Sports

Mumbai Indians’ Jasprit Bumrah joined the squad ahead of the crucial clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. File
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

Mumbai Indians got a major boost on Sunday (April 6, 2025) when their ace fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah joined the squad ahead of their Indian Premier League contest against Royal Challengers Bengaluru here.

It remains to be ascertained if the Indian bowling spearhead has got the NCA fitness clearance to bowl in the tournament.

Mumbai Indians announced the development on social media on Sunday saying, “Once a cub now a lion, the lion is back to be the king of the jungle again.”

Bumrah has been sidelined since the start of January when he suffered a back-related trouble during the fifth and final Test against Australia in Sydney.

He was eventually ruled out of the limited-overs home series against England and the subsequent Champions Trophy.

Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior (7) scores his side’s first goal against Valencia during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Valencia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

Vinícius Júnior missed a penalty and Real Madrid conceded an injury-time goal in a stunning 2-1 home loss to Valencia that shook its La Liga title defense.

The shock result for Madrid on Saturday (April 6, 2025) was softened hours later when league leader Barcelona was held at home by Real Betis to 1-1. That meant Hansi Flick’s side extended its lead to only four points over its fierce rival. There are eight rounds left including a clasico in May.

Hugo Duro came off Valencia’s bench and headed home the winner that silenced Santiago Bernabeu Stadium deep in stoppage time.

Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved Vinícius’s early penalty, and moments later, Mouctar Diakhaby headed the visitors in front in the 17th minute.

Vinícius scored from close range to equalize in the 50th, but Mamardashvili and the defense held on until Duro struck and gave Valencia its first away win of the season.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti defended his team’s effort, even saying that Madrid “deserved” to win the game and Vinícius’ penalty was one of the match’s “details that doomed us.”

But the Italian manager conceded that the unexpected loss was a blow in the title race.

“It is much harder now to fight for the league, but we only have one idea and that is to fight until the end because we still have a chance after this game,” Ancelotti said.

He had to play third-string goalkeeper Fran González, who made his first-team debut for Madrid at age 19, because Thibaut Courtois and Andriy Lunin were injured. Ancelotti said he hopes both of his more experienced goalies will be fit in time to face Arsenal.

“We hadn’t won on the road and there is not a better place to do so than here,” Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra said.

“There are three vital points for us and at a stadium where very few teams get a good result.” The victory confirmed the team’s improvement since Carlos Corberán replaced Ruben Baraja in December. It has risen from the relegation zone to 15th place and seven points from danger.

“When you see that from start to finish your players compete with the personality that you have to show at a ground like this, with the character you need to roll with the punches you get here, and that this attitude pays off, you have to be satisfied,” Corberán said.

Vinícius flops at the spot again

Some jeers were heard from Madrid fans after Vinícius missed the penalty earned by Kylian Mbappé when his low and centered shot was easily saved by Mamardashvili. The Brazil forward also missed a penalty in a recent Champions League game against Atletico Madrid.

Ancelotti said he didn’t believe that the fans’ reaction would affect his player.

“Vinícius is very focused on what he is doing, regardless of how he plays. He always gives it his all,” the manager said.

Two minutes later, Diakhaby, who returned from a serious leg injury in January, rose over Antonio Rudiger and headed in André Almeida’s corner kick.

Vinícius partly redeemed his penalty miss when he was left unmarked at the far post to stab in a corner headed on by Jude Bellingham. But Madrid pressed for the win and instead ended up losing the game when it was unable to defend a quick attack that finished with Rafa Mir’s tight cross that Duro thumped past a flailing González.

Barcelona held by Betis In a matchup of the hottest teams in La Liga, Betis rallied to pull level and then withstood a second-half onslaught at Barcelona.

Gavi Páez drilled a low strike home after a nice set-up by Ferran Torres to give Bacelona the lead in the seventh.

Fifth-placed Betis leveled though Natan’s header 10 minutes later, and goalkeeper Adrian San Miguel and former Barcelona defender Marc Bartra turned back a slew of shots by the hosts to split the points.

“It’s clear if we had won we would be further ahead, but this is soccer,” Gavi said about missing the chance to move six points clear.

“We had our chances but couldn’t covert and leave with a bitter taste in our mouths.” Barcelona hosts Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Also, Celta Vigo won at Mallorca 2-1, while Alaves won at Girona 1-0.

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill and Sunrisers Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) face Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad today, desperate to halt a three-match losing streak.
Despite an explosive 286-run start to the IPL season, SRH’s all-out attacking approach has backfired, with scores of 190, 163, and 120 in the subsequent games.
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Their batting stars, including Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen, have failed to deliver consistently, and the bowling unit — led by skipper Pat Cummins — has struggled, with high economy rates and no bowler completing four overs in every match.
Currently at the bottom of the points table, SRH risk slipping out of playoff contention.
In contrast, the Gujarat Titans are gaining momentum, buoyed by a big win over RCB. With a strong top order of Gill, Sudharsan and Buttler, and finishers like Rutherford and Tewatia, they look balanced.
While Rabada’s absence is a blow, options like Coetzee or Phillips could fill the gap. Titans also boast a more disciplined bowling attack, giving them an edge.

Pitch report for SRH vs GT
Hyderabad’s red soil pitch promises bounce and carry, but it slows as the ball ages. Despite average boundaries (69m, 67m, 79m), on average 24 sixes are hit per game. It’s a dry, grassless, firm surface. Batting first is ideal, as past matches saw 200+ totals in all innings.
SRH vs GT Dream11 Team Prediction
Sunrisers Hyderabad Predicted XI: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (c), Simarjeet Singh, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami
Impact Player – Zeeshan Ansari/Adam Zampa
Gujarat Titans Predicted XI: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma
Impact Player – Sherfane Rutherford/Washington Sundar

SRH vs GT squads, IPL match Today
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Atharva Taide, Abhinav Manohar, Aniket Verma, Sachin Baby, Heinrich Klaasen, Travis Head, Harshal Patel, Kamindu Mendis, Wiaan Mulder, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Shami, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, Simarjeet Singh, Zeeshan Ansari, Jaydev Unadkat and Eshan Malinga.
Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill (C), Jos Buttler, B. Sai Sudharshan, Shahrukh Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Nishant Sindhu, Mahipal Lomror, Kumar Kushagra, Anuj Rawat, Manav Suthar, Washington Sundar, Gerald Coetzee, Mohmmad Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Singh Brar, Sherfane Rutherford, R. Sai Kishore, Ishant Sharma, Jayant Yadav, Glenn Phillips, Kareem Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya.
SRH vs GT Head-to-Head Record
SRH and GT have faced each other 4 times, and GT hold the upper hand, winning 3 matches. SRH won their first encounter in 2022, but after that GT have won three consecutive matches.
Their last scheduled match between the two teams in Hyderabad was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.
SRH vs GT IPL 2025, Hyderabad weather prediction
As per Accuweather, Hyderabad is expected to be incredibly hot with temperatures slated to hit as high as 38 degrees Celsius. The conditions are expected to remain hot for the 7:30pm start, with temperatures hovering over 30 degrees Celsius.

Pakistan faced a big blow during the third ODI match against New Zealand on Saturday in Mount Maunganui. Asked to bat first, the Kiwis posted a total of 264/8 with skipper Michael Bracewell and Rhys Mariu scoring 59 and 58 runs respectively. For Pakistan, Akif Javed was the star bowler as he scalped four wickets. However, when Pakistan came out for the chase, their star opener Imam-ul-Haq suffered a massive injury and had to be carried off the field.

The incident took place in the 3rd over when Imam played a shot off William O’Rourke and ran for a single. While he was completing his run, a fielder grabbed the ball and threw it towards the non-striker’s end. However, the ball brutally hit Imam on his left jaw and got stuck into the helmet.

Imam ul Haq retired hurt#PAKvNZ #PakistanCricket #Cricket pic.twitter.com/ulUYUzrPtx

— Urooj Jawed (@uroojjawed12) April 5, 2025

The left-handed looked visibly in pain as he fell down on the ground and called for help. The team physio came running and checked on him and declared him unfit to continue the match.

Imam was then carried off the field in a buggy ambulance. Pakistan’s explosive batter Usman Khan was called-in as the replacement of Imam for the rest of the game.

Following a medical assessment, the team management confirmed that Imam had sustained a concussion and would play no further part in the game.

As per ICC regulations, a team is allowed to bring in a like-for-like concussion substitute in such scenarios. Pakistan named Usman Khan as Imam’s replacement – a move well within the framework of the rules.

“Usman Khan has been named the concussion substitute for Imam-ul-Haq, who sustained an injury after being struck on the jaw by the ball,” the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed in a social media post.

Usman, who had impressed with a quick cameo in the series opener before missing the second game due to a hamstring concern, returned to the field but failed to make a major impact. He was dismissed for just 12 runs by New Zealand pacer Mohammad Abbas.

This incident marks the second consecutive ODI in which a Pakistani player has suffered a concussion. In the previous match, Naseem Shah had replaced Haris Rauf, who was hit on the helmet while batting.

(With ANI Inputs)

Paris Saint-Germain players celebrate after PSG’s Desire Doue scored his side’s opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Angers at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris.
| Photo Credit: AP

Paris Saint-Germain beat Angers 1-0 and won a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title without losing a game and with six matches to spare on Saturday.

PSG needed only a draw but forward Désiré Doué got the only goal at a festive Parc des Princes bathed in sunshine to make it 23 wins in 28 games so far, with 80 goals scored and 26 conceded.

It was PSG’s 11th French championship since Qatari backers QSI took over the club in 2011, with the other two coming in 1986 and ’94.

Coach Luis Enrique was mobbed by his staff members at the final whistle and thrown in the air as the players danced together in the center circle.

“The fans are so proud of us and we gave them this title,” Luis Enrique said. “The club has so many achievements. The objectives are to play attractive soccer and to go and win trophies.” They then went on a lap of honor and celebrated in front of their fans behind the Auteuil section of the stadium.

“Throughout the season, this team has shown something,” Luis Enrique said. “The fact that other soccer fans, who are not PSG fans, like our style of play is a huge honor for us.”

PSG can also secure a second straight domestic double under Spanish coach Luis Enrique by beating Reims in the French Cup final on May 24.

Later Saturday, second-placed Monaco visits Brest and Lyon hosts Lille with both sides involved in a tight race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

PSG’s attack stutters

PSG labored against an Angers side battling relegation and which has lost its last five games without scoring.

Midfielder Vitinha had a long-distance shot brilliantly saved by Angers goalkeeper Yahia Fofana late in the first half.

But otherwise PSG failed to trouble the visitor until the 55th minute, when Doué adroitly volleyed in Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia ‘s pinpoint cross to the back post.

Ligue 1 top scorer Ousmane Dembélé came on in the second half but failed to add to his league-leading 21 goals.

European ambitions

PSG’s dominant season was made easier by the lack of a consistent rival, with Marseille and Monaco failing to sustain a challenge.

This side will ultimately be judged in the Champions League, a trophy PSG has never won.

Next up is Aston Villa in the quarterfinals, with the first leg in Paris on Wednesday.

Marquinhos is suspended for that game.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with members of the 1996 Sri Lankan cricket team, in Colombo on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (April 5, 2025) interacted with members of the 1996 World Cup-winning Sri Lankan cricket team and said the triumph captured the imagination of countless sports lovers.

PM Modi is on a two-day official visit to Sri Lanka.

The PM arrived here on Friday night for bilateral discussions and the signing of several key pacts between the two nations.

Later on Saturday, he met the members of the Sri Lankan World Cup-winning side that defeated the Mark Taylor-led Australian team by seven wickets in the final at Lahore.

“Cricket connect! Delighted to interact with members of the 1996 Sri Lankan cricket team, which won the World Cup that year. This team captured the imagination of countless sports lovers!” wrote the PM on ‘X’.

The members of the triumphant side, including Kumar Dharmasena, Aravinda de Silva, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas, Upul Chandana and Marvan Atapattu presented Modi with a memento on the occasion.

“In Colombo, PM @narendramodi interacted with the members of the 1996 Sri Lankan cricket team, which won the World Cup that year. Here are a few glimpses from their interaction,” wrote the PM’s official account while posting images of the interaction.

In the final played on March 17 at the Gaddafi Stadium, the Arjuna Ranatunga-led Sri Lanka chased down Australia’s 241/7 for the loss of just three wickets with De Silva scoring an unbeaten 107.

Romesh Kaluwitharana, an explosive opening batter of his time, said after the meeting that India had always stood with Sri Lanka, especially during the crisis.

De Silva, the all-time great Sri Lankan batter, praised Modi, saying the Indian PM is well respected around the world.

Jayasuriya said the interaction with Modi was a great experience, and noted that the Indian PM spoke about his work since coming to power in 2014.

Former pacer Vaas said Modi had good cricketing knowledge and discussed with the players their 1996 World Cup campaign.

The six-year-old Dyf, who finished second in his last outing in the Invitation Cup, should redeem himself in the C.N. Wadia Gold Cup, powered by Mr. Zavaray S. Poonawalla, the highlight of the Indian Racing Carnival’s concluding day which also marks the grand finale of the Mumbai Racing Season 2024-25, set to take place on Sunday (Apr. 6) evening.

Rails will be announced one hour before the first race.

1. RAPIER MILLION (1,200m), Cl. V, rated 1 to 26 — 4.45 p.m.: 1. Red Merlot (5) A. Prakash 60, 2. Taabiir (3) S.J. Sunil 59.5, 3. Populaire (10) Ramswarup 59, 4. Sentinel (4) Bhawani 59, 5. Lion King (—), 6. Miss Magic (9) Sandesh 58.5, 7. Purple Martini (7) Neeraj 56.5, 8. Sorrento Secret (6) N. Bhosale 55.5, 9. Sussing (2) Antony Raj 55.5, 10. Samson (8) Mustkaim 53.5 and 11. Lightning Blaze (1) Siddharth 50.

1. MISS MAGIC, 2. SENTINEL, 3. SUSSING

2. BOMBAY CLUB MULTI-MILLION (1,600m), (Terms) Maiden, 3-y-o only — 5.15: 1. Abhyankar (1) Neeraj 56, 2. Aquilius (5) S. Zervan 56, 3. Caradoc (7) Suraj Narredu 56, 4. Chicago Chimes (13) Bhawani 56, 5. Dedication (12) Sandesh 56, 6. Duesenberg (15) Ajinkya 56, 7. Juracan (2) to be declared later 56, 8. Miracle Of Hanukah (9) Mustakim 56, 9. Superstar (10) Vivek G 56, 10. Viking (11) Trevor 56, 11. Zafferano (14) A. Prakash 56, 12. Arabeska (6) Parmar 54.5, 13. Donatella (3) S.J. Sunil 54.5, 14. Heart (8) Yash 54.5 and 15. Pristine Glory (4) Antony Raj 54.5.

1. DEDICATION, 2. SUPERSTAR, 3. CARADOC

3. MAHARAJA SIR HARISINGHJI TROPHY (Gr. 3) powered by HPSL (1,600m) (Terms), 4-y-o and over — 5.45: 1. A Star Is Born (4) Yash 60, 2. Touch Of Grey (8) Suraj Narredu 60, 3. Knotty Charmer (1) Antony Raj 58, 4. Once You Go Black (6) David Allan 58, 5. Mojito (5) Parmar 56, 6. Siege Courageous (9) Trevor 55, 7. Chagall (3) A. Prakash 50, 8. Charlie (7) Nazil 50 and 9. El Greco (2) Neeraj 50.

1. SIEGE COURAGEOUS, 2. KNOTTY CHARMER, 3. ONCE YOU GO BLACK

4. C.N. WADIA GOLD CUP (Gr. 2) powered by Mr. Zavaray S. Poonawalla (2,400m) (Terms), 4-y-o and over — 6.15: 1. Dyf (12) Trevor 60, 2. Duke Of Tuscany (9) Vivek G 56.5, 3. Evaldo (8) David Allan 56, 4. High Command (6) Ashad Asbar 52, 5. Dash (2) Mustakim 50, 6. Golden Kingdom (10) Nirmal 50, 7. Rasputin (1) A. Prakash 50, 8. Regal Command (7) Parmar 50, 9. Trevalius (11) Neeraj 50, 10. Mescalito (3) P. Dhebe 48.5, 11. Pyrite (4) Sandesh 48.5 and 12. Tiepolo (5) Kaviraj 48.5.

1. DYF, 2. EAVALDO, 3. PYRITE

5. AHEAD OF MY TIME MILLION (1,200m), Cl. III, rated 40 to 66 — 7.00: 1. Quicker (5) Bharat 59, 2. Amadeo (3) Trevor 58, 3. Win Win (6) David Allan 56.5, 4. Goddes Of Dawn (4) Mustakim 55, 5. The Athabasca (2) N.B. Kuldeep 54.5 and 6. Vincero (1) Sandesh 54.

1. QUICKER, 2. VINCERO

6. POONAWALLA STUD FARMS AUCTION SALE STAKES (1,400m) (Terms), 3-y-o only — 7.30: (whips prohibited). 1. Charismatic (7) Antony Raj 58, 2. Rafael (2) Trevor 58, 3. Allez L’ Etoile (4) Mustakim 57, 4. Tyrannus (8) Neeraj 57, 5. Social Butterfly (9) David Allan 56.5, 6. All For Love (1) Yash 55.5, 7. Ourense (5) Sandesh 55.5, 8. Phantasmique (3) A. Prakash 55.5 and 9. Victorious Omen (6) Zervan 55.5.

1. CHARISMATIC, 2. SOCIAL BUTTERFLY, 3. ALL FOR LOVE

7. HERITAGE OF MUMBAI MILLION (1,400m), Cl. IV, rated 20 to 46 — 8.00: 1. Medusa (5) Bharat 59, 2. Believe (8) Mosin 56.5, 3. Flashing Famous (3) Antony Raj 56.5, 4. Fable (7) David Allan 56, 5. Hagibis (6) Mustakim 55.5, 6. The Milenium Force (2) Sandesh 53, 7. You (1) Aditya 52 and 8. Alexandria (4) A. Prakash 50.5.

1. THE MILENIUM FORCE, 2. FABLE, 3. MEDUSA

Day’s Best: DYF

Jackpot: 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7.

Treble: 4, 5 & 6.

Tanala: All races.

Super Jackpot: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7.

Indian shooter Sift Kaur Samra produced a sensational come-from-behind performance to win her first individual ISSF World Cup gold in the women’s 50m rifle 3-positions final, while Esha Singh bagged a second individual World Cup silver in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The 23-year-old Sift from Faridkot thus earned India its first gold of the season-opening World Cup stage event at the Tiro Federal Argentino de Buenos Aires shooting range late on Friday. The world record holder was a huge 7.2 points behind Anita Mangold of Germany after 15-shots in the first Kneeling position. However, she staged a dream comeback in the second Prone and final Standing positions to win by a canter in the end.

Sift finished with 458.6 points at the end of the 45-shot final, while Mangold ended 3.3 points behind on 455.3.

Junior World Championship medallist Arina Altukhova of Kazakhstan was third, bowing out after the 44th shot with a tally of 445.9.

India now have three medals — a gold, a silver and a bronze won earlier in the men’s 3P by Chain Singh — in the competition.

Sensational Sift

Sift did extremely well to qualify in top spot with a strong 590, when the likes of reigning Olympic champion Chiara Leone and former Olympic champion Nina Christen, both from Switzerland, could not make the top eight.

A host of Olympic medallists like Alexandria Le of Kazakhstan and Mary Tucker of the US, also could not cross the qualifying hurdle.

Competing in a stellar field, Sift could not penetrate the 10-ring to begin with and ended the Kneeling position almost out of reckoning. She then found her rhythm in her favourite Prone position and by the end of it, brought the gap down with the leader, now Nele Stark, to about 4.3, but still remained in eighth place.

A classy 52.3 in the first series of five Standing shots when all struggled, saw her shoot-up to joint third and she never looked back from there.

A steady second series of 51.2 saw her take the lead for the first time and as the leaderboard shuffled furiously below her, she finished with scores of 10.5, 10.3, 10.5,10.0 and 9.7 for a clinical performance.

Esha bags silver

Air Pistol Mixed Team world champion Esha tallied 35 in the women’s 25m pistol final to finish behind China’s Sun Yujie, who won gold with 38 hits after the 10th and final five-shot series.

Sun’s compatriot Feng Sixuan won bronze. Double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, who also made the final, finished sixth eventually.

Indian shooters had to first qualify for the final-eight early on Saturday morning, and Manu, who was fourth overnight, returned a fine 294 in the second rapid-fire round to qualify in third spot, with a total of 585.

The shooter who piped Manu to a third medal at the Paris Olympics, Hungarian Veronika Major, topped with 587.

Esha too shot exceedingly well, a 294 in rapid-fire giving her a total of 579, just enough to ensure two Indians in the final. Simranpreet Kaur Brar, the third Indian in contention, had a tough opening rapid-fire series to miss out with 576.

Manu was also the stronger at the start of the final, a perfect five in the third series, moving her up to the joint lead with the two Chinese Sun and Feng. Esha came into her own from the third series, a round of four hits moving her up to joint fourth from seventh.

What followed was simply stunning from the Hyderabad girl as she shot superbly in the the fifth, sixth and seventh series to surge to sole second, just one behind Sun.

As heavyweights like Tien Chia-Chen of Chinese Taipei, Doreen Vennekamp of Germany and Manu faltered, it was between Sun and Esha and the former finished stronger to claim a deserving gold. Feng overcame a three-way shoot-off to claim another podium for the Chinese.

Skeet challenge ends

India’s challenge in the men’s and women’s skeet competitions was snuffed out at the qualification stage. Raiza Dhillon shot 116 to finish 11th in women’s skeet while Ganemat Sekhon (114) and Darshna Rathore (112) finished 14thand 17th respectively.

In the men’s skeet. Anant Jeet Singh Naruka secured the best position among Indians when he finished 20th on a score of 116. Bhavtegh Gill was a spot below on the same score while Gurjoat Khangura finished 22nd with a tally of 115.

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

Rajasthan Royals’ Jofra Archer bowls during the Indian Premier League 2025 match against Punjab Kings, at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, in Chandigarh.
| Photo Credit: ANI

The fate of the Punjab Kings-Rajasthan Royals IPL fixture on Saturday was pretty much sealed once pacer Jofra Archer hit the bull’s eye a couple of times in the first over of the second innings.

Chasing 206 is tough, it is even tougher once you lose two wickets within six balls. RR went on to win by 50 runs, thereby consigning PBKS to its fifth straight loss at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium.

The home fans went silent as PBKS lost opener Priyansh Arya and Shreyas Iyer in the first over. After this, Sandeep Sharma sent back Marcus Stoinis and Impact Player Kumar Kartikeya removed Prabhsimran Singh.

Nehal Wadhera (62, 41b, 4×4, 3×6) and Glenn Maxwell’s 88-run stand did pump up the crowd, but the high was short-lived. Maxwell and then the local boy perished trying to clear the boundary off consecutive balls.

The rest of the proceedings proved a mere formality even though there was confusion regarding whether RR had more deep fielders than what is allowed off the final ball of the match.

Earlier, Royals amassed 205 for four after being asked to bat first. The 89-run opening stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal (67, 45b, 3×4, 5×6) and Sanju Samson (38, 26b, 6×4) laid the ideal platform for the rest of the batters — led by Riyan Parag (43 n.o., 25b, 3×4, 3×6) — to go big in the death overs.

The first time Samson mistimed a ball, he holed out to his opposite number Shreyas off Lockie Ferguson. Jaiswal — unperturbed by what happened at the other end — latched onto anything loose and punished Yuzvendra Chahal and Stoinis.

Ferguson struck again as Jaiswal missed a slower ball. He could have added another wicket to his tally had Chahal not missed a regulation catch to dismiss Shimron Hetmyer.

Parag went berserk after a slow start and made full use of a reprieve given by Marco Jansen.

Arshdeep ensured Chahal’s miss was not costly as he sent back Hetmyer in the penultimate over. However, Parag and Dhruv Jurel scored 19 off Stoinis’ final over to take the score past 200, which proved beyond PBKS.

Yashavi Jaiswal and Jofra Archer

NEW DELHI: Rajasthan Royals produced a commanding all-round performance to hand Punjab Kings a 50-run defeat in Mullanpur on Saturday. The win was set up by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s classy 67 and sealed emphatically by Jofra Archer’s devastating opening burst with the ball.
Opening the innings, Jaiswal gave Rajasthan the perfect launchpad with a fluent 67 off just 45 balls. From the outset, Jaiswal looked in complete control, piercing the field with crisp boundaries and lifting the ball cleanly over the ropes. He struck three fours and five sixes in his knock, setting the tone for Royals’ massive 205/4.
The left-hander paced his innings smartly, first settling in and then accelerating after the powerplay, particularly taking on leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and Marcus Stoinis in the middle overs. His fifty was his first of the season and came at a crucial juncture with Rajasthan needing a strong start to bounce back from recent defeats.

Jaiswal’s 89-run stand with Sanju Samson (38 off 26) put RR in control early. And after both departed, Riyan Parag (43* off 25) and Shimron Hetmyer (20 off 12) ensured the momentum never dipped, powering the Royals past the 200-run mark.
While the batters did the job upfront, it was Jofra Archer who delivered the knockout blow with the ball.
Bowling with pace and intent, Archer struck with the very first ball of the innings, removing Punjab opener Priyansh Arya for a duck. The searing delivery beat the batter for pace and rattled the stumps.
But Archer wasn’t done.
He returned later in the same over to deliver a body blow — the prized scalp of Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer. The right-hander was castled for 10, failing to read a skiddy delivery that breached his defense. Archer finished with figures of 3/25 from four overs, capping his fiery spell by dismissing Arshdeep Singh at the death.

The rest of the Rajasthan attack supported him well, with Theekshana and Sandeep Sharma bagging two wickets each. The result was a comprehensive bowling effort that restricted PBKS to just 155/9 in 20 overs, falling 50 runs short.
With this win, Rajasthan Royals not only boosted their net run rate but also regained some momentum, thanks to Jaiswal’s stroke-filled fifty and Archer’s thunderbolts with the new ball.