Latest news with #spectacular
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
MLB Awards watch for MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of Year: Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge early leaders in race
We're a little over one-third of the way through the 2025 MLB regular season, meaning we've started to gain some clarity on what to expect from both a player and team perspective. With June just around the corner, it becomes increasingly difficult to wave away players' performances as merely early mirages or small-sample flukes. It's time to start taking the statistics and standings a little more seriously. As such, let's take a look at where the three major award races stand and identify the top three candidates entering Thursday at this stage of the season. AL MVP 1. Aaron Judge, Yankees OF The two-time MVP and Yankees captain has somehow leveled up again in his age-33 season. With his stupendous ability to slug still regularly on display, Judge has managed to considerably improve his contact skills as well, enabling his batting average to soar to unexpected heights (.391!!!) and his strikeout rate to sink to a career-low (21.9%). Barring injury, Judge is a surefire bet to become just the 12th player ever to win three MVP awards. 2. Bobby Witt Jr., Royals SS Bobby Baseball's bat hasn't been quite as potent this season, with his wRC+ down to 124 compared to the 168 mark he finished 2024 with en route to his MVP runner-up finish. But the immense value he continues to provide as an outstanding defender at shortstop and as a menace on the basepaths has ensured Witt remains near the top of the WAR leaderboard and in the thick of the MVP conversation again. If his offensive production stays more good than great, it'll be interesting to see how Witt's candidacy as Judge's biggest challenger is influenced by Kansas City's place in the standings. 3. Cal Raleigh, Mariners C Catchers have a unique opportunity to make an impact on both sides of the ball, and no backstop exemplifies that dynamic more than Raleigh. With an excellent reputation as a field general who has been instrumental in the success of Seattle's pitching staff already firmly intact, Raleigh has evolved into an all-around offensive force as well, one whose elite power and on-base skills more than compensate for the healthy dose of swing-and-miss. It's rare to see catchers slug at Raleigh's level in any given season, let alone on a yearly basis. If he can sustain anything close to the level of play he's demonstrated and the Mariners can capture their first division title since 2001, Raleigh will have as strong a case as any to be included as an AL MVP finalist. NL MVP 1. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers DH Ohtani keeps chugging along as the sport's most spectacular performer and biggest superstar, one whose singular two-way exploits are scheduled to resume later this summer. Regardless of how many innings he ends up throwing in his highly-anticipated return to the mound, Ohtani proved last year that he is absolutely MVP-caliber strictly as a hitter. And based on his career-best home run pace through the first third of the season, Ohtani may actually still be trending up as a hitter. Should he successfully capture the NL MVP again as he appears on track to do, he'd join Barry Bonds as the only two players to ever win the award at least four times. 2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers 1B Fresh off a legendary postseason run, Freeman is in the midst of a sensational encore that should not be overshadowed by Ohtani's brilliance. For as incredible as Freeman was last October, recall that his regular season — for entirely understandable reasons involving what he was dealing with off the field and injuries limiting his effectiveness on it — was a notable step down from the sky-high standard he had set for himself over the previous half-decade as a perennial MVP contender. This season appears to be a return to that status, an emphatic reminder of Freeman's well-earned reputation as one of the best hitters of his generation. 3. Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs OF There's a slew of candidates to consider in this third slot, including several more pairs of teammates beyond Ohtani and Freeman: Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado in San Diego, Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo with Arizona, or Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor on the Mets. Ginormous young Nationals slugger James Wood is also making a strong case to be considered. Advertisement But if we are simply identifying which individual has made the biggest all-around impact thus far — regardless of how likely it is to sustain over the course of 162 games — PCA is the objectively correct answer. As baseball's best outfielder and a dynamo on the bases, Crow-Armstrong's unexpected power surge has culminated in full-blown star level production for the 23-year-old. And even with another superstar in the outfield with him in Kyle Tucker who also warrants a mention in this race, I'll give PCA the nod at this juncture. AL Cy Young 1. Tarik Skubal, Tigers LHP Statistically, Skubal didn't hold that much of an edge over some of the other aces in the mix though his first 10 starts. Then he went out and delivered one of the most dominant pitching performances we've seen in quite some time — a 94-pitch, 13 strikeout shutout of the rival Guardians punctuated by a 102.6 mph fastball — and launched out to a comfortable lead on the fWAR leaderboard, earning him the top spot on the ballot at this stage. He's vying to become the first pitcher since Jacob deGrom in 2018-2019 and first AL hurler since Pedro Martinez in 1999-2000 to claim consecutive Cy Young Awards. I like his chances. 2. Garrett Crochet, Red Sox LHP The Red Sox might be a mess around him right now — Boston has lost five out of Crochet's past seven starts after winning four of his first five — but the hard-throwing southpaw has delivered on the hype that surrounded him following his offseason trade and subsequent extension to anchor the Red Sox rotation for years to come. Crochet has done his part; now it's on his team to get its act together so as to not waste the opportunity to have Crochet take the ball in the postseason. 3. Max Fried, Yankees LHP A fitting contrast to Crochet's tough luck in his first year with Boston, Fried has also been marvelous in his debut season as a Yankee but his team has consistently backed him up along the way. New York is 10-1 in Fried starts. Consistent run support and a solid bullpen have contributed to that gaudy record, but Fried has been terrific in pinstripes on his own. His 1.29 ERA is the lowest mark of all qualified starting pitchers. NL Cy Young 1. Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto It's not like Yamamoto disappointed as a rookie — he had a 3.00 ERA in 18 regular-season starts and was mostly excellent during L.A.'s run to the World Series. But this version of Yamamoto — the one with surgical fastball command and multiple devastating secondary pitches, the one with the lowest ERA (1.97) among all qualified NL starting pitchers — is what the Dodgers paid $325 million for. And on a pitching staff ravaged by injuries otherwise, the value of his dependable dominance once a week cannot be overstated. This dude is the real deal. 2. Paul Skenes, Pirates RHP He's not racking up quite as many strikeouts as he did during his historic rookie season, but Skenes has generally been every bit as effective otherwise and continues to look like one of the best pitchers on the planet, if not the best. An expanded arsenal with increased sweeper and change-up usage has been deployed masterfully by Skenes, as he has limited hard contact and consistently pitched deep into games to fulfill his responsibilities as Pittsburgh's ace. We are watching one of the greatest starts to a career ever for a starting pitcher, and we should not take that for granted. 3. Zack Wheeler, Phillies RHP Offseason acquisition Jesús Luzardo has certainly made quite an impression since joining the Phillies and belongs in this conversation as well, but Wheeler remains the gold standard atop this rotation. At 35 years old, Wheeler currently has a career-high strikeout rate and career-low walk-rate. With Chris Sale finally claiming his first career Cy Young Award last season, Wheeler is now the best active pitcher without such hardware. Let's see if he can change that this year. Advertisement AL Rookie of the Year 1. Jacob Wilson, Athletics SS Wilson is basically doing a Luis Arraez impression except he's right-handed, has a tick more power and plays a pretty good shortstop. In other words: he's a ridiculously good player, yet also one of the more unique ones in the sport. We'll see if Wilson can sustain this level of production if he continues to swing at absolutely everything and rarely draw walks. It's plausible that pitchers could find a way to neutralize him more effectively over time but as with Arraez, it's also possible Wilson is that much of an outlier that he can continue to excel with this hyper-aggressive approach and otherworldly bat-to-ball skills. 2. Shane Smith, White Sox RHP The first overall pick from Milwaukee in last year's Rule 5 Draft, Smith has been a fantastic success story amid another difficult year for the South Siders. His stuff is legit — both his four-seam fastball and change-up have played as plus pitches — and the results have been good (2.68 ERA). Smith's control, however, has been iffy at best along the way. Should Smith dial the command in more consistently, he'll project as a solid mid-rotation option for Chicago. For a rookie and Rule 5 pick, though, it's been an undeniable win so far. 3. Carlos Narváez, Red Sox C While we wait patiently for the arrival of top outfield prospect Roman Anthony to provide a boost to Boston during this woeful recent stretch and perhaps make a run at this award on his own, let's shine some light on what Narváez has done for the Red Sox as their primary catcher. That the 26-year-old is already a sterling defender behind the dish as a rookie is plenty impressive on its own, but he's also been one of Boston's best bats lately. After starting the season with a .500 OPS through his first 13 games, Narváez has hit .337/.404/.561 with five home runs over his past 29 contests and now ranks as one of the most productive rookie hitters in baseball. NL Rookie of the Year 1. Drake Baldwin, Braves C With Sean Murphy still entrenched as the starter behind the plate for the Braves, Baldwin hasn't had quite as much playing time as some of the other contenders for this award. But his impact offensively when given opportunities should not be ignored. Baldwin's 154 wRC+ isn't just tops among all NL rookies, it ranks ninth among all NL hitters with at least 100 plate appearances this season. Atlanta has to find a way to get his bat in the lineup more oft 2. Ben Casparius, Dodgers RHP A different Dodgers right-hander may have entered the season as the favorite to win this award in Roki Sasaki, but Sasaki's command struggles and now injury concerns have removed him from the conversation as a viable candidate. Instead, Casparius has quietly ascended the hierarchy of Dodgers arms and is making his own case as one of the NL's best rookies. Casparius' ability to cover multiple innings in relief, including in high-leverage situations, has been a boon for manager Dave Roberts. His standard stats (2.80 ERA in 35.1 IP, 41 K, 6 BB) are plenty impressive on the surface (2.80 ERA), but his tremendous underlying metrics (87th percentile whiff-rate, 96th percentile hard-hit rate against) do an even better job conveying just how good he's been. 3. Chad Patrick, Brewers RHP As a 26-year-old righty without the typical high-end stuff of a top-level pitching prospect, Patrick certainly wasn't on the ROY radar entering the season but has emerged as an ultra-dependable starter for a Brewers pitching staff in dire need of quality innings. Patrick's 57 2/3 frames rank second among all rookie hurlers, and his 2.97 ERA isn't too shabby, either. It's not especially sexy, but being a reliable starter as a rookie is no small feat, and Patrick has been just that.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Man Utd torpedoing transfer plans through Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £7.8m greediness
It never looked like a good idea, but it is turning out to be much worse than expected. After concluding their miserable 2024-25 season, Manchester United flew over 6,600 miles to Kuala Lumpur for marketing reasons. Having deemed 60 largely disappointing matches inadequate, United's brains trust signed their demoralised squad up for two more. 'Importantly, tour fixtures drive significant additional revenue which help make the club stronger, allowing us to keep investing in success on the pitch,' chief executive Omar Berrada said plainly when the club announced the genius plan in early April. Back then, there must have already been nagging worries that United's decision-makers were signing their club up for another dose of embarrassment. All for the estimated revenue of $10million (£7.8m) the trip will make for United. This is the reality of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era : a penny-pinching petrochemicals billionaire. A man worth $16.7bn (£12.4bn), according to Forbes, making hundreds of staff redundant and sending his exhausted players halfway across the world to appease sponsors and spread the good word of United. That £7.8m is suddenly looking like a bad deal. The malaise that engulfed the club this season became even darker and thicker with the 1-0 defeat by Tottenham in the Europa League final and has now become a pervasive presence; an unwanted 12th man on the pitch. Videos of Alejandro Garnacho half-heartedly signing autographs and other players trudging heads down past screaming fans were bad enough before the actual football – ostensibly the reason for their visit – was taken into account. United somehow managed to lose 1-0 to the ASEAN All Stars in Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Wednesday. Ruben Amorim used 25 outfield players, but was powerless to stop Maung Maung Lwin – a Burmese player who plies his trade in the Thai League – from providing the game's only goal. Many of the 84,000 people who turned up in the Malaysian capital, some of whom had paid £260 for a ticket, booed them off the pitch. In a season of crushing lows, United had somehow managed to plumb new depths. This was embarrassing – and it is obvious who was to blame. United have set their players up for failure with this ridiculous money-grabbing PR disaster. Even if they had enjoyed a good domestic campaign, or if they had beaten Spurs in Bilbao, the players would not have been up for this trip. There is a reason this is the first time United have embarked on a post-season tour. This one is only a few days old and it is already backfiring in potentially spectacular fashion. While Matheus Cunha is too far down the line to change his mind over a £62.5m transfer from Wolves to United, other targets are not. United better hope they are enjoying their holiday so much that they haven't bothered opening social media or reading the newspapers. Because does anyone really want to join this mess? They are a rubbish football team right now, but more than that, they are a miserable and disunited bunch. They will become a revolving door this summer, shipping out scores of players while scrabbling around for anyone who will join them. They won't play any European football next season and Carrington is reportedly a vibe vacuum, having had the life sucked out of it by Ratcliffe's staff purge. This is the context which players like Liam Delap must currently be assessing. Delap is poised to leave Ipswich for £30m this summer. He is understood to be choosing between United and Chelsea – a decision which currently looks extremely straightforward. While United ended the season as a representation of the 'This is fine' meme, everything burning around them, Chelsea did so with a European trophy and a place in next season's Champions League secured. Ratcliffe has frequently, and in public, lamented the way things were done at United. He has made decisions he deems unpopular but necessary. But what he seems to fail to understand is that perception matters. Yes, he may have succeeded in putting the club on a more even footing financially, but at what cost? This ludicrous post-season tour is a perfect example of the Ratcliffe era so far: commercially astute yet visually unappealing. It could be extremely damaging to the planned squad overhaul this summer. Sky has slashed the price of its bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more. Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Jennifer Lopez to Return to Las Vegas With New Residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global superstar Jennifer Lopez announces her return to the iconic Las Vegas Strip with a new residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Jennifer Lopez: Up All Night Live in Las Vegas will kick off New Year's Eve week with four spectacular performances on December 30 and 31 and January 2 and 3, and an additional eight shows in March 2026. Click HERE for admat and photo This new residency marks a triumphant return to Las Vegas following Lopez's previous record-breaking run, 'JENNIFER LOPEZ: ALL I HAVE,' at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Playing 120 shows from 2016 to 2018, the residency grossed over $100 million and earned widespread acclaim from critics and fans alike over its nearly three year run. JLovers, fans and audiences are sure to be Up ALL Night singing, dancing and livin it up with the global superstar performing chart-topping hits from across her legendary career, alongside exclusive new 'never heard before' songs. Citi is the official card of Jennifer Lopez at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Monday, June 2 at 10 a.m. PT until Thursday, June 5 at 10 p.m. PT through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit Fan club presale tickets will be available starting Tuesday, June 3 at 10 a.m. PT. Caesars Rewards members, Caesars Entertainment's loyalty program, and Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers will have access to a presale from Wednesday, June 4 at 10 a.m. PT until Thursday, June 5 at 10 p.m. PT. Tickets for the following 12 performances go on sale starting Friday, June 6 at 10 a.m. PT: Dec. 2025: 30 & 31 Jan. 2026: 2 & 3 March 2026: 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 & 28 Shows begin at 8 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit About Jennifer Lopez Jennifer Lopez is an award-winning actress, producer, singer, entertainer, and businesswoman who has helped build billion-dollar brands and established herself in film, music, television and business as one of the most influential artists in history. The only female artist to ever have a number one album and number one film simultaneously, she has a cumulative worldwide box-office gross of over $3 billion. Additionally, Lopez has sold over 80 million records, had 15 billion global streams and more than 18 billion views of her music videos. Jennifer Lopez's record-breaking success shows no signs of slowing down in 2025. Her highly anticipated film Unstoppable premiered on Prime Video on January 16th, climbing to the #1 spot globally. Ten days later, Kiss of the Spider Woman, based on Manuel Puig's novel, debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on January 26th, earning critical acclaim and generating significant industry buzz. Further solidifying her reign as a top streaming star, Unstoppable became Lopez's fifth #1 streaming film in just two years. In 2024, ATLAS dominated Netflix, holding the #1 position for two weeks with over 60 million global views. The previous year, The Mother was Netflix's most-watched film worldwide, amassing over 239 million hours streamed. She also had two additional #1 films on Prime Video, underscoring her unparalleled streaming dominance. Starring in over 35 movies to date, her box office success is just as impressive, in 2019, the movie Hustlers was Lopez's highest opening weekend of her career, topping $32 million and grossing over $100 million worldwide. Her television success on and off the screen is just as impressive. Appearing on five seasons of American Idol (ABC), and three seasons of Shades Of Blue (NBC), she was also an executive producer for four seasons of World Of Dance (NBC) and five seasons of Good Trouble (Freeform). Grammy and Golden Globe nominated, she is the recipient of prestigious industry awards including the 2500th star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, the first female recipient of the Billboard Icon Award, and the Telemundo Star Award (2017). She was also awarded the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award (2018) and the MTV Generation Award (2022). Lopez is the first and only person in history to receive both of these awards for her accomplishments in music, film and television. As a fashion icon, entrepreneur, and a philanthropist, Jennifer Lopez has been named on the TIME 100 list, Forbes' "Most Powerful Celebrity,' and was the first to grace People Magazine's cover for "Most Beautiful Woman in the World.' In 2023, she was the recipient of Elle's Women In Hollywood Icon Award and April 2024 saw her awarded the Premio Orgullo Award which celebrates bringing pride to the community at the annual Hispanic Federation Gala chaired by Lin-Manuel Miranda. In addition to receiving accolades across film, music and her philanthropic efforts, Lopez has also made waves within business as a Founder, Owner and Investor. She has co-owned Nuyorican Productions for two-decades and produced acclaimed film and tv projects. Most recently Lopez, announced a multi-year and multi-platform first-look production deal with Netflix in addition to a partnership with Skydance and Concord to develop original projects based on Concord's catalog of musicals. Philanthropy and giving back are dear to Lopez's heart and while she prefers to keep these efforts out of the public eye, she is passionate about helping children and supports the Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Gloria Wise Boys and Girls Club. She was also a global advocate for girls and women at the United Nations Foundation. In 2022, Jennifer partnered with Grameen America, the nation's fastest-growing microfinance organization, alongside her latest philanthropic project, Limitless Labs, to support Latina-owned small businesses and to empower 600,000 Latina entrepreneurs across 50 U.S. cities with $14 billion in life-changing business capital and 6 million hours of financial education and training by 2030. With a career spanning over two decades at the top of every field, Jennifer Lopez is cemented in history as a global icon and the ultimate multihyphenate. About Live Nation Las Vegas Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV) is the world's leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, and Live Nation Sponsorship. Live Nation Las Vegas produces residency shows from Jennifer Lopez, Alanis Morissette, Kelly Clarkson and Rod Stewart at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace; Lenny Kravitz, Mötley Crüe, New Kids On The Block and Bruno Mars at Dolby Live at Park MGM; The B-52s, Earth, Wind & Fire, FOREIGNER, STYX and Chicago at The Venetian Theatre at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas; Scorpions at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino; and Santana at House of Blues. Live Nation Las Vegas also brings other world-famous artists to many of the city's other premier concert venues including Allegiant Stadium, T-Mobile Arena, MGM Grand Garden Arena, Michelob ULTRA Arena, the Pearl at Palms Casino Resort, Downtown Las Vegas Events Center and more. For additional information, visit Find Live Nation Las Vegas on Facebook, Instagram and follow us on Twitter. About Caesars Palace Caesars Palace, the iconic Las Vegas Strip resort where every guest is treated like a Caesar, features 3,980 hotel guest rooms and suites, including the redesigned 182-room Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace, the renovated Colosseum Tower and THE VILLAS Caesars Palace. Caesars Palace and Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace have also received AAA Four Diamond designations. The 85-acre resort offers diverse dining options from the award-winning Bacchanal Buffet to celebrity chef-branded restaurants, including Gordon Ramsay HELL'S KITCHEN, Pronto by Giada, Amalfi by Bobby Flay, Vanderpump Cocktail Garden by restaurateur and television star Lisa Vanderpump, one of Nobu Matsuhisa's largest Nobu restaurants, Restaurant Guy Savoy, award-winning pastry chef Dominique Ansel's first Las Vegas bakery, Stanton Social Prime – a new dining concept in partnership with Tao Group Hospitality, legendary New York Steak House Peter Luger and Brasserie B Parisian Steakhouse by Bobby Flay. The Celebrity Food Hall features Guy Fieri's Chicken Guy!, Bobby's Burgers by Bobby Flay, Tortazo by Rick Bayless, Buddy V's Pizzeria and Mokbar by Esther Choi. For the best in cocktails, destination lounges include Montecristo Cigar Bar, VISTA Cocktail Lounge, Stadia Bar and Caspian's – a cocktail and caviar bar with Clique Hospitality. The resort also features nearly 130,000 square feet of casino space, the Caesars Race & Sportsbook at Caesars Palace with a 143-foot HD LED screen and state-of-the-art sound, a five-acre Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis, the luxurious Qua Baths & Spa, Hairdreams by Michael Boychuck, five wedding chapels and gardens, and the 75,000-square-foot OMNIA Nightclub with top DJs. The 4,300-seat Colosseum is the most celebrated venue in Las Vegas with an impressive legacy of superstar talent featured in an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime setting. Colosseum currently spotlights world-class entertainers including Kelly Clarkson, Alanis Morissette, Jerry Seinfeld and Rod Stewart. Also, the Green Fairy Garden in front of Caesars Palace hosts ABSINTHE by Spiegelworld, an adults-only circus variety show featuring a cocktail of wild and outlandish acts. The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace showcases more than 160 boutiques and restaurants. Caesars Palace is operated by a subsidiary of Caesars Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: CZR). For more information, please visit or the Caesars Entertainment media room. Find Caesars Palace on Facebook and follow on X and Instagram. Know When To Stop Before You Start. ® If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling or texting 1-800-GAMBLER, Caesars License Company, LLC.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tiffany Haddish Jokes About ‘Single' Jennifer Lopez Amid AMAs Performance
's opening performance at the 2025 American Music Awards was undoubtedly one for the books, but it had Tiffany Haddish hilariously feeling a bit envious. The singer and songwriter stole hearts, as well as kisses from her backup dancers, while taking the stage at the star-studded event, which was held at BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas on May 26. The spicy performance was quick to get the internet talking, while Haddish jokingly asked Lopez to 'save a dancer' for her. Jennifer Lopez delivered an unforgettable opening performance at the 2025 American Music Awards, and Tiffany Haddish had a few words to say about it. On Monday, the 55-year-old pop star stole the show with her epic opening number. Lopez belted out 23 songs in six minutes in a spectacular medley of hit tracks. The singer also made jaws drop when she locked lips with her backup dancers during the performance. Expectedly, the spicy moment had the celebrities and netizens talking. Haddish, too, did not hold back from sharing her thoughts. The 45-year-old comedian and actor took the stage to present the award for Favorite R&B Song. This is when Haddish got candid about her reaction to Lopez's sizzling act. The actor first gushed, 'How cool is it to have a total superstar like hosting the AMAs?' Haddish then joked that this year's edition of the awards ceremony should be dubbed the 'JMAs.' She continued to praise Lopez's performance, saying, 'Our host has just danced to 23 hits in six minutes.' Haddish added, 'Just from that opening number alone, Jenny from the Block has got all her steps in for the day, and she got all her kisses in.' The comedian then joked, 'Save a dancer for me, She added, 'You ain't the only one out here single.' In other news, Jennifer Lopez has been occupied with her back-to-back gigs since her divorce from Ben Affleck was finalized in January. The post Tiffany Haddish Jokes About 'Single' Jennifer Lopez Amid AMAs Performance appeared first on Reality Tea.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Chennai News
B Sai Sudharsan is India's new hope in the top-order, but the challenges in England Tests will be immense. It's been just five months since 's international retirement, and Tamil Nadu has its next superstar. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Twenty-three-year-old B Sai Sudharsan, who made his way into the Indian Test squad for the England series, looks well set to take over from the old master, who amazed the world with his off-spin. At just 17, Sai caught 's eye during a league match, prompting the veteran to gush: "Adengappa, idho paar ra indha paiyana! (Oh my god, look at this boy!)." When Sai made his ODI debut in 2023, Ashwin, who has long been his staunch supporter, said: "Sai can become the next Indian player from Tamil Nadu and a fulcrum in the playing XI." In Tamil Nadu's cricketing circles, the southpaw's meteoric rise has been hard to miss. The left-hander has weathered his share of twists and tumbles, steadily carving his path forward with quiet resolve. This IPL season, Sai has been nothing short of spectacular — smashing 679 runs from 14 outings to be the frontrunner for the Orange Cap (prize for the IPL top run-getter). He scored a century and five half-centuries so far for Gujarat Titans, all while maintaining an impressive strike rate of 155.99. His consistent impact is no flash in the pan — previous IPL campaigns also saw him deliver crucial innings. The foundation of the young man's success is built on discipline. Sai has sporting pedigree coursing through his veins — father Bharadwaj was a 100m sprinter who represented India at the SAF Games in Dhaka, and mother Usha, a former state-level volleyball player. Sai was never far from discipline and drive, qualities that have shaped his measured climb in the sport. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Those who have followed his journey closely know that consistency has been his hallmark. Former India cricketer W V Raman, who has watched Sai grow from the start, told TOI if the southpaw gets his fair share of opportunities at the international level, he will do justice to it. "He burst onto the scene with white-ball cricket and quickly proved his consistency there. What's impressive is how swiftly he adapted to the red-ball format as well. It's been a fantastic journey in a short span, and that ability to learn fast is crucial for any young player. Sai has shown exactly that," said Raman. Beyond his solid fundamentals, Sai, who has an orthodox approach to batting, has notably expanded his arsenal, particularly enhancing his power-hitting prowess. He now has a deep understanding of his strengths and limitations, which allows him to tailor his strategies to varying match situations. The fact that Sai played county cricket for Surrey for two seasons should help him settle down well in the series. Raman feels this quick learning curve and willingness to adapt will hold him in good stead on the England tour. "What he's done is that he's decided to try and ensure that he doesn't get found out by the opposition. So, he's tried to work on a few shots in the breaks that he gets during the seasons. And he's decided on the right kind of shots that will help him when he's under pressure to get runs quickly," said Raman, a former Tamil Nadu captain. Sai is predominantly seen as a top-order batter, often opening the innings, a role that suits his style and temperament. His ability to face the new ball with confidence and play fast bowlers early is one of his key strengths, which could come in handy for India in the challenging English conditions. "I think he should bat in the top three because he likes to play fast bowlers first up, he likes the ball coming onto the bat. He'll also make use of the huge gaps that he'll have first up because fast bowlers are prone to bowling with attacking field sets of the new ball. So that will also provide him opportunities to pick up runs." Fitness, too, has been a cornerstone of Sai's evolution. Raman vouches for it. "He's one of the fittest cricketers. He'll train any hour of the day. He came off a brilliant IPL final, followed it up with a string of 40s and 50s in the TNPL, and then had one failure. While the rest of the team was boarding the bus after the game, he was training on his own at 11 pm." Despite all the brilliance in white-ball cricket, Sai's first-class average of 39.93 suggests that his red-ball game is a work in progress. His Ranji Trophy stats aren't stacked with big scores, but he had one standout show this season — a double century against Delhi. Later, during the India A tour to Australia, Sai scored a ton in the first four-day game but didn't have a great outing in the second. Former TN coach Sulakshan Kulkarni, who worked with Sai during his time here in 2023-24, believes the England tour will be a stern examination for the Chennai lad. "His domestic record is not great. When I was the coach, I saw him play on a seaming track in at least two matches. And he didn't play well there. His technique against the moving ball needs to improve." Kulkarni, a former Mumbai captain, played in minor counties for 12 years and has a fair understanding of what will be on offer for Sai. "He has a tendency of playing away from the body while the secret of success in England is to play late and play the ball right under your nose. He has to curb some of his strokes and should play straight and close to the body. He has to work to get the technique right before the tour," said Kulkarni. The challenge will be immense, and England will come at Sai all guns blazing. It's on the southpaw to soak up the pressure and take the first step towards making a spot in the Indian top-order — which suddenly looks slightly light following Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma's retirement — his own. Email your feedback with name and address to
