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West Ham United have now submitted an enquiry over a deal to sign one of England’s hottest rising stars, who is expected to cost over £40m this summer, according to a report.

West Ham set sights on new midfielder

In truth, West Ham may have to strengthen in a number of different positions if they are to kick on next season, having collected just 43 points in the 2024-25 campaign, resulting in a 14th-placed finish, but there is a real desire to bring in a new midfielder.

Indeed, the Hammers have identified a number of targets in midfield over the past week, with it most recently being revealed they are leading the race to sign Club Brugge’s Raphael Onyedika, despite rival interest from fellow Premier League side Everton.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Raphael Onyedika

Club Brugge

£25.5m

Yunus Musah

AC Milan

£21m

Mario Stroeykens

Anderlecht

£17m

Stroeykens differs a little from the other targets, given that the Belgian is attack-minded, predominantly featuring in an advanced role for Anderlecht last season, and the Irons also have their eye on a similar type of player from within the Premier League.

That is according to a report from The Boot Room, which states West Ham have now submitted an enquiry over a deal for Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott, having been closely monitoring the Englishman’s situation at Anfield.

There could well be fierce competition for Elliott’s signature, however, with nearly half of the Premier League submitting enquiries of their own, including Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, who are set to take part in next season’s Champions League.

RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund headline the interest from abroad, with Jurgen Klopp pushing to sign his former player, and the Reds are willing to cash-in on the attacking midfielder if they receive an offer of more than £40m.

"Phenomenal" Elliott leads England U21s to Euros glory

England retained their U21 European Championships title courtesy of a 3-2 victory against Germany on Saturday night, and the Liverpool maestro played a major role in the triumph, scoring a total of five goals throughout the tournament.

However, the 22-year-old didn’t play anywhere near as significant a role in Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph last season, picking up just one goal and two assists after featuring sporadically throughout the campaign.

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As such, the Englishman may need to move on this summer, and his performances for his country suggest he could be capable of making a real impact elsewhere, so it is exciting news that West Ham are in the mix for his signature.

Having been lauded as “phenomenal” by journalist David Lynch, Elliott could be a fantastic addition to Graham Potter’s squad, and the fact he has Premier League experience could make the England U21 star a preferable option to Stroeykens, who is unproven outside Belgium.

A huge summer awaits for Everton.

As outlined by Rob Tanner of The Athletic, the Toffees currently have ten first-team players out of contract, which is more than any other Premier League club, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Idrissa Gana Gueye and captain Séamus Coleman, to name but a few.

So, as they move into their brand-new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, there’s going to be plenty of work for David Moyes and the back room staff to do in the transfer window, but could a current member of the squad step up and come to the fore?

The latest on Abdoulaye Doucouré's Everton future

As was widely reported this week, Abdoulaye Doucouré will leave Everton this summer as a free agent, following the expiration of his contract, stating that he is “sad to leave” and that he “will be forever a Blue”.

After scoring the winner at Nottingham Forest last month, the Mali international mimed answering the phone and signing a contract, overtly stating his desire to stay, but his five-year association with the Toffees will come to an end, with Sunday’s trip to Newcastle set to be his 166th and final appearance for the club.

Given that Doucouré has started 31 of Everton’s 37 Premier League matches to date this season, one of the five he missed being due to a red card picked up after full time of the Merseyside derby celebrations, he will be a tough man to replace.

But do the Toffees already have a young star coming through ready to do just that?

Everton's next midfield stalwart

Cast your mind back to last summer when, as outlined by Gabriele Marcotti of ESPN, certain Premier League clubs, namely Newcastle, Nottingham Forest, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Everton, were swapping players on the cusp of the 30 June deadline, thereby avoiding breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules.

One such deal saw Villa sign Lewis Dobbin for a reported £10m from Everton, while Tim Iroegbunam went in the opposite direction, costing the Toffees a reported £9m.

The majority of the players involved in these conspicuous deals had no impact at the club they joined, as the table below outlines.

Lewis Dobbin*

Aston Villa

Zero

Omari Kellyman

Chelsea

Zero

Odysseas Vlachodimos

Newcastle

1

Samuel Iling-Junior*

Aston Villa

Zero

Enzo Barrenechea*

Aston Villa

Zero

*spent the season out on loan

Iroegbunam, in truth, made only 21 appearances for Everton this season, totalling a mere 676 minutes, so could feature on this list for sure, but this was largely due to a foot injury suffered against Newcastle in October, keeping him on the sidelines until February, having started each of the Blues’ first four matches of the campaign beforehand.

His only start under Moyes came when Arsenal visited Goodison in April, but the 21-year-old is highly-rated, with Steven Gerrard, when he was at Aston Villa, saying that Iroegbunam possesses “all the attributes to be a top Premier League player” in the future.

Meantime, Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic praised the youngster’s ‘sharp counter-pressing’, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout outlined how he ‘regularly roams forward in attack’, while boasting ‘defensive awareness, speed and tackling ability’, making him an excellent all-round midfielder.

These all sound like similar characteristics to Doucouré, so let’s assess how the duo compare.

Appearances

32

27

Minutes

2,563

722

Goals

3

Zero

Assists

2

1

Shots

1.09

0.61

Completed passes

26

20

Pass completion %

80.2%

77.9%

Interceptions

0.3

0.9

Clearances

0.6

0.6

% of ground duels won

53%

50%

% of aerial duels won

37%

50%

Tackles

1.5

1.6

% of dribblers tackled

32.6%

56.3%

Ball recoveries

5

8

Touches

41

43

Average Sofascore Rating

6.77

6.55

Note: Statistics are Premier League only

Of course, Iroegbunam’s lack of Premier League minutes does mean only a small sample size can be analysed, but his statistics are still impressive.

The table outlines that Doucouré is more of a goal threat, but that Iroegbunam is a better out-of-possession midfielder, boasting superior numbers when it comes to ball recoveries, interceptions, clearances, tackles and aerial duels.

These are all qualities Moyes would look for in a midfield player and, while Patrick Boyland of the Athletic believes Iroegbunam is still ‘adapting’ to a new style of play, the stats suggest he could become a key figure for the Toffees next season.

Forget Angel Gomes & Doucoure: Moyes must unleash exciting Everton teen

Everton won’t need to delve into the market to land a replacement for Abdoulaye Doucoure, given one player already at the club.

ByEthan Lamb May 22, 2025

Manchester United are now ready to sign a “machine” midfielder this summer, with Ruben Amorim eager to bolster his options in the middle of the park, but a move may only be possible on one condition, according to a report.

Man Utd searching for a midfielder

Given that Casemiro’s days as a Man United player could be numbered, Amorim may be tasked with bringing in a replacement this summer, and a number of potential replacements have been identified.

The likes of Adam Wharton, Hugo Larsson and Joao Gomes are on the shortlist ahead of what is Amorim’s first summer transfer window as United boss, and the manager could have a major rebuilding job on his hands.

A 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester City at the weekend is not the worst result on paper, but it leaves the Red Devils 13th in the Premier League table, having fallen way below expectations, with a Europa League triumph their last chance of having a successful season.

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Brett Worthington

Apr 7, 2025

Winning the Europa League would, of course, grant qualification to the Champions League next season, which could be crucial for Man United’s summer transfer business.

That is according to a report from GiveMeSport, which states Man United are now ready to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, should they manage to qualify for next season’s Champions League, with Amorim eager to bring in a midfield partner for Manuel Ugarte.

Man Utd’s upcoming fixtures	Date
Lyon (a)	April 10th
Newcastle United (a)	April 13th
Lyon (h)	April 17th
Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)	April 20th
AFC Bournemouth (a)	April 27th

The Atalanta star has a price tag of around £52m, so he will not come cheap, and the Italian club are determined to keep hold of him, given the level of his performances this season.

A deal would be easier to facilitate if Amorim’s side secure qualification for Europe’s elite competition next season, given the financial benefits provided.

"Machine" Ederson impressing in the Serie A and Europe

Atalanta are in a very strong position to qualify for next season’s Champions League, and the Brazilian has been one of the first names on the team sheet, making 30 Serie A appearances, during which time he has provided three goals and two assists.

While the 25-year-old is capable of being a threat on the front foot, he is also solid defensively, winning 100% of his tackles and aerial duels against Arsenal earlier this season, in what Statman Dave branded a “top display”.

It is not the first time the maestro has impressed in Europe in recent memory, with football writer Carlo Garganese branding him a “machine” after his performance against Bayer Leverkusen in Atalanta’s Europa League final triumph last season.

As such, Ederson could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, at which point it is vital Amorim brings in a midfielder, despite a recent improvement in Casemiro’s performances, with the 33-year-old midfielder making 11 tackles against Man City.

The first team to opt to bat in WPL 2024, Giants put on an exhilarating display having previously struggled for runs in the season

Ashish Pant07-Mar-20243:06

Takeaways: Mooney and Wolvaardt drive Giants’ first win of the season

“We are going a bit rogue. We are trying to be nice and brave, nice and positive, do something a little bit different and see if we can shake things up.”At the toss of the 13th game of WPL 2024, Gujarat Giants captain Beth Mooney did what no captain has done this season. She chose to bat, and asked her team to be brave and positive and see if they could shake things up.Easier said than done, especially when the Giants were the only team without points after four defeats. So, Mooney decided to walk the talk along with Laura Wolvaardt, their giant opening stand setting the stage for a 19-run win against Royal Challengers Bangalore.While Mooney’s decision to bat might have been a surprise, it wasn’t entirely a left-field choice. In the first 11 games in Bengaluru, there was assistance for the fast bowlers early on. And with dew making run-scoring earlier in the second half of the game, bowling first was a no-brainer. Delhi proved to be different. On Monday, the Delhi Capitals had smashed 192 for 4 after getting sent into bat by Mumbai Indians, who fell short in the chase.Related

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Giants seal first win after Mooney-Wolvaardt opening act

Mooney and Wolvaardt had an example to follow but they had to beat their powerplay demons first. Coming into this game, the Giants had made 43 for 3, 29 for 1, 41 for 1, and 41 for 3 in the first six overs this season. Their highest opening stand in the WPL was 41 and they were the only team without a century stand in the tournament. For the next 13 overs, Mooney and Wolvaardt set that record straight.Wolvaardt set the pace. When in full flow, there are few better timers of the cricket ball than the South African batter. She had a look of steely determination from the get-go as she pushed Sophie Devine through backward point for a couple of runs. Then came a whip between mid-on and midwicket that sped across the turf followed by a clip to the fine leg fence. Wolvaardt was in the zone.At the other end, Mooney, whose four innings in the tournament had yielded just 60 runs, began with a crisp cover-drive off Renuka Singh. When these two teams had met earlier in Bengaluru, Renuka had taken 2 for 14. In Delhi, she had already conceded 12 in her first. With the seamers going for plenty, Smriti Mandhana turned to spin in the third over, but the openers were in no mood to stop. By the time the first six overs were done, Giants had raced to 59 for 0 – their highest powerplay score of the season and second-highest ever in the WPL.The leather hunt continued for RCB even after the powerplay ended. Georgia Wareham was creamed through covers by Wolvaardt, Mooney smashed Ekta Bisht for back-to-back fours, Asha Sobhana was taken for 11 in her opening over, while Wolvaardt crunched Ellyse Perry for three successive fours and raced to her fifty off 32 balls. Giants raieed their hundred in 9.3 overs, and Mooney brought up her half-century off 32 balls as well.Laura Wolvaardt and Beth Mooney put on their highest opening stand in Delhi•BCCIThere were two stand-out features in the Mooney-Wolvaardt partnership: how they worked the left-right combination to their advantage – RCB bowled 11 wides during their stand – and how they relied on timing rather than power and played risk-free cricket. The duo hit 21 fours and no sixes while scoring 140 in 13 overs for the first wicket. It was a tactic, Wolvaardt said, she had planned going into the game.”The outfield was really quick and obviously having the one short side, I just tried to place it, hit gaps. I knew that if I timed it well it would hopefully go into the boundary,” she said. “I didn’t want to get too ahead of myself and get sucked into the short side of it too early.”By the time Wolvaardt was run out for a 45-ball 76, she and Mooney had already crafted the second-highest partnership in the WPL. While Giants did lose a bit of steam in the end, Mooney finished unbeaten on 85 off 51 balls, taking her team to the highest total of the tournament so far – 199 for 5. It was a monumental achievement for a side that had failed to pass 150 even once.”I am just happy to contribute,” Mooney said after the game. “I have obviously been pretty disappointed with my output so far with the bat. It’s been a tough tournament for Gujarat. My job as a leader is to try and lead from the front and contribute as much as possible.”She’s one of the nicest people on the planet. She is really easy to talk to,” Mooney said of Wolvaardt. “I have always been a big fan of how she goes about her cricket from afar obviously. I haven’t played a lot of cricket with her before. Hopefully, I have helped her as much she has helped me, but I thought she was outstanding tonight and certainly set the tone for us.”Mooney and Wolvaardt’s positive approach rubbed off on the other Giants players as well. They looked more switched on than they did in the Bengaluru leg. Giants still have a long way to go, and they will hope their win against RCB is the first step of a late comeback in the WPL.

New captain endures tough baptism as whirlwind itinerary leaves England in a spin

Vithushan Ehantharajah25-Jul-2022Jos Buttler had his backpack on when he walked into Sunday’s press conference. Like an exchange student on the London Underground, he was not entirely sure where he needed to be next but knew he had to get there in a hurry.It’s been quite the whirlwind for England’s new white-ball captain. No sooner had he come back from a tour of Amsterdam, he was at Edgbaston during the India Test match at the start of July to perform his first media engagements following Eoin Morgan’s impromptu retirement. Later that week he began the first of 12 white-ball matches in the space of 24 days taking him to Southampton, Birmingham, Nottingham, south London, north London, Manchester, Durham, Manchester again and then, here, Leeds. By this time next week, he’ll have done Bristol, Cardiff and Southampton once more. He’ll have ticked off so many cities, you may as well call him Greyhound.One day he’ll get home, but even when he does take his shoes off and grip his toes into a familiar floor, his mind will be trying to untangle the last month like wire headphones from a pocket of his mind. And among the nagging will be what to make of this ODI side.All told, it’s not a pressing matter, with a T20 World Cup far sooner than the 50-over one exactly a year later, in October 2023. But it’ll be there, dripping like a faulty tap, bearable for now but eventually needing to be addressed, for his own peace of mind at least.It might help that this ODI series with South Africa was a little too abstract. A Proteas-instigated blowout in baking heat in the first, a 29-over haymaker counter in the second, before this third and deciding fixture was washed out inside 28 overs.Throwing back a little further to the 2-1 defeat to India helps add some meat to the bones of any analysis. But not necessarily in a good way. A side whose superpower was big scores only made it past 270 once – in that opening defeat by 62 runs to South Africa. Only Jonny Bairstow averaged more than 27 (27.20) with just three fifty-plus scores shared among him, Joe Root and Buttler.”I don’t want to sound like a broken record,” Buttler began when pushed on what he had learned from the five completed ODIs, seemingly bored with himself when talking about the batting blunders. “But it’s a strength of ours for a long time, and we haven’t quite lived up to the standards that we know we can.”There is some mitigation to that. The pitches, to borrow a phrase Root used after the defeat at Durham, have been “unusual white-ball wickets”. The modern English game has been grooved on flat decks, so it was no surprise to see the tyres struggle when this juggernaut of a top six was taken off-road. “It’s been conducive to a very different kind of cricket,” said Root. “I prefer to face a red ball in the last series [against New Zealand and India] rather than the white ball. They seem to be doing all sorts.”Related

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Good batters can adjust, but England’s good ones couldn’t. And were it not for four blockbuster chases in the Test matches leading into this period, this might have been a line about batters simply not having the wares to tailor their aggression to a bit of sideways movement.The only standout performer has been Reece Topley, and maybe that’s not a coincidence given where he is in his career. A series that was made to feel like an afterthought was only likely to be treated that way subconsciously by some, whether that was those with Test cricket on their mind or others trying to spread their energy levels accordingly.Topley, however, is as strong, hungry and in form as he ever has been. The 11 wickets across five matches – at 12, and an economy rate of 4.28 across 30.5 overs – were mostly prime cuts: notably Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma twice each, including getting them both in the career-best six for 24 at Lord’s.Buttler described Topley as a “great find” before correcting himself given the 28-year-old has been around the set-up since 2015, even making the squad to India for the T20 World Cup six years ago. Topley probably won’t mind if people had forgotten he was part of the 2016 tournament given his collective figures of 4.1 overs, one for 55 across the group matches against West Indies and South Africa. Even given the injuries that followed, it was a period that changed him going forward. He learned not to cloud his mind with too many thoughts or outside noise, and in turn has never been more diligent in his preparation and more believing in his output.Evidently, England are struggling to replicate their pre-2019 form, and don’t even look like a facsimile of the dominant group they were when losing just two one-day series in the four years prior to earning their tag as World Champions. And the real fear is the recent defeats, while often pinpointing weakness and encouraging improvement, are so late in the cycle that only so much can be done.It’s important to say they have not sleepwalked into this position, but rather have been frogmarched by the pandemic. The separate Covid squads in the 2020 summer, then the Pakistan series in 2021 that required a full line-up change after an outbreak in the first-team group could have highlighted some of the issues around a lack of incision in the attack (ergo, pace) and the need for as much of the regular XI as possible to consistently tick over their 50-over work in order to retain muscle memory.No doubt all this reads like a list of excuses, but that does not make it any less relevant to the current uncertainty. The global apathy to the format, in part because of the schedule and some high-profile detractors, has filtered into the changing room. And because of the T20 World Cup taking most of the focus, so much of the last two weeks is, with all due respect, an irrelevance.Perhaps that right there is the only thing Buttler should heed going forward. The tactics, the personnel are likely to work themselves out. His focus should be on reminding his players – even himself – that ODIs remain a format of substance.

When Jaiswal scored his century, he had no idea his coach Jwala Singh was at the stadium

Sreshth Shah in Potchefstroom04-Feb-2020″I made him promise me before he left. I made him promise me that he will finish the World Cup with the most runs. If he gets it, I told him I’ll gift him a car.”That’s Jwala Singh, Yashasvi Jaiswal’s coach, talking to ESPNcricinfo inside Chalet 26 of Potchefstroom’s JB Marks Oval, watching his protege take a big step in fulfilling that promise, with a century against Pakistan in the semi-final on Tuesday.Jaiswal, however, has no idea Singh is in South Africa. Jaiswal had categorically told Singh not to come for the tournament. But Singh couldn’t resist, so he flew to Johannesburg and then drove to Potchefstroom as soon as India’s semi-final spot was confirmed. He stays hidden all day, away from Jaiswal’s line of vision, just in case his student gets distracted seeing his coach.But Singh is more than Jaiswal’s coach. Since Yashasvi’s father handed over his son’s responsibility to Singh in 2013, Yashasvi has lived with his coach in Mumbai. Effectively, Singh is the father figure in Jaiswal’s life. The love is on display as Singh gets up from his deck chair to clap as soon as Jaiswal scores the run that takes him past Sri Lanka’s Ravindu Rasantha as the tournament’s highest run-scorer.The Jaiswal at the Under-19 World Cup, though, is very different from the Jaiswal in domestic cricket. Back in India, the left-hand batsman has built a reputation of being an attacking batsman. He has already struck double-hundreds twice in one-day cricket, once for Mumbai Under-19 and another for the senior Mumbai team. But at the World Cup, he has been restrained. Against Sri Lanka, his 59 came at a strike rate of 79.72. Against New Zealand, his 57 was scored at a strike rate of 74.02. Against Australia in the quarter-final, his strike rate was 75.60 while scoring 62.”In Mumbai, he has senior cricketers around him, so he has the freedom to play his natural game. But here, he knows he’s probably the most crucial part of the team’s batting,” Singh explains. “That’s what makes Jaiswal special – his adaptability.”Fifteen minutes later, Jaiswal guides a short ball down to the fine-leg boundary to inch closer to his fourth fifty in five games. Singh chips in again, giving an insight into the teenager’s brain.”You see that shot? That’s what sets him apart,” he says. “Any other batsman and he would’ve gone for the pull. But Jaiswal knows that’s not the right option when there’s no run-rate pressure.”The reason Singh can analyse Jaiswal so well is because they’ve stayed under the same roof for five years now. Once upon a time, Jaiswal would live in the tents of Azad Maidan in Mumbai while beginning his cricketing journey, selling , a street snack, after practice to stay financially afloat in India’s most expensive city. But since Singh opened his home’s doors for Jaiswal, they have practiced cricket in the daytime and chatted about everything else in the evenings.”We have a rule at home. Every evening, he gives me a massage and tells me how his day went,” Singh says. “Even if I forget to ask him for a massage, he will come to me. Because he’s not had much of a childhood, he can get easily lured into things that teenagers do these days. So we discuss every aspect of his life. Everyday. But he is this headstrong because I’ve never given him anything on a platter. Even on the IPL auction day, I sent him to shop for groceries.Yashasvi Jaiswal hits into the leg side•Getty Images”Once in a generation can someone become a legend. Jaiswal has that in him, which is why it’s so important to stay grounded. There are so many players who have played for India and done well. But legends don’t come by every day. That’s what I have tried to drill into him. He has now come to understand what all he can achieve if he keeps his head in the right place.”This one time, he was the Player of the Series in a local tournament. He got a INR 10,000 voucher. He said he wanted to buy a cricket helmet, so I gave him permission to buy one.”When he came back, he said, ‘I’ve spent INR 3000 extra, can you give me that money please?’ That was the first time I got angry at him. I snatched the helmet from him and said, ‘13000 for a helmet? That’s ridiculous. You will wear this when you really deserve it.'”I put the helmet on top of his almirah after that. So that he could see it every day. The day he made his Ranji debut, I personally handed that helmet over to him. That’s the day I realised that whatever goal you give Jaiswal, he will fulfil it.”Singh, who was also Prithvi Shaw’s coach from 2015 to 2018, says that he feels blessed to have shaped two cricketers who are destined for greatness. At one time, Singh – from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh – had dreams of being an India cricketer. But knee injuries dashed his hopes and so he chose to be a coach. He has recently given permission for a movie to be based on his life story. It’s title is apt: .As Jaiswal reaches his nineties, I probe whether the now-successful Jaiswal – with an IPL contract at hand – has ever given him a gift, Singh’s smile widens.”You see his jersey number? It’s 23 because that’s my birth date,” Singh says. “What more can I ask for?”Before my daughter was born, he was my only child. Now he’s an elder brother to my girl. Even my girl has proven lucky for him. The day she was born, December 6, 2017, he struck the double-hundred for Mumbai Under-19.”He is so mature that when I said I’ll give him a car for being the highest run-scorer, he said he doesn’t want a new one. He wants to take my old Brezza so that I buy myself a new one.”A few moments later, Jaiswal reaches his hundred by slog-sweeping the Pakistan spinner Aamir Ali over deep midwicket. He raises his arms, looked upwards and says a silent prayer. Singh then says, “I think I’ll reveal it to him now. That I’m here.”

They’ve been the best of friends since Under-14 level. Now they’re set to rejoin forces at the top of the order in T20Is

Shashank Kishore09-Sep-2025Batting in adjacent nets on the centre pitches of the ICC Academy in Dubai on Saturday, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma took turns admiring each other’s strokes. On an occasion, Abhishek wasn’t entirely happy with the sound of bat on ball. He picked up one of Gill’s bats and began easing himself into his shots again.For the rest of the session, Abhishek was all power and connection and Gill poetic timing, until the coaches signalled the last set. Gill then began playing inventive strokes – reverse sweep, ramp, scoop. Abhishek, who by then had already finished his net, waited for Gill, and they walked off together, smiles on their faces.Last year in Zimbabwe, when Gill was T20I captain and Abhishek had earned a maiden India call-up on the back of a stunning IPL season, the two realised their dream of opening together for India. But that was a second-string side. The Asia Cup in the UAE could be even more special for Gill and Abhishek, because they are set to open for the first time for a full-strength India side that’s preparing for a T20 World Cup defence early next year.Related

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UAE look to script upset of the year against T20 world champions India

Ind vs Pak: Suryakumar, Agha okay with aggression 'as long as it stays on the field'

The pair’s story goes back over a decade, to the Under-14s camp in Punjab where they first met. From there to the Under-16s and Under-19s, through state-level cricket and the India age-group sides, their journeys have been intertwined.On tours, Gill and Abhishek would often be room-mates, a ritual that continued through much of their age-group days. At some point, they had to be separated only because the coaches wanted them to mingle with the other players in the group.Shivam Mavi, who was part of India’s Under-19 World Cup-winning class of 2018, recalls, “It was always Gill and Abhishek. Whether during team outings, team activities, or lunches and dinners, the two were always together.”Once, Gill and Abhishek along with Mavi’s new-ball partner Kamlesh Nagarkoti planned a birthday surprise for coach Rahul Dravid during that campaign. “They said, ‘let’s do a cake smash on Rahul sir’s face’. And they actually did it,” Mavi laughs.During India’s quarter-final against Bangladesh in Queenstown, tensions ran high. There was some history: Bangladesh had beaten India in a tense warm-up game. Words had been exchanged, to the extent that the umpires had to intervene.In the IPL, Abhishek and Gill are the best of frenemies•AFP/Getty Images”Before our quarter-final, Gill and Abhishek said, ‘we’ll give it back to them’,” Mavi says. They instructed Ishan Porel and Riyan Parag, the team’s Bengali speakers, to be at their chirpiest. “Then our two Punjabi boys would chip in from time to time.”Mavi’s recollections move to the semi-final against Pakistan. “Shaheen Afridi and Co were sledging Gill, saying, ‘our bowling attack is not Bangladesh”. Gill, batting at No. 3, went on to score a century that he celebrated aggressively, with pointed gestures. “Abhishek replied, ‘our batting is not like Pakistan either’.”India went on to beat Australia and win that Under-19 World Cup, and the paths of Gill and Abhishek soon diverged. Gill made his India debut a year later while also establishing himself in the IPL, initially with Kolkata Knight Riders. Abhishek navigated the challenges of proving himself in domestic cricket, unsure whether he was a top-order batter or a finisher.During the Covid-19 pandemic, the two were back together. The man who brought them under one roof, so to say, along with a number of other Punjab players was Yuvraj Singh. This time, there was no space for jokes or banter. Yuvraj was the boss, and Gill and Abhishek had to listen to every single thing he told them. Among his diktats: no phones at night, no parties, regimented sleep-and-wake-up schedules.To ensure the players stuck to their routines, Yuvraj boarded them at his residence for a month, and sought special permissions for training at a time when lockdown rules were strict. Both Abhishek and Gill remember this time fondly, and credit it for toughening them up.A blockbuster maiden tour of England as Test captain has turned Gill into Indian cricket’s all-format poster boy•Getty ImagesToday, Gill is Indian cricket’s all-format poster boy and the darling of brands. A bumper maiden Test tour as captain in England, where he peeled off runs with the consistency of his teenage days, has already thrust him into the conversation for ODI captaincy whenever the selectors look to the future. He’s also the T20I vice-captain now.Gill brings with him a body of work and a transformed game that took shape in 2023 at Gujarat Titans, when he lit up the IPL with a chart-topping 890 runs at a strike rate of 157.80, including three centuries. The most improved aspect of Gill’s game was his six-hitting – he hit 33 of them, the third-highest of all batters that season.It was because Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were locked in as openers that Gill was only picked as a non-travelling reserve for the 2024 T20 World Cup. It has been more than a year since he last played T20Is, but his recent T20 form is compelling: 650 runs at a strike rate of 155.87 in IPL 2025. He reclaims his spot at a time when his T20 stocks are at an all-time high.Abhishek’s journey has been less straightforward. He wasn’t an instant IPL sensation, and for a while he floated between roles: middle-order batter, occasional finisher, part-time spinner. Then came the realisation: his game was built to take bowlers on from the very first ball.

Having converged and diverged so many times over so many years, the journeys of Gill and Abhishek are running together once again, with a stretch of smooth road between now and next year’s T20 World Cup

Days spent training under Yuvraj during lockdowns in Chandigarh reshaped his approach. Yuvraj made him train on marble slabs so the ball would skid, asked the curator in Mullanpur to prepare raging turners to force Abhishek to sharpen his bat speed and footwork. It was bootcamp-style training, and it unlocked something within him.Abhishek emerged a different player. He was physically stronger, more fearless, and not afraid of losing his wicket in the pursuit of risk-taking. Shades of this transformation were visible as far back as in 2022, when he was Sunrisers Hyderabad’s leading run-getter with 320 runs at a strike rate of 133.12. But just when it looked like he had begun to make a mark, 2023 brought a new set of challenges – Abhishek found himself shunted up and down the order.The change in leadership at the franchise in 2024 was a turning point. Out went Brian Lara as coach and Aiden Markram as captain, and in came Daniel Vettori and Pat Cummins in those positions. Impressed by his hitting, they returned him to the top of the order, this time alongside Travis Head. The returns have been spectacular. The last two IPL seasons have brought Abhishek 923 runs at a strike rate of 198.92. No batter in the tournament with a cut-off of 500 runs has scored quicker.An extraordinary willingness to take risks has brought Abhishek extraordinary T20 numbers over the last two years•Associated Press”I stopped worrying about getting out,” Abhishek said in post-match chat last year, and it’s been clear to see whenever he has batted. With a settled role and the license to attack, he has become a destroyer of all kinds of bowling, with especially frightening numbers against spin. In all T20s since the start of 2024, Abhishek has a strike rate of 232.12 against spin. For context, Glenn Maxwell, who sits in second place among those with at least 500 runs against spin in this period (where ball-by-ball data is available), has gone at 173.31.The transition into T20Is has been smooth too: Abhishek’s strike rate of 193.84 is the best of all batters with at least 500 runs since his debut. He got his run in the India side at a time when the senior players were being rested, and now, when India have turned their full attention to T20Is with a World Cup imminent, he’s still there, keeping a batter as good as Yashasvi Jaiswal out of the squad.The moment Abhishek switched to Gill’s bat at training was a poignant one: it was with one of Gill’s bats in Harare that Abhishek had scored his first T20I hundred, in only his second match.Having converged and diverged so many times over so many years, the journeys of Gill and Abhishek are running together again, with a stretch of smooth road between now and next year’s T20 World Cup. If they click together like they did at the nets, or like they did as teenagers, there’s no telling how dangerous this partnership could be.

The New York Yankees are mired in a prolonged skid and the losing ways are starting to put some serious stress on the team's quest to make the postseason. Aaron Boone's side had a golden opportunity to get a much-needed win Monday night in Texas against the Rangers go by the wayside after Devin Williams blew a save opportunity in the ninth, allowing a pinch-hit game-tying home run to Joc Pederson in the ninth inning. Jake Bird surrendered a game-winning blast to Josh Jung in extra innings to prolong the slide.

Every loss is tough when you're struggling and the regular season is rapidly shrinking in size but this one was particularly rough considering Pederson's lack of production this year. There's not much reason to fear a pinch hitter carrying a .126 batting average and .473 OPS to the dish with everything on the line.

Yankees announcers Ryan Ruocco and David Cone tried to convey how much Pederson, a two-time All Star, had fallen off. They also pointed out that his body looks a bit different than it did during his prime.

And a matter of seconds later the Rangers reserve delivered the biggest hit of the game.

Do the two events have anything to do with each other? A logical person would tell you they most certainly do not. But it does make for some compelling footage as a guy who didn't even know his body was being put up for regional discussion enacted some revenge.

Big Picture – South Africa look to extend winning run

It’s been a change of fortunes for both sides since their respective opening games at the Women’s World Cup, 2025. After a crushing defeat in their opener, where they were bowled out for 69 against England, South Africa have turned things around in style, edging past New Zealand before putting themselves back as strong contenders by beating hosts India in an epic chase.Bangladesh began with a statement win over Pakistan but have since faltered. They pushed England close and were thoroughly outplayed by New Zealand, leaving their campaign teetering.Related

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South Africa’s resurgence has been powered by individual brilliance. Tazmin Brits stood tall against New Zealand, while Nadine de Klerk delivered a game-changing performance against India, with Chloe Tryon playing a supporting role. Captain Laura Wolvaardt, too, found form at the top of the order. South Africa will hope their core batters can fire in unison as the tournament enters its crunch phase.It’s not just their batting that South Africa will be pleased with. Nonkululeko Mlaba has been the standout among bowlers, her left-arm spin proving decisive in the middle overs. South Africa’s next fixtures are against Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, teams currently occupying the bottom three spots on the points table. With their net run-rate still in the negative (-0.888), South Africa will want more than just wins to stay in the hunt for the top four berth.For Bangladesh, their bowlers have performed well so far in the tournament, boasting the second-best team average (23.26) behind only England, but the batting remains a concern. While two different players have registered fifties in the tournament, the lack of consistency has held them back. If Bangladesh are to challenge South Africa, they’ll need their top and middle order to click.Nigar Sultana needs to step up with the bat for Bangladesh•ICC/Getty Images

Form Guide

Bangladesh LLWLL (last five matches, most recent first)
South Africa WWLLW

In the spotlight – Chloe Tryon and Nigar Sultana

After a quiet start to the tournament, Chloe Tryon chose the right moment to shine, showcasing her all-round skills against India. She first dented India’s batting with a clinical spell of 3 for 23 by removing key players in Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, and Amanjot Kaur. Then she walked in with South Africa 81 for 5 in their 252-run chase, and helped script one of their most memorable wins. She managed all of this while nursing a calf niggle.While Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana has led energetically on the field, her form with the bat has been a concern. Scores of 23, 0, and 4 in her last three outings, each ending with a soft dismissal, have left a void in Bangladesh’s top order. She was full of praise for her bowling unit after the loss to New Zealand, but called out the team’s shortcomings with the bat, stressing the need to build partnerships and show composure when chasing targets over 200.

Team news – Tryon fit for Bangladesh clash

With batting being a concern, will Bangladesh look to bring back the experienced Fargana Hoque at the top of the order?Bangladesh (probable): 1 Rubya Haider, 2 Sharmin Akhter, 3 Nigar Sultana (capt & wk), 4 Sobhana Mostary, 5 Sumaiya Akter, 6 Shorna Akter, 7 Fahima Khatun, 8 Nahida Akter, 9 Rabeya Khan, 10 Marufa Akter, 11 Nishita Akter NishiChole Tryon, who batted with a calf niggle against India, is fit and available for South Africa•ICC/Getty Images

South Africa will want to keep their winning XI. Tryon, whose calf required heavy strapping when she was batting against India, is fit and available to play.South Africa (probable): 1 Laura Wolvaardt (capt), 2 Tazmin Brits, 3 Sune Luus, 4 Marizanne Kapp, 5 Anneke Bosch/Annerie Dercksen, 6 Sinalo Jafta (wk), 7 Chloe Tryon, 8 Nadine de Klerk, 9 Tumi Sekhukhune, 10 Ayabonga Khaka, 11 Nonkululeko Mlaba

Pitch and conditions – Rainy and humid in Vizag

Visakhapatnam has been the most batting-friendly venue of this World Cup so far, with a high-scoring pitch laid out during the India-Australia clash. There is a chance of rain on Monday afternoon, but the weather is expected to clear up later in the day. The temperature will peak around 31°C with high humidity. Dew has been a factor in the evening and could influence the toss.

Stats and Trivia

• This will be South Africa’s 50th World Cup game
• Fahima Khatun has 15 wickets this year. She needs to add six more to her tally to have the most for Bangladesh in a year
• Marizanne Kapp is two wickets away from becoming South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in World Cups, going past Shabnim Ismail’s 36.
• Fargana Hoque needs four more runs to complete 500 runs against South Africa. She will become the first Bangladesh player to hit 500 runs against any opponent in women’s ODIs

Quotes

“With a bowling style like mine, what I try to do is bowl my variations as much as possible. Coming to the subcontinental teams, sometimes pace doesn’t work, or rather, go your way. So, I think I try to change up my pace there and then see how that can actually work for me.”
“I agree our batting collapsed [against New Zealand]. We’ve already discussed it with our batting coaches and among the players. We’ve been working on those weaknesses, and hopefully the batters will come back in the next match. We have other capable batters in the team. And our captain, Joty, always plays in a way that inspires us. I believe she’ll do better from the next match.”

Manchester United and Ruben Amorim have been handed a transfer boost, with a La Liga star now open to an Old Trafford move.

Man Utd midfield options heading into 2026

It feels as if Amorim’s midfield is the one area that may need the most work in 2026. The Man Utd boss has gone with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes more often than not this season, with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte falling out of favour.

Mainoo has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford, whereas Amorim criticised Ugarte in front of his Man Utd teammates following the Europa League final against Tottenham.

Casemiro is also out of contract in 2026, and it has been suggested that there is a real possibility he will leave for free at the end of the season.

This comes despite the fact Amorim wants to keep the Brazilian, however, INEOS are looking to cut the wage bill and could do just that with the £350,000-a-week top earner.

A number of midfielders have been linked with arriving in Manchester, and one name that won’t go away is Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher.

There was speculation over a deadline day move in the summer, but the English “machine” remained at the Wanda Metropolitano, where he has made just two La Liga starts in 2025/26 under Diego Simeone.

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It has been suggested that Amorim has already given the green light for Man Utd to bring Gallagher back to the Premier League in 2026, and another promising update has now emerged.

Gallagher open to Man Utd move

According to United in Focus and transfer expert Graeme Bailey, Gallagher “has become increasingly frustrated at Atletico” and appears to be open to the idea of moving to Man Utd to improve his chances of making the England squad.

On around £150,000-a-week in Spain, Gallagher has been compared to some impressive midfielders across Europe in 2025, including former Red Devils man Scott McTominay.

Midfielders similar to Conor Gallagher

Club

Gavi

Barcelona

Sandro Tonali

Newcastle

Scott McTominay

Napoli

Bruno Guimaraes

Newcastle

Boubacar Kamara

Aston Villa

Now, United and INEOS need to decide whether or not to firm up their interest in the Englishman, amid rumours of a £44m January offer being lined up.

Man Utd now leading Barcelona & Liverpool in race to sign "absolute beast"