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Over a transformative year, India’s chosen one has learned to find joy in the struggle

Alagappan Muthu02-Nov-20240:47

Manjrekar: Gill’s innings showed he cares for Test cricket

He walked off with the bat trailing in his wake, scraping the turf. A slow climb up the Wankhede Stadium stairs took him into the dressing room. It was the last place he wanted to be in.Shubman Gill was playing the kind of innings that makes a top-order batter. It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t scratchy. It wasn’t a hundred. It wasn’t easy. But it was so very necessary.Related

Jadeja, Ashwin run through New Zealand to hand India the advantage

Wankhede was a beautiful setting for it, with its capacity to be many things at once. It can be loud. Akash Deep flattening Tom Latham’s stumps just before tea on Saturday infused drama and intrigue into an atmosphere that is only supposed to contain nitrogen, oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases. It can be dead. Virat Kohli running himself out on Friday evening rendered the vocal cords of 18,724 people obsolete. It can be hostile. Earlier this year, it made Hardik Pandya want to cry.Mumbai woke up to a post-Diwali haze so thick that whole buildings were lost in it. Rishabh Pant decided he would do the same to the memories of India’s mini-collapse from the evening of day one, belting Ajaz Patel all around the park and preventing him from getting into any sort of rhythm. The runs were a bonus. The quickest fifty by an India batter against New Zealand in Test cricket was a bonus. The objective was to prevent the spinner from hitting the good-length area of a turning pitch.Step out, make room, go inside-out: just one example of Shubman Gill’s range against spin•BCCIGill wasn’t really at his best doing this. A habit of going at the ball with hard hands made him especially vulnerable on the front foot. If New Zealand could get him forward but deny him the half-volley, there was enough help on offer to expect a favourable outcome. Ajaz managed that in India’s 22nd over, the third of the morning session, but the bat-pad went to silly point and there was nobody there. Gill used to find himself in this situation a lot and his average against spin reflected it. Until the start of 2024, it was 33.33. After the first Test against England earlier this year, his place in the XI even came under threat.The ball after he had nearly landed in trouble against Ajaz, Gill showcased some of the gains he has made since that low point. He went down the track – he’s spoken about doing that to counter spin ever since he was a little boy – but there was a little bit more at play too. Something clever. Something that good batters try to do to put the pressure back on the bowler. He had shifted himself inside the line of the ball and made full use of the opportunity to free his arms. He did this and went inside-out over extra-cover for four.There were other examples of his evolution as well. A forward-press trigger movement. Softer hands while defending. A focus on strike rotation. Because boundaries are often just a reprieve, a second’s joy amid hours of struggle, in conditions offering at least four degrees of turn on average. That is Test cricket, and Gill is showing the capacity for it. He had to be woken up to these things after a dropped catch on 45, but when he was, he did everything he could to shut the bowler out. Sometimes he was successful. Sometimes he was not. He rolled with that. And in the end, he was pretty happy with where he ended up.”Yes, definitely it’s one of my better knocks that I have played in Test cricket,” Gill said at the press conference on Saturday, and explained how he has been trying to get better at playing spin.”I was injured in the first Test. Even leading up to that Test I didn’t really practice that much because of the injury. So, I didn’t get that much time in the nets. And before the Pune Test match, I got two net sessions, and I am the kind of person, I like to have long practice sessions so that I feel confident about it. So, just the conversation with the coach [Gautam Gambhir] was just having more repetitions on what I think is the best idea for me to be able to play spin.1:23

Manjrekar: The way Pant started against Ajaz was incredible

“Leading up to this Test match, [my training] was all about me working on the areas that I have worked before,” he said. “The England series that we played, I think when I was batting in that series, I was batting at my best against spinners and just to be able to go back into that mindset and what my positions were while playing spinners and that’s what I was trying to replicate before this match.”Since the start of this year, Gill has averaged 61.55 against spin.Having been anointed the chosen one, the future of India’s batting, the future captain, there had been a sense that things were coming easy to Gill; that the narrative being built around him was disproportionate to what was on his CV. He obviously has no control over that. He also can’t really avoid that. The best he can do is be ready for games like these where his team was behind and they went through a series of brain fades and then had to fight back. Because such times hit different.”I was just having fun,” Gill said. “Even if it was difficult, I was just enjoying the difficult moments because you don’t get to play that many Test matches and I just feel when I am batting there, if I would put too much pressure on myself then I am losing out on the fun of the art of batting and that’s what I was trying to do.”It was fun for Gill, and fun too, judging by its response, for the Wankhede.

Leach injury less than a fortnight from the Ashes has thrown England’s planning up in the air

Andrew Miller04-Jun-2023Joe Root (and an all-seam attack)It’s probably the obvious option given how short-notice this injury is, plus the clear concerns over Stokes’ knee, which had already left Leach’s role looking vulnerable within a four-man attack. Root’s attacking offies, habitually delivered from round the wicket with a flat trajectory and an emphasis on overspin, have already claimed 54 wickets in the course of his career, and he’s deeply familiar with England’s bowling plans, having turned his arm over in all but two of England’s 13 Tests since Stokes became captain. His presence would allow England to recall each of James Anderson, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood without a complete clear-out of the seam attack that did the needful at Lord’s.Rehan AhmedEngland surely wouldn’t be that crazy, would they? Hold my Bazbeer! Rehan doesn’t turn 19 until August, when the Ashes will have been and gone, and for all that holding roles aren’t really Stokes’ thing, the control that Leach offers with his slow left-arm is a distinctly different skill to the magic and madness of red-raw legspin. And yet, there Rehan was in Karachi in December, claiming seven wickets in a fairytale debut, and even emerging as the first official “Nighthawk” in England’s gleeful romp to victory. His time will surely come, but once again, the doubts over Stokes rather undermine his credentials. Unless he plays as an allrounder, of course…Rehan Ahmed enjoyed a successful Test debut in Pakistan•Getty ImagesWill JacksEngland’s other debutant spinning success of the Pakistan tour. Jacks hadn’t expected his call-up until the eternally luckless Ben Foakes keeled over with the sickness bug that almost delayed the Rawalpindi Test, and within three days, he’d picked off a first-innings six-for. He might not have bowled so many overs had his fellow debutant Liam Livingstone not limped out with a knee injury, but he fulfilled his brief admirably, albeit with some of the most optimistically flighted deliveries you could hope to witness. That diet of ‘hit me’ balls served a purpose on one of the most lifeless pitches in world cricket, but it might not prove quite so successful against Smith, Labuschagne et al at Edgbaston. Last season for Surrey – effectively his first as an allrounder after head coach Gareth Batty encouraged him to add the string to his bow – he claimed the workmanlike figures there of 1 for 93 in 36 overs.Matt ParkinsonThe man in possession … sort of. At least, when it comes to replacing Leach at short notice. This time last year, Parkinson was plucked off his sofa to make his Test debut, on the opening day of the Lord’s Test against New Zealand, after Leach hurtled after a straight drive in front of the pavilion, and concussed himself as he tried to save a boundary. He was the first concussion sub in England’s Test history, and though Stokes and Brendon McCullum deserved full marks for the clarity of their decision-making, Parkinson’s performance was somewhat underwhelming. He did at least claim his first Test wicket with the last ball of New Zealand’s innings, but not only has he never been picked again, he’s slipped so far out of favour at Lancashire that he was last month loaned out to Durham in a bid for some Championship action.Matt Parkinson bowls on his Test debut•Getty ImagesDom BessAll aboard the Bess Bus? We can only wait and see. Here’s another man who has benefitted from Leach’s prior misfortune, in this case the broken thumb in 2018 than earned his then-Somerset spin-twin Bess a maiden Test cap at the age of 20, and he showed his ticker from the outset, albeit more visibly with the bat, with a battling fifty in England’s defeat to Pakistan at Lord’s, and a further 49 as a nightwatcher one match later. There’s little doubt that he’d make an outstanding Bazballer – and when England turned their fortunes around in South Africa in 2019-20 with a team of greenhorns including a young Ollie Pope and Zak Crawley, Bess was in the thick of it claiming five of the top six in the first innings at Port Elizabeth. His form and fortunes crumbled during Covid, and he was virtually unselectable on the tour of India, but in a dressing-room that’s overflowing with positive vibes, there’s reason to believe he could thrive once again.Jack CarsonIf Josh Tongue’s surprise call-up for Lord’s is any indication, then Sussex’s young spinner Carson ought not to leave his phone on silent in the coming days. Tongue’s modest haul of 11 wickets in four Championship games for Worcestershire this summer didn’t deter the selectors, most particularly Rob Key, who had witnessed his exploits for England Lions in Sri Lanka, including a five-for in the unofficial Test in Galle. And Carson, likewise, was in the wickets on that trip, claiming 4 for 94 in a spirited Bazball-style attempt to set up a run-chase (that proved a touch too ambitious in the end). He’s been in the wickets this summer too, including five first-innings scalps against Yorkshire at Hove last month. Liam Patterson-White was also in the Lions mix, but has since picked up a solitary scalp in five matches for Nottinghamshire.Liam DawsonHampshire’s ever-ready bench-warmer, a man possessing of one of the weirdest England careers of all time. The last of his three Test appearances came against South Africa way back in 2017, and he was picked for three 50-over caps against Australia in November having most-recently played the format in October 2018. Yet he still collected a World Cup winner’s medal in 2019 after being drafted in as a Mr Dependable back-up, and was also a travelling reserve for the T20 World Cup last winter too, after a similarly lengthy time in the wilderness. He seems utterly unperturbed at his lot in life, and would come into the Test set-up with some impressive red-ball form. His most recent outing for Hampshire in May reaped second-innings figures of 6 for 61, as Northants were routed by an innings.Moeen Ali last played Test cricket in 2021•AFP/Getty ImagesMoeen AliIs this the moment for Mo? Though he officially retired from Test cricket last year, Moeen Ali was clearly tempted by the prospect of a comeback for last winter’s Pakistan tour, after being courted by McCullum in the early weeks of his tenure as coach. In the end, his white-ball commitments made it all too much of a hassle, but if ever there was a window to dip back in, it is now. After all, the Hundred doesn’t begin until the day after the Ashes are over, and having just won the IPL with Chennai Super Kings despite barely lifting a finger in the competition’s closing stages, he might conceivably be itching to get stuck in. That said, Australia has never been a favourite opponent of Moeen’s. In 11 previous Ashes Tests, his 20 wickets have come at a costly 64.65, and though he’s only five away from the 200 mark, he may well decide – rather like his fellow white-ball stalwart, Jos Buttler – that that ship has sailed.

Also: why did the Capitals leave out Axar Patel, their most economical bowler this season?

Karthik Krishnaswamy31-Oct-2020Why did Mumbai leave out Hardik Pandya and pick Jayant Yadav?Before Saturday’s game, the Mumbai Indians were already guaranteed a playoffs spot, and their net run rate was good enough to all but ensure they’d finish in the top two as well. Given that, the packed schedule, the weather conditions in the UAE, and the fact that Hardik came into the tournament after undergoing back surgery, it made sense for Mumbai to rest him.Hardik’s workload has reduced following his surgery and he hasn’t bowled at all this season. By picking Jayant Yadav, Mumbai gave themselves a genuine sixth bowling option for the first time this season. They probably picked the offspin-bowling allrounder specifically to bowl to the left-hand batsmen in the Delhi Capitals line-up: Shikhar Dhawan, Rishabh Pant, Shimron Hetmyer and – Mumbai might have assumed before the match – Axar Patel.Why did the Capitals leave out Axar?Axar has had an excellent season for the Capitals. He has taken eight wickets in 11 matches while conceding just 6.13 per over – no one in the Capitals squad has a better economy rate – and he has also made a couple of key contributions with the bat, most vitally his unbeaten 21 off five balls, including three last-over sixes, which won a tight game against the Chennai Super Kings.But in matches against teams with a lot of left-hand batsmen in their line-up, the Capitals have been reluctant to use the left-arm spin of Axar. Against the Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah, he only bowled one over during Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 12.1 over stay at the crease, and only two overs in all. More recently, he only bowled one over altogether against the Kolkata Knight Riders, who had at least one left-hand batsman at the crease throughout their innings.With Mumbai’s line-up including Quinton de Kock, Ishan Kishan, Saurabh Tiwary and Krunal Pandya, the Capitals preferred Praveen Dubey, a wristspinner unknown to the opposition, to Axar.Why did Mumbai bowl three overs of spin within the powerplay?In 12 matches before this one, Mumbai had only bowled 11 overs of spin within the powerplay – in the same number of games, the Royal Challengers Bangalore had bowled 21 overs of spin, and the Capitals 18 overs.On Saturday, however, half of Mumbai’s overs in the powerplay were delivered by the spinners. This, again, was down to match-ups. Dhawan’s dismissal in the first over of the match brought two right-hand batsmen together, and Mumbai promptly brought on Krunal Pandya to bowl his left-arm spin to them, in the second over. Trent Boult struck again in the third over, bringing the left-handed Rishabh Pant to the crease, and Yadav came on in the fourth over to target him.The right-handed Shreyas Iyer was on strike, though, and the same was the case when Yadav continued his spell in the sixth over. In using Yadav, Mumbai were also perhaps throwing a challenge to Iyer, who is capable of hitting big sixes against spin, and offspin in particular. With the Capitals two down early, they were asking him if he wanted to chance his arm against Yadav, and against the long boundaries in Dubai. Iyer hit one six off Yadav in the eighth over, but only scored 14 off 11 balls against him overall, partly because of his own caution stemming from the match situation, and partly because of Yadav’s tight control over his line and length.Why did Bumrah bowl his third over so early?A stuttering Capitals innings suffered a major blow when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Marcus Stoinis and Rishabh Pant in the 12th over. The Capitals were 63 for 5 at that stage, and Bumrah had two overs left to bowl.Jasprit Bumrah and Quinton de Kock celebrate as Rishabh Pant walks back for another low score•BCCINormally, Mumbai would have reserved both those overs for the death, but given the Capitals’ situation, and also given how much seam movement Bumrah had generated through that 12th over – he had ended it by beating Harshal Patel’s outside edge twice in a row – they bowled his third over at the earliest possible moment, giving him the 14th over. They were hoping he could get another wicket, and ensure that the Capitals’ last really threatening pair – Shimron Hetmyer and Harshal – didn’t build a partnership that could hurt Mumbai. They got their wish, as Bumrah trapped Harshal lbw off the last ball of the over – a review would have saved him, with ball-tracking suggesting the ball would have missed the top of the stumps, but Pant had already used up the Capitals’ review.Should Mumbai continue opening with Kishan even when Rohit returns?Since his move to the top of the order to fill in for Rohit Sharma’s injury-enforced absence, Ishan Kishan has scored 68*, 37, 25 and 72* in four innings, at a strike rate of 145.32. Those are stunning numbers, and Mumbai might be tempted to continue with Kishan in this role even when Sharma returns. A middle-order role wouldn’t be new to Sharma – he has only opened in 43 of his 157 innings for Mumbai, though he has not batted in the middle order for them since May 2018.Whichever way they go, it won’t be an easy choice to make. Sharma averages 33.63 while opening for Mumbai, and has a strike rate of 130.27. Elsewhere, he averages 31.07 and strikes at 130.66.

تحدث مراسل نادي ليفربول، آدم باتل، عبر شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية عن التصريحات النارية التي أدلى بها النجم المصري محمد صلاح، ضد الإدارة والمدرب آرني سلوت بسبب وضعه الراهن.

ويعاني محمد صلاح من التهميش حيث قرر المدرب آرني سلوت إجلاسه على دكة البدلاء، في المباريات الثلاث الماضية، ولم يلعب إلا شوطًا واحدًا طوال تلك اللقاءات.

ولم يعد محمد صلاح قادرًا على تحمل ما يحدث معه حيث خرج إلى وسائل الإعلام وأدلى بتصريحات هجومية صريحة ضد إدارة ليفربول وآرني سلوت، أمس.

وعن ذلك، قال آدم باتل، مراسل ليفربول عبر شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “إذا كان محمد صلاح قد خاض مباراته الأخيرة مع ليفربول، فسيُخلد الملك المصري كأسطورة من أساطير النادي، منذ انضمامه مقابل 34 مليون جنيه إسترليني من روما عام 2016، سجل اللاعب البالغ من العمر 33 عامًا 188 هدفًا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز وحده”.

وأضاف: “فقط آلان شيرر (260)، وهاري كين (213)، وواين روني (208) يتفوقون على محمد صلاح في عدد الأهداف البالغ 190 هدفًا في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، حيث سجل هدفين مع تشيلسي خلال فترة وجوده هناك في موسم 2013-2014، كما اختير كأفضل لاعب في الدوري الإنجليزي من رابطة اللاعبين المحترفين للموسم الماضي بعد تسجيله 29 هدفًا و18 تمريرة حاسمة في طريقه إلى الحذاء الذهبي ولقب الدوري مع ليفربول”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. تقارير: ليفربول يحدد مدربًا مؤقتًا لخلافة سلوت.. ومرشح دائم مفاجئ

وواصل: “لكن خلفية ذلك الموسم كانت قصة عقده، حيث كان من المقرر أن ينتهي عقده الذي وقّعه عام 2022، ليصبح اللاعب الأعلى أجرًا في تاريخ ليفربول، في صيف 2025، وفي أبريل الماضي وقع عقدًا جديدًا لمدة عامين، منهيًا بذلك شائعات رحيله مجانًا، لكن إنتاجيته كانت أقل هذا الموسم، حيث لم يسجل سوى خمسة أهداف في 19 مباراة”.

واسترسل: “بعد أن بدأ أساسيًا 53 مباراة متتالية في الدوري الإنجليزي مع ليفربول، جلس محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء في آخر ثلاث مباريات تحت قيادة آرني سلوت، حيث لا يزال مدرب الريدز يصفه بأنه محترف من الطراز الرفيع، ويصر على أن صلاح كان لديه رد فعل تجاه ما يحدث معه كأي لاعب محترف”.

وأوضح: “مع ذلك، فإن اختيار محمد صلاح التوقف والتحدث في المنطقة المختلطة مع الصحفيين في ملعب إيلاند رود له دلالة، من الواضح أنه كان لديه ما يقوله، فمن غير المعتاد أن يتوقف صلاح في تلك المنطقة، لقد فعل ذلك بعد فوز ليفربول على ساوثهامبتون في نوفمبر من العام الماضي، حيث ظهر وصرح بأنه “ربما يكون خارج النادي أكثر منه داخلًا”، بعد كشفه أن ليفربول لم يعرض عليه عقدًا جديدًا بعد”.

واعترف: “في ذلك الوقت، صُدم زملاؤه برؤيته يبحث عن الصحفيين، وسيشعرون بالشيء نفسه بعد تصريحاته الاستثنائية الأخيرة، ومع ذلك، ما لم يجد صلاح مخرجًا من الجلوس على مقاعد البدلاء، يبدو أن نهاية مأساوية لأسطورة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز ستحدث”.

واختتم: “في نهاية الأسبوع المقبل، سيغادر محمد صلاح للمشاركة في كأس الأمم الإفريقية، والسؤال المطروح الآن هو: هل سيعود في يناير كلاعب في ليفربول”.

The baseball world was shocked on Sunday when the Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. It also led to an awkward opening to ESPN's .

Karl Ravech opened the broadcast announcing the blockbuster trade. Part of the package going to Boston in exchange for Devers included starting pitcher Kyle Harrison, who happened to be scheduled to take the mound for San Francisco's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Obviously, those plans were nixed.

Here's the intro:

Just 30 minutes before the game started, the Giants traded their pitcher for the evening. Like the rest of us, thecrew was taken aback by the development.

Devers is an elite hitter, so this is a major move for the Giants and the Red Sox. San Francisco now has a big lefthanded bat in the middle of its lineup, while Boston is getting rid of a guy who was at odds with management.

It was his 50th home Test, but the first one Ravindra Jadeja was playing without his long-time spin partner R Ashwin, who retired from international cricket last December. It was an unusual experience, but it made no difference as far as the impact Jadeja was able to make on the match. He scored an unbeaten 104, his sixth Test hundred, and took four second-innings wickets as India wrapped up victory over West Indies by an innings and 140 runs inside eight sessions in Ahmedabad.Among the factors behind India winning so commandingly was the strength of their spin attack even without Ashwin, with Jadeja bowling alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar, and with Axar Patel on the bench.”Obviously we do miss him,” Jadeja said after the Test, when asked how Ashwin’s absence felt. “Ash has contributed so much to Indian cricket, been a match-winner for so many years.”I was playing a [Test] match in India without Ash for the first time, so sometimes I did find myself thinking, yeah, Ash will come on and bowl, and then realising he isn’t there. But Kuldeep and Washy have already played so many matches, and we can’t call them youngsters, but it was a different combination.”In the future you will ask, Jaddu isn’t here, and someone else will be there. This is inevitable, and it will keep happening, but it feels good to contribute to the team.”Related

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• Gill: 'No complaints, was a near-perfect game for us'

Jadeja’s performance in Ahmedabad left him tantalisingly close to the double of 4000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket. He needs only 10 runs to become the fourth member of that particular club, and membership to an even more exclusive club — 5000 runs and 400 wickets, which presently only includes Kapil Dev — could also be within reach.”You’re putting pressure on me now,” Jadeja joked when asked about this. “I’ll have to start thinking about how to score 1000 more runs and take 60-70 more wickets.”At this stage I’m enjoying my cricket. I’m not thinking about records or milestones. I’m just working on my fitness and enjoying my cricket. Whenever I’m at home I always work on my fitness so that I just continue doing what I’ve been doing [for] so many years, so that’s about it.”At 36, Ravindra Jadeja is still sprightly on the field•Associated Press

The century in Ahmedabad extended a sensational 2025 with the bat for Jadeja. So far this year, he has scored 659 runs in seven Tests at an average of 82.37, with two hundreds and five fifties, with 516 of those runs coming in a series of remarkable consistency in England, which included a stretch of eight innings with six 50-plus scores.”I’ve worked on my batting — I’ve made some changes both mentally and skill-wise,” Jadeja said. “I used to have a different mindset before, in my batting, but I’ve made a few changes now.”Part of this, he said, came from regularly batting up the order. Since the start of 2023, he has batted 22 times at Nos. 5 and 6 in 40 innings.”If you get the chance to bat up the order, you definitely bat with a different mindset,” he said. “I’ve batted at No. 8 and 9 in Test matches before, and that comes with a different mindset, and if you bat with that mindset you can end up playing a loose shot and getting out.”I’ve also batted at No. 5 and 6, and that comes with a different mindset. You are aware of the responsibility you have to build partnerships with whichever batsman you are batting with. That has definitely made a difference.At 36, Jadeja is showing no perceptible signs of slowing down; he prowls the outfield as athletically as ever, and he has been largely injury-free since getting through a frustrating period in 2021-23 when injuries repeatedly kept him away from action.”Injuries can happen anytime,” he said. “There is no guarantee, and no precautions you can take [against them]. If you’re giving your 100% on the ground, you could have to dive anytime or put in an effort for a catch or a run-out.”Luckily, by god’s grace, I haven’t been injured that much and I work a lot on my fitness. I don’t put up a lot of videos of what all I do on social media, but I do it. And it has been making a difference on the ground, and it feels good that I’m able to give my 100% at this age, and it doesn’t feel like my fitness level is going down, so it puts me in a good frame of mind.”On being asked to expand on his fitness routines and whether that included monitoring his sleep cycles, Jadeja burst into laughter. “I keep it simple,” he said. “Not 8-9 hours, sometimes I sleep for longer too, and if I’m [enjoying my evening] I might sleep less too. But on a serious note, when matches are approaching, I know when to start my training, when to change my food intake. I have a very good idea of my body and what it needs and in what state it is in at any time.”

Abhishek Sharma continued his magnificent tournament, following up his 39-ball 74 against Pakistan with a 37-ball 75, but Bangladesh still held India to a total of 168 for 6 after sending them in.India’s innings followed a pattern not unlike Pakistan’s against their bowlers on Sunday: a strong start followed by a dramatic slowdown when the ball became older and harder to time. India scored 95 runs in overs 4-11, when Abhishek ran rampant, and just 73 runs in the 12 overs either side of that stretch.Bangladesh made things difficult for Abhishek and Shubman Gill with new-ball swing in the first three overs, and then by varying their pace and using the grip on offer when the ball got old. In between, Abhishek played an incandescent innings, hitting five sixes to jump up to joint No. 7 on India’s all-time T20I six-hitting charts. He has now hit 58 sixes in just 21 innings; Suresh Raina, with whom he drew level, hit 58 in 66 innings.It’s a different sport now, and Abhishek lives on its cutting edge, and Bangladesh seemed to have no answers when he was cutting their bowling to ribbons. They could, however, have dismissed him for 7 off 8 in the third over, had the wicketkeeper held on to an edge off Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who came into an XI with as many as four changes and bowled brilliantly with the new ball, swinging it prodigiously while also hitting the deck hard.The wicketkeeper who shelled that chance – and Bangladesh’s captain on the night – was Jaker Ali, standing in for Litton Das who was ruled out with a side strain.That miss seemed to be costing Bangladesh dearly when India were 112 for 2 at the start of the 12th over. But a brilliant bit of fielding from Rishad Hossain – diving to his left to stop a dab from Suryakumar Yadav and springing up, ready to throw, in one motion – sent Abhishek back, run out, and changed the complexion of the game. India only scored 56 runs across their last nine overs. Hardik Pandya – who was out off the last ball of the innings for 38 off 29, did the bulk of the scoring.Their slide looked worse for coming against the backdrop of batting-order changes that didn’t come off on the day. India promoted Shivam Dube to No. 3, and sent in Hardik, Tilak Varma and Axar Patel above Sanju Samson, who did not get to bat at all.With batting usually a little easier in the second innings in Dubai, Bangladesh have a genuine chance of tripping India up and firming up their hopes of getting into Sunday’s final.

Sunderland have a habit of finding gems in the transfer market and could now look to sign another Moroccan star following their summer capture of Chemsdine Talbi.

The Black Cats have been the surprise package of the Premier League campaign, and the example they have set is up there with the best newly-promoted sides to enter the top-flight.

Regis Le Bris has been a breath of fresh air against the elite in English football, and his side maintained their unbeaten home record in some style on Saturday evening, claiming a dramatic last-gasp draw against Arsenal courtesy of Brian Brobbey.

Sparking scenes of jubilation at the Stadium of Light, the Frenchman’s post-match interview paid tribute to his players and supporters as they battled until the end against one of Europe’s in-form clubs.

He told Match of the Day: “The lads worked hard to the end. They believed it was possible to change the dynamic. It was a tough game, as we expected. They are probably one of the best teams in Europe. We struggled, but we still believed it was possible to score one more goal. Our fans helped a lot. We showed before that it was possible, so now we have this faith, this belief that until the final whistle, anything is possible.”

Admittedly, it would be difficult to imagine a better start for Sunderland in their long-awaited return to the Premier League. Granit Xhaka’s leadership in midfield has offered an excellent base to build from, while figures such as Dan Ballard, Wilson Isidor and Enzo Le Fee have led the charge.

Whether from the start or off the bench, the Black Cats have a healthy balance to their squad and will be keen to bolster the ranks in January, something that could see them enter an untapped market for a player who retains considerable potential.

Sunderland bid for Moroccan talent Hossam Essadak

According to AfricaFoot, Sunderland have submitted an official offer for Union Touarga Sport midfielder Hossam Essadak after his leading role in Morocco claiming glory at the recent Under-20 World Cup in Chile.

Leading his side all the way to the final and collecting the trophy from Gianni Infantino, the 20-year-old is also wanted by Scottish Premiership champions Celtic, and there could be scope for a transfer battle between two of British football’s notable clubs for his services.

Should he opt for Sunderland, Essadak may follow similar footsteps to those of compatriot Chemsdine Talbi, albeit he would likely be viewed as one for the future in the North East.

Amid growing speculation over the prodigious star, scouts from both the Black Cats and Celtic are set to watch him in action before the January window.

Either way, Essadak has two attractive options to pick from after a run of four goals and four assists in 35 appearances for Union Touarga Sport. Wydad Casablanca and RS Berkane have also expressed their interest, but he is likely to be sold to a European counterpart.

Manchester City are constantly on the lookout for top talent and could now be set to pursue another exciting star who could arrive at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City looking to build Premier League title challenge

Despite Arsenal’s bold start to the season, Premier League fans would be naive to rule out the notion of Pep Guardiola taking his side to another title, and their tendency to kick on once the second period of the campaign kicks off will linger in the memory of their rivals.

Ultimately, January will be a decisive month as clubs look to recruit the missing pieces of their respective jigsaws to make the difference. Last year, the likes of Omar Marmoush were brought in to aid a top-four finish, and few would bet against another few shrewd additions to sharpen up their bid for silverware.

Peaks and troughs will happen between now and that point, meaning signings are needed to pick up the slack, and Manchester City are reportedly making enquiries to sign FC Koln winger Said El Mana, deemed to be one of Europe’s most direct wingers at this moment in time.

Guardiola is also personally keen on a move for Sporting midfielder Morten Hjulmand, though his side will need to fight off competition from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur for the Denmark international.

Bernardo Silva and company have delivered countlessly over the years, though they will one day need to move on, leaving the Citizens with work to do in identifying long-term successors across key positions.

While that won’t be easy, their recruitment team are up there with the best around, and they may now be plotting a dramatic 2026 move for a star who could be a future dime at the Etihad Stadium.

Man City plot Lennart Karl move after scouting mission

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City are plotting a potential move for Bayern Munich sensation Lennart Karl after sending scouts to watch him in action for the German giants.

The 17-year-old has shot to prominence and could command a transfer fee of just under £70 million, albeit Arsenal and Chelsea are also keeping close tabs on his situation.

Making 11 appearances this season, he has scored twice and delivered an assist against Hoffenheim and he appears to be thriving under the stewardship of Vincent Kompany, with Fotmob showing he has completed four dribbles so far in the German top-flight.

Earlier this year, Karl signed a new contract until the summer of 2028, meaning Bayern have leverage over his situation and could utilise their position to block any incoming offers.

With the summer looking the most likely time for a bidding war, the notion of ‘serious approaches’ from England could begin to take place, leaving the youngster with a huge decision in weighing up where best to continue his development.

Ultimately, his choice may boil down to game time. Manchester City are a breeding ground for elite talent, but they face stiff competition to push this one over the line.

Lisandro Martinez is back in Manchester United training after eight months on the sidelines following a serious knee injury but Ruben Amorim has warned the defender not to rush his return to action. The Argentine centre-back was keen to face Nottingham Forest this weekend, yet Amorim has confirmed he will not feature as the Red Devils continue to manage his recovery carefully.

Martinez returns to training after eight months injured

Manchester United received a major fitness boost this week as Martinez returned to first-team training for the first time since February. The Argentine defender has been out of action for eight months following an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury sustained in the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Old Trafford. After undergoing a lengthy rehabilitation programme at Carrington, the 26-year-old was finally spotted back on the training pitch with his teammates on Wednesday.

Despite his visible excitement to return, Martinez will not be part of the travelling squad to face Nottingham Forest on Saturday. Amorim revealed in his pre-match press conference that the centre-back had pleaded to be included, but was told “no” as the Red Devils continue to prioritise his long-term fitness. Martinez’s recovery marks a key milestone for the club’s defensive unit, which has been stretched at times since last season, but Amorim is adamant that the process cannot be rushed.

The Reds are currently enjoying a fine run of form, with recent victories over Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton propelling them up the Premier League table. A win at The City Ground could momentarily take Amorim’s side up to second place, but the United boss remains focused on easing Martinez back into action gradually to avoid any setbacks.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAmorim denies Martinez's pleas for Forest squad inclusion

Asked about Martinez’s potential inclusion for the Forest clash, Amorim made it clear that he had to step in and slow things down: “He wants to go to this one [Forest], he isn’t going to this one. He’s going to need time.” The Portuguese coach added: “He has started training with us. Slowly, he is going to get better.”

Amorim also highlighted the importance of Martinez’s influence around the squad, even while working his way back to full fitness: “It’s really good. He gives us that edge in every training session, that is also really good for us. The rest of the guys we have one day. I don’t know about Harry Maguire, the rest are fit.”

The World Cup-winning defender has been out since February and underwent surgery earlier this year, making Amorim’s conservative approach both expected and necessary.

Martinez still a ways away from full playing fitness

Martinez’s long-awaited return to training marks a key moment in his United journey. Since joining from Ajax in 2022, the Argentine has become a fan favourite for his passion, defensive aggression and leadership qualities. He has made 91 appearances for the club, contributing three goals and helping United to lift both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup under Erik ten Hag.

The 26-year-old’s absence since February was deeply felt across the backline, as United often struggled with defensive consistency. During his time on the sidelines, the team Red Devils through several centre-back pairings, with Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire, Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro, each taking turns to anchor the defence. Martinez’s return to full fitness promises to restore a level of composure and aggression that United have occasionally lacked, but Amorim is acutely aware that returning too quickly could risk aggravating his knee injury.

His rehabilitation at Carrington has been a long but steady process. After surgery on his ACL, Martinez spent months in individual recovery before gradually rejoining team drills. United’s medical team and Amorim’s staff have kept a close eye on his progress, and while his return to training has been hailed as a “significant step,” full match fitness is still some distance away.

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GettyMartinez facing a lot of competition for starting spot

Manchester United face a crucial run of fixtures heading into November, with Saturday’s trip to Nottingham Forest followed by a visit to Tottenham Hotspur before the international break. While fans may be eager to see Martinez back in competitive action, Amorim’s stance suggests the centre-back’s return could come only after the break. That timeline would give the Argentine ample time to build sharpness and reintegrate fully into matchday training routines.

The competition for defensive spots is fierce, with Maguire rediscovering form and De Ligt providing valuable depth— meaning Martinez will need to prove his readiness before reclaiming a starting berth.