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West Ham United need to add some firepower to its squad this summer. Last season, the club scored just 46 Premier League goals, with only five teams scoring fewer throughout the campaign.

Losing Mohammed Kudus is a further blow to Graham Potter’s plans, but there is still time for the club to make several new additions before the season starts.

At the time of writing, Niclas Fullkrug is the club’s only senior centre-forward in the club’s squad, which poses plenty of problems.

As such, the Irons are in the market for another striker or two. Could they look to sign someone with plenty of Premier League experience?

West Ham’s chase for a striker

According to BBC Sport, the London side are currently in talks with former Newcastle United striker Callum Wilson as they look to bolster their attacking options.

The Englishman is a free agent, having departed the Magpies at the end of the season. Aged 33, he might only have a few years left at the top, but there is no doubt Potter would be signing a player capable of scoring in the top flight.

Transfer Focus

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

Wilson is attracting interest from other Premier League sides, as well as having options in MLS, meaning West Ham must act swiftly to secure his signature.

His spell in the North East was hampered by injury, but when he was fit, Wilson certainly delivered. Could he turn out to be Potter’s very own Alexander Isak in the process?

Why West Ham must sign Callum Wilson

Last term, Wilson made just 18 league appearances due to several injuries, scoring no goals. The season before, however, the Englishman netted ten times across just 26 matches for the Magpies.

While not the most prolific strike rate, if he were fit more often, there is no doubt Wilson would have scored more goals. In all, he boasts 88 goals in 239 Premier League outings, notably ahead of even Jarrod Bowen’s return of 56 goals in 200 career top-flight appearances.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2024/25

22

1

0

2023/24

26

10

1

2022/23

36

18

5

2021/22

18

8

0

2020/21

28

12

5

Indeed, that season, Isak was the fourth-most comparable player to Wilson in the top flight, as per FBref, Both players registered similar statistics across a range of metrics that season, including shots per 90 (3 vs 2.87), shot-creating actions (2 vs 2,87), goal-creating actions (0.36 vs 0.4) and goals per shot (0.21 vs 0.22) in the top flight.

Of course, Isak was the more clinical player in front of goal for Newcastle in 2023/24, but these statistics prove that Wilson matched the Swede in several key areas.

Should he get back to full fitness, Potter might get the best out of the 33-year-old next season.

Hailed by Eddie Howe as an “incredible footballer” during his spell at St James’ Park, Wilson left a solid legacy at the club.

The next chapter could well come with West Ham, and this move might just be a shrewd one for both player and club.

He won’t cost Potter anything, and if he hits the ground running, Wilson can certainly score 10–15 goals a season for the Irons, thus taking the burden off main man, Bowen.

Watch this space.

West Ham now racing Man Utd to sign "exciting" 18 y/o sensation for Potter

He’s a rising star.

ByTom Cunningham Jul 24, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur’s European success at the back end of this season is evidence that are capable of competing at the top level in the near future.

Thomas Frank will be the man to hopefully sustain their success in North London, taking the reins after Ange Postecoglou was dismissed despite the Europa League triumph.

The Dane will want to make his own mark on the first-team squad this summer, with numerous incomings and outgoings expected over the next couple of weeks.

Work is already being done behind the scenes to provide the 51-year-old with the tools for success as he undertakes his first year in charge as the Lilywhites manager.

Numerous players have already appeared on their radar over recent days, but no deals have yet been completed after the window reopened in the last fortnight.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new additions this summer

Bryan Mbeumo has been a player who has been largely touted with a move to join Spurs this summer, but it appears as though they will be missing out on his signature, after he agreed to move to Manchester United.

Mohammed Kudus is another Premier League talent on the club’s radar, with West Ham United willing to part ways with the Ghanaian, but he may cost a pretty penny given his £85m release clause.

However, another name has entered the mix over recent days, with Liverpool star Harvey Elliott a player they are closely monitoring, according to TBR Football.

They claim that Frank’s side have made an enquiry to land the 22-year-old forward, who could be available for a fee in the region of £40m during the summer window.

It also states that he is willing to depart Anfield this summer for regular game time, after the Reds forked out a staggering £116m to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen.

Why Spurs’ £40m target is a bigger talent than Eze

Just like previous transfer windows, Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze has once again appeared on Spurs’ shortlist, as Frank looks to strengthen within attacking areas during the off-season.

The 26-year-old has been a key target for the Lilywhites, understandably so, after the England international managed to net eight goals and eight assists in the Premier League this season.

However, competition for his signature appears to be high, with North London rivals Arsenal also in the running to sign Oliver Glasner’s star man this summer.

It’s been reported that Eze currently has a £68m release clause in his current deal at Selhurst Park, but it remains to be seen whether he would prefer a move to Spurs or the Gunners.

However, they should look past a move for the attacking midfielder and pursue a deal for Elliott during the off-season, with the Reds star certainly a bigger talent.

The Liverpool ace is four years younger than the Palace star, having further time to develop, but also still managing to better the fellow target in numerous key areas.

Elliott, who’s been labelled “sensational” by journalist Jonathan Higgins, has posted a better goal per shot on target rate, handing Frank a better option in front of goal.

Games played

18

34

Goals & assists

3

16

Goals per shot on target

0.3

0.2

Pass accuracy

82%

74%

Key passes

2.4

2.1

Progressive passes

10.7

3.3

Carries into final third

2.7

1.6

Aerials won

33%

15%

He’s also completed more passes and made nearly three times more progressive passes per 90, having the tools to provide others with chances in front of goal – offering an added creative threat in the final third.

The youngster’s dominance doesn’t stop there, making more carries into the final third per 90 and coming out on top in more aerial battles, with his skillset making him a real all-round talent for the Lilywhites.

£40m for a player of his ability and potential could prove to be a potential bargain deal for Spurs, offering versatility to the frontline throughout 2025/26.

Given the difference and price tag between him and Eze, it is a no-brainer for the hierarchy to make a move for the Liverpool star in the coming weeks, having the chance to develop into an elite talent under Frank’s guidance.

A better signing than Mbeumo: Spurs plot move for "world-class" £76m star

Tottenham Hotspur are making moves to land a star who would be a better addition than Bryan Mbeumo.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 28, 2025

Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has been a player who has thrived at Old Trafford over recent years, undoubtedly being the shining light in the first team squad.

The Portuguese international managed to register 37 combined goals and assists in the 2024/25 campaign, by far and away the highest tally in Ruben Amorim’s side.

Since his arrival back in January of 2020, the 30-year-old has notched 98 goals and 83 assists, averaging a contribution every 1.15 games he’s featured in – a simply staggering feat for a midfielder.

However, there’s only so much the former Sporting CP talent can do alone, desperately needing added reinforcements if the side are to rise up the Premier League table next campaign.

Work is already underway behind the scenes, as evidenced by the addition of Matheus Cunha, but further signings are expected between now and the end of the transfer window.

The latest on United’s hunt for new signings this summer

Over the last couple of days, midfielder Douglas Luiz has reemerged as a potential addition, with a move away from Juventus expected after starting three league games last season.

He’s not the only Juventus star on their radar, with striker Dušan Vlahović also a player in their sights, with the Serbian available at a cut-price of just £15m this summer.

However, work has also been done elsewhere, resulting in progress being made on a deal to secure Valencia midfielder Javi Guerra, according to one Spanish outlet.

They claim that the Red Devils are set to make a bid for the Spanish U21 this week, after he made 36 LaLiga appearances throughout the 2024/25 campaign.

It also states that the 22-year-old could be available for as little as £20m this summer, but numerous sides such as AC Milan are also in the race for his signature.

Why United’s £20m target could be perfect for Bruno & Mbeumo

After Cunha’s subsequent transfer to join United, fellow Premier League attacker Bryan Mbeumo has been a player hugely linked with a move to Old Trafford.

The 25-year-old has been the subject of two separate offers from Amorim’s side this window, but no agreement has yet been reached for the Cameroonian’s signature.

Mbeumo has already stated his desire to join the Red Devils, but no deal can progress if a fee isn’t agreed with Keith Andrews’ side, who are demanding a package totalling £65m.

However, his tally of 20 league goals last season showcases the threat he possesses within the final third, undoubtedly handing Amorim the talent he needs within attacking areas.

Should he complete any move, a deal for Guerra would also aid the forward, whilst also being perfect for Bruno and bolstering the ranks at the Theatre of Dreams.

The Spaniard’s arrival would allow the club captain to operate in his more natural number 10 role, having more of an impact in such a position as seen by his tallies from 2024/25.

He also has the tools to provide Mbeumo with the tools to thrive, as seen by his tally of 4.8 progressive passes and 4.2 passes into the final third per 90.

Javi Guerra’s stats for Valencia in LaLiga (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

36

Goals & assists

6

Progressive passes

4.8

Passes into final third

4.2

Take-ons attempted

2.7

Carries into final third

1.5

Tackles won

1.7

Stats via FBref

Guerra, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by journalist Zach Lowy, also attempted 2.7 take-ons per 90, along with 1.5 carries into the final third – showcasing his ability to get the ball into the opposition’s defensive third.

Out of possession, the youngster had also won 1.7 tackles per 90, winning 46% of the tackles he entered, having the ball-winning capability that the heart of the side has been lacking in recent months.

The £20m fee touted for the LaLiga star would be an excellent piece of business, having the potential to build on his early success in the professional game, given his tender age.

Should he carry his skillset over to England, he would be a phenomenal signing, having the ability to allow Bruno and fellow pending addition Mbeumo to thrive in the process.

Related Mbeumo's dream CF: Man Utd make enquiry to sign "the next Mbappe"

Manchester United need to sign a new centre-forward this summer.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Jul 9, 2025

Celtic are active on the market and Brendan Rodgers is reportedly closing in on a bargain deal to strengthen his backline, according to a report.

Celtic begin to motor in summer transfer window

The official opening of the window for Celtic will take place next week, but they are already moving down the line with several deals as scaling up becomes the mantra at Parkhead.

Recent interest in Brondby forward Mathias Kvistgaarden and Telstar’s Youssef El Kachati has cooled. However, supporters would have been delighted to see Kieran Tierney officially announced, following months of waiting for his signature to be confirmed.

Looking forward to working with a player who delivered so much during his first spell in charge, Brendan Rodgers believes his ‘elite’ qualities will bring an element of stardust as Celtic chase more success domestically and on the continent.

The Irishman stated: “We are so pleased to bring such an elite player back to the club and I look forward to working with him again and the rest of the squad, as we face the many challenges ahead at home and in Europe.”

Not to be deterred there, Celtic have identified Michel-Ange Balikwisha as a top summer target, amid holding a concrete interest in his services over the past year.

The latest names on Celtic’s summer transfer wishlist

Ross Doohan

Aberdeen – deal near completion

Harley Mills

Peterborough United

Lennon Miller

Motherwell

Demir Tiknaz

Rio Ave (on loan from Besiktas – buy option)

Callum Osmand

Fulham – deal near completion

As mentioned above, a compensation package for Fulham striker Callum Osmand is on the verge of going through to solidify Rodgers’ striking options, representing smart business as the Hoops aim to find value for money in the market.

Now, a young defender is also set to join the Parkhead ranks in a similar agreement, even if he won’t be thrust into the first team straight away.

Celtic set to sign prospect Isaac English

According to The Scottish Sun, Celtic are on the verge of signing defender Isaac English from Greenock Morton and are set to agree a bargain fee of £50,000 with the Scottish Championship side ahead of his proposed move.

Scouts were alerted to his potential off the back of his displays in the second-tier outfit’s Club Academy Scotland Performance League title win at Under-18 level.

Sinclair 2.0: £4.6m star who "wins games on his own" is Celtic's top target

Celtic are eyeing up a deal for a winger who could be their next Scott Sinclair.

ByDan Emery Jun 10, 2025

Admittedly, not much is known about English in the public domain. The 17-year-old hasn’t made a senior appearance at Cappielow Park, though he has trained within Dougie Imrie’s senior set-up and looks to be one for the future.

After losing youngsters such as Daniel Cummings, Rocco Vata and Daniel Kelly in recent times, news that Celtic have a prodigious star ready to walk through the Lennoxtown entrance will be a welcome boost in their mission to stockpile emerging talent.

Manchester United lost for the 16th time in the Premier League this season when they were beaten 4-3 by Brentford away from home at the weekend.

The Red Devils have endured a dismal domestic campaign, under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, and are just two points ahead of 17th in the table.

There is the mitigation of their place in the semi-finals of the Europa League, though, and that may have had an impact on the manager’s team selection for this match, as the likes of Chido Obi Martin, Tyler Fredricson, and Harry Amass were named in the starting XI.

Obi Martin, 17, made his full Premier League debut and was given the full 90 minutes by Amorim, but was, unfortunately, unable to find the back of the net.

Meanwhile, Brentford’s forwards, Yoane Wissa, Kevin Schade, and Bryan Mbeumo caught the eye in an excellent win for the Bees against Manchester United on Sunday.

Mbeumo, in particular, is a player who is reportedly of interest to the club. It was recently claimed that the Brentford star and Wolves forward Matheus Cunha are both targets for the upcoming summer transfer window.

Why Mbeumo and Cunha are attractive targets for Manchester United

The headline is that both Mbeumo and Cunha are proven Premier League performers who have shown that they can contribute with goals and assists at that level on a consistent basis.

This suggests that they would be more likely to hit the ground running and be successful signings for Manchester United compared to a signing from abroad with no prior experience of the English top-flight.

Mbeumo has produced 18 goals and seven assists in 39 appearances in all competitions for Brentford so far this season, which speaks to the goal threat that he can provide at the top end of the pitch.

The Cameroon international has scored eight or more goals in each of the past four seasons in all competitions since the Bees were promoted to the top-flight.

Meanwhile, Cunha has caught the eye with his performances for Wolves in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, as he has showcased his ability to score and create goals at an impressive rate.

Appearances

30

2

1

xG

7.94

N/A

N/A

Goals

15

2

0

Big chances created

12

2

0

Key passes per game

1.8

2.5

0

Assists

6

0

0

As you can see in the table above, the Brazil international has racked up 17 goals and six assists for the Old Gold, including 15 goals in the Premier League.

These statistics show why Cunha and Mbeumo are both attractive options for United this summer because they have both provided their respective teams with plenty of goals and assists this season.

However, the Red Devils are also reportedly interested in an even more prolific forward from abroad who could come in to bolster the club’s attacking options.

Manchester United in regular contact over deal for Bundesliga star

According to The Boot Room, Manchester United are one of a number of clubs lining up a move for RB Leipzig centre-forward Benjamin Sesko ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that fellow Premier League sides Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea are also keeping tabs on the Slovenian marksman, and that they had scouts in attendance to watch him score against Bayern Munich at the weekend.

Transfer Focus

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

It states that a move to England to play in the Premier League is the most ‘likely’ outcome for the Leipzig sensation this summer, as his representatives are currently in talks with multiple clubs.

The Boot Room adds that Manchester United and Newcastle United are in regular contact with the player’s agents ahead of a potential swoop for his services in the coming months.

INEOS must push to win the race for Sesko, who is reportedly valued at £60m by Leipzig, because he is even more prolific than Cunha and Mbeumo and could be an excellent addition to Amorim’s squad.

Why Manchester United should sign Benjamin Sesko

Firstly, the Slovenia international is only 21 and would come in as a long-term option for the Portuguese head coach, as a player who has plenty of time left to develop and improve.

He is four years younger than both Mbeumo and Cunha, who are both 25, and this suggests that he has more scope to grow and progress as a footballer during his time at Old Trafford, whilst also having the quality to provide goals in the short-term.

The 21-year-old marksman has also outscored the Brentford and Wolves forwards with a return of 21 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions for Leipzig this season, which shows that he is more prolific in the final third.

Sesko, who was once dubbed a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has been in fine form for Leipzig in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League, showcasing his lethal finishing at the top level.

Appearances

31

8

xG

9.87

3.57

Goals

13

4

Big chances created

5

0

Assists

5

0

As you can see in the table above, the £60m-rated ‘monster’ has been incredibly clinical in those two competitions, with 17 goals from between 13 and 14 Expected Goals.

Sesko has proven that he knows how to find the back of the net on the European stage and in one of Europe’s major leagues, as well as scoring four goals in the DFB Pokal, and this suggests that United would be signing a striker who is in-form and able to make an instant impact at Old Trafford.

Of course, he has not played in the Premier League, or in England at all, and that could make him a riskier addition than Mbeumo or Cunha, who are currently thriving in the division.

But his goalscoring record across all competitions and his age profile suggest that it would be a high-risk, high-reward, signing for the Red Devils, which is why they should take a gamble on him and attempt to win the race for the impressive young forward in the summer transfer window.

As bad as Shaw: Amorim must axe Man Utd dud after 4/10 Brentford display

Ruben Amorim must ring the changes for Manchester United’s next game.

ByMatt Dawson May 5, 2025

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers could reportedly choose to axe some big names at Parkhead at the end of this season, following some recent criticism of his squad.

Rodgers criticises Celtic squad

The Hoops may have thumped Kilmarnock 5-1 at home in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday afternoon, but that’s not to say that Rodgers is entirely happy about what he is seeing from his players currently.

The 52-year-old was hugely unimpressed with Celtic’s performance in the 1-0 defeat away to St Johnstone last week, making his feeling clear after the game: “Bitterly disappointing. It’s a huge credit to St Johnstone and congratulations to them. For us, poor start to the game, but not the first time and this is something for me that we will look at, certainly in the summer.”

Rodgers clearly hated what he saw in that game, and while some may look at the league table and feel it was an overreaction, with title glory still inevitable this season, it highlights the standards that the Irishman sets.

It could be argued that his strong words after the defeat played a big part in Celtic’s aforementioned thumping of Kilmarnock at Parkhead on Saturday, with his players knowing that a response was required. Now, a new update has emerged regarding the manager’s approach this summer.

Rodgers could axe big Celtic names

According to Football Insider, Rodgers “won’t hesitate to swing the axe” and get rid of some high-profile Celtic players in the summer transfer window.

The individuals in question are said to have had a “sharp decline in form” recently and the Hoops boss could decide that enough is enough once the current campaign reaches its conclusion. Greg Taylor is used as an example in the report, with the left-back linked with an exit earlier this month.

This is undoubtedly a ruthless stance from Rodgers, but arguably one that needs to be taken, given some of the complacency that has been on show of late.

Prior to the win over Kilmarnock, the Hoops had lost three of their previous six Scottish Premiership matches, including a 3-2 defeat at home to Rangers, doing their best efforts to let their rivals back into the title race.

Related Rodgers must ruthlessly axe Kühn to unleash Celtic's "on fire" star

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Posts 1 ByBen Gray Apr 12, 2025

While wholesale changes aren’t needed at Celtic this summer, freshening up the squad has to be a priority for Rodgers, as he brings in new faces and gets rid of those he believes have reached the end of their time at Parkhead.

Celtic players out of contract soon

Year contract expires

Greg Taylor

2025

Jeffrey Schlupp (loan)

2025

James McCarthy

2025

Kasper Schmeichel

2026

James Forrest

2026

Johnny Kenny

2026

Scott Bain

2026

Taylor is out of contract at the end of the season, as is James McCarthy, while a decision needs to be made about whether Jeffrey Schupp’s loan move will become permanent or not.

This is a team that has a lot of talented players, but not an understanding on how they want to win Test matches

Sidharth Monga25-Jul-20252:05

Manjrekar: Gill’s hands were tied with India’s lack of bowling depth

This is the first time India have conceded 500 outside Asia and the West Indies in more than a decade. Use “water in eyes” emoji if you are an India fan. They went a whole 10 years without conceding a single 500 in the countries that used to be India’s stumbling ground. There is a reason for it: in the 10 years immediately before that, they went for 500 in these countries on 16 occasions, five of those on two horror tours of England and Australia barely months apart.Even providing for the nature of pitches in the last 10 years and then this being their first tour of England on Bazball surfaces, this represents a big change in the way India played Test cricket. They had great spinners at home for the start of these 10 years, and then when they started touring outside Asia and the West Indies in 2018, they had a battery of fast bowlers who were quick, fit, experienced and stayed on the field.Now India are in a transition and the leader of their attack is not able to play every Test. There have been threats of this for some time, but the third day at Old Trafford was the first time the wheels came off well and proper.Related

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Not since the 2014 tour of England, when Pankaj Singh registered figures of 0 for 179, have India had a fast bowler look as innocuous as Anshul Kamboj on debut. Two years previously, R Vinay Kumar, another domestic workhorse, was taken for 1 for 73 in 13 overs at the WACA Ground. Since then, debutants have come looking equipped for Test cricket.Kamboj’s case is perplexing. He is in his prime. He has passed through various filters. Administrators and coaches at his state, Haryana, always felt he was destined to play Test cricket. Not ODIs, not T20Is. Specifically Test cricket. Then he has had glowing endorsements from people who should know something about cricket: MS Dhoni and R Ashwin at Chennai Super Kings. Then the India selectors, and eventually the team management.When Kamboj ran in for his first spell of the morning, India were desperately hoping that the impostor had been replaced by the real Kamboj who had earned the hype. This was the time when Joe Root and Ollie Pope had smartly negotiated the testing first spells of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.Anything even remotely a repeat of what Kamboj and Shardul Thakur did on the second evening would almost certainly play India out of the Test. This, at around noon at Old Trafford, was India’s last chance to stay in contention in the Test. Root and Pope were champing at the bit. India needed a big effort to back up Bumrah and Siraj.What followed was a drop from day two when Kamboj averaged 128.26 kmph. On day three, his average pace was down to 125.34 kmph. Needless to say, there was no follow-up on that spell, and Root did what elite batters do: accumulate without risk. It is one of the shocking selections calls in a decade of Test cricket because Kamboj went through so many filters and then impressed the team management enough to not only leapfrog Prasidh Krishna, who had been in the original squad, and walk into the XI straight off the flight, but also get the new ball.2:09

Manjrekar: Siraj did his best within his limitations

Bowling coach Morne Morkel was at a loss to explain why he was so slow. At the IPL, Kamboj bowled about 55% of his deliveries at over 135kmph. Here his fastest was 134.58kmph. Morkel himself saw a much quicker Kamboj during the India A games before the start of the Test series, and possibly at the nets two days before the match.Even if you provide for a soft outfield that can slow down your running pace, possible stage fright, and four overs in the IPL versus settling in for a long Test spell, this was a sharp drop in pace. Morkel confirmed Kamboj was fully fit. That ends up on the team management’s door then.”If he wasn’t fully fit he won’t be playing,” Morkel said. “I wish I can give you that answer because I would’ve told him then how to bowl quicker. But he arrived here, he bowled well in the nets and then obviously we went with what I discussed earlier (earlier Morkel said they wanted someone who could bowl a volume of overs and keep testing the off stump). Why speeds are so low, that is something that we are working on.”It would be cruel to point only Kamboj out. This India has notoriously been one that hedges its bets. Even when they won in Birmingham, they won through the freakish occurrence of two bowlers sharing 17 wickets between them, striking in the first innings in clumps of five each. That is not something you can rely on for repetition. Now that they saw the overhead conditions, they added Thakur to the XI, but were reluctant to bowl him. This is a team that has a lot of talented players, but not an understanding on how they want to win Test matches.It doesn’t help that the last two fast bowlers who impressed straight from their debut are now showing signs of fatigue. This innings demonstrates why Bumrah can play only three Tests. In the first innings of the first Test, he bowled 42.7% of his deliveries at over 140kmph, in the second it was down to 22.3%, and at Old Trafford he went into the 140s only once, accounting for 0.5%. He is still a handful, he still kept runs under check, but this drop in intensity is perhaps why he went searching too straight on day two.The attack just didn’t seem to back themselves to do what has worked for them over the last 10 years: keep bowling good balls, keep the intensity and pressure up, and the wickets will take care of themselves. This is precisely the time when a little bit of the wicket-taking wizardry of left-arm wristspin would have come handy, but India had Kuldeep Yadav carrying drinks. Not that he wouldn’t have been a great pick in any of the Tests that have gone by, but now more than ever India needed reinforcements.They hedged their bets, showed little faith in either batters or bowlers, tried to cover too many bases instead of owning the ones they are equipped to own. Now they need the batting depth they keep opting for to rescue them to keep the series alive.

Tears, joy, relief, and an ice-cool captain who for once got emotional by it all: the IPL final had everything

Shashank Kishore30-May-20231:57

Manjrekar: Dhoni had his eyes closed for the final ball

You just began to go, “Oh, no. Not again.”Ravindra Jadeja had bowled the ball left-arm spinners dream of. Drift, sharp turn, bounce, whirr. Everything. Shubman Gill, the man in the form of his life, was beaten fair and square. Yet, it’s what transpired behind the stumps that had everyone’s jaw drop, even though they knew what was coming.He may be turning 42 soon, but MS Dhoni once again proved he has the fastest hands in the business. The time taken from the moment the ball lodged in his gloves to him stumping Gill is a mind-boggling 0.12 seconds. That’s even faster than the fastest stumping Dhoni has ever effected.Jadeja enquires, as if he’s asking Dhoni, ‘what do you think?’. The wry smile is a giveaway. Gill isn’t going to have a second chance. It’s a massive moment because until then, Gill had been picking gaps that may have seemed like a brick wall to others. The crowd erupts as the big screen signals ‘OUT.’ So much for this being the home ground of the Gujarat Titans.Related

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The fluid strokeplay, the lazy elegance, the bristling front-of-square pulls – they’re all the kind of shots you pay big money to watch. Or in this case, brave thunderstorms. But then at some point, you wonder if Jadeja’s contribution to the set-up will be overshadowed again, like it has happened repeatedly this tournament.Or at least he’s felt he hasn’t been credited enough by the fans at different times. They’ve elicited cryptic social media outbursts that have set tongues wagging. Is there another storm brewing? Is everything okay between Jadeja and Dhoni?But the beauty of sport is it offers you a second chance when you least expect it. And that second chance for Jadeja came in the final over with CSK’s hopes of a miracle fast fading. They needed 10 off two balls against Mohit Sharma, one of the best death bowlers in the competition. That’s enough pressure. Forget for a second there are over a hundred thousand people in the crowd, and upwards of 30 million watching on television. All at 1:30am on a Tuesday morning.In the dugout, Dhoni has his eyes closed. He never sits there. But on Monday night, he was there well before it was his turn to bat. And he continued sitting there long after he’d been dismissed. He seems to be praying hard, fists clenched. He can’t look, no one can. It’s rare, it’s raw, it’s unadulterated. And then Jadeja shovels a yorker-length delivery over long-on for six. Now it’s down to four needed off one ball. More nerves.Rift? What rift? Dhoni and Jadeja savour a moment together moments after CSK’s win•BCCIStephen Fleming, the coach, exudes the calmness of a sage at the best of times. He is anything but that now. “I just couldn’t look, I was gearing up for a heartbreak, mate,” he says later. “I thought, ‘oh that’s one ball away from a big heartbreak.’ I wasn’t even looking at what Dhoni was doing. And suddenly, Jaddu swings leg side. Oh, unbelievable.” Fleming lets out a big puff of air, re-running that moment as he describes it.He’s emotionally drained. He’s got a cold beverage that he’s left unfinished to sit there and talk about the win. But he’s also pumped. “I’m happy answering more questions, that’s fine. I’m enjoying it,” he tells the media representative trying to wrap up the press conference. And then, he goes back to describing the moments in the aftermath.Jadeja’s winning runs trigger manic celebrations in the crowd. Ahmedabad appears as one big party waiting to take off. Strangers in the stands wearing CSK’s yellow are exchanging hugs and fist bumps. There are happy tears. They’re all now awaiting that speech. and they can’t wait for it to begin. The eagerness is as if they’re all awaiting exam results hosted on a single server that would crash anytime, resulting in more delays and more anxiety.It’s 2am or thereabouts, but no one has moved. Besides the boundary, Harbhajan Singh is moved. He has been in the dressing room and knows what it takes. Matthew Hayden, who Chennai made one of their own during his three-year stint with the team, is moved to tears. He squishes Ajinkya Rahane and Deepak Chahar in a bear hug.Across Bengaluru, crackers are going off. An airline pilot en route a Dubai-Chennai flight is thanked profusely by passengers as they de-board, for being their voice from the match. His heroic act: announcing scores every two overs.Jadeja runs towards Dhoni, who in a rare display of emotion yelps in delight as he lifts him in one motion, wonky knees be damned. It’s a sight quite unlike anything. It’s not something you expected to see when Jadeja stormed off midway through last year’s IPL, hurt and upset by Dhoni’s rare outburst against his captaincy. The official reason was injury, but there was hubbub that Dhoni’s comments had upset Jadeja to the extent that he left in a huff.Not for the first time in his career, Dhoni took a backseat during the trophy celebrations•Associated PressYou wondered then if it was the end of a memorable association. You wondered now, in victory, if that association had only been strengthened. Minutes later, a teary Jadeja, voice still shaking from the emotions of victory and pumping of adrenaline, would dedicate the win to a “special man.” Dhoni himself.It seems like the completion of a circle that took shape in 2009. When Jadeja, facing severe backlash after a botched T20 World Cup chase at Lord’s against England, found a confidante and mentor in Dhoni. Who would throw him into tough situations fully confident he was polishing coal into a diamond.As cameramen crowded around the two, the lights went off at that very moment for a laser show. That wasn’t incentive enough for fans at the far end to leave. Metro services had shut down for the night. A long commute to a major intersection in the city by foot awaited. No problems, they weren’t leaving without hearing speak.

Happy Tears #CHAMPION5 #WhistlePodu #Yellove pic.twitter.com/jf05fszEDA

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) May 30, 2023