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O São Paulo poderá ganhar o reforço do atacante Calleri para o duelo das 16h (de Brasília) do próximo domingo (7) contra o Internacional, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, no Morumbi. Recuperado da dengue, o argentino treinou sem limitações nesta sexta-feira (5), no CT da Barra Funda.

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Calleri tinha realizado atividades físicas com os preparadores no gramado do centro de treinamento nas atividades desta quinta-feira (4), na reapresentação do Tricolor após o empate sem gols com o Tolima, terça-feira (2), pela Copa Sul-Americana.

+ Gabigol supera Luizão! Saiba os maiores artilheiros da Libertadores em todos os tempos

A tendência é que Calleri, ausente há três partidas, volte de imediato aos 11 iniciais do São Paulo para o duelo de domingo contra o rival gaúcho. Até porque Erison, outra opção para atuar de centroavante, continuou seu trabalho de recuperação física, com atividades separadas do grupo, segundo informações da ‘ESPN‘.

Com Calleri, a tendência é que o técnico Dorival Júnior promova mudanças no esquema tático são-paulino. O 4-3-3 deve dar um tempo para o retorno do tradicional 4-4-2 usado na estreia ante o América-MG, com um losango no meio-campo. Marcos Paulo e Luciano disputam a vaga ao lado do argentino. O primeiro ainda pode aparecer como meia-armador, abrindo espaço para o segundo.

Sem lesão diagnosticada e trabalhando normalmente após um susto na Colômbia, Gabriel Neves eeve ser mantido para a função à frente do volante, provavelmente Pablo Maia, em um dos lados. No outro, Nestor deverá ser o escolhido.

Há poucas margens para as dúvidas. Uma delas é na lateral-direita. Raí Ramos teve má atuação no país vizinho e o veterano Rafinha deve ser o escolhido para substitui-lo. Na zaga, Beraldo, poupado nos últimos jogos, deve reaparecer nos titulares.

O provável São Paulo deve ser escalado com Rafael; Rafinha, Arboleda, Beraldo e Caio; Pablo Maia, Gabriel Neves, Nestor e Michel Araujo; Marcos Paulo (Luciano) e Calleri).

+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados da Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!

Williamson suffered the injury in SL which requires extended rehabilitation; Chapman has been added to the squad

Alex Malcolm08-Oct-2024

Kane Williamson is set to miss the opening Test against India in Bengaluru with his departure from New Zealand delayed by a groin strain he suffered during the Sri Lanka series.New Zealand have added Mark Chapman to the squad for the three-Test tour of India that begins in Bengaluru on October 16. The team will be led by Tom Latham after Tim Southee stepped down as captain following the 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka.The rest of the squad remains unchanged from the Sri Lanka tour. Although Michael Bracewell will only be available for the first Test in India before departing for the birth of his second child. Ish Sodhi will join the squad as Bracewell’s replacement for the second and third Tests.Williamson’s injury is a major blow for the Black Caps considering his experience in India and New Zealand’s struggles for runs in Sri Lanka. He experienced groin discomfort during the second Test in Galle and requires an extended period of rehabilitation at home before flying to India.Related

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Black Caps selector Sam Wells was hopeful Williamson could play a part later in the series but confirmed he would miss the first Test.”The advice we’ve received is that the best course of action is for Kane to rest and rehabilitate now rather than risk aggravating the injury,” Wells said. “We’re hopeful that if the rehabilitation goes to plan Kane will be available for the latter part of the tour.”While it’s obviously disappointing to not have Kane available from the start of the tour, it provides an opportunity for someone else to play a role in an important series.”Williamson’s injury opens the door for Chapman to possibly make his Test debut having played 78 white-ball matches for New Zealand.The left-hander has played six first-class matches for New Zealand A, including scoring a century against India A in 2020 but has not played for New Zealand A since 2022 when he made 92 and 45 in a first-class match in Bengaluru.He only played three Plunket Shield matches for Auckland last summer in February and March but posted scores of 123 against Otago and 83 off 68 in his final innings against Central Districts, both of which came at No. 3.Former Sri Lanka spinner Rangana Herath will also travel to India with New Zealand as part of the coaching staff after his consultancy role as a spin-bowling coach in Sri Lanka.New Zealand squad for India Tests:Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell (wk), Michael Bracewell (1st Test only), Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ben Sears, Ish Sodhi (2nd and 3rd Test only), Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young

Nottingham Forest have now made an approach to sign an “unstoppable” forward, who is set to be available for a fee of £39m this summer, according to reports.

Nottingham Forest eyeing replacement for Elanga

Anthony Elanga is set to sign for Newcastle United in a £55m deal, meaning Edu Gaspar’s first task as Global Head of Football will be to find a replacement for the winger, although it may not be a quick process.

Speaking about the way in which he goes about making new additions to the Forest squad, Edu said: “You can’t just sign for the sake of signing. It has to be a process that takes weeks and weeks. Right there on my desk, I have reports with over 180 pages on a player. It’s really detailed.

“Physical, technical, and mental profiles, whether they have Premier League experience, whether they’ll be able to adapt. It’s all there. We analyse our weaknesses, where we can improve, where we can invest, and then we go looking for that new name.”

Seemingly PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko ticks a lot of boxes for Edu, as Forest have now entered talks over a deal for the winger, who is viewed as a direct replacement for Elanga.

However, the 22-year-old is not the only option on the shortlist, with the Tricky Trees also making an approach to sign Benfica winger Kerem Akturkoglu, according to an update from reporter Kutlu Akpinar on X.

Forest were the “first” team to make contact over a deal for the forward, and they were told that €45m (£39m) would be enough to get a deal done, although there could be competition for his signature.

The Turk has made it clear that the only team he wants to play for in his home country is Galatasaray, but there could be rival interest from within the Premier League, as Sunderland and Everton are also named as potential suitors.

Nottingham Forest join race to sign "fantastic" £50m+ Elanga replacement

Newcastle are still pushing to sign Elanga.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 7, 2025 "Unstoppable" Akturkoglu could be fantastic signing for Forest

Once lauded as “unstoppable” by U23 football scout Antonio Mango, the Benfica star was a regular source of goals and assists last season, picking up 22 goal contributions in the Liga Portugal alone.

With Forest set to embark on a European adventure, Nuno Espirito Santo will also be keen to bring in players with experience in the biggest competitions, and the 26-year-old also caught the eye in the 2024-25 Champions League, netting four goals.

Considering the former Galatasaray man has predominantly featured at left-wing throughout his career to date, it is unclear whether he would be viewed as a direct replacement for Elanga, but he could be a fantastic addition to the squad nonetheless.

Not only that, but Forest should be in a strong position to beat Sunderland and Everton to Akturkoglu’s signature, given that European football will be on offer at the City Ground next season.

Newcastle United are now keen on signing a Manchester United star on loan, but the Red Devils are looking for a permanent transfer instead, according to a recent report.

Newcastle hold talks for Premier League stars

The Magpies are back in the Champions League next season, and given they will want to be competitive in both that and the Premier League, it can be expected that they will have their eye on making a few signings this summer to bolster their depth.

Newcastle talks held over "brilliant" £75m forward, PIF have the cash ready

The Magpies are looking to conduct a deal.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Jun 18, 2025

Signing a new centre-back could be high on the agenda, given the ages of the likes of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn and the fact that Jamaal Lascelles looks set to be leaving St James’ Park at the end of the month.

It’s been reported this week that Newcastle are in fact in talks with Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jan Paul van Hecke over a transfer to the North East this summer. Talks have begun with the player’s representatives ahead of the club making contact with the Seagulls, who are looking to get around £60 million for the defender.

As well as holding talks over signing a new defender, The Athletic have reported that Newcastle have held internal talks over signing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United.

The forward has a release clause worth £75 million, and it is believed the Hammers are open to selling Kudus, given he has fallen out of favour under manager Graham Potter. The pursuit of Kudus could be seen as an alternative to Bryan Mbeumo, and they are not the only forwards on their list, as the Magpies are also weighing up a move for another Premier League attacker.

Newcastle want to winger Man Utd ace on loan

According to The Sun, Newcastle are interested in signing Marcus Rashford from Manchester United on a season-long loan deal.

The Englishman looks set to leave Old Trafford this summer, and the Magpies are now ready to make their move, as they believe they can offer him the right stage to get his career back on track. Rashford isn’t seen as a player to replace Alexander Isak, who has been linked with a move away.

However, there is a stumbling block, as the Red Devils would prefer a permanent exit, following his loan spell at Aston Villa.

Rashford himself meanwhile, who has been dubbed “world-class” by his United teammate Luke Shaw in the past, is believed to see Barcelona as his preferred destination, but the Spanish side have their eyes on other targets. Villa decided against the option they had to buy, and that means he is now set to return to United pre-season training next month as things stand.

It’s been claimed that United would like to sell Rashford this summer if they receive a fee of £40 million, but as of yet no club has come forward. Rashford’s potential arrival at Newcastle would not only see him fight for a spot alongside Isak, but he would also have the likes of Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes to deal with, both players who have been key under Eddie Howe.

A busy summer awaits for Rangers.

Now that Russell Martin has officially been unveiled as the new Rangers manager, he has plenty of work to do if his team are going to be ready for the start of Champions League qualifying on 22/23 July, with Panathinaikos, Servette or Brann their potential opponents; the draw takes place next Tuesday.

With pivotal European ties just around the corner, Martin is eager to get his transfer business done early, so could it be all change in the striker department?

Rangers seeking a new striker

According to a report by Scott McDermott and Anthony Evans of the Daily Record, Rangers remain in talks with Maccabi Tel Aviv over the signing of striker Dor Turgeman, who they claim is valued at £4m.

Liav Nachmani of Israel Hayom previously documented that Turgeman has ‘expressed a willingness’ to join the Scottish giants, who have ‘been monitoring him for several months’, although the Israeli champions do not want to let him leave easily.

Born in Ashdod, Turgeman joined the Yellows as a 15 year old, making 109 senior appearances since his senior debut five years ago, scoring 32 goals.

This season, he was the third-highest scorer in Ligat HaAl with 16 goals, also on target four times in the Europa League, netting against Panevėžys and then TSC Bačka Topola twice as Maccabi Tel Aviv made it through qualifying, before also getting on the scoresheet against Real Sociedad in October.

Turgeman has international experience too, a key figure in the Israel side that reached the U21 Euros semi-finals two summers ago, earning eight senior caps to date, scoring against Norway in a World Cup qualifier in Debrecen back in March.

So now, could the 21 year old swap the Israeli Mediterranean coastline for Glasgow’s west end?

How Turgeman compares to Dessers

According to a report by Andrew Newport of the Daily Record, Greek side AEK Athens ‘are willing to spend big’ to sign Cyriel Dessers this summer, adding that the Nigerian striker is valued at £5m.

On top of this, Greek journalist Giannis Chorianopoulos of SporTime claims that the Yellow-Blacks are “in talks” with Rangers, so is now the right time to cash in?

Let’s assess Dessers’ statistics for the club since he arrived from Cremonese for a reported £4.5m two summers ago.

Appearances

109

Minutes

6,845

Goals

51

Assists

16

Big chances missed

58

As the table outlines, Dessers’ scoring record at Rangers has been impressive, on target every 134 minutes on average, but the fact he has missed 58 big chances across the Scottish Premiership and Europa League goes a long way to explaining why Alan Pattullo of the Scotsman describes him as a complex ‘enigma’.

So, would Turgeman be an upgrade? Let’s try and find out.

Appearances

55

44

Minutes

3,423

2,887

Goals

29

20

Minutes per goal

118

144

Assists

7

6

Big chances missed

31

4

Big chances created

4

12

Shots on target (per 90)

1

0.7

Shots on target %

50%

37.5%

Touches per 90

29.1

31.6

Touches in opposition box per 90

5.5

3.1

Average Sofascore Rating

6.81

7.10

As the table outlines, while Dessers did score more goals this season, Turgeman’s underlying statistics are broadly more impressive, missing 27 fewer big chances, creating eight more big chances and registering a greater number of touches per 90.

Writer Kai Watson describes the Israeli international as a strong ball carrier and “lethal inside the box”, while Nene Afadzinu of Football Talent Scout praises his ‘excellent first touch’, hold-up play and close-control, adding that he is capable of being deployed as a team’s ‘focal point’ considering he ‘relishes a duel’ and ‘presses intensely’.

Meantime, Rui Martins of Total Football Analysis outlines how Turgeman’s physical attributes give him a ‘significant competitive advantage’, believing he ‘is ready to be tested at a higher level’.

Thus, if Rangers are able to sell 30 year old Dessers and sign 21-year-old Turgeman for a lower fee, this would appear a no-brainer of an upgrade.

The new Lundstram: Martin wants to make £18m star his first Rangers signing

As Russell Martin starts his overhaul of Rangers’ squad, could he sign a “class” midfielder in a deal reminiscent of John Lundstram’s move to Ibrox?

ByBen Gray Jun 8, 2025

Chelsea’s Champions League push continues.

On Sunday, the Blues claimed a vital 3-1 victory over the newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge; Enzo Fernández broke the deadlock inside three minutes, a freak own goal doubled their advantage, before Cole Palmer ended his goal draught by converting a stoppage time penalty.

Having now won three Premier League games on the spin, Enzo Maresca’s side remain fifth, three points clear of both Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, desperately hoping to cling onto the final Champions League position.

Regardless of whether they remain in the top five places or not, Chelsea are set to spend big this summer, because that’s simply become their modus operandi under Todd Boehly’s ownership, so could they get their hands on a new centre-forward?

Chelsea seeking to sign a new striker

Some notable names have been linked with a move to the Bridge this summer with the likes of Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins reportedly on their radar.

Transfer Focus

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

Now, according to a report by journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea are “keeping close tabs” on RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with Arsenal and Liverpool both described as ‘huge admirers’.

Sesko’s team are ‘in active talks’ with those three clubs as the German side aim to rake in a reported £70m for his signature.

It looked as though the Slovenian would be on the move last summer but signed a new contract in Leipzig, just as Chelsea and Arsenal were ‘ready to trigger’ his then £55m release clause, according to Ed Aarons of the Guardian.

Now though, Sesko appears to be ready to move on from the Bundesliga, so where would he fit in at Stamford Bridge?

Why Sesko would be an upgrade on Nkunku

As reported by Sky Sports Deutschland this weekend, Christopher Nkunku ‘has decided to leave Chelsea’ at the end of the season, with Fabrizio Romano adding that the Frenchman is ‘keen’ to depart the club.

Nkunku was not even a substitute for Sunday’s win over Liverpool, nor last Thursday’s victory over Djurgården in Stockholm, with manager Maresca later confirming he will be sidelined for a fortnight due to a “small problem”.

The 27-year-old, who himself arrived from RB Leipzig for £52m two summers ago, has never managed to establish himself as a key figure in West London, as the table below outlines.

As the table emphasises, the French forward has never been a regular in Chelsea’s starting lineups, especially in the league.

He has scored 14 goals this season, but seven of these have come in the Conference League, while he was also on target against Morecambe in the FA Cup, having bagged a hat-trick against Barrow in the EFL Cup.

So, with bearing in mind he also played/plays for Leipzig, would Sesko avoid a similar fate?

Well, all available evidence suggests that, whoever gets their hands on the striker this summer, will have secured the services of an exceptional striker.

Analyst Ben Mattinson believes he possesses “electric pace”, impressed by his “two-footed ball-striking” ability, while Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout exclaims that he is “a superb centre-forward in the making”.

So, let’s take a look at the powerful forward’s Bundesliga statistics this season.

While his statistics may not leap off the page, Sesko’s screamer against Bayern Munich on Saturday took his tally to 21 for the season across all competitions, four of which came in the Champions League, to go with the 18 he managed last time round.

He also scored five times in this year’s UEFA Nations League, a tally only bettered by Viktor Gyökeres​​​​​​​, Erling Haaland, Cristiano Ronaldo and Razvan Marin; pretty eclectic company to keep.

Alex Barker of Breaking the Lines believes the Slovenian striker to be a ‘generational’ talent, while Raphael Honigstein and Mark Carey of the Athletic forecast that he’ll continue to develop and get better, hence why Soham Mukherjee of Goal labels him ‘one of the hottest names in the European transfer market’.

Thus, Sesko would surely be an excellent signing for Chelsea, representing a clear upgrade on the wantaway Nkunku.

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By
Ben Gray

May 4, 2025

With the 49ers set to complete a takeover of Rangers, Ibrox legend Ally McCoist has had his say on what they must change when they officially arrive amid rumours of a £25m transfer kitty.

McCoist tells new Rangers owners to hire sporting director

Following a disastrous campaign in the Scottish Premiership, in which they sit a world away from runaway leaders Celtic, Rangers must get things right on all fronts as the 49ers arrive for their first summer in charge. The new owners will be desperate to translate the Gers’ impressive European form into domestic victories next season in an attempt to bridge a growing gap on their Old Firm rivals.

Those at Ibrox have enjoyed contrasting form in the Europa League and enjoyed yet another moment to remember against Athletic Bilbao when Liam Kelly saved substitute Alex Berenguer’s penalty to help the 10-men of Rangers hold into a draw after Robin Propper’s early red card.

Before Rangers can enjoy such nights again in the Scottish Premiership, however, McCoist believes that the 49ers need to make one crucial change when they arrive.

Asked by Football FanCast how 49ers Enterpises can close the gap to Celtic after rumours of a £25m summer war-chest, McCoist said: “The first thing they have to do is clearly appoint somebody that they’re going to trust with potential finances. I would rather see them take their time if I’m to be brutally honest. I’d rather see hopefully new owners come in with a business plan, because it’s not gonna be an overnight fix. There’s no chance.”

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The Rangers legend went on to say: “Although changes are needed at Rangers, and some big ones, I don’t see them making them all at once. I see them coming in, taking their time, having a business plan, appointing someone and moving the club forward gradually.

“I think that’s a far better idea than just going out and spending money willy-nilly on four or five players. I think there has to be a business plan, you’ve gotta build and take it from there – a steady improvement all of the time.”

49ers must nail double appointment this summer

The frustration around Rangers is certainly justified and McCoist has been among those disappointed by just how far the Gers have fallen this season, from Philippe Clement’s reign to Barry Ferguson’s spell as interim manager.

Expressing that disappointment, McCoist said: “The disappointing thing for me has been the dramatic decline since they were a penalty kick away from winning the Europa League. It’s just went south very very quickly for whatever reasons. But I don’t think it’s gonna be an overnight fix. I just hope that the new owners can come in.”

Whilst their European exploits have remained, Rangers desperately need a long-term vision if they are to dethrone Celtic once again in the Scottish Premiership, and that all starts with getting the right men in the sporting director seat and in the dugout this summer.

He also believes his presence will open the door for the other Indian players to come to the SA20

Firdose Moonda10-Jan-2025Nineteen years ago, a young Dinesh Karthik played his first T20 match – an international – against South Africa at the Wanderers. Chasing 127, he came in to bat with India on 71 for 3 in the 12th over. These days, we’d call an easy win for the batting side. Then, it was nervy. It took until the penultimate ball for Karthik to hit the winning runs in a player-of-the-match performance. A year later, Karthik was part of the Indian squad that won the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa, a triumph that he believes paved the way for how the world game looks today.”Some of my best memories have come from South Africa, like winning the T20 World Cup and being part of something so special and that also started a very big trend in Indian cricket. It’s called the IPL today,” he said at the Paarl Royals pre-tournament press conference. “Things like that originated because of what happened in South Africa. So, I have very fond memories and I like the place in general.”He especially likes the place he finds himself in now: the picturesque Cape Winelands, where Paarl Royals have their base. “I’ve gone as far as to convince my family to come over as well. They weren’t planning to come, but they’re going to come because I said you don’t get more beautiful places than this.”Related

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But Karthik is on more than just a nostalgia and nature-gazing trip. He is the first Indian player to feature in the SA20 and was sought after as both a cricketer and an ambassador: someone who could talk the tournament up in the subcontinent. And he is doing that already.Asked if he thinks his presence will open the door for the other Indian players to come to the SA20, it was a firm yes. “Anybody who’s done with playing IPL will always look at SA20 because it’s the strongest comp. You get the best of players.”For this edition, that includes him. Karthik is here as a senior player for Paarl Royals, who finished third on the points table twice but are yet to make the final and have three of the youngest players in the tournament in their squad. Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka are just 18 years old and Dewan Marais is 19 and Karthik sees his role as key to their development.Dinesh Karthik is set to become the first Indian to play in the SA20•BCCI”One of the reasons why I’ve been picked here is not only just to come and showcase my skills as a batter or a keeper, but also help in the growth of young South African players to become the best version of themselves. So whenever I’ve had the opportunity, I’ve had chats with them,” he said. “I always feel knowledge learned is one side of it, but knowledge shared is a lot more fruitful. So in my experience, whenever a youngster comes and speaks to me about the sport, I’m happy to share my experiences. That is the least I could do.”Karthik will have a particular role to play with Pretorius, who is also a wicketkeeper-batter. While Paarl Royals will start with Karthik as keeper, “there could be opportunities that he (Pretorius) could be keeping and I could be fielding,” Karthik said. “In the practice matches, we shared the load where we kept 10 overs each in one game. In the other game, I ended up keeping the whole time.”That means Karthik will keep to Maphaka, who he identified as “one of those bona fide superstars”. Maphaka also accompanied him to the pre-tournament press conference.”I watched him bowl in the U19 World Cup and it almost felt like when you play against South Africa, you need to get past that first spell. That’s a feeling not many bowlers can give,” Karthik said. “He’s handled pressure, he’s come with expectations, and it’s great to see him grow into not only a good domestic cricketer, but today he’s playing for South Africa in all three formats. If I was him, SA20 would be a great opportunity to show my skills at the T20 level but also be the person who can win matches for the team. He’s a special player. He’s got the skill sets to be the superstar that I expect him to be. In Kwena, South Africa has found a gem, and they need to protect him.Dinesh Karthik said South Africa need to “protect” Kwena Maphaka•AFP/Getty Images”He needs to learn how to take care of his body. The one thing that will happen as he grows is he could drop pace, and he doesn’t want to do that,” Karthik said. “So how he takes care of his body and mentally, every time he gets on the park, it should be about winning the game for that team.”Maphaka sat bashful next to Karthik as the praise poured out and confirmed he would “watch my bowling loads and make sure that I’m stretching and keeping my body in tip-top shape,” after his “crazy” last 12 months. From the under-19 World Cup last January, to an IPL gig to a T20 debut in the Caribbean and his ODI and Test bow in the space of two weeks, Maphaka has barely had time to catch his breath.”It’s crazy to see how quickly things have moved and how quickly my life has changed,” he said. “But I’m just trying to keep my feet on the ground and continue being the player that I am, keep learning and keep striving for success, really.”That’s where the likes of Karthik will come in: where younger players are in danger of being swept off their feet by the speed of events, to help them hit pause and remember they are part of something bigger.”This team is a good blend of experience and some seriously prodigious talent. We speak about Kwena and Lhuan-dre but on the other hand, we have players like David Miller, Joe Root, who’ve been stalwarts for their countries over a period of time,” Karthik said. “My role is to make sure that I’m there for the tough moments, and when the game is on the line, that I’m doing something very special to help the team. I really wish that this experience and youthful exuberance meet somewhere in the middle and something special is created.”Paarl Royals will kick off their campaign against two-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape on Saturday.

Having kept at it in Delhi club cricket after losing his coach to Covid-19, the talented teenager’s world changed one day in December 2022 with the tap of an auctioneer’s hammer

Sreshth Shah13-Apr-2023In late 2022, former India pacer Pankaj Singh got in touch with Kolkata Knight Riders’ assistant coach Abhishek Nayar. Pankaj, the newly appointed Delhi Under-25 coach, had a recommendation to make. There was a new spinner, yet to play top-flight T20s, who was making heads turn in the Delhi circuit, and with IPL teams seeking new names for trials, Pankaj put forward the name of Suyash Sharma.Between IPL seasons, scouts from every franchise use their network of coaches and friends – mostly former cricketers – to find out about new talent. And Knight Riders were not the only side to learn about Suyash. Mumbai Indians – famed for their elite scouting that unearthed Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya – were also interested, and the teenager went for trials at both franchises.At the Knight Riders trial, Suyash impressed, and their staff – Nayar, assistant bowling coach Omkar Salvi and analyst AR Srikkanth – quickly recognised X-factor potential. With the murmurs that an Impact Player rule could come into play, he seemed a perfect fit for Knight Riders. At the auction, he was bought for INR 20 lakh (USD 24,000 approx.). Knight Riders’ CEO Venky Mysore would go on to say that he felt relieved that the franchise did not have to splurge for Suyash, having kept aside a significant portion of their small auction purse – they went in with the least money to spend – for the spinner.Related

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That auction was the first time the wider cricketing world heard of Suyash before last week, when he made his IPL and T20 debut against Royal Challengers Bangalore, and finished with 3 for 30 in a match-winning cause.For most young cricketers, a debut like that is nothing short of a dream. But Suyash’s thinking is a bit different, it seems.”Wickets don’t matter so much to me,” Suyash told ESPNcricinfo after his debut. “For me, my bowling graph matters, to see how many good balls I have landed. Whether I take five or seven wickets, it does not matter. What matters is if I’ve bowled well, and if I have, then even a one-wicket spell gives me satisfaction.”

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Only 19, Suyash comes from Bhajanpura in northeast Delhi. He wanted to be a batter like his elder brother, but soon learned that to stand out in Delhi’s competitive age-group circuit, he had to do something different. So he switched to spin bowling. After working closely with Delhi-based coach Suresh Batra – a childhood coach of Virat Kohli’s – he developed a fast action like Rashid Khan and added a googly to his repertoire which, from the hand, is not discernible from his legbreaks.Then, when Suyash was 17, Batra succumbed to Covid-19. Left unmoored with no mentor, Suyash approached another Delhi coach, Randhir Singh, for help. Randhir roped Suyash into the DDCA club-cricket competitions, and he enrolled with Madras Club.Madras Club in Delhi is famous for being the place where Virender Sehwag made his runs in his formative years, but a lesser-known fact is that it has been a breeding ground for spinners. Yuzvendra Chahal and Pawan Negi made their mark here, as did other IPL spinners like Pardeep Sahu and Tejas Baroka.

“As soon as I began my walk home, the phones started ringing to say [it has happened]. My uncle was crying, my family were screaming with joy. It was an emotional moment.”Suyash Sharma on being picked at the IPL auction

This is where Suyash polished his craft. He increased his pace and developed a strong wrist to allow his googlies and legbreaks to be delivered with the same speed. That made it tougher for batters to pick him, and he was unleashed as a non-paid amateur in the club circuit. That led to a Delhi U-25 call-up, and the IPL trials.But trials are relatively common for the innumerable amateur Indian players who dream big. For many, the stage is so big that they fail to impress, daunted by the watching scouts. If they do get past this first test, they are are left competing with Ranji-level players on the IPL auction list and, with no professional experience yet, there remains the question of whether such players could stand up and deliver under pressure with a million eyes watching on TV.So, despite the positive feedback from the trials with Knight Riders and Mumbai, Suyash knew an IPL contract was still far away. Suyash returned to the Delhi club circuit and tried to focus on that. But December 23, 2022, soon arrived, and it turned out to be the first day of the rest of his life.”I was returning from a trial match for the Delhi U-25 red-ball team,” Suyash says. “I was tired and had just got off from the rickshaw. I was watching the auction a few times but since my name was coming later, I didn’t catch mine.If you think mystery spin at the IPL over the years, Knight Riders and Sunil Narine probably come straight to mind•R Parthibhan/Associated Press”As soon as I began my walk home, the phones started ringing to say [it has happened]. My uncle was crying, my family were screaming with joy. It was an emotional moment.”Having struggled with his father’s battle with cancer for a few years, and the death of his coach, and taken the much tougher path towards becoming a recognised cricketer, now everything was falling into place.

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In the IPL, no team has been as obsessed with mystery spinners as Knight Riders. They’ve been a core part of the side’s plans right from the days of Ajantha Mendis, Sachithra Senanayake and KC Cariappa to more recently, when Sunil Narine was unconditionally backed despite an action change and Varun Chakravarthy was persisted with even after a horror IPL debut.At most other franchises, being the squad’s third mystery spinner would mean you’re a back-up of a back-up, but at Knight Riders Suyash could be more. His moment came when he was duly introduced in Knight Riders’ second game of the season, as an Impact Player, at the change of innings against Royal Challengers.

“I was prepared for this, but got nervous when I stood at my bowling mark. I cannot explain the feeling. When I had thought about my future debut, I was excited, but when I was there, I got nervous.”Suyash Sharma on debuting at the IPL

“I was prepared for this, but got nervous when I stood at my bowling mark,” Suyash says. “I cannot explain the feeling. When I had thought about my future debut, I was excited, but when I was there, I got nervous. At my run-up, there was so much [noise] from the crowd, that I got a bit flustered.”But I had been visualising my first ever ball for a long time. I practice visualisation a lot. So I wanted to start off with my best ball right from the first delivery.”Even though Suyash’s bowling wasn’t too accurate on debut, one thing that was undeniable was his ability to make the ball turn. Narine and Chakravarthy rely on variations to deceive batters but Suyash uses flight and sharp spin.Sporting a headband to keep his long hair out of his face, Suyash’s first ball to Dinesh Karthik was more half-tracker than good length, and two balls later when he repeated the same to Michael Bracewell, he was pulled for six. The first over went for nine and for a short moment it felt like maybe the step up to the IPL was a bit too much too soon.But he came back strongly to outfox both Anuj Rawat and Karthik in his second over, using his flight and turn to have them both top-edging slogs to short third. When Suyash hit Karn Sharma on his pads next over, he displayed the natural confidence he’s known to possess by going up to the captain Nitish Rana and demanding a review. Replays showed Karn was caught at first slip courtesy an edge, but even if he didn’t edge it, he was certainly lbw.Suyash Sharma takes off in celebration after bowling Gujarat Titans’ Abhinav Manohar in his second game•Associated PressHis spell impressed head coach Chandrakant Pandit enough for the youngster to get a special mention after the game.”He is just inexperienced but he has shown very good attitude,” Pandit said. “And it is fighting spirit that he has been showing in his camps.”Currently, Suyash has four different deliveries he is willing to talk about – the googly, the legbreak, the backspinner and the flipper. He says that he has been practicing more variations but will reveal them only when he’s ready. His challenge will be to stay mysterious as other teams actively look to demystify his bowling as he gets more game time.But that’s a challenge that Suyash is up for and he is in safe hands with Pandit, bowling coach Bharat Arun, and team-mates Narine and Chakravarthy guiding him. It’s been a while since an Indian spinner has drawn so much interest in such a short time, and if Suyash can keep focusing on his bowling graphs instead of the noise, it just might be the start of something significant.

Five key questions that Australia will need to answer during the three-match series

Andrew McGlashan25-Nov-20202:01

We like having an extra bowling option in ODIs – Langer

Does Green get a debut?There will be at least one change from the team that clinched the ODI series against England in September with the Glenn Maxwell-Alex Carey inspired run chase. Mitchell Marsh is sidelined by the ankle injury he sustained during the IPL, which means an allrounder is needed in the middle order. It might be that Steven Smith’s comeback – he missed the England series because of concussion – sees Marcus Stoinis slip down the order on the back of his impressive IPL 2020 campaign and share 10 overs with Maxwell (another option would be the recalled Moises Henriques). However, the name on everyone’s lips is the uncapped Western Australia allrounder Cameron Green although he has been picked on the strength of his first-class rather than one-day form: he has only played nine List A games for a batting average of 27.83 and seven wickets at 34.42. Justin Langer has made it clear that Green will only be selected if he can perform a full role with the ball as he continues his comeback to bowling following stress fractures of his back.Beyond the big threeMitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins make up a fine pace-bowling trio in any format. But depending on whether any of them are rested during the ODIs, it could be a chance to a have look at what’s just below them. Kane Richardson would normally be the first understudy, but he has opted out of the series to stay with his family in Adelaide, so it is Sean Abbott, Daniel Sams and Andrew Tye who are the pace-bowling reserves. The latter two are known more for – and selected on – their T20 skills, so Abbott could be in pole position. His one ODI cap to date came back in 2014 against Pakistan, but overall he has an impressive List A bowling record of 97 wickets at 24.87 and, while in a different format, was one of the standout players in the recent Sheffield Shield hub.Marnus Labuschagne bowls in the nets•Getty ImagesTop-order formA couple of key members of Australia’s top order come into the series with question marks over their form following the IPL. Captain Aaron Finch couldn’t get going for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and was dropped for a few matches towards the end of the tournament after a campaign where he made starts but did not convert. Smith was ever present as captain of the Rajasthan Royals, who finished bottom, and while he started with a brace of half-centuries and later added a third, it wasn’t his most convincing of tournaments. However, speaking on Tuesday, Smith said he had “found his hands again” and was ready to go. While the white-ball matches are important in their own right, it will be interesting to see if the India bowlers can score any points against Smith ahead of the Test series.Will Labuschagne bowl more?Marnus Labuschagne is settling nicely into Australia’s ODI top order at No. 4 – averaging 43.77 after nine innings – but with the second string of his legspin he has only sent down four overs. His bowling continues to be in the developmental stage and is perhaps more suited to the red-ball game where the occasional drag-down or full-toss does not really matter but, particularly with the next ODI World Cup being in India, his value will continue to increase if he can become a viable option for Finch. Australia tend to play with four frontline bowlers and then a collection of batting allrounders to fill the rest of the overs.The Maxwell factorTalking of the balance of the side, so much of that revolves around Maxwell. In the deciding match against England, he produced one of the best innings of his career – 108 off 90 balls – which followed 77 in the opening match of the series, which steered another recovery. They were his first ODIs since the disappointing 2019 World Cup and, even though he will be 35, he is a key part of the team’s strategy for 2023. Having been all over the order, it would appear the No. 7 position is now his home, albeit with the ability to move up if the situation dictates.