All posts by n8rngtd.top

Can anyone challenge Australia and India in Group A?

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

The teams and their stars, their strengths and their weaknesses, and, really, how far are they likely to go?

Alex Malcolm, Andrew McGlashan, Srinidhi Ramanujam, S Sudarshanan28-Sep-2024.

Australia

Overview
The defending champions, who have won a hat-trick of titles dating back to 2018, look the most vulnerable they have since failing to win it in 2016. They have not lost a global tournament since the 2017 ODI World Cup, but since winning their third consecutive title in the T20 format in February 2023, they have lost a T20I series 1-2 in England and rare home matches to West Indies and South Africa. They have also been bowled out twice against India and New Zealand, something that had not happened since the first game of the 2020 World Cup. They still have an extraordinary side, full of depth with both bat and ball, and will be the team to beat. But they must be better and braver with the bat than they have been recently as opponents are catching up.Squad
Alyssa Healy (capt/wk), Darcie Brown, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Grace Harris, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Wareham, Tayla VlaeminckKey player
Ellyse Perry’s greatness is undisputed, and her legacy secure. But there might be a personal point to prove here given how her T20I career has morphed with her batting in the second half of her career. She was a bit-part batter in 2018 and 2023, predominantly down the order. She famously missed 2020 through injury and at the 2022 Commonwealth Games she ran the drinks. She has had a renaissance in T20 leagues and has been elevated to Nos. 3-4 this year following the retirement of Meg Lanning. Her experience will be invaluable if, as expected, the surfaces are slow and the scoring is low. But there will be times when Australia need to hit the accelerator in the powerplay and she will be eager to prove she can do that too.Predicted finish: Champions

India

Overview
With a plethora of spinners, India enter the T20 World Cup as one of the favourites. They have lost only seven T20Is since the last edition, but one of those was the surprise defeat to Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup in July. India have shown consistency in ICC competitions, constantly challenging the likes of Australia and England, but have often stumbled at the knockout stages. In a bid to course correct and overcome the mental barrier, they hired the services of a sports psychologist as part of their pre-tournament preparation. India will look to openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, both of whom have been among the runs over the past year, to set the tone. Mandhana has worked on her game against spin – as evidenced from her showing in the home series against South Africa – which will be crucial in the UAE.Squad
Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh, D Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Sajeevan SajanaKey player
She may divide opinion when it comes to her batting position in the T20I set-up, but there is no doubt Deepti Sharma is one of the first names in an India XI. Her ability to bowl across phases makes captain Harmanpreet Kaur turn to her in the face of mounting pressure and she could be more than a handful in the UAE. In T20Is since January 2022, no bowler has picked up more wickets that Deepti’s 73 among Full Members and teams at this T20 World Cup. Her batting numbers may not be other-worldly, but no one among Full Members in women’s T20Is since the start of 2022 has taken more than 45 wickets scored more than 420 runs; Deepti has 525. She provided a reminder of her all-round abilities in the Women’s Hundred for champions London Spirit, scoring 212 at a strike rate of 132.50 and returning eight wickets at an economy of 6.85.Predicted finish: Finalists (with a fair shot at winning it)Sophie Devine has had to move down the batting order to provide it with solidity•Getty Images

New Zealand

Overview
New Zealand will enter the World Cup on a ten-match losing streak in T20s after their 3-0 defeat against Australia. They are in a tough group and will have to perform above their recent level to have a realistic chance of progressing. In Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine – both playing their ninth consecutive T20 World Cup – alongside Amelia Kerr and Lea Tahuhu, they have an experienced core. But they will need some support from the emerging cast led by the likes of Georgia Plimmer and Fran Jonas. Devine has recently batted at No. 4 to try and control the middle stages of an innings, and hopefully finish chases, but that raises the question of whether the team is making best use of one of their best batters.Squad
Sophie Devine (capt), Suzie Bates, Eden Carson, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Fran Jonas, Leigh Kasperek, Jess Kerr, Amelia Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Hannah Rowe, Lea TahuhuKey player
Currently batting in the pivotal No. 3 position, and a banker for four overs with her threatening legspin, Amelia Kerr will be central to New Zealand’s hopes. She provided an example of her skills with a T20I career-best of 4 for 20 in Mackay with numerous batters unable to read her googly. With the bat, there are perhaps a few question marks over her strike rate, which hovers around the 110-115 region, although in two WPL seasons it has reached 130, which shows she has the capability to up the tempo. New Zealand are getting closer to a significant changing of the guard: Kerr will be central to what happens next.Predicted finish: Group stageFatima Sana, just 22, is Pakistan’s new T20I captain•PCB

Pakistan

Overview
Pakistan go into this World Cup with a new captain, Fatima Sana, who replaced the experienced Nida Dar in August. This will be the 22-year-old’s first ICC tournament as captain, but she has featured in the last three T20 World Cups. That apart, Pakistan are a settled side with ten players from the 2023 tournament. They have lost all three bilateral series played this year, though – against West Indies, England and South Africa – and have won just four of 15 T20Is. Consistency has eluded them but in the series against South Africa they twice passed 150, the only times they have done so this year. Muneeba Ali, Sidra Amin and Gull Feroza have scored 952 runs between them in 2024 and although Dar, Aliya Riaz and Sana are handy in the middle order, the top order will be crucial. Sadia Iqbal and Dar will shoulder the bulk of the bowling responsibility in spin-friendly conditions. But all considered, it’s a tough group, and Pakistan have no room for mistakes.Squad
Fatima Sana (capt), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal (subject to fitness), Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba HassanKey player
Muneeba Ali is the batter in form. In the last seven matches, she has crossed 30 six times and remained unbeaten twice. Not a powerful hitter, the left-hand opener can be aggressive in the powerplay with her ability to pierce gaps with ease and elegance. She has worked on her strike rate, 113.04 this year, which is also the highest among Pakistan’s top four. With 364 runs in 15 matches in 2024, she also tops the team’s batting charts. The only centurion at the last T20 World Cup, Muneeba will be expected to carry her form into this edition.Predicted finish: Group stageThere have been few better performers around the world than Chamari Athapaththu over the past many months•ACC

Sri Lanka

Overview
Sri Lanka have been the busiest team over the past year, and they are greatly improved at the end of it. Since last year’s event, they have played 31 matches, the most by a Full Member team. They have lost only nine games in this period and notched up wins for the first time against New Zealand, England and South Africa. Their win-loss ratio since April 2023 is better than Australia and India, a maiden Asia Cup title being the highlight. Their only concern could be the lower-middle order, though that could be offset by the strong form Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari have shown in recent times, with captain Chamari Athapaththu being a constant, all-round superhero.Squad
Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilshari, Nilakshika Silva, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sachini Nisansala, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoshi Priyadharshani, Achini Kulasuriya, Inoka Ranaweera, Shashini Gimhani, Ama Kanchana, Sugandika KumariKey player
Harshitha Samarawickrama is in fine form. She helped Sri Lanka beat South Africa in a T20I series in South Africa for the first time, scoring an unbeaten 54 in the deciding game. She also starred in Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup final win, making an unbeaten 69 in just 51 balls to beat India. Her ability to change gears at will has benefited Sri Lanka this year, as evidenced by her strike rate of 120.81 in T20Is as opposed to her career strike rate of 99.72 in the format. Sri Lanka always wanted to reduce their over-reliance on Athapaththu and Samarawickrama’s emergence and consistency at No. 3 has allowed them to do so.Predicted finish: Group stage (but don’t rule them out of progressing)

Siraj vs Head: The send-off that turned Adelaide Oval into the Colosseum

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

It was raw, it was visceral, and it may well become the defining image of this Border-Gavaskar series

Alagappan Muthu07-Dec-20245:02

Head: ‘Disappointed with my reaction but also going to stand up for myself’

At 6.51 pm in Adelaide, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy took a back seat to a cheap, and therefore very human, thrill. Mohammed Siraj had just picked up a wicket. India have roamed all over this planet in search of it. London. Ahmedabad. Here. So it wasn’t relief the bowler felt when he picked it up. It was something more.Siraj punched down on the air with both fists. He screamed. And as the batter was walking off, with 140 off 141 against his name, Siraj averted his eyes, as if he was sick of the sight of him. If he had stopped there, it would have all been fine. But he sent him off. Twice.Related

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South Australia is not the place to be seen working against Travis Head. He is one of their own and he is everywhere. He is on their buses inviting them to the BBL. He is on their shirts. He is, forever, sitting on that olive green chair, wearing his ODI World Cup winner’s medal, flashing those double finger guns.”Booooooooooooooooooo.” One single syllable from the throats of 51,642 people sounds a little like a Roman amphitheatre. And these guys have had a lot of practice backing up their players, and pulling down their rivals. Aussie Rules Football takes care of that. Back in the day, the Victorian team would arrive into the airport to signs and T-shirts that said “Kick a Vic” over a picture of Football Park.Author and football historian Francis Doherty told , “That parochial South Australian Football Park crowd, if you’ve ever been there and experienced it first-hand, it’s probably one of the most parochial crowds if not the most scary place [for] an opposition supporter to be, in the whole of Australia.”Mohammed Siraj sends off Travis Head in front of his adoring home crowd•Getty ImagesIndia were behind enemy lines. When Mitchell Starc came out as the new batter and hit Siraj for four first ball, the crowd, too busy getting on the bowler’s case as he ran up, were caught unawares. This time the roar was illegible. Two emotions stitched into one.”Boooooooooooyyyaaaaaaaaayyyyyy”Siraj spent that whole over being public enemy No. 1. When it ended, Harshit Rana and Rishabh Pant came over to congratulate him on taking the wicket, to remind him that he had done a good thing.Siraj was preparing to go down to deep third and prepare to field. The boos rang out again, getting steadily louder with every step he took towards the rope. India heard it and pulled him up to field at point. South Australians aren’t the only ones who know how to get behind their man. All of this happened at the back end of a period where India were losing control of the game. There were even a few torturous minutes where their biggest hope to win this series, Jasprit Bumrah, went down clutching his groin and needed several minutes’ attention from three different people to be set right enough to bowl again. There were dropped catches. There were edges that flew into gaps because slip was too wide. The second ball with the new ball had produced a play and miss from Head where his feet retreated to leg and his hands hung outside off and the hundred that he was on looked like a typo.The hometown hero soaks in Adelaide Oval’s adulation•Getty ImagesIndia’s plan was to stay in the game on Saturday; to be careful and balance attack with defence. But every time they run into Head, it seems they just can’t do anything right. When the entire country was still heaving a sigh of relief at seeing Bumrah back on his feet, Head was busy depositing him for four wide of mid-on.Rana in Perth did the impossible and recorded possibly the first instance of an Indian fast bowler actually enjoying beating Head’s outside edge because this time the ball didn’t just wobble on through to the keeper, it crashed into off stump. Rana in Adelaide (16-2-86-0, economy rate 5.37) was flogged all over the park. Head and Marnus Labuschagne hit him for three fours in an over each. And they were really playing the same shot over and over.India bowling coach Morne Morkel felt there were other options that the team could have taken once they fell behind in the game. “I felt as soon as the ball got a little bit softer this afternoon in terms of maybe going defensive, more defensive for a longer period of time, it was maybe an option to consider, but we want to play that aggressive brand of cricket and credit to Travis, I don’t want to take anything away from a great hundred. He really put us under pressure and he got the runs.”Head also got the crowd back on Australia’s side and his send-off gave the fast bowlers one more reason to run in that little bit harder at India in the night session. At 6.51 pm, this Border-Gavaskar Trophy might just have got its defining moment. This series may just feel a whole lot different going forward.

IPL 2025 scenarios: KKR in serious danger of missing out on playoffs

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Despite defeat to the Titans, MI still have their fate in their own hands

S Rajesh06-May-20251:25

Rapid Fire: Is this the end of the road for KKR?

Kolkata Knight Riders

The two-wicket defeat against Chennai Super Kings leaves Kolkata Knight Riders on the brink of elimination. With only two games to go, the maximum that KKR can get is 15 points; there are already two teams who have more than 15, while Punjab Kings are on 15 with three games to go.Assuming that those three teams go through, KKR will have to hope that Mumbai Indians lose their two remaining matches and stay on 14. Since one of their matches is against Delhi Capitals, who are currently on 13, that will take DC to 15. The fourth spot will thus come down to an NRR battle between KKR and DC.On the other hand, if Punjab Kings lose their three remaining matches, then MI will go past 15, while DC, PBKS and KKR could all be on 15 points, fighting for the fourth spot.

Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans’ last-ball win at the Wankhede means they’re now just one win away from making the playoffs – 18 points will now assure a team of a top-four finish. However, if they lose their three remaining games they could get knocked out as four teams can still finish on 17 or more points. Titans have a favourable itinerary too, with their last two games scheduled at home, where they have a formidable 4-1 record so far.

Mumbai Indians

Despite the loss to GT, Mumbai Indians (MI) are still in control of their own destiny, as wins in their last two matches will ensure a place in the playoffs. For them to go through on 16 points, though, they’ll need help from other results, while defeats in their two remaining games will eliminate them. MI also have an excellent net run rate of 1.156, which could yet be crucial if qualification comes down to that.

Royal Challengers Bangalore

The washout between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Delhi Capitals (DC), and GT’s win against MI, means that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are now only one win away from securing their place in the playoffs. That’s because only four teams can make it to 18 or more points. RCB can also make the top four with 16 points if other results go their way. However, two wins will not yet guarantee a top-two finish as three teams can still finish with 20 or more points.

Punjab Kings

With KKR’s defeat to CSK, Punjab Kings will qualify for the playoffs if they beat DC, as DC play MI later and only one of those teams can then get to 17 or more. If PBKS lose to DC, they will need to win their last two and get to 19, as in that case DC and MI can both finish on 17 or more. PBKS can sneak through even if they lose all three matches and stay on 15, but for that to happen DC will have to lose their last two matches, so that they stay on 15, and LSG will have to win no more than two of their three games. It’ll then come down to run rates between them (and KKR, if they win both matches) for one spot.

Delhi Capitals

Like DC, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are also struggling for momentum, having lost three in a row, and four of their last five. The best they can do now is win their three remaining matches, finish on 16 points, and hope that a couple of in-form teams suffer a sudden reversal of fortunes. If they lose one more match, though, LSG will be eliminated. Their terrible NRR of -0.469 doesn’t help their cause either.

The Suryakumar Yadav trick to dismantling spin bowling

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

He’s got so many different kinds of sweeps and they open up the field even against good deliveries

Sidharth Monga27-Apr-20252:18

Jaffer: Suryakumar more dangerous when he scores all around

Ravi Bishnoi must have thought he had bowled a good ball. It was 4.81m in length, quick and at the stumps. Suryakumar Yadav slog-swept it for a six.Usually 4-6m is considered the good length for spinners, but as pitches have become truer and hitting quality has improved, 6-7m has become the go-to zone for the spinners. For Bishnoi in IPL 2025, 6-7m has been the defensive good length, 5-6m normal good length, and 4-5m his attacking good length. Before this match he had bowled 56 balls in 5-6m band for 8.57 runs an over and three wickets, 43 in 6-7m for just 6.84 per over with no wicket, and 36 balls from 4 to 5m for 10.67 per over and four wickets.Bishnoi perhaps thought he could try that attacking good length, but travelled. In his next over, Bishnoi went to his defensive short length, at 6.99m, but Suryakumar still slog-swept him for a six. Spinners can generally bank on Indian batters to take just the single off this length, especially given the line attacking the stumps. Not Suryakumar.Related

  • Suryakumar and Bumrah dazzle in MI's fifth straight win

Later in the over, Suryakumar swept a four off 5.74m. Eight good-length balls to Suryakumar in two Bishnoi overs had gone for 23 runs. He can play all kinds of sweep: reverse, paddle, scoop, hard square sweep, hard sweep in front of square, slog sweep, along the ground and in the air, from point to cow corner. It makes the job of the spinner extremely difficult.Suryakumar didn’t get to face much of the other spinner, Digvesh Rathi, but Suryakumar won Mumbai Indians the middle overs as they notched their fifth win in a row. Perhaps because he didn’t get much of Rathi, he went down to sweep Prince Yadav, but ended up turning a short ball into a bouncer. He hooked it for a six nonetheless.With his 28-ball 54 against Lucknow Super Giants, Suryakumar has taken his tally to 427 runs.Most Indian batters pace themselves. They are happy to play out good balls from spinners for singles. They look to make up when there is pace on the ball. Not Suryakumar. He has been scoring at 11.59 against 4-5m length, 10.15 against 5-6 and 6.46 against 6-7m. Among the 44 batters who have faced 20 or more length balls from spinners this IPL, only Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran and Travis Head have been quicker.Suryakumar’s role is extra important because MI overall haven’t been that good against spin. As a team, they have been the fourth-slowest against spin. They desperately need Suryakumar to disrupt the spinners. They need someone to win them the middle overs, forget the bowling style. Someone to score boundaries off good balls like he did against Bishnoi. Or against Noor Ahmad and Ravindra Jadeja two matches ago. Among those who have faced 60 or more balls in the middle overs this IPL, only Pooran has been quicker than Suryakumar’s strike rate of 181.28.Suryakumar has done all this with the near illegal consistency of crossing 25 in each of the ten matches in this IPL. Clearly, Bishnoi is not the first who might think he has bowled a good ball, but has been hit away by Suryakumar without taking undue risk. Nor will he be the last.

Gill and Abhishek begin new chapter in old bromance

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

They’ve been the best of friends since Under-14 level. Now they’re set to rejoin forces at the top of the order in T20Is

Shashank Kishore09-Sep-2025Batting in adjacent nets on the centre pitches of the ICC Academy in Dubai on Saturday, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma took turns admiring each other’s strokes. On an occasion, Abhishek wasn’t entirely happy with the sound of bat on ball. He picked up one of Gill’s bats and began easing himself into his shots again.For the rest of the session, Abhishek was all power and connection and Gill poetic timing, until the coaches signalled the last set. Gill then began playing inventive strokes – reverse sweep, ramp, scoop. Abhishek, who by then had already finished his net, waited for Gill, and they walked off together, smiles on their faces.Last year in Zimbabwe, when Gill was T20I captain and Abhishek had earned a maiden India call-up on the back of a stunning IPL season, the two realised their dream of opening together for India. But that was a second-string side. The Asia Cup in the UAE could be even more special for Gill and Abhishek, because they are set to open for the first time for a full-strength India side that’s preparing for a T20 World Cup defence early next year.Related

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The pair’s story goes back over a decade, to the Under-14s camp in Punjab where they first met. From there to the Under-16s and Under-19s, through state-level cricket and the India age-group sides, their journeys have been intertwined.On tours, Gill and Abhishek would often be room-mates, a ritual that continued through much of their age-group days. At some point, they had to be separated only because the coaches wanted them to mingle with the other players in the group.Shivam Mavi, who was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning class of 2018, recalls, “It was always Gill and Abhishek. Whether during team outings, team activities, or lunches and dinners, the two were always together.”Once, Gill and Abhishek along with Mavi’s new-ball partner Kamlesh Nagarkoti planned a birthday surprise for coach Rahul Dravid during that campaign. “They said, ‘let’s do a cake smash on Rahul sir’s face’. And they actually did it,” Mavi laughs.During India’s quarter-final against Bangladesh in Queenstown, tensions ran high. There was some history: Bangladesh had beaten India in a tense warm-up game. Words had been exchanged, to the extent that the umpires had to intervene.In the IPL, Abhishek and Gill are the best of frenemies•AFP/Getty Images”Before our quarter-final, Gill and Abhishek said, ‘we’ll give it back to them’,” Mavi says. They instructed Ishan Porel and Riyan Parag, the team’s Bengali speakers, to be at their chirpiest. “Then our two Punjabi boys would chip in from time to time.”Mavi’s recollections move to the semi-final against Pakistan. “Shaheen Afridi and Co were sledging Gill, saying, ‘our bowling attack is not Bangladesh”. Gill, batting at No. 3, went on to score a century that he celebrated aggressively, with pointed gestures. “Abhishek replied, ‘our batting is not like Pakistan either’.”India went on to beat Australia and win that Under-19 World Cup, and the paths of Gill and Abhishek soon diverged. Gill made his India debut a year later while also establishing himself in the IPL, initially with Kolkata Knight Riders. Abhishek navigated the challenges of proving himself in domestic cricket, unsure whether he was a top-order batter or a finisher.During the Covid-19 pandemic, the two were back together. The man who brought them under one roof, so to say, along with a number of other Punjab players was Yuvraj Singh. This time, there was no space for jokes or banter. Yuvraj was the boss, and Gill and Abhishek had to listen to every single thing he told them. Among his diktats: no phones at night, no parties, regimented sleep-and-wake-up schedules.To ensure the players stuck to their routines, Yuvraj boarded them at his residence for a month, and sought special permissions for training at a time when lockdown rules were strict. Both Abhishek and Gill remember this time fondly, and credit it for toughening them up.A blockbuster maiden tour of England as Test captain has turned Gill into Indian cricket’s all-format poster boy•Getty ImagesToday, Gill is Indian cricket’s all-format poster boy and the darling of brands. A bumper maiden Test tour as captain in England, where he peeled off runs with the consistency of his teenage days, has already thrust him into the conversation for ODI captaincy whenever the selectors look to the future. He’s also the T20I vice-captain now.Gill brings with him a body of work and a transformed game that took shape in 2023 at Gujarat Titans, when he lit up the IPL with a chart-topping 890 runs at a strike rate of 157.80, including three centuries. The most improved aspect of Gill’s game was his six-hitting – he hit 33 of them, the third-highest of all batters that season.It was because Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were locked in as openers that Gill was only picked as a non-travelling reserve for the 2024 T20 World Cup. It has been more than a year since he last played T20Is, but his recent T20 form is compelling: 650 runs at a strike rate of 155.87 in IPL 2025. He reclaims his spot at a time when his T20 stocks are at an all-time high.Abhishek’s journey has been less straightforward. He wasn’t an instant IPL sensation, and for a while he floated between roles: middle-order batter, occasional finisher, part-time spinner. Then came the realisation: his game was built to take bowlers on from the very first ball.

Having converged and diverged so many times over so many years, the journeys of Gill and Abhishek are running together once again, with a stretch of smooth road between now and next year’s T20 World Cup

Days spent training under Yuvraj during lockdowns in Chandigarh reshaped his approach. Yuvraj made him train on marble slabs so the ball would skid, asked the curator in Mullanpur to prepare raging turners to force Abhishek to sharpen his bat speed and footwork. It was bootcamp-style training, and it unlocked something within him.Abhishek emerged a different player. He was physically stronger, more fearless, and not afraid of losing his wicket in the pursuit of risk-taking. Shades of this transformation were visible as far back as in 2022, when he was Sunrisers Hyderabad’s leading run-getter with 320 runs at a strike rate of 133.12. But just when it looked like he had begun to make a mark, 2023 brought a new set of challenges – Abhishek found himself shunted up and down the order.The change in leadership at the franchise in 2024 was a turning point. Out went Brian Lara as coach and Aiden Markram as captain, and in came Daniel Vettori and Pat Cummins in those positions. Impressed by his hitting, they returned him to the top of the order, this time alongside Travis Head. The returns have been spectacular. The last two IPL seasons have brought Abhishek 923 runs at a strike rate of 198.92. No batter in the tournament with a cut-off of 500 runs has scored quicker.An extraordinary willingness to take risks has brought Abhishek extraordinary T20 numbers over the last two years•Associated Press”I stopped worrying about getting out,” Abhishek said in post-match chat last year, and it’s been clear to see whenever he has batted. With a settled role and the license to attack, he has become a destroyer of all kinds of bowling, with especially frightening numbers against spin. In all T20s since the start of 2024, Abhishek has a strike rate of 232.12 against spin. For context, Glenn Maxwell, who sits in second place among those with at least 500 runs against spin in this period (where ball-by-ball data is available), has gone at 173.31.The transition into T20Is has been smooth too: Abhishek’s strike rate of 193.84 is the best of all batters with at least 500 runs since his debut. He got his run in the India side at a time when the senior players were being rested, and now, when India have turned their full attention to T20Is with a World Cup imminent, he’s still there, keeping a batter as good as Yashasvi Jaiswal out of the squad.The moment Abhishek switched to Gill’s bat at training was a poignant one: it was with one of Gill’s bats in Harare that Abhishek had scored his first T20I hundred, in only his second match.Having converged and diverged so many times over so many years, the journeys of Gill and Abhishek are running together again, with a stretch of smooth road between now and next year’s T20 World Cup. If they click together like they did at the nets, or like they did as teenagers, there’s no telling how dangerous this partnership could be.

Switch Hit: Dub smash

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

After two topsy-turvy series against South Africa, England round off their season with a trip to Ireland. Alan Gardner, Andrew Miller and Matt Roller discuss white-ball form and Ashes selection latest

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2025After a watery end to South Africa’s limited-overs tour, England have already hopped over to Ireland – where they’ll probably be battling the weather again during this week’s T20I series. On the podcast, Alan Gardner was joined by Andrew Miller and Matt Roller to talk about England’s record-breaking exploits, what they can learn in Ireland, and how far the 50-over team still has to go to get back to former glories.

Liverpool now ready £70m move to sign another Newcastle star after Isak

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Liverpool are now reportedly readying a stunning £70m move to sign another key Newcastle United star not long after swooping in to sign Alexander Isak in the summer.

Those at Anfield were in a ruthless mood in the summer, but that ruthlessness is yet to show itself on the pitch. Liverpool have been inconsistent champions after transforming their squad and only just turned their fortunes around after six losses in seven games. Arne Slot will be hoping that midweek victory over Real Madrid is enough to get his side going again, however.

Better than Guehi: Liverpool now chasing for 'one of the 'world's best CBs'

Liverpool need to sign a new centre-back in 2026.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 7, 2025

With Manchester City up next, the Reds have the chance to end a much-needed week of wins in style, whilst also sending quite the statement. Slot knows a trip to the Etihad is rarely without its complications though, and has been full of praise for Pep Guardiola’s side in the build-up.

Liverpool are also aiming for three-straight clean sheets in what would represent their recent turnaround from initial defensive vulnerability. Achieving that up against one of, if not the best striker in the world in Erling Haaland would give that back four all the confidence they need.

That said, even after recent clean sheets, there are still problems for the Reds to address within their backline and one of those problems is finding a long-term replacement for Virgil van Dijk.

Liverpool now readying Botman move

According to reports in Spain, Liverpool and FSG are now readying a move for Sven Botman worth as much as €80m (£70m) in 2026. Just one summer after breaking their transfer record to sign Isak, those at Anfield have set their sights on the Dutch centre-back in an attempt to solve their defensive problems.

Whilst the immediate thought may be that Botman would replace Ibrahima Konate, who is on course to leave as a free agent next summer, he may actually replace Van Dijk in the long-term. WhoScored went as far as to say that the 25-year-old is the next Van Dijk during his time at Lille and his time in the Premier League has only added further credit to that statement.

PL stats P90 25/26

Van Dijk

Botman

Minutes

900

552

Progressive Passes

6.30

3.11

Tackles Won

0.40

0.49

Successful Aerial Duels

4.70

2.79

As impressive as Botman is, however, the stats highlight the task that Liverpool have on their hands. Replacing Van Dijk is their very own mission impossible. Botman would bring Premier League experience and his ability in possession is still of a high standard, but that still may not be enough to fill the void left behind by the Liverpool captain.

Slot just found the new Gini Wijnaldum in "special" Liverpool star

CSK face a tricky situation with Dhoni the batter

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Coach Fleming says he can’t bat for long periods of time and that leaves them with some problems to solve

Sidharth Monga30-Mar-2025Don’t expect MS Dhoni to bat in IPL 2025 if there are more than six-seven overs remaining but the result is a foregone conclusion.Post their loss to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Guwahati, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) coach Stephen Fleming explained the decision-making process behind arguably the most debated issue this season: Dhoni’s entry points.”Yeah, it’s a time thing,” Fleming said. “MS judges it. His body is… his knees aren’t what they used to be. And he’s moving okay, but there’s still an attrition aspect to it. He can’t bat ten overs running full stick. So he will gauge on the day what he can give us. If the game’s in the balance like today, he will go a little bit earlier, and he backs other players when other opportunities are up. So he’s balancing that.”Related

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  • Rana 81 in Royals win as CSK batting muddle continues

It doesn’t quite mean the franchise is finding ways to accommodate the 43-year-old. On the contrary, Fleming said Dhoni remained of big value to the team. “I said it last year [as well], he’s too valuable to us – leadership and wicket-keeping – to throw him in nine-ten overs. He has actually never done that. So, look, from around 13-14 overs, he’s looking to go depending on who’s in.”On Sunday, arguably the first opportunity for Dhoni to bat arrived when Vijay Shankar was the fourth wicket to fall in the 12th over, but Ravindra Jadeja joined Ruturaj Gaikwad. Dhoni went in with 54 needed off 25. In their last match, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), CSK lost their fifth and sixth wickets in the 13th over, but Jadeja and R Ashwin were sent to bat ahead of Dhoni, who went out at No. 9.Add to this situation the drama around the crowds at Chepauk – and indeed in Guwahati – who start to cheer CSK wickets because they want to watch Dhoni bat. So, after the return of Jofra Archer to his best pushed CSK behind the game and once Riyan Parag pulled off a stunner to dismiss Shivam Dube in the tenth over, the Dhoni soap opera began to overshadow the game.Ravindra Jadeja finished unbeaten on 32 off 22 balls•BCCIEver since the Impact Player rule gave Dhoni’s IPL career a new lease of life, he has not hit a single boundary in a successful chase. It tells you CSK don’t bother batting him when the result is known. And when he has batted in live chases, Dhoni has not been able to secure the win. It would appear that Dhoni did the right thing by promoting himself – it was a promotion and Dhoni himself decides it – but if ever there was a case for Dhoni to be held back, it was this game.As a rule, if the opposition has good spinners, Jadeja and Dhoni should be paired only if all options have been exhausted. On a night that RR outsmarted CSK by promoting Nitish Rana, who enjoys great match-ups against the CSK kind of bowling, perhaps this was a bigger tactical error made by CSK.RR still had an over of Maheesh Theekshana left, and letting Jadeja and Dhoni bat together against him was an invitation for a quiet death over. Since 2022, Jadeja and Dhoni strike at under 110 against spin in the IPL. Their averages of 41.75 and 57 against spin also tell you they don’t even try to hit them. Doing that for a whole over with 45 required off three overs was taking pragmatism to an absurd extreme. Theekshana bowled that 18th over for six runs with hardly a shot played in anger.2:02

Pujara: Jadeja and Dhoni could have gone harder

As it turned out, RR defended 39 in the last two overs even without going to Archer, who had conceded just 13 in his three overs.CSK find themselves in quite the situation. They admit they still need Dhoni’s leadership on the field. Even if they decide to use Dhoni’s leadership from the sidelines, the only other Indian wicketkeeper they have has only ever played one match for his state team in any format. Even when Dhoni gets the opportune entry point in terms of number of balls left in the innings, he can’t be paired with Jadeja.So now they need the top order to almost bat as if they don’t have the services of an Impact Player or be clever in whom they pair Dhoni with. It is not a CSK thing to go left-field, but they could perhaps look to use Dhoni as a pinch-hitter when they can pair him with a spin-hitter, say, Dube.

Inglis out of T20 tour of New Zealand with a calf strain, Carey called up

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

Inglis pulled up sore after training session in Perth on Tuesday and a subsequent scan ruled him out of the three-match series

Alex Malcolm19-Sep-2025Josh Inglis has been ruled out of Australia’s three-match T20I tour of New Zealand due to a calf strain with Alex Carey called up to replace him.It is understood that Inglis pulled up sore in his right calf after a running session in Perth on Tuesday and had a scan on Wednesday, after which he was ruled out of the series to be played on October 1, 3 and 4 at Mount Maunganui.Inglis is the fourth first-choice Australian player to be ruled out of the series after Pat Cummins was withdrawn due to lumbar bone stress, Cameron Green was left at home to play Sheffield Shield cricket as part of his Ashes build-up, and Nathan Ellis was unavailable due to impending birth of his first child.Related

  • Zampa, Inglis to miss Perth ODI against India, Kuhnemann, Philippe called up

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  • Santner ruled out of NZ's T20I series against Australia; Jamieson, Sears return

  • Stoinis gets his chance to make T20 World Cup bid

It is the second calf injury Inglis has suffered in the last nine months after he suffered a low-grade strain while fielding for Australia during the Boxing Day Test against India as substitute last December, which saw him miss the remainder of the BBL season ahead of his Test debut against Sri Lanka in late January.Inglis is expected to be fit for the ODI series against India which begins in Perth on October 19.The injury has caused a slight headache for Australia’s selectors who were already gambling on Inglis staying fit during the short tour having not named a spare wicketkeeper in the initial 14-man squad. Carey was set to play the opening Sheffield Shield round for South Australia starting on October 4 as part of his Ashes preparation before the ODI series against India. He now may be limited to only one or two Shield games in between the ODI series and the first Test in Perth depending on his workload.Alex Carey completed an unusual stumping on his T20I return•AFP/Getty Images

Carey’s re-emergence as a T20I keeper has been intriguing given his modest T20 record both domestically and internationally. He played the last T20I Inglis missed in Cairns against South Africa in August. It was Carey’s first T20I appearance since August 2021 and his first as the wicketkeeper since September 2020. He was not formally part of the initial squad and Inglis was forced to play through illness in game one of the series in Darwin. Carey replaced him in Cairns after joining the squad early ahead of the ODI series.The selectors also did not pick a spare wicketkeeper for the five-match T20I series against West Indies in the Caribbean in July but with Inglis carrying an ongoing back issue out of the Test series, Jake Fraser-McGurk was added as the reserve wicketkeeping option after an injury to fast bowler Spencer Johnson, despite Fraser-McGurk having never kept in any game in his professional career to-date.Fraser-McGurk played the opening match of the series as a batter but did not feature again with Glenn Maxwell promoted to open instead. He is expected to keep for the first time during Australia A’s tour of India when he joins the squad for the three 50-over matches in Kanpur.Finding a like-for-like replacement for Inglis is challenging given he has become one of Australia’s most important T20 batters. He has scored two centuries at No. 3 and become a pivotal bridge between the new opening combination of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head and the powerful middle-order given his 360-degree skill against both pace and spin.Australia’s new ultra-aggressive style of batting means the replacement keeper for Inglis is likely to bat at No. 7 behind the power of Tim David, Mitchell Owen and Maxwell. Matt Short will also return from injury in New Zealand and could slot in at No. 3 while Marcus Stoinis has been recalled after being left out of the West Indies and South Africa series to play franchise cricket and will also bat somewhere in the middle-order if needed as an allrounder.Carey’s return to form at No. 6 in Australia’s ODI team was part of the reason for his recall in Cairns, having performed brilliantly as a finisher in the longer white-ball format over the past 12 months.The likes of Ben McDermott and Josh Philippe remain in consideration and have been tried in Australia’s T20I side previously but both are seen as top order players predominantly and neither can match Inglis’ explosiveness.McDermott has played 25 T20Is for Australia and has batted in every position in the top seven. He made 54 off 36 in his last T20I innings against India at No.3 but strikes at just 99.70 overall. He is a full-time T20 freelancer at present having given up his state contract with Queensland to move back to Tasmania, although he could play for Tasmania in red and white-ball cricket this summer. However, he has very little experience as a finisher and opened in all nine innings he played for Guyana Amazon Warriors in the recently completed CPL, making just one half-century at a strike-rate of 141.04Philippe, who scored a first-class century off 80 balls for Australia A against India A in Lucknow on Wednesday, has played 12 T20Is on the back of his success at the top of the order in BBL cricket but none since 2023. He has only two scores above 13 striking at just 109.48, having opened in half his innings and never batted lower than No.4. He has only batted lower than No. 4 10 times in his domestic T20 career but has not done so since 2020.Josh Inglis has two T20I hundreds at No. 3•PA Images via Getty Images

Inglis’ injury has also highlighted a problem Australia’s selectors face ahead of the World Cup next year. ICC rules dictate that only 15 players can be selected in a World Cup squad and replacements can only be used if a player is ruled out of the entire tournament. It has long been a frustration for some countries, including Australia, given the compressed nature of the tournaments and need to manage players through them.Australia had to work around it during the 2023 ODI World Cup when Head was injured prior to the tournament but was expected to be fit halfway through. They risked carrying 14 fit players through the first four games before Head was able to play, but the move paid huge dividends.For Australia’s selectors, carrying a spare wicketkeeper who might not be in their best 15 players on the off-chance Inglis suffered a short-term injury would come at the cost of another conditions-based role player who might be needed during the tournament.Inglis’ back and calf issues are a serious consideration. He suffered a back spasm during the second Test in Sri Lanka in February that kept him off the field for large portions of the game and it requires ongoing management.”It’s an ongoing thing,” Inglis told ESPNcricinfo. “It’s sort of been around for a couple years now. For me, it’s been really frustrating. It’s not been something that’s really kept me out of the game. It’s just something I’ve got to manage. So at the minute, I’m not really able to bat as much as I’d like, so I’m not able to spend the time in the nets to be able to work on new things.”It’s really just been about preparing for the next game and getting enough in to feel good going into the game, but not overdoing it. I’ve been doing a lot of rehab stuff with the physios just on different areas, my hips, that sort of thing, just to try strengthen up there and take some load off my lower back.”I don’t really get it keeping. I think it’s just in that batting position and then light rotation. And once it’s flared up, doing everything is pretty uncomfortable.”

Australia T20I squad vs New Zealand

Mitchell Marsh (capt), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matt Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Owen, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Adrien Rabiot targets 'last minute winner' against Inter with AC Milan star 'pumped' for derby return after a month out with injury

by n8rngtd.top Uncategorized

AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot is set to return from injury for Sunday’s high-stakes derby against Inter. The Frenchman missed nearly a month due to a calf tear but is back in full training ahead of a crucial clash that could shape the Scudetto race. Rabiot’s return promises to restore balance in Milan’s midfield as they aim for a decisive result against city rivals.

  • Rabiot ready to rejoin Milan midfield

    Rabiot has been sidelined for almost a month after suffering a soleus muscle tear in his left calf while on international duty with France. Milan struggled in his absence, claiming just two victories and three draws in Serie A, highlighting how pivotal the French midfielder has become since joining the club from Marseille on deadline day.

    The 30-year-old has now completed a full training session with the squad and is preparing to make a return in Sunday’s Milan derby against Inter. His presence promises to bring the composure, technical skill and defensive stability that have been missed during his spell on the treatment table.

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    Rabiot speaks on return for Milan derby

    The ex-Juventus midfielder reflected on his recovery and expressed excitement about getting back on the pitch, speaking to , he said: “I'm fine, I've worked in the gym and off it these past few weeks. I just miss the pitch! I'm feeling great both physically and mentally. No athlete likes being injured, I'm sorry I couldn't help the team during this period. I took a little longer to recover, because when it comes to calves, you have to be careful. It's better not to risk being out for another three or four weeks."

    Rabiot also shared his thoughts on the upcoming Milan derby and the atmosphere surrounding one of Italy’s most intense fixtures: "It's an exciting match. I've never seen it at the stadium, but I can't wait to be there because I really enjoy these kinds of games. You don't really get a sense of the atmosphere on TV, but it'll be great to be able to say I played in a derby like this. It would be great to win in the last minute with a goal from you! It'll be tough; we're both strong teams. The details will be decided. 

    He added: "[Mike] Maignan told me about the importance of this match, how crucial a win is for the club's history and for the fans. All of this is pumping me up, I can't wait to play, especially because I haven't played in a month and I'm really eager to get back on the pitch."

  • Rabiot’s role in Milan’s Scudetto challenge

    Rabiot has been a key figure in Rossoneri's midfield since his arrival, combining technical quality with tactical discipline to connect defence and attack. His box-to-box play ensures the team remains balanced while driving forward with confidence, something Milan have missed in his absence. His calmness on the ball and ability to control the tempo of matches adds a crucial edge, particularly in high-pressure games like the derby.

    On the Scudetto race, Rabiot remains focused and grounded despite the early hype: "It's still a long way to go. There are a lot of games between November and December, including the Super Cup, which is one of our goals. We'll have a rough idea of how far we can go by February. With my mentality, I try to push all my teammates to give their all; we're a good group. The important thing is to stay close to first place, but it's still a long way to go. There are a lot of games between November and December, including the Super Cup, which is one of our goals. We'll have a rough idea of how far we can go by February."

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    Rabiot set to make impact in Milan derby

    All eyes now turn to Sunday’s Milan derby, where Rabiot is expected to make his return after a month out. His presence could be decisive in one of Italy’s most intense fixtures, with both teams vying for city bragging rights and crucial Serie A points.

    Beyond the derby, Rabiot’s performances over the coming weeks will play a key role in determining Milan’s momentum in the Scudetto race. The French midfielder aims to restore balance, drive the team forward, and help secure victories in both domestic and European matches. His fitness and form will be crucial in shaping Milan’s season as they navigate a challenging schedule.