Despite defeat to the Titans, MI still have their fate in their own hands
S Rajesh06-May-20251:25
Rapid Fire: Is this the end of the road for KKR?
Kolkata Knight Riders
The two-wicket defeat against Chennai Super Kings leaves Kolkata Knight Riders on the brink of elimination. With only two games to go, the maximum that KKR can get is 15 points; there are already two teams who have more than 15, while Punjab Kings are on 15 with three games to go.Assuming that those three teams go through, KKR will have to hope that Mumbai Indians lose their two remaining matches and stay on 14. Since one of their matches is against Delhi Capitals, who are currently on 13, that will take DC to 15. The fourth spot will thus come down to an NRR battle between KKR and DC.On the other hand, if Punjab Kings lose their three remaining matches, then MI will go past 15, while DC, PBKS and KKR could all be on 15 points, fighting for the fourth spot.
Gujarat Titans
Gujarat Titans’ last-ball win at the Wankhede means they’re now just one win away from making the playoffs – 18 points will now assure a team of a top-four finish. However, if they lose their three remaining games they could get knocked out as four teams can still finish on 17 or more points. Titans have a favourable itinerary too, with their last two games scheduled at home, where they have a formidable 4-1 record so far.
Mumbai Indians
Despite the loss to GT, Mumbai Indians (MI) are still in control of their own destiny, as wins in their last two matches will ensure a place in the playoffs. For them to go through on 16 points, though, they’ll need help from other results, while defeats in their two remaining games will eliminate them. MI also have an excellent net run rate of 1.156, which could yet be crucial if qualification comes down to that.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
The washout between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Delhi Capitals (DC), and GT’s win against MI, means that Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) are now only one win away from securing their place in the playoffs. That’s because only four teams can make it to 18 or more points. RCB can also make the top four with 16 points if other results go their way. However, two wins will not yet guarantee a top-two finish as three teams can still finish with 20 or more points.
Punjab Kings
With KKR’s defeat to CSK, Punjab Kings will qualify for the playoffs if they beat DC, as DC play MI later and only one of those teams can then get to 17 or more. If PBKS lose to DC, they will need to win their last two and get to 19, as in that case DC and MI can both finish on 17 or more. PBKS can sneak through even if they lose all three matches and stay on 15, but for that to happen DC will have to lose their last two matches, so that they stay on 15, and LSG will have to win no more than two of their three games. It’ll then come down to run rates between them (and KKR, if they win both matches) for one spot.
Delhi Capitals
Like DC, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are also struggling for momentum, having lost three in a row, and four of their last five. The best they can do now is win their three remaining matches, finish on 16 points, and hope that a couple of in-form teams suffer a sudden reversal of fortunes. If they lose one more match, though, LSG will be eliminated. Their terrible NRR of -0.469 doesn’t help their cause either.
MLB has turned the page on a memorable trade deadline that ramped up exponentially in activity over its final 24 hours. It featured extreme buying, such as the Padres’ dizzying, prospect-exporting pursuit of championship upgrades, and selling, thanks to the Twins’ stunning teardown. And somewhere in between, multiple clubs managed to make needle-moving trades as they geared up for the stretch run in the dog days of summer.
Which club made the most impactful splash among the pool of contenders? Did Padres president of baseball operations—and mad scientist—A.J. Preller provide the team with enough tools to overtake the defending-champion Dodgers in the National League West? And could postseason hero Carlos Correa be the x-factor that lifts the Astros to another World Series this fall? We’ll answer these questions and more in another edition of Fact or Fiction.
Jhoan Durán trade was the biggest deadline needle mover
Verdict: Fact
There were plenty of major upgrades at the trade deadline. Eugenio Suárez’s reunion with the Mariners gives the club some much-needed third base production and some added protection behind American League MVP candidate Cal Raleigh. Correa’s return to Houston, while eliciting waves of nostalgia for the team’s fanbase, also makes a ton of sense for the Astros in the wake of Isaac Paredes’s potentially season-ending hamstring injury. The Blue Jays acquired a potential October ace when they dealt for 2020 Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber. But the most impactful upgrade? That was Philadelphia’s blockbuster deal for flamethrowing closer Durán.
Durán is . The man ranks in the 100th percentile in average fastball velocity and once tested the limits of radar guns with a 104.8 mph heater back in 2023. Heck, he’s already set the Phillies franchise record for the fastest pitch in the pitch tracking era. And all that heat, coupled with a wicked, upper-90s splinker, has been hard for hitters to square up. Durán owns a sparkling 31% whiff rate, and when hitters aren’t swinging and missing, they’re usually depositing the ball directly into the dirt for harmless ground balls.
Add it up, and it’s the perfect recipe for a stress-free ninth inning, which is music to the Phillies’ ears. Manager Rob Thomson has tried three different relievers in the ninth—Jordan Romano, Orion Kerkering and Matt Strahm—and none have had the juice necessary to be a playoff closer, combining to blow 11 saves. But Durán? His 1.93 ERA, 18 saves and just two blown saves in 2025 need no introduction.
Durán have an electric introduction, though, and it’s already made its way to Citizens Bank Park. If the October-bound Phillies can get the ball to Durán with a lead in the ninth at their home field—where they have the best playoff winning percentage in baseball history—it would be hard to bet against them. For a Phillies club wounded by blown leads from October’s past, Durán might just be the glorious salve.
The Twins gave up on their core too soon
Verdict: Fiction
For a Twins fan base that hasn’t tasted a World Series win in 34 years and hasn’t witnessed the club advance past the division series in 23 years, the trade deadline had to be jarring. Like a soon-to-be-bankrupt store with half-off everything signs plastered out front, the Twins weren’t just open for business, they were welcoming it with outstretched arms. No fewer than 11 players headed out the door via trades. After the dust settled, Minnesota’s lineup looked far different, and its bullpen was almost completely unrecognizable.
For the fans who were hoping the Twins might cautiously buy, or, in the imagined worst case scenario, straddle the line between buying and selling, there’s little to be said in the way of moral support. The unfortunate reality is this shocking fire sale was a reminder that baseball—and professional sports at large—is a business. The Pohlad family, which has owned the Twins since 1984, announced last October it would “explore a sale” of the franchise. Did such a monumental decision factor into the payroll-slashing trade frenzy that ensued last week? There’s no way to definitively say, but it’d be naive to think it wasn’t at least part of the conversation.
However, maybe, just maybe, this was the perfect storm for the Twins. Consider the club’s recent history. After missing the playoffs for six straight seasons from 2011 to ‘16, Minnesota made the postseason three times in the first four years of Derek Falvey’s tenure as the head of the front office. After winning the AL Central in ‘23, the Twins’ owners slashed payroll from $160 million to $130 million, a puzzling decision that led to predictable results.
Minnesota stumbled to an 82–80 record and missed the postseason last year, then added just three free agents as they continued to operate under a tighter budget. Is it any wonder, then, that the team was six games under .500 heading into this year’s deadline?
At some point, the Twins had to be awoken from this stupor of mediocrity. And while almost nobody wanted the awakening to emerge from a potential sale of the team—which comes with plenty of question marks—perhaps it will end up being a blessing in disguise. The Twins already had MLB Pipeline’s 10th-ranked farm system heading into 2025. After the trade deadline, the Twins’ farm now boasts six top-100 prospects, and some semblance of hope for the future in the face of uncertainty. The fire sale was devastating. But like a phoenix, maybe the new-age Twins will emerge from the ashes.
The Mariners are serious threats to make the World Series
Eugenio Suárez is back in Seattle and could help the Mariners reach the franchise’s first World Series. / Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
Verdict: Fact
Of the trade deadline winners, the Mariners might just have been the biggest. Within striking distance of the AL West-leading Astros, Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto eschewed the cautious approaches of deadlines past and swung for the fences, acquiring the two best bats available—Suarez and first baseman Josh Naylor—without surrendering a top-10 prospect.
But he didn’t stop there. Dipoto added lefty reliever Caleb Ferguson, who excels at limiting hard contact, to a bullpen that had just one southpaw (Gabe Speier) in it. The Mariners lineup, already relatively balanced around AL MVP candidate Cal Raleigh, now looks like a murderer’s row with Julio Rodríguez and Randy Arozarena finding their strides. Seattle’s rotation, which suffered injuries to George Kirby, Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller earlier this season, is nearly whole. And the bullpen, headlined by All-Star closer Andrés Muñoz, ranks eighth in MLB in ERA.
Seattle has made the postseason just once since 2001 and has never appeared in the World Series. In a year where seemingly every contender is somewhat flawed, the Mariners have as good a chance as any team to capture a championship. To borrow from a certain quarterback who won a Super Bowl in Seattle, the Mariners need to ask themselves the question, “Why not us?”
The Padres could overtake the Dodgers in the NL West
Verdict: Fact
In the class of buyers, no one was busier at the trade deadline than San Diego. The Padres shipped out eight of their top-30 prospects en route to adding high-octane relief pitcher Mason Miller, productive bats Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano, and catcher Freddy Fermin.
As they say, scared money don’t make money, and the fearless Preller made a flurry of trades with one clear objective in mind. “If you’re going to win a championship, you can’t have any weak links,” Preller told reporters after the deadline. And it’s clear that the Padres have fewer of those now than they did before July 31.
Left field had been a revolving door of lackluster productivity at the plate for San Diego this season. Enter Laureano and his .887 OPS. The Padres ranked second-to-last in baseball in designated hitter WAR. Enter O’Hearn, a 2025 All-Star who has racked up 2.6 WAR and an .822 OPS in 98 games this season. The Padres also upgraded at the catcher position with the addition of Fermin, a solid pitch framer with a capable throwing arm.
Preller may have gotten greedy by paying a steep price to add Miller to what was already the league’s best bullpen, but that only further reinforces this next point. San Diego, currently holding the third wild-card spot and just three games back of the first-place Dodgers, is now a legitimate World Series contender. And one possible path there—winning the division—was once out of the question but is now a real possibility.
Just a month ago, the Padres were eight games back of the Dodgers and perhaps mentally preparing to play a wild-card series come October. Since that point, Los Angeles’s bats, especially former AL MVP Mookie Betts, have gone cold while its bullpen has been riddled by injuries. But these are still the defending champions with a starting pitching staff that’s nearly at full strength again. The Dodgers won’t go down quietly in the fight for the division.
The Padres, who have lost five of seven games against the Dodgers so far this year, will play two more regular season series against their bitter rivals, with all six games coming this month. Whoever fares better in those matchups could have the upper hand in the race for the division crown. And, after a busy deadline, these Padres pack more of a punch now.
Carlos Correa can still be a difference maker for the Astros
Verdict: Fact
The Astros’ stunning acquisition of Correa was a reunion between two parties who once made great music together, a beautiful mix of idealism and realism. Houston is where it all began for Correa, the first overall pick in the 2012 MLB draft. And Houston is where Correa helped bring glory to a franchise that missed the playoffs every year from ‘06 to ‘14.
Correa was a part of five consecutive American League Championship Series appearances, three World Series berths and one championship. He not only became one of the faces of a dynastic-like era of Astros baseball, but he also time and time again played the hero for Houston in the postseason. So, for Astros fans, seeing Correa back in Houston threads brings back warm and fuzzy feelings. But why couldn’t it do more than just provide a healthy dose of nostalgia?
Correa, 30, has scuffled to a .704 OPS in 97 games and has rated as a slightly below average as a fielder at shortstop. After the trade to Houston, Correa spoke about how he’s been pondering a move from shortstop, where he once won a Platinum Glove, to third base, where he had only played during the World Baseball Classic. As he enters his thirties, the less physically taxing hot corner is looking more and more appealing to Correa, who has dealt with his fair share of injuries.
So here’s where realism comes into play. The Astros lost starting third baseman Isaac Paredes to a hamstring injury, and while the 26-year-old is foregoing surgery, there’s no telling if he’ll be able to return later this season—or how effective he’ll be. There’s reason to believe Correa, equipped with a sturdy 6' 3" frame and strong arm, can handle third base. Plus, Houston may get more out of his bat going forward, given he was elite at the plate as recently as last year. And the October-bound Astros know this better than anyone: put Correa on the postseason stage and he’s bound to shine.
Nesta terça-feira, o Campeonato Brasileiro da Série B terá o início da sua 5ª rodada e o Botafogo-SP recebe a Chapecoense em duelo que vale tanto para a luta contra o rebaixamento, assim como para a briga pelo acesso. A bola rola à partir de 21:30 (horário de Brasília) no estádio Santa Cruz e terá a transmissão ao vivo na TV aberta, no Steaming e no Pay-per-view. Respectivamente pela TV Brasil, Canal Goat e Premiere.
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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA BOTAFOGO-SP X CHAPECOENSE 5ª RODADA – SÉRIE B
🗓️ Data e horário: terça-feira, 14 de maio de 2024, às 21:30h (de Brasília); 📍 Local: Estádio Santa Cruz, em Ribeirão Preto (SP) 📺 Onde assistir: TV Brasil, Canal GOAT (Youtube) e Premiere 🟨 Árbitro: Dyorgines Jose Padovani (ES) 🚩 Assistentes: Douglas Pagung (ES) e Cipriano Sousa (TO) 📺 VAR: Adriano Milczvski (PR)
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BOTAFOGO-SP
Michael; Matheus Costa, Lucas Dias e Schappo; Wallison, Matheus Barbosa, Patrick Brey (Jean Victor) e João Costa; Robinho, Douglas Baggio e Leandro Pereira. (3-4-3). Técnico: Paulo Gomes.
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Matheus Cavichioli; Marcelinho (JP Galvão), Leonardo, Eduardo Doma e Mancha; Foguinho, Rafael Carvalheira; Thomás, Giovanni Augusto e Marcinho; Mário Sérgio. (4-2-3-1). Técnico: Umberto Louzer.
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When MLB expanded its playoff format to 12 teams in 2022, the hope was that it would create a more compelling final few weeks of the season. Four years in, it seems that mission was accomplished.
With just over a month to play, the races for each league’s three wild-card spots are far from settled. In the American League, five teams are within three games of the final bid. In the National League, the Cubs, Padres and Mets are fighting to fend off the Reds, who are just a game back. As each club jockeys for position, the margins will be thin in determining who makes it to October and who gets left out in the cold.
The household names will need to produce during this crucial time, of course, but so too will the x-factors and complimentary pieces. With a focus on the latter, here’s a pick for who will be each wild-card contender’s key difference maker for the stretch run.
New York Yankees
Current standing: 69–57, AL East 4 GB, AL wild-card 4 GU on fourth place X-factor: SP Cam Schlittler
The rookie has impressed during his first two months in The Show, allowing no more than three runs in any of his first seven starts. Schlittler was considered among the Yankees’ top pitching prospects entering the season and is coming off his best outing when he threw 6 2/3 shutout innings against the Rays on Wednesday, giving up just one hit while striking out eight. Given Max Fried’s continued struggles, New York can use all the quality starts it can get down the stretch, and Schlittler is proving he can provide them.
Boston Red Sox
Current standing: 68–59, AL East 5.5 GB, AL wild-card 2.5 GU on fourth place X-factor: SP Dustin May
Dustin May has allowed just one home run in 15 2/3 innings for the Red Sox. / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
May was squeezed out of the Dodgers’ rotation at the deadline, but so far he’s proven to be just what the doctor ordered in Boston. In three outings with his new squad, the righthander has two quality starts and a 2.87 ERA, with 17 strikeouts and just four walks. The Red Sox have been searching for a stable fifth starter for a while now, and May has filled that need with aplomb. Settling on three or four starters for a postseason series might be a more complicated problem, but it will be a welcome one if Boston can get there, and May is critical to accomplishing that goal.
Seattle Mariners
Current standing: 68–60, AL West 1.5 GB, AL wild-card 2 GU on fourth place X-factor: DH Jorge Polanco
Early on this season, Polanco was a pleasant surprise for Mariners fans who might have been frustrated with the team’s relatively quiet offseason. A scalding hot April gave way to an ice cold May and June, but the veteran picked things up in July. Now, Polanco is struggling again, batting .196/.255/.275 in August. Seattle added reinforcements at the deadline in Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor, but that hasn’t come at the expense of Polanco’s playing time. He’s started 14 of the team’s 17 games this month, so the Mariners clearly prefer to see him hit his way out of his slump rather than turn to a replacement player. If Polanco can rediscover his earlier form, it will make a suddenly formidable Seattle lineup that much deeper.
Kansas City Royals
Current standing: 66–62, AL Central 9.5 GB, AL wild-card 2 GB X-factor: SP Ryan Bergert
Kansas City did well in adding Bergert and pitcher Stephen Kolek in exchange for backup catcher Freddy Fermin at the deadline. The Royals slotted Bergert directly into their rotation, and he’s put up a 2.70 ERA through three starts, pitching into the sixth inning in all three. Those contributions will need to continue if Kansas City wants to remain within striking distance of the final wild-card spot, particularly in the wake of Kris Bubic’s season-ending shoulder injury.
Cleveland Guardians
Current standing: 64–62, AL Central 10.5 GB, AL wild-card 3 GB X-factor: 1B Kyle Manzardo
Manzardo picked a great time to go on his best tear of the season, catching fire at the plate to help prop up Cleveland’s otherwise subpar offense. Over his last 28 games, Manzardo is batting .287/.396/.598 with eight homers and 22 RBIs, and the Guardians are 16–12 during that span. Perennial MVP candidate José Ramírez continues to do his part, but he’ll need players like Manzardo to chip in and give the offense more firepower.
Chicago Cubs
Current standing: 73–55, NL Central 7 GB, NL wild-card 6 GU on fourth place X-factor: 3B Matt Shaw
Matt Shaw has rebounded from a slow start to his rookie season. / Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
The once-feared Cubs lineup has picked a bad time to go quiet. Through the All-Star break, Chicago ranked second in the majors in runs scored. Since then, the Cubs rank 26th in runs, 28th in on-base percentage and 28th in batting average. Shaw has been the exception, a silver lining that’s almost single-handedly kept the offense from going under. During the second half, the 2023 first-round pick is batting .302/.344/.721 with nine home runs, four stolen bases and 16 extra-base hits in 30 games. After a slow start to his rookie season, the third baseman has found his power stroke, helping pick up the slack for slumping stars Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson.
San Diego Padres
Current standing: 72–56, NL West 1 GB, NL wild-card 5 GU on fourth place X-factor: SP JP Sears
Amid San Diego’s busy trade trendline, you’d be forgiven for overlooking Sears’s inclusion in the deal that sent flame-throwing closer Mason Miller to the Padres in exchange for a package that included top prospect Leo De Vries. Sears is much more than just a throw-in, though, and will likely be counted on to log crucial innings for an injury-starved rotation that’s already seen Michael King land back on the IL. Sears has made just two starts with San Diego and has been up and down from the minors, but it’s a safe bet that the Padres will need him to deliver in the coming weeks. He logged six innings in Wednesday’s 8–1 win over the Giants.
New York Mets
Current standing: 67–60, NL East 7 GB, NL wild-card 0.5 GU on fourth place X-factor: 2B/3B Brett Baty
Mets fans have had a tumultuous relationship with Baty, a 2019 first-round pick and former top prospect who, prior to this year, never quite panned out. Now in his fourth big-league season and still just 25, he’s beginning to look like the everyday contributor the club hoped he’d develop into. Baty has hit .284/.357/.541 since the All-Star break to become a productive bat at the bottom of the lineup. New York has several issues plaguing its roster lately—namely pitching—so there are plenty of candidates to pick for this spot, but Baty can do the team a huge favor by maintaining this form for the next month.
Cincinnati Reds
Current standing: 67–61, NL Central 13 GB, NL wild-card 0.5 GB X-factor: DH Miguel Andújar
The Reds landed Andújar in a deadline deal with the A’s that didn’t grab many headlines, but the well-traveled slugger has quickly made himself right at home on his fourth team in as many years. Since arriving in Cincinnati, Andújar has started 13 of 17 games (mostly at DH) and raked, batting .383/.442/.660 while predominantly hitting out of the cleanup spot. Reds pitchers have put up the league’s third-lowest ERA (3.39) since the All-Star break, and if their below-average offense can get this big of a boost from Andujar down the stretch, it might be enough to run down the teams ahead of them.
Ottneil Baartman will replace him for T20Is against Namibia and Pakistan, while Lizaad Williams has been included in the ODI squad for Pakistan
ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2025
Kwena Maphaka had hamstring discomfort while playing in a domestic match•Getty Images
Fast bowler Kwena Maphaka has been ruled out of South Africa’s one-off T20I against Namibia and the white-ball tour of Pakistan because of a hamstring strain.Ottneil Baartman has been named as replacement for the T20I, scheduled for October 11. He has also been included in the T20I squad for the three-match series against Pakistan later this month. Lizaad Williams, who is already part of the T20I squad, has been added to the ODI squad for the Pakistan series.As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Maphaka had an injury scare while playing for Lions against Western Province in a four-day domestic match at Newlands last week. He bowled 5.5 overs in the first innings but had to leave the field with hamstring discomfort. He was taken for a scan which revealed no major damage and returned to take the new ball in the second innings. His 3 for 26 in ten overs led Lions’ charge to victory by an innings and 134 runs.However, CSA later stated that “subsequent scans and medical assessments revealed a grade 1-2 injury, and he will undergo rehabilitation over the next four weeks”.South Africa’s long tour of Pakistan begins with two Tests from October 12, followed by three T20Is from October 28 and as many ODIs that will conclude on November 8.South Africa’s squad for Namibia T20IDonovan Ferreira (capt), Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Jason Smith, Lizaad Williams, Ottneil BaartmanSouth Africa’s squad for Pakistan T20IsDavid Miller (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams, Ottneil BaartmanSouth Africa’s squad for Pakistan ODIsMatthew Breetzke (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile
Pakistan’s selection committee will meet on Monday to make a decision on the matter
Danyal Rasool18-Oct-2025Mohammad Rizwan’s status as Pakistan ODI captain has been plunged into doubt by the PCB after a statement released by the board said it was “yet to finalise a captain” for the upcoming series against South Africa. The PCB said the white-ball head coach Mike Hesson had called for a meeting of the selection committee to make a final decision on the ODI captaincy.The statement made no mention of Rizwan, who was appointed by the PCB last year and led the side to ODI series victories in Australia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Results in 2025 have been less attractive with a loss in a home tri-series final to New Zealand, an early exit from the Champions Trophy, and an away series defeat in the West Indies.While there had been speculation about the fate of Rizwan, no specific cricketing reason was provided for throwing his role into uncertainty. There has been no obvious drop in batting or keeping form; Rizwan is the second highest scorer for Pakistan in ODIs this year with 361 runs at over 36. In Test cricket, the other format he is currently selected for, he scored 75 as part of a 163-run stand with Salman Ali Agha that helped Pakistan take a 1-0 lead against South Africa in the ongoing Test series.Shaheen Shah Afridi previously had to vacate T20I captaincy for Babar Azam•AFP/Getty ImagesWhile Rizwan has not officially been removed yet, the statement makes it all but inevitable. It was a fate suffered by Shaheen Shah Afridi in T20Is shortly after Mohsin Naqvi took over as PCB chairperson. At the time, the newly appointed Afridi had captained just one series, but when asked about him at a press conference, Naqvi pointedly declined to confirm he would continue the role.”Even I don’t know who the captain will be,” Naqvi said at the time. “Whether Shaheen continues or a new captain comes in will be determined after the fitness camp. There are a number of technical factors we will consider, the details of which I do not want to go into. We want a long-term solution, whether it’s Shaheen or a new man. And then we intend to stick by that man, instead of just changing a captain just because you lose a match.”A week later, Shaheen was sacked as captain and replaced by Babar Azam, with further controversy when the PCB published a statement on Shaheen’s behalf which he declined ever having written or approved. While an uneasy truce was reached between player and board at the time, ESPNcricinfo understands that relationship has improved.Hesson is not technically in charge of determining or appointing the ODI captain, and does not sit on the selection committee. However, that Naqvi appears to have agreed to put the matter to the selection and advisory committees either reflects the influence Hesson currently enjoys at the PCB, or the fact the board was not averse to a change in the first place anyway. The committee will convene on Monday, according to the PCB, with a decision expected then.
It was a battle of wills and wants on a final day where both teams danced on knife-edge. And it couldn’t have set up the next two Tests better
Mark Nicholas23-Jul-2025Nobody saw it coming – not a whole afternoon with barely a run scored. In truth, hardly anyone saw an afternoon with cricket as an option. When play began on the fifth day of the third Test at Lord’s, the consensus was that it would be done and dusted either side of lunch. Then, as Indian wickets fell like confetti from the hot, blue sky, most of us wondered if we’d get any lunch at all.But cricket has rarely behaved as expected. It is a game of unpredictability, driven as much by human frailty as by the strength of character that gets the players there in the first place. Think how often you have settled into your seat to watch your favourite take guard or mark out his run-up and how quickly you have been let down. Cricket, and especially Test cricket, is a game of patience for us all. It is frequently difficult and frustrating. It is a game of instinctive skill that relies on method for its excellence. No cricketer is remotely the same. There are imitations, but no clones, mainly because so much of it is played in the mind. And, of course, cricket is fragile – one minute you have it, the next it is gone.If Ravindra Jadeja had his time again, would he play that remarkable, out of character innings the same way? Or would he go for broke from the outset, before England retreated to the field settings that denied him the oxygen of boundaries? Remember that when he arrived at the crease there were still recognised batters in hand, which gave him options. Once KL Rahul, Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy had gone, the options went with them.Related
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Eight Days Later: evolved England are in the hunt for statement display
Shane Warne played his part in “finding” Jadeja when he captained Rajasthan Royals in the first IPL. Jaddu was just a kid – a rough diamond, really – but Warne immediately identified the quality in his bountiful gifts and the flair, so much so that he christened him “Rock Star”. Almost unbelievably that is 17 years ago. After which, Warne did many things, the last of them too final to bear. Jadeja too, has done many things, not the least of which is to become one of the best, most entertaining and popular cricketers in the world.Which led me to wonder what Warne would have said about his innings had he been commentating. Probably Warne would have said he should have gone hard out of the blocks; that the counter attack is easier when the field is up and the opposition are looking to take your wicket. Once they sit back, happy to give you a single and bowl at the other guy, it gets a whole lot more difficult. Which isn’t to say Warne would have been right. There were 22 runs and a back-spinning defensive shot in it. That, over five days, is precious little.And at the moment of the back spin, with Siraj batting, as the ball rolled gently back onto the stumps and a bail tumbled off, what would Jadeja have thought? That he got it right or wrong? And in that question, is a truism: that the greatest gift in high-level performance is to make the right decisions under pressure.Trickle-down effect: the moment that ended Siraj’s resistance, and the match•Getty ImagesAt the time, I felt he got it right. Rahul had fallen ten runs after his arrival. The pitch was difficult, irascible in its variable bounce and pace, and therefore hard for the batters to make the play. Washington followed Rahul in the blink of an eye but Reddy was to be trusted, and had after all made a wonderful hundred in Melbourne last Christmas on a tricky pitch against a mighty attack.Together Jadeja and Reddy batted for 15 overs, like cowboys weighing up the odds in the last-chance saloon, knowing full well that there was no one out there to help. They would have talked about pulling the trigger, but figured they were better together, chipping away at a tiring attack. They could not have predicted the extent of the Ben Stokes superpower or the level of his team’s desire. And then, when Reddy took a bullet, Jadeja was left with Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and another 81 runs to find. England set deep, biding their time and playing on nerves. For two hours, as next to nothing happened, no one left their seat. And so it was we saw Test cricket’s greatest trick, the ability to make next to nothing into theatre.Bumrah fell to the bouncer tactic and Siraj to the arrows of fortune. Jadeja stood unbeaten, dumbfounded, gutted and alone. The England players went warmly to each of them, knowing what it takes when the stakes are so high. Jadeja would have done the same. There was honour in defeat and no guilt. Jaddu made his choice, fulfilled his part of the deal and ran short of partners. Would he do the same again? Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps even he doesn’t know.That story, those vignettes are a part of history now, not to be dwelt upon in the days ahead. Jadeja is in good form and surely has crucial roles to play. He is a savvy cricketer, both adaptable and adventurous. you would never back against him rising up to play the winning hand in the match directly after the one in which he finished so forlorn.What of Stokes, this great warrior. A friend who played first-class cricket himself thinks Stokes the greatest leader England has had in any sport. If that is an exaggeration, it cannot be by much. For a start, he is an incredible cricketer. The run-out of Rishabh Pant in the first innings, the influential batting while not at his best, the titanic bowling – that phrase about not being able to get the ball out of a bowler’s hand has rung true this series all right. He pretty much literally bowled until he dropped at Lord’s, hammering the ball into a hard length that gave the power players in the Indian line-up no respite. Yes, he leads from the trenches but does so with both a plan and a message. His players know where they stand and exactly what part they must play. They are a team in the collective sense, chosen to realise a series of mini-ambitions that collate as the whole.Take Zak Crawley, who so many are always so keen to drop. Ben loves Zak because Zak is tough; because Zak looks the opponent in the eye; because Zak is not intimidated; because Zak is “team”; because Zak is spirit, harmony and consistency of plan; because Zak can catch everywhere; because Zak can bat and because Zak doesn’t flinch.Zak of all trades: can bat, can catch, can intimidate the opposition•Getty ImagesCrawley made 22 in the second innings, when Bumrah kept hammering his gloves with thunderbolts that burst from the surface. The margin of victory was 22. England could have lost a couple of wickets that niggly evening but Crawley punched back at those hits as if he were a boxer on the ropes. Then he used small and reasonable excuses – advertising on the sight screen and a glancing blow to the hand – to use up a big chunk of time, thus saving England another over at the stroke of 6.30pm. Ben likes Zak because he doesn’t wilt, whatever the provocation. And Ben wants Zak in Australia, the land where many Englishmen have wilted.Crawley explains why Stokes is the leader he is. This criteria in selection may not have been a path well trodden. In the old days, players were dropped for staying out late or batting too slowly or failing twice. Then, more recently, it turned full circle and became easier to stay in the team than get out of it. Now these decisions are based on character and personality every bit as much as performance. Stokes knows exactly what he wants and Crawley is that soldier, for many reasons other than averaging 40.To England, this eight-day break has been gold. For India, a frustration. Shubman Gill and his men would have preferred to get right back on the horse. Defeat needs closure, but while the mind has time to wander, it tends to wander where you don’t want it to go. England have had a breather, simple as that, and then they go again with an eager and combative Liam Dawson back amongst itJofra Archer and Bumrah are playing: of course they are, it’s the witching hour. What a sight each of them is – so different, so impressive. People are saying Bumrah is the best fast bowler ever. Who knows? But he’s up there. Nature plays its part in these things and, in Bumrah’s case, gave him a late release of the ball from a position fractionally past the perpendicular. This gives him an angle to work with and the gift of delivery closer to the batter than is usual. And boy does it show. Everyone’s in a hurry against Bumrah, even on slow pitches, and most play and miss as a matter of course. This is wonderful to watch and horrible to play against. For a time, and in a more bombastic way, Freddie Flintoff had a bit of Bumrah about him, and in that time he too spat the ball from the pitch with the sort of violence that very few have managed before or since. Ask Ricky Ponting.Then there’s Archer, who makes fast bowling look absurdly easy, which it isn’t. His snorter of a ball to Pant in the second innings at Lord’s could have made for a highlight show of its own. The throat bouncer that roughs them up is a wicked thing, cruel in its physical threat and unerring accuracy. We all remember Steve Smith at Lord’s in 2019. We doubted we’d see it again but perhaps we are. Fast bowling is one of cricket’s great spectacles. Well performed, it is the game’s greatest weapon. We have a real good ‘un in an England shirt and great ‘un in an Indian shirt. What’s not to like. Welcome to Manchester, folks.
Arsenal handed Bayern Munich their first defeat of the season with a commanding 3-1 Champions League win at the Emirates, ending the German champions’ 18-game unbeaten run. Vincent Kompany admitted his side were deservedly second best, while Arsenal strengthened their position as the competition’s only perfect team after five group-stage victories.
Arsenal outclass Bayern to end their unbeaten run
Arsenal and Bayern arrived at the Emirates stadium as Europe’s two most in-form sides, both unbeaten in the Champions League and dominating their domestic leagues. But from the opening whistle, it was the Premier League leaders who showed greater intensity, control and aggression in key moments.
The hosts struck first through Jurrien Timber, who rose above Manuel Neuer to nod in Bukayo Saka’s corner. Bayern equalised when 17-year-old Lennart Karl reacted quickest in a crowded box, but the Bundesliga champions struggled to build on that moment. Too many attacks broke down in midfield, and Arsenal constantly regained control through quick combinations and wide overloads.
The second half was even more one-sided. Noni Madueke’s clever movement allowed him to turn in Riccardo Calafiori’s low cross, restoring the Gunner's lead. The Bavarians pushed for a response, but their biggest chance, a Serge Gnabry acrobatic attempt went begging. Moments later, Neuer’s misjudged rush off his line allowed Gabriel Martinelli to score from distance, wrapping up Arsenal’s first victory over Bayern in 10 years.
Kompany didn’t hide behind excuses after the final whistle, acknowledging that Arsenal were fully deserving of the result. "I don't like excuses," the Belgian said to reporters. "We've lost now, and let's be honest: Arsenal were better today, and we have to fix that from Saturday onwards."
Former Arsenal academy product Serge Gnabry echoed his manager’s honesty, pointing to moments where Bayern simply couldn’t cope with Arsenal’s constant pressure. "You have to accept that you lose sometimes," said Gnabry to "Arsenal are a very strong opponent; they haven't won all their games so far for nothing. They had a period where they pressed us back with a lot of corner kicks. We didn't manage to do much in the second half."
Arsenal’s perfect run continues as Bayern's ends
The Premier League leaders' performance underlined why they remain the Champions League’s last team with a 100 per cent record. Their pressing structure suffocated Bayern’s build-up, their set-piece dominance caused repeated problems, and their transitions exploited every defensive gap left by Kompany’s side.
For Bayern, the defeat ends an 18-match unbeaten run and exposes cracks that had not been punished in earlier European fixtures. After impressive wins over Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, they were second-best in intensity and duels, areas usually considered Die Roten's strengths. Even with 12 points from five matches, their hold on top spot in the group is no longer guaranteed.
The Gunners, meanwhile, have now established themselves as genuine contenders for the Champions League’s latter stages, the only club still boasting 15 points from 15.
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Getty ImagesBayern turn attention to St. Pauli as Arsenal prepare for Chelsea
Arsenal will ride the confidence of this statement victory straight into a Premier League showdown with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a fixture that could further strengthen their grip at the top of the table. Mikel Arteta’s side look increasingly balanced, and the win over Bayern will only deepen belief within the squad.
For Bayern, the focus is now on a swift response. Kompany’s side face St. Pauli in the Bundesliga this weekend, aiming to put the defeat behind them and reinforce their commanding league position. With 31 points from 11 games and only one draw so far, Bayern remain in control of their domestic campaign — but this loss will serve as a reminder of the margins at the highest level. A convincing performance at the weekend would help steady the mood as the Champions League group stage nears its conclusion.
All eyes will now be on how both sides respond, with knockout qualification approaching and momentum in Europe more valuable than ever.
When Andrea Berta arrived at Arsenal towards the beginning of 2025, the transfer plan for the summer was abundantly clear.
The fact of the matter was that during his first window in charge, the squad needed more firepower and, chiefly, a striker was a necessity.
While there were links to the likes of Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko, both of whom got big-money moves elsewhere in the Premier League, the Gunners concluded a deal for Viktor Gyokeres.
The Swede had only spent two prolific seasons in Portugal with Sporting but he was already on the move and deservedly so.
Yet, while the centre forward has done a lot to improve the overall attack, there is a sense that they could do better in future windows.
Arsenal looking to sign new striker
Gyokeres may well have signed but Arsenal still do require a little bit more in attack.
Gabriel Jesus is back in full training but it’s wild to expect him to be at a productive level for a good few months yet after recovering from an ACL injury. Even if he did recover, he’s been linked with the exit door as he approaches the final 18 months of his deal at the Emirates Stadium.
Kai Havertz has also been a long-term absentee which has left Arsenal with only one fit centre forward for much of 2025/26 to date.
So, while Arsenal’s options in several areas now are deep, another striker wouldn’t go amiss.
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That’s where Borussia Dortmund frontman Serhou Guirassy comes into the equation.
According to reports in Spain, it suggests that Arteta and Co are vying with the likes of PSG for the striker’s services.
The report notes that Arsenal are ‘seriously considering’ a move but it’s likely they’ll have to pay around £44m in order to conclude a deal.
The Guinean has a release clause in his contract of that amount, meaning that like Gyokeres, he wouldn’t cost the earth to bring to England.
It’s said that Arsenal are thought to be willing to pay the required amount to get him out of Germany.
How Guirassy compares to Viktor Gyokeres
When Gyokeres signed for Arsenal while the club were on their pre-season Asia tour, there was much fanfare.
At last, Arteta had a proper goalscoring centre forward to add to his ranks. Last term, the former Coventry City star scored 54 goals in 52 games. It was a breathtaking campaign, one that saw him take home the Gerd Muller trophy for the best striker in the world during the last Ballon d’Or gala.
Yet, in Arsenal colours, Gyokeres has not had it all his own way. He’s been wasteful in front of goal and went on a barren run of seven games without scoring at one stage.
That said, he’s not been a complete flop. The Sweden international still has six goals to show for his efforts and has particularly pleased Arteta with what he’s offered to the team.
While he did not score during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Olympiacos in the Champions League, Arteta summed up why he’s been so delighted with what the centre forward is offering. “I think he did the rest of the things you ask for from a striker. The way he’s linking with his teammates, the way he’s opening spaces, the way he’s threatening constantly the back line.”
However, while it does seem unlikely Arsenal will sign another striker, Guirassy could be an upgrade on what they already have.
Described as “one of the best centre-forwards in the world” by one notable football analyst on X, the 29-year-old has been in the form of his life over the last year. Crucially, he’s also demonstrated that form in a top-five European league, something Gyokeres had not done before touching down in London.
In 2024/25, Guirassy found the net on 38 occasions in 50 games, bagging a remarkable 13 goals in 14 Champions League matches. That included scoring five times across two outings with Barcelona.
But what separates him from Gyokeres? Well, a scorer of seven goals this term, the numbers showcase why.
Goals
0.51
0.45
Assists
0.10
0
xG
0.59
0.52
Shots
2.76
2.13
Shot on target %
59.3%
36.8%
Pass completion
72.2%
60.7%
Key passes
0.71
0.90
Passes into final 3rd
1.02
0.45
Successful take-ons
0.20
0.45
Progressive carries
1.63
0.90
Aerial duels won
2.86
1.80
Not only has Guirassy scored more goals per 90 minutes and offered a higher xG, but he excels in bringing others into the game too.
During the 2025/26 season to date, the Dortmund sensation has completed more accurate passes and more assists per 90. It might be Gyokeres who has played more key passes but clearly it’s the former who is more decisive with his final actions right now.
If that wasn’t enough, Guirassy is a better and less chaotic carrier of the ball. Gyokeres resembles something of a raging bull when he’s gallivanting forward but there’s more of a smoothness to Arsenal’s latest transfer target. The fact he averages more progressive carries substantiates that point.
To round things off, Guirassy is also far more likely to win his aerial duels, something that Arsenal have perhaps missed since Havertz’s injury.
To put Guirassy’s numbers into further context, he won more aerial duels (3.77) per 90 than the German did (3.03) in 2024/25.
So, while the Dortmund striker may only be one goal ahead of Gyokeres this term, he offers something of a hybrid situation between Arteta’s two leading marksman. That could well offer the Spanish manager a fabulous balance as Arsenal hunt down their first Premier League title in over two decades.