It was the first time in IPL 2025 that the captain winning the toss chose to bat
ESPNcricinfo staff30-Mar-2025
Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins catch up before the match•BCCI
Pat Cummins called it right at the toss and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) opted to bat first in the day game against Delhi Capitals (DC) in Vishakhapatnam. It was the first time in IPL 2025 that the captain winning the toss chose to bat.KL Rahul will be playing his first match in IPL 2025 after he missed DC’s opening encounter for the birth of his daughter. Sameer Rizvi made way for Rahul’s return in what was the only change for the home team.Cummins backed his batters to continue with their trend from last season – bat first, put up a big score and defend it successfully. With the sun baking down and expected to slow the pitch as the game goes on, SRH opted to bring in an extra spinner for a fast bowler. As a result, legspinner Zeeshan Ansari, who plays for Uttar Pradesh in the domestic circuit, came in for fast bowler Simarjeet Singh.Axar Patel said that he would also have batted first, given “ball does more in the second innings”. He backed his bowlers to be brave and resort to death bowling right from the start if need be.The square boundaries were 66m and 60m in Vishakhapatnam, with the straight hit being 73m. WV Raman, at the pitch report, said that spin could come into play as the game goes on because of the sun baking down.Sunrisers Hyderabad XI: 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Ishan Kishan, 4 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 Aniket Verma, 7 Abhinav Manohar, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Zeeshan Ansari Impact Player options: Sachin Baby, Eshan Malinga, Simarjeet Singh, Adam Zampa, Wiaan MulderDelhi Capitals XI: 1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Jake Fraser-McGurk, 3 Abishek Porel, 4 KL Rahul (wk), 5 Axar Patel (capt), 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Vipraj Nigam, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 Mukesh KumarImpact Player options: Karun Nair, Ashutosh Sharma, Sameer Rizvi, Donovan Ferreira, Tripurna Vijay
If you look closely, you will see that Everton are developing into a team of newfound modernism.
David Moyes is perhaps perceived by some as being something of a pragmatic manager, rooted in strong defensive principles and an acceptance of non-possession-based football, standing firm against the current and then attacking on the break.
But he’s long been more nuanced than that. Moyes won the Conference League with West Ham United, after all, hauling that Irons side into a team of consistency among European places. Sixth, seventh. And silverware in there too.
Everton are at a different stage, but Moyes, having only been at the club since January, when Sean Dyche was dismissed than the mood was low, has created a team that is showing signs of quality befitting a top-half-of-the-table finish in the Premier League.
Against Aston Villa at the weekend, Everton were the aggressors. It ended 0-0, but the team will take solace in their upswing in chance creation.
Premier League 25/26 – xG Leaders
Team
Goals
xG
Man United
4
7.9
Chelsea
9
7.7
Man City
5
7.6
Brighton
4
6.6
Everton
5
6.3
Data via FBref
Who might be the centrepiece of all this? Why, Jack Grealish, of course.
Jack Grealish's Everton rebirth
Last season in the Premier League, Everton concluded their campaign with an xG total of just 41.8, the lowest of any side not to get relegated.
It’s clear to discern a summer strategy catered toward creative additions, and Grealish has been the heart of this. Signed from Manchester City on loan for the duration of the season, the England international has returned to form spectacularly, assisting four goals across his first two starts.
A silky dribbler and an intelligent technician, Grealish had fallen from his perch over the past couple of years in Manchester, reduced to a fringe role that shunted his finer attributes.
Moyes has taken him off the leash and is being repaid with high-level creative performances. As per Sofascore’s data, the 29-year-old is averaging 2.8 key passes and 6.8 successful duels per game.
Grealish is in his prime; he’s not a young talent anymore. However, Everton might find that regardless of the playmaker’s future on Merseyside, they have a new version waiting in the wings in Tyler Dibling, who joined the club from Southampton for £42m during the summer.
But, in fact, there’s another rising star in Moyes’ squad who might prove to be Grealish 2.0.
Everton's next version of Grealish
Dibling might indeed appear the natural successor to Grealish’s place on the Premier League stage – and not just because of the hair.
The 19-year-old is fiercely talented and shares a proclivity for flashy, hard-to-stop progress on the ball.
But the man in question here is actually Charly Alcaraz, who spent the second half of the 2024/25 season on loan at Goodison Park before a permanent clause was activated and he became a fixed resident in Liverpool, leaving Brazilian side Flamengo for £13m.
A shrewd buy. So far, the one-time Southampton prospect has made 20 appearances for Everton, and he has scored three goals and provided three assists.
This season in the Premier League, the Argentina international has only started once. But then he made an impression on that opening-day defeat by Leeds United, completing both of his dribbles, winning six duels and completing 83% of his passes. Defensively, it must be said, he left something to be desired.
But no one could deny that the 22-year-old is a “special” talent, as was remarked by youth scout Antonio Mango back in 2023. Already, he is demonstrating an aptitude for creating chances, ranking among attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe in the top 16% for assists, the top 17% for goal-creating actions and the top 3% for take-on success rate, data courtesy of FBref.
That latter metric is curious. Alcaraz might not play with the same kind of relentlessness on the ball as Grealish, but he’s extremely effective when he opts to lunge forward and beat his man.
Everton – Most Successful Dribblers (24/25)
Player
Dribbles per game
Success rate
Charly Alcaraz
1.0
100%
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall
1.0
100%
Michael Keane
0.3
100%
Jack Grealish
2.0
50%
Iliman Ndiaye
2.0
44%
Data via Sofascore
Alcaraz hasn’t yet nailed down a starting spot in Moyes’ Everton team, not with consistency, but he’s viewed as a player who can inspire chances and put paid to inattentive defenders, boasting quick feet and combative physical traits and a desire to attack.
He’s got everything that he needs to succeed in the Premier League, and has already demonstrated his confidence and eagerness to step up when his team need him. He scored on his first league start for the Toffees, after all.
Dibling might have the higher ceiling, and that’s no discredit to Alcaraz’s skillset, but the South American is ready to make an impact for Moyes’ side and influence things from midfield. Tactically versatile, his ball-carrying ability and range of technical skills mean he can operate across a number of different berths.
Grealish has made an electric start to life at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, but the esteemed Premier League giant has never throughout his career been the most prolific, and thus it’s important that Everton have different players to create and attack on goal, easing his burden and indeed that of the strikers, who continue to play with question marks over their heads.
Keep a close eye on Alcaraz; he hasn’t announced himself yet in 2025/26, but the talent is undeniable, and his chance to showcase his quality will come.
Big Beto upgrade: Everton have already sold "the new Lukaku"
This centre-forward would thrive at the front of David Moyes’ Everton system.
Former Chelmsford academy product makes four-and-a-half hour 92 not out
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay06-Apr-2025Surrey 365 (Foakes 92*, Burns 73, Harmer 4-83) and 9 for 0 trail Essex 582 for 6 dec by 208 runsBen Foakes defied his former county for four hours and 41 minutes but could not prevent Essex asking reigning champions Surrey to follow-on in the Rothesay County Championship at Chelmsford.The one-time England wicketkeeper, an Essex academy graduate, stood resolutely while wickets fell all around him to remain not out 92 as Surrey were dismissed for 365 in their first innings, 217 runs in arrears. Second time around Surrey had reduced the requirement to make Essex bat again by nine runs without loss in six overs at the end of day three.It could have been worse for the visitors. They collapsed from their overnight 109 for 1 to 180 for 6, undone by a spell of three wickets in 15 balls amid pre-lunch mayhem in which five wickets fell and the guts were ripped out of the middle-order.Simon Harmer led the way for Essex with 4 for 83 from a marathon 47 overs, 34 of them bowled in the day. It was a welcome return to form for the South African offspinner, who failed to add to his 35 five-fers and ten 10-wicket hauls for the club during an uncharacteristically disappointing 2024 season.At the start of an eventful day under clear, bright skies, Ollie Pope lasted just seven balls before he was beaten all ends up by a delivery from Porter that flicked his off-bail. It ended a 103-run stand with Burns for the second wicket.Jamie Smith made his presence felt with three quick boundaries off Porter, including a straight drive that brooked no argument. However, five balls after cutting Shane Snater’s first ball decisively to the square-leg boundary, Smith essayed a cover-drive, missed and kept walking as his off stump went cartwheeling.That brought in Foakes, but before he could settle Surrey lost their second wicket in two balls. This time Harmer induced an outside edge off Burns’s bat for a caught-behind for 73. And it became three wickets with just eight runs added as Dan Lawrence’s six-ball stay ended when Harmer got one to jump up with the resultant involuntary edge deviating to slip.Ryan Patel looked completely bamboozled by Harmer. He faced 23 deliveries from the offspinner, barely getting near any of them, let alone scoring a run, before nudging one into the wicketkeeper’s gloves.In addition to his wickets, Harmer was parsimonious in terms of conceding runs, so when Foakes pushed him through the covers it was only the second boundary he had conceded in 26 overs.The scoreboard clicked rapidly when the new-ball was taken with 40 runs coming from the first six overs, moving Surrey to their first of two batting points in the process, before Jordan Clark’s freewheeling 45 from 88 balls was ended by Cook.Foakes reached his fifty when he edged his eighth four just wide of slip off Snater. He had put on 55 for the eighth wicket with Matt Fisher before losing his fifth partner, the recruit from Yorkshire being bowled by one from Harmer that kept low.James Taylor joined Foakes in a time-consuming 22-over stand worth 50 runs before Matt Critchley switched ends for one over and removed Taylor with a googly. He then swapped back to his previous end to account for Kemar Roach lbw and end the innings.
Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has directly addressed ongoing transfer speculation about star winger Michael Olise. It comes after fresh rumours that several of the Premier League's leading clubs are hoping to take him back to England and would potentially offer the Bundesliga champions as much as nine figures for the France international.
Fending off the Premier League
In recent days it has been reported in Germany that interest in Olise is coming from Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea, as well as Paris Saint-Germain. All four clubs are supposedly willing to pay €100 million (£87m/$118m) when the summer transfer window opens.
Bayern's response to fend off interest in one of their most important players – Olise has racked up 54 goals and assists across all competitions since the start of last season, including 11 in 10 games in 2025/26 alone – is reportedly to propose a new contract. A current €12m (£10m/$14m) salary is comparatively low for a player of his standing at one of the biggest clubs in the world and would be a good place to start, especially where the riches of the Premier League and PSG are concerned.
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Olise said no to Chelsea
Born and raised in London, but representing France internationally through his mother's heritage, Olise has turned down the chance to join Chelsea once before. The Blues were reported in the summer of 2023 to have triggered a £35m release clause in his Crystal Palace contract, only for the player to pen fresh terms with the Eagles to stay put instead.
Even his lengthy prior connection with the Blues, spending seven years in the youth ranks at Cobham between much shorter spells with Arsenal and Manchester City, didn't lure him back.
Chelsea were back in for Olise in summer 2024, before he joined Bayern, but wound up pulling out of a deal, reported at the time to be due to already having a glut of similar players in the squad.
Bayern under no 'pressure' to sell
According to Freund, Bayern will not Olise unless they want to…and they don't want to.
"We're not under any pressure," the sporting director told German football podcast – a Sky Sport Germany production. "We can imagine him playing for Bayern for the next seven, eight, nine years. Michael has a long-term contract, he proved himself and took steps forward."
Olise's contract, the five-year deal he signed in 2024, is not due to expire until 2029. That in itself protects Bayern massively, but the aforementioned new terms that could be coming the player's way in the not too distant future would likely extend that by at least another year or two.
Harry Kane is thought to earn twice as much as it stands, so even a substantial pay rise for Olise would not compromise Bayern's overall wage structure.
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Olise buys into the Bayern philosophy
Speaking just a few months into his time with the Bavarian giants, Olise gave an insight into just how much he has embraced everything Bayern since arriving.
"When I found out FC Bayern were seriously interested in me, it was an unbelievable moment. Now I've been here for a few months and realise the spirit of the club much more," he told the club's official magazine in December 2024.
"This mentality of always wanting to win is quite impressive, and is also the biggest difference to my previous club Crystal Palace. We were often the underdogs there – that's never the case with Bayern! And the pressure here is very high because we really want to and must win every game. I like that, though. I feel that the pressure is making me a better player.
"Every time I see the Bayern badge on my shirt, I feel a part of something big. I want to keep improving, though, and produce top-level performances more consistently. I have the feeling there's a lot more to come. I'm working very hard on that every day because I don't just want to win as many trophies as possible with FC Bayern – I want to step up in the big moments, make history with this team, leave a legacy. If that wasn't my ambitions, I'd be in the wrong place."
Manchester City are now one step away from completing a deal for a “phenomenal” star, as his club have recently dropped their asking price.
Man City targeting new signings after Tottenham defeat
After such a promising start to the campaign, winning 4-0 away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Man City were brought right back down to earth on Saturday afternoon, with Tottenham Hotspur once again getting the better of them at the Etihad Stadium.
James Trafford was culpable for the second goal, with Joao Palhinha capitalising after the new City goalkeeper made a stray pass in his own area, although Pep Guardiola defended his decision to select the 22-year-old.
Pep said: “He made a good first game and I decided to continue. When I take decisions in the first part of the season – for all the players you play one or two [games] – everyone thinks: ‘OK, this is the starting lineup.’ It was just today I decided that.”
Manchester City's Erling Haaland shakes hands with managerPepGuardiolaafter being substituted
However, behind-the-scenes, there may be some doubts emerging about Trafford, given that the former Burnley man remains relatively inexperienced, and a report has revealed the Blues are closing in on a more proven goalkeeper.
According to The Mirror, Man City are now one step away from signing Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, with Guardiola’s side ready to get a deal done, as long as they can sell Ederson to Galatasaray.
Crucially, PSG have now slashed their asking price significantly, with the Italian now being allowed to leave for as little as £26m, given that he has just one year remaining on his contract with the French club.
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City are expecting Galatasaray to submit a new offer for Ederson, and if a suitable fee can be agreed, they will move swiftly to finalise a deal for Donnarumma, who is keen on a move to the Etihad Stadium.
"Phenomenal" Donnarumma could be instant Trafford upgrade
While Trafford impressed in the Championship last season, keeping a whopping 29 clean sheets, the PSG goalkeeper could be an instant upgrade on the Englishman, given that he is vastly more experienced at the top level.
The 26-year-old, who has been lauded as “phenomenal” by Walid Acherchour of RMC Sport, was a lynchpin of the PSG side that won the Champions League last season, with journalist Carlo Garganese highlighting him as the star against Arsenal across both semi-final legs.
That said, the Italy international isn’t the most adept with the ball at his feet, with Trafford vastly outperforming him in touches per 90 over the past year, and a number of other key metrics.
Average per 90
James Trafford
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Save %
85.6%
67.8%
Touches
39.88
29.97
Clean sheet %
67.4%
25%
Donnarumma may not be a Guardiola-style goalkeeper, but he is proven at the highest level, and a £26m transfer fee would be a bargain.
For the second year running, frustrations bubbling from the summer transfer window have threatened to slam the brakes on Eddie Howe’s project. But Newcastle United are made of sterner stuff.
Blunted by the absence of Alexander Isak at Villa Park last weekend, Newcastle kept a clean sheet and played well, albeit shaking hands with Unai Emery’s Aston Villa after failing to move forward from parity. But there was much to like, the visitors showing signs of eliteness maintained.
Tougher tests lie ahead – not least the clash with Premier League champions Liverpool at St. James’ Park on Monday night – but there’s every reason that the Tynesiders will find success once again in their travels this season.
As Arne Slot’s side continue to pursue the wantaway Isak, so too does PIF’s resolve remain taut. We’ve only a week until the transfer window slams mercifully shut, but whether the Sweden international remains on Tyneside is anyone’s guess.
The latest on Isak's Newcastle future
Isak’s incendiary comments last week put to rest any confusion or hopes regarding his stance: he is desperate to leave Newcastle and sign for Liverpool.
But ‘I want’ does not always get. The 25-year-old is contracted for three more years, and while he believes it had been intimated that he could leave for a new challenge this year, external forces have made that difficult, and he has little power from which to leverage his position.
While Isak will not play a part against Liverpool, a fixture seemingly dated by fate, all things considered, Howe is firm in his belief that Isak can still be reintegrated, if and when.
And PIF? Their stance has not changed: Isak isn’t for sale. Many figures have been bandied about, but it truly seems like an offer in the region of £150m is required if Newcastle are to part with their prized piece.
But the transfer market is a vicious beast, and every eventuality remains on the cards. With this in mind, Newcastle continue to push for new recruits at number nine.
Newcastle's search for a striker
The protracted bid for Yoane Wissa still hasn’t come to a head. There are parallels to Isak’s situation, for sure, with the DR Congo forward desperate to leave Brentford and join Newcastle within the week.
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However, Isak’s future at Newcastle and the prospect of Wissa joining are not mutually exclusive; Callum Wilson left the Toon at the end of his contract last season, and so two strikers must be signed for Isak to leave.
And in the dreaded event of that happening, Italian outlet Tuttosport have claimed – via Sport Witness – that Newcastle have made a late approach for Paris Saint-Germain star Randal Kolo Muani, who has been slated to join Juventus after his recent loan spell.
Differences between French and Italian terms have proved a sticking point, with PSG looking for €70m (£61m), and if a breakthrough cannot be found, Newcastle could swoop in, having already made an official approach, along with an unnamed Saudi club.
What Randal Kolo Muani would bring to Newcastle
Newcastle need a striker. Kolo Muani would be a fantastic buy in replacing Isak, especially if welcomed along with Wissa, who is far less dynamic and athletic, yet a reliable marksman in front of goal.
Juventus loanee Randal Kolo Muani celebrates.
In September 2023, Kolo Muani left his rich career at Eintracht Frankfurt and signed for PSG in a £76m deal, but his time back in his homeland has been disappointing, posting only 11 goals and seven assists over 54 matches.
However, a short-term move to Juventus in January has built the 26-year-old back up, eight goals scored in Serie A, 13 goal involvements racked up in all competitions, just 22 matches played.
The Les Bleus star’s big move to PSG hasn’t worked out, but that’s okay. He’s still one of the most dangerous strikers around, proven across other divisions, hailed as a “superstar” by German legend Lothar Matthaus during his Frankfurt days.
With Wissa adopting a more straightforward role in Howe’s system, Kolo Muani could step into Isak’s boots, taking the veritable form of the £120k-per-week sensation and preserving his presence, that style of play which has served United so well.
Nick Pope once described Isak as being “like a wizard” after setting up that goal against Everton, but Kolo Muani has a similarly creative slant to his game.
Across his 13 matches in the Serie A last year, the Frenchman averaged 1.1 key passes per game, as per Sofascore, and regularly sparked chances when taking on his man, beating him.
Actually, looking at Kolo Muani’s metrics across the past year in comparison to Isak’s, Newcastle’s interest becomes clearer. He’s the real deal, all right, and has the mobility and roundedness to replace the Swede, should he leave.
Kolo Muani vs Isak (past 365 days)
Stats (per 90)
Kolo Muani
Isak
Goals scored
0.48
0.78
Assists
0.11
0.17
Shots taken
2.45
3.21
Touches (att pen)
6.28
6.31
Shot-creating actions
2.34
3.04
Pass completion
70.2%
75.3%
Progressive passes
1.49
2.94
Progressive carries
1.54
2.80
Successful take-ons
1.54
1.42
Ball recoveries
2.24
1.79
Tackles + interceptions
1.28
0.44
Data via FBref
These are centre-forwards with skill beyond that of merely scoring goals, complete strikers both. While Isak is clearly the more confident and productive man, it’s worth noting that Kolo Muani spent the first half of the 2024/25 campaign languishing in Paris, scoring twice and assisting once across ten Ligue 1 games.
Would Kolo Muani replicate Isak’s output? Perhaps not. Isak scored 27 goals and assisted six more across all competitions last season, with his clinical edge a large part behind his billing as England’s record-breaking man, should Liverpool sign him.
But Kolo Muani would be a more than adequate replacement, retaining some of the Scandinavian star’s same style. With Wissa joining too, it could be a fantastic deal for Howe’s side.
He's perfect for Elanga & Gordon: Newcastle offered "monster" CF for £35m
Newcastle United offered chance to sign Juventus outcast who’s ideal for Elanga and Gordon.
Manchester United’s midfield department has fallen way below the standards expected from the fanbase during recent seasons – undoubtedly contributing to their lowly Premier League standing in 2024/25.
Ruben Amorim, who’s been in the role since November last year, still has yet to find the perfect combination between the two midfielders in his 3-4-2-1 system.
Club captain Bruno Fernandes is almost certain to operate in one of the aforementioned roles after Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha were brought into Old Trafford during the summer.
Casemiro has been the player to feature alongside him so far this campaign, but questions are undoubtedly being asked about his long-term future given the Brazilian turns 34 in February.
Manuel Ugarte is another option currently at the manager’s disposal, but he evidently wanted further reinforcements given their activity in the summer transfer window.
Why Man Utd wanted to sign Baleba this summer
During the summer transfer window, United made their move to land Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion in an attempt to bolster the midfield department.
The Red Devils even entered talks with the player and his representatives over a move to join the club, but the £100m asking price proved to be a huge stumbling block.
A lot was made about the move for the 21-year-old, but why did Amorim desperately want the youngster?
He made 34 appearances in the Premier League last season, scoring three times, including a phenomenal long-range strike against West Ham United back in April.
However, his underlying stats highlight how impressive he was out of possession, subsequently winning 1.6 tackles per 90 – undoubtedly providing the ball-winning presence the side have lacked.
Baleba also came out on top in 6.7 duels per 90, also making 6.6 recoveries per 90, showcasing his phenomenal ability without the ball at his feet on the South Coast.
Missing out on such a talent will have been a bitter blow for the Red Devils’ ambitions in 2025/26, but Amorim may be forced to rely upon one player already plying his trade in Manchester.
The United star who’s a bigger talent than Baleba
The last few months under Amorim have been unsuccessful to say the least, with the 40-year-old only achieving a 40% win percentage over the last 10 months at the helm.
His 3-4-2-1 system requires a very specific type of player – especially in the midfield department – with a deeper option needed alongside the attacking Fernandes at the heart of the side.
Ugarte would appear the best fit, but his lack of form has led to cause for concern – especially after the hierarchy forked out £50m for his signature last summer.
Kobbie Mainoo has struggled to cement his place under the former Sporting CP boss, only starting 19 league games to date and often having to resort to minutes off the substitutes’ bench.
A future “£100m-plus footballer” in the words of United writer Alex Turk, the youngster is adored by many at Old Trafford after his rapid rise to stardom, becoming a key member of the side under Erik ten Hag in the 2023/24 campaign.
However, his lack of action has led to the player himself voicing his displeasure at his lack of action, even requesting a loan move away from his boyhood club in the recent window.
No move materialised away from Old Trafford, with the Englishman deserving of the opportunity to start on a regular basis – hopefully replicating the numbers he produced last season and helping the Red Devils rise up the table.
When comparing his figures to those of Baleba from 2024/25, Mainoo managed to outperform him in key areas – showcasing the quality he possesses despite his tender age.
Mainoo, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by journalist Phil Brown, won more tackles per 90 (1.6) whilst also achieving a better tackle success rate (61%).
Games played
25
34
Minutes played
1651
2661
Pass accuracy
87%
86%
Key passes made
0.8
0.7
Tackles won
1.6
1.5
% of tackles won
61%
60%
Take-ons completed
1.3
1.1
Carries into opposition box
0.6
0.1
Such figures showcase that the youngster is actually a better ball-winner than Baleba, with the decision to keep hold of him this summer a blessing in disguise if he can replicate such numbers.
He also dominated in possession, completing more of the passes he attempted (87%) and completing more take-ons per 90 (1.3) – which could allow him to progress the play and provide the new additions ahead of him with key chances in the final third.
There’s no denying Baleba would’ve offered another excellent option at the heart of Amorim’s side, but ultimately, his £100m asking price was way out of range given the previous business conducted.
As for Mainoo, he’s more than deserving of a run in the first-team to regain his starting position, with Amorim desperately needing to utilise the youngster in their hunt for success.
Ten Hag sold Man Utd's "young Giggs" for just £15m, now he's like Mbeumo
Manchester United made a huge mistake in allowing one talented star to leave under Erik ten Hag.
Erik ten Hag’s spell as Manchester United manager was a topsy-turvy one to say the least, with the Dutchman ultimately falling below the standards many expected upon his arrival.
He won two trophies during his two full seasons in charge at Old Trafford, winning the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup, with the latter coming against rivals Manchester City in 2023/24.
However, despite achieving a 56% win percentage, results were often too inconsistent, especially considering the 55-year-old spent over £600m on new additions during his tenure in the Premier League.
The likes of Antony, Casemiro and Andre Onana were all signed under his watchful eye, leading to questions being asked about the recruitment, given their lack of impact since their respective big-money moves.
Ten Hag also made numerous questionable decisions over the minutes handed out to players already at his disposal – often leading to discontent from the Red Devils fanbase.
Ten Hag’s reluctance to utilise Amad Diallo
Amad Diallo joined United back in January 2021, costing a small fortune after the hierarchy paid a fee in the region of £37m after making just five senior appearances before his move to England.
The Ivorian would only make nine appearances in his first two years at Old Trafford, before spending the second half of his second year out on loan at Rangers.
Another loan spell at Sunderland, where he scored 14 times, would catapult him into Ten Hag’s side for the 2023/24 campaign – but he would often struggle to get into the manager’s first-team plans.
Amad would only make 12 appearances across all competitions, with only four of his outings coming from a starting position – subsequently falling down the manager’s pecking order.
Such decision-making from the manager would lead to concerns from the fanbase, especially given his form away from Old Trafford on a temporary basis the year prior.
The attacker has since recaptured his best form with the Red Devils since the former manager’s dismissal, highlighting the mistake Ten Hag made by not playing him during his tenure at the club.
The former United star who was ahead of Amad
Over the last 12 months, Amad has developed into a key first-team member, with Ruben Amorim utilising the 23-year-old on a consistent basis since taking the reins in November last year.
Despite an ankle injury disrupting his progress, Diallo still managed to rack up 26 Premier League appearances – ending the campaign with 14 combined goals and assists.
His most impressive outing came against Southampton at Old Trafford, scoring a second-half hat-trick and securing a 3-1 victory after being 1-0 at the break.
The youngster also netted the winner in the Manchester Derby at the Etihad, further showcasing the impressive nature he demonstrated despite the measly Premier League finish.
However, whilst his career at the club has been saved by Amorim, he was once behind Omari Forson in the pecking order during Ten Hag’s stint in charge of the Red Devils.
The midfielder joined the club at the age of 15, spending various years in the youth system before making his first senior start against Fulham back in February 2024.
The youngster would end the season with seven appearances for the senior side, leading to Statman Dave labelling the teenager as an “exceptional” talent.
Forson was often preferred to Amad during such a campaign, leading to questions being asked of the manager by the fanbase – especially given the Englishman’s move away from the Red Devils.
The 21-year-old departed Old Trafford at the end of his contract in the summer of 2024, rejecting the chance to extend his stay in Manchester in favour of a new challenge.
Games played
11
Minutes played
233
Goals & assists
0
Pass accuracy
86%
Tackles made
1.2
Cross success
33%
Duels won
45%
Dribbled past
0.9
He subsequently joined Serie A side Monza on a free transfer last summer, making just 11 appearances last campaign – so far being unable to match the potential he emerged through the ranks with.
Given his failures away from Old Trafford, Ten Hag’s decision-making to utilise Forson ahead of Amad was a baffling one and one that was evidently a huge mistake.
As for the Ivorian, he will be hoping to kick on and build on his form from last year in the months ahead, hopefully playing a key role in any success endured during Amorim’s spell in charge.
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Big picture: CSK vs RCB, a one-sided but high-voltage rivalry
This should be a dream match for the hype machine. Two of the three teams that have created a ferociously loyal fanbase at the grounds and on the internet. They represent capital cities of neighbouring states that share a river, often acrimoniously; whose rulers traversed boundaries repeatedly before the borders as we know them came to exist; whose people now build their lives in each other’s states. Both states are given to hero-worshipping their film stars and politicians. Now they have accepted MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli for worship even though they are neither from there nor live there.It might still not matter to the ratings, but as cricket rivalry it needs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to catch up. They are 11-22 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) overall, and 1-8 in Chennai. The last time RCB beat CSK in Chennai was in 2008, the IPL’s first year. The last time these two sides faced each other, RCB were so ecstatic at winning and making it to the playoffs that they didn’t shake hands with the opposition. Cue more storylines.Related
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You see, the lack of cricketing closeness doesn’t really matter to the ratings when it comes to CSK and RCB. You expect CSK to start as overwhelming favourites in home conditions, which are ignoring the memo that asks for even higher scoring rates than the last year.CSK have put together Noor Ahmad, Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin; it is no surprise they put together a game where they completed a chase of 156 in the last over. RCB have built themselves up for higher scores, which showed in their emphatic chase of 175 in the tournament opener. But the Chennai conditions are going to be as big a challenge for them in IPL 2025 as any.
New loyalties
Josh Hazlewood’s last team in the IPL before the break last year was RCB, but for some reason, you picture him in yellow when you think of the IPL. Possibly because his reinvention as a limited-overs bowler began at CSK in 2020 and 2021. He has made a great start for RCB this year with figures of 4-0-22-2.2:56
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Team news and likely XIIs
CSK love their allrounders, but it won’t take long for question marks to appear over Sam Curran if he doesn’t improve drastically from his start this year where he could bowl just one over and scored 4 off 9. This is in keeping with the dip in his form overall, which has resulted in his exit from the England team. As an overseas player, he keeps out Matheesha Pathirana, although a direct switch means Dhoni has to bat at No. 7, which CSK or Dhoni don’t quite fancy.Chennai Super Kings (probable): 1 Rachin Ravindra, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 3 Rahul Tripathi, 4 Deepak Hooda, 5 Shivam Dube, 6 Sam Curran, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 MS Dhoni (wk), 9 R Ashwin, 10 Nathan Ellis, 11 Noor Ahmad, 12 Khaleel AhmedBhuvneshwar Kumar missed the previous game with a reported niggle. RCB will want him in if he is fit. They could think about legspinning allrounder Mohit Rathee or left-arm spinner Swapnil Singh if the pitch is expected to be heavily spin-friendly.Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable): 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Rajat Patidar (capt), 4 Devdutt Padikkal/Mohit Rathee, 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Tim David, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Rasikh Salam/Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Swapnil Singh, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Yash Dayal, 12 Suyash Sharma
Big question
How do RCB handle the possible 12 overs of Noor, Ashwin and Jadeja? Mumbai Indians (MI) went 5 for 70 in 11 overs against them. Captain Rajat Patidar will be the key because around him are batters that can be shut down by slow bowlers.
In the spotlight: Noor Ahmad vs Rajat Patidar
This is the contest that could direct the whole match. Noor Ahmad has started off beautifully for CSK with figures of 4-0-18-4 against MI. RCB are a team of pace-hitters. If Rajat Patidar can attack Noor, he can set the cat among the pigeons, which could even result in Jadeja not bowling out. If Patidar gets out early, CSK could choke RCB.
Pitch and conditions
Chennai is one of the venues that works in synergy with the franchise. So expect the conditions to continue helping the slower bowlers.1:12
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Key stats
Ashwin vs Kohli is a fascinating contest between two alphas of Indian cricket. You can see neither wants to lose: only one dismissal in 147 balls but a strike rate of only 123.12.
Despite being a left-hand batter, Rachin Ravindra averages 11.63 and strikes at 120.75 against orthodox left-arm spin. That makes Krunal Pandya important.
Next three fixtures
CSK will travel to Guwahati on Saturday and play Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday before they return home for Delhi Capitals (DC) and then travel to Mullanpur to play Punjab Kings (PBKS).RCB’s next match will be their first of the season at home, against Gujarat Titans (GT). Then MI at Wankhede Stadium and DC at home. Three high-voltage and potentially high-scoring matches to follow.