David six-hitting spree powers Bengaluru

April 06, 2026

Tim David belted eight sixes in a blistering 70 not out to fire Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their second win of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season, hammering Chennai Super Kings by 43 runs on Sunday. David's 25-ball blitz steered defending champions Bengaluru to 250-3, the highest total in this season's tournament, after the hosts were put in to bat first at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Bengaluru bowled Chennai out for 207 in 19.4 overs to condemn the five-time IPL winners to a third defeat in as many matches. Seam bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar took three wickets for Bengaluru. Jacob Duffy, Abhinandan Singh and Krunal Pandya claimed two each. But Australia's David ruled with his power hitting and one of his sixes off England's Jamie Overton went over the roof of the stadium. "It doesn't always happen that way," said player of the match David. "You know, skipper Rajat (Patidar) was absolutely smoking and I was taking balls off him. So to be able to get us to a score and obviously put a lot of pressure on the opposition, it was super fun." Bengaluru top the 10-team IPL table with a better run-rate than Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Punjab Kings. All four sides have won their opening two matches. Bengaluru, who won their first IPL title in 18 attempts last year, started strong after Virat Kohli hit an 18-ball 28, and the rest of the batting kept up the pace and then accelerated. Kohli's fellow opener Phil Salt made 46 and Devdutt Padikkal reached 50 before Patidar, who finished unbeaten on 48, and David tore into the Chennai attack. David launched a brutal assault at the back end of the Bengaluru innings and whacked Overton for four sixes and a four in a 30-run 19th over. David and Patidar put on 99 runs in 36 balls as Bengaluru plundered 97 runs from the final five overs. Chennai lost three early wickets, including skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad for seven, to immediately fall behind in the chase. Sarfaraz Khan's 25-ball 50 and good knocks from Prashant Veer (43)...

Ronaldo becomes football’s first billionaire

October 09, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo has become the first footballer to reach billionaire status, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which has valued the Portugal great's net worth at an estimated $1.4 billion. The 40-year-old striker's financial ascent comes after he signed a new contract with Saudi side Al-Nassr in June reportedly worth more than $400 million. Bloomberg said that Ronaldo earned more than $550 million in salary between 2002 and 2023, supplemented by a decade-long Nike deal worth nearly $18 million annually, and lucrative endorsements with Armani, Castrol and others that added more than $175 million to his fortune. Ronaldo's move to Al-Nassr from Manchester United in 2023 had already made him the highest-paid player in football history, with an annual salary of 177 million pounds ($237.52 million), plus bonuses and a reported 15% share in his Saudi Arabia club. Argentina and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has earned more than $600 million in pre-tax salary during his career. Ronaldo's billionaire status places him among a rare group of athletes that includes basketball greats Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and LeBron James, golfer Tiger Woods and tennis player Roger Federer. Ronaldo suggested he is not considering retirement any time soon. "I still have a passion for this," he said at the Portugal Football Globes gala on Tuesday. "My family says it's time to quit and they ask me why I want to score 1000 goals if I've already scored 900-something. But I don't think that way inside. "I'm still producing good things, I'm helping my club and the national team. Why not continue? I am sure that when I finish I will leave full because I gave everything of myself. I know I don't have many years left to play, but the few I have left, I have to enjoy them to the fullest."...