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Despite the fact that their campaign is officially up and running, Rangers are still seeking reinforcements and have reportedly turned their attention towards a set-piece specialist.

Rangers aiming to follow up on Plzen rout

After drawing their opening game of the Scottish Premiership against Motherwell, Rangers felt the full brunt of Russell Martin’s reaction. Since then, however, a much-changed side have thrashed Viktoria Plzen to help hand the Gers a major advantage in their Champions League qualifying tie against the Czech Republic side.

Even after bouncing back from their draw against Motherwell, though, Rangers will know that they must get back to winning ways in the Scottish Premiership against Dundee later this evening.

However, they will be forced to secure victory without summer arrivals Thelo Aasgaard, Mikey Moore, and star man Hamza Igamane after Martin revealed to reporters ahead of the game: “Moore just not there, a lot of protocols need to go through for under-18s.

“Hamza missed two weeks with visa issues, and picked up a small injury in first game, so we are building him back up to avoid any injuries. He is a great lad and just needs to get fully fit.”

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Alas, even without those three, Rangers should have more than enough firepower to find a way past Dundee this evening. Oliver Antman, on his Scottish Premiership debut, will particularly be one to watch after an impressive display in midweek.

Meanwhile, there could still be more movement in the transfer window even as Martin’s side get their campaign up and running. Away from the action on the pitch, the 49ers have reportedly been chasing a deal to sign Nobel Mendy to sure up their backline and could yet follow that up by welcoming a set-piece specialist back to Scotland.

Rangers racing to sign Jordan Holsgrove

According to Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider, Rangers are now racing to sign Jordan Holsgrove from Portuguese side Estoril this summer. The set-piece specialist reportedly has a low buy-out clause, which should allow the Gers to land a bargain deal if they fend off any competition from Hibs and Hearts this month.

It’s been a chaotic few years for Holsgrove, who started at Reading before featuring in Spain for Celta Vigo, Greece for Olympiakos and, most recently, in Portugal for Estoril. Now, at 25 years old, the Scot could be on his way back to his home country if Rangers make their move this month.

Dubbed a “must have” signing by analyst John Walker, Rangers could land one of their most impressive bargains yet for a player who is only just entering his peak years.

A set-piece specialist, as per O’Rourke, the midfielder could even provide Martin’s side with a new threat entirely by swapping Portugal for Ibrox this summer.

Aston Villa are now “ready to make a move” for a “special” £60m star, with Unai Emery believed to be a “big fan”, transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke has revealed.

Aston Villa eyeing striker amid Watkins uncertainty

Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri recently revealed that Villa have held talks over selling Ollie Watkins to Manchester United, and with the Englishman keen on a move to Old Trafford, Emery may need to bring in a replacement this summer.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Randal Kolo Muani is on the shortlist as a potential heir to Watkins, while the Villans have also set their sights on Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson, having made initial contact over a deal for the striker earlier this week.

There has now been a new update on Aston Villa’s pursuit of Jackson, with O’Rourke revealing that Emery is a huge admirer of his former player, and the Football Insider report states the ex-Villarreal man could jump at the move.

O’Rourke said: “Unai Emery remains a big fan of Nicolas Jackson, so it’s no surprise that Villa are in the market for him.

“We know Villa need reinforcements in attack – they still haven’t really replaced Jhon Duran – and Jackson’s future’s is up in the air at Chelsea as well.

“If he does become available before the end of the window, there’s no doubt that Aston Villa will be one of those clubs ready to make a move for him, because Unai Emery is a huge fan of his.”

The Chelsea forward is thought to be unsettled by the arrivals of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro, which could open the door for a move to Villa Park.

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BySean Markus Clifford Jul 18, 2025 Jackson could be "special" signing for Aston Villa

A deal for the Senegalese striker is unlikely to be cheap, with previous reports suggesting the Blues could hold out for £60m, but there are signs he could be an exciting signing for Villa this summer.

While the arrivals of Delap and Pedro suggest Enzo Maresca doesn’t fully trust the 24-year-old, he has maintained a solid goal and assist record since his arrival in the Premier League.

Journalist Rahman Osman was also left impressed by the improvements the Chelsea ace made to his game last season.

Jackson could be an exciting addition to Emery’s squad, but if possible, the manager should also hold onto Watkins, given that the England international has amassed a very impressive 87 goals and 42 assists in 223 games since arriving at Villa Park.

The Bangladesh allrounder is believed to be playing in the Chennai Test with discomfort on his spinning finger and shoulder

Mohammad Isam21-Sep-2024

Shakib Al Hasan bowled only seven overs on the third day•BCCI

Lack of overs and suggestions that he is struggling with multiple injuries have raised questions about Shakib Al Hasan’s appearance in the ongoing Chennai Test against India. Shakib, who on Saturday became Bangladesh’s oldest Test cricketer, bowled seven overs on the third day after captain Najmul Hossain Shanto brought him into the attack belatedly. Shakib was uncharacteristically poor, with Rishabh Pant hitting him for six fours and two sixes.Shakib eventually finished with the most expensive match figures of his Test career. It was also only the fifth time that Shakib had gone wicketless in a Test after bowling at least 20 overs. As Shanto kept him off the attack for most of the morning session on Saturday, Murali Kartik, the former Indian left-arm spinner, said on air that Shakib had informed him about discomfort on his spinning finger and shoulder.”Having seen him and known him for such a long period of time, I did go up to him and ask the reason why he has not bowled enough,” Kartik said. “And the thing which he said to me is something I completely resonate with. He’s had a finger surgery on his bowling finger which is the point of his finger of his left hand. It is swollen, it is rigid, there’s no movement no suppleness to it. So he feels he is not getting any feeling out of it. As a spinner you need the feeling. Also he is having issues with his shoulder so it’s a combination of both and it’s tough to bowl in Test cricket where you need that feel as a spinner.”Related

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Shakib sustained the left index finger injury during Bangladesh’s World Cup match against Sri Lanka last year. He also missed the match against India during the same tournament due to a shoulder injury. The finger injury kept him out of action for a few months, and then Shakib also had an eye problem that prolonged his absence from the Bangladesh team.Tamim Iqbal later said on air that if Bangladesh have knowingly picked Shakib despite the discomfort in his spinning finger, then the visitors are playing with a bowler short.”Murali Kartik said that Shakib is having trouble gripping the ball due this finger injury. If that’s the case, Bangladesh are playing with four frontline bowlers. The team management should inform whether they knew about this injury or not,” Tamim said.BCB’s chief physician Dr Debashish, however, said that they are not aware of any discomfort for Shakib due to the finger or shoulder injury.”Shakib had a fracture in his finger from the World Cup in India,” he said. “Before that, he had an infection from another finger injury a few years ago. Shakib though hasn’t recently complained about a finger or shoulder injury. A broken finger however can cause discomfort.”There’s some concern that Shakib may have overextended himself in recent weeks. He bowled 63.2 overs for Surrey during a county match in Taunton last week. He had left for the UK from Bangladesh’s tour of Pakistan, played the game, and then reached Chennai one day before the first Test.Besides failing to take a wicket in the Test, Shakib got out to an untimely reverse sweep shortly after Litton Das got out in the first innings. Shakib is also trying something new in his batting approach, biting down on a strap around his neck apparently to keep his head from falling over when playing the ball.

Blaze victory rules Thunder out of finals contention, despite career-best 6 for 35 by Fi Morris

ECB Reporters Network04-Sep-2024

Grace Ballinger appeals for a wicket•Getty Images

A career-best 6 for 35 by Fi Morris for Lancashire Thunder was countered by a List A best for The Blaze of 4 for 23 by Grace Ballinger as the visitors ran out winners by 24 runs at Sale to keep their hopes alive in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. Defeat for Thunder ends their hopes of making the knockout stages of the competition.In a low-scoring contest, The Blaze – having started well – were pegged back to 197 all out at the hands of Morris once the spinner was introduced into the Thunder attack in the 30th over.By contrast Ballinger did significant early damage by taking the first four Thunder wickets but the rest of The Blaze attack combined to bowl Thunder out for 173 in the 46th over despite a hard hitting unbeaten 53 by Tara Norris to clinch a vital victory.The Blaze made a good start after being put in to bat with Sarah Bryce and Michaela Kirk laying a good foundation of 66 runs off 87 balls. But both openers fell in quick succession. Sarah Bryce was caught at mid-off for 34 trying to hit Darcey Carter, making her Thunder debut, over the top with Kirk bowled for 29 by Hannah Jones’ second delivery.And The Blaze were pegged back further when Marie Kelly edged behind for 7 off the first ball of Phoebe Graham’s second spell to leave the visitors 101 for 3 in the 24th over.Kathryn Bryce and Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast rallied with a 34-run alliance off 45 balls before the introduction of Morris transformed the innings as wickets tumbled.The Thunder off-spinner struck with a 17-ball sequence of 3 for 6 that began with her fourth delivery that Kathryn Bryce cut to Norris at gully for 31.Having made an attractive 29 off 34 balls, Prendergast fell lbw sweeping at Morris, as did Lucy Higham for 4.Hannah Jones returned to take her competition-leading 22nd wicket when Kirstie Gordon drove to Eve Jones at extra cover for 4 before Morris ran through the rest of The Blaze line-up in spectacular style bowling Ella Claridge for 6, having Grace Ballinger lbw for 6 and Cassidy McCarthy caught for 8 with The Blaze losing their last seven wickets for 62 runs.It was Ballinger who did the early damage with an impressive spell of left-arm swing that returned figures of 4 for 13 to destroy the Thunder top order, having Eve Jones caught at mid-off for 0, Alice Clarke caught at cover for 8 followed by Morris (10) and Dani Collins (0) bowled in the space of three deliveries.But having completed seven overs Ballinger limped off injured to be replaced by Prendergast who struck immediately with her sixth delivery which Seren Smale cut savagely but straight to Kirk at point for 13 with the Thunder innings in disarray at 41 for 5 after 15 overs.Ellie Threlkeld pulled a short ball from Prendergast to Higham at deep backward square for 10, Carter was bowled by McCarthy for 11 before Grace Johnson holed out to Kirk off Groves for 27 as Thunder continued to struggle.Ballinger returned in time to see Groves trap Graham lbw for 5 but a defiant last-wicket partnership of 50 – the highest of the Thunder innings – between Norris, who hit three sixes in a List A career-best 53 not out off 56 balls, and Hannah Jones, who finally fell to Kathryn Bryce for 17, held up The Blaze who eventually wrapped up victory with 26 balls to spare.

The summer transfer window has now closed. Well, the first window, in any case, opened to accommodate the needs of the incipient Club World Cup.

For Newcastle United, concrete movements have been withheld at this stage, albeit with the completion of Lloyd Kelly’s permanent move to Juventus banking £20m for the Tynesiders.

Eddie Howe does want improvements as his Magpies swoop back into the Champions League, however. England defender Marc Guehi and Brentford’s right-sided superstar Bryan Mbeumo have been shortlisted, but the latter has since stressed his desire to sign for Manchester United.

With Miguel Almiron having departed in January, right wing remains a priority position, and Newcastle have centred their sights on an interesting Mbeumo alternative.

Newcastle begin talks for new forward

Amid speculation over moves for Premier League wingers Anthony Elanga and Mohammed Kudus, it’s another plying their trade in England that’s of attention right now.

Indeed, according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Newcastle have opened talks with Brighton & Hove Albion forward Joao Pedro, with Howe a huge fan and the Seagulls ready to sell.

Available for a figure below £60m, the 23-year-old would fall into a similar financial ballpark as the £60m-rated Mbeumo, thus confirming United have the means to launch an official bid.

Pedro has even expressed a desire to play for Newcastle in a different role – and as it happens, Howe needs some more firepower on the right flank.

Why Newcastle should sign Joao Pedro

Two years ago, having signed for Brighton from Watford in a deal of roughly £30m, Pedro has established himself as one of the most dynamic forwards in England’s top tier, posting 30 goals and ten assists across 70 appearances.

Not just a goalscorer, Pedro ranked among the top 1% of forwards during the 2024/25 Premier League season for assists, the top 17% for passes attempted and shot-creating actions, and the top 12% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.

As it happens, such balanced performances have drawn Mbeumo up as one of his most comparable players. The Cameroon international, principally a right winger but more than capable as a focal frontman, scored 20 goals across 38 top-flight fixtures last year.

But he’s not just a marksman: Mbeumo created 17 big chances, and completed 1.4 dribbles and won 4.2 duels on average across the year; Pedro, meanwhile, created 11 big chances, averaging 1.1 dribbles and 4.9 duels per outing, metrics courtesy of Sofascore.

With Brighton’s star forward showcasing such an exciting range of creative and athletic qualities, and with a wealth of experience across various attacking roles, it might just be a deal that works out for the Toon, having profiled Mbeumo extensively.

Centre-forward

119

34

18

Left winger

40

14

0

Attacking midfield

27

11

1

Right winger

5

0

0

Mbeumo might be the talk of the town in the goalscoring department, but Pedro’s not exactly a shoddy shooter himself. In fact, content creator Ryan Adsett has praised the star’s “world-class” finishing, drawing attention to his “magnificent technique.”

Moreover, the Brazilian’s willingness to play ‘out of position’ bespeaks his intelligence and maturity, for he understands Alexander Isak is a moveless monolith at number nine, so staggeringly good at his job that few – if any – strikers playing football today would be able to take his place.

Who knows, Pedro’s ability to thrive across any number of areas could see him become an even better fit in the long term than the Bees man, with Howe known to use such protean profiles, like that of Anthony Gordon, across the frontline.

If Pedro really is willing to play out on the right to best serve the Newcastle project, this has got to be a deal PIF see over the line. His dynamism and desire to play at St. James’ Park suggest he could become the latest superstar created under Howe’s wing.

Better than Elanga: Newcastle holding talks over "generational" £84m star

Newcastle are in the market for a new right-sided forward this summer.

ByAngus Sinclair Jun 10, 2025

Manchester United’s 2024/25 campaign was certainly one to forget for the club and their supporters, falling way below the levels the side have set for themselves over recent years.

The Red Devils finished 15th in the Premier League, with Ruben Amorim unable to turn the club’s fortunes after taking the reins at Old Trafford back in late November.

He did lead the side to the Europa League final, but lost 1-0 to fellow English side Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, restricting them to no European football for 2025/26.

It may prove to be a blessing in disguise for the manager as he attempts to build a squad capable of mounting a challenge for a spot in the top four next campaign.

The transfer window presents the 40-year-old with the perfect opportunity to improve his squad, adding needed quality and depth in numerous key areas of the side at the Theatre of Dreams.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

After Matheus Cunha joined United last week, the club have continued to make moves in the transfer market, making an opening offer for Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo in the last few days.

The Red Devils placed a £55m bid that was swiftly rejected, with the Bees demanding a fee in the region of £70m, with the winger wanting a switch to Old Trafford this summer.

However, the 25-year-old could be joined at the club by Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, with the Swede once again emerging on their radar, according to reports in Italy.

They claim that they’re set to enter talks with the talisman who’s registered 54 goals this campaign, potentially setting up a reunion with Amorim after plying his trade under him in Portugal.

It also states that he could be available for a fee in the region of £55m this summer, with fellow Premier League side Arsenal also firmly in the race for the 27-year-old’s signature.

Why United’s £55m target could be Amorim’s next Bruno

Bruno Fernandes has been the shining light in what’s been a dismal year for United, with it unthinkable to imagine where the club would be without his contributions.

The Portuguese international registered 37 combined goals and assists despite the team’s failures, by far and away the most of any player in the squad – highlighting his importance to the side.

Such form didn’t go unnoticed, with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal willing to pay up to £100m for the 30-year-old star, which could prove to be the Red Devils’ last chance to cash in on his services.

However, he rejected the interest earlier this week, turning down a contract in the region of £700k-per-week, showcasing his loyalty to helping the side turn around their recent fortunes.

Fernandes joined the club from Sporting CP back in 2020, which Gyokeres having the opportunity to follow suit in the current window, potentially following in the midfielders’ footsteps.

The £55m fee touted for his signature appears to be a potential bargain, especially when delving into his underlying figures from 2024/25, having the tools to offer the club a leading talisman.

Gyokeres, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has registered a staggering 2.6 shots on target per 90 – certainly aiding his goal tally, which saw him net a hat-trick against Manchester City in the Champions League.

Games played

33

Goals & assists

46

Shots on target per 90

2.6

Successful dribbles

1.9

Touches in opposition box

10.5

Aerials won

51%

Chances created

2.1

He’s also completed 1.9 successful dribbles per 90, along with 10.5 touches in the opposition box per 90, handing the club that fox-in-the-box type forward they’ve craved over recent months.

The Swede’s talents don’t end there, winning 51% of the aerials he’s entered, offering the club a focal point that can score and tee up other forwards within the final third.

It’s safe to say the attacking department is high up on Amorim’s demands this summer, looking to add key depth as seen by the moves for Gyokeres, Mbeumo and Cunha already this summer.

Should he complete a move to Old Trafford and get anywhere near the levels achieved by Fernandes in Manchester, it would be a superb addition and one that could play a huge role in their ambitions of rising up the table in 2025/26.

He's "better than Haaland": Man Utd in talks for £67m Gyokeres alternative

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ByEthan Lamb Jun 6, 2025

Nottingham Forest are still in the hunt for a European place and look to be showing the same ambition in the transfer market as they circle for a talented defender, according to a report.

Nottingham Forest hopeful of statement summer window

Form has dipped at the City Ground over the last few weeks, and some supporters could be forgiven for getting a little twitchy over the Tricky Trees’ chances of Champions League qualification.

However, Nuno Espirito Santo has remained stoic in the face of Premier League rivals’ momentum, and there is still belief that a special ending could be in store for the Nottingham Forest faithful.

Regardless of how the rest of the campaign goes, there is optimism that an exciting summer window could be on the cards to help bridge the gap further after a valiant effort this term.

Showing their ambition, Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap is on Forest’s radar amid his £30 million relegation release clause, which has also attracted the eyes of Manchester United and Chelsea.

James McAtee could join his former Manchester City teammate after enduring a frustrating campaign at the Etihad Stadium that has resulted in limited minutes for the England Under-21 international.

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While the market is becoming increasingly globalised, proven Premier League operators appear to be the type of profile Nottingham Forest want to attract to enrich their playing squad.

There is also the carrot of arrivals from their own division potentially being homegrown, which is a vital component when it comes to meeting UEFA registration rules.

With that in mind, Nottingham Forest have now spotted another opportunity to try to land a Premier League star who could be on the move this summer.

Nottingham Forest closely pursuing Liverpool's Jarell Quansah

According to TEAMtalk, Nottingham Forest are now closely pursuing Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, who is also on the radar of Newcastle United this summer.

The Reds are said to value the England international at £29.7 million and could look to cash in on his services should they add another body to their rearguard during the off-season.

Jarell Quansah’s key Premier League statistics in 2024/25

Pass accuracy

91.9%

Tackles won

8

Duels won

19

Aerial duels won

6

Recoveries

16

Interceptions

6

Labelled “absolutely brilliant” by journalist David Lynch, Quansah has made 24 appearances across all competitions this season, becoming a reliable contributor on Liverpool’s journey to claiming the Premier League title.

Nevertheless, he hasn’t been in the limelight as much as he would’ve hoped, which has left the door ajar for a potential exit to put himself in with a chance of regular minutes in 2025/26.

The 2026 World Cup isn’t too far in the distance, potentially amplifying urgency from his own perspective to make sure he is noticed by Thomas Tuchel in the lead-up to the finals.

Nottingham Forest are in a brilliant position to offer him that pathway. Now, it is about whether they can fend off competition from elsewhere for his signature.

The last week or so has been nothing short of spectacular for Arsenal.

Yes, they may have dropped more points in the Premier League, but in the Champions League, they’ve beaten the holders Real Madrid 3-0 at home and then 2-1 away, becoming the first English team to win their first two matches against Los Blancos at the Bernabeu.

It’s been a miraculous turnaround in what’s been a surprisingly tough season for the Gunners, both due to poor form and a seemingly never-ending slew of injuries, which have, at points, left their frontline precariously thin on the ground.

Fortunately, the board seem intent on ensuring this problem doesn’t arise again next year, as recent reports have linked the club with one of the best attackers in Europe, someone compared to Alexander Isak and Kylian Mbappé.

Arsenal transfer news

Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other stars who have been heavily touted for moves to the Emirates in the summer, such as Nico Williams.

Transfer Focus

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

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The Athletic Bilbao star reportedly has a £50m release clause in his current contract, and with an impressive tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 42 appearances this season, he’d be a fine addition to Arteta’s array of young wingers.

Down the middle, the name most heavily linked with a potential move to N5 in recent weeks has been Sporting CP superstar Viktor Gyokeres, who would reportedly cost around £60m.

While that is a lot of money, it could still prove to be a bargain, as in just 45 appearances this season, the Swedish tour de force has scored 44 goals and provided 11 assists, which comes out to an average of 1.22 goal involvements per game.

However, there is still an element of doubt over the Stockholm-born monster as he remains relatively untested when it comes to a top-five league, unlike Ousmane Dembélé.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Arsenal are one of a few ‘clubs showing an interest in an ambitious potential summer transfer’ for the French international.

Alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea are all big admirers of the versatile forward, which could make an already complicated move even more so.

It would undoubtedly be a costly move as well, but given Dembélé’s immense ability, and the fact he’s been compared to Isak and Mbappé, it’s one worth fighting for.

How Dembélé compares to Isak and Mbappé

Okay, before getting into some of the other reasons why Arsenal should sign Dembélé, it’s worth examining these comparisons to Isak and Mbappé and where they come from.

Well, in this instance, they stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one and, in this instance, has concluded that the Real Madrid star is the third most similar forward to the Frenchman and the Swede is the sixth.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the trio rank closely, including, but not limited to, goals per shot, crosses into the penalty area, non-penalty expected goals per shot, tackles won, percentage of successful take-ons and more, all per 90.

Dembélé & Isak & Mbappé

Statistics per 90

Dembélé

Isak

Mbappé

Goals per Shot

0.19

0.23

0.13

Crosses into the Penalty Area

0.11

0.04

0.10

Non-Penalty Expected Goals per Shot

0.16

0.20

0.13

Tackles Won

0.29

0.19

0.28

Successful Take-On %

45.7%

49.4%

44.8%

Goal-Creating Actions

0.62

0.54

0.43

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

However, while sharing some similarities with two of the best forwards in the world is undoubtedly one argument for signing the French international, it’s not the only one.

Another is the fact that he’s been in simply sublime form this season, with former professional-turned-pundit Joe Cole labelling him “the most in-form player, let alone winger, in European football.”

It’s not hard to see where Cole’s coming from either, as in just 42 appearances, totalling 2815 minutes, the former Barcelona star has scored 32 goals and provided 11 assists.

That means he is currently averaging 1.02 goal involvements every game, or one every 65.46 minutes, which is a world-class level of output.

Ultimately, it could be an incredibly difficult transfer to get over the line, but if there is a chance Arsenal can sign Dembélé this summer, they have to take it, as he could be transformational.

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Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025

The leadership has plotted and planned and pulled off some extraordinary things of late, the enormous weight of the missing trophy evident at every stage of their run

Sidharth Monga19-Mar-20253:33

Aakash Chopra: India have now moved far ahead of other teams

India needed to lose control.It’s not that they were a bad team. They had lost just three matches in the last two ODI World Cups. Two matches in the last two Champions Trophies. Three matches in the last two T20 World Cups.This was an enviable record, but also a record that kept India from pushing the boundaries of what this extremely talented side was capable of achieving. Then came the early exit at the T20 World Cup of 2021. It brought about a reset in the leadership – they perhaps would not have had the freedom to challenge the batters had India made another semi-final.One of the effective tools used by the management to get the point across was control percentages when attacking. They were unusually high. It told the batters two things: they were not attacking enough good balls, and they were not giving the opposition chances when they attacked. There was clear room for more risks.Related

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The intent changed to an extent, India began to put up above-par scores in bilateral series, but as the 2022 T20 World Cup approached, the ideal combination became elusive. Jasprit Bumrah was injured beforehand, and Ravindra Jadeja joined the list as India went to the dress rehearsal, the Asia Cup in the UAE.As Hardik Pandya’s fitness could not always be relied upon, Rohit Sharma, the new captain, wanted to play two spinner-allrounders to provide for contingencies. The injury to Jadeja denied him that experiment. Axar Patel took Jadeja’s place when Rohit wanted him for the slot that they kept trying to fill with Washington Sundar and Deepak Hooda. With Kuldeep Yadav still only coming back from injury, they settled on R Ashwin as the spinner for left-hand batters. They didn’t make it to the final of the Asia Cup.By the time India reached Australia, sans Bumrah, their other main death bowler, Harshal Patel, coming back from injury, had completely lost form. In an ideal world, they would have played Harshal at No. 8 and Yuzvendra Chahal, Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh as bowlers who couldn’t bat. Bumrah could be replaced with Mohammed Shami, but Harshal’s replacements couldn’t bat, which meant India had to sacrifice the wristspinner.

The intent had to be initiated by players whose places in the side were certain and not by those who would be disposed if they failed in pursuit of quick runs. Too much of that had happened in the past. It also meant that the combinations and tactics had to be much better

Again, whenever the stakes grew or whenever the conditions were tricky, the batters fell back to the default options. It happened against South Africa in Perth, and it was repeated against England in the semi-final when India fell woefully short. The Adelaide semi-final was stark. England handcuffed them with spin. They just had the wrong guys batting together all through the start and the middle. At the end, did we see Rohit wipe a tear or two?The revival would have to start with Rohit. The feedback the leadership got from the players was that they needed the leaders to first walk the talk. That meant the intent had to be initiated by players whose places in the side were certain and not by those who would be disposed if they failed in pursuit of quick runs. Too much of that had happened in the past. It also meant that the combinations and tactics had to be much better. For example, there was no way Rohit and Virat Kohli should bat together for too long outside the powerplay.With the onus on himself, Rohit doubled down on his need for depth, the 8-6 formula. He wanted to play every game with eight batters and six bowlers so that the batters could be freed, so that they had options to counter match-ups.India have achieved the cheat code of three allrounders in the XI whenever Hardik Pandya is fit•CREIMASA sting operation on the then chairman of selectors brought into the frame Ajit Agarkar. Now the team management included three men who could healthily challenge each other without any mistrust: Agarkar, Rohit and coach Rahul Dravid. Tough calls were now taken and explained properly to the players. Shubman Gill replaced Shikhar Dhawan in ODIs even though the players still rated Dhawan highly. KL Rahul was trusted as the middle-order rock. He and Shreyas Iyer were given until the last possible moment to prove their fitness for the ODI World Cup.The intent began to bleed into the ODIs as well. India were a solid ODI team previously too, but you could close your eyes and predict a score of 51 for 1 in the powerplay, and you wouldn’t be off by more than 2%. It worked great when the top three scored all the runs, but it didn’t give the others any breathing space when they went to bat. Rohit became the intent bunny in ODIs as well.It was a rained-out match where the teams shared points, but in Pallekele in the Asia Cup, the leadership knew the team had turned a corner. In an eerie resemblance to the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan, India lost the early wickets of Rohit and Kohli to Shaheen Shah Afridi as the ball moved around in humid conditions. Even at 66 for 4, Ishan Kishan and Hardik counter-attacked. India went on to score 261 for 8. When they came up against Pakistan next, they all went hammer and tongs to end with 356 for 2.Quality was meeting intent in the batting. Kuldeep was back to his best, and Bumrah was fit. Everything was looking great, but then Axar got injured again. Axar as the second allrounder had been in India’s plans for a while as they knew the next two World Cups would be in India and the West Indies, both places where they could afford to play two spinner-allrounders. Kuldeep’s return meant they had a spinner to take the ball away from left-hand batters unlike Chahal earlier.2:43

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This combination of unique circumstances would let India achieve the cheat code of three allrounders in the side whenever Hardik would be fit. They tried to promote Axar in the batting order every now and then, notably against Pakistan in Melbourne and once in an ODI loss to West Indies in July 2023. In Axar’s absence, though, India relied on Shardul Thakur to be the eighth batter.When Hardik went down during the ODI World Cup, India had to leave Thakur out for a more specialised bowler in Shami. Only Rahul and Kohli will know if that lack of depth played a part in their back-to-default conservatism in the World Cup final in Ahmedabad, where, throughout the tournament, there were clear signs that batting becoming much easier under lights.This was only their fourth defeat in the last three ODI World Cups, but one that stung them the most. They had played fearless, attractive and dominant cricket to get to the final. Their narrowest wins were by four wickets and 70 runs. The defeat in the final left everyone too shocked to react, let alone analyse or think of the next World Cup, barely six months away.The T20I captain, Hardik, was injured with no timeline for a return. The ODI captain hadn’t played a T20I since the Adelaide debacle two years ago. The coach’s tenure was over, and he was happy to walk away without a world title. The selectors now had to take the less-than-ideal route of selecting the captain first and then the team. Not least because the captain could convince the coach to come back for one last ride. Had any of the three men been different, the band wouldn’t have come back together.1:21

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Now, finally, the blueprint of eight batters and six bowlers could be put in place. Everyone was fit, and the West Indies pitches always have some grip. Except that the selectors wanted an offspinner-allrounder in the squad because they envisaged the XI would include Jadeja this allrounder. Rohit and Dravid pressed for Axar because they wanted to go with Jadeja Axar.With Shivam Dube’s emergence and the Axar gambit, Rohit and Dravid had enough options to deny oppositions a match-up at both ends. They could split right-hand batters, they could split those who struggled against spin, they had six bowlers plus Dube to choose from. As some of us suspected before, and the rest of us have learned since, this was still not India’s optimal T20I XI. Even if you disregard the belated emergence of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal was clearly the best opener out there at that time, and a left-hand batter to boot.Even at 34 for 3 in the final, India could pair Kohli up with Axar and Dube, and give India a target to bowl to. India were either due some luck or used up a year’s worth in the climax of that match – a six goes out of the ground and the replacement ball reverses, David Miller mistimes a full toss even when hitting downwind – but now they finally had a trophy to show for their processes and their dominance.The enormous weight of the missing trophy became apparent only during the celebrations back in Mumbai. Deep inside, the players and the management knew they were an exceptional side with two exceptional campaigns behind them, but they still felt what they felt: horrible after Ahmedabad, overjoyed after Barbados.In the following months, the Test transition arrived in earnest, but the T20I and the ODI sides remain formidable. The new management not only carried forward the Hardik-Jadeja-Axar cheat code, but they were shrewd enough to change the Champions Trophy squad at the last moment to include another wicket-taking spinner because they knew all their matches would be played on a tired Dubai square that had just hosted a T20 tournament. There is no evidence to suggest India would not have won even if they were playing on 350 pitches, but the Dubai conditions did make their job easier.Now, India are a team that have lost only one match in their last three ICC tournaments. From 2013 Champions Trophy onwards, they have missed out on the knockouts of only one of the 11 ICC tournaments. Of the other ten, only four have been semi-final defeats.Moments after winning this year’s Champions Trophy, Rahul perhaps summed up the reasons behind this dominance best.”It’s just pure skill and the way we’ve all played our cricket growing up,” Rahul said with unusual clarity for such a heady moment. “We’ve had to face a lot of challenges. We’ve had to face pressure from the time we held the bat and from the time we decided to be professional cricketers. I think it’s just the first-class cricket, BCCI, how they’ve groomed every player, every talented player that comes around. They’re giving us opportunities and platforms to showcase our skills and to put ourselves under pressure and keep challenging ourselves and getting better.”The leadership needs to already start thinking of the next two years if they want to continue celebrating•ICC via Getty ImagesThe talent pool is vast and, consequently, the pressure they face at every step on the way to the top is immense. That is also perhaps why they hold onto their places at the top a little too tightly. That is why the leadership constantly needs to keep making them feel secure enough to keep pushing their boundaries.There is still one final step to go to earn comparisons with the best-ever sides. If they can defend their T20 crown next year, India will be regarded as the best T20I side of all time. They will start as the favourites for it, but this dream team with all kinds of cheat codes will not be easy to replicate in the 2027 ODI World Cup, a title only Kohli among the current players has won. Compare this to the Australia of 1999 to 2009: they always had a well-rounded ODI attack to outperform their opposition in conditions as diverse as South Africa in 2003, India in 2006, the West Indies in 2007 and South Africa again in 2009. They also almost always had at least two allrounders who almost never broke down. Even they have never been able to crack both ODIs and T20Is at the same time.India will not magically find a strike bowler with the batting ability of Brett Lee or Andy Bichel. That means at any given point of time only three of Kuldeep, Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Mohammed Siraj and Shami can play. Axar and Jadeja, if the latter is still around, won’t make for an optimal combination on your usual South African tracks. Hardik’s body is what it is. Gill, Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and Rahul form a formidable batting core even if Rohit doesn’t make it, but some work will be needed to attain this kind of balance in South Africa.There has been cause aplenty to celebrate over the last two years, but the leadership needs to already start thinking of the next two years if they want to continue celebrating. With all the talent in the country, it won’t take much to remain very good, but excellence is what they want to continue aiming for.

The last time Australia had won a Test in India despite losing the toss had come in Bangalore way back in 1998

Sampath Bandarupalli03-Mar-20231135 Balls bowled across the four innings in Indore, the fourth-shortest completed Test hosted by India. The shortest completed Test in India was 842 balls when the hosts faced England in 2021 in Ahmedabad, followed by 968 balls during the India-Bangladesh Test in Kolkata in 2019 – both being day-night games. Afghanistan’s debut Test in 2018 against India lasted 1028 balls, the shortest red-ball Test in India.2012 The last instance of India losing a Test at home when they won the toss – against England at Eden Gardens. India won the toss in 22 matches at home since that defeat before the Indore Test, winning 19 games and drawing three.9 Wickets for spinners in Indore when batters played on the back foot. In the first two matches of the series, the spinners got only four wickets each when the batters were playing on the back foot.