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Real Madrid star Arda Guler opened up on being compared to Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal as the young midfielder is preparing to take on Spain with Turkey in a 2026 World Cup qualifying game on Sunday. Twenty-year-old Guler, who joined Los Blancos in the summer of 2023, has finally established himself as a first-team starter under new manager Xabi Alonso.

• Guler spoke about comparisons with Yamal
• Praised Barcelona sensation
• Turkey face Spain on Sunday

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Guler has opened up on being constantly compared to Barcelona sensation Yamal as he heaped praise on the Spaniard, while admitting that he makes life difficult for Real Madrid players. The young midfielder is currently preparing to face Yamal and Spain with Turkey in a World Cup qualifying game at home.

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• WHAT GULER SAID

  Speaking to reporters, the Madrid youngster said: "Me and Lamine Yamal don’t play in the same position, our styles are different, it wouldn’t be right to compare. He plays for Barcelona and I for Real Madrid, I wish him all the best for tomorrow."

  Guler added, "I am not surprised by what Lamine Yamal has been doing. He has a lot of talent and will do his utmost to make it difficult for us."

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Yamal enjoyed a stellar campaign with Barcelona in 2024-25, in which he scored 18 goals and provided 25 assists in 55 matches across all competitions and is now off to a fine start in the new season, as he has already racked up five goal contributions in the Blaugrana's first three La Liga matches. Guler, too, has become a regular starter under Alonso and in the first three La Liga matches, he has a goal and an assist to his name. 

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After starring with an assist in Spain's 3-0 win over Bulgaria earlier this week, Yamal will feature for the reigning European champions against Turkey in Konya on Sunday.

Mohamed Amaan and Soham Patwardhan will lead the 50-over and four-day squads against Australia Under-19

ESPNcricinfo staff31-Aug-2024

Allrounder Samit Dravid has been selected in India’s Under-19 squad for the first time, for the multi-format home series against Australia Under-19 in September and October.Mohamed Amaan, a middle-order batter from Uttar Pradesh, has been named captain of the 50-over squad, while Madhya Pradesh’s Soham Patwardhan will lead the team for the four-day matches.Dravid, the son of former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid, recently played his first senior men’s T20 tournament – the Maharaja T20 Trophy – in Karnataka, where he is part of the Mysuru Warriors squad.Batting in the middle-order, Dravid scored 82 runs at a strike rate of 114 in seven innings but was not called upon to bowl his medium pace. On the day the junior selectors announced India’s Under-19 squad, Mysuru Warriors were due to play the semi-final of the tournament.Earlier this year, Dravid, 18, played a significant role in Karnataka winning the Cooch Behar Trophy, a four-day format tournament for under-19 cricketers. He scored 362 runs and took 16 wickets in eight matches, including two scalps in the final against Mumbai.India Under-19 will play three 50-over games against Australia Under-19 in Puducherry on September 21, 23 and 26, followed by two four-day games in Chennai starting on September 30 and October 7.India U-19 50-over squadRudra Patel (vc)(GCA), Sahil Parakh (MAHCA), Kartikeya KP (KSCA), Mohamed Amaan (capt) (UPCA), Kiran Chormale (MAHCA), Abhigyan Kundu (wk) (MCA), Harvansh Singh Pangalia (wk) (SCA), Samit Dravid (KSCA), Yudhajit Guha (CAB), Samarth N (KSCA), Nikhil Kumar (UTCA), Chetan Sharma (RCA), Hardik Raj (KSCA), Rohit Rajawat (MPCA), Mohammed Enaan (KCA)India U-19 squad four-day squadVaibhav Suryavanshi (Bihar CA), Nitya Pandya (BCA), Vihan Malhotra (vc) (PCA), Soham Patwardhan (capt) (MPCA), Kartikeya KP (KSCA), Samit Dravid (KSCA), Abhigyan Kundu (wk) (MCA), Harvansh Singh Pangalia (wk) (SCA), Chetan Sharma (RCA), Samarth N (KSCA), Aditya Rawat (CAU), Nikhil Kumar (UTCA), Anmoljeet Singh (PCA), Aditya Singh (UPCA), Mohammed Enaan (KCA)

Wolverhampton Wanderers have agreed terms with a new “number 10” who could become Matheus Cunha’s replacement at Molineux.

Wolves aiming to replace Cunha after Man Utd transfer

The Old Gold are in need of a summer rebuild following a disappointing 24/25 Premier League season coupled with the fact they have already lost two of their star players in the transfer market.

The first to leave was Cunha, with Manchester United triggering the Brazilian’s £62.5m release clause in the opening days of the window.

Then, just before the first transfer window was set to shut, Manchester City announced a deal for Rayan Ait-Nouri, with the left-back being named in Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Club World Cup.

As a result, Vitor Pereira should have some money to spend, and they have been linked with numerous players in June. In attack, Wolves are thought to be showing an interest in FC St Gallen striker Willem Geubbels, who is valued at just £8.5m.

Meanwhile, when it comes to full-back signings, Wolves are keen on Vladimir Coufal, who has left West Ham United after five seasons and is available on a free transfer.

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Pereira will be hoping the club can get some players through the door before the end of the month ahead of pre-season in July, and it looks as if Wolves have made a breakthrough in regards to an attacking addition.

Wolves agree terms with Celta Vigo’s Fer Lopez

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Wolves have agreed terms with Celta Vigo attacker Fer Lopez. A long-term deal has been agreed between the Old Gold and Lopez, and Wolves now just need to shake hands on a fee with Celta Vigo.

Interestingly, Lopez, who shares the same Gestifute agency as Jose Sa and other Wolves players, was spotted away on holiday with Wolves striker Jorgen Strand-Larsen, with the pair knowing each other from their time with the La Liga side.

Should Lopez join Larsen in the Midlands, Wolves would be getting a versatile left footed attacker. Capable of playing on the wing or as an attacking midfielder, ESPN editor David Cartlidge even described Lopez as a “unicorn”.

After coming through the Celta Vigo academy, Lopez, still just 21 years of age, has only made 20 senior appearances for his current employers, scoring four goals. However, a move to England with Wolves looks like it could be on the cards following the breakthrough on personal terms.

Celtic completed their first signing of the summer transfer window earlier this week when they announced that Kieran Tierney has re-joined the Glasgow giants.

The experienced defender will officially link up with his new teammates when his contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the month, returning to Scotland as a free agent.

Tierney came up through the academy system at Parkhead and won five Scottish Premiership titles during his time in the first-team, a haul that he will now be looking to add to.

The 28-year-old full-back amassed 37 assists in 170 appearances for the Scottish giants in all competitions, and he will be aiming to provide that sort of creativity down the left flank for Brendan Rodgers.

Tierney is set to come in as a direct replacement for Greg Taylor, whose Celtic contract expires this summer, but the Hoops have also lost their second-choice left-back, as Jeffrey Schlupp’s loan has come to an end.

Why Celtic need to replace Jeffrey Schlupp

Celtic will play in four competitions next season: the Champions League, the Premiership, the League Cup, and the SFA Cup. Because of this, having depth across the park in every position is vital for Rodgers.

It is not enough to just have one player in each position, and that is why the Bhoys have to sign a back-up left-back to replace Schlupp, particularly when you take Tierney’s injury history into account.

The Arsenal left-back has missed 45 matches through injury since the start of the 2023/24 campaign, which means that there is a concern that he will not be available on a consistent basis for Rodgers next term.

This emphasises the importance of signing a replacement for Schlupp because the Hoops will need a left-back who is good enough to step in and start when Tierney misses games through injury over the course of the season.

As you can see in the table above, Schlupp was needed to start eight matches in the Premiership and the Champions League, despite only joining in January, which shows how important it is to bring in a quality back-up option in that position.

Celtic, therefore, need a left-back who provided the quality, particularly defensively, that Schlupp provided during his five-month loan spell at Parkhead.

The Scottish giants are in the market for another option in that position and their latest reported target could be an even better signing than the Palace loanee was.

Celtic progressing in deal for Scottish defender

According to a recent claim by journalist Graeme Bailey, Celtic are progressing in their pursuit of a deal to sign Josh Doig from Sassuolo in the summer transfer window.

The reporter was speaking about Harry Toffolo’s situation, after it was confirmed that he is leaving Nottingham Forest on a free transfer, and all but ruled out the Hoops in the race for his signature, due to their interest in Doig.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Bailey told EFL Analysis: “He’s an interesting one. I did hear a little bit of a squeak for Celtic, but I don’t think there’s anything in that. I do know Celtic are looking at Josh Doig and I think that one’s progressing, to be fair.”

This suggests that the Hoops are moving forward in a deal to bring the Scottish defender back to Scotland, in what would presumably be a permanent move, given that he was just a key part of Sassuolo’s title-winning season in the Serie B.

If Celtic can finalise a transfer to sign Doig from the newly-promoted Serie A outfit before the end of the summer transfer window, then they could have an even better signing than Schlupp.

Why Josh Doig would be a better signing than Jeffrey Schlupp

Perhaps the biggest reason why he would be a better signing than the Palace loanee was would be the permanent transfer aspect of it, as it would be a long-term solution to that position.

Schlupp was only a short-term stop-gap until the summer, whereas Doig is 23 and could be Celtic’s back-up, or first-choice, left-back for many more years to come.

This means that Celtic could get far more long-term value out of this signing, should they sign him permanently, if he adapts well and performs on the pitch as hoped.

Doig, who former boss Gabriel Coffi claimed has “incredible potential”, also put in good enough performances on the pitch in the Serie B this season to suggest that he could be a quality addition to the squad when called upon as a back-up to Tierney.

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old star could be well-suited to playing in a ball-dominant Celtic team, particularly in a similar role to the one that Taylor played this term, inverting into a midfield position in possession.

These statistics show that Doig is incredibly comfortable and progressive in possession, excelling as a passer and a carrier of the ball, which suggests that he would thrive under the unique demands that Rodgers places on his left-back.

Therefore, the Sassuolo star, who started 25 Serie B matches, could be a perfect fit for what Celtic are looking for in that position, which is another reason why he would be a terrific signing for the club.

Overall, he would be an even better signing than Schlupp due to his age, with plenty of room left to improve, his long-term potential as a signing due to it being on a permanent deal, and because of the quality that he can produce on the pitch.

Nicolas Kuhn 2.0: Celtic are in talks to sign “underrated” £2m star

Celtic are reportedly in talks to sign a star who could be their next Nicolas Kuhn.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 13, 2025

Leeds United have been given a transfer boost as they eye a move for a new Brazilian attacker who has hailed former Whites star Raphinha.

Raphinha starring for Barcelona after leaving Leeds

Following promotion back in 2020, Raphinha was Leeds’ best signing in recent memory, joining from Rennes and starring at Elland Road under Marcelo Bielsa.

The Brazilian would also almost single-handedly keep Leeds in the top flight in the 2021/22 campaign before sealing a dream £50m transfer to Barcelona.

Since moving to the Nou Camp, the relentless winger has gone from strength to strength and is now a leading contender to win the Ballon d’Or after scoring 34 goals and providing 25 assists in 2024/25.

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He was playing amateur football in 2019.

1 ByCharlie Smith Jun 4, 2025

Raphinha, who won his second La Liga title and first Copa del Rey in 24/25, still keeps an eye out for Leeds and celebrated the Whites’ recent promotion, reacting to the club’s social media post on Instagram.

Leeds will now be looking for a player of the same ilk as Raphinha as they aim to establish themselves in the Premier League once again, and one wide attacker who has been linked with a move to Elland Road is Igor Paixao from Feyenoord.

There were claims Leeds submitted an enquiry to sign the Brazilian, however, the Dutch club would like a fee of €40m (£34m), but there has been a new update on a potential move.

Igor Paixao now open to Leeds transfer

According to Leeds Live, Paixao is open to the idea of joining Leeds this summer, however, despite previous reports, no contact has been made by the Whites at this moment in time.

Paixao would consider a move to Yorkshire, though, under the right personal terms, following an excellent individual campaign in 24/25 where he produced some impressive numbers, scoring 18 goals and registering a further 19 assists.

Talking earlier in the season, the Brazilian addressed his future and left the door open to a possible exit this summer.

The 24-year-old is a right-footed winger who primarily plays on the left-hand side and previously expressed his admiration for Raphinha, saying: “Raphinha is an example for me and all of us Brazilians.”

Dan James

Leeds

Bertrand Traore

Ajax

Estevao Willian

Palmeiras

Wilfried Gnonto

Leeds

Johan Bakayoko

PSV

Now, should Leeds make their move, they could soon have another exciting Brazilian winger on the books, three years after parting ways with Raphinha.

A Sky Sports reporter has now revealed that Leeds United want to sign a “thriving” Everton star this summer.

One defender in and one out at Leeds?

The Championship title winners are wasting no time in beginning preparations for their return to the Premier League, as the Whites have already been linked with high-profile players who they believe will give them a good chance of remaining in the top flight.

Contact made: Crystal Palace hold talks with agent of £60k-p/w Leeds ace

Crystal Palace are now in the race to sign a defender who is set to become a free agent.

By
Brett Worthington

May 8, 2025

Leeds have been looking mostly at ways of improving their attack, but given recent developments, there could be a few changes in their defence. It was reported on Wednesday that the Whites are preparing to make a £6 million bid to sign Georgios Vagiannidis from Greek side Panathinaikos.

Officials from the Yorkshire side are set to fly out to Greece and watch him in action this weekend, and they are already planning to make an offer, as they try to beat Everton to his signature.

As Vagiannidis emerges as a target for Leeds, it’s becoming increasingly likely that current left-back Junior Firpo is set to leave Elland Road. The defender is out of contract in the summer, and according to a new report, Crystal Palace have now held talks with Firpo’s agent over a move to Selhurst Park.

Palace are not the only team interested from the Premier League or in Europe, as plenty of teams express interest in a transfer.

Leeds want to sign £20m+ Everton star Beto this summer

And it seems signing a new forward is a high priority for Daniel Farke this summer, with Sky Sports’ Rob Dorsett revealing Leeds are interested in signing Beto from Everton.

Dorsett claims he’s “told” that Leeds have a £100 million transfer kitty as they prepare for life back in the Premier League. He goes on to add that he is unclear if Everton would be willing to sell Beto, as he’s been an important player for the Toffees since David Moyes’ return.

In fact, since the arrival of Moyes, The Athletic’s Paddy Boyland has described Beto as a player who is “thriving” under new management. The 27-year-old was brought to the club in August 2023 but struggled to make a significant impact last season under Sean Dyche, as he scored just three Premier League goals in 30 games. However, that has changed in this campaign, as he’s scored seven times in 27 games, making him Everton’s top goalscorer.

It’s unclear how much the Portuguese could cost Leeds, but the Toffees paid £25 million for him to join from Udinese, and the Premier League side may look to get at least an equal return on their investment. The forward is under contract until 2027, but he is not their only striker target, as Leeds have been linked to the likes of Jamie Vardy and Troy Parrott.

Liverpool have confirmed a new contract for Virgil van Dijk, fending off interest from the likes of Bayern Munich to keep the captain on Merseyside for two more years.

Liverpool seal new contracts for key stars

The Reds could officially win the Premier League this weekend in what has been a brilliant first campaign under Arne Slot. Should Arsenal suffer defeat against Ipswich Town on Sunday afternoon, Liverpool could seal the title with a win at Leicester City shortly after.

However, away from the pitch, a hot topic of conversation has been on the futures of star trio Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk. Salah, as we know, has officially signed a new two-year contract at Anfield, whereas Alexander-Arnold looks set to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.

Meanwhile, Fabrizio Romano had recently said that Van Dijk is set to join Salah in signing a new Liverpool contract through until 2027, and talking recently, the skipper was asked about his pending new deal: “I think first, all the focus should be going to the Hillsborough anniversary. I think that’s the main thing and then we’ll see. The focus will still be on Leicester, but maybe there’s some news. I know … but I don’t know.

“I love the club, that’s pretty obvious. I think you can see that in the way I speak about the club, the way I work for the club in terms of what I do on the pitch on and off the pitch, and that will always be the same.”

Club have accepted "brilliant" star's exit as Liverpool line up Mane 2.0

He’s enjoyed an excellent season…

1

By
Tom Cunningham

Apr 16, 2025

Van Dijk signs new Liverpool deal worth over £40m

Bayern Munich were keen to sign Van Dijk on a free transfer, seeing the centre-back as a ‘unique opportunity to strengthen its defence with experience, leadership and proven quality’, but it has now been confirmed by Liverpool that Van Dijk has signed a new contract at Anfield.

Rumoured to be on £220,000-a-week beforehand, Van Dijk has become a Liverpool legend since joining from Southampton back in 2017, winning numerous trophies, and David Ornstein reports the new two-year deal is now worth £400,000-a-week.

Ornstein confirms there are no pay cut or break clauses, which will guarantee the Netherlands star is paid £41,600,000 through to the summer of 2027, by which time he’ll be 35. This is even more than the fee Liverpool paid to Brighton for star midfielder Alexis Mac Allister (£35m), but Reds fans will feel their captain deserves every penny.

Talking after penning terms, Van Dijk said: “I’m very happy, very proud. There are so many emotions obviously that go through my head right now speaking about it. “It’s a proud feeling, it’s a feeling of joy. It’s just incredible. The journey I’ve had so far in my career, to be able to extend it with another two years at this club is amazing and I’m so happy.”

Van Dijk is now the highest paid defender in the top flight and will be the second-highest paid player in any position once Kevin De Bruyne departs Man City this summer, behind only Erling Haaland who sits on £500,000-a-week at the Etihad.

Right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold looks almost certain to depart Liverpool this summer, with his contract set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

The 26-year-old has largely been touted with a free transfer to join Real Madrid, with numerous publications already claiming that a deal is complete for him to join the LaLiga giants.

Such news has angered supporters, with his potential move leaving Arne Slot’s side shortchanged and unable to receive a fee for a talent who’s been a leading player in their success.

He’s made over 300 appearances for his boyhood side, playing a vital role in various levels of success, claiming one Premier League title, with another set to follow in the coming weeks.

The defender isn’t the only player to depart Anfield on a free in recent years, albeit in different circumstances to another player who captured the hearts of the fanbase during his spell on Merseyside.

Daniel Sturridge’s time as a player at Liverpool

Striker Daniel Sturridge formed a deadly partnership with Luis Suárez during his stint at Liverpool, with the pair firing the Reds to title contention under Brendan Rodgers over a decade ago.

The Englishman scored 67 times in his 160 appearances during his six-and-a-half years on Merseyside, producing countless moments of magic including his effort against former side Chelsea.

However, despite his goalscoring exploits, he was unable to prove his talent on a regular basis, with injuries massively plaguing his time and subsequently spending long periods on the sidelines.

During his stint on Merseyside, the now-retired striker suffered 15 separate injuries, missing a total of 121 matches – missing an average of 18.5 matches per season he was on the club’s books.

Such a record left the hierarchy with no choice but to offload him in the summer of 2019, but six years on, Slot has found a new version of the Englishman, desperately needing to offload him to avoid losing another talent for nothing.

Why Slot needs to sell Liverpool’s new Sturridge this summer

Despite Slot’s impressive first season in England, which has seen him take the top-flight by storm, he may have a job on his hands to sustain such a success next season.

Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah could all depart the club on a free transfer this summer, giving the Dutchman a huge task in replacing the trio given their importance to the side.

However, he may want to offload numerous other first-team members this summer, including Diogo Jota, who’s fallen well beyond the high standards he set for himself during his early days on Merseyside.

The Portuguese international joined the Reds in a £45m deal from Wolves in the summer of 2020, notching 34 goals during his first two years after his big-money transfer.

However, he’s struggled to achieve such levels in 2024/25, scoring just nine times across all competitions, with injuries starting to prevent his progress at Anfield.

2020/21

Knee

85

19

2020/21

Foot

12

4

2021/22

Ankle

15

4

2022/23

Hamstring

32

5

2022/23

Calf

117

24

2023/24

Calf

29

8

2023/24

Knee

52

13

2023/24

Hip

23

4

2024/25

Hamstring

54

14

2024/25

Fatigue

17

4

Total:

10

436

99

Jota has only been able to start 12 league outings so far during Slot’s reign, leading to reports that the club were willing to cash in on him this summer to fund a move for a new talisman.

The 28-year-old has two years left on his contract, but with the former Atlético Madrid ace now entering the latter stages of his professional career, the upcoming window could present the last opportunity to recoup the majority of the fee paid for his signature.

Given his injury issues and lack of form when fit, Slot must look to offload him this window, joining Trent in not featuring in his plans as he looks to continue his impressive start as the club’s manager next season.

It may seem a brutal call, but the football industry is an unforgiving one, with decisions needing to be made for the better of the club, subsequently leading to fresh blood arriving to fill the void.

The next Michael Owen: Liverpool plot move for "phenomenal" £40m striker

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An out-of-form India captain vs a spinner who’s among the top three wicket-takers but is nowhere close to making the Indian team. Why? Because it’s complicated

Andrew Fidel Fernando12-May-20242:20

Moody: ‘Chakravarthy has grown in confidence with the team’

In a dream sequence for the players who have been picked for India’s T20 World Cup squad, they ease themselves into form against IPL teams in May, and then go on to sweep all before them in the Caribbean and USA in June, storming through the competition, devouring oppositions, playing innings that reverberate for generations, bowling spells that snap top orders in two.As far as dreams go, it is not completely unrealistic. We are in the 17th year of the IPL being the biggest franchise show in a world that has increasingly begun to favour franchise shows. Where in the earliest days of this competition, you might have sniggered at the quality of cricket, but no one has sniggered for many years now.In fact, the IPL has become such a resounding showcase of India’s primacy in the cricket market, that perhaps it has given rise to one of cricket’s ironies. India has the world’s greatest bank of cricketing talent in the world*; India has not won a global cricket title in eleven years. In that time, the Australia men’s team have won four, England two, and even West Indies and New Zealand one apiece.Related

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Rohit Sharma’s progress in the tournament this year is turning out to be a perfect peek into this dichotomy. He is captain of his national team, but no longer leads the franchise, which sought fresher ideas and regeneration through Hardik Pandya. Rohit had rocked the ODI World Cup last year, batting in a gloriously selfless vein that helped power India to that final.But right now, he’s not quite rocking the only franchise tournament he plays in. He’d made an unbeaten 63-ball 105 in a match his team lost by a sizeable margin. (Read that sentence again – it’s not one you are likely to read in the context of any other T20 tournament.) But in the last six matches, his scores have been 6, 8, 4, 11, 4, 19.This 19, against Kolkata Knight Riders, was kinda torturous. Against seamers, Rohit was beaten frequently, particularly when he tried to hit square of the wicket. When KKR’s excellent spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy came on, Rohit was visibly uncomfortable, venturing failed flicks, unconvincing sweeps, and when those didn’t work, reverse sweeps that he kept missing. In the end, a top-edged sweep off Varun had him out for 19 off 24. (This sentence you don’t need to read again; that’s a bad innings in almost any T20, let alone one that was 16-overs-a-side from the outset.)Varun Chakravarthy celebrates after getting Rohit Sharma out•AFP/Getty ImagesAnd so we come back to this irony that Indian cricket and the IPL has created. Varun is a 32-year-old wristspinner with 18 wickets this IPL (third on the tournament charts right now), as he frequently turns matches for his franchise. Varun hasn’t made the India T20 World Cup squad, or its reserves. But he’d likely have played many more than his six international matches if he’d represented almost any other team. He was outstanding in this match against Mumbai Indians, taking 2 for 17 off his four overs despite this being a rain-shortened match.”I’d never taken Rohit ‘s wicket, and I meticulously planned for it, and it worked out,” Varun said after the match. Things tend to work out when you’re on as bright a run of form as Varun is.Meanwhile, national captain Rohit, the first name on the squad sheet, is currently skidding through a tournament in a team playing like it wishes its season was already over. His franchise captain Hardik, who will be his deputy in the World Cup if you haven’t been following, hasn’t had a massively fun time in the IPL either, having experienced substantial ire from crowds that resent him for either leaving Gujarat Titans, or replacing Rohit at the helm of Mumbai Indians, or both.Elsewhere in India squad member news, Yuzvendra Chahal is having a rough run himself. Virat Kohli is being questioned for his strike rate, even as he leads the league in run volume. You begin to wonder how good a lead-in to the World Cup a two-month-long T20 competition is for India players.It has been often thought by administrators in other countries, that when India gets its machine in full swing, they will almost inevitably dominate the sport, perhaps for decades.Right now, though, what we know for sure is that India is dominating the cricket economy almost as completely as any nation has ever dominated it. Is it just a matter of time until they start rolling in the global trophies too? Watch how Rohit and Varun are going right now. It’s complicated.

The quartet stepped up to make up for the lack of penetration from spinners and delivered a 1-0 series win

Mohammad Isam27-May-2022The power cuts and long fuel queues sent the Test series in Bangladesh down the priority list of many Sri Lankans. However, there might be a little smile on their faces when they see the highlights or the scorecard of their ten-wicket win in Dhaka. A joyful moment in an otherwise bleak period in Sri Lankan history.For the cricket team, this is a significant series win sandwiched between a horrible India tour and the upcoming home series against Australia and Pakistan. In the past, Sri Lanka used to ease past Bangladesh in Tests. However, now with an improved side as their opponent, Sri Lanka had to face a few challenges before eventually defeating the hosts 1-0 in the two-match series.Though most batters had a good outing, it was particularly heartening to see seniors Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal deliver, when Sri Lanka were in a spot of bother.Sri Lanka benefited from a good mix of experience and youth. Senior players gave them big runs with match-defining partnerships while the rookie fast bowlers delivered match-winning performances. Mathews deservedly won the Player-of-the-Series award after his best Test series in seven years. Chandimal was among the runs in both Tests, notably scoring his first hundred in four years.But it wasn’t just about individual brilliance. Mathews and Chandimal defied Bangladesh twice in crucial junctures. Mathews put together two big partnerships in Dhaka, including the 199-run stand for the sixth wicket with Chandimal. The pair batted in contrasting fashion, with Mathews trusting his defense above everything. He has a strong defensive technique and he prefers playing straight, which is a recipe for success in Bangladesh, where the pitches are slower and lower. Batters who play straight are often rewarded.Chandimal, on the other hand, is trying to rediscover his aggressive streak, often charging at the Bangladesh spinners to bunt them down the ground. It was demoralising for the bowlers, and he balanced it with solid square-cuts and drives. Dimuth Karunaratne, a usually heavy scorer, also got important runs while Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva pitched in with handy contributions as well.Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews were the top two run-getters for Sri Lanka•AFP/Getty Images”With their experience, Angelo and Chandimal are greedy for their runs,” wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella said. “They knew this is the best opportunity to go for big scores. They did a great job and are taking the pressure off the youngsters. They are doing their job properly.”However, the most remarkable aspect of Sri Lanka’s victory was their bowling. Asitha Fernando became only the second fast bowler in their history to take a ten-wicket haul. The first was their fast-bowling coach Chaminda Vaas, who had two such hauls in 1995 and 2001. Fernando and Kasun Rajitha, who took his maiden five-wicket haul in the first innings in Dhaka, combined to take 17 wickets in the second Test.Rajitha and Asitha used the new ball superbly on the first morning of the second Test. In less than seven overs, they exposed Bangladesh’s inability to tackle subtle seam movement. There wasn’t visible swing but there was enough seam movement as the duo picked up five early wickets. Fernando’s use of the short ball, reverse-swing and skiddiness was compelling to watch. Rajitha was slightly more experienced but he too kicked things up a notch.Only Mushfiqur Rahim and Litton Das resisted them with their batting skills and intelligence. The rest of the Bangladesh line-up scored only 32 runs out of their 365 in the first innings.Related

Kasun Rajitha and Asitha Fernando show their mettle

Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal stand up to be counted

“These are not the wickets we played on last time, when the ball was spinning and turning,” Dickwella said. “This time it was dead and flat tracks, good for batsmen. Our fast bowlers came up with their plans. Their execution was good. In both Tests, there wasn’t much for spinners but the fast bowlers did well. Our batsmen also made the job easier for our bowlers.”In the first innings, there was something for the seamers – a bit of movement and swing. We took five early wickets but we couldn’t quite take the other five wickets [quickly]. In the second innings, [the bounce] was going up and down. Seam movement was there. We stuck to our basic line and length. We wanted to bowl stump line in the second innings.”We knew the top-order was struggling in the first innings. We wanted to bowl line and length first. With Asitha’s pace and tactics with the short ball, we knew it would be hard for them. We wanted to spread the field, not to give easy runs, and then attack when possible.”We had a calm dressing room. We knew we were just one wicket away from the tail-enders. We kept our nerves. I think Asitha came up with a brilliant catch. It was the turning point.”Kasun Rajitha created massive impact after coming in as a concussion sub in the first Test•AFP/Getty ImagesThe spinners took only one wicket, taking their tally to just three wickets in the Test series, Sri Lanka’s second-lowest returns by a spin attack (when they have bowled more than 181 overs in a series).Ramesh Mendis played both games and they alternated between Lasith Embuldeniya and Praveen Jayawickrama, but none of the options worked. Jayawickrama bowled brilliantly against Bangladesh last year, but was a pale shadow of his former self this time.The fact that Bangladesh still couldn’t get into advantageous positions in both Tests is a huge tribute to Rajitha and Asitha.In the next couple of years under Silverwood and Vaas, there’s potential for Asitha and Rajitha to keep improving, while more robust bowlers can come through the system.But it is hard to assume that Sri Lanka still doesn’t have their house in order. After Kamil Mishra’s ejection midway through the tour, Silverwood has to address disciplinary issues among the young players. Undoubtedly, fitness, too, will be near or on top of his laundry list. But in his first series in charge of Sri Lanka, Silverwood also must have found many positives to work with in the coming months.