Northamptonshire allrounder will be available for his county throughout 2021 season
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jan-2021Gareth Berg, the Northamptonshire allrounder, has been appointed playing head coach of the Italian national side.Berg, who has been involved with Italian cricket since 2012, qualifying through his mother’s heritage, will continue to be available for Northamptonshire throughout this year’s county season. He will work with former Sydney Thunder allrounder Carl Sandri, who has been named as Italy’s senior high-performance coach.ALSO READ: County ins and outs 2020-21″Initially I was thinking about just being a part of the Italian coaching set up, but this opportunity as head coach came up and I decided to put myself forward,” Berg told Northamptonshire’s website.”I have a number of years behind me as a professional now and a good group of players at my disposal. They’re seriously good players and not just from Italy itself, there’s many with Italian passports from all over the world.”Cape Town-born Berg, who turns 40 this month, was part of the Italy side that competed in the 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers in the U.A.E.Gareth Berg was part of Italy’s 2013 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers campaign•ICC/Getty”There’s a wide variety of competitions out there now, including the ECL (European Cricket League), which has taken off,” he said. “Italian cricket is on the up but it isn’t just us, there other countries like Germany and Jersey who are benefiting from the extra funding coming in now too.”My commitment to county cricket and Northamptonshire is first and foremost, it always has been about county cricket for me. I’m not getting any younger though so there’s always an eye on what’s ahead for me in the future and hopefully this will be part of that.”
Tottenham have completed some impressive business in the transfer market over the last seven months or so.
Ange Postecoglou is here for the long run and that can be seen in the deals they've completed. Lucas Bergvall is now officially a Spurs player and the exciting Archie Gray has recently arrived too.
Troy Parrott, one of the club's academy poster boys, may have left for Dutch shores but with another hot talent in Mikey Moore coming through the ranks, they won't care too much about the Irishman's £6.7m departure.
Will Postecoglou stop in his quest to bring top young talent to north London? Apparently not.
Tottenham looking at elite young winger
There is a young talent who is consistently being talked about as an option in the transfer window for the top clubs in Europe.
That happens to be French superstar Desire Doue, a teenager who is causing a great deal of fuss this summer.
Rennes midfielder Desire Doue
Set to take part in the Paris Olympics under the guidance of the great Thierry Henry, Doue has become an option for a number of sides.
Indeed, according to a report from French outlet L'Equipe, Bayern Munich have lodged a €35m (£30m) bid for the Rennes attacker but it has been rejected.
The German outfit are believed to be not the only club interested. It's suggested that Tottenham and Chelsea are also planning their own offensive in the forthcoming weeks.
Previous reports have indicated it could well take around €60m (£52m) to prise him away from his homeland.
What makes Doue so exciting
Now 19, Doue lit up Ligue 1 as a spritely 18-year-old last season, wreaking havoc in the final third on his way to four goals and five assists in league action. Those aren't jaw-dropping numbers but come on, this is a teenager doing things a mature experienced head would be doing.
So, he can score and assist goals, but what else can he do? Said to be a "one-of-a-kind player" by analyst Ben Mattinson, this is a young individual with the world at his feet, someone who has "one of the most unique profiles out there."
Right-footed, Doue is capable of playing off either wing, namely the left and also as a number 10, galivanting forward and picking up tight pockets of space which he seems to escape from every time.
Left wing
15
2
4
Attacking mid
5
1
0
Centre mid
4
0
1
Right wing
4
1
0
So, what comparisons can be made? Well, FBRef suggests that the most similar player in Europe's top five leagues to the French sensation is 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, a young talent who has taken Euro 2024 by storm.
Who else could he be compared to? Well, the aforementioned analyst – Mattinson – suggests "Doue’s ceiling is more of as a goal-scoring #10 to play in between the lines like Foden who can also play wide."
Also said to be in the same bracket of talent as someone like Bellingham and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, it's evident Tottenham would have a very special player on their hands here.
England international Jude Bellingham
He could operate in the half spaces very well, linking up with the likes of James Maddison and Heung-min Son to devastating effect.
Like Bellingham, he can play in a deeper playmaking role, like Saka, he can cut inside with purpose and like Foden, he can weave beyond defenders in central areas behind the striker.
Also said to be "elite at shifting the ball" by Mattinson, there is seemingly nothing Doue cannot do in the final third. So, let's examine the numbers.
Assists
0.22
0.25
0.23
Key passes
1.71
2.30
1.87
Progressive passes
6.69
5.30
7.63
Shot-creating actions
4.86
4.45
3.85
Successful take-ons
3.54
1.48
1.95
Progressive carries
4.31
2.93
3.31
Evidently boasting remarkable numbers when it comes to carrying the ball and possessing that magical ability to make something happen out of nothing, it's clear to see why he's earned comparisons to the likes of Foden and Bellingham.
This is a world-class talent in the making and he could well be heading to Spurs. Just imagine him alongside the likes of Gray and Bergvall. It's enough to make your mouth water.
Ange must finally cash in on Spurs man who earns over 5x more than Doue
He’s rapidly fallen out-of-favour since his move to the club.
Trouble seems to be brewing at AC Milan as coach Paulo Fonseca opens up on his equation with star forward Rafael Leao.
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Milan lost 2-0 to NapoliLeao came on as a substituteFonseca insists there's no conflict with Portugal starFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Rafael Leao came off the bench against Napoli during Milan's recent 2-0 loss in the Serie A, but failed to prevent his side from falling to their third league loss of the season. The result leaves the Rossoneri in eighth place, with reports of a rift between Leao and manager Paulo Fonseca.
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Fonseca has suffered a difficult start to life as Milan manager. In their opening nine games in Serie A, they have bagged just 14 points and find themselves in eighth place, outside European contention.
The poor run of form has coincided with Fonseca's decision to bench Leao in important games, drawing attention from the media. The former Roma boss, however, denied the rumours when asked about his relationship with the Portuguese international following the Napoli game.
WHAT PAULO FONSECA SAID
"I don't want to go into details. I manage things with the players differently. There's no conflict between us, it's just the coach's decision. We try to motivate the players in different ways, then it's up to the players to put in the right amount of dedication: I don't have to beg them," Fonseca told DAZN (h/t Calciomercato).
When the reporter asked if he was talking about Leao, Fonseca provided a rather ambiguous answer: "I wasn't referring to Leao when I spoke of commitment. It's difficult to play with three wingers. [Christian] Pulisic doesn't play in Leao's position, [Noah] Okafor does. Today Leao came in well, he gave good answers, then if we're honest we look at Okafor's game and he played well. It's difficult for me to decide at the moment. Leao is working to get back into the lineup, for me this is the most positive thing."
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Milan will visit Monza on Saturday, November 2, to revive their Serie A campaign. Next week, they'll face a stern test in the Champions League as defending champions Real Madrid will host them on November 5.
With their campaign on the line, the sixth-wicket pair add 75 off just 32 balls to pull off a stunning win
Shashank Kishore26-Jan-2021Seventy runs needed off 45 balls. A top order that had dismantled attacks during the course of five successive wins in the group stage had collapsed in a heap. Tamil Nadu’s campaign, which had looked bright enough to go one better than their runners-up finish last year, was in doldrums.Himachal Pradesh’s bowlers were making a target of 136 seem more like 186. They were boisterous, having just dismissed Dinesh Karthik. Tamil Nadu were five down, with the last recognised pair at the crease. The decision to promote Sonu Yadav as a pinch hitter had backfired too, his run-a-ball 16 putting immense pressure on the lower order.Enter Shahrukh Khan, who joined Baba Aparajith, who until then had scratched his way to 23 off 33 balls. With the asking rate mounting and Himachal scenting victory, they held firm and then turned the game on its head, adding 75 off just 32 balls as Tamil Nadu cantered home with 13 balls to spare.The turning point of sorts was the third ball of the 14th over, bowled by the left-arm spinner Ayush Jamwal. Aparajith swatted it across the line, and the long-on fielder parried the ball over the ropes. With a reprieve behind him, Aparajith unleashed his strokes without fear. This rubbed off on the muscular Shahrukh too, his contribution an unbeaten 19-ball 40 laden with five fours and two sixes.With him, there are no half-measures. He’s reminiscent of Yusuf Pathan at the crease. Has a big presence, takes a giant stride and can give it a proper whack. He picks his spots and goes through. On Tuesday night, the leg-side was his favoured area, and it took some kind of power to clear the big boundaries quite comfortably. Shahrukh in league cricket is a destroyer, and if he continues to play the same way in top-flight cricket, it may not be long before IPL teams enter into a bidding war. He wasn’t picked at the 2019 December auction, but knocks like these could certain boost his chances.Meanwhile, Aparajith is a calming presence at the crease. Unhurried with his strokes, uncomplicated in his mind, he keeps the runs ticking and brings the big shots out only if the situation demands. He plays the kind of role S Badrinath did successfully at Chennai Super Kings, stem a collapse and hold the batting together if required. Throw in his handy off spin and he is a package teams often look out for.Here, he remained unbeaten on 52 off 45, having overcome pockets of frustration in the middle overs. To his credit, he carried on, trusted his game, and saw the game through. Prior to this game, Aparajith had just batted once in the tournament. But when the pressure was on, he dug deep to see his side through.Having watched the match-winning partnership nervously, Karthik, N Jagadeesan and C Hari Nishanth, who had done bulk of Tamil Nadu’s run-scoring in the league phase, exulted, roaring and punching the air, relieved at having a shot at making another final.Earlier in the evening, Karthik had opted to field presumably to give his bowlers a relatively dry ball to play with. They all responded superbly to restrict Himachal to 135 for 9. The pace duo of Sandeep Warrier and Yadav used contrasting methods to finish with combined figures of 5 for 46 off their eight overs.Warrier, who will fly off to join the India team as a net bowler on Thursday, hit the deck hard and relied on seam movement and bounce. Yadav used his slower variations to lull batsmen into big hits. In the middle overs, M Ashwin, the legspinner, and R Sai Kishore, the left-arm spinner, didn’t let the batsmen dictate terms.Rishi Dhawan was the only batsman who looked fluent and adjusted to the pace of the surface quickly, finishing with an unbeaten 26-ball 35 to give the innings a late push, after Abhimanyu Rana and Nitin Sharma wasted starts to fall just as Himachal looked to accelerate at different stages. And as well as Vaibhav Arora made the new ball talk, prising out three huge top-order wickets, Himachal just didn’t have enough runs to stop Tamil Nadu’s counter-punch.
Paul Mullin has explained "all that matters" after taking in another goalless outing for Wrexham, leaving him on three efforts through 15 appearances.
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Talismanic presence at SToK RacecourseStill searching for a spark in 2024-25Red Dragons flying high in League OneFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The 30-year-old frontman has been a talismanic presence for the Red Dragons throughout their ascent from the National League and into League One. He is yet to find a spark in the third tier, after seeing his start to the 2024-25 campaign delayed by a return to fitness from minor spinal surgery.
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Mullin was included from the off by Phil Parkinson when Wrexham lined up against fellow high-fliers Mansfield at SToK Racecourse. He was, having been replaced late on, able to help the Welsh outfit to a battling 1-0 win.
WHAT MULLIN SAID
Mullin was unable to find the target, after having a few sights of goal, and has failed to hit the net in 12 of his outings across all competitions this season. He is, however, very much a team player and has posted on social media after playing his part in an important victory: "+3 is all that matters."
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WHAT NEXT FOR WREXHAM?
Wrexham fans and coaches retain unwavering faith in Mullin’s ability to score goals in League One. He will believe that greater end product is merely a matter of time, with the Red Dragons set to be back in EFL Trophy action against Port Vale on Tuesday before then taking in a trip to old adversaries Stockport.
Just hours before the Euro 2024 final, Manchester United confirmed their first summer signing.
It was no secret but in came exciting young striker Joshua Zirkzee. The Dutchman appeared for the Netherlands during this summer's showpiece in Germany and arrives aiming to displace another raw centre forward in Rasmus Hojlund.
It will be exciting to see the two battle it out for a place in the side as the season goes on, but the focus for now will very much be on who else Dan Ashworth and Co can recruit.
Man United's transfer strategy this summer
One of the biggest focus points for the new ownership is strengthening their defence. Matthijs de Ligt continues to be mooted with a switch and it's highly likely that another Dutchman will be arriving at Old Trafford.
Jarrad Branthwaite has been another hot topic but with Amadou Onana set to move to Aston Villa in a £50m move, it's thought the Toffees will now hold onto their star defender.
Leny Yoro of Lille is another target but he prefers Real Madrid and is waiting for the Spanish giants to make an offer.
So, where to next? Well, the midfield also needs bolstering with newfound England star Kobbie Mainoo requiring a partner with more energy than a certain Casemiro.
Benfica sensation Joao Neves is one name who just continues to be mentioned in the same breath as United but the Portuguese outfit are reluctant to let him go unless someone pays his release clause which stands at over £100m.
SL Benfica star Joao Neves
New reports from CaughtOffside suggest that a 'cheaper alternative' for the club is Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton.
He moved to the Eagles in a bargain £22m move last January and will no doubt fetch a considerable fee whenever the midfielder does move on.
How Adam Wharton compares to Declan Rice
Have we ever seen a rise like Wharton's? A year ago he was getting ready to embark on a Championship campaign with Blackburn Rovers. Highly rated no doubt, but few would have predicted the meteoric rise he was about to embark on.
Signed by Palace in January, he quickly looked at home in the Premier League. Before we knew it, he was making his debut for England in June against Bosnia. The end result? A promising showing that earned him a place on the plane for Euro 2024.
Despite a lust to see the 20-year-old play from the English public, he failed to get on the pitch this summer but the experience will no doubt have been incredibly beneficial for such a young player.
Coincidentally, it's the man he could partner should he join Man United who starred ahead of him; Mainoo.
This has the potential to be a fabulous partnership for Erik Ten Hag if Wharton does arrive, with United potentially set to land their own answer to someone like Declan Rice or Rodri.
Rice did not enjoy his best tournament for England but is certainly still one of the benchmark players when you talk about the best midfielders in the country.
Coincidentally, they're both pretty big fans of each other too. Speaking about Wharton this summer, Rice said: “He’s been outstanding. He's got a beautiful left foot, really crisp passing. And all round, just a really down-to-earth boy who wants to learn."
Wharton returned the favour, suggesting that Arsenal's record signing was a "top player".
Why do they love each other? Well, probably because they're pretty similar players. Although they play off different feet, they possess a wonderful ability to knock passes around with ease and break up the play.
In fact, so good has he been that Ian Wright even compared him to FFC's Player of the Tournament for Euro 2024, Spain's Fabian Ruiz.
He said on ITV this summer: "It's either Kobbie (Mainoo) or Wharton, but I'd probably put Wharton in there simply because he's the closest I've seen to Fabian Ruiz."
So, what do the numbers say about all of them? We have the answer.
Pass accuracy %
81%
89%
89%
Assists
0.17
0.22
0.23
Key passes
1.55
1.31
1.35
Progressive passes
6.08
7.77
5.86
Shot-creating actions
3.04
2.79
3.01
Tackles won
1.88
1.42
1.73
Interceptions
1.44
1.23
0.83
Successful take-ons
0.55
0.59
1.20
Progressive carries
0.99
2.09
1.20
Aerials won
0.58
1.09
0.30
Evidently, Rice is a far better carrier of the ball than both players but as far as some of the metrics are concerned, there isn't a great deal of difference.
Wharton is about as creative as Fabian and the Arsenal star, even playing more key passes per 90 minutes. Considering the others play for two of Europe's elite clubs, it's unsurprising that Wharton comes out on top in the defensive metrics but the full range of his skillset is shown here.
He can pass and create like Rice, he can break up the play like England's number 4 and he's crisp in possession. If United are looking for the perfect partner for Mainoo, they need to look no further than this ever-improving midfield sensation.
Bruno replacement: Man Utd targeting £52m Bellingham & Palmer hybrid
Real Madrid are considering a shock move for Alexandre Lacazette following Lyon's provisional demotion to Ligue 2.
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Madrid believed to be monitoring Lacazette's situation33-year-old among Ligue 1's best forwardsLyon could be forced to sell him amid major financial problemsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to a report from Fichajes, Real Madrid are considering a sensational move for Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette in the upcoming January transfer window. The 33-year-old's contract with the French outfit expires at the end of this season, and Los Blancos want to use that as an advantage to lure the Frenchman to the Santiago Bernabeu in January.
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National Directorate of Management Control (NDMC), the financial watchdogs of French football, have handed Lyon with punishment in light of their reported debts of around €500 million (£418m). Lyon will be banned from making any signings in January, and should they fail to clean up their financial mess by the end of this season, they will be relegated to Ligue 2. Additionally, the club's payroll will be under the NDMC's supervision from here on.
Madrid want to use Lyon's problems as an opportunity to solve their own. The club like Lacazette and want to sign him as early as January by preparing a €5 million offer. The former Arsenal forward has scored 58 goals in 88 appearances since returning to Groupama Stadium in 2022. Signing him could provide manager Carlo Ancelotti with one more option in attack, who offers something no one else could in this squad.
DID YOU KNOW?
Lacazette's potential arrival could signal the end of Endrick's season at Real Madrid. After scoring on his LaLiga and Champions League debut, the gifted youngster has become an afterthought for Carlo Ancelotti. With a lack of playing time, the 18-year-old could weigh up his options in January and seek a loan exit, with Real Valladolid interested. There has been interest from outside Spain, too, with Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus eyeing a January move for the Brazilian international.
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AFPWHAT NEXT?
Real Madrid have missed a traditional No. 9, fox-in-the-box type of profile in their squad this season. They have missed a profile like Joselu's, who turned up with crucial goals last season. As such, signing Lacazette could prove to be beneficial to Ancelotti and Co. as they aim to retain their grip on the league as well as in Europe. It remains to be seen if Madrid actually go through with the move, though.
With the winter transfer window still over a month away from commencing, Real Madrid will be focused on making ground on rivals Barcelona in the league, who are six points ahead at the top of the table having played one game more. The defending LaLiga champions will take on Leganes on Sunday, November 24, following the ongoing international break.
Nottingham Forest have been tipped to table a massive bid to land a new forward ahead of the upcoming Premier League season.
Forest enjoying South American success
Since their promotion to the Premier League in 2022, Nuno Espírito Santo's side have had plenty of success by raiding the south American market. Their headline success has been centre-back Murillo, who arrived at the City Ground from Corinthians 12 months ago in a £10m move.
He promptly cemented himself as one of the best defenders outside the top six and drew admiring glances from across Europe on his way to helping Forest avoid relegation on the final day of last season.
Nottingham Forest defender Murillo
Quizzed on his future, the Brazilian defender admitted he may look to leave Forest in the future to play Champions League football, but committed himself to the Garibaldi for at least another season.
“I need regular game-time and really feel that with Forest I’m in the best place for my career,” he said. “Staying here for another season will enable me to mature as a player and eventually become better prepared if the chance ever comes to play at another level one day."
Nottingham Forest line up five new transfers including £10m winger – report
The City Ground side are set to be busy in the coming weeks.
ByBen Browning Jul 30, 2024
But the 22-year-old is not the only player plucked from Brazil, with young midfielder Danilo also having been signed from Palmeiras, while Forest have already explored this avenue this summer by bringing Carlos Miguel to the City Ground from Corinthians in a move worth £3.3m. Now, they could be set to return to Corinthians to snap up a highly rated talent for their frontline.
Nottingham Forest readying move for teenager
That comes with Forest ready to table a £20m+ bid for forward Wesley Gassova, who has also been on the radar of West Ham United.
The forward, who doesn't turn 20 until March next year, is much more experienced than Murillo was when Forest signed him, having made 79 appearances for Corinthians. Largely deployed on the left of attack, he can also play in central areas.
Wesley's career to date
Appearances
79
Starts
43
Goals
7
Assists
6
However, he is another player whose career seems primed to take off when he moves to Europe. Football Analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed him a "dribbling monster" who "is going to break ankles all around Europe" when he eventually moves across the Atlantic.
As per Brazilian reporter Bruno Andrade, Al Nassr have seen a deal worth 25m euros (£21.3m) fall through as a result of intermediaries failing to come to an agreement, but Forest are "on track to offer similar" to try and get an agreement over the line.
It is added that "the club's board of directors still hopes to sell the player in the coming days" amid Forest interest, suggesting that there is confidence a deal could be completed with the Midlands outfit.
Should a move for Wesley prove even half as successful as the deal that brought Murillo to the City Ground, Forest will grab a bargain.
“We ticked all the boxes we wanted to,” says India’s captain as he praises his bowlers too
Alagappan Muthu14-Mar-20212:22
Sanjay Manjrekar: Ishan Kishan the kind of batsman who’s not afraid of getting dismissed
It takes a lot to overshadow Virat Kohli in the middle. In Test matches, India’s No. 3s have to endure the long walk back to rampant cheers not for the work they did but for the fact the captain was coming to the middle to take control. So what chance did a debutant have? Apparently a really, really good one.Ishan Kishan, who has been talked about as a talent ever since his age-group days, but who used to have problems with knowing when to attack and when to defend, and issues with the discipline it takes to be a cricketer at the top level, walked out under lights in Ahmedabad and announced himself with a 28-ball fifty that knocked the stuffing out of England’s bowling attack.”Special mention to Ishan, the way he batted,” Kohli said at the presentation. “Changed the game completely. We were one down for nothing. I tried to do what I can but then he totally took the game away from the opposition. Kept following his instinct. Quality batting on debut.”Trusting a game he honed under the strict guidance of four-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians, Kishan refused to take a backwards step, and that ensured India did not lose any momentum after an excellent bowling performance. When he finally fell for 56 off 32 balls, with five fours and four sixes, the prospect of the series-levelling up at 1-1 was merely a formality.”When you play in the IPL with such dominance like he has, against quality bowlers, we’ve seen him hit international fast bowlers for big sixes,” Kohli said. “He’s a fearless character. He should continue to back his instincts. We had a conversation out in the middle where he understood and analysed the game very smartly. He knew he was hitting the ball well so he kept taking his chances. But he was calculated. He wasn’t reckless. And that’s what you want to see in youngsters. Coming in, looking composed, still backing themselves but being aware of what the situation of the game is and I think today that counterattacking innings of his and our partnership [94 runs off 54 balls] was something that the team needed and he provided that for the team.”Ishan Kishan gets a pat from Virat Kohli after one of his monster hits•BCCIKohli was equally effusive about the work his bowlers had done to restrict a power-packed England batting line-up to only 164. Washington Sundar continued to show that big turn isn’t necessary to pose a threat as a spinner if you have the smarts to know where the batsman hates having the ball and the control to keep nailing that spot. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, returning from a long injury lay-off in this series, was captivating at the death once more. Shardul Thakur, also shouldering the responsibility of bowling the end overs, nabbed the wickets of Eoin Morgan in the 18th over and Ben Stokes in the 20th.”We ticked all the boxes we wanted to. Especially in the first innings with the ball. They were 100 at the end of 12 overs; 130 at the end of 15 and to give away only 34 in the last five, I think it was very smart bowing by all our bowlers. Special mention to Washi. He bowled to only one left-hander in the middle and to all right-handers, he used the big boundary really well, changed pace. But then Bhuvi, smart operator. Shardul bowled well at the end. Hardik chipped in with a few. Chahal was good today as well. All in all very very happy with our bowling effort and then with the bat as well. Convincing finish.”The return of Pandya to the bowling crease was a particularly promising sign for the team as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in October. India have been very careful with their allrounder considering his history with back injuries, the latest of which required an operation to fix. Since September 2019, Pandya has bowled only eight overs across all forms of cricket, but that may very well be about to change.”I have to give credit to him for the fact that he’s bowling at least three [overs] for us in games now,” Kohli said. “He’s worked really hard on his fitness and for the next six to eight months, he’s promised and committed to the fact that he’s going to give everything that he has and be that allrounder for us who features in all three formats probably. He’s going to be a vital part of this team moving forward. He’s put in a lot of work to arrive at this place. Now it’s all about managing his workload and keeping him fit and ready to bowl whenever the team wants and his intent is of no doubt. He plays for the team at all times and these kinds of players are priceless.”
IPL franchises considering pooling together to arrange chartered flight for the group
Nagraj Gollapudi26-Mar-2021South Africa’s IPL-bound players who are part of the national squad for the limited-overs series against Pakistan, which starts on April 2, will be allowed by Cricket South Africa to fly out to India after the second ODI on April 4. The Pakistan series includes three ODI series, followed by four T20Is running till April 16. The IPL begins on April 9.The new-ball pair of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje (both Delhi Capitals), wicketkeeper batsman Quinton de Kock (Mumbai Indians), power-hitter David Miller (Rajasthan Royals) and pacer Lungi Ngidi (Chennai Super Kings) are expected to be part of the group travelling straight from the Pakistan series into the IPL.ESPNcricinfo understands that the franchises involved are checking on whether pooling in to arrange a chartered flight is a viable option, considering that would then allow some of the players to not miss their team’s first matches. According to BCCI guidelines, team members do not need to do the mandatory seven-day quarantine in their hotel rooms if they are moving between biosecure team bubbles via chartered flights. If players take commercial flights, then they will need to undergo quarantine before they can link up with those already in the IPL bubble.The IPL opener, on April 9, will be between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai. The next day the Capitals, who finished runners-up in IPL 2020, will compete against three-time champions Super Kings in Mumbai. The Royals play their first match on April 12 in Mumbai against the Punjab Kings.