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Manchester United have been on the hunt for a new central midfielder over the last couple of months, with Ruben Amorim wanting added reinforcements at the heart of the side.

The 40-year-old has made such a position the priority for the upcoming window, in an attempt to strengthen their standing in the Premier League before the end of the season.

Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes have largely been the go-to partnership over recent months, but given that the Brazilian is now 33, a long-term solution is undoubtedly needed.

Kobbie Mainoo would undoubtedly be the supporters’ first choice to fill the void, but it appears as though the youngster could be heading closer to the exit door.

As a result, numerous options have appeared on their radar in recent weeks, with the hierarchy evidently making moves ahead of the window opening in a couple of weeks.

United’s hunt for a new central midfielder this January

Adam Wharton has been one name on the tip of many United fans’ tongues over the last few weeks, with rumours circulating over a possible move for the Englishman.

It was reported earlier this week that the Red Devils are preparing a bid in the region of £87m to land the Crystal Palace star – a deal that would be a huge investment from INEOS.

However, it’s thought that the Eagles are hugely reluctant to offload their star man, which could make a deal somewhat tricky to complete this winter.

As a result, other options are being considered, which has led to rumours over a deal for Atlético Madrid star Conor Gallagher resurfacing once again.

Journalist Ben Jacobs stated this week that Amorim’s men could be tempted to revisit a move for the 25-year-old, who only joined the LaLiga side last summer.

He also stated the hierarchy could be tempted by a potential loan deal, but it’s unclear if Diego Simeone’s side would be willing to let him leave on a temporary basis.

Why United’s latest target would be the next Mount

Back in the summer of 2023, United secured the £60m signing of midfielder Mason Mount from Chelsea – a deal that massively raised eyebrows at the time.

Such a figure was seen as too expensive for the Englishman, something which was only magnified as a result of his constant battles with injuries in his first two years at Old Trafford.

He could only make 47 appearances in his first two seasons in Manchester, but it appears she’s put his struggles behind him in 2025/26, with the 26-year-old now in the form of his life.

Amorim has stuck by him in recent months, with Mount repaying the favour, as seen by his tally of three league goals this season – two of which have come in the last three games.

At present, he’s a key member of the United squad and could play a massive role when the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo go to AFCON in the coming weeks.

However, the hierarchy could complete a similar deal to Mount with a move for Gallagher, with the Atlético star also coming through the ranks at Chelsea before starring as a professional.

Like a deal for the midfielder a couple of years ago, many supporters have voiced their displeasure at a deal for the LaLiga star, but it could prove to be a shrewd addition.

His stats from the ongoing campaign showcase his talents, with many of which massively bolstering the options currently at the disposal of the manager at Old Trafford.

Gallagher, who’s been dubbed a “monster” by one analyst, has won 2.5 tackles and made 1.6 interceptions per 90, with such numbers showcasing his dominant ball-winning presence that Amorim craves.

Games played

16

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

88%

Shots taken

1.4

Progressive carries

2.7

Progressive passes

3.9

Tackles made

2.5

Interceptions made

1.6

Carries into opposition box

0.9

He’s also made 0.9 carries into the opposition box as part of his 2.7 progressive carries per 90, highlighting his ability with the ball when winning it back for his side.

Gallagher, who earns £150k-per-week, has completed 88% of the passes he’s attempted to date, with 3.9 of which per 90 going into the final third, further reaffirming his incredible ball-playing talents.

Such a deal may be tricky to conduct for the Red Devils this window, but it would be a superb piece of business and one that could take the side to the next level.

If he can achieve the heights achieved by Mount, it would be an excellent deal and one that could finally end the hierarchy’s hunt for a new number eight in 2026.

Man Utd gem could be "the world's best", but he's becoming the new Mainoo

Manchester United have one star in their ranks who could suffer the same fate as Kobbie Mainoo.

ByEthan Lamb 3 days ago

It seems like Manchester United will focus the next stage of their rebuild on the midfield. There are a few players who have futures up in the air, at least in the short term. One of those is Casemiro, whose contract expires in the summer, and it is unclear at this stage if he will extend his deal at Old Trafford.

The other player who might not have a clear future at United is Kobbie Mainoo. He has been underused by Ruben Amorim this season, and could depart the club on loan in January, with Napoli one side who could make a move.

If they do leave, there are a few midfielders from within the Premier League that United could target.

United’s main midfield target

A recent report from TEAMTalk suggests that United have three names on their shortlist when it comes to a new midfielder. All of those currently play in the Premier League, with Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton two of those players.

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The third man is someone who is one of the most highly rated midfielders in the Premier League right now.

TEAMtalk report that the Red Devils ‘would like to seal a deal’ for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson as one of their key targets in the middle of the park.

This will not be a straightforward deal to do, with the England international a player of interest to former club Newcastle United, too.

However, the Red Devils are showing a keen interest and could look to get a £60m deal over the line. Forest, however, would want closer to £80m if this move were to go ahead.

Man Utd's perfect Carrick successor

There is no doubt that 23-year-old Anderson is one of the most exciting midfielders in England. Described by Thomas Tuchel as “one of the best midfielders in the Premier League”, he’s seemingly secured a spot in the German’s starting lineup for the 2026 World Cup.

He has been exceptional this season in the middle of the park for Forest. In a campaign of great turmoil where they’ve had three different managers, the 23-year-old has been incredibly consistent, playing 14 games, scoring and assisting once.

That included a superb assist for Chris Wood on the opening day of the season.

His underlying numbers also reflect just how well he has played. The boyhood Newcastle star ranks in the top 1% of Premier League midfielders for several key metrics, including progressive passes per 90 minutes, of which he’s played 8.82, and ball recoveries, completing 8.36 each game.

Passes completed

63.73

97th

Progressive passes

8.82

99th

Passes into final third

8.55

99th

Take-ons completed

1.27

97th

Ball recoveries

8.36

99th

There are certainly similarities between Anderson and one of the all-time great midfielders in United’s history, Michael Carrick.

The former England international was metronomic at the heart of the Red Devils midfield for many years, shining under Sir Alex Ferguson especially.

He made 464 appearances for the 13-time Premier League champions, winning five of those league titles and one Champions League.

He even chipped in from the base of midfield with 24 goals and 35 assists.

He was a player highly rated by teammates, with Gary Neville saying he brought “authority, control, peace” to the pitch. This is certainly similar to Anderson, who, as the numbers show, is a true controller in the midfield, able to dictate play at will.

Anderson, it feels like, could bring a similar level of composure to the United midfield that Carrick did all those years ago. England boss Tuchel thinks highly of him, describing him as “a very complete, mobile central midfielder.”

However, it is not just their playstyle that is eerily similar. Carrick was born and raised in the North East, just like Anderson, with the pair growing up in close geographical areas. There are a few fair connections between the duo.

In signing Anderson, United could be adding their new Carrick to the middle of the park. He could certainly bring the same sort of brilliance on the ball and tenacity without it that their former number 16 did during his time at the club.

Man Utd have their own version of Semenyo & he's Amorim's "best player"

Manchester United are again being linked with Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo, heading into January…

ByRobbie Walls Nov 19, 2025

At Manchester United, there is a newfound sense of hope and optimism. Much has changed in recent weeks for Ruben Amorim, who has overseen a five-match unbeaten run in the Premier League and is knocking on the top four door.

The Red Devils have strengthened their spine, core players reborn in an alliance of security and stability stretching down the Old Trafford pitch.

But something is still lacking, and it’s clear that the Old Trafford side need a centre-midfielder to take their resurgence to the next level.

Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton is among those at the top of INEOS’s shopping list.

Man Utd's interest in Adam Wharton

The engine room bears one of the most glaring holes in Amorim’s Manchester United squad. Casemiro has been resurgent this season, but the Brazilian is 33 and new deep-lying midfielders must be signed.

That’s where Wharton comes in.

It has been felt for a number of months that the 21-year-old Three Lions star ranks high on United’s list of targets, and he would certainly open up avenues in the middle of the park, ranked among the top 10% of midfielders across Europe for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for through balls per 90, as per FBref.

This is an up-and-coming superstar who is never content with where he is. By completing a transfer to the Theatre of Dreams, he could at least take a giant step toward the very top of the European game.

However, Palace will not let their prized prospect leave easily, and have actually priced him at around £100m as interest continues to swell.

While Wharton would be a credit to the Red Devils project, Amorim actually has his own version of the England international, and he must start unleashing him.

Amorim must unleash his "future £100m" star

If it’s not clear already who the man in question is here, Kobbie Mainoo will no doubt feel that he has what it takes to nail down a regular starting role in Amorim’s Man United project. But he’s got a long way to go.

While the thought of adding Wharton to the ranks is exciting, United might have their own version in Mainoo, with the 20-year-old out of favour right now but having been hailed by former teammate Rasmus Hojlund after winning the FA Cup – and scoring against City in the final – as being a “generational” talent.

Paul Scholes noted that watching the powerful star on the ball and in his groove was “poetry in motion”.

But there’s no question that he has regressed since Amorim took to the dugout, left out in the cold all too often by a manager who has not been won over by his skillset.

Matches (starts)

24 (24)

25 (19)

Goals

3

0

Assists

1

0

Touches*

49.0

46.0

Pass completion

87%

87%

Big chances created

0

4

Key passes*

0.6

0.6

Dribbles*

1.3

0.9

Ball recoveries*

4.0

3.5

Tackles + interceptions*

2.9

2.6

Duels (won)*

5.0 (52%)

4.4 (45%)

This season, the England international’s statistics are not worth collating, having been reduced to seven cameos in the Premier League, averaging out at 22 minutes per match.

Amorim does not have a vendetta against Mainoo, and rather, harbours concerns over the Carrington graduate’s intensity and tactical suitability within the system.

But he’s shown that he has what it takes, and with a little fine-tuning over the coming months, Mainoo’s technical quality and natural athleticism could see him win the head coach over and cement a position of prominence under the Theatre’s spotlights.

After all, the homegrown hero has been hailed as a “future £100m+ footballer”, and so the last thing United want is for him to slip through their fingers.

The new Ronaldo: Man Utd preparing British-record bid for £200m superstar

Manchester United are looking to make further attacking investments after this summer’s spending.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 17, 2025

Former MLB pitcher Brian Matusz, who passed away on January 6, died from a suspected drug overdose, according to a report from the Phoenix Police Department that was obtained by . Matusz, who was 37, spent the majority of his eight-year career with the Baltimore Orioles.

According to the report, Matusz's mother Elizabeth went to his house to check on him. When there was no answer at the door, she entered the residence through a bathroom window and discovered Brian laying on his back on a couch in an upstairs room. Matusz was cold to the touch with a white substance in his mouth, and drug paraphernalia in the form of a lighter, a straw and a small piece of aluminum foil were discovered on the floor near his right hand.

The Phoenix Police Department said there were no apparent injuries, trauma or signs of foul play.

Matusz, who had a history of substance abuse, was advised to seek the help of a mental health professional after he was taken to the emergency room two days before his death. The reason for the visit was redacted in the report. Matusz's mother told police that he made comments like "there is nothing left for me" and that he used to "have it all."

After a standout career at the University of San Diego, Matusz, the fourth overall pick in the 2008 MLB draft, became a full-time starter in his second season in the big leagues, tossing 175 2/3 innings for Baltimore in 2010. During his career as both a reliever and a starter, he, somewhat famously, became known for his effectiveness against Hall of Famer David Ortiz, whom he held to a .138 batting average in his career. In 280 games, Matusz recorded a 4.92 ERA.

Gill went past 50 for the fourth time in the series as he and Rahul helped India recover from two early wickets

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jul-2025

KL Rahul and Shubman Gill had a good partnership after two early wickets•Associated Press

Tea Shubman Gill and KL Rahul weathered a testing spell from England’s bowlers to produce a wicketless middle session on day four in Manchester, but it was perhaps the only thing that went India’s way after Ben Stokes’ century carried his team to a total of 669 and a lead of 311. Then Chris Woakes struck twice in the first over before India could score any runs to create incredible drama.India went to tea at 86 for 2, still 225 runs behind. They could easily have lost their captain for 46 had Liam Dawson been able to hold on to a tough catch at gully but Gill made the most of that generosity to continue his run-spree. He went past Virat Kohli’s 655 runs against England in 2016 and is chasing down Sunil Gavaskar’s record of most runs as an Indian captain in a Test series (732).Stokes did not bring himself to bowl any of the 29 overs so far, a sign of perhaps the workload he has already taken on. He is playing back to back Tests. He picked up a five-for in the first innings and backed it up with a century – a rare feat among players and even rarer among captains. In scoring 141, he broke a spell of 35 innings without a hundred and earned himself a spot among the best allrounders in the history of cricket. There were, prior to his efforts at Old Trafford, only two with 7000 runs and 200 wickets – Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis.England’s innings reached incredible heights – 669 was their fifth-highest total in Tests – and it ended with 15 minutes for their bowlers to target India before lunch. Woakes produced a beauty from around the wicket to trap Yashasvi Jaiswal for a duck – angled in, seaming away, taking the leading edge to first slip. Then Sai Sudharsan made a mistake born out of spending 157 overs in the field, fatigue resulting in him misjudging a ball that was short and wide. In the end, he ended up getting caught at second slip trying to play the leave.

Visitors enjoy a healthy but not dominant opening day against relegation rivals Yorkshire at York

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jun-2025

Essex 248 for 3 (Westley 107, Elgar 94) vs YorkshireCaptain Tom Westley’s determined 107 represented his second successive century in the Rothesay County Championship as his Essex side enjoyed a healthy but not dominant day one against relegation rivals Yorkshire at York.Former South Africa Test captain Dean Elgar fell narrowly short of scoring his first century of the season, falling for an opening 94 off 248 balls late on during an attritional day which Essex closed on 248 for 3 from 96 overs.Westley, who hit 12 fours in 239 balls, shared 198 for the second wicket with left-handed Elgar from early morning to late evening.The pair came together with the score on 24 during the opening exchanges of a Division One clash which had started with Westley opting to bat first on a glorious Minster City day.Yorkshire and Essex came into the contest separated by 14 points in the table, the former occupying ninth place – the second relegation spot ahead of Worcestershire – and the latter in eighth.Elgar will be mightily frustrated at not batting through the entire day, while Westley has had quite the week. Both fell against the second new ball to seamers Will Sutherland and Ben Coad.This Westley innings came hot on the heels of his 130 not out on the final day against Hampshire at Chelmsford on Wednesday, helping to secure a draw when a defeat had been a distinct possibility at the start of the day.Both sides handed debuts to a trio of overseas players between them.Australian allrounder Sutherland and Pakistani batter Abdullah Shafique are playing only one match apiece for Yorkshire, with Indian seamer Khaleel Ahmed starting his half-season stint with Essex.Essex enjoyed much the better of the morning, despite losing opener Paul Walter caught at second slip off a leading edge as he looked to whip Jack White to leg in the 10th over.Elgar’s first of 11 boundaries was beautifully pushed down the ground off George Hill’s bowling and he later reached his fifty off 116 balls – in the same over which saw Westley get to the same milestone off 90. By that stage, Essex were 117 for one in the 39th.Westley was the more aggressive of the two batters, though neither were able to cut loose from a Yorkshire bowling attack who kept things tight with the Kookaburra ball and kicked the door ajar late on.Aside from a lack of wickets, there wasn’t a plethora of chances created by Yorkshire’s bowlers, who had to deal with a lack of movement and pace in the pitch.The one obvious one that did arrive, Adam Lyth was unable to hold on at slip off Dom Bess’s off-spin with Elgar on 69 shortly before tea, where Essex reached at 164 for 1 from 64 overs.The day’s first of only five extras came at the start of the 67th over, a leg bye as Bess bowled to Elgar. That indicated the discipline from Yorkshire’s bowling attack.The hope is that the pitch will break up as the contest goes on to bring the likes of Bess and Essex’s off-spinner Simon Harmer more into things.If not, supporters and players alike could be in for a long four days.When Westley, who was classy on the drive, reached his latest century off 227 balls, Essex were 206 for 1 in the 83rd over, the new ball now in operation.However, both fell in successive overs as Essex went from 222 for 1 to 226 for 3 in the 87th.Westley was trapped lbw playing back against Coad before pulling Elgar was caught behind one-handed down leg by Jonny Bairstow off Sutherland.England fringe batter Jordan Cox will begin day two unbeaten on 13.

Tottenham Hotspur fans have been blessed by countless attacking talents over the years, many of whom have handed the supporters memories to last a lifetime.

Whilst he failed to claim any silverware in North London, striker Harry Kane will arguably go down as one of the best ever players to represent the Lilywhites.

The 32-year-old posted an incredible tally of 280 goals during his decade in the first-team squad, often being the go-to player in terms of producing the goods within attacking areas.

His subsequent tally saw him overtake Jimmy Greaves in the club’s history books, becoming the Lilywhites’ all-time leading scorer in the league and all competitions.

However, his departure in 2023 has left a huge hole at the top end of the pitch, with Thomas Frank yet to find a suitable successor during the early months of his tenure.

What Frank has made of Richarlison in 2025/26

With Dominic Solanke’s injury issues coming back to bite him in the early stages of the 2025/26 campaign, new boss Frank has had to rely upon Richarlison to provide the goods in the final third.

The Brazilian looked set to depart to join Galatasaray during the summer transfer window, but the Dane’s arrival seemingly gave the forward a new lease of life in North London.

He netted twice on the opening day against Burnley, also scoring against Brighton & Hove Albion – but has come under fire in recent weeks amid his lack of impact.

The 28-year-old has now failed to score in any of his last four outings for the Lilywhites, which has led to criticism from the fanbase over his long-term future at the club.

However, Frank himself has previously spoken about Richarlison’s impact, offering a glowing review of the forward and praising him for his form since taking the reins.

In a recent interview, the Dane stated: “Right now he’s my starting nine, he’s scored some fantastic goals. He is a very good player, and I’m very happy with him.”

Despite the praise, rumours have also been swirling around his future, potentially seeing him move to the MLS to join Orlando City in the upcoming transfer window.

There’s no denying that the hierarchy will be targeting reinforcements in such an area in the distant future, but they could save themselves millions by unleashing one player within their ranks.

The Spurs star who could be a Harry Kane regen

Whoever fills the void for Spurs in the centre-forward position will have huge expectations placed upon them, mainly due to the impact produced by Kane.

Losing a world-class level talent is always going to provide a near-impossible task of replacing him, as seen by the Lilywhites’ attempts in recent years since his departure.

Given Solanke’s recent issues with fitness and Richarlison’s inability to provide the goods on a consistent basis, a solution desperately needs to be found if the manager is to be a success in the role.

However, the £110m spending spree this summer may have a bearing on the levels of funds available next year, with the manager needing to consider utilising Will Lankshear.

The 20-year-old is a product of the Lilywhites’ academy, just like Kane, but the similarities go deeper than just his route to becoming a professional.

He was sent on his first loan spell last campaign, subsequently joining West Brom in January, but was unable to make the desired impact after failing to find the net in his 11 outings.

Kane suffered a similar fate back in 2010/11, with the Englishman struggling to set the world alight during his first loan spell at Leyton Orient in League One.

Games played

9

Goals scored

3

Pass accuracy

78%

Chances created

1.6

Shots on target

1.2

Dribble success

57%

Aerials won

46%

Fouls won

1.9

However, Lankshear has seemingly impressed in England’s second tier so far this season, already netting three times in his nine outings for Oxford United.

Such form has seen the forward be labelled a “Harry Kane regen” by one analyst, further highlighting the huge potential he possesses at present.

There’s no disputing that Lankshear will need to make a huge jump between starring for Oxford and the Lilywhites, but it’s something that Kane managed to do upon his break into the squad.

Such a move won’t be the supporters’ main one, but it’s a cost-effective one that could certainly make the club millions should he reach the levels achieved by his compatriot.

As for Richarlison, if the youngster manages to cement his place within the first team ranks, it could certainly spell the end for him in North London despite the manager’s hefty recent praise.

Frank may have found Spurs' new Kane-type player in "incredible" star

Tottenham Hotspur are brewing their next Harry Kane-type player in this England star.

ByDan Emery Oct 15, 2025

Celtic confirmed their place in the last four of the League Cup on Sunday afternoon with a comfortable 4-0 win over Partick Thistle away from home.

The Hoops strolled to a victory that was never in any serious doubt throughout the 90 minutes, thanks to goals from Hyun-jun Yang, Liam Scales, Sebastian Tounekti, and Luke McCowan.

After a promising debut against Kilmarnock last time out, creating four chances (per Sofascore), Tounekti caught the eye once again with his performance on the left flank.

Why Sebastian Tounekti is already a star player for Celtic

Brendan Rodgers handed the Tunisia international another start after his bow in the Scottish Premiership last weekend, and was rewarded with an impressive display.

Tounekti was a constant threat down the left side, particularly in the first half, and Premier Sports pundit Michael Stewart described him as the “danger man” for Celtic, because he “unsettles” defenders.

He was heavily involved in the opening goal for the Hoops with his excellent pass in behind for Benjamin Nygren to cross to the far post for Yang, as shown in the clip below.

The left-sided attacker then showed his quality in front of goal by scoring after a one-two with Kelechi Iheanacho, which is why the forward should be considered a star player for the team already, as he can create, he can dribble, and he can score goals.

Tounekti was far from the only impressive performer on the park for the Scottish giants, though, as Iheanacho showed that he is a player for the fans to be excited about.

Why Celtic fans should be excited about Kelechi Iheanacho

After the disappointment of deadline day, it would be hard to blame any supporter for not being too excited by the arrival of the Nigeria international on a free transfer after Sevilla were willing to terminate his contract.

The left-footed striker only scored four goals in 26 appearances in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore, for Middlesbrough and Sevilla combined, which did little to help the lack of excitement around his signing.

However, Iheanacho’s first two performances have shown that he is a player who the supporters should be excited about, after scoring a 96th-minute penalty against Kilmarnock on his debut last weekend.

The former Manchester City striker was rewarded with his first start for the club for this clash with Partick Thistle and delivered an impressive centre-forward showing.

Premier Sports commentator Rory Hamilton claimed that Iheanacho and Tounekti are players “to be excited about” moving forward this season, and both players combined for the third goal in the match for Celtic.

As you can see in the clip above, the Celtic striker did brilliantly to flick the ball round the corner to tee the winger up to score, showing great awareness, creativity, and technical ability.

That was not a one-off for Iheanacho in the match. He consistently held the ball up and produced impressive flicks to find teammates making advances towards the opposition’s box.

The 28-year-old star, who was handed a 7/10 player rating by GlasgowWorld, was a fantastic facilitator for his teammates with the creativity and reliability in his hold-up play, against Partick Thistle defenders who wanted to get tight and physical with him.

Iheanacho was as good as Tounekti, as both players showed that they were too good for the opposition to deal with, and supporters must now be excited about what the forward can produce over the course of an entire season if he can stay fit.

Worth more than Tounekti: Celtic are brewing the new Reo Hatate at Parkhead

Celtic have a brilliant midfield star who could be the club’s next Reo Hatate in the middle of the park.

By
Dan Emery

Sep 16, 2025

Hopefully, Rodgers will select both players in the starting line-up when Celtic kick off their Europa League campaign against Red Star Belgrade on Wednesday night.

“We need more domestic players like Vipraj Nigam to step up in the IPL,” Varun Aaron says

Ekanth11-Apr-20253:02

Are Delhi Capitals the most balanced side this IPL?

With Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam, Delhi Capitals (DC) have arguably the best spin attack in IPL 2025. But are DC also the most balanced side in the competition, given that Axar and Nigam’s all-round skills add depth to their batting order and provide six bowling options without having to think too much?After KL Rahul led them to victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Sanjay Bangar and Piyush Chawla suggested that Capitals weren’t quite there yet but were very much in the conversation.”Good bowling attack, they still have some issues at the top of the order,” Bangar said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. “Top order hasn’t really fired for them as expected. But with KL Rahul and [Tristan] Stubbs – like now Stubbs’ second back-to-back season that he’s really producing the goods for them – [they are] clearly a team to watch out for.”Related

KL Rahul hands RCB another loss in Bengaluru

You have to graft for runs at the Chinnaswamy now

Behind-the-wicket lessons told Rahul 'what pockets to target'

Chawla agreed. “They look like a good balanced side, but there is always a scope of improvement. Top of the order and I’ll say the fast-bowling department just feel… maybe a few wickets with the new ball, like you can’t always be dependent on [Mitchell] Starc and Mukesh [Kumar] all the time. When spinners are bowling in the powerplay, they have to come into the party as well.”They do have a point about the top of the batting order.Jake-Fraser McGurk, who has opened in all four of DC’s games so far, averages 11.50. Abishek Porel and Faf du Plessis, the others in the top three, also average in the 20s and the three of them have one half-century between them. Rahul, who was promoted to open against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), slotted back to No. 4 and had to pull off a rescue act against RCB. He led the way from the top of the order in du Plessis’ absence in the last game too.On the bowling front, they have Starc and Kuldeep, who have 17 wickets between them, but Phil Salt smashed 30 off a Starc over and 16 off an Axar over in the powerplay on Thursday. DC fought back strongly with Nigam dismissing Virat Kohli and joining Kuldeep later on to dismantle RCB’s middle order and reducing them to 125 for 7, before scripting a six-wicket win.3:17

Bangar: Rahul’s assault on Hazlewood was ‘terrific batsmanship’

Vipraj Nigam ‘a great find’Varun Aaron, the former India quick, said that along with his bowling, Nigam’s ability with the bat has highlighted the importance of domestic talent coming through in IPL 2025.”Vipraj was brilliant tonight, he’s a great find for Delhi Capitals,” Aaron said on JioStar. “He’s contributed with the ball and, as we’ve seen, can be destructive with the bat too. Going forward, he’s great value for the investment Delhi Capitals made in him. We need more domestic players like him to step up in the IPL and help take their teams over the line.”Nigam and Kuldeep finished with 2 for 18 and 2 for 17, respectively, to stop RCB at 163 for 7. They bowled 23 dots in the eight overs between them. That set up DC’s win, but watching them do their stuff worried Stubbs.”I went in at the break thinking ‘how are we going to make a run here’,” Stubbs, who went on to play the perfect second fiddle to Rahul in the chase, said at the post-match press conference. “It looked like it was really hard to bat, so I was like, ‘flip, what am I going to do’. But that just shows the three of them are world-class spinners. Kuldeep’s, if not the best in the world, [among them] at the moment.”2:13

Why was Kuldeep difficult to attack at Chinnaswamy?

Stubbs: ‘If you can get through net sessions, you feel confident’Stubbs, who bats in the top order in South Africa’s Test side and in the middle order in their white-ball sides, drew from his international experience to stitch a match-winning 111-run partnership with Rahul. His contribution wasn’t insignificant: 38 not in 23 balls.”I think my roles recently have been so different, like face the new ball in Test cricket and then, I feel like international cricket can still sort of be classed as old-school cricket because the scores aren’t as big as they are here [in the IPL], so you’re always that space,” he said. “So, you just fall back on past experiences and then, when it’s really good, it frees you up to [go], ‘okay, I can just play here’. But yeah, it’s tough playing different situations but it’s cricket and that’s why we love it.”Now, if spin does become more and more impactful at the IPL, Stubbs should be ready for it.”Kuldeep I faced in one net session. He actually asked to bowl to me because the last time he bowled to me was the [T20] World Cup final. So, he wanted to do it again,” Stubbs said. “But, honestly, if you can get through that net session, you feel really confident because they [DC’s spinners] are bowling really well.”And then if you walk out of that session feeling good, then you know you’re in good stead.”

Wasim Jaffer said that they will need to find a way to win games at the start of tournaments going forward

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Mar-20256:01

A deep dive into Afghanistan’s recent rise

Dale Steyn backed Afghanistan to win an ICC tournament within the next decade. To do so, he suggested that they inject patience into their individual and collective games.Afghanistan beat England in a thriller in Lahore but couldn’t make the knockouts of the Champions Trophy 2025. They lost their first match to South Africa and looked in trouble against Australia as well before rain intervened.”Back in the day, a lot of players would go play county cricket,” Steyn said, “Or they would go play first-class cricket to improve their skills and improve their patience really. I think we live in a time now where people are not patient enough. We can hardly watch two seconds on an Instagram story and it just feels like the Afghanistan players are similar when they’re playing their cricket.”They want things to happen so quickly. This ball must be a wicket, there’s no patience to building up and taking a wicket. And sometimes, the batters are the same, they’re batting in the first over. There’s so much movement happening in the crease, so they’re trying to hit a six and they’re trying to get the game going.Related

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“I think a lot of them play T20 cricket around the world, which is great, it’s great for their pockets and it’s great for them to learn. But, maybe, spending some time in four-day games might help, because one-day cricket is essentially a shortened version of a Test match. It’s got its moments where T20 is applied. But patience is one of the biggest things that Afghanistan players need to learn, and once they get that down, honestly, in the next decade, they could win ICC tournaments, for sure.”5:03

How can Afghanistan build on their progress?

Wasim Jaffer, who also praised Afghanistan’s rapid rise at the international level, identified their inability to hit the ground running in tournaments and fragility in their batting line-up as issues they need to look into going forward.Ibrahim Zadran made a match-winning 177 against England but Sediqullah Atal couldn’t convert his 85 against Australia into a big score. Their top-three have not set up a game collectively and Rahmanullah Gurbaz, arguably their best batter, finished with 16 runs in three games.”Afghanistan are on the rise,” Jaffer said “And you’ve got to applaud them because they’ve played semi-finals [at the 2024 T20 World Cup], they’ve beaten good teams and, when they beat anybody it’s not an upset anymore. So, you can expect Afghanistan to put on a show.””They will be disappointed [with] the way they started the first game. In such a short tournament, it’s important to start really well because you don’t get too many chances. One loss and you could be out of the tournament, which happened here.”Their batting needs to improve as well. We say that they are not a big chasing team. Their [Nos.] 3, 4, 5, even though Atal played well today, Rahmat Shah needs to be more consistent. He got a 90 in the first game, [Hashmatullah] Shahidi got stuck today, Gurbaz is their main player, he had a very off tournament. That’s where I think they lacked this time.”