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Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad among potential venues

Nagraj Gollapudi01-Mar-2021The rising number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra is likely to rule out Mumbai as an IPL venue for the first time in the tournament’s history. Originally Mumbai, which is the home base of defending champions Mumbai Indians, was meant to be the central hub in hosting the 2021 IPL, but ESPNcricinfo understands the BCCI is thinking about staging the tournament outside of Maharashtra.Although a final decision remains to be taken it is understood Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Delhi have been tentatively earmarked as possible venues. A final decision is likely to be taken by the BCCI senior management along with the IPL governing council soon. The IPL will also finalise the tournament dates, which have not been announced yet but are likely to start anywhere between April 8-12 and stretch until end of May-early June period.Related

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At the IPL auction, held on February 18, franchises were informally told that the 2021 edition was likely to be largely based in Mumbai, along with Pune for the group phase and the play-offs in Ahmedabad.However, at a meeting last week in Ahmedabad during the third Test of the England series, top BCCI officials including board secretary Jay Shah, treasurer Arun Dhumal, IPL governing council chairman Brijesh Patel and interim board chief executive officer Hemang Amin, discussed the viability of Mumbai as a venue with concerns raised over the latest spike in coronavirus cases.As per the latest data published on the Indian government’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website on Monday evening, Maharashtra had reported nearly half of coronavirus cases in India. Out of the nearly 169,000 cases in India, Maharashtra had 78,212. There were 4,478 new cases officially reported in the western state compared to Sunday, with 62 additional deaths.Last week’s meeting decided that the tournament could be played in multiple cities, but a final plan would only be arrived after the Election Commission of India announced the poll dates in various state including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, which will conducted during the league phase of the IPL. West Bengal elections will be conducted across eight phases between March 27 and April 29 with the votes counted between May 2-4. The election in Tamil Nadu will be a day-long affair on April 6 with results on May 5.Even though a question mark hangs over Mumbai, the IPL has not included Mohali and Jaipur in the list of tentative venues. It could not be confirmed exactly the reasons behind the omission. The uncertainty over venues as well as the delay in announcing the tournament dates has left franchises disgruntled. Several confirmed that they are yet to receive any update formally from the IPL on either front.Some, including Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, contacted Amin asking him to shine light on the venues. Senior officials at both the Kings and the Sunrisers confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that after reading reports in Indian media at the weekend about the omission of their home bases of Mohali and Hyderabad they were curious.Satish Menon, the chief executive officer at the Kings, said the franchise wanted to know on what grounds the IPL had shortlisted the potential venues and left Mohali out. “We have written to the IPL asking them to throw light on how they have decided on these venues and why also have they decided not to hold the IPL in Punjab,” Menon said.K Shanmugham, the CEO at Hyderabad, said he also had checked with the IPL whether Hyderabad was included as a potential venue or not.

Liverpool splashed the big bucks and then some over the summer, hopeful of retaining their Premier League title in style.

However, the majority of the whopping £415m spent now looks as if it has gone down the drain, with both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak remaining goalless, despite costing a combined £225m to bring to Anfield.

Arne Slot thankfully has the January transfer window coming into view now to try and turn around his side’s lacklustre campaign, with Liverpool all the way down in eighth position at the moment, as Manchester United are even ahead of the Reds on goal difference.

Liverpool planning to spend big again

You would think that the Merseyside giants might be more cautious in the transfer department after such a wild summer spending spree.

However, reports suggest that the underwhelming reigning champions could go all out to try and win Michael Olise from Bayern Munich for an astronomical £177m fee.

Moreover, one of the best players in the top-flight this term in the shape of Antoine Semenyo is reportedly also on their radar as they try to upgrade on an attack that looks short on confidence, even with Mohamed Salah starting week in, week out.

On top of flashy recruits being rumoured to join the Anfield ranks in attack, an update from Liverpool-based writer DaveOCKOP has also revealed that the Reds are holding initial talks with Crystal Palace over midfield star Adam Wharton.

Transfer Focus

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

It is stated that the move is more likely for the summer of 2026 than the upcoming January window, but never say never when it comes to Liverpool’s ambition in this department, with it also being revealed back in September that the English international’s preference – if he were to leave the Eagles behind – was a switch to Slot and Co.

Having just made his first start for the Three Lions during this international break, the sky really does appear to be the limit for Wharton currently, with a mammoth £100m price tag also above his head.

How Wharton can become Slot's own Gerrard

As Slot looks to reshape his midfield in 2026, he could find a new beating heart at the centre of his team in the form of Wharton, much like a certain Steven Gerrard was back in the day.

By the close of his distinguished career at the very top, Gerrard was showered with some immense praise, with Gabriel Agbonlahor notably once describing him as the best midfielder in Premier League history, even ahead of Kevin De Bruyne.

Indeed, away from bagging a stunning 186 goals and picking up 155 assists for his boyhood club, the well-rounded servant also closed out his long-standing career on Merseyside with a Champions League title.

As Liverpool’s website affectionately put it when Gerrard hung up his boots, the Englishman was a revered “gladiator” for his boyhood side.

Of course, it would be crazy to expect Wharton to be as impactful from minute one of his own Anfield journey, but in time, he could be Gerrard 2.0, displaying a similar level of composure and ball manipulation from midfield.

Games played

16

20

9

Goals scored

0

0

0

Assists

3

2

0

Touches*

49.6

45.7

43.9

Accurate passes*

28.5 (81%)

26.7 (79%)

25.2 (78%)

Key passes*

1.3

1.3

1.6

Big chances created

5

5

5

Tackles*

3.0

1.7

1.3

Ball recoveries*

4.8

5.1

4.0

Total duels won*

4.9

3.2

3.2

The data above displays Wharton’s similar well-roundedness from the middle of the park, which is very much like the Liverpool great, with the 21-year-old only getting better with time, as he becomes more and more used to the demands of the Premier League.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t quite uncovered a goalscoring mojo in the top-flight yet, like Gerrard, but with the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai next to him if he takes on this huge Anfield opportunity, there is a possibility that he enhances his varied game to that next level.

Hailed as a “genius” at a very early age at Blackburn Rovers by ex-boss Tony Mowbray, and now an “incredible” star by former Selhurst Park teammate Eberechi Eze, it does feel as if a big move soon awaits Wharton.

If all clicks into place for the 21-year-old at Liverpool, he might well be the second coming of Gerrard; a powerful English midfield technician who has all of the tools to be a Three Lions mainstay for years to come.

It will take some big bucks to land his services, but if Slot can win a new legend in the process, it’s a bold investment that’s definitely worth making.

New Trent: Liverpool star is "one of the most underrated players in England"

Slot could find a shrewd solution to Liverpool’s problems in this talent.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 17, 2025

Atletico Madrid have been hit with a partial stadium ban after a barrage of missiles were aimed at Real's Thibaut Courtois during the derby.

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Atleti handed a three-game partial stadium closureHave also been fined €45,000 (£37,000/$49,000) RFEF's competition committee doled out the punishmentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Atletico fans turned on Courtois moments after Real Madrid took the lead through Eder Militao and started throwing plastic bottles, lighters and even a bag of trash aimed at the goalkeeper. The referee was forced to stop the game after three warnings failed to have the desired effect as the situation escalated, leading to a 15-minute suspension of play.

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In response to the crowd trouble, the RFEF’s competition committee has levied a three-match partial stadium closure, targeting the "Fondo Sur" section of the Estadio Metropolitano, the area from which the missiles were launched. The club will also have to pay a fine of €45,000 (£37,000/$49,000) as part of the punishment. This disciplinary measure is seen as a strong statement by the federation, highlighting that such behaviour will not be tolerated in Spanish football.

DID YOU KNOW?

In the wake of the incident, Atletico Madrid have swiftly responded by banning one fan for life. This individual was identified as one of the perpetrators who threw objects onto the pitch. The club has also announced that it is working closely with local police to identify and sanction other individuals involved in the incident. Moreover, Atletico have pledged to implement changes in stadium policies to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future and will be banning ans from wearing clothing that conceals their identity, such as balaclavas, which some fans in the stands were seen wearing during the derby.

GettyWHAT NEXT?

The closure of the Fondo Sur stand will affect Atletico’s home fixtures against Leganes, Las Palmas, and Alaves. However, they still retain the right to appeal the RFEF’s decision. The Rojiblancos are back in action against Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

The Sri Lanka mystery spinner talks about how he deals with bowling in the powerplay and death, working with Ajantha Mendis, his first CPL stint, and more

Interview by Deivarayan Muthu29-Aug-2024This will be your first CPL stint. Can you recall the chat you had with Kumar Sangakkara (director of cricket at Royals)?
Kumar called me last year for the CPL, saying that he wanted me to play for Barbados. But last year I didn’t get the NOC to play the CPL because I think we [Sri Lanka] were playing the Asia Cup or something at the time. This year I said to Kumar that I’m definitely coming to Barbados, and I also know about TP [Trevor Penney, Barbados Royals head coach] because I’ve played under him at T10. I also know a bunch of boys here, so yes great to be here at the CPL.You’ve played T20 cricket all around the world, but you’ve played just one T20 in the Caribbean so far. The wind is often a factor across various venues, so what do you hope to take out of this tournament?
Actually, it’s a great challenge for me to play in the Caribbean because I’d just played one match at St Lucia during the [T20] World Cup. Yes, the wind and everything is a challenge because the batters have the power to use it and clear the boundary. I came here and played one practice game with Barbados and the wickets and conditions seem friendly to spin as well. So, there will be turn and low bounce, and there will be more chances to get wickets too with the wind as well.Related

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You used to be a fast-bowling allrounder. How did you become this mystery spinner who could turn the ball both ways?
Actually, it was when I was injured. I had a groin injury in one of the school games and we didn’t have enough bowlers. So, I had to bowl three-four overs, and I tried to bowl spin and I got wickets in that game. In the next game, I got seven wickets bowling spin and I’ve also seen Ajantha Mendis bowl. I was training in school to bowl both offspin and the carrom ball. I used it in that game, and I got seven wickets, so that’s how I ended up being a spinner.How did you develop control over the carrom ball?
I’ve been bowling the carrom ball since when I was 12. I bowled a lot of it in Under-13s, so when I came up to Under-15s, I had the control over it. When you bowl a lot of balls and get your rhythm and everything together, it’s easier to bowl it.How did working with Ajantha Mendis at the Army Under-23 side improve your bowling?
Yes, it helped me a lot. When I was 20 or 21, I got the chance to play Under-23 [cricket] under Ajantha Mendis. He is the legend of bowling the carrom balls and googlies. He used to bowl those with the same grip. We spent two-three months together and I leant a lot with him. He told me how to get the rhythm and balance that I should have with the run-up. He didn’t do a lot of adjustments; he just told me what he does on the mental part of the game in certain moments, and I still talk to him about what I can to do to get better.What is running through your mind when you bowl in the powerplay?
With the new ball, I can get swing. So, swinging it is a great strength that I have. It’s more than a strength – how can I put it? – I can actually get away with it. In the powerplay, I can just bowl to the field and when you have something like that, you know you can survive in that period.Maheesh Theekshana bowled Galle Marvels to a Super Over victory in LPL 2024•SLCCaptains also trust you to deliver at the death. You’ve bowled Super Overs as well. What makes you tick at the death?
When you bowl at the death, you need confidence, and you need to be aggressive as well. When you’re bowling in the powerplay, if you overcome it [the challenge], you could still get some wickets. My thing at the death is that I’m not trying to take wickets and I’m just trying to keep it to a single.When I played against Australia in Australia in 2022, [Lasith] Malinga was the bowling coach. He had a competition every day for the fast bowlers to bowl yorkers. Whenever I had a chance, I also bowled [yorkers] with him and I had a chat with him. The things I learnt from him really matter when I play.Before I bowl at the death, I take a deep breath, and I don’t change my plan when I’m in the run-up. I always think before the start of my run-up and then I have a clear plan to deliver it. And I always try and bowl to my field and keep it simple.Can you recall an example where everything worked for you at the death?
In the Lanka Premier League (LPL) game against Dambulla [Sixers], I had to bowl two-three overs at the end, and it went down to a Super Over. I also bowled the Super Over, which we [Galle Marvels] won. We didn’t have lot of runs on the board; it was a hard wicket to bat on.Luckily, I got my plans and everything right and I got three wickets in the game and then two [one] in the Super Over also. It’s great to win a game for your team when the plans come together. When you do your best, the team wins, which is the most important thing for me. So, that’s the game where I got [it]100% right.What’s the secret behind the arrow celebration?
No more arrow celebrations! I did it earlier because I love the TV series.Maheesh Theekshana’s celebration has a superhero origin story•ICC via Getty ImagesYou started out as a unique spinner who could turn the ball both ways. What does it feel like to have the next generation follow in your footsteps?
It’s really nice to see such youngsters coming up. I saw that video of him [bowling with an action similar to mine] as well. When we were kids, we tried to bowl like Murali [Muttiah Muralidaran] and Ajantha Mendis and even like Dale Steyn as a fast bowler. Everyone in Sri Lanka would’ve tried Malinga’s action. So, it’s a really nice feeling and a proud moment for me. I’m really happy for me and for them [youngsters] as well.What’s it like to play under MS Dhoni’s leadership at Chennai Super Kings in the IPL?
He’s the one who has told me to keep things simple and not to go away from my strengths. He always backs the player he has – whether bowler or batter. The trust is the most important thing you want to have as a player. When the captain and coach are a family and they back you as a player, you can do the job. We also have confidence as bowlers and that [trust] is what’s important when you’re playing as a team.Earlier, you failed to make the Sri Lanka under-19 team. How has your improved fitness helped you become a better player?
At the time, I was fat, and I failed skin folds and yo-yo tests. I had to reduce weight and do a lot of training and things. I reduced the weight by 27kgs, but I still didn’t get a chance. Then I understood the things I could control and not control. I did a lot of running and got into much better shape. I tried to reduce the fat, and do the things I can do, and one year after that, I got selected into the Sri Lankan national team.Sri Lanka continue to have immense depth in their spin bowling. Along with you, there’s Wanindu Hasaranga, of course, Jeffrey Vandersay was particularly impressive against India, Dunith Wellalage is at the CPL with Royals too, Vijay Viyaskanth is also working his way up to the top. What do you make of this spin depth?
Yes, we have a lot of great spinners right now. Even back in those days, we had great spinners. In Sri Lanka, you should always have good spinners to play on our tracks and conditions. Even in the Under-19s and Under-18s, there are some spinners coming up and it’s a positive for us as a team to see those spinners. Last time against India when Wanindu got injured, Jeffrey came in and took six wickets. You have to have that fight and that bench strength is important for the team.Your grandmother has had a strong influence on your cricketing career. She was even in attendance at some of the venues during LPL 2024.
She’s the one who has done everything for me. Yes, in the Lanka Premier League she came down to Kandy and Dambulla to watch me bowl. She has also come to [Chennai] in the IPL in the last three years and all around the world, including Dubai and Australia, for me. She loves the game, and she knows too much about cricket. Whenever I don’t do that well, I also get harsh words from her. For me, it’s great to have someone like her always backing me and being there for me to talk to. At any time, she’s the one who is always there for me. The reason why I’m here [as a professional cricketer] is because of her.

A verdict into Manchester City's legal action against the Premier League is expected this week, a report says.

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City launched action against Premier LeagueCase is separate to 115 chargesCould have knock-on effectFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per the , a verdict into City's legal action against the Premier League is expected in the coming days. The champions launched a claim of "discrimination" over Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules, which are designed to stop clubs inflating the value of commercial deals to maintain competitiveness in the top-flight. The rules state that any deals must be independently assessed, something City argue is "unlawful".

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City are seeking damages from the Premier League as they claim they are suffering from the "tyranny of the majority". Twelve clubs in the league voted in favour of the rules being introduced after Newcastle's takeover. Six voted against and two abstained. The case is separate to the 115 charges they are facing, but defeat for the Premier League could have an immense knock-on effect, with the report claiming rival clubs fear it would water down financial controls and competitiveness.

DID YOU KNOW?

City have consistently denied breaking any rules, and have argued in their lawsuit that sponsors should be allowed to decide how much they want to pay clubs when entering into sponsorship agreements. They also claim that the current rules are discriminatory towards clubs with strong links to the Gulf region.

AFPWHAT NEXT?

City will hope to win their case, and potentially go on to beat the 115 charges they are facing from the Premier League. A ruling in that case is not expected for another few months.

Defending champions CP need another 216 runs to win the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jan-2021Central Punjab made a decent start to the target of 356 as they need another 216 runs to win the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final. Usman Salahuddin and Mohammad Saad were unbeaten at the crease having scored 51 and 27 respectively as CP head into the final day with eight wickets in their hands.The day started with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa resuming from their overnight score of 243 for 5 with a lead of 286 runs. Kamran Ghulam, managed to add 11 more runs to his 104 before departing while Khalid Usman, who was unbeaten on 14, smacked 53 off 73 balls to propel the innings. KP folded for 312 as Waqas Maqsood ripped through the tail, ending with figures of 4 for 77 to add to his 3 for 59 in the first innings.Central Punjab, the defending champions, were off to a cautious start in the chase. The opening partnership was broken in 22nd over by offspinner Sajid Khan – the leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 64 scalps – as he sent back Ali Zaryab. Muhammad Akhlaq and Salahuddin then put up a 54-run stand before Arshad Iqbal dismissed the former for 48. Saad then joined Salahuddin at the crease as the duo batted through the final session to take CP to 140 for 2 on day four.

Even at 38, he found new ways to worry bowlers and fielding captains in IPL. Who knows what heights his India career might have reached had Dhoni not happened to it?

Karthik Krishnaswamy23-May-2024It could have been the most poignant of endings: the last ball faced by Dinesh Karthik as a top-level cricketer, edged into MS Dhoni’s gloves. One last tangle of intertwined fates.Who knows what heights Karthik’s international career might have reached had Dhoni not happened to it, and by what factor he may have multiplied his 26 Tests, 94 ODIs and 60 T20Is? Add all that up, however, and you get a measure of the cricketer Karthik has been: a wicketkeeper-batter capped 180 times by India even though he played the bulk of his career in Dhoni’s all-encompassing shadow, and a batter good enough to be capped 94 times as a specialist in matches involving Dhoni.Karthik is younger than Dhoni by nearly four years, but he jumped the queue and made his India debuts first: a month and a half before Dhoni in ODIs, and more than a year before him in Tests. Both were part of India’s first T20I XI, and Karthik the Player of the Match.Related

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Karthik’s India career outlasted Dhoni’s too: his last Test, in 2018, and his last T20I, in 2022, coming three-and-a-half years after Dhoni’s respective farewells. Both, of course, went out of ODIs together, on that fateful day in Manchester in July 2019.It would have been poignant, but the edge to Dhoni wasn’t the end for Karthik, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru making the playoffs at Chennai Super Kings’ expense on the day. It would seem, then, that Karthik – though we can never be entirely certain until Dhoni actually tells us – outlasted his great rival in the IPL too, by one match.It’s fitting, because Karthik has been one of the IPL’s great survivors. He’s featured in every season, and played more matches than anyone other than Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, and while he hasn’t become a figurehead at one franchise like those two, he’s been a vital member of six different dressing rooms. He’s always had elite T20 skills, and he’s always kept adding to them, evolving with the format and staying relevant, season after season.It’s as true of his career as it is of his manner on the field that Dinesh Karthik has never stood still.

****

An example of this came one ball before Karthik edged Tushar Deshpande to Dhoni.Karthik had stepped across to the off side, shaping for the scoop over short fine leg, and Deshpande had responded by shifting his line wider, so wide that the ball was nearly in line with the return crease when it reached the batter. Karthik reacted like he’d expected this all along, manipulating his hands expertly to reverse-scoop the ball past the right glove of a leaping Dhoni and out of reach of the short third fielder throwing himself to his left.Over the course of IPL 2024, Karthik played a total of nine reverse-scoops, including one off a wide. We’ll come to the reverse-scoops he nailed, but let’s first spend some time with the one he missed against that wide.It came on day one of the season, and the bowler, once again, was Deshpande.In IPL 2024, the reverse scoop brought Dinesh Karthik 21 runs, including five fours•BCCIThis was a contest with a bit of history. Deshpande had dismissed Karthik in their teams’ only meeting of IPL 2023, getting him caught at deep midwicket. Fine leg had been inside the 30-yard circle on that occasion too, and Karthik had stepped across his stumps, no doubt eyeing the vast spaces either side of and beyond that fielder. Then too, Deshpande had shifted his line wider.On that occasion, Karthik’s response had been a low-percentage one. He went for the slog-sweep, a difficult shot to nail since he was fetching the ball from well outside his eyeline, and one that didn’t give him too much margin for error since long-on and deep midwicket were out on the boundary.By the time IPL 2024 rolled around, Karthik had worked on a different response to the same situation. He didn’t connect with the reverse-scoop the first time round, and his second attempt, against the same bowler in the same game, didn’t quite come off either, producing an inside-edged single to fine leg. But Karthik had clearly worked on this shot in the lead-up to the tournament, and he clearly believed it would give him an edge in these death-overs battles of wits.It’s safe to say now that the reverse-scoop has worked brilliantly for Karthik over the season. He’s played the shot more often than anyone else this season, and it’s brought him 21 runs off eight non-wide balls, including five fours, at a strike rate of 262.50.The shot has helped Karthik score 45 runs through the fine third region off the fast bowlers, off just 15 balls. Of this season’s top ten run-getters against pace in that sector of the field, only Suryakumar Yadav and Sunil Narine have (marginally) better strike rates than Karthik.!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();