Punjab Kings pulled off the highest successful run chase in IPL history, hunting down 265 against Delhi Capitals in Delhi. But for Karun Nair, it was a night of missed opportunities and visible heartbreak. Nair endured a difficult outing in the field, dropping Shreyas Iyer twice in the space of four balls, errors that proved decisive in the context of the game.The first chance came on the final ball of the 15th over, when Vipraj Nigam induced a mistimed lofted shot from Iyer towards long-off. Nair settled under it comfortably but spilled what looked like a straightforward catch. The reaction said it all, Nigam dropped to the ground in disbelief, knowing a crucial opportunity had gone begging.Just four balls later, Iyer got another lifeline. On the second ball of the 16th over, Kuldeep Yadav deceived him with a wrongun. The ball took the top edge and ballooned towards long-on, but Nair, once again positioned perfectly, failed to hold on.After the second drop, Nair appeared visibly shaken, almost on the verge of tears, as Delhi let the game slip further away. Iyer made the most of his reprieves, playing a match-winning knock of 71 off 36 balls to guide Punjab Kings home with seven balls to spare, sealing a historic chase.Despite the costly errors, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin came out in strong support of Nair, offering a measured perspective on his struggles.Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said:"Let me tell you about Karun Nairs situation. When a player knows they aren't in the playing XI, they usually find out at least a day in advance. Players who are dropped or rested often hit the gym or do extra training on match days to stay fit, knowing the next day might be a travel day with late-night flights and limited practice time. So, maybe Karun Nair was mentally "switched off" though thats probably the wrong word, but he might have been fatigued from training. Im not making excuses, but for a substitute to suddenly step into the intensity of the game, these things can happen,'' Ashwin said. TheFakeFakeer (@TheFakeFakeer) ''He dropped one catch, and his confidence just plummeted after that. Karun is actually a fabulous fielder; Ive seen him be very reliable in first-class and red-ball cricket, especially in close-in positions. Ive rarely seen him drop catches like that, but today was just one of those days," Ashwin added. 130529390

Sanju Samson could not replicate his stunning century against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 on Saturday, yet he reached a momentous milestone

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Slot makes honest Isak admission after Palace breakthroughLiverpools victory over Crystal Palace brought a long-awaited moment for Alexander Isak, and Arne Slot made it clear afterwards just how significant that goal could be for us heading into the final weeks of the season.DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL EMPIRE OF THE KOP APP FOR ALL THE LATEST & BREAKING UPDATES STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ONAPPLE&GOOGLE PLAYThe Sweden international finally opened his Premier League account at Anfield, and while the finish itself was scrappy, the wider importance wasnt lost on our head coach.Slot admits Isak goal sums up Liverpool seasonSpeaking via Liverpoolfc.com after the match, Slot reflected on the unusual timing of the strikers first home league goal.Yeah, my first reaction would have been if you wouldnt have said the last part of your question. Did anyone ever think we would say this eight or nine months ago? [That at the] end of April to say that Alexander Isak scored his first [Premier League] goal for Liverpool at Anfield.The Dutchman used that stat to highlight the wider frustrations of our campaign, particularly the injuries that have disrupted key players.That sums up this season, of course, a lot. That an unbelievable striker has had such a long time with injuries, not being available to play and now scoring his goal.Its been a stop-start year for the 26-year-old forward, and Slot acknowledged that even when the former Newcastle man has been available, he hasnt always been at his best level.Thats why criticism has been aimed at the former Newcastle man but now its up to him to end the season strongly.Liverpool finally seeing Isak impactDespite those struggles, our boss was quick to underline why the club invested so heavily in the No.9.Its really nice that he scored one because when we signed him we knew he could score goals and thats what he showed today.That sentiment ties in with what we saw against Palace, with Isak himself explaining how he reacted instinctively to turn Alexis Mac Allisters effort into a goal, later admitting Ive been battling getting back to full fitness Im really happy.Slot also made an important tactical point about the nature of the finish, suggesting that not every goal needs to be perfect to change a game.Many times this season weve had better chances than we had today, thats why its also important to have players that can score also goals like this, because that can give you a big lift in a game.For us, thats arguably the biggest takeaway, because if Isak can now build momentum after a difficult campaign, it could be a major boost in securing Champions League football and heading into next season with renewed confidence.

Despite a brilliant 152 not out, KL Rahul's effort ended in disappointment as his team fell short in the contest against Punjab Kings.

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On Thursday evening, Akeal Hosein seemed to channel Dr. Doom at the Wankhede Stadium. The Chennai Super Kings left-arm spinner drew inspiration from his favourite Marvel Comics supervillain to wreak havoc on Mumbai Indians. His decisive spell of 4/17 dismantled MIs celebrated batting order with control and precision.Former India spinner Venkatapathy Raju was effusive in his praise. He is a specialist who relishes bowling in the Powerplay. With over 250 wickets in this format, it comes down to subtle variations in pace and clever use of lengths. Batters are not able to read him, Raju told TOI.That deception and guile were evident early. Batters usually brace for Hoseins arm ball in the Powerplay. But on a gripping Wankhede pitch, the spinner from Laventille, Trinidad, flipped the script and slowed it up, teasing MI opener Danish Malewar to find the outside edge.His real weapon is the way he uses the crease, Raju explained. From wide of it, he generates drift even with the new ball. It creates angles to bring it in or take it away, without any visible change in action.It was this clever manipulation that foxed MIs No.3 Naman Dhir. Hosein opened with an arm ball that nearly breached Dhirs defences. He followed it up with a slower delivery and then bowled one that gripped and turned at 90.6 kmph. Dhir was beaten.Hosein wasnt done. He conned Tilak Varma with a scrambled seam variation, and Suryakumar Yadav was the final piece in his carefully constructed puzzle. Throughout the evening, MI batters were second-guessing Hosein, unsure of his pace, lengths and trajectory.In this format, variation and intelligence are everything, Raju added. As a left-arm spinner myself, I feel happy to see Hosein bowling so well.For Hosein, who turned 33 on Saturday, the cricketing intelligence was forged while growing up in Laventille, a crime-scarred Port-of-Spain suburb. It was a tough neighbourhood marked by gang wars, where survival demands you to think on your feet.Before he turned 16, Hosein debuted for Queens Park Cricket Club, an institution steeped in history, once largely inaccessible to people from his background.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi shed light on his chat with opening partner and senior marksman Yashasvi Jaiswal ahead of their clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

LUCKNOW: After being in and out of the playing XI in previous seasons, securing a permanent role in KKRs lineup has boosted Anukul Roys confidence sky-high, as the all-rounder appears more focused and eager to perform when his team is under pressure due to inconsistent results.Roy said the continuity has made him feel good, adding that confidence grows when a player knows he is part of the teams plans.On KKRs overall campaign, Roy admitted the teams performance has not been up to expectations. He said the side has not been able to execute its plans at the desired level, though results in cricket can fluctuate.He also said the teams first win gave the squad a major confidence boost. According to Roy, the victory was important for morale, with players enjoying the moment after a difficult phase.Roy added that the last few days, including two days off and practice sessions, have helped the team regroup as it looks to improve its performances in the matches ahead.Speaking about his own approach, Roy said the key for domestic players is to stick to what has worked for them before and stay mentally clear. He stressed that performance improves when players remain calm, both on and off the field, and focus only on the teams requirements.Roy added that the idea is to avoid overthinking and give 100% in whatever role the team asks of them, as that helps keep the mind clear and allows players to perform better under pressure.On Matheesha Pathirana, Roy said the Sri Lankan pacer is currently practicing with the squad, and a final decision on his inclusion will be taken at the toss. Pathirana, KKRs Rs 18-crore signing, is in line to make his debut for the franchise and could strengthen an attack that has lacked penetration.

Jeremiah Smith headlines the list, while Arch Manning cracks top five but isn't QB1

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif described KL Rahul's unbeaten 152 as a vintage effort but said the pain of defeat would overshadow the brilliance of the innings after Delhi Capitals (DC) went down to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a record-breaking chase in IPL 2026.