Leicester City have now held talks with a 57-year-old over the vacant manager position at the King Power Stadium, according to a recent report.
Despite the terrible campaign for the Foxes in the Premier League, it took them nine weeks after the season had ended to announce Ruud van Nistelrooy had in fact left the football club. After managing just five wins from his 27 games in charge, his departure was expected; just the time it took to announce it left many supporters confused.
Leicester City may now approach 4-4-1-1 boss who has coached 322 PL matches
Ruud van Nistelrooy could find himself ousted at the King Power Stadium.
By
Sean Markus Clifford
Jun 5, 2025
Alas, the Foxes are finally on the lookout for a new manager to lead them in the Championship. One person that Leicester looked keen on appointing was Russell Martin. It was even reported that Martin had agreed a deal in principle to join Leicester, but that didn’t come to fruition, as the former Southampton manager decided to join Rangers instead.
Since then, out-of-work Sean Dyche has been mentioned as an option, while Danny Rohl has emerged as their number one target, with his release clause slashed from £5 million to £1 million.
Sheffield Wednesday manager DannyRohl
But if a deal still cannot be agreed with Rohl, Graeme Bailey has revealed that Leicester could make an approach for Dyche, who has done wonders in the Championship before.
Leicester hold talks with experienced Championship promotion winner
However, there is now a new name in the frame to possibly replace Van Nistelrooy. According to Football League World, Leicester have held talks with Chris Wilder over their managerial vacancy.
Wilder is another manager who is currently out of work, as he left his post at Sheffield United nearly three weeks ago. The Blades’ new owners decided it was time for the club to go in a different direction, despite the fact that Wilder led United to a third-place finish and the play-off final.
The 57-year-old would be considered a more experienced option for the Foxes, especially at Championship level, as he’s taken charge of 189 games in that division, winning 93, averaging 1.69 points per game and, in that time, he guided the Blades to the Premier League during the 2017/18 season.
However, a concern would be his Premier League record, as he’s won just 20 of the 90 top-flight games he has been in charge of.
Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United record
Games
305
Won
140
Drawn
57
Lost
108
Points
477
Points per game
1.56
Wilder is just the latest in a string of names to be added to the list of options for the Foxes, but appointing the former Sheffield United boss may be easier than chasing other managers. That is because Wilder is represented by the same agency as current Leicester defender Luke Thomas, with the club no doubt holding an existing relationship with the agency which could smooth negotiations with no current employer to worry about.
It wouldn’t be hyperbolic to describe the last few years as being incredibly hectic for Chelsea.
The Blues have seen new ownership come, have spent an enormous amount of money in a relatively short space of time, and have been through their fair share of managers.
However, even though there have been more than a few bumpy moments in terms of performances and results, it looks like the team are finally on the right track.
Chelsea's Reece James lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates
Enzo Maresca led his side to a fourth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, and on top of securing Champions League football, led them to Conference League glory.
Following the Argentine’s impressive first campaign, the board have already backed him in a big way this summer, with the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens all making their way to the King’s Road.
The wheeling and dealing looks far from finished there, though, so here’s what Chelsea’s dream squad could look like if everything goes according to plan this summer.
The Goalkeepers Emiliano Martínez takes the gloves
While Robert Sanchez improved towards the end of last season, it would be fair to say that many fans would still like to see an upgrade signed this summer.
That seems to be the opinion of the board as well, with reports linking them with Aston Villa’s World Cup-winning shot-stopper Emiliano Martínez.
The Argentine, who won last year’s Best Fifa Men’s Goalkeeper, is reportedly also a target for Manchester United and could end up costing around £40m.
That would see Sanchez become the number two, and with Đorđe Petrović looking set to join Bournemouth for around £25m, Filip Jorgensen could be third choice.
Full list of goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez, Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen.
The Defence Chelsea add promising depth
Chelsea managed to produce the third-best defence in the Premier League last season, conceding just two more goals than Liverpool and nine more than Arsenal.
So, instead of wholesale change, they would be wise to trim the fat and add a couple of exciting prospects to the group.
Funnily enough, that seems to be the approach the Blues are taking, with Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga looking likely to leave, while Jorrel Hato could make his way to West London from the Netherlands.
Alongside the West Londoners, the “exceptional” Ajax gem, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has been linked with a host of clubs and could be available for around £40m.
Appearances
111
Starts
102
Minutes
9121′
Goals
4
Assists
9
Goal Involvements per Match
0.11
Minutes per Goal Involvement
701.61′
Points per Game
1.86
It might sound like a lot to spend on a 19-year-old, but he’s already made 111 first-team appearances for the Amsterdam side, has six caps for the national team and can play as either a left-back or centre-back.
The young Dutchman probably wouldn’t start many games, at least not right away, but he’d be brilliant depth and help ensure Marc Cucurella isn’t played into the ground.
Full list of centre-backs: Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mamadou Sarr, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile.
Full list of right-backs: Reece James, Malo Gusto.
Full list of left-backs: Marc Cucurella, Jorrel Hato.
The Midfielders Chelsea add an exciting talent
Arguably, Chelsea’s most stacked area of the squad is the midfield, and there isn’t a whole lot that needs to be done there this summer.
So long as they remain fit, the incredible Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernández will remain the first choice for the middle of the park.
At the same time, Andrey Santos and Roméo Lavia are excellent rotation options.
Moving up into attacking midfield and to the man who has to be the first name on the team sheet: Cole Palmer.
Appearances
96
Minutes
7770′
Goals
41
Assists
28
Goal Involvements per Match
0.71
Minutes per Goal Involvement
112.60′
While he is capable of playing out wide and on the wing, he can have a far greater impact on proceedings as the most advanced midfielder, and with a tally of 41 goals and 28 assists in 96 games for the Blues, Maresca will want him where he can have the most significant impact.
However, the club appear to be after someone who can cover for the sensational talent, and based on reports, that player could be Alejandro Garnacho.
Alejandro Garnacho for Manchester United
The Argentine ace had a very public falling out with Manchester United and was told he would be sold this summer, and one of the clubs interested in the £60m ace is Chelsea.
While it might not be a move that excites the fanbase, the Madrid-born international wasn’t too bad last season, racking up 11 goals and ten assists in 3568 minutes, and spending most of the campaign in attacking midfield.
In all, Chelsea have an incredible array of midfield talent, and the United star could be great depth.
Full list of midfielders: Cole Palmer, Alejandro Garncaho, Moises Caicedo, Roméo Lavia, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernández, Andrey Santos, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.
The Attackers Chelsea go huge on the frontline
Chelsea have already gone big when it comes to attacking signings this summer.
Delap cost them £30m from Ipswich Town, Pedro cost a cool £60m from Brighton & Hove Albion, and Jamie Gittens cost around £48m from Borussia Dortmund.
With all of that business in mind, plus the likes of Pedro Neto and Estavão looking ready for the new season, it makes sense for the club to be looking to sell a few players.
The most notable departure is undoubtedly Noni Madueke, who is set to join Arsenal for around £52m, but it also looks like João Felix could be on his way for close to £17m.
If the board can then get rid of Raheem Sterling as well, that would leave them with plenty of room in the wage budget to further bolster the attack, which seems to be the plan.
One of the names linked with the team this summer has been Malick Fofana, who has a price tag of around £50m.
The young Frenchman would be another signing for the future, but with a tally of 17 goal involvements in 41 games last season, he could still make an impact from the bench.
Finally, if Chelsea are able to amass their dream squad this summer, then they’ll surely get their hands on Hugo Ekitiké.
The Eintracht Frankfurt striker has been linked with a £85m move to Stamford Bridge this summer, and while that is a lot of money, it would be money well spent.
In 48 appearances last season, totalling 3644 minutes, the 23-year-old marksman scored a mammoth 22 goals and provided 12 assists to boot.
Appearances
48
Minutes
3644′
Goals
22
Assists
12
Goal Involvements per Match
0.70
Minutes per Goal Involvement
107.17
In other words, the Reims-born dynamo whom journalist Graeme Bailey once dubbed the “next Mbappé,” averaged a goal involvement every 1.41 games, or every 107.17 minutes.
Just imagine how dangerous he’d be playing in the same team as Palmer; that duo could be enough to fire the Blues into a title charge.
Full list of wingers: Pedro Neto, Estavo, Jamie Gittens, Malick Fofana.
Full list of strikers: Hugo Ekitiké, Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea "close" to agreeing "excellent" player's exit after Thursday update
Sunderland are looking to potentially hijack a move for an attacking star in the summer transfer window, according to a new transfer claim.
Le Bris excited about Sunderland signing Sadiki
The Black Cats have completed the signing of Noah Sadiki, with the midfielder arriving at the Stadium of Light on a five-year deal from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
Regis Le Bris is clearly in positive spirits about an exciting piece of business for Sunderland ahead of their imminent return to the Premier League next month, assessing the capture of the 20-year-old.
Union Saint-Gilloise'sNoahSadikiin action with Rangers' Nedim Bajrami
It’s now a case of Sunderland building on the signing of Sadiki and bringing in more signings before the current window slams shut at the end of August, and a promising new update has now emerged regarding their transfer situation.
Sunderland pushing to hijack £17.2m signing
According to Foot Mercato, Sunderland are in the mix to sign Lens midfielder Neil El Aynaoui this summer, with the 24-year-old valued at more than €20m (£17.2m) by the French club.
Breaking: Sunderland agree quick-fire deal to sign exciting £20m winger
It’s been a statement-making summer from the Black Cats.
ByTom Cunningham Jul 5, 2025
The Black Cats are joined by a host of top clubs in the tussle to snap him up, as they look to steal him from under the noses of the likes of Roma, Juventus and AC Milan.
Olympique de Marseille's Quentin Merlin in action with RC Lens' NeilElAynaoui
El Aynaoui could immediately improve Sunderland as a team if they managed to get a deal over the line, adding quality in the middle of the park, as highlighted by the calibre of clubs interested in him.
The midfielder is a one-cap Morocco Under-23 international, while journalist Mohamed Toubache-Ter has described him as a “highly-talented” footballer, so he would be a signing of real intent.
It is clearly going to be tricky for Sunderland to sign El Aynaoui, given the level of interest in him from some of the biggest clubs in Italy, but they are now back in the Premier League, which is a major attraction for so many players around the world.
Hopefully, Le Bris can sell him the idea of moving to the Stadium of Light, being a key starter instead of a potential cog in the machine elsewhere, as he looks to give his side the best possible chance of survival next season.
Despite Leeds United having enjoyed a superb 2024/25 campaign in the Championship, this summer is a vital one for their future, desperately needing to get their business spot on.
Promotion to the Premier League brings in huge money for the football club, but there is a huge gap between the two divisions, with additions needed to bridge the gap this window.
Daniel Farke will need signings in key areas of the pitch to allow him to have the best possible chance of securing survival from the Premier League for the first time in his career.
Leeds United manager DanielFarkebefore the match
The German has attempted to achieve such a feat with Norwich City in the past, but has so far been unable to do so, with this season crucial for his tenure at Elland Road.
With the new season already less than two months away, work has already begun behind the scenes in Yorkshire to help the manager in his quest throughout 2025/26.
The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new additions this summer
Over recent days, a new striker has been on the agenda for Farke, as he looks to add another dimension to his already potent attack, which helped claim promotion to the Premier League.
The likes of Jamie Vardy, Rodrigo Muniz and Callum Wilson have all been touted with a switch to Elland Road, but no deals have yet been completed this summer.
However, a new name has entered the mix in recent days, with Wolves striker Fabio Silva the latest player on their shortlist, according to ABC Sevilla via Birmingham World.
It’s reported that the Whites have entered talks with fellow Premier League outfit Wolves over a deal for the 22-year-old talisman, who only has one year left on his contract.
His current situation at Molineux remains unclear, but he’s demonstrated his quality over recent times, scoring 10 times in LaLiga this season whilst spending the year on loan at Las Palmas.
Why Leeds’ latest target could be their own Sesko
Beto is another striker who’s been hugely linked with a summer move to join Leeds, with the Everton talisman yet to reach his full potential at his current side, Everton.
The 27-year-old joined the Toffees in a £30m deal back in the summer of 2023, but has been unable to take the starting role on a consistent basis, often having to settle for time on the bench.
He’s managed to score eight times in the Premier League this season, subsequently being outscored by fellow target Silva, with the Whites needing to shift their focus to the Portuguese star.
The 22-year-old has been ranked as a similar player to RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko by FBref, with the Slovenian international linked with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United this summer.
He’s also valued at around £60m this summer, highlighting the impressive nature of Silva’s play if he’s been compared to such an impressive big-money talent.
When comparing the pair’s respective figures from the 2024/25 campaign, Silva has managed to match or better Sesko in various key areas, highlighting how much of a crucial addition he would be to Farke’s side.
Silva, who’s been labelled “generational” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, may have scored fewer goals, but has achieved a better goal per shot on target rate – highlighting the clinical threat he poses in front of goal.
Games played
24
33
Goals scored
10
13
Shot on target accuracy
44%
43%
Goal per shot on target
0.4
0.3
Shot-creating actions
2.1
1.9
Carries into opposition box
1.1
0.5
Aerials won
2.7
2.6
Passes into opposition box
0.7
0.3
The Wolves loanee has also registered more shot-creating actions and won more aerial battles, offering Farke’s side an all-round option within attacking areas.
His dominance doesn’t stop there, completing more passes and carries into the opposition box, handing other players around him the opportunity to impress in Yorkshire.
Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Portuguese sensation would set the club back this summer, his talents are there for all to see – potentially being a bargain if he can reach Sesko’s levels.
Given the fact he’s outscored Beto, the hierarchy must look to prioritise a move for the Wolves star, with the youngster having the opportunity to improve further given his tender age.
Better than Beto: Leeds set to make bid for "one of the best CFs in the PL"
Leeds United could finally be about to land a talisman to catapult them to Premier League survival.
Liverpool will win the Premier League this season, but the celebrations will prove to be the finale for several members of Arne Slot’s squad.
While Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to sign for Real Madrid when his contract at Anfield expires this summer, all of a Reds persuasion would love nothing more than a dramatic twist that keeps the Scouser in their team where he is.
Liverpool'sTrentAlexander-Arnoldwalks off the pitch
Unlikely. However, there are further stars who may actually be shown the door, which would probably be a good thing if Liverpool are to challenge for the biggest honours once again next year.
Liverpool looking to sell this summer
Liverpool have reached a critical juncture, though in truth, the same could be said every year.
The priority, at least in terms of needing an upgrade, lies at the front of the ship, with Darwin Nunez likely to be sold having fallen by the wayside in Slot’s system. A more reliable goalscorer is needed to challenge with Mohamed Salah and ease his burden.
Liverpool'sDarwinNunezreacts
Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota are also expendable, for the right price. Neither will be shown the door, but neither will FSG’s suits stand in the way of their potential departures.
Harvey Elliott, 21, is also at something of a conundrum in his fledgling career. The boyhood Liverpool fan is one of the most talented young playmakers out there, but has yet to start in the Premier League this season and will want playing-time assurances going forward.
He falls more into the Alexander-Arnold park of being a player who fans would want to stay put. But there’s another Liverpool forward who FSG could hit the jackpot by selling this summer without too much grumbling.
Liverpool must cash in on Slot's flop
When Liverpool signed Federico Chiesa from Juventus last summer, it was regarded as a low-risk deal, worth just £12.5m, for a player who would add that little bit of extra depth to a talented and balanced frontline.
Federico Chiesa for Juventus
Salah rarely misses action due to injury, but with Ben Doak heading out to Middlesbrough on loan it made sense to sign a deputy. Talented and technically gifted, Chiesa was once considered among Europe’s best forwards, hailed for his “world-class” level by retired Italy star Alessandro Pierini.
However, injuries have gotten the better of him in recent years, and he’s missed chunks of his maiden campaign in English football that have been to the detriment of his role in Slot’s team.
Just 12 times has Chiesa graced the field in a Liverpool shirt, and like Elliott, he hasn’t started a single Premier League match. He’s had his moments, though, notably scoring a crisp consolation goal in the Carabao Cup final.
However, the 27-year-old’s minimal involvement doesn’t look likely to change all that much next year, especially now the Egyptian King has renewed his deal for two more campaigns.
According to a recent report from Caught Offside, the Italian ace is attracting interest ahead of the summer transfer window from several Premier League suitors along with AC Milan over in Italy, and Liverpool are willing to entertain offers in the ballpark of €30m (£26m).
This feels like a no-brainer, not least because it would see FSG bank double their investment just one year ago, having not used all that much of Chiesa’s quality. It would actually equate to a 108% increase on the figure paid to the Old Lady last year.
Premier League
4
0
0
33′
Champions League
3
0
1
107′
FA Cup
3
1
1
120′
Carabao Cup
2
1
0
135′
The £150k-per-week wideman is talented and could revivify his career elsewhere, but it feels like a deal for a transfer away this summer, Premier League winner’s medal around his neck, would be the best outcome for all parties.
Liverpool want world's "best player" in £77m deal who'd be Slot’s own Mane
Liverpool are planning to strengthen Arne Slot’s frontline in the transfer market this summer.
This summer could be make or break in terms of Ruben Amorim’s future as Manchester United manager, needing to make the right decisions in the transfer market if they are to progress next season.
The Red Devils currently sit in 13th position in the Premier League, with their only hope of securing European football next season relying on their success in the Europa League.
Their lowly league standing is huge evidence that the board need to back the 40-year-old in the window, allowing him to make the additions he wants to fit his 3-4-2-1 system.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimreacts
He’s so far only had one window to implement his own changes, largely having to operate with the players signed under the guidance of former manager Erik ten Hag.
However, he appears to have wasted no time in identifying players to improve his first-team squad, targeting one player who could massively improve the situation at Old Trafford.
Man Utd already in talks to land huge PL talent
According to GIVEMESPORT, United are already in talks with Wolverhampton Wanderers over a summer deal to sign their star man, Matheus Cunha.
The Brazilian only signed a new contract back in February but has stated his desire to depart Molineux this summer, with any club wanting him needing to trigger his £62.5m release clause.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhareacts
The 25-year-old has registered 13 goals and four assists in the league to date, undoubtedly playing a huge role in maintaining the club’s top-flight status this campaign.
The report claims he’s interested in making a move to Old Trafford this summer, potentially making personal terms a forgone conclusion should the Red Devils trigger his release clause.
Whilst it would be a huge sum to fork out on yet another attacker at the Theatre of Dreams, it would be a worthwhile investment, providing a better option than another player already on their radar.
Why Cunha would be a better signing than Delap for United
Over the last week or so, reports have emerged that United have made Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap their number-one choice to become their new talisman next season.
The 22-year-old is set to be a man in demand this summer, with Chelsea also in the race to land the forward who has a £30m relegation release clause within his current contract.
The former Manchester City youngster has been the Tractor Boys’ key man in 2024/25, registering 12 goals in 30 appearances – scoring 39% of Kieran McKenna’s outfit’s efforts to date.
However, despite the huge difference in fee, Cunha would undoubtedly be the better option for Amorim’s side, having the ability to feature in a centre-forward or attacking midfield role.
When comparing the pair’s respective figures from 2024/25, the Brazilian massively outperformed Delap, showcasing why the hierarchy should pay the added difference between the player’s different clauses.
Games played
26
30
Goals & assists
17
14
Progressive carries
3.9
2.2
Progressive passes
4.7
1.1
Shots on target
1.5
1.1
Pass accuracy
70%
61%
Take-ons completed
2.1
1.4
The Wolves star, who’s been labelled “sensational” by current boss Vitor Pereira, has managed to register more combined goals and assists, whilst also registering more shots on target per 90 – showcasing his clinical nature in attacking areas.
He’s also completed more progressive passes per 90, whilst completing more take-ons per 90, achieving a higher pass completion rate – highlighting his all-round nature with the ball at his feet.
Whilst the club would pay more than double if they were to land Cunha, it’s evident that he would be a better option for the Red Devils based on the stats he’s produced in England’s top flight in 2024/25.
If they are to return to the summit of the Premier League in the next couple of years, it’s pivotal they learn from their mistakes in the market, needing to invest in top-quality talent rather than players who have only impressed over one season.
64 touches, 93% passes: Man Utd's 8/10 star is now as important as Bruno
Manchester United could only secure a 2-2 draw with Lyon in the Europa League last night.
Edgbaston six-for just reward for Mohammed Siraj, who assumed seniority in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence
Sidharth Monga04-Jul-2025
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj have a chat before the third day’s play•AFP via Getty Images
A quirky, curious statistic kept assuming bigger proportion through the third day’s play at Edgbaston. Especially when Mohammed Siraj began taking wickets with the second new ball to go with his double-strike in his first over of the day.Here are the numbers. Mohammed Siraj has played 23 Tests with Jasprit Bumrah, and averages 33.82 in them. His average in 15 matches without Bumrah now reads 25.20. Siraj has played nine Tests with Mohammed Shami; he averages 34.96 in them. He has played six Tests with both Bumrah and Shami, and he averages 33.05 in them. In the 12 matches that Siraj has played with neither Bumrah nor Shami in them, Siraj averages 22.27.When put that way to Siraj in a spot interview with no time to reflect on it, Siraj said he loves the responsibility. But it is what it is: an oddity. Unless Siraj himself tells you when he plays with Bumrah he bowls for Bumrah. Until then it’s all pop psychology.Related
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Siraj six-for hands India huge lead despite Smith and Brook hundreds
When Siraj is the third bowler, you can probably look for some causation, in that you don’t get the new ball, you bowl more with a softer ball, and possibly have to play a containing role. When you are the second quick, you probably don’t get an end of your choice, you are just as attacking as when you are the first.A non-quirky fact is that Siraj is a fine fast bowler with good control, an outswinger that can at times go missing, a wobble-seam ball, and a big heart. He has been bowling well since the start of the Australia tour, but hasn’t really had the luck to get him wickets.Cricket is a messy sport. At Headingley, outside that first spell when he struggled running uphill for three overs, Siraj bowled roughly as many good balls as Bumrah, roughly at the same pace, drew roughly a similar percentage of false shots, but had nothing to show for it.Mohammed Siraj leads India off the field•Getty ImagesOf course Siraj is no Bumrah. That’s why he said he only believes in Jassi , resulting in memes where Bumrah was shown saying “I only believe on Miyan .” Still he was far from ordinary in Australia, but took 20 wickets at an average of 31.15 in a seam-dominated series. If this keeps happening for long, even the most empathetic of observers start pointing at your career average: 31.83 at the start of this series.The beauty of this messy sport is that when everybody has been worried about Bumrah’s absence, on comes Siraj, starts as the second bowler behind Akash Deep with both the new balls, makes no causal change to the way he bowls and ends with a six-for. His lengths didn’t become more attacking or shorter, he extracted much less seam, and he swung the ball as much as he did in Leeds.The one change he made, though, was move his lines straighter, which you can afford to do when the pitch is slower and lower. From 47.5% balls in the channel in Leeds, his channel deliveries came down to 42.9%. His straight lines went up from 22.5% to 33.8%. These, though, are fine changes that bowlers regularly make to adjust to different pitches and match situations.1:53
What worked for Siraj and Akash Deep?
Siraj himself is no stranger to the quirks of fate in cricket. “I have been waiting for a year for a five-for,” he told Jio Hotstar. “I was getting stuck at four. I was bowling well but not getting wickets. This is a very special moment. Especially because I had only four-fors in England.”It is just that bit extra special because of the kind of lifeless pitch it has come on. The pitch has only got slower during the Test with no seam movement. There have been long periods, especially after the ball ages past 30 overs, when it is hard to see where the next wicket will come from. In such conditions, Siraj was just fire with the new ball. As was Akash Deep.Despite bowling the fewest overs among fast bowlers – not counting Prasidh Krishna because he bowled a spell full of bouncers – Siraj attacked the stumps most often, projected to hit the stumps 28 times. He got three wickets in those balls. In just 26 false shots, he got six wickets. At Headingley, he got two in 69. Control data might not be gospel, but this is stark.Siraj knows it. He lives with these quirks of the game. That’s why he can keep running in with the same spirit after a run of barren Tests. He will do the same in the second innings. Have some patience if he doesn’t get same results.
Takeaways: Fringe players make a mark, Mandhana doesn’t, fans have their say… there is change in the air all right
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Mar-2023More than just the cricket India’s women cricketers now know what it is like to play with a fan base in place, or how it feels to play in front of packed stands, or have your social media notifications blowing up. This wasn’t new for the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur or Smriti Mandhana, but certainly a different experience for the D Hemalathas and the Shreyanka Patils.India’s domestic structure is still a little old school, where coaches are taught to go by a rule book that players follow. So it was refreshing to see not-too-experienced players challenged by top-level coaches or elite players.Someone like Jammu & Kashmir’s Jasia Akhtar learnt to deal with success and failure from Meg Lanning. Anjali Sarvani improved the mechanics of her bowling action thanks to Ashley Noffke.From Alyssa Healy saying she was at the WPL to develop Indian talent, to World-Cup winning captain Heather Knight picking Richa Ghosh as the team-mate she wanted to get to know, the WPL threw up a variety of intangibles that players will benefit from.2:47
Healy: I like to lead from within the group and empower players
Fringe players make a splash Shreyanka Patil, on debut, walked out with Royal Challengers Bangalore six down against a rampaging Mumbai Indians, and crunched a pull for four first ball. She found the boundary three more times in an enterprising 15-ball stay.In the next game, against Gujarat Giants, she didn’t shy from tossing it up in her first over to an all-guns-blazing Sophia Dunkley and prised out her first WPL wicket; later, she bowled a nerveless 20th over where she accounted for Harleen Deol – the game’s top scorer – and conceded just nine runs.In the reverse fixture against Giants, she got the ball for the first time with the scoreboard reading 135 for 2 after 16 overs, and Laura Wolvaardt and Ashleigh Gardner in full flow. She dismissed both and gave away only 17 from her two overs.Two days later, Parshavi Chopra – just 16 and playing only her second game – too was tasked with bowling the 17th and 19th overs with D Hemalatha and Gardner threatening to take Giants towards 200. Unafraid to flight the ball, Chopra got both of them out – with Gardner fooled by a legspinner’s dream delivery.Hemalatha herself, through the tournament, was handed the thankless role for a specialist batter, almost exclusively walking out either with her top order having collapsed or with less than five overs remaining. Sample some of her scores: 29* off 23, 21* off 13, 16 off 7, 16* off 6. The one time she entered at a better stage, with Gujarat 50 for 3 in six overs in their last outing, against UP Warriorz, she smashed 57 off 33.Three players, at different stages of their careers, with different storylines. The common thread? None of them was too well known to the wider audience. Given difficult roles, they showed signs of blossoming. And they weren’t alone. Long may it continue.3:29
Meg Lanning: WPL made it easier for young girls to see what is possible
A learning experience for Mandhana Mandhana had a most forgettable WPL. Five losses to start the campaign as captain of Royal Challengers, finishing nearly at the bottom of the table, and for a change, struggling to get into a free-flowing rhythm at the top. That is one of the purposes of tournaments like the WPL: provide such learning experiences even for some of the established names.Apart from in domestic cricket, Mandhana had led India and Trailblazers in the past. But not like this. The WPL was a different deal because it gave her the captaincy for an entire tournament. It came with a lot more limelight and pressure compared to the Women’s T20 Challenge and might have put some price-tag pressure on her (she was the most expensive player at the auction). It may have also put her under constant scrutiny as captain and player, like every time she batted against an offspinner. She was also, for the first time, leading several stars in her team, such as Sophie Devine and world champions Ellyse Perry and Heather Knight.At the end of it, Mandhana will likely emerge as a much stronger player and captain, and could be more at ease in high-pressure situations to serve Indian cricket in the future. She is just 26, after all.1:32
Harmanpreet Kaur: Real benefits of WPL will be visible only in two or three years
Fans embrace the WPL, and how! When the WPL began, there was a bit of uncertainty about in-stadium attendance.The hope was that free entry for women and nominal ticket prices on the whole would sell out tickets, but that was no guarantee of footfalls. To expect Mumbaikars to travel to far-flung venues daily for women’s cricket was an ask irrespective of ticket rates.Related
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By Sunday, March 26, it felt like Brabourne Stadium didn’t have enough seats. But what stood out most was the diversity of the fans. Though predominantly male, there was a good mix.There were men in the old Mumbai Indians men’s jerseys, middle-aged women purchasing knock-off kits outside the venues, parents with little children headed to the venues in trains and buses, young girls in their club-cricket uniforms, housewives who play recreationally, students who have travelled from neighbouring towns like Pune and Kolhapur, and even stragglers in the hope of an unwanted, or unbought, ticket.The atmosphere the fans created was rare for women’s cricket in India and it was special to see packed stands even on weekdays. There were traditional Mumbai stadium chants and new, innovative ones. In Royal Challengers games, you would know where Ellyse Perry was fielding just by the cheer in that section. Delhi Capitals’ Shafali Verma was as good as a home player.So there is an audience. And the BCCI has been able to build on their pilot project of ticketing attendances during the India vs Australia series in December. Now for the next step.The atmosphere the fans created was rare for women’s cricket in India and it was special to see packed stands even on weekdays•BCCI2013 to 2023 – the change couldn’t be starker It’s a little embarrassing to think of it now, but for long, cricket boards the world over marketed the women’s game like a buy-one-get-one-free scheme with the men’s game.During the 2013 Women’s World Cup, the ICC sent out nearly 10,000 invites to as many as 50 schools in Mumbai for the opening game, held at Brabourne, and when not even 2000 seats were occupied, it left the ICC and the BCCI red-faced.A decade later, the contrast is stark. Both WPL venues – Brabourne and DY Patil Stadium – were sold to capacity several times over. Sure, women were awarded the privilege of watching games for free, but that the BCCI earned from gate receipts, even if it may cobble up to be a minuscule portion of their overall WPL earnings, was a heartening sign.It was also equally heartening to see media attendance reach unprecedented levels. There have been several instances over the past decade where thin attendances have forced organisers to instruct players to look left and right while answering questions from the same source, making it appear as if they were fielding questions from different corners of the room. But this time, when it was announced loud and clear that only one question would be allowed per journalist, it was bittersweet.Women umpires get a taste of the big time too Like it was for the players, the WPL was also a platform for less-experienced umpires to get a taste of cricket played under intense scrutiny. There were a number of women umpires in action, too – N Janani and Vrinda Rathi stood in the final. Of them, Rathi was part of the Commonwealth Games last year too.The level-up was not all hunky-dory. There were some errors that led to an increased level of scrutiny on the officials. But all said, the experience they gained is a good start which the BCCI should try and build on by having them officiate more regularly, perhaps even in senior men’s domestic matches, in the Ranji Trophy and other big-ticket competitions.
To be an ODI regular beyond the Sri Lanka tour, Pandey must go past Iyer, Yadav and Kishan
Varun Shetty16-Jul-2021Manish Pandey’s most memorable innings in Indian colours is probably his unbeaten 104 in Sydney in 2016, when India chased down 331 to avoid a 5-0 series defeat against Australia. It was only his fourth ODI appearance, an opportunity that had come seven years after he became the IPL’s first Indian century-maker in the 2009 edition.It seemed like a breakthrough innings at a time when India had four ODI heavyweights – Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and then captain MS Dhoni – and little else in their batting order, a kind of innings that Dhoni said, “gives you [an] extra 15 games to settle in and start to do what you need to do”.Getting 15 ODIs – numbers will tell you 50 overs is the limited-overs format that suits him more – in a row has remained an unfulfilled dream for Pandey, who has played a total of 26 matches in five stints. But, as unsurprisingly, it is not over for him yet. During the Sri Lanka tour starting this Sunday, Pandey will make another comeback, just months after being omitted from BCCI’s annual contracts’ list, in a year where he missed most of the Vijay Hazare Trophy 50-over tournament because of an injury and returned unremarkable numbers in the IPL.Related
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Pandey played in India’s next eight games after that Sydney match – his second go with the ODI side. In the three games in Zimbabwe, where India’s top three were so dominant, he only batted two balls all tour. The next gig – five ODIs against New Zealand at home – was his first full series for India. It was India’s penultimate series before the Champions Trophy in 2017.Pandey started the series at No. 4 and made starts on which he didn’t build. In the next three games, he was used between Nos. 5 and 6 and made his highest score of the series – an unbeaten 28 in a chase alongside Virat Kohli in the third ODI – before tapering off and finishing with a duck in the fifth match. That was in October 2016, and he didn’t play another game for almost a year. In the intervening period, Kohli took over as India captain and brought back a 35-year-old Yuvraj Singh, who made a roaring comeback before being left out a series after the Champions Trophy. Pandey was withdrawn with injury, and the two middle-order spots were taken by Singh and Kedar Jadhav.In October 2017, Pandey was back in the Indian squad touring Sri Lanka. He made the XI in the last two matches and struck an unbeaten 42-ball 50 in a partnership of 101 with Dhoni in the fourth ODI, and then scored 36 in a partnership of 99 with Kohli in the final ODI.This resulted in his second full series for India, the five matches against Australia at home. Once again, Pandey began the series at No. 4 and failed, before being pushed down to No. 6, where he made crucial 30s, one in a successful chase, and one where India just fell short.
Pandey’s return, with India’s 25 best players in England, has all the makings of yet another brief fling. It does have a whiff of a lucky break to it. What it doesn’t seem to have is a suggestion of a long-term plan.
In the next month, Pandey found himself out of the XI again for a series against New Zealand, losing his place to Dinesh Karthik, who had originally replaced KL Rahul from the squad that had played Australia. Later in the year, he played all three matches against Sri Lanka at home, batted once, and made 2 during India’s infamous slide to 29 for 7 in Dharamsala.After that series, Pandey has played in four matches for India, three of them early last year against Australia and New Zealand, despite missing out in the race for a World Cup spot in 2019, with the team management preferring batters like Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant at the time. In the year leading up to the 2019 World Cup, India tried seven batters at No. 4, but Pandey wasn’t one of them. He played only a single match during that period, at the Asia Cup.The reason he keeps coming back, perhaps, is that since the start of 2015, he averages 60.28 in 83 List A innings and strikes at 95.93, leaving selectors little choice but to keep him in mind. The pattern is almost set: he becomes undroppable through his performances at domestic and representational level, but misses out on the XI through various reasons, and then makes another case with another bumper domestic season.Is his average of 25.91 in 18 ODI innings since that hundred in Sydney a consequence of that uncertainty or is that uncertainty a result of his performances?Manish Pandey scored a century in Sydney in what was only his third ODI innings•Getty ImagesThere aren’t a lot of Pandey media interactions on the internet. The ones that exist have a general theme of him trying to be mentally strong, not looking too far ahead, and accepting that this is, perhaps, the toughest era to break into an Indian XI in your desired role. During India’s tour of South Africa in 2018, he “half-joked” that he had to see a doctor because of the uncertainty.Trying to understand what has happened, or, indeed, what the plan was, is difficult because India’s selection policy itself has been haphazard, particularly when major tournaments are around. Singh’s return in 2017 is a case in point. It sent a message that they would not mind picking a decent option with experience over an exciting option with potential, but then they went the opposite way with Ambati Rayudu just before the 2019 World Cup. In the time between those two tournaments, batters like Ajinkya Rahane and Suresh Raina found themselves in the mix while IPL performances also started to count for ODI selection.Pandey’s return, with India’s 25 best players in England, has all the makings of yet another brief fling. It does have a whiff of a lucky break to it, one you wouldn’t grudge him given how his career has gone. What it doesn’t seem to have is a suggestion of a long-term plan. To play limited-overs cricket beyond this tour, Pandey will have to go past Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan.Perhaps, this is an endeavour to give him match time in a T20 World Cup year – a format in which current form often trumps long-term planning – but like any other point during the last five years, the uncertainty continues to linger.
O Nova Iguaçu vive grande momento neste início de temporada, e um dos destaques da equipe tem sido o atacante Xandinho. Autor do gol do Laranjão sobre o Vasco, no empate em 1 a 1 na ida da semifinal do Carioca, o camisa 7 do Laranjão falou sobre o sentimento de marcar em um jogo tão importante e comentou a polêmica do VAR no lance.
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➡️ Siga o Lance! no WhatsApp e acompanhe em tempo real as principais notícias do esporte
– O sentimento é de gratidão e felicidade! Foi minha primeira vez jogando no Maracanã. Eu prometi pra mim e pra Deus que só pisaria no Maracanã se fosse pra eu jogar e isso aconteceu marcando ainda um belo gol! Agradeço a Deus, ao Nova Iguaçu e todos meus familiares, além das pessoas que são responsáveis por gerir minha carreira. E sobre o gol analisado pelo VAR, entendemos que a decisão final foi justa – disse Xandinho, em entrevista ao Lance!.
O atacante falou também sobre a partida de volta, no próximo domingo (17), e prezou cautela e respeito pelo Vasco. Por ter se classificado à frente do adversário na Taça Guanabara, o Nova Iguaçu tem a vantagem do empate no confronto. No entanto, Xandinho afirmou que a equipe tem de manter a coragem que vem apresentando nos jogos.
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– Consideramos e sabemos da grandeza do Vasco da Gama. Sabemos que é uma equipe qualificada e temos que ter cautela nesse jogo de volta. Porém iremos nos comportar com a coragem de sempre como estamos fazendo em todas as partidas. A expectativa é de fazer mais um grande jogo e se Deus quiser, sairmos com a classificação – afirmou o atacante.
Por fim, o camisa 7 do time da Baixada Fluminense respondeu sobre a preparação para a sequência de jogos decisivos, tanto no Carioca quanto na Copa do Brasil, contra times de Série A. Além do duelo com o Vasco no estadual, o Nova Iguaçu enfrenta o Internacional nesta quarta-feira (13), pela competição nacional. Xandinho elogiou o staff do clube e falou sobre o suporte dado aos jogadores.
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– O Staff do clube está trabalhando de maneira muito inteligente quanto a sequência de jogos grandes. Nós jogadores temos todo o suporte para pensarmos apenas no campo e jogo – disse o jogador.