Netherlands folded for 118 in their chase of 202 as SL’s varied attack proved too tough to handle

Madushka Balasuriya17-Jun-2024
Sri Lanka ended their 2024 T20 World Cup campaign in a resounding fashion with a dominant 83-run win over Netherlands in Gros Islet. It meant they ended on three points and third place in Group D behind South Africa and Bangladesh, who had confirmed their place in the Super Eight after beating Nepal in Kingstown.Sri Lanka’s victory set up by their batters and finished off clinically by the bowlers. Nuwan Thushara was the pick of the bunch with figures of 3 for 24, but each of Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka and Matheesha Pathirana also got in on the act as Netherlands were knocked out and bowled out 118 in chase of 202.Charith Asalanka had led the way for Sri Lanka with a blistering 46 off 21, which itself followed solid efforts from Kusal Mendis (46 off 29) and Dhananjaya de Silva (34 off 26). Jet fuel was then poured on proceedings by Angelo Mathews (30 off 15) and Hasaranga (20 off six), as Sri Lanka became just the second team to breach 200 this tournament.Netherlands briefly flirted with an improbable chase when Michael Levitt was going strong in the powerplay, but once the first wicket fell the rest offered up little resistance as Sri Lanka’s varied attack proved too tough to handle.Sri Lanka keep things tickingLosing Pathum Nissanka second ball put paid to any notion that Sri Lanka might come out all guns blazing, but a steady rotation of strike in the powerplay mitigated the lack of early boundary striking – the powerplay saw four fours and a solitary six, but they managed to score 45 runs despite losing two wickets.By the end of the tenth over Sri Lanka’s boundary count remained in single digits, but the continued consistent running between the wickets ensured that they maintained a healthy run rate. Between overs seven and ten only two boundaries were struck, but Sri Lanka nevertheless found themselves at a healthy 74 for 2 at the halfway stage of their innings.A shift in gears was however necessary on a ground in which 181 was chased down just a day prior, and this occurred swiftly and suddenly in the 13th over, as Dhananjaya pounded Paul van Meekeren for three consecutive boundaries – using the strong cross breeze to great effect.Nuwan Thushara stepped up with the ball for Sri Lanka•ICC/Getty ImagesSL batters arrive…belatedlySri Lanka’s batting had been under heavy scrutiny coming into this game, particularly their middle order, which had been guilty of not showing enough intent and purpose. Here though they fired on all cylinders.From the 13th to the 20th over only one of those went without a six being scored, as Sri Lanka plundered 77 runs off the final five overs. Asalanka, Mathews and Hasaranga all had impressive showings, feasting on the Dutch bowlers’ inability to nail their lengths with most deliveries proving either too full or too short.The result was a score that was always likely to be a stretch too far against this Sri Lanka bowling attack.Leave it to LevittHe might have had only 12 T20Is to his name, but 20-year-old Michael Levitt had already made quite the impression, having made his debut earlier this year. Leading up to this game, in just 12 T20Is he had already racked up 368 runs at an average of 33.45 and strike rate of 150.20, including two fifties and a century.Regardless of opposition those are impressive numbers, and here against a challenging Sri Lankan attack, he (briefly) lived up to the hype. He took on both Thushara and Theekshana in his 23-ball 31, the highlight of which was a sumptuous back-foot lofted-cover drive off the latter for six.His inexperience showed when he charged and was stumped off Theekshana, but the future certainly does seem to be bright for the youngster.SL bowlers take overLevitt ‘s wicket towards the end of the powerplay followed Max O’Dowd’s an over prior. It meant two new batters were at the crease, but the required run-rate remained as steep as ever. What followed was a crash course in intent without execution.Vikramjit Singh fell pulling as Kamindu Mendis completed a very unique bobbling, juggling catch, while Sybrand Engelbrecht – having managed a sweet straight six off Hasaranga – would fall a short while later trying the same off Matheesha Pathirana Pathirana.A double-strike an over later from Hasaranga then suddenly left Netherlands reeling on 71 for 6. Scott Edwards hung around for a stubborn 31 off 24, but wickets kept falling around him as Netherlands were eventually bundled out in the 17th over.

Arsenal transfer chiefs are not about to give up their pursuit of new attacking signings any time soon.

In comparison to the previous two Premier League seasons – where they scored 91 and 88 over the course of 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 respectively – Mikel Arteta’s side only managed a meagre 69 over the domestic campaign just gone.

£150k-per-week Premier League star in London after agreeing Arsenal move

Arsenal are about to make a signing.

2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 25, 2025

Their lack of firepower, which was largely down to injuries to attacking players and the absence of a prolific striker, was a key aspect of Liverpool running away with last season’s domestic crown.

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Bukayo Saka was out for months in total during 24/25, while Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard also suffered from lengthy lay-offs. This has made the signing of potential forward reinforcements a vital item on sporting director Andrea Berta’s to-do list this summer, and that applies both further forward and in the wide area.

Real Madrid forward Rodrygo is a top target for Arsenal in that regard, and they’ve already held reported talks this summer over a move for the Brazilian. However, his £77 million price tag and high salary make him a very ambitious target.

The Gunners have looked at alternatives, like Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, as per Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg last month.

Alongside Mitoma, another Premier League star under serious consideration at Arsenal is West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus.

Arsenal plan bid for Mohammed Kudus after talks with him

The Ghanaian has an £80m-plus release clause which is reportedly active from July, but amid West Ham’s eagerness to offload him so they can fund their own transfer plans, Graham Potter’s side would accept around £60 million.

That is according to Graeme Bailey, who also told TBR this week that Arsenal have held talks with Kudus in the last week.

As a result of these discussions, Arsenal are now believed to be plotting a potential bid for the former Ajax star, but it is unclear what his stance would be on a move across London to the Emirates.

Kudus was deployed in a wide variety of roles under both Julen Lopetegui and Potter last term, including as a second striker, centre-forward and CAM, as well as on either flank as a winger/midfielder.

He bagged five goals and four assists in 35 total outings, but what’s more impressive is the player’s outstanding take-on ability.

As per WhoScored, only Man City sensation Jeremy Doku completed more successful dribbles per 90 than Kudus in the top-flight last term, indicating he could offer Arsenal an entirely different dimension.

Arteta also wouldn’t lose Kudus to the Africa Cup of Nations midway through 25/26, as would be the case with many other African stars, considering Ghana failed to qualify for the first time since 2004.

New Zealand signed off a disappointing T20 World Cup 2024 campaign with a dominant win over Papua New Guinea, chasing down a paltry target of 79 with seven wickets and 46 balls to spare at the Brian Lara Stadium, in Tarouba.The scale of the mismatch was characterised by Lockie Ferguson’s figures of 3 for 0 from his four overs. The New Zealand speedster became only the second bowler to bowl four maidens in a T20I fixture after Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar achieved the feat in 2021 when he returned 2 for 0 against Panama.Related

• The Boult legacy: how will NZ cope without Southee's other half?

• Kane Williamson coy on T20I future after New Zealand's World Cup exit

• Ferguson does the (almost) unimaginable, returns 4-4-0-3 vs PNG

• Spotlight on NZ transition after Boult confirms this will be his last T20 World Cup

While Ferguson was sharp and accurate, the moisture in the pitch and what remained in the air from the morning showers that delayed the toss by an hour made it a tough ask for PNG’s batters. The weather was a primary reason Kane Williamson inserted the opposition upon winning the toss, who in turn were 16 for 2 after the powerplay.Charles Amini’s 17, the highest score of the innings, came in the most productive stand – 27 for the third wicket with Sese Bau – before he was pinned lbw for Ferguson’s second of the innings.Trent Boult, playing in his last T20 World Cup match, went on to pocket two wickets when he returned to bowl his final two overs at the death. Ish Sodhi, replacing Jimmy Neesham in the XI for his first match of the competition, also picked up a brace, taking the final PNG wickets in the 20th over as they were bowled out with two balls left in their innings.But PNG were not about to bow out without a fight. Kabua Morea, returning to the XI after playing the opener against West Indies, removed Finn Allen, caught behind, off the second delivery of New Zealand’s innings. He then pocketed Rachin Ravindra when the left-hander tried and failed to lift beyond deep midwicket at the start of the fifth over.Further excitement on the field came when Semo Kamea trapped Devon Conway on the crease. His 35 – which included two fours and three sixes – had, however, taken the sting out of the chase. Conway and Williamson added 34 runs for the third wicket – New Zealand’s highest partnership of the tournament.Williamson and Daryl Mitchell then completed the formalities, scoring the remaining 25 runs from 18 balls to earn New Zealand their second win, consigning PNG to a fourth defeat.Player of the Match Lockie Ferguson had a record outing•ICC/Getty Images

Ferguson in the record books

It began with a wicket: extra pace across Assad Vala that enticed a drive. There was even a bit of extra bounce which only served to make Mitchell’s catch at a wide first slip that little bit tougher. From that point on, Ferguson was locked in.Did he know a place in the record books was in the offing? Probably not. But the movement through the air and off the deck, not to mention the high pace that was always going to ask unanswerable questions to a limited PNG batting line-up, meant Ferguson was likely to emerge with extraordinary figures.The 33-year-old was primarily over the wicket to the left-handed Bau, who entered the fray upon Vala’s dismissal. Having switched to over the wicket midway through his second over (the seventh), Ferguson returned for the 12th from that angle and was immediately rewarded with a delivery into Amini’s pads that skidded on with the angle so sharply it was initially given not out on the field.DRS corrected that error before Ferguson took matters into his own hands by hitting Chad Soper’s stumps for his third. Then came two leg byes down to deep third – which did not count against the bowler – and the final three deliveries, which were counted down by those in the commentary box, now fully invested in witnessing history. Kiplin Doriga’s mistimed pull almost broke the streak – though it also could have resulted in a catch at mid-off – before the right-hander charged Ferguson’s final delivery to no avail.Ferguson looked a little sheepish as his team-mates filed over to congratulate him. Nevertheless, a forgettable T20 World Cup now has a memorable sidenote.Chad Soper walks back after being cleaned up•Getty Images

PNG batters leave unfulfilled

As valiant as PNG’s displays have been at their second T20 World Cup, there is good reason to look at their batting and wonder what might have been. Particularly when Allen and Ravindra were snared early.Signing off with a score of 78, following totals of 95 against Afghanistan and 77 versus Uganda, highlights the limitations of their batters. Even the 136 for 8 against West Indies looked light at the halfway stage, having faced 55 dot balls when setting that evening in Guyana.Even discounting the 23 scoreless deliveries off Ferguson, they failed to find a run from the 58 balls delivered by the rest of the New Zealand attack. Conditions were not kind to batters throughout, particularly those taking guard against the new ball duo of Boult and Tim Southee on a new track with variable bounce, but more intent could have been shown.Particularly against Mitchell Santner. The left-arm spinner floated plenty up but conceded just one boundary. Perhaps spooked by Bau lifting Santner into the hands of long on, it took until Santner’s final delivery for someone to land one on him, as Doriga smeared a sweep shot to midwicket for four.Of course, this match does not really qualify as a missed opportunity given New Zealand’s undoubted superiority. But it did serve as a reminder of the shortcomings that cost them victory against Uganda and allowed West Indies off the hook.Kabua Morea struck twice in his first three overs•Getty Images

Kabua Morea’s redemption

It was 15 days between appearances at this T20 World Cup for Morea. The left-arm seamer started against West Indies, arriving into the match with the expectation he would be a crutch for the attack over the coming fortnight. He ended up with figures of 0 for 30 from three overs, the last of which went for 13 as Roston Chase profited off a couple of full tosses to take the hosts over the line with an over to spare.Morea spent the next two matches on the sidelines as PNG opted for a more spin-heavy attack. Conditions dictated as much, but Morea would have every reason to consider himself an unfortunate casualty of this shift having been the side’s leading wicket-taker at the 2021 edition.But here in Tarouba, he seized the opportunity to leave the World Cup on something of a high, returning home with figures of 2 for 4 from 2.2 overs. Allen’s hot-headed hack gave him a wicket with the second ball. And having tied Ravindra down for the rest of that first over, the Kiwi No.3 greeted his reintroduction for the fifth over with a desperate charge and swipe that nestled into the hands of Kamea in the deep.It was at this point that the rain made a return. New Zealand were 20 for 2, level with the five-over par score, which they passed when Williamson punched a single off his first ball. It was the only run off the over, with Morea boasting figures of 2 for 2 from his first two overs. As it turned out the rain did not stop play, either. While not as headline-grabbing as Ferguson’s exploits, Morea’s 11 dots against an engaging and far more equipped New Zealand batting line-up were equally impressive.

Leeds United have a huge task on their hands over the summer as they look to try and beat the drop in the Premier League throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

The Whites managed to secure the Championship title after posting a staggering 100 points total, winning the league on goal difference after Manor Solomon’s strike against Plymouth Argyle secured a final day win.

However, despite Daniel Farke securing promotion from England’s second tier for the third time, he faces the prospect of keeping the Yorkshire outfit in the top-flight next season – something which he’s failed to do in his two previous attempts.

The board have backed him in recent weeks, handing him the chance to spend around £100m on new additions to bridge the gap and build a competitive squad.

With the window opening last Sunday, work has already commenced behind the scenes to hand the manager the players he craves, with numerous players emerging as key targets this summer.

The latest on Leeds’ hunt for new signings this summer

Leeds will need additions in all areas of the pitch to hand themselves the best chance of survival next season, but it’s crucial they sign quality over quantity in their quest.

Gustavo Hamer, Sam Johnstone and Sean Longstaff have all been touted with a summer switch to Elland Road, but as of yet no deals have yet been completed in Yorkshire.

However, it appears as though another name has been mentioned in recent days, with Ipswich Town centre-back Dara O’Shea on their radar, according to The Irish Sun.

Their report claims that the Whites are weighing up a move for the Ireland international, who won the Tractor Boys’ Player of the Season award despite suffering relegation.

It also states that Wolves and Burnley are interested in a move for the 26-year-old, who cost a fee in the region of £15m less than 12 months ago – with the defender wanting to stay in England’s top flight next season.

Why Leeds’ £15m target could be the next Bogle

Jayden Bogle has thrived beyond the imagination of all supporters at Leeds this season, playing a crucial role at both ends of the pitch during the club’s title-winning campaign.

The 24-year-old joined the Whites in a £5m deal from Sheffield United, looking to fill the void at right-back after academy star Archie Gray departed for Tottenham Hotspur.

However, the defender made a huge impact at the back, helping the side concede just 30 times in their 46 league outings, with Burnley the only side to concede fewer.

He also impressed in attacking areas, registering 10 combined goals and assists, which included six goals – with his most notable effort coming in the 2-0 win away at Coventry City.

The fee paid for his signature now appears to be somewhat of a bargain, with the club having the opportunity to replicate such a deal with O’Shea this summer.

The Irishman would be the next player to join the Whites from a side relegated from the Premier League, looking to cement their place in the backline – just as Bogle has in recent months.

O’Shea, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by former boss Slaven Bilic, has also managed to have an impact in forward areas, registering two assists for Kieran McKenna’s side, but ultimately not enough to keep them in the division.

Games played

35

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

80%

Dribble success

50%

Tackles won

63%

Aerials won

3.8

Interceptions made

1.1

Duels won

5.8

His underlying stats are just as impressive, completing 80% of the passes he attempted, while registering a 50% dribble success rate – having the tools to play out from the back should Farke need him to.

The defender has also won 63% of the tackles he entered this season, whilst winning 3.8 aerials per 90, handing the side the added defensive quality they need to survive the drop in the Premier League.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the Irishman will set them back this summer, he has the tools to bolster Farke’s ranks and play a key role should he move to Elland Road.

Given the interest from other sides in the division, they will need to act quickly to avoid missing out on his signature and subsequently improving a rival in their hunt for survival.

Better than Solomon: "Electric" £34m star is open to Leeds transfer

This Leeds target is reportedly open to joining the club, and he would be an even better signing than Manor Solomon

1 ByDan Emery Jun 5, 2025

With Jaka Bijol officially signed and delivered, Leeds United have now reportedly turned their focus towards a second defensive addition in the form of a £38m La Liga ace.

Jaka Bijol completes Leeds move

It took some time but Bijol is finally a Leeds player. The defender has arrived from Udinese for a reported £15m and becomes the Whites’ second signing of the summer after Lukas Nmecha.

After putting pen to paper to make his move official, Bijol told Leeds’ official media channels: “This is a big day for me, for my family and I’m happy to be here. Maybe the biggest one of my career so far, but I’m ready for it.

“I work for it and that’s why I’m here, because it’s a big challenge for everyone. It’s a big challenge for me, for the club, and we’re getting ready for it together. I think the club and myself are ready for the Premier League.

“I can promise that I will give everything, that I will give everything in every training as well to be ready for the first game of the season and then just go from there.”

Bijol may be the second arrival of Leeds’ summer but he looks unlikely to be the last. The 49ers look set to back the Yorkshire club as they prepare for their return to the Premier League, with names such as Oscar Gloukh now threatening the steal the headlines. The talented attacker would instantly be one to watch in England’s top flight, there’s no doubting that.

The Red Bull Salzburg man isn’t the only one on Leeds’ radar, however. Reports are now even suggesting that they’ve turned their attention towards another defensive addition after already welcoming a central defender in the form of Bijol.

Leeds make formal approach to sign Natan

According to Estadio Deportivo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds have now made a formal approach to sign Natan de Souza from Real Betis. The central defender has just made his loan move permanent in Spain but could already be on the move again amid interest from those at Elland Road and Lazio.

49ers readying record Leeds bid to sign "strong" top target for Farke

Leeds have not given up on signing their top striker target this summer.

ByBrett Worthington Jun 24, 2025

Reports have claimed that Betis have already rejected a proposal worth as much as €27m (£23m) from an unnamed club to sell their defender and instead value Natan at a hefty €45m (£38m) this summer. Whether Leeds are willing to reach that figure will be the big question as their pursuit continues.

Minutes

2,175

2,963

Progressive Passes

52

98

Tackles Won

24

25

Ball Recoveries

75

101

Keeping up with Bijol in a number of areas, albeit whilst failing to outperform the new Leeds star, Natan could yet form an impressive partnership with the former Udinese man at Elland Road.

The 24-year-old won’t come cheap but if Leeds are to stay afloat at the first time of asking back in the Premier League then the 49ers must be prepared to spend big.

Matches in the Under-23 CK Nayudu Trophy, meanwhile, will not feature a toss

Shashank Kishore06-Jun-2024

The two phases of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy will sandwich the white-ball domestic tournaments•PTI

The BCCI has announced the splitting of the Ranji Trophy into two phases for the 2024-25 domestic season. The decision comes following deliberations between a four-member working group and senior players and coaches, who had raised concerns over lack of game time owing to weather disruptions in northern India during winters.The BCCI eventually okayed the change following a recommendation from the working group, involving current India head coach Rahul Dravid, NCA chief VVS Laxman, senior men’s selection chairman Ajit Agarkar and BCCI general manager (domestic cricket) Abey Kuruvilla.Related

Ranji Trophy in two phases: a welcome experiment or harsh momentum breaker?

Hanuma Vihari commits to Andhra after 'full assurance' from minister

BCCI mulls two-phase Ranji Trophy to minimise weather disruptions

'Need to hear your players' – Dravid on domestic calendar

Shardul Thakur: 'Extremely tough on domestic players to play ten games with three-day gaps'

Last season, the Ranji Trophy was played predominantly between January and March, after the conclusion of the Vijay Hazare Trophy (50-overs competition) and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (T20s).This time, however, the Ranji Trophy will begin in October, with each team playing five league games during a five-week window before the white-ball competitions commence.The last two group-stage fixtures will be held soon after the completion of the Vijay Hazare Trophy on January 18, followed by the knockout phase of the competition from February 8. The Ranji final is set to be held from February 26 to March 2.In a bid to “fortify the core of domestic cricket while prioritising “player well-being”, the board has also introduced an extra day’s gap between matches, making it a total of four days as against three, which was the case until the 2023-24 season.Shardul Thakur was among the prominent voices who had spoken of the need for more time between games to facilitate better recovery and preparation as players. Dravid too had touched upon the importance of “hearing the players” while drawing up domestic schedules owing to the sheer volume of matches played.Shardul Thakur was a prominent voice who had spoken of the need for bigger gaps between Ranji Trophy matches•PTI

Zonal format scrapped for Duleep TrophyIn another significant move, the senior men’s season-opening Duleep Trophy, which will be played from September 5 in Anantapur, will not be played between zonal teams. This marks yet another change to the structure of the tournament whose relevance has been questioned by several notable voices in recent times.In 2022-23, the BCCI had reverted to the zonal format with the six teams (North, South, East, West, Central and North East) picked by a zonal committee chaired by a convener. The move was seen as a way to add more context to the tournament.This season, the tournament has been whittled down to a four-team event with squads picked by the national selectors. ESPNcricinfo understands one of the reasons for this move is to ensure the selectors are able to give a wider pool of players, including those in the targeted group, enough opportunities heading into India’s Test season.India are set to host Bangladesh and New Zealand for Test series at home before traveling to Australia between November and January for a five-Test series, all of which are part of the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle. It’s likely the Test season will be preceded by two shadow tours, one at home and one in Australia.No toss in CK Nayudu TrophyIn a bid to increase competitiveness and prevent hosts from tailoring tracks to suit their strengths, the Under-23 CK Nayudu Trophy, seen as a feeder tournament for the senior state teams, will no longer feature tosses. The visiting team will instead be allowed to choose whether to bat or bowl first.The BCCI has also introduced a “revamped points system “aimed at fostering balanced performances. This includes the attribution of points for batting and bowling prowess in the first innings, alongside points for securing the first innings lead or achieving an outright victory.”Women’s inter-zonal competitions scrappedIn another move aimed at widening the talent pool, the BCCI has scrapped inter-zonal competitions for women across formats and replaced them with a Challenger Trophy, with all sides picked by the senior women’s selection committee.This move is aimed at building a robust feeder system into the national team, as well as building a robust Under-19 structure that will compete at the next World Cup where India will be the defending champions.ESPNcricinfo understands the board has taken cognizance of the inconsistencies in selection at the zonal level, with a number of senior voices speaking out against contentious picks.Last season, for example, Shreyanka Patil and Kanika Ahuja didn’t find a place in their respective zonal squads despite having featured for India earlier in the season. Satheesh Shubha too was ignored from the inter-zonal red-ball competition, despite having made her Test debut during the season against Australia.

The India captain was thrilled to be able to give departing coach Rahul Dravid a major trophy: ‘You saw how proud he was and how excited he was’

Sidharth Monga30-Jun-20248:43

Rohit Sharma on Dravid, key moments of the final and more

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.Just because of the desperation with which he coveted a world title, Rohit Sharma placed this T20 World Cup win as the greatest time of his career, the greatest achievement. “This has to be the greatest time, I can say that,” Rohit said at the press conference after the match. “It’s only because how desperately I wanted to win this. So, all the runs, all the runs that I’ve scored in all these years, I think it does matter, but I’m not big on stats and all of that. I think winning games for India, winning trophies for India, that is what I look forward to all the time. And having this now right beside me probably has to be, I don’t know, honestly, I don’t know if it’s the greatest or what but it is definitely one of the greatest, I can say that.”Rohit spoke of the desperation again when asked to describe his mental state when he sunk onto the ground and celebrated the win. “I wanted this badly,” he said. “It’s very hard to put it in words because that moment, I don’t want to say what I was thinking and what was going in my mind, but it was a very emotional moment personally for me.Related

Dravid: India's T20 World Cup win a 'great testament to the fight in the team'

Bumrah and Hardik script stunning comeback to lead India to T20 World Cup glory

Rohit: It's not what we did today, it is what we have done for three-four years

Magic moments – Bumrah, Klaasen and SKY go flash, bam, alakazam

South Africa were winning, then came Jasprit Bumrah

“I wish I could capture that moment myself but not really, you can’t do that but I will always remember that. Yeah, those are the moments you wait for and then you don’t plan these things, it just happens because you’re so desperate for certain things in life and I was very desperate for this in my life. So happy that we eventually crossed the line this time.”Rohit brought the trophy to the press conference. He has been close to a World Cup many times since winning his first back in 2007. He lost out on being selected in 2011 at the last moment, and had then been a critical part of India’s five knockout appearances in six World Cups. The last defeat, at the end of an unbeaten run at home, left him the most heartbroken.In the absence of a clear transition plan, Rohit and coach Rahul Dravid agreed to give it another shot. Rohit had high praise for Dravid. “More than any one of us, I think he deserved that trophy,” Rohit said. “What he has done for Indian cricket for the past 20-25 years, I think this was the only thing that was missing in his cabinet. I am very happy from all of us on behalf of the entire team that we could actually do this for him. You saw how proud he was and how excited he was.Rohit Sharma stressed how much the victory was for, and because of, Rahul Dravid•Getty Images

“He’s done so much for Indian cricket when he played. Over the last three years, he has worked hard with this team. He has had to suppress his instincts on many an occasion because it is not that easy for the boys to match his wavelength. So Rahul bhai suppressed himself. He learnt what the boys wanted. He prioritised that. Rahul bhai did that for the whole team. He tried to understand what the boys wanted, and what is needed to be given to the boys. Because eventually we have to do the job, Rahul bhai can’t go and bat.”For three years he has provided the boys role clarity. The boys who are not with the team, he has stayed in touch with them: keep telling him what is up with the team, when they can come ack, what their role will be when they come back. Rahul is a studious person. He was the first one to take care of this when he came: we have to tell the boys what we want from them.”Rohit hinted at some disagreement among the brains trusts ahead of the final, but as a captain he ruled he needed to bat first. He has won four of his six IPL titles batting first. “I’m a believer of just having runs on the board in big games,” he said. “That’s how my mind works. It is not necessary that everyone thinks like that in the team.Rohit Sharma: ‘I was very desperate for this in my life’•Getty Images

“But I have a decision to make and I made it very clear that no matter how the pitch is, whatever it is, we have to try and put runs on the board and then fight it out. You have the talent in your bowling and I have seen what the guys have done with the ball. So, I had that confidence that whatever score we have, we can try and defend it.”I know the result came in our favour, but even if the result didn’t come in our favour, I would have still completely backed the decision of batting first. Although I thought the pitch really played well, throughout the 40 overs the pitch was really good. It didn’t grip as such, which we really thought it would after the first half, with the sun beating down so hard, there is no grass on the pitch, it looks a lot drier. But obviously a lot of rolling and water must have gone in there to make it nice and hard. But, yeah, that was the thought and we were very clear with that decision as well, that we want to put runs on the board and try and defend it later.”While Rohit went through a whole host of contributors to the win in the final, he reserved special praise for the Player of the Tournament Jasprit Bumrah. “I don’t know how much I can talk about Bumrah,” he said. “Obviously, we’ve been seeing this with him for such a long time now. Whenever he has ball in his hand, he tends to create magic for us every time. I am very lucky to have players like this in my squad. Players who are playing for me and Team India. Really, really grateful.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now closing in on a deal to sign a “highly-rated” player, who “wants” to move to the Premier League this summer, it has been revealed.

Wolves looking to bolster options in defence

Vitor Pereira oversaw a remarkable turnaround at Molineux in the second half of the 2024-25 season, but the manager is likely to be concerned by the fact his side shipped a total of 69 goals in the Premier League, despite recording an xG against of 59.01.

Having let in 10 more goals than they were expected to throughout the campaign, there are clearly some problems with the Wolves backline, and the manager is looking to upgrade his defensive options this summer.

Direct contact has been made with Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back Igor Julio, but the Brazilian is thought to be prioritising a move to La Liga side Real Sociedad, so the Old Gold may be forced to move on to alternative options.

It could be a more sensible idea to target a player with aspirations of playing in the Premier League, and there has now been a positive development in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ pursuit of Rennes defender Christopher Wooh.

According to a claim from the Turkish media (via Sport Witness), Wolves are now closing in on a deal for Wooh, having previously been reported to be ready to make a €5m (£4.3m) offer for his services.

Trabzonsor president Ertugrul Doğan has revealed the Turkish club had also struck a deal for the Rennes defender, but a move to the Super Lig seems unlikely at this stage, given that the defender has made it clear he wants to move to England.

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Doğan said: “We’d reached an agreement with Rennes for Wooh. We signed a preliminary protocol. However, the player wants to go to the Premier League. He’s negotiating with another team. We are trying to overcome this problem.”

With Pereira’s side now preparing an offer for the 23-year-old, they appear to be in the driving seat, and Trabzonspor’s chances of winning the race look slim.

"Highly-rated" Wooh could be solid signing for Wolves

U23 scout Antonio Mango described the Rennes ace as “highly-rated” a little under two years ago, and the centre-back has since gone on to establish himself as a regular first-team player, putting in some impressive performances over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

2.23 (92nd percentile)

Interceptions

1.42 (82nd percentile)

Aerials won

2.60 (76th percentile)

The Cameroon international has also proven himself as an attacking threat for his country, most notably scoring an injury-time winner against Gambia to send his side through to the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 in 2024.

With Wolves clearly in need of upgrading their defence, given their struggles last season, Wooh could be a savvy addition to Pereira’s squad, and a deal for the 6-foot-3 colossus is unlikely to break the bank.

Manchester United have now reportedly submitted a huge offer to sign a much-needed attacking addition who would instantly make any potential Bryan Mbeumo rejection an afterthought.

Man Utd still chasing Bryan Mbeumo

For a moment it looked as though Manchester United were out on their own in the race to sign Mbeumo only for Tottenham Hotspur to burst onto the scene. With Thomas Frank now by their side, the Lilywhites have reportedly matched Brentford’s asking price and could instantly reunite Mbeumo with his former manager.

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United haven’t simply stepped aside, however. Reports are now claiming that they’ve reached an agreement on personal terms with the talented winger and club chiefs believe that they will complete a move to land his signature this summer.

There was always likely to be interest in Mbeumo following yet another excellent campaign at Brentford. At just 25 years old, there may not be a better time to move than this summer, but he must still get his next decision right.

As for United, whether it’s Mbeumo or another option, signing an attacking reinforcement seems to be at the very top of their wishlist. The Red Devils suffered going forward last season, with both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund at the centre of those struggles which culminated in a 15th-place finish.

Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Joshua Zirkzee	Rasmus Hojlund
Starts	14	23
Goals	3	4
Assists	1	0
Expected Goals	4.8	5.3

Ruben Amorim will be desperate for some added firepower and if it’s not Mbeumo, then rumours suggest that it could yet be an excellent alternative.

INEOS already proved that they’re willing to spend when they welcomed Matheus Cunha for around £63m and now they could spend more than ever amid reports that they’ve submitted a hefty £120m+ bid for one particular talent.

Man Utd submit shock offer to sign Barcelona star Raphinha

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United have now submitted a shock €150m (£128m) offer to sign Raphinha from Barcelona this summer. The Spanish giants have reportedly been left surprised by the bid, but their financial situation could yet force them to consider it.

It would instantly be one of the standout deals of the summer if Manchester United made it happen. The Brazilian winger is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or this year and would instantly ensure that the Red Devils forget all about Mbeumo.

24/25 stats	Raphinha	Mbeumo
Appearances	57	42
Goals	34	20
Assists	24	8

With 59 goal involvements in 57 appearances, it’s no surprise that Raphinha has found himself in Ballon d’Or conversations and, as talented as Mbeumo is, there is no denying that the Barcelona star is the standout option.

The winger earned plenty of deserved praise last season, including from Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who told reporters: “He has good dynamics with the ball and he has had an extraordinary match. His offensive and defensive dynamics, and his good technique, are something special. I have never had a player like him and he helps us a lot.”

Sunderland’s squad is really starting to take shape now ahead of their first Premier League showdown with West Ham United next month.

Indeed, at the time of writing, Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, and Noah Sadiki have all joined Regis Le Bris’ camp in rapid-fire fashion, with the next expected arrival through the door coming in the form of promising Club Brugge attacker Chemsdine Talbi for a weighty £19.8m.

Sunderland’s breakneck pace in the summer transfer window won’t be slowing down here, you imagine, as more and more new faces are tipped to join the exciting Black Cats ride up to the top flight.

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The central midfield department certainly looks well stocked on Wearside, as plenty of attackers now begin to be linked to the Stadium of Light to boost numbers all over the pitch, away from just Talbi strengthening their options down the right channel.

Both Gonzalo Garcia and Luiz Suarez have been on the Sunderland radar from Real Madrid and Almeria, respectively, as Le Bris looks to enhance the Black Cats’ firepower up top. Still, with Garcia reportedly content to stick it out in Spain, and with Suarez on the Sporting shopping list, it might well be a tough battle ahead to tempt either promising striker to England.

It could well be an equally testing endeavour to try and pick up Sassuolo ace Armand Lauriente this summer. However, it is stated that Sunderland still holds a concrete interest in snapping up the entertaining Frenchman, according to journalist Gianluigi Longari.

Further reports from Italy have also suggested that the Black Cats have seen a first offer rejected for the forward, with the Italian outfit holding out for more than €30m (£25m) plus bonus. The player himself is said to be pushing to leave.

If Sunderland were ultimately successful in this race to land the explosive 26-year-old, they could be about to win Le Bris his next Le Fee, as another exciting talent from Europe down the left flank prepares to wreak havoc on Wearside.

Wju Lauriente can be Le Bris' next Le Fee

Sunderland’s strategy in the chaotic summer window so far seems to centre on them plucking gems from the European leagues, hopeful that they go on to be as instantly successful as Le Fee was on English shores.

Le Fee was a very bright spark for the Black Cats in their moment of need last season, as seen in the former Lorient midfielder collecting two assists in the tense playoff semi-final matches to secure his team a triumphant trip to Wembley.

Lauriente will hope he can translate his Sassuolo magic to the English game very shortly too, with the stylish winger spearheading his own promotion charge last season as Fabio Grosso’s men returned to Serie A at the first time of asking.

Their similarities don’t end there as Le Bris gears up to potentially welcome his next Le Fee to his ever-growing camp, with Lauriente well-versed in what it takes to be a star at a top level, having collected a mightily impressive tally of 42 goals and assists plying his trade in both Ligue 1 and Serie A. His compatriot, before embarking on a fresh challenge on Wearside, lags behind on 21 goals and assists in both those top divisions.

Sassuolo

102

31

18

Lorient

91

13

14

US Orleans

17

3

1

Rennes

2

0

0

Staggeringly, Lauriente might well go on to be an even bigger star than Le Fee when judging those numbers, with the Sassuolo number 45 no doubt ready to push the 25-year-old for a starting spot down the left flank. It’s no wonder that analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as “one of the best left-wing options out there”.

Having been lauded as an “amazing” performer to watch in the past by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, too, picking up Lauriente might well have the same impact Le Fee’s arrival did in boosting the Black Cats’ chances of being a success.

But this time around, he could be the decisive star that helps Sunderland stave off the relegation drop zone in the Premier League.

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