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They’ll meet Hurricanes in title match after restricting Sixers to 151, and chasing the target down in scrappy Challenger

Andrew McGlashan24-Jan-2025

Sam Billings and Nathan McAndrew celebrate victory•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

David Warner will have the chance to lead Sydney Thunder to their first BBL title in nine years, a season after they finished with the wooden spoon, after his side held their nerve in a scrappy Challenger final derby against Sydney Sixers to win by four wickets, with seven balls to spare.The experience of Sam Billings proved vital in the outcome as he nursed Thunder to their target amid a regular loss of wickets. With another 18 runs needed off the remaining 13 balls, Billings broke the tension with a huge leg-side six off Hayden Kerr.Thunder had been excellent in the field, with only a sixth-wicket stand of 56 from 34 balls between Jordan Silk and Ben Dwarshuis hauling Sixers as far as 151. Although Tom Andrews was their only spinner in the wickets – his brace came in the space of three balls – Thunder’s spinners were otherwise again very effective. The ten overs between Andrews, Tanveer Sangha and Chris Green cost just 66 runs on a surface that offered assistance.In reply, young English legspinner Jafer Chohan was very impressive, but Sixers did not have the volume of spin overs they were able to turn to as Thunder set up a final showdown with Hobart Hurricanes on Monday.Jason Sangha opens upThunder have tried a variety of opening combinations this season, although some of it has been out of their hands due to injury to Cameron Bancroft, and a Test call-up for Sam Konstas. For the Challenger, they opted for Jason Sangha, alongside Warner. Jason Sangha was playing in just his second game of the season, and started with a bang by taking 14 runs off the first over.Warner then scooped his first ball from Kerr for six, and Thunder were off to a flyer. But he bunted a catch to mid-on in the third over. Jason Sangha, meanwhile, had reached 30 off 19 balls at the other end, when he slog-swept Chohan to deep midwicket, as the game really started to tighten up.Matthew Gilkes was run-out, although Jack Edwards thought he had broken the stumps with his hands•Cricket Australia/Getty Images

A zing-bail run-outWhen on 3, Thunder’s Matthew Gilkes was given a life as he lofted Ben Manenti’s first ball to long-off, where Lachlan Shaw, who has produced some spectacular fielding in the competition, spilled a regulation catch in front of the Thunder dugout. From there, Gilkes built steadily, including landing a huge six into the Members Stand off Mitch Perry. But Gilkes was then at the centre of a borderline third-umpire decision.Coming back for a second run after playing towards deep third, Gilkes was beaten by a superb throw from Kerr. But Jack Edwards thought he had broken the stumps with his hands. However, after multiple replays, the third umpire Phillip Gillespie ruled that it was the ball that had fully dislodged the bail so Gilkes was ruled out for 26. The stump could be seen moving before the ball made contact, but, crucially, the zing bails had not lit up, so they had not been fully dislodged. Without zing bails, it was unlikely to have been given out.That is when Sixers put the squeeze on. Hugh Weibgen under-edged on to the stumps against Kerr, and Thunder couldn’t find the big over that would likely have killed the game off sooner. Chohan was superb, as he had been in the Qualifier final, and did not concede a boundary until the final delivery of his spell.Thunder held the power surge back until the 18th over, and though George Garton fell swinging across the line, Billings and Nathan McAndrew finished the job with some breathing space.Jordan Silk’s 43 took Sixers to 151•Getty Images

Tanveer’s fortune; Andrews’ doubleAmid the loss of Edwards and Kurtis Patterson inside the powerplay, which ended with Sixers just 23 for 2, it was a struggle for the hosts. Josh Philippe, who had been moved down to No. 3 after having not reached double figures in his last five innings, and Moises Henriques, were starting to engineer a platform when Henriques nailed a return catch to Tanveer, who dropped it, but deflected the ball on to the stumps with Philippe out of his ground.Then Andrews, who has had a huge impact on Thunder’s run to the finals, further dented Sixers’ middle order with two wickets in the 13th over. Firstly, Henriques was brilliant caught at cover by Garton, diving full length to his left. Then Shaw picked out Warner on the off side, with the Thunder captain rewarded for aggressive fielding placement. Somewhat surprisingly, that was Andrews’ last over of the innings.Silk’s forlorn finalsSilk was superb in Hobart on Monday, when he had nearly hauled Sixers over the line with 57. Against Sixers in the Challenger, he had to do another rebuilding job from 76 for 5. He broke the shackles with a sweep for six off Tanveer Sangha, and cleared the rope again in the power surge against Wes Agar.The surge brought 20 runs from the two overs, before Dwarshuis was able to find his range against McAndrew in the 18th over, which cost 19 runs. It gave Sixers something to defend, although it wasn’t quite enough in the end.

The captains event is tentatively scheduled around February 16 or 17 in Karachi

Nagraj Gollapudi22-Jan-2025

Rohit Sharma and Babar Azam at the captains’ photoshoot ahead of the 2023 World Cup in India•AFP/Getty Images

There is no clear answer to whether India captain Rohit Sharma will travel to Pakistan for the ICC’s official captains call to ring in the 2025 Champions Trophy. The captains event, which as per practice happens in the host country, is tentatively scheduled around February 16 or 17 in Karachi, but the BCCI is yet to get any official communication on it from the ICC.”It [Rohit travelling to Pakistan] has not yet been discussed. It is not on the agenda yet,” Devjit Saikia, the BCCI’s newly-appointed secretary, told ESPNcricinfo.It could not be confirmed whether the BCCI would need the Indian government’s permission for Rohit to travel to Pakistan.Related

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Hybrid model agreed for Champions Trophy and ICC events from 2024-27

Due to the climate of political tension between the two countries, India and Pakistan have played no bilateral series since 2012, but continue to meet at ICC tournaments. While Pakistan have travelled to India for ICC tournaments in this period, India have not played any international cricket in Pakistan since 2008.With the BCCI insisting that India would not travel to Pakistan for their matches, the ICC in co-ordination with the PCB, the tournament hosts, decided upon a hybrid model for ICC events until 2027, with Dubai named as the host of India’s Champions Trophy games.While there is no recent precedent for an India player visiting Pakistan in an official capacity, there is one involving BCCI officials. In 2023, Roger Binny and Rajiv Shukla, the BCCI’s president and vice-president, travelled to Lahore for an official PCB dinner during the Asia Cup, after being invited by the then PCB chair Zaka Ashraf.It is understood that the PCB has requested the ICC to ensure that, as per standard practice, all teams and captains are available for the Champions Trophy photoshoot, opening ceremony and other pre-tournament engagements. The ICC, it is understood, is still finalising logistics and travel dates for teams.Incidentally, the ICC did not organise a captains event ahead of the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup which was co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA. With teams playing warm-up matches in several countries, the ICC instead opted to do the official launch via a lighting projection show that featured all 20 captains beamed onto the Rockefeller Centre building in New York City. It is understood that like in the 2024 T20 World Cup, teams will have the option of playing up to two warm-up matches each depending on their arrival time for the Champions Trophy.Saikia: ‘BCCI will follow every uniform-related ICC rule’Saikia, meanwhile, has clarified that India will adhere to the dress code set by the ICC for the Champions Trophy, responding to media speculation that the BCCI had objected to the host nation’s name on their jersey. Player jerseys during ICC events usually include the tournament logo with the name of the tournament, host country and year below it.”BCCI will follow every uniform-related ICC rule during Champions Trophy,” Saikia told . “Whatever the other teams will do regarding the logo and dress code, we are going to follow in true letter and spirit.”

While it wasn’t a disaster, it’s hard to deny that last season was a disappointment for Arsenal.

Instead of finally getting over the line and winning the Premier League at the third time of asking, Mikel Arteta’s side had to make do with another second-place finish.

However, it wasn’t all doom and gloom, as the North Londoners made it to the Champions League semi-finals for just the third time in their history, and when fit, Bukayo Saka was once again one of the best players in the country.

Appearances

37

Starts

30

Minutes

2619′

Goals

12

Assists

14

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

Minutes per Goal Involvement

100.73

Even though he missed almost four months of action, the Hale Ender managed to amass a sensational tally of 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 games.

Yet, to reach yet another level next year, the 23-year-old may need some more assistance, which is why fans should be excited about reports linking Arsenal to a world-class winger who’d be a dream teammate for Saka.

Arsenal's winger search

With the need for attacking reinforcements undeniable, it’s not been much of a surprise to see that, alongside the strikers, Arsenal have been linked with a host of dangerous wingers this summer.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

One of the names that has been heavily linked with the Gunners has been Chelsea ace Noni Madueke.

The Englishman was good enough for the Blues last season, racking up a tally of 16 goal involvements in 41 games, but with a price tag of up to £50m, it’s easy to understand why some fans would be hesitant.

Moreover, it’s hard to see the former PSV Eindhoven ace being a dream winger addition for Saka, which isn’t the case when it comes to Rodrygo.

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal remain very interested in the Real Madrid star.

The report has revealed that even though fellow Premier League sides Liverpool and Chelsea are also keen on the Brazilian international, the Gunners are in ‘a favourable position’ to secure his services, and have expressed a willingness to meet the financial demands of Los Blancos to make it happen.

According to stories from earlier this summer, the fee needed to bring the winger to North London is likely to be around £78m.

That’s certainly a lot of money to spend on one player, but Rodrygo would be worth it, and Saka’s dream winger signing.

Why Rodrygo would be a dream signing for Saka

As things stand, Saka is the only world-class attacker at Arsenal, and the fact that he was the club’s most productive player despite missing over three months of action last season only reinforces this point.

So, the first reason Rodrygo would be the Hale Ender’s dream winger signing is that the Brazilian’s output would help alleviate some of the immense pressure on him.

For example, since the start of the 23/24 campaign, the “world-class superstar,” as dubbed by Luka Modrić, has scored 32 goals and provided 20 assists in 106 appearances, totalling 7229 minutes.

That works out to a goal involvement every 2.03 games, or every 139.01 minutes, which is impressive enough in isolation, but is made all the more so when you take into account the fact he was played out of his preferred left-wing position for most of that period.

Moreover, the former Santos gem has shown himself to be capable of scoring massive goals in season-defining games – think back to the game against Manchester City – and so he’d be able to help the Gunners’ number seven realise his ambitions of winning major honours.

However, it’s not all down to what he can do on the pitch alongside the Ealing-born monster.

The second reason he’d be a dream addition for the 23-year-old is that, thanks to his versatility, he’d be able to fill in on the right when needed and, in turn, allow the Englishman to rest when needed.

This could help the talismanic international avoid fatigue-related injuries and prolong his career at the highest level.

Ultimately, from his output and big game experience to the ability to play off the right when needed, Rodrygo would be the dream winger signing for Saka.

Therefore, while it won’t be cheap, Arsenal should do everything possible to bring him to the Emirates this summer.

Eze & Gyokeres will love him: Arsenal explore signing £65m "mini Salah"

Just imagine this player alongside Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze at Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 8, 2025

da 888casino： Manchester United’s need for a new striker this summer is there for all to see, with their dismal record in front of goal massively contributing to their lowly Premier League finish this season.

da jogodeouro： Rasmus Hojlund was Ruben Amorim’s number one option in such a department throughout 2024/25, scoring just four times in the league throughout his 32 appearances.

Such a tally saw him find the net every eight games, proving that he’s not at the level required if the Red Devils are to rise back up the table in 2025/26.

He’s since been massively touted with a return to Italy, with Inter Milan and Napoli the two sides vying for his signature, but it’s likely the club would lose a whole heap on their £72m investment.

Any funds raised from a potential sale will hand Amorim the needed money to reinvest into the first team squad, to further bolster his ranks if he’s to be successful at Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s pursuit for a new striker this summer

Hugo Ekitiké has been the main option on United’s shortlist over the last couple of weeks, even holding talks with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt over a move for the Frenchman, who netted 22 goals this season.

Dušan Vlahović has also emerged as a surprise target, with the Serbian international wanting a Premier League move this summer, but his hefty wage demands could prove to be a stumbling block.

As a result, the Red Devils have turned their attention elsewhere, plotting a big-money move to sign Fiorentina striker Moise Kean, according to Corriere Fiorentina via Sport Witness.

The report claims that the club are closely monitoring the Italian’s progress and could make a move during the off-season if they fail to land other key targets.

It also states that the 25-year-old currently has a £44m release clause in his deal with the Serie A outfit, a potential bargain given his record of 25 goals in 44 outings this campaign.

Why United’s £44m target could be Amorim’s own Haaland

Most teams around the world must wish they had a talent as big as Erling Haaland, with the Norwegian forward a constant threat to countless backlines.

The 24-year-old has demonstrated his clinical edge during his time at Manchester City, netting a staggering 121 goals in his 142 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Such a record previously catapulted the Citizens to a famous treble back in 2022/23, emulating the success set by United during the Sir Alex Ferguson era.

He’s even set the record for the most goals scored in a single 38-game Premier League season, netting a hat-trick in the 6-3 battering at the Etihad that campaign.

However, talents like Haaland are extremely hard to come by, with many costing extortionate transfer fees and making them virtually impossible to sign.

That could be about to change with the Red Devils’ potential deal for Kean, with the Italian talisman being ranked as a similar player to the City star by FBref.

He’s managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, including a better goal per shot on target record, evidently making the most of the chances that fall his way within the final third.

How Kean compares to Haaland in the 2024/25 campaign

Statistics (per 90)

Kean

Haaland

Games played

31

31

Goals & assists

20

25

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Pass accuracy

70%

66%

Progressive carries

1.4

0.7

Take-on success

44%

36%

Carries into final third

1

0.4

Aerials won

54%

53%

Stats via FBref

Kean, who’s been labelled “remarkable” by journalist Marco Messina, has also completed more passes and won more aerial battles – showcasing his all-round nature that could play a vital role in United’s build-up.

His dominance doesn’t stop there, completing more take-ons and progressive carries per 90, subsequently able to create his own opportunities without relying on players around him.

Given the prices quoted for other forwards in and around Europe this summer, a deal for Kean could prove to be an excellent one, handing Amorim the ammunition he desperately needs.

If he can replicate Haaland’s success in England’s top flight, it would be one of the signings of the window, offering the side a clinical option that could transform their ambitions of rising up the table in 2025/26.

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Fifties from Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh powered India to 201, and UAE barely got going in the chase

Shashank Kishore21-Jul-2024
India all but guaranteed themselves a semi-final spot with a convincing win over UAE in which their middle order got a much-needed hit out and their bowlers plenty of miles.Harmanpreet Kaur top-scored with 66, but it was Richa Ghosh’s sensational late acceleration – she hit an unbeaten 29-ball 64 – that helped India post their first-ever score of 200-plus in T20Is.UAE hardly posed a challenge, even though Esha Oza, the captain, and Kavisha Egodage gave good account of themselves in hitting 36 and 40 not out respectively. That UAE hit more than the 115 for 8 they managed against a lower-ranked Nepal should be confidence-boosting.Despite the loss, UAE aren’t mathematically out of the semi-finals race. A win for Pakistan against Nepal in the evening game should keep them alive.Related

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India vs Pakistan goes cold yet again

India wobble earlyIndia were put in, and they weren’t particularly disappointed. There was the looming threat of their marauding openers – Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana – running away with it once again. But at 52 for 3 inside the powerplay, the opportunity was UAE’s to seize.Among those who fell early, D Hemalatha would’ve been particularly disappointed at having missed out yet another opportunity to make the No. 3 spot her own. In nine innings at that position since the tour of Bangladesh, an unbeaten 41 she made in her first opportunity there remains the highest.Richa on the rampage•ESPNcricinfo LtdTwo nights ago against Pakistan, she was out slicing a lofted hit to point for 14 in a low-pressure chase after the openers had shellacked 85 in 9.3 overs. Here, the openers were up and away quickly with the platform set – India brought up fifty inside five overs. But Hemalatha’s dismissal for 2 after she was bowled attempting a pull off Heena Hotchandani had India wobbling briefly.One of the consequences from Hemalatha batting at No. 3 is that India have had to rejig a batting position for Jemimah Rodrigues, who has built a reputation of being a touch player. Hemalatha’s continued lean run could at some point have the team management into reinstating Rodrigues at No.3, considering the lower-order firepower at their disposal.On Sunday, Rodrigues made all of 14 in a 54-run stand with Harmanpreet before picking out mid-off in her first attempt to hit over the top.Renuka Singh Thakur struck early for India•Getty ImagesHarmanpreet, Richa up the tempoHarmanpreet was happy to knock singles and twos early, but upped the tempo soon after the halfway mark, when she welcomed legspinner Vaishnavee Mahesh for back-to-back fours. On 31, she had a steak of luck when a leading edge while attempting to work one into the leg side landed short of backward point.That aside, Harmanpreet seemed intent on taking the innings right till the end. Along the way, she brought out her plethora of sweeps that found different arcs on the leg-side boundary, ranging from deep backward square to wide long-on.The beauty of Harmanpeet’s sweeps is that when on song, she has the ability to take the bowlers and pitch out of the equation; she can hit just as effectively against the turn as she can with it, primarily because of a giant forward stride and how she gets on top of the bounce most times.At the other end, Ghosh made heads turn with some aesthetically pleasing cover drives and lofted hits with the spin. It’s a bit of a misconception that her game is only centered around power. On Sunday, she showed she can hit authentic strokes and find boundaries with regularity without looking to bash the ball.She hit a crisp cover drive off her fourth delivery, and a six two balls later to quickly get into her stride. She was particularly severe on Oza’s gentle long hops, hitting her for four boundaries, including three back-to-back, in the 15th. Ghosh was comfortably the aggressor in the half-century stand off just 32 balls. Yet at 156 for 2 in 17 overs, 200 seemed a long way off.It needed Harmanpreet to tee off in the penultimate over that brought India 17, and Ghosh’s five back-to-back boundaries off Heena Hotchandani’s left-arm spin in a 20-run final over to give India their highest total in women’s T20Is. Ghosh hit 54 of her 64 runs in boundaries (12 fours and a six). UAE’s chase fizzles in powerplay UAE barely made a push for the target. Theertha Satish took nine balls to get off the mark and was the first to fall in the fifth over as she chipped Renuka Singh to mid-off. Pooja Vastrakar had her first wicket six balls later when she beat Rinitha Rajith to hit top of off.Oza held firm without looking spectacular, but showed signs of shifting gears when she muscled Deepti Sharma out of the ground. In Kavisha Edodage, she found some support as their pair added 40, before Oza became debutant Tanuja Kanwar’s first international wicket.Kanwar, who has forced herself into contention on the back of an excellent WPL for Gujarat Giants, lulled her in flight and beat her in turn to have her stumped. She would finish with figures of 4-0-14-1 to cap off a dream debut that didn’t seem likely even 48 hours ago. From there on, the only academic interest left was to see if UAE could narrow the margin of defeat.

As concerns over William Saliba’s future continue, Arsenal are now reportedly eyeing a summer move to sign a potential replacement for the Frenchman in a deal worth a hefty £68m.

Arsenal's Saliba concern

After another season without a Premier League title and potentially without a major trophy altogether, Arsenal could face consequences for failure that they’ll be all too familiar with. Real Madrid, meanwhile, could land one of Europe’s best centre-backs.

The Spanish giants have reportedly set their sights on signing Saliba this summer, with likely new manager Xabi Alonso a fan of the central defender.

Arteta must axe £27m Arsenal dud who was worse than Odegaard v Bournemouth

Arsenal dropped yet more points, this time at home as they hosted Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth.

By
Matt Dawson

May 4, 2025

The Madrid call is rarely one that players turn down and that should send alarm bells ringing around The Emirates. It’s a call that even Liverpool academy graduate Trent Alexander-Arnold is on course to accept and one that Kylian Mbappe accepted last summer. Now, Saliba could be next.

There’s no overstating the damage that the defender’s departure would do to Mikel Arteta’s side who have already struggled defensively when without Gabriel recently. Losing Saliba would be a whole new struggle for their backline as they look to make it a fourth-time lucky in the hunt for Premier League glory next season.

Known for their attacking prowess from set pieces, Arsenal’s struggles to defend such scenarios at the opposite end have gone under the radar this season. After Bournemouth came from behind to seal victory over the Gunners using two set pieces, however, it’s clear that with or without Saliba, Arteta’s side must improve on that front.

So, although losing Saliba would be a major blow, his exit would at least allow new sporting director Andrea Berta to welcome a fresh defender capable of turning that set-piece record around.

Arsenal set sights on £68m Diomande

According to Defensa Central in Spain, Arsenal have now set their sights on signing Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Club this summer as Berta plans for the worst-case Saliba scenario, should he leave for the Bernabeu. Alas, any deal won’t come cheap in the coming months. The Portuguese side have reportedly slapped a price tag worth as much as €80m (£68m) on their centre-back.

Whether the 21-year-old “monster” is at the necessary level to replace Saliba is the big question. When compared, it’s clear that the Sporting man would need plenty of patience if he did step in and replace a player who some may believe is irreplaceable at Arsenal.

League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Ousmane Diomande	William Saliba
Starts	27	33
Progressive Passes	79	134
Tackles Won	20	36
Aerial Duels Won	78	58

However, what does stand out as a positive to take note of is Diomande’s aerial success compared to Saliba’s. Winning 20 more aerial duels in six less games, the Sporting man may have stood a far better chance of preventing Bournemouth’s two set piece goals in a frustrating Arsenal defeat last time out.

Also dubbed a player with “great” pace by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Diomande looks set to be one to watch if Saliba does swap Arsenal for Real Madrid in the coming months.

MatériaMais Notícias

da heads bet： A janela de transferências fecha no dia 2 de agosto e o Corinthians segue em busca de reforços para o restante da temporada. Sob o discurso de equacionar as finanças, a diretoria alvinegra vem esbarrando em dificuldades para ser certeira no mercado, mas o prazo para inscrever novos atletas pode acelerar a busca por jogadores.

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da brdice： + Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

Para a Copa Sul-Americana, o Corinthians tem até o dia 29 de julho para fazer mudanças visando as oitavas de final, quando terá pela frente o Newell’s Old Boys, da Argentina. É importante ressaltar a exigência da Conmebol para os clubes entregarem suas listas finais com antecedência.

Em relação a Copa do Brasil, é permitida a inscrição de novos jogadores até dia 8 de agosto, antes do duelo de volta da semifinal, contra o São Paulo.

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No Brasileirão a situação é mais tranquila. O prazo estabelecido pela Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) para a inscrição de novos atletas no Campeonato Brasileiro vai até 25 de agosto.

A única movimentação do Corinthians nesta janela de transferências foi a chegada do meia-atacante paraguaio Matías Rojas, que não renovou com o Racing. A diretoria alvinegra entende que a chegada de um zagueiro é essencial, e monitora reforços para o ataque.

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Embora não seja prioridade, o Corinthians monitora o lateral-esquerdo Alan Rodríguez, do Rosario Central, da Argentina.

+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Timão no Brasileirão

Para a posição de primeiro volante, urgência na abertura da janela, a direção e Vanderlei Luxemburgo ficaram satisfeitos com a ascensão de Gabriel Moscardo, e o garoto de 17 anos preencheu a lacuna no setor. Contudo, o jovem passou por uma cirurgia de apendicite e ficará fora por pelo menos uma semana.

The chief selector said Kohli’s experience was valuable to India’s T20 squad and that there was enough muscle in the middle order

Shashank Kishore02-May-20241:03

Agarkar: Someone with Kohli’s experience matters at World Cup level

“Are you concerned about Virat Kohli’s strike rate?”India’s chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar was asked that question at a press conference to discuss the squad for the T20 World Cup in Mumbai on Thursday. Though he didn’t specify, it’s possible the questioner may have meant Kohli’s strike rate against spin.”I don’t think we’ve been discussing it,” Agarkar said. “Look, he has been in great form fortunately in the IPL, so there are no concerns there at all with regards to how it’s going [for Kohli] in the IPL.”Kohli is currently the second highest run-scorer this season, with 500 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 147.49. But, among 16 players who have scored at least 100 runs against spin in IPL 2024, Kohli ‘s strike rate of 135.66 is the fifth lowest.Agarkar, however, said that Kohli’s experience was valuable and that they had made selections to give the middle order more power. “I mean we’ve obviously got some reinforcements. That’s the whole thing, but you want some experience in your team,” he said. “I mean these guys [Rohit, Kohli] have been around because they’ve been good enough to be around. That’s the reason they played. They have played multiple World Cups.Virat Kohli has 500 runs at a strike rate of 147.49 after 10 innings in IPL 2024•BCCI”But look, like Rohit spoke before, we have tried to get in players who are going to bat a certain way in the middle of the innings where just presuming that a lot of teams will use spin sometimes. That has been an issue. We have tried to address that with some of the guys that we picked. We have tried to get in some left handers as well through the middle of that innings. Surya has been the number one T20 player in the world for a while. I don’t think he’s too bad through the middle either.”Last week in the IPL, Kohli played one of his best T20 innings against spin, scoring 70 not out off 44 balls against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. He scored 61 runs at a strike rate of 179 against Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad and Sai Kishore, the most he has ever scored against spin in a T20 game.”All the people who talk about strike rates and me not playing spin well are the ones who love talking about this stuff,” Kohli said after that innings. “But for me, it’s just about winning the game for the team. And there’s a reason why you do it for 15 years – because you’ve done this day in [and] day out; you’ve won games for your teams.”I am not quite sure if you’ve been in that situation yourself to sit and speak about the game from a box. I don’t really think it’s the same thing [as playing out there]. So for me, it’s just about doing my job. People can talk about their own ideas and assumptions of the game, but those who have done it day in [and] day out know what’s happening, and it’s kind of a muscle memory for me now.”

Celtic were officially crowned as champions of the Scottish Premiership for the fourth time in as many seasons when they beat Dundee United 5-0 away from home last month.

Braces from Adam Idah and Nicolas Kuhn, after an own goal from Ryan Strain, secured the win and the title for the Hoops on the day, which made the rest of their league games relatively stress-free.

There was some negative news that came from that result, though, as Jota hobbled off with a knee injury just before half time, and it has since been confirmed that he will be out for between six and nine months.

This means that the Portuguese winger will not be available for selection when the Hoops take to Hampden Park to face Aberdeen in the SFA Cup final next weekend, and he is set to miss the start of next season on top of that.

Jota, however, is not the only Celtic star who will not be available for Brendan Rodgers to call upon at the national stadium, as the manager has confirmed that Reo Hatate is set to miss the match through injury.

Why losing Reo Hatate is a big blow

The Northern Irish head coach recently revealed that the Japan international suffered a knee injury in the 5-1 win away at Aberdeen, after being on the wrong end of a “needless” challenge.

Rodgers confirmed that the 27-year-old star should be fit for pre-season, if all goes well, but he will not be in the squad that travels to Hampden Park to take on the Dons, which is a blow for the Hoops.

Losing Hatate to injury is a big blow because he has starred for Celtic in the middle of the park throughout the campaign, as a player who can make an impact at the top end of the pitch, and played a pivotal role in the club’s SFA Cup semi-final win over St. Johnstone.

As you can see in the highlights above, the Japanese midfield star created three of the five goals, assisting Callum McGregor, Daizen Maeda, and Adam Idah, to help his side progress through to the final of the competition, a game he will now miss.

Hatate has also caught the eye with his impressive performances in the Premiership for the Scottish giants, as he has displayed his ability to score goals and create high-quality chances at an exceptional rate.

Appearances

37

Goals

10

Big chances missed

2

Big chances created

14

Key passes per game

1.2

Assists

2

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic star has delivered 24 goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in 37 appearances in the division, which further illustrates why losing him to injury is such a big blow for Rodgers.

The Scottish Sun recently reported that Serie A side Udinese are eyeing up a big-money swoop for the Japan international in the upcoming summer transfer window, which shows that teams are paying attention to his performances for the Hoops.

Celtic may, therefore, have a decision to make over his future if Udinese, or any other team, come in with a firm offer for his services ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

With this in mind, Rodgers could source a brilliant replacement for Hatate by pushing the club to secure a deal for Motherwell central midfielder Lennon Miller, who is a reported transfer target for the Hoops ahead of the summer window.

Why Celtic should sign Lennon Miller

Celtic should sign the Scotland U21 international, who is reported to be valued at £5m, because he is an incredibly young talent who has both the potential to be a long-term signing as well as the quality to make an immediate impact at Parkhead.

Miller, who does not turn 19 until August, has already racked up 60 appearances in the Premiership for Motherwell, which suggests that he could hit the ground running at Parkhead because he already knows the country and the league.

Transfer Focus

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The 18-year-old, who has been praised as “ridiculous” by pundit James McFadden, has the age and quality to be a starring player in midfield for many, many, years to come as a possible replacement for Hatate, who turns 28 this year.

Miller’s performances in the Premiership suggest that he could be a brilliant replacement for the Japanese star next season, as he was awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year award in the Scottish top-flight, which speaks to how highly his peers rate him.

The Scottish whiz is not as much of a goalscoring threat as Hatate, as he only scored two goals in the Premiership, but the creative and defensive aspects of his game suggest that he could be a fantastic signing for Rodgers and Celtic this summer.

Appearances

37

31

Goals

10

2

Big chances created

14

12

Key passes per game

1.2

1.6

Assists

2

8

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.1

3.1

Ball recoveries per game

3.2

6.4

Duel success rate

44%

52%

As you can see in the table above, Miller, despite playing for Motherwell, delivered a similar number of ‘big chances’ created and key passes per game, whilst creating six more goals for his teammates.

The Scotland youth international has also proven himself to be an active and effective defender in the middle of the park, making 9.5 tackles, interceptions, and recoveries per match alongside a 52% duel success rate.

Whereas Hatate has only made 4.3 per game and lost 56% of his duels, which suggests that Miller could be an upgrade on him from an out-of-possession perspective, and that could make him particularly valuable on the European stage in the Champions League when Celtic face tougher challenges.

Therefore, the Motherwell star could be a brilliant signing to replace Hatate, whether that is as a direct replacement or just as a depth option to come in when the midfielder is injured, because of the creative and defensive qualities he can bring to the party at Premiership level.

Rodgers can sign Jota 2.0 in Celtic move for star who could be worth £30m

Celtic could find their next version of Jota by swooping to sign this star this summer.

1 ByDan Emery May 17, 2025

Canada have India left to face in the group stage and the opening batter said, for all the stars, they must play the ball, not the name

Sidharth Monga11-Jun-20241:24

O’Brien: ‘Ultra-aggressive’ Johnson perfectly suited for this surface

Twenty more runs, and who knows what Canada might have been able to achieve? And looking at the way Aaron Johnson started they threatened to go past the run-a-ball mark, which has been successfully defended in New York on the last two days.Canada now have only a remote chance to make it to the Super Eights but for a while they dreamed. All thanks to Johnson’s half-century on a surface where every batter has struggled. Not surprisingly, Johnson called it the best international innings of his life.Related

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“I think it’s my best innings so far in international cricket,” he said. “And growing up, you know that Pakistan, one thing they have is quality fast bowling attack, right? And to be able to get a decent total on the board for my team, I think that’s up there with the top, probably top two best innings for me.”Johnson took advantage of the early full lengths and never looked back. “If it’s in my area, my team-mates, my coach, they give me the license to back myself and play my shots. So, once I get going, I knew that they would pull the length back because they saw that I’m scoring so it’s just a matter of me batting as long as possible for the team.”The relentlessness of bigger attacks is something that stood out for Johnson. “One thing I learned, if you’re going to score runs, you have to bat very, very hard,” he said. “You have to focus. Because again, these guys, just imagine, I batted well against Shaheen Shah [Afridi], and then Babar signal to Amir to come and bowl. And you’re thinking to yourself, I remember when I was playing cricket in England, these guys were playing for Pakistan international team. I went to the ground to watch them play. So, to be playing against them, it’s a wonderful experience.”Aaron Johnson took on the Pakistan attack in tricky conditions•Getty Images

Earlier this year, Johnson spent time with Carlos Brathwaite in Toronto. And the Jamaican-born Johnson is also friends with Chris Gayle and Andre Russell. He cherishes the friendship but is also aware that he represents Canada now.”I’m here representing the Canadian national team and as you say my fellow West Indians, Carlos, Chris Gayle, and these guys. Last game we won, I got a personal message from Russell – we’re very good friends. Chris Gayle and these guys would text you sometimes or just to like some of the posts that you make.”Yes, I get some amount of inspiration from them. And one thing Carlos said to me when we met about two, three weeks ago in Toronto is just relish the opportunity and express yourself. Someone you can change the game for your team. So don’t stress too much, don’t think too much about it, just react to what you see.”Possibly Canada’s last match in this World Cup will be against India, and Johnson is aware of the line between respect and awe. “Again, as I say it’s just a ball,” Johnson said when asked about the challenge Bumrah and Co. pose. “The ball is very round the moment you walk on the field, anyone can win. Yes, you have to have respect for these guys. They have been doing it for years.”There are some of them, like someone like Babar today, he’s a legend. I’m pretty sure he will be a legend of the game, right? And hopefully we get to play against Kohli, Rohit, all of these guys, the list goes on and on. And you have to respect them, but at the end of the day, you have to know that you’re a professional cricketer also. And if they did it, you can do it also. So, it’s about respecting them, but also respecting yourself.”