a lot of this is thanks to the self-belief that the management has given me. At the same time, I’ve made some technical changes over the past few years. You have to stick to those changes. Now I am seeing the results.”
Chasing a tough target of 205, RCB needed a strong start, and Padikkal delivered just that. He took on the pace of Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj with confidence, hitting boundaries and maintaining the required run rate. One shot stood out – a beautiful lofted drive over extra cover – which he highlighted: “It was probably my favourite shot of the day for sure.”
Padikkal approached the innings with a clear strategy rather than recklessness. “At the end of the day, I need to play according to the situation and assess what’s happening out there. We were chasing 210, so we needed to make the most of the Powerplay and keep the momentum going for the next few overs,” he explained. This clarity showed as he dominated the middle overs, taking apart Prasidh Krishna and applying pressure on Rashid Khan with a mix of sweeps and lofted shots.
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While Virat Kohli steadied the chase with a smooth 81, Padikkal’s aggressive innings ensured RCB stayed ahead of the required rate. Even after his dismissal, bowled by a clever googly from Rashid, the foundation he laid proved crucial.
Looking ahead, Padikkal expressed his desire to contribute more significantly. “I want to help finish games, so hopefully I can do that soon,” he said, while also recognising the depth of talent that gives him freedom at the top. “We’ve seen what Tim, Romario, and Jitesh can do down the order, so with that kind of firepower, you can feel free to go out and express yourself.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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MADRID, SPAIN – APRIL 24: Catherine McNally of the United States in action against Victoria Mboko of Canada in the second round on Day Five of the Mutua Madrid Open at La Caja Magica on April 24, 2026 in Madrid, Spain (Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images)
Caty McNally beat Victoria Mboko 6-4, 6-1 to reach the third round in Madrid.
It is the first top-10 win of McNally’s career, and she has not dropped a set so far this week.
The result comes after a difficult period that included injuries and elbow surgery in 2024. After spending time working her way back, this is a significant step forward.
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After the match, she spoke about finally being able to close out matches against top players.
“Oh my God. It feels really good. I feel like I’ve been knocking on the door for a little while. With some of these great players, taking a set off of them but not being able to string together two sets… that was something going into this week that I’m trying to focus on. Today I stayed so tough. I’m so proud of that. I played some really solid tennis. It’s a really nice feeling.”
McNally now moves into the next round with momentum after a strong start to the tournament.
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