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This week, we dive into the long, occasionally polarising, and always entertaining career of Sourav Ganguly

Sreshth Shah01-Jun-2020 What We’re Watching, a deep dive into the long, occasionally polarising, and always entertaining career of Sourav Ganguly.Two beginnings
Ganguly was six months short of his 20th birthday when he made his international debut at the Gabba in 1992. He was immediately thrown into the deep end, facing Malcolm Marshall with India on a dicey 35 for 4. He failed to make any contact off his first ball, a wicked awayswinger, and 12 balls later he was out, lbw to Anderson Cummins. His reaction to the umpire’s decision gave us our first glimpse of a man who always felt he was right, even when he might not have been. This was Ganguly’s only opportunity on a four-month tour of Australia, and he wouldn’t play another game for India for the next four years.Then came Lord’s. You know all about it, but you still want to watch it all over again, beginning with a cover drive off Peter Martin that ushered in an era of Ganguly dominating the off side. He peppers that part of the field gloriously through this innings, particularly off the back foot either side of point, and it’s apt that a cover drive brings up his debut hundred, welcomed by a full balcony of applauding team-mates.Unstoppable in Toronto
Within a year, Ganguly was a well established member of India’s team, proving particularly effective in ODIs. His value came to the fore in a five-match series against Pakistan in Toronto in 1997, with bat and ball: he scored more runs than anyone else on either side, as India romped to a 4-1 win, and more wickets than anyone else too, on green pitches that made his gentle medium pace a potent force. There were four back-to-back Man-of-the-Match awards, and you can find the highlights of his performances here and here.The years of plenty
The turn of the millennium was Ganguly’s peak as a batsman, particularly in ODIs; in that format, in 1999 and 2000, he scored 3346 runs at 50.69, including 11 hundreds – half his career total. Some of those hundreds were the most memorable knocks of his career.In Taunton, during the 1999 World Cup, he tore into Sri Lanka during a then world-record stand of 318 with Rahul Dravid, and at one stage seemed destined to break Saeed Anwar’s ODI record score of 194, but he was eventually out for 183 off the penultimate ball of India’s innings. The shots in this video are breathtaking, and there’s even a rare glimpse of a young Mahela Jayawardene bowling his dibbly-dobblies.Later that year, Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar broke the Ganguly-Dravid partnership record, against New Zealand in Hyderabad, but Ganguly roared back into the limelight in the very next match, smashing 153 in Gwalior. Feast your eyes on some old-timey ODI cricket in whites, and have a look at how Ganguly dominates this scorecard.The 1999-2000 tour of Australia was an unhappy one for India, but runs continued to flow for Ganguly during the ODI tri-series, where he scored two hundreds, 100 against Australia at the MCG, and 141 against Pakistan in Adelaide. It was this sort of authoritative run-getting, against some of the best attacks in the world, that led the BCCI to appoint Ganguly India’s captain after Tendulkar stepped down soon after this tour.Captaincy only seemed to lift Ganguly’s batting initially, and he produced one of his finest ODI performances towards the end of 2000, in the semi-final of the ICC Knockout in Nairobi, against South Africa. These highlights capture all the trademarks of a big Ganguly hundred: the poise, the crisp timing, the gleeful feasting on an unfortunate left-arm spinner (sorry, Nicky Boje)…Sourav Ganguly: lordly through the off side, a touch awkward through the on•Getty ImagesIconic captaincy moments
Captaincy turned Ganguly into a fascinatingly combative on-field personality. He was often involved in feisty exchanges with opposition players – Russel Arnold, Andrew Symonds, Mohammad Yousuf and countless others – and his send-offs (Paul Collingwood is at the receiving end here) made for a prototype that Virat Kohli has since built on. And, of course, there was the shirt-waving on the Lord’s balcony.Earlier that day, though, Ganguly had played an innings filled with just as much in-yer-face aggression, clattering 60 off 43 balls to perfectly set up India’s mammoth chase.The batting returns declined as Ganguly’s captaincy tenure wore on, but when he did fire, it was usually inspirational, as in that Lord’s final, or at the Gabba in the first Test of the 2003-04 tour of Australia, when his 144 set the tone for an enthralling series that eventually ended 1-1.A triumphant comeback, a fitting goodbye
Stripped of the captaincy, and then left out entirely, Ganguly could very well have faded away. But it was a measure of the man’s character that he didn’t just come back, but came back stronger. So assured was his batting during the Test tour of South Africa in 2006-07 that Tendulkar even told him it was the best he’d seen Ganguly bat. There was a gritty first-day half-century in Johannesburg, which helped set up a rare overseas win, and a quickfire 66 in Cape Town, which featured some brilliant strokeplay after Dale Steyn dealt him an early blow to the helmet.Against Pakistan a year later, Ganguly made his first Test hundred at his home ground, and this short clip will tell you all you need to know about what Ganguly meant to Kolkata and what Kolkata meant to him. Later that same series, he cracked 239 in Bengaluru, counterattacking expertly after joining forces with Yuvraj Singh at 61 for 4.Ganguly announced that he would retire after the 2008-09 home Tests against Australia, and enjoyed a memorable farewell series: a century in the second Test, an 85 in his penultimate innings, and a first-ball duck in his final innings. There was a guard of honour from his team-mates, and finally, for old times’ sake, MS Dhoni stepped aside to let Ganguly lead the side as India closed in on a series win. For Dada fans, it was a moment for goosebumps and tears in equal measure.More What We’re Watching

Landon Donovan took issue with Australia manager Tony Popovic’s reaction to the 2026 World Cup draw, calling the confidence he projected “unusual.” The USMNT legend said Popovic’s response suggested Australia view Group D as winnable, with the Americans joined by Paraguay and a UEFA playoff winner. Donovan added that Popovic’s comments made him wish he could return to face the Socceroos.

'It was really interesting'

Donovan found the Australian coach’s response to the group draw particularly striking. 

“I watched the Aussie coach’s interview after the draw, and it was really interesting,” Donovan said on the State of the Union podcast. ‘It was unique because most coaches say all the same stuff you're expecting, like, "Oh, it's difficult draws." "It's gonna be so hard," and his first comment was, "We're satisfied." And I was like"Really?" (laughs) "Are you? So, and he just had this smugness about him, and I'm like, "All right, I can't wait. I wish I was on the field." I'm like, "I wanna play these guys"

AdvertisementGetty ImagesRespect for Australia’s competitiveness

While Donovan expressed confidence that the USMNT should beat Australia, he also acknowledged the team’s solidity and the challenges they present on the field. He emphasized that Australia is a tough opponent and not a team to be underestimated, indicating that matches in the group will be competitive and hard-fought rather than one-sided affairs.

“They're a solid team,” Donovan said. “They're not hard to play against. This is not going to be some blowout whatever, but it's a team I think we should beat.”

Confidence in USMNT’s ability

Donovan’s remarks reflect a broader optimism about the USMNT’s prospects in the group. That is especially the case after the draw was announced and the fact that the USMNT have already beaten Australia and Paraguay in friendlies in 2025.

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Getty Images SportWorld Cup prep ramps up

The U.S. have announced its upcoming friendlies for 2026, with their first match coming against Belgium on March 28. 

وجه هاري كين، نجم فريق بايرن ميونخ، ضربة قوية لنادي برشلونة في ظل رغبة بطل الدوري الإسباني في الحصول على خدماته العام المقبل، لتعزيز مركز الهجوم تحت قيادة المدرب هانز فليك.

وظهرت تقارير صحفية مختلفة، الفترة الأخيرة، تفيد أن برشلونة لديه رغبة قوية في الحصول على خدمات هاري كين لتدعيم الهجوم، خاصة مع احتمالية رحيل روبرت ليفاندوفسكي مجانًا الصيف القادم.

ولكن يبدو أن هاري كين لا يمتلك أي نية لمغادرة صفوف بايرن ميونخ والانتقال إلى برشلونة في عام 2026، حسبما ذكرت صحيفة “بيلد” الألمانية.

اقرأ أيضًا | موندو ديبورتيفو توضح.. هل يواجه برشلونة مسلسل أولمو مع خوان جارسيا؟

وأوضحت “بيلد” أن هاري كين يمتلك شرطًا جزائيًا في عقد الحالي مع بايرن ميونخ، يسمح له بالرحيل مقابل 65 مليون يورو في الصيف القادم، ولكن يجب تفعيله قبل 31 يناير 2026.

وأشارت إلى إنه رغم ذلك، فإن هاري كين لا ينوي تفعيل ذلك الشرط حيث يتطلع إلى البقاء مع بايرن ميونخ، حيث إنه سعيد مع بطل الدوري الألماني ويريد البقاء لما بعد عام 2027، حيث سينتهي عقده الحالي.

وأفادت أن إدارة بايرن ميونخ تنوي الجلوس على مائدة المفاوضات مع هاري كين لتجديد عقده، ولكن بعد نهاية شهر يناير حيث ستنتهي صلاحية الشرط الجزائي المذكور سلفًا.

وأكدت أنه لا يزال أمام مهاجم إنجلترا عامان متبقيان في عقده، ويبدو أن كلا الطرفين في حالة ارتياح بشأن وضعه.

Over the last couple of weeks, Tottenham Hotspur have massively struggled to deliver within the final third, which has resulted in numerous disappointing results.

Thomas Frank will no doubt have huge questions to answer in the near future, with the Derby Day defeat against Arsenal the latest failure in his tenure after taking the reins in the summer.

The Dane made a bold decision to switch to a 5-4-1 system at the Emirates to try and nullify the threat posed by Mikel Arteta’s side, but ultimately, it was ineffective as seen by the 4-1 scoreline.

Such a decision also restricted the Lilywhites massively within attacking areas, as Richarlison’s long-range effort was the only moment of note in the final third.

Numerous figures from the club’s recent Premier League outings highlight the struggles in attacking areas, with an immediate solution desperately needing to be found by the manager.

The stats behind Spurs’ recent struggles in attacking areas

As previously mentioned, Sunday was an afternoon to forget for all Spurs supporters, with the defeat arguably the worst of Frank’s tenure after his appointment in June.

The defensive setup massively nullified their own attacking threat, resulting in an embarrassing 0.07 xG produced, with only one shot on target registered, excluding the goal.

In total, the Lilywhites only managed to notch a total of three shots, whilst also registering just four touches in the Gunners’ 18-yard box during the 90-minute contest.

However, the club’s struggles have also been evident in other outings, with the defeat to Chelsea on home soil at the start of the month also showcasing their struggles in front of goal.

Frank’s men failed to find the back of the net in the London derby, again only notching one shot on target and amassing a total xG of just 0.10 in the loss.

No player in the squad was able to complete a cross against Enzo Maresca’s men, which no doubt would have contributed to the lack of quality within the final third.

The Spurs star who can solve Frank’s attacking woes

Spurs’ lack of quality in front of goal has undoubtedly produced a cause for concern, especially given the numbers produced under Ange Postecoglou last season.

The Lilywhites managed to score 64 goals in the Premier League during 2024/25, an average of 1.7 per 90, despite recording a measly 17th-placed finish in England’s top-flight.

Such a tally was the sixth best in the division, but Frank’s men have been unable to replicate such levels over the last couple of months of the new season.

His men have netted 20 goals in the 12 league outings to date, an average of 1.6, with Richarlison sitting as their top scorer on five goals – a quarter of the whole team’s tally.

However, the manager could find an immediate solution to the Lilywhites’ issues in attacking areas by unleashing Brennan Johnson over the next few weeks.

The Welsh international netted 18 goals across all competitions last campaign, but has often struggled for starts under the Dane after the investment from the hierarchy.

Mohammed Kudus arrived in a £55m transfer from West Ham United, which has seen the Ghanaian international often fill the void on the right-hand side of the attack.

However, Johnson is deserving of a recall to the starting eleven, with his numbers from last campaign showcasing the threat he carries within the final third.

His goalscoring tally from 2024/25 was by far and away the highest of any player in the first-team squad, with his underlying figures reflecting his all-round quality.

The 24-year-old achieved a total xG and xA per 90 of 0.51, the third highest in the squad, which further highlights his ability to star alone or find a teammate in dangerous areas.

Brennan Johnson – stats in 2024/25

Statistics

Tally

Rank

Games played

51

2nd

Goals scored

18

1st

xG & xA per 90

0.51

3rd

Chances created

22

4th

Crosses per 90

1.4

2nd

Dribble success

56%

2nd

Shots per 90

2.2

3rd

Penalties won

2

1st

Stats via FotMob

Johnson, who’s been labelled “impossible to defend” by one analyst, also ranked fourth in the first team for chances created – which could provide Richarlison with the ammunition to improve his own tallies.

Other tallies, such as 1.4 crosses completed per 90 and how dribble success of 56% both placed him in second position, with the winger having the all-round quality Frank’s men have hugely lacked.

There’s little denying that Johnson is a player who has divided opinion in North London, but his figures from last season highlight the quality he does possess with the ball at his feet.

If Frank is to find an immediate short-term solution to his side’s struggles, he may need to recall the Welshman back to his starting eleven against Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

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Afghanistan were all systems go in their opener against Hong Kong, and could go clear at the top with another win on Tuesday

Mohammad Isam15-Sep-20252:26

Abhinav Mukund impressed by Afghanistan’s on-field trial

Big picture: Afghanistan’s chance to make it two in twoAfter the net run-rate-boosting win over Hong Kong on the first day of the Asia Cup, Afghanistan have the chance to go clear at the top of Group B on Tuesday. Bangladesh are up next, fresh from the hiding at the hands of Sri Lanka. Afghanistan are the more confident of the two sides, which gives them the advantage before the start of the game.Azmatullah Omarzai’s record-breaking half-century from No. 6 led them in their 94-run win against Hong Kong. He added 82 runs for the fifth wicket with Sediqullah Atal, who ended unbeaten on 73. Afghanistan’s bowling was true to their reputation, hardly allowing the hapless Hong Kong batters a whiff.Related

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Rashid Khan must have also been pleased with AM Ghazanfar and Noor Ahmad now taking more responsibility. Mohammad Nabi didn’t bowl against Hong Kong, but is likely to be back in the attack against Bangladesh, who have to take on an irrepressible spin attack, a particularly hard task given their own frailties and the conditions in the Emirates.Their batting was under pressure against Sri Lanka right from the start as they played out two wicket-maidens to begin with. Litton Das and Towhid Hridoy couldn’t revive the innings, leaving the job to Jaker Ali and Shamim Hossain. They have often done this well in the past, but couldn’t on the day.Bangladesh’s catching was below par. The bowlers also collapsed in the face of sensible and aggressive batting. Dropping Taskin Ahmed in favour of Shoriful Islam might have destabilised a side that looks up to Taskin for inspiration.They have to get their act together against Afghanistan, a side headed in the direction opposite to where Bangladesh are going. Bangladesh must lift themselves, otherwise their Asia Cup campaign could well be over before even taking off.1:14

Maharoof: Bangladesh have been lacking in major tournaments

Form guideAfghanistan WLWWW
Bangladesh LWWLWIn the spotlight: Azmatullah Omarzai and Shamim HossainAzmatullah Omarzai is emerging as Afghanistan’s top pace-bowling-allrounder, who can bowl in pressure situations and bat effectively in the top six. His half-century against Hong Kong was Afghanistan’s fastest in the format. Omarzai struck five sixes and two fours in his 21-ball 53. He is more than useful with the ball too, often helping Afghanistan break partnerships. He would, however, like to improve his T20I batting record against Bangladesh, having scored just 88 runs in six outings so far.Shamim Hossain dug Bangladesh out of a hole against Sri Lanka, but his unbeaten 42 – and Jaker Ali’s unbeaten 41 – couldn’t quite get them to a winning position. Shamim and Jaker added 86 for the sixth wicket, both doing the sort of fire-fighting job they are asked to do often. The good part about Shamim’s innings was that he took the attack to the Sri Lanka bowlers at the end of the innings, something that should give him confidence against Afghanistan.Taskin Ahmed should return to the Bangladesh XI•AFP/Getty Images

Team newsAfghanistan are likely to stick to the same XI that played against Hong Kong in the tournament opener.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Sediqullah Atal, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Ibrahim Zadran, 4 Mohammad Nabi, 5 Gulbadin Naib, 6 Azmatullah Omarzai, 7 Karim Janat, 8 Rashid Khan (capt), 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 AM Ghazanfar, 11 Fazalhaq FarooqiSaif Hassan and Nurul Hasan are top-order batting options Bangladesh could look at, while Taskin is likely to return into the playing XI.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Parvez Hossain Emon, 3 Litton Das (capt & wk), 4 Towhid Hridoy, 5 Shamim Hossain, 6 Jaker Ali, 7 Mahedi Hasan, 8 Tanzim Hasan, 9 Rishad Hossain, 10 Taskin Ahmed, 11 Mustafizur RahmanPitch and conditionsAbu Dhabi has rewarded batters with intent in the Asia Cup so far, but the bowlers too have found help from the pitches. The forecast is for high temperatures.Stats and trivia The two maiden overs Bangladesh played out at the start of their innings against Sri Lanka was only the second such instance in a men’s T20I match between two Full-Member teams. Zimbabwe did it against West Indies in 2010. Omarzai struck the fastest T20I fifty for Afghanistan in their Asia Cup opener against Hong Kong. His 20-ball half-century beat Nabi’s 21-ball effort against Ireland in 2017.

Newcastle United needed that. Though form in the Premier League continues to frustrate Eddie Howe and those of a Toon persuasion, there’s no denying his side on their return to the Champions League.

Jose Mourinho’s Benfica were defeated 3-0 at St. James’ Park on Tuesday evening, making it two wins on the bounce in Europe’s elite competition after that opening-day defeat at the hands of Barcelona.

This was the kind of display the Magpies need to harness and carry back over to their domestic efforts, struggling for consistency in the Premier League right now.

But if anything, it’s nights like these that remind the fanbase that this is a special group of players.

Newcastle's best performers vs Benfica

Howe was understandably chuffed with Newcastle’s winning display, now in good standing to continue the push and ascend to the next phase of the Champions League.

At the double was Harvey Barnes, whose clinical edge bore dividends on the evening. And how about that assist from Nick Pope, who continues to show why he deserves to be the number one between the sticks.

He didn’t score, but Nick Woltemade continues to dazzle. The “phenom”, as he was called by reporter Andy Sixsmith, was the connective tissue in attack, with the correspondent saying “his link-up play is mesmerising”.

Isak didn’t hit his stride in the European theatre for Newcastle; his triumph was found on the domestic stage. Alan Shearer remains the modern great in the Champions League for Newcastle, with seven goals from 14 matches for the Tynesiders.

Now, Howe has found his new version of the legendary goalscorer, and no, it’s not Woltemade.

Howe has found Newcastle's new Shearer

Shearer was brilliant at Newcastle, scoring 206 goals and supplying 58 assists across 405 matches.

Woltemade has the talent to rival the Premier League icon down the line, but it’s Anthony Gordon who was the star of the show against Benfica, and he’s proving he could emulate the one-time England international.

Indeed, the 24-year-old is now only two goals behind Shearer as Newcastle’s leading scorer in the Champions League proper, and he has four goals from three games this term alone.

Electric on the ball and ravenous for it back when against the opposition’s play, Gordon has ebbed and flowed this season, but he’s starting to find form at a crucial time, and must now transport it back to the domestic scene.

Shearer’s legacy is a peerless one, but Gordon, signed from Everton for £45m nearly three years ago, is becoming the face of his high-flying project, and his chase for Shearer’s European record is one piece of that evidence.

But Gordon’s actually gone one better in black and white: his goal against the Eagles means he is the first Newcastle player in history to net in three successive Champions League matches for the club.

It was a fantastic performance, a demonstration of Gordon’s elite talent and tenacity. The Chronicle Live gave the Three Lions star a flawless 10/10 match rating, praising his lightning speed and prolificness down the left wing, while Geordie content creators, Mouth of the Tyne, remarked that he was back to his “unplayable best.”

Talk about an all-encompassing performance. Gordon might not be an out-and-out striker, but he’s fighting hard to step up and succeed as Newcastle’s attacking talisman.

Alexander Isak may not play for the club anymore, but Newcastle have found a worthy successor in Woltemade, and Gordon is ready to raise his role too.

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iShowSpeed was seen leading the celebrations after Al-Nassr’s recent 5-1 win over Al-Fateh, with the streamer’s favourite player, Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the second goal in the routine victory.

iShowSpeed in attendance as Al-Nassr demolish Al-Fateh

Al-Nassr continued their perfect start to the Saudi Pro League season on Saturday evening, winning their fifth game on the spin, which leaves them four points clear of nearest rivals Al-Hilal at the top of the table.

iShowSpeed was in attendance, with the American well-known to be a super-fan of Ronaldo, and the forward, who is still regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, rewarded the 20-year-old, scoring Al-Nassr’s second goal of the game on the hour mark.

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After the game, the Twitch streamer was directed to lead the celebrations by the 40-year-old, who instructed him how to play the drum, with the clip subsequently going viral.

It is not the first interaction iShowSpeed has had with his idol, with a video of the two meeting a little over two years ago racking up over 25 million views.

Speed’s love of the Manchester United and Real Madrid legend stems from a £1.79 donation to his stream over three years ago, which has been credited as a life-changing moment for the Cincinnati-born streamer.

With the Al-Nassr star clearly thankful for the support, he has now followed iShowSpeed on Instagram and even posted him on his story to his 666 million followers.

Fans of the duo will be hoping the gesture could lead to a collaboration of sorts in the future, although the streamer, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr, has made it clear he doesn’t want to meet his idol on stream.

Ronaldo at the top of his game ahead of 2026 World Cup

There was an expectation that the 2022 World Cup may be the Portugal star’s last, but he is showing no signs of slowing down, having scored six goals for Al-Nassr already this season, taking his tally to 99 in 112 appearances.

The legendary forward has also continued to impress at international level, most recently bagging a brace in a 2-2 draw at home against Hungary, although his side were denied early qualification as a result of Dominik Szoboszlai’s late equaliser.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s longevity can only be commended, but given that he is now 40-years-old, the 2026 World Cup will surely be the former Real Madrid man’s last opportunity to get his hands on one of the only trophies that has eluded him…

يخوض النادي الأهلي مباراة قوية أمام منافسه سيراميكا كليوباترا، اليوم الخميس، بالمواجهة التي تجمع بين الفريقين ضمن لقاءات بطولة كأس السوبر المصري.

وتقام المباراة بين الأهلي وسيراميكا كليوباترا، على أرضية استاد هزاع بن زايد في الإمارات، ضمن مواجهات نصف نهائي كأس السوبر المصري.

طالع | تشكيل الأهلي الرسمي أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا في السوبر المصري.. توروب يدفع بـ القوة الضاربة

ويشارك النادي الأهلي “بطل الدوري المصري الموسم الماضي” في بطولة السوبر المصري في الإمارات، بجانب أندية الزمالك وبيراميدز وسيراميكا كليوباترا.

ويحاول الأهلي الفوز باللقاء على حساب سيراميكا كليوباترا، من أجل التأهل إلى المباراة النهائية والسعي خطوة نحو تحقيق اللقب المحلي بالموسم الحالي.

ومن المنتظر أن تتواجد القوة الضاربة للنادي الأهلي، المكونة من أحمد سيد زيزو وأشرف بن شرقي ومحمود حسن تريزيجيه والمهاجم السلوفيني جراديشار، بجانب عودة علي محمد بن رمضان بعد تعافيه من الإصابة. تشكيل الأهلي المتوقع اليوم أمام سيراميكا كليوباترا في السوبر المصري

حراسة المرمى: محمد الشناوي.

خط الدفاع: محمد هاني- ياسر إبراهيم- ياسين مرعي- أحمد نبيل كوكا.

خط الوسط: محمد علي بن رمضان- مروان عطية- أشرف بن شرقي- محمود حسن تريزيجيه- أحمد سيد زيزو.

الهجوم: جراديشار.

أعلن أيمن الرمادي المدير الفنى لفريق الكرة الأول بنادي البنك الأهلي عن تشكيل لاعبيه لمواجهة الزمالك، ضمن مباريات الجولة الثانية عشر من عمر مسابقة الدوري المصري الممتاز موسم 2025/2026.

ويواجه فريق البنك الأهلي نظيره فريق البنك الأهلي، في تمام الساعة الثامنة من مساء اليوم الخميٍس، على ملعب القاهرة الدولي.

طالع.. تشكيل الزمالك أمام البنك الأهلي في الدوري.. الدباغ يقود الهجوم تشكيل البنك الأهلي أمام الزمالك في الدوري

حراسة المرمى: عبد العزيز البلعوطي.

خط الدفاع: عمرو الجزار، مصطفى الزناري، هشام صلاح، إسحاق يعقوبو.

خط الوسط: محمد فتحي، محمد إبراهيم، محمد بن شرقي، مصطفى شلبي.

خط الهجوم: أحمد ياسر ريان، أسامة فيصل.

ويجلس على مقاعد البدلاء: “أحمد صبحي، سعيدو سيمبوري، مصطفى دويدار، أحمد مدبولي، يسري وحيد، أحمد النادري، محمود الجزار، ياو انور، سيد نيمار”.

Kuldeep was introduced as late as the 11th over, and bowled three wicketless overs for 27 runs

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Apr-20253:06

Ganga; Kuldeep not finishing his overs a missed opportunity

In Delhi Capitals’ (DC) 14-run defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Tuesday, their captain Axar Patel used only three overs of Kuldeep Yadav, India’s premier wristspinner. Not only did DC not use spin in the powerplay, but Kuldeep was introduced as late as the 11th over. KKR eventually posted 79 for 1 in the powerplay, and that platform helped them post 204 for 9, a score that proved to be good enough on the night.Daren Ganga, the former West Indies captain, said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out that Kuldeep is a bowler who must finish his quota every game. He also said that using Kuldeep as a wicket-taking option in the powerplay could have slowed KKR down, and was a gamble worth taking with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sunil Narine and Ajinkya Rahane going hard at the other DC bowlers.”Kuldeep not finishing his spell to me was a bit of a missed opportunity,” Ganga said. “When you have a bowler like Kuldeep, regardless of the day he’s having, I’d like to see him exhaust his full complement of overs. That is something he [Axar] could’ve looked at – bowling Kuldeep’s one over earlier on, and then bowling three overs in the middle. That could’ve changed proceedings and probably informed how the other spinners would go on that surface.Related

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“I was having a conversation about teams and their reluctance to use conventional wristspinners in the powerplay phase. To me, if you’re trying to control a phase by taking wickets, that’s an option for you. And then if you know you have an issue with your bowlers not penetrating opposition batters, then I think it is worth a gamble for you to use, at least one over of wristspin in that phase.”Kuldeep finally entered the attack as DC’s sixth bowler, delivering the 11th, 13th, and 15th overs and finishing with figures of 0 for 27. But by then, KKR had already built a strong platform, and even a few hiccups couldn’t derail their momentum. Wasim Jaffer labelled it “strange tactics” not to use Kuldeep up front when DC were clearly in need of a breakthrough while Ambati Rayudu pointed to Kuldeep’s recent success against left-hand batters and said he could have troubled Narine.”Especially today when KKR batsmen were going great guns, I felt they should’ve brought a spinner on for sure. Kuldeep is a wicket-taker and he’s been bowling brilliantly to left-handers of late,” Rayudu said. “He’s been getting the dip now, which wasn’t there in his bowling earlier, and he’s not afraid to bowl googlies to left-handers, and he’s been getting wickets off googlies.”3:56

‘Axar should back himself to bowl in powerplay’

‘Axar could have bowled in the powerplay too’Kuldeep wasn’t DC’s only spin option. Vipraj Nigam was brought on in the seventh over, while Axar bowled four overs on the trot from the eighth to the 14th. Despite being effective, Axar too did not bowl in the powerplay, a surprising decision considering his performance in the powerplay in the previous game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).”I think [Axar could’ve bowled] definitely for an over at least,” Rayudu said. “They were going after pace and you had to slow things down, not only time-wise but also in terms of giving pace to the batsmen. I felt they missed a little trick there.”Axar has also become a much, much better bowler. He bowls the under-cutter, which he bowls to left-handers that goes away. And he has that height where he never bowls too full. I think he definitely should have bowled in the powerplay.”Jaffer served a reminder that Axar dismissed left-handers Jacob Bethell and Devdutt Padikkal against RCB too, nullifying the left-arm spinner to left-hand batter worry that some teams have.”I think he should have used at least one over himself, considering in the last game he got two wickets off left-handers,” Jaffer said. “[Not bowling] against Nicholas Pooran you would understand since Pooran is a different beast altogether, but against all other [left-handed] batters, he should back himself.”Ganga, meanwhile, acknowledged the captain’s dilemma when choosing between backing himself or deploying other bowlers. He said that Dushmantha Chameera’s recent inclusion might have influenced Axar’s choices. Still, he felt captains need to show greater conviction.”If the surface was offering a bit more turn, it might’ve prompted him to bowl in the powerplay phase,” Ganga said. “There are also times, as a captain, you find yourself between a rock and a hard place with you putting yourself as an option compared to using other options.”Chameera has been brought in recently to join this DC side. His USP is bowling in the first and last phase, so he was given an opportunity to, but at times, you have to be more determined, take the game by its horns and back yourself. I think we overrate match-ups, sometimes, bowlers can still trouble batters’ inside edge as well. I think at times captains can be a bit more enterprising and use that option.”