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Samson was scratchy at No. 3, Harshit was erratic with the ball, but India’s middle-order batters, largely unused so far at the Asia Cup, got crucial time in the middle

Shashank Kishore20-Sep-20252:07

Jaffer: Wasn’t a fluent innings from Samson

As Hardik Pandya stopped himself a quarter of an inch before the advertising triangles at fine leg to complete a stunning catch to dismiss Oman’s Aamir Kaleem, fielding coach T Dilip was full of fist-pumping joy in the dugout.He had followed the trajectory of the ball like a hawk, silently hoping that hours of the innovative catching drills that had challenged fielders to be goalkeepers (even Superman at times), would lead to a something spectacular. Sat next to him, the usually stoic Gautam Gambhir had been frantically chewing his nails until then. The first two balls of the 18th over, bowled by Harshit Rana, had been picked away for boundaries, and the equation was down from 48 off 18 balls to 40 off 16.Even then, you felt this was India’s match to lose. But with their least experienced bowler pitted against a 43-year-old journeyman cricketer revelling in the spotlight, the coaches’ restlessness spoke of the tension that had been bubbling. Oman eventually finished 21 short, but the contest offered India more than just a ‘W’ and two points.Related

• The ovation that made Aamir Kaleem's long journey worth it

• Arshdeep becomes first India bowler to reach 100 T20I wickets

• India go into Super Four unbeaten despite Oman's fight

For the first time in three games, India had the luxury of batting 20 overs, on a sluggish surface with ground dimensions far bigger than in Dubai, where they will play out the rest of their Asia Cup campaign.It also stretched them on the field, with Suryakumar Yadav employing as many as eight bowling options – although he wouldn’t have imagined having to make up for Axar Patel’s overs at any point: Axar bowled just one over and was off the field for the last five-and-a-bit overs after hitting his head on the turf while attempting a catch.That they were able to get such a workout in a setting where the focus was, for a change, entirely on the cricket, helped tick a few boxes. If a workout before the Super Four is what they had hoped for, they certainly got it.India’s middle-order batters, who had twiddled their thumbs in the first two games because they had polished off their chases of 58 and 128 in a combined 20.2 overs for a combined loss of four wickets, got a decent hit, even though none of them could set the stage alight.3:04

What are the challenges of India’s fluid batting order?

Every batter, barring Suryakumar who delayed his entry until the overs ran out, got time in the middle.Suryakumar didn’t bat because Arshdeep Singh, padded up and itching for a hit, leaned in to his captain and declared he was going next when the seventh wicket fell. And then Kuldeep Yadav went in. India finished eight down and Suryakumar had a “DNB” against his name. He revealed with his trademark humour later that it wasn’t a request from Arshdeep but an instruction, one that had the potential to be viewed under a microscope had India been upset. Luckily, though, they were saved that.The only aspect India didn’t experiment with in the batting was their locked-in opening pair of Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma. This is in line with what they have emphasised through the tournament: the need for the rest of the batters, from No. 3-8, to be flexible, while the openers remain set.For once, though, India deviated from their set left-right policy. This gave Sanju Samson an opportunity at No. 3 after Gill was out early. Samson was scratchy at best, but batted long enough to carve out a half-century.Tilak Varma played a number of adventurous shots•AFP/Getty ImagesHe was helped to a large extent by Abhishek, whose great strength has been to keep bowlers second guessing. When he advances to fast-bowlers, he has an array of options. Like the slice over point, the lofted hit over the covers, or the swat over mid-on – shots he exhibited to similar deliveries off Mohammed Nadeem in the fifth over.This helped Samson ease in after he had struggled for any kind of fluency, pottering to 1 off 7 before finally breaking the shackles when he received a leg-stump half-volley that he flicked for six. That should have flicked a switch, but it didn’t, underpinning the fact that nothing matches time in the middle, even if you look a million dollars in the nets.Tilak Varma showed he can adapt lower down the order if required, hitting 29 off 18 balls. Axar flexed his batting muscle against spin, even as Hardik and Shivam Dube missed out. Hardik was the unluckier of the two, as he was run out to a deflection off the bowler’s hand at the non-striker’s end.Then with the ball, Arshdeep bent the new ball and got it to hold its line, but Harshit was erratic. Kuldeep was his usual self – befuddling batters even as two other wreckers-in-chief, Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy, ran drinks.2:20

Abhinav Mukund: This is how Abhishek should always bat

But the revealing aspect of India’s workout was giving the new ball to Hardik despite having two frontline pacers – perhaps a sign that, like with the batting, they were focused on continuity looking at the bigger picture.The match itself was one of those exercises where India’s follies were looked at indulgently, until it got too close for comfort.In the Asia Cup circles around the UAE, the running joke ahead of Friday’s game was whether India’s commute from their Dubai hotel to the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi would end up lasting longer than the match itself. The India vs UAE game had wrapped up in barely two hours, and a repeat was anticipated had Oman batted first.But in pushing India right till the end, Oman not only enhanced their own credentials, but also injected some interest into a tournament that had been drifting from one controversy to another while seeing more than its fair share of one-sided contests.For India, it was the closest thing to a dress rehearsal before the Super Four: it was imperfect in parts, yet valuable in every way ahead of round two against Pakistan on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta has been left completely blown away by a “silky” forward, with the manager now personally requesting Arsenal sign him in the January transfer window.

Arteta keen on new forward amid injury woes

Yet again, the Gunners have been plagued by injuries this season, with the likes of Noni Madueke, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres all spending time on the sidelines already.

With Gyokeres only recently returning from a muscle injury, Mikel Merino was given the nod at striker against Chelsea on Sunday, and the Spaniard repaid Arteta for his faith in him, scoring the equalising goal in the 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Arteta certainly isn’t short on top-quality attacking options, having spent big during the summer, but the sheer number of injuries he has already been forced to contend with may be a concern for the manager, who will be determined for nothing to derail his side’s Premier League title push.

As such, the manager has personally requested the signing of Villarreal forward Alberto Moleiro for the January transfer window, according to a report from Spain, which states the 43-year-old has been left completely blown away by his performances since moving to Villarreal.

A number of Europe’s top clubs have set their sights on Moleiro, but the Gunners are now the side most determined to get a deal done, with Arteta of the belief he would be a perfect fit for his system.

Arteta values the forward’s versatility, and a deal could be relatively affordable, with the Spanish club setting an asking price of over €30m (£26m).

"Silky" Moleiro tearing it up in La Liga

The Spaniard has already matched his La Liga goal tally from the 2024-25 campaign, having found the back of the net six times in 14 outings this season, while also providing two assists.

Related Mikel Arteta suggests Arsenal star could be out until 2026 after injury update

He could be missing until after the new year.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Nov 29, 2025

Lauded as “silky” by scout Jacek Kulig, the Villarreal star is also capable of playing on both wings and through attacking midfield, making him a versatile option for Arteta, although scout Ben Mattinson has suggested he could flourish in a slightly deeper midfield role.

Arsenal are looking to compete on all fronts this season, with a Premier League and Champions League double potentially on the cards, considering they are currently top of both.

As such, it would be a savvy move to bring in some additional strength in depth during the January window, and Moleiro’s versatility, coupled with the low asking price, means he could be the ideal addition to the squad.

Mookie Betts captured his fourth World Series ring on Saturday night thanks to him leading a double play in the 11th inning to have the Dodgers beat the Blue Jays 5-4.

The six-time Gold Glove award winner put his skills to the test in the last few innings of Game 7 on Saturday. Betts admitted he was “nervous” the last few innings, especially knowing how much weight he had on his shoulders to produce a major play. And, the shortstop succeeded by getting an out at second from a ground ball, and then throwing the ball to Freddie Freeman at first to get the second out to win the title.

Betts described the “positive reinforcements” he gave himself during this crucial play.

“That ninth inning, that was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been on a baseball field. Man, I’ve never done it. I never did it in Game 7 of the World Series,” Betts told the MLB Network crew after the game. “I mean, literally, I was talking to myself that whole—as Yoshi [Yoshinobu Yamamoto] was throwing the ball, I was literally talking to myself like ‘Be nasty, Mook. Be nasty right now.’”

Here’s a full video of the Dodgers’ final play to seal the victory.

Betts scored one of the runs on Saturday night in the sixth inning after he was walked. Over the course of Los Angeles’s postseason this year, Betts averaged .229/.333/.314, while producing 16 hits, four runs and eight RBIs.

On Wednesday, the Pohlad family announced a shocking reversal of course regarding the sale of the Twins.

In a statement, the Pohlads revealed they would no longer be pursuing a sale of the franchise and instead will retain ownership of the Twins while adding two "significant limited partnership groups." The ownership group had spent the last year looking into selling the franchise.

"For more than four decades, our family has had the privilege of owning the Minnesota Twins," the statement read. "This franchise has become part of our family story, as it has for our employees, our players, this community, and Twins fans everywhere.

"Over the past several months, we explored a wide range of potential investment and ownership opportunities. Our focus throughout has been on what's best for the long-term future of the Twins. We have been fully open to all possibilities.

"After a detailed and robust process, our family will remain the principal owner of the Minnesota Twins. To strengthen the club in a rapidly evolving sports landscape – one that demands strong partnerships, fresh ideas, and long-term vision – we are in the process of adding two significant limited partnership groups, each of whom will bring a wealth of experience and share our family values.

"We see and hear the passion from our partners, the community, and Twins fans. This ownership group is committed to building a winning team and culture for this region, one that Twins fans are proud to cheer for."

Back in March reported the Pohlads were seeking a sale price of at least $1.7 billion and that the team had accrued over $425 million in debt, which may have complicated a possible sale.

The Pohlads now embark upon their promised quest of building a "winning team and culture" in Minnesota, which has proven difficult during their 40-plus year stewardship. It will be even more difficult going forward after the Twins underwent a dramatic firesale at the MLB trade deadline and shipped off most of the top talent on the roster, headlined by Jhoan Duran and Carlos Correa.

Ruben Amorim has stuck by his infamous 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United and it appears as though it is finally yielding results.

The Portuguese manager has been in charge at Old Trafford for a year now, and although things have not gone exactly to plan, his side have now gone unbeaten in their last four Premier League games.

Amorim has finally begun to settle on his best lineup. That has seen summer signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha lock down the two number 10 positions in his system, with Mason Mount providing excellent competition.

However, those two signings have ensured Bruno Fernandes will remain in his deeper pivot role, rather than closer to goal.

Where Fernandes is best suited under Amorim

It has certainly been a topic of hot debate in Amoirm’s year-long tenure in the hot seat at Old Trafford. Fernandes is a number 10 by trade, and played his best football as close to goal as possible, in and around the penalty box.

That season came in 2020/21, when he scored and assisted 29 Premier League goals in 37 games. He was one of the deadliest attackers in world football at that stage. So, you might think it is logical for Amorim to play him as a number 10.

Well, that is not how the United manager sees it. In fact, he explained that his skipper operates in the pivot because he “is the right man to start with the tempo of the play.”

United legend Paul Scholes sees it differently, and says “there is no doubt” Fernandes should be playing as a 10 because he “is the most creative player on the team.”

In 51 games under the tutelage of Amorim, the Red Devils’ number 8 has played 30 games in the pivot, and 21 as a number 10. That certainly shows just how much their manager favours him in a deeper role.

Interestingly, United have another player coming through in a similar mould to Fernandes, and it will be interesting to see where Amorim chooses to play him.

Man United's in-house Fernandes successor

It is clear that Fernandes is viewed as a pivot player by Amorim, despite Scholes’ view and the success he has achieved in previous seasons. With the two number 10 positions nailed down by Cunha and Mbeumo, players may have to adapt.

That could certainly be the case for United academy star Jack Moorhouse. The 19-year-old is currently on loan at Leyton Orient, but has previously impressed for the Red Devils’ youth sides.

It has been an impressive start to life in professional football for Moorhouse. Described as a “deadly” player by United academy page on X, Academy Scoop, the Republic of Ireland U21 international has played 14 games for Orient, scoring and assisting one goal apiece.

As it happens, Moorhouse has already been described as someone who is “ideal for Amorim’s left 10 role” at United by football analyst Ben Mattinson. He has operated behind the striker more often than not for the U23s at the club, too, making five appearances in that role, scoring twice and assisting one.

Interestingly, he’s played a bit deeper for Orient this season, showing excellent versatility. He shone in a box-to-box role against Peterborough United, creating two chances and completing three out of three dribbles.

There are certainly similarities between Moorhouse and Fernandes. Both creative midfielders, they can operate in advanced roles and a bit deeper. It would be intriguing to see where Amorim would utilise him in the first team.

One thing is for sure, the 19-year-old possesses great talent. If the Red Devils are looking for an in-house successor to their “Portuguese Magnifico,” they might be able to find him in their famous Carrington academy.

Carrington's "best talent" is a big Sesko upgrade in the making at Man Utd

Manchester United could yet improve further in attack under Amorim’s wing.

By
Angus Sinclair

Nov 3, 2025

When the Red Sox and Yankees played their most famous playoff series in 2003 and '04, Boston pitcher Connelly Early was one and two years old. New York pitcher Cam Schlittler, senior citizen, was two and three.

A generation later, both teams are electing to trust these youngsters with their playoff lives. Early, 23, will start against Schlittler, 24, in Game 3 of the American League wild-card series Thursday—making them the second pair of rookies to start against each other in a winner-take-all playoff game.

As Sarah Langs of MLB wrote on social media, the first rookie duo to oppose each other in that scenario were Braves pitcher Ian Anderson and Dodgers pitcher Dustin May in the 2020 National League championship series. Neither pitcher took a decision, but Los Angeles won the game 4–3 and went on to win the World Series.

Early's assignment is particularly shocking, as the Virginia product debuted in the major leagues on Sept. 9. Schlittler, who posted a 2.96 ERA in 73 innings this season, was one of the most productive rookie pitchers in baseball.

The winner of Thursday's showdown will advance to the ALDS to meet the East Division champion Blue Jays.

Manchester City star Rayan Cherki has been warned by a former France manager that he has "no chance" of playing at the 2026 World Cup in North America. After a memorable campaign with Lyon last season, Cherki broke into the France national team and he is now being picked regularly by Didier Deschamps, having made a positive first impression at City after his summer transfer from the Groupama Stadium.

• Cherki establishing himself as a key City star

  Cherki struggled with a thigh injury at the start of the 2025-26 campaign, but has started to feature regularly in Pep Guardiola's team since recovering. 

  He has appeared in nine matches across all competitions for the Cityzens, registering three goals and as many assists. Cherki is slowly establishing himself as a key member of the City squad and is building an understanding with Erling Haaland, having set up both of the Norwegian's goals against Bournemouth in the Premier League earlier this month.

  Guardiola is extremely pleased with Cherki's progress, as he told reporters: "Rayan is one of the most talented players I have ever seen in my career. His talent… he is top. The question is how he settles and how he needs to read actions. He started well at the Club World Cup but then had a few weeks off. I have the feeling most of the time when the ball comes to him, the situation is better. But not all the time you have to do exceptional things – just play football. He has something. He is a player who doesn't feel pressure. He is like a street player. He wants the ball when he doesn't have it. But he is here a short time – he needs a little bit of time because in football you learn to play with your mates. But these types of players are intelligent. They see everything."

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• AFP
  

  Mbappe hails Cherki as 'special talent'

  France captain and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has also heaped praise on the 22-year-old: "He's a special talent. I think he has a gift, which he's making the most of. It's an innate, spectacular talent. He's integrated very well into the group and into Manchester City, which isn't easy. I hope he continues like this. He's started well with us. Now he has the opportunity to return, and I hope he's as good as he was at Manchester City."

• Domenech not convinced

  However, there is one person who is still not convinced by Cherki's talent. Former France manager Raymond Domenech has warned the City star that he won't make it to Deschamps' 2026 World Cup squad. 

  Speaking to , Domenech said: "(Maghnes) Akliouche, (Michael) Olise, and (Christopher) Nkunku are his direct competition… he has no chance. Everything depends on what he does at Manchester City, if they go far, if he plays a few games, comes on at the end of some games, a little 15 minutes here and there."

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  'I'm not a stats guy'

  Cherki recently shared what he brings to the City team, while describing himself as an 'old school footballer'. "I’m not a stats guy. I think that you can see that in the way that I play football," he said to TF1. "I’m an old-school footballer, and the ‘old-school’ didn’t look at stats. I know that nowadays, that element is very important."

  He also dismissed comparisons with a City legend, adding: "I'm not Kevin De Bruyne, he is the legend. I'm here to help the team and to write my own story. I hope to win all the time with the team. When I spoke with Pep, he wanted me – he was very, very clear. Pep told me, 'when you have the ball, you are free', which is very good for me because it's my first quality to help the team."

England are banking on their young fast bowlers, but can they pit raw speed against Australia’s experienced attack?

Matt Roller15-Nov-2025First it was Stuart Broad. Then it was James Anderson. And now it is Chris Woakes. Between those three international retirements, England have lost exactly 1500 wickets worth of Test match experience since the 2023 Ashes; the septet of fast bowlers that they have taken to Australia for the 2025-26 series have barely a third of that figure (566) between them.It is England’s first Ashes tour without Anderson in their ranks since the 2002-03 series – before Jacob Bethell was even born – and their first without Broad since 2006-07. Ben Stokes accounts for more than half of the 205 Test caps shared between the seven seamers on this tour; Jofra Archer, who has played 15 Tests in six years, is their third most-capped quick.It is a clear contrast to Australia, who will rely on a trio who can boast over 1000 Test wickets between them – but whose bodies are finally showing signs of age. They will both hope to play roles later in the series but Pat Cummins (309 wickets) and Josh Hazlewood (295) are both out of Friday’s first Test, leaving Mitchell Starc (402) as the spearhead.Related

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Smith: England's all-out pace may not be ideal Ashes attack

But England’s hope is that the quality and depth of their attack will trump experience. It was only four years ago that they sent seven seamers to Australia with 1547 Test wickets between them and were thrashed 4-0; since then, both Aamer Jamal (18 wickets at 20.44) and Shamar Joseph (13 wickets at 17.30) have led touring attacks in Australia in their maiden Test series.The last time England won in Australia, in 2010-11, only Anderson and Broad among their six seamers had even ten previous Test caps before the start of the series. Yet their rookies thrived: Chris Tremlett took 17 wickets in three Tests after Broad went home injured, while Tim Bresnan and Steven Finn shared 25 between them across five.