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Inter chiefs are heading to London to hold talks with Tottenham over two defenders swapping clubs.

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Inter to discuss Tottenham swapTwo defenders could swap clubsCesc Fabregas targeted as new bossFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Bosses are already in the English capital as they discuss their vacant managerial position with former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas – but they will also meet with Spurs to negotiate swapping defenders Radu Dragusin and Yann Bisseck, report CalcioMercato.

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Bisseck is wanted by several Premier League clubs, according to the report, including Aston Villa, West Ham and Manchester United. Spurs have been pushing the hardest for his signature, however, and Inter may be prepared to let him go after an inconsistent 2024-25 campaign. Inter could ask for Dragusin to head the other way to fill the void.

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The talks to appoint Fabregas could hold any deal up, with the report stating that Inter's new coach will have the final say on whether to allow Bisseck to leave the club. Dragusin made 28 appearances in all competitions last season for Tottenham but is stuck behind Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven in the pecking order and could be allowed to leave.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR INTER?

Inter hope to have a new coach in place in time for their Club World Cup campaign, after Simone Inzaghi left for Al-Hilal. They begin against Monterrey on Wednesday June 18.

Oman’s Bilal Khan turned out to be Chattogram’s unlikely hero, even as Barishal’s Shoaib Mailk abruptly left the BPL

Mohammad Isam31-Jan-2024While table-toppers Khulna followed up two wins from the last week with two more in this one, Chattogram Challengers were in good form too, having now won three matches in a row to sit just below Khulna. Rangpur Riders also bounced back from a defeat at the start of the week with two important wins.Led by Anamul Haque – and with a heavy West Indies contingent – Khulna beat Rangpur by 28 runs before thumping Durdanto Dhaka by ten wickets in a 131-run chase, which they completed with more than five overs to spare. Allrounder Mohammad Nawaz starred for Khulna in both games. While he smashed 55 off 34 balls and took two wickets against Rangpur, he took 3 for 15 against Dhaka. Apart from Nawaz, Khulna have also been boosted by the consistency of Anamul and Evin Lewis.Related

• Shakib diagnosed with eye condition but will continue playing cricket

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• Josh Brown signs up with Chattogram Challengers

Chattogram, meanwhile, also won both games this week. While they just inched past Fortune Barishal by ten runs while defending 193, they dominated Sylhet by chasing down 138 with eight wickets and 14 balls in the bank. Finalists last season, that was Sylhet’s fifth loss in a row. Either side of losing to Chattogram, they also suffered heavy defeats to Comilla Victorians and Barishal.The injured Mashrafe Mortaza might have been part of the reason for Sylhet’s poor run, as he played for and captained the side despite not bowling regularly. Mashrafe has since decided to take a break from the tournament to focus on his political work. He had earlier admitted that it was “not ideal” that he was still in the side.The change of venue from Mirpur in the first week to Sylhet in the second might have been a factor in there being a majority of wins for sides batting first – all eight games in Mirpur were won by the chasing side – as dew apparently became less of an issue at the picturesque Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.Babar Azam has two half-centuries in the BPL so far this season•Raton Gomes/BCB

Meanwhile, there was a nagging off-field debate surrounding Barishal’s Pakistan allrounder Shoaib Malik. In the previous week, Barishal owner Mizanur Rahman wasn’t pleased with Malik bowling as many as three no-balls in an over against Khulna, claiming “that’s where we lost that match”, as Khulna chased down 188 rather comfortably.Soon after, on January 26, Mailk abruptly left the BPL after playing only three games, although as per Mizanur, Malik’s contract ran “till February 14”. That led to rumours about a rift within the team, though Malik later said that it was not the case.

Batter of the week

Rangpur’s Babar Azam struck his second fifty of this season’s BPL when he made 62 off 46 balls in a match-winning effort against Dhaka. He followed it up with a better-than-a-run-a-ball 37 against Comilla, again Rangpur’s highest score in their eight-run win.While Babar doesn’t entirely dominate bowling attacks with a flurry of boundaries, he remains steady while building crucial partnerships. For instance, against Dhaka he added 50 with Nurul Hasan after Rangpur had lost two wickets in the powerplay, before having a union of 55 for the second wicket with Fazle Mahmud against Comilla.

Bowler of the week

Someone in the top six of the all-time ODI bowling averages with a minimum of 50 wickets slipped into the BPL without notice. Bilal Khan hails from Oman – he is one of their stars. And the left-arm quick has been effective for Chattogram too, picking up eight wickets at 18.25 to currently top the bowling charts in the BPL. That included a haul of 3 of 24 against Sylhet, for which he was given the Player-of-the-Match award.

da 888： With their sights set on promotion, Leeds United are set to be handed the boost of a returning player when they square off against Queens Park Rangers this weekend.

Leeds recieve fresh injury boost

da realbet： There may have been a sigh of relief around Elland Road when Leeds overcame Millwall to win 2-0 and instantly got back to winning ways after suffering shock defeat against Portsmouth just days before. Back on track, Daniel Farke’s side now sit two points above second placed Sheffield United and four clear of Burnley in third with just nine games left to play in the Championship.

Those in Yorkshire will be more aware than most that it’s not done until their place in the Premier League is confirmed and, as ever, they face a nervous final stretch towards potential promotion.

With nine finals remaining, Farke will need to use the quality of his squad more than ever. It is a side full of talent, from the likes of Manor Solomon – who has rediscovered his best form – to important midfielder Ao Tanaka. Now, that side must simply hold their nerve.

What will undoubtedly help them do just that is the boost of recent injury news. As revealed by Farke, Isaac Schmidt is now set to make his return against QPR after returning to training. The defender missed the victory over Millwall through illness but has seemingly since recovered in time for this weekend.

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Speaking to reporters about his side’s injury status, Farke said: “As it stands I hope I have that whole group plus Isaac Schmidt to pick from for the travelling squad.

“In terms of the starting line-up and who has recovered, we’ll make some late decisions. This turnaround is a bit more tricky. We had more or less 80 hours to recover for Millwall, this time around just over 60 hours. It will be a bit more tricky. Travelling is involved of course.”

Every player counts for Leeds in vital run

Whilst Schmidt hasn’t been one to steal the headlines throughout the current campaign, often watching on from the bench, he could be thrust into Farke’s side at any given moment and he, like others, must help the Whites in their push for promotion.

Having arrived in the summer, Schmidt has found himself at the centre of Farke’s praise even whilst playing a cameo role. The former Norwich City boss told reporters earlier this season: “Great guy, a bit like I mention also about all our new signings.

“I think still at a really good age because he is more likely still on his way up the hill in his career. Great mentality, also desperate to play for the shirt, desperate to play for us, great character, so really nice guy and really nice team-mate.”

Now back from a brief absence, Schmidt will no doubt have his sights set on putting every minute that he does receive to good use as he aims to leave his mark on Leeds’ promotion push.

Opener continues breakout season at the Ageas Bowl

ECB Reporters Network01-Aug-2023Fletcha Middleton produced a classy innings to score his maiden professional century as Hampshire opened their Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign up with an 18-run DLS victory over Middlesex.Opening batter Middleton caressed exactly 100 to continue his breakthrough season at the Ageas Bowl – having become a regular in the LV=Insurance County Championship.Nick Gubbins and Tom Prest, with 40 and 38 respectively, also contributed as Hampshire reached 238 for 5 in their pursuit of 310 before rain brought an early end.Ryan Higgins had earlier thrashed a 53-ball 78 but Scott Currie’s 3 for 54 held Middlesex to 309 for 7.Middlesex were stuck in and cruised through the powerplay risk-free before Mark Stoneman was undone by some extra bounce from Currie to pull out to deep square.Joe Cracknell was never knowingly out of control as he intelligently rotated strike in stands of 54 with Stoneman, 43 with Sam Robson and 35 with Joe Davies.His second List A fifty came in 59 balls which switched his mindset to attack. It resulted in a pulled six, a wonderful one-bounce four over mid-off and his downfall – advancing and chipping to short cover.With Davies falling soon after to make it 156 for 4 in the 30th over, it felt like attacking shots weren’t getting value and 300 would take some effort. Higgins scoffed at that assessment.Higgins hadn’t played List A cricket since scoring an unbeaten 55 for Gloucestershire against Australia A in 2019, due to his participation in The Hundred. He kicked the innings into gear quickly and mainly targeted the shorter boundary in his 40-ball half-century. He tonked Dom Kelly over long on twice, hammered Felix Organ over his head and slog-swept Gubbins twice.The latter brought up a century stand with John Simpson – who had largely got out of Higgins’ way – but next ball Higgins was stunningly caught by 17-year-old Eddie Jack – one of three Hampshire teenagers – and by the end of the following over Simpson had followed him back to the dressing room.Josh de Caires didn’t last long, as he gave Currie his third, but Luke Hollman’s 17-ball 28 gave the death energy and smoothly took Middlesex over 300.With rain around at the end of Middlesex’s innings, temporarily false-starting the start of Hampshire’s and forecast in the area, Middleton and Gubbins kept the DLS par score in close focus and masterfully got themselves ahead of it.Both tried to out do each other on the aesthetics scale with luscious strikes in the V during a high-tempo 74-run partnership.Gubbins fell when he pulled to long off, but Tom Prest maintained the cantering – with aggressive running a key proponent of Hampshire’s success.Blake Cullen limped off in his fourth over to compound Middlesex’s problems but Prest, having smashed his first six, toed his second attempt to deep midwicket Robson with Ben Brown following having been bamboozled by a Hollman googly.Middleton was solid in last year’s competition but his increased confidence and maturity was in abundance as he took control of the chase. His first century came in exactly 100 balls and had showcased every aspect of his skill-base – patience, gap-finding, shot-making with a sprinkle of power.Robson’s part-time leg spin was needed to make up some of Cullen’s overs. It threatened to turn the match around with two wickets in three balls as he had Organ stumped and Middleton caught behind. But rain soon after saw Hampshire, who topped their group last year, 18 runs ahead on DLS.

Central Sparks resumed their Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy programme in solid style with a 29-run victory over struggling Thunder at New Road, Worcester.Sparks put a disappointing Charlotte Edwards Cup campaign behind them as they totalled 233 all out from exactly 50 overs thanks principally to Ami Campbell (68 off 72 balls) and Abigail Freeborn (67 from 98). Tara Norris kept the Sparks total to around par with 4 for 42.Seren Smale’s superb career-best 94 off 125 balls then proved to be in vain as Thunder were bowled out for 204 by a Sparks attack which maintained collective pressure as six bowlers got among the wickets, Katie George taking 3 for 57.The defeat leaves bottom-of-the-table Thunder still looking for their first 50-over win of the season but Sparks will move forward with their sights still very much on going all the way in the competition.Thunder skipper Eleanor Threlkeld won the toss and chose to field and her decision was quickly vindicated by the removal of both Sparks openers in 20 balls. Bethan Ellis was bowled through the gate by an inswinging yorker from Mahika Gaur and Norris struck a big blow when she hit Eve Jones’ off stump.When Erin Burns lifted Gaur to cover, Sparks were in trouble at 27 for 3, but Freeborn and Campbell organised a revival with a well-constructed stand of 129 in 26 overs. Campbell counter-attacked effectively, hitting nine fours in a near run-a-ball innings, before she missed a pull at Norris and was superbly stumped by Threlkeld.The left-armer secured her third wicket next ball when Davina Perrin was adjudged lbw and Sparks’ loss of momentum was heightened when Laura Jackson floated one inside Freeborn’s attempted cut and bowled her.Charis Pavely restored some impetus with 33 from 36 balls, a cameo which transpired to be crucial, but became Norris’s fourth victim when she lifted to mid-wicket.Thunder’s reply took an early hit when Naomi Dattani was bowled for a 12-ball duck by a nicely-flighted ball from Georgia Davis. Fi Morris skied Grace Potts into the deep but Smale and Deandra Dottin added 50 in ten overs before the latter missed an attempt to turn Ria Fackrell to leg and fell lbw. Burns then turned one inside Threlkeld’s attempted leg-glance to win another lbw decision.Danielle Collins helped Smale add 52 in ten overs but both fell in five balls. Collins lifted Ellis to mid off and Smale, six runs short of a thoroughly-deserved maiden century, miscued Katie George to mid off. That left the Thunder lower order with a tall task – to find 72 from 11 overs – and despite a perky 22 off 29 balls from Norris it was beyond them.

أكد ألفارو كاريراس ظهير ريال مدريد المنضم من صفوف بنفيكا البرتغالي أنه سيكون مستعدًا لبدء منافسات الموسم الجديد مع فريقه.

وكان ريال مدريد قد أعلن في وقت سابق من الشهر الماضي عن تعاقده مع ألفارو كاريراس، والذي وقع على عقد يربطه بناديه الجديد حتى عام 2031 مقابل 50 مليون يورو.

اقرأ أيضاً.. فينيسيوس يلهمه.. لاعب ريال مدريد يرفض الاستسلام وينتظر فرصته مع ألونسو

وفي تصريحات للموقع الرسمي لنادي ريال مدريد، قال كاريراس: “سعيد للغاية، أخيرًا انضممت للفريق مع جميع زملائي، نستعد لما هو قادم”.

وأضاف عن ما يراه في زملائه الجدد: “أرى تواضعًا من الجميع، روح الفريق الواحد والجودة العالية، فوجئت بأن جميع اللاعبين على مستوى عالي وهذا ما توقعته”.

وواصل عن مدربه تشابي ألونسو: “إنه قوي والأهم من ذلك لديه أفكار واضحة وهذا ما يعجبني، إنه يقوم بالأشياء بالطريقة الصحيحة، ويطلب مني المساعدة في الهجوم والدفاع”.

وحول الفترة التحضيرية للموسم الجديد: “علينا أن نكون مستعدين ومركزين، والتعرف على بعضنا البعض، ونعمل معاً، وهذا ما سيقودنا للفوز بالألقاب”.

واختتم عن ظهوره الأول المنتظر في ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو: “هذا ما أحلم به، لقد ارتديت قميص ريال مدريد التدريبي وشعاره، لكني أتطلع بشوق لهذا اليوم الذي سألعب فيه في ملعبنا”.

كشفت تقارير إعلامية اليوم الإثنين، عن ردة فعل غرفة ملابس وإدارة نادي ريال مدريد، عقب التصرفات المثيرة للجدل التي قام بها فينيسيوس جونيور خلال مواجهة الكلاسيكو الأخيرة أمام برشلونة بالدوري الإسباني.

واستطاع ريال مدريد أن يرد اعتباره وحقق الفوز على حساب غريمه التقليدي برشلونة بهدفين مقابل هدف واحد يوم أمس الأحد، في قمة منافسات الجولة العاشرة من بطولة الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى.

وشهدت هذه المباراة بعض الجدل حول فينيسيوس، بعدما اعترض الأخير وبشدة على استبداله في اللقاء لصالح رودريجو جوس في آخر 20 دقيقة من المواجهة.

وغضب فينيسيوس وبشدة من هذا التبديل حيث لم يقم بمصافحة مدرب ريال مدريد، تشابي ألونسو، وذهب اللاعب إلى خارج الملعب ثم عاد بعدها بدقائق إلى دكة البدلاء.

كما دخل فينيسيوس في نقاش حاد مع نجم نادي برشلونة، لامين يامال ، عقب نهاية المباراة ودخل أيضًا في بعض المناوشات مع بيدري ، لاعب خط وسط الفريق الكتالوني.

اقرأ أيضًا .. نجم برشلونة السابق منتقدًا يامال: تصريحاته منحت ريال مدريد دافعًا إضافيًا

وذكرت صحيفة موندو ديبورتيفو، أن غرفة ملابس ريال مدريد غاضبة حقًا مما فعله فينيسيوس من ردود فعل على استبداله في الكلاسيكو، حيث يعتبرون ما فعله الدولي البرازيلي سيئًا.

وأضاف المصدر، أنه على مستوى إدارة ريال مدريد، فإن الشعور هو الغضب كذلك مما فعله فينيسيوس في الكلاسيكو، بينما كل شيء يشير إلى معاقبة ابن الـ25 عامًا على سلوكه أثناء تبديله في مواجهة برشلونة.

وأوضح المصدر، أن عقد فينيسيوس سينتهي في عام 2027 المقبل، لكن ريال مدريد أجل بعض الشيء هذه المفاوضات إلى ما بعد نهاية الموسم.

من جهة أخرى، أفادت صحيفة ماركا أن إدارة ريال مدريد تتفهم غضب فينيسيوس، لكنهم يعتبرون ما فعله الدولي البرازيلي من رد فعل غير ضروري.

وقال مصدر مقرب من ريال مدريد لماركا: “لا يمكن لفينيسيوس أن يظهر ذلك، صحيح أن تشابي ربما أجرى التبديل مبكرًا، لكنه القائد الثالث ويجب أن يكون قدوة”.

وأوضح المصدر، أن ريال مدريد يقدر عودة فينيسيوس إلى التواجد سريعًا على مقاعد البدلاء، ويتمنى النادي الإسباني ألا يتكرر هذا السلوك مرة أخرى من اللاعب.

ولم يتحدث تشابي ألونسو مع فينيسيوس بعد الموقف الذي وقع، خاصة أن الفريق لديه إجازة يومي الإثنين والثلاثاء، وسيعود بعد ذلك للتدريبات من أجل مباراة فالنسيا يوم السبت المقبل.

Manchester United are now believed to be leading the race to sign a hugely young prospect, with the Red Devils ahead of rivals Manchester City in the battle to snap him up.

Mbeumo likes Man Utd player's post

Bryan Mbeumo has emerged as a priority target for United this summer, with the Brentford ace standing out as one of the best right-sided players in the Premier League last season.

Meanwhile, current Bees director of football, Phil Giles, has openly admitted that there is a “significant” amount of interest in the Cameroonian attacker.

“There is significant interest in Bryan. His current preference has been well publicised. He had an unbelievable season, and we expected interest in him. From what I understand, he is also, if needs be, happy to stay at Brentford next year as well. We’ve spoken to Bryan and his representatives. It’s not a given that he’s going to depart this summer. If we get the right offer, there is the potential for a deal to be done, but there is only so much we can say now on that.”

Now, Mbeumo has further stoked the fires ahead of a potential move to United this summer, liking a photo posted by centre-back Leny Yoro on Instagram.

Elsewhere, it looks as though the Red Devils are also looking at the long-term picture, with a new young talent backed to head to Old Trafford.

Man Utd leading race to sign young midfielder

According to The Athletic‘s Laurie Whitwell on X, Manchester United are in pole position to sign Fulham teenager Seth Ridgeon this summer, with talks taking place over a move for him and Tyrese Noubissie “seen as among best in country”.

“MUFC in talks to sign two 16-year-old midfielders seen as among best in country: Seth Ridgeon from Fulham + Tyrese Noubissie from Man City. Competition for both, who have been invited to facilities by academy staff, but United making good proposals.”

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In his story for The Athletic, Whitwell adds that ‘United are believed to lead the race should Ridgeon leave Craven Cottage’ ahead of the likes of Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool. While many United supporters will be focusing on the club bringing in players who could be immediate starters next season, this update is exciting in its own right.

The Red Devils should always be looking to snap up the most eye-catching homegrown talent, as they have throughout history, bringing in Wayne Rooney as a teenager, for example.

Ridgeon, 16, is a potentially special talent, being capped by England at both Under-16 and Under-17 level, and beating City to his signature could feel like a major coup.

England Under-17s

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England Under-16s

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United have fallen down the pecking order in recent years, having been at the top of the football tree for so long in the 1990s and 2000s, but signing the best teenagers around would be a positive step in the right direction.

He has been expensive, but at the same time brings with him the ability to take wickets

Deivarayan Muthu11-Apr-2023In the absence of Dwayne Bravo, who is now Chennai Super Kings’ bowling coach, he has fronted up to bowl at the death. Then, when Super Kings lost Deepak Chahar to injury one over into the match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede, he fronted up to bowl two overs in the powerplay and bowled Rohit Sharma with a beauty. With Ben Stokes and Mukesh Choudhary also injured, Tushar Deshpande has become Super Kings’ go-to seamer.Deshpande was a net bowler with Super Kings in IPL 2021 after having gone unsold at that auction. Two seasons on, Dhoni trusts him to bowl the tough overs.There’s a bit of Shardul Thakur about Deshpande. He can be expensive, but at the same time, he brings with him unpredictable variety and the ability to take wickets. Tim David walloped him for 6, 4, 6 but didn’t expect a grippy slower offcutter next ball, and ended up dragging a pull to deep midwicket. Deshpande can also crank it up to 140kph and surprise batters with extra pace.Related

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“We believe in him,” MS Dhoni said after the game against Mumbai. “Also what happens is when you’re new, you have a different sort of pressure, but if you’ve already played IPL for a few games, then it becomes like a comeback. I feel, as a cricketer, it’s one of the worst feelings to have. But he had a very good domestic season and that helped.”We have been constantly talking to him about what needs to be done. He is very good at execution, but in the last couple of games, he had bowled no-balls and that’s not a very good feeling to have. When you’re at your bowling mark, that’s something you don’t want to have in your mind. I feel he’s improving; the delivery that Rohit got out to was a fantastic delivery. So, he has that potential, he can be much more consistent and we’re just hoping that he takes that added responsibility.”Deshpande had a rough start to the IPL 2023. As the first-ever Impact Player in the IPL, he leaked 51 runs in 3.2 overs against defending champions Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. Then, against Lucknow Super Giants at Chepauk, where he said the “crowd was so loud that I couldn’t hear anything”, he bowled an 11-ball over in the powerplay, which cost 18 runs.

“I’ve been working on yorkers. I feel it does not come naturally. Even if it comes naturally, you need to have the guts to execute that when you are under pressure”Tushar Deshpande

Deshpande has had issues with overstepping in the past too, but he put that horror over behind him and executed the best-laid plans of Bravo when he returned to bowl at the death. When he came back, Super Giants were 150 for 5 in 15 overs, chasing 218, with Nicholas Pooran on 31 off 15 balls, having just reverse-swept Ravindra Jadeja into the top-tier over point.At the time out, the message from Bravo was to bowl wide yorkers and hide them away from the reach of Pooran. Dhoni gave him three fielders on the off-side boundary – deep point, deep cover and long-off – including two of his best in Mitchell Santner and Ben Stokes. Deshpande stuck to the plan and gave up just one run off the first two balls to Pooran. He then darted another wide yorker – possibly wider than another set of stumps – and had Pooran slicing it to Stokes at long-off. Just six runs off the over to go with the wicket of Pooran. Game over for Super Giants.Deshpande admits that the yorker doesn’t come to him naturally, but he has been learning on the job from one of the best in the business. On Monday evening at the Chepauk nets, Bravo had both Deshpande and Dwaine Pretorius bowling both wide yorkers and straight yorkers under his supervision.”I think bowling at the death is something that comes with great responsibility,” Deshpande told select newspapers in Chennai. “I’ve been working on yorkers. I feel it does not come naturally. Even if it comes naturally, you need to have the guts to execute that when you are under pressure. So I feel staying in the moment helps.”MS Dhoni talks to Tushar Deshpande during the match against Lucknow Super Giants•BCCIThe yorker is arguably the hardest delivery to nail. Overpitch it, it’s a full toss. Under-pitch it, it’s a half-volley. Even if you nail it, you can disappear for runs. Deshpande has embraced that challenge.”If you’re bowling in the death, you have to accept that someday you are going to get hit,” he said. “So you need to stay in the present even if you get hit for a six off the first ball. I have the next five balls to come back in the game or take the batter out. So staying in the present and in the moment is very important, and I personally feel that the next five balls are an opportunity for a bowler to get his mark back in the game. So that is what helps while bowling at the death.”Those who have followed Deshpande in Mumbai’s cricket circles speak highly of his commitment and fortitude. Just days after he had lost his mother to cancer, Deshpande rejoined Mumbai’s squad for the 2019 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy game against Delhi in Indore and bowled them to victory with figures of 4 for 19. Ajinkya Rahane, his captain at Mumbai and current team-mate at Super Kings, is also impressed with his progress.”Tushar has been bowling really well and he had a great [domestic] season for Mumbai,” Rahane said after the match against Mumbai. “Even in the match before this [game against Mumbai Indians], his comeback was really great. The first over was not up to the mark in the last game but the way he came back and the way he bowled in the death overs was really good. I’m really happy for him. [These are] still early days for him and he will learn a lot by playing matches and when you’re playing under Mahi <bhai, you’re sure that you will learn every time you’re out in the middle.”At the IPL 2022 auction, Super Kings raised their bid up to INR 7 crore to buy back Thakur, but he ultimately got away from them. They have now found another Mumbai player who can perform the role that Thakur used to do for them with the ball. Deshpande is no Thakur with the bat, but the introduction of the Impact Player rule means he need not be.

Highlights from Day 3 of the sixth round of Ranji Trophy matches

Shashank Kishore25-Jan-2025

J&K players pose after beating Mumbai in their backyard•PTI

J&K beat Mumbai after 11 years
Eleven years after they first beat them in the Ranji Trophy, Jammu & Kashmir pulled off another heist against Mumbai to strengthen their knockouts hope. Chasing 205, they wobbled at different times with Shams Mulani picking up four wickets, but starts from each of the top five helped J&K win by five wickets. Opener Shubham Khajuria top-scored with 45, while Abid Mushtaq, who had minimal contribution with the ball, hitting a crucial 32 not out to seal victory.Gill century in vain as Karnataka stay aliveShubman Gill struck a combative 102, but couldn’t prevent Karnataka from running through Punjab for a second time in three days. After being bowled out for 55, Punjab batted out a little more time in the second dig to make 213, but still went down by an innings and 207 runs. Outside of Gill’s innings, the second highest from the top seven was Anmolpreet Singh’s 14. The bulk of the damage was done by young seam-bowling allrounder Yashovardhan Parantap, who picked up 3 for 37.Related

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Patidar, Venkatesh Iyer put Madhya Pradesh on topHaving conceded the first-innings lead, Madhya Pradesh responded strongly in the second innings, declaring on 369 for 8 to set Kerala a target of 363. Rajat Patidar top scored with 92, while Venkatesh Iyer hit an unbeaten 70-ball 80 at No. 8 as MP recovered from 247 for 6. MP picked up one wicket by stumps to keep themselves in line for an outright win.Vijay Shankar scored a century•PTI

Vijay Shankar century powers Tamil NaduIn Salem, Vijay Shankar’s 14th first-class century, his second of the season, helped Tamil Nadu put themselves in line for six points against Chandigarh. Having taken a 97-run lead, Vijay Shankar helped extend TN’s lead with an unbeaten 150 after N Jagadeesan set the foundation of the innings with 89. By stumps, Chandigarh had slumped to 113 for 5, still needing 290 with the left-arm spinning duo of S Ajith Ram and R Sai Kishore picking up two apiece.Gaikwad among the runsBatting at No. 4 with an eye on being a top-order batter, instead of just playing a specialist opener, Maharashtra captain Ruturaj Gaikwad hit 89 in a marathon Maharashtra innings – they were 464 for 7 in the second innings, extending their lead to 616 by stumps against Group C toppers Baroda. This is only the third game Gaikwad has featured in this season, as he was away during the first half of the tournament to play for India A in Australia. With them out of knockouts contention, it remains to be seen if Maharashtra declare overnight and try for an outright.Wadkar leads Vidarbha’s fightVidarbha captain Akshay Wadkar hit an unbeaten 102 to revive a floundering innings. Vidarbha, who conceded a lead of 100, went to stumps with a lead of 258 with three wickets still remaining. At one stage, they had effectively been reduced to 44 for 5, before Wadkar stood tall to play a typically gritty knock to help last year’s runners-up take the fight into the final day. Vidarbha are currently Group B toppers and are primed to Mae the knockouts.Haryana through to knockoutsA game that was fought on an even keel in the first innings turned decisively in Haryana’s favour thanks to a massive second-innings batting effort, led by half-centuries from Himanshu Rana and Nishant Sindhu as they opened up a 32-run lead into a 369-run target. Bengal, sans the injured Abhimanyu Easwaran, were bowled out for 85 in 21.4 overs, with Wriddhiman Saha, playing in his penultimate first-class match, unbeaten on 25. Anshul Kamboj, who earlier in the season picked up a perfect ten, finished with four wickets./