Os planos do meio-campista Kayque mudaram. O meio-campista viajou para a Bélgica, onde assinaria contrato com o RWD Molenbeek. Porém, exames realizados no clube de propriedade de John Textor detectaram que o jovem tem uma lesão no menisco do joelho e fizeram com que ele retornasse ao Botafogo. A informação do “GE”.
No Alvinegro, o jogador de 23 anos e vai realizar o tratamento. A expectativa é de que ele faça tratamento e, posteriormente, viaje para a Europa em setembro, a tempo de ser inscrito no clube belga.
O meio-campista teria sofrido a lesão no primeiro treino no novo clube. Avaliado pelo departamento médico do Botafogo, o tratamento prevê uma artroscopia para correção. A expectativa é de que ele retorne em um mês.
Assim que estiver recuperado, Kayque fará as malas rumo à Bélgica, onde assinará contrato para atuar no futebol europeu. A janela de transferências da Bélgica fecha no dia 6 de setembro. No último dia 12, o jogador completou 23 anos e lamentou o momento vivido em um story nas redes sociais.
O objetivo do empréstimo é dar mais tempo de jogo e valorizar o meio-campista, atrás de uma série de jogadores no setor de meio-campo no Botafogo.
Leeds United have always been known for having some exciting attacking stars on their books, especially when they were Premier League regulars, way before Daniel Farke was handed the reins.
Indeed, the likes of Tony Yeboah, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, and Mark Viduka have all called Elland Road home previously in the attacking areas, with the final esteemed name listed going on to bag a hefty 72 strikes for the Whites when Champions League football was amazingly on the menu.
Even in modern times, club legends have been born, with Marcelo Bielsa’s distinctive brand of high-octane football, as seen in his time at Leeds, making it easy for entertaining forward players to express themselves fully.
Raphinha, in particular, would go on to be a revered hero under the enigmatic South American, with the Brazilian attacker then solidifying himself as one of the world’s best at Barcelona, after first showing off his obvious class in West Yorkshire.
Raphinha's unbelievable spell at Leeds
Leeds really did hit the jackpot when buying Raphinha for just £17m back in 2020.
From the get-go, it was clear that the Whites had struck gold, with Bielsa even going as far as to state that the skilful 28-year-old can “unbalance” teams all by himself with his quick-thinking down the flanks, on top of his ability to put away chances for fun confidently.
A sublime 15 goal contributions would come his way during this debut season on English shores, before turning on the style even more when his team were up against it during his swansong campaign, as relegation looked a very plausible reality.
Without Raphinha’s 11 strikes during the 2021/22 campaign, slipping back down to the Championship might well have been Leeds’ grim outcome. It’s no coincidence that, after the now £77m-rated attacker left, the Whites would immediately succumb to that unfortunate demise the following season.
Raphinha was even hailed as “the best player I’ve ever played with” by another ex-Leeds hero in Crysencio Summerville, with Farke desperate for another Raphinha-style figure in his camp now to wake up his goal-shy troops.
The promotion-winning German did once actually possess a similarly electric talent to Raphinha, who could be lauded as the most impactful attacker on Leeds’ books since the stylish number ten graced the Elland Road turf.
Possessing the tricky playmaker right now definitely would have eased the pain of Facundo Buonanotte not signing, that’s for sure.
How Georginio Rutter compares to Buonanotte
Farke and Co. were crying out for more attacking signings as deadline day grew closer and closer, with the new Chelsea loanee very much on their radar at the final hour.
Unfortunately, the standout Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder would choose Stamford Bridge over Elland Road at the last minute, leaving Leeds with a lack of exciting additions late into the hectic window.
While it’s clear that the promising 20-year-old would have boosted Leeds up top in the short-term, with nine goals and four assists next to his name in Premier League action, it’s even clearer that the Whites sold a far brighter talent in Georginio Rutter to Buonanotte’s parent club just last year, even if the pair are deemed to be statistically similar, according to FBref.
After all, despite only lining up for 41 clashes for the Seagulls to date in the Premier League, the hard-to-contain Frenchman is already up to ten goal contributions for the South Coast outfit in the tough division, having previously been branded an “entertainer” by analyst Ben Mattinson for his consistent, easy-on-the-eye approach at Elland Road.
Rutter’s Leeds record
Stat
Rutter
Games played
66
Goals scored
8
Assists
18
Big chances created
23
Stats by Sofascore
He further blows his Argentine counterpart out of the water when looking at his unbelievable Leeds numbers, with a ridiculous 23 big chances created from his 66 matches in West Yorkshire. In contrast, the 20-year-old Blues loanee would only muster up seven big chances being created last season in league action for Leicester City.
Rutter did have the advantage of largely playing in the Championship for Leeds to bump up his numbers, but based on his eight goals and five assists for Brighton already, he would have gone on to be a success for Farke’s men in the Premier League.
Regardless of what league he predominantly found himself in, his fantastic ability to entertain and enthral certainly puts him on the same pedestal as Raphinha before him.
It’s just a shame that Rutter couldn’t write his name into Leeds folklore as a dazzling performer who helped Leeds stay put in the Premier League – like the Brazilian – with the Frenchman no doubt filling the Buonanotte-shaped void well if he were still under the German’s wing today.
Leeds brewing biggest homegrown talent since Gray in "exciting" 18-year-old
Leeds could look to bring their next Archie Gray into the first team this season
RCB, meanwhile, are looking to beat MI at the Wankhede for the first time since 2015
S Sudarshanan06-Apr-20250:56
Can Bumrah get MI’s season back on track?
Big picture – Bumrah available, Rohit set to returnOne of the running jokes of the IPL over its 18 seasons is that Mumbai Indians have needed the month of May to truly kick into gear. With the tournament usually starting in April in the early years, MI would typically lose a few games before getting back to winning ways in May. While the timelines may have shifted over the years, MI have continued to start slowly, and that’s been the case in IPL 2025 too. With three defeats in four outings so far, they are getting close to danger territory. Teams typically need at least 16 points from their 14 league games to be in contention for the playoffs, and time may be running out for the five-time champions.One bit of news will brighten the mood around the MI camp significantly, though. Jasprit Bumrah is available for selection. If any one player can transform a team’s fortunes all by himself, it’s Bumrah.Related
Bumrah available for selection for Mumbai Indians against RCB
What he can’t do, however, is fix MI’s batting issues. In three of their four matches, their opening partnership has not lasted beyond the second over. Rohit Sharma’s run of lean scores aside, MI have yet to settle on a batting order. Naman Dhir, one of their bright spots from last season and for whom they used the right-to-match card at the auction, batted at No. 7 in two games before scoring a 24-ball 46 at No. 3 in their last outing against Lucknow Super Giants. With Rohit set to return after missing that game with a knee injury, Will Jacks could move back to one-drop, which would push Dhir further down.While Suryakumar Yadav’s form has been a consolation for MI, Tilak Varma has looked scratchy enough to get retired out, and Hardik Pandya hasn’t been setting the death overs on fire. And there are questions over MI’s firepower – or lack thereof – lower down the order. On the eve of their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, head coach Mahela Jayawardene didn’t sound too worried. “I want to be more flexible with the batting order given where we are and the talent and skill we have,” he said in Mumbai on Sunday. “As long as we have productivity from those guys in different positions, it will give us advantage going forward.”MI’s opponents on Monday, RCB, are one of the form teams so far this season. They are coming off a loss to Gujarat Titans at home but have won both their away games. That run has included a win at Chepauk for the first time since 2008. RCB have beaten MI only three times at the Wankhede, and haven’t done so even once since 2015. With a unit in strong early-season form, with four of their batters having already scored half-centuries, this could be their best chance of ending that run.0:26
Jayawardene provides an update on Bumrah and Rohit’s availability
Form guideMumbai Indians LWL (Last three matches, most recent first) Royal Challengers Bengaluru LWWNew loyaltiesTim David, Romario Shepherd and Nuwan Thushara, all of whom were at MI last season, are with RCB this time. Will Jacks and Reece Topley, meanwhile, were with the RCB squad in 2024, but have now moved to MI.Team news and likely XIIMumbai IndiansBumrah and Rohit – who had a near-30-minute batting stint at the nets on Sunday – are set to return, with Ashwani Kumar and Raj Bawa – who did not bat or bowl against LSG – likely to make way.Likely XII (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Will Jacks, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Hardik Pandya (capt), 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, 12 Vignesh Puthur.Royal Challengers BengaluruVirat Kohli was not at training on match eve. RCB are expected to go in unchanged, the only point of contention being whether they need an extra spinner. If they decide to pick one, they could bring in either Suyash Sharma or Swapnil Singh in place of Rasikh Salam.Likely XII (probable): 1 Phil Salt, 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Tim David, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Josh Hazlewood, 11 Yash Dayal, 12 Rasikh Salam/Suyash Sharma.The big questionNaman Dhir scored an impressive 24-ball 46 after being promoted to No. 3 against LSG. With Rohit Sharma set to return, though, Will Jacks could move back to No. 3 and push Dhir down the order. Is that the way MI should go?In the spotlight: Tilak Varma and Tim DavidTilak Varma has made a sedate start to IPL 2025. After a breakthrough international season that featured two T20I centuries for India, he has struggled for fluency in the IPL. He began the season with a 36-ball 39 against Gujarat Titans, and scored 25 off 23 against LSG before being retired out as MI’s required rate spiralled out of control. Tilak returns to the Wankhede now, but it hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for him in T20s: he has a highest score of 38 in 15 innings here, and his strike rate of 124.07 is his lowest at any ground where he has batted at least five times.Among the away players who could feel at home in Mumbai on Monday is Tim David, who made his name as a lower-order hitter for MI from 2022 to 2024. Since 2022, only Dinesh Karthik (208.33) and Suryakumar (197.09) have better IPL strike rates than David (188.95) at the Wankhede (minimum five innings). “Coming back to play in Mumbai, it’s a wonderful place to play at the Wankhede,” David said ahead of the game against MI. “[I] love batting here. It’s a nice place to have as your home ground. It’s not my home ground anymore. Hopefully I get a chance to do some damage out there in the middle tomorrow night.”2:00
Bishop: Hazlewood has an important role to play
Pitch and conditionsThe weather in Mumbai has been hot with high humidity levels. The temperature is expected to hover around the early 30s on Monday evening. Despite the ground’s relatively small dimensions, there have only been four 200-plus IPL totals at the Wankhede since 2024, two of them coming in the same game. Teams batting first have won four of the last eight matches here, but captains have preferred to chase, with the threat of dew in mind. The team winning the toss has bowled first in every IPL match here since 2024.Stats and trivia Rohit Sharma has been dismissed 21 times inside the powerplay in 33 IPL innings since the start of 2023. He averages 24.95 in this phase in this time – only Wriddhiman Saha (20.85) has done worse among the 11 batters who have batted at least 25 times in the first six overs. Since the start of 2023, no one has scored more runs in IPL chases than Suryakumar Yadav (809). Among batters with at least 10 innings in chases, only Nicholas Pooran and Abhishek Sharma have better strike rates than Suryakumar (184.28). Tim David (31) has hit the most sixes in the death overs (17th to 20th) in the last three seasons of the IPL, ahead of MS Dhoni (27) and Rinku Singh (26). Bhuvneshwar Kumar needs one wicket to become the third-highest wicket-taker in the IPL. He is currently on par with R Ashwin and Dwayne Bravo on 183 wickets, behind Piyush Chawla (192) and Yuzvendra Chahal (206).Quotes”The modern day [cricket] is so tactical. We keep changing line-ups to match up certain bowling line-ups. I don’t see how different [retiring a batter out] is. As a batsman, I have had times when you struggle to get through. [Tilak] batted well for us in the three games, built partnerships and got us to situations we need to. I still value that. He was trying and wasn’t able to get going, so I felt it was my decision to throw someone else to get those two hits.” “Rajat is aggressive and he backs himself to play his role. I watch these guys bat during the game and I love watching them bat. He’s very calm as a captain. He seems well-planned with his decisions and he’s building on from a great environment in this team, so it’s great fun to be a part of.”
كشف شريف إكرامي حارس مرمى فريق الكرة الأول بنادي بيراميدز، حقيقة اعتزاله كرة القدم بنهاية الموسم الجاري.
وكان شريف إكرامي قد توج مع فريق بيراميدز ببطولتي دوري أبطال إفريقيا وبطولة السوبر الإفريقي على حساب فريق نهضة بركان المغربي.
طالع.. أحمد الشناوي: أتمنى الفوز بجائزة أفضل حارس في إفريقيا.. وهذا أصعب مهاجم واجهته
وقال شريف إكرامي في تصريحات على قناة “إم بي سي مصر2”: “سعداء جدًا بما حدث في آخر 8 أو 9 شهور، النادي ظل لفترة طويلة يحاول أن يصل لهذه المكانة، وكان يوجد تشكيك أن النادي غير قادر ولكن في النهاية وصلنا”.
وأضاف: “بالنسبة لي أول مرة لم أطلع على المنصات حيث صعدت مع الأهلي وحصدت ألقابًا عديدة ولكن مع بيراميدز الأمر له طعم مختلف”.
وتابع: “رمضان صبحي بحالة جيدة وهو الآن في مرحلة علاج وجميع التفاصيل الخاصة مع اللاعب يعلمها هاني سعيد المدير الرياضي لنادي بيراميدز”.
وأختتم: “لا أعلم حتى هذه اللحظة سأستمر في الملاعب الموسم المقبل أم لا، والأمر لا يوجد فيه حساسية ما بين الإدارة والمدرب، جددت هذا الموسم وأنا مقتنع بدوري، وأشعر بالراحة مع النادي والمدير الفني، ويوروتشيتش من المدربين الذين سأظل أتذكرهم لأنه ليس متصنعًا”.
Lanterna do Campeonato Brasileiro, o Vasco tenta se movimentar no mercado em busca de reforços. Um dos jogadores que o clube negocia é o colombiano Jorge Carrascal, meia-atacante de 25 anos de idade. Revelado pelo Millonarios, da Colômbia, e com passagens pelo Sevilha, da Espanha, Karpaty, da Ucrânia, e River Plate, da Argentina, o atleta defende atualmente o CSKA, da Rússia.
Apesar de ter sido titular em apenas 16 dos 30 jogos do Campeonato Russo – saiu do banco em outras dez rodadas -, Carrascal terminou a temporada como o maior driblador da competição, com 62 fintas certas, segundo dados do site de estatística Sofascore. Número bem superior, por exemplo, ao dos brasileiros Malcom, Wendel e Claudinho, que realizaram 43, 33 e 31 dribles, respectivamente.
Por outro lado, Carrascal teve a segunda pior média de perdas de posse de bola do campeonato, com 21,4 a cada 90 minutos em campo. Com uma média de 1,88 desarme sofrido por jogo completo, foi o 22º na estatística. Confira mais números do colombiano na última temporada:
CARRASCAL NO CAMPEONATO RUSSO 22-23 – Dados Sofascore e OGol | Média por 90 minutos
26 jogos 16 como titular 1526 minutos em campo 6 gols 1 assistência 3,65 dribles certos em média (1º da Liga) 2,0 passes decisivos em média (25º da Liga) 1,06 finalização certa em média (30º da Liga) 10,1% de taxa de conversão em gol (104º da Liga) 21,4 perdas de posse de bola em média (2ª da Liga) 1,88 desarme sofrido em média (22º da Liga) 0,53 interceptação feita em média (176º da Liga) 1,65 desarme feito em média (85º da Liga)
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Football is cyclical. Great teams rise, and then they fall. However, Aston Villa appear to have reached a concerning crossroads at a premature point in their project.
At the end of the 2024/25 season, Unai Emery watched in agony as his side put in a meek performance at Old Trafford. It was the final match of the Premier League campaign, and a single point would have been enough to reprise a place in the Champions League. Villa were beaten, and contentiously at that.
Four games into the new league season, the Lions have yet to roar, blanking across each of their matches and losing twice. It’s hardly time to panic, but fears of a regressive year have been heightened by this slow start, and Emery knows he needs to bring it all together.
Only, Villa were inhibited across the summer transfer window, a by-product of that frustrating defeat in Manchester. It was for this reason that Jacob Ramsey was forcibly sold to Newcastle United, and only Evann Guessand was brought in.
Villa, still, have Ollie Watkins leading the line.
Ollie Watkins is still Villa's talisman
Watkins has been at this game for a while, having played 228 matches across all competitions for Aston Villa, scoring 87 goals and supplying 42 assists.
He’s been synonymous with the club’s advancements over recent years, and offers at number nine a varied and deep take on the craft.
Watkins is one of the finest Premier League forwards of his generation. Behind a select few superstars, it is the Three Lions star who produces clinical performances as such that has led statistician Statman Dave to describe him as “one of the best 9s in the world”.
PL – Top Scorers Since 22/23
Player
Apps
Goals (per 90)
Erling Haaland
100
88 (0.88)
Mohamed Salah
111
67 (0.60)
Alexander Isak
86
54 (0.63)
Ollie Watkins
115
50 (0.43)
Chris Wood
95
39 (0.41)
Bryan Mbeumo
101
39 (0.39)
Data via Transfermarkt
However, he’s 29 years old (hardly ancient), and reflective of the ageing nature of Emery’s first-team squad. Given the trammels imposed on Villa Park in the summer transfer market indeed led to only the permanent signing of Guessand, there’s no question the young and inspiring signings will need to be made in the window ahead.
Villa’s isn’t a team solely comprised of veterans, though, with one of the Premier League’s brightest young stars in the ranks, and though he’s not a striker, Morgan Rogers has the capacity to replace Watkins as Villa Park’s talisman.
Emery has struck gold on Morgan Rogers
Rogers, 23, signed for Aston Villa from Middlesbrough in January 2024, joining for a £15m fee. What a bargain. He played a part across the latter end of the 2023/24 season, but came alive after a full pre-season, notching 29 goal involvements across all competitions as Villa battled across domestic and Champions League fronts.
As remarked by Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher to be “unstoppable” when he gets going on the ball, Rogers’ athleticism and pace enable him to shift between wide and central attacking berths, and the division is taking note.
Indeed, Rogers was crowned the PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2024/25 season, and he is definitely beginning to establish himself as the Midlands club’s best signing since Watkins was welcomed from Brentford for £28m in September 2020.
He sits among esteemed company.
PFA Young Player of the Year Winners (20/21 – 24/25)
Season
Club
Player
24/25
Aston Villa
Morgan Rogers
23/24
Chelsea
Cole Palmer
22/23
Arsenal
Bukayo Saka
21/22
Man City
Phil Foden (2)
20/21
Man City
Phil Foden
Watkins has been the man his teammates turn to for quite some time, but that started to shift last term, with Rogers proving a focal point from deep but also a combative and tenacious force with talents across different phases of play.
Sofascore recorded, for example, that he created 16 big chances in the Premier League last year and averaged 1.8 dribbles and 4.7 successful duels per game, with his heatmap showcasing his energy, covering so much ground.
Now a fully-blooded England international too, the £75k-per-week talent might not have clicked into gear across the opening weeks of the current campaign, but when Emery’s system does start purring once more – and it will – then Rogers will surely form the nucleus of the next phase.
Villa must be delighted that they managed to avoid parting with their young prize this summer, despite financial concerns and a tidal wave of interest.
Indeed, Tottenham Hotspur had taken a particular liking to the dynamic midfielder, enquiring about his availability and not appearing dissuaded by Aston Villa’s £80m valuation.
The truth is, Emery and his leadership coterie might share an opinion that Rogers is unsellable, his price tag something that would stretch into record territory, should they need to cash in.
But the fierce resistance to piqued curiosity from divisional rivals this summer emphasises the pedestal on which Emery has placed him.
Already accomplished in the Champions League, Rogers has the world at his feet, and must surely fancy his chances of rivalling the very best in the business in the years to come. Not just in the Premier League, but across the globe.
Rogers has not yet developed into the player those coaches who watch him every day feel he can become. Here is the biggest testament to the one-time Manchester City academy member’s growth, and indeed Emery’s ability to bring him to the fore.
It’s easy to forget that Rogers has only just begun his second season consistently playing at top-flight level. So much more is still to come, and Aston Villa will fight tooth and nail against anyone who wishes to prise him away. Here we have the new talisman, ready to guide his side toward a sustained period of success.
Kamara 2.0: Aston Villa sold a star who has a "higher ceiling" than Luiz
Aston Villa may wish they’d kept hold of one midfield talent who could even exceed Douglas Luiz
Essex fight back late in day as see-sawing match continues to defy expectations
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay13-Apr-2025
Haseeb Hameed led the way with 92•Jack Bird
With Essex surrendering their five remaining wickets for 66 runs in the day’s opening 90 minutes to claim a bare 20-run first-innings lead, Nottinghamshire threatened to take hold of their Rothesay County Championship Division One match at Trent Bridge.But after Ben Slater, who made 67, and skipper Haseeb Hameed had posted a rapid 113 for the first wicket the home side were pegged back in the final session as Hameed fell 25 minutes from the close for 92 and Kyle Verreynne then came and went for 3.Hameed’s side carry an advantage into Monday of 213 with five men gone but it is hard to see how a declaration can come before lunch is reached, even assuming they get there intact. This intriguing game, however, has repeatedly refused to follow either of these side’s very best laid plans.Having weathered seven probing overs from Jamie Porter and Sam Cook before lunch as sunshine replaced cloud, the Notts openers picked up the tempo in the afternoon, claiming the initiative in finding four runs an over until over-ambition did for Slater, ten overs from tea.The left-hander had belted a brace of sixes, hitting against the spin, before Simon Harmer had completed his first five overs but the offspinner, gaining turn out of the rough, smiled last when Slater bottom-edged a cut into his wicket. His 67 included 56 in boundaries.Harmer soon made it two wickets in eight balls when Freddie McCann, another left-hander, edged low to first slip and went without score. But Hameed, surviving a close lbw call against Harmer, reached a polished fifty from 96 balls and at the interval his side were 142 for 2.Eight balls into the last session, however, another had gone when Porter, summoned for a second spell, immediately produced a beauty that left Joe Clarke off the pitch and had him caught behind for 19. Porter’s next ball also found the edge but the new batter Jack Haynes, destined for an unbeaten 49 at the close, could breathe easy when it fell millimetres short of second slip.Though just 15 came from ten overs, the fourth-wicket pair saw out Porter’s fine burst and accelerated against Shane Snater and also against Matt Critchley’s legspin when he relieved Harmer for three overs of what proved a 27-over stint from before tea.The stand had swelled to 83 when Hameed, attempting a late dab, played Noah Thain on to his stumps and, two overs later, a recalled Cook sent Verreynne’s county batting average plummetting from 379.0 to 189.5 when he edged to the keeper.It remains to be seen whether Notts can reach a declaration and, more to the point, how generous they feel they can be. They are pursuing the perfect start of wins in both opening games of the campaign and would ideally hope to set a target.If rapid runs will be the hope first thing they were a rarity earlier as Sunday started with frantic action. Cloud cover and a freshened pitch helped bring venom to a new ball only six overs old from Saturday’s play. Essex innocently added 13 to their overnight 301 for 5, but – in as many overs – then suddenly lost three batters.Fergus O’Neill had Critchley twitching at one that left him and caught behind for 52 before removing Thain lbw for 33, a Championship best in his nascent career. In between Dillon Pennington’s lift did for Harmer, taken at second slip without score.Lusty blows carried Snater to 12 and Cook to 26 from 38 balls but both perished swinging in three overs from Brett Hutton who finished with three for 61 as Essex ended on 367, with a slender lead but six bonus point to the home side’s five.
Rohit Sharma confirmed that he would continue to play ODI cricket, where he is India’s captain
ESPNcricinfo staff07-May-20252:16
Kumble: Straight from the heart, that’s Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma has retired from Test cricket with immediate effect, meaning India will need to name a new full-time captain almost immediately after the end of IPL 2025, with India’s five-Test series in England scheduled to begin on June 20 at Headingley.”Hello everyone I would just like to share that I am retiring from Test cricket. It’s been an absolute honour to represent my country in whites. Thank you for all the love and support over the years. I will continue to represent India in the ODI format,” Rohit, who had retired from T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup last year with him as captain, said in a post on social media on Wednesday evening.Rohit retires with 4301 runs in 67 Test matches, averaging 40.57 despite the poor recent run. He scored 12 centuries and 18 half-centuries over the years, with a best of 212, against South Africa in Ranchi in October 2019.Related
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Gambhir: India should not play Pakistan at all
Roger Binny, the former India allrounder and current BCCI president, paid tribute to Rohit.”Mr Rohit Sharma’s impact on Indian cricket transcends records and statistics,” Binny said in a statement. “He brought a sense of calm and assurance to the team – both as a player and as a captain. His ability to stay composed under pressure and to consistently put the team’s needs above his own made him a truly special player and leader. Indian cricket has been fortunate to have a figure like Rohit – someone who upheld the highest standards of professionalism and sportsmanship. He leaves behind not just a remarkable playing record, but a culture of discipline and selflessness that will inspire future generations.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd
As recently as Tuesday, Gautam Gambhir, India’s head coach across the three international formats, had said in response to a question on the future of senior pros Rohit and Virat Kohli that “Till the time they are performing, they should be a part of the team. When you start and when you end is your individual decision. No coach, no selector, no BCCI can tell you when you should call it quits. If you perform, then why 40, you can jolly well play till 45, who’s stopping you?”Rohit’s decision comes after poor home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand late last year and then a horror tour of Australia across December 2024 and January 2025, where he crossed 50 just once and averaged 10.93 from eight Test matches. India won both the Tests against Bangladesh, but were swept 3-0 by New Zealand under Rohit’s captaincy, and then lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia 3-1.Rohit missed the first and last Tests on that tour of Australia, the first to be at home in India for the birth of his child, and the last, in Sydney, where he “stood down”. At the time, he had stressed that it was just that, a reaction to his poor batting form, not a “retirement decision”, and that he was not “going to take myself out of the game”. Jasprit Bumrah is currently India’s designated vice-captain and led in the first and last Tests in Australia in Rohit’s absence.Speaking to ” during the Test match, Rohit had said, “I sat out of this match because runs are not coming off my bat. There is no guarantee runs won’t come five or two months down the line. I have seen a lot in cricket that life changes every second, every minute, every day.”I have confidence in me that things can change, but at the same time I have to be realistic as well. So life won’t change by what people with a mic, pen or laptop write or say. They can’t decide when we should retire, when we should sit out, when we should captain. I am a sensible man, mature man, father of two kids. So I know what I need in life.”5:13
Kumble on Rohit’s Test retirement: ‘You know when it’s time and you don’t regret it’
Immediately after returning from Australia, Rohit played a one-off match for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy in January after the selectors in coordination with BCCI made it mandatory for contracted players to feature in domestic cricket. Rohit’s batting woes continued as he made 3 and 28 against Jammu & Kashmir.While the selectors decided to keep him as India’s captain for the Champions Trophy, Rohit was aware success in the ICC event wouldn’t guarantee his spot in the Test format. And, so, despite his leading India to the title in March, Rohit decided to bring the curtains down on his Test career.The development comes with little over a month to go for the start of India’s five-Test tour of England on June 20. The selectors are expected to finalise the Test squad in the coming weeks, but with Rohit retiring, the biggest question for the Ajit Agarkar-led panel would be naming the next Test captain.Bumrah is an option but putting that responsibility on a fast bowler, particularly one who has just returned from injury might not be easy. He shouldered a heavy workload during the Australia tour and was diagnosed with a stress reaction on his lower back, resulting in his being unable to bowl in the second innings of the final Test in Sydney. Bumrah missed the Champions Trophy thereafter and only resumed playing since April in the IPL where he represents Mumbai Indians.
تحدث ميكيل أرتيتا مدرب أرسنال عن موقف جابرييل مارتينيلي وويليام ساليبا قبل مباراة بيرنلي في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
ويملك أرسنال فرصة لزيادة سلسلة انتصاراته إلى تسع مباريات، ويطمح الجانرز لتعزيز صدارته للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز في ملعب تيرف مور غداً السبت.
وحقق آرسنال الفوز على كريستال بالاس على ملعب الإمارات الأسبوع الماضي، ويتقدم الفريق بأربع نقاط على بورنموث صاحب المركز الثاني.
ويقدم بيرنلي مستوى جيدًا حيث حقق الفوز في آخر مباراتين ليبتعد بخمس نقاط عن منطقة الهبوط.
وقال أرتيتا في مؤتمر صحفي قبل مباراة بيرنلي في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “مترو” البريطانية :”لا إصابات جديدة، أعتقد أننا نعاني من نفس الإصابات”.
أقرأ أيضاً.. ماريسكا يكشف عن حديثه مع كول بالمر بشأن موعد عودته
وأضاف: “لايزال مارتينيلي غائباً ولا نعرف مدة غيابه بعد، لكنني أعتقد أن هذه المباراة ستقام مبكراً جداً لعودته”.
وسئل أرتيتا عن ساليبا: “علينا الانتظار لنرى، لدينا جلسة تدريبية أخرى بعد ظهر اليوم”.
وكان أرتيتا قد اعتمد على مارتينيلي من مقاعد البدلاء هذا الموسم، وسجل أربعة أهداف وصنع هدفًا واحدًا منها هدف التعادل ضد مانشستر سيتي في الوقت بدل الضائع في سبتمبر الماضي.
وتحدث أرتيتا عن أنباء إيجابية بشأن إصابات آرسنال طويلة الأمد: “اللاعبون الآخرون مازالوا يقتربون من المشاركة، أعتقد أنهم في الاتجاه الصحيح لكنهم غير متاحين بعد”.
وأكمل :”أعتقد أن الأمر سيستغرق أسابيع، وإذا استمروا في التطور بنفس الطريقة، من الصعب تحديد مباراة كما تعلمون لدينا فترة توقف دولي لمدة أسبوعين”.
وأتم: “بعد ذلك، أعتقد أننا سنستعيد بعض اللاعبين، لا أعرف إن كانوا جميعهم أو بعضهم لكننا سنكون قريبين جداً من العودة بحلول ذلك الوقت”.
واختتم أرتيتا عن مشاركة اللاعبين في لقاء آرسنال ضد توتنهام على ملعب الإمارات بعد فترة التوقف الدولي: “أنا متحمس لأنهم لاعبون رائعون، أراهم يعملون بجد كل يوم وأرى مدى حرصهم على الانضمام للفريق، ستكون عودة هؤلاء اللاعبين دفعة قوية للفريق، بعد فترة طويلة جداً وأنا سعيد جداً لأنني أعتقد أنها ستكون قريباً جداً”.
West Ham United officially confirmed that Graham Potter had been relieved of his duties at the London Stadium on Saturday, less than 24 hours after his pre-match press conference ahead of the Everton match.
The Hammers did not waste much time in finding a replacement for the English head coach, though, as Nuno Espirito Santo was unveiled later on in the day.
Sacked by Nottingham Forest earlier this season, after a breakdown in his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis, the Portuguese boss steps straight in for the game against the Toffees on Monday night.
The former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Forest boss will be hoping to instantly win the supporters over in his first game, and he should drop Max Kilman from the side in order to do that.
Why Max Kilman should be dropped
West Ham splashed a whopping £40m fee to sign the English central defender from Premier League rivals Wolves in the summer of 2024, hoping to improve their backline.
Unfortunately, the Hammers ended the season with 62 goals conceded in 38 league games. Kilman, per Sofascore, ended the campaign with a worrying four errors that led to shots and two errors that led to goals for the opposition, which shows that he was prone to making mistakes at the back.
So far this season, Kilman has started all five games in the league and West Ham had conceded the most goals in the division (13) before Saturday’s matches.
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The left-footed defender has lost 56% of his ground duels in the top-flight this season, per Sofascore, and has not looked assured at all in the heart of the defence, which is why Nuno must drop him from the XI for the trip to the Hill Dickinson.
Such has been the nature of his poor performances, West Ham Transfers – a fan account with over 77k followers – posted on X that Kilman is “worse than Roger Johnson”, which led to many supporters replying in agreement, illustrating how a section of the fanbase feel about the defender.
The West Ham player who should replace Max Kilman
In order to keep the balance of the team, the new West Ham boss should bring Igor Julio into the starting line-up for his debut for the club in the left-sided centre-back role.
Whether Nuno goes with a back three or a back four, a left-footed centre-back will be needed for balance when playing out from the back, which is why the Brighton loanee could slot in as a replacement for Kilman.
The Brazilian star, who was hailed as an “animal” by former coach Inigo Calderón, played for Brighton in the League Cup against Oxford earlier this season and showcased his aggressive defending.
Vs Oxford
Igor Julio
Minutes
90
Clearances
6
Blocks
1
Tackles won
4
Dribbled past
0x
Ground duels won
6/7
Aerial duels won
1/2
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Igor won seven of his nine duels, including six of his seven ground duels, and this suggests that he could be much stronger than Kilman, who has been dominated on the deck this season, at the back for the Hammers.
The left-footed defender was also unbeaten in all three of the Premier League matches that he featured in for Brighton in the second half of last season, including a win against Spurs and draws with Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Igor, who started ten times in the top-flight last term, is a dominant defender who has Premier League experience under his belt, which is why Nuno should not have any concerns about throwing him straight into the action against West Ham.
Given how bad the defence has been this season, and how some supporters have viewed Kilman’s performances, bringing the Brazilian titan into the team to lead the Hammers to a defensive masterclass against Everton could instantly get fans onside for Nuno.