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Pop star Shawn Mendes wishes luck to India for Champions Trophy final, wears Virat Kohli’s jersey at Mumbai concert

The much-anticipated ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand is scheduled for Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.

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Global pop sensation Shawn Mendes mesmerized music lovers with his electrifying performance at Lollapalooza India 2025, which took place in Mumbai on March 8. His high-energy show at the famed Mahalaxmi Racecourse served as a spectacular conclusion to the festival’s opening day, leaving the audience thoroughly captivated.

This two-day musical celebration, celebrated for its diverse array of both international and local talent, kicked off on a high note, with Mendes’ performance emerging as one of the key highlights. To add to the excitement, the singer showed his support for the Indian men’s cricket team ahead of their eagerly awaited ICC Men’s Champions Trophy final against New Zealand, endearing himself even further to his Indian fans.

Mendes ignited the stage around 8:30 PM, dressed in a casual T-shirt and pants. The crowd erupted in cheers when he surprised them by changing into the iconic blue jersey of the Indian cricket team, featuring ‘Virat’ and the number ‘18’ on the back—a heartfelt tribute to the cricketing legend. This gesture sparked waves of enthusiasm, prompting chants of “Kohli…Kohli…Kohli” from the audience, creating an electric atmosphere.

Recognizing the significance of the upcoming cricket match, Mendes addressed the crowd, saying, “India, I know you have a match tomorrow. Good luck. I hope it goes well,” which elicited thunderous applause. The much-anticipated ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 final between India and New Zealand is scheduled for Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium.

Mendes enthralled the crowd with a dynamic set, delivering some of his biggest hits like “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back,” “Treat You Better,” “Señorita,” “Why,” and “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind.” The audience sang along in unison, swaying to his soulful melodies, making it an unforgettable musical journey.

“Dher sara pyaar, Mumbai! (Lots of love, Mumbai!)” Shawn Mendes exclaimed to the massive crowd at Mahalaxmi Racecourse. A standout moment was a unique musical fusion, during which Mendes played the guitar alongside two Indian musicians—one on the tabla and the other on the sitar.

Celebrating his admiration for Indian culture, he expressed gratitude for the country’s rich musical heritage, stating, “No matter where I go, music is the one thing that unites (people) in a beautiful way. I’ve always had such love and admiration for India, India’s music, and its musicians here. One of the greatest, beautiful and magnificent cultures… It is amazing… I want to do something special for you guys tonight.”

Mendes maintained high energy throughout his performance, with dazzling fireworks lighting up the night sky at various intervals. He actively engaged the crowd, encouraging them to sing and clap along, making for an electrifying experience. As he wrapped up his show, he merrily said, “See you, namaste, bye-bye,” leaving the audience buzzing with excitement.

The opening day of Lollapalooza India 2025 was a spectacular musical event, featuring vibrant performances from renowned international acts like rock band Glass Animals, German DJ Zedd, and American musicians Cory Wong and Isabel LaRosa. Additionally, local talents such as Jonita Gandhi, Dot., Sahil Vasudeva, Frizzell D’Souza, Dhanji, and Spyryk added to the festival’s lively atmosphere, making it an unforgettable night.

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Bowlers may hold the key in high-stakes IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 at Dharamsala

Although the media build-up centers on the batting heavyweight clash between Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, the IPL 2026 Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala is set to be decided by the bowling consistency of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Siraj.

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Flat pitches, towering sixes, and relentless run-scoring have defined the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 so far. However, when Gujarat Titans (GT) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lock horns in Qualifier 1 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamsala, the contest could ultimately hinge on the bowlers.

The HPCA Stadium has proved to be unforgiving for bowlers due to its short boundaries. A teaser of what could unfold was evident during recent net sessions, where Gujarat Titans’ Jos Buttler and Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Tim David regularly launched monstrous hits out of the stadium. In the three matches played at this venue this season, teams crossed the 200-run mark five times, with the lowest score being 199/8. An average of nearly 25 maximums per match has been hit here, promising another potential run-fest.

Moving past the Kohli vs Gill narrative

While media attention focuses on the iconic battle between the ‘King’ Virat Kohli and the ‘Prince’ Shubman Gill—hailed as the heir to Indian cricket’s batting legacy—the true deciding factor might lie elsewhere. Both batters look in pristine touch. Gill occupies the second spot in the Orange Cap race with 616 runs from 13 matches, trailing behind his opening partner Sai Sudharsan. Meanwhile, Kohli has bounced back from a brief mid-tournament slump by smashing a sparkling century, taking his tally to 557 runs this season.

Despite the incredible batting firepower on display, the bowling units are expected to dictate which team blinks last. Media interactions with team managements highlighted that consistency and self-belief within the respective bowling departments have been the defining traits of both squads this season.

Powerplay battles to decide the finalist

For RCB, veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads the charge alongside Kagiso Rabada for GT, with both spearheads locked as the joint-highest wicket-takers across the two sides at 24 wickets each. Bhuvneshwar holds a slight edge due to a superior economy rate. Close behind them is GT’s Mohammed Siraj, who has taken 17 wickets so far. With supporting acts like Josh Hazlewood, Jason Holder, Prasidh Krishna, Rasikh Salam Dar, and spinners Rashid Khan and Krunal Pandya in the mix, the match promises an intriguing tactical battle.

Gujarat Titans’ assistant coach Vijay Dahiya acknowledged that negotiating Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the powerplay will be a massive task, but reminded that GT possesses equal firepower in Siraj and Rabada. “If you talk about the powerplay, our numbers are among the best in this tournament,” Dahiya stated.

RCB captain Rajat Patidar echoed similar views, placing immense faith in his bowling attack to stop GT’s prolific opening duo of Gill and Sudharsan. “Our strength is bowling. The way we bowl in the powerplay will be very crucial. We’ll look for early wickets and that is what we have done throughout the tournament,” Patidar remarked.

In a tournament dominated by towering batting displays, the team whose bowling unit holds its nerve under the Dharamsala lights will seal a direct spot in the IPL final.

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IPL 2026 playoff race heats up as Sunrisers Hyderabad lead qualification odds at 75%

Sunrisers Hyderabad lead the IPL 2026 playoff race with the highest qualification probability, while Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings remain locked in a close contest for the final spot.

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SRH

The IPL 2026 playoff race has intensified further, with the latest qualification projections showing a clear edge for Sunrisers Hyderabad, while the battle for the final knockout spot remains wide open among multiple contenders.

According to updated playoff probability estimates following recent matches, Sunrisers Hyderabad hold the strongest position among all teams still in contention, with a 75% chance of qualifying for the top four. Their consistent performances have kept them comfortably ahead in the mid-table scramble.

At the same time, the race behind them has become increasingly tight, with several teams separated only by small percentage margins and net run rate factors beginning to play a decisive role.

CSK, RR and PBKS in close fight for fourth spot

The most competitive battle is currently for the fourth playoff position, where three major franchises remain in contention.

Chennai Super Kings are placed at around 35.5% qualification probability, keeping their campaign alive but under pressure after inconsistent results in recent matches.

Close behind them are Rajasthan Royals, who continue to hover in a similar range with nearly identical chances, making every remaining fixture crucial for their campaign.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have seen their prospects weaken further, slipping to around 31% despite still being in the playoff mix. Their position in the points table remains vulnerable as they struggle to build momentum in the final stretch of the league stage.

Other contenders and overall standings

Elsewhere, teams like Gujarat Titans continue to maintain a strong hold on qualification scenarios with a high probability of finishing in the top four, despite occasional setbacks.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru have already secured qualification status, strengthening their position at the top end of the table.

The mid-table remains highly competitive, while Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders continue to fight mathematically but face tougher paths due to lower probabilities and net run rate challenges.

What the numbers mean going forward

With only a few league matches remaining, the playoff cutoff is expected to settle around the 16-point mark, making every remaining fixture critical. Net run rate is also likely to become a key deciding factor if multiple teams finish on similar points.

Sunrisers Hyderabad remain in the strongest position, while the battle between Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings is expected to go down to the final set of league matches.

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IPL 2026 playoff race tightens as RCB and CSK feature in key qualification projections

RCB and CSK feature in updated IPL 2026 playoff qualification projections, with Bengaluru at 92.6% and Chennai at 41.7% as the race tightens.

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The IPL 2026 playoff race is intensifying as teams move deeper into the league stage, with qualification scenarios highlighting a closely contested battle for the top four spots.

According to recent playoff probability projections reported in media coverage, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) currently hold a strong position with a 92.6% chance of qualifying for the playoffs. Their consistent performances have placed them among the leading contenders for a top-four finish.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK), meanwhile, remain in the mix but face a more challenging path ahead. Their qualification probability stands at 41.7%, meaning the five-time champions will need strong results in their remaining fixtures to stay in contention.

The updated projections underline how competitive the tournament has become, with small changes in form significantly impacting playoff chances at this stage of the league.

While only select team probabilities have been highlighted in the available data, the overall playoff race remains open, with several teams still competing for the remaining qualification spots as the league phase progresses.

The coming matches are expected to play a decisive role in shaping the final top four standings for IPL 2026.

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