HYDERABAD: Indian spinners Karn Sharma and Swapnil Singh took four key wickets to help IPL’s lowest-ranked Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 35 runs in Hyderabad on Thursday.
Earlier, Faf du Plessis-led RCB won the toss and scored a par 206-7, setting a 207 run target for Hyderabad’s in-form batting unit which has already broken some IPL batting records this season.
Hyderabad could only score 171-8 as RCB registered only their second win in nine games and are still languishing at the bottom of the 10-team table.
Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli hit a slow 43-ball 51 and stitched a 48-run opening partnership with Plessis, who fell after hitting 12-ball 25.
England’s Will Jacks (6) fell early before Rajat Patidar’s explosive 20-ball 50 propelled Bengaluru to 130 in the 13th over, when the rookie batter fell to Indian veteran pacer Jaydev Unadkat.
Kohli fell in the 15th over leaving RCB reeling at 140-4 as their innings lost some momentum and wickets of Mahipal Lomror (7) and Dinesh Karthik (11) by the 19th over.
Australia’s star all-rounder Cameron Green hit an unbeaten 20-ball 37 to provide a final flourish as Unadkat (3-30) and T Natarajan (2-39) finished with five wickets between them.
Hyderabad’s explosive openers, Australia’s Travis Head and Indian rookie Abhishek Sharma, failed to build a partnership Thursday.
Head (1) fell in the very first over of the chase to spinner Jacks and Sharma hit 13-ball 31 before he fell in the fourth over to leave Sunrisers at 2-37.
Bengaluru’s Karn and Swapnil took three key middle-order wickets — Aiden Markram (7), Nitish Kumar Reddy (13), and Heinrich Klaasen (7) — to leave Hyderabad at 5-69 in the eighth over of the chase.
Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins, who hit 15-ball 31 with three sixes, provided some lower-order flourish before dismissal to national teammate Green, who bowled two tight overs for 12 runs and two wickets.
Hyderabad is still comfortably placed on the third spot in the IPL table and Cummins said that he “won’t dwell on this one too much.”
Winning captain Plessis said that their team had “been close for a while but you need to win matches to get confidence in the group.”
“Massive win for us. When you’re not winning it does affect you mentally, it does affect your confidence,” he added.
“You can’t speak confidence into the group, you can’t fake confidence into the group.”
Spinners help IPL’s lowest ranked Bengaluru defeat Hyderabad
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Spinners help IPL’s lowest ranked Bengaluru defeat Hyderabad
- Faf du Plessis-led RCB won the toss and scored a par 206-7, setting a 207 run target for Hyderabad
- Hyderabad could only score 171-8 as RCB registered only their second win in nine games
Meet Formula 1’s biggest rookie intake in years. Some already are targeting the podium
- Antonelli is part of F1’s biggest intake of new drivers in years as top teams put some trust in youth
- Six of the 20 drivers on the 2025 grid are starting their first full seasons in F1
Antonelli is among F1’s biggest intake of new drivers in years as top teams put some trust in youth. Six of the 20 drivers on the 2025 grid are starting their first full seasons in F1. Some could potentially compete for wins. Others already risk losing a hard-won F1 seat.
An unexpectedly talented Formula 2 field last season came at a time when some F1 teams were keen to move on from older drivers like Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas. Switching in 2025 gives teams a chance to let youngsters gain experience before the F1 car design rules change radically for 2026.
Here’s a look at the rookie class:
Andrea Kimi Antonelli
Stepping into a seven-time champion’s shoes at Mercedes puts the spotlight on Antonelli, who is set to become the third-youngest F1 driver ever. The Italian wants to be known as just “the next Mercedes driver” because of Hamilton’s legacy. The first time Antonelli visited an F1 paddock was age eight in 2014 when his father Marco — who ran a team in a support series — hid him in a stack of tires under an umbrella to get past security and into the German Grand Prix. “That was a really cool experience,” he said last month. Antonelli had a stellar record in junior series and was sixth in F2 last year but a heavy crash in practice for Mercedes at Monza in August was a tough introduction to F1.
Liam Lawson
The Red Bull driver is the odd man out in this list because he’s taken part in 11 F1 races since 2023, though never a full season. He says he’ll feel “more like a rookie” at the start of the season on tracks he hasn’t raced before. Partnering four-time champion Max Verstappen as the replacement for Perez is a daunting task for Lawson, who knocked Verstappen out of qualifying in only his third F1 race in Singapore in 2023. The New Zealander needs to justify Red Bull’s decision to elevate him over his 2024 teammate — and former roommate — Yuki Tsunoda, who outperformed Lawson over their six races together last year.
Oliver Bearman
It’s less than a year since Bearman burst onto the scene in F1 with a combative seventh-place finish for Ferrari in Saudi Arabia while Carlos Sainz Jr. was sidelined because of surgery. He’d never previously raced in Jeddah and was racing with two days’ notice. Bearman beat experienced teammate Nico Hülkenberg in two races for Haas later that year and is now a full-time Haas driver for 2025. Bearman remains part of Ferrari’s junior program but displacing regular Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc is unlikely any time soon.
Jack Doohan
The son of legendary motorcycle world champion Mick Doohan enters 2025 with his F1 career under threat as soon as it has begun. Alpine’s decision to sign ex-Williams driver Franco Colapinto as reserve means a would-be replacement is available if Doohan doesn’t impress team management. “You’re always going to have pressure on your shoulders because you’re in such a cut-throat sport,” Doohan said. The Australian driver placed third in F2 in 2023 but didn’t race at all last year until a surprise entry for the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Finishing 15th, he was far off the pace of teammate Pierre Gasly in seventh.
Isack Hadjar
Lawson’s promotion to Red Bull left an opening at its second team, now rebranded Racing Bulls, for F2 runner-up Hadjar. The French driver arrives at a team with a history of changing drivers mid-season if they don’t perform. Even eight-time Grand Prix winner Daniel Ricciardo didn’t last a full year there in 2024.
Gabriel Bortoleto
Despite winning the F2 title last season, beating Hadjar, Antonelli and Bearman, Bortoleto’s arrival in F1 has been overshadowed by his former rivals. That’s partly because his new team Sauber struggled last year and is marking time before a full rebrand as the Audi works team in 2026. With a helmet design paying tribute to three-time champion Ayrton Senna, Bortoleto is F1’s first full-time Brazilian driver since 2017.
Ronaldo, Duran take Al-Nassr into last 8
- Ronaldo, who missed the first leg in Iran, kept his cool and produced a perfect Panenka penalty into the center of the goal to bag his seventh goal of the tournament so far
- Duran got his second five minutes from the end — found in space on the right side of the penalty area — he fired a low shot into the far corner in emphatic fashion
Al-Nassr booked their AFC Champions League Elite quarter-final place on Monday with a comfortable 3-0 win over Esteghlal of Iran.
After a frustrating first leg ended 0-0 in Tehran a week earlier, Jhon Duran and Cristiano Ronaldo did the damage in Riyadh to dump the visitors out of the tournament.
Duran opened the scoring after just nine minutes in spectacular fashion. The Colombian, signed from Aston Villa in January, found space on the right corner of the penalty area and produced an exquisite lob that the goalkeeper got a hand to but could not prevent crossing the line.
After Sadio Mane was fouled in the area, Ronaldo, who missed the first leg in Iran, kept his cool and produced a perfect Panenka penalty into the center of the goal to bag his seventh goal of the tournament so far.
What was already a tough task became mission impossible for the Tehran club after they were reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half time. Mehran Ahmadi was shown a second yellow and as he exited the pitch, with a consoling arm of Ronaldo around his shoulders, he took the slim hopes of Esteghlal with him.
It was then a case of damage limitation and Al-Nassr remained in total control of the tie. Five minutes after the restart, Duran fired a fierce shot against the bar from just outside the area.
The Colombian got his second five minutes from the end. He was found in space on the right side of the penalty area and fired a low shot into the far corner in emphatic fashion.
It ended a perfect evening for the Yellows — seeking a first Asian championship — who are the first Saudi Arabian club to make the last eight.
Al-Ahli are expected to join them on Tuesday after winning their first leg 3-1 against Al-Rayyan of Qatar last week. Al-Hilal, however, have much more work to do after losing 1-0 at the Uzbekistan home of Pakhtakor.
Elsewhere, Al-Sadd of Qatar defeated Dubai’s Al-Wasl 3-1 to take the tie 4-2 on aggregate.
KL Rahul: India’s unsung hero and chase-finishing maestro
- Rohit was full of praise for Rahul’s composure at the sharp end of the nerve-shredding chases
DUBAI: KL Rahul was hailed Monday as India’s Champions Trophy unsung hero, having twice kept a cool head under pressure to see his team to victory in tense semifinal and finals.
Captain Rohit Sharma top-scored with 76 to lead India to a four-wicket final win over New Zealand in Dubai on Sunday, following Virat Kohli’s 84 to anchor India’s semifinal chase against Australia.
Both won Player of the Match awards for their respective knocks, but after they had departed it had been No. 6 Rahul, almost under the radar, who had kept calm to guide India across the finish line.
He was unbeaten on 34 in the final as India chased down 252, just a few days after his 42 not out took India past Australia’s 264 in the last four of the 50-over competition.
Rohit was full of praise for Rahul’s composure at the sharp end of the nerve-shredding chases.
“Look, when we discussed KL’s batting position, that is one thing we discussed quite deeply about how calm he is when he is batting,” Rohit said after guiding India to a third Champions Trophy crown.
“I’m very, very happy with how he ... batted in the pressure situation, both in the semifinals and this game.
“With KL being there, we know that he’s got that mind where he keeps himself calm and keeps the dressing room also very calm.”
While Rohit and Kohli grabbed the headlines, a softly spoken and smiling Rahul, 32, was quietly enjoying his first win in an ICC championship.
“ICC victories are not so easy to get and it’s my first one, so I’m over the moon,” Rahul said.
“It’s been a complete team effort, all 11-12 players have stood up and their chance and opportunity has come and it’s one of the biggest reasons why we have ended up winning the tournament.”
An elegant batsman, Rahul started off as an opener for India in white-ball cricket.
But a loss of form and intense media scrutiny forced him to reinvent his batting.
He dropped down to No. 6 recently as he edged out Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.
“What I have been taught by my coaches from an early age is that cricket’s a team game and whatever the team requires of you, you need to be able to do that,” said Rahul, who sports a trademark beard and a man bun on his tattooed, athletic frame.
“It requires a lot of preparation, lot of work outside the field. I just watch and learn from the batsmen I like at four, five, six.”
Rahul started his cricketing journey as a wicketkeeper-batsman but had given up the gloves in domestic cricket.
It was not until an injury to Pant against Australia in 2020 that he again stood behind the stumps.
“I kept wickets in the series, played at No. 5 and performed well,” said Rahul.
“From then on the captain and team management thought I could do that role.”
Liverpool, Madrid and Barcelona looking to complete job as they protect slim leads
MILAN: Defending champions Real Madrid, Liverpool and Barcelona all have one-goal leads to protect going into the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 this week.
For Madrid there is also city bragging rights at stake as they visit Atletico Madrid on Wednesday with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg, while Liverpool host Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday knowing they were fortunate to snatch a 1-0 win in France. Barcelona also only have a 1-0 advantage over Benfica, while some other teams are feeling a lot more comfortable — with Bayern Munich having beaten Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 and Arsenal crushing PSV Eindhoven 7-1.
Smash and grab
Liverpool’s players don’t really care how they’re winning — as long as they continue to do so.
Arne Slot’s team had to withstand a barrage of attacks at Parc des Princes before a late goal from Harvey Elliott, who had only just come off the bench, saw it stun PSG.
That was only Liverpool’s second attempt on target compared to a whopping 28 for PSG.
The runaway Premier League leaders had another poor performance on Saturday but still managed to come away with a victory over Southampton.
“It’s just about winning, not how we win. Sometimes you have to win dirty and today was one of them days,” Elliott said after that match. “I think we know that’s what winners do really: When times are hard, what do you do? How can you come up with something to win the game? Luckily this squad is full of them players.”
This week will be decisive for Liverpool’s treble bid as they play Newcastle in the English League Cup final on Sunday.
“I think the best possible way to describe it is four finals, really,” Elliott said. “PSG away, really, really tough game, today was a really tough game, then again on Tuesday another tough game and then the final on the weekend. “So, we just need to make sure that energy-wise we’re still there. We’re still fighting, we’re still hungry to achieve things this season, although it’s a very tough period.”
The loss to Liverpool was PSG’s first defeat since November and halted a run of 10 straight wins for the French team.
Madrid derby
This was supposed to be the year Atletico finally got the best of Real Madrid in the Champions League after losing two finals to their city rivals and being eliminated the other two times they faced off in the knockout rounds.
Going into the first leg, Atletico were ahead of Madrid in the Spanish league and were also undefeated in the past four Madrid derbies.
But they are now on the verge of going out yet again to their neighbors.
Atletico have also slipped behind in La Liga after two late goals saw them lose 2-1 at Getafe at the weekend, while Madrid managed to grind out a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano.
Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was also able to rotate his squad that was further boosted by the return of Jude Bellingham.
The England midfielder had missed three of his team’s last four games through suspension — including the first leg against Atletico.
Treble chances
It’s not just Liverpool who have their eyes on lifting a trio of trophies this season.
Atletico, Real and Barcelona are also in the semifinals of the Spanish Cup and fighting it out at the top of the league table.
Leverkusen are also still involved in two trophies domestically. Although it would need something of a miracle to make up the eight-point deficit they have to Bayern in the Bundesliga as well as overturn a three-goal disadvantage in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Inter Milan, who won the treble in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, are in better shape. They lead Serie A, will face AC Milan in the Italian Cup semifinals and have a 2-0 advantage over Feyenoord going into Tuesday’s second leg.
Barcelona’s matchup against Benfica also takes place on Tuesday.
Arsenal are not the only English club that should feel confident going into Wednesday. Fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are also at home then and have a 3-1 advantage over Club Brugge.
The matchup between Lille and Borussia Dortmund in France is the only one that is level after they drew 1-1 in the first leg.
‘Not good enough’ and ‘overpaid’: Ratcliffe slams Man Utd flops
- British billionaire names Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Antony as the chief causes of his frustration
- Jim Ratcliffe: ‘If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben (Amorim), I think he is doing a really good job to be honest’
LONDON: Manchester United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe has blasted some of his troubled club’s stars as “not good enough” and “probably overpaid.”
Ratcliffe has endured a dismal start to his reign at Old Trafford since taking charge of footballing operations in February last year.
The British billionaire named Rasmus Hojlund, Andre Onana and Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Antony as the chief causes of his frustration.
Sancho and Antony are currently on loan at Chelsea and Real Betis respectively after underachieving with United.
In reference to United still paying instalments of transfer fees on several out-of-form players, Ratcliffe, who shares ownership of United with the US-based Glazer family, told the BBC: “If you look at the players we are buying this summer, that we didn’t buy, we’re buying Antony, we’re buying Casemiro, we’re buying Onana, we’re buying Hojlund, we’re buying Sancho.
“These are all things from the past, whether we like it or not, we’ve inherited those things and have to sort that out.
“For Sancho, who now plays for Chelsea and we pay half his wages, we’re paying £17 million to buy him in the summer.”
Asked if he was suggesting those players were not good enough for United, Ratcliffe said: “Some are not good enough and some probably are overpaid, but for us to mold the squad that we are fully responsible for, and accountable for, will take time.”
After United finished eighth in the Premier League last season and won the FA Cup, Ratcliffe and his United advisers opted to stick with boss Erik ten Hag despite their poor form for much of the campaign.
The Dutchman was subsequently sacked in October and replaced by Ruben Amorim after United endured another wretched run.
INEOS chairman Ratcliffe has accepted the decision to keep Ten Hag was a mistake.
He applied the same verdict to his decision to hire Dan Ashworth as sporting director, a role he left in December after just five months.
“I agree the Erik ten Tag and Dan Ashworth decisions were errors,” the 72-year-old said.
“I think there were some mitigating circumstances, but ultimately they were errors. I accept that and I apologize for that.”
Despite United’s struggles since Amorim took charge, leaving them 14th in the Premier League, Ratcliffe insisted he would keep faith with the former Sporting Lisbon boss.
“If I actually look at the squad which is available to Ruben, I think he is doing a really good job to be honest,” he said.
“I think Ruben is an outstanding young manager. I really do. He’s an excellent manager and I think he will be there for a long time.”
