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Daniel Levy discovered his Tottenham Hotspur sacking on the day it was announced, per a new report from The Athletic. The long-serving powerbroker in north London was shockingly removed from his position on September 4, and the new report suggests he had no idea he was about to be axed from a position he had held since 2001.

Levy axed

Spurs announced on September 21 that Levy had left his position as executive chairman of the club, marking an end to a 24-year reign that saw a glistening new stadium built, and two trophies won – the League Cup in 2008 and the Europa League last season. The Athletic now reports that Levy discovered his exit on the day it was announced, with him reporting for work with no idea the axe was about to fall. With the summer transfer window closed, and the likes of Xavi Simons and Mohammed Kudus signed, Levy walked into a meeting with director Peter Charrington, who informed him that he would be leaving his role. 

AdvertisementAFPA brutal goodbye

Levy's departure came about so suddenly that the departing chairman was not even allowed into the training ground to retrieve his belongings. His wife, Tracey, who also worked at the club until the day of her husband's exit, also saw her access revoked as Spurs took immediate steps to cut the pair off. Spurs eventually returned their possessions via a removal van. It is not unusual in business settings for such a brisk exit to be conducted, but it remains shocking given Levy's length of service and his famously hands-on approach. Per the report, he was still heavily involved in transfer dealings throughout the summer, with his responsibilities not diminishing ahead of his departure. 

'I will be appreciated when I'm gone'

Levy gave an interview to The Overlap's Gary Neville in the summer and revealed his belief that he will be appreciated after his exit, as Spurs fans reflect on his influence. 

He said: “It’s one of those situations when I’m not here I’m sure I’ll get the credit. 

“This stadium is a symbol of ­Tottenham Hotspur on the global map. It’s fantastic for the local ­community – the employment we’re creating because of this stadium. The fact that other clubs are now trying to copy what we’re doing, that should be a sign that maybe we did do something bold and something right.”

Levy also drove the appointment of Thomas Frank after sacking Ange Postecoglou and added: “Whenever you appoint a coach, you always believe it’s right. You need a lot of ­ingredients for it to be right. Thomas is a highly intelligent individual, a ­fantastic way about him in terms of communication.

“He will be great at ­developing young players and older players and making them better. He gets the style of football we want to play. We haven’t said to him: ‘You’ve got to win the league this year.’ We just want to compete at the highest level.”

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Frank's shock

Further to the shock announcement, even Frank has confirmed that he had no idea his boss was about to be forced out. 

He told Sky Sports: "It was a big surprise for me. Of course, I was told a little bit before it was announced, but that still came very sudden, very quick in every aspect. I've worked together now with Daniel for three months and enjoyed that. I think I owe him a lot.

"I've definitely been on course for a long relationship with Daniel. That was the plan, that was my idea. But in life and football, things happen, things change, and then you need to move on. And against West Ham it will be business as usual.

"The legacy he has at Spurs is fantastic, and it's such an incredible job. He's done it in many ways. He's been here for 24 years and has been a big part of changing the club. The two biggest things are this world-class training centre and, of course, a world-class stadium. So to have those two to stand on as a foundation is incredible.

"So we can really build something for the future that's hopefully going to be even better and bigger and more hopeful."

“It’s the right decision for me and the right decision for the team,” Buttler said

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Feb-20251:41

Roller: Buttler’s captaincy was untenable after Champions Trophy exit

Jos Buttler has resigned as England’s white-ball captain after their group-stage exit at the Champions Trophy, announcing on Friday that he will lead the side for the final time against South Africa in Karachi.England have already been eliminated from the Champions Trophy, after they lost their first two group games against Australia and Afghanistan. They prepared for the tournament with a trip to India which saw them win only one of their eight matches in Brendon McCullum’s first tour as white-ball coach.”I’m going to stand down as England captain,” Buttler said. “It’s the right decision for me and the right decision for the team. Hopefully somebody else who can come in alongside Baz will take the team to where it needs to be.” Harry Brook, Buttler’s vice-captain, is the early favourite to replace him.Buttler will continue to play for England, and said he wants to “get back to really enjoying my cricket”. He said: “The overriding emotions are still sadness and disappointment. I’m sure, in time, that will pass and I can get back to really enjoying my cricket, and [will] also be able to reflect on what an immense honour it is to captain your country and all the special things that come with it.”Related

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Buttler was appointed as Eoin Morgan’s successor in June 2022 and won the T20 World Cup in Australia later that year. But England’s results have declined sharply since and after three unsuccessful ICC events in a row – the 2023 50-over World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy – Buttler has decided to stand down.He hinted after England’s eight-run loss to Afghanistan on Wednesday – their ninth defeat in 10 white-ball games this year – that he would resign, saying he needed to “consider all possibilities” and work out whether he was “part of the problem or part of the solution.””It was quite clear that this tournament was going to be important: results-wise and for my captaincy,” Buttler said. “Two losses and being out of the tournament [was] a bit of a hangover of tournaments before. I’d just reached the end of the road for me and my captaincy, which is a shame and I’m sad about that.”With Brendon coming in only recently, I was really excited to work closely alongside him and hope for a very quick turnaround and to take the team forward. But it’s not quite worked out that way, so just feels like the right time for me and the team to have a change.”1:35

Buttler: ‘Right time for me and the team to have a change’

Buttler’s position came under increasing scrutiny after a sustained poor run of ODI form for England stretching back to the start of the 2023 World Cup. In defence of their World Cup title, England won just three group games out of nine and were the first team to be officially eliminated from the tournament. It began a run that has seen them lose 18 of the last 25 ODIs, including the two that put paid to their Champions Trophy campaign at the first hurdle.While he will likely go down as England’s best white-ball batter, Buttler’s ODI form, like that of the side he led, had been on a sharp downturn over the last 18 months. He averages 26.40 in his last 21 innings, with a strike rate of just over 100 – down from 115.97 over his ODI career. He managed starts in each of the two games this Champions Trophy, coming into the middle order while England had a platform to build off, but got out for 23 off 21 and 38 off 42.Brook is tipped to succeed him, though McCullum said England had not yet settled on a candidate. He praised Buttler’s leadership while saying he was “incredibly sad” to see him step down.”We’ve all seen over the last couple of years how much he’s invested in captaining his country and trying to get very best out of those guys around him,” McCullum said. “People forget that he literally won a World Cup only a couple of years ago, and that can never be taken away from him. It’s incredibly unselfish from Jos to step aside and to leave the post for someone else, and he’s still a huge player for us moving forward. I’m sure we will look at ways that we can get the best out of him in terms of his role, so he can have maximum impact as well.”Both Rob Key, managing director, England Men, and Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, paid tribute to Buttler’s time in charge.”Working with Jos has been a pleasure,” Key said. “He’s been dealt some tough challenges, but never once flinched trying to drive this team forward for the better. Nobody deserved that World Cup win in Australia more. I can’t wait to see him back in the ranks and at his best.”Gould added: “I’d like to thank Jos for all he has given in his two and a half years captaining England Men in white-ball cricket. Under his leadership, England became men’s T20 World Champions, and throughout his time as captain he has been a role model in the way he conducts himself on and off the pitch.”Jos is one of cricket’s all-time great white ball players. I’ve been lucky enough to follow his career from when he first came through as a youngster in Somerset, and I hope we still have many years to enjoy of him pulling on an England shirt.”

Manchester City have now received an offer for a £90k-a-week player, who Pep Guardiola has previously described as “exceptional”.

Pep questioned after deadline day Donnarumma signing

The emphatic 4-0 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers to kick the season off was arguably a false start for Man City, who have since been brought back down to earth with consecutive defeats, most recently suffering a late 2-1 loss away at Brighton.

As such, Guardiola has already made the big call to bring in a new goalkeeper, with City completing the deadline day signing of Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is seemingly set to displace James Trafford in the starting XI.

There are some question marks over the signing of Donnarumma, given that the Italian isn’t regarded as a ‘Pep keeper’, as he is not well-known to be particularly impressive with the ball at his feet.

Former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel said: “Donnarumma had a really good season with PSG and was instrumental in PSG winning the Champions League. He is OK with his feet but he is not Ederson – no-one is Ederson.”

With Ederson departing to join Fenerbahce, City are back to having four goalkeepers on the books, with Marcus Bettinelli also arriving this summer, but they now have a decision to make about the future of Stefan Ortega.

That is because a report from Sporx (via Sport Witness) has revealed that Trabzonspor have made a bid for Ortega, with the Turkish Süper Lig side keen to bring in a new goalkeeper before their transfer window comes to a close.

Ortega is not the only option available to the Turkish side, however, with it being revealed they have also been offered the opportunity to sign Manchester United’s Andre Onana, who is seemingly being forced out following the arrival of Senne Lammens.

"Exceptional" Ortega should be allowed to move on

Following Donnarumma’s arrival, the £90k-a-week goalkeeper is unlikely to have any opportunities, with Trafford ahead of him in the pecking order, while Bettinelli is also on the books in the case of a real emergency.

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As such, Man City should sanction the 32-year-old’s departure, despite the fact he has impressed at times in a City shirt, with Guardiola saying in the 2022/23 campaign: “The way he’s played in Carabao Cup and FA Cup so far. Even in the Champions League when he played against Dortmund.

“We were qualified but fighting for the first position. He’s an exceptional goalkeeper. Exceptional.”

The German has been at the Etihad Stadium for two Premier League title triumphs, and famously played a pivotal role in the 2023-24 campaign, producing a crucial save to deny Son Heung-min in the penultimate game of the season.

That said, Pep is now well-stocked in the goalkeeper department, so there is no reason to stand in Ortega’s way if more clubs come calling.

Former Arsenal icon Andrey Arshavin will be rooting for minnows Kairat Almaty in the Champions League as he doubled down on his hatred for Real Madrid. The Russian playmaker, famed for his flair at Zenit and individual brilliance in north London, has nailed his colours firmly to the mast; and there is no white included. Having ended his career in 2018 wearing the Kairat shirt, the 43-year-old insisted he will be backing his old side against Real Madrid.

Getty Images SportAnti-Madrid feelings run deep

This isn’t just about loyalty to Kairat. Arshavin has long made it clear that Real Madrid sits at the very top of his personal blacklist. His hatred for the Spanish giants is no secret; in fact, he seems to revel in voicing it.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportArshavin makes his stance clear against Madrid

Speaking to EFE inside Kairat's home stadium, Arshavin didn’t hold back: "I hope Kairat wins. Every Real Madrid defeat is like a balm for my heart." For him, it’s not about being neutral or polite. His feelings toward Los Blancos are personal, entrenched, and unshakable.

Wouldn't touch Madrid 'for all the money in the world'

Arshavin's burning dislike isn’t new. Back in 2011, while still dazzling fans at Arsenal, whispers emerged that Real Madrid were keen on his services. But he shut down the talk with a line that shocked the Russian press: “I wouldn’t play for Madrid for all the money in the world. My friends are also surprised, but for me, Real Madrid is a complete taboo. I've been a fan of Barcelona for a long time."

It is clear that Arshavin’s unwavering allegiance to Barca fuels his loathing of their greatest rivals. It’s not just that he enjoys seeing Madrid lose, it’s that each setback for them feels like a personal victory.

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Getty ImagesReal a wounded animal after shock derby rout

Madrid’s humiliation in the derby last weekend will no doubt have delighted Arshavin. Diego Simeone’s Atletico tore through their city rivals with a ruthless 5-2 win, as Julian Alvarez struck twice to leave Xabi Alonso’s men red-faced. Now, with Real Madrid arriving in Kazakhstan, Arshavin will be in the stands, hoping lightning strikes twice after their derby humiliation, this time on the European stage.

All is not well at Celtic right now.

On the pitch, the Hoops were ignominiously dumped out of Champions League qualifying by Kairat, ousted on penalties in Almaty after over three and a half hours of drab, goalless football, before the most dull Old Firm derby in history at Ibrox last Sunday.

Supporters would argue that this is the metaphorical chickens coming home to roost, concerned all summer long about the Celts’ lack of attacking quality, given that Kyōgo Furuhashi, Nicolas Kühn and Matt O’Riley have not been sufficiently replaced.

So, following protests at a charity match against Manchester United legends on Saturday, the club issued an official statement that did nothing to quell dissenting voices, with the names of no individuals attached to the rambling statement, taking no accountability or responsibility for a transfer window many believe to be the club’s worst in modern times.

Thus, Brendan Rodgers has been left massively short ahead of a Europa League campaign that begins against Crvena zvezda in Belgrade later this month, so how he must wish the Hoops hadn’t sold Celtic’s “god of goals” for just £4m.

Celtic's catastrophic striker situation

On deadline day, having failed to replace Kyōgo, who departed in January, Celtic sold their only remaining centre-forward Adam Idah to Swansea City for around £7m, representing a £2.5m loss on the Irishman in just 12 months, but they actually did well to recoup such a large amount, following an underwhelming campaign.

As reports of this sale emerged, supporters thought that the Celtic hierarchy must have a replacement lined up, or at least that’s what one would assume.

The Hoops number one target was Kasper Dolberg but, after haggling over the price, Anderlecht instead sold him to Ajax for a reported fee of €10m (around £8.7m), with the Denmark international re-joining the Amsterdam-based giants.

The window then duly slammed shut, and Celtic did not have a striker, meaning they had 24 hours to secure a free agent, if they were to be included in their UEFA squad.

Emmanuel Dennis and Patrick Bamford were among the underwhelming names mentioned, but they instead secured Kelechi Iheanacho, albeit only after Sevilla had terminated his contract to facilitate the move, emphasising how wanted he was in Southern Spain.

The Nigerian actually scored against Celtic for Manchester City back in December 2016, as the pair drew 1-1 in the Champions League.

Once highly rated, Iheanacho’s career has essentially fallen off a cliff in recent years, scoring just 26 goals across the last four seasons, having netted 19 times during the 2020/21 campaign prior to this decline.

So, how Celtic supporters must wish they still had the forgotten goal machine from the Postecoglou era.

Celtic's "god of goals"

Giorgos Giakoumakis was not at Celtic for a long time, but he certainly made his mark in Glasgow.

In just 57 appearances in hoops, the Greece international scored 26 goals, averaging a goal every 97 minutes, winning the Premiership golden boot during his only full season at Parkhead.

However, unable to secure a regular starting spot due to Kyōgo’s presence, imagine having depth like that now, he was sold to Atlanta United for around £4m in March 2023.

Since then, Giakoumakis has become something of a globe-trotter, leaving Atlanta after less than 18 months in MLS, sold to Cruz Azul for $10m (around £7.4m), albeit he did not live up to expectations in Mexico City, returning to his homeland this summer by signing for PAOK on loan.

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Well, he has made an immediate impact in Thessaloniki, on target off the bench during a 5-0 victory over HNK Rijeka last month, a victory at Toumba Stadium that secured PAOK’s place in the Europa League.

Following Giakoumakis’ arrival in Major League Soccer, Jaime Uribarri labelled him the “Greek God of goals”, while Tom Bogert simply noted that, wherever he goes, the striker “just scores goals”, a useful skillset for a centre-forward to possess.

So, let’s assess how his recent seasons compare to Celtic’s latest centre-forward Iheanacho.

2025/26

0

1

2024/25

4

9

2023/24

6

5

2022/23

8

28

2021/22

8

17

2020/21

19

29

Total

45

89

As the table documents, across the last five seasons, and the start of this one, Giakoumakis has scored almost twice as many goals as Iheanacho, who hasn’t reached double figures in a single campaign since lockdown when he was at Leicester.

More recently, the Nigerian international endured a miserable loan spell at Middlesbrough this time last year, before scoring just three goals for Sevilla, all of which came in the Copa del Rey, bagging a brace against fifth-tier Las Rozas, before also scoring against UE Olot of the fourth division, but bagging no goals in La Liga.

Having worked with him before, Rodgers will believe he can resurrect Iheanacho’s form and confidence, but this is certainly a gamble, while Giakoumakis guarantees goals, so what a difference the Greek striker would make to this current Celtic side.

Celtic can unearth their own Dolberg in 18-year-old who's "some talent"

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers may unearth his own version of Kasper Dolberg with this academy talent.

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Durham lost their last five wickets for 21 runs, leaving Nottinghamshire needing 89 to win from 40 overs

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay07-Apr-2025Nottinghamshire 579 (James 125, Slater 92, McCann 79, Montgomery 75, Tongue 55) and 89 for 2 (Hameed 39*, Clarke 35*) beat Durham 378 (Ackermann 116, O’Neill 5-81) and 289 (Ackermann 124, Clark 62, Tongue 5-66) by eight wicketsColin Ackermann’s second century of the match was not enough to stave off defeat for Durham, who succumbed to Nottinghamshire by eight wickets after a match-turning spell by England fast bowler Josh Tongue.South African-born Netherlands international Ackermann made 124 to go with his first-innings 116 as Durham, who had trailed by 201 on first innings, looked to emerge with a draw from the opening round of the Rothesay County Championship.But Tongue, on a Nottinghamshire debut delayed by a full season because of injuries following his 2023 move from Worcestershire, shattered that ambition by taking 5 for 66, somehow conjuring four wickets in 12 deliveries from a ball right at the end of its 80-over match lifespan.Durham lost their last five wickets for 21 runs, leaving Nottinghamshire needing 89 to win from 40 overs remaining in the match, a task they completed for the loss of two wickets, skipper Haseeb Hameed making 39 and Joe Clarke 35.Tongue’s achievement came after Nottinghamshire’s other debut-making fast bowler, Australian international Fergus O’Neill, had taken 5 for 81 in the first innings. Tongue also made a career-best 55 with the bat in Nottinghamshire’s first innings.It was a painful defeat for Durham, who posted 378 in their first innings and had the home side 319 for 6 in reply only for Lyndon James (125), Matt Montgomery (75) and Tongue to bat the home side into a position of strength.If Durham’s approach to the final day was always likely to be cautious, it was confirmed after Dillon Pennington opened with a sharp seven-over spell that brought him two wickets for 10 runs.At 87 behind overnight, even with seven wickets in hand on a pitch that had yielded runs at around 3.75 per over, the visitors had at least needed a productively trouble-free morning to consider revising that perspective.Yet after the pacy Pennington had removed Ollie Robinson via an edge to first slip and Will Rhodes leg before, angling one in from a wide delivery point, Durham found themselves five down and still 78 behind.From then on, Ackermann and Clark dug in for a long fight and any hope that Pennington’s burst might trigger a rapid Durham collapse soon subsided.The sixth-wicket pair reached lunch still together, before clearing the arrears seven overs into the afternoon session with the innings 68 overs old.Durham’s first-innings centurion completed his second hundred of the match five overs later, a career-first for the 34-year-old and a 28th in all in first-class cricket. Conditions have largely favoured the bat in this match, but Ackermann did a superb job for his side in both innings.By now, Nottinghamshire’s best chance of making a breakthrough seemed to be with the second new ball, which was seven overs from being available as the Durham dressing room celebrated Ackermann’s feat.Yet Tongue dramatically changed the picture in what would have been the last over – the 80th – with the old ball, taking wickets with the first and last deliveries of it as Clark was bowled off an inside edge, ending a partnership with Ackermann worth 145, and new batter George Drissell was leg before, beaten for pace.Not surprisingly, Hameed invited Tongue to carry on with the same ball. A wise move it was, the England player repeating the trick in his next over, ripping out Ben Raine’s middle stump with the first delivery, beating Ackermann’s flick across the line with the sixth.O’Neill promptly finished things off with the new ball by inducing an easy return catch with a slower ball to Matty Potts, meaning Durham had collapsed from 268 for 5 to 289 all out in the space of six and a half overs.After tea was taken between innings, the home side had 40 overs available to score 89. They lost their own first-innings centurion, Ben Slater, leg before to Potts for a duck, and Freddie McCann to a slip catch off a reverse sweep, but wrapped up victory at 4.55pm with 22.5 overs to spare.

Xabi Alonso has provided a positive update on Endrick as the Brazilian striker has return from injury. The teenager was sidelined since September with a hamstring problem and faces fierce competition for minutes at Real Madrid. After missing the Club World Cup and the early season, his comeback offers hope of adding depth to Madrid’s forward line.

Endrick’s road back after injury setback

The Brazilian forward has been working his way back after a hamstring injury ruled him out of the Club World Cup and the start of the new season. Despite being fit enough to make the squad for recent matches, Alonso has been cautious with his reintroduction, stressing the importance of finding the right moment for his return.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAlonso confident Endrick’s chance will come

Alonso admitted Endrick has trained well for weeks and confirmed that he could feature imminently. Alonso acknowledged the competition for attacking spots but insisted the 19-year-old will get his chance, describing his return as a matter of timing rather than readiness.

“He has a chance to be a starter. He’s coming off a slightly longer injury, but he’s been training well for a few weeks now and it’s just a matter of finding the right context in the game for him to come on," said the Spaniard ahead of the match against Villarreal.

He added: “He has a goal-scoring instinct, a brutal finish. There’s just a lot of competition, but his time will come.”

Rising competition in Madrid’s crowded attack

With Gonzalo Garcia shining in the Club World Cup and established names like Kylian Mbappe already leading the line, Endrick faces a tough battle for regular minutes. His patience will be tested, especially as Los Blancos look to balance domestic duties with European commitments. The teenager turned down loan options to fight for his place, showing his determination to prove himself at the Bernabeu.

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AFPNext challenge looms with Villarreal clash on horizon

After their heavy 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid, Los Blancos responded with a convincing 5-0 win over Kairat Almaty in the Champions League. Villarreal await in La Liga, and Alonso will hope to integrate Endrick gradually into a squad regaining rhythm. Madrid see his development as a long-term project, with this season viewed as a stepping stone in his growth.

Didier Drogba and Thierry Henry represent an iconic Premier League era. It was the era of the long sleeves, the T90 ball that would fly in all kinds of directions and, of course, some of the greatest rivalries that English football has ever seen.

It’s only right that both Drogba and Henry featured in such an era. The former, so often the man for the big occasion at Chelsea, sits alongside some of the greats in Stamford Bridge history. Henry, meanwhile, is arguably the greatest Premier League player of all time. The Frenchman, at his best, was simply absurd.

Appearances

254

258

Goals

104

175

Assists

59

73

So many have been so full of praise for both. Legendary ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger once told reporters: “People like Thierry Henry [also] had exceptional qualities. They would run 100 metres in 11 seconds when everybody else did it in 12.5 or 13. So if today they are running it in 12, they are still quicker.

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“They start from a huge potential and that’s why at that age they can still survive, because they have the football intelligence. They had exceptional physical qualities at the start.”

Wenger’s counterpart, Jose Mourinho, has rarely hidden his admiration for Drogba, meanwhile. The so-called ‘Special One’ formed quite the partnership with the forward during his time at Chelsea.

As good as they both are, though, Manchester United legend Nemanja Vidic named an alternative player as the toughest opponent that he’s ever played against.

Man Utd icon Vidic reveals Rooney was toughest opponent

For all the great battles that he had with Drogba and Henry, Vidic’s toughest games often came on the training pitch against Wayne Rooney. The former Manchester United defender was asked by Rio Ferdinand to pick his toughest opponent between the aforementioned three and quickly named his old teammate.

It should come as no shock that the Serbian defender struggled against Rooney. The former England forward is one of the best that the Premier League has ever seen – scoring 208 goals and assisting another 103 in an incredible career.

Vidic will be thankful that he only had to square off against Rooney in training, rather than in a competitive outing at club level. Other centre-backs didn’t have the same luck and were soon put to the sword.

Those three were certainly the main men of their era when it came to strikers in the Premier League. Although all icons in their own right, Vidic’s verdict suggests that Rooney left a mark on those both inside Manchester United and the rest of English football.

In another subplot, Mitchell Starc will be up against Josh Hazlewood

Shashank Kishore26-Apr-20252:23

Kumble: ‘Kohli crucial for RCB especially while batting first’

Big picture: Virat Kohli in DelhiVirat Kohli caused chaos during his last visit to the Arun Jaitley Stadium, turning a routine Ranji Trophy fixture into a three-day celebration. While the fanfare remains, those backing Kohli will also cheer vociferously for a Delhi Capitals (DC) win.Kohli is third on the Orange Cap list, averaging 65.33 – second only to his 2016 run where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made the final. Five of his six half-centuries have come in wins, and since 2022, he’s contributed the second-highest percentage of runs (26.12) in wins, behind Shubman Gill.Kohli comes to the Kotla with happy IPL memories. He has scored 483 runs in ten innings at an average of 69 and a strike rate of 145.5 – his best at any venue where he has played more than five games. RCB – unbeaten in five away games – will be hoping for another special knock and to steer clear of their three-way tie with Gujarat Titans and DC on 12 points.Related

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Kohli’s dominance is only half the story. In KL Rahul, DC have their own formidable force, a player who has completely redefined his T20 approach. Gone is the focus on playing the long game; Rahul now prioritises boundaries and aggression. When these two teams met earlier in the season, Rahul guided DC home with a statement performance at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.Halfway through the season, he is DC’s top scorer with 323 runs at a blistering strike rate of 153.80, heading into the RCB clash on the back of an unbeaten 57 against his former side, Lucknow Super Giants.Rahul’s stellar form has carried DC’s top order in Faf du Plessis’ absence, following a groin injury. The South African has recovered and will be available for this game. With Karun Nair, Abishek Porel, and Axar Patel all in sparkling form, DC have the capability to match RCB’s batting might.2:23

Pujara: Rahul seems to enjoy being in his zone

Outside of Kohli vs Rahul, the match also promises another subplot between two of the most decorated fast bowlers: Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.As far as the playoff chances are concerned, there’s plenty at stake. Both RCB and DC, who revamped their squads at the mega auction, carry with them the promise of going all the way. A win here will strengthen the prospects of a top-two finish.Form guideDelhi Capitals WLWLW (last five matches, most recent first)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru WWLWLTeam news and likely XIIsDu Plessis hasn’t played since April 10, but now that he’s fit he’ll likely slot back in as a fourth overseas player.Delhi Capitals: 1 Abishek Porel, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Karun Nair, 4 KL Rahul (wk), 5 Axar Patel (capt), 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Ashutosh Sharma, 8 Vipraj Nigam, 9 Michell Starc, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Mukesh Kumar, 12 Dushmantha ChameeraRCB have a settled combination that they’re unlikely to tinker with.Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Phil Salt, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Romario Shephard, 7 Tim David, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Yash Dayal, 12 Suyash Sharma4:07

Will Kuldeep and Nigam decide the game against RCB?

In the spotlight: Kuldeep Yadav and Krunal PandyaKuldeep Yadav has been DC’s ace, pairing control with 12 wickets at an economy of 6.3 – the joint-best with Varun Chakravarthy. He has gone wicketless just once and has played a key role in DC’s strong middle-overs showing, where they concede only 8.4 per over. He has been excellent at home, exemplified by his 2 for 23 against Mumbai Indians in an innings where they posted 205.In his ninth season, Krunal Pandya has equalled his best IPL haul with 12 wickets – all in wins and joint-second-most among spinners. His double-blow, backed by Suyash Sharma’s control, set up the win against Rajasthan Royals three nights ago. Not as feared as the Varuns or Narines, the RCB duo remains crucial with the playoffs in sight.The big questionKey stats Rahul has dominated Hazlewood in the IPL, scoring 76 runs off him at a strike rate of 173, with just one dismissal in five innings. Starc has proven expensive in the powerplay – conceding at 11.40. This has contributed to DC struggling overall – their economy of 9.8 is the third-worst in the league. RCB have won all games where Kohli has scored a half-century this season. Since 2024, RCB have won nine out of 11 games where he has scored 50 or more. Tim David’s strike rate of 212 is second-best behind Heinrich Klaasen among batters who’ve faced at least 30 balls. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is just three wickets away from overtaking Piyush Chawla (192) as the IPL’s second-highest wicket-taker. Axar Patel’s strike rate of 202 against spin is the second highest among batters who have faced at least 50 balls this season. Nicholas Pooran tops the list by striking at 268.Pitch and conditionsBoth games at Kotla have been high scoring, but spinners like Kuldeep and Vipraj Nigam, who’ve tossed the ball up and turned it, have earned wickets. Spin has claimed 13 wickets, conceding 9.1 runs per over, compared to 10.2 by pacers. With dew likely, the team batting first will need a big total. With both sides evenly matched, predicting the par-score is not easy.Quotes”Last year, it was really flat and nice, and didn’t really bounce that much. This year, it’s a little bit more inconsistent, a bit harder to get used to, and might take some more time for batters to get into their innings.”
“He’s entitled to [celebrate]. He played a good knock. Good on him. We’ve had no discussions at all.”

Joshua Zirkzee is pushing for a January exit from Manchester United as the striker continues to struggle for playing time under Ruben Amorim. Roma, managed by long-term admirer Gian Piero Gasperini, are lining up a loan move to bring the former Bologna star back to Serie A, offering a chance to boost his hopes of making Netherlands' squad for the World Cup.

Roma considering January loan for out-of-favour forward

Roma are exploring a January loan move for United's Dutch striker, according to a report from . Zirkzee, who has endured a woeful spell at Old Trafford following his move from Bologna, is keen to secure regular football to boost his chances of convincing Ronald Koeman to add him to the Oranje squad for the 2026 World Cup.

AdvertisementAFPZirkzee's struggles at Old Trafford

Since his €42.5 million (£37m/$49m) transfer from Bologna in the summer of 2024, Zirkzee has failed to make an impact at United. The 24-year-old has been limited to just 82 minutes of action across four substitute appearances this season, finding himself behind Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko, and Bryan Mbeumo in the pecking order. Having not started a single match in the 2025-26 campaign, United may have to settle for around €30m (£26m/$35m) if they are to offload him.

Roma boss Gasperini a long-term admirer

The Giallorossi's interest is driven by manager Gasperini, who was keen on signing Zirkzee for his former club Atalanta. The striker’s versatility and proven track record in Serie A with Bologna make him an attractive option for Roma, who are looking to bolster their attack. A loan deal is seen as financially viable, with Roma expected to cover approximately €1.8 million of his salary for the remainder of the season.

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World Cup ambitions driving exit push

Zirkzee's desire for a move is fuelled by his international aspirations. After being left out of the most recent Netherlands squad by coach Koeman, the striker is understood to have instructed his agent to find him a new club in the upcoming transfer window. A return to a familiar league where he previously excelled could be the ideal platform to reignite his career and secure his place on the plane to the World Cup.