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Four members of RCB’s title-winning side in the XII, but who else make the cut?

Yash Jha05-Jun-202514:45

IPL 2025: Do both Pandya brothers get picked in the team of the tournament?

Sai SudharsanInns 15 | Runs 759 | SR 156.17 | Ave 54.21 | 1×100/6×50Sai Sudharsan was comfortably clear atop the run-scoring charts, with only Suryakumar Yadav coming within 50 runs of his tally. His consistency was second only to Suryakumar – he scored at least 30 in 12 of his 15 innings, seven of them scores of 50 or more – and he did all that while having his fastest-scoring season: Sai Sudharsan’s strike rate of 156.17 was well ahead of his previous best mark of 141.40 in 2023.Virat KohliInns 15 | Runs 657 | SR 144.71 | Ave 54.75 | 8×50The season where he finally got his hands on the IPL trophy was a quintessentially prolific one for Virat Kohli – he topped 600 runs for the third straight campaign – but it’s the impact on results that saw him tower over the field. Each of Kohli’s eight fifties resulted in RCB wins; no other batter had more than four scores of 50+ in victories. Kohli tallied 584 runs in RCB’s 11 wins; no other batter had 450 runs in victories this season.Related

Arya, Prabhsimran, Suryavanshi and Rathi make ESPNcricinfo's IPL 2025 Uncapped XII

'Heartbreak corner no more' for Virat Kohli in the RCB dressing room

Kohli and Hazlewood finish at No. 3 on IPL 2025 Orange and Purple Cap tables respectively

Kohli, after all this time, just for this moment

Kohli and RCB are finally IPL champions

Jos ButtlerInns 13 | Runs 538 | SR 163.03 | Ave 59.77 | 5×50Jos Buttler thrived in his new role as No. 3 to complete Gujarat’s titanic trinity. This was his fastest-scoring IPL campaign, clearing the strike rate of 155.24 he achieved in 2018. Eight of Buttler’s 13 innings came in GT wins, and he crossed 30 in seven of them. Four of his five fifties in IPL 2025 came at a strike above 170 – including a 54-ball 97 not out to close out a 204-run chase versus Delhi Capitals.Suryakumar YadavInns 16 | Runs 717 | SR 167.91 | Ave 65.18 | 5×50Coming into the season on the back of a rare lean patch in T20Is, Suryakumar Yadav redefined consistency, scoring at least 25 in all 16 innings (a world record in men’s T20s). It’s no stretch to say he carried the Mumbai Indians batting – their second-highest run-getter, Rohit Sharma, was 299 runs behind Suryakumar. He finished with the most impact points for a player in IPL 2025; among 11 batters with 500+ runs this season, only two had a better strike rate.Shreyas Iyer (c)Inns 17 | Runs 604 | SR 175.07 | Ave 50.33 | 6×50While Shreyas Iyer the captain transformed Punjab Kings’ fortunes, Shreyas Iyer the batter was a man on a mission, piling on an all-timer campaign – only two batters have scored 600+ runs in a season at a higher strike rate (Chris Gayle in 2011, Suryakumar Yadav in 2023). He was responsible for two of the best knocks of the season, both at Ahmedabad: 97* off 42 against Gujarat Titans to start the season, and 87* off 41 versus Mumbai Indians to take Punjab through to the final.2:28

Aaron: Kohli has been king of the castle for 18 years

Hardik PandyaMat 15 | Runs 224 | SR 163.50 | Wkts 14 | Econ 9.77This wasn’t really a season for allrounders: only three players tallied 200+ runs and 10+ wickets, and two of them – Sunil Narine and Ravindra Jadeja – didn’t have many wins to show. Hardik shouldered bowling responsibility early in the season in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, taking 10 wickets in his first four outings. His batting role was limited to being a finisher, and he chipped in with some cameos: 42 off 15 vs RCB, 48* off 23 vs RR and 22* off 9 in the Eliminator vs GT.Jitesh Sharma (wk)Mat 15 | Runs 261 | SR 176.35 | Ct/St 19/1Jitesh Sharma may not have been the most destructive finisher in IPL 2025, but when he blew hot, he really caught fire. His 40* off 19 took RCB beyond 200 and set up their first win over Mumbai Indians at Wankhede in a decade; he scripted the heist that ensured RCB’s top-two finish with an 85* off 33 versus LSG; his 10-ball 24 was pivotal in the title clash with Punjab Kings. He also had the most dismissals for any wicketkeeper.Krunal PandyaMat 15 | Wkts 17 | Econ 8.23 | Runs 109 | SR 126.74Krunal Pandya started IPL 2025 with 3 for 29 against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, and ended it with 2 for 17 to clinch the final versus Punjab Kings. He was player of the match on both occasions. He also took 4 for 45 in RCB’s thrilling win over Mumbai Indians. Wickets, economy, impact – Krunal ticked all boxes. And while his batting wasn’t called upon much, he did hit a match-winning 73* against Delhi Capitals.2:13

Moody: Ridiculous how far ahead of the rest Bumrah is

Noor AhmadInns 14 | Wkts 24 | Econ 8.2 | Ave 17.0The specialist spinner’s spot is the only one taken by a player whose team didn’t make it to the playoffs. Noor Ahmad was streets ahead of the competition: five wickets ahead of the next-most prolific spinner, and just one shy of the Purple Cap. Only three bowlers with 10 or more wickets struck more frequently than Noor, who took at least two wickets on six occasions.Jasprit BumrahInns 12 | Wkts 18 | Econ 6.67 | Ave 17.55Best economy for a bowler with 5+ overs this season. An economy of *7.5* at the death (no bowler with 10+ overs in the phase went at less than 8.8 per over). Seven innings where he went at less than six per over. Five hauls of at least two wickets. It’s no coincidence that MI’s season turned out the moment Jasprit Bumrah was back. If he’d played the entire season, the Purple Cap couldn’t have been too far away.3:15

IPL 2025 review: MI may need to get a good Indian spinner next season

Prasidh KrishnaInns 15 | Wkts 25 | Econ 8.27 | Ave 19.52The Purple Cap went to Prasidh Krishna, who marked his return to the IPL after three years with a statement season. He had nine hauls of two or more wickets, and eight spells at less than seven per over. He took 11 middle-overs wickets, the most for a pacer. Prasidh also induced a higher percentage of false shots (41%) than any other pacer in IPL 2025. He made the most of the hard lengths but wasn’t a one-trick pony, as KL Rahul found out with one of the deliveries of the tournament.Josh HazlewoodCompleting our pace attack is the serial winner who was the architect of RCB’s bowling transformation. Josh Hazlewood was one of only two bowlers to take at least five wickets in all three phases; he was metronomic in the powerplay (economy 7.27), probing through the middle (wicket every 10 balls), and delivered at the death (think 19th over of the chase at Wankhede). He exhibited his big-game chops in Qualifier 1, picking up 3 for 21 – in his first game in over a month.

A statistic has cropped up online in recent weeks regarding Liverpool’s running in the Premier League this season – or lack thereof.

While Liverpool have adopted a cooler approach since Arne Slot replaced Jurgen Klopp in the dugout over a year ago, it is inexcusable that the Reds are being outworked so often this term, emphasising a haggardness that is shaping this frustrating campaign.

Mohamed Salah’s work rate has been questioned this season, accentuated by the 33-year-old’s startling drop-off in front of goal, but he is only one part of a malfunctioning system, and it’s clear that something needs to change.

Slot has the tools to make it an internal fix, but with the January transfer window fast approaching, rumours have emerged concerning Liverpool’s desire to sign a robust new wide forward.

Liverpool's search for a new winger

With Cody Gakpo and Florian Wirtz both leaving something to be desired down the left channel this season, Liverpool may be interested in signing a more Luis Diaz-esque forward this winter.

This likely wasn’t pre-planned in the FSG offices, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and there’s no question that the Merseysiders are missing the Colombian’s energy and electric presence.

Salah is ageing, and so it’s understandable that he should lack his one-time athleticism. However, that does not alter the problem at hand for Slot and sporting director Richard Hughes.

Salah has always been conservative with his energy, though, and Liverpool actually need a profile tuned more toward that of Sadio Mane.

Well, they may have found their man, with Caught Offside revealing that Antoine Semenyo is right at the top of FSG’s shortlist. However, Liverpool will find thick competition in the shape of Manchester United, who are ready to pip their arch-rivals to the Ghanaian’s signature.

Semenyo, 26, would cost at least £65m to prise away from Bournemouth, though it’s felt that a more accurate figure falls toward the £80m ballpark.

Why Liverpool want to sign Semenyo

With six goals and three assists to his name in the Premier League this season, Semenyo has been one of the most in-form players around, his efforts leading content creator Liam Canning to praise his “world-class” technical ability.

Fast and furious and two-footed, this is a maverick of a forward who has sharpened his skills in the Premier League across the past several years and is now ready for a role at a team like Liverpool, with Semenyo actually described as “the closest you’ll find to peak Mane right now” by Reds analyst Josh Williams.

Indeed, Semenyo is really showing himself to be a superstar, ranking among the top 1% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for goals scored and the top 9% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

Such metrics show why he could be such a Mane-esque player for Liverpool, and looking at how he’s doing this term when such statistics are collated against the Senegalese’s final year under Klopp’s wing in the Premier League, you begin to see why Liverpool – and Man United – are so keen.

Matches (starts)

34 (32)

11 (11)

Goals

16

6

Assists

2

3

Shots (on target)*

2.9 (1.1)

2.1 (1.3)

Big chances missed

13

5

Accurate passes

23.6 (77%)

19.8 (77%)

Chances created*

1.3

1.0

Succ. dribbles*

1.4 (61%)

1.9 (46%)

Tackles*

1.0

1.6

Duels won*

4.7

6.5

Liverpool have missed Mane ever since selling him to Bayern Munich in 2022, and with Salah now getting on, Semenyo could provide the injection of energy and positivity that the club so clearly need.

The Anfield side might have won their opening-day clash against the Cherries, but Semenyo set his own tone with a stunning two-goal performance, causing Slot’s backline any number of issues throughout the evening.

Diaz was a fine player for Liverpool, but Mane was a cut above. There is a player profile that Liverpool dearly miss, and if they pull off a deal for Semenyo, they will sign a star with a similar skillset who could restore Liverpool’s equilibrium.

FSG sold an "incredible" Liverpool talent & it's a bigger mistake than Diaz

Liverpool are already starting to regret this £15m sale.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 14, 2025

Quetta Gladiators have a strong top order as well as bowling, but new captain Saud Shakeel is untested

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Apr-2025Multan SultansIf consistency was the prize, Multan Sultans would be the PSL’s most successful and lauded franchise. They’ve made the final for four seasons in a row now, built on low-risk, unsexy and repeatable methods and planning. It’s much in the mould of their captain Mohammad Rizwan, though his approach at national level is being questioned. Still, since April 2021, Sultans have the highest win-loss ratio for any T20 side in league across the world.Related

Salman Agha: Pakistan players 'need to become superstars' for PSL to grow

Corbin Bosch banned from PSL for one year for withdrawing from 2025 season

Can Karachi end playoffs jinx, and will spin issues cost Lahore?

Islamabad vs Qalandars kicks off PSL on April 11; final on May 18

Boost for Peshawar Zalmi as Saim Ayub returns to full fitness

Michael Bracewell seems to be the right pick at the right time; Akif Javed, meanwhile, is breaking through internationally. Expect Sultans to be in the playoffs mix. As always.Best result: Champions (2021)2024 finish: Runners-upStrengths A diverse bowling attack that covers every angle and genre: slow left-arm (Gudakesh Motie), left-arm wristspin (Faisal Akram), left-arm fast-medium (Akif, Josh Little and David Willey), right-arm fast (Mohammad Hasnain), right-arm wristspin (Usama Mir), and offbreak (Bracewell) Potentially deep batting line with all-round options in Willey, Iftikhar Ahmed and BracewellESPNcricinfo LtdWeaknesses The top-order anchor approach, favoured by Rizwan, which feels increasingly at odds with the world’s batting trends. Perhaps it matters less these days, but there are eight players in the squad who are over 30 years old, and two more on the verge.Islamabad UnitedThe actual most successful team of the PSL, with three titles, sits on the other side of the great philosophical divide in Pakistan’s T20 cricket. Not for Islamabad United is the low-risk, tactical rigidity that has defined Sultans. No, Islamabad have always been much more in line with modern T20 trends, bringing together high batting intent, all-round depth, and data sensibilities. Providing both Salman Agha and Shadab Khan, the captain and vice-captain to the national side currently, perhaps that approach is in the ascendant in this moment.Best result: Champions (2016, 2018, 2024)2024 finish: WinnersESPNcricinfo LtdStrengths A batting order that, potentially, hits a very high ceiling. From Matthew Short through (the partially-available) Rassie van der Dussen to the evolving Agha to the very in-form late addition Sahibzada Farhan to the Khans – Shadab, their captain, and Azam – Islambad have the potential to go very big. Jason Holder adds quality all-round depth to a side that isn’t lacking in all-round options.Weaknesses A good spinner would be useful, because Mohammad Nawaz, Agha, Imad Wasim and Shadab himself don’t shout wickets or impact. Shadab’s value to, and leadership of, Islamabad remains unquestioned. But his return to Pakistan colours has been mixed, and it’s not clear whether he has rediscovered his best self.Quetta GladiatorsOnce consistently one of the best teams in the PSL, Quetta Gladiators’ sole triumph in 2019 heralded only the unravelling of that legacy. They failed to make it out of the group stages for four seasons in a row after that win, breaking that run with a playoff place last season. But 2025 promises to bring a change in approach and personnel. Gladiators have appointed Saud Shakeel as their new captain and former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as the team director. They’re hoping that brings a change in fortune as well.Best result: Champions (2019)2024 finish: FourthESPNcricinfo LtdStrengths With Finn Allen and Hasan Nawaz at the top of the order, Gladiators are shedding the conservatism that has dogged their top-order approach. Allen could be a game-changing addition. The arrivals of Kyle Jamieson, Sean Abbott and a proven PSL allrounder in Faheem Ashraf add much-needed nous to the bowling.Weaknesses The captain Shakeel remains a relatively untested T20 option, having played only ten PSL games in his entire career. Since the departure of Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain, Gladiators have struggled to bring in a fast bowler with proven PSL pedigree. Mohammad Wasim Jr had a tough time last year, and Gladiators haven’t brought in anyone else to fulfill that role.

Tottenham have been given some encouragement over the prospect of signing a Brazil international as his agents work to find him a new club.

Tottenham targeting new attacker in January amid creativity issue

Thomas Frank faces mounting pressure at Tottenham just six months into his tenure, with serious questions surrounding the Dane’s future.

Spurs sit 11th in the table with just 19 points from 13 games, and their home record tells a catastrophic story.

With only one Premier League win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium all season, not to mention 10 home defeats this calendar year, they currently boast the joint-worst record in that regard in the club’s history.

Winless in five matches across all competitions, including losses to Arsenal, PSG and Fulham, their controversial 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Monday evening prevented a fourth straight defeat.

16. Burnley

2

1

4

7

-2

17. Nottingham Forest

2

1

4

7

-5

18. West Ham

2

0

5

6

-9

19. Tottenham

1

2

4

5

-1

20. Wolves

0

1

6

1

-11

Cristian Romero rescued Frank with a dramatic stoppage-time overhead kick. The Argentine scored twice at St James’ Park, his header and acrobatic finish earning a vital point, and his heroics seriously spared Frank’s blushes.

Dressing room unrest is reportedly growing, with reports suggesting players are confused by Frank’s constant tactical tinkering.

Fabrizio Romano shares Thomas Frank update amid mounting Tottenham pressure

The reliable journalist has some information.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 4, 2025

Summer signing Xavi Simons symbolises Frank’s struggles. The £55 million playmaker has started just six league games, relegated to the bench for crucial fixtures despite Spurs’ creative drought, and former defender Ramon Vega has accused Frank of “changing his mind every two seconds.”

Frank apparently retains board backing until at least new year, but improvement must arrive quickly.

January reinforcements remain crucial, with FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa heavily linked alongside Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, who has a tantalising £65 million release clause in his contract which will be active next month.

If Spurs cannot win the race for Semenyo amid interest from Man City, then RB Leizpig’s Yan Diomande is believed to be an alternative, with Sky Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri reporting they’ve already held advanced discussions on the player’s side.

Tottenham given Rodrygo boost as agents work on Real Madrid exit

Now, according to TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey, the north Londoners have been given a boost in their pursuit of Real Madrid star Rodrygo.

It is believed that Tottenham have emerged among the Premier League clubs that Rodrygo would consider joining, with his representatives actively working to secure a January departure from the Bernabeu.

The Brazilian has seen his situation deteriorate dramatically since Xabi Alonso replaced Carlo Ancelotti over the summer, becoming the most high-profile casualty.

Only four of his 15 appearances this season have exceeded 45 minutes, with Rodrygo regularly deployed as an impact substitute and falling behind Arda Güler in the pecking order.

Intermediaries representing the 24-year-old are working diligently to identify potential destinations, with Arsenal and Liverpool already engaged in discussions.

Rodrygo himself has made clear he would welcome moves to Man City, Man United, Chelsea or Tottenham too, though currently only Arsenal, Liverpool, City and Spurs are actively monitoring his availability.

Real value him between £70-79 million, and the Spanish giants ideally want to retain Rodrygo until the summer, when Nico Paz’s expected return will likely accelerate his departure.

It isn’t an easy deal to do by any means, with Spurs potentially needing to break their transfer record whilst fending off elite competition from their rivals.

However, there is little doubt this would be a statement move by the Lewis family as they look to usher in a new era post-Daniel Levy.

Former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent has swapped the pitch for the stage, addressing a conference in Melbourne about match-fixing.Just over ten years ago, Vincent was banned for life for his involvement in attempting to manipulate multiple matches around the world, including in England, South Africa, India and Bangladesh.Ahead of a Victoria Police symposium on Tuesday that will look at a range of integrity-related issues in sport, Vincent told AAP it’s not just international cricket that is susceptible to match-fixing, but any sport that is live-streamed.Related

• Vincent deserves clemency for speaking out, says McCullum

• Nearly 17 years later, Vincent receives special 100th ODI cap

“It’s not so much just cricket, it’s all sports – you’ve got third grade soccer in New Zealand that nobody knows and you’ve got ten people watching but because it’s live-streamed on internet, it can be bet on,” Vincent said. “Anything that’s filmed and [is] live on the internet, they find a way to underground betting sites and anything can be bet on so it’s not so much just the professional sport, it’s the amateur sport.”That’s why we’ve got to do everything possible to protect corruption in all sports at all levels.”While sport governing bodies are doing their bit to educate their athletes, Vincent said nothing beat a first-person warning.”I’ve got a powerful message to the next generation and the future generation of sports players where they can easily be manipulated or corrupted into this dark underworld, which I’ve lived first-hand,” he said. “I pretty much destroyed my life, destroyed my career, destroyed my future in sport, but this is a small part of giving back, to help educate.”The biggest influence I can have and we can have in the sports integrity world is purely education and the more young athletes know about it, the more they’ll be aware of the signs and the people to avoid.”Having played 23 Tests – he scored a century against Australia on debut – and more than 100 ODIs, Vincent became involved in spot-fixing back in 2008 when he had lost his New Zealand contract.Signing up to play in the short-lived Indian Cricket League, he initially rebuffed offers from a bookmaker in a hotel room as a “down payment” and reported it. But the then 28-year-old then decided to take the next opportunity when approached by a team-mate, admitting greed as well as wanting a sense of belonging were motivating factors.”I was a prime target to be dragged in; a brotherhood who will look after you,” he said. “The league that we were playing in wasn’t sanctioned by the ICC, so how it was sold to me was like, these games we’re playing in, it’s not real cricket… so you’re not doing anything wrong and everybody’s doing it.”Vincent said a simple example of how he would spot-fix during a T20 match was to score between 10 and 15 runs off 20 balls, and then get out.With threats to his safety or that of his family, he described it as a “noose around his neck”, which only disappeared when he retired and came clean.Two years ago, the global life ban was partially relaxed and Vincent has been able to “participate” at the professional domestic level or below.Working as a builder in New Zealand, he said he would continue to make amends and share his story. “I’ve had to start life again and missed out on a career in a sport I love,” he said. “In a strange way, by owning what I did and being given an opportunity to use my story as a massive educational lesson for the next generation, it’s kind of been worth it.”

A storied rivalry takes centre stage at Chepauk on Friday

Alagappan Muthu27-Mar-20251:32

Pujara: Kohli should utilise powerplay to set the base for RCB

Whoever designed the schedule for IPL 2025 wasn’t even trying to be subtle. They made sure the two biggest games of the season would take place in its very first week. This is excess bordering on gluttony. An ice-cream sundae with not so much a cherry but another ice-cream sundae on top. Tickets for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vanished almost as soon as the window opened.For a lot of Indian cricket fans, seeing either one of Virat Kohli or MS Dhoni is up there as a bucket-list item. This game puts both of them on the same pitch. The fans come expecting runs, expecting sixes, expecting magic. And whether any of that happens or not, they still leave with a story to tell. Thousands of people explode into cheers when Dhoni or Kohli walk out to bat not for what they are about to do but for what they have already done. They have been common ground. They have been warmth. They have been sweet enduring memory.CSK vs RCB games also have a tendency to devolve into chaos. It’s as if putting them together allows the world to make less sense. Like how in IPL 2013, RP Singh ended up on the losing side even though he took a wicket with the final ball of the match because, as Dhoni tweeted, “When you give Sir Ravindra Jadeja one ball to get 2 runs he will win it with one ball to spare !!” The year before that, the team needing 43 runs in 12 deliveries walked home with the win, leading to a marked inverse of what usually happens in sport. A breathless superstar player raced up into the stands in search of a fan.Related

• Chepauk's Dhoni fixation can be 'quite daunting' for other players, says Rayudu

• 'He wanted to work on one more shot' – Karthik backs Kohli against spin-heavy CSK

• History and spin riches make CSK favourites at home against RCB

• In numbers – IPL 2025 gets off to turbo-charged start

By last season, it was clear this rivalry spills into the sidelines with even the players buying into it. Scott Styris made a bet with AB de Villiers and lost it. Now he had to come to work wearing the RCB jersey. Only seeing a former CSK player in red and blue upset the delicate balance of the universe. And it was RCB that had to pay for it. “I must thank @ABdeVilliers17 for making me wear this @RCBTweets shirt every game they play. #0-3 since he did,” Styris tweeted. De Villiers replied, “Please stop wearing that shirt immediately!!!!”Through the silliness and the schadenfreude, there is a theme that emerges. CSK have the wood over their crosstown rivals (22 to 11). In Chepauk, they haven’t been beaten since 2008. This is in no small part down to how one side has been able to make their home ground a fortress but the other has been left at the mercy of a venue whose only allegiance is to batters capable of hitting sixes.5:46

Rayudu on home fans rooting for CSK wickets: Only Dhoni can address it

That is why when Dhoni hit the first ball of Yash Dayal’s 20th over out of the Chinnaswamy in IPL 2024, there was a sinking feeling all around the ground. But once again, there were other forces at work. They always are at CSK-RCB games. A wet ball that was hard to grip could now be replaced by a dry one and this could grip in the pitch. Kohli sensed an opening. He went to Dayal and made sure he went for his slower ball. The lack of pace did for Dhoni. He was caught on the boundary. RCB defended 10 off 5. They made it to the knockouts. CSK didn’t. And Dinesh Karthik took the chance to be the first opposition player to ever say “MS Dhoni hitting a six was the best thing that happened to us.”In the aftermath of that finish, there was wildness. RCB fans, who had to content themselves by bringing up CSK’s two-year suspension from the IPL, now had better ammo. And they wasted no time in using it, which has heightened the feeling ahead of this match. Some people have already jumped on what Jitesh Sharma said in a travel diary put out on RCB’s socials. Those are meant to keep things light, and he was asked questions about beating the heat, so in an effort to be funny he said play short innings, “score 50 off ten or nine balls”. But since he is the enemy, those words were superimposed on videos of him getting out for a first-ball duck.There is so much that unites the supporters of these two great franchises – the faith that their players will come good, the anxiety when the game goes down to the wire, the pride of being home to two of India’s best – but that knowledge doesn’t exactly sweep you off your feet. Emotion does. The Us vs Them mentality does. The history between the states that these two teams represent does. We live in a world that encourages us to view people who are different from us with suspicion. So, a rivalry that was once about the good, the bad, and the silly, has a little bit of the ugly as well.

England’s poor 50-over form continues as South Africa claim first ODI series win in country since 1998

Matt Roller04-Sep-2025Matthew Breetzke had not been born when South Africa last won a bilateral ODI series in England. By extending a remarkable start to his career in the format, he helped them clinch this one with a match to spare. On his return from a hamstring injury, Breetzke hit 85 to underpin South Africa’s total of 330, before their bowlers closed out a tense win under the floodlights.Breetzke, 26, was born five-and-a-half months after South Africa’s 2-1 triumph in the 1998 Texaco Trophy but will now lift the series trophy in Southampton on Sunday after his team took an unassailable 2-0 lead at Lord’s. Unlike in Leeds, England at least competed but none of their three half-centurions – Joe Root, Jacob Bethell and Jos Buttler – kicked on past 61.The chase went down to the final ball, which Jofra Archer needed to hit for six to take the game into a Super Over. But his inside-edged hoick off Senuran Muthusamy brought only a single and South Africa were deserving winners, backing up the thrashing they inflicted on Tuesday with a clinical, calculated performance.ESPNcricinfo LtdThis was an eighth defeat in 11 ODIs for England in 2025, and their captain Harry Brook refused to blame fatigue after an exhausting summer. “In my eyes that’s just an excuse,” he said. We’re good enough and fit enough to be able to keep playing for the time being… Chasing 6.5 an over from ball one is a tough task. But that’s exactly why we’ve picked this side: we’ve a long batting order. To get within one blow of that score is a really good effort.”South Africa had been stuttering at 93 for 3 after 19 overs when Tristan Stubbs joined Breetzke, but a fourth-wicket partnership of 147 off 126 balls laid a strong foundation before Dewald Brevis’ cameo launched them towards 300. They fell four runs short of the record ODI total at Lord’s, which has stood since the 1975 World Cup, but this was clearly a fighting effort.Breetzke’s innings was the highest by a South African in an ODI at Lord’s, and he achieved the unprecedented feat of passing 50 in each of his first five innings in the format. By the time he fell 15 runs short of a second hundred, he had taken his ODI aggregate to 463 and executed South Africa’s clear plan to put England’s part-time spinners under severe pressure.England got away with picking only four frontline bowlers in their 3-0 win against West Indies in June, but South Africa were merciless in targeting Bethell and Will Jacks; with Root curiously unused, they returned combined figures of 1 for 112 from their 10 overs. Brevis was particularly severe on Bethell, hitting him for consecutive sixes, while Stubbs laid into Jacks.The margin of victory obscured the fact South Africa were ahead of the game from the moment Nandre Burger had Jamie Smith caught behind off the first ball of the chase. Root dominated the scoring in a second-wicket stand of 66, with Ben Duckett desperately out of form at the other end; his dismissal for 14 off 33, bowled reverse-sweeping Keshav Maharaj, was a mercy kill.Jofra Archer nearly took England over the line•AFP/Getty ImagesWhere Duckett looked exhausted by his non-stop summer, Bethell had been short on time in the middle and was pushed up to No. 4 to take on South Africa’s two left-arm spinners. Temba Bavuma responded by bringing on Aiden Markram’s offspin, but Bethell slog-swept and pulled sixes as his two overs cost 27 runs.He brought up a 28-ball half-century by launching Burger over mid-on, five balls after Root had cruised to his own off 57. But they fell in quick succession, too: Bethell sliced the relentless Corbin Bosch to backward point, and Root was beaten in the flight by Maharaj to be stumped in an ODI for the first time in a decade.Brook and Buttler added 69 for the fifth wicket, launching sixes off Bosch and Muthusamy respectively. But Muthusamy found extra bounce to have Brook chipping to cover, and despite Buttler’s outrageous reverse-slap for six on his way to 50 – a landmark he celebrated with a look to the skies after his father’s recent passing – the required rate climbed past nine an over.Lungi Ngidi got the big wicket of Jos Buttler at the death•AFP/Getty ImagesThe game looked as good as won when Lungi Ngidi flummoxed Buttler with a dipping slower ball, and Burger removed Jacks and Brydon Carse in the same over to leave 40 required off the last three. Despite Archer’s best efforts – with two lusty sixes and a pair of reverse-slaps for four – they always looked like falling short.It looked like an important toss when Brook put South Africa into bat, with the start delayed by 15 minutes after a morning of heavy showers. Archer and Saqib Mahmood – recalled at Sonny Baker’s expense – both found extravagant seam movement early on, but Markram and Ryan Rickelton were equal to it, adding 73 for the first wicket.Rickelton fell for 35, top-edging Archer behind to Buttler, before Adil Rashid struck twice in quick succession, with Bavuma done on the outside edge and Markram furious with himself after chipping back a return catch on 49. But that only brought Breetzke and Stubbs together, whose partnership took the game away from England – and they never quite recovered.

Real Madrid were humbled by bottom-of-the-table Celta Vigo, finished the match with nine men and failed to close the four point gap on league leaders Barcelona following a shock 2-0 defeat at the Bernabeu. Xabi Alonso’s side went behind midway through the second half courtesy of a stunning finish from Williot Swedberg, Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras were both shown red cards before Swedberg scored another in time added on to a chorus of boos as the match ended in chaotic scenes.

Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior all delivered diabolical performances on a night when they were needed at their best in a defeat which could have huge ramifications in the title race. The Bernabeu was stunned into silence after Real went behind to a stunning finish from 21-year-old Sweden international Swedberg. Real’s defence was caught napping as Swedberg dropped off inside the box and found a yard of space to fire home with an audacious flick of his right boot which found the bottom corner of the net. 

And there was worse to come for Los Blancos as Fran Garcia was sent off following two yellow cards in the space of a couple of second-half minutes for two impetuous fouls. Real were rocked and the crowd responded, reminding their players what was at stake and the need for three points to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona. 

But the embarrassment was completed in the closing stages when Alvaro Carreras was handed his marching orders after receiving two yellow cards and in a final act, Swedberg walked the ball around the shocked Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to seal the victory and end an awful night for Alonso's side. 

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from the Bernabeu…

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Thibaut Courtois (6/10):

Started off as a relatively quiet evening for him, and could do nothing about the two goals. Will be sorely disappointed about his defence. 

Raul Asencio (4/10):

Was left red-faced after a slip early in the first-half opened the door for Celta to attack, would have been relieved the visitors failed to capitalise. 

Eder Militao (6/10):

Lasted just 20 minutes after pulling up with what looked like a nasty hamstring injury, replaced by Rudiger. Really bad news for Alonso as Militao has been in excellent form for Los Blancos. 

Alvaro Carreras (2/10):

Shambles of an evening. Two quick-fire yellow cards for playground-level incidents and was shown a straight red card. 

Fran Garcia (3/10):

Ridiculous behaviour in two mad minutes in the second-half, picking up two yellow cards for wholly unnecessary challenges to leave his team down to ten men. Referee had no option on either and was right to show the red card. 

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Aurelien Tchouameni (4/10):

Endured a poor evening, which was summed up by his effort from 20 yards out which sailed miles over the bar to a chorus of boos from the home crowd. 

Arda Guler (5/10):

Squandered a wonderful opportunity to open the scoring in the 40th minute, but fired wide from just a few yards out.

Federico Valverde (5/10):

Was a busy running all evening, but like his team-mates, failed to create a moment of quality worth mentioning. 

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Jude Bellingham (3/10):

Took a hefty whack to his right eye in the second-half, which left blood pouring from a small cut. In truth it was a terrible night for Bellingham who failed to create anything in front of goal after an early headed chance was saved. 

Kylian Mbappe (3/10):

Thought his moment had come in the 74th minute but his delightful control and chip over the on-rushing goalkeeper landed just over the cross bar on the roof of the net. Below par in every department on a woeful night for the France superstar. 

Vinicius Junior (3/10):

Made all the recent talk of big money moves seem a little premature after putting in a performance that was high in effort, but low in quality. Now hasn't scored in 11 games for Real. 

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Antonio Rudiger (5/10):

Brought on in the 24th minute, replacing the injured Militao. Had plenty of covering to do as Real Madrid pushed up searching for an equaliser and did well to out-muscle Swedberg in the final moments. 

Gonzalo Garcia (4/10):

Replaced Guler in the 75th minute, plenty of running but not enough time on the pitch to influence the match

Xabi Alonso (3/10):

Thoroughly frustrating evening for the boss who deployed his star players and watched them all flop against the league's bottom side. His evening summed up by being shown a yellow card after complaining too vociferously to the referee. Has plenty to ponder after a terrible night for his team's title hopes. 

Newcastle United are reportedly still keen on Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi, as talk of a January exit continues to gain pace. The Magpies were keen on recruiting the Italian international this summer but the exit of Inter manager Simone Inzaghi led to him staying put. But as his minutes continue to dry up under current boss Cristian Chivu, a Toon switch could be on the cards.

• Inter exit on the cards for Frattesi

  According to Sport Witness, Newcastle were keen on signing the 26-year-old this summer but he ended up staying with the Italian giants. But after playing less than 200 minutes in Serie A this season, a Nerazzurri exit is in the offing. Indeed, Tuttomercatoweb reports that the Italian's path to the first team is being blocked by the likes of Petar Sucic and Piotr Zielinski, ergo, a January exit is 'very likely'. Inter rejected Newcastle's approach over the summer but that could be revisited in 2026.

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  Howe gives little away

  Back in August, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe did admit he would like another midfielder, in light of injuries to Joe Willock and Lewis Miley.

  At the time, he said: "We want six [midfielders] and now we are down to four. That is an issue for us and it is a position we are looking at."

  Eventually, in what proved to be an eventful transfer window, which involved the Alexander Isak saga, they went on to sign Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa. But that may not satisfy Howe's midfield needs with a lot of the season still to play. 

  The former Bournemouth boss also downplayed Newcastle's chances of re-signing Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson, who was sold to the Tricky Trees last year to ease the Magpies' PSR (profit and sustainability) issues. 

  "Sentiment never comes into it – it is always about finance. We have not had any discussions on the January window. We're too focused on the amount of games we have. That will take focus for now," he said. "Certainly paying fees like that (£100 million), and I am not sure we are going to be in a position to do that. I am talking about that without any knowledge on January. It is just not really a window that big fees are usually paid. There is always a long-term management of PSR and long-term management on our financial situation. We can’t let one transfer unbalance that."

• Frattesi gets some game time

  While Frattesi is not playing a great deal at Inter, with his last start coming back on October 4, he is still featuring for his country. The Italian played in his nation's 4-1 defeat at home to Norway earlier this month, a game they led for a significant portion of the match. With Norway winning their World Cup qualifying group, Italy will have to go through the play-offs to reach the 2026 World Cup.

  After the game, Frattesi said: "It was two games in one. In the first half, there was only one team on the pitch; in the second half, we showed that we are a bit fragile. After the first goal, we fell apart. The group stage is over, and we have to focus only on the March playoffs.

  "Maybe it was a result of always being a bit on the back foot in the group. We knew that, with the goal difference, we wouldn’t be coming into tonight’s match with a good chance to qualify. Once we realized it wasn’t possible, it’s not easy mentally.

  "Explaining a 4-1 result is difficult, but I wouldn’t call it humiliation. They didn’t completely dominate us. At least, that’s how it felt to me on the pitch. They proved they deserved to win the group, so calling it humiliation is an exaggeration."

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  What comes next for Frattesi?

  It remains to be seen if Inter will entertain bids for Frattesi, whose contract runs until 2028, in January and if Newcastle are still keen on signing him. The winter window is notoriously difficult for business as clubs ask for inflated prices for their players. Before then, his Inter side are away at Atletico Madrid on Wednesday in the Champions League whereas Newcastle take on Marseille in the south of France on Tuesday.

Arsenal may have dropped points away to Sunderland on the weekend, but there is a lot for fans to be happy about.

Firstly, Mikel Arteta’s side remain clear at the top of the Premier League table, and just as importantly, the team looked genuinely dangerous in the second half.

They might have been defensively suspect, but the Gunners looked excellent going forward, and Leandro Trossard continued his fine form with a sensational long-range effort.

However, while the Belgian is playing out of his skin at the moment, recent reports suggest his game time could be dramatically reduced by another international who’s been compared to the legendary Thierry Henry.

Arsenal target monster winger

While Arsenal are flying, there are still some weaker areas of the squad, and the left wing is undoubtedly one of them.

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Granted, Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have improved this season, and Eberechi Eze can fill in there.

Yet, compared to the options of Bukayo Saka or Noni Madueke on the right, and then the three players who can start up top when fit, it’s clear the left-hand side could do with a genuine superstar option.

This appears to be an opinion shared by the club, as recent reports from Spain indicate that they are interested in Rafael Leão.

The report claims that Arsenal are set to make a serious move in the winter window for attacking reinforcement and are prepared to make an offer of around €80m for the AC Milan star, which is about £71m.

The North Londoners reportedly view the Portuguese international as a perfect fit, and Arteta is said to be a big fan, although with the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City, and several French teams also said to be interested, this won’t be an easy transfer to get over the line.

With that said, given Leão’s ability and the fact he’s been compared to Henry, this is a deal worth going all out for, even if it could spell the end of Trossard’s Arsenal career.

How Leão compares to Trossard

Given Arsenal’s need to add more goals to their frontline, the first thing to look at when comparing Leao and Trossard should be their output from last season.

Unfortunately for the Belgian, this is where he comes out second best.

For example, in 56 appearances, totalling 3455 minutes, he scored two goals and provided ten assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.8 games, or every 172.75 minutes.

In contrast, the Milan star racked up a tally of 12 goals and 13 assists in 50 appearances, totalling 3499 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every other game, or every 139.96 minutes.

It’s a little closer this year, but once again, it’s the Portuguese dynamo who comes out on top.

In eight appearances, totalling 470 minutes, he’s produced six goal involvements, which is an average of one every 1.33 games, or every 78.33 minutes.

Leao vs Trossard
24/25	Leao	Trossard
Appearances	50	56
Minutes	3499′	3455′
Goals	12	10
Assists	13	10
25/26	Leao	Trossard
Appearances	8	14
Minutes	470′	832′
Goals	5	4
Assists	1	4
All Stats via Transfermarkt

In contrast, the former Brighton & Hove Albion star has produced eight goal involvements in 14 appearances, totalling 832 minutes, which is an average of one every 1.75 games, or every 104 minutes.

However, while their output is ultimately what matters most, especially for a team gunning for the title, there is also the matter of how they play the game and how fun they are to watch.

Unfortunately for the 30-year-old, this is another area in which he is bested, as while his technical trickery can be a joy to behold, he’s nowhere near as powerful or dynamic as the former LOSC Lille star.

Moreover, the 26-year-old’s ability to pick up the ball in his own half, take on opposition defenders and then slide the ball into the far corner is why former Milan coach Stefano Pioli said, “Leao reminds me a lot of the early Thierry Henry.”

Just imagine a player capable of doing that once again donning the club’s red and white and helping them end their two-decade title drought.

Ultimately, Trossard is an excellent player and is in good form, but if Arsenal can sign Leao in the winter, they should do so.

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