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With the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year, and limited available spots in the India squad, the WPL could be the big chance for some to make heads turn

Sruthi Ravindranath21-Feb-2024S Meghana (Royal Challengers Bangalore)While India have their opening spots filled in the format, a good WPL outing could keep S Meghana in the fray as back-up for Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana. Meghana last played for India in the women’s Asia Cup in 2022, where she opened alongside Shafali with Mandhana playing down the order. She was part of Gujarat Giants last year, where she played at No. 3 and had an average season, her highest score being 31 off 32 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore. She was bought for her base price of INR 30 lakh by RCB in the 2024 auction, but it remains to be seen if she will get a chance to open with Mandhana, considering the franchise also has Sophie Devine, who opened last season.Related

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WPL FAQs – Ins and outs, and everything else

Sneh Rana (Gujarat Giants)With spin-bowling allrounders likely to be in demand at the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, the experienced Sneh Rana, an India regular in the other formats, will be looking to show off her all-round skills at the WPL. Last season, Rana was made the Giants captain after an injury to Beth Mooney, and she endured a rough time in her team’s poor season. She last played for India in T20Is at the World Cup in South Africa in early 2023, where she finished with 34 runs and six wickets in eight games. India already have an experienced allrounder Deepti Sharma in the side along with the likes of youngsters Amanjot Kaur and Shreyanka Patil – who have all been part of recent T20I series – but a strong WPL season could help Rana remain in contention.Yastika Bhatia (Mumbai Indians)Richa Ghosh’s excellent performances in the recent home season make her the first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in the national side for now, which means Bhatia needs to have another season like the last to compete for a spot.She had a solid season with the bat at the last WPL, where she made three 40-plus scores in Mumbai’s title-winning campaign. A more consistent run this season – with a couple of higher scores – could tilt the scales in her favour. She had below-par performances in the last T20I series she played for India, against Bangladesh in 2023, but is a strong alternative who can bat long and score quickly, as she has shown over the years.Kiran Navgire showed glimpses of her big-hitting ability during the Eliminator last season•BCCIKiran Navgire (UP Warriorz)India need finishers in their white-ball squads. Navgire showed promise with her exploits in domestic cricket, but at the last WPL, she couldn’t quite pull it off, except in the Eliminator between UP Warriorz and Mumbai Indians, where she showed what she was capable of, hitting four fours and three sixes in her 43 off 27 balls. But the big-hitter had a poor domestic season as well, where she made just 88 runs in six games for Maharashtra in the Senior Women’s T20 trophy.Warriorz coach Jon Lewis told ESPNcricinfo in December that Navgire had been “working very hard on her physical fitness during the off-season so she can be faster between the wickets”. It might be hard for the selectors to look past her if she brings her best hitting game along with some consistency to the WPL this season.Vrinda Dinesh (UP Warriorz)Vrinda Dinesh is just 22, hasn’t played international cricket yet, but has been all the talk ahead of WPL 2024. The top-order batter had teams tussling for her at the auction and was finally roped in by Warriorz for INR 1.3 crore.Karnataka’s Vrinda starred in the 2022-23 Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy, finishing as the third-highest run-getter in the tournament – 477 from 11 innings at 47.70 – following which she impressed in the final of the ACC emerging tournament against Bangladesh in June last year, where she caught the attention of a few scouts.She also turned out for the India A side for the series against England in December. In the 2023-24 Senior Women’s T20 Trophy, she scored 211 runs at 154.01. India do have their top order in place in the format, but Vrinda could come into contention if she replicates what the likes of Shreyanka Patil and Saika Ishaque did last season.

Careers in competitive sport rarely end in a perfect manner. If it is indeed the end, it is just a fact of life

Sidharth Monga21-Feb-2022It hurts. It is supposed to hurt. If it doesn’t, there is probably something wrong. It is not just Wriddhiman Saha who is hurting. Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ishant Sharma will be hurting in their own different ways. Cricket is all they have known as far back as they can remember. Test cricket is the only format they play.And it hits home only when it happens. To us on the outside, it might seem obvious and justified selection calls, but when you are fighting day in day out, trying to stay fit, trying to work on your game, trying to find a way, nothing prepares you for such an exclusion.Related

Injured Deepak Chahar, Suryakumar Yadav ruled out of SL T20Is

BCCI: 'We will speak to Saha and want to know if he was threatened'

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Wriddhiman Saha: 'Being indirectly told to retire'

Pujara, Rahane, Ishant, Saha dropped for Sri Lanka Test series

Saha is one of the most unfortunate cricketers of his time. His career has coincided with two extraordinary wicketkeepers’. MS Dhoni kept him out during the first half of his career, and now he has been fighting the only Indian wicketkeeper to have scored centuries in Australia, England and South Africa. In between, injuries robbed him of Tests, which means his career will end, in all likelihood, at 40 Tests.Even today, even at 37, Saha can walk into some other Test sides, but not India. Not anymore. And you can’t fault the selectors’ logic. It makes little sense to have a 37-year-old as your back-up keeper when Pant is now the incumbent across conditions. It is an opportunity to groom someone younger. It will remain a tribute to Saha that he could keep a batter of Pant’s ability out on turning tracks on the sheer weight of his glovework.It is staggering to think Ishant is only 33. That body might not feel 33, though. He started out in 2007-08 and has been through horror tours of Australia and England before becoming one of the most improved bowlers in the world. He has sent down 19,160 deliveries in Test cricket, only a third of them as part of a potent, relentless attack.It is staggering to think Ishant is only 33. That body might not feel 33, though•AFP/Getty ImagesA lot of words have been written and spoken on how he has improved his lengths, but the biggest change has been that now nobody releases the pressure he creates. For a change, he has pressure to feed off. How he must be wanting to continue enjoying this, having often been the lone shining light in earlier attacks.Selections, though, are made from the point of view of the team and not the individual. Mohammed Siraj is younger, fitter and quicker. In a fully fit Indian squad, in conditions meriting more than two quicks, Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are the top three. If a fourth quick plays, he will have to be a better batter.Just like Saha, it is perhaps better that a younger fast bowler stays with that group so that he is ready by the time Shami’s body starts to show the signs of wear Ishant’s is showing.There’s no bigger tribute to Ishant than his edging out Siraj in the XI for the World Test Championship final. The team respected, trusted and valued the work he had done, and brought him back in as soon as he got fit.

Careers in competitive sport hardly ever end in a perfect manner. And who is to say this is the end? If it is indeed the end, it is just a fact of life – stellar careers to be celebrated, new ones to be looked forward to

Yet it might be argued that neither Ishant nor Saha enjoyed as much faith as Pujara and Rahane. Since the start of 2020, Pujara and Rahane have played 20 and 19 Tests respectively for one century between them; Ishant has played nine, and Saha three.That, though, is how cricket teams and the sport itself are structured. Bowlers are rotated based on conditions, their bodies need to be looked after much more, but most importantly bowlers are much more in control of their fate than batters. Bowlers initiate play, batters react to it. After a point of time, there is not much batters can do against deep attacks in tough conditions. And this has been an era of tough pitches and exceptional attacks. That is probably why India gave a longer run to Pujara and Rahane than might seem justified.Pujara, who took defensive batting to its extremes at a time when logic suggests defensive batting shouldn’t succeed against fitter and deeper attacks than ever before, on consistently helpful surfaces. Will there ever be such another? And what about Rahane, who used to thrill his way to one breathtaking knock on each tour before this last cycle?One cannot complain now that Pujara and Rahane have been dropped. They have had fair runs•Getty ImagesOne cannot complain now that they have been dropped. They have had fair runs. You can perhaps nit-pick that those in charge have made diplomatic decisions. Neither of them is a stranger to being dropped when younger, but now that they were veterans neither of them was left out of an XI despite diminishing returns. Going from dropping neither from the XI to dropping both of them altogether from the squad is way more diplomatic than the uncomfortable decision of leaving one of them out of the XI and facilitating a gradual transition. Just like how, years ago, Dhoni refused to drop either Rahul Dravid or VVS Laxman till the time they were in the squad.Then again careers in competitive sport hardly ever end in a perfect manner. And who is to say this is the end? They will all be raging against the dying light, and don’t be surprised if there is a successful comeback or two. If it is indeed the end, it is just a fact of life – stellar careers to be celebrated, new ones to be looked forward to. Those who are feeling the hurt of the transition today might just be shepherding the next ones themselves, or endorsing them in the media.And so Virat Kohli will walk into his 100th Test without two batters he pushed, and later backed, more than anyone else. Without the bowler he kicked out of the bed to tell him he had been selected for India for the first time. There will be a day when Kohli will be transitioned too. Indian cricket will chug along then just as it will in Mohali.

Shohei Ohtani wasn't able to get a win on the mound in Game 4 of the World Series as the Dodgers lost at home to the Blue Jays, 6-2, but he has still had an epic run in the postseason and remains two wins away from winning his second title with Los Angeles.

Ohtani's stardom has only grown since he joined the Dodgers in December of 2023 and another championship would add to his legendary status in a sports city that has grown used to seeing its various teams winning on the biggest stages.

Magic Johnson knows all about that as he led the Lakers to five NBA championships during his Hall of Fame career. The now part-owner of the Dodgers was on Fox's pregame show on Tuesday night where he was asked by Derek Jeter how "Ohtani mania" compares to previous sports stars that played in Los Angeles.

"You’ve been here, you’ve seen stars," Jeter said. "L.A. makes stars, stars come to L.A. You’ve been here yourself. Kobe, Shaq, Gretzky came to LA. How does Ohtani mania compare to those other guys?"

"It’s the same other than they didn’t own a country," Magic said with a laugh. "See, because he owns Japan. The same impact—the fans love him. I think it’s more like Kobe and the type of impact he’s made on the field and off the field. He’s a humble young man and he’s serious about becoming the baseball player we’ve ever seen."

Here's that pregame segment:

That's some pretty high praise from Magic, as Bryant is one of the most beloved athletes to ever play in Los Angeles.

Ohtani was huge in the marathon Game 3 win on Monday night, hitting two home runs and two doubles before being intentionally walked three times in his final at-bats.

He then got the start on the mound in Game 4 and while he wasn't able to get the win he showed everyone just how special he is and how much of a competitor he is by throwing six solid innings just hours after playing in one of the best games in World Series history.

Game 5 is back at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night, which means Ohtani will have one last chance to make some more magic in front of his home fans.

If Los Angeles is able to beat the Blue Jays two more times, Ohtani mania in Los Angeles will hit another level.

How RCB silenced the crowd at a ground and against a team they’ve historically struggled

Alagappan Muthu29-Mar-20251:32

Rapid Fire Review: Is this RCB’s season?

For a little while on Friday, Josh Hazlewood held all the power and he had the good sense to use it indiscriminately. He produced two wickets and nine dots with his first 12 balls.For a little while, a little earlier, Rajat Patidar held all the power and he had the good sense to use it indiscriminately. He gave up all of his stumps to one of India’s best spin bowlers and did not care one bit. He had lined up Ravindra Jadeja. He felt in no danger whatsoever. That inside out cover drive went to the boundary like it was racing to meet an appointment.For a little while, a little later, Virat Kohli held all the power and he had the good sense to use it indiscriminately. He was walking over to his mark at long-on and a whole host of people – many of them wearing yellow – were going crazy for him. When he looked up, waved, touched his heart and raised his hand in a thumbs up, a crowd that is famously partisan started chanting his name.Related

• Patidar, bowlers lead RCB to first win over CSK in Chennai since 2008

• Stats – RCB end 17-year Chennai jinx against CSK

• Gaikwad: 'Happy we didn't lose by a big margin'

• Fleming: 'No home advantage at Chepauk'

• Hazlewood: 'This is probably the freshest I've been in a long time'

All of this happened at a ground and against a team that Royal Challengers Bengaluru have historically struggled. But by the end of the night, they conquered both the place and the opposition. They recorded the biggest win, in terms of runs, by a visiting team against Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram stadium.Fast bowlers have had to stomach all manner of evils as T20 cricket has progressed, to the point that they have been forced to admit that for their own survival they had to give up the very thing that makes them so special. Their speed. Their ego. Their gravitational pull.The new ball, though, reminds them that they matter. And Hazlewood is so good with it. Seven of his 16 wickets at the 2023 ODI World Cup were the result of his work within the first 10 overs, including a peak performance in the semi-final where his first spell – 6-1-12-2 – left South Africa – a side that scored over 400 earlier in the tournament – at 28 for 4. By then, he was pushing through on adrenaline. At the start of this IPL, he said he was feeling fresh. In Chennai, he was pure fire. His dismissal of Ruturaj Gaikwad left CSK at 8 for 2 chasing 198. The entire ground was drowning in silence. Kohli, and one billion people, slumped the last time an Australian fast bowler did that. Here he (literally), and eight million people (figuratively), leapt on top of Hazlewood and took a piggy back ride.Josh Hazlewood gave RCB a cracking start with the ball•Associated PressThe war cry that always goes up at the Chinnaswamy stadium had found its way across the border. “Arr-Cee-Bee! Arr-Cee-Bee.” The enemy had breached the gates. Chepauk had fallen. And the worse was to come. When DRS revealed the spike on Deepak Hooda’s edge, several pockets of RCB fans celebrated it with not screams or claps but with something deeply synonymous with the CSK fan base – whistles.RCB have waited for 17 years to win against this team in this place and they were very aware of it.”Yeah, it was actually at breakfast,” Phil Salt, their newest member, said at the post-match press conference. “Some sort of an article came up on my phone, and it was all the things that have happened since RCB beat CSK here. [We had] a pretty light-hearted conversation. There wasn’t too much in it. But yeah, it’s a good win.”To beat the champions in their home ground, and then come here, which is a very, very tough place to come and get a win, we’re really happy with the fact that we’re sitting two games, four points, obviously with a boost in the net run rate as well. But we’re very aware of how good a side CSK are, especially at home, so we’re pleased.”It is not easy to spot a captain’s influence on a T20 game. But it is possible to spot what it does to their own game. In Patidar’s case, the extra responsibility is bringing the best out of him. In three previous matches at Chepauk, he had made only nine runs. He made nearly six times as many from just tonight – though did have the benefit of being dropped on 17.Patidar’s presence through much of the RCB innings prevented R Ashwin and Jadeja from finishing their full quota of overs. They bowled just five, and were taken for 59 runs. The dressing room was in awe of their leader.”I think he’s brilliant in all areas, if I’m being honest with you,” Salt said, “I think the batting is right up there with the best around. I’ve not seen anybody hit spin the way that he can. Obviously, he rode his luck a little bit tonight, but that’s the game. You get that in patches.”And then you come to his captaincy, and he’s a cool head and very calm under pressure. He’s got very good cricket brain. He thinks about the game very deeply. As I’ve already said, the way that he spun the bowlers around tonight to make sure that we’re keeping the pressure on at all times. There’s not much more you can ask for. There’s a reason he’s got a [Player] of the Match trophy as well.”RCB had done such a number on CSK at Chepauk that when the living embodiment of both this place and this team finally made his way out at No. 9, he took strike with a slip and short leg crowding him. At the end of the match, his coach felt compelled to get up close and personal with the pitch, a member of the ground staff in tow. Stephen Fleming’s next stop was the press conference. He left it in a huff with echoes of “Arr-Cee-Bee! Arr-Cee-Bee!” still ringing in the air.

Bobby Jenks, the fan-favorite closer for the 2005 Chicago White Sox who went on to become a two-time All-Star, died Friday in Portugal, the team said in a Saturday afternoon social media post. He was 44.

“We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,” owner Jerry Reinsdorf said in a team statement. “None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire Sox organization during his time in Chicago."

Jenks had been battling adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer.

The White Sox called up Jenks, an Anaheim Angels draftee, midway through the '05 season. Gradually taking over the team's closer role, he saved four games in the postseason as Chicago won its first World Series title since 1917.

Becoming one of baseball's most dominant closers for several years, he averaged 38 saves per 162 games from 2006 to '10. He is second to Bobby Thigpen in franchise history in that category.

He signed with the Boston Red Sox before the 2011 season, but injuries quickly derailed his career, and he eventually received a $5 million malpractice settlement for a surgery he said hastened his 2012 retirement. In retirement, he wrote candidly about the surgery and his previous substance-abuse issues.

New Balance have unveiled a stunning new boot which has been co-designed by Arsenal and England star Bukayo Saka. The American footwear company have launched the special edition '7egacy’ boot, featuring a custom colourway of the Furon v8, which the winger wore for the first time in the Gunners’ 1-1 Premier League draw with Chelsea on Sunday evening.

• New Balance
  

  New Saka boot adorned with beautiful hand-illustrated graphics

  Marking the first time New Balance has handed over creative control on one of their football boots, Saka has produced a beautiful design which reflects his personal story through a number of hand-illustrated graphics. 

  The boot features a lion, which represents leadership following Saka's emergence as one of Arsenal and England’s most trusted players, along with a bible and a dove, reflecting the 24-year-old’s Christian faith.  

  There is also a key symbol, symbolising Saka’s determination to remain focused on his long-term goals, while the boot features the forward’s signature No. 7 – the number he wears for both England and Arsenal, with the red-and-white design capturing the spirit of both teams. 

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• New Balance
  

  'Proud' Arsenal & England winger opens up on designing the boot

  Opening up on what it was like to be given creative freedom to design his own football boot, a “proud” Saka said: “I wanted to create a boot that shares my story with the fans who inspire me every day. 

  “From faith to football, everything I care about is woven into this design. New Balance gave me the freedom to be fully creative from the colours and textures and even the marketing campaign that surrounds this boot. I was involved in every step of the process and I’m proud of what we created. Now it’s up to others to create their own stories with them.”

  Expressing his joy at being able to help deliver a boot which is both “personal” and “built to perform”, Luc Fusaro – Design Director Global Football Product – said: “Bukayo had a clear vision of how he wanted the boot to look as well as what it represents.

  “He gave us the blueprint and we fused his story with our elite craftsmanship to deliver a boot that is bold, personal, and built to perform. Every detail has meaning and we make sure that didn’t compromise performance – it elevated it.” 

• New Balance
  

  Saka is the face of New Balance's 'We Got Now' advertising campaign

  Having first signed with New Balance in March 2021, Saka has forged a strong relationship with the footwear and apparel firm. The Arsenal academy graduate is the face of New Balance’s ‘We Got Now’ advertising campaign, which also features tennis superstar Coco Gauff and baseball icon Shohei Ohtani.

  The New Balance Furon v8 Bukayo Saka ‘7egacy’ Edition will be available to purchase at newbalance.com at 9:00 am GMT on 2 December for the suggested retail price of £230/€240/$240 for adults and £65/€70/$70 for juniors. 

  For more information, visit newbalance.com/soccer, follow @newbalancefootball on Instagram, or check out GOAL’s deep dive on the boot here. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Saka recorded an assist to help leaders Arsenal earn draw with Chelsea

  Saka donned his new boots as he helped Arsenal come from behind to earn a crucial point against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. In a hotly-contested affair which saw Blues midfielder Moises Caicedo sent off for a tough challenge on Gunners makeshift forward Mikel Merino, Mikel Arteta’s side found themselves behind when defender Trevoh Chalobah headed the hosts in front after 48 minutes.

  However, Arsenal were level 14 minutes later when Saka played in a brilliant cross, which was headed home by Merino. Arteta’s men are currently five points above second-placed Manchester City and six points ahead of third-placed Chelsea at the top of the league table.   

  Reflecting on the positives Arsenal could take away from the draw with Chelsea, Arteta said after the game: “That's the feeling that we have, and the standards that we set to ourselves. 

  “Probably it's because of the spirit, the hunger and how much they want it, that it's so incredible we'll overcome everything. So many things have happened, but we have to prepare very well for Wednesday, and try to be better than Brentford.”

  Arsenal will likely face a stern test when they entertain 10th-placed Brentford on Wednesday evening, with Keith Andrews’ men having won five of their last seven games in all competitions.

Zinedine Zidane’s long-awaited comeback to management is finally taking shape with France preparing to appoint the former Real Madrid boss as their next head coach after Didier Deschamps steps down following the 2026 World Cup. The move is poised to end months of speculation and ignite fresh excitement around Les Bleus, who have recently faced criticism for lacking innovation.

• Zidane’s return takes shape as France prepare for a new era

  Zidane’s anticipated return to the sidelines may finally become reality. As reported by AS, France intend to appoint him as their next national team manager once Deschamps completes his final tournament at the 2026 World Cup. For months Zidane has hinted that he is ready to coach again, and France have been waiting for the right moment to bring him home.

  The timing aligns with France’s need for renewal. Critics have increasingly lamented Deschamps’ recent handling of the squad, arguing that his approach has turned predictable, conservative and overly dependent on earlier experiments. Many felt the team had stopped evolving in key areas such as tactical flexibility, attacking variety and squad rotation.

  Zidane’s arrival is therefore viewed as a chance to inject new flavour into a team rich with talent but in need of a fresh tactical lens. 

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• AFP
  

  Deschamps’ era

  Deschamps’ contract is nearing its end, closing a monumental chapter in French football. Appointed in 2012 after Laurent Blanc, Deschamps took France to heights that cemented his legacy. He guided the nation to the Euro 2016 final, delivered World Cup glory in 2018, reached another World Cup final in 2022, and maintained consistent competitiveness throughout more than a decade in charge.

  But his reign was not without low points. The round-of-16 exit at Euro 2020, tactical rigidity at times, selection decisions that raised eyebrows, and an increasingly repetitive approach left the impression that France were not fully maximising their extraordinary talent pool. 

• Zidane’s resume signals a new direction for Les Blues

  Recent years have seen a growing consensus among critics: France under Deschamps had become predictable. Analysts repeatedly pointed to the same issues — conservative game plans, slow in-game adjustments, and a reliance on ideas that once worked but no longer fit a squad bursting with dynamic, attack-minded talent. In several matches, France looked like a team playing within themselves, constrained rather than liberated.

  Commentators argued that even with Kylian Mbappe, and emerging talents like Eduardo Camavinga and Warren Zaire-Emery, France often played with unnecessary caution, absorbing pressure instead of dictating games.

  That is where Zidane’s profile stands in sharp contrast, as he won three Champions League titles in three seasons and a La Liga crown in Madrid.

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• AFP
  

  Why France will still miss Didier Deschamps

  Even with the excitement surrounding Zidane’s expected arrival, France will deeply miss Deschamps. France will miss the unique personal bond Deschamps built inside the dressing room, a connection rooted in trust, continuity, and genuine care for his players. He wasn’t just a tactician; he was a stabilising force who understood how to manage personalities across generations. His reliance on experienced leaders like Hugo Lloris created a mentoring culture that helped young players settle quickly under the pressure of international football. 

Mumbai batter Ayush Mhatre will lead India Under-19 in a multi-format tour of Australia, which begins on September 21 at Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane. The 17-member side includes 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who had lit up IPL 2025 with his power-packed batting.India will play five matches on the tour, beginning with three one-day games, all at the same venue, on September 21, 24 and 26. That will be followed by two four-day matches, the first one also at Ian Healy Stadium from September 30 and the second in Mackay from October 7.From the U-19 side that recently toured England for a similar multi-format series, the players missing are Maulyarajsinh Chavda, Yudhajit Guha (now among the stand-bys), Pranav Raghavendra and Mohammed Enaan. In come Vedant Trivedi, Khilan Patel, Udhav Mohan and Aman Chauhan.Khilan, who was ruled out of the England tour due to a stress reaction in his right leg, has recovered and is included in the 17-member squad. Top-order Punjab batter Vihaan Malhotra, who excelled in both the four-dayers and 50-over leg of the England tour, has been rewarded with the vice-captaincy for the Australia tour.Mhatre was the leading run-scorer (340 in four innings) in the youth Tests in England, a high-scoring series which ended 0-0 with both matches severely curtailed by rain. India had earlier taken the one-day series 3-2, with Suryavanshi topping the run-charts with 355 runs in five innings. Offspinner Kanishk Chouhan led the wickets column for India in the one-day series, while fast bowler RS Ambrish impressed with six wickets in the youth Tests.The squad also includes wicketkeeper-batter Harvansh Singh Pangalia and offspinner Anmoljeet Singh, while Naman Pushpak and D Deepesh also retain their places. Apart from Guha, Laxman, B K Kishore, Alankrith Rapole and Arnav Bugga are the standby players.India had earlier clean swept the Australia U-19 side in both the one-day and four-day series at home in September-October last year.India Under-19 squad: Ayush Mhatre (capt), Vihaan Malhotra (vice-capt), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vedant Trivedi, Rahul Kumar, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (WK), R S Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, Naman Pushpak, Henil Patel, D Deepesh, Kishan Kumar, Anmoljeet Singh, Khilan Patel, Udhav Mohan, Aman Chauhan

Lunch India cruised past 400 on the second morning at Edgbaston, as Shubman Gill registered his new Test high score in a 203-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja for the sixth wicket. Jadeja fell shortly before the interval for 89, gloving a catch behind down the leg side off Josh Tongue, but Gill batted serenely to pass 150 for the first time in Tests.Gill and Jadeja added an unbroken 99 on the first evening, and reached their 100-run stand off the first ball of the day as Gill tucked Ben Stokes through the leg side. Gill played a rare false shot early on, edging Chris Woakes past second slip, but otherwise offered almost nothing while batting at a slightly higher tempo than he had on the opening day.England’s bowlers were frustrated by Jadeja’s habit of taking a step or two down the pitch before deciding whether or not to attempt a run, with Stokes and Woakes both exchanging words with him. Both Jadeja and Stokes were spoken to by the umpires – Sharfuddoula and Chris Gaffaney – and encouraged to avoid the ‘danger area’ on a good length.Jadeja marked his ninth 50-plus score against England with his trade sword celebration, and scored freely on both sides of the wicket. He and Gill exchanged sixes off Shoaib Bashir to take India past 400 – and take their partnership beyond 200 – before Tongue, unused for the first 85 minutes of the day, struck in his third over of the session.Tongue found some extra bounce with an 85mph/137kph short ball, which looped through to Jamie Smith via Jadeja’s glove, and bowled a hostile spell to Washington Sundar, India’s No. 8. But India were well on top by the lunch break, with Gill still unbeaten and batting with a combination of class and composure.

With three wins from their opening nine Premier League matches, Leeds United have already gone against the label that often falls onto newly promoted sides as being relegation fodder.

It might not be as spectacular as Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka-led efforts, but Daniel Farke’s Whites now find themselves on double digits in terms of points collected, with a much-needed 2-1 home win against West Ham United on Friday night also seeing the West Yorkshire outfit get one over on a potential relegation rival.

Yet again, Joe Rodon put in a valiant effort in the heart of Farke’s defence, with his standout display against Nuno Espirito Santo’s visitors further cementing his tag as Leeds’ “most important player”, as was handed to him at the start of the month by journalist Isaac Johnson.

Rodon's performance vs West Ham

The Welsh “warrior” – as he has also been lovingly labelled in the past by his manager – has gone on to be an ever-present part of the German’s side, ever since Rodon was just a much-loved loan option from Tottenham Hotspur.

Rodon didn’t miss a single Championship game last season as Leeds were crowned champions of the tricky division, and he has remained as one of the first names on the team sheet in the league above, too, and for very good reason.

The 28-year-old powerhouse would ensure the three points were sealed when heading home this corner unmarked, but it wasn’t just this effort beating Alphonse Aréola in the Hammers’ net that cemented his position in the Whites’ good books.

Indeed, Rodon would also finish the contest with a 92% pass accuracy intact as a calm and controlled operator on the ball, on top of nine clearances also being registered to ensure the likes of former Leeds star Crysencio Summerville were kept quiet.

If Leeds want to establish themselves as a formidable Premier League outfit and beat the drop come the end of the long campaign, they will need Rodon to keep up these imperious levels, with Farke very much aware of how much of an integral component he is to his team, having also once lauded him as “unbelievable” rock defensively.

However, another Leeds first-teamer is also deserving of his flowers, too, away from all the praise being dished out to the Swansea-born battler, with the star in question arguably putting in an even better performance than Rodon on Friday night.

The 9/10 star who was even better than Rodon

Ultimately, it was a team effort that got the narrow win over the line, with Lucas Perri in between the sticks, having to make sure he stayed alert, with two saves tallied up on his return to Farke’s starting lineup.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin also tirelessly threw himself into the contest, even if he didn’t add to his solitary Leeds strike, with the easily scapegoated number nine winning eight duels in total.

But, as much as everyone did largely play their part in a second home win of the season being secured, Brenden Aaronson stood out as an extremely bright spark with his sublime individual display.

Aaronson would steer his side to their third three points of the Premier League season when being in the right place at the right time to convert a rebound after just three minutes. Yet, on another day, he could have also been remembered in even more glowing terms for being the audacious ace who fired home this sensational solo effort.

Unfortunately, the crossbar would then intervene.

But, this well-worked effort agonisingly scraping the crossbar shouldn’t detract from Aaronson’s otherwise near faultless night, with the American – who was labelled as “anonymous” by journalist James Marshment just last season – arguably standing out even more than Rodon when judging his all-round game.

Aaronson’s performance in numbers

Stat

Aaronson

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Touches

38

Shots

3

Accurate passes

11/15 (73%)

Key passes

2

Successful dribbles

3/3

Recoveries

4

Total duels won

8/12

Stats by Sofascore

Across the 90 minutes, away from grabbing his early goal, the revitalised number 11 would also successfully complete all three of his dribbles as a constant menace for West Ham to contain, on top of also winning 80% of his ground duels to further reinforce his liveliness.

Yorkshire Evening Post journalist Graham Smyth would reward Aaronson for his standout showing with a 9/10 rating post-match, with Smyth stating that the 25-year-old put in a “tonne of hard work” to help the 2-1 win be secured.

In time, Aaronson will hope that he’s viewed as an undroppable Rodon-like cog in the Leeds machine, with his blistering display against the Hammers very much boosting his position in Farke’s first team, moving forward into a busy November.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Oct 25, 2025