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Is Hardik Pandya’s appointment as captain a sign of something more permanent? Who will partner Ishan Kishan at the top? And will Samson finally get a consistent run?

Shashank Kishore02-Jan-2023India had an odd year in T20 internationals in 2022. They played 40 matches, the most by any team in any year by a distance, and used 31 players, the most along with England. They won eight out of nine bilateral series, but didn’t make the finals of the two big ones – the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup. The semi-final exit in Australia led to the team management beginning the New Year with a review meeting with the BCCI’s top brass.Despite success in bilateral matches, there’s been an intense scrutiny of India’s approach in T20 cricket – particularly around the batting – and their failings at major tournaments. The series that begins against Sri Lanka in Mumbai on Tuesday is a chance at a fresh start. With the focus shifting to the ODI World Cup at home this October and November, India have picked a relatively young squad for the T20Is.While Rohit Sharma, who appears to have been given assurances that he will continue to lead the 50-over side, is recovering from a finger injury, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul have been rested. Rishabh Pant was not part of the series either, even before his serious car accident on December 30, and veterans like Bhuvneshwar Kumar were not picked.Related

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Given the overarching feeling that there is a need for change in India’s T20 cricket, there are opportunities for fringe players to make a strong case to be part of India’s first-choice squad, even when the regulars become available. With the next T20 World Cup in 2024, it’s a chance for India to start afresh and redefine the way they want to approach the shortest format of the game.Hardik Pandya – India’s T20I captain?
In Rohit’s absence, Hardik Pandya has once again been appointed India’s T20I captain. Only time will tell if he is a temporary replacement, or whether the elevation is a more permanent promotion, as India build towards the next T20 World Cup. This series is a chance for Hardik to lead without the pressures of winning a major event at short notice – a luxury Rohit did not have; he took over with barely eight months to prepare for the World Cup in Australia.Hardik has made a strong impression as a captain, ever since he was first appointed by Gujarat Titans ahead of IPL 2022. While it seemed like an unconventional move, Hardik quickly grew into the role as the tournament progressed. Player security, continuity and role clarity became buzzwords around the group as Titans won the title in their debut season.Watch on ESPN Player in the UK

WATCH the first India vs Sri Lanka T20I LIVE

Since then, Hardik has led India in T20Is in Ireland, West Indies and most recently New Zealand, and the chorus for him to take over the captaincy full time has been growing louder within Indian cricket circles. This series – and the selection for the next one against New Zealand – could give us an indication about the possibility of a transition. Hardik also has a new deputy with Suryakumar Yadav, India’s best T20 batter of 2022, getting a promotion to vice-captain.Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson and a top-order makeover
When Ishan Kishan smashed 56 off 32 balls on T20I debut against an England side featuring Sam Curran, Jofra Archer, Chris Jordan, Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid, it appeared as though India had found a key piece of their T20I puzzle. Kishan went on to be a part of India’s 2021 T20 World Cup squad, but quickly lost his way. An underwhelming IPL 2022 season did not help his cause, even though he continued to feature in second-string Indian squads.Ishan Kishan smashed 210 off 131 balls in the third ODI in Bangladesh•Associated PressOne day in Bangladesh, when he smashed the record for the fastest double-century in ODIs, has changed all that. Kishan may not have played that match had Rohit been fit, but not he’s bound to get a longer run at the top of the order, especially with Rahul likely to be on personal leave for the New Zealand series too.Like Kishan, Sanju Samson could get a run of successive games against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. If he does, it will surpass the longest streak of consecutive games – three T20Is – he’s had for India since his debut in 2015. The sixth highest run-scorer in the IPL over the past three seasons, Samson can bat anywhere in the top six, keep wicket, attack from the start, and is an excellent player of spin. His perceived inconsistency has hindered his progress but that could also be a result of the constant uncertainty over his selection. In 16 T20Is, Samson has a lone half-century, a 42-ball 77 against Ireland; this series could be the opportunity for him to get not just more games but also a chance to bat in the top order, where he can be at his destructive best.India will also have a new opening combination for this series, with Kishan likely to team up with either Shubman Gill or Ruturaj Gaikwad in Pant’s absence. Gill has not yet played a T20 international, and is coming off a Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament in which he scored 260 runs as an opener at an average of 52 and strike rate of 156.62. Gaikwad’s numbers are similar – 295 runs at an average of 59 and strike rate of 146.7 – and he has not played a T20I for India since the tour of Ireland in July last year. Will India be able to find that explosive opening combination they’ve been searching for?Umran Malik has not yet played an international at home•AFP via Getty ImagesWashington adds all-round depth
With Washington Sundar fully fit, India’s all-rounder stocks look healthy for the home series, with Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel to choose from as well, in addition to Hardik. Washington played only one T20I on the tour of New Zealand but his ability to bowl in the powerplay and his ever-improving batting skills gives India options. He had scores of 37* off 16 balls in an ODI in New Zealand, and 51 and 37 in ODIs in Bangladesh.Arshdeep’s chance to lead the attack
Arshdeep Singh started as a powerplay specialist but his responsibilities have grown in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. His ability to nail the yorker and his calm temperament has made Arshdeep an asset in the death overs, and currently he is the only left-arm pacer in India’s T20 plans. He was India’s best bowler at the 2022 T20 World Cup and took 4 for 37 in the tied third T20I in New Zealand in November.Now, along with Harshal Patel, Arshdeep will spearhead a pace attack comprising rookies: tearaway quick Umran Malik, Mukesh Kumar and Shivam Mavi. With India keen to develop wicket-taking options in the middle overs, Malik could play his first international at home; all his five ODIs and three T20Is so far have been outside India.

Seamer once on the fast-track for England reveals his mental health battles

Valkerie Baynes11-May-2021When Stuart Meaker went through a divorce two years ago, he started speaking to a therapist. Realising there’s no quick fix when mental health issues arise, he has continued those sessions every couple of weeks, well beyond the initial three months or so that seems standard when someone seeks help through a difficult life event.In that time, Meaker, the Sussex seamer who was once on the fast-track to England honours, has learnt a lot about quick fixes.”What a lot of people do when they end up going through difficult life circumstances or relationship break-ups is they throw themselves wholeheartedly into their job and their career, their cricket, whatever it is, because it’s a great means of distraction,” Meaker tells ESPNcricinfo.”Unfortunately mine wasn’t. I was emotionally all over the place. I ended up going out too much, not training as hard as I could or should have done. I was chasing after girls, because I thought, ‘well at least it will give me a self-esteem boost’. It’s a quick fix of an evening, but it’s not wholly fulfilling in who you are.”That’s where, he says, speaking to a mental health professional helped.Related

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“I guess what it all boils down to is actually learning to just be okay and comfortable with myself and my own company,” Meaker says. “I think a therapist’s role is to get someone to a place where they’re just okay and comfortable with themselves.”That experience confirmed something that Meaker knew existed, even if he hadn’t put a name to it.Self-doubt, insecurity and fear of failure, fuelled by the delicate balance between in-form and out-of-favour which is such a prominent part of an elite cricketer’s life, manifested itself in anxiety. For Meaker, his ability to sleep was affected, not ideal for anyone let alone a fast bowler trying to push their body – and mind – to some imposing limits.”I can get terribly anxious, usually specifically revolving around cricket,” Meaker says. “Because you want to do well and you’re desperate to prove yourself even after you’ve been playing the game for 14 years.”When you’ve gone through good times and bad times and you’re changing clubs and all that stuff you still want to do well and the problem is that turns on your brain and it just won’t shut off.”You’re being bombarded by, ‘What if I don’t do well?’ or ‘I want to do well.’ You keep thinking about the game, you overthink everything. You don’t stay in the moment, you’re thinking about tomorrow and the next day.”Meaker played two ODIs and two T20Is for England at the start of the 2010s•Getty ImagesMeaker says he has carried that type of worry through his career. Now he is working on ways to combat it.”I’ve played countless games of cricket, nothing’s going to be unexpected rocking up the next day and playing,” he says. “So why is it that I’m constantly overthinking it and worrying about how it’s going to go?”You’re constantly questioning whether you should still be playing and whether you deserve to be there. Whether you can keep pushing yourself through.”Meaker was at one time regarded as the fastest bowler in England, clocked at 95mph during ECB trials at Loughborough.After playing two ODIs in India in 2011 he travelled back there as an uncapped member of England’s victorious Test squad the following year. Two T20I matches against India immediately after that Test series remain his last international appearances.Meaker toured New Zealand with England in 2013, but injury problems were beginning to mount and he underwent knee and shoulder surgery.He played for England Lions during the winter of 2016-17 but then injuries and competition for places at Surrey – the club he had joined as a 13-year-old and represented at senior level from 2008 – meant he featured in just one Championship match across 2018 and 2019.

“There’s days where you feel like, ‘I could play this game forever,’ and then there’s days you’re like, ‘I just don’t know if I can face going in today'”Stuart Meaker

At the beginning of last year, about to turn 31, Meaker sought and was granted a release from Surrey with a year remaining on his contract and joined Sussex in a bid to revive his career.That remains a work in progress after three appearances in the Bob Willis Trophy, yielding two wickets, and five wickets so far this Championship season.”Cricket is a game of failure and it aids that worry,” Meaker says. “You might be in the best form of your life, you could get an unplayable ball the next day and that’s that.”It’s a really difficult one for people who do battle with it when they’re not going so well because they’re worrying about controlling things that ultimately cannot be controlled.”So how is he doing now? Meaker doesn’t pretend, admitting that he still has “ups and downs”, which is what makes focusing on his mental health an ongoing proposition rather than something that can be fixed in a hurry.”There’s days where you feel like, ‘I could play this game forever,’ and then there’s days you’re like, ‘I just don’t know if I can face going in today,’ he says. “You’ve got to find coping strategies for that.”For me, that is the hardest bit, the constant up and down. When people are blowing hot in cricket, it’s the greatest thing to be because you don’t have to worry.”It’s when you’re not blowing so hot, and those in-between times when you’ve busted your gut during the winter, trained harder than you’ve ever trained, and you’re just not quite getting the results that you’re probably wanting.”I could end up playing one more game and suddenly I take 10-for and everything’s hunky dory, ‘I’m going to play this game for the next five to 10 years.’ That’s the battle you’re constantly going through.”Meaker believes a trigger for the anxiety some cricketers – and no doubt other elite athletes – feel about their performance is that their success on the sporting field is inextricably linked to their identity. Having played and excelled from a very young age, they feel they have always been known as “Stuart the cricketer”, as he puts it.”Even though it’s just something that you do, it’s not who you are, your identity and how you go about speaking to people and interacting with people, that becomes who you are, because it’s how everyone knows you,” he says.”When you’re worried about how your game’s going and how it’s not going so well, that can have a huge impact on it and your self-esteem and how you potentially transition outside of the game. What happens when you’re no longer Stuart the cricketer?”Meaker joined Sussex from Surrey in 2020•Getty ImagesCricket has made inroads to normalise discussion about mental health and treat it as an area to be developed just as physical skills are nurtured. The ECB is in the process of recruiting someone to look after players’ mental wellbeing amid concerns over the effects of spending extended periods in biosecure bubbles, while some teams already have dedicated structures in place to ensure mental health is a focus.The Professional Cricketers’ Association, working with the Professional Cricketers’ Trust, provides mental health support, education programmes and advice for players to prepare for life beyond cricket.But in elite sport, there remains a perception – often among those suffering from mental health problems as much as their team-mates or competitors – that talking about it is admitting a “weakness”. The fact that players are now recognising “bubble fatigue” and acting, either by resting from or leaving those environments, suggests the barriers are coming down.”The thing with mental health and working on things is that it’s a habit, it’s a practice,” Meaker says. “You can try and do it for a week or a month here and there but that’s not really going to solve your problems, or make changes, or create good habits.”That’s the hard part. Like going on a diet or a New Year’s resolution, you start doing it for two weeks, a month and then it just fades, falls from there. The successful ones, the ones that really get to grips with being good at healing themselves from issues, they create the daily habits that they need to and they live their life accordingly.”I wouldn’t say I’m there yet, no, certainly not,” he adds, laughing.A cricketer’s lifestyle doesn’t lend itself to forming and sticking to good habits. Travelling between matches which require intense focus for up to four or five days at a time means other aspects of life are pushed to the perimeter.Lockdown didn’t help, and Meaker is acutely aware that people around the country from all walks of life have struggled during the past year and are still struggling, whether it be with financial problems, feelings of isolation or health concerns and the effects those issues have on mental health.”Not only do you have all these worries going on, you’re disconnected, far more than you’ve ever been,” he says. “Because you can’t meet up socially with people, you don’t get that little boost of interaction, that dopamine kick, you would normally get when you have a good conversation or hug a mate, or get to talk through some of your worries.”In January, Sussex launched the Sussex Cricket Mental Health & Wellbeing Hub to help the community deal with issues exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the resources and videos of people sharing their experiences of mental health issues is Sarah Taylor, the former England wicketkeeper who is now wicketkeeping coach with the Sussex men’s team, speaking about her battle with anxiety. Meaker is there too, talking about his career and encouraging sporting bodies to educate entire teams about what they can do to be mindful of people experiencing mental health issues in their midst.Meaker says he is still learning about mental health himself, but he is much further ahead than he was before.”Whether I’m able to implement it right away, maybe not, but at least I understand it a little bit more,” he says. “The next bit is how seriously I want to take it and what habits I want to create that are actually really going to help me get better with my mental health.”

The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up top pitching prospect Bubba Chandler, who will make his major league debut this weekend against the Colorado Rockies, according to a report from Alex Stumpf of MLB.com.

Chandler, who is the No. 7 overall prospect in baseball and the top amateur arm in the game, is thought to be used as a reliever at the outset this season, but as a starter in the rotation long-term.

The 22-year-old Chandler was selected in the third round of the 2021 MLB draft, and has cruised through the minor leagues. He has spent all of this season in Triple A, posting a 5-6 record with a 4.05 ERA over 100.0 innings pitched. He's also walked a career-high 53 batters this season, as he has struggled a bit with his command.

Regardless, the Pirates view him as a significant piece of their future.

They haven’t won every game, but this season is shaping up to be a truly special one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta has got his side playing some sensational football at times while simultaneously ensuring they remain the best defensive team in the Premier League.

It seems like every player, new and old, is all pulling in the exact same direction and helping each other reach new levels.

One of the team’s best players in recent weeks has been summer signing Eberechi Eze, and so fans should be excited about recent reports linking Arsenal with someone who could be another version of the Englishman.

Arsenal target another Eze

There was tremendous excitement from the Arsenal fan base when it was announced that the club had signed Eze, and understandably so.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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After all, here was a player who many considered to be one of the most exciting in the Premier League, and had just spearheaded Crystal Palace to FA Cup glory.

Fortunately, while it took him a few games to get up to speed, the 27-year-old has more than delivered so far this season, racking up a tally of nine goal involvements in 19 games for the club and scoring that North London Derby hat-trick.

So, with all that in mind, it’s not all that surprising to hear that the Gunners may be after another player who has the potential to be another Eze in Kenan Yıldız.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the Turkish wonderkid.

In fact, the report has revealed that the North Londoners are going all out to sign him and have been in contact with his representatives.

However, Juventus are understandably keen to keep hold of the incredible youngster and, according to other reports from earlier this month, would need a fee of at least £88m to consider selling him.

Therefore, it could be a costly and complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Yıldız’s ability and potential, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be another Eze.

Why Yıldız would be another Eze

Now, there are obviously some key differences between Yıldız and Eze, such as their age, but there are also more than a few similarities between them.

For example, like the Englishman, the young Turkish superstar is an attacker who can and does play in a multitude of positions.

Since making his first team debut for Juventus, the 20-year-old monster has played as a second-striker, on the left and right wings, in attacking midfield and even up top a few times.

The second similarity is that, like the former Palace star, he is a dual threat, someone who is as happy scoring a goal as he is assisting one.

For example, in 52 appearances last season, totalling 3520 minutes, he scored 12 goals and provided nine assists, which comes out to a goal involvement on average every 2.47 games, or every 167.61 minutes.

Yıldız’s recent form

Season

24/25

25/26

Appearances

52

18

Minutes

3520′

1457′

Goals

12

5

Assists

9

5

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Then this season, he has become even more dangerous, scoring five goals and providing five assists in 18 appearances, totalling 1457 minutes, which is a goal involvement every 1.8 games, or every 145.7 minutes.

Finally, and this is related to his output, the 26-capped international is, in the words of content creator Alex Moneypenny, “capable of the spectacular.”

He doesn’t just score tap-ins; he already has quite the impressive catalogue of goals, ranging from long-distance strikes to ones stemming from brilliant close control.

It is also this ability to create magic on the football pitch that likely led European football writer Danny Corcoran to describe the youngster as having “Mbappe-like ability.”

Ultimately, it won’t be an easy transfer to get done, but Arsenal should be going all out to sign Yıldız in 2026, as he could be another Eze.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 5, 2025

The Saudi Pro League is renowned for its wealth and ability to give players huge wages, but who are the most expensive signings in the competition’s history?

European football remains the dominant force in the modern game, with the likes of the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga generally possessing the best players in the world.

In recent years, the Saudi Pro League has increasingly come to the fore, offering footballers eye-watering weekly wages and tempting them away from European clubs in the process.

To some, it is a sub-standard league where players go to earn big money in the twilight of their careers, but others feel it could only continue to grow in the coming years, especially if it continues to attract some of the biggest names in the sport.

There have been plenty of big-money signings to Saudi clubs since its rise to prominence – here are the 15 most expensive to date.

15

Marcos Leonardo

Benfica to Al-Hilal (£33.7m)

Kicking off the list is Brazilian youngster Marcos Leonardo, who joined Al-Hilal from Benfica earlier this year in a deal worth a reported €40m (£33.7m).

The 21-year-old forward was previously with Santos in his homeland, but he clearly felt that a Saudi move was best for his development at this early stage in his career. Only time will tell if it is the right call, but it has been rare to see such a young footballer head there.

14

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Lazio to Al-Hilal (£34m)

For a long time, it seemed inevitable that Sergej Milinkovic-Savic would end up at one of the best teams in Europe, having stood out as such a dominant performer for Lazio, combining talent and physicality in midfield.

It came as a huge shock to see him join Al-Hilal last year in a deal reportedly worth £34m, especially as he was still only in his late 20s at that point. Will he return to Europe in the future?

13

Mohamed Simakan

RB Leipzig to Al-Nassr (£37.9m)

Mohamed Simakan made the decision to leave RB Leipzig and join Al-Nassr in September 2024, in a move worth €45m (£37.9m), linking up with Cristiano Ronaldo in the process.

Only in his mid 20s, the centre-back’s decision to move away from Europe arguably surprised some, but it is still early days, and the club’s success on the domestic and continental stages may determine whether he’ll come to regret saying goodbye to the Bundesliga.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the Frenchman will certainly be looking to make an impression as he seeks a first senior international cap.

12

Fabinho

Liverpool to Al-Ittihad (£40m)

Liverpool enjoyed a glorious period in their history under Jurgen Klopp, winning plenty of trophies, and Fabinho played a massive role in the Reds’ success.

A world-class No 6 at his peak, the Brazilian’s ability started to wane in the 2022/23 season, with his body no longer allowing him to cover ground like he once did.

A Saudi move felt like the best outcome for all parties, and Fabinho moved to Al-Ittihad for a reported £40m the following summer.

11

Ivan Toney

Brentford to Al-Ahli (£40m)

Much like Milinkovic-Savic, Ivan Toney felt like a player who was only on the up at Brentford, with a move to one of the Premier League’s biggest teams often mooted.

Instead, the England international left the Bees to join Al-Ahli in the summer of 2024 in a move that surprised many, even amid his contract issues in west London.

Reports of his eventual transfer fee were mixed, but most appear to indicate Brentford received a sum of around £40m.

10

Galeno

Porto to Al-Ahli (£41.6m)

Former Porto star Galeno was one of two major signings in the January 2025 market for the Saudi Pro League, with the winger joining Al-Ahli for €50m (£41.6m).

Galeno had scored eight in 18 appearances for Porto before departing for the Middle East, and has already written his name into the history books, scoring in the AFC Champions League final against Kawasaki Frontale.

His arrival marks Al-Ahli’s most expensive signing, replacing Ivan Toney.

9

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Fulham to Al-Hilal (£46m)

Many players who have moved to the Saudi Pro League have been individuals whose peaks have been and gone, but Aleksandar Mitrovic went there while in his prime.

He was just 28 when he opted to trade Fulham for Al-Hilal, but he is no doubt reaping the financial rewards. Mitrovic’s transfer fee was officially undisclosed, with the Cottagers indicating they had received a “club-record” fee. While it was thought to be close to £50m, a sum of £46m appears to be the most widely mentioned.

8

Ruben Neves

Wolves to Al-Hilal (£47m)

Ruben Neves’ move to Saudi Arabia has to stand out as one of the biggest surprises having grown into such a key player at Wolves, while still only being in his mid-20s.

It looked like the Portugal star had the pick of his clubs given the natural talent he possesses in midfield, but the race for his signature was won by Al-Hilal, who paid £47m for Neves’ services.

7

Moussa Diaby

Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad (£50m)

It looked like Aston Villa had signed themselves a gem of a player in Moussa Diaby, with the winger catching the eye with his quality and end product during his one season at Villa Park.

His campaign did fizzle out a bit as it went on, but few would have expected to see him ditch the Midlands side for Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ittihad, with the Villans receiving around £50m in the process.

It’s hard not to feel as though the Frenchman is wasting the best years of his career in a lesser division, although the financial aspects of the move are undeniably appealing.

6

Otavio

Porto to Al-Nassr (£51.1m)

Otavio was always a highly rated figure for Porto, and became a key part of the Portugal setup before opting for a Saudi move instead of a European switch, which cost Al-Nassr €60m (£51.1m) in August 2023.

He’s not set the world alight in the Middle East, scoring just one goal and supplying five assists in 2024/25.

Texas Rangers left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin made his start as scheduled on Wednesday, delivering 5 1/3 strong innings on the mound, but he was almost forced to miss the game.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told reporters Thursday that Corbin almost missed his start due to some kind of venomous insect bite that was impacting him––and his ability to walk––ahead of first pitch.

"We weren't even sure if he was going to pitch," said Bochy, via Kennedi Landry of MLB.com. "He could hardly walk when he came into the clubhouse. Some kind of venom got in there. Not sure if it was a spider or what. He was 50/50 on whether he would make the start or not."

Ultimately, Corbin was able to overcome the venomous bite and deliver an excellent outing. He struck out six batters and surrendered just one run while picking up his first win of the season.

Corbin addressed the matter on Thursday, too.

"Something bit me, but I still don't know what. They were able to kind of work it out and just kind of maintain it throughout the day. But it's pretty sore still. It's just kind of just something that's really strange. I was just fortunate to get through yesterday, and I have some time to recover and be good to go," Corbin said of the venomous bite.

Corbin will have a few days to recuperate ahead of his next start, which is slated for Tuesday, April 22 against the Athletics.