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Tottenham Hotspur were hammered 4-1 by their arch-rivals in the North London derby on Sunday in the Premier League, as they were beaten 4-1 by Arsenal at The Emirates.

Thomas Frank started with a back five and two holding midfielders in an attempt to shut the Gunners out, yet it was still far too easy for the hosts to slice through their defence.

Whilst their overly-cautious approach did not prevent Arsenal from creating chances, it did prevent Spurs from creating chances. They only had three shots in 90 minutes, and one of them was Richarlison’s long-range goal from around 45 yards out.

Creating chances and playing forward-thinking football has been a problem for the Lilywhites in the Premier League since Frank came through the door from Brentford in the summer, as shown in the statistics below.

xG

11.0

17th

Non-penalty xG

11.0

16th

Progressive passes

413

12th

Shots

110

19th

Shots on target

40

15th

Average shot distance

15.6 yards

17th

The defeat to Arsenal will be even harder to take because Tottenham were chasing a deal to sign Eberechi Eze in the summer before the Gunners swooped in and hijacked the move, and he was the star of the show on Sunday.

Meanwhile, it has been a struggle for a few of the players whom the Lilywhites were able to get in the building in an attempt to bolster Frank’s squad in the summer transfer window.

Ranking Tottenham's summer signings for Thomas Frank

Looking at the positive additions first, it is hard to look past Bayern Munich loanee Joao Palhinha as the best signing of the summer, as the Portugal international has delivered four goals and three assists whilst also averaging 5.6 tackles and interceptions per game, per Sofascore.

Mohammed Kudus, who was signed from West Ham for £55m, is deserving of second-place after a return of one goal and four assists in 11 Premier League appearances so far this season.

As you can see in the table below, Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso then rank in the middle of the pack, which is because they were brought in as squad additions and have filled that role without any major issues so far this term.

1

Joao Palhinha

2

Mohammed Kudus

3

Luka Vuskovic

4

Mathys Tel

5

Kevin Danso

6

Koto Takai

7

Randal Kolo Muani

8

Xavi Simons

Koto Takai has yet to play a game for Spurs, due to injury, since his move in the summer, which makes it hard to rank him any higher or lower, whilst Kolo Muani is in seventh place with no goals and one assist in nine appearances for the club, per Sofascore.

Ranking in last place, then, is £52m summer signing Xavi Simons. He arrived at Spurs after a return of 21 goals and 21 assists in the last two seasons with RB Leipzig in Germany, yet has failed to live up to the hype that his form in the Bundesliga created.

The Dutchman was brought in as Tottenham’s alternative to Eze, after they failed to sign the England international, and has only managed two assists and no goals in 15 appearances for the club.

Meanwhile, the former Crystal Palace attacking midfielder has delivered five goals and three assists in 16 outings for Arsenal, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he has been far more influential for his side than Xavi has.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Spurs, though, may already be brewing their own homegrown version of Eze in their academy in the form of exciting teenage attacking midfielder Luca Williams-Barnett.

Why Luca Williams-Barnett could be Tottenham's own Eberechi Eze

The 17-year-old starlet’s form for club and country suggests that he is a player to watch for the future, as the Tottenham youngster has shown incredible promise as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

He has been with England’s U17s at the U17 World Cup in recent weeks, knocked out by Austria in the quarter-finals last week, and caught the eye with his performances at the tournament.

Appearances

5

Sofascore rating

7.38

Goals

2

Big chances missed

0

Key passes per game

1.4

Big chances created

3

Assists

1

Dribbles completed per game

3.4

As you can see in the table above, Williams-Barnett provided regular quality as a goalscorer, a creator, and a dribbler across his five appearances in the competition for his country.

One of his two goals, which came against Haiti’s U17 side, was also an incredible solo goal that showcased his composure, creativity, and quality, as shown in the clip below.

On top of his impressive form for England at youth level, the 17-year-old playmaker has also proven himself to be an incredibly prolific attacker for Tottenham’s academy.

Williams-Barnett, who U23 scout Antonio Mango described as an “underrated” player, has racked up 22 goals and 13 assists in 30 games for the club’s U18 side, per Transfermarkt, to go along with seven goals and five assists in eight U21 games.

These statistics show that the attacking midfielder has delivered goals and assists on a regular basis for both club and country, which is why he could be Tottenham’s own Eberechi Eze, who has scored five goals for Arsenal and two goals for England this season.

Como scout Ben Mattinson claimed that the Spurs youngster “scores bangers” and it is hard to disagree with that assessment, particularly when you see goals such as the ones in the clip above.

Like Eze, Williams-Barnett is a number ten with incredible footwork, finishing, creativity, and dribbling skills, but it is now down to him to make the step to senior level and prove that he can deliver consistent performances in the first-team.

Fewer touches than Vicario: Frank must drop 3/10 Spurs dud after Arsenal

Thomas Frank has numerous glaring errors he needs to address at Tottenham Hotspur after the Arsenal defeat.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 24, 2025

If he can handle that step up, Frank could have his own version of Eberechi Eze and a possible upgrade on Xavi in the number ten position moving forward.

In 15 games this season, RCB have had nine different Player-of-the-Match winners. Here’s how each of them has helped the team’s cause

Shashank Kishore02-Jun-20252:24

Aaron: Different players have stepped up for RCB

Krunal PandyaBefore joining RCB, Krunal’s best haul in a season was 12 (both in 2018 and 2019). This season, he has picked up 11 alone in RCB’s flawless away run of seven wins, and 15 overall. Krunal has largely held his own against left-hand batters by making the most of his different lengths, trajectory, and a mean bouncer, the last most notably against MI, when he outsmarted Mitchell Santner and sealed victory with a triple-wicket final over in which he had to defend 18. Krunal’s first IPL fifty since 2016 came in a crucial away win against Delhi Capitals (DC).Rajat PatidarPatidar’s twin half-centuries early in his maiden season as captain powered RCB to landmark wins: their first over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk since 2008 and over MI at Wankhede since 2015. In both matches, he forced opposing captains to hold back spin. Against MI, he also targeted Hardik Pandya to avoid the pressure of having to take down Jasprit Bumrah at the death, finishing with 64 off 32 in RCB’s 221 for 5 – his season’s best yet.2:10

Cricinformed: Virat Kohli – RCB’s backbone

Virat KohliHis eight half-centuries, all in wins this season, is a record. His strike rate this season isn’t far off the 152.03 he recorded during his iconic, chart-topping 973-run campaign in 2016. Kohli has been less an anchor and more a storm at the top, in many ways a continuation of his avatar from the second half of 2024, where RCB recorded six wins on the bounce to make a dash into the playoffs. He averages an impressive 88.50 in chases this season.Tim DavidRCB’s plan for David has been clear: minimum time, maximum impact. His only fifty came in a shortened match against Punjab Kings (PBKS), where a 26-ball 50 not out helped lift RCB out of trouble. While it wasn’t enough for a win, it showcased RCB’s batting depth and made it a rare instance of the Player-of-the-Match award going to a player from a losing team. Heading into the final, only Shreyas Iyer has hit more sixes than David in the death overs this season.1:39

How Josh Hazlewood has become a death overs expert

Josh HazlewoodHis shoulder niggle had fans anxiously researching rotator cuffs, but in his first game back after over three weeks, Hazlewood dismantled PBKS in the powerplay with the key wickets of Josh Inglis and Shreyas Iyer, to set RCB on the road to the final. His mastery at the death has been just as vital, never more so than against Rajasthan Royals (RR). Tasked with defending 17 off 12, he gave away just one run and took two wickets, including that of the in-form Dhruv Jurel, who had just smashed Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 21 in the 18th over. That spell helped overturn RCB’s three-match losing streak at home.Phil SaltSalt has stepped into Faf du Plessis’ shoes seamlessly to play a high-impact role in the powerplay. His early salvo, like when he took Mitchell Starc for 24 runs in a 30-run over, has taken a lot of the pressure off Kohli. The pair is within touching distance of being the second-most prolific opening pair this season, behind B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill. Among those playing in the final, Salt is joint-second with Priyansh Arya (14) for most sixes in the powerplay this IPL. His four half-centuries are second-most behind Kohli’s eight for RCB this season.2:04

Moody: ‘Jitesh’s innings was wow!’

Jitesh SharmaJitesh’s lone half-century of the season may have been his most important one yet – it came in a must-win game to secure a top-two finish. His unbeaten 85 off just 33 balls against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is the third-highest IPL score from No. 6 or lower and it powered RCB to their highest successful chase. Earlier in the season, his impactful 40* off 19 against MI stood out for the assault on Bumrah and Trent Boult at the death. He also briefly stepped in as captain when Patidar was sidelined with a finger injury.Suyash SharmaAfter nearly two years playing through a hernia problem, Suyash wasn’t a starter this season as he recovered from surgery in London that was sponsored by RCB. He returned lighter, fitter, and has delivered key performances despite a modest tally of eight wickets. He turned games with spells like his six-run 18th over against CSK while defending 34 off 18, and his season-best 3 for 17 in Qualifier 1, where a flurry of wrong’uns ripped through PBKS’ lower order. His spin combine with Krunal isn’t the most formidable on paper, but they have punched above their weight this season.Romario ShepherdInitially overlooked in favour of Liam Livingstone, Shepherd seized his chance in a crucial home game against CSK. Coming in during the 18th over, he smashed 10 of his 14 balls to the boundary to record the second-fastest IPL fifty. His knock gave RCB vital momentum in a tight win that took them closer to the playoffs spot. RCB’s 54 runs – Shepherd made 53 of those – in the last two overs remain their most in the final 12 balls, with 32 of those coming in a single over off Khaleel Ahmed.

With less than two months to go before the January transfer window opens for business, there is already speculation about what Leeds United are going to do to their squad.

The Whites have picked up 11 points in 11 Premier League matches and sit one point above the relegation zone as a newly-promoted team, which is a respectable, but not ideal, position to be in.

Daniel Farke may want to bolster his squad with more quality in the offensive areas, because the team has only scored 11 goals in their 11 top-flight matches so far this season.

The lack of goals for the Championship champions has not been because of a lack of creativity, though, as they have missed too many high-quality opportunities in the final third.

Leeds United’s biggest xG underperformers
25/26 Premier League	xG	Goals	xG differential
Dominic Calvert-Lewin	2.89	1	-1.89
Jayden Bogle	0.88	0	-0.88
Brenden Aaronson	1.79	1	-0.79
Joel Piroe	0.73	0	-0.73
Pascal Struijk	0.65	0	-0.65
Dan James	0.47	0	-0.47
Jack Harrison	0.41	0	-0.41
Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been particularly wasteful with the chances that have been created for him in the Premier League.

Former Leeds striker Patrick Bamford signed for Sheffield United earlier this week, and the Whites need to be looking for their next version of the English forward.

Why Leeds need to find their next Patrick Bamford

The experienced marksman left Elland Road on a free transfer in the summer after he failed to score a single goal in 18 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore.

It is not last season’s Bamford that Leeds need to find a new version of, though. Instead, the 49ers need to find Farke’s own version of Bamford from the 2020/21 campaign under Marcelo Bielsa.

After Leeds were last promoted to the Premier League, in the summer of 2020, the former Chelsea and Middlesbrough attacker played a pivotal role in the club’s survival and eventual top-half finish in their first season back in the big time.

The left-footed centre-forward scored 17 goals, including a hat-trick against Aston Villa in the highlights above, and provided seven assists in 38 appearances in the division in that term.

Since that impressive season from the former England international, no Leeds player has scored more than 13 goals in a single Premier League campaign.

Leeds United’s top Premier League scorers since 20/21
Season	Top goalscorer	Goals
25/26	Noah Okafor Joe Rodon Lukas Nmecha	2
22/23	Rodrigo	13
21/22	Raphinha	11
20/21	Patrick Bamford	17
Stats via WhoScored

As you can see in the table above, the club’s top three scorers in the current term have all managed just two goals, which speaks to the lack of outstanding goalscorers within the squad.

This illustrates how badly the Whites need to find their next version of 2020/21 Bamford, due to their lack of goalscorers, and they are reportedly interested in a star who could be exactly that.

Leeds chasing move for Eredivisie star

According to LeedsUnitedNews, the Premier League new boys are eyeing up a swoop for AZ Alkmaar centre-forward Troy Parrott in the upcoming January transfer window.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that the Whites are now looking at signing the Ireland international to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch, as they chase a winter deal for the marksman.

It adds that Leeds had scouts in attendance to watch his performance for the Republic of Ireland against Portugal earlier this week, when he netted twice against Roberto Martinez’s side.

The same outlet has posted an update on Farke’s future at Elland Road, explaining that the 49ers are not ready to pull the plug on him yet, but that they could be forced to make a decision if results do not improve.

With this in mind, Leeds could save themselves from having to remove the German head coach from his role by signing Parrott to save his job in January.

Why Leeds should sign Troy Parrott

The Whites should swoop for the Irish centre-forward because his performances in the Netherlands this season suggest that he has the quality to be Bamford 2.0, which would help to push the club up the table.

Per FotMob, Leeds are 10th in the Premier League for xPTS (15) and have underperformed their xG of 13.2 by 2.2, as they have only scored 11 goals. This suggests that Farke and his coaching staff have not been rewarded for the performances that they have coached, due to poor finishing.

These statistics indicate that it is not the German boss who should be under fire for where the team are in the division, and that signing a clinical striker could change the perception of the job that he is doing in the dugout.

Parrott, as shown in the graphic above, enjoyed an incredibly prolific first season with AZ Alkmaar in the 2024/25 campaign, netting 20 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions.

The former Tottenham Hotspur youngster, once dubbed “phenomenal” by former boss Ryan Lowe, has proven that his form last term was not a flash in the pan, as he has carried his exceptional goalscoring exploits into the current season.

Troy Parrott – 25/26	Eredivisie	Conference League
Appearances	7	7
xG	5.56	N/A
Goals	6	7
Minutes per goal	87	59
Conversion rate	25%	N/A
Big chances created	2	3
Assists	0	1
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Parrott has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances in all competitions for AZ Alkmaar, on top of the two goals that he scored for Ireland against Portugal.

This means that the striker has already scored an eye-catching 15 goals for club and country in the 2025/26 campaign, whilst no Leeds player has scored more than twice in all competitions.

Parrott, per Sofascore, has scored 37 goals from 30.67 xG in the Eredivisie since the start of the 2023/24 season, which suggests that he is the clinical striker that Leeds are crying out for at the moment.

Therefore, the Ireland international could be the next Bamford to fire the Whites to safety with his prolific goalscoring, whilst saving Farke’s job in the process by making the most of his coaching to improve the results picked up by the team.

Leeds have "standout" teen who could end Aaronson's career & it's not Gray

Leeds United have a promising young attacking midfielder who could end Brenden Aaronson’s career at the club.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 15, 2025

The New York Yankees have been one of the most disappointing teams in Major League Baseball so far this season. After being swept by the Miami Marlins this past weekend they find themselves in third place in the American League East.

The Yankees are in Texas on Monday where they will start a three-game series with the Rangers, who are currently two games out of the wild-card race. The Yankees are second in that race, just 2.5 games ahead of the Rangers.

The pressure is mounting for Aaron Boone's team and while the manager has enraged fans by often repeating simple lines after losses, one player stood up and made an honest statement about what the team must do starting now if they want to turn things around and put their struggles behind them.

That player? Second-year catcher Ben Rice, who has also played first base and been used at designated hitter this season.

"I think a little sense of urgency would be good for us," Rice said after Sunday's 2-0 loss in Miami. "I think just going forward to continue to do what we can winning ball games and that’s going to be doing the little things."

The little things—including bad errors and costly mental mistakes—have hurt the Yankees a lot lately. If they don't stop doing those things, losses could be piling up.

Rice's teammates might want to listen to him, because a loss Monday night to the Rangers would only ramp up the pressure even more.

Ex-Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur icon Gareth Bale has revealed the real reason why he announced his retirement from football at the age of 33. The former winger brought the curtains down on his illustrious professional career just months after Wales were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup group stage after finishing bottom with just a point from their three matches.

Bale took retirement at just 33

Bale started his professional journey at Southampton in 2006 after graduating from the Saints' youth system. After an impressive debut campaign at St Mary's Stadium, the wide man caught Tottenham's attention and the north London club snapped him up. He spent the next six seasons at White Hart Lane, before completing a dream move to Real Madrid for a then world-record transfer fee.

In Madrid, he won every major trophy on offer, including multiple La Liga and Champions League titles. In 2022, Bale joined MLS side LAFC where he spent a season before hanging up his boots in January 2023. His retirement announcement came in the aftermath of Wales crashing out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the group stage.

AdvertisementAFPWhy did Bale took an early retirement?

In a chat with , Bale revealed how his father's ill health prompted him to quit football at just 33. He said: "I feel incredibly fortunate to have realised my dream of playing the sport I love. It has truly given me some of the best moments of my life. My dad got ill and that played a massive role in my decision. People don't know what anyone's going through at home but I soon realised there's more to life than just football. [My dad] sacrificed everything when I was younger. He took me everywhere. Without my dad and my parents, I wouldn't be where I am today."

He added: "I achieved so much in my career so playing in a World Cup was pretty much the last thing that I wanted to achieve. It didn’t go amazingly well for us, but it was the first time in 64 years. After that, I didn't feel like I had anything else left to achieve, goal-wise."

Is Bale really obsessed with Golf?

During his time in Madrid, Bale had once held aloft a now-infamous flag which read 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order' after his nation qualified for Euro 2020. The incident did draw some criticism in Spain and since the former Wales international has been closely associated with the sport, with many believing that he is obsessed with golf.

However, later in the interview, the Spurs icon cleared the air as he claimed he "never used to play golf that much" and would only pick up his clubs "once every two to three weeks" – and always "on a day off".

AFPDid Bale have a fallout with Ronaldo

Speaking about his relationship with former Madrid team-mate and Portugal icon Cristiano Ronaldo, the Welshman said: "I'm not really in touch with that many [old Madrid team-mates] – a few of the Wales boys – but I always got on with everybody. I never had any problems with anyone. I never had any big arguments. Sometimes the media might say about me and Ronaldo, we never had an issue, never had an argument, never had a fight, never had anything."

Manchester United and Liverpool have both been linked with signing Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo, but it is Ruben Amorim’s side who are in pole position ahead of the January transfer window.

Semenyo is one of the most impressive wide players in the Premier League currently, scoring six goals and registering three assists in the competition leading into the international break.

The 25-year-old is wanted by a host of top clubs, with United among those thought to be right in the mix to snap him up, potentially even in the January transfer window.

Semenyo has a £65m release clause in his current Bournemouth contract for a certain time period, with David Ornstein reporting the Cherries will effectively be powerless to stop a departure in early January.

Liverpool look to be the most interested out of United’s Premier League adversaries, as they look for an injection of attacking quality midway through the season, with the Reds believing Semenyo can be their next Sadio Mane.

Man Utd leading Liverpool in Semenyo race with player keen on move

According to a report from Spain, Manchester United are the front-runners to acquire Semenyo’s signature from Bournemouth in January, with INEOS seeing him as a top target for the Red Devils.

The report claims it’s “hard to believe Manchester United won’t secure the signing” due to their willingness to pay the release fee and Semenyo being interested in a move to Old Trafford.

They are ahead of Liverpool in the race, which will no doubt delight the supporters, with Amorim possibly eyeing a long-term replacement for Marcus Rashford, should he leave Old Trafford for good at the end of this season.

Semenyo feels like an ideal signing for United in the mould of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, in terms of players who have proven themselves in the Premier League and are ready to make the step-up to a bigger club.

The Ghanaian provides strong end product on a consistent basis, and has scored twice in three Premier League appearances against the Red Devils, while Pep Guardiola recently hailed his ability, calling him an “extraordinary” player.

Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola was asked earlier this week about the situation, saying he isn’t worried about losing his star player in January.

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Manchester United could land a new centre-forward just months after landing Benjamin Sesko.

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Despite this, it is easy to envisage Semenyo’s head being turned by a move to United, especially if they continue their recent improved form under Amorim, and he would be a fabulous addition to the attack.

Man Utd have their own version of Semenyo & he's Amorim's "best player"

Arsenal have been head and shoulders above the rest of ’em this season, but Mikel Arteta knows that the season is still young, and there are many gruelling months ahead before the Gunners might end their two-decade-long wait for the Premier League title.

Runners-up for three successive years, Arsenal have worked toward dynamising and strengthening across the park, with the likes of Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze all adding flavour to an outfit already refined and complete.

It’s just silverware that is missing. And while the Emirates side have all the tools to go the distance this term, they will need someone of Gabriel Magalhaes’ character and quality to have avoided a long-term injury while away on international duty with Brazil.

The latest on Gabriel's muscle injury

Gabriel has played every minute of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign this season, but with a north London clash against Tottenham Hotspur looming on the horizon, a muscular injury sustained out with his nation could put a spanner in the works there.

Gabriel pulled up mid-sprint during Brazil’s recent win over Senegal. It has since been revealed by The Athletic’s David Ornstein that there is a worry that he faces an extended spell on the sidelines, more than a month and thus out of action until the new year.

It cannot be understated how integral Gabriel has become. As per FBref, the £150k-per-week talent ranks among the top 5% of positional peers for goal involvements and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90. That aside, he has incredibly won 78% of his ground duels, keeping clean sheets in seven separate matches.

In Gabriel and William Saliba, Arsenal have two defenders looking to take their place among the pantheon of great Premier League centre-back partnerships, and if Arteta does lift that elusive trophy at the end of the season, he and his wider squad will be indebted to the composed and flawlessly organised duo at the back.

The likes of Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera are able replacements, but this could be a big blow, and it’s got us thinking about the 27-year-old’s long-term successor in north London.

There is one Hale End star who might just have what it takes to complete that step up in the future.

The Hale Ender who could replace Gabriel

Under Arteta’s guidance, Arsenal have a feared outfit once again. This is a team capable of tackling and overcoming any opponent across the globe, as last season’s spectacular two-legged win over Real Madrid will tell you.

But this also needs to be a lasting project, and it’s clear that there is an emphasis on this, with Bukayo Saka the talisman and exciting prospects such as Ethan Nwaneri and Max Dowman filtering through to the first team.

And on the other side of the field, Callan Hamill could find himself succeeding Gabriel when the time comes, with the 16-year-old having made quite the impression at Hale End since joining from St. Johnstone in Scotland this summer.

The Scotland U19 international has swiftly established himself as the captain of Arsenal’s U18 squad, racking up 11 appearances and scoring one goal.

With such impressive performances, he has even been handed a string of outings with the U21s, and during his sole effort in the Premier League 2, Hamill kept a clean sheet across 90 minutes of action.

Analyst Ben Mattinson has remarked that the teenager has “all the tools to become a quality backline leader for club and country”, and while he’s not there yet, Arteta’s decision to throw the youngster into first-team training and guide him toward the fore suggests that it’s only a matter of time before this star emulates the better-known names in front of him and cements a place under Arteta’s wing.

Who knows, given his leadership skills, strong reading of the game and dynamism, Hamill might even have what it takes to succeed Gabriel, when the fateful day of the Brazilian’s departure comes.

A new Saka: Arsenal chasing "one of the best wingers in the world" for £88m

The game-changing winger could be a Saka-like addition to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 18, 2025

Cummins has dismissed Rohit in each of the last three IPL matches and also in the last five innings across formats

Omkar Mankame22-Apr-20255:24

Pujara: Surprised Cummins hasn’t bowled much with the new ball

Match 33, Wankhede, IPL 2025 – c: T Head b: Cummins 26 (16)Rohit was off to a promising start, hitting three sixes in his first 13 balls. The third of those was a pick-up shot off Cummins that sailed into the stands. However, two balls later, he hit a low full toss straight to cover, falling to Cummins for the fourth time in the IPL.4th Test, Melbourne, 2024 – c: Boland b: Cummins 3 (5) and c: Marsh b: Cummins 9 (40)Rohit’s move back to the top of the order in the Border Gavaskar Trophy did not change his fortunes. In the first innings, Cummins needed just three deliveries to dismiss the opposition captain, with Rohit failing to execute his favourite pull shot cleanly and mistiming a top edge. He showed greater patience in the second innings, but as the pressure mounted, his first aggressive stroke once again led to his downfall.Pat Cummins removed Rohit Sharma in both innings of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne•Getty Images3rd Test, Brisbane, 2024 – c: Carey+ b: Cummins 10 (44)Batting in the middle order, Rohit walked out in a perilous situation – India 44 for 4 in reply to Australia’s 445 all out in the first innings. After 16 deliveries, he found his first boundary with a cover drive off Cummins, but the bowler struck back soon after by forcing an outside edge. The duo didn’t come face-to-face in the second innings, with India’s innings cut short by rain.2nd Test, Adelaide, 2024 – b: Cummins 6 (15)After missing the first Test, Rohit, not wanting to disrupt the opening combination, slotted himself into the middle-order for the day-night Test. Scott Boland trapped him lbw in the first innings, and in the second, Cummins knocked over his off stump with the pink ball under lights.A hat-trick in the IPLWhen Cummins dismissed Rohit earlier this season, it was the third successive time he got the MI batter out in the IPL. Cummins had dismissed the former MI batter both times last season.Pat Cummins got rid of Rohit Sharma in both of SRH’s games against MI in IPL 2024•Associated PressMatch 55, Wankhede, IPL 2024 – c: Klaasen b: Cummins 4 (5)Last year in Mumbai, Cummins needed only two deliveries to send back the MI batter. Rohit closed the bat face early against a length ball, and the resulting leading edge went up high in the night sky before settling into the wicketkeeper’s gloves.Match 8, Hyderabad, IPL 2024 – c: Abhishek b: Cummins 26 (12)With a mammoth target of 278 in front, Rohit had no option but to go for boundaries. He picked Cummins’ first ball to hit him for a six over midwicket but failed to control the pull shot on the following delivery and was caught at deep fine leg.

After registering the 400th goal of his remarkable career, Kylian Mbappe is ready to aim for "the unreal". The Real Madrid superstar is among those watching on from afar as Portuguese GOAT Cristiano Ronaldo closes in on 1,000 career goals. That milestone feels a long way off for Mbappe, but the France international is prepared to set the most ambitious of targets.

Mbappe record: Games taken to reach 400 goals

World Cup winner Mbappe reached a quadruple century on the goal front when netting for his country in a 4-0 victory over Ukraine. He bagged a brace in that contest – with his first coming from the penalty spot – and has ensured that Les Bleus will be taking in another shot at global glory next summer.

Mbappe has hit 400 goals through just 537 appearances. He is Paris Saint-Germain’s all-time leading scorer – having found the target on 235 occasions for the Ligue 1 heavyweights – and sits only two efforts adrift of France’s record marksman Olivier Giroud.

It is only a matter of time before he passes Giroud, with a bar of individual brilliance there set to be raised considerably higher. Mbappe also continues to star at club level, with 18 goals being recorded for Real this season through 16 appearances.

AdvertisementGetty1,000-goal target: Can Mbappe match Ronaldo?

Mbappe is only 26 years of age, so has many seasons with club and country ahead of him. With that in mind, he sees no reason why he should not be looking to emulate the achievements of five-time Ballon d’Or winner CR7.

He said: "400 doesn't impress people, if you want to be in that circle that shocks people, you have to score another 400. Cristiano Ronaldo's 1,000 goals? That's unreal. But let's try the unreal, we have to try, we only have one career."

Mbappe is arguably at his peak right now, with it on him to ensure that those standards are maintained when chasing down more major honours with Real and France. He added on silencing any doubters in his homeland: "I had to be the best version of myself so we could go to the World Cup. Last year was difficult for me with the national team, this season I had to show that the national team is important to me.

"On a mission? Everyone knows and can talk about football, but playing in a World Cup… only those who have played in it know that it's special, it's a privilege to represent your country in the eyes of the world."

World Cup trophy target: Mbappe proud of France's efforts

Mbappe captured the most prestigious of trophies with France back in 2018, before suffering final heartache against Lionel Messi and Argentina at Qatar 2022 – as he bagged a hat-trick before seeing Les Bleus lose on penalties.

He went on to say of heading back to FIFA’s flagship event, with Ukraine being swept aside with the minimum of fuss: "Pride. You should never take it for granted; today it's becoming normal, but it wasn't always the case in the history of the French national team. We had to be as sensible as possible and keep in mind that the most important thing was the win. On the pitch, we tried to do the job. We picked up the pace in the second half. After that, we played our game, we created chances, and I think people had a good evening."

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Getty2026 World Cup draw: When France will discover opponents

Mbappe added on his bid to become a two-time World Cup winner – an achievement that would see him join an exclusive club: "Of course we're going there to win, like all 48 other teams. It's a dream to be able to put the third star on the French national team jersey. We need to use this 2022 World Cup final to go to the World Cup with confidence. We'll wait for the draw and focus on the first group matches."

France will be among the favourites to go all the way when the World Cup heads to the United States, Canada and Mexico. They will discover their early opponents at that tournament when the group stage draw takes place on December 5.

The former New Zealand opener talks about his international career, the new first-class season, coaching Samoa, and his career as an accountant

Interview by Deivarayan Muthu22-Nov-2025Jeet Raval has had a fascinating journey from India to New Zealand: from being Parthiv Patel’s opening partner for Vidyanagar School in Ahmedabad to playing alongside Kane Williamson for New Zealand and Northern Districts, and being part of the squad that had won the inaugural World Test Championship in 2021. Raval, who turned 37 in September, talks about buying into the New Zealand culture, the strength of their domestic system, and closing in on 10,000 first-class runs. In the Plunket Shield, only three players – Michael Papps (11,463), Mathew Sinclair (8842), and Peter Fulton (8719) – have scored more runs than Raval’s 8216 in New Zealand’s first-class competition.You’ve had an unusual journey. As you step into your 17th Plunket Shield season, can you talk to us about that?
It’s been a very satisfying journey. Obviously rewarding in terms of how long I’ve been able to play cricket professionally and some of the successes, especially team successes, I’ve had along the way. But the journey started on the back of my parents making the sacrifice to leave India, leave the family, leave their careers behind for myself and my sister to have an opportunity to do something in our life. Just a huge thank-you will never be enough.New Zealand had a very different lifestyle, different culture, the environment, the playing style. But the people I’ve met along the way and who have helped me to succeed and also when the times have been tough, they have been in my corner, helping me get through this. It’s been an incredible journey, one that I’ve cherished. Even though it might be the 17th season, it still feels like my first season. I still get the same butterflies, same excitement, when the new season is starting.You may not have envisioned this path for you while growing up and now you’re on the verge of scoring 10,000 first-class runs. How special is that?
I actually used to bowl medium pace back in the day (laughs). And when I played age-group cricket for Gujarat, I batted No. 9 or 10. But when I moved to New Zealand, I started opening the batting and took batting seriously. And I had some real good help from Kit Pereira, who was my mentor, and also Barrington Rowland, a former Karnataka player. They moulded me into the person and the cricketer I am today.Related

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Plunket Shield's 100th season to start on November 18

I’ve had to figure out a different style of cricket. Opening in New Zealand is a big challenge. You come across green surfaces more often than not. So you have to build your technique around defence, being able to strongly leave the ball outside the off stump, and set up the game for your middle order to score runs. That’s how I moulded my game over the years, and even though the game has advanced quite a lot since those early days, I still pride myself on the game I built for myself and the job I’ve been able to do for my various teams.[Numbers] is not what I’ve been driven by. For me, the driving factors have been wanting to contribute to the team, wanting to come through those challenges, and really, just contribute to the team’s success over the years and finding a way in different conditions against different bowlers and finding satisfaction from there. To get to that landmark [10,000 first-class runs] would be very special and one that I will definitely celebrate. But for now, the focus is on setting up games for Northern Districts, and hopefully we can go on to defend our title as well.Having been educated in a Gujarati-medium school, how did you adapt to New Zealand when you moved there as a teenager?
It was a shock to the system when I first arrived here. I remember my first two weeks of going to the school and everybody’s talking in English, [which] I learned very briefly in India but never spoke. We spoke Gujarati mainly at home and I studied in a Gujarati-medium school. I would remember going back home to my mum, crying and saying: “I don’t understand what people are saying to me.” I almost felt lost at the time and I wanted to go back to India, which was my comfort zone.I was actually doing well in terms of cricket there. I was playing for the Gujarat Under-16 team and I had my friends there. I remember telling my parents that I really want to go back. It was August [2004] when we arrived in New Zealand. My parents said: Why don’t we wait till December end of the year, give it two or three months. Who knows what can happen? And then suddenly the New Zealand cricket season started in September-October and I started performing well for the school team, where I had Ajaz Patel as part of the first XI, and I got along really well with Ajaz.Also, the cricket club I was associated with, Suburbs New Lynn Cricket Club, had the likes of Ajaz and Martin Guptill there. My mentor, Kit Pereira, was also part of the same club. They made me feel at home and took me under their wing. I can’t name each one of them [in the club] but they made me feel like I was one of their sons. They would pick me up and drop me home, though I was new to their system. All of a sudden, within three-four months, I felt like I started belonging to their environment, even though the language was still a barrier.Last season Raval was the top run-scorer for title winners Northern Districts, with 672 runs at 48 from eight Plunket Shield Games•Hagen Hopkins/Getty ImagesOver the years, cricket was a common theme and a factor which allowed me to embrace the New Zealand culture and immerse myself into it slowly. And over the years, things got easier and I was able to adapt to the New Zealand way of doing things.You then became the product of the domestic system and went on to play for New Zealand. How do New Zealand keep churning out quality international players despite having a limited talent pool?
I’m incredibly proud of the way New Zealand Cricket turned itself around from about 2014-2015, when Brendon McCullum took over captaincy [in 2013]. And also, the leadership at New Zealand’s high-performance level was great in terms of preparing players to be the best in the world. Brendon brought his way of doing things and Kane [Williamson] carried on.I think the strength of our domestic competition is very, very high. It may not be regarded as high around the world, but I think it’s one of the best competitions. It tests players mentally, physically for a number of years. When these guys like [Jacob] Duffy and Daryl Mitchell, come out to the international stage, they are actually ready to perform, like you see. We don’t have the depth of population to pick out the best talented players, so what they do is they pick a number of players – for example 20 or 30 players – and work hard with them and invest in them, and eventually these players come out really strongly. We’re hard-working in a humble Kiwi way that gets the job done. I’m incredibly proud to be part of the system.You spoke of your friendship with Ajaz. You both were part of the WTC-winning squad in 2021 and went on the mace tour together in Auckland. What are your memories of that?
Jazzy has been there for me since day one, and we’re still brothers. We played club cricket and school cricket together and then for Auckland and at the [Central] Stags. It’s great to see him succeed at the Test level too, turning from a little medium-pacer to a left-arm spinner winning games. It’s incredible doing this journey with Jazzy.Tell us about your 24 Tests with New Zealand from 2016 to 2020?
It was one of the most successful times in our Test history when I was part of the team, and we had a great team and we had a lot of success along the way as well. I really enjoyed contributing to the team. Early in my career I hadn’t got a hundred, but I was still getting the starts and helping the team build that foundation.Raval’s last Test for New Zealand was at the SCG in 2020. He remembers the Test for the lack of expectations and for feeling the joy return to his game•Jason McCawley/Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesI remember there being a lot of external pressure to score a hundred, but internally Kane, Ross [Taylor] and the other senior players never made it feel like I hadn’t scored a hundred. They always made me feel like I was contributing, which was huge, and made me feel quite at ease. In the latter part of my career I sort of had my form fall away in a series against England and a big series in Australia – a place we hadn’t toured for years. I think I had a couple of games where I didn’t quite perform where I was required to perform. And then, unfortunately, they [team management] decided to go another way.That obviously hurt at the time. But I know the guys that came in – like Devon Conway and Will Young and the likes – went on to perform at a very high level straightaway. So I was disappointed, but also happy that somebody else did the job that the team needed at the time. Even since then – look, I haven’t lost the dream of playing again for New Zealand yet. New Zealand is such a small country, so you never say never! I feel like if there’s ever an opportunity where the team is in need, through injuries or lack of performances, and if I’m performing really well, I may have an outside chance to go and play one or two games. I still have that hope.I’m incredibly proud of the way I was able to contribute to the team’s success. Yes, I felt like I could have done it a bit longer, but I’m not sweating over it. I’ve made peace with that.How did you overcome that difficult Australia tour and find joy in your cricket once again?
When you’re going through a slump, there are so many thoughts going through your head where you’re analysing your technique, your decision-making, and your mind is clouded with so many things. So when you go out there to perform, you freeze and you can’t think clearly. I can reflect back and I feel like I was that frozen man who wasn’t able to let go of myself in the first Test, in Perth.And I was dropped for the Melbourne Test. Unfortunately Kane and Henry Nicholls, who got ill in the last Sydney Test match [missed the Test]. I got an opportunity to bat at No. 3. I knew that this was my one-off opportunity because I’d been dropped and those guys would come back in the team. I went out there absolutely wanting to bat like how I batted in the backyard in Ahmedabad with my cousins. With no fear, just for the love of the game, and trusting my skills. That sort of released weight off my shoulders.I think in the first innings, I scored 30 [31], but I feel those were some of the best runs I ever scored. And I vividly remember because it was so much fun and with the lack of expectations, it was just pure joy of wanting to play cricket.Neil Wagner, Raval, Ajaz Patel, Will Somerville and Tim Southee (from left) on tour with the World Test Championship mace in Auckland, 2021•Getty ImagesI tell the younger guys, it’s a very fine line of wanting to do well but trying too hard and letting go of your emotions. If you can detach your emotions from the game a little bit, it helps you stay level-headed and not get too caught up in wanting to do well, which I got caught up in. So I let go of expectations and the fear of failure in Sydney and I’ve carried on for the last few years.Did your life outside of cricket – as an accountant – help you stay level-headed?
Absolutely. Having that career outside of cricket gives you that break to take your mind off it, and you’re not thinking about cricket all the time. And also, you’re not putting all eggs in one basket and you have something else to fall back on.Family is a very important part of life. I have two young children now and they’ve given me a fresh perspective on life when I come home to them. They don’t know whether I have scored a duck or a hundred and just want me to be their father and be around them.You also seemed to derive enjoyment from your bowling in the last Plunket Shield season, when you took 14 wickets, including your first five-for.
I have always enjoyed bowling and helping out at the nets. Last season was one where we went in with four-five seamers for the majority of the games. If we needed someone to have a breather, I would bowl a few overs and I managed to grab a few wickets (laughs). But this season, we have Tim Pringle [fit]. He’s a fantastic left-arm spinner and has a big future ahead. I’m happy to take a back seat now with the ball.You’ve batted against a number of New Zealand bowlers over the years. Who was the toughest to face?
Lockie Ferguson, Adam Milne, and when I was playing for Auckland, I got to face the likes of Tim [Southee], Trent [Boult] and Matt Henry and Neil Wagner. All these bowlers are lethal in New Zealand conditions. They can bowl at pace and also swing the ball both ways. I’ve enjoyed my encounters against all those quality bowlers.Raval’s only Test hundred came against Bangladesh, in Hamilton in 2019•Getty ImagesYou forayed into coaching during the New Zealand winter, being an assistant to Tarun Nethula, and working with Ross Taylor at Samoa. What was that experience like?
It was my first proper coaching experience and I absolutely loved that. I enjoyed being surrounded by people who were proud to represent Samoa. We had a mix of experience – like Ross Taylor, one of the greats of world cricket, Sean Solia, who has played for Auckland, and rising stars like Solomon Nash [son of former New Zealand seamer Dion Nash]. It was a chance for me to be involved with a team that was driven by their culture and heritage. They were all proud to play for Samoa.It was never hard to get them up for a game. For us, it was a challenge of how do we help them succeed in foreign conditions, which was Oman [for the T20 World Cup Qualifiers]. They had never experienced slow and low conditions before and I really enjoyed helping the group succeed in those conditions. We were able to advance through to our group and move into the Super Sixes, which was a big achievement for Samoa. And I think if I’m correct, we also beat PNG for the first time in 25 years, which is a step in the right direction for Samoa cricket.I’m sure more people of Samoan heritage will take some inspiration from this tournament. Hopefully we can push for higher honours and I can keep giving back to Samoan cricket.Did coaching Samoa change your perspective?
Yeah, two things that stood out for me. Firstly, providing the structure and the quality of training to players where they feel like they’re getting some value out of each training. And the second part that I really enjoyed was talking to players differently. Each player requires different kinds of communication. Figuring out how each player likes to be communicated with and helping them feel confident about their own game so they can go out there and perform. I feel as a coach, if you can make your players feel confident in their own ability, they are more likely to go out there and succeed.You’re also on the board of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association and part of a system where even domestic players are opting for flexible contracts. How are New Zealand dealing with this changing landscape?
I guess it’s [about] finding the balance of giving players the opportunity to play those franchise competitions and making sure they are committed to playing for New Zealand and domestically here in New Zealand. It’s a balance where our boards are willing to work with the players on a case-by-case basis.It’s a great arrangement from the board to have an open mind to have those discussions with players wanting to play [franchise cricket]. I don’t think we have found a perfect balance but we have found a good balance so far. We are on the right track to allowing players to go and play but also maintain the integrity of playing for New Zealand, which is the pinnacle for most of our cricketers in New Zealand.