Tony de Zorzi has also been rested for the second ODI vs Ireland after hurting his knee during the first ODI
ESPNcricinfo staff04-Oct-2024
Nandre Burger will return home to be assessed•ICC via Getty Images
Nandre Burger has been ruled out of remainder of the three-match ODI series against Ireland in Abu Dhabi as well as the upcoming Test series in Bangladesh following “a lumbar stress reaction”.Burger “experienced discomfort in his lower back, and subsequent scans revealed the injury,” CSA said in a statement on Friday, not long before the start of the second ODI, adding that Burger “will return home and undergo further assessments”.There was no update about a replacement for the third ODI of the series, which South Africa are leading 1-0 after a 139-run win in the first game, but CSA said a replacement for the Tests in Dhaka and Chattogram would be “announced in due course”. That squad has Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson and Wiaan Mulder as the fast-bowling options.Also missing the second ODI against Ireland is Tony de Zorzi. CSA said de Zorzi had picked up “a soft tissue injury of his right knee” and was being rested from the game as a precaution.He hurt his knee attempting to slide and field the ball in the deep on the sand-based outfield in Abu Dhabi in the first ODI on Wednesday, and immediately left the field and was seen walking gingerly on the sidelines. He didn’t return to field, and underwent MRI scans on Thursday, which revealed the injury.De Zorzi is also in the squad for the Tests in Bangladesh, and is the likely opening partner for Aiden Markram there. The squad doesn’t have another opening batter, with Tristan Stubbs, captain Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham and one of Ryan Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne, the wicketkeeper-batters, likely to form the middle-order, with the uncapped Matthew Breetzke around as back-up.
It’s hard to think of a summer which has felt more positive for Chelsea.
Not only are Enzo Maresca’s side Conference League champions, but they are also World Champions after they demolished Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain over a week ago.
Add to that the fact they’ve already completed the seriously exciting signings of Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, and it feels like they could achieve something seriously special in the Premier League next season.
Moreover, the Blues have been heavily linked with the exciting Xavi Simons, although if reports are to be believed, they could now be targeting someone who’d be an even better signing.
Chelsea target Simons upgrade
Even though Chelsea have already been incredibly busy in the transfer window this summer, the club continue to be linked with potentially game-changing acquisitions, such as Simons.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The RB Leipzig gem enjoyed another stellar campaign in Germany last season, but has made it clear he now wants to leave for a fresh challenge, and alongside teams like Arsenal, the Blues have been one of the teams most liked for a move for him.
Based on reports from earlier this week, it looks like the West Londoners would have to pay as much as £95m for the 22-year-old’s services, and while that isn’t a crazy amount, it now looks like they’re eyeing up another young star, someone who’d be an even better signing.
At least that is according to a recent report from Caught Offside, which has confirmed that Chelsea are still very interested in Morgan Rogers.
In fact, the report has revealed that the Pensioners are now preparing an offer for the Aston Villa star that would see them offer Benoît Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Tosin Adarabioyo, plus a small fee, to try and secure the Englishman’s services.
It might sound like overkill to offer three players plus money, but that might be what is required, considering other reports from this summer claim the Claret and Blue value their young star at up to £100m.
It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but Rogers would certainly be worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a better signing than Simons.
Why Rogers would be a better signing than Simons
While both players are incredibly talented and look like they’re set for brilliant careers at the very highest level, there are a number of reasons why Rogers would be a better signing for Chelsea than Simons, and the first is due to his experience.
While the Dutchman has played plenty of top-flight football across his career to date, he’s never played in the Premier League, and that is a significant disadvantage, as it would likely take him some time to adapt, whereas the Villa ace could potentially slot right into Maresca’s side with no problem at all.
Moreover, while the Bundesliga is a great competition in its own right, it is only the fourth-toughest league in world football, whereas the Premier League takes the top spot, and quite comfortably so.
In fact, when we compare their output from the one competition they both played in last season, the Champions League, the difference in their effectiveness is really quite stark.
For example, in 12 appearances in Europe’s top competition, totalling 1025 minutes, the Claret and Blue’s game-changing “machine,” as dubbed by The Athletic’s Jacob, scored four goals and provided three assists.
Appearances
12
5
Minutes
1025′
337′
Goals
4
0
Assists
3
0
Goal Involvements per Match
0.58
0
Minutes per Goal Involvement
146.42′
N/A
In other words, the England star managed to average a goal involvement every 1.71 games, or every 146.42 minutes, which is all the more impressive given that it was his first time playing in it.
In contrast, the former PSV Eindhoven gem made five appearances, totalling 337 minutes and failed to score a single goal or provide a single assist.
Morgan Rogers
Ultimately, Chelsea would do well to sign either Simons or Rogers this summer, but given his experience in the Premier League and his proven ability in Europe, the latter would be the better signing.
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Chelsea could be set to hold talks to sign a Dutch superstar
Liverpool are marching their way through the summer transfer window like nobody’s business, with the signings made thus far fitting additions to a Premier League-winning team.
It’s a good thing too, for the Anfield side’s domestic rivals are looking to reel in impactful additions of their own as they look to challenge for the top-flight title next term.
FSG will slow down now, though, having signed two full-backs and Florian Wirtz (for a British-record £116m fee) to boot.
And there’s more still to come. The Merseysiders have placed themselves in a strong financial position after biding their time across recent transfer windows and claiming a windfall from sealing the league title.
Where might FSG strike next?
Where Liverpool are planning to strengthen
There’s plenty of noise surrounding Liverpool’s planned signing of a centre-forward, but with Bayern Munich plotting to sign Luis Diaz, we may see a left-sided winger arrive at the club in the coming month too.
The usual rumours linking Liverpool to Anthony Gordon have resurfaced; might we see the Three Lions star playing alongside Alexander Isak, his Newcastle United teammate, at Anfield next season?
After such a fierce wave of activity, Liverpool can now afford to be opportunistic, though there is still a pressing need for a central defender as Jarell Quansah prepares to join Bayer Leverkusen for £35m and Ibrahima Konate’s contractual uncertainty rumbles on.
Liverpool had attempted to bring Dean Huijsen over from Bournemouth, but that one’s off the cards.
Huijsen might have signed for Real Madrid, but Liverpool have shown they still want to sign a centre-back, and there’s one man in particular in Richard Hughes’ sights.
Liverpool agree personal terms for Premier League star
As per journalist DaveOCKOP, Liverpool have reached an agreement on personal terms with Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Guehi is out of contract at the end of the 2025/26 season and Liverpool are planning to take advantage of the market opportunity, as confirmed by Fabrizio Romano, with talks been the clubs slated for this week.
Liverpool and Palace are apart on their valuations, so the coming days will prove crucial. The Reds hope to strike a deal for £30m.
Why Liverpool want natural leader Marc Guehi
With so much change taking place at Liverpool this summer, it would be good to sign an experienced Premier League star, and Guehi fits the bill in that regard.
Praised by England U21 coach Lee Carsley for showing “leadership qualities on and off the field”, Guehi may even find himself in contention for the armband down the line, having captained the Eagles in each of his 44 appearances across all competitions last season, leading his side to the FA Cup title after beating Manchester City in the final.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehireacts after the match
In this regard, the England international might even become Liverpool’s next Jordan Henderson, arriving for a fairly large fee from a Premier League rival after demonstrating authority and influence to marry with the technical quality.
Guehi, it must be said, is one of the most composed and cultured ball-playing centre-halves in the Premier League, actually ranked among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe over the past year for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.
His completeness and potential to guide Liverpool through a new era over the coming years speak of a certain similarity to Henderson, especially as he would play alongside a legend in Virgil van Dijk for the next few years as the Dutch captain approaches his twilight. In Henderson’s case, this was applicable to Steven Gerrard.
Liverpool signed Henderson from Sunderland for £20m back in 2011. He had already been capped by England and was considered a hugely promising midfield talent.
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson
No one could have imagined what he would achieve. Across 492 matches for Liverpool, Henderson notched 91 goal contributions and captained Liverpool toward the Premier League, Champions League and many more.
Now, a new leader in Guehi can follow suit. He might be a little older, but the defender can emulate his compatriot, having established himself in a settled Premier League outfit, standing out.
Marc Guehi in the Premier League
Stats (* per game)
23/24
24/25
Matches (starts)
25 (23)
34 (34)
Goals
0
3
Assists
1
2
Clean sheets
4
11
Touches*
61.6
64.9
Pass completion
87%
84%
Key passes*
0.3
0.5
Ball recoveries*
4.8
4.3
Dribbles (success)*
0.3 (64%)
0.4 (86%)
Tackles + interceptions*
1.8
2.6
Clearances*
3.5
4.6
Duels (won)*
3.6 (60%)
4.9 (59%)
All data via Sofascore
It’s clear that this is a man of consistency and incremental, steady improvements. Regarded as a “monster in defence” by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, the stocky defender won’t just be an exciting addition, but an instrumental one.
Liverpool, having lost Trent Alexander-Arnold and with Andy Robertson potentially on the move too, must ensure that they don’t create too youthful an underbelly to Slot’s title-winning squad, and Guehi will thrive in bringing his wealth of leadership qualities to the fold.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehiin action
Liverpool might have two of the most talented central defenders in the game, but the Reds need to replace Quansah with a player capable of playing a bigger part, the England U21 star only handed four top-flight starts.
Guehi is clearly an upgrade across every facet, both from a technical standpoint and in regard to his maturity.
Moreover, he’s a natural-born leader, and coming from a divisional rival having carved success for himself, perhaps Slot will see his own version of Henderson welcomed to the ranks in the coming weeks or months.
He betters Isak in key areas: Liverpool make the "next Mbappe" a key target
Liverpool are interested in signing a new striker this summer.
Tottenham Hotspur are working to back new manager Thomas Frank in the transfer market this summer, with the north Londoners not exactly resting on their laurels after sealing a cut-price deal for Mathys Tel.
"Special" Tottenham forward spotted at another club amid talks to leave
Spurs are in negotiations over his exit.
ByEmilio Galantini Jun 17, 2025
Despite agreeing an option to buy Tel for around £45 million in January as part of his initial loan, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy managed to negotiate a lower fee with Bayern Munich, with the Frenchman making his stay permanent for £30 million instead.
Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025
Average match rating
Son Heung-min
7.00
James Maddison
6.98
Pedro Porro
6.95
Dominic Solanke
6.84
Dejan Kulusevski
6.83
via WhoScored
Bayern sporting director Max Eberl admitted last week that Tottenham were in ongoing talks over Tel’s transfer, and those negotiations were concluded pretty quickly, as Spurs announced their capture of the 20-year-old on Sunday morning.
However, Tel’s arrival is by no means the end when it comes to their pursuit of new forwards.
In January, Spurs held “concrete” talks with the representatives of Southampton winger Tyler Dibling, and he’s now re-emerging on their radar.
The 19-year-old impressed for an otherwise dismal Saints side who finished at the foot of the Premier League table last season, chalking up four goals and three assists in all competitions whilst cementing himself as a firm regular under both Russell Martin and Ivan Juric.
Dibling is a “world-class talent” boasting enormous potential, amid comparisons to treble-winning Man City star Jack Grealish, but his price tag has been a major stumbling block for interested sides like Spurs.
Southampton were demanding as much as £100 million to let Dibling go earlier this year, as reliably reported by The Times, but Southampton’s relegation to the Championship could see him depart for significantly less.
Tottenham consider Tyler Dibling move after near-£50m price drop
According to CaughtOffside, Southampton now value the teenage sensation at around £51 million, and Frank’s side remain in the running for his signature.
Southampton'sTylerDiblingcelebrates scoring their third goal
As per their information, Tottenham are considering a summer deal for Dibling, with Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United all named as fellow English contenders.
RB Leipzig have also seen a £30 million bid rejected for the Englishman, so the Under-21 international could soon be at the centre of a tug of war between sides both domestically and abroad.
Dibling is fast garnering a reputation as a creative player with excellent technique on the ball, mobility, acceleration, agility and good passing range, but it remains to be seen if the near-£50 million price drop will still be enough to entice Levy into making a formal bid.
Even his heavily discounted new valuation could still be seen by many as a major gamble, especially if Levy wants to reinforce other areas of the squad with Tottenham’s Champions League riches.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the market for a new striker this summer. According to recent reports from Italy, the Old Gold are keen on signing Lazio centre-forward Taty Castellanos.
Any move could cost the Molineux side a fee of around £29m. Unless Vitor Pereira sells a few players to raise funds, this might prove problematic.
It isn’t just a centre-forward that they need ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. Another midfielder would go a long way to seeing them finish in the top half of the Premier League table.
Wolves eye move for Premier League midfielder
The Old Gold have shown interest in Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of late, but they are also keen on bringing Liverpool starlet Harvey Elliott to the Midlands this summer.
According to GIVEMESPORT, Wolves are set to accelerate talks over securing the services of £50m-rated Elliott. The £40k-per-week midfielder has two years left on his current contract at Anfield, but having failed to establish himself in the starting XI this season, the door is ajar for Wolves.
Liverpool'sHarveyElliottcelebrates after winning the Premier League
He has plenty of experience in the top flight and would certainly give Pereira’s side something extra in the final third, as he could either operate on the right wing or as a number ten.
With the Portuguese manager eyeing a swoop for Castellanos to bolster his attacking department, the pair could form a dream duo next season.
Why Wolves must sign Harvey Elliott this summer
The Englishman made his debut for Liverpool during the 2019/20 season, just months after joining from Fulham.
Since then, he has amassed nearly 150 competitive appearances for the Reds, scoring 14 times and registering 19 assists.
This season, however, he has struggled for gametime. He has started only five times for the club, but has scored against PSG and PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
In the Premier League last season, he showcased his attacking qualities, creating five big chances, averaging 1.1 key passes, and averaging 1.4 shots per game.
Goals
3
Assists
0
Big chances created
0
Shots per game
0.8
Goal conversion percentage
75%
Balls recovered per game
2.6
Via Sofascore
Adept at either finding the back of the net or generating chances, deploying him on the wing could see him shine with Castellanos.
Indeed, when compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Elliott ranks in the top 1% for progressive passes (9.41), in the top 9% for shot-creating actions (5.3), and in the top 12% for assists (0.34) over the previous 365 days.
These statistics indicate just how much of a threat he could be in the final third. Castellanos has netted 14 goals and grabbed eight assists for Lazio this term.
Harvey Elliott celebrates for Liverpool
Should he move to England, Pereira will need players behind him who are capable of providing plenty of opportunities for the Argentinian striker.
By signing someone like Elliott, the club would be getting a solid, homegrown midfielder who can operate across several positions.
Much will depend on the sort of fee Liverpool are after, but if it is within their budget, Wolves must do all they can to bring him to the Midlands.
Ideal for Dewsbury-Hall: Wolves chasing move for "extraordinary" gem
Wolves look keen on signing a striker from Serie A.
Liverpool’s attack has caught the eye throughout 2024/25, leading them to the success they’ve endured in the Premier League throughout Arne Slot’s debut campaign.
Mohamed Salah has undoubtedly been the Reds’ shining light within the final third, registering 33 goals and 23 assists in his 48 appearances across all competitions.
The Egyptian has catapulted the side to the summit of the division, with his contract extension a huge boost to their ambitions of replicating such success next campaign.
However, if they are to reach such levels once again, Slot will undoubtedly want to bolster his ranks to provide key depth in forward areas of the pitch.
With the summer window rapidly approaching, the hierarchy have already wasted no time in laying the foundations for an overhaul, with incomings and outgoings expected.
An update on Liverpool’s attacking department this summer
Darwin Núñez has ultimately failed to deliver in the final third for Liverpool this season, registering just seven goals in his 42 appearances across all competitions.
Such form has led to doubts over his future at Anfield, with the Reds willing to offload him for £35m this summer as Atlético Madrid ponder a move for his signature.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
A sale would leave a huge hole at the top end of the pitch, but such a void could be filled by West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen if reports in Spain are to be believed.
The 28-year-old has been made a priority signing this summer, with the report stating that the Reds are readying themselves for an offer amid interest from Tottenham Hotspur.
His record of 10 goals and seven assists in 2024/25 has led to huge interest from the Merseyside outfit, but they would have to fork out £50m should they want to secure his signature.
The report concludes by suggesting the Reds have actually ‘already taken the first step toward securing.’
Why Liverpool’s £50m target is the dream Isak alternative
Given their hunt for a new talisman this summer, it’s no surprise that Newcastle United’s star man, Alexander Isak being linked with a move to Anfield after his own exploits in the final third throughout the ongoing season.
The Swede has notched 22 league goals to date, with only Salah scoring more in the division, but given his goalscoring record, any deal would set the hierarchy back a pretty penny.
It has previously been reported that the Magpies would demand a fee in the region of £150m to part ways with the 25-year-old this summer – a figure that may be out of Slot’s range.
Such a valuation could see other targets considered within the coming months, leading to a potential move for Hammers star Bowen, who could provide the goods on a consistent basis.
When comparing the pair’s respective figures from 2024/25, Bowen has managed to match or outperform the Magpies star in numerous key areas – showcasing why he would be the perfect alternative should they be priced out of a move for Isak.
Jarrod Bowen celebrates for West Ham
The 28-year-old, who’s been labelled “one of the best signings in West Ham’s modern history” by TNT Sports commentator Adam Summerton, may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but has notched a higher shot-on-target rate – showcasing his clinical nature in attacking areas.
The former Hull City ace has also managed more progressive carries and progressive passes, offering Slot a much better all-round option in forward areas than Isak.
Games played
30
31
Goals & assists
16
28
Shot-on-target accuracy
43%
42%
Progressive carries
3.3
2.7
Progressive passes
2.9
2.6
Shot-creating actions
3.5
3
Take-ons attempted
3.9
3.1
Fouls won
1.6
0.4
His talents don’t stop there, with the “unplayable” winger – in the words of Thomas Frank – attempting more take-ons along with more fouls won, with his nimble and energetic playstyle a real danger for opposition defenders.
Whilst the Swede will undoubtedly remain the supporters’ number one option, a deal for Bowen would be a sensational one, allowing for other investment throughout the squad.
£50m for a player of his quality in today’s market is a bargain, allowing the side to forget about Nunez and Isak, subsequently allowing them to make another stride for Premier League glory in 2025/26.
Slot's answer to Coutinho: Liverpool frontrunners to sign £50m "magician"
Liverpool are planning to make a sweep of exciting signings this summer.
He had an answer for everything Mumbai Indians threw at him and made it tough for Hardik Pandya to ask him difficult questions
Sidharth Monga02-Jun-20251:53
Moody: Shreyas Iyer identified key moments to go into the fifth gear
Shreyas Iyer was proper in the zone. The kind of space where you forget where you are. It takes time to come down from that trance.When he was walking back after leading a third side into an IPL final, as he protected a seemingly injured right hand and shook hands with his left, he saw Shashank Singh and gave him a dirty look. It doesn’t need a professional lipreader to ascertain what he said. Translated to English: “don’t come close to me”. Followed by the most common Hindi expletive.This was a man aroused by the competition. He scored 87 not out off 41 for any team – Punjab Kings (PBKS) on this occasion – to successfully chase down 200-plus against Mumbai Indians (MI) for the first time in the 18 years of the IPL. MI, whom everyone fears for their success rate in big matches. MI, who held an 18-7 record in playoffs and knockouts coming into this match. MI, who were riding high after beating the best IPL team of the last four years, Gujarat Titans (GT).Related
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But Iyer hadn’t forgotten how Shashank had left the job unfinished. That he had strolled the first half of the run that he couldn’t complete. The calm Iyer, the focusser on his own breathing, the dropper of big words one interview at a time (“stupendous” on this night, in case you were wondering), the dancer they all want to make reels with; under the surface a ferocious competitor. He was, in his words, “locked in”.
****
Trent Boult can get a highlights reel of surreal catches he has taken. You can’t say that of many fast bowlers. Yet, the more you play, the more you put yourself out there, there are bound to be errors that stick to you. In the 2019 World Cup final, he ended up touching the rope when catching Ben Stokes. Here he dropped Nehal Wadhera, the left-hand batter whose presence in the middle kept Mitchell Santner from bowling his third and fourth overs.Even in the last match, GT kept holding back M Shahrukh Khan and kept promoting left-hand batters. The result: Santner bowled just one over for ten runs and a wicket. He has gone at 9.12 an over and 73 runs per wicket against left-hand batters this IPL as against 7.61 and 26.66 against right-hand batters. So there was some sound reasoning behind not bowling Santner. As their coach Mahela Jayawardene said, it was something that had worked for them in the past especially given they have had bowling options.On the night, Hardik Pandya did actually take the bolder route and bowled Santner at Wadhera. Santner would have got him out had Naman Dhir not misjudged the catch at deep midwicket and then lobbed it for a four. Then Boult reprieved Wadhera off Hardik’s bowling. We will never know if he would have found the courage to trust Santner again because just as he was possibly preparing the stage for the next bold move, Iyer happened.2:30
Why didn’t Hardik and Santner complete their quota of overs?
****
Ashwani Kumar went for just four in the 11th over. Jasprit Bumrah conceded seven in the 12th after having gone for 20 in his first. With eight overs to go, we were now at two runs a ball with two Bumrah overs up MI’s sleeve. Hardik possibly felt he needed to push it just a little more before he could go shopping. He brought on Reece Topley, playing his first match of the season because of the injury to Deepak Chahar and then to his replacement Richard Gleeson.Topley had bowled two decent overs in the powerplay, but Iyer, 19 off 15 now, knew he was going to take him down. And this is where the transformation of Iyer the T20 batter became apparent. Earlier in the day, Himanish Ganjoo tweeted how batters were slogging length balls way more frequently than till 2023. In the years 2022 and 2023, Iyer played zero slogs to length balls from fast bowlers. In 2024 and 2025, he has done so to 11.39% of good-length balls.Topley’s first ball to Iyer was just there: 8.86m. Marginally short of good length. All the more reason to not slog it. Iyer, though, slogged it. It was not a powerful slog. He saw to it – borrowing from Iyer’s words – that he didn’t over-hit it. And then, the MI bowlers lost their execution . Six of Iyer’s eight sixes off the MI fast bowlers came off slot balls, pitched between 4m and 6m. Iyer was absolutely brutal on those. They offered him seven, and he missed only one.Shreyas Iyer took 13 runs off seven yorkers•Associated Press
****
Those with a lot of experience of playing and coaching the sport at the highest level say there is no secret to planning. The sport is more about the execution on the day. Jayawardene was clear they didn’t execute well. All these slot balls were either length balls pitched too full or yorkers gone too short. Iyer was on top of his execution game, the bowlers weren’t. Iyer was locked in, the bowlers weren’t. The other day Sherfane Rutherford toe-ended one of these slot balls. Iyer didn’t.However, it wasn’t all cashing in on loose balls. Even when the bowlers executed well, Iyer outdid them. If they bowled seven slot balls at him, they also bowled seven yorkers. With the ball tailing a little. Iyer steered them behind square for three fours, one to the right of short third, two to the left. He took 13 runs off seven yorkers.With the efficiency of power-hitting these days, you can’t really have third back in the death overs. Iyer took the best the two big MI bowlers – Bumrah and Boult – could throw at him and turned them into fours. The one off Bumrah’s yorker was audacious. This ball swung in 0.57 degrees, just enough to make you shift from the original line you line up, and it would have landed 18cm in front of the middle stump had Iyer not dabbed it fine of short third.2:31
‘Such a big over’ – Aaron on Inglis taking 20 off Bumrah in the fifth
****
Iyer hit the slot balls mercilessly, scored boundaries off yorkers, so what’s left? Ah, the short ball. Off 13 balls pitched shorter than 6m, he scored 28 runs, including the lovely nonchalant afterthought of a ramp off a slower bouncer from Hardik.It was also a great day for Iyer in the field. For the third playoff match in a row, it turned out that the side winning the toss had chosen wrongly. In the first, the ball moved around a lot more in the second innings, but Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) didn’t have many to chase. In the second, MI had to deal with huge amounts of dew, but Bumrah bowled them out of trouble.Here, PBKS – or the weather folks in Ahmedabad – had no clue it would rain when they decided to field. Between the toss and start of the match, it began to rain and kept raining on and off for more than two hours. When it did stop, they wasted no time in getting the game on.PBKS had to now contend with a wet ball. Their legspinner match-winner Yuzvendra Chahal was making his comeback, his bowling hand still not 100%. Suryakumar Yadav corrected his unfavourable match-up against Chahal with three sixes, but Iyer kept trusting his big player. In his final over, Chahal took Suryakumar with him, a wicket that cost MI about 20 runs.All through the first innings, PBKS just kept hanging in. Their coaching staff was a little nonplussed when Iyer went to Azmatullah Omarzai – 2-0-24-0 – at the death even though Vijaykumar Vyshak – 3-0-30-1 – had an over left. The bowling coach James Hopes said Iyer just went with his gut, and Omarzai gave him two overs for 19 and the wickets of Hardik and Dhir.3:14
Shreyas Iyer’s hat-trick of sixes turned the match
****
It was well past midnight when Iyer finished the win to reach the final, meaning the final is “tomorrow” and not “day after”. He is the only captain [apart from MS Dhoni – Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rising Pune Supergiant/s] to have taken more than one team to the IPL final, also the only one to lead two different teams to the final in successive years. Hang on, why does he have three teams then? Why has he been released immediately after winning the title?To be fair to Delhi Capitals (DC), he was yet another anchor when they let go of him. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) didn’t quite show the desperation to retain their winning captain.”Tomorrow” they will move one pitch to the side. Onto the exact same surface on which Iyer did things that still resonate with his team. Their first match of IPl 2025 was played on pitch No. 6 in Ahmedabad, the mixed-soil pitch in the middle of the square. The first ball he faced for a new team, he made a statement by lofting Kagiso Rabada’s hard length over mid-on.If his first act was a statement for those on the outside, Iyer’s final act with the bat was a statement for his own team. He was 97 not out but not on strike when the last over began. Shashank hit the second ball to deep midwicket, was happy with one to give Iyer the strike, but Iyer pushed Shashank for the second. Iyer never got the strike back, but 23 came off that final over. PBKS won by 11. Iyer still doesn’t have an IPL century.On that same pitch, Iyer will come up against the team that has beaten them twice in their last two encounters, the vastly improved RCB. Against an India team-mate with whom he shared a profound heartbreak at the same venue in 2023. They have both improved massively as T20 batters over the last two years. Virat Kohli has been loved unconditionally by his only franchise, who are yet to win the IPL. Iyer has won the IPL, but not the unconditional love of a franchise. Or the India T20I side. In between he even lost his national contract.Only one of the two will find solace on Tuesday night.
Joyful tour of New Zealand ends in historic defeat, but buoyant mood is the ultimate takeaway
Vithushan Ehantharajah03-Mar-2023There was no big debrief following England men’s 1-1 series draw with New Zealand. The second Test was confined to the annals of history quickly – albeit very high up.Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes spoke of their pride at how the last month had gone: the professional victory in the first Test at the Bay Oval, their commitment to cause on a thrilling final day of the second at the Basin Reserve. As counterintuitive as it may sound on the outside, the message was to take pride in contributing to a spectacle that encouraged so many to attend and even more to tune in.And just like that, they were off. McCullum for a round of golf with his former Blackcaps captain Stephen Fleming, equal parts tune-up for his appearance in the New Zealand Open in Queenstown and tune-in to the wavelength of the CSK head coach, whom hope will look after the Test captain during his forthcoming IPL stint. Stokes himself went back to Christchurch to spend some time with his family. Other players set off on their own jaunts with their partners who have been a noticeable presence on tour, in keeping with a focus on making the players as comfortable as possible. Ben Duckett, off the back of another sound showing upon his return to the fold this winter, headed to Dubai with his partner before he goes back east for the T20I series in Bangladesh. The grind never stops.A lot was made of the bonhomie of this series. These two nations have come up against each other so often in the last few years, across three Test series and two T20 World Cups since the start of 2021. Even friends and family are on a first-name basis with those on the opposition. One such anecdote sums this up: two opponents were play-fighting at a joint-gathering a few tours ago, only for one of the kids to take exception and jump in, unaware the altercation was light-hearted.At the end of the thrilling Battle of the Basin, as both teams’ end-of-tour drinks merged, the number of connections rekindled through County Cricket stints alone were such that you needed the difference in attire – New Zealand were still in their whites, England mostly in training gear – to tell the two groups apart. This match, and others, proved that such inter-squad camaraderie has not affected the competitiveness on the field.Joe Root and Kane Williamson are all smiles at the presentations in Wellington•Getty ImagesTo see James Anderson’s wry smile at the end of his 179th Test with a wry smile, despite having been the last to fall in England’s one-run defeat, said it all. When both he and Stuart Broad were axed for the Caribbean tour last March, one of the reasons given was the need for the dressing-room to grow in their absence. Their status within it was deemed a problem: the two big personalities were supposedly an intimidating presence, particularly when things went wrong with the bat. However England were going to redefine themselves after the Ashes, the presumption at the time was that they would have to do it without two bowlers who had been central to the team’s positivity for most of their careers. Getting rid of them was seen as a solution.Now, both are deemed integral to both England’s present success, and their ongoing transition. Anderson and Broad took 10 wickets apiece in the series (Anderson at 16.80, Broad at 26.10). They threw themselves about in the field (uncomfortably at times), and mucked in with the wider group with renewed enthusiasm. Broad finally got to give the Nighthawk a run-out, while Anderson swapped his reverse-sweep for a charge-and-smack off Neil Wagner to bring England ever closer to the winning post in Wellington. Even if the man himself had been ambivalent about finally hitting the winning runs in a Test match, everyone in the team wanted to see it happen. Alas, the wait goes on.Back in 2014, Anderson was reduced to tears after falling in the final over on the final day at Headingley against Sri Lanka. This time his competitive fires were evident as he questioned the non-awarding of a leg-side wide, moments before he nicked Wagner low to Tom Blundell, but the fact that he could be so phlegmatic after the event was, in its own way, a reflection of a tour quietly being deemed a success.McCullum and Stokes have long preached that England must focus on playing engaging cricket for the masses and let the result take care of itself. And as much as that remains hard to square with the intensity of international sport, the reason for this approach became abundantly clear throughout February. It’s been a while since a group of Englishmen have enjoyed playing Test cricket so much, and even longer since the results have been this good. The two could not be more linked.It is why McCullum asked the group to convene in New Zealand two weeks before the first Test at Mount Maunganui, despite settling for just a two-day warm-up match in Hamilton. His plan, which he workshopped in Abu Dhabi ahead of December’s Pakistan series, was to replicate the sort of off-field VIP treatment he had seen work wonders in the IPL.Related
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Players not involved in the South Africa ODIs flew out as early as February 27 and were treated to a day of golf in Auckland before heading to the South Island for a week in Queenstown and Arrowtown. Even as cricket entered the agenda in Hamilton, McCullum, who lives an hour or so away near the town of Matamata, went into overdrive on tour-guide duties, with recommendations of things to do and places to visit for players and media. Understandably, only the former got an invite to the barbecue hosted at his place that Sunday afternoon, which was originally supposed to be day three of the warm-up match against an NZC XI at Seddon Park.”It’s been busy,” McCullum said at the time. “A lot of demands on me. It’s not one of my fortes, either, organising things.” But it was an important discomfort to endure for the greater good.Broad, on his fifth tour of New Zealand, spoke of this being the most he had seen of the country beyond “cricket grounds and airports”. “It has been the most enjoyable ten days I have had pre-tour in my whole career, which is Baz’s mantra.”Broad’s words, along Anderson’s smile, highlight a rejuvenation. It’s one thing for newcomers to be enamoured by the trappings of playing cricket at Test level. But for the two men who have been here on more occasions than all but a handful of long-retired legends, it’s a handy reminder of what a privilege this career truly is.That manifested itself in different ways. For all the extra-curricular activities on offer, England’s training sessions were often so intense that the local net bowlers spent most of their time watching from the sidelines rather than offering support, with batters keen to be tested by coaches slinging down from 18 yards instead of club players from 22.When Stokes decided upon picking Anderson, Broad and Ollie Robinson in consecutive matches – with confirmation of their fitness coming via text message on the morning before the Wellington Test – it was a statement in two parts. All three bowlers, no matter how established, wanted to show they could be trusted to go back-to-back ahead of a summer where they’ll be asked to do that with six Tests in 60 days. And that if Matthew Potts and Olly Stone were to be selected, it would be because they were in the best XI rather than as understudies. It was a far cry from previous eras where players were earmarked for specific matches rather than looking at the wares and picking the best team for right now.The competitive spirit of the Test series was plain to see even if it was all smiles off the field•AFP/Getty ImagesTherein lies perhaps the true benefit of this shift among the group as a whole. There are no clear cliques, and an appreciation of the importance of looking out for one another, whether it’s celebrating Harry Brook setting records or getting around Zak Crawley who is enduring more tough periods. And yet those in the XI are desperate to stay where they are.It was after the series that McCullum allowed himself to speak openly about the Ashes on the horizon. For the players, who had always had it in their mind’s eye, it was almost a sense of relief.England’s next Test outing is against Ireland, but Australia are the real acid test. McCullum and Stokes have created a brilliant thing, re-engaging the English public with a format that – until the start of last summer – had been going through the motions and moving further from the national consciousness.Now, though, we will find out how robust the principles of enjoyment and carefree play are, in a series when the individual’s internal emotions will be harder to shield. All this is easier when you’re winning a lot, and occasionally losing in style.So much of the messaging had been to enjoy the pressure, enjoy the struggle, enjoy the days in the dirt, enjoy the grind. The hope from Stokes and McCullum is they have given their charges the confidence to go into the next few months enjoying the anticipation and anxiety of being England’s best hope of winning the urn in eight years.
After a season hobbled by injury, the Sunrisers Hyderabad allrounder says he’s fighting fit and ready for anything the IPL might throw at him
Interview by Deivarayan Muthu11-Apr-20218:04
Vijay Shankar: “When I enjoy my game and take things as they come, I’m in a far better mental space”
After Vijay Shankar came home from the India A tour of New Zealand in late 2018, the side’s backroom staff, led by then coach Rahul Dravid, quipped that it was probably the first time the allrounder was coming back from a tour injury-free. That stint with the A team got Shankar into the senior side soon after, but injuries have stalled his progress since. He hasn’t played for India after he hurt his toe in the nets during the 2019 World Cup. He has played just one competitive match between the 2020 IPL and the upcoming IPL season – a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy fixture for Tamil Nadu against Jharkhand at Eden Gardens, where he bowled only 13 balls before suffering another injury. Shankar has since married, completed his rehab, and is now looking forward to returning to action.You have entered your thirties. Has that made you wiser and more responsible? I’ve always been responsible with whatever I’ve done in my life so far (). I’m also married now, so there’s a lot more responsibility. It’s going to be interesting…Related
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'Whatever the conditions, I can adapt and perform' (2019)
You’ve played 98 T20s so far and will likely tick over 100 this IPL. How do you look back on a career that has had its share of highs and lows: from the Nidahas Trophy final to winning the IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016? Actually, this number [100] was in my mind when I joined the Tamil Nadu team for the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy in January. I was thinking of playing my 100th T20 game, but then I totally forgot about it.I think most of my lows came around my injuries, which set me back in whatever I was working on, but I learnt how to come out of it and handle these situations. So, playing my 100th T20 game will definitely be a good thing for me. I think I’ve also played 90 [88] List A matches, so I thought I would get close to 100 in that as well.”I’m someone who likes spending more time at the nets, but unfortunately, due to the injuries, I’ve had to give more time to rehab”•Associated PressYou’ve had to deal with multiple freak injuries over the years. What has been the biggest learning since your T20 debut? It has been an amazing journey. When it goes your way, things might happen quickly [for you], but sometimes you may have to grind all the way. I had to wait for my opportunity to get into the Indian side. And then injuries and all… These were all great challenges for me and I just thought I should focus on things I can control: my practice and training. Every time I come out of an injury, I’ve always focused on my own thing rather than what’s happening outside. That’s one thing that made me push myself. I don’t really compare myself with others and I don’t think about what others are doing. For me it was important to get better as a cricketer.With all the data available, it has given us a lot of cues on how we can approach a game. I haven’t had any set batting position as such. For example, even last year [at SRH], I batted at No. 5, No. 7, No. 4 when early wickets fell. In the previous season, I’ve batted at No. 3. So, with these cues, all you can prepare for is what best you can do when you walk into that particular situation. I try to [imagine] two, three different situations, prepare for it, so that when I go in, it is easier for me. I’ve learnt this over a period of time.Power-hitting has become a vital part of T20 middle-order batting. How have you improved on that front? For me, it’s all about adapting. I don’t see myself as a middle-order batsman or a top-order batsman. Since I’ve played at various positions, it’s very important for me to be flexible. What I’ve been doing is trusting my own strength more than these things, because [be it] power-hitting or conventional batting, the end result is important. It’s about showing results and doing well.I had a very good practice session with my personal coach [S Balaji, former Railways player] before joining the SRH camp. So I’ve just started to enjoy my own batting and not think about changing my game and things like that. I think I have a lot more to offer and it’s about enhancing that. Your last IPL season was also cut short by injury. Your most recent injury came at the start of the Indian domestic season. How frustrating was that? The injury happened on January 10. It was the Jharkhand game. The Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament was very important for me to make a mark in some way, but then the very first game, I got injured. I was pushing myself to play but I realised later there was no point [doing that] when I was not 100%. After the [2020] IPL, I did all my tests and I was fully fit, but I came back and got injured. These things are very frustrating mentally, especially when you want to make a mark and push for India selection and all that.In the last IPL, Shankar copped a nasty blow to the helmet in a game against the Punjab Kings. He then tweaked his hamstring and had to sit out the rest of the tournament•BCCISoon after that you got married. Did the celebrations at home take your mind off not being able to play? Yes. No one at home asks me about these things. They always support me and don’t ask why this or that is happening. I do update them about my status, but they know I’m doing my best and some things are beyond my control. I went to Maldives for a few days and to Ooty, and then mentally I was much more free. Most importantly, I took the decision of backing out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy. I thought I should be smart. I’ve played a lot when I’m at just 80-90% fitness before.The last few months have been different compared to the life I was leading before. I’m not expecting much now. I just want to enjoy my game.How have you been preparing for this IPL? I’ve put a lot of work into my bowling and batting with Balaji sir. I’m someone who likes spending more time at the nets, but unfortunately, due to the injuries, I had to focus on rehab, which I did with my physio Thulasi Ram and trainer Rajinikanth. Now, I’ve been giving more time to my skills.In the last few months, pretty much all the training facilities and gyms have reopened in Chennai. There was a facility called Throttle, where I had enough space to practice and had net bowlers to bowl to me. I really have to thank all those who helped me out because it was really, really hot. My coach also came and stood there in the [mid-day] sun, so it’s important for me to do well. That’s the only way I can give back.I have also worked on my bowling run-up during this period with Palani Amarnath, who played for CSK in early 2008-09. Alternate days I was working on my bowling at Guru Nanak College. I tried to set a few things right with my stride length. If I get it right in the match, it will be at least 1% different than what I was bowling last year.You bowled your full quota of four overs for the first time in the IPL, against the Kolkata Knight Riders, in 2020. Do you see yourself doing the job as a bowler more often for SRH? Definitely. I’m confident in the role. Last year, if you see, overall I had an economy of around 6.6 [6.22] and bowled reasonably well in the opportunities I got. Last year also I mentioned that I’ve worked on my bowling. It was about putting in more time, and I have now.Shankar bowled his full complement of overs against KKR in 2020, at an economy of 5.00 per over•BCCII’m not thinking about doing extraordinary stuff or making a comeback. It’s about enjoying myself. I started playing this game because I love it. If I enjoy the game and take things as they come, I think I will be in much better mental space.Almost every seamer at SRH can bowl the knuckleball. Have you picked up that variation? Yes, I’m learning from them and they come up with different variations. It’s important for me to learn how they execute it, and in a way it’s good to talk with them. Even my coach says he learns now by watching the game. As a cricketer, learning is never-ending.Can you recount your tussle with Jofra Archer in Dubai, where you hit him for three successive fours? That innings is very special [to me] because I was supposed to bat down the order. Because we lost early wickets, they asked me to pad up. I just went in. I was completely blank and had no clue when I went in – as in, I knew I had to fight that situation out and get the team to a good position. I wasn’t thinking about Archer bowling really quick and all that. I was being myself and trying to go with my instinct. I was pretty happy that it was coming out pretty well. As a cricketer, you always want to do well against the best. So that innings gave me confidence in some way.After finishing off that game, you spoke of it being a do-or-die situation for you. You had a back spasm earlier in the season and dropped down the order. It definitely was added pressure for me. I knew that either that game or the next would have been the last for me had I not got runs. If you see the previous games I played, I hadn’t batted much – in the first match I got out first ball, and then I was out [of action] for a while. I came back and played against KKR and CSK.To walk into a situation where we were really under pressure [against the Royals] and to come out of that and do well and the team winning from that situation gives a player great satisfaction. I knew it would be the most important innings for me. If not for that, I wouldn’t have played the next game for sure.Jofra Archer was dispatched for three successive fours by Shankar in the course of his run-a-ball 52 against the Rajasthan Royals last year•BCCIGoing into the IPL, has the thought of making an India comeback crossed your mind? That keeps coming up every now and then (). Sometimes when I’m idle in my room, I watch my own videos [of old innings]. As a player you will want to push yourself for a comeback, but I want to do it the other way. I don’t want to put myself under pressure to perform or get back into the Indian team. I just want to enjoy the game and I feel I’ve done really well when I’ve enjoyed every small thing I do. The end result will take care of itself. So, whatever happens, I’m ready to take it.You enjoy playing against the Chennai Super Kings, particularly in Chennai. Are you looking forward to playing in Chennai as a Sunriser? I’m from Chennai and I’ve played a lot of matches here, but this is going to be really different because if you see in the last one and a half years, I haven’t played much at Chepauk. It’s going to be really new for me as well. This ground is always special because as a youngster, when I started playing my cricket – Under-13 or whatever – it was my dream to play at Chepauk. I’ll definitely look forward to it. I can see the ground from my room as well. It’s always, always special. You have Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammad Nabi, J Suchith, Shahbaz Nadeem in a spin attack that seems well suited for the Chepauk conditions. You could also ditch your medium pace for offspin there. () For now, we really don’t know how the pitch is going to behave. However the wicket is, they [Afghanistan spinners] are some of the best in the world right now. When they come good, it’s going to be challenging for whoever comes up against us. As a team, we’ve been doing consistently well for the last few seasons. So, it’s important for us to keep doing that and look to get better from that.
Celtic have endured a fairly disappointing start to the 2025/26 campaign across all competitions so far, in the Scottish Premiership and in Europe.
The Hoops sit second in the league table, behind Hearts, with five wins and two draws, whilst they are still looking for their first win on the European stage.
Brendan Rodgers has overseen one point from two Europa League matches after his team were beaten by Kairat in their Champions League play-off clash.
There have been several players in the squad who have not performed to the best of their ability this season, including central midfielder Reo Hatate.
Why Reo Hatate's form is a concern
The Japan international has gone eight matches without a goal or an assist to show for his contributions on the pitch, which is concerning for a player who typically provides creativity and quality on the ball in midfield.
Hatate delivered ten goals and created 14 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 37 appearances in the Premiership last season, per Sofascore, but he has failed to provide the same kind of quality at the top end of the pitch in the current campaign.
Reo Hatate (Premiership)
24/25
25/26
Appearances
37
5
Goals
10
1
Minutes per goal
241
373
Key passes per game
1.2
0.6
Big chances created
14
0
Assists
4
0
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Japanese star’s output as both a scorer and as a creator of goals has decreased for the Hoops in the Premiership.
This is concerning because it shows that Hatate is not as influential or effective as he once was for the Scottish giants, but it has also provided other players with a chance to step up and shine.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
One star who has stepped up and is now looking like a Reo Hatate-type player is summer signing Benjamin Nygren in the middle of the park for Celtic.
Why Benjamin Nygren looks like Celtic's new Reo Hatate
The left-footed star was signed from Nordsjaelland for £1.3m in the summer and may have been expected by some to play on the right wing, as that was where he played the majority of his football last season and Nicolas Kuhn left to sign for Como.
Despite that, Rodgers has played Nygren as part of his midfield three more often than not, essentially taking Arne Engels’ spot in the starting line-up from the 2024/25 campaign.
The Sweden international, who was described as “fearless” by Alexander Isak, has started five of the club’s seven matches in the Premiership, which shows that the manager already trusts him to start consistently.
Nygren has also shown that he can be a difference-maker at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position with four goals in five league starts, whilst no other Celtic player has scored more than two league goals for the club.
As well as being an impressive goalscorer, the summer signing ranks second in the squad for ‘big chances’ created (two) and first for key passes per game (2.6) in the Premiership.
These statistics show that Nygren has hit the ground running at Parkhead as both a scorer and a creator of goals from a central midfield position, taking on the role that Hatate played last season with his ten goals and 14 ‘big chances’ created.
The Japan international has not been at his best in the current campaign, as evidenced by his aforementioned form, but the Swedish star has stepped up to carry the team on his back at times.
Cost £0, now worth more than Tounekti: Celtic hit gold on "phenomenal" star
Sebastian Tounekti has made an impressive start to life at Celtic, but a “prolific” attacker who arrived for free has a higher estimated market value.
By
Ben Gray
Oct 10, 2025
There is still plenty of football left to be played this season, but the left-footed star’s form for Celtic suggests that he can be the new midfield star in the final third moving forward.