Sports
Virat Kohli’s Trophy Hunter Mentality As Rohit Sharma Slips Away
Royal Challengers Bengaluru won their second IPL title on Sunday night, and once again, the trophy-hunting Virat Kohli rose tall on the night of the final. He remained unbeaten on 75 (42) after knocking off his fastest IPL half century, which also accounted for 91.76 impact points, him winning the player of the match. Kohli, Rohit, Dhoni and Jadeja have played across seasons. MS Dhoni features on that list for 18 of the 19 seasons. While most of these Indian greats have experienced crests and troughs, Virat Kohli has been relentless, a study in individual excellence, high-octane passion, and a late-career evolution into a self-described “trophy hunter”.
WHY KOHLI STANDS APART
Virat Kohli has long been the benchmark for consistency in T20 cricket. Across 283 matches, he has piled up 9,336 runs while continually evolving his game. In 2026, he has taken his strike rate to 165.85 – higher than even his celebrated 2016 season. His longevity and output also put him comfortably ahead of contemporaries such as Rohit Sharma (7,329 runs) and MS Dhoni (5,439).
THE CHASEMASTER vs THE HITMAN
A comparison reveals a nuanced look at why Kohli is viewed differently from Rohit Sharma:
Consistency: Kohli’s 68 scores of 50+ dwarf the tallies of Rohit Sharma’s 49. He has 9 IPL 100s, Kohli has shown a far greater “appetite for big runs” than Sharma, who has batted for the Mumbai Indians in a similar timeframe.
Late Career Form: In the last 10 years, Kohli has had only two seasons of 300 runs… In 2024, he scored 741 and 675 in 2026. Rohit Sharma’s decline began around 2017, when he returned from a thigh injury and started batting at No. 4, repeatedly falling to leg-spin.
THE YEARS AT THE PEAK
Both Kohli and Rohit enjoyed their peak in 2016, 10 seasons ago.
For Kohli, that remains the greatest individual campaign in T20 history, in which he scored leg spinners)… The 2016 season remains the benchmark for Kohli in the IPL. He smashed a record 973 runs, including four centuries, and almost single-handedly carried RCB to the final. What’s stood out since then is not just the peak, but the longevity.
Nearly a decade later, Kohli continues to score heavily, maintaining a career average above 40 while adding nine IPL hundreds to his name. Few batters have managed to stay this productive for this long, and even fewer have done it while evolving their game.
Rohit Sharma’s best IPL years, by contrast, came when he had a settled role at the top of the order and the responsibility of captaincy. In 2016, he scored 489 runs at an average of 44.45 with five half-centuries, one of his most complete seasons with the bat.
TROPHY HUNTER MENTALITY
When Kohli roars, Wankhede soars. It is not just at the Chinnaswamy anymore. Like Sachin Tendulkar before him, Kohli carries a following that travels with him across India.
What has changed over the last few years is the way he talks about success. Earlier, the focus was on runs, records and carrying RCB’s batting. Now the conversation begins with trophies.
That shift was evident again in the final. Kohli’s unbeaten 75 in Ahmedabad came at a strike rate that would have been considered uncharacteristic of him a decade ago. He paced the innings aggressively from the start, finished unbeaten, and collected another Player of the Match award on the biggest night of the season.
For years, RCB were criticised for relying too heavily on Kohli and AB de Villiers. The franchise often produced extraordinary batting performances without the silverware to match. The second title does not erase that history, but it does strengthen Kohli’s argument that his career should be measured by more than numbers.
At 37, he is still scoring runs, still setting fitness standards and still demanding more from those around him. That may be the clearest reason he remains central to RCB’s plans.
THE NARRATIVE: Rohit Sharma’s IPL story has never been just about runs. Between 2013 and 2020, he led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles and established one of the most successful dynasties in franchise cricket. Add India’s T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, and Sharma became synonymous with leadership success.
For years, that success afforded him a degree of patience that few players receive. Even when the runs weren’t flowing consistently, Mumbai Indians continued to back him because of what he brought as a captain. His tactical acumen and calm leadership helped build a champion team around match-winners such as Suryakumar Yadav and Kieron Pollard.
During those title-winning years, Sharma often played the stabilising role rather than being the side’s primary aggressor. The trophies kept coming, and discussions around his batting numbers were usually pushed into the background.
But the conversation has changed. Since stepping down as captain, Sharma’s performances have been judged almost exclusively on his returns with the bat. The leadership shield that once protected him from criticism is no longer there.
In a franchise known for making hard calls, questions that were once ignored are now being asked more frequently. Every lean patch attracts greater scrutiny, and every low score fuels debate about his future.
Former India batter and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was among those who sensed the shift early. Speaking last year, Manjrekar said Sharma had reached a stage in his career where talent alone would not be enough. The challenge, he argued, was no longer about ability but about finding the motivation and intensity required to keep competing at the highest level.
For perhaps the first time in more than a decade, Rohit Sharma is being judged not as a captain, not as a leader, but simply as a batter. And that has made every innings matter more than ever.
During most of the Mumbai Indians’ 2026 campaign, he remained unfit, turned up for 9 of the 14 games, and scored 283 runs. Even though he has significantly improved his strike rate to 157, it was around 133 in 2016.
KOHLI’S FITNESS AS A FOUNDATION
One area where Kohli has clearly separated himself from his peers is fitness. Nearly two decades into his professional career, he remains among the quickest runners between the wickets and one of the fittest players in the league.
That physical foundation has allowed him to sustain a strike rate of nearly 166 this season while continuing to produce runs at a level few batters have matched over such a long period.
Rohit Sharma’s challenge has been different. Injuries and availability have increasingly become part of the discussion. He featured in only nine matches during Mumbai Indians’ 2026 campaign and finished with 283 runs. The intent remained aggressive, but his season was again interrupted by fitness concerns.
THE HEARTBEAT AND THE PLAYER’S CAPTAIN
The contrast between Kohli and Rohit has rarely been starker. Kohli is coming off another title, another Player of the Match performance in a final and another season that underlined his longevity. Nearly two decades into his career, he remains among the IPL’s most productive batters and one of its biggest attractions.
Rohit Sharma finds himself in a different place. The intent is still there, but consistency has become harder to find and fitness concerns have increasingly shaped his seasons. Since giving up the Mumbai Indians captaincy, his performances have been judged far more on runs than leadership.
There is little left for Rohit to prove in white-ball cricket. Five IPL titles as captain and a T20 World Cup with India place him among the most successful leaders of his generation. The debate now centres on his IPL career: whether there is one more significant contribution left in him, or whether his best years in the tournament are already behind him.
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Where is Hakim Ziyech? Why Morocco superstar isn’t on World Cup squad originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Hakim Ziyech‘s left foot is capable of magic.
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A star winger who represents Morocco at the international level, Ziyech has played on some of the biggest stages in the world. But he won’t be playing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for his country.
Morocco opens its tournament on Saturday in a marquee matchup with Brazil.
Ziyech isn’t a part of the squad at all.
Where is Hakim Ziyech?
Ziyech simply wasn’t chosen for the roster at this World Cup.
He’s 33 years old now, and he plays professionally in Morocco for powerhouse Wydad AC.
He last represented Morocco in 2024 — in total, he made 64 appearances with 25 goals.
It doesn’t appear he’ll be returning to international football at this point.
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Hakim Ziyech career timeline
Ziyech got the biggest notice for himself as part of the Morocco World Cup squads in 2018 and 2022.
The 2022 bunch reached the semifinals, the first African nation to ever do so.
At club level, Ziyech began with three clubs in the Netherlands: Heerenveen, Twente and Ajax.
He then made a major move to Chelsea in the English Premier League.
After playing 64 matches and scoring 14 goals for Chelsea, Ziyech moved on to Galtasaray in Turkey, where things were a struggle.
He had a very short stint for Al-Duhail in Qatar before returning to play in Morocco for Wydad.
Ziyech actually represented the Netherlands at youth level before donning the Morocco kit for his senior international career. Now, though, that part of his journey appears to be over.
World Cup Group B action continues on Saturday with a matchup between Switzerland and Qatar. The Swiss are No. 19 in the FIFA rankings, while Qatar enter the 2026 World Cup at No. 57. Switzerland have reached the Round of 16 in each of the last three World Cup tournaments. The last time they have gone as far as the quarterfinals was in 1954. Qatar, meanwhile, are in their second-ever World Cup after going 0-3 in the group stage in 2022 as the host nation.
Kickoff for Qatar vs. Switzerland is 3 p.m. ET in Santa Clara, Calif. The latest Switzerland vs. Qatar odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list the Swiss at -550 (risk $550 to win $100) on the 90-minute money line, with Qatar at +1400 and a draw at +600. The over/under for total goals is 2.5. Before locking in any Qatar vs. Switzerland picks check out the Qatar vs. Switzerland predictions from SportsLine’s Martin Green.
After working in the sports betting industry for several years, Green became a professional sports writer and handicapper and has covered the game worldwide. Last year, Green was profitable in multiple areas on his soccer betting picks, including the Champions League (+211.25) and Bundesliga (+100). He’s also been red-hot in 2026, posting an 18-8 record over his last 26 UCL picks, returning nearly $1,000 in profit. Anyone wanting to follow his World Cup betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could see big returns.
Now, Green has studied Qatar vs. Switzerland and just revealed his 2026 World Cup picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks. Here are several World Cup odds and soccer betting lines for Switzerland vs. Qatar:
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Qatar vs. Switzerland 90-minute money line |
Switzerland -550, Qatar +1400, Draw +600 |
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Qatar vs. Switzerland over/under: |
2.5 goals (Over -164, Under +135) |
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Qatar vs. Switzerland spread: |
Switzerland -1.5 (-174) |
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Qatar vs. Switzerland picks: |
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Qatar vs. Switzerland streaming: |
Fubo (Try for free) |
Top Qatar vs. Switzerland predictions
After examining Qatar vs. Switzerland from every angle, Green is leaning Over 2.5 total goals (-164). Switzerland have found their scoring touch of late, which included a 4-1 thumping of Sweden in World Cup qualifying. The Swiss also scored four goals in a friendly against Jordan on May 31. “Switzerland cruised through their World Cup qualifying campaign,” Green said. “They faced strong teams like Sweden and Slovenia, but they finished top of their group, with an unbeaten record. The Swiss scored 14 goals and conceded just twice in six games, showing just how strong they are at both ends of the pitch.”
Qatar, meanwhile, have a couple of solid wins in World Cup qualifying, including a 2-1 victory over United Arab Emirates and 1-0 over Iran. Qatar also feature some scoring punch, led by forward Almoez Ali, who has 55 goals in 115 career matches for the national team. See Green’s best bets for Qatar vs. Switzerland at SportsLine, and you can bet the Over in Qatar vs. Switzerland at FanDuel here:
How to make Qatar vs. Switzerland picks
After studying Qatar vs. Switzerland from every angle, Green has found a critical x-factor and locked in a pair of best bets, including one that returns plus money. You can head to SportsLine to see what they are.
So what are the best bets for Qatar vs. Switzerland? Visit SportsLine now to see the best bets for Qatar vs. Switzerland, all from expert on an 18-8 roll on UCL picks, and find out.
Pierre Gasly’s fight for a Monaco Grand Prix podium has finally ended with the result he wanted.
The FIA has rescinded the two five-second penalties handed to the Alpine driver during the race, restoring Gasly to third place in the final classification.
Gasly originally crossed the finish line in third but was dropped to seventh after being penalized twice for pit lane speeding.
The decision sparked frustration from both Gasly and Alpine, with the team immediately requesting a Right of Review.
Days later, that challenge has paid off.
Formula 1 confirmed that the stewards had removed both penalties, officially reinstating Gasly to P3 and giving Alpine back its podium finish.
Following the decision, Alpine released a statement welcoming the outcome.
“We welcome the decision made by the FIA to deem our Right of Review as admissible following the final classification of last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix.”
The team added that the stewards had rescinded both penalties imposed on Car No. 10, restoring the team’s third-place finish.
For Gasly, the decision is a major moment after describing himself as “heartbroken” and feeling “robbed” in the immediate aftermath of the race.
Gasly later celebrated the decision on social media, sharing his relief after several emotional days.
“WE GOT IT BACK!! P3 in Monaco!!” he wrote.
“Been a rollercoaster of emotions the last few days, weird celebrations, but most importantly, incredibly happy we got our result back.”
The Frenchman also thanked Alpine, the FIA and Formula 1 for their support throughout the review process.
“Huge thanks to my amazing team and all the people who supported us!! Thanks FIA & F1 for the transparency of the situation. One to remember!”
Now, the podium he earned on track officially belongs to him once again.
Sports
IND vs AFG LIVE Score, 1st ODI: Shubman Gill Scripts Huge Record As India Ease Past Afghanistan By 7 Wickets
India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill(c), Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan(w), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harsh Dubey, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna
Afghanistan (Playing XI): Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi(c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Ikram Alikhil(w), Rashid Khan, Mohammad Saleem Safi, AM Ghazanfar, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
Canada opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, earning the country’s first point in World Cup history.
The co-hosts started brightly in front of their home fans at BMO Field and looked determined to make a strong statement in their opening Group B match. However, Bosnia took the lead against the run of play when Jovo Lukic headed home from a corner kick in the first half.
Despite falling behind, Canada continued to push forward and created several chances. Their efforts were finally rewarded late in the second half when substitute Cyle Larin produced a brilliant finish to level the score.
Larin made an immediate impact after coming off the bench, scoring just over two minutes after entering the game. His goal sparked wild celebrations among the Canadian supporters and secured a valuable point for Jesse Marsch’s side.
The match was closely contested, with both teams creating opportunities. Canada enjoyed more possession and had slightly more shots on target, while Bosnia remained dangerous whenever they attacked.
Canada midfielder Ismael Kone was one of the standout performers. He controlled the midfield, completed the most passes in the match and was named Player of the Match.
The result leaves Canada in a strong position in Group B. They will next face Qatar in Vancouver on Thursday, knowing that a victory could move them closer to a place in the knockout stages.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will take on Switzerland in their next group match in California. The draw extended Bosnia’s unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions.
For Canada, the result marked another important step in the country’s football development. After losing all six matches in their previous World Cup appearances, the Canadians finally have a point on the world stage and will now look to build on that achievement in front of their home supporters.
How you can watch World Cup games on Saturday evening for free
PurplePTSD works in partnership with Vikings Territory, similarly doing their utmost to offer top-notch coverage of the Minnesota Vikings. As a result, we’re promoting five of their top articles of the past month in “The P/PTSD Perspective.” Take a peek at some of their best stuff.
The P/PTSD Perspective: June 13th, 2026
1) The Vikings Have “Most Explosive” Player Since 2021: As it turns out, Justin Jefferson isn’t too bad at playing football. Imagine how good he could still become if he had a consistently strong passer putting in work under center.
2) Vikings’ Former Rival Calls Out Kevin O’Connell “Slip Up:” Everything is being subject to intense scrutiny. Quite possibly, this is merely a matter of a human being a human, saying something casual and not meaning anything too much by the quick blip. Let the offseason competition play out.
3) WR Tai Felton Could be at a Crossroads: Give the kid a chance. He’s still very young, adjusting to the NFL as a late-3rd who was a menace on specials but modest on offense. His speed really pops when seeing him live. Again, give him a chance.
4) The J.J. McCarthy Trade Scenario: Very small chance he gets traded, folks. In fact, I’m of the opinion that he makes more starts than Kyler Murray in the upcoming season. That’s a minority opinion, but that’s where I’m at. Expect the kid QB to be in Minnesota for 2026 and into 2027 as a minimum.
5) The 2 New Vikings Corners Offer Size and Snarl: Lots to like in those two new corners. Each are long and speedy, setting them up to shine along the outside. Mr. Pierre, in particular, appears ready to take on a beefy workload in the upcoming season. Meanwhile, Mr. Demmings should be soaking up wisdom to someday takeover.
Enjoy the extra reading, Vikings fans.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
NEW DELHI: Rohit Sharma added another remarkable chapter to his glittering career on Saturday, becoming only the second Indian opener after Virender Sehwag to score 16,000 international runs across formats.The landmark came during the first ODI against Afghanistan in Dharamsala, with the veteran batter needing just six runs to enter the exclusive club. Rohit reached the milestone in his 384th innings for India, having accumulated 15,994 runs as an opener before the start of the game.The achievement places the former India captain among some of the greatest openers in cricket history. Overall, Rohit became only the seventh batter to cross the 16,000-run mark as an opener in international cricket.Joining an elite group of opening greatsRohit now stands alongside legendary names such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Chris Gayle, David Warner, Graeme Smith, Desmond Haynes and Sehwag. Sri Lankan great Jayasuriya tops the chart with 19,298 runs, followed by Gayle (18,867) and Warner (18,744).Sehwag remains India’s most prolific opener with 16,119 runs in 400 innings across 332 matches. Rohit’s milestone is all the more remarkable considering that batting icon Sachin Tendulkar, despite scoring over 34,000 international runs overall, amassed 15,335 runs as an opener and narrowly missed the 16,000-run club.Before the Afghanistan ODI, Rohit had scored 11,577 runs in 282 ODIs, 4,301 runs in 67 Tests and 4,231 runs in 159 T20Is, the latter two formats from which he has since retired.Another milestone falls in DharamsalaThe day brought another notable achievement for the former Indian captain. When Rohit reached three runs in the innings, he surpassed South African legend Jacques Kallis‘ ODI tally of 11,579 runs.Kallis accumulated his runs in 328 ODIs between 1996 and 2014, while Rohit moved past him in his 283rd one-day international. Rohit is now at 8th spot in the all-time list led by Tendulkar with 18,246 runs.Having already established himself as one of the most destructive white-ball batters of his generation, Rohit’s latest feat further cemented his place among the game’s all-time greats.Even after retiring from Tests and T20Is, the 39-year-old continues to scale new heights, with his consistency and longevity ensuring that records keep tumbling in Indian colours.
MONTMELO, Spain — Mercedes driver George Russell claimed pole position ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix on Saturday.
Formula 1 leader Kimi Antonelli will start from third in his Mercedes.
Antonelli is on an incredible five-race winning streak. That has let the 19-year-old Italian already tally up 156 points after just six races. A resurgent Hamilton is second in the standings with 90 points.
Russell is third with 88. He won the season-opening Australian GP only then to see Antonelli roar past him since then.
The Mercedes pair has taken all seven poles this season as the German team has emerged as the biggest benefactor of a rulebook overhaul.
George Russell bounced back from the disappointments of the past few races to take pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.
Russell edged out Lewis Hamilton’s Ferrari by just 0.064 seconds as runaway championship leader Kimi Antonelli could manage only third place in the other Mercedes.
McLaren’s Lando Norris took fourth from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar, while Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc crashed on his first lap in the final session and will start 10th.
Norris’ team-mate Oscar Piastri was seventh, from Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg.
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