Aston Villa won their first Europa League title under Unai Emery on Wednesday, May 20, as the Spanish coach once again proved why he remains the undisputed king of the competition. Remarkably, all five of Emery’s Europa League wins have come with clubs having ‘Villa’ in their name – Sevilla, Villarreal and now Aston Villa.

Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in the final in Istanbul, capping a stunning rise under Emery, who took charge of the club in 2022 when they were hovering dangerously close to the Premier League relegation zone. Less than four years later, he had transformed Villa into one of the strongest teams in England, taking them back to the Champions League and now leading them to their first European trophy since 1982.

Wednesday’s performance was perhaps the perfect representation of Emery’s Aston Villa project. They were organized without the ball, brutal in transition and clinical in front of goal, completely outclassing Freiburg on the biggest night of their season.

“This final is confirmation of how we are progressing,” Emery told TNT Sports after the match. “Europe gave us a lot.”

As the final whistle blew in Türkiye, thousands of Aston Villa supporters began celebrating inside the stadium. They included Prince William, possibly the club’s most famous fan, who delightedly watched Villa lift European silverware once again.

“Amazing night!! Congratulations to all the players, team, staff and everyone associated with the club! 44 years since the last taste of European silverware!” Prince William posted on

“With this manager in charge, anything is possible.”

UNAI Emery: MR Europa League

Emery, dubbed “Mr. Europa League” by fans across Europe, has created a unique legacy in the competition. He dominated the tournament with Sevilla, winning three consecutive titles between 2014 and 2016, before leading Villarreal to glory in 2021. Aston Villa has now become the latest club to benefit from his remarkable European touch.

The win also marks Villa’s first major trophy since the League Cup in 1996, underlining how dramatically the club has progressed under the Spaniard.

Emery said after the game that he was proud to have enhanced Aston Villa’s reputation in Europe and stressed that the ambition is now to establish the club among the Premier League elite by competing strongly in the Champions League next season.

Villa captain John McGinn dedicated the win to the supporters who stood by the club through some of the darkest moments in recent history, including their three-year stint in the Championship between 2016 and 2019.

“I can’t believe what we’ve been through as a club, to be honest,” McGinn said.

“Seven years ago this club was in a terrible state. Tonight was everything we’ve built together.”

“Ten minutes before 3-0, thinking we were European champions, it was something I can’t even describe. It’s very special.”

Forward Morgan Rodgers echoed those sentiments after Villa completed a historic night in Istanbul.

“We’ve worked very hard for this,” Rogers said.

“We knew we had to play another game to give everything we had and we performed well. Great moment for the fans, great moment for the club. We will go down in history.”

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Hardik Pandya didn’t try to hide Mumbai Indians’ biggest problem after another crushing defeat, making their already poor IPL 2026 campaign even worse. The MI skipper admitted that the franchise’s repeated fielding failures throughout the season have badly affected the team, adding that frequent dropped catches have left Mumbai “chasing the game.”

Mumbai Indians suffered another defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on 20 May, a result which summed up their poor season. After securing just four wins from 13 matches, MI are now second-last IPL 2026 points table with only eight points and already out of the race for the playoffs.

IPL 2026, KKR vs MI: highlight | Achievement:

Speaking after the defeat, Hardik openly admitted that Mumbai’s fielding standards have fallen far below the level required to compete consistently in the IPL.

Hardik Pandya said, “I think we have been very bad in the field throughout the season. I think we have dropped a lot of catches, obviously no one wants to do that. But in that part of the game, I think there is no point in hiding. I think if you get chances, if you want to win the game, you have to take all the chances, even half chances.”

“But yes, when you give up chances that can change the game, it always happens that you are chasing the game,” said the embattled Pandya.

After posting a below par score of 147/8, MI still managed to create moments during KKR’s chase where they could have pulled themselves back into the contest. But once again his fielding disappointed him badly.

The most disappointing moment came in the 10th over.

Rovman Powell hit a pull shot off Hardik Pandya and what should have been a simple catch turned into complete confusion between Deepak Chahar and Robin Minz. Both fielders hesitated, neither committed properly and the ball eventually fell safely between them.

It was exactly the kind of moment that had haunted Mumbai throughout IPL 2026.

Fielding errors sum up MI’s horror season

Mumbai’s catching problems have haunted them almost the entire season.

The franchise dropped five catches in a single game against Punjab Kings at the start of the tournament, while missing chances in the field resulted in several matches being lost.

For a side that once built its dominance on discipline and ruthlessness, the decline in standards is obvious.

And the contradiction against Kolkata Knight Riders during the Eden Gardens clash made things even tougher for MI.

While Mumbai maintained chances, KKR once again looked to be one of the fastest fielding teams in the competition.

Much of the credit for that improvement has been internally given to fielding coach Dishant Yagnik, who has turned Kolkata into the best catching team of IPL 2026. The clearest example of this came during Cameron Green’s brilliant catch to dismiss Rohit Sharma during the match.

That sharpness ultimately became one of the biggest differences between the two teams.

KKR kept their chances, handled the pressure better and ultimately chased down the target patiently under the leadership of Manish Pandey and Rinku Singh.

Meanwhile, Mumbai’s season is now heading towards its conclusion with only one match left against Rajasthan Royals.

And after a campaign filled with inconsistency, poor fielding and constant pressure, MI now enter IPL 2027 with far bigger questions than answers.

ipl 2026 | ipl schedule | ipl points table | ipl player stats | purple cap | orange cap | ipl video | cricket news | live score

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Hardik Pandya (Image Credit: BCCI/IPL)

New Delhi: Disappointment on Captain hardik pandyaHis face was clearly visible, a major reason behind which is proving to be poor fielding. Mumbai IndiansDefeat against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.After MI scored 147/8 in 20 overs, they had a few chances on the field but failed to capitalize on them. The frustration reached its peak in the 10th over when KKR’s Rovman Powell hit a pull shot off Hardik Pandya.Deepak Chahar at fine leg looked set to take the catch, but he left it to Robin Minz coming in from deep square leg and the ball eventually fell safely between the two fielders.“(What was going on in the field?) I don’t know. I think throughout the season, we’ve been pretty bad fielding. I think we dropped a lot of catches, obviously nobody wants to do that. But in that part of the game, I think there is nothing to hide,” Pandya said after the match.He said, “I think if you get chances, if you want to win the game, you have to convert all the chances, even half chances. But yes, when you give up chances that can change the game, it is always that you are chasing the game.”Kolkata Knight Riders stayed alive in the playoff race with a crucial four-wicket win as the Sunil Narine-led bowling attack once again performed well on the difficult surface at Eden Gardens.Needing a win to stay in the competition, KKR put up a disciplined effort to restrict the already-eliminated five-time champions to 147/8. Ajinkya Rahane Won the toss and decided to field.This is the third instance of Pandya losing four consecutive matches as captain in the IPL.“(Were you about 20 runs short?) Yes, I mean, quite amusing. Certainly as a batting group, we were 20 runs short. I think we lost a lot of wickets in the powerplay, but if Tilak and I had stayed longer, and we had made a few more partnerships and got 15-20 runs, I think we would have had a good chance,” Pandya said.

Mohun Bagan super giants have headlined the worrying list of seven clubs whose applications for AIFF Premier 1 licenses for the 2026-27 season have been rejected, casting fresh uncertainty over the future of several Indian Super League sides. The decision, taken by the AIFF’s Club Licensing Committee – First Instance Body (CLC-FIB), will now temporarily make several top-flight clubs ineligible to participate in national and AFC competitions until the situation is quickly resolved.

While some clubs managed to secure licenses with restrictions, many major ISL names failed to get approval from the AIFF.

The clubs that were granted licenses with approval were:

• Northeast United FC
• East Bengal FC
• Jamshedpur FC
• Mumbai City FC
• bengaluru fc
• FC Goa
• punjab fc

Meanwhile, the clubs whose licenses were rejected are:

• Mohun Bagan Super Giant
• Kerala Blasters FC
• Odisha FC
• Chennaiyin FC
• Mohammedan Sporting Club
• Antar Kashi
• Sporting Club Delhi

Many ISL clubs are already grappling with widespread uncertainty over the league’s commercial future, ownership concerns, sponsorship pressures and operational plans for next season. Now the licensing setback adds another administrative headache right in the middle of that chaos.

But unless those issues are resolved quickly, Indian football may soon face another off-field mess just months before the new season begins.

What does AIFF club license rejection mean?

AIFF’s Indian club licensing system is not just paperwork.

It is essentially the league’s quality-control system designed to ensure that clubs meet mandatory standards involving finance, infrastructure, youth development, administration and sporting operations before they can participate in professional competitions.

Every season, clubs must secure licenses to participate in the ISL, I-League and AFC tournaments.

So when a license is rejected, it effectively means that the club has failed to meet one or several mandatory criteria set out by AIFF and AFC rules.

Technically, this currently makes these clubs ineligible to participate in ISL and continental competitions for the 2026–27 season.

But the important thing is that it is not an immediate removal.

Clubs still have ways to avoid complete disaster.

What’s next for Mohun Bagan and other clubs?

Despite the rejection, it is still not the end of the road for the seven clubs. The AIFF rules still leave some loopholes open before the 2026-27 season officially begins.

What can rejected clubs do now:

• File an appeal against the decision of the Club Licensing Committee
• Submit additional documentation or clarification to address compliance deficiencies
• Request special discounts to participate in national competitions
• Try to resolve infrastructure, financial or administrative issues within the permitted timeframe
• Will be temporarily ineligible for ISL and AFC competitions until approval is received

For Mohun Bagan in particular, the rejection has even greater significance given the club’s recent AFC troubles after refusing to travel to Iran for an ACL 2 match last year, which had already resulted in a heavy fine and a two-season continental ban.

And for clubs like Kerala Blasters, Odisha FC and Chennaiyin FC, this announcement will further heighten supporters’ concerns about where Indian club football is currently headed.

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New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday unveiled the schedule for the 2026-27 domestic season, confirming the… ranji trophy The two-phase format will continue to be followed. The major first-class tournament is scheduled to begin on October 11, while the domestic calendar will begin with the Duleep Trophy on August 23.The upcoming season will feature 1,788 matches across multiple categories in both men’s and women’s cricket. The competitions will include Under-16, Under-19, Under-23 and Senior tournaments in the men’s circuit as well as Under-15, Under-19, Under-23 and Senior tournaments in the women’s circuit.In another notable change, the BCCI has decided to shift the Under-23 one-day tournament and the inter-zonal university competition for the Vizzy Trophy to the T20 format in line with the evolving demands of the modern game.“The 2026-27 domestic season reflects BCCI’s continued commitment to building a strong and competitive domestic structure while ensuring balanced progress across all formats and categories,” the board said in the release.The Duleep Trophy, which has returned to the zonal format, will be played between August 23 and September 10. The entire tournament will be held at BCCI’s Center of Excellence in Bengaluru.The Irani Cup between Ranji Trophy champions Jammu and Kashmir and Rest of India will be played in Srinagar from October 1 to 5.The first phase of the Ranji Trophy, the blue ribbon event of the BCCI’s domestic calendar, will be held from October 11 to November 5 with four rounds being held.The second phase will take place between January 17 and March 3, 2027, after the completion of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (National T20) and Vijay Hazare Trophy (National 50-over meet).SMAT will be conducted between November 14 and December 6. The four venues for the league stage are Mumbai, Mohali, Vizag and Kolkata. The knock-out stage will be held in Nagpur.The timing of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy will allow talent scouts to prepare their lists ahead of the IPL auction which will be held sometime in December.Vijay Hazare Trophy will be held from 14 December 2026 to 8 January 2027.A good decision taken by the BCCI scheduling team is to play the Vijay Merchant Trophy (U16) from November to January, thereby improving the scheduling and preparation of the players.It also helps school cricketers prepare for their annual or board examinations which are generally held in February and March. (With inputs from PTI)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the ticket sale schedule for the IPL 2026 playoffs, with online booking set to begin in phases later this week. District has been named the official ticketing partner for the knockout stage by Zomato.

Playoff action begins Qualifier 1 will be held at HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala on May 26, followed by the Eliminator at New PCA Stadium, New Chandigarh on May 27. Qualifier 2 will be played on May 29 in New Chandigarh, while the final will be held on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

RuPay cardholders get early access

Ticket sales will first open for RuPay credit cardholders, who have been given priority through the special booking window. The first priority window will open on May 20 at 7:00 PM and will be active for 24 hours, allowing eligible users to book tickets for Qualifier 1 and Eliminator.

The second special booking window for RuPay cardholders will begin on May 22 at 7:00 pm, which will include the sale of tickets for Qualifier 2 and the Final.

General sale dates announced

For the general public, the sale of tickets for Qualifier 1 and Eliminator will begin at 8:00 pm on May 21, a day after the start of the RuPay pre-sale. Booking for Qualifier 2 and Final will open on May 23 at 8:00 PM.

BCCI said that tickets will be available only through authorized online platforms, fans will be able to purchase through the official IPL District by website as well as Zomato website and mobile application.

Demand is expected to be high

The phased rollout aims to manage demand for the tournament’s most anticipated fixtures, with interest expected to be high as teams battle for the title. The playoffs will mark the culmination of another competitive IPL season, with the final set to be played at the world’s largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

Fans have been advised to rely only on official booking channels to avoid fraud or fake tickets. With the knockout line-up confirmed, the race to secure seats for the decisive matches is expected to intensify in the coming days.

ipl 2026 | ipl schedule | ipl points table | ipl player stats | purple cap | orange cap | ipl video | cricket news | live score

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New Delhi: Riyan Parag launched a concerted defense of the players after Rajasthan Royals‘The seven-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur urges commentators and experts to stop personal criticism and focus on the game.The RR captain, who missed the match due to a hamstring problem and remained among the impact substitutes, said players often face unfair judgment from outside despite preparing for several days for every game. “We perform as per the expectations of the audience. So I think we all should love cricket and look at it the same way. The players are working very hard,” Parag said after the win. “It is very easy to say, if a team is all out for 75 or 80 runs, they do not know how to play or do not have the mentality to play. But there is 3-4 days of preparation before that match to ensure how we can score 200-250. But sometimes this does not happen.“‘Commentators should talk about cricket’Parag, who has often been in the headlines this season for reasons beyond his performances, including an off-field controversy, said criticism crosses the line when it becomes personal.He said in the post-match press conference, “We are also human beings and we also make mistakes. So, I think the more that is coming out, especially the commentators, their voices are reaching the people. I would request them to love cricket. Talk about cricket.”The 24-year-old player, who was recently named vice-captain of the India A team for the Sri Lanka tri-series, said the game deserves more respect from those who shape public opinion.“The game, which is the most important game in the country, and the one in which we are the best, should be treated with some respect. We should only talk about cricket.” We shouldn’t be talking about anything else,” he said.Parag said that he has learned to control external noise.Parag said, “In the last four years, I have understood one thing – no matter what I do, there will be conversations. I have also understood that whatever conversations are happening, it should not affect my game, my form or my mentality because keyboard warriors are outsiders.”

Riyan Parag Jai Ho Vaibhav Suryavanshi

Parag also gave special praise to 15-year-old opening batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who scored 93 runs in 38 balls to chase down the target of 221 runs.“I think that was his best innings,” Parag said. “When he was on 5 at 10 or 11, there were always two ways to go. But he took his time. That first big shot from Mayank Yadav over cover gave me the satisfaction that he may be short, but he has a great understanding of the game.”

09:35 IST:

Pitch Report – Athar Ali Khan is inspecting the conditions in Sylhet. He says the surface has been good throughout and should continue to be good in this final season. He said that the big question is whether Pakistan can create history. It is said that such a big target has never been chased on this ground and it is the biggest target ever set by Pakistan here. On Bangladesh’s bowling strategy, he points to the last two overs before the break as a masterclass in length control. He elaborated that out of the 12 balls bowled, nine or ten hit the true good-length mark, completely closing down the scoring options. He says that this is excellent Test match bowling and Bangladesh would like to repeat exactly the same discipline from here. He said that all eyes for Pakistan are on Babar Azam. He says that he has gone 31 innings without a Test century, which means there is a lot of pressure on him, yet his class is beyond question. Further adding that as his looks settle in, he has the full potential to master this surface and post a big one, just like Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton Das did in the first match. Adds that a chase of this magnitude requires someone to stand up and handle the innings, someone cut from the cloth of Younis Khan or Mohammad Yousuf. It ends by saying that whether Pakistan has that steel today or not remains to be seen.

Rajasthan Royals Batsman Vaibhav Suryavanshi said he doesn’t plan his celebrations and likes to do something new in every match, as his 93-run innings helped RR beat Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets in the IPL on Tuesday.Suryavanshi played an inning of 93 runs in 38 balls, helping Rajasthan Royals keep their playoff hopes alive by achieving the target of 221 runs in 19.1 overs. During his innings, he celebrated his half-century with an unusual hand gesture – an inverted V with a finger crossed.Asked about the post-match celebration, the left-handed batsman said, “I don’t know. I do something new in every match. I don’t really plan it. There is no meaning behind it. Even the celebration I did in the last match had no meaning.” “I just keep trying new things.”The young player also said that he does not pay attention to external things around him. “I don’t read any newspapers. This is just the beginning. If I have a long career, people will always say something about me.”Earlier in the match, Michelle Marsh After being sent in to bat, Lucknow Super Giants scored 96 runs in 57 balls and scored 220 runs for five wickets.Marsh added 109 runs for the first wicket with Josh Inglis, who scored 60 off 29 balls. He later made another partnership of 64 runs with captain Rishabh Pant, who scored 35 runs.In response, the stand-in RR captain Yashasvi Jaiswal Scored 43 runs and made an opening partnership of 75 runs with Suryavanshi. After Jaiswal’s dismissal, Suryavanshi added 105 runs with Jitesh Sharma, who remained unbeaten on 53 runs.Suryavanshi moved to second place in the all-time list of most runs scored in the powerplay in an IPL season. He scored 25 runs off 16 balls during the first six overs of RR’s chase.Most powerplay runs in an IPL season:467 – David Warner (2016)426 – Vaibhav Suryavanshi (2026)*402 – Travis Head (2024)402 – Sai Sudarshan (2025)382 – Adam Gilchrist (2009)