Noor Ahmad – Chennai Super Kings In recent years, Afghanistan have arguably been the most progressive team in world cricket, having finished sixth at the ODI World Cup and reaching the semi-final of the T20 World Cup last year in India.  The team’s success is largely attributable to their ability to produce exciting and talented youngsters, including the likes of Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, and, of course, the sensational Rashid Khan.  However, the Blue Tigers now have another star in their ranks – Noor Ahmad. The left-arm mystery spinner was snapped up by the Chennai Super Kings at the IPL auction, and while the five-time champions have endured a terrible start to the competition, Ahmad has been impeccable. After five games, the 20-year-old has racked up 12 wickets with an economy rate of just under eight. He has already posted two three-wicket hauls and has a best of 4/18, which came in the IPL’s El-Clasico against the Mumbai Indians on March 23.  Ahmad currently holds the coveted Purple Cap in the competition, two wickets ahead of the chasing pack, and you can check out the IPL odds for the 20-year-old spinner to finish as the top wicket-taker here on SportyTrader! IPL predictions  Priyansh Arya – Punjab Kings The 2025 IPL has delivered only two centurions so far, with the first coming from Ishan Kishan, who scored a stunning 106* off 47 deliveries in the Sunrisers Hyderabad’s opening match of the competition against the Rajasthan Royals.  While many had thought that knock would be a tough one to match, we have a very close contender in the form of 24-year-old Priyansh Arya, who blasted the Punjab Kings to a magnificent 18-run victory over CSK earlier this week.  Arya launched nine sixes over the boundary to reach his ton in just 39 balls, making it the fourth-fastest century in the history of the IPL and the second-fastest by an Indian batsman, behind Yusuf Pathan’s 37-ball 100 way back in 2010.  The Punjab opener joins an elite group of uncapped players to reach this milestone in the IPL, alongside the likes of Shaun Marsh (2008), Manish Pandey (2009) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (2023). Arya will be back in action against the Sunrisers on Saturday, and you can check out our experts’ SRH vs. PBKS prediction for free right away.  IPL predictions  Aniket Verma – Sunrisers Hyderabad The Sunrisers Hyderabad are one of the newest franchises in the IPL, and despite their poor performance so far this season, they are widely regarded as one of, if not the most devastating, batting units in the competition.  SRH hold four of the five highest team totals ever posted in the IPL, and one of those came this season, in their opening match, when they scored a stunning 286/6. While the Sunrisers have power-hitters in abundance, an emerging talent is now proving to be one of the first names on the teamsheet – Aniket Verma.  The 23-year-old from Uttar Pradesh has already scored 141 runs and is inside ...

Rishabh Pant – Lucknow Super Giants (₹27.00 crore) Indian wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant made history at the IPL auction in the Middle East in November, as he became the most expensive player in the history of the IPL, with the Lucknow Super Giants splurging a staggering ₹27.00 crore to secure his services.  However, LSG have yet to be repaid for their faith (or funds), with the 27-year-old struggling to find top gear over the early stages of the competition. In five games, he has managed just 19 runs, 15 of which came in a single innings against SRH on March 27.  One of the main reasons the LSG skipper has not come under massive criticism is due to the performances of his teammates, particularly Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh, who have been incredible at the top of the order and sit first and third in the orange cap standings, respectively.  The Super Giants will host the Titans this weekend, and our LSG vs. GT prediction is available online right now! Shreyas Iyer – Punjab Kings (₹26.75 crore) The biggest shock at the IPL auction was the sale of Shreyas Iyer to the Punjab Kings. Iyer led the Kolkata Knight Riders to their third IPL title last season and was widely expected to captain the team in their title defence in 2025.  The Kings shelled out a whopping ₹26.75 crore to bring him to Punjab and handed him the captain’s armband in the process. So far, he has come good, currently on 168 runs in four matches, which places him 11th in the race for the orange cap.  Iyer’s best knock in the competition came against the Gujarat Titans on March 25, when he blasted GT’s bowlers to all parts, finishing on 97* in just 42 deliveries. While he has not hit the same kind of heights since then, his leadership has been vital to PBKS’s impressive start to the season.  The Punjab Kings will face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, so be sure to check out our SRH vs. PBKS prediction ahead of the toss! Venkatesh Iyer – Kolkata Knight Riders (₹23.75 crore) After seeing Shreyas Iyer depart for Punjab, the Kolkata Knight Riders prioritised the re-signing of his namesake, Venkatesh, who was one of the standout all-rounders in the 2024 edition of the IPL. KKR shocked onlookers by forking over ₹23.75 crore for Venkatesh, but he has yet to find the type of form he delivered in past seasons. The defending champs have used him as a specialist batter so far in the competition, but he has managed just 116 runs in six matches.  However, to give credit where it’s due, Venkatesh has looked much better in his last two innings, notching up a quick-fire 60 off 29 deliveries against the Sunrisers and 45 off 29 versus LSG, suggesting that he could be on the verge of a big knock.  IPL predictions Arshdeep Singh – Punjab Kings (₹18.00 crore) The most expensive bowler at the IPL auction was Arshdeep Singh, who the Punjab ...

Chelle Optimistic About Nigeria’s WC Qualification After failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Nigeria’s hopes of returning to football’s grandest stage in 2026 are still up in the air, with the team currently sitting in fourth place in their qualification group, with seven points after six matches. The Super Eagles were drawn into Group C alongside South Africa, Rwanda, Benin, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, and were the clear favourites by most of the best online betting sites to top the group and earn automatic qualification to the World Cup, which will be hosted by the USA, Mexico and Canada next year.  However, the reality has been in stark contrast to expectation! The Super Eagles failed to win any of their first four group-stage qualifiers, and while they did get in the win column against Rwanda last month, that result was followed by a disappointing 1-1 draw against the Warriors of Zimbabwe four days later.  Despite trailing South Africa by six points, all hope is not lost just yet for the Super Eagles, as the second-placed teams from each group are pooled into a second round of qualifying, where the top-four-ranked runners-up will compete for the final two qualification spots.  Given the gap in Group C, the second round seems the most likely and logical way that Nigeria can qualify for the World Cup, and head coach Eric Chelle already has his sights set on it. During a press conference last month, the Nigeria boss admitted:  “I’m so disappointed for my players for the country and the way things are now we have to start looking at second place, we deserve to win but this is football.” Still, Nigeria’s path to the runners-up bracket is far from guaranteed, with the teams occupying the top four positions in the ranking already well ahead of them on points. Here is the current ranking of runners-up ahead of the final four games in the qualifiers. Qualifying campaigns for the World Cup are still ongoing across all regions, and you can keep up with all the action using our World Cup livescore tool here on SportyTrader! Football predictions Rwanda, South Africa Clashes Key For Nigeria The 2026 World Cup qualifiers are set to resume during the international break in September, and Nigeria have two crucial matches to navigate, starting with a home game in Uyo against Amavubi before travelling to the south of the continent to take on Bafana Bafana.  The Super Eagles cannot afford anything less than taking all six points from those matches, and while the clash against South Africa is expected to be a massive test, Chelle is focused on taking it one game at a time. He said:  « It’s an obligation we win in South Africa, but the most important match for us right now is Rwanda in Uyo. South Africa are a good side, but for that game we cannot afford to allow them to play, but first, we have to beat Rwanda at home and then we will focus on the ...

India Tour of Australia: Dates and Venues Upon conclusion of the Indian Premier League, the international cricket season is set to resume, and one of the most eagerly anticipated series will see India travel to face Australia on their home patch across October and November this year.  Kicking off the eight-match tour, the Men in Blue and Baggy Greens will face off in three one-day internationals, with the first match scheduled for October 19 in Perth before heading to Adelaide and Sydney for matches two and three.  Thereafter, the powerhouses of international cricket will face off in five T20I fixtures, with the first being staged at the Manuka Oval in Canberra, while there is also a match set to be played on the Gold Coast, which will be the first the Blue Shirts’ will play in the region.  Notably, this is also the first time that every Australian State and territory will host men’s international cricket, with Canberra and Hobart both included as destinations for matches during the T20 series.  The five-match T20I series is expected to serve as a build-up to India’s title defence at the T20 World Cup next year, which will be jointly hosted in their homeland and neighbouring Sri Lanka, who will be determined to make amends for missing out on the ICC Champions Trophy in March.  India vs. Australia ODI series schedule: October 19: Perth Stadium, Perth (D/N) October 23: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (D/N) October 25: SCG, Sydney (D/N) India vs. Australia T20I series schedule:  October 29: Manuka Oval, Canberra October 31: MCG, Melbourne  November 2: Bellerive Oval, Hobart  November 6: Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast November 8: The Gabba, Brisbane  Cricket predictions Busy Second Half Of Year For India While the tour of Australia has been earmarked as India’s biggest challenge for the remainder of 2025, it is by no means the only one. After the IPL, India have about a month to complete preparations before jetting off to England to face the Three Lions in a five-match Test series.  The first Test is set to get underway on June 20 at the Headingley Cricket Ground before the series moves on to Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and finally, the Oval in London for the final match of the tour on July 31.  Then, following their tour to Australia, India will host South Africa in a multi-format series, which includes two Test matches in the second half of November, three ODIs up to December 6, and five T20Is between December 9 and 19.  The second half of 2025 is set to be a very busy one for the Indian cricket team and our experts’ cricket predictions will be available throughout, so be sure to check them out! Cricket predictions

Why Was the Indian Grand Prix Taken Off the F1 Calendar? Since the new World Championship launched back in 1950, Formula 1 has raced in 34 countries across the globe, including India, with the very first Indian Grand Prix being hosted at the Buddh International Circuit in Uttar Pradesh in 2011.  Despite signing a five-year deal, F1 raced on the circuit only three times, in 2011, 2012 and 2013, and each of those races were won by Sebastian Vettel, who was Red Bull’s champion driver before the arrival of Max Verstappen.  The fall of the Indian Grand Prix to this day is still widely attributable to the then-Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, who was a firm believer that F1 was not a sport but entertainment, which meant that it had to be taxed accordingly.  As a result, F1 teams and program coordinators were no longer entitled to the tax exemption that other sports enjoy, which sent customs fees skyrocketing and eventually led to the race being paused for two years and eventually canceled in 2016. However, while several previous attempts to bring F1 back to Bharat have largely fallen on deaf ears, perspectives have begun to change in recent years, which has sparked hope that a return of the Indian Grand Prix could be close.  F1 predictions Potential Revival of Formula 1 in India First off, there is no guaranteed confirmation that Formula 1 will return to India in the foreseeable future. However, there are an increasing number of reports from key players and journalists in the know suggesting that the Indian Grand Prix could be reinstated.  One of the major reasons that could come to fruition is the FOM’s overall objective of increasing the number of races on the F1 calendar to increase revenue generated from new regions that have an interest in the sport – recent examples of this include Las Vegas, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.  Given the size of the nations economy and the growing interest in the sport, it stands to reason that it could be a profitable venture to bring F1 back to the country, while there is also growing pressure on the FOM owing to the fact that India is the only country ranked in the top 10 economies in the world to be excluded from Formula 1.  Additionally, 2023 saw two of the biggest motorsport events feature in India – Formula E with the ePrix in Hyderabad, and perhaps more importantly, MotoGP Bharat, which was held at the former Indian Grand Prix Track, Buddh International Circuit.  The successful staging of the MotoGP was a massive step forward in India’s efforts to revive F1 in the country! While the 2025 season is already underway and 2026 still seems a little too optimistic, continued success in hosting motorsport events could convince Formula 1 and the World Motor Sport Council to reconsider returning to India in the coming years.  Formula 1 heads to the Middle East this weekend, and you can check out our ...

Mohun Bagan Aim For Historic ISL Double The Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan Stadium in Kolkata will burst into life this weekend, when Mohun Bagan step out in front of their home fans looking to secure their first-ever ISL double after narrowly missing out on achieving the remarkable feat last season.  It has been an incredible season for the Mariners and head coach Jose Molina, who guided ATK to this title back in 2016, and he is now set to lead MBSG into battle in the grand finale in just his first season back with the club.  After winning 17 of 24 league games this season, Molina’s win rate in the Indian top flight now stands at 53.5% – the third-best conversion in the history of the league, only behind Albert Roca (66.7%) and Des Buckingham (57.4%), among coaches that have taken charge in 10+ games. MBSG secured their spot in the final with a dramatic 2-0 victory over Jamshedpur in the second leg of their semi-final clash, where Lalengmawia Ralte netted a 94th-minute winner to help the side overturn a 2-1 defeat from the first leg.  Despite being head-and-shoulders the best team in the league this season, Molina has avoided admitting that his side is the favourite in the contest. In an interview this week, the Spaniard said:  “I think in the finals, nobody is a favourite. Anything can happen. Of course we believe in ourselves. We trust in ourselves and in what we are doing. We think that if we are at our best, we are going to get the trophy.” Still, while Molina may be erring on the side of caution with his confidence, bookmakers are much more bullish and have installed the Mariners as massive favourites in this contest according to the latest Indian Super League betting odds.  ISL predictions Bengaluru FC Out For Revenge in ISL Final For Bengaluru FC, this final is about more than just victory – it is a chance for them to exact revenge for the heartbreaking disappointment they suffered in Goa two seasons ago when they were beaten by this opponent in this very fixture.  The Blues finished in third place in the regular season and defied the odds to earn their spot in this grand spectacle, beating the fancied FC Goa 3-2 on aggregate in a thrilling semi-final, which also came down to the final moments of the match.  The hero of the piece was none other than the evergreen Sunil Chhetri, who netted a stunning diving header in stoppage time in the second leg against the Gaurs. While the Blues lost the match 2-1, Chhetri’s strike proved decisive after his team won the first leg 2-0 at home.  Under the guidance of Gerard Zaragoza, Bengaluru have turned into one of the most potent attacking units in the Indian top flight. Over the course of the season, they have scored 44 goals from inside the box – the most of any team in the division this term.  Additionally, they have created ...

Ashwani Kumar Makes Dream Debut In IPL If you had to dream up the best way to start your Indian Premier League career as a young seam bowler, claiming the scalp of an accomplished international player with your very first ball would likely rank at the top of the list of options.  For Ashwani Kumar, that dream became reality on March 31, when he picked up the prized wicket of Kolkata Knight Riders’ skipper Ajinkya Rahane with his first delivery on debut for the Mumbai Indians in front of their home fans at the Wankhede Stadium.  Mumbai suffered back-to-back defeats in their first two matches of the 2025 IPL season and handed the 23-year-old seamer his first start for the franchise in place of Satyanarayana Raju, and he repaid his team’s faith in genuine style.  After sending Rahane back to the pavilion, Kumar went on to dismiss Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey and Andre Russell, ending the innings with 4/24, as Mumbai bundled the defending champions out for just 116 in 16.2 overs.  In doing so, Kumar became the first Indian bowler to take four wickets on IPL debut! The young paceman was snapped up by the Mumbai Indians for ₹30 lakh at the IPL mega auction last year – a drop in the ocean compared to some other players – after being released by the Punjab Kings for whom he had never featured despite being part of the squad for the entire 2024 season.  While he played in nine previous matches in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Punjab, Kumar had never picked more than three wickets in any format of the game before his instrumental spell against KKR’s formidable batting lineup.  Unfortunately for the rising star from Jhanjeri, the return of Jasprit Bumrah forced him out of the team for Mumbai’s last match against RCB, which they lost by 12 runs chasing 221/5. However, he is expected to return to the fray this weekend when Mumbai face the Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday.  There are a couple of blockbuster matches on the cards over the coming days, and our GT vs. RR and RCB vs. DC predictions are online right now, so be sure to have a look at them ahead of the toss.   IPL predictions What Are the Best Bowling Figures on IPL Debut? The greatest debut of all time for a bowler in the IPL came from the Mumbai Indians in the form of Alzarri Joseph back in 2019. The West Indian fast bowler stepped into the side as a replacement for Adam Milne and finished with an incredible 6/12 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad. Joseph picked up the wickets of David Warner and Vijay Shankar in his first two overs with devastating pace before dismissing Deepak Hooda, Rashid Khan and Bhuveneshwar Kumar in the space of four balls. His final wicket was that of Siddarth Kaul.  In second place is Australian medium-pacer Andrew Tye, who made his debut at 31 years of age and ...

Delhi Capitals Announce Themselves as the Team to Beat  After failing to reach the knockout stages of the Indian Premier League since 2021, Delhi Capitals’ fans finally have a reason to cheer again, as their side has stormed out of the blocks this season and looks like a team that means business.  During the offseason, Axar Patel’s side made major investments to bolster their squad, splashing out ₹14 crore on India international KL Rahul, ₹11.75 crore on Aussie quick Mitchell Starc, and a combined ₹27.75 crore on the trio of Thangarasu Natarajan, Jake Fraser-Mcgurk and Mukesh Kumar.  As it turns out, their financial decisions have worked a treat, with Rahul seemingly finding his best form in their last match, while Starc is joint-second in the purple cap standings, just one wicket behind Noor Ahmad and Hardik Pandya, both of whom have played a game more. The Capitals have now racked up three straight wins over the first three weeks of the competition and are currently the only team in the IPL that has yet to taste defeat, while also having a game in hand on the teams below them.  DC’s most recent victory was by far their sweetest, as they overcame five-time champions Chennai Super Kings by 25 runs last Saturday, marking their first victory over CSK at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in 15 years! The victory in Chennai was led by the performance of KL Rahul, who was promoted to the top of the order in the absence of Faf du Plessis, and the result meant that the Capitals had won three IPL matches in succession for the first time since 2009.  While the likes of the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Punjab Kings have also made impressive starts to their IPL campaigns, Delhi look like the team on a mission – a mission to leave their poor performances in the past and secure their maiden IPL title. Owing to their sensational start to the season, the Delhi Capitals have surged up the betting boards and are now second-favourite behind RCB to win this year’s tournament, according to the last IPL odds.  IPL predictions What’s Gone Wrong With CSK & MI? While the Capitals are enjoying an excellent start to the 2025 IPL, two powerhouses of the competition, MI and CSK, are in the doldrums this season, currently in eighth and ninth place in the standings, respectively, after playing five games apiece.  The Super Kings picked up an opening round victory in the IPL’s El-Clasico but have suffered four defeats on the bounce since then, leaving them with a paltry net run rate of -0.889, which is the second-worst in the competition to date.  Mumbai, meanwhile, seemed to have found their form in their third match when they beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets, but they were unable to build on that performance, losing to LSG and RCB, both by 12 runs, in their last two matches.  Notably, both these teams have had very few big contributions ...

Baller League UK: Format and Overview Baller League UK is a six-a-side indoor football league consisting of 12 teams. Every Monday night, all teams play their league matches in succession, with the first night of the competition being staged on March 24.  Each league night is made up of six matches of 30-minute duration each and will be hosted by the Copper Box Arena in London. The top four teams at the end of the 11 weeks will advance to the final Playoff in June, when the Baller League UK champion will be crowned.  Points are allocated in exactly the same way as any of Europe’s top leagues, such as the Premier League or La Liga, with match winners being awarded three points, a draw earns one point, and no points are earned for a loss.  What Are the Rules for Baller League UK? Baller League UK introduces a fresh and exciting twist to the conventional football that we know and love – here are the competition rules:  All matches are in a six-a-side format with rolling substitutions Each half of the match lasts 15 minutes At the end of each half, there is a “Gamechanger” which lasts three minutes Gamechangers can include a 3v3 format, long-range goals counting as double, and goalkeepers cannot use their hands All Gamechangers are randomised from one match to the next Teams are allowed Wildcard players from Night 2 onward  Managers are allowed to challenge a referee’s decision by throwing a white flag One of the most exciting rules of the game is that there are no corner kicks. Instead, if a team concedes three corners, the opposing team is allocated an MLS-style 1v1 penalty kick.  Football predictions Which Teams are Participating in Baller League UK? Baller League UK has assembled a star-studded cast of managers, ranging from ex-footballers like John Terry, Alan Shearer and Ballon d’Or winner Luis Figo to YouTube sensations and internet personalities like Sidemen members Miniminter, Tobi Brown and Alisha Lehmann. These are the teams and managers competing in Baller League UK this year:  Squads include several former Premier League players, futsal players, free agents and released academy players. Among those are former Manchester United academy graduate Josh Harrop and Liverpool winger Jordan Ibe.  Other notable names include Ciaran Clark, Adrian Mariappa, Bruno Andrade, Michael Hill, and J’ardell Stirling, while Premier League winner Joleon Lescott featured as a wildcard player on night two of the competition.  Baller League UK: Standings After Three Weeks The third round of Baller League UK was played on Monday, April 7, and there were plenty of big results – most notably with AngryGinge’s Yanited maintaining their unbeaten record, while Ian Wright and John Terry’s teams picked up their first points of the competition.  Here’s how the table looks after three rounds: You can also wager on matches at Baller League UK with most of the best online betting sites worldwide.  How to Watch Baller League UK? Baller League UK has secured a one-year broadcast partnership with Sky Sports ...

Team Lagos Reign Supreme At South-West Games 2025 The 2025 South-West Games was the first of its kind and featured a total of six states from the southwest region of Nigeria competing in seven sports disciplines between March 25 and 29 in Lagos.  The event comprised football, basketball, table tennis, boxing, athletics, volleyball and archery, as well as a premier sub-tournament, the Bola Ahmed Tinubu South-West Alliance Games (BATSWAG), which was added to show off the region’s most talented under-18 sportspeople. After five days of grueling competition, host state Lagos emerged as the winners of the inaugural South-West Games and BATSWAG, earning an incredible 21 medals, including an unassailable 14 gold, along with five silver and two bronze medals.  Team Lagos’s impressive performance at the competition was capped off with a stunning 5-2 victory over Ekiti in the men’s football final on the final day of the Games after notching up all five gold medals along with two silver in table tennis.  The hosts state also secured all four golds in boxing and a combined seven medals (four gold, two silver and one bronze) in archery. Not only did the victory bring pride to the state, but it also catapulted some of Lagos’s brightest athletes to stardom across the nation.  Behind Team Lagos in the standings was Ogun State, which finished in second place with a solid tally of 10 gold medals, including finishing top in basketball, while Ondo State completed the final podium with three gold, nine silver and seven bronze medals.  Check out the best online betting sites in Nigeria here on SportyTrader! 2025 South-West Games: A Resounding Success for Nigerian Sport The Games attracted interest from all over the globe as well as from the nation’s most successful sportspeople, such as William Troost-Ekong, who took the time to wish the participating athletes good luck at the opening ceremony a day after the Super Eagles took on Zimbabwe in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier in Uyo.  Upon conclusion of the inaugural South-West Games, the overall staging and outcome of the competition were considered a resounding success, which has prompted the games’ major sponsor, First Bank Nigeria, to pledge ongoing support of the initiative for the foreseeable future.  At the closing ceremony, the Executive Director of FirstBank, Seyi Oyfeso, said:  “We will always support anything that is targeted at youths. At FirstBank, we will continue to embrace anything that engages our youth positively and things that encourage them to put their energies into things that are position and rewarding.” However, Oyfeso also added that FirstBank’s support will not be confined to only the South-West and urged other regions in Nigeria to create and organise such events across the nation as platforms to allow the Nigerian youth to showcase their skills on a national stage.  More sports news