Sunday, 19 April 2026
SACHIN TENDULKAR BREAKS DOWN SHREYAS LYER'S 'CATCH OF THE SEASON' TO DISMISS HARDIK PANDYA
Sachin Tendulkar summed up Shreyas' acrobatic effort, saying that the PBKS captain got everything "spot on".
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| Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer celebrates after relaying a stunning catch to dismiss Hardik Pandya. @BCCI |
Legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar was right on the money as he explained Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer's flying attempt, which many described as the "Catch of the Season", to get rid of Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya. Shreyas was at his acrobatic best as he ran in from long-on to reverse-cup Hardik's mistimed pull before relaying it to Xavier Bartlett despite being airborne. The attempt stunned fans and experts alike, including Tendulkar, who described it as "one of the best catches i've ever seen".
The MI dugout had the best view of Shreyas' audacious attempt, especially Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, who were sitting just a few meters away from where the PBKS skipper landed after parrying the ball to the fielder charging in from long-off. In a viral video, Rohit and Surya were seen looking at each other with expressions of pure disbelief.
Taking to X, Tendulkar summed up Shreyas' acrobatic effort, saying that the PBKS captain got everything "spot on".
"What made Shreyas Iyer's catch so special was not just the athleticism, but the awareness behind it. He had to judge the speed of the ball, the height, where the boundary rope was, how close he was to stepping on it, and get his jump absolutely perfect," Tendulkar wrote on X.
The legendary batter noted the key to the catch wasn't just Shreyas' athleticism, but his head position, balance and awareness.
"Then, while still in the air, he caught the ball and released it to a teammate before landing, all the while knowing exactly where that fielder was positioned. To process all of that in a split second takes unbelievable awareness, timing, fitness, and composure.
"Shreyas Iyer got everything spot on. One of the best catches I've ever seen live!"
- Vedant Yadav
PUNJAB KINGS RESPOND TO SALMAN KHAN VIRAL TWEET AS PREITY ZINTA REACTS TO PBKS WIN OVER MI
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Indian cinema icon Salman Khan had earlier shown his support for Bollywood co-star Preity Zinta's IPL franchise PBKS in IPL 2026.
- PBKS thrashed MI by 7 wickets to extend their unbeaten streak.
- PBKS responded to Salman Khan, while Preita Zinta reacted to PBKS' win
What did Salman Khan tweet about Preity Zinta's PBKS?
With just over two weeks into the IPL 2026 season, the excitement around the tournament has already reached fever pitch. From common fans to celebrities, everyone has been hooked to their screens.
Amid the 19th season of the IPL, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan showed his support for Preity Zinta-owned Punjab Kings.
On April 13, Khan's post supporting Punjab Kings went viral on social media. On X (formerly Twitter), the veteran actor wrote: "Well done Zinta, Congratulations Zinta, Team is playing well …. @realpreityzinta."
This is not the first time that Salman Khan has shown his support for the PBKS franchise. 12 years back, during the IPL 2014 campaign, when PBKS performed brilliantly, Khan had openly disclosed his support for Preity Zinta's team.
After a playoff game between PBKS and KKR, which the latter ended up winning, Khan had posted on X (formerly Twitter), "Zinta's team won kya?"
Khan is known to be very close to his film industry colleague Preity Zinta and the duo are very close friends on a personal level. As a result, his tweet naturally grabbed all the eyeballs and went viral on social media.
PBKS responds to Salman Khan after win over MI
Following PBKS' dominating seven-wicket win over MI on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium, which extended their unbeaten streak to five matches this season, the social media admin of the franchise shared a fun post on X.
From their official X handle, the post contained an old image of Salman Khan in front of a Gurudwara. The caption read: "Apa jeet gaye!" Which translates to, "We won!"
How did Preity Zinta react to PBKS' win over MI
Preity Zinta is one of those rare IPL owners who regularly watch her team in action live from stadiums across India. The film actress, despite her busy schedule, hardly misses watching her side play.
However, on Sunday, Zinta was not present at the Wankhede Stadium during the PBKS vs MI clash, however, she made sure that she caught the action live on television.
The actress was naturally on cloud nine as PBKS climbed back to the top of the IPL 2026 table, as she shared a joyous social media post to celebrate the win.
On X, Preity Zinta wrote: "Yes Yes Yessss !!!! Congratulations @PunjabKingsIPL for this win. So much maturity from @prabhsimran01 & wow @arshdeepsinghh Happy to see you shine. Amazing team work under the capable leadership of Sadda Sarpanch @ShreyasIyer15 & @RickyPonting. That was an awesome catch Shreyas ! Best I’ve ever seen. I’m grinning ear to ear."
- RITABRATA_BANERJEE
GT DRIVER LOSES NORDSCHLEIFE LICENSE AFTER SERIOUS RULE BREACH
The stewards at the Nordschleife took this matter very seriously and opted to strip a driver of his licence to race at the track.
Racing driver Oleksandr Kosohov has been stripped of his Nordschleife racing licence following a serious safety violation during Saturday's qualifying session for the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
The Mühlner Motorsport driver, competing in the team's Porsche Cayman GT4 CS, was caught travelling at 201 km/h through a double yellow flag zone during the qualifying session on 18 April.
Under Nordschleife regulations, double yellow flags require drivers to reduce speed to a maximum of 120 km/h and prohibit overtaking.
Race officials issued an immediate and severe penalty for the breach.
The stewards' decision stated: "Car #999 failed to respect the double yellow flag signal by travelling at 201 km/h. The decision is a 95-second stop-and-go time penalty in the next race after the first lap, immediate disqualification of the driver from the event, and a general withdrawal of the DPN licence."
The DPN, or DMSB Permit Nordschleife, is the mandatory racing licence required to compete on the Nordschleife circui
Its withdrawal effectively bars Kosohov from participating in future events at the legendary German track until, or if, he can reapply.
The second and final race of the weekend will take place at 13:00 local time. Max Verstappen, along with team-mate Lucas Auer, will start from fifth.
- RacingNews365 Staff
Saturday, 18 April 2026
SUSIE WOLFF SENDS HEARTFELT MESSAGE TO DORIANE PIN FOR MERCEDES F1 TEST
Susie Wolff sent Doriane Pin an emotional message before the French driver made history by becoming the first woman to test a Mercedes F1 car
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| Doriane Pin, PREMA Racing, Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team CEO and Team Principal Toto Wolff, F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images |
F1 Academy managing director Susie Wolff sent a heartfelt message to Doriane Pin ahead of her Formula 1 test with Mercedes at Silverstone.
The 22-year-old driver got behind the wheel of the Mercedes W12, which was driven by Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas in their 2021 campaign, at Silverstone. She became the first female driver to test a Mercedes F1 car.
Wolff, who was the last woman to participate in an F1 race weekend when she took part in a free practice session with Williams in 2014, sent a message to the 2025 F1 Academy champion ahead of her test.
"Doriane, our F1 Academy champion. Your first Formula 1 test. What a special day," Wolff said in a personal message to Pin. "It won't be until you're strapped in and they start up that engine that it will all become real. You'll get out onto the track at Silverstone. You won't believe how fast that car can go in a straight line.
"The Maggotts-Becketts section, what a brilliant corner section to drive in an F1 car. I know, like I was, you'll be super keen to post a quick lap time to show everybody what you're capable of. But build up to it, trust and listen to the engineers around you. They'll be guiding you on the day and enjoy every minute.
"We'll be rooting for you from a distance. We're proud of you, good luck."
When asked how it made her feel, Pin responded: "Very nice of Susie. Obviously, I've met incredible people thanks to F1 Academy and being with Mercedes, working with them for so many years.
"I've learned so much and I'm so happy to be driving a Formula 1 car for the first time together. She is an inspiration for all and she also drove a Formula 1 car for testing in Silverstone as well."
- Lydia Mee
FIA ISSUES STATEMENT OF THE PASSING OF JUHA MIETTINNEN
The FIA is sad to learn of the passing of Juha Miettinen following an incident in today’s first race of the ADAC 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends and everyone involved in the event.
- FIA
DIANNA RUSSINI'S OWN HUSBAND RUINED HER LIFE ON PURPOSE (DETAILS)
Dianna Russini unexpectedly became the talk of the 2026 NFL off-season when photos of her and Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel were leaked to the public. The photos depicted the two, who are both married, holding hands spending time in the hot tub together. To see an active NFL head coach being intimate with a lead reporter from The Athletic obviously blew up headlines across the country.
However, the person behind the photo leak was reportedly Dianna Russini’s own husband.
Dianna Russini’s Husband Reportedly Hired PI For Hotel Trip
There was initial speculation that a fan encountered Dianna and Mike at the Arizona hotel, took their pictures and shared them with the internet; however, the angles and clarity of the zoomed images led sources to believe that the photos were taken by a professional, specifically a private investigator.
According to Jared Stillman, a prominent sports radio personality, Dianna Goldschmidt’s husband, Kevin Goldschmidt hired a PI and leaked the pictures:
Jared also shared the reason why he thinks so. According to him, it was a revenge move by Kevin against Dianna, with no financial motive. He mentioned Kevin is very affluent and wouldn’t aim to get money by putting a PI to spy on his wife.
That left Jared with the other most probable motive, i.e., defaming Dianna and paving the way for a spear campaign against her. shared that if Dianna’s husband actually plotted the entire PI thing with vindictive thoughts, then he had succeeded in it, as the alleged affair with Mark Vrabel “probably ruined her career.”
The Game 102.5-FM host felt Kevin had “done a really good job” in executing the plan. His exact words were:
“…vindictive. And if that’s what the husband’s doing…bravo because he has absolutely tanked Dianna’s career. If the husband did hire the PI and if this is not about money then that means that the PI and the leaking of the pictures was all to smear Dianna’s name. And in this case, you’ve done a really good job of it. And it has probably ruined her career.”
It has been speculated that Dianna Russini’s husband turned vengeful towards her following her alleged public statements regarding her husband.
According to Jared, Dianna’s remarks demonstrate how little respect she has for Kevin. Additionally, he argued that the Mike Vrabel affair angle would give Kevin an advantage if the couple divorced. Her occasional jokes about their infidelity, disagreements, and other issues have fuelled the divorce buzz for quite some time.
- McQuade Arnold
MCLAREN BOSS ADDRESSES FERRARI DEFECTION RUMOURS
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| McLaren Team Principal has been linked with a move to Ferrari |
McLaren Formula 1 Team Principal Andrea Stella has responded to increasing speculation linking him with a sensational switch to Ferrari.
Stella is seen by many as the architect of McLaren’s success in recent years, rising through the ranks of the team since joining in 2015 from Ferrari as Head of Race Operations.
Promoted to Performance Director in 2018, and then Racing Director in 2019, he assumed the role of Team Principal in 2023, spearheading McLaren’s double constructors’ titles in 2024 and 2025.
But the Italian has been linked to Ferrari, given the sensational news that GianPiero Lambiase will join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer in 2028.
But Stella has firmly rejected these rumours, jokingly confirming the speculations “made me smile.”
“Honestly, some of the recent rumours, including those regarding astronomical salaries and mythical pre-contracts, have made me smile,” said Stella.
Andrea Stella rumours showing ‘silly season’ now covers Team Principals?.
“Silly season”, covering driver moves, now seems to cover off Team Principals, the paddock seemingly connecting the dots of moves in the Team Principal market.
Jonathan Wheatley has departed Audi, heavily linked to Aston Martin, replacing Adrian Newey, while Stella’s supposed departure could lead to Fred Vasseur leaving Ferrari.
Stella had a somewhat unusual analogy to describe the whispers going in the paddock.
“It almost seems as though the ‘silly season’, which usually begins before summer, has arrived early!” he said.
” I’m quite used to this sort of thing by now and I take with a smile.
“It almost looks like that some envious pastry chef has tried to spoil the preparation of a good dessert at the McLaren patisserie.
“However, we do know very well how to distinguish the good ingredients from the poisoned biscuits….”
Stella’s firm denial is to be expected, but speculation will continue to grow until McLaren announces a firm contract renewal. Ferrari is also conspicuous in its silence.
- James Phillips
PAKISTAN NAME 16-MEMBER SQUAD ANNOUNCED FOR BANGLADESH TEST SERIES
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| Pakistan name 16-member squad announced for Bangladesh Test series ©PCB |
Pakistan has named a 16-member squad for the two-Test series between Pakistan and Bangladesh set to take place in Bangladesh in May
The first of the two matches – part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from 8 to 12 May, while Sylhet International Cricket Stadium will host the second Test which will be played from 16 to 20 May.
Shan Masood will continue to lead the Test side, while four uncapped players – Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori are part of the squad.
Among the squad, five players – Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Noman Ali and Sajid Khan are currently taking part in the ongoing NCA Red-Ball Camp in Lahore.
The players will undergo a camp in Karachi and will assemble on Monday, 27 April. The camp will conclude on 1 May, with the players scheduled to fly to Bangladesh on 2 May. Players who are part of the Test squad and are currently taking part in HBL PSL Xl will join the camp following the conclusion of their team’s campaign. Players whose teams qualify for the final will depart for Bangladesh after the conclusion of the tournament.
The PCB also confirms the appointment of red-ball coaches for the Bangladesh tour, with former Test captain Sarfaraz Ahmed appointed as head coach. Sarfaraz, who won two ICC titles as captain of Pakistan – ICC U19 World Cup 2006 and ICC Champions Trophy 2017 also guided Pakistan U19 to the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup title as mentor/manager five months ago. He was also mentor/manager of Pakistan Shaheens against England Lions series earlier this year.
Former Test cricketers Asad Shafiq and Umar Gul will work as batting and bowling coaches, respectively, on the tour. Asad featured in 147 international matches (77 Tests, 60 ODIs, 10 T20Is), scoring 6,188 runs, including 12 centuries and 36 half-centuries. Right-arm fast bowler Umar featured in 237 international matches (47 Tests, 130 ODIs, 60 T20Is), taking 427 wickets.
Squad
Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi
Team Management
Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Sarfaraz Ahmed (head coach), Asad Shafiq (batting coach), Umar Gul (bowling coach), Abdul Saad (fielding coach) Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Usman Hashmi (analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media manager), Lt. Col. (r) Usman Anwari (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor) and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur)
©Cricket World 2026
- PCB & Cricket World
JAKE PAUL SLAMS BOXING ISSUES AMID FLOYD MAYWEATHER- MANNY PAQUIAO TENSION
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| Credit: Esther Lin/ Most Valuable Promotions |
Jake Paul delivered a sharp public critique of boxing this week, calling the sport “archaic” while directly addressing Floyd Mayweather Jr. during ongoing talks for a rematch with Manny Pacquiao. The comments came in an interview with Fight Hub TV and quickly spread online. Paul focused on how top-level negotiations often slow down major fights.
His remarks arrive as plans move forward for a September 19, 2026, bout in Las Vegas. The rematch follows their 2015 fight, which Mayweather won by unanimous decision and remains one of boxing’s biggest events. The upcoming fight is set to stream on Netflix.
Jake Paul Calls Out Boxing Culture
Jake Paul used the moment to speak about what he sees as a bigger problem in boxing. He said the sport struggles with professionalism at the highest level.
“The problem with boxing is people in the sport who aren’t professional,” Paul said. “And it makes us all look bad. It’s terrible, and it’s so archaic and old.”
He pointed to the role of teams and decision-makers behind fighters. According to Paul, some of these groups create delays that affect major events. He said the presence of large egos makes it harder to complete deals.
Jake Paul also spoke about how this affects the sport’s image. He said the lack of smooth negotiations hurts both fighters and fans. His comments focused on the structure of boxing and how it operates during fight talks.
Contract Disputes Highlighted in Mayweather Talks
Paul then turned his attention to the details that often come up in negotiations. He listed issues like glove type, ring size, and footwear rules.
“And it all comes down to… it’s down to like, ‘Oh well, ring size and you can’t wear these shoes. And this type of glove. You can’t wear THIS GLOVE,’” Paul said.
He linked these points to the ongoing discussions about the Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch. While no official dispute has been confirmed publicly, Paul suggested that such issues are common in big fights.
“It’s just, bro, stop being a bitch. Just fight. That is the problem with [the] sport,” he added. “That’s probably what they are running into: lack in professionalism and IQ.”
The rematch is set to take place at The Sphere in Las Vegas. It will be the first professional boxing event at the venue. The fight also marks more than a decade since their first meeting at the MGM Grand. That 2015 event drew 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and generated record revenue.
Reaction Builds as Rematch Approaches
Paul’s comments have led to mixed reactions across boxing audiences. Some observers pointed to long-standing issues in the sport’s business side. Others noted that similar delays have affected major fights in the past.
The upcoming rematch already carries strong interest due to the history between Mayweather and Pacquiao. Both fighters are now in their late 40s and remain among the most recognized names in boxing. The Netflix broadcast adds another layer by bringing the fight to a global streaming audience without the traditional pay-per-view model.
As of now, Mayweather has not responded publicly to Paul’s remarks. There has also been no official statement linking current negotiations to the issues Paul raised.
Paul, who recently fought Mike Tyson in a Netflix-streamed exhibition, continues to speak about changes he believes boxing needs. His latest comments place attention on how major fights come together behind the scenes.
With the fight date set, attention now remains on whether the rematch will move forward without delay.
- Dogli Wilberforce
COVENTRY CLINCH PROMOTION TO END 25-YEAR PREMIER LEAGUE EXILE
Coventry secured promotion to the Premier League on Friday as the Championship leaders' 1-1 draw against Blackburn ended their 25-year exile from the top-flight.
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| Coventry promoted to Premier League© X (Formerly Twitter) |
Coventry secured promotion to the Premier League on Friday as the Championship leaders' 1-1 draw against Blackburn ended their 25-year exile from the top-flight. Frank Lampard's side needed a point from their trip to Ewood Park to be certain of automatic promotion. They did it the hard way, trailing to Ryoya Morishita's deflected 54th-minute strike before Bobby Thomas headed the priceless equaliser in the 84th minute. Having led the Championship table for much of the season, the Sky Blues have wrapped up their return to English football's elite with three games to spare.
"It was an incredible moment. This is what it's about," a tearful Lampard said in an emotional post-match interview.
"Coming here and getting a point at this stage isn't easy. We had to see it out and we didn't know whether to attack again.
"Doing this after 25 years? Wow! Wow!"
Backed by 7,500 raucous fans crammed into the Darwen End, Coventry were below their best for long periods of a nervous display.
But their performance will quickly be forgotten, replaced by life-long memories of the promotion party that followed Thomas' glancing header from Victor Torp's free-kick.
Supporters wept tears of joy when the final whistle announced their ascent to the Premier League.
"Amazing, amazing. I couldn't believe it when it went in," Thomas said. "It's been a hell of a season. I feel like we deserve it."
Now Lampard's men can set their sights on winning the Championship title, with second-placed Ipswich 11 points behind with five matches to play.
"This is a serious, serious football club. I grew up with them as a top flight club but I didn't realise," Lampard said.
"To go and get promotion automatically as a non-parachute team with three games to go. These boys have managed to achieve something special and unique."
Fittingly, Coventry's previous promotion to the top-flight in 1967 was also sealed at Blackburn when Rovers drew with Bolton.
That was the start of a 34-year spell in the top tier before relegation in 2001 sparked a steep decline.
Coventry plunged into the fourth tier for one season in 2017-18 and were even forced to play their home games in Northampton and Birmingham for three seasons due to a bitter legal battle between the club and their stadium's owners.
The 1987 FA Cup winners' rise back to prominence was initially piloted by Mark Robins, whose second spell in charge brought promotion from League Two and League One.
Losing the 2023 Championship play-off final against Luton stalled Coventry's momentum and eventually led to Robins' dismissal in 2024.
Hiring former England star Lampard as Robins' replacement proved an inspired move as he revived his career following sackings by Chelsea and Everton.
Lampard led Coventry away from the relegation zone in his first season before losing to Sunderland in the play-off semi-finals.
Fuelled by the pain of that near-miss, Coventry embarked on a relentless march to promotion.
A 7-1 demolition of QPR and a 5-3 win at Lampard's former club Derby in August established Coventry as the Championship's dominant force.
Jack Rudoni's assured presence in midfield, complemented by the goals of Haji Wright, Ellis Simms and Brandon Thomas-Asante, kept Coventry top of the pile as the promotion dream came true.
The Sky Blues' success has also reinvigorated the midlands city, according to Coventry's Lord Mayor Rachel Lancaster.
"It's huge for Coventry football club and the fans, but for Coventry itself as a city, this has been massive," she said.
Coventry owner Doug King added: "The fans have been starved of it for a long time and you can feel it.
"Twenty-five years is a huge amount of time. If you don't bounce back you feel like it's never going to happen.
"Getting out of this league is very difficult but we did it. We got the whole city together. I'm super proud of everybody."
- Agence-France Presse
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