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England’s senior batter prepares to return to ODI action, but talk of his technique for Australia’s pitches dominates

Cameron Ponsonby25-Oct-2025

Little known fact. Joe Root has never made a hundred in Australia.It will be the sub-genre of the summer. A much anticipated Ashes series, in which one of the greats of the game has the chance to complete a caveat-free career. An away win, and a full set of centuries in every Test-hosting nation he has played. Except for Bangladesh and the UAE. They don’t rate him in Dhaka.Matthew Hayden confidently made the claim that if Root didn’t end the Aussie summer with a Test ton, he’d strip nude to run around the MCG. But others aren’t so sure.”Wrists limper than a French handshake,” former Aussie legspinner and broadcaster Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Sports. “It doesn’t work in Australia.””The first two Tests are huge for Joe Root. They’re nickers’ Tests. Perth? They nick for fun there. And Brisbane day-night? Everyone nicks in Bris.”Joe Root is a nicker. When he was last here, in his first eight innings he nicked off. Australia knows this. What will be his defensive set-up? I’m very bearish about Joe Root.”O’Keeffe’s argument is that Root previously chose to stay inside the ball, as he was of the belief they wouldn’t target him with the offcutter, only for a different weakness to appear, that meant he was playing away from his body.It is a rare technical examination of a player who has averaged 58.00 since Brendon McCullum took over, but a prescient one given Australia’s recent tendency to produce pitches that favour their seam bowlers. Since the start of the 2021-22 Ashes, top-seven batters in Australia have averaged 30.22 per dismissal, compared to 38.14 in the four-year cycle before that. By contrast, England’s pitches have gone the other way. The average in the four years before McCullum’s appointment was 30.90; it has since been 38.94.”England play pretty well on the flatter wickets, the way they play,” Steve Smith said recently. “So, if there’s a bit in it like there has been the last three or four years, with our bowling attack, it certainly makes things a lot more difficult for their batters.”Nevertheless, Root sees no need to tamper with his technique. Arriving in New Zealand ahead of England’s three-match ODI series, it will be the final three hits he has before lining up against Australia in Perth.”A lot of that prep’s already started back home,” Root said, explaining how he’s balancing his preparation for an ODI series today with the carrot of the Ashes starting tomorrow.”I think how I’d prepare now is different to how I would have done 10 years ago. A lot more mental. I’ve clearly played against a lot of their guys now. Know how they operate, know what they’re likely to try to bring to the series.”I used to be very technical in how I prepared. I’d want to make sure that everything felt lined up and my feet were in the right place, my head was in the right place, whereas now I’m a little bit more concerned about how I’m looking at the game, how I’m going to approach different situations, whether that be the surface, whether that be different bowler types, different angles, and being able to manage those different angles when they come wide of the crease. Things like that.”Related

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This will be Root’s fourth Ashes tour. His individual record is respectable, averaging 35.68, but not befitting of a player of his own calibre. England’s record across that time, however, is diabolical: 15 matches, 13 defeats, two draws, zero wins.”They’re all different,” Root said of how the build-up to this series has compared to previous tours. “I look at it at this time and I’m in a completely different stage of my career. I’m no longer captain, I’m playing some really good cricket, and so are we. We’re playing in a really exciting way. We’ve got a great group of players that we can go there and hit them with different tools than we’ve had on previous tours, so when you look at it like that, it’s a really exciting prospect.”Clearly, Australia are really good in their own conditions, with a great record at home, especially against us, but that’s the exciting bit right? There’s an opportunity there to do something a bit different and hopefully achieve something really special.”Despite the ODI World Cup being two years away, these three matches against New Zealand are not without complete jeopardy. England are currently ranked eighth in the world after winning only eight of their last 23 fixtures. Failure to automatically qualify for the World Cup remains unlikely, but only if they nip in the bud a continued slide in the format.”I don’t think that’s necessarily anyone’s fault of what happened before,” Root said of the ODI group’s relative stability under Brook and McCullum, compared to previous leadership.”You look at the number of crossovers of Test series and one-dayers, it was physically impossible to get there. There was a one-day series against the Netherlands when we were playing a Test match at Old Trafford. You think how can that happen?”New Zealand themselves haven’t played an ODI since April, but remain ranked third in the world. The weighting of points in the ICC rankings is such that it presents a major opportunity for England to win some matches, and lift themselves away from any potential future problems.”I don’t think it’s arrogant to say you look at the quality that’s within our squad, and we’re not an eighth-in-the-world team,” Root said. “We should be competing and jostling for that top spot.”New Zealand are a very good team and if you try to sleepwalk into it or you’re preoccupied with what’s around the corner, then they’ll hurt us really badly. We want to keep making strides under Brooky after what was a difficult Champions Trophy. This is a great opportunity to build on what we started over the summer.”

تلقى برشلونة ضربة موجعة صباح اليوم، حيث أكد النادي إصابة لاعب خط الوسط فيرمين لوبيز في عضلة ساقه ليغيب عن الفريق الفترة القادمة.

وأوضح برشلونة في بيانه أن صاحب الـ22 عاماً سيغيب عن الملاعب لمدة أسبوعين، ما يشكل ضربة موجعة للمدرب هانز فليك.

وبحسب صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية فإن التوقعات تشير إلى أن فيرمين لوبيز سيكون جاهزاً لمباراة برشلونة ضد آينتراخت فرانكفورت في دوري أبطال أوروبا يوم 9 ديسمبر.

أقرأ أيضاً.. بايرن ميونخ يوضح موقفه بشأن هاري كين بعد اهتمام برشلونة.. ويحسم مستقبل نوير

ويعني ذلك أن لاعب خط وسط برشلونة المتألق هذا الموسم سيغيب عن المباريات الثلاث القادمة وهي ديبورتيفو ألافيس، ومباراة أتلتيكو مدريد وريال بيتيس.

وكان فيرمين لوبيز تعرض للإصابة ضد أتلتيك بلباو في الدوري الاسباني، ولعب رغم عدم شعوره بالراحة ضد تشيلسي على ملعب ستامفورد بريدج في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

Manchester United have now reportedly launched a stunning £100m+ offer to sign an England superstar who has already earned the praise of David Beckham.

Man Utd targeting England superstar

INEOS are looking to make a statement in 2026, having already showcased their spending power by revitalising Man United’s frontline last season. Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha all arrived in an attempt to transform Ruben Amorim’s side.

Now, the focus is turning towards the manager’s midfield. With Casemiro edging past the peak of his powers, Manuel Ugarte struggling in possession and Kobbie Mainoo frozen out by Amorim, Man United have already reportedly drawn up a shortlist of options.

So far, two of the biggest names on that shortlist in the Premier League are Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson. Two of United’s biggest targets, both have enjoyed excellent campaigns so far.

There’s plenty of competition for the two England stars, however, and Champions League qualification is likely to be the key to unlocking any potential move for Man United.

The same can be said for another England star. If it’s not Wharton or Anderson, then it could be Jude Bellingham. Sensational reports are now claiming that Man United have made their first move to sign the Real Madrid superstar ahead of 2026.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Dec 7, 2025

Bellingham is undoubtedly one of the best midfielders in world football and would instantly become the best signing that INEOS have made.

Man Utd launch £100m+ Bellingham offer

According to reports in Spain, Man United have now launched an offer to sign Bellingham worth as much as €150m (£131m) in what would break their transfer record. Alas, Real Madrid reportedly believe that the Englishman is worth more than that and have turned the Red Devils down.

Whether INEOS return with a second offer remains to be seen. It would simply be a sensational move for a player who’s already got the approval of Beckham.

Praise does not get much better than that from a Man United point of view, but the idea of watching Bellingham follow in Beckham’s footsteps at Old Trafford very much remains a dream for the time being.

He's "like Reijnders": Old Trafford chiefs pushing Man Utd to sign "elite" star

Ireland will have to forget a rough Test in Sylhet if they are to spoil Bangladesh and Mushfiqur’s party

Mohammad Isam18-Nov-2025

Big picture: Bangladesh look for series sweepThe second and final Test between Bangladesh and Ireland in Dhaka will start off as a celebration of Mushfiqur Rahim’s 100th Test match. Mushfiqur is the first Bangladesh cricketer to reach the milestone, and tributes poured in from current and former team-mates and coaches. Ireland, meanwhile, will no doubt try to spoil the party.Ireland were no match for Bangladesh in the first Test in Sylhet, where they went down by an innings and 47 runs. Only when Paul Stirling and Cade Carmichael batted well on the first day did Ireland look in the game. They crumbled for the rest of the game.Related

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Stirling and Carmichael hit fifties, while Andy McBrine also fought hard to get a half-century in the second innings. Left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys took an expensive five-wicket haul. But all told, Ireland had a forgettable outing.Bangladesh had plenty of strong performers including Mahmudul Hasan Joy, who returned to the Test side with 171. Mahmudul looked compact at the crease, and opened up his shoulders once he reached his second Test century. Najmul Hossain Shanto also struck a century, his eighth in Tests and fourth as the captain. It was a rapid knock, aided by Litton Das’ stroke-filled 60. Shadman Islam and Mominul Haque also made eighties.It was Bangladesh’s bowling that put them on top in the first place. The spinners Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam and Hasan Murad took 14 wickets among them. Murad, making his Test debut, bowled tight lengths with found subtle turn from time to time. Fast bowlers Nahid Rana and Hasan Mahmud too contributed with wickets in both innings.Mushfiqur was the only one in the Bangladesh top five who didn’t get a fifty. Perhaps he is saving one for the big occasion.Form guideBangladesh WLDWL
Ireland LWWWLMahmudul Hasan Joy celebrates his hundred in Sylhet•BCB

In the spotlight: Mahmudul Hasan Joy and Paul StirlingMahmudul Hasan Joy returning to Test cricket with an innings 171 is an encouraging sign for the young batter. He is said to have corrected his technique and worked on his mental make-up after he was dropped earlier this year. He played mainly in front of square on the off side, and struck a few good-looking drives. He looked focused and clearly wanted to play a long innings, which was the promise on which he was brought into the Test side in his debut four years ago.Paul Stirling looked comfortable in both innings in Sylhet, though he couldn’t quite make either a big one. He was enterprising in his handling of Rana in the first innings, cutting and square driving with ease. He had a tougher role in the second innings in Balbirnie’s absence from the top order and was later run out for 43. Stirling will have another major role in Dhaka, particularly because of his ability to handle low, spinning deliveries.Andy McBrine was one of the Ireland batters to give a good account of himself in Sylhet•Bangladesh Cricket Board

Team news: Teams likely to make one change eachEbadot Hossain could take Rana’s place in the only change in the Bangladesh playing XI.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Mahmudul Hasan Joy, 3 Mominul Haque, 4 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Litton Das (wk), 7 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 8 Taijul Islam, 9 Hasan Murad, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Ebadot HossainGavin Hoey could enter the fray for Ireland, replacing Craig Young in the spinners’ paradise that is Dhaka.Ireland (probable): 1 Cade Carmichael, 2 Andy Balbirnie (capt), 3 Paul Stirling, 4 Harry Tector, 5 Curtis Campher, 6 Lorcan Tucker (wk), 7 Andy McBrine, 8 Jordan Neill, 9 Barry McCarthy, 10 Gavin Hoey, 11 Matthew HumphreysPitch and conditions: A spin test as alwaysThe spin fest during the Bangladesh vs West Indies ODI series in Dhaka last month could continue into this Test match. The weather is on the drier side.Stats and trivia: Mahmudul takes second spot Mahmudul’s 171 is the second-highest score by a Bangladeshi opener in Test cricket. Jordan Neill was Ireland’s youngest Test debutant in Sylhet, at 20 years and 69 days. During the Sylhet Test, Taijul became the third Bangladesh bowler after Abdur Razzak and Enamul Haque to reach 500 first-class wickets.

أعلنت رابطة البريميرليج عن الفائز بجائزة رجل مباراة مانشستر سيتي وسندرلاند في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، حيث التقى الفريقان مساء اليوم السبت.

وحل سندرلاند ضيفًا على مانشستر سيتي ضمن مباريات الجولة الخامسة عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، وذلك على ملعب “الاتحاد”.

وتغلب مانشستر سيتي على خصمه سندرلاند بثلاثية نظيفة، وسجل له روبن دياز، جفارديول، وفيل فودين.

وحصل على جائزة رجل مباراة مانشستر سيتي وسندرلاند، فيل فودين، بحسب تصويت الجماهير عبر الموقع الرسمي للدوري الإنجليزي.

اقرأ أيضًا | ترتيب هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي بعد هدف فودين في مباراة مانشستر سيتي وسندرلاند

وجاءت نسبة التصويت لفودين عبر موقع البريميرليج، 55%، وجاء في المركز الثاني زميله ريان شرقي بنسبة 27%، وروبن دياز ثالثًا بنسبة 6%.

وأصبح رصيد مانشستر سيتي 31 نقطة في المركز الثاني بجدول ترتيب الدوري الإنجليزي، خلف المتصدر آرسنال والذي يملك 33 نقطة.

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Nesta terça-feira foi realizada a última audiência pública para a aprovação do projeto de potencial construtivo para a reforma de São Januário, estádio do Vasco. Realizada no ginásio da Colina Histórica, moradores da Barreira e comerciantes locais mostraram a importância da modernização do estádio.

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Com a aprovação da ncomunidade ao projeto, mas um passo foi dado para que o sonho dos vascaínos saia do papel. Agora é partir para os trâmites finais: a última votação em segunda discussão na Câmara dos Vereadores e, finalmente, a sanção do prefeito Eduardo Paes. Após a audência, o presidente Pedrinho falou sobre o sentimento de ver a Colina Histórica se renovando durante a sua gestão.

“É muita história que tem aqui dentro, né? Quando você muda tudo você tem aquele sentimento de saudade, porque está muito próximo disso acontecer. Mas era muito necessário, pela questão estrutural, da capacidade. A gente sabe que não dava para colocar um estádio maior ainda pela questão do entorno. A gente sabe que isso vai ter um impacto direto em todos os aspectos de receita para clube. A gente sabe do engajamento, a gente sabe do potencial da torcida do Vasco. É tudo muito emocionante para mim, e quando começar as obras, que a gente spera que seja no final desse ano ou no iníco de janeiro, é ter paciência e segurar a ansiedade até o estádio ficar pronto.” – disse o ídolo vascaíno, que chego à Colina aos seis anos e começou no futsal.

O projeto foi recebido bem na Câmara, o que contribuiu para a agilidade do processo. Na primeira votação o projeto foi aprovado em unanimidade. Na audiência na Barra da Tijuca, os moradores da Barreira falaram sobre a importância da reforme e deram o sinal verde para a modernização e integração do entorno.

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Um dos principais pontos do ‘Novo São Januário’ é integrar a Barreira do Vasco ao estádio, derrubando os muros que separam a favela e a casa do Cruz-Maltino. A fachada histórica será preservada, mas o entorno será aberta à comunidade.

AMPLIAÇÃO DO ESTÁDIO
Área do terreno atual: 70.000,00M²
Área construída: 379.531,84M²
Custo da construção: R$506 milhões

OBJETIVOS DA REFORMA
Preservação da fachada
Ampliação da capacidade
Integração ao entorno
Modernização, conforto e segurança
Sustentabilidade

A partir da aprovação dos próximos dois passos, a diretoria já poderá procurar um comprador para o potencial construtivo no terreno da Barra da Tijuca. Segundo Pedrinho, já existem interessados. Além disso, também já há conversas para vender os naming rights do estádio.

“A gente tem que muita tranquilidade, valorizar o naming rights, por tudo o que representa o estádio de São Januário, um simbolismo histórico, social e esportivo, e a melhor decisão será tomada.”

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OriginalSão JanuárioVasco

تتصاعد الأنباء في الأونة الأخيرة حول اهتمام الأهلي بضم مدافع منتخب الجزائر الثاني، أشرف عبادة، وسط تكهنات على مواقع التواصل والصحف الرياضية، مما جعل الجماهير تتساءل عن حقيقة هذا الاهتمام وإمكانية انتقال اللاعب إلى الدوري المصري.

أشرف عبادة الذي يقدم مستويات مميزة مع أولمبي الشلف أصبح حديث الصحافة، بعد تألقه الدفاعي وإظهار شخصية قوية في الملعب، هذه الأداءات جعلت اسمه مرتبطًا بالأندية الكبرى في المنطقة، وأبرزها الأهلي.

لكن، رغم كل التكهنات، يظل الوضع الرسمي بشأن اللاعب غير واضح، حيث لم يصدر أي تأكيد من النادي الأهلي حول تقديم عرض رسمي، وهو ما يثير الفضول لمعرفة موقف إدارة أولمبي الشلف.

اقرأ أيضًا | حازم إمام يكشف حقيقة أزمة تحليل الأهلي قبل القمة.. ويرد على تصريحات فيريرا

رئيس نادي أولمبي الشلف، عبد الكريم مدوار، في تصريحات خاصة عبر بطولات عن أنباء اهتمام الأهلي بضم المدافع أشرف عبادة: “لم يحدث أي تواصل من جانب الأهلي لضم مدافعنا أشرف عبادة حتى الآن، يجب أن يكون هناك عرض رسمي أولًا من أجل دراسته وإلا فالأمر كله مجرد اهتمام عبر الصحافة”.

وعن موقف أولمبي الشلف في رحيل عبادة إذا ما جاء عرض رسمي من جانب الأهلي: “لكل مقام مقال، إذا وصل عرضًا رسميًا، سأدرسه جيدًا وأعطي رأيي”.

After a run of poor results, Chelsea got back to winning ways in the Premier League, overcoming Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

It is the first time since 22nd November that Enzo Maresca’s side have tasted victory in the top flight.

It only took the Blues 21 minutes before they went 1-0 up. On his first start at the Bridge since August, it was always going to be Cole Palmer who fired Chelsea into the lead.

It was a well-taken goal, too, with the England star making a well-timed underlapping run between the Everton defence and firing home past Jordan Pickford.

Chelsea had chances to double their lead, which they squandered. However, they did find the back of the net again on the stroke of half-time. It was Malo Gusto who got on the scoresheet this time, capping off an incisive counterattack by slotting home Pedro Neto’s cross.

It was a fantastic performance on the whole from the West Londoners. They shoot up to fourth in the Premier League, although most teams around them have a game in hand. Maresca will be hoping his side can build some momentum ahead of a busy few weeks.

There were a couple of real standouts for the Blues, and not just Palmer and Gusto…

Chelsea's best players vs Everton

It was inevitable, in many ways, that Palmer was going to have his say on this game. His first home start in months did not disappoint, with the Wythenshawe-born attacker proving why he is one of the Premier League’s most dangerous players.

It was a showing worthy of an 8/10 rating from Goal journalist Richie Mills. He said the Chelsea number 10 ‘showed good speed and a smart finish’, describing his performance as ‘a good day at the office’ in front of the home faithful.

The same could certainly be said for Gusto. He set Palmer up with a through ball that threaded the needle superbly, before getting on the score sheet himself for the second time in that famous Blue shirt.

Indeed, his stats from the game are superb. Gusto was constantly involved, having 81 touches, and completed 90% of his passes, as per Sofascore. Not only did the Frenchman create two chances, but he also made four ball recoveries and was impressive off the ball.

However, Palmer and Gusto were not the only two Chelsea players who stood out against Everton.

Chelsea duo look made for Mourinho

It was yet another clean sheet for the centre-back pairing of Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana. As a partnership, they have begun to string together some impressive performances and have become more than reliable for Maresca.

That was no different against the Toffees. They each received a 7/10 rating from Mills for their afternoon’s work. The journalist was full of compliments for the pair and said they are perhaps the ‘best centre-back pairing’ available to the Blues at the moment.

The stats from the game show just how well the pair, who earn a combined £250k per week, performed against the Toffees.

Some of the standouts included Fofana’s impressive 11 clearances and Cobham graduate Chalobah’s five successful duels out of seven.

Fofana & Chalobah’s stats vs. Everton

Stat

Fofana

Chalobah

Pass accuracy

97%

99%

Touches

84

83

Clearances

11

9

Ball recoveries

5

3

Duels won

6/15

5/7

Stats from Sofascore

Looking at the numbers in more detail, the West Londoners are unbeaten in their last seven games when the Frenchman and their academy graduate have started together.

Six of those games have been clean sheets.

Those numbers are superb and would certainly not look out of place in the era of Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese manager famously oversaw a team that conceded just 15 league goals in a single season in 2004/05 – still the best-ever record in the division.

With the performances that Chalobah and Fofana have put in this season, it certainly feels very Mourinho-era coded. The ex-Blues boss is a famously pragmatic coach, so he would no doubt appreciate a record like six clean sheets in seven games.

Indeed, it is helping Maesrca’s side, and the current Chelsea gaffer surely has his centre-back pairing locked in for the foreseeable future.

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Na estreia da Taça Santos Dumont, o América-RJ venceu o Petrópolis por 2 a 0, neste sábado (18). O meia Digão e o centroavante André, ex-Santos, Sport e Vasco, marcaram os gols da partida.

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Com o resultado, a equipe de Romário chega aos primeiros três pontos e lidera parcialmente a competição em busca de uma classificação às semifinais. Por outro lado, o Petrópolis não soma pontos.

Na segunda rodada, o América-RJ encara a Cabofriense, no Estádio Luso-Brasileiro, no domingo (26), às 15h (de Brasília). Os Encarnados buscam a segunda vitória consecutiva na Taça Santos Dumont.

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✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
América 2 x 0 Petrópolis – Taça Santos Dumont
1ª rodada

🗓️ Data e horário: sábado, 18 de maio de 2024, às 15h (hora de Brasília)
📍 Local: Giulite Coutinho, em Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
📺 Onde assistir: Band e Canal Goat

AMÉRICA-RJ (Técnico: Marcus Alexandre)
André; Roberto, JP, Fabrício e Lucas Piauí; JV, Digão e Dayveson; Ezequiel, André e Alex.

PETRÓPOLIS (Técnico Luciano Quadros)
Patrick; RD, Casão, Marreta e Maia; Vitinho, Rodriguinho e Bruno; Abner, Sibito e Natan.

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Russell will work with new head coach Abhishek Nayar, Southee, Watson and Bravo in the KKR backroom

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Nov-2025

Andre Russell, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) legend, has decided to call time on his IPL career after not being retained by the franchise ahead of the 2026 season, and announced that he would be joining the team’s support staff as its “power coach”.”I’ve made a decision to retire from the IPL. I’ll still be active playing in various leagues all around the world and all the other KKR franchises,” Russell said in a video message. “I had some amazing time and great memories. hitting sixes, winning games, MVP and all of those things. But sometimes you just have to know when to hang up the boots. When I made this decision, I just felt like ‘yes, this is the best decision’. I don’t want to fade out. I want to leave a legacy and it’s best to retire when fans ask ‘why, you still have some more in you, you still could go for a bit longer’ than say, ‘yeah, you should have done it years back’.”We are part of the Instagram world, so when you’re going through your feed, you keep seeing yourself in different jerseys and, you know, friends, team-mates sending you stuff and, like, ‘you’re looking good in this jersey, what do you think’ and I’m like, ‘hmmm, I look weird in that jersey’. And it’s just those thoughts that’s been going through my head. I had a few sleepless nights. There have been a lot of conversations, between me and Mr Venky Mysore, and also Mr Shah Rukh Khan, about another chapter in my IPL journey, and they have shown me respect and love and they appreciate whatever I have been doing in the field and to be in a set-up where I’m familiar, that matters to me a lot.”Russell, who was part of KKR’s title-winning teams in 2014 and 2024, was also the IPL’s Most Valuable Player in 2019. Russell won 16 Player-of-the-Match awards at KKR, only behind Sunil Narine’s mark. And that long association has been strengthened with a position in the team’s support staff as “power coach”.