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Struck by Lightning: 3 Observations as Golden Knights Suffer Rare Blowout Loss

Las Vegas, N.V.– Time and time again, the Vegas Golden Knights have demonstrated a refusal to accept defeat or go quietly into the night. There are certainly games where they fall behind by multiple goals. Usually, they’re able to recover, and the final score is typically close. The thing about the Golden Knights is that they’re very rarely on the wrong side of a blowout.

Tonight was one of those rare occurrences.

So far this season, the Golden Knights have played very few teams who are currently in a playoff spot. The Tampa Bay Lightning were just the fourth playoff team the Golden Knights have faced through eleven games, and this matchup could have been a great test of how they stack up against one of the premier teams in the league.

Instead, the Golden Knights fell victim to self-inflicted injury after self-inflicted injury. They entered the second period tied at two apiece, but allowed three goals and never recovered. The third period was entirely noncompetitive, and the Golden Knights ultimately fell 6-2.

“We had our chances to get ourselves back in the game once it got to five,“ said Golden Knights captain Mark Stone. “They get that early one in the third, and it’s pretty tough to come back from that. We’ll stick with it and learn from it… We gotta be better in these games.”

“I thought we were a little bit out of our rhythm, a little bit out of our execution, that we had maybe been in for the last nine games. But give [Tampa] credit,” said head coach Ryan Craig following the 6-2 loss. “They did a lot to influence that as well.”

1. Unforced and Unassisted

The final score suggests an extremely lopsided game in which the Lightning thoroughly dominated the Golden Knights, but that wasn’t the case. The Golden Knights had no problem generating scoring chances, and they were extremely dangerous in transition.

The problem was that they repeatedly shot themselves in the foot.

“If you turn the puck over against those top guys, they make you pay,” said Golden Knights captain Mark Stone following the loss. I think it’s definitely unforced errors. When you play against a team like that, you’ve got to get [the puck] outside the blue line. We had chances on [goals three and four] to get it out, and we didn’t.”

The Lightning scored four unassisted goals tonight, which means that most of their offense came directly off of Golden Knights’ turnovers.

“We didn’t help ourselves. I think that would be the easiest way to put it,” said head coach Ryan Craig. “I mean, they scored four unassisted goals tonight. We probably didn’t put ourselves in good positions to get out of areas, and then gave them chances to attack.”

“It probably goes back to puck management a little bit, right? Both teams are good at checking as well, and I think some of the situations we put ourselves in didn’t help,” continued Craig. “We probably just got a little bit cute at times, which led to being up and down a little bit. But if you don’t manage the puck, that’s what it’s gonna feel like.”

2. The Golden Lining

Prior to tonight, Ivan Barbashev was in a rut. He didn’t have any problem generating offense; heading into tonight’s game, Barbashev had seven points and was tied for fourth on the team in scoring. The problem was that his offense wasn’t translating into goals. All seven of his points were assists, and for a scoring forward playing on a line with Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, that statistic had to be weighing on him.

That’s no longer an issue. Barbashev scored the first goal tonight for the Golden Knights, which tied the game at one apiece.

Barbashev can be a bit of a streaky scorer, and in the past, it only takes one goal to open the floodgates. Look for him to get on the board again on this upcoming two-game road trip to St. Louis and Columbus.

3. Game Eleven

Even after a blowout loss, the Golden Knights aren’t too concerned with their level of play.

“It’s game eleven; I don’t think there are measuring stick games in game eleven,” said Golden Knights’ captain Mark Stone following the 6-2 loss. “We’re still trying to build our game going forward. We’re playing 84 games this year, and we’re trying to build our game to go on a long playoff run. It starts at game one; we’re in game eleven. We still like where we’re at, as far as our record, but we want to get better.”

Because they’re only eleven games into the season, the Golden Knights can use tonight’s loss as a learning opportunity. They won’t hang onto the loss any longer than necessary. They’ll sit with it, and then move on and learn from their mistakes.

“When you play good teams, you’re not gonna come back from [being down] four in the third,” said Stone. “We have to correct your mistakes and build off some of the good stuff we did, because there was some good stuff. We had lots of chances. How did we create those chances… And what bad plays did we make to give them chances? That’s what we try to learn from.”

Antoine Semenyo Jeremy Doku Manchester City 2026-27 - Getty/GOALArsenal were linked with Vini Jr & Barcola

Premier League champions from Emirates Stadium were in the market for a left-sided attacker during the summer transfer window. Energetic Greek forward Christos Tzolis was acquired, with Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli moving on.

Interest was shown in more proven performers, with rumours of Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ Vinicius Junior potentially heading to north London capturing the imagination at one stage. The Brazilian former Ballon d’Or contender eventually signed a new contract at Santiago Bernabeu.

Bradley Barcola was another to register on Arsenal’s recruitment radar, as a star for France and back-to-back Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain. His valuation crept ever higher, to the point that Liverpool ended up paying £123 million ($165m) for the 24-year-old.

Man City could be relegated into the Championship

Arteta and Co were seemingly reluctant to dig that deep for one player, with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke capable of operating on the flanks and providing added creativity.

If the right option were to become available, though, than the Gunners would likely make their move. They will be keeping a close eye on events in Manchester. With 114 charges hanging over City, it has been suggested that a catastrophic points deduction is on the cards.

If Enzo Maresca’s side were to tumble out of the top-flight, then a mass exodus of talent is being predicted. That could include ex-Bournemouth flier Semenyo and tricky wideman Doku - who has taken his game to another level in the Premier League over the last couple of seasons.

Would the Gunners be interested in Doku & Semenyo?

The Belgium international would appear to be tailor-made for Arsenal and their attacking needs, but Grimandi is not so sure. The two-time Premier League title winner, who was speaking in association with BetVictor Online Casino - told GOAL when asked about approaches for wingers that City may have to move on: “I'm not convinced to be honest.

“To play the way they want to play, I don't know. I watched the City games and Doku has fantastic ability, pace but Semenyo, I'm not convinced. I don't think they will bring something special.

“[Khvicha] Kvaratskhelia of course will bring something special to Arsenal. I'm not convinced but I think we have quality as well in the young talent at Arsenal. Maybe it's a chance for them to show their ability.

“It's my point of view now. I cannot see Arsenal spending money but maybe they will become free, Doku or Semenyo.”

Arsenal focused on the present & battle with Bayern

Others, such as ex-England international Gabriel Agbonlahor, have claimed that Doku would be “perfect” for Arsenal. Paul Scholes is another to have predicted that the Belgian will head for the Emirates if City drop into the Championship.

It remains to be seen whether Arteta shares that opinion and if he is prepared to meet the demands of trophy-chasing rivals. The expectation is that further reinforcements on the left flank will be sought in 2027.

For now, the Gunners are very much focused on the present. They have an epic European tussle with Harry Kane and Bayern Munich to take in on Wednesday, before then playing host to Everton in domestic competition on Saturday.

'Biggest Drama Queen in the Sport,' 'Hypocrite' -- NBA Fans Point Out the Irony As LeBron James Calls Out Knicks' 'Championship Whistle'

LeBron James wasn’t happy about the officiating during his Philadelphia 76ers debut against the New York Knicks on Tuesday night. During the marquee game, the four-time MVP remarked that the defending NBA champions were already receiving favorable treatment from officials.

His comments quickly made the rounds on social media, with NBA fans highlighting the irony of the complaint.

NBA Fans React to LeBron James’ ‘Championship Whistle’ Gripe

The moment came during a matchup that already had plenty of emotion surrounding it. Before tipoff, the Knicks received their championship rings and raised their banner after defeating the San Antonio Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals. With the home crowd celebrating its long-awaited title, James appeared to take issue with the way the contest was being officiated.

With Jalen Brunson at the free-throw line and the Knicks leading 55-50 late in the second quarter, James could be heard saying, “They win one chip, they get a championship whistle.”

Legion Hoops shared the clip, and fans wasted little time pushing back.

KnicksMuse was among the first to question James’ complaint, quipping, “This guy can’t be serious.”

One James critic was even more direct, asking, “Lol. Hypocrite?”

“He’s really a crybaby. I’m cryin,” another James detractor asserted.

The Knicks Wall joined the pile-on with a jab of its own, joking, “Championship level crybaby @KingJames.”

One NBA observer echoed the disbelief, posting, “LeBron talking about a championship whistle.”

Others turned their attention to Philadelphia’s title ambitions. One X user poked fun at the 76ers, writing, “They are going to try to insufferably whine their way to a championship.”

The sharpest criticism came from a Knicks fan who brought James’ reputation into the argument, declaring, “Says the biggest drama queen in the sport.”

The backlash came on a night when James was already dealing with a hostile reception from the Madison Square Garden crowd. Knicks fans chanted “We don’t want you” when he stepped to the charity stripe in the first half, and he missed his second free-throw attempt after the chants broke out. Later in the game, he was also seen jawing with fans in the stands.

The atmosphere made for a lively backdrop to James’ first game in a 76ers jersey. Philadelphia entered the season with a revamped roster featuring James and Jaylen Brown alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, giving the team an early opportunity to test its new lineup against the reigning champions.

Despite the complaint about the officiating, the 76ers came away with a 106-100 win, with both teams attempting 27 free throws.

James finished with 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, shooting 5-for-13 from the field and 4-for-6 at the line. He also made two crucial free throws with seven seconds remaining to help seal the victory.

MORE:‘Ring Night and Bronny (James) on Ya Mind,’ ‘Weirdo’ — NBA Fans Call Out Knicks Superfan Tracy Morgan’s ‘Corny’ Cheap Shot at Lakers Guard

After the game, James focused on the team’s progress rather than the controversy. He acknowledged that the new group was still finding its rhythm after a little more than two weeks together.

“I could be a lot better. Still getting my rhythm. Obviously, you know, just a little bit over two weeks with the new squad. But I like the way we played,” James said. “I think we played exceptionally well, especially defensively. Didn’t shoot the ball well, but we have capable shooters. We know that. Good win for us to start the season.”

Philadelphia spoiled New York’s championship celebration, and James got the opening-night victory he wanted. The 76ers return home Thursday to face the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the 22-time All-Star and his new teammates looking to build on Tuesday’s signature win.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

Motorsport photo

Lando Norris has conceded he needs to make "better decisions" as McLaren aims to draw a line under his clash with team-mate Oscar Piastri in Singapore.

Norris drew the ire of his team management for taking out both himself and Piastri with a lunge for fourth place in the Singapore sprint race, costing the team valuable points in the championship and going against its racing principles.

Team principal Andrea Stella said after the Singapore race that the team would hold further talks at its Woking factory to avoid a repeat. It is understood those talks happened last week, and that the team is now keen to move on from the incident as Norris apologised for his error of judgement.

“I take responsibility for my mistakes, and I learn from them," Norris was quoted in the team's United States Grand Prix preview. "This team is my motivation every weekend, and my aim is to repay the hard work everyone puts in by improving, making better decisions, and representing the team in the best possible way.”

Norris's clash with his team-mate added to what had been a tough triple-header as McLaren had no answer for the significant performance upgrades Red Bull was able to add to its car, leading to back-to-back wins for Max Verstappen in Malaysia and Singapore.

"After a difficult triple-header, we take the lessons learned from both our performance and execution and put them into action," Stella added. "In F1, success is never guaranteed – so our response is to keep building, keep developing, and keep pushing forward together as one team."

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLarenMcLaren brings latest round of upgrades after performance falls flat

McLaren had brought its own upgrades to the MCL40 too, and while it was left confused by its lack of performance in Malaysia, Singapore further underlined that while its own upgrades appear to work as intended, it had simply been out-developed by Red Bull, while Ferrari was also extremely strong on the high-downforce Singapore street circuit and Mercedes has also added performance to its car.

McLaren is now bringing its latest round of relatively minor upgrades to the car at this weekend's race in Austin, largely focused on the front of the car, as it hopes the Circuit of the Americas will suit the car better than the likes of Baku and Singapore did. It has also applied further tweaks to make its drivers feel more confident under braking.

"We’re bringing a modest selection of upgrades for this event, aimed at improving some braking reliability and performance issues," said chief designer Rob Marshall. "We also have some small floor changes to test.

"We have all seen how difficult it is to predict the relative performance of the top teams over the last five or six races. Obviously, there are many factors in play here: cars being upgraded, cars suiting and drivers liking certain circuits among other factors. The last few races have not been great for us, but I think we’re getting stronger again and Austin is probably a better circuit for our car."

Oct 20, 2026; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) looks on in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. © Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

The Oklahoma City Thunder opened their season with a 116-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday night at Frost Bank Center in what was their first meeting since Game 7 of last season’s Western Conference Finals.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 32 points, and his monstrous production was enough to get fans putting his name in the MVP conversation before the final buzzer.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Sets a Thunderous Pace on Opening Night Against San Antonio

Gilgeous-Alexander had his offensive bag on full display against the Spurs, shooting 13-of-27 from the field, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range, and making 3-of-4 free throws in 36 minutes. He added 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and 3 blocks.

One hoops fan looked well past opening night, remarking, “Shai might be in Curry-KD convos when this season over.”

Another NBA fan offered a simpler verdict: “He’s too good… he makes the game look easy.”

Others skipped the comparisons altogether, as one hoops fan declared, “Yeah bro, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the best in the world.”

The praise follows a postseason in which Gilgeous-Alexander’s shooting dipped from 55.3% in the regular season to 46.3% in the playoffs.

Another OKC fan went straight to the league’s top individual award: “Shai is three-peating MVP idc, voter fatigue isn’t stopping this.”

San Antonio never really settled into the game as the Thunder grabbed the first quarter 34-28 and took a 65-44 lead into halftime.

While the Spurs opened the second half on a 23-9 run to close the gap, Gilgeous-Alexander and Jared McCain answered in no time, combining for 25 points after the break.

McCain finished with 20 points off the bench on 6-of-8 shooting from deep.

In stark contrast to his rival’s 32-point night, Victor Wembanyama struggled in Tuesday’s rematch. The Spurs star finished with 12 points on 1-of-13 shooting and missed his first 12 shots, with one being an alley-oop effort blocked by Thunder rookie Aday Mara.

The Spurs’ run to open the second half came without a field goal from Wembanyama. The Frenchman’s only basket was an alley-oop from Fox late in the third quarter, and he went 0-for-4 from 3-point range with four turnovers.

Though Wembanyama still made his mark in other areas, finishing with 13 rebounds, 6 blocks and 3 assists, it was just not enough to keep his San Antonio side afloat against a dominant Thunder.

Stephon Castle led the Spurs with 24 points, Dylan Harper added 18, and Fox had 14. But the team shot 39% from the field in comparison to Oklahoma City’s 45%.

The Spurs, now 0-1, will get back on the drawing board before they host the Houston Rockets on Friday. Meanwhile, the Thunder and a red-hot Gilgeous-Alexander return home to host the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, October 22, at Paycom Center.

This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.

Tom Cleverley's side have lost back-to-back league games for the first time in nine months [Shutterstock]

Plymouth Argyle manager Tom Cleverley has apologised for his side's "unacceptable" performance in their 3-0 loss at Stevenage on Tuesday.

The Pilgrims lost back-to-back games in League One for the first time since early February as they slipped to fifth in the table, having sat top last week.

”I absolutely hold my hands up and apologise for that performance this evening because it's unacceptable,” Cleverley told BBC Radio Devon.

“When you represent a big club, you get a lot of pats on the back when it's going well and these players have built up some credit over the last 11 months.

“But that can diminish very quickly with performances like that and we need to not take that support for granted - you need to earn that support, you need to earn those pats on the back and we certainly didn't do that tonight.”

Plymouth conceded twice in an eight-minute spell midway through the first half before Stevenage scored a third late in the second period.

The loss came after a 2-0 defeat at home by Huddersfield Town which Cleverley described as "humbling".

"The bare minimum I have to coach, demand, pick a team to be able to do is compete and the last two games we've not at all," he said.

"If you don't compete, if you don't win duels, if you don't land on seconds [second balls], if you don't run and fight then you're going to find it difficult to score goals and difficult to keep it out the back of your net and that is what tonight looked like.

"Two centre forwards who were well managed by two centre-halves at one end and two centre forwards who caused mayhem at the other end, and in between that not much better either.

"So a lot of questions from the last two games and it's my job to provide the answers and real clarity and direction come Thursday to make sure we know exactly how to go get a result on Saturday, and I'm pretty sure top of the priorities will be picking a team that is going to fight and compete."

All the latest Plymouth Argyle news

New Mexico head coach Jason Eck has a plan for the Bison. Getty

North Dakota State is coming to New Mexico this Saturday, and Lobos head coach Jason Eck is cooking up an extra plan for the Bison.

Eck, who once coached at old NDSU rival South Dakota State, knows how well the Bison fan base travels, so he’s urging Lobos fans to pack this stadium. He humorously went undercover, disguised as a guy named Jeff, for a Lobos social media video to promote the game. The viral video can be watched here.

While the staff recognized him as coach, Eck doubled down on his Jeff persona with a black wig and got his staff rolling on pushing ticket sales. Eck told them, “foot on the gas pedal … don’t let up” in the video.

University Stadium has 39,224 for seating, and the Lobos are likely aware that NDSU had around 10,000 fans from Fargo on hand for the last Mountain West Conference road game in Las Vegas. After all, 10,000 is only half of what the Bison contingent was in Frisco, Texas, for 11 FCS national championship game appearances.

Saturday’s game will bring a playoff feel with the Bison (6-1, 3-1) and Lobos (5-1, 2-0) vying for the top spot in the Mountain West. Both teams have College Football Playoff hopes, and the loser of the game won’t afterward.

Jason Eck Addresses Bison Experience

Eck served on SDSU’s staff and coached in eight games against the Bison, and the Jackrabbits went 4-4 in those games between 2016 and 2021.

Those Dakota Marker games had Missouri Valley Football Conference title implications or were FCS playoff games. After Eck’s time the Bison and Jacks faced each other once in the 2022 FCS title game.

While the Bison and Jacks played each other annually since 1903, that rivalry went away with NDSU’s move to the FBS this year. Eck told the Albuquerque media about that rivalry to paint a picture of what the Lobos will face on Saturday with the Bison.

“It was really kinda one of those manufactured ones — it wasn’t a historic, long-standing rivalry,” Eck told reporters on Monday. “And now they’re not playing anymore, so it’s kinda gone away.”

“But it’s probably one of my favorite ones,” Eck continued, “Coaching is full of competitive people, and I think when you have great challenges in front of you, those are very rewarding games to be a part of.”

Jason Eck Addresses Bison QB Nathan Hayes

Eck detailed the challenge that the Bison will bring to New Mexico on Saturday, and he noted that Bison quarterback Nathan Hayes will be a particularly big challenge.

“[Hayes] is a big sucker who can throw it well and move,” Eck said. “So it’s gonna be a challenge — we gotta play well.”

Hayes had a strong showing against Nevada last weekend after a slow start. He completed 76% of his passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns, and he rushed for 42 yards and touchdown on eight carries.

On the road, Hayes has completed 59.4% of his passes for four touchdowns versus four interceptions. He also has rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in away games.

This article was originally published on HEAVY

The post NDSU Humorously On Notice Amid New Mexico Coach’s Video [Watch] appeared first on HEAVY.

Borussia Dortmund finishing woes overshadow latest Champions League victory

Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy was only partially satisfied with his team’s 2-1 Champions League victory over Azerbaijani outfit Sabah FK on Tuesday evening. Despite scoring both goals in the victory, the Guinean international insisted that he and his teammates still have plenty of work to do.

The victory in Baku ended Dortmund’s three-match winless streak, which had included draws against Werder Bremen and Union Berlin as well as a disappointing Champions League defeat against Bodø/Glimt. Guirassy opened the scoring in the tenth minute, reacting quickest after Sabah goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov failed to hold Felix Nmecha’s effort.

The hosts equalized through Aden McCarthy shortly before halftime, but Guirassy restored Dortmund’s lead in the 53rd minute after connecting with an excellent Joey Veerman delivery. It was the striker’s second Champions League brace of the season, following his two goals in Dortmund’s opening victory against Villarreal.

Nevertheless, Guirassy told DAZN that he was only “half satisfied” with the team’s performance.

Dortmund lament missed opportunities in Baku

Dortmund finished the encounter with 22 shots and approximately 3.7 expected goals. Guirassy alone accounted for eight shots, while strike partner Fábio Silva squandered an excellent early opportunity. The statistics underlined Dortmund’s superiority, but the narrow scoreline meant Niko Kovac’s side remained vulnerable to a late equalizer.

“We have to kill the game [off],” Veerman remarked when speaking to reporters in the mixed zone. “We have to score a lot more, I think.”

Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel agreed that Dortmund had made life unnecessarily difficult for themselves.

“It took a little too long to put the game to bed,” Kobel said. “If one scores a few more goals, such a game would be more relaxed. One felt that there was more in that game. It would have done us good to score four or five goals. It would have been easier.”

“Of course, I wish a few more goals had gone in up front,” Kobel continued. “But I just have to do my job and remain vigilant at the back.”

Kovac shared his players’ assessment at the post-match press conference.

“The lads could have and definitely should [have] won the game by a larger margin,” the BVB head coach said. “Then we wouldn’t have had such a nervy finish.”

Sporting director Nils-Ole Book also acknowledged that Dortmund had failed to capitalize on several opportunities that would have settled the contest.

“Of course, if we had scored those two decisive goals it would have been different,” Book told reporters in the mixed zone. “That definitely sticks out.”

Guirassy challenges Dortmund to maintain higher standards

The best players, Guirassy argued, produce dependable performances every week. He emphasized that Dortmund’s squad possessed sufficient quality to meet those standards but needed to demonstrate it more regularly. Importantly, Guirassy did not exempt himself from criticism.

“We’re top players, so we have to work on that – myself included,” the forward explained in his DAZN interview.

His assessment adds another dimension to Dortmund’s recent struggles. The Schwarzgelben began the season impressively, but their attacking difficulties against Bodø/Glimt and Union Berlin had already attracted scrutiny before Tuesday’s victory.

Kovač’s team now return to Bundesliga action against Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday evening.

GGFN | Peter Weis

India's Hardik Pandya after his runout against Oman

Hardik Pandya could return only in IPL 2027: Report details India all-rounder's injury timeline, set to miss SL, ZIM series originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Hardik Pandya could return only in IPL 2027 as he recovers from a shin stress injury.
He is expected to resume jogging in three weeks and miss India’s New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe series.
With domestic cricket unlikely to offer a timely return, the IPL could be his next competitive assignment.

MORE:'Grateful': Rohit Sharma thanks Vengsarkar for selecting him in Indian team for the first time

Hardik Pandya's recovery timeline raises concerns over India return

Hardik Pandya may have to wait long until 2027 before he comes back to play in international cricket after being hampered by a repetitive issue of the injury on his shin.

As reported by Abhishek Tripathi of Dainik Jagran, Pandya is currently recuperating at BCCI’s Center of Excellence (CoE) due to the injury on his shin caused by stress fracture on the inner part of his shin bone.

Pandya is said to be recovering slowly and the medical team has not yet fixed a date for his comeback in any competitive cricket match. The India all-rounder is likely to resume jogging in around three weeks and subsequently, increase his running gradually over a period of eight weeks, depending on his performance in rehabilitation.

Even after the recovery from the above stage, Pandya needs to regain enough fitness to play at international level.

⚡सीधे आइपीएल में दिखाई दे सकते हैं हार्दिक पांड्या ⚡तीन सप्ताह बाद जागिंग शुरू कर पाएंगे चोटिल हार्दिक ⚡उसके बाद आठ सप्ताह तक बढ़ाया जाएगा रनिंग लोड। अभी पूरी तरह से मैच फिट होने में लगेगा बहुत समय ⚡अगले सप्ताह से हल्की स्किल ट्रेनिंग शुरू करेंगे पंत ⚡मैच सिमुलेशन के बाद प्रसिद्ध पर होगा फैसला ⚡ पिंडली की अंदरूनी तरफ स्ट्रेस इंजरी से उबर रहे हार्दिक फिलहाल बेंगलुरु स्थित सेंटर आफ एक्सीलेंस (सीओई) में रिहैबिलिटेशन प्रक्रिया से गुजर रहे हैं ⚡ सीओई की रिपोर्ट के अनुसार हार्दिक तीन सप्ताह में जागिंग शुरू कर पाएंगे और उसके आठ सप्ताह बाद उनका रनिंग लोड बढ़ाया जाएगा। अभी उनके पूरी तरह मैच फिट होने की डेडलाइन नहीं दी गई है ⚡उनका चयन न्यूजीलैंड दौरे के लिए नहीं हुआ है। ऐसे में 13 दिसंबर से श्रीलंका के विरुद्ध होने वाली वनडे और टी-20 सीरीज के साथ ही तीन जनवरी से जिंबाब्वे के विरुद्ध वनडे सीरीज में उनका खेलना संभव नहीं दिखाई दे रहा है ⚡अगर घरेलू क्रिकेट की बात करें तो तब तक सैयद मुश्ताक अली ट्राफी और विजय हजारे ट्राफी भी खत्म हो जाएगी। ⚡भारतीय टीम 21 जनवरी से तीन मार्च तक आस्ट्रेलिया के विरुद्ध पांच टेस्ट मैचों की बार्डर-गावस्कर सीरीज खेलेगी। पांड्या टेस्ट खेलते नहीं है। इसके बाद आइपीएल शुरू होगा। ऐसे में हार्दिक आइपीएल में ही खेलते दिखाई दे सकते हैं

— Abhishek Tripathi / अभिषेक त्रिपाठी (@abhishereporter) October 21, 2026

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Which India series will Hardik Pandya miss?

Pandya is set to miss the New Zealand series, with his fitness for further tours of India in question.

There is a limited-overs series against Sri Lanka starting on December 13 and another against Zimbabwe beginning on January 3. According to Tripathi's report, Pandya will most likely miss both the series.

He may miss the rest of the domestic schedule as well, with Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy concluding before he is ready to make a comeback.

The India-Australia Border-Gavaskar series consisting of five Test matches is set to start on January 21 and end on March 3. However, Pandya is not part of India's Test plans; therefore, the only big series left is the IPL series.

Without any specific date for his comeback, it seems that Pandya might come back directly for IPL 2027.

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India must take a long-term view of Hardik Pandya's injury

The prospect of Pandya's unavailability till IPL 2027 could be considered unfortunate for India as Pandya is known for his skills as a fast-bowling all-rounder, providing flexibility in bat and ball. The fitness problems associated with him have led the side to search for other options.

India, however, should refrain from bringing him back before getting fit again, and his rehab should help him build up the workload for him to play consistently with bat and ball.

Considering that the 2027 World Cup is round the corner, India may benefit more from focusing on Pandya's fitness rather than bringing him back prematurely.

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The Oklahoma City Thunder had some revenge in their 116-104 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. This was part of the NBA 2026-27 Opening Night slate.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the best player on the floor. He had an efficient 32 points and six rebounds. Chet Holmgren got over a summer filled with humiliation with 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks. Jared McCain dropped 20 points off the bench.

Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama looked human with 12 points on 1-of-13 shooting. Stephon Castle had 24 points and seven rebounds. Dylan Harper finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Let's look at some of the best photos from Thunder's 12-point win over the Spurs:

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