I will urge the new Sports Minister to organise National Games in Ben…

Meghalaya will host the 39th National Games in February-March 2027. It will be the first time the aforesaid state will host this premier multi-sporting event. Even Uttarakhand hosted the previous edition in 2025. But Bengal, under two previous governments, has not held the National Games. Now with BJP coming into power in the state for the first time, staging the National Games could be a distant possibility. sportnewz.click

In an interaction with RevSportz, Bengal Olympic Association (BOA) President Chandan Roy Choudhury said, “I am very hopeful because the double-engine promise is in place. I believe we can organise the National Games. Our neighbouring states like Jharkhand and Odisha have already hosted them.

“This is a good opportunity, as both the state and central governments are aligned in their thinking. If we can organise the National Games, it will improve sporting infrastructure and give a significant boost to sports in Bengal. The last National Games was held in Uttarakhand. I was there for 15 days and saw how the state enhanced its sports facilities,” he added.

He also observed, “I will urge the new sports minister that we must aim to organise the National Games. The moment we do that; infrastructure will improve automatically. The central government is spending a significant amount of money on sports. ₹500 crores have been allocated for manufacturing sports goods in India, and we can be a part of that initiative.

“Additionally, Khelo India has a budget of over ₹900 crores. Since we are aiming to host the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games, we have a great opportunity to develop young talent for 2030 and 2036. I regularly visit Ahmedabad for meetings, including this month. I have seen how they are improving their sports infrastructure and facilities. There is also immense potential to improve in Paralympic sports and bring laurels to the state,” he noted.

In terms of overall growth of sports, states like Haryana, Maharashtra and Haryana have left Bengal far behind. The overall sporting scenario of Bengal portrayed a sorry state of affairs under the previous regime.

“If I tell you honestly, states like Odisha, Haryana, and Maharashtra have developed like anything because of their infrastructure along with the coaches. If you do not have good coaches, you cannot improve. That is where Bengal was lacking,” he said.

On being asked, with BJP coming into power, what can be expected with regard to sports in Bengal, he said, “Change is always for the better. A shift in the political scenario brings new policies, fresh ideas, and renewed hope. I believe that collaboration between the state and the central government will create new opportunities for players, officials, and infrastructure development. Sports is no longer just a child’s play; it has become a viable career option for many.”

Incentives and rewards are very important for drawing the young generation to take up sports. “The Indian government has invested over ₹900 crore in the Khelo India initiative. However, under the previous state administration, participation in Khelo India remained limited.

“This presents a strong opportunity for the younger generation, especially with the introduction of Khelo India schools, which can open up new pathways in sports. Incentives also play a crucial role today—states like Haryana, Maharashtra, and Odisha have set examples by offering substantial cash rewards to Olympic and Asian Games medal winners.”

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The post I will urge the new Sports Minister to organise National Games in Bengal: BOA President Chandan Roy Choudhury appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.

Sunrisers Hyderabad will be eyeing to go to the top of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) points table with a win against current table-toppers Punjab Kings on Wednesday. The team’s balance in their previous game against KKR was disrupted due to the absence of Nitish Kumar Reddy and the effect of that was felt as they succumbed to a 7-wicket defeat. Now, at a stage when winning every game will be crucial to determine where SRH will finish, NKR could come back to the side in the game against PBKS, giving the team a much-needed boost both in the batting and bowling units.

Predicted SRH playing XI vs PBKS

Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan (WK), Heinrich Klaasen, Salil Arora, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (C), Harsh Dubey, Sakib Hussain, Harshal Patel
Impact player: Ehsan Malinga

Nitish Reddy, the team’s go-to Indian all-rounder, missed the previous game against KKR due to an illness. The Andhra star has 198 runs from 8 innings, with a highest score of 56 runs in IPL 2026. While he does provide stability to the team’s middle-order at a time of a top-order collapse, his contribution has been majorly with the ball, serving as a go-to pacer for the side. Reddy has taken 6 wickets from 9 matches in IPL 2026, having bowled 126 balls and conceded 228 runs. He hasn’t been economical in this season, going at over 10. But, NKR will be needed by the team to bolster their pace unit which will be spearheaded by captain Pat Cummins and will comprise of Sakib Hussain and Harshal Patel.

Patel is expected to retain his place in the side, which means Praful Hinge will unfortunately have to miss out. The veteran pacer was given just 2 overs in the game against KKR where he conceded 17 runs. While he has played four games for SRH in this season, and has conceded 111 runs from 58 balls, he is yet to take a wicket. However, his familiarity with the surface at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad coupled with his ability to navigate through tough times in the middle and death overs will allow Pat Cummins to think of having him in the playing XI, especially against a formidable Punjab Kings unit.

Ehsan Malinga could be used as an impact player in order to add more firepower to the team’s fast bowling department. Harsh Dubey could remain the sole spinner in the side, given that the surface in Hyderabad hasn’t been kind to spinners, and has rather helped batters dominate them until now in IPL 2026. The last time the two sides played, PBKS handed SRH a 6-wicket thrashing. SRH would want to exact revenge in the reverse fixture.

The post Predicted SRH playing XI vs PBKS: Nitish Reddy returns, Harshal Patel to keep Praful Hinge out appeared first on Inside Sport India.

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a reverse fixture on May 7 in the Indian Premier League 2026. The match is set to be played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

LSG find themselves at the bottom of the points table, managing just two wins from nine matches so far. With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, they will be eager to deliver a strong performance and register their third win of the season.

In contrast, RCB are placed second on the table with six wins from nine outings. After a recent setback, they will be keen to bounce back, secure their seventh victory, and further solidify their position in the standings.

LSG vs RCB Match Details

LSG vs RCB Head to Head record

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow: Pitch Report

The surface in Lucknow has traditionally favoured bowlers, particularly due to its slow nature. In the current season, matches at this venue have typically produced scores in the 140-160 range. The pitch is known to grip, offering assistance to bowlers who maintain disciplined lines and consistent lengths. That said, batters can still play a crucial role if they adapt well to the conditions.

LSG vs RCB Predicted Playing XIs

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):

Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav

Impact Player: Manimaran Siddharth

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB):

Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (C), Jitesh Sharma (WK), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood

Impact Player: Rasikh Salam Dar

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LSG vs RCB: Probable Best Performers of the Match

Probable Best Batter: Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli could prove to be a key figure for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in this clash. The experienced opener has been in fine form, scoring 379 runs in nine matches and providing consistency at the top of the order. The slow nature of the pitch suits Kohli’s style of play. The right-handed batter is known for his ability to anchor the innings and rotate strike efficiently and can adapt well to challenging conditions.

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Probable Best Bowler: Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been one of the standout performers this season, leading the wicket-taking charts with 17 wickets in nine matches. His ability to maintain tight lines and extract movement makes him a constant threat to batters. Known for his control and variations, Bhuvneshwar’s spells are often difficult to score against. If he finds his rhythm early, Bhuvneshwar could once again emerge as the pick of the bowlers in this contest.

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Today's Match Prediction: Royal Challengers Bengaluru to win the match

Mohammed Shami's brother, Mohammed Kaif, has been accused of having dumped a woman without any kind of closure after having promised marriage in a three-year-long relationship. The accusations are yet to be confirmed or denied by the cricketer.

Mohammed Shami himself has been facing legal trouble over all these years due to the marriage with his former wife and the court case around the fixation of an alimony sum. There's another major scandal building around his brother.

Key Points

• Mohammed Shami’s brother Mohammed Kaif has faced allegations from a woman over an alleged relationship dispute
• The woman claimed Kaif promised marriage during a three-year relationship
• She alleged Kaif later distanced himself without giving closure
• Mohammed Kaif has not publicly responded so far

Mohammed Shami's brother faces relationship allegations; Woman claims marriage promises were repeatedly delayed

Mohammed Shami's younger brother, Mohammed Kaif, has been accused of being in a relationship with a girl named Mehvish, as she claimed that despite being in a three-year-long relationship with the cricketer, he didn't give any clarity over their marriage.

Having met through a mutual friend, they were in a relationship for over three years and also claimed that it had reached an extent where they were serious about marriage. Mehvish then alleged Kaif kept delaying the marriage, citing his cricket career and IPL as the major aspirations.

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She then went on to claim that despite having turned down the marriage offer on several occasions, she kept approaching him for closure, but the cricketer kept getting distant. Mehvish also reported how she reached out to his older brother, Haseeb, and others associated in order to resolve the situation. However, they too kept ignoring him.

Mohammed Kaif's career marked a major boost with Ranji Trophy dominance

Mohammed Kaif, the 29-year-old younger brother of the Indian veteran, is also a cricketer who plays domestic cricket for Bengal. Unlike his brother, who is a fast bowler, Kaif bowls medium pace and made his domestic debut back in 2021.

He has not been successful even in the domestic yards, as he has just played nine matches despite his List A debut coming five years back in 2021. He has played more cricket in the past two years for Bengal since his First-Class debut in 2024.

Having played only for Bengal, he went on to pick 43 wickets with the red ball, having played in 14 matches over the past three seasons. He also played a handful of matches this season in the Ranji Trophy, in matches against Tripura, Railways, and Assam.

Mohammed Shami returns to IPL after promising domestic form; Dominates with the new ball for LSG

Mohammed Shami has been excellent with the new ball after a promising domestic season. He has had a complete domestic run representing Bengal across all three formats of the game, including the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Shami was traded in by the Lucknow Super Giants for a whopping INR 10 crores. He has delivered for them, especially with the new ball, finishing the majority of the overs of his spell within the powerplay.

Though in some matches Shami has been uneconomical, his ability to strike with the new ball has been astonishing. He has made the ball talk at the start of the innings and has provided crucial wickets at the top.

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