Everton are “plotting” a move for a “highly-rated” young talent in the summer transfer window, according to a fresh update from journalist Pete O’Rourke.
Moyes demanding more from Everton ahead of new season
The Blues lost 1-0 at home to Roma at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday afternoon, with more fans given the chance to see their impressive new ground. Everton manager David Moyes was far from delighted after the game, however, wanting improvements heading into the new Premier League season, even though he was full of praise for certain new signings and the stadium.
“First half, I thought we were OK but we didn’t play well enough in the second half. We missed a couple of opportunities to get in front; we didn’t take them. We have got a lot to do, haven’t we? I thought Kiernan done well. I thought he gave us some quality, and we could see the difference in his level. Some of the things he did was very good. Really pleased with that part.
“I thought Thierno Barry had moments as well. It’s a brilliant football ground, it’s a great stadium, and hopefully it gets a chance to see some really good players and teams in the future.”
More business between now and September 1st will allow Everton to grow further as a team, with right-back an area of the pitch that needs reinforcements, and a potential addition has been linked with a move there.
Everton eyeing move for "highly-rated" defender
According to Football Insider’s O’Rourke on X, Everton are now “plotting” a move for Norwich City right-back Kellen Fisher this summer.
Not a huge amount may be known about Fisher amongst Blues supporters, but he is a young player who has already blossomed at Norwich, starting 34 out of 46 Championship matches last season, and featuring as a substitute at home to Millwall over the weekend.
Appearances
38
Starts
34
Minutes played
2707
Clearances per game
1.7
Tackles per game
1.6
Yellow cards
10
Goals
0
Assists
4
Pass completion rate
88.3%
Not only that, but the 21-year-old registered four league assists in 2024/25, which is more than any Blues defender managed in the Premier League, with midfielder Dwight McNeil (six) the only player to bag more than him.
This highlights the attacking quality that Fisher could provide from right-back, and his age means that Everton would be signing a long-term prospect who should only go from strength to strength.
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For too long, the Blues have had ageing starters at right-back, from Seamus Coleman to Ashley Young, and it is important that Moyes now focuses more on youth.
He will join India’s squad ahead of the second Test in Adelaide
Nagraj Gollapudi17-Nov-20246:58
‘You could see Nitish Kumar Reddy making his Test debut’
Rohit Sharma will not be available to lead India in first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which starts on November 22 at the Optus Stadium in Perth. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Rohit, who stayed back home for the birth of his second child, will join the India squad ahead of the second Test, which is a day-night match starting on December 6 in Adelaide.While Rohit had communicated to the BCCI and national selectors in advance that he could miss the Perth Test, he had kept open the option of last-minute travel based on when the child was born. Rohit and his wife Ritika welcomed their second child on Friday, a week ahead of the first Test, prompting the possibility of his travelling to Perth. However, he told the BCCI he will be available to play the two-day, pink-ball warm-up game against the Australian Prime Minister’s XI from November 30 before the day-night Test in Adelaide.Related
Rohit to join India squad in Australia on November 24
India's likely XI: Rahul set to open, Padikkal No. 3, and Jurel in the middle order
Can Jaiswal counter fire with fire in Australia?
Injured Gill to miss first Test in Perth with fractured thumb
Boost for India as KL Rahul returns to bat in Sunday training
Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is set to lead India in Perth in Rohit’s absence. Bumrah has led India in one Test previously, the fifth Test of their two-part 2021-22 tour of England at Edgbaston, when Rohit had tested positive for Covid-19.India are now set to begin the Test series without two members of their first-choice top three, with No. 3 Shubman Gill also set to miss the Perth Test with a fractured thumb. KL Rahul and the uncapped Abhimanyu Easwaran were the two main candidates to open alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal in Rohit’s absence, but there is now a chance that both will feature in the XI.Rahul had briefly come under an injury cloud himself, having gone off the field after taking a blow to the elbow while batting against Prasidh Krishna during the first day of the Indians’ intra-squad practice match at the WACA. Those fears were assuaged on Sunday morning, though, when Rahul returned to the crease and batted for about an hour.Apart from Abhimanyu and Rahul, India will have another top-order candidate in Devdutt Padikkal, who was part of India A’s shadow tour of Australia and has stayed back with the Test squad. Padikkal has played one Test for India, against England in Dharamsala earlier this year.With four days remaining for the first Test, the Indian think tank led by head coach Gautam Gambhir has been challenged on several fronts. This is India’s first overseas Test series under Gambhir and his coaching staff comprising Morne Morkel, Abhishek Nayar and Ryan ten Doeschate, and it follows an unprecedented 3-0 defeat to New Zealand, India’s first ever whitewash in a home series of three or more Tests.In the absence of Rohit and Gill, India may look to add to their batting depth by playing one of their two seam-bowling allrounders at No. 8. Both Nitish Kumar Reddy, a batting allrounder from Andhra, and Harshit Rana, a hit-the-deck bowling allrounder for Delhi, are yet to make their Test debuts.After training at the WACA over this week, India will shift to the Optus Stadium from Tuesday.
Rajiv Shukla pointed to the ground’s age and ownership structure to highlight the difficulty of redoing its outfield
ESPNcricinfo staff30-Sep-2024
There was no play possible on days two and three of the Kanpur Test•AFP/Getty Images
BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla has defended the facilities at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, which have come under fire after two days of play in the second India-Bangladesh Test were abandoned, one of them despite no rain during the scheduled hours of play.”Well, criticism is one thing which we are used to in the administration of the BCCI in cricket. But everything is being criticised,” Shukla said on Monday. “When we are not giving matches to Kanpur because [of certain reasons], then also I was being criticised. Now we are giving the match and I am still being criticised why it has been given to Kanpur. So that goes on.”You know the problem is that this ground is around 80 years old. It is our heritage ground. If you remember it used to be a permanent Test centre. The original six permanent Test centres were Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Kanpur. This is a permanent centre. So the whole idea was to have Test matches here. This is the first time in 80 years that it rained so much that we were not able to host the match for two days.”There was precious little rain during the hours of play on both the second and the third days which were lost. The damage was done in the hours leading up to play on both days and the drainage system seemed unable to handle the workload it was put under.Related
Kanpur outfield earns 'unsatisfactory' rating and demerit point
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Persistent drizzle in Kanpur washes out second day
Third day of Kanpur Test called off despite no rain
How Green Park made cricket disappear
Shukla, who was born in Kanpur and wields considerable influence in UP cricket, said there have been no matches abandoned at Green Park (a 2017 Duleep Trophy game, however, witnessed no play on three out of four days) and eventually conceded the need for upgrades.”The history suggests that no match has been abandoned here in Kanpur. There are many venues in the world where because of the rains, matches have been abandoned. So here if for two days the match couldn’t take place, I don’t think there should be too much hue and cry,” Shukla said. “When this ground was being built, and the stadium was being built, then those technologies were not available. Now technologies are available. Like in our Lucknow stadium, we have got that technology. And in Varanasi, we are building another stadium. There we have got high-tech, modern technology to take away the rainwater.”Here also we are planning. Today I had a discussion with administration about how we can develop this system by which the rainwater can immediately be [drained].”The Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association [UPCA] uses the Green Park Stadium on the basis of an MoU they have signed with the UP government. The government owns the land but based on the MoU, the stadium and its upkeep are the responsibility of the UPCA.”The moment I came here, I had a long discussion with government officials because this stadium belongs to the government. We are in agreement with them,” Shukla said, “So, now for that, the ground has to be dug, new technology has to be applied and everything has to be done. So, immediately after coming here, I had a discussion with the authorities and they are also on the same page and I think we will be able to improve the conditions here shortly.”Sometimes it happens, though we all pray to [the rain god] Lord Indra, not to rain, but, you know, it happens. And it happens throughout the world. So, why unnecessarily Kanpur and Green Park is being blamed for something which is in nature’s hands?”
Everton are readying themselves to bring in more arrivals under David Moyes and have now made an approach for a new striker, according to a report.
Everton plotting to make more signings
Continuing their pre-season preparations, the Toffees suffered a 1-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park ahead of their trip to the United States for the Premier League Summer Series.
Reacting after a disappointing day at the office, new signing Mark Travers believes his side will become stronger over the coming weeks once fitness is restored at Finch Farm.
Sheffield United's Callum O'Hare in action with Middlesbrough's MarkTravers
He stated: “It’s really good to get 90 minutes under my belt. I’d say it’s a disappointing result, but we’re still early in pre-season. The lads are just getting their fitness levels up. I’m really excited to get my first game early in pre-season and I’m looking forward to the rest of pre-season now.”
Of course, part of the improvement to come will take shape in the form of signings at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, and Everton have entered the race to sign Celtic forward Daizen Maeda following his 33-goal return last season.
However, Tottenham Hotspur, Brentford and West Ham United are also keen on the Japan international, who could become a new addition to their forward line after Thierno Barry arrived from Villarreal.
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Meanwhile, Douglas Luiz and Conor Gallagher may strengthen the Toffees’ midfield. Respectively, Juventus and Atletico Madrid could be tempted by the prospect of selling either player for considerable financial gain.
Right now, it still feels like the Friedkin Group have plenty of work to do in a transitional summer, but Everton may feel they could have gained an edge in the hunt for another striker signing.
Everton make approach for Rangers star Hamza Igamane
According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri on X, Everton have made an approach for Rangers striker Hamza Igamane by means of an enquiry. At the same time, Feyenoord and Udinese have also emerged as suitors for the Morocco international.
LOSC Lille appeared in pole position to bring him to France. However, their deal with the Scottish Premiership outfit is now on hold after struggling to find a breakthrough in negotiations despite already agreeing personal terms.
Last term, the 22-year-old scored 16 times in 46 appearances across all competitions, leading to Derek Ferguson labelling him “brilliant” after an effort in a 3-0 win away at Ross County.
Everton appear like they are looking to take a foothold in the race for his signature, but any movement may depend on whether Rangers are willing to budge from their £17 million valuation of Igamane, which has been widely reported.
In a few months, Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur will walk onto the grass and align to sing the Champions League tune. They will compete among Europe’s elite, and they will be determined to wade deep into the competition.
With Ange Postecoglou’s injury-ravaged side languishing so pitifully low in the Premier League, triumph in the Europa League became not so much a goal as a means of survival, a way of stopping the rot that had crept over a dusty trophy cabinet for so many years.
The Australian coach is now immortal, his brazen comments at the start of the 2024/25 campaign now a most incredible declaration of faith in his title-winning pedigree.
But change was needed, and change has been enforced. While Spurs are pushing ahead with the signing of West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus after seeing an initial £50m offer rejected (positive talks are continuing and the player wants the move), defensive additions are surely needed after such a leaky year.
The latest on Tottenham's defensive situation
Tottenham were pretty awful at the rear last season. While injuries played a big part in the drama, Postecoglou should have done better with curbing his side’s fragilities.
Premier League 24/25 – Most Goals Conceded
#
Club
Final Pos.
Goals Conceded
16.
Tottenham
17th
65
17.
Wolves
16th
69
18.
Leicester
18th
80
19.
Ipswich
19th
82
20.
Southampton
20th
86
Data via Transfermarkt
Cristian Romero has spent portions of the past two campaigns sidelined through injury, but he’s still one of the best centre-backs in the world, and Atletico Madrid’s efforts to sign the 27-year-old for around £60m are concerning to say the least.
Frank wants to keep the Argentina titan at Spurs, but money talks, and no mistake.
Should he leave, a replacement will certainly be required. And as per Caught Offside, Tottenham have joined Man United and Newcastle United in lining up a move for Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini, who is available this summer for around €60m (£51m).
In fact, the outlet believe that this incipient transfer saga could develop in the coming weeks, with clubs preparing to open dialogues with the Serie A side.
Atalanta defender Giorgio Scalvini
Scalvini, 22, also has suitors in Italy, so Spurs will want to be swift in their bid.
Why Giorgio Scalvini could replace Cristian Romero
Curiously, when Tottenham Hotspur signed Romero, they signed him from Atalanta for £42m. Now, Daniel Levy and his suited coterie are in for another talented defender hailing from Bergamo.
Atalanta's Ademola Lookman celebrates scoring their second goal with Atalanta's GiorgioScalviniand Atalanta's Matteo Ruggeri
For sure, Scalvini isn’t the finished article, and some would harbour reservations following a frustrating 2024/25 campaign that was utterly wrecked by injury issues, leaving him with only eight appearances across all competitions and four starts in the league.
However, he had previously enjoyed a lightning-fast start to life in his homeland, capped by Italy as a teenager and heralded by journalist Noah Murray for having the ‘potential to become one of the best centre-backs on the planet’.
Romero’s excellence is defined by his athleticism, tenacity and technical ability. He’s the real deal, all right, with a slight madness about him that is true for all the best central defenders.
Scalvini has a certain ill temperment about him too, picking up three yellow cards in Serie A. This isn’t inherently a good thing, of course, but it does illustrate a battle-hardened determination that Frank will need to set things straight in Spurs’ backline.
Moreover, when looking at how Romero ranks up against Scalvini (with the latter’s metrics drawn from the 2023/24 campaign due to the shallow pool from last term), you can see that Tottenham might hit the jackpot in signing the young star.
League Comparison – Romero vs Scalvini
Stats (per 90)
Romero (24/25)
Scalvini (23/24)
Goals + assists
0.06
0.14
Touches
87.52
65.94
Pass completion
89.5%
81.3%
Progressive passes
4.51
4.10
Shot-creating actions
1.27
1.52
Progressive carries
0.76
1.06
Successful take-ons
0.06
0.53
Ball recoveries
5.72
5.77
Tackles + interceptions
3.56
3.96
Clearances
3.62
2.51
Aerial duels (%)
2.61 (60%)
2.82 (67%)
Data via FBref
Make no mistake, this is a “top-class” young player, as has been noted by talent scout Jacek Kulig. Scalvini’s total of 107 appearances for his side’s senior side since breaking from the academy is an impressive thing indeed, especially when considering that the 21-year-old featured so nominally last year.
He would need time and patience and high-level coaching to become a superstar at Tottenham, but Frank has definitely earned his stripes tactically and is a more composed and structured manager than Postecoglou, with his Brentford sides always rooted in sound defensive principles.
He would big boots to step into, but Scalvini wouldn’t be replacing a player of fixed position at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Let’s explain: as brilliant as Romero is, he has only started 18 Premier League matches in 2024/25. In fact, the Argentine has only started in excess of 30 top-flight games once across his four years on English soil.
With Kevin Danso’s loan move shaped into a permanent role for the Lilywhites, Frank could score a blinder in bringing Scalvini over, a player whose quality is so high that he has been priced at a rather lofty £51m despite having featured so nominally last year. A final reminder that this dynamic defender is only 21.
If Tottenham can sell Romero, bring Scalvini over and still manage to turn a profit, there’s every chance that this club could go from strength to strength next season.
There is a lot of work to be completed, but with Prem-proven attacking quality hopefully arriving in the mould of Kudus, and Scalvini, one of the most exciting young centre-backs in the world being targeted, last year’s clinched silverware truly might prove to be the bedrock of a sustained success for Tottenham.
Frank's own Saka: Spurs preparing huge bid for "sensational" £85m star
Tottenham Hotspur could be moving closer to landing another player this summer.
It’s been a crazy few weeks for Tottenham Hotspur.
After delivering the North Londoners their first piece of major silverware for 17 years, it was announced that Ange Postecoglou was sacked on Friday afternoon.
While the timing of the decision may feel harsh, it’s not that difficult to see why Daniel Levy and Co made it, as the Australian had won just 47 of 101 games in charge of the club.
While nothing has been officially announced at the moment, it is looking more and more likely that the next man in the Lilywhites hot seat will be Thomas Frank, and based on other reports, he’s already told the club to sign someone who’d be a dream Brennan Johnson upgrade.
Tottenham's transfer targets
Now that Spurs appear to have identified their new manager, it’s worth looking at some of the talented players they’ve been linked with in recent weeks and months, such as Eberichi Eze and Xavi Simons.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The former enjoyed a superb season with Crystal Palace this year in which he helped the team win the FA Cup and racked up a tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in just 43 games, in turn, more than justifying the £68m release clause reportedly in his current deal.
Likewise, Simons managed to score 11 goals and provide eight assists in 33 games for RB Leipzig this season and would cost around as much as the Englishman at £65m.
However, to really upgrade on Johnson this summer, Tottenham would need to sign an out-and-out rightwinger, someone like Bryan Mbeumo.
Well, according to a recent report from the Mirror, that might be what they end up doing.
The report claims that Frank has instructed Spurs that he wants the club to sign the Cameroon international and make him his first summer acquisition.
To do that, the North Londoners would have to stump up a fee of around £60m and, more crucially, hijack Manchester United’s now well-documented efforts to bring him to Old Trafford.
Brentford's BryanMbeumoreacts
It could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but one well worth fighting for, as Mbeumo would be the ideal upgrade on Johnson.
How Mbeumo compares to Johnson
Now, while Mbeumo can play up top or even as a second striker, his most played and unquestionably best position is off the right, which would put him in direct competition with Jonnson next season.
Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates after the match
So, with that said, who comes out on top when we compare the two?
Well, when it comes to their raw output, it’s actually the often “unplayable” Brentford star, as dubbed by Frank, who comes out on top, with 20 goals and nine assists in 42 appearances, totalling 3577 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.44 games, or every 123.34 minutes.
In contrast, the former Nottingham Forest star scored 18 goals and provided seven assists in 51 appearances, totalling 3316 minutes, which comes out to a less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.04 games, or every 132.64 minutes.
Unfortunately for the Welsh international, the one-sided nature of this comparison only grows when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.
Non-Penalty G+As
0.58
0.58
Progressive Passes
3.72
2.93
Progressive Passes Received
9.26
8.14
Progressive Carries
3.43
2.48
Shots
2.08
2.23
Shots on Target
0.90
0.83
Passing Accuracy
66.1%
70.4%
Expected Assists
0.25
0.08
Key Passes
1.85
0.79
Passes into the Final Third
1.66
1.03
Passes into the Penalty Area
1.56
1.45
Crosses into the Penalty Area
0.50
0.25
Live Passes
30.7
25.8
Shot-Creating Actions
3.80
1.90
Goal-Creating Actions
0.53
0.29
Tackles
1.29
1.61
Successful Take-Ons
1.37
0.79
Ball Recoveries
4.12
2.60
For example, the “incredible” Bees star, as dubbed by Frank, comes out ahead in the vast majority of relevant metrics, such as progressive passes and carries, shot and goal-creating actions, shots on target, successful take-ons, expected assists and many, many more, all per 90.
Ultimately, even though Johnson enjoyed a decent campaign for Spurs this season, Mbeumo is the superior winger in every measurable way.
Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates scoring their first goal
Therefore, the club should do everything possible to sign the Brentford star this summer and reunite him with their soon-to-be-manager in North London.
He's another Bergvall: Spurs enter race to sign "extraordinary" wonderkid
Everton are “confident” of signing a rapid new player who is said to play with “a lot of dynamism and speed” in a cut-price deal this summer, according to a new report.
Everton remain on the up despite Chelsea loss
Everton suffered a 1-0 Premier League defeat at the hands of Chelsea at Stamford Bridge over the weekend, with Nicolas Jackson scoring his first goal of 2025 to gift the home side all three points.
Despite the loss, however, Everton remain very much a team on the rise. After a desperately poor start to the season under Sean Dyche, the Toffees have gone from strength to strength since the reappointment of David Moyes as manager in January.
David Moyes
Under the Scotsman, Everton lost just one of their first 10 Premier League games — a remarkable run of form that essentially secured their top-flight status for another year, something that had looked extremely unlikely around Christmas.
Results have dipped slightly since, but with Premier League football now guaranteed for next season, attention inside the club has already begun to turn towards a fresh start.
“[Moyes] only wants the club to go one way, which we all do, and that is up. But there is still a lot of work that we all need to do to get to that point,” winger Dwight McNeil said after the defeat to Chelsea.
Everton confident of signing Ligue Akpa
Everton’s fresh start next season will come in two parts — the first being a brand-new home: Everton Stadium, a 52,888-seater set to replace Goodison Park after more than a century as the club’s base.
The second will be a revamped squad, with the club’s new owners, the Friedkin Group, expected to back Moyes with funds in the summer to strengthen his team.
Everton told they can open talks to sign Inter star Yann Bisseck on July 13
David Moyes wants to make a move…
BySean Markus Clifford Apr 26, 2025
One of the players Moyes could be bringing in is Auxerre defender Clement Akpa, with Football Insider reporting that Everton could secure his signing in the coming months.
The outlet claims that Everton have been alerted to Akpa’s availability — and that they are now “pretty confident” of landing the 23-year-old in what could be a cut-price deal due to Auxerre’s financial difficulties.
Akpa has made 28 appearances for Auxerre this season, mostly at centre-back, though he is also capable of playing at left-back.
Speaking about the Ivory Coast international earlier this season, Auxerre head coach Christophe Pélissier said: “He’s a player who works a lot, having made very good and quick progress. At the beginning of this season, I did not think he would be one of the most used players.
“His qualities — playing with a lot of dynamism and speed — have allowed him to develop fully in this system. He asks a lot of questions about the game and what he needs to do to move forward. Being a very young father has given him a great sense of responsibility.”
Chelsea are “keen on signing” a defender, and there is now a possibility he will join on a free transfer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Blues looking to upgrade in defence this summer
As we approach the summer transfer window, it is clear the Blues are looking to bring in a new defender, and they have identified a number of targets from within the Premier League, including AFC Bournemouth star Dean Huijsen.
It has been a real breakout season for Huijsen, with the Spaniard now attracting attention from a number of top clubs, and Enzo Maresca’s side are now believed to be the favourites for his signature, having submitted a seven-year contract offer.
Despite having both Reece James and Malo Gusto on the books, there have also been suggestions that Maresca could look to bring in a new right-back this summer, with Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina recently being named as a potential target.
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Chelsea have clearly been impressed by a number of Premier League defenders this season, with Romano recently taking to X to reveal they are “keen on signing” Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, who has been on their shortlist “for months”.
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also in the race for Guehi, so there could be fierce competition for his signature this summer, with Spurs well-known to have had a £70m bid knocked back previously.
Crystal Palace's MarcGuehireacts
Should none of the interested parties be able to tempt Palace into a sale this summer, there is a possibility the defender remains at Selhurst Park until 2026, at which point he will be able to leave the Eagles on a free transfer upon the expiration of his contract.
"Beast" Guehi could be top signing for Blues
Lauded as a “beast” by journalist Saddick Adams, the 24-year-old has once again been a key component of the Palace side this season, making 41 appearances in all competitions, while displaying his leadership abilities by taking on the role of captain.
The England international has three goals and two assists to his name in the Premier League, underlining his attacking threat, but most importantly, he has continued to impress from a defensive point of view, receiving very high praise from Jamie Redknapp.
Most recently, the Palace captain put in a solid performance to help his side to a 3-0 victory against Aston Villa, with the Eagles booking their place in the FA Cup final against Manchester City next month.
Captaining his side to an FA Cup triumph would be a fitting end to Guehi’s time at Palace, but given that he clearly has the talent to play for a top club, it would be wise to move on this summer.
The Champions Trophy may be too soon but a succession plan is needed for India’s biggest stars
Nagraj Gollapudi11-Jan-20252:51
What next for Rohit and Kohli in Test cricket?
Demoralising Test series defeats at home against New Zealand and in Australia have shaken Indian cricket to the extent that the selectors, the team’s think tank led by head coach Gautam Gambhir, and the BCCI are confronted with questions they would have ideally discussed only after the 2025 Champions Trophy ended in early March.ESPNcricinfo has learned that the selectors and Gambhir will meet on January 11 to review the Australia tour, but inevitably, the question of the future will hang prominently, and that would include the immediate future: when does the reset button for India’s ODI team get activated?
Which would bring them to a conversation about the two biggest players in Indian cricket: Virat Kohli and the Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma.
The Rohit-Kohli question
Before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy it would have been sacrilegious to even countenance not having Kohli and Rohit in the ODI squad. They were the top run-scorers in the 2023 ODI World Cup and instrumental in India’s unbeaten run to the final. They were also crucial to the title win at the 2024 T20 World Cup in June last year, with Kohli even buying into the attacking batting ideology championed by Rohit and the head coach Rahul Dravid.Since then, though, both batters have struggled. Rohit also admitted to captaincy errors that contributed to India’s 3-0 defeat against New Zealand. However, it is the manner of their prolonged batting failures in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy combined with their age (Rohit is 37, Kohli 36) that has put them under the scanner now.The questions confronting the decision makers in Indian cricket would be these: should they finish the cycle with the template that took them to final of the 2023 ODI World Cup, or should they take into account recent events and make a fresh start at the Champions Trophy itself?The answers are not straightforward.When Gambhir took charge as head coach last August, he was asked before his first assignment (the ODI series in Sri Lanka) about how much quality cricket was left, according to him, in Rohit and in Kohli. He said he expected both players to be “motivated enough” for the Australia tour as well as the Champions Trophy. He even hoped they could play the 2027 ODI World Cup if they remained fit and emphasised that both of them merited a place because they could still contribute to wins. However, after the 3-1 loss in Australia where Kohli averaged 23.75 and Rohit 6.2, Gambhir said it was “up to them” to decide their future.Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli bring vast experience to the team in big tournaments•ICC via Getty ImagesWhile fresh conversations will be had about their future in Test cricket, in the roadmap drawn up last year by the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel, Rohit and Kohli were part of the plan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. Both are part of India’s top three, which also includes Shubman Gill who formed a successful opening partnership with Rohit in the 2023 ODI World Cup. However, the resounding success of Yashasvi Jaiswal in Test and T20 cricket makes him a viable top-order batter in ODIs too, according to some in the Indian think tank. They believe Jaiswal, who is uncapped in ODIs, provides the left-hand option and can develop into an all-format player like Gill.But while Jaiswal could be included in the ODI squad as a third opener, who could he replace in the team? The Rohit-Gill opening partnership has been extremely successful – their average of 72.16 is the best among opening pairs with a minimum cut off of 25 innings. Rohit has struggled in Test cricket since September but he was India’s highest run-scorer in their previous ODI series in Sri Lanka in August, when he made 58, 64 and 35 on challenging pitches. Kohli’s scores in Sri Lanka were lean – 24, 14 and 20 – but ODI is his best format. Without them, India’s batting line-up looks bereft of experience.Instead of taking a hasty decision, the selectors and Gambhir could follow the route taken ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, when there was intrigue over whether Kohli would fit into the XI. The decision makers including Rohit, Dravid and selectors agreed his experience was vital in big tournaments. It is understood they had a chat with Kohli to ensure he bought into the way India wanted to bat in T20 cricket.The BCCI could use a similar process of dialogue to determine the futures of Kohli and Rohit in ODI and Test cricket. Also, it is important that Gambhir and Agarkar have a clear vision and are on the same page before they sit down with the two players. Unless they believe Kohli and Rohit’s motivation levels have been wavering, it would be a brave call to drop either of them before the Champions Trophy.Is Shubman Gill the right ODI captain for India after Rohit Sharma?•Getty Images
Who is the next ODI captain?
It is a question India might have to find an answer for after the Champions Trophy, and not before. Rohit has shaped the brand of cricket India have played since he replaced Kohli as the all-format captain. He’s also actively worked with the selectors to identify and develop players he believed could deliver results.The selectors had shortlisted Gill as a leader in the making and appointed him vice-captain of the ODI and T20I squads that toured Sri Lanka last August. Based on feedback received from the Indian dressing room, Agarkar said Gill had shown “decent leadership qualities” and had the potential to grow.However, Gill also had a poor tour of Australia where he was dropped for the fourth Test in Melbourne amid growing concerns about his runs in overseas Test matches. The time may not be right for a promotion right away.
Multi-skilled players vs specialists
India’s selectors and Gambhir have been keen to pick players who have more than just one skill – but may not qualify as genuine allrounders – in the ODI and T20I squads. In Sri Lanka last august, India played Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube. Tilak Varma, who bowls part-time offspin, was also drafted into the ODI squad after the 2023 World Cup.Tilak and Parag, in their early 20s, have the selectors’ backing because of their aggressive attitude, ability to float in the middle order, their agile fielding, and ability to bowl spin. They will compete for a spot with specialist batters like Shreyas Iyer, who played an important role in the middle order during the 2023 ODI World Cup along with KL Rahul. There is bound to be debate on who could play in the middle order while also providing bowling options to balance the XI.Indian cricket is at a fork in the road. One school of thought is to stick to the tried and tested route for the short-term. Another is to chart a new path right away, arguing that the 2023 ODI World Cup was 14 months ago and there is a need to plan ahead and develop players for the next 2027 ODI World Cup. The question is to what extent the process begins – if at all – before the 2025 Champions Trophy.
India’s top run-scorer, England’s outstanding captain, and a power-hitter from Bangladesh are among the rising stars from the tournament in South Africa
Raunak Kapoor31-Jan-2023Shweta Sehrawat (India)
Sehrawat topped the run charts with 297 runs in seven innings, including four not outs. She had been in red-hot form heading into the tournament – she was the top-scorer in India’s Under-19 Women’s Challenger Trophy as well as the Under-19 Women’s Quadrangular series that featured Sri Lanka, West Indies and two India sides. At the World Cup, her adaptability and range of shots was impressive. Sehrawat largely opened the batting in the tournament and out-performed her partner Shafali Verma; but against Scotland, she was sent in at No. 6 and scored an unbeaten 31 off just 10 balls. There’s intense competition among batters in India’s senior squad, but Sehrawat is certainly one to watch in the future.Related
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Shorna Akter (Bangladesh)
Shorna’s impact for Bangladesh goes well beyond numbers, which by themselves were excellent. She scored 153 runs in five innings, averaging 51 at a strike rate of 157.73. She was one of the few proper power-hitters in the tournament and went on to contribute in every game. Hitting six sixes (joint second), including one that went all the way into the stands in Benoni, she set the standard of power-hitting in the opening game when Bangladesh stunned Australia. Shorna followed that up with an unbeaten 28-ball 50 in the next game against Sri Lanka, an innings that proved to be the difference in a close contest which ensured Bangladesh topped their group. She can bat anywhere in the top six, bowl some handy legspin, and is excellent in the field. Bangladesh have already included her in their senior squad for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise if they start with Shorna in their opening game against Sri Lanka on February 12.Dewmi Vihanga (Sri Lanka)
Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker, Vihanga seems like someone made for the big stage. Deceptive with variations and deadly accurate, she works batters out quickly, picking up Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh in the space of two balls in the Super Six game against India. She bowls in the powerplay and at the death, and in addition to her nine wickets at an average of 12.88, she also chipped in with 113 runs which included a half-century against a strong Bangladesh bowling attack.Milly Illingworth was impressive in the game against India•ICC/Getty ImagesMilly Illingworth (Australia)
Maggie Clark was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 12 wickets. Three other Australia bowlers ended up with more wickets than Illingworth, who bagged just four. But no one asked the kind of questions of batters that Illingworth did, because no one had the pace. Inspired by Shaun Tait and Lasith Malinga, Illingworth was, by some distance, the fastest bowler in the tournament. Two out of those four wickets came against India, in the only game the eventual champions lost in the tournament, and Illingworth was named Player of the Match. She hurried Shafali into mis-timing one to cover, and in the semi-final against England, she had Liberty Heap caught off an outside edge that flew to deep third, the only time a wicket fell in that fashion in the tournament. Her team wasn’t quite sure when to bowl her, and the powers that come with raw pace will need to be properly harnessed, but as India’s Umran Malik has shown, you can always learn on the job.Grace Scrivens (England)
The easiest pick in this category is England captain Scrivens. Their lead batter, their go-to bowler in a crisis, and a gun-fielder, she is an allrounder in the truest sense. The attacking left-hand batter at the top of the order ended just four short of Shweta Sehrawat in the top run-scorers list. Scrivens registered the highest individual score of the tournament when she hammered 93 off 56 against Ireland. She was the inspiration behind England’s remarkable defense of 99 in the semi-final against Australia, with two crucial wickets, including the final one when Australia needed just four to win.Grace Scrivens was the star of England’s close win against Australia•Getty/ICCAbigail Hotton (New Zealand)
Hotton’s first delivery against West Indies was arguably the ball of the tournament. It was an offspinner’s dream – an offbreak tossed up just outside off stump on a good length, dipping, inviting the batter to drive through cover and turning sharply between bat and pad to take the off stump. Asabi Callendar fell over with one hand on the turf, but better batters than her would have fallen to that ball. Hotton, who likens herself to R Ashwin and Amy Satterthwaite, showed all the skills to succeed at the highest level. In a tournament of several offspinners in name, Hotton is one of the few who looks the real deal.Titas Sadhu (India)
Going purely by numbers, fast bowler Sadhu finished with only six wickets in six games. But she was the sole seamer for India during most parts of their campaign – Shabnam MD and Soppadhandi Yashasri were used at the start but they had economy rates in excess of 10 – and gave them the control they desired. Sadhu not only picks up wickets consistently but is also a decent batter. She already has experience of playing with Jhulan Goswami and Rumeli Dhar in the Bengal circuit amd it won’t be a surprise if she bowls herself into contention for a fast bowler’s slot in the senior India side in the near future. She’s certainly going to be a sought-after player in the inaugural Women’s Premier League.