Alisson e Bento disputam a titularidade da Seleção Brasileira

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A Seleção Brasileira encara o México neste sábado (8), em amistoso preparatório para a Copa América 2024. A bola vai rolar a partir das 22h (Brasília), no Estádio Kyle Field, no Texas (Estados Unidos). O técnico Dorival Junior já esboçou o time que deve ir a campo, com apenas uma dúvida: o goleiro.

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O goleiro Ederson, do Manchester City, foi cortado devido a uma lesão na órbita ocular. Com isso, Rafael, do São Paulo, foi convocado e deve ser a terceira opção, deixando a briga pela titularidade da Seleção Brasileira entre Alisson, do Liverpool e Bento, do Athletico.

Em outro momento, Alisson seria o substituto claro de Ederson, no gol da Seleção Brasileira. Porém, as boas atuações de Bento nos amistosos contra Inglaterra e Espanha geraram algumas dúvidas na cabeça de Dorival Junior.

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COMPARATIVO ENTRE OS DOIS GOLEIROS:

Contra Inglaterra e Espanha, o goleiro do Athletico somou oito defesas em 11 chutes na direção do gol. Ou seja, salvou o Brasil em 72,7% das finalizações precisas sofridas. Enquanto o experiente goleiro do Liverpool, nos seus dois últimos duelos pelo Brasil, realizou nove defesas em 12 chutes certos cedidos. Assim, salvou a seleção em 75% das finalizações adversárias no sentido da meta.

Neste Brasileirão, em sete jogos, Bento defendeu 85% dos chutes certos e sofreu quatro gols, segundo o Sofascore. Já na edição passada da competição, os números seguem positivos, tendo em vista que salvou o Furacão em 74% dos arremates precisos, ainda que tenha sido vazado 36 vezes em 33 partidas. Alisson, por sua vez, também se destaca, apesar de ter estatísticas menos positivas do que o concorrente. Em 28 partidas da Premier League 2023/24, ele defendeu 73% das finalizações certas e sofreu 31 gols.

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PROVÁVEL ESCALAÇÃO PARA O JOGO CONTRA O MÉXICO:

Alisson ou Bento; Yan Couto, Bremer, Beraldo, Arana; João Gomes, Douglas Luiz, Pepê; Savinho, Endrick, Martinelli. Técnico: Dorival Junior.

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AlissonBentoFutebol NacionalSeleção Brasileira

Bumrah's magic seals opening-day honours for India

South Africa won their first toss in India in eight attempts but Bumrah put it out of the equation with a five-for

Sidharth Monga14-Nov-20253:22

How is Bumrah still unplayable on a dry surface?

It was pitches in 2015-16, it was the tosses in 2019-20, but India took the pitch and the toss out of the equation in dismissing South Africa for 159 on the first day of the 2025-26 series. The visitors won the toss on a decent batting surface at Eden Gardens, raced away to 57 for 0 in 10 overs, but then became victims of Jasprit Bumrah’s 16th five-wicket haul and excellent support work from Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj. India, with a new No. 3 in Washington Sundar, were 37 for 1 in 20 overs possible before stumps.Guilty of playing too little bowling in the past, India went in with six of them as Washington moved to No. 3, making room for Axar Patel in the XI. For a while, as Siraj struggled for rhythm and Axar was taken down, it seemed India would need all the bowling they could muster.However, Bumrah had been excellent at the other end. Out of those 57, he had conceded only nine runs in five overs. He pushed himself for two more overs in that first spell, and produced two near unplayable deliveries. He went round the wicket to swing one in to Ryan Rickelton and then nip it away a touch to take the off stump. In his next over, he got Aiden Markram with one that kicked off a length. Bumrah ended his spell with figures of 7-4-9-2 out of a score of 62 for 2.Related

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It might not have been an unplayable pitch, but it had enough to keep bowlers interested. Kuldeep found that with some quick turn in his first spell. Accordingly, he and Shubman Gill went for a backward short leg as opposed to one in front of square. In no time he had Temba Bavuma edging one there for a sharp catch for Dhruv Jurel, who handed over the big gloves to the returning Rishabh Pant but retained his spot in the XI on the back of a century against West Indies and two against South Africa A.Tony de Zorzi and Wiaan Mulder somehow saw South Africa through to lunch, but immediately after they had to face the double trouble of Bumrah and Kuldeep. In just six overs, both had been sent back for an addition of just 15. Mulder, who got off the mark with a reverse-sweep off Kuldeep, fell lbw on the same shot for 24. De Zorzi got a similar delivery to the one that Rickelton did, but this one nipped in and beat him on the inside edge.The ball had just started to reverse for Bumrah, and Siraj took over to continue the nightmare for South Africa. Kyle Verrreynne’s big back lift was always an invitation for Siraj, who eventually hit him pad first right in front. In the same over, he hit the top of off of Marco Jansen.Axar Patel, 3-0-20-0 in his first spell, now returned to find some turn. With his long arms and low release creating an extreme angle, Axar becomes dangerous once he gets one to turn. He now had Corbin Bosch playing for the non-existent turn and had him lbw with what proved to be the last ball before tea.Jasprit Bumrah is congratulated by his team-mates after completing his five-for•Getty Images

Tristan Stubbs, the specialist batter, didn’t farm strike and left the two spinners Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj at the mercy of Bumrah, who had them both in one over to go level with BS Chandrasekhar on five-fors and into India’s top five. It consigned South Africa to their second-lowest score against India in the first innings of a match.Batting wasn’t quite straightforward for India either, which is where South Africa dearly missed Kagiso Rabada, who was out with a rib injury. In fading east Indian light, Jansen was on the money but couldn’t quite find the length with which he could threaten the stumps. He still got the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal on the cut.KL Rahul and Washington had to be watchful with little to gain really. In the brief period of spin possible, Maharaj came close to bowling Rahul, and Harmer showed he was a much-improved bowler from the one that toured India in 2015-16. That Bumrah five-for began to look even more important with a few puffs of dust towards the end of the day.

Fixtures for Men's Under-19 World Cup 2026 confirmed; Harare Sports Club to host final

The 16th edition of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup is set to take place from January 15 to February 6, 2026. The ICC announced the fixtures for the tournament on Wednesday, with 16 teams participating in the event to be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia.Tanzania will be making their debut in the competition, which will also see Japan featuring in it for the second time after they last played in it in 2020.The 16 teams have been divided into four groups of four teams each. While each team plays the three other sides in its group during the first round of the tournament, the top three ranked teams from each group progress to the Super Six. The top four teams then qualify for the semi-finals on February 3 and 4, which will be held in Bulawayo and Harare, respectively. The final will take place at the Harare Sports Club in Harare.Apart from that venue, the four other grounds that will be hosting the tournament are the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare, the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, the recently inaugurated Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, and the HP Oval also in Windhoek. All teams are due to arrive on January 8, before playing warm-up matches from January 9-14, ahead of the tournament proper starting a day later.In 2024, Australia had beaten India in the final to win the previous edition of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup.

Women's county ins and outs 2025-26

Keep up to date with all the player movements ahead of the 2026 women’s Tier 1 county season

ESPNcricinfo staffKeep up to date with all the movements around the counties as preparations are made for the 2026 women’s Tier 1 county season.DurhamIN:
OUT:
OVERSEAS:EssexIN: Liberty Heap (Lancashire)
OUT: Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones, Kelly Castle (both released)
OVERSEAS:HampshireIN: Pippa Sproul (academy)
OUT: Mary Taylor (Warwickshire), Freya Davies (retired), Daisy Mullan (released)
OVERSEAS: Amanda-Jade WellingtonLancashireIN:
OUT: Liberty Heap (Essex), Hannah Rainey (released)
OVERSEAS:The BlazeIN: Emma Jones (Surrey)
OUT: Sarah Glenn (Yorkshire), Scarlett Hughes (released)
OVERSEAS:SomersetIN: Bea Willis (academy)
OUT: Fran Wilson (retired), Laura Jackson, Amelie Munday (both released)
OVERSEAS:SurreyIN: Emily Burke (academy), Rachel King
OUT: Emma Jones (The Blaze), Alexa Stonehouse (Warwickshire – loan)
OVERSEAS:WarwickshireIN: Mary Taylor (Hampshire), Alexa Stonehouse (Surrey – loan)
OUT:
OVERSEAS:YorkshireIN: Sarah Glenn (The Blaze), Olivia Thomas
OUT:
OVERSEAS:

'He's overshadowing Harry Kane & Michael Olise!' – Bayern Munich wonderkid experiencing unprecedented rise as Jamal Musiala warned he will have to 'prove' himself all over again

Bayern Munich sensation Lennart Karl has been hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime talent by Dietmar Hamann, who claims the 17-year-old is currently outshining superstars Harry Kane and Michael Olise. The Liverpool legend believes Karl's explosion onto the scene is so significant that even Jamal Musiala faces a genuine fight to regain his starting spot in the side upon his return from injury.

  • Hamann stunned by teenager's impact

    The hierarchy at the Allianz Arena likely expected this season to be defined by the continued brilliance of Kane or the flair of star winger Olise. Instead, the headlines in Bavaria are being monopolised by a 17-year-old academy graduate who has seemingly come from nowhere to seize control of the Bayern attack. Karl, a name known previously only to ardent followers of youth football, has exploded onto the senior stage in recent weeks, delivering record-breaking performances in the Champions League and excelling in the Bundesliga.

    Speaking on on , former Bayern and Liverpool midfielder Hamann expressed his disbelief at the immediate impact the teenager has made. Hamann, often a critical voice regarding Bayern's affairs, was effusive in his praise, suggesting that the youngster is currently performing at a level higher than the club's most expensive assets.

    "It is impressive that a 17-year-old with his technical skills and healthy self-confidence is putting stars like Harry Kane and Michael Olise in the shade," Hamann declared. "I have never seen anything like it, the influence he has on a top European team."

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    Musiala warned of new competition

    The emergence of Karl has occurred largely due to an opening in the squad created by the absence of Musiala. The established German international has been sidelined with a horrific injury since the summer, allowing Karl to step into the creative void. While most observers assumed Musiala would walk straight back into the starting XI once fit, Hamann believes the dynamic has fundamentally shifted.

    In a claim that underscores just how high Karl's stock has risen, the pundit warned that Musiala – widely considered the face of the club's future – can no longer take his position for granted. According to Hamann, the incumbent star now has a serious challenger who is currently playing the best football in the league.

    "When Jamal Musiala comes back, he first has to show that he can get past Lennart Karl," Hamann stated, throwing down the gauntlet to the returning playmaker.

  • A wildcard for the World Cup?

    The implications of Karl's meteoric rise extend beyond the Bundesliga title race. With the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico looming on the horizon next summer, the conversation has inevitably turned to the German national team. Former Bayern CEO and goalkeeping legend Oliver Kahn joined Hamann on the panel and echoed the sentiment that Karl could be a secret weapon for Julian Nagelsmann, despite not having been called up to the senior team as of yet.

    "It simply makes you happy when such a young player plays without pressure in a shark tank like Munich," Kahn said. "Of course, you are carefree at that age, but you still have to do it like that first. You can see his qualities and he should just ride the wave as long as possible.

    "He has now played his way into the starting XI. And if he continues like this, he won't need any major teething troubles with the national team either. And even at a World Cup, there are moments where you can make good use of such a player and he can make a big difference."

    Hamann agreed, arguing that if the 17-year-old maintains this level of performance through the spring, he must be on the plane to North America. "If Karl continues to play even remotely like this, the national team cannot afford not to take him to the World Cup," he added.

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    A future headache for Kompany

    Vincent Kompany now faces the type of selection headache that managers dream of, yet dread. With Musiala nearing a return to full fitness, the Bayern coach must decide how to integrate his returning star without disrupting the momentum of his new prodigy.

'Everything comes to an end, goodbye Mohamed Salah' – Have Liverpool fans finally turned on their Egyptian King after incredible 'thrown under the bus' interview?

Mohamed Salah's tenure at Liverpool looks to be coming towards a bitter and sad end. Following his stunning outburst after the club's 3-3 draw with Leeds, the Egyptian King has sparked a civil war among the fanbase. Is Salah right to claim the Reds have thrown him under the bus, or is Jamie Carragher the good guy for launching a scathing attack on the forward?

Salah's moment of madness

After being named on the bench for a third successive Premier League game, Salah stormed through the mixed zone in the aftermath of Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Leeds at Elland Road, before stopping to give an explosive seven-minute interview that left reporters stunned as he claimed he had been "thrown under the bus" by head coach Arne Slot.

He said: I can’t believe it, I’m very, very disappointed. I have done so much for this club down the years and especially last season. Now I’m sitting on the bench, and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame. I got a lot of promises in the summer, and so far I am on the bench for three games, so I can’t say they keep the promise. I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club."

The rant led to public criticism from Liverpool legend Carragher, who described Salah as a "disgrace" and accused him of trying to inflict "maximum damage" by throwing his toys out of the pram. The 47-year-old has since apologised, but the damage has already been done from both sides. Much of the Liverpool fanbase is split – there is a section of supporters who have taken Salah's side, pointing to the success he has helped deliver in his eight years at the club. But others have reminded the Egyptian winger that football is a team sport, and, more importantly, no one is bigger than the club. The all-important question, then, who is right?

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Salah's most recent outburst is not the only time he has opened his mouth to the media to try and force Liverpool's hand. The 33-year-old has made a habit of complaining when his demands are not met, famously acting up when pursuing a new contract last season, flexing his achievements and pointing to his numbers when arguing that he should not have to take a pay cut to remain at Anfield. But this time, it appears plenty of people think he has gone too far. One fan has had enough of the talisman's antics, labelling Salah as a "five-year-old kid" and admitting he would love to see the back of him for his petulance. His theory may have some substance as well, after Salah posted a picture of himself in the gym after being left at home for the trip to Inter with the famous 'You'll never walk alone' sign behind him.

Jordan Chamberlain, a Liverpool fan writer, describes the Premier League and Champions League winner as "selfish" and adds: "The Egypt forward deserved his monstrous two-year contract. He was the best player in the country. But fast forward to December and Liverpool's number 11 has thrown his toys out of the pram in an extremely damaging way. Salah has had a poor season. There are lots of reasons for this, but his statements put himself, Slot and the club in an untenable position. I have no idea what will happen next, but I just wish Salah had kept his mouth shut."

Another fan, replying to Salah's gym post, said: "Is he after some sort of sympathy? Acting like a petulant child." @MaccaLiv19 was also not happy, saying: "Apologise to the club and the manager. If not, it’s goodbye in Jan."

A few eagle-eyed spectators have also pointed out the fact that since being dropped, Liverpool are unbeaten in their last four games, and that, regardless, a player should never throw their team under the bus, particularly in a moment where they are struggling. Liverpool's form has dipped after winning the title, but not to a point where it is unsalvageable. 

With Thierry Henry coming to the defence of his friend and fellow pundit Carragher during Tuesday's Champions League coverage, it has only placed more dark clouds over Salah's head. One fan summed up his feelings on the back of the Arsenal icon's explanation of the situation, in which he claimed players must "protect their teams at all costs."

@JacobHorsfall__ could not believe that anyone would side with Salah over the pundit. He added: I really don’t understand how people are siding with Salah. Literally makes no sense to me. Think Carragher was pretty bang on. The RB suffering comment was about how the team sacrificed to platform Salah. The Egypt comment was to say that no team can be great with 1 star. Chelsea flop comment was to say that Liverpool did just as much for Salah as he’s done for them. No player should ever throw the club under the bus."

Salah has earned the right to make demands

On the other hand, Salah retains the support of plenty on Merseyside. In the eyes of many, their Egyptian King can do no wrong, and they believe his contributions have earned him the right to make demands. Perhaps Salah is well within his rights to be upset at suddenly being dropped by Slot. He has recorded six goal contributions in 13 Premier League games for the Reds this season, and bagged 29 goals in Liverpool's title-winning campaign last term before penning a new deal. 

Fans have not forgotten that, and among the 20,000+ replies to his latest gym post, the response was overwhelmingly in support of the forward. One account, @the_Lawrenz, reminded Salah of his lasting impact on the club, posting: "You changed Liverpool’s life." Another, @guineasfinest, added: "There’s more legacy in Salah’s left toe at Liverpool than in Carra’s entire career."

It seems Carragher succeeded in blowing Salah's interview out of proportion and ramping up the swirling rumours about his future. Part of his monologue on Monday night included a statement that saw the ex-defender suggest his Serie A career and time at Chelsea were both failures, and plenty have sympathised with the winger when it comes to his past endeavours. @TheImmortalKop said: "That Carragher segment really showed he doesn’t respect anything outside of the Premier League. Salah was great for Basel, Fiorentina and Roma and has sent his club to the World Cup twice. Belittling all that by calling him a failure before joining Liverpool is just ridiculous."

Even if we isolate Salah's achievements to his time solely in a Liverpool shirt, he has scored 250 goals in 420 appearances, won nine major pieces of silverware, and been the guy to dig the club out of a hole on more than one occasion, ultimately driving them to one of their most successful periods in the Premier League era.

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AFPHave your say on Salah's future

With Salah missing the Inter clash and soon to be jetting off to AFCON until January, there is a real possibility the club legend may have played his last game in England. With recent events in mind, should the Reds cash in on him if a suitable offer arrives in the winter transfer window or should they stand by their main man? Vote in the poll below and make sure you leave a comment! 👇

Legendary Second Baseman Jeff Kent Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame

Jeff Kent is headed to Cooperstown.

The former second baseman has been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2026 after a 17-year career with the Blue Jays, Mets, Cleveland, Giants, Astros and Dodgers from 1992-2008. Kent first became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2014, and is now making it in over a decade later.

Related: Analyzing the Best Contemporary Era Hall of Fame Candidates: Jeff Kent

Over his career, Kent was a five-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger. The former Cal Bear was a 20th-round draft pick by the Blue Jays in 1989, and finally made it up to the big leagues in 1992. He played for the Blue Jays during their 1992 World Series campaign, but was traded to the Mets before their postseason run.

Kent had the best stretch of his career with the Giants, when he was a three-time All-Star and the National League MVP in 2000 as he slashed .334/.424/.596 with 33 home runs and 125 RBIs. The Giants have honored him by making him a member of their Wall of Fame. Throughout his career, Kent hit .290 and compiled a total of 2,461 hits, 1,320 runs, 377 home runs and 1,518 RBIs.

“I’ve used all my cry rags already. The emotions are overwhelming. Unbelievable. Didn’t even expect it for me,” Kent told MLB Network. “There are so many quality guys … a lot of guys that the committee had to argue through and vote for. Grateful that they considered me and gave it a shot for putting me in. 

Meanwhile, candidates including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela did not receive enough votes to be elected into the Hall of Fame. Bonds, Clemes, Sheffield and Valenzuela all received fewer than five votes, and will not be eligible for the Hall of Fame again until 2031.

2025 MLB All-Star Game Starters Announced: Full List

The 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star starters were announced on Wednesday night. National League frontrunner for MVP, Shohei Ohtani, and American League MVP candidate Aaron Judge highlighted the lists for both leagues, securing their spots earlier this month as leading vote-getters.

Now we know which players will fill out the AL and NL starting lineups alongside them.

The 2025 Major League All-Star game is set for Tuesday, July 15 at 8 p.m. ET at Truist Park in Atlanta.

American League All-Star Starters

C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners

1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays

2B: Gleyber Torres, Detroit Tigers

SS: Jacob Wilson, Athletics

3B: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians

OF: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

OF: Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers

OF: Javier Baez, Detroit Tigers

DH: Ryan O'Hearn, Baltimore Orioles

National League All-Stars

C: Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers

1B: Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers

2B: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

SS: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets

3B: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres

OF: Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves

OF: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs

OF: Kyle Tucker, Chicago Cubs

DH: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

Wadhera is making waves by being a T20 floater

He made his name with Mumbai Indians two years ago and is trying to perform as an improved cricketer with Punjab Kings

Ashish Pant25-Apr-2025″It’s not about being good, it’s about knowing that you are good.”This realisation dawned upon Nehal Wadhera when he faced Jofra Archer for the first time in a Mumbai Indians (MI) practice game ahead of IPL 2023. All of 22 at the time, and yet to make his T20 debut, here was Wadhera facing one of the fastest bowlers in the world.He didn’t just survive but even impressed the MI management so much that he was handed a T20 debut in the IPL in the team’s season opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).Related

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“When I batted against Archer, I think that was an actual moment where I got that self-confidence,” Wadhera said in a press interaction. “It is very important for you to know that you are good. And when I played Archer in the practice games, it was in a way a realisation moment for me.”And from there, I got the confidence that yes, I am prepared for this level. And then, wherever I got the chance, I did well. I think my confidence was sky-high thereon.”Wadhera had a decent debut season, scoring 241 runs in ten innings, with two fifties and a strike rate of 145.18. The MI stint helped him realise that he belonged at this level. It also opened a lot of avenues. He was part of the title winning 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Punjab team, where he scored 175 runs in six innings at an average of 58.33 and a strike rate of 162.03.The common factor in both his Punjab and MI stints was his batting position. It was never fixed. From opening the batting to slotting in at No. 7, Wadhera has been a floater throughout his T20 career. It’s not ideal for a player, but it’s something he has trained himself for since he was a kid.”Yes, this thing about me playing in every number… if you look at the last two years, when I was playing for Mumbai as well, my batting was very flexible, there was no fixed position,” he said. “Sometimes I have opened, sometimes I batted two down, sometimes at No. 3, 4, 5, 6.

“I don’t go with the intention that I want to score a hundred in this match or help the team reach 200-250. Because if you plan so far ahead, you end up not doing well. And I have faced this before.”

“Since my early playing days, my preparation has been to adjust to any position in the batting order because I have never had a fixed position. I want to do well in any position wherever I get a chance. I have kept my preparation in such a way that I should know how to play every situation. I think that’s helped me.”Wadhera, 24, is now part of Punjab Kings (PBKS) in IPL 2025. Two years back he was a new kid on the block, there was no baggage, and limited expectations from him. But at PBKS, there is an INR 4.2 crore price tag attached. He also now has two years of IPL experience and is expected to play a key role in the PBKS line-up. It’s something he relishes.”I would like to say that I love playing under tough situations,” Wadhera said. “Honestly, players who can win matches from tough situations only go on to play for India. You have to be a match-winner to be able to play for the Indian team.”And Wadhera has often found himself in such tough situations in IPL 2025. He began the season with an unbeaten 25-ball 43 against Lucknow Super Giants, staying unbeaten in the chase. Against Rajasthan Royals, he top-scored with 62 off 41, even though that came in a losing cause.A couple of weeks later, he made amends against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where against some fiery bowling on a tricky Chinnaswamy surface, Wadhera hit an unbeaten 19-ball 33 to give PBKS an important win. He has 189 runs in seven innings so far this season at a strike rate of 146.51, but more than the runs, it’s his clarity that helps him.Wadhera spoke about the favourable match-up against Suyash Sharma, whom he targeted during the RCB game and his chat with head coach Ricky Ponting heading into his innings.”If we talk about the match against RCB, the coach came to me and he told me ,’Nehal, we just need a run-a-ball. You can just go easy.’ I said, ‘Okay, coach.’Nehal Wadhera has credited the Ricky Ponting-Shreyas Iyer partnership for making things work at PBKS•Punjab Kings”But as soon as I went inside, I felt that RCB had put a lot of pressure on us at that time. I thought that now that I am in, my match-ups bowlers are in front and this is my responsibility now to help my team cross the line.”When chasing smaller targets, if a wicket falls early, then there’s a lot of pressure. So, as soon as Suyash came on, I knew that he was just trying to bowl the googly and that made it easier for me to hit him straight.”It hasn’t been all rosy for Wadhera, especially in this last year. He had an average IPL 2024, where he managed just 109 runs in six innings, without a fifty and then a below-par SMAT 2024-25, where he scored 97 runs in six innings. It made him go back to the basics and analyse the root cause of his lean run.”There is always a time in everyone’s careers where you are not able to score well even when you are trying really hard. That time came with me this year, in Syed Mushtaq Ali,” Wadhera said. “But I am not someone who gives up.”I went through my videos to see what problems I was facing, why didn’t I do well in Mushtaq Ali. I just try to collect all the positives which I can, but at the same time, I also introspect all the weaknesses which can actually cause me trouble in my upcoming games and I am working on that.”I don’t go with the intention that I want to score a hundred in this match or help the team reach 200-250. Because if you plan so far ahead, you end up not doing well. And I have faced this before. I just go with the intent that if the ball is in my range, I have practiced well, I will go for my shot. Nine times out of ten, I know I’ll clear the ground. It is possible that I will get out once. But if I have worked so hard on a shot, I will back it.”Wadhera was also effusive in praise of Shreyas Iyer, the PBKS captain and the bond he shares with Ponting. The captain-coach duo had a stint together previously at Delhi Capitals, and Wadhera says it’s helped in welcoming the newbies into the PBKS set-up.Wadhera is someone who wants to work on his faults and get better, something PBKS could resonate with having not made the playoffs since 2014. They have both started IPL 2025 on the right note and will hope they now get into the final four, if not to the podium to lift the trophy.

Yankees, Blue Jays Announcers Make Nice After Broom-Fueled Drama

The red-hot Toronto Blue Jays surged into first place in the American League East by sweeping the New York Yankees in a four-game series last week. Their rivalry spilled over from the field and into the broadcast booths when Jamie Campbell, host of on SportsNet, took a shot at Yankees announcing legend Michael Kay.

"We have been asked about the broom relentlessly these last couple of days, so here it is because we just witnessed something that has not been done in the history of the Blue Jays," said Campbell. "Sweeping all four from the Yankees here in Toronto. First time. And I can think of a certain Yankee broadcaster in fact who is going to have to go on his show tomorrow and admit that the Blue Jays are a first-place team because the standings prove it."

This came on the heels of Kay saying the Blue Jays were "not a first-place team."

The conversation continued as Kay offered a response to Campbell's bit.

“Imagine if (YES Network studio analyst) Jack Curry was waving a broom on the Yankees postgame show,” Kay said. “He would probably be called into the office and shortly fired after that.

“Now, I love Toronto. It is a cosmopolitan city. It is one of the greatest cities in the world, for me. You’re waving a broom on a postgame show, you are turning it into Mayberry RFD. I just don’t get it. I don’t understand it. You should be proud of the fact you are in first place.

“And one final thing: You shouldn’t hang on the rim three minutes into the third quarter of a basketball game. Feel good about sweeping the Yankees. Feel good about winning all these games in a row. Feel good about being in first place. But to hang on the rim this early? Let’s hang on the rim in October. That’s when you hang on the rim.”

All good broadcasting beefs must come to an end, though. And it appears that détente has been reached as Campbell and Kay have now traded classy messages.

So things, finally, seem to be resolved for now. There's plenty of season left and it's looking like the Blue Jays and Yankees will be battling it out for the division. Might be worth keeping an eye on.

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