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The Houston Astros will have a familiar face on the mound for Sunday's tilt against the Chicago White Sox, as veteran right-hander Lance McCullers will be starting for the first time in three years.

Injuries have derailed McCullers's career, having kept him out of game action since the 2022 season, when he last made a regular-season start on October 3 of that year. He started three games in the postseason during Houston's run to a World Series title, but has since been sidelined after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur and repair his right flexor tendon in 2023. A setback in his recovery ended his 2024 season, and he's now finally ready to return to game action.

In his last full season back in 2021, McCullers made 28 starts and pitched 162 1/3 innings while recording a 3.16 ERA with 185 strikeouts. An All-Star in 2017, McCullers will hope to recapture some of the success he experienced earlier in his career.

Having missed the previous two seasons, McCullers admitted that the mental toll of missing so much action had impacted him, and he had even experienced doubts about his ability to get back to the mound, especially considering he'd also previously undergone Tommy John surgery.

"Well, I don't think quitting would be the word. Yeah, I definitely felt at times that my body wasn't going to be able to handle the necessary volume to get back to this point. I've had Tommy John, and sometimes guys, if they do come back, don’t come back very long. I was very successful after my first one and had another one with a full flexor. It’s been a long road for me," McCullers said in late April, via Leah Vann of Chron.

He's finally set to return to action, and he'll be hoping to put on a worthy display on the mound against the White Sox on Sunday.

Fast-bowling allrounder Nitish Kumar Reddy’s return to action has been set back by neck spasms, which has “impacted his recovery and mobility”, according to a BCCI update on Wednesday morning.Reddy, 22, had sustained a left quadriceps injury during the second ODI against Australia on October 23. He missed the following ODI in Sydney, which India won by nine wickets to cut down the series margin to 2-1.India are already without their premier allrounder Hardik Pandya, who is recovering from a quadriceps injury of his own. Without Hardik, India have looked unbalanced, but the good news for them is that Shivam Dube, the other seam-bowling allrounder in the touring party, is fit and was picked in the XI for the first T20I in Canberra after being sidelined from the opening round of the Ranji Trophy with back stiffness.Reddy has had a difficult time with injuries, especially this year. In July, he had been ruled out of the fourth and fifth Tests in England with a knee injury. He had suffered the injury while training in the gym before hurting his quadriceps in Australia.He has played 15 internationals for India so far, since making his debut in the Perth Test in November 2024.In the first T20I in Canberra, India picked three spinners in Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel, sticking to their successful template from the Asia Cup, which they won in late September.

Tom Lawes took three for six in a five-over spell to lead Surrey’s response with the ball as Warwickshire replied with 132 for four after earlier bowling out the county champions for 246 despite fine half-centuries from Ryan Patel, Rory Burns and Ollie Pope.Leading second-placed Nottinghamshire by nine points with three matches to go in the Rothesay County Championship season, Surrey were particularly indebted to Patel’s superb unbeaten 72 from 67 balls after being put in by Warwickshire at the Kia Oval.And Lawes then whipped out Alex Davies, Sam Hain and Zen Malik in quick succession – all leg-before to fast, swinging deliveries – after Dan Worrall had Rob Yates well held at third slip for seven in his third over with the new ball.Davies made 22, Hain a first-ball duck and Malik eight and, at 47 for four, Warwickshire were in some trouble with 21 overs still to be bowled on day one.But Ed Barnard then joined Will Young, who was dropped on 10 at second slip off Matt Fisher, in an unbroken stand of 85 that meant honours were shared fairly evenly at the end of a gripping first day.Barnard reached stumps on 48 not out, with Young unbeaten on 35 and Surrey’s quicks needing to come back strongly on the second morning. Both batted with great spirit to rally their team after Lawes’ triple strike.Hunting a fourth successive championship title, Surrey were initially powered to 104 for one as Pope hit an eye-catching 50 off 55 balls and Burns reached 52.But Warwickshire, who like Surrey fielded a five-man pace attack, hit back either side of lunch to reduce Surrey to 188 for eight before the left-handed Patel counter-attacked in thrilling fashion and was joined by Fisher in a ninth wicket stand of 58.Patel struck 11 fours and a six pulled over wide mid-wicket off Michael Booth, who finished with two for 52 as Warwickshire’s seam quintet shared all ten wickets.Nathan Gilchrist, on his debut for the county as a loanee ahead of a permanent winter move from Kent, claimed three for 51 while Ethan Bamber took two for 47 and Barnard two for 42.Pope’s aggression provided Surrey with crucial early momentum after the loss of Dom Sibley, well held at third slip off Bamber for six in the morning’s third over.Both he and Burns enjoyed their fair share of good fortune against the moving ball but they also deserved the rewards of their positivity in a second wicket stand eventually worth 97 in just 17 overs.Pope, in particular, knocked Warwickshire’s seamers off their stride with the quality of his strokeplay while Burns produced a number of trademark pulls and square cuts to help to keep the scoreboard moving.At one stage, soon after Burns had thick-edged Gilchrist through a puzzlingly vacant third slip position for a boundary to take him to 38, the Surrey pair took six consecutive fours from the final four balls of a Booth over and then the first two deliveries of Gilchrist’s next over.Pope drove Booth straight and through mid off at the start of this sequence – the shots of the morning – and he had only just reached a 54-ball fifty when he fell to his 55th ball, edging Ed Barnard’s medium pace low to first slip on the stroke of noon.Barnard then nipped one back off the seam to have Ben Foakes leg-before for 11 and beat the new batsman Dan Lawrence with his next ball before Surrey reached lunch on 127 for three.Lawrence, on five, was badly dropped by keeper Davies off Bamber, who bowled a testing spell immediately after the interval and removed a disbelieving Burns soon afterwards when the Surrey captain pulled him straight to deep mid wicket where Malik took an excellent catch tumbling forward.Patel’s arrival kick-started the innings again, while Lawrence continued to struggle at the other end. The pair added 34 but Lawrence, having just punched Gilchrist through mid on for four to reach 20, was leg-before to the next ball as he shuffled across his stumps.Jordan Clark square cut his first ball for four but Gilchrist then made it two wickets in three deliveries when a thick edged carve flew to Young’s left at first slip.And Surrey slid to 188 for eight as Gus Atkinson (6) and Lawes, who bagged a fifth ball duck, nicked Ollie Hannon-Dalby and Gilchrist to second and third slip respectively.Fisher’s resistance, however, helped Patel to haul Surrey up well beyond 200 although they fell agonisingly short of a batting bonus point. Fisher, on 18, was pinned leg-before by Booth, who then produced a beauty next ball to hit the top of Worrall’s leg stump and leave Patel out of partners.

تحدث إسلام سليماني لاعب منتخب الجزائر، عن تعادل فريقه مع منتخب مصر الثاني، على هامش الاستعداد لبطولة كأس العرب.

وكان منتخب مصر الثاني تعادل بدون أهداف مع منتخب الجزائر، في المباراة التي جمعت بين الفريقين، على ملعب القاهرة الدولي.

طالع.. التعادل يحسم نتيجة مباراة منتخب مصر الثاني والجزائر استعدادًا لـ كأس العرب

وقال إسلام سليماني في تصريحات على قناة أون سبورت: “جئنا للتحضير لكأس العرب، ولاعبين جدد، الفريق المصري قوي ومعروف، المباراة الأولى خسرنا في الدقائق الأخيرة، لكن في المباراة الثانية أدينا بشكل جيد، والمكاسب جيدة، جئنا من أجل أن نتحسن قبل كأس العرب، وسنخوض كأس العرب خطوة بخطوة”.

وأضاف: “كل المنتخبات قوية، هذه النسخة ستكون أقوى من النسخ الماضية، مصر والسعودية والأردن وتونس، نحن كحامل اللقب سنلعب كل مباراة على حدة”.

وتابع: “جئنا هنا لكي نتجانس أكثر خاصة وأن هناك لاعبين جدد، وواجهنا منتخب مصر الفريق القوي، وسنصل إلى نهائي كأس العرب رفقة منتخب مصر”.

From Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane to Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins, MLS has featured some high-octane duos

Major League Soccer is built on star power, but not always on individuals. Sometimes the stars align, quite literally in this case, to create something even better. Throughout the league's history, dynasties have been formed by high-profile pairings, tandems that have helped lead some of the best teams in league history.

From the early days in MLS, some of the league's all-time teams have been led by two dynamic attacking players. And we might just be seeing another league-altering duo emerge. Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga are running right through MLS, and not just the regular season. Austin FC were recently put to the sword by LAFC's new duo, who combined for two goals and three assists in a 4-1 MLS playoff win on Sunday.

Like all great duos, Son and Bouanga have a natural chemistry. They're also individually dangerous. Son, of course, has long been one of the best wingers in the world. Bouanga, meanwhile, has blossomed into one of the most fearsome goalscorers in the league, one that was striking fear in defenses long before his South Korean running mate arrived.

GOAL takes a look at the all-time great MLS duos.

Getty Images SportLA Galaxy: Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane

Yes, there was the David Beckham era for the LA Galaxy. But there was another following the English icon's departure: the Donovan-Keane era.

Landon Donovan remains the true face of the LA Galaxy, the star that accomplished it all during his extended run as the guy in MLS. There's a reason the MLS MVP award is named after him. He didn't do it alone, though, as, starting in 2011, he was joined by Irish star Robbie Keane to form a duo that turned winning MLS Cups into something of a habit.

During their four seasons together, they lifted the big trophy three times. Each time, Donovan and Keane were a huge part of it.

"It’s been an honor to play with him," Keane said of Donovan at the time. "The understanding that we’ve both had on the field, the amount of goals both of us have scored and assists we have provided over the last four years has been fantastic. It is definitely up there with the best partnerships I’ve had in the game."

During their run together, they accounted for 174 combined goals and assists, nearly half of the Galaxy's numbers in total in that stretch. It's why, for many, Keane and Donovan remain the gold standard for partnerships in MLS.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSeattle Sounders: Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins

They were here for a good time, not a long time, and those in Seattle would say it was a very, very good time. In the spring and summer of 2013, the Sounders took two big swings to bring Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey on board from Europe. It was, particularly at the time, a massive statement from the club. In truth, the ball didn't get rolling right away but, once it did, there was no stopping it.

In 2014, the Oba-Deuce duo exploded, leading the Sounders to the Supporters' Shield and the U.S. Open Cup. Martins finished with 17 goals, a club record, as well as 13 assists. Dempsey had 15 goals. What made those so special, though, was the manner in which they were scored. 

Throughout their run together, Dempsey and Martins often made it look like they were playing in a recreational league, not in MLS' biggest matches. There was a certain ease and flair to every goal they scored.

"I love playing with Oba," Dempsey said in 2015. "He’s one of the players I’ve enjoyed the most playing with in my career because it reminds me of being a kid playing pickup style, just thinking alike and knowing that if you make the right run, he’s going to find you."

Unfortunately, neither Dempsey nor Martins were around for the Sounders' crowning achievement two years later. Martins had, at that point, headed to China for a massive payday. Dempsey, meanwhile, was sidelined with a heart condition that prevented him from helping the Sounders lift the MLS Cup that winter.

For those who remember that era, though, the Dempsey-Martins combo was just as iconic as the MLS Cup trophy – and they paved the way.

Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY SportsToronto FC: Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco

During the mid-to-late-2010s, MLS was often defined by Seattle and Toronto, who met in the league final three times in a four-year span. Toronto was led by an attacking duo of their own. One big, one small, but Toronto FC's two attackers – Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco – ultimately ended up being a perfect pairing.

“For me, it’s a pleasure to play with Jozy," Giovinco said. "He’s more physical, I’m more technical, so we complete each other.”

After swinging and missing with Jermain Defoe, Toronto FC handed the attacking keys to Altidore and Giovinco, who arrived in January 2015. What followed was nothing short of magic. Giovinco, the diminutive Italian, became the first player to lead MLS in goals and assists in the same season. He was also the first player to record consecutive seasons of 30-plus goals and assists.

Altidore, meanwhile, was right there with him, hitting double figures for goals in each of their first three seasons together. With Altidore and Giovinco leading the line, and Michael Bradley anchoring the midfield, Toronto FC made it to three MLS Cups, winning in 2017. They also won a Supporters' Shield and three Canadian Championships, with Altidore and Giovinco playing definitive roles.

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Getty Images SportD.C. United: Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno

One for the OGs here. Marco Etcheverry and Jaime Moreno were the league's original duo and, to this day, their achievements match up with virtually any other. The two Bolivian stars were the iconic faces of MLS' early years, with Etcheverry so often the creator and Moreno so often the one finishing.

Together, they won three MLS Cups to establish D.C. United's dominance in the league's first years. To take it one step further, they also lifted a CONCACAF Champions Cup, too, to prove that D.C. – and MLS – could compete with the very best in the region.

“I’ve known Marco since my first cap with the national team in the 1991 Copa America," Moreno said in 2013. "Since then, we have always had an amazing friendship. We then met at D.C. and my arrival to the club was so quick, I don’t think he was even expecting it. Marco means titles, and with him, we had the best years in D.C.

"Today, soccer is different and is not as exquisite as it was before. Marco used to put that exquisite touch to the game and to D.C.”

For many, they will be the best on this list, and there's plenty to back that up. Both were named to MLS All-Time Best XI in 2005 and, while MLS has evolved since they ran things in the late '90s, they remain part of the league's foundation.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo deve apresentar novidades em sua retomada do Campeonato Brasileiro após a pausa da Data Fifa. O técnico Bruno Lage acenou com mudanças no treino com o elenco nos últimos dias para definir a equipe que medirá forças com o Atlético-MG, sábado (16), às 21h.

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A principal é fazer com que Di Plácido retome sua titularidade na lateral direita. O argentino foi preterido para JP Galvão ser lançado como titular na derrota por 2 a 1 para o Flamengo, no Nilton Santos.

+ Já pensou em trabalhar com futebol? Participe da nossa Masterclass com Felipe Ximenes e descubra oportunidades

Lage, porém, segue com uma dúvida no setor ofensivo. O comandante ainda não definiu se Júnior Santos ou Matías Segovia será o titular na ponta-direita.

Outra mudança acontecerá no meio de campo. Com Gabriel Pires cumprindo suspensão, Tchê Tchê deve voltar a ser titular.

O Glorioso tende a atuar com: Lucas Perri; Di Plácido, Adryelson, Victor Cuesta e Marçal; Marlon Freitas, Tchê Tchê e Eduardo; Júnior Santos (Matías Segovia), Tiquinho Soares e Victor Sá.

Relacionados para o jogo com o Atlético-MG, neste sábado, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. ⚽️???? #VamosBOTAFOGO pic.twitter.com/orVkpC4U7Q

— Botafogo F.R. (@Botafogo) September 15, 2023

O Botafogo tem 51 pontos e segue na liderança com folga. O Atlético-MG tem 31.

Manchester United were swept aside by their neighbours in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.

There’s no sugarcoating it: Ruben Amorim has some serious issues to overcome, and the whispers of yet another managerial change at Old Trafford are getting louder.

The Etihad Stadium is a tough ground for any club across the globe, and United have a good record on their rivals’ patch, but the manner of the 3-0 defeat to keep Amorim shackled to the lower levels of the Premier League has increased the pressure and then some. Chelsea, you will need no reminder, travel to the Theatre next weekend.

Benjamin Sesko blanked, but the blame cannot be placed solely upon the new striker, devoid of service and limited to seven touches. Sofascore record the Slovenian’s heat map to actually be rather deep, evidence of struggles within a barren final third.

But INEOS spent big on the 23-year-old goalscorer this summer, and the fact that thus far Amorim is failing to get a tune out of him and indeed the wider United system is hugely concerning.

Benjamin Sesko's performance vs City

Amorim doubled down post-match on his plan to maintain the tactical set-up which has proved such a troubling talking point over the turbulent duration of the Portuguese’s reign.

While Sesko was completely anonymous against Pep Guardiola’s outfit, he was indeed starved of support. Hemmed in United were not, but they were inefficient on the counter and struggled for purchase in the final third.

This was a tough maiden starting berth in the Premier League for a young and talented striker, one who opted for Old Trafford in spite of the vested interests of Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United last month.

Sesko wasn’t blameless. The former RB Leipzig man made a couple of heavy touches and should have made more of his chance against Gigi Donnarumma, chipping tamely toward the debutant goalkeeper.

Bought over from Germany for a £74m fee this summer to replace Rasmus Hojlund, there are perhaps concerns from some on the red side of Manchester that INEOS have just repeated the same mistake.

But it’s early days yet. And, in fact, there was another starting star on Sunday who might actually be shaping into Amorim’s next version of the Denmark centre-forward, who joined Napoli on loan before the transfer deadline several weeks back.

Amorim's new Hojlund at Man United

Without a doubt, Hojlund fell by the wayside at Manchester United. It was only two years ago that Erik ten Hag welcomed the young forward to England, signing him from Atalanta on a £72m deal.

The 22-year-old’s first term was solid if unspectacular, but he fell to a new low last year, ridiculed for his anonymity at number nine, scoring just four Premier League goals all season.

Sesko will be directly tied to his predecessor all year long, but it’s actually Patrick Dorgu who might be shaping into the new Hojlund.

Dorgu, 20, has been spun into a wing-back role in Amorim’s 3-5-2-1 formation, and it’s not working. For one, his crosses leave plenty to be desired, and he is proving ineffective despite operating within the exact tactical parameters Amorim demands of him.

To put that another way, the Danish wideman might not be the solution, which is rather damning given Amorim championed the £25m signing of the Lecce talent last January to help define the system he so firmly stresses will shape United for the duration of his tenure.

It wasn’t all bad in the derby; Dorgu was right in the thick of the action, but his crossing was woeful, and the Manchester Evening News branded him with a 4/10 match rating.

According to data platform Sofascore, Dorgu won 11 duels, created three key passes and won four tackles against Man City, but this wasn’t enough to disguise a pitiful attempt to inject creativity into Amorim’s ranks, with analyst Dharnish Iqbal remarking that he “hasn’t provided the crosses” despite being funnelled the ball with regularity.

Dorgu, let’s be clear, is a talented young player with the potential to succeed in the Premier League. Hojlund was the same, both arriving from Italian shores. But he seems to have taken on a talismanic role in Amorim’s system that he is unfit for, and so the Portuguese tactician falls ever closer toward the exit.

Given the seeming importance of Dorgu’s role – much like Hojlund’s limp displays last season came to the direct detriment of United’s wider system – it’s rather concerning that he doesn’t appear fit for the role, only completing one of five attempted dribbles against the Citizens as a further underscoring of that argument.

Sesko will often be scapegoated; this is the life of a forward. However, he’s a tall striker and won three aerial battles against City. Even so, Dorgu struggled to provide accurate crosses having been played into space, and that is an issue.

Hojlund, similarly, suffered more criticism than most last term, but he didn’t miss that many big chances, and United were culpable of a dried well of support toward the young man.

Dorgu has already shown this season an aptitude for the attacking side of the game, but so too has he proven himself unworthy of a nailed-on starting berth, and that is exactly what Amorim has entrusted him with, with this being the Dane’s third full 90 of the Premier League campaign already.

Might Amorim need to make an alteration? Wing-backs are instrumental in the manager’s machine working at full capacity, and so his reliance on Dorgu is understandable.

But it doesn’t appear to be working well enough, and if that is the case, and Amorim is unwilling to change, as has been his own declaration, then where do the Red Devils go from here?

Man Utd have two players to blame for Sesko's nightmare first start

Benjamin Sesko was an isolated figure during his first start for Manchester United.

By
Matt Dawson

Sep 15, 2025

Former England striker Peter Crouch has spotted a striking similarity to his playing days after Newcastle sealed the signings of Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa.

Newcastle finally end striker saga

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has finally landed long-term target Wissa after losing Alexander Isak to Liverpool on a dramatic final day of the summer transfer window.

Brentford’s 28-year-old DR Congo international, who was born in France, has joined the Magpies for an undisclosed fee, which is understood could eventually amount to £55million, and will wear the club’s famous number nine shirt.

Wissa’s efforts to force his way out of Brentford have not differed too starkly from the tactics employed by Isak in engineering his move, but one way or the other that Magpies now have their new look strike partnership.

Indeed, his addition to an attacking pool already boosted by the signing of Germany international Nick Woltemade, who arrived at the weekend, gives Howe plenty of options for new systems and formations, though fans will have to endure an international break before they see their new faces in action.

“I’m really happy to be here and to sign for one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League,” Wissa said as he posed for pictures on Monday in Alan Shearer’s iconic number nine shirt.

“I’m very, very excited to put on the black and white shirt. I’ve got dreams, I’ve got faith, and now I will do my best to make it all happen. I can’t wait to get started.”

Woltemade and Wissa anointed the new Crouch and Defoe

Newcastle targeted Liverpool striker Hugo Ekitike earlier in the summer and the plan was to use the Frenchman in a front two with Isak, but whether or not Howe is intent on doing the same with Woltemade and Wissa remains to be seen.

One thing is for sure though, the pair bring plenty of complementary traits to the table, with Woltemade’s massive 6 foot 6 frame sure to be a focal point for the likes of Anthony Gordon and Anthony Elanga to aim at, while Wissa’s industriousness and ability to be in the right place at the right time was evident in his partnerships with both Bryan Mbeumo and Ivan Toney.

And Crouch, who formed an iconic partnership with Jermain Defoe, has reacted on X to the suggestion that the Newcastle pair could be the next generation’s little and large duo.

Standing at 6 foot 7, Crouch is slightly taller than the 6 foot 6 Woltemade, but like Crouch the Germany international is known for having the old cliche of ‘good feet for a big man’.

Wissa is two inches taller than the 5 foot 7 Defoe, but if he can replicate the goalscoring record of the former Tottenham and Sunderland legend, who is the tenth best Premier League goalscorer of all time with 156, there won’t be anyone on Tyneside complaining about his transfer fee.

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.

Big picture: Kohli joins 300 club

Scroll down to the form guide section. Actually, no need, because, spoiler warning, both teams have WWWWW next to them going into this match.These are two exceptional ODI outfits in potentially title-winning form, deep and balanced thanks to the allrounders they possess. They are well-suited to conditions at this Champions Trophy – particularly, perhaps, to those in Dubai where this contest will take place – thanks to their spin options and the variety of batting gears in their top orders.There has also been, especially over the last five years and a bit, a lot of history between these two teams.Related

• Phillips confident NZ have the resources to find success in slower Dubai

• KL Rahul plays down India's injury worries ahead of NZ clash

• India wary of keeping bowlers fresh for semi, says ten Doeschate

• Dot-ball 'beast' Bracewell stays under the radar but soars high

• Trial by spin on slow Dubai pitches a key step in Gill's evolution

This should, for all those reasons, be a main-course kind of contest, but it’s an appetiser in the context of where this Champions Trophy stands. India and New Zealand are both through to the semi-finals, and know exactly where and when their respective semi-finals will be played. All that remains to be decided is whom they will face there, and it’s unlikely there’s a “preferred” opponent for either team, given it’s a choice between South Africa and Australia.With that in mind, and the short turnaround before the semi-finals – particularly in the case of India, who only have a one-day gap before their game on March 4 – Sunday night’s contest may not necessarily be played at vein-throbbing intensity. There’s a chance of big names resting, and also – as India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate suggested on Friday – of key bowlers not completing their full ten-over quotas.There’s one man whose intensity is never short of vein-throbbing when he’s on the field, though, and he’s set to play a very special match. Virat Kohli is set to play his 300th ODI, becoming the 22nd player and seventh from India to get to that landmark. Given how infrequently ODIs are now played, and given how far away Kohli’s closest contemporaries are – Mushfiqur Rahim (274) and Rohit Sharma (272) are the only two to have played more than 250 – will he also be the last to get there?Virat Kohli is poised to play his 300th ODI•Alex Davidson/Getty Images

Form guide

India WWWWW
New Zealand WWWWW

In the spotlight: Shreyas Iyer and Kyle Jamieson

India’s batting is yet to face a truly daunting test in this Champions Trophy. They have batted second in both their games so far, and chased down targets of 229 and 242. Whether they bat first or second on Sunday, they are likelier to face a stiffer challenge from New Zealand, particularly from their fingerspinners Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell through the middle overs. It is perhaps in this context that Shreyas Iyer becomes especially important. Where Kohli and KL Rahul have gone at strike rates in the low 80s against spin in the middle overs since the start of 2023, Iyer has struck at 95.24. New Zealand know how dangerous Iyer is against spin – he hit five sixes while scoring 48 off 35 balls against their spinners during his century in the Mumbai World Cup semi-final of 2023.If the Kohli generation is India’s golden generation, it probably peaked around the time of the inaugural World Test Championship of 2019-21. And it’s quite possible that India may have won that trophy had they not happened to run into Kyle Jamieson. This towering and hugely gifted fast-bowling allrounder has gone through a testing time since then, mostly due to injury, and he’s now set to face India for the first time in any format since December 2021. Jamieson hasn’t yet had the same impact in ODIs that he has had in Tests; could the sight of his favourite opponents bring out his best?

Team news: Daryl Mitchell fit, but where does he fit in?

India only have a day’s gap between this match and their semi-final, but had a six-day gap between their previous match, against Pakistan, and this one. Do they believe, then, that their key players are adequately rested for 200 overs over three days? Or do they rest one or two of them? And what of the players on the bench, and their match-readiness should they suddenly be required in a knockout game? Rohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami went off the field with niggles at various stages during the Pakistan game, but both, according to the team’s press-conference representatives, are fit.India didn’t train on Saturday, but Rishabh Pant had an extended session in the nets on Friday, which suggests he could get a game – he has only played one ODI, back in July 2024, since his return from injuries suffered during his car crash. Given that as many as five left-hand batters could feature in New Zealand’s top eight, there’s a chance India may replace one of their two left-arm fingerspinners with the offspinner Washington Sundar. If Pant plays and adds his left-handedness to India’s top five, it relieves them of the need for Axar Patel as a floater.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Washington Sundar, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Kuldeep Yadav/Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Mohammed Shami/Arshdeep Singh.India, especially, will have a question of balancing workloads to address•Associated Press

Daryl Mitchell is fit again after missing the match against Bangladesh with an illness, and this leaves New Zealand with a major top-order headache. Rachin Ravindra, who was himself returning from injury, replaced Mitchell and scored a match-winning hundred against Bangladesh. Will Young scored a hundred in the tournament-opener against Pakistan. Devon Conway, who had replaced Ravindra at the top of the order, has also been among the runs, scoring 97 against South Africa in the tri-series that preceded the Champions Trophy.New Zealand (probable): 1 Devon Conway, 2 Rachin Ravindra, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Daryl Mitchell, 5 Tom Latham (wk), 6 Glenn Phillips, 7 Michael Bracewell, 8 Mitchell Santner (capt), 9 Kyle Jamieson, 10 Matt Henry, 11 Will O’Rourke.

Pitch and conditions: spin to win?

Dubai has been the most spin-friendly of the four Champions Trophy venues, with spinners currently returning an average of 37.07 and an economy rate of 4.36 here. Rawalpindi is second on both counts, at 40.60 and 4.81.This, of course, may also have something do to with the quality of India’s spinners. In any case, the pitches in Dubai, far from being square turners, have tended to be merely slow, with the large outfield also serving as an ally to the slower bowlers.Bangladesh and Pakistan both won the toss against India and chose to bat, reflecting the trend for dew not to be much of a factor at this time of the year. It’s possible that bat-first may still be the way to go, given the tendency for the pitches here to slow down over 100 overs.A clear, pleasant day is expected on Sunday, with a maximum temperature of 24 degrees Celsius.Vital runs aside, Tom Latham now has 100 ODI catches as a keeper to his name•ICC/Getty Images

Stats and trivia

• India and New Zealand have only met once before in the Champions Trophy: the final in 2000 when an unbeaten Chris Cairns century led New Zealand to a four-wicket win.
• India have won each of their last five completed ODIs against New Zealand; New Zealand won five in a row before that stretch.
• Tom Latham’s unbeaten 118 made all the headlines, but he also enjoyed a big moment on the field during New Zealand’s tournament-opener against Pakistan: the catch of Shaheen Shah Afridi, off Matt Henry, was his 100th as wicketkeeper in ODIs.

Quotes

“That’s a lot of ODI games and a lot of international games and yeah, he’s been… I mean, words fall short to express how good a player he’s been, and what a great servant of Indian cricket he’s been.”