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It has been an interesting season in 2024/25 for Chelsea. They face a fight on their hands to secure a spot in the top five, and are still competing in the UEFA Conference League, a competition many expect them to win.

In the top flight, the west London side are one of the biggest underperformers when it comes to expected goals, highlighting an issue in front of goal. As per Understat, they have an expected goals tally of 64.83xG, but have actually managed just 56 goals, an underperformance by 8.83. There are only four top-flight sides with a bigger underperformance.

Thus, it might not be a surprise that the Blues are targeting a new attacker this summer.

The forward Chelsea want to sign this summer

It has been a theme in the last few years that Chelsea have signed players, and even a manager, from Brighton and Hove Albion. Well, this summer might be no different, given they are linked with Seagulls attacker Georginio Rutter.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from Florian Plettenberg, Enzo Maresca’s side are thought to be ‘closely monitoring the development’ of Rutter down on the South Coast, and could make a move for him this summer, having ‘added him to their shortlist’.

The situation between the versatile attacker and the West London outfit has been described as ‘one to watch’ by Plettenberg, ahead of what will be a busy summer at Stamford Bridge.

He did not clarify a price, but Football Transfers value him at upwards of £39m.

Why Rutter would be a good signing for Chelsea

It has been an impressive season so far for Rutter in his debut campaign for the Seagulls. This term, he has eight goals and five assists across all competitions for Fabian Hurzeler’s side, including five in the Premier League.

In fact, the 22-year-old Frenchman, who is capped at under-21 level for his country, might certainly help with the expected goals deficit at Stamford Bridge. He is generally a lot more consistent this term, with 5.68xG, a 0.68 difference from his actual tally, as per Understat.

Another reason Chelsea fans can get excited about signing Rutter is the flair he brings as part of his game. Described as an “entertainer” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, the former Leeds United star is a tricky customer for most defenders, and oozes confidence in one-vs-one scenarios.

Indeed, it is not just that video that showcases how exciting Rutter can be with the ball at his feet, but the numbers from FBref are also there to back it up.

For example, the Seagulls’ number 14 averages 1.47 successful take-ons per game, ranking him in the top 9% of forwards across Europe over the last year.

Take-ons attempted

3.86

94th

Take-ons completed

1.47

91st

Progressive carries

2.28

86th

Carries into final third

1.96

95th

Carries into penalty box

0.87

71st

There are certainly shades of Chelsea legend Eden Hazard in Rutter. At his peak, the former Blues winger was described as the “best player in the league” by Jamie Carragher, who said he “does things that others can’t do”.

The legendary Belgian attacker was phenomenal in a Chelsea shirt. He scored 110 goals and grabbed 87 assists in 352 games for the west Londoners, becoming one of the most exciting players to watch in the Premier League.

That was thanks to his fearlessness on the ball, all the tricks at his disposal and the ability he had to glide past players. As per Sofascore per game, he averaged 5.8 successful dribbles in 2017/18, his highest on record.

If Rutter – registered 24 goals and assists for Leeds last season – is even half as good as Hazard was for Chelsea, they will have a world-beater on their hands. He certainly comes with lots of the flair their former number ten possessed, and has that ability to beat players in one-vs-one scenarios.

At just 22 years of age, there is plenty of time for Rutter to develop, too. He is a player who can score, create and carry in an effective manner, just like Hazard did. He could be a player Chelsea fans fall in love with.

Their best CF since Costa: Chelsea in talks to sign £65m "powerhouse"

Chelsea have made contact to sign “powerhouse” who would be a dream for Palmer

ByConnor Holden Apr 15, 2025

The captain of Durban’s Super Giants talks about his leadership philosophy, and his future with South Africa

Firdose Moonda08-Feb-20242:39

‘Jonty Rhodes is like espresso in a human body’

Keshav Maharaj wore a face like thunder.His Durban’s Super Giants side failed to chase 158 against Sunrisers Eastern Cape and secure a spot in the SA20 final. Though they can still get there via a second qualifier, Maharaj demands excellence and would have preferred to succeed on the first attempt.”I am a very driven, motivated person. I might not be a very flamboyant person but I am quite a head boy,” he says the day before that first-chance Qualifier match. “l am quite disciplined.”Related

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That trait has been in evidence – from the time he dealt with the rejection of not making South Africa’s Under-19 squad by taking himself out of his comfort zone for a stint in the Sussex Premier League, where he got into better shape and focused on his fitness to his seemingly miraculous recovery from a ruptured Achilles last year. But now he is showing it as a captain.Though Maharaj has led in 53 matches across formats, including in seven ODIs and five T20Is, the DSG role has presented an opportunity to make a high-profile team his own, and he has embraced the challenge wholeheartedly. “I love captaining. I find it brings a different perspective, gives me a sense of calm on the field and makes me think clearly, even about my own game,” he says.Maharaj is known for his cricket mind, but he says he leads through a combination of knowledge and instinct. “I am a ‘feel’ captain,” he says. “I do a lot of homework in terms of understanding certain types of players and ebbs and flows, but I also rely a lot off the feel I get off the wicket in terms of trying to read stuff”I am a very driven, motivated person. I might not be a very flamboyant person but I am quite a head boy”•Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images”It’s also about making sure my players are in the right frame of mind to execute and know how to work on various situations. I take the time to observe people and how they are and learn those people skills, because I believe characters will win me trophies and not skill.”That’s an interesting observation from someone involved in a sport that is skills-based, on multiple levels. For batters, cricket is about shot selection, changing gears, and these days, power-hitting. For bowlers, variations in deliveries and pace are essential. Maharaj says none of that is as important as what players can do when it’s crunch time.”Character wins you championships, skill wins you games. So in pressure moments, you want the character to come out, not the skill. Can the character deliver under pressure? Probably yes. Can the skill deliver under pressure? Probably not. That’s my philosophy.”Rewind to the 50-over World Cup last year. South Africa were playing Pakistan, ten days after their humbling defeat to Netherlands. Chasing 271, South Africa needed 11 off 27 balls when the final pair of Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, neither of whom is known for his batting, came together. Shamsi outside-edged and ran as though his life depended on it to get off the mark, kept a Haris Rauf yorker out, and saw off Mohammad Wasim’s searing seam. Maharaj resisted his natural urge to attack and faced 20 balls for just three runs before turning Mohammad Nawaz behind square to score the boundary that sealed the win. Character, not skill, got South Africa home. And that’s the kind of approach Maharaj has tried to get out of DSG this season.”We’ve got a strong bunch of characters this year,” he says. Heinrich Klaasen, hardened from a bout of Covid-19 that severely affected his health and being dropped from the Test team (he has since retired from the format), scored 85 off 35 balls to give DSG their opening win in a rain-affected game against MI Cape Town. Medium-pacer Junior Dala, benched for the bulk of the campaign, seized the opportunity when given and took 5 for 26 to as DSG beat Pretoria Capitals by eight runs. Others, like Matthew Breetzke, DSG’s leading run-scorer, who is now knocking on the door of the South African side, and Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran have all contributed to DSG’s success.It’s a complete turnaround from their inaugural campaign, in which they finished fifth out of six teams, winning only four matches. Although they had strong batters in Quinton de Kock and Klaasen, their bowling misfired and none of their bowlers were among the top 15 wicket-takers.This season DSG have picked a more streamlined squad, retaining their batting core but refining their bowling stocks, and have four wicket-takers in the top ten.”There is more clarity in what we are trying to achieve as a unit,” Maharaj says. “The combinations we’ve got this year are a lot more balanced. And the one thing we’ve done this year is played well at home.”DSG have won four of their five home games – and the hearts and minds of Durban’s fans, who have been recently apathetic to cricket but have flocked to a revamped Kingsmead to watch them.”A lot of guys from other teams have come and said Durban is up there with the top two best atmospheres in the SA20, from a vibe [point of view] and the crowd,” Maharaj says. “The perception of Durban has changed, uniquely. A lot of guys used to come there and be like, ‘Urgh, Durban.’ And now a lot of guys want to come back here.”We’ve got good people and Durban is probably the most relaxed place out of the provinces in South Africa. It’s basically mini-India. Everyone who has come across has fitted in really well and we’ve got a good culture in our dressing room.”Under Maharaj, Durban’s Super Giants have won seven out of ten matches in this season’s SA20•SA20Unlike some of the other franchises (Eastern Cape aside, who are coached by a local, Adrian Birrell), DSG’s support staff is built on Durbanites – Lance Klusener and Jonty Rhodes are the head coach and fielding coach respectively and their yin and yang have helped mould the team’s approach.”Lance is very relaxed and doesn’t give too much away. He is a poker face-type guy and knows how to keep a sense of calm. I don’t think much flusters him. I had the privilege of working for a long period of time in the domestic set-up and he is probably the reason why I am sitting here today, playing for South Africa and being a captain. He showed me what it is like to kick on and be a professional,” Maharaj says.”And then you get Jonty, who is just a bundle of energy. I don’t think that guy shuts down. He is like espresso in a human body. If you’re having a down day, he is walking on that field during a time-out, giving his contagious energy to guys. They always say local boys know the conditions the best, and they also draw crowds.”And so does Maharaj, who embodies the spirit of Durban by championing it as home. “For me, Durban is the best place to be. I don’t see myself anywhere else in the world or in the country. It’s been nice to be the local boy leading the team.”He was offered the captain’s job at a time when he feared he might not be retained in the set-up. “I was injured at the time – about four months post-op and I was trying to find out if I am going to be kept in the side, and they [the RPSG group, who own the Super Giants franchise] were like, ‘We want to have a Zoom call.’ I thought, ‘Oh god, what is this about,’ and then Dr Goenka [team owner Sanjiv Goenka] said, ‘We want you to lead the side.’ It was something that also gave me motivation to get back on the field again.”

****

Maharaj looked like he had been struck by a lightning bolt.He was celebrating the wicket of Kyle Mayers in a Test against West Indies last March when he abruptly fell to the ground with what was later discovered to be a ruptured Achilles. Did he think he would never play again?”I’d love to be a spin coach who not only works on the technical aspect but also the mental approach towards the pressures of being a spinner, because we are the easiest target in cricket teams”•Phill Makagoe/AFP/Getty Images”It did cross my mind. But I think I got over it very quickly when I said to myself, ‘I need to play the World Cup.'”The tournament was six months away. Typically it takes nine months to a year to completely recover from an injury that serious, but Maharaj was not going to let convention dictate his career. “I would have been shattered if I didn’t get there [to the World Cup], but I wanted to give myself the best chance of being there. It would have hurt but that was extra motivation.”Maharaj made sure he was ready not only for the tournament but also for South Africa’s preparatory series against Australia the month before. At the World Cup itself, he was South Africa’s third-highest wicket-taker, behind Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen, and had their best economy rate. He was instrumental to their win over Pakistan and their run to the last four, and was crestfallen that they could not take two steps further to the trophy.”I wanted to have that fairy-tale story, but getting to the semi-final was a huge thing,” he says. “It was not meant to be but the cricket we played was phenomenal. We went down with a fight. And we were well received when we came back and hopefully we can build on that.”For him, the outcome is only a dream deferred. “If South Africa want me, I am going to try and go for as long as possible, especially up until the 2027 World Cup. That’s my first goal. Hopefully they won’t look past me and I can still put in performances that warrant a place there, and then we will assess from there. Hopefully we can play the next three ICC events because I will feel very unfulfilled if I don’t win a World Cup.”Maharaj turned 34 on Wednesday and believes he has six years of international cricket left in him and more in the domestic game. “I want to play international cricket until I’m 40. And then I still want to play the domestic game as long as I can – maybe a year or two after my international career. I believe as a South African contracted player I have a duty and fulfilment to make our system stronger and better.”He also has plans beyond that. “I’d love to be a spin coach who not only works on the technical aspect but also the mental approach towards the pressures of being a spinner because we are the easiest target in cricket teams,” he says. “I want to make sure I am fighting for spinners to be the first selection in the team – at least one. I believe every condition around the world demands a spinner. A spinner is an asset in any team and I still believe you need a relative amount of control in T20 cricket because if you find a pot of gold in the wicket, you need someone who can be there consistently.”He said those words with a face like sunshine.

The tough Chandrakant Pandit way might not be for everyone, but it worked for his old state side – and helped him exorcise some ghosts along the way

Shashank Kishore28-Jun-2022″Maybe this was God’s way of telling me that I deserve it after 23 years.”An emotional Chandrakant Pandit reflects on Madhya Pradesh’s maiden Ranji Trophy title win, the morning after. He narrowly missed out on lifting the coveted trophy as captain in 1998-99, and the feeling of winning it as coach at the same venue of that heartbreak hasn’t fully sunk in yet.But, instead of waking up at 2.36am, like he did on the fifth day of the Ranji final on Sunday, a relaxed Pandit has woken up after sunrise. A disciplinarian when it comes to keeping time, he is ready at 8.45am sharp, the time of our meeting.Entering Pandit’s hotel room feels a bit like entering the school principal’s office. If someone is summoned, even at short notice, they are expected almost immediately.”I never ask a player, ‘can you come to my room if you’re free’,” Pandit says as he sips his morning coffee. “If we’re on a mission, I expect them to be fully committed. That was a routine we had throughout the season.”Related

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The vibes post the Ranji triumph are different, though. There are no traces of notebooks, whiteboard, stationery and everything else you’d associate with Pandit’s team meetings in the drawing room of his hotel suite.The party from the previous night, where Pandit let the boys “enjoy freedom for a change”, hasn’t had a spillover effect on his schedule though. Meetings are lined up through the day with several Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) officials, even as he is continuously flooded with calls from journalists and well-wishers. In the evening there’s a flight to catch to Indore, for a grand reception.Does he really have a chance to put his feet up and rest?”We’ll first ask Chandu sir to laugh out loud,” a beaming Aditya Shrivastava had said at the post-match media conference on Sunday. “He’s at work at any given time of the day or night. If any of the boys are eager or need help, he’s always ready. Full intensity. We’ll ask him to enjoy with us today.”Much of the narrative surrounding MP’s success has revolved around Pandit, and understandably so. Dinesh Karthik called him the Alex Ferguson of the Ranji Trophy. Irfan Pathan wondered if Pandit’s sixth Ranji title as coach would translate into an IPL coaching gig. Abhinav Mukund felt he has a magic wand.Pandit has quietly soaked all of it in, knowing fully well his methods work only because his unheralded teams – that is, unheralded barring Mumbai – buy into his methods wholeheartedly, even if it isn’t easy.

“At the international level, you have players matured enough to understand things and support staff to guide you accordingly. In domestic cricket, one person [is enough to] convey his methods easily. I don’t have a bowling or batting coach.”Chandrakant Pandit

Pandit won the Ranji Trophy as coach with Mumbai in 2002-03, 2003-04 and 2015-16, then shepherded Vidarbha to their maiden Ranji title in 2017-18, and then incredibly helped them defend it 2018-19. He was also director of cricket at Rajasthan when they defended their title – again, only their second ever – in 2011-12.His journey as MP coach began in 2020, just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit. He was mulling offers from three teams when MP joined the queue. The itch to banish the ghosts from 1998-99 – something that comes up regularly during our chat – had him sign up with his old state side.”I was at my village in March 2020 when Sanjeev Rao, the MPCA secretary, called me,” Pandit remembers. “Someone had told him I was taking a break after my stint with Vidarbha. I thought why not go back to MP. After all, I’d played six years for them. Then the thought of missing out on winning the Ranji Trophy in 1998-99 came to me. Maybe it was God’s way of telling me to accept the offer.”He signed up, with a few terms and conditions clearly laid out. Among them were being given a free hand in selection and total freedom to run the show his way.When he got down to work, he interviewed every single MP probable. “Around 150 for Ranji,” he says. These interviews would add up to days, weeks even, but it was a vital building block for Pandit. His impressions of each of the players he spoke to are all neatly tucked away in his office at the Holkar Stadium.In it are details such as his first impressions of the players, how they had progressed as cricketers, and the road map ahead. I ask him if any players have turned his early impressions of them wholly around. He cites the example of Venkatesh Iyer, whom he found hesitant to begin with.Chandrakant Pandit has now won six Ranji Trophy titles as a coach•ESPNcricinfo Ltd”Iyer used to bat at No. 6 and invariably score 20 not out, 24 not out,” he says. “I kept telling him in between he’s good enough to be an opener.”He asked, ‘if I fail what happens?’ I said while I’m around here, nothing will happen. Then he asked, ‘what happens once you go?’ I said by then you will cement your place. Now, he’s with the Indian team and it’s all his efforts.”The move up the order worked wonders for Iyer. He topped MP’s T20 run charts in the 2020-21 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with 227 runs in five innings at an average of 75.66 and a strike rate of 149.34. Then, in the one-day competition, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he hit a blistering 146-ball 198 against Punjab that helped Madhya Pradesh amass 402 for 3.Iyer is one of many such examples. There’s Yash Dubey who hadn’t opened in 28 innings prior to this season. In his first outing at the top, he made a career-best 289 against Kerala and then, three games later, another century in the final. Himanshu Mantri was also similarly pushed up to open alongside Dubey.Pacer Ishwar Pandey’s issues with injuries forced Pandit to look elsewhere. When the selection committee proposed Anubhav Agarwal, it took him few practice games to be convinced here was a ready replacement.”I asked the players their preferences when we conducted these interviews,” Pandit says. “Aditya said he was shunted up and down the order. I said, ‘you tell me what number you’d like Let’s decide now’. He said, I’d like to bat five. Then I gave the option to Shubham Sharma to open, he said ‘I’d love to bat at three’. We fixed that.Pacer Ishwar Pandey’s injury issues forced MP to look beyond him, and in came Anubhav Agarwal•PTI “Rajat Patidar used to bat three when Shubham hadn’t played a couple of games. I told him, ‘Rajat I need you at No. 4’. He said I’d love to bat three. Then I told him he’s our run-getter and if our opening stand is good, he can really do some damage in the middle order. I told him there’s security, and he won’t be dropped.”I told Himanshu Mantri I’m looking at you as an opener. I liked his technique, the temperament of leaving the ball. The idea was to fix up a number and get the fear out of the players. Akshat Raghuwanshi, the 18-year-old, I said go out and play your game. I don’t want him to lose his flair.”Pandit is clear there’s only a “little leeway” for those who don’t buy his methods but are still beneficial to the team. This isn’t because of ego, but because he wants everyone – senior or junior – to abide by the same rules.Much of his ideas are hard-taskmaster-like, and you wonder if it comes at a risk of the players not thinking for themselves. Pandit clarifies he isn’t one bit averse to players speaking up, even if he finds them hesitant.”Now they’re slowly opening up and giving their views,” he says. “Many times, during a game I keep a board and ask the players to write their observations. They’re free to write what they feel, and we talk about it later.”It’s just to educate them instead of just me passing on ideas. If a partnership is on, I ask them to write things like what they could’ve done better. It’s totally anonymous, I don’t go to that part of the dressing room. I don’t want them to write with the pressure of what I will think.

“Aditya [Shrivastava] was supposed to get married last year and asked me, ‘sir, which date should I pick?’ I told him only in June and that too only for two-three days, you will not get time to go on your honeymoon because we had started our preparations.”Chandrakant Pandit’s methods might not be for everyone

“This final was the only game where I handled the board. I didn’t want them to waste time on that. The learning process in a league phase is different, in the final I can’t have such discussions. I can’t be diverting their attention to what they should be writing on the board when there’s a game to win.”I ask him if this style could work outside the domestic system. “At the international level, you have players matured enough to understand things and support staff to guide you accordingly,” he says. “In domestic cricket, one person [is enough to] convey his methods easily. I don’t have a bowling or batting coach. Too many things can confuse a player. The grasping ability of [young] players isn’t the same at the domestic level.”As well as he has delivered over the years, Pandit’s methods aren’t for everyone. It has worked wonders at MP, like it did with Vidarbha, because they are teams that come with a tremendous hunger to topple the bigger teams like Mumbai, Karnataka and Delhi.Pandit admits success comes at the cost of several sacrifices. In a cut-throat world, he sees no other way.”I remember Aditya [Shrivastava] was supposed to get married last year and asked me, ‘sir, which date should I pick?’ I told him only in June and that too only for two-three days, you will not get time to go on your honeymoon because we had started our preparations.”Shrivastava grins cheekily in response. “It has been a year since I got married and I have still not gone on my honeymoon.”Even if this leaves him quietly disappointed, he isn’t going to let it show. He has bought into Pandit’s methods wholeheartedly. The rest of the team has followed along too, and the results are there for everyone to see.

How much worse will it get for du Plessis and company before it gets better?

Andrew Fidel Fernando01-Feb-2020The playground harassment
South Africa are not in a good way. They’ve recently lost Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla, two of their greatest players ever. They had such a poor World Cup campaign last year they didn’t even get the chance to pull off a high-comedy choke. Their board was in turmoil as well. It was sad to see them struggle on so many fronts, many felt. The sport can’t afford for South Africa to dip so drastically, the cricket world agreed. Then England showed up, and like bullies picking on the weakest kid in school, kicked South Africa in the groin in Cape Town, stole their lunch money in Port Elizabeth, and rubbed their faces in the dirt in Johannesburg. On top of which Jos Buttler called Vernon Philander a fatty in Philander’s last series ever, and Ben Stokes called a South Africa supporter a “f**king four-eyed c**t”.The triple-trip tour
Is Pakistan safe? This is a question the Bangladesh Cricket Board pondered for months. Or at least this is the question they said they were pondering. There was nothing they didn’t supposedly consider – whether limited-overs games are a safer option than Tests, whether the team should be flown back to Dhaka in between matches, whether rising tensions between the US and Iran would make it more risky, and probably whether this kind of sports engagement is even appropriate following the planet-shaking revelations that Meghan and Harry will be stepping away from royal duties. Then, after weeks of insisting they just wanted a simple in-and-out T20I tour for security reasons, the BCB’s president met with the PCB’s head honcho and confirmed that they would be coming not just once, for T20Is, but coming back for a first Test, and then a third time for a second Test, in the most convoluted touring schedule in recent memory.The karma black hole
How many hearts can one team win until that team gets sick of winning just hearts? On Wednesday, New Zealand were on the wrong side of a Super Over result for the third time in eight months, having of course cruelly lost the World Cup in similar fashion, before being beaten by England in a Super Over again last year. As the undisputed nicest fellows in the world they are generating industrial amounts of good karma, but clearly this karma is being misplaced. Somewhere in the world a monster who never indicates in traffic keeps winning lottery.The long-term prank
Angelo Mathews knew that former coach Chandika Hathurusingha wanted him to lose weight. In fact, back in October 2018, Hathurusingha even suggested publicly that Mathews needed to work on his fitness, after he was part of the decision to sack Mathews as captain and drop him from the ODI team. Mathews, though, was publicly defiant of Hathurusingha, and never quite lost all the weight.Then, last month, just as SLC finally got around to terminating Hathurusingha’s contract as head coach, Mathews turned up for the T20Is against India rocking a flat stomach and exactly the slim physique Hathurusingha had wanted.Show some respect
In the last week of January, Kevin Pietersen launched a two-part Twitter tirade at the “cry babies” criticising Boris Johnson and Donald Trump, suggesting that their detractors should “keep it zipped” because these men are in positions of authority. Wait till he hears about the guy who seriously undermined the captaincy of Andrew Strauss that one time.Next month on the Briefing- The England team spot Faf du Plessis (who averaged 18.86 in the Test series) on the side of the road. They all jump out of their bus and give him a wedgie.- The Bangladesh Cricket Board wonders if the fallout from Brexit could put their tour of Pakistan in fresh jeopardy.- New Zealand endure another close heartbreak. Cigarette stocks soar worldwide.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Moody: Ridiculous how far ahead of the rest Bumrah is

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

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

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

Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal's father has been accused of 'provoking Real Betis fans' in a tense exchange during the club's win in La Liga on Saturday. Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick, while Yamal and Roony Bardghji were also on target as the Catalan giants clinched an eight-goal thriller and extended their lead over second-placed Real Madrid to four points.

• Yamal shines with a goal in Barca's win

  Yamal started in Hansi Flick's starting lineup against Betis, alongside Marcus Rashford and Torres as veteran forward Robert Lewandowski was rested for the clash. Torres stole the limelight for the visitors as he scored a first half hat-trick after Manchester United flop Antony handed the hosts an early lead. Young summer signing Roony Bardghji also scored in the first half, bagging his first La Liga goal, as the Catalan giants enjoyed a 4-1 lead at the break.

  Around the hour mark, Barcelona won a penalty and Yamal took the spot-kick to further extend his team's lead. Diego Llorente and Cucho Hernandez scored a couple of late goals but the defending champions finally emerged victorious and walked away with a crucial three points. 

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  Yamal's father clashed with home fans

  While the teenager's performance on the pitch was excellent, his father landed himself in trouble after reportedly clashing with Real Betis fans at the stadium. According to the situation in the stands, where Yamal's father was seated, turned hostile after he deliberately provoked home supporters surrounding him near his seat. 

  He reportedly made gestures, which in turn angered the local fans as they became hostile, leading to heckling and tense moments. A stadium security officer had to intervene and he could be clearly seen approaching Yamal's father to ask him to calm down. Yago, though, later claimed (via ): "I just asked my friend who's there, and he said that for the moment things have calmed down, but there was a moment when he even thought something might happen."

• Yamal declared La Liga Player of the Month

  The Spanish sensation delivered a dominant run of form across Barcelona’s four La Liga fixtures in November, scoring against Elche, Celta Vigo and Deportivo Alaves while adding two assists in the Catalan side’s emphatic win over Athletic Club. Yamal’s standout moments included a two-assist display on Barcelona’s return to Camp Nou and another goal-and-assist performance against Alaves to close out the month. 

  Yamal's decisive impact in each fixture reinforced the sense that he had fully rediscovered rhythm and confidence after recent injury struggles. The 18-year-old's explosive contributions helped Barcelona win every league match during the month, propelling him past rivals including Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann in the final vote for La Liga's Player of the Month for November. The teenager's final November tally of three goals and three assists extended his league-leading creative total to eight assists. 

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  Yamal loving success at Barcelona

  At just 18, Yamal is already a generational talent who is destined to achieve great success in his professional career. He has already drawn comparisons with Argentina and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi for his exceptional talent and goalscoring ability.

  Speaking about the success he has achieved thus far, the youngster said: "Where I used to play, in my neighbourhood, there were walls where people would sit and there was no better feeling than getting the people who were sitting there to stand up and laugh at the opponents. I think it’s the best feeling in the world and something that reminds me of that a lot is when I’m playing on the field and the fans get up and are surprised by a play I’ve made. I can’t feel pressure when playing football. I just try to enjoy it. I think that my friends and family have been through harder things than me just playing football.

  "Football is everything to me. It’s the first love of my life and it will remain so. It’s one of the sports where everyone is on an equal footing. I don’t think I’ve ever felt pressure playing football. My parents faced real pressure as young parents. Managing family, work, being happy, and buying gifts… that’s real pressure for me."

Several players showed up for the pair of friendlies vs. Italy, led by Cat Macario's three goals, Jaedyn Shaw's first goal on the year, and a two-game shutout from Claudia Dickey.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The USWNT closed out the calendar year with a confident 2-0 win over UEFA Women’s Euro semifinalist Italy, sealing back-to-back victories over the Azzurre in three days and finishing 2025 with a 12-0-3 record. It was a year of firsts for the Americans: 43 players earned their senior debuts, the most in a single year since 2001.

It was a near-perfect conclusion for head coach Emma Hayes, who spent the year stress-testing the depth chart, integrating new faces and challenging the group to evolve its style of play. For the rematch with Italy, Hayes made five changes to the XI and started three teenagers – Lily Yohannes, Claire Hutton and Jordyn Bugg. Alongside them, Lindsey Heaps earned her 170th cap, tying former captain Carla Overbeck for 20th on the all-time appearance list. The blend of emerging talent and veterans has defined the arc of the U.S. program this year.

“My goal is always to create successive, competitive teams,” Hayes said. “Not just one team and then you have to rebuild again over another four-year period. This is how I know to build teams.”

The USWNT will now break before reconvening for January camp and the first friendlies of 2026. World Cup qualifying looms as the primary focus heading into the new cycle. Cat Macario’s three goals across the two Italy matches led the way, while goalkeeper Claudia Dickey capped her year with consecutive shutouts as the reshaped U.S. defense continued to settle in.

Who stood out? Whose stock rose, and whose fell? GOAL takes a look.

ImagnStock up: Cat Macario

It’s hard not to love Macario, whose return to full form has been nothing short of remarkable. Now the USWNT’s leading scorer this year with eight goals, she was the clear focal point across both matches against Italy.

Macario wasn’t just clean and disciplined in her hold-up play – she delivered. She scored a brace in the first meeting and added an electric finish in the second, and realistically could have had more. The Chelsea forward has five goals in her last three U.S. appearances, and her output helped the Americans secure their ninth win in 10 games. Yohannes mentioned how Macario's finishing ability makes her top class and an easy player to assist. 

"Cat is just such a special player, and I know if she gets the ball in front of the goal, 10 times out of 10, it is probably going to be a goal," Yohannes said. 

There’s no holding Macario back now. Walking through the mixed zone afterward, she carried the look of someone who felt both pride and a growing sense of normalcy – back on the pitch, scoring goals, and doing it alongside teammates she calls friends.

AdvertisementImagnStock down: Alyssa Thompson

It feels almost harsh to say Alyssa Thompson’s stock dipped, but across the two matches against Italy, her influence wasn’t at its usual level. Thompson started both games and remained her typically dynamic, impossible-to-contain self in flashes – yet she struggled to find her usual rhythm out wide.

Her best moments with the USWNT often come when she cuts inside and drives directly at defenders, but those opportunities were limited in both fixtures. When she did get on the ball, she more often looked for quick combinations through midfield rather than attacking players one-on-one.

It’s been a whirlwind year for the newly signed Chelsea forward, and with Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith set to return, competition in the front line is about to intensify. For Thompson, continuing to lean into what makes her unique will be critical as the attacking depth chart tightens.

ImagnStock up: Rose Lavelle

Rose Lavelle featured in only one of the two matches against Italy – understandable after her heroic, title-winning goal that lifted Gotham FC past the Washington Spirit in the 2025 NWSL Championship.

The Championship MVP didn’t look like she missed a beat despite the rapid turnaround from club to country. She was everywhere in midfield and set the tone early, slipping a clever ball to Olivia Moultrie for the opening goal inside the first 90 seconds. Lavelle now has three assists this year and 27 in her USWNT career.

Her soccer IQ remains unmatched: she sees gaps that shouldn’t be there and combines in spaces that appear far too tight. Earning her 116th cap, Lavelle is firmly a veteran presence in this group – and will be paramount in steering the U.S. toward the 2027 World Cup.

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Getty ImagesStock down: Emma Sears

Racing Louisville forward Emma Sears didn’t quite replicate the success she’s shown in earlier USWNT appearances. She covered ground relentlessly after coming on in the second half, but her timing was a bit off – runs came a step late, and the finishing touch wasn’t there.

Sears’ work rate on the wing is almost unmatched, but the competition for wide attacking spots is fierce. On nights when she doesn’t produce a goal, an assist, or a clear impact while others do, it becomes harder to strengthen her case. Even so, Sears remains firmly in the mix for Hayes. Her energy as a first-off-the-bench option is valuable – the kind of spark teams rely on during long tournament runs.

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has backed Brazilian wonderkid Estevao Willian to emulate Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal but warned against comparisons ahead of the Champions League showdown between the European giants. Although his minutes have been carefully managed and he is not yet a guaranteed starter, Estevao has made an impressive start to life at Stamford Bridge, making five goal contributions already.

Estevao's dream debut season in England

Estevao has already become a useful part of Maresca's first-team squad as he regularly features in matches for the Blues at the age of 18. He has appeared in 16 games across all competitions for Chelsea in his debut season at Stamford Bridge, scoring four goals and providing one assist. 

Last month, Maresca lavished praise on the young winger as the Italian said: "It’s exciting to see him. The good thing about Estevao, sometimes with young players we are worried, because they have one good game and they think they are already [at the] top. Estavao, he’s playing well but he’s polite, he’s humble, he wants to learn. I think his family are also doing a big job there, so we are very happy not only with the way he’s performing. But he’s a nice boy, a good boy. In the Premier League he needs a little bit more time. I think he’s more [of a] winger, but he’s going to finish playing inside the pitch, in the pockets. For me personally, he's fantastic because he's a special player, but at the same time you don't have to be worried. Now he's going to play one game, two games, score, and he's already thinking that he knows how good he is."

AdvertisementGettyMaresca wants Estevao to emulate Yamal's success story

Speaking to reporters ahead of the club's upcoming Champions League clash against Spanish champions Barcelona, Maresca said: "Estevao is already playing a high level, starting already with Brazil. For sure, he is very young, for sure, he can do many things better, but we are very happy with him. Now, for me, it's more or less the same thing I said about Pedri, it is nice for people who love football to watch players like Estevao, Lamine Yamal, Pedri – this is the beauty of football. We are happy Estevao is with us and for sure he is going to do well."

The Blues boss added: "He is going to be an important player for sure for this club, no doubt. The most important thing for Estevao is that he has to enjoy fully, he has to be happy, and not think about being better than this player or another player, but only think about himself and try to be a better than himself day by day, try to work hard, improve and for sure he is going to be a top player for this club."

Estevao hailed as a 'genius'

Earlier this month, ahead of Brazil's friendly match against Tunisia, the North African nation's head coach Sami Trabelsi spoke highly of Estevao as he told reporters: "I think he's a new football genius emerging, very young. I think he's doing very well and he's a player who can be expected to be among the greats, among the best in the world, certainly, in the coming years. If he manages to have good performances or win titles, whether with his club or national team, he will be among the players who, in the coming years, could even compete for the Ballon d'Or. He brings many solutions, a lot of techniques, a lot of genius. There aren't many players of that level, of that category of genius, on the world stage."

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Getty ImagesEstevao cannot afford to get carried away

Estevao is undoubtedly a special talent and is getting the perfect exposure at Chelsea under Maresca. He has also enjoyed excellent form for his national team, as he scored in both the friendlies Brazil played in November. However, amid all the praise, the teenager has to maintain consistency and cannot afford to lose concentration and get carried away. The youngster will hope to shine for the Blues on Tuesday when they take on Catalan giants Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in a Champions League clash.

Elland Road can be a daunting place for opposition teams to travel to, as Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham United found out the hard way on Friday night.

Leeds United’s famous home ground was rocking after Daniel Farke’s Whites had fired home two goals inside the opening 15 minutes, with a late Mateus Fernandes effort from the away side not enough to rid the hosts of their second home win in the Premier League this season so far.

Now, Farke’s men have three games on the road in November against tough outfits such as Brighton and Hove Albion and Manchester City, making it intriguing to see where the West Yorkshire outfit lies in the early standings after all their traveling next month.

The German will hope Sean Longstaff continues to perform in these pressurised situations, with the former Newcastle United midfielder proving to be a steal already, after his services were secured for a modest £12m this summer.

Longstaff's impressive Leeds performances

It shouldn’t come as the greatest shock, though, that Longstaff is well-equipped with what it takes to be a success in the Premier League, having accumulated 171 top-flight appearances on the books of the Magpies.

Still, he wasn’t always appreciated at St James’ Park, as the Newcastle-born star often faded into the background. In West Yorkshire, however, he’s one of Farke’s leading men so far this season, with the 27-year-old even picking up Leeds’ Player of the month accolade for September.

He was a deserving winner, too, with Longstaff’s chance creation total for the season already coming in at a whopping 17, which is only eclipsed by Manchester United stalwart Bruno Fernandes.

The ex-Tyneside prodigy has a healthy tally of one goal and two assists next to his name in league action, subsequently.

But, it isn’t just in an attacking capacity where the well-rounded midfielder shines, with an impressive five duels also won on average across his nine top-flight outings in Leeds’ white, backing up previous claims by Magpies great Alan Shearer that Longstaff is an “unbelievable” talent.

It has even led to shouts that Longstaff is “one of the best signings in the PL”, period, according to journalist Daniel Storey. However, there could be an even more important part of the jigsaw at the ex-Norwich City boss’s disposal in this exciting attacking star.

Leeds United's most important player

There are arguments all over the pitch surrounding who could be Leeds’ most important cog, with Joe Rodon surely a front-runner in this regard, as the no-nonsense Welshman headed home another goal last time out to steer the Whites to a 2-1 win.

Yet, if Rodon were to go down with an injury, Farke at least has Pascal Struijk he can fall back on. Likewise, suppose Longstaff were to fall victim to a knock himself. In that case, the promotion-winning manager also has the likes of Ilia Gruev in reserve, alongside knowing that Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka will do a sterling job in being equally lively and combative if needed.

Unfortunately, Farke isn’t quite so blessed with the same levels of depth in attack, with Brenden Aaronson having to fill in as a right-wing option against the Hammers, which he did so effortlessly. Thankfully, Leeds haven’t had to rely on a ropey Jack Harrison too much this season on the opposing left channel, as Noah Okafor has got up and running in the Premier League without much trouble.

The Swiss international – who had European pedigree already coming into the building with the likes of AC Milan – has been a breath of fresh air down the left as a direct, gung-ho option, with journalist Oscar Mario claiming that Okafor is Leeds’ “most important player” as he “raises everyone else’s game around him” by being a “class difference maker.”

Games played

6

Games started

5

Minutes played

353 mins

Goals scored

2

Assists

0

Indeed, at the very start of the season, it looked as if Leeds were going to struggle to be a front-foot side on their return to the challenging Premier League.

However, with Okafor constantly bombing down the left – as seen in his incredible six successful dribbles against Wolverhampton Wanderers in September – Leeds look less likely to retreat into their shell and potentially accept their relegation fate. It also helps that he has an end product to show for all his quick darts forward so far, with two strikes already next to his name.

It will be a full team effort that ensures Leeds don’t fall straight back down to the Championship, but with Farke already dropping a Leeds mainstay in Dan James for Okafor, he will surely be a key player between now and May rolling around.

Leeds plot double January deal for exciting forward and 'new Busquets'

He would add great depth in the middle of the park.

ByHenry Jackson Oct 25, 2025

Hansi Flick refused to abandon Barcelona’s attacking principles despite a chaotic 3-3 draw with Club Brugge in the Champions League. The German coach insisted his side’s issues stem from lapses in intensity and not tactics after the Catalans came from behind three times to salvage a point on another frustrating European night.

• Barcelona's defensive woes resurface in six-goal thriller

  Barcelona’s Champions League campaign hit another roadblock as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Club Brugge in Belgium. It is their ninth consecutive game without a clean sheet, making it the club’s worst defensive run since 2013 when they conceded in 13 straight matches.

  Flick’s men found themselves chasing the game all night, with the hosts exploiting Barca’s high defensive line to score three times, each time forcing the visitors to claw back. While the comeback spirit was commendable, the fragility without the ball was impossible to ignore. 

  The result leaves Barcelona with seven points from four group-stage matches, still well-positioned but increasingly vulnerable. After the match, Flick cut a frustrated figure, hinting at stern words for his squad while brushing off suggestions that his tactical model was to blame.

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  Flick stands firm on his 'philosophy' despite Brugge setback

  Speaking to after the draw, Flick made it clear that while his team’s lack of intensity was unacceptable, he will not compromise on his footballing principles.

  "We can defend in the final third, but we'll stick to our philosophy because we can do better," the German said. "When you lack intensity, you have no chance, especially in the Champions League. Club Brugge played very well, as I expected, and I told the players that. Last year's 1-0 goal would have been two meters offside. But we want to play our game. A 3-3 draw isn't the best result for us, but the positive aspect of the match is that we managed to come back after they took the lead three times. We do need to talk about this, though."

  He elaborated further on Barca’s problems in key areas of the pitch: “It’s not just about defending in the back line, but also in midfield. We have to be alert when they create chances in one or two touches. It’s not easy, not easy at all. We did create several chances, but the truth is they played very well. They were very aggressive, obviously in a positive way.”

  The 60-year-old admitted his side struggled to impose their usual pressing game, a recurring issue in recent weeks. “The truth is that we haven't been able to press the ball effectively; we've lost many duels, especially in midfield, which was crucial against such fast players. For us, it's about intensity when we don't have the ball. Above all, we need to be alert when they create chances with just one or two touches. I'm sure we'll improve on that.”

• Injuries, fatigue and focus – Flick defends his model

  The ex-Bayern boss was firm in his response to critics calling for tactical changes, stressing that Barcelona’s problems lie in execution, not ideology.

  "This is always about the team, he said. "We did well last Sunday, but today, only a few times. We have to work on this. We're the same team. We know it's not our best moment, but I'm going to look at it positively and think that after the break, when Joan Garcia, Raphinha, and Pedri return, and Olmo and Lewandowski are at a different level, we'll improve."

  When asked if it was time to rethink the system, Flick replied with conviction: "I'm not going to repeat myself. The solution isn't to change. We are Barca. Our football is about being active, playing with intensity. With and without the ball. We have to work on this. And when everyone returns from injury, we'll see how it goes."

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  Focus turns to Celta Vigo amid growing pressure

  Barcelona’s draw in Brugge leaves them 11th in the overall Champions League standings, still in contention but struggling for consistency. Flick now faces the challenge of regrouping a weary squad ahead of Sunday’s La Liga trip to Celta Vigo, with the Catalans sitting second, five points behind leaders Real Madrid.

  Despite the turbulence, Flick remains steadfast in his belief that intensity and discipline not tactical overhauls will lead the Catalan giants back to form. As the German put it: “We are Barca. We don’t back down we get better.”