Sports

Mumbai, April 29 (IANS) Besides two-time Olympic medallist Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Yadav, Sachin Yadav, and Sahil Silwal will be the other Indian participants in the inaugural Neeraj Chopra Classic (NC Classic) 2025 javelin throw championship, which will be held on May 24 in Bengaluru.

These four Indian javelin throwers including Chopra will be competing against some field that includes two-time world champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, Rio 2016 Olympic gold medallist Thomas Rohler of Germany, and Kenya’s Julius Yego - the 2015 world champion and Rio 2016 silver medallist. India's other representatives for the NC Classic 2025 were revealed by the organisers via an Instagram post on Tuesday.

"India, here’s your homegrown contingent for the #NCClassic2025! The full list of confirmed Indian javelin throwers for the inaugural edition of the #NeerajChopraClassic is out! Stay tuned as they take the runway in Bengaluru. @sachin_javelin_, @rohit_yadav, @sahil_silwal," said the post.

Sachin Yadav and Sahil Silwal had finished with the gold and bronze medals at the Federation Cup 2025 athletics meet, while Rohit Yadav, who qualified for the 2023 World Championships but couldn't compete in Budapest due to an injury, is on the comeback trail after his recovery and has done well recently.

Classified as a WA ‘A’ category or Continental Tour Gold-level meet, the NC Classic will be the highest-tier international athletics event ever hosted in India to date. The event is co-organized by Neeraj Chopra, JSW Sports, the Athletics Federation of India (AFI), and World Athletics (WA) and will be held at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.

The Tokyo Olympic Games gold medallist, Paris Olympics silver medallist, and the reigning World Champion Neeraj Chopra will be the top attraction in the one-day event named after him.

The line-up also includes Pan American Games champion Curtis Thompson of the USA, who is the current world leader, and Japan’s Genki Dean, Brazil’s Luiz Mauricio da Silva, and Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage.

Neeraj Chopra had also invited Pakistan's Paris Olympic Games gold medallist Arshad Nadeem, but he decided to skip the event because of the escalating political tensions following the terrorist attack on tourists by Pakistan-supported terrorists.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) The internet erupted on Monday night as 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi etched his name by scoring the fastest century by an Indian in IPL history. The cricketing fraternity, including the previous holder of the record Yusuf Pathan, took to social media to praise the youngster on his incredible night.

What was even more eye dropping that he scored 94 of his 101 runs through boundaries with 11 sixes and seven fours to his name. His 166-run stand alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal earned a eight-wicket victory for Rajasthan Royals over Gujarat Titans at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.

“Many congratulations to young #VaibhavSuryavanshi for breaking my record of the fastest @IPL hundred by an Indian! Even more special to see it happen while playing for @rajasthanroyals, just like I did. There’s truly something magical about this franchise for youngsters. Long way to go, champ!

"Vaibhav Suryavanshi, what an incredible talent..Scoring a century at just 14 is unreal. Keep shining brother .... #IPLCentury #vaibhavsuryavanshi,” posted India fast bowler Mohammed Shami

Suryavanshi’s 101-run innings, which saw him smash 11 massive sixes and seven boundaries, saw him surpassed Manish Pandey (19y 253d), Rishabh Pant ( 20y 218 d) and Devdutt Padikkal ( 20y 289d) to shatter the record of the youngest centurion in tournament history as he did it at the age of 14 years 32 days.

“What were you doing at 14?!! This kid is taking on the best bowlers in the world without blinking an eyelid! Vaibhav Suryavanshi — remember the name! Playing with a fearless attitude. Proud to see the next generation shine! #VaibhavSuryavanshi #GTvsRR,” posted Yuvraj Singh.

‘14 yr old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has bludgeoned an IPL century in 2025 off 35 deliveries. Remarkable,” posted Ian Bishop.

Vaibhav’s innings was such that even one of the greatest Indian cricketers in India history, Sachin Tendulkar laid out the youngster’s recipe to success.

“Vaibhav’s fearless approach, bat speed, picking the length early, and transferring the energy behind the ball was the recipe behind a fabulous innings. End result: 101 runs off 38 balls,’ posted Tendulkar.

--IANS

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Jaipur, April 28 (IANS) Vaibhav Suryavanshi, a player who has been breaking records since his name was pulled out of the bag during the 2024 IPL Mega Auction. Despite acquiring his services for a whopping Rs 1.1 crore, no one expected the Rajasthan Royals to play him, let alone for him to score the fastest century by an Indian in IPL history.

His 35-ball ton propelled the Rajasthan Royals to a massive eight wicket victory as the home team at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium became the fastest team to chase down a score of 200+ as they ran down the 210 run target in 15.5 overs with 25 balls.

Although Suryavanshi showed he has a deep arsenal of cricketing shots, he was not a man of many words, and understandably so after having put the entire country on notice at this age. He talked about how he is not afraid of taking on big names

“It is a very good feeling. It's my first hundred in the IPL and it's my third innings. The result is shown here after the practice before the tournament. I just see the ball and play. Batting with Jaiswal is good, he tells me what to do and he infuses positive things. It has been a dream to get a 100 in the IPL and today it materialised. There is no fear. I don't think much, I just focus on playing,” said Suryavanshi after the match.

Suryavanshi’s 101-run innings, which saw him smash 11 massive sixes and seven boundaries, saw him surpassed Manish Pandey (19y 253d), Rishabh Pant ( 20y 218 d) and Devdutt Padikkal ( 20y 289d) to shatter the record of the youngest centurion in tournament history as he did it at the age of 14 years 32 days.

It is also the second fastest century in the tournament, behind only Chris Gayle who did it in 30 deliveries, and the fastest century by an Indian, surpassing Yusuf Pathan's record of 37 deliveries

--IANS

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Jaipur, April 28 (IANS) Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s historic century, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal’s unbeaten 70 saw Rajasthan Royals register an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans, in match 47, of the Indian Premier League 2025 at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Monday.

The home side scored 212/2 in 15.5 overs and heavily boosted their net-run-rate as they won with 25 balls to spare.

Suryavanshi’s 101-run innings, which saw him smash 11 massive sixes and seven boundaries, saw him surpassed Manish Pandey (19y 253d), Rishabh Pant ( 20y 218 d) and Devdutt Padikkal ( 20y 289d) to shatter the record of the youngest centurion in tournament history as he did it at the age of 14 years 32 days. It is also the second fastest century in the tournament, behind only Chris Gayle who did it in 30 deliveries, and the fastest century by an Indian, surpassing Yusuf Pathan's record of 37 deliveries

It seemed Gujarat were on top in the game given the brilliant 84-run innings by Shubman Gill with a half-century by Jos Buttler perfectly complimenting the 39-run quick-start set by Sai Sudharsan in the first innings to rack a total of 209/4.

While chasing 210 against GT, Suryavanshi got off the mark with a six off Mohammed Siraj in the first over. Things could have been very different for the Royals when Jaiswal skied a short ball which was heading towards point. Jos Buttler’s horrid run at wicket-keeping continued as he called for the ball and was unable to latch onto it. Jaiswal responded with a six on the final delivery of the over.

Suryavanshi was ready to attack and tried to skin the leather off the ball against veteran Ishant Sharma when he hammered the fast-bowler for 28 runs in the fourth over with three sixes and two fours alongside a few extras. He continued the rampage to smash Washington Sundar for two sixes before reaching the 50-run milestone with a four.

Suryavanshi then proceeded to stamp his authority on GT debutant Karim Janat by smashing him for three fours and three sixes for a 30-run 10th over.

While Suryavanshi had produced an innings that left the fans in awe, Jaiswal quietly raced to a 31-ball half-century. The duo raised a 166-run stand, the highest for any wicket in RR history.

Suryavanshi’s show came to an end when Prasidh Krishna connected with a yorker which castled straight into the stumps. Despite racking the century, Suryavanshi left the pitch in tears showcasing both his freshness to the game and mindset of wanting to finish the game for his side.

Nitish Rana (4) added a slither of doubt to RR fans mind, as he was dismissed for LBW on just his second delivery by Rashid Khan, who was captaining the side in place of Gill who did not come out to field for the second innings.

The dangerous top order of Shubman Gill (84), Sai Sudharsan (39) and Jos Buttler (50*) continued their terrific form as GT scored 209/4 in 20 overs.

For the Rajasthan Royals, Maheesh Theekshana was the main pick of the bowlers and grabbed two important scalps.

Although a big total was always on the books with the dangerous opening pair of Gill and Sudharsan at the crease, RR had a chance to get an early breakthrough with the latter having holed out straight to Shimron Hetmeyer off Maheesh Theekshana but was dropped in the second over.

Gill and Sudharsan raced to 53/0 at the end of the powerplay, taking turns carving boundaries. Gill went on to raise his fourth half-century of the season in 29 deliveries.

Sudharsan was nearing his sixth fifty of the season, after having reclaimed the orange cap, when Theekshana finally got his man in the 11th over. A fuller delivery saw the left-hander try and clear the long on boundary but was not able to get the needed elevation and hit it straight to Parag,

With Buttler now at the crease, Gill accelerated the innings in sublime fashion. He started off by punishing Sandeep Sharma’s full-toss for six and followed it with two sixes off Yudhvir, both over deep square leg, with a flick and a pull shot.

Gill’s quest for his fifth IPL ton was thwarted by Theekshana when he was dismissed in similar fashion to Sudharsan after the skipper found Parag while trying to hit a low full toss for six.

Buttler and Washington Sundar (13) claimed a six each off Jofra Archer in the 18th over before the latter was dismissed by Sandeep Sharma in the penultimate over. Archer got his lone scalp of the night in the form of Rahul Tewatia by LBW. Buttler raised his fourth half-century off the campaign in 26 deliveries with a double off the final delivery as Gujarat reached 209/4 in 20 overs.

Brief Score: Gujarat Titans 209/4 in 20 overs ( Shubman Gill 84, Jos Buttler 50 not out; Maheesh Theekshana 2-35, Sandeep Sharma 1-33) lost to Rajasthan Royals 212/2 in 15.5 overs (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 101, Yashasvi Jaiswal 70 not out; Rashid Khan 1-24, Prasidh Krishna 1-47) by eight-wickets

--IANS

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Bengaluru, April 28 (IANS) In a landmark moment for inclusive sports in India, the Pan-Disability Indian Cricket was officially announced on Monday. The spirit of cricket takes a powerful and inclusive leap forward as the India vs Sri Lanka Physical Disability (Standing) T20 Cricket Series prepares to kick off at the Kini Sports Arena, Bengaluru, from April 29 to May 5.

This first-of-its-kind bilateral series marks a significant moment in the evolution of adaptive sports in South Asia, placing the spotlight on athletes who personify determination, skill, and perseverance.

Organised under the guidance of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India (DCCI), this prestigious series brings together two cricket-loving nations to celebrate the unyielding human spirit and athletic excellence of physically disabled cricketers. Wilspoke Sports and Entertainment proudly hosts this landmark event, reinforcing its commitment to fostering inclusive platforms in the sporting world.

This T20 series will feature elite athletes with physical disabilities (standing category) representing India and Sri Lanka in a multi-match format. The competition promises to be both fierce and inspiring, offering fans a compelling display of high-level cricket driven by unmatched resilience.

“It’s a privilege to be part of this historic series, representing our nation on such a meaningful platform. This is more than just cricket—it’s a celebration of resilience, inclusion, and the power of sport to unite. I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to Ravi Kant Chauhan and Squadron Leader Abhai Pratap Singh for their incredible efforts in bringing Wilspoke on board and making this series possible. I also want to thank Jay Shah for his invaluable support throughout our journey. We’re ready, focused, and proud to wear the Indian jersey,” said India captain Ravindra Sante.

Speaking on the occasion, Ravi Kant Chauhan, Secretary of the Differently Abled Cricket Council of India said, "It gives me immense pride to witness the historic India-Sri Lanka Bilateral T20 Series for cricketers with physical disability (standing) being hosted by Wilspoke at the Kini Sports Arena, Bengaluru. This remarkable event stands as a beacon of resilience, perseverance, and the unifying power of sport. It reflects the limitless spirit of athletes who, through their passion and determination, inspire millions. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the organizers and participating teams and wish for a successful, memorable series that will leave a lasting legacy for the future of inclusive sports."

--IANS

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Jaipur, April 28 (IANS) Vaibhav Suryavanshi completely stole the show at Sawai Mansingh Stadium as he became the youngest player to score century in the history of Indian Premier League (IPL) in 35-balls against Gujarat Titans.

Suryavanshi (14y 32d) surpassed Manish Pandey (19y 253d), Rishabh Pant ( 20y 218 d) and Devdutt Padikkal ( 20y 289d) to shatter the record. It is also the second fastest century in the tournament, behind only Chris Gayle who did it in 30 deliveries, and the fastest century by an Indian, surpassing Yusuf Pathan's record of 37 deliveries

While chasing 210 against GT, Suryavanshi was ready to attack and tried to skin the leather off the ball against veteran Ishant Sharma when he hammered the fast-bowler for 28 runs in the fourth over with three sixes and two fours alongside a few extras. He continued the rampage to smash Washington Sundar for two sixes before reaching the 50-run milestone with a four.

He then proceeded to stamp his authority on GT debutant Karim Janat by smashing him for three fours and three sixes for a 30-run 10th over as fielders turned spectators with 11 sixes to his name in total. His innings came to an end at 101 after being bowled by Prasidh Krishna.

Vaibhav is also the youngest player to play in the IPL. The record was previously held by Prayas Ray Barman (played for RCB) who made his debut at the age of 16 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2019.

Last year, Vaibhav had become the youngest player ever to be bought at an IPL auction when he was acquired by Rajasthan Royals for INR 1.1 crore. His sensational 2024 season saw him excel both domestically and internationally.

Born on March 27, 2011, in Bihar, Vaibhav made his first-class debut for Bihar in January 2024, at just 12 years and 284 days old. During his debut, Vaibhav scored 71 off 42 balls against Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25, becoming the youngest Indian to score a List-A fifty.

On the international stage, Vaibhav set the record for the fastest youth Test century by an Indian, scoring a blazing 58-ball ton against Australia in Chennai. He also played a pivotal role in India’s run to the ACC U19 Asia Cup final, contributing two crucial half-centuries.

--IANS

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Liverpool, April 28 (IANS) Liverpool captain Virgil Van Dijk revealed he was ‘desperate’ to win the Premier League title for ‘the most beautiful club in the world’ after The Reds secured their 20th League title with a 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.

The Dutch defender recently signed a contract-extension with the club and will stay in Merseyside till 2027.

"This is the most beautiful club in the world. We deserve this. We are going to enjoy the next couple of weeks and take it in. I was desperate to win it for them [the fans] and all the fans around the world, and for us as well.We have won two Premier League trophies in five years,"̧ said Van Dijk to Sky Sports.

The triumph is the club’s second during the Premier League era, following that of 2019-20, and overall moves Liverpool level for the most English top-flight titles alongside Manchester United.

It also represents a 52nd major men’s honour in Reds history, with this the eighth secured during the past six years.

Liverpool will be officially presented with the Premier League trophy when they host Crystal Palace at Anfield on the final day of the season, Sunday May 25.

The whole league was shocked at the surprise appointment of Arne Slot ahead of the season but the Dutch head coach lived up to the name and guided them to their second title in the Premier League era.

Slot stated there was no way his side was going to lose with the League title within grasp and appreciated predecessor Jurgen Klopp for his contribution to the team.

“It feels great. I don’t think I want to say a lot. The only thing now is to send my appreciation to Jurgen Klopp. The way we arrived on the bus, everyone was thinking there is no way we were going to lose this game. Conceding first made it difficult, but they always find a way to win.

“Incredibly proud, but not only of the players. Everyone knows what effort they’ve put in over the last few years. Everyone standing here, you [the fans] should give them a wonderful applause as well. Let’s forget that it’s the second [title] in 35 years, it’s the second in five years,” said Slot.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Ardent fans in New Delhi wished for a grand Virat Kohli homecoming and a win for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). To their delight, both happened on a hot Sunday evening, though Krunal Pandya’s all-round heroics stood out, as RCB beat Delhi Capitals by six wickets to go on top of IPL 2025 points table at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

On a two-paced RCB’s bowlers, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 3-33, Josh Hazlewood’s 2-36 and a stifling act by Krunal and Suyash Sharma combining for 1-50 in eight overs, restricted DC to a below-par 162/8, the lowest first innings total here in IPL since 2024. They were in trouble at 108/4 in 15 overs, before Tristan Stubbs’ 34 off 18 balls lifted them past 160-mark.

In reply, RCB were quickly in tatters at 26/3. But Krunal stepped up to shake off his early rustiness and smashed a brilliant 73 off 47 balls, laced with five fours and four sixes. He was well-supported by a 47-ball 51 from Kohli, who hit his sixth fifty of the season, as the duo shared a match-winning 119-run stand for the fourth wicket.

It was a partnership strategised well, where Pandya was the aggressor, while Kohli was happy being the anchor. Tim David finished off the chase with an unbeaten 21 off five balls to ensure RCB maintained its clean slate in away games and run-chases in this season.

DC had a blazing start, thanks to Abishek Porel’s quick 11-ball 28. From the word go, Porel was at his sweetest best in timing the ball – as seen from flicking Bhuvneshwar for four, before slogging for six, and a gorgeous pick-up sweep giving him another maximum.

But Hazlewood ended Porel’s blitz by having him glove the pull to the keeper on a short ball angled down leg. With Faf du Plessis struggling to find fluency, DC lost Karun Nair, who top-edged a pull on an angled across delivery from Dayal to mid-wicket. With Suyash and Krunal bowling stump to stump lines and getting some grip off the pitch, RCB managed to dry up big runs for DC.

It worked when du Plessis’s struggle ended with him holing out to long-on off Krunal. From there, KL Rahul and Axar Patel joined forces to rebuild DC’s innings. Rahul was quick to pounce on slightest of errors – using depth of crease to take a four each off Suyash and Yash Dayal on both sides of the wicket, before hocking Hazlewood over backward square leg for another boundary.

On the other hand, Axar, despite missing some balls off Suyash, scooped him for four, before lofting Krunal over mid-wicket for six. But Hazlewood gave DC a big blow by going past Axar’s swipe across the line, and knocking over his middle stump. After Axar’s fall, Suyash and Krunal bowled two more boundary-less overs, thus increasing pressure on DC.

That pressure intensified in the 17th over when Bhuvneshwar had Rahul holing out to long-off, while impact player Ashutosh Sharma was castled by a leg-cutter. Stubbs injected some momentum by scooping and lofting Hazlewood for fours, while Vipraj Nigam ramped him over third man for six in a 17-run 18th over.

Stubbs continued to amaze by drilling Dayal down the ground twice for fours, before switch-hitting him for six in the 19th over yielding. Though Bhuvneshwar took out Stubbs in the final over, the batter did manage to take DC past 160, which was always a below-par total.

Jacob Bethell gave a bright start to RCB’s chase by flicking Mitchell Starc for a six and a four on consecutive balls in the second over. But Bethell was removed by Axar Patel, as he miscued a pull to diving deep mid-wicket. Two balls later, Axar struck again by castling impact player Devdutt Padikkal, before skipper Rajat Patidar was run-out by a direct hit from Nair, leaving RCB in trouble at 26/3.

DC’s squeeze in power-play didn’t allow Kohli and Pandya to break free. But sfter the half-way mark, Kohli showed signs of aggression by pulling Kuldeep Yadav for four, before Pandya, who previously took a four off Vipraj Nigam on a no-ball, whipped Dushmantha Chameera for six.

With Kohli content in strike rotation, Pandya shrugged off his rusty self by dealing exclusively in sixes - swivelling and lofting Mukesh Kumar for consecutive maximums, before lofting Kuldeep over long-off. Pandya brought up his fifty off 38 balls by sweeping Axar’s last ball of the day for four, before being dropped on 54 by Abishek Porel at deep mid-wicket.

Kohli later brought up his sixth fifty of this season off 45 balls with a single, which also brought up the century of his game-defining stand with Pandya, who then flicked and sliced Mukesh Kumar for consecutive fours.

Though Kohli fell after lofting to long-off against Chameera, David swung Mukesh for a six and a four, including off a no-ball, before slicing and heaving on consecutive deliveries to seal a fabulous win for RCB with nine balls to spare, much to the delight of fans in the national capital.

Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 162/8 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 41, Tristan Stubbs 34; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3-33, Josh Hazlewood 2-36) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 165/4 in 18.3 overs (Krunal Pandya 73 not out, Virat Kohli 51; Axar Patel 2-19, Dushmantha Chameera 1-24) by six wickets

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, April 27 (IANS) Jamshedpur FC secured a hard-fought semi-final spot in Kalinga Super Cup 2025 after edging NorthEast United FC 5-4 in a dramatic quarter-final penalty-shootout at the Kalinga Stadium on Sunday. The match had ended in a stalemate after regulation time, forcing a nervy penalty shootout that went into sudden death.

Jamshedpur have proven to be a thorn in Juan Pedro Benali’s side after having been knocked out of the ISL Playoffs with a 2-0 win on March 30.

Khalid Jamil’s men showed great composure under pressure, even after Jordan Murray and Stephen Eze missed during the initial set of five penalties. NorthEast United had their own share of troubles, with Guillermo Fernandez and Michel Zabaco missing their early attempts. Despite rallying to tie the shootout at 3-3, NorthEast faltered in sudden death when Asheer Akhtar skied his shot, while Ashutosh Mehta and Lazar Cirkovic converted for Jamshedpur.

The win sets up a semi-final clash between Jamshedpur FC and Mumbai City FC on Wednesday, April 30.

The match itself was a tactical battle, with both coaches adopting a cautious approach from the outset. With attacking threats such as Alaaeddine Ajaraie, Nestor Albiach, and Guillermo Fernandez for NorthEast, and Javier Hernandez Gonzalez, Javier Siverio and Jordan Murray for Jamshedpur, defensive discipline was paramount.

The first half saw few clear-cut chances as both sides focussed on closing down space and maintaining shape. The first notable opportunity came for NorthEast United in the 15th minute, when Ajaraie’s thunderous free-kick from 32 yards was palmed away by Albino Gomes, ensuring the scores stayed level.

Jamshedpur also had their moments, with Hernandez and Siverio linking up well, but they failed to seriously trouble Gurmeet Singh in the NorthEast goal.

The pattern continued in the second half, with both teams struggling to break down stubborn defences. Jithin MS came closest for NorthEast with a well-struck volley from 21 yards that whistled just past the post, while Siverio and Murray were repeatedly denied by Gurmeet’s safe handling.

Substitutions were made by both managers to try and inject fresh impetus, but they largely failed to influence proceedings, and the stalemate persisted until the final whistle.

In the resulting shootout, it became a test of nerves. After the early misses from both sides, the tie-breaker was forced into sudden death. Thoi Singh Huidrom briefly kept NorthEast United’s hopes alive with a composed finish, but when Asheer Akhtar blazed his effort over the bar, Jamshedpur had the last laugh.

--IANS

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New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Krunal Pandya and Virat Kohli overcame their struggles of timing and momentum to smash fifties each and help Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) go on top of points table after beating Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.

After RCB’s bowlers, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 3-33, Josh Hazlewood’s 2-36 and a stifling act by Krunal and Suyash Sharma, restricted DC to a below-par 162/8 on a two-paced pitch, the side were quickly in tatters at 26/3. But Krunal stepped up to smash a brilliant 73 off 47 balls, laced with five fours and four sixes.

He was well-supported by a 47-ball 51 from Kohli, as the duo shared a 119-run stand for the fourth wicket. Tim David finished off the chase with an unbeaten 21 off five balls to ensure RCB maintained its clean slate in away games and run-chases in this season.

Jacob Bethell gave a bright start to RCB’s chase by flicking Mitchell Starc for a six and a four on consecutive balls in the second over. But Bethell was removed by Axar Patel, as he miscued a pull to deep mid-wicket. Two balls later, Axar struck again by castling impact player Devdutt Padikkal, before skipper Rajat Patidar was run-out by a direct hit from Nair, leaving RCB in trouble at 26/3.

DC’s squeeze in power-play didn’t allow Kohli and Pandya to break free. But after the half-way mark, Kohli showed signs of aggression by pulling Kuldeep Yadav for four, before Pandya, who previously took a four off Vipraj Nigam on a no-ball, whipped Dushmantha Chameera for six.

With Kohli content in strike rotation, Pandya shrugged off his rusty self by dealing exclusively in sixes - swivelling and lofting Mukesh Kumar for consecutive maximums, before lofting Kuldeep over long-off. Pandya brought up his fifty off 38 balls by sweeping Axar’s last ball of the day for four, before being dropped on 54 by Abishek Porel at deep mid-wicket.

Kohli later brought up his sixth fifty of this season off 45 balls with a single, which also brought up the century of his game-defining stand with Pandya, who then flicked and sliced Mukesh Kumar for consecutive fours. Though Kohli fell after lofting to long-off against Chameera, David swung Mukesh for a six and a four, including off a no-ball, before slicing and heaving on consecutive deliveries to seal a fabulous win for RCB with nine balls to spare.

Brief Scores: Delhi Capitals 162/8 in 20 overs (KL Rahul 41, Tristan Stubbs 34; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3-33, Josh Hazlewood 2-36) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru 165/4 in 18.3 overs (Krunal Pandya 73 not out, Virat Kohli 51; Axar Patel 2-19, Dushmantha Chameera 1-24) by six wickets

--IANS

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