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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: At 14, a boy embraces cricketing greatness | Cricket News

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Vaibhav Sooryavanshi: At 14, a boy embraces cricketing greatness
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (Image credit: ICC)

Fourteen. It is an age when young boys put up posters of their favourite stars on the walls and cupboards of their room, and in the insides of their compass boxes. After what Vaibhav Sooryavanshi unleashed on the hapless English bowlers on Friday, he himself has become a pin-up star for many boys older than him. Why? Because for a brief period, he threatened to erase the original romance that Indian cricket fans felt for the number 175. Of course, Kapil Dev’s Tunbridge Wells miracle in the 1983 World Cup will always reside rent free in the hearts, minds, and souls of Indian cricket tragics, but Suryavanshi’s savagery, sauciness, and skill has established another Zimbabwe bond — coming in the country’s cricketing cathedral, the Harare Sports Club.The ingenuity of T20 batting rarely marries technical excellence and purity of strokeplay, needed in longer formats, but Sooryavanshi has that. The fact that he idolises Brian Lara, no stranger to spending long hours at the nets, and copied his bat swing by seeing videos of him stored on his phone, tells us that he knows only the big scores will keep him in sight of the people who matter. A certain Sachin Tendulkar had the same appetite for big runs in those early years of his.

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Explaining his bat swing, his personal coach and former Mumbai batter Zubin Bharucha, who Sooryavanshi spoke with last night, says, “Time and space are his greatest assets.” Elaborating, Bharucha says hitting thousands of balls in practice has enabled Sooryavanshi become as good as he is. “His head falls naturally into the ball a la Viv Richards, Tendulkar and Gavaskar. The bat always remains outside the line of the ball. The space, otherwise defined as how far away from the body the elbows work, like an early Tendulkar or AB de Villiers, Richards and Gavaskar.”When commentators and experts see Sooryavanshi bat, they are struck by the amount of time he has. He seems to have that extra fraction of a second to play the ball. Bharucha explains, “Time is a function created from a long and high back-lift like Lara’s. But that also means he needs to hit thousands of balls in practice because timing and rhythm can go awry since things need syncing with the rest of the body. He often talks about losing this rhythm and feels like he can’t hit a ball. This is normal for batters with that long bat swing.”But hitting 1,000s of balls in practice needs time and a distraction-free life. Surely, there are more interesting things that consume 14-year-olds, especially someone who already has crores in his bank account. Bharucha avers, “He has immense hunger and he doesn’t need any pushing.”

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The youngster also loves to problem-solve by treating nets as a sacrosanct space. Bharucha explains, “He has the diligence to call me before every match and ask how he can adapt. Last night was no different, where the plan was to continue to be positive. He knew England will be bowling yorkers and bouncers to slow him down, and he knew that he had to use the space behind the keeper than just trying to pull every ball.”When you have someone who is so talented, there will be clamour in India to rush him into big-time cricket quickly, as people suggest he is too good for the Under-19 level. Bharucha wants people to tread with caution and says there is some way to go before calling Sooryavanshi a finished product. “He needs to eliminate errors and know where to score runs,” he cautions.When probed on the weaknesses, Bharucha, like a tough taskmaster, explains, “He finds it difficult to cut the ball. When in Australia, he found it tough to play the backfoot drive. The leg-side play on the front foot still does not exist because his front foot lands outside the line of the ball. With that back-lift, the short ball can be an issue, because from all that the bat has to do to get to the ball.”And what about comparisons with Tendulkar? “Tendulkar, even at 14, had a fantastic defensive technique to go with his attacking game. Sooryavanshi is still learning the defensive bit,” says Bharucha.

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Confederation Cup: Where to watch the matchday 5 fixtures?

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Where can you watch the matchday 5 games of the Confederation Cup?

Confederation Cup: Where to watch the matchday 5 fixtures?

The Confederation Cup has reached a pivotal stage as matchday 5 of the group phase gets underway.

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This penultimate round could see several clubs secure their tickets to the quarter-finals of the competition.

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Below is the TV schedule for matchday 5 of the Confederation Cup group stage.

Matchday 5 schedule (all times GMT+1):

Sunday, February 8, 2026

Group B: Nairobi United vs Wydad Athletic Club — 16:00 beIN Sports/Super Sports

Group C: Singida Black Stars vs CR Belouizdad — 16:00 beIN Sports/Super Sports

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Group B: Azam FC vs AS Maniema Union — 16:00 beIN Sports/Super Sports

Group D: Zesco United vs Zamalek — 17:00 beIN Sports/Super Sports

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Akwa United Coach Paul Offor Bags UEFA B Licence

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Akwa United head coach Paul Offor has earned his UEFA B coaching licence, marking a major step in his coaching career.

Paul Offor During his UEFA B Course Paul Offor During his UEFA B Course
Paul Offor During his UEFA B Course

The new qualification was confirmed on Friday, February 6, 2026, by the Scottish Football Association (FA). In an official message, the Scottish FA stated: “Hello Paul, your UEFA B licence has been activated and is now in status Active.”

Paul Offor bags UEFA B License Paul Offor bags UEFA B License
Paul Offor During his UEFA B Course

Offor began his coaching journey at a young age and has steadily built his career through dedication and continuous self-development. He started with Anioma United, a grassroots team, before moving to T Akoma FC in the Nationwide League. He later worked with Warri Wolves in both the Nigeria National League (NNL) and the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Paul Offor During his UEFA B Course Paul Offor During his UEFA B Course
Paul Offor During his UEFA B Course

He also had a spell in the Benin Republic, where he managed Djeffa FC. His time at Sporting Lagos was widely praised, as he guided the club from the Nigeria National League to the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Paul Offor During his UEFA B Course Paul Offor During his UEFA B Course
Paul Offor During his UEFA B Course

Offor briefly coached Kano Pillars, but his tenure was cut short due to a government decision. He then joined Grassrunners FC, a Nationwide League side known for developing young players, before Akwa United appointed him in 2025 to lead their push for promotion back to the NPFL.

Akwa United FC have officially presented their new Head Coach, Paul Offor, in a posts shared across the club’s social media platforms on Saturday, November 8, 2025. It was the first public appearance of the coach since his appointment in August.Akwa United FC have officially presented their new Head Coach, Paul Offor, in a posts shared across the club’s social media platforms on Saturday, November 8, 2025. It was the first public appearance of the coach since his appointment in August.

In the first stanza of the ongoing 2025/2026 Nigeria National League season, Offor has led Akwa United to the top of NNL Conference B. The second round of the season is set to begin next weekend.

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His UEFA B licence is expected to further strengthen his profile and enhance his impact on Akwa United’s quest for promotion.

READ MORE: Anietie Uko Bids Farewell to Akwa United Ahead of Move Abroad

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Kawhi Leonard, Clippers send Kings to 11th straight defeat

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NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Sacramento KingsFeb 6, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Sacramento Kings center Dylan Cardwell (32) and Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) reach for the ball during the second quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images

Kawhi Leonard produced a game-high 31 points, Kris Dunn and Derrick Jones Jr. contributed and-ones to a fourth-quarter pull-away and the visiting Los Angeles Clippers handed the Sacramento Kings their 11th straight defeat, 114-111 on Friday.

Playing short-handed in the aftermath of trades this week that saw them export James Harden and Ivica Zubac, the Clippers trailed 84-81 early in the fourth quarter before outfinishing the Kings for an 11th win in their past 15 games.

Leonard put the rally in motion with a long 2-pointer, after which Brook Lopez gave the Clippers the lead for good on a 3-pointer with 9:50 remaining.

Dunn’s big contribution came on an 11-foot floater on which he was fouled, setting up a three-point play, and two minutes later on a 3-pointer that increased the visitors’ lead to 96-89 with 6:52 left.

Jones then drilled a 24-footer as he was being fouled. He also hit the free throw for a four-point play and a 99-91 margin with 8:36 to go, and the Kings never recovered.

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Leonard went 12-for-12 at the free-throw line en route to his 13th 30-point performance of the season. He also found time for nine rebounds and a game-high seven assists.

John Collins added 22 points for the Clippers, while Lopez and Dunn finished with 15 points apiece and Jones had 13. Lopez tied Leonard for team-high rebound honors with nine and also blocked three shots.

The Kings held out star center Domantas Sabonis because of a sore back but still got plenty of production from substitute big man Maxime Raynaud, who had 12 points and five rebounds, and his backup, Dylan Cardwell, who snatched a game-high 14 rebounds to go with 14 points.

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Malik Monk came off the bench to pace the Kings with 18 points, all on 3-pointers, while Nique Clifford had 16 and Devin Carter 14.

Sacramento veteran starters De’Andre Hunter, Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine combined to shoot just 6-for-25 overall and 0-for-12 on 3-point attempts, the latter contributing to 27.0% team accuracy from beyond the arc. None of the four scored more than six points.

–Field Level Media

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Save Brainrots from LAVA: A beginner’s guide

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Save Brainrots from LAVA is a game where your objective is to save the Brainrots scattered across the map from lava that occasionally rises through the floor. This title is a simple fetch-based experience, where you have a limited time to grab a Brainrot from the perilous territory. Upon retrieving a Brainrot, you can place it in your home base to start generating Cash to unlock Rebirths and upgrades.

Here’s a quick starter’s guide to Save Brainrots from LAVA.


Getting started with Save Brainrots from LAVA

Overview

Lava Rising warning (Image via Roblox)Lava Rising warning (Image via Roblox)
Lava Rising warning (Image via Roblox)

Save Brainrots from LAVA places you on a map filled with Brainrots and climbable platforms. Every few seconds, lava rises through the floor and covers the map. Your objective is to navigate the obby-like map to reach the desired Brainrot and return it to your base while avoiding the boiling liquid.

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Each Brainrot has a timer associated with it, which indicates its active time on the map. Once it reaches zero, it will despawn and be replaced by another option. So, if you’re gunning for a particular unit, you may want to hurry. Brainrots also have a specific income rate associated with them, making each unit unique in its own way.

Reaching the end of the map gives you access to Lucky Blocks, which contain special Brainrots that are more powerful than their regular counterparts. Lucky Blocks and powerful randomly-spawning Brainrots are both timed, so it comes down to prioritizing which ones you prefer.

At the end of the day, your efforts culminate in making tons of cash by retrieving Brainrots. The gameplay loop can be continued and extended by performing upgrades and Rebirths, giving you new heights and rarer Brainrots to aim for.


Controls

Rescuing a Brainrot (Image via Roblox)Rescuing a Brainrot (Image via Roblox)
Rescuing a Brainrot (Image via Roblox)
  • Movement: W, S, A, D
  • Jump: Spacebar
  • Interact: E

Gameplay tips

The Rebirth screen (Image via Roblox)The Rebirth screen (Image via Roblox)
The Rebirth screen (Image via Roblox)
  • Aim for the Lucky Blocks: Lucky Blocks feature a pool of unique Brainrots that are rarely found on the map as random spawns. Since you are guaranteed something good from the Blocks, it’s usually wise to aim for these powerful blocks. Be sure to plan your route to and from the Lucky Block to avoid getting swallowed by the lava.
  • Lava levels: The height to which lava rises is randomized each time. Lava levels, as the game calls them, indicate how high the lava reaches each time. The scale starts at level 1, which only covers the tiniest sliver of the floor, to level 10, where most of the map is engulfed by the lava. Keep an eye on the warning and reach for the high ground to remain safe from the molten fluid.
  • Lava isn’t immediately fatal: Lava doesn’t cause immediate death in this experience; you can meander about in it for a few seconds before your HP gets low enough to be an issue. This means that you don’t have to completely avoid the lava while moving across the map. Your HP also recovers over time, so you can jump into the lava after allowing it to regenerate for a few seconds.
  • Upgrades and Rebirths: You can use Cash to upgrade your Speed stat, allowing you to move faster on foot. This is crucial for the Rebirth system as well, giving you a variety of bonuses at the cost of your Speed upgrades. Return to your base to collect Cash from the Brainrots and immediately invest it into Speed upgrades.

Also read: Unique Roblox username ideas for new players


FAQs on Save Brainrots from LAVA

What is Save Brainrots from LAVA about?

Save Brainrots from LAVA has you perform a rescue operation for Brainrots scattered across the game world before lava covers the entire map.

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Is Save Brainrots from LAVA free to play?

Yes, you can play through the game and acquire the rarest Brainrots without interacting with any of the premium elements.

How do I upgrade movement speed?

Movement speed can be upgraded using Cash by clicking on the + sign next to your speed stat.