Sport

Gujarat Titans have signed South African wicketkeeper-batter Connor Esterhuizen as a replacement for injured Tom Banton for IPL 2026, with the 24-year-old set to make his debut in the tournament after a strong international start

Ranveer Mitroo clinched the IGU Telangana Amateur Golf Championship with a bogey-free final round of 63, finishing at 13-under 267 for a three-shot win over Gulfam Hussain to secure his maiden amateur title

West Bengal defeated top-seeded Tamil Nadu 3-1 in the Under-19 girls’ team final at the UTT Inter-State National Table Tennis Championships, delivering a disciplined performance to secure the title after a closely contested match

Karnataka won the U13 ASMITA National Football League title, defeating hosts Punjab 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the final, completing a strong campaign that included wins over Rajasthan, Assam and Mizoram

The NRAI has announced year-long plans to mark its 75th anniversary, including introducing 7.5 lakh students to shooting and honouring top athletes, while highlighting India’s strong Olympic record in the sport

Shubhankar Sharma won the inaugural Boulders Classic in Hyderabad with a record 25-under 263, securing his seventh DP World PGTI title. He dominated the field, finishing eight shots ahead and ending a long wait for a professional victory

Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will miss the Uber Cup Finals 2026 in Denmark due to injury. Shruti Mishra and Priya Konjengbam have been named as replacements for the Indian team for the tournament

Delhi Capitals spinner Vipraj Nigam said his domestic and India A experience helped improve his game ahead of the IPL season. He expressed confidence in tackling Virat Kohli and highlighted strong team support despite recent losses

Eight-time Olympic medallist Usain Bolt appeared in the 2026 Royal Challengers Bengaluru jersey as part of PUMA’s #RCBEverywhere campaign. The initiative highlights global fan culture, with Bolt’s long-standing association with RCB and Virat Kohli strengthening the franchise’s global appeal.

Punjab Kings head coach Ricky Ponting emphasised creating a supportive team environment where players feel valued and empowered. Speaking after their win over Mumbai Indians, he highlighted role clarity and auction strategy as key to building a successful T20 unit.

BRS working president KT Rama Rao assured full support for Telangana athletes to compete internationally and stressed the need for a strong sports policy, while distributing prizes at the KCR Cricket Cup and promising improved infrastructure if the party returns to power

Alexander Zverev cruised into the Munich quarter-finals with a straight-sets win over Gabriel Diallo. He now faces a tough challenge against Francisco Cerundolo, while other players including Alex Molcan and Denis Shapovalov also advanced in the tournament

Lionel Messi has acquired Spanish fourth-tier club UE Cornellà, marking his entry into football ownership. The move reflects his focus on youth development and long-term investment in Catalonia, building on his legacy and connection with Barcelona

India and South Africa begin their T20I series in Durban, using it as vital preparation for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. With strong squads and recent form, both teams aim to fine-tune strategies ahead of the global event

India delivered an impressive performance at the US Open Pickleball Championship 2026, winning six medals including four golds. Arjun Singh and Aditya Singh led the charge with a gold, while Panth Thakkar and Atharva Sheth secured silver

Punjab Kings outclassed Mumbai Indians with a seven-wicket win, chasing down 196 comfortably. Prabhsimran Singh and Shreyas Iyer starred, while Quinton de Kock’s unbeaten century failed to prevent Mumbai’s fourth consecutive defeat in the tournament

Kolkata Knight Riders look to arrest a poor run of form as they face a confident Gujarat Titans in an IPL match. While KKR struggle with tactics and player form, Gujarat enter the contest with better balance and momentum

The Telangana Cricket Association has announced teams for the TCA T-20 Super League, starting April 20 in Warangal. Based on performances in the Telangana Gold Cup 2025-26 Inter-district League, six zonal teams will compete, followed by an inter-zonal summer league

The second phase of the Indian Women’s League 2025-26 will begin on April 27 in Kolkata, featuring 29 matches across two venues. Defending champions East Bengal FC lead the table, while Sesa FA and Kickstart FC face relegation battles

The Mumbai Cricket Association has introduced a Player Contract System, becoming the first in India to formalise such a structure. The initiative provides financial security, professional pathways, and graded contracts for players, reinforcing MCA’s commitment to nurturing talent and excellence

Deepak Yadav and Gulfam Hussain shared the lead at seven-under 203 after the third round of the IGU Telangana Amateur Golf Championship in Hyderabad. Just five golfers returned sub-par rounds as heat conditions affected play at the Hyderabad Golf Club

City College Old Boys Jr FC and SkyKings FC played out a two-all draw in the TFA C-Division Football League Championship in Hyderabad. Md Aman and Md Ali Kaseri scored for CCOB, while Touthuang and Haoikip netted for SkyKings

Hyderabad Cricket Association Administrator Justice (Retd) P. Naveen Rao announced a one-time relaxation of the upper age limit of 40 years for institutional players for the 2026–2027 season, following requests from stakeholders and a revision of earlier notification

A2H Chess Academy will conduct summer camps at three centres in Kukatpally from April 20 to June 10. Children aged four to 15 years can participate. Interested parents can contact S Subba Raju for further details