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Glasgow Rangers head coach Danny Rohl will be looking to mastermind his first-ever win in European football against Ferencvaros in the Europa League on Thursday night.

After a 3-0 win against Kilmarnock away from Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night, the German boss will be hoping that his players are full of confidence and ready to secure that first win of the league phase.

Several players will need to raise their levels, though, because too many members of the squad have failed to perform on the European stage this season.

The worst Rangers performers in the Europa League this season

When looking at the worst performers for the Gers in the Europa League, it is impossible to look past Mohamed Diomande as the standout player for the wrong reasons.

The Ivorian central midfielder has been sent off two times in three appearances in the competition, remarkably, and it is hard to get much worse than that.

Youssef Chermiti, who was signed for £8m from Everton, has challenged Diomande for that spot, though, with no goals and four ‘big chances’ missed in five starts, per Sofascore, in the league phase.

1

Mohamed Diomande

2

Youssef Chermiti

3

Thelo Aasgaard

4

Oliver Antman

5

Jayden Meghoma

Summer signings Thelo Aasgaard and Oliver Antman also rank in the worst five performers, as they have both failed to deliver a goal or an assist and both average under one key pass per game, per WhoScored.

The attacking duo have also struggled in the Premiership, with one goal and two assists combined, but they are not the only attacking players who have underperformed, as Djeidi Gassama must be dropped for Thursday’s game.

Why Djeidi Gassama should be dropped by Danny Rohl

The summer signing from Sheffield Wednesday made an electric start to his career at Ibrox with four goals in six games in the Champions League qualifiers.

Since then, though, the French forward has found it tough to make an impact on a regular basis, with one goal in 15 Premiership games and one goal in five outings in the Europa League, per Sofascore.

At the end of last month, Rangers fan and scout Kai Watson posted that Gassama “deserves just as much criticism as Antman & Aasgaard”, which is a fair comment when you look at their respective performances in the Premiership.

As aforementioned, the Frenchman has not delivered much in the way of quality in the league for the Gers, and he blanked again in the 3-0 win over Kilmarnock, with no goals, assists, or ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore. He also lost the ball a whopping 23 times.

Games

15

22

Goals

1

1

Big chances missed

3

3

Big chances created

1

2

Assists

1

2

As you can see in the table above, Aasgaard and Antman’s combined output in the Premiership is better than Gassama’s, which shows that he has not been at a level above the pair this season in the league.

These statistics show that all three of those summer signings have failed to provide goals and assists on a regular basis for the Light Blues, and that is also reflected in their combined return of one goal and no assists in the Europa League.

With this in mind, Rohl should ruthlessly ditch Gassama from the starting line-up for Thursday evening’s clash with Ferencvaros because he has not offered enough quality in the final third of late.

Instead, the ex-Sheffield Wednesday manager should bring Mikey Moore back into the fold after he marked his return from injury with an impressive goal against Kilmarnock.

The Spurs loanee has scored two goals in his last two appearances for Rangers, and it would have been three if not for VAR ruling out his second goal against Killie for an innocuous foul in the build-up.

Moore is starting to show that he can be a difference-maker in the final third, with two goals and one assist in the league, and should be given an opportunity to shine from the start ahead of Gassama on Thursday.

Rangers dud was as "rotten" as Miovski, now he's Rohl's most improved player

This Glasgow Rangers flop who looked as bad as Bojan Miovski is now Danny Rohl’s most improved performer.

ByDan Emery Dec 8, 2025

The 2025 Major League Baseball season begins in earnest today. Teams will hit the ground and hope to get running right from Opening Day. The Baltimore Orioles have high aspirations in a tough American League East and outfielder Colton Cowser is ready to go. He broke spring training with his arm in tip-top shape and wasted no time showing it off during his team's batting practice Wednesday at Rogers Center in Toronto.

When a fan hanging out in the hotel high above centerfield wanted to get his mitts on a souviner baseball, Cowser went to extreme lengths to get the job done. His precision heave up several stories found its target and a core memory was made.

If you have a normal arm with normal shoulder ligaments, footage of the impressive toss will trigger some immediate soreness.

Excellet work. Batting practice is for having fun and making the people happy. When you're out shagging fly balls, the incredible urge to throw the ball way up there inevitably strikes. Cowser saw an opportunity to do something classy while satisfy it and acted.

Baltimore squares off against the Blue Jays at 3:07 p.m. ET. If a situation where someone needs to make a ball go 80 feet into the air with accuracy arises, Cowser will be up for the job.

تصدر نادي بيراميدز مجموعته في بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بالتساوي مع نهضة بركان المغربي، بعد فوزه اليوم السبت على ريفرز يونايتد، في أولى مواجهات دور المجموعات.

وفاز بيراميدز على ريفرز يونايتد النيجيري، بثلاثة أهداف نظيفة، وذلك في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب استاد الدفاع الجوي.

طالع.. فيديو | قطة يسجل هدفين لـ بيراميدز أمام ريفرز يونايتد في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

ويتواجد بيراميدز في المجموعة الأولى من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، بجانب نهضة بركان المغربي وريفرز يونايتد النيجيري وباور ديناموز الزامبي.

وضمن نفس الجولة في المجموعة ذاتها، فاز فريق نهضة بركان المغربي على باور ديناموز الزامبي بثلاثية نظيفة، في المباراة التي أقيمت اليوم أيضًا في المغرب. ترتيب مجموعة بيراميدز في دوري أبطال إفريقيا

1- بيراميدز 3 نقاط (مباراة)

2- نهضة بركان المغربي 3 نقاط (مباراة)

3- ريفرز يونايتد النيجيري، دون نقاط (مباراة)

4- باور ديناموز الزامبي، دون نقاط (مباراة)

Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti has convinced "very dangerous" Vinicius Junior to take up a surprise new role in the national team. With only a few months left until the 2026 World Cup kicks off in North America, the veteran Italian coach is trying to find the best possible attacking combination in the Selecao squad as he aims to deliver the country's record-extending sixth global crown.

• Vinicius Jr key figure in Brazil squad

  With Neymar currently out of the team due to injuries, Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior has emerged as the talismanic figure in Brazil's attack. He has, of course, benefited from the arrival of Ancelotti as head coach, as he has years of experience playing under the Italian manager at Real Madrid. Since Ancelotti took charge of the Selecao, Vinicius Jr has scored two goals in six matches for the world champions.

  While Ancelotti is satisfied with the left winger's performance, he has envisioned a new role for the 25-year-old after explaining the potential benefits to the Real Madrid star, who is struggling for form at club level.

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• AFP
  

  'Vinicius has the quality to score many goals'

  Speaking to , the Brazil boss said: "[I see him] as a winger or as a central striker. Vinícius has the quality to score many goals. I've spoken to him: 'Look, when you're playing as a winger, to score goals you have to do three or four dribbles. Touch the ball seven or eight times. And in the centre, just one well-timed movement is enough to score a goal.' He understood it, he likes playing in that position.

  "We can take advantage of a player who can help a lot as a winger, not as a forward in the area as I'm not stupid because he is not a reference point inside the box. But to attack the area with space, he is very, very, dangerous."

• Ancelotti made similar suggestion to Neymar

  As Ancelotti continues to experiment with new tactics and positions of the national team players, he has advised Neymar to play in a new role, which would suit his physique and help the 33-year-old winger avoid the injuries that have plagued the Brazil icon throughout his career. 

  Speaking about a possible comeback for Neymar ahead of the World Cup, Ancelotti said: "Yes, yes (laughs), [the question I've heard most so far is] about Neymar, but it's normal because he's a legend of Brazilian football. So, it's normal. I know everyone wants Neymar to get back to his best physical condition. And also the CBF, the coach, the technical staff of the national team hope that Neymar can return to his best level. The truth is that today's football demands many things. Not only talent, but also physical condition, intensity… hopefully Neymar will be at his best level. 

  "I think he needs to play more centrally, not as a winger, because wingers in today's football are players you need to help defensively as well. When you play a little more centrally, the defensive work is much less than when you play as a winger. And I also think that a very talented player, closer to the goal, has more opportunities to score goals. [False 9] could be his ideal position."

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• Getty Images
  

  Brazil aim to get back to winning ways

  After ending their Asia tour with a disappointing defeat at the hands of Japan, Brazil now travel to England and France for a couple of international friendlies as they lock horns against African giants Senegal and Tunisia on November 15 and 18, respectively. Following the November international break, the Selecao will get only two more preparatory matches in March next year before they head to North America for the World Cup. 

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will surely have been disappointed with his side’s performance in their 2-0 loss to Braga in the Europa League at Parkhead on Thursday night.

The Scottish giants have picked up one point from their first two matches in the league phase of the competition after they failed to qualify for the Champions League.

Celtic were unfortunate not to score an equaliser when they were 1-0 down, though, as Kelechi Iheanacho’s goal was ruled out for an alleged handball, although the footage released of the incident so far suggests that there was no offence.

Irrespective of whether or not that goal should have stood, Celtic have not done enough at the top end of the pitch in their last nine matches in all competitions.

Braga (H)

2-0 loss

Hibernian (H)

0-0 draw

Red Star Belgrade (A)

1-1 draw

Partick Thistle (A)

4-0 win

Kilmarnock (A)

2-1 win

Rangers (A)

0-0 draw

Kairat (A)

0-0 draw (loss on penalties)

Livingston (H)

3-0 win

Kairat (H)

0-0 draw

As you can see in the table above, the Hoops have failed to score in five of their last nine games, four of their last nine if you want to count Iheanacho’s disallowed strike as a plus in that column.

Supporters want to see excitement. They want to see attacking play that results in goals. One former Celtic player who provided those things was Aiden McGeady.

Why Aiden McGeady was a Celtic fan favourite

The Ireland international, who came up through the youth ranks at Parkhead after his move from Queen’s Park as a teenager, was a fan favourite because of his style of play on the left wing.

McGeady got supporters off their feet with his impressive dribbling skills, to the point where he had a skill move named after him. “The McGeady spin” is up there with the “Ronaldo chop” and “the Maradona turn” for skills associated with one player.

The Irish winger being referenced for a skill move pulled off by a Ballon d’Or contender playing for Barcelona in 2025 speaks to the impact that he had on the game with his skills on the left wing for Celtic and other clubs.

McGeady also had end product to his skilful performances for the Scottish Premiership giants, with a return of 37 goals and 48 assists in 240 matches, per Transfermarkt.

That is why he was a fan favourite for the Parkhead crowd because he was able to back up his dribbles and exciting wing play with goals and assists to help the team in the final third.

Jota

£24m

Nicolas Kuhn

£16.5m

Aidan McGeady

£10m

Liel Abada

£6.7m

Mikey Johnston

£2.9m

Sead Haksabanovic

£1.6m

His £10m move to Spartak Moscow in 2010 also still ranks in the top three biggest winger sales in the club’s history, only knocked out of the top two in the recent summer transfer window by Nicolas Kuhn’s move to Como.

McGeady was a fantastic left-winger for the Hoops who provided skills, goals, assists, and value to the club, with his eventual exit, and the club are now brewing their next version of the Irish forward.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Celtic swooped to sign left-sided attacker Sebastian Tounekti from Hammarby on deadline day at the start of last month to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch, and he has made a bright start to life in Glasgow.

Why Sebastian Touneki is the next Aiden McGeady in the making

The Tunisia international’s first month or so with the Bhoys suggests that he has all the tools to become the next McGeady at Parkhead on the left wing if he is able to kick on and become consistent.

Tounekti has only scored one goal and failed to provide any assists in five matches for Celtic in all competitions to date, per Sofascore, but those numbers do not tell the full story.

He has created seven chances for his teammates in four outings in the Scottish Premiership and Europa League for the Hoops, per Sofascore, but his teammates have not rewarded him with an assist because they have been too wasteful in front of goal.

As you can see in the clips above, he was unfortunate not to record an assist on his debut against Kilmarnock after teeing up Benjamin Nygren for two good chances.

Tounekti’s bright performances have also earned him plaudits from multiple pundits and former players who have been impressed by what he has shown for the Scottish giants.

During the Premier Sports coverage of the match, pundit Michael Stewart described the 23-year-old star as the Celtic “danger man” and claimed that he “unsettles defences” with his direct play. He was also called the “danger man” for the Hoops by Joe Hart in TNT Sports’ coverage of the 2-0 defeat to Braga.

The next step for Tounekti is to add more consistency to his end product because his performance against Braga showcased the best and worst of him.

Minutes

90

Shots

3

Key passes

1

Big chances created

0

Crosses completed

0/1

Dribbles completed

6/8

Duels won

9/21

As you can see in the table above, the left winger was McGeady-esque with his six completed dribbles, but he only created one chance for his teammates and only attempted one cross.

Instead of constantly looking for the cut-back, which can be effective at times, the Tunisia international should look to switch up his game by going down the line to put more crosses in, adding variation to keep defenders second-guessing.

The one cross that he did put in was a teasing left-footed ball to the back post that a Celtic player should have anticipated and got on the end of to score. That was his only attempted cross, though, and that is why Rodgers and the coaching staff should encourage him to try more of those balls into the six-yard box.

Tounekti has the dribbling ability to get fans off their seats, as McGeady did, but the next step is for him to add more goals and assists to his game, as the Irishman did, to cement himself as a true fan favourite in the months and years to come.

Worse than Nygren: Celtic star is on his way to becoming the next Kyogo

This Celtic star is on his way to following in the footsteps of Kyogo Furuhashi.

ByDan Emery Oct 3, 2025

Manchester City are now lining up a move for a Xabi Alonso-esque midfielder as a successor for Rodri, with Pep Guardiola personally keen.

Guardiola identifies replacement for Rodri

Rodri missed the majority of the 2024-25 season due to an ACL injury, but Paul Scholes has recently named him the second-best midfielder in the world, despite not quite reaching his previous level just yet.

Scholes said (56:30): “He’s not started well this season but he’s had that horrific injury. He was by far the best midfielder that year, which is why he won the Ballon d’Or, he controlled everything, and I feel that’s probably why City are struggling a little bit at this minute to keep the ball, because he’s not quite up to speed physically yet.”

It remains to be seen whether the Spaniard is able to get back to his best, but he certainly has plenty of time on his side, given that he only turned 29 in June.

However, according to a report from SportsBoom, Guardiola has now personally identified Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic as a long-term successor to Rodri, as the City boss believes he has the personality and pedigree to replace the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner.

City possess the financial power to lure Bayern to the negotiating table, and given that the midfielder is just 21-years-old, it is reported that even a ‘huge’ transfer fee could be a ‘sensible investment’.

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ByDominic Lund Sep 18, 2025

At the moment, Rodri remains a key player for Guardiola, but the manager is planning for the future, amid interest from Real Madrid back in the summer, and Pavlovic’s ability in possession of the ball could make him an ideal option.

Pavlovic beginning to prove himself at Bayern Munich

The German has featured relatively sporadically for Bayern across the previous two campaigns, but this season he has been a major part of Vincent Kompany’s plans, featuring in all four Bundesliga games and scoring in the 5-0 win against Hamburg.

However, much like Rodri, goal-scoring isn’t the starlet’s main strength, with scout Jacek Kulig previously describing him as a “deep-lying orchestrator”, who is “similar” to Alonso and Michael Carrick.

The £30k-a-week Bayern maestro’s ability in possession means he is a similar type of player to Rodri too, averaging a whopping 96.85 passes per 90 over the past year, while also placing in the 98th percentile for his pass-completion rate, when compared to other midfielders.

Pavlovic could be the perfect long-term replacement for Rodri, but the Spain international should still have a number of years left at the top level, after overcoming his ACL injury.

After several years of relative caution in the transfer market, Newcastle United made a splash this summer with a host of new arrivals.

That investment bore fruit in Europe when the Magpies thrashed Union Saint-Gilloise 4-0 in Belgium, their first win of this season’s competition and the biggest in their history.

Domestically, however, there were concerns. Newcastle’s attack looked disjointed in the early weeks of the season, with the team sitting towards the bottom of the league in their expected goals tally.

While new players are settling in, the club also had to balance the books, leading to some painful sales – including Alexander Isak’s £125m move to Liverpool.

Isak's early struggles at Liverpool

Isak’s exit dominated the summer headlines for months on end.

Having scored 62 goals and provided 11 assists in 109 appearances for Newcastle, the Swedish striker left an indelible mark on Tyneside.

His winner in last season’s Carabao Cup final sealed the club’s first major trophy in decades, making him a hero in black and white.

But the manner of his departure left a sour taste.

Isak pushed hard for the move, skipping parts of pre-season to engineer a transfer, and while Newcastle ultimately received a British record fee, the relationship between player and fans has been tarnished beyond repair.

Liverpool won the race for his signature, hoping Isak would provide the cutting edge needed to reclaim the Premier League title.

Yet, so far, things have not gone to plan.

Isak has looked far from his best, still working back to full fitness after missing much of Newcastle’s pre-season.

His lone goal for the Reds came against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, but he has struggled in the league and Europe.

Against Crystal Palace last weekend, Isak’s difficulties were clear.

He registered three shots, all of them off target, and missed two big chances, as per Sofascore, in what turned out to be a frustrating afternoon. He attempted one dribble, which was unsuccessful, and completed just six of his ten passes.

A cameo against Galatasaray in the Champions League brought little improvement as Liverpool slipped to defeat.

At Newcastle, the system was built to maximise Isak’s movement and finishing, but at Anfield, he has struggled to replicate that influence.

For £125m, Liverpool will expect far more, and quickly.

If Isak’s summer switch has left him looking adrift, Sean Longstaff’s move has provided the perfect reset. Both departures have created talking points, but their fortunes could not have contrasted more.

Newcastle outcast is now shining in the Premier League

While Isak is yet to catch fire, Longstaff has quietly flourished in his new home. Journalist Daniel Storey even went as far as to describe his capture as “one of the best signings in the Premier League.”

A boyhood Newcastle supporter, Longstaff made 214 appearances for the club, scoring 16 goals and assisting 11 more.

He was part of the side that famously defeated Paris Saint-Germain 4-1 in the Champions League last season and played a role in the Carabao Cup triumph.

Yet, in the era of Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), the midfielder represented pure profit on the balance sheet. Eddie Howe, seeking a more technically progressive profile in midfield, allowed him to leave.

Leeds United snapped him up for £12m, and it already looks like one of the bargains of the summer.

In seven appearances so far, Longstaff has scored once and registered one assist, both of which came in a standout performance during a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth.

He completely dominated the midfield, and the numbers tell the story of that display.

Longstaff had 70 touches and completed 36 of his 41 passes, giving Leeds control in possession.

He produced seven key passes, created two big chances, and was equally impactful without the ball, making six tackles and three clearances.

It was the kind of all-action midfield performance Newcastle fans once enjoyed, only this time in white.

Leeds currently sit 12th in the table, a solid return for a side adjusting to life back in the Premier League, and Longstaff has been central to their early progress.

Matches Played

6

Minutes

386

Goals

1

Assist

1

Progressive Passes

8

His energy, vision, and defensive contribution have helped Daniel Farke’s side adapt quickly, and his blend of experience and hunger has made him a fan favourite.

For Newcastle, his departure may have made financial sense, but watching him thrive elsewhere will sting.

9/10 Newcastle star proved why he's Howe's new Isak & it's not Woltemade

Newcastle beat Union Saint-Gilloise and recorded their biggest-ever win in the Champions League.

ByAngus Sinclair Oct 2, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Às vésperas do primeiro duelo ante o rival Corinthians pela semifinal da Copa do Brasil, o São Paulo encerrou a preparação para o jogo, definindo o time que irá a campo na decisão. Rafinha, pivô de uma polêmica viagem à Alemanha no final de semana, trabalhou sem limitações. Éverton Ribeiro é o sonho da diretoria tricolor para 2024. E clube do Morumbi fecha parceria para dar sequência à modernização do Reffis. Confira as notícias!

SÃO PAULO FAZ SEUS PLANOS PARA CONTRATAR ÉVERTON RIBEIRO

Se vem atravessando uma janela de transferências relativamente sem nenhuma movimentação, o São Paulo usa o tempo que ainda resta para tentar garantir a Dorival Júnior pelo menos nomes que possam reforçar o elenco no ano que vem. É assim com Erick, ponta do Ceará que tem um pré-acordo definido com o Tricolor, que tenta (sem sucesso até o momento) antecipar sua chegada. E agora vai ser assim com o meia Éverton Ribeiro, multicampeão e ídolo do Flamengo.

(Clique e leia a reportagem completa)

RAFINHA TREINA E DORIVAL ESBOÇA ESCALAÇÃO

O São Paulo encerrou na tarde desta segunda-feira (24) a preparação para o jogo de ida da semifinal da Copa do Brasil contra o Corinthians, às 21h30 (de Brasília) desta terça-feira (25), em Itaquera. Os trabalhos serviram para Dorival definir o time titular do Tricolor para o clássico. O lateral-direito Rafinha, que não atuou na derrota para o Cuiabá no último sábado (22), fora de casa, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, por ter sido autorizado a viajar à Alemanha, trabalhou nesta manhã sem limitações.

(Clique e leia a reportagem completa)

SÃO PAULO FECHA PARCERIA PARA MODERNIZAR O REFFIS

O São Paulo fechou contrato com a Avanutri, com validade de um ano, para reforçar seu Reffis no CT da Barra Funda. A empresa é especializada em recuperação, nutrição e performance e foi a mesma que teve parceria com a CBF e a Seleção Brasileira durante a Copa do Mundo do Qatar em 2022. O objetivo da parceria é melhorar a recuperação física dos atletas após as partidas, diante do alto número de jogos do time de Dorival Júnior.

(Clique e leia a reportagem completa)

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South Africa allrounder switched to Mumbai Indians in the IPL after being the diamond pick for Peshawar Zalmi in PSL 2025

Danyal Rasool10-Apr-2025

Corbin Bosch is yet to play for MI in IPL 2025, but has come on as a substitute fielder•BCCI

The PCB has banned South African allrounder Corbin Bosch from the Pakistan Super League (PSL) for one year as a penalty for withdrawing from this year’s competition despite being picked at the draft.Bosch, who was a diamond pick for Peshawar Zalmi at the PSL draft, was later signed as an injury replacement by Mumbai Indians (MI) at the ongoing IPL.As the PSL clashes with the IPL this year, Bosch withdrew from the PSL, prompting the PCB to serve him a legal notice while alleging breach of contract. A statement posted on the PCB’s website stated that Bosch had “expressed his regrets” for withdrawing from the PSL, and that he would be barred from participating in the 11th edition of the competition in 2026.Related

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“I deeply regret my decision to withdraw from the PSL, and offer my sincere apologies to the people of Pakistan, the fans of Peshawar Zalmi, and the wider cricket community,” Bosch, who is yet to play for MI in IPL 2025, said in a statement released by the PCB. “I fully understand the disappointment caused by my actions.”To the loyal fans of Peshawar Zalmi, I am truly sorry for letting you down. I take full responsibility for my actions, and accept the consequences, including the penalty fine and the one-year ban from the PSL. This has been a hard lesson, but I am committed to learning from this experience, and hope to return to the PSL in the future with renewed dedication and the trust of the fans.”The PCB was keen to set a precedent with Bosch’s case to deter players from switching to the IPL after signing up for the PSL should the two leagues continue to clash in the future, as is expected. One of the reasons the PSL moved into the IPL window was to achieve greater certainty on player availability; the PSL draft took place after the IPL auction for this year to ensure it was only drafting in players left unpicked by the IPL.As a result, the PSL draft attracted a large number of high-profile players, including David Warner, Daryl Mitchell, Jason Holder, Rassie van der Dussen and Kane Williamson, who all went unsold at the IPL auction.The tenth edition of the PSL starts on April 11, when defending champions Islamabad United take on Lahore Qalandars in Rawalpindi.

India chased down their target of 305 with 33 balls to spare as Rohit and Shubman Gill reuinited at the top of the order with a 136-run stand

Andrew Miller09-Feb-2025

Rohit Sharma brought up his hundred off just 76 balls•MB Media/Getty Images

Rohit Sharma silenced the doubters and showed his readiness to lead India into the Champions Trophy, as he powered through to his 32nd ODI century to set his side up for an unassailable 2-0 series lead in the second ODI against England at Cuttack.With India set a stiff but far from daunting 305 to win, after a piecemeal England performance featuring seven double-figure scores but nothing more imposing than Joe Root’s 69 from 72 balls, Rohit demonstrated the blend of power and endurance that the black-soil conditions required, as he broke the back of the chase with 119 from 90 balls, including 12 fours and seven sixes.Related

'I really broke it down into pieces' – Rohit reflects on comeback innings

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He reached his landmark from 76 balls with the last of those sixes, a glorious lofted drive over wide long-off off Adil Rashid, and had he not scuffed a Liam Livingstone full-toss to midwicket with 85 runs still needed, the margin of victory could have been crushing. Instead, India injected a few late jitters into their chase, losing three wickets in five overs after Shreyas Iyer was needlessly run out for 44, and it required Axar Patel’s calm 41 not out from 43 balls to guard against embarrassment.Realistically though, England had been chasing shadows long before Ravindra Jadeja, their chief tormenter with the ball, had driven the winning boundary with 33 balls to spare. Those shadows had been literal ones at one stage, when a floodlight failure in the seventh over caused a tedious 40-minute delay.Despite his well-documented struggles in Australia this winter, and notwithstanding his unconvincing 2 from seven balls in Nagpur on Thursday, Rohit has played too few ODIs of late to be considered out of form in the format. This was only his fifth 50-over innings since the World Cup final in November 2023, where his haul of 597 runs at 54.27 had been instrumental in his team’s march to the final. Since then, he had added two more fifties in three innings in Sri Lanka in August. Even with his 38th birthday looming in April, and with 11,000 career ODI runs beckoning in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, he’s looking good for a few more yet.As in Nagpur, Rohit’s first seven balls were the least convincing of his innings, although this time they weren’t also his last seven. His first boundary was a streaky four through deep third off Gus Atkinson, but when he found his range one ball later, it was as if a switch had been flicked in his game-brain. Out came a sublime pick-up off the pads which flew over deep midwicket for six – arguably the best shot he had played all winter – and suddenly his timing was attuned to the surface. Saqib Mahmood, who had troubled him in a tight first over, was blazed for two more sixes in overs three and five, over extra cover and long-off, and the chase was on.Fifties from Joe Root and Ben Duckett put England in a strong position before they collapsed•Associated Press

Rohit had eased along to 29 off 18 when the floodlight failure kicked in, and the frustration could have been all the more acute when Mark Wood entered the attack after the resumption and struck him on the knee-roll with his third ball. However, England’s review was deemed by ball-tracking to have only been clipping leg, and Rohit’s response was to slam his front foot to the pitch of his next ball, and lift Wood clean over long-off for his fourth six in eight overs – as many as England managed in their entire innings.Rashid, so often England’s trump card, was unable to stem the tide. Rohit clubbed him for two more fours in his first over, to march through to a 30-ball fifty, before Shubman Gill – hitherto the silent partner – showed he wasn’t about to waste his solid start with a wondrous slog-sweep for his solitary six.Another pull for four from Gill brought up the hundred partnership in the 14th over, and one over later, he had his own fifty – from 45 balls – and the 21st time in 49 ODI innings that he had got there, at an average that briefly nudged above 60. England’s lack of variety was exposed when Atkinson – still smarting from his brutal treatment in the opening T20I – returned to the attack to be hoisted for two more pulled boundaries by Rohit, including a rank half-tracker that was dumped behind square for his fifth six.The breakthrough, when it arrived, came somewhat out of the blue. Jamie Overton had been pumped for two fours in four balls by Gill when he hit back with a superb yorker that plucked out the off stump at 141kph. The momentary silence around Cuttack, however, was almost immediately replaced by a roar of acclaim, as Virat Kohli – back in the team after his knee niggle in Nagpur – walked out with the stage set at 136 for 1.It would not prove to be a lengthy stay. One smartly driven four off Atkinson got the crowd purring, but Kohli had faced just eight deliveries when Rashid turned a legbreak past another forceful drive, and Phil Salt’s excellent take was rewarded when England’s review showed a feathered edge. Having been recalled to the XI in place of India’s rising star, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kohli’s failure was as acute as Rohit’s success, although he might argue – rather like his captain – that it wasn’t that many ODIs ago that he was Player of the Tournament for his 765 runs at the 2023 World Cup.Shubman Gill sent Harry Brook on his way with this stunning catch•MB Media/Getty Images

As for England, their problems are rather more significant. Not unlike their low-wattage batting displays at the World Cup, this was another performance that promised far more than it delivered. After winning the toss, they were given another flying start by Ben Duckett and Phil Salt, whose opening stand of 81 in 65 balls was their third fifty-plus partnership in consecutive matches on this tour. And while Root and Jos Buttler were easing through the gears in a fourth-wicket stand of 51, England had had designs on a 330-plus total.Instead, both set batters fell in the space of four overs to trigger another dramatic collapse: England lost their last seven wickets for 85, including three run-outs, as they were dismissed for 304 with one ball left unused. India’s spinners, inevitably, were the catalysts, in particular Jadeja, who proved too wily for some one-dimensional shot selection as he returned the outstanding figures of 3 for 35.Foremost among these was Overton, whom England seem convinced can be their death-overs answer to Andre Russell. His inclusion at No. 7 was confirmed after Jacob Bethell had been ruled out with a worrying hamstring injury, but his innings of 6 from 10 balls was further evidence that, in spin-friendly conditions, his long-levered approach is doomed to failure.Livingstone at least got the memo with a powerful late knock of 41 from 32 balls, including two big sixes off Harshit Rana, as did Rashid, who struck three fours in a row off Mohammed Shami in reaching 14 from 5 balls, only to run himself out just when his eye was in.Worryingly for England, though, India had plenty of chances to close the innings out for even fewer runs. They missed two clear chances in the deep, including the most casually awful drop from Axar at deep third when Salt had made just 6 from 12 balls, while Rohit was left wincing at the big screen when Root was shown to have been plumb lbw to Axar for 16, with India having chosen not to review.Harry Brook, whose technique against spin has been under particular scrutiny on this trip, made 31, but might have been removed for a five-ball duck had umpire Chris Brown upheld an lbw appeal from his nemesis, Varun Chakravarthy, that ball-tracking suggested would clip leg. At the age of 33, Varun earned his ODI debut on the strength of 14 wickets at 9.85 in the T20Is. He needed just 11 deliveries to make his mark, ending Salt’s stay to trigger a familiar middle-overs squeeze that India would not ultimately relinquish.