With the deadline for direct qualification for the 2019 World Cup on September 30, and with that luxury given only to the top eight teams including hosts England, West Indies who are at No. 9, are in a precarious position

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Mar-2017The new West Indies coach Stuart Law has said his main aim is to make sure the team qualifies directly for the 2019 World Cup.Currently ranked No. 9 by the ICC, West Indies have to improve their position by at least one spot before the September 30 deadline. The top eight ODI sides, including hosts England, on the cut-off date gain automatic entry into the showpiece event while the bottom four will have to go through the rigours of a qualifying competition, where ten contenders fight for only two spots.West Indies’ quest begins with the first of three ODIs at home against England on March 3. Then they take on their nearest competition on the rankings table – Pakistan at No. 8 – in April over three matches, which could prove decisive to which of the two teams end up in the top eight. West Indies also have the cushion of five more 50-over matches against England in the UK before September 30. While winning as much as possible would be the priority of any international cricket team, Law knows it is especially important for his.”The main aim is to qualify for the next World Cup, the 50-over World Cup, so these one-day games are extremely important to us,” he said. “So that’s our main focus really at this stage. I know we have Pakistan coming for T20s, Tests and one-dayers as well but the one-day series probably will take paramount importance.”There is considerable disappointment in West Indies at missing out on the Champions Trophy. They had won the tournament in 2004 but now, for the first time ever, they will not be part of it. Several issues – prominent among them the spat between the WICB and their biggest match-winners – have meant the one-day team, unlike its counterpart in T20s, is rarely at full strength. These concerns, however, are being addressed with the help of Jimmy Adams, the former captain and the new director of cricket in West Indies.”It’s a great little tournament, the Champions Trophy, the mini World Cup and to not be there probably isn’t where you want to be,” Law said. “You want to be in every single one of those tournaments but it is what it is. We’ve just got to make sure we have our heads screwed on for the one-day tournaments we play in upcoming tours and if we can win those, we can get through to qualify for the World Cup. That’s probably the bigger one to worry about.”Law is confident of the men under his charge – “We’ve got power. We’ve got extreme power. Match that with a bit of technique as well, we’re looking pretty good.” – and that helps because he is only into his second month on the job and there are other challenges to navigate as well.”For me, it’s about seeing how it all operates,” Law said “Learning the different cultures from the different islands and how to address people and how to get the best out of the young kids is probably the most important thing for me now. I’m not going to focus on becoming No. 1 in the world at this stage. I’m focusing on building a culture, building a work ethic in the dressing room that will put the little brick in place so that they can become the best they can be.”

The Bangladesh coach has said he “got everything he asked for” from the BCB during his coaching stint

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2017

Coach Chandika Hathurusingha has said he would like to leave Bangladesh in the position Sri Lanka had been in 1996, and that he would happily work with Sri Lanka after his present contract ends in 2019.The mid-1990s were effectively Sri Lanka’s coming of age in international cricket. In addition to winning the 1996 World Cup, they also began to produce players who achieved world renown – such as Aravinda de Silva, Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya. Sri Lanka also soon established themselves in Test cricket, beating most oppositions who toured the island.Bangladesh have recently made gains under Hathurusingha, winning a Test against England last year, and running impressive campaigns during 2016’s Asia Cup and the 2015 World Cup. They also qualified for the 2017 Champions Trophy, having missed out in 2009 and 2013.”In 2019, I want to bring the Bangladesh team to where Sri Lanka were in 1996,” Hathurusingha told . “That’s my target. Whatever happens, I’m not going to ask to stay with Bangladesh forever. I will also not resign. The only reason for leaving is if I’m not allowed to do what I want to do, but there’s no such situation at present.”Hathurusingha was complimentary of his dealings with the BCB, saying he had “got everything he asked for”, including a place on the selection committee and broad influence over the team’s development. However, he suggested that he harboured hopes of working with Sri Lanka in future, having made himself available to them before he took the job with Bangladesh, as well.”I will absolutely come [if SLC asks me to],” he said. “I am in this position today because of all the things I learned playing cricket in Sri Lanka. After I learned everything in Sri Lanka for about 20 years, I went to Australia and learned things there as well. But if Sri Lanka invites me at any time, I will happily come back to do something for the country.”Hathurusingha said Sri Lanka’s school cricket system remained much stronger than that of Bangladesh, but was less impressed with Sri Lanka’s senior cricket structure. He joined the chorus of former players lamenting the excessive number of teams in Sri Lanka’s first-class cricket. Twenty-three first-class teams competed in the recently-concluded Premier League tournament, though nine of those sides played in the second tier league.”If there are 22 or 23 first-class sides in Sri Lanka, then that’s definitely not good,” he said. “With the way that Sri Lanka is, I think there should be about 12 or 14 sides. But because school cricket is good here, players are still produced.”In Bangladesh, there is a four-day tournament, a one-day tournament with about eight teams, and their BPL T20 tournament. Because of that, the good players become highlighted. In the last two years, I changed a lot of things in their club cricket, including their pitches.”

Vernon Philander has recovered from a slight ankle impingement and is expected to take his usual place in South Africa’s Test squad, which departs for New Zealand in the weekend

Firdose Moonda23-Feb-2017Vernon Philander has recovered from a slight ankle impingement and is expected to take his usual place in South Africa’s Test squad, which departs for New Zealand in the weekend. Philander struggled with the niggle in the aftermath of South Africa’s home series against Sri Lanka, and did not play any cricket for over a month. But he returned to play a List A game for his franchise, Cobras, on Wednesday and will turn out for them again on Friday before leaving.Philander bowled eight overs against Warriors in East London and finished as the most economical bowler in his team’s 57-run win. He claimed 1 for 38, with Simon Harmer his victim. Philander will play Friday’s match against Titans, where another pacer, Morne Morkel, will be hopeful of staking a claim for a national comeback.Morkel has not played for South Africa since June last year and has been battling a back injury that he has revealed was considered career-ending. Morkel suffered from a bulging spinal disc during the CPL, and has only been able to take small steps towards bowling in the last eight months. He travelled with South Africa’s Test squad to Australia and played three warm-up matches. But he was not risked for the internationals and was primed for a comeback during the one-dayers against Sri Lanka, although he did not regain fitness in time. He has since played one List A game, where he gave away 53 runs in eight overs and went wicketless, and now has to hope it is enough for a recall.South Africa would welcome Morkel’s experience in a pace pack that has lost Kyle Abbott to a Kolpak deal, but may also be wary of having him break down mid-tour. If Morkel does not make the Test cut, he will likely continue to play in the domestic one-day cup in a bid for a spot in the Champions Trophy squad, where South Africa are still searching for a new-ball partner for Kagiso Rabada.Without Morkel, South Africa will seek to add a bowler, most likely an allrounder to back up their Test pace attack that will include Philander, Rabada and Duanne Olivier, who made his debut last month. Olivier should edge ahead of Wayne Parnell in the playing XI. Parnell could well be the reserve bowler, although Chris Morris and Dwaine Pretorius, who are currently with the ODI squad in New Zealand, are also making strong cases for inclusion.South Africa’s batting line-up is settled despite the absence of AB de Villiers, who has mostly made himself unavailable for Test cricket for the rest of 2017. Dean Elgar, Stephen Cook, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and Temba Bavuma make up the top six, with Quinton de Kock, the wicket-keeper batsman, at No.7.Knights captain Theunis de Bruyn, who finished third on the first-class rankings, and was the reserve batsman for the Sri Lanka series, is expected to travel in that capacity again. Interestingly, South Africa are also likely to take a reserve glovesman as back-up for de Kock. Although Rudi Second, who finished sixth on the first-class run-charts, was considered the favourite, Titans’ Heinrich Klaasen, who was seventh, is thought to be in line for a maiden call-up.

Weston McKennie started once again as Juventus settled for a 0-0 draw at Atalanta, with their struggles upfront clear for all to see once again.

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McKennie starts for JuveWeah comes off benchOne more match before international break

Neither team could create much of anything in Sunday's match, one which saw one American, McKennie, in the XI, while another, Tim Weah, replaced him in the game's final moments. McKennie continues to start ahead of Weah after initially coming off the bench earlier in the season.

With the draw, Juventus sit fourth in Serie A, four points behind league-leaders Inter, while Atalanta sit one point behind them in fifth.

GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The two teams combined for what was a largely dull game, with neither side ever really getting too much going in the attack.

Of the two, Atalanta was the more dangerous side, creating a few decent chances. Both teams were missing key attacking parts, as Juventus were without Dusan Vlahovic and Arkadiusz Milik while Atalanta played without Gianluca Scamacca in their attack.

Still, both teams will have felt they had the attacks to get something out of this game. Instead, they were forced to split the points and move on as they look to the final Serie A match before the international break next weekend.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

McKennie continued his run of games starting at right wing-back as he's apparently jumped in front of Weah on Juve's depth chart. The USMNT midfielder has started five consecutive games in that position after initially seeing Weah emerge.

McKennie has largely done well in that wing-back spot, showing off the energy and tenacity that have made him such a good midfielder for the USMNT. While the role does limit his skillset as a late runner in attack, he has been plenty involved in the buildup for Juve during this stretch.

Still, it's hard not to wonder what Juve would look like with Weah out wide as the winger-turned-wing-back would offer a more dynamic attacking presence. It's also hard not to wonder what McKennie could do to get back into the midfield picture as he's been crowded out of Juve's trio in the middle of the park so far this season.

GettyUSMNT IMPACT

No one at U.S. Soccer will be pushing the panic button on Weah yet. Life at a top club is filled with ebbs and flows. Unfortunately for Weah, things are a bit slower at the moment.

That'll change down the line, for sure. There will be moments where Juve need his attacking presence, even if they haven't in these few games to start this season.

On a USMNT level, Weah looked good during the last camp, scoring in the opening game against Uzbekistan. He's not totally untouchable in the USMNT squad, but he's pretty safe, so, as long as he keeps performing in camp, no one will be too worried.

As for McKennie, it's good to see him getting consistent minutes, especially as the U.S. prepare for another camp without Tyler Adams, who has suffered another hamstring injury to rob the U.S. of their captain and starting No. 6.

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GettyGOAL'S RATINGS

Weston McKennie (7/10):

Another solid performance from McKennie, who was among Juve's better performers in a very, very dull game. Showed initiative getting forward and had plenty of energy to defend. A decent day.

Tim Weah (N/A):

Was tossed into the game with just a few minutes left as Juve chased a win.

Birmingham City are in talks to sign Derby County midfielder Krystian Bielik, according to a report from the Telegraph

What is the latest news regarding Krystian Bielik?

According to the report, the Championship side are locked in talks with the League One outfit for the Polish international, with the fee potentially reaching £1m

The midfielder spent last season on loan at the Midlands club, making 35 appearances in the league and recording one goal and one assist across the campaign.

Birmingham look set to be under the new ownership of American hedge fund manager Tom Wagner soon, and manager John Eustace will be hoping to make Bielik his first signing of the new era.

Will Krystian Bielik join Birmingham City?

Bielik joined his parent club Derby from Arsenal in the summer of 2019 for a fee that could’ve risen to £10m, should all of the performance incentives been met.

The Polish midfielder has had an incredibly unfortunate time at Pride Park, suffering a pair of devastating knee injuries in back-to-back seasons that kept him out of action for a combined 634 days.

Ahead of last season, following Derby’s relegation to League One and the potential of a place in the Polish national team for the 2022 World Cup, Birmingham swooped in and picked him up on loan for the season.

Across the campaign, Bielik averaged a 6.77 rating, according to WhoScored, which was the second-highest average rating in the Birmingham squad for players who played over 2000 minutes

The midfielder is a defensive powerhouse, having averaged 1.92 blocks per 90, 2.17 clearances per 90 and 2.07 aerials won per 90 ranking him in the top 10% of all players across Europe's "next eight" leagues over the last year, as per to FBref. The Pole also averages 2.04 tackles per 90 and 1.45 interceptions per 90, further showcasing his defensive solidity

The Blues stand to get a fantastic deal for the 25-year-old colossus, with his market value currently €2.8m (£2.4m).

One reason why the midfielder, who was described by journalist Ryan Conway as Derby County’s “X-Factor”, is available for less than half his market value is his contract situation, with the players deal at Derby set to expire in the summer of 2024.

Should Birmingham be able to complete this deal despite their potential FFP problems, they will secure a fantastic midfielder who could help them in their quest to finish in the top half of the Championship for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign.

Four-fors from Varun Aaron (4-20) and medium-pacer Rahul Shukla (4-32) helped Jharkhand defend a total of 125 to beat Saurashtra by 42 runs at Eden Gardens. Saurashtra’s chase lasted only 25.1 overs with all ten wickets falling to pace. Aaron prised out key wickets in the middle order, before Shukla and left-arm seamer Jaskaran Singh cleaned up the tail.Like Saurashtra, Jharkhand, too, lost all their wickets to pace. Kushang Patel carved up the top order, first getting the early wicket of opener Anand Singh and then breaking a 43-run, second-wicket stand to trigger a Jharkhand slump in which they lost nine wickets for 64. Kushang, who was on a hat-trick in the 10th over, finished with 4 for 39, while Shaurya Sanandia cleaned up the lower order for career-best returns of 5 for 47. Jharkhand were propped up by a 40-ball 53 from Ishan Kishan and MS Dhoni’s 24-ball 23.Ashutosh Singh’s 98-ball 65 was in vain as Chhattisgarh suffered a four-run defeat against Hyderabad in Kolkata. Ashutosh’s wicket off the first ball of the final over left Chhattisgarh needing eight runs from five balls, of which they could only manage three. His half-century, however, had helped them rally after they were struggling at 78 for 5 in the 20th over. Ravi Kiran, Chama Milind and Mehdi Hassan and Mohammad Siraj took two wickets each for Hyderabad.Bavanaka Sandeep’s unbeaten 70 off 99 balls was the top score in Hyderabad’s innings as they were bowled out for 197 despite starts from the top order. Three run-outs and a slump in the middle overs – they lost four wickets for eight runs between the 25th and 28th overs – limited Hyderabad’s total.Jammu & Kashmir suffered a 24-run defeat against Services. Chasing 215, J&K were bowled out for 190, having lost their middle order during a four-wicket slide for only 20 runs between the 21st and 27th overs. Puneet Bisht and Ram Dayal resisted for J&K but once Bisht was dismissed for 45, J&K collapsed quickly and were out in the 46th over. Ahmed Bandy top-scored for them with 59 off 65 balls, having contributed heavily at the start. Left-arm spinner Vipin Singh took 3 for 41.Services, too, crumbled in the middle overs, after their top order, particularly Nakul Verma (68) and Shamsher Yadav (52), had done the hard work of establishing a platform with a 99-run partnership for the third wicket. They lost five wickets for only one run between the 37th and 40th overs, collapsing from 164 for 2 to 169 for 7, before eventually being bowled out for 214. Parvez Rasool took 3 for 36 while Mohammed Mudhasir and Manzoor Dar took two wickets each.

Liverpool are considering a swoop for Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone this summer, with the French ace linked with a move to Anfield of late.

What's the latest on Manu Kone to Liverpool?

According to reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano, who recently took to Twitter to state that Kone is "in the list", and that while the likes of the elegant Gabri Veiga have been touted, a "more physical midfielder" is required at present.

Valued at around £35m by his German Bundesliga outfit, Kone is also attracting the attention of Premier League outfits Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers after impressing this season.

BILD's Christian Falk also confirmed that Gladbach are hoping that Jurgen Klopp's Reds will make an offer for the 22-year-old, securing his services for a lucrative fee.

Should Liverpool sign Manu Kone?

Following the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the need for midfield reinforcement under Klopp has never been greater, and while the astute £35m signing of Alexis Mac Allister has been the perfect way to set the pace, further arrivals are likely to be forthcoming.

Kone could be the man of the hour if his signature is indeed gleaned, with the robust centre-midfielder recording a respectable average rating of 6.86 – as per Sofascore – completing 87% of his passes, averaging 2.5 tackles and 1.1 interceptions per game and succeeding with 60% of his attempted dribbles.

An unflinching conductor of play, Kone is not the most prolific of midfielders, but dazzles with his tenacity in the tackle and his adept driving ability, ranking among the top 6% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90 (FBref), illustrating his dynamism and leaving talent scout Jacek Kulig hailing him as a “one-man army”.

Also remarked to be a "majestic" gem with a whole lot of "swagger" about him by journalist Antonio Mango, the £6k-per-week engine could be the dream heir to Jordan Henderson's role in the midfield, with the 33-year-old Reds captain ostensibly heading for a more peripheral role despite the side's recent outgoings.

Indeed, this transfer would certainly represent bad news for the 76-cap England international who only started 23 times in the top-flight this term, despite the glaring weaknesses in the red half of Merseyside's centre, and he has even been said to have "got skinned" this season by Journalist Tony McDonough, highlighting his growing inefficacy against progressive, mercurial players.

The distinguished star did record an average Sofascore rating of 6.88 in the Premier League this term, and while he completed 85% of his passes, he only averaged 0.9 tackles and 0.6 interceptions per outing.

Kone is more robust and boasts heaps of energy and exuberance, and while the leadership skills of Liverpool's £140k-per-week veteran will still come in handy as Klopp looks to reshape his team, Kone can slot into the fold, take a starting berth and make it his own, eventually displacing Henderson and emphasising the new era at the club.

Newcastle United supporters will be eagerly anticipating the club's transfer activity this summer after ending a two-decade absence from the Champions League and years of malaise under the ownership of the despised Mike Ashley.

Now, a Saudi-backed consortium have pumped fresh, lucrative life back into St. James' Park, making impressive moves on the transfer front, impressive decisions in appointing Eddie Howe as manager and Dan Ashworth as technical director, and achieving a major confluence as the facets combine.

A fourth-placed Premier League finish illustrates the meteoric ascent, but this is the most important phase of the process thus far, as the side must now demonstrate their calibre is perpetual and they will not be knocked from their pedestal among the division's elite, instead rising closer and closer to the creme-de-la-creme of European football.

By Howe's own admission, several 'marquee' moves might be taken this summer to cement the high-fliers' new position, but one which might just go under the radar is the attention on Wolfsburg's Felix Nmecha.

According to the Telegraph, the 22-year-old is attracting the Magpies' attention and could join the fold for around £15m, with Howe keen to bolster his thriving midfield with one or two astute options.

Should Newcastle sign Felix Nmecha?

Nicolo Barella and James Maddison are both making the headlines right now as the Toon look to please their fans with an established phenom, but signing Nmecha could prove to be a prudent move as Ashworth looks to craft lasting success.

The notion that Newcastle boast a bottomless pit of plunder has left Howe guffawing; the 45-year-old has always maintained that the diligence permeating through the outfit since the takeover will not crumble away, and Nmecha would be unlikely to cement a starting berth with regularity in his maiden season in England, instead absorbing the fruits of his peers' labour and creeping towards a standout role.

He has been in fine fettle in the Bundesliga this year, though, starting 19 times, scoring three goals and registering six assists after playing a peripheral role across past terms.

Niko Kovac said: "Previously, he never got into a rhythm. He played in so many different positions. Now he's playing in midfield and you can see his technical ability. He has [also] improved physically."

He would be the perfect partner for someone like Barella, who is reportedly closing on a £50m move to Tyneside this summer and is undoubtedly one of Europe's first-class midfielders, with the box-to-box midfielder one of the most impressive around, especially from an offensive standpoint.

The Italy international has been in scintillating form this term, registering 19 direct contributions, winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, and being hailed as a "genius" by journalist Mike Piellucci.

Given that Nmecha has been dubbed "intelligent" himself by journalist Josh Bunting and already ranking among the top 22% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for rate of non-penalty goals and the top 4% for rate of assists, as per FBref, he might just be apt for moulding into a prolific star of Barella's ilk.

Considering the various elements, Nmecha could be a shrewd signing to make, bolstering the ranks and ensuring the ambitious squad is layered with quality as it continues its soaring ascent.

He may not be an instant hit on Tyneside but rest assured a genius duo lies in wait, ready to dominate the domestic and continental stage with swashbuckling ease.

Newcastle United are reportedly one of a number of Premier League clubs interested in signing Monaco midfielder Youssouf Fofana this summer.

Who is Youssouf Fofana?

The 24-year-old has grown into an important figure at Monaco recently, shining in a defensive midfield role and protecting the back-line in impressive fashion.

Last season, Fofana started 35 of his side's 38 Ligue 1 matches, highlighting what an integral player he is, also making six appearances for France at the 2022 World Cup, two of which were starts.

The £7,300-a-week Frenchman is out of contract at Monaco next summer, meaning they could be forced to sell him this time around, rather than potentially lose him on a free transfer in 2024.

He is unlikely to be without suitors, and it looks as though Newcastle are right in the mix to sign him, as they look to make significant reinforcements ahead of next season.

Are Newcastle signing Fofana? According to L'Equipe, Newcastle and Arsenal have entered the race to sign Fofana this summer, with West Ham also credited with interest in him. The Hammers see him as an ideal replacement for Declan Rice, who looks almost certain to leave for pastures new, but they could find it difficult to have the pulling power to pip the others to his signature.

The report does stress that no significant progress has been made regarding a summer exit, however, with Monaco seemingly in no rush to sell despite his contract situation.

Fofana could be a really astute addition to Newcastle's squad this summer, at a time when Eddie Howe is likely to want an out-and-out defensive midfielder to allow Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes to dictate matches, especially with Champions League football also to contend with in 2023/24.

He averaged 2.3 tackles per game in both Ligue 1 and the Europa League last term – more than both Tonali and Bruno across all competitions – highlighting the defensive expertise he can provide, and he is at an age where his best years should still be ahead of him.

The Magpies are now at the stage where they need to be rotating regularly, in order to thrive across several different competitions. And he could even become an immediate key starter, considering he is more naturally defensive than those mentioned.

Football talent scout Jacek Kulig has hailed the Frenchman as "wonderful" – which could mean Newcastle's midfield ends up looking even more balanced moving forward.

Likely first-choice XI

Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Smith, Aaron Finch, Suresh Raina (capt), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Ishan Kishan, James Faulkner, Praveen Kumar, Shadab Jakati, Dhawal Kulkarni, Shivil Kaushik

Reserves

Batsmen – Jason Roy, Chirag Suri, Jaydev Shah, Pratham SinghBowlers – Andrew Tye, Manpreet Gony, Munaf Patel, Pradeep Sangwan, Nathu Singh, Basil Thampi, Shelley Shaurya, Tejas BarokaAllrounders – Dwayne Bravo, Shubham Agarwal, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshdeep Nath

Strengths

A robust top order. Gujarat Lions were the only team last year to score 70 or more in the Powerplay – a feat they achieved four times. Five of their batsmen – Suresh Raina, Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Dinesh Karthik and Dwayne Smith – aggregated more than 300 runs; no other team had more than three.Lions also have an effective new-ball pair in Dhawal Kulkarni and Praveen Kumar. Kulkarni’s 14 wickets in the Powerplay were the most for any bowler in 2016, and it went well with the miserliness of Praveen, who has the second-best economy rate (6.27) for an Indian in Powerplays over the last five years.

Weaknesses

Their lower-middle order has underwhelmed. Dwayne Bravo and James Faulkner, who would be expected to finish innings off, have not been up to the mark over their last two seasons in the IPL. Bravo averaged 21 with a strike-rate of 125, and Faulkner’s corresponding figures were 14 and 120.Lions also lack bench strength, which may hurt them upfront as Bravo is out injured early on and Ravindra Jadeja will sit out of the first few games after a long Test season. They will be wary of batting first as well, having lost five out of six matches doing so, including two Qualifiers.

Where they finished in 2016, and what’s different this year?

Table-toppers at the end of the league stage, Lions finished third after defeats in the two Qualifiers to Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad.Lions let go of eight players, but the core group largely remained intact. The injured Dale Steyn was the only overseas talent they released.After their bowling caved in clutch moments last year, Lions made concerted investments in experienced IPL campaigners like Munaf Patel and Manpreet Gony, apart from fresh recruits Nathu Singh and Basil Thampi – the Kerala quick who has a reputation of hitting 140 kph.They also retained left-arm wristspinner Shivil Kaushik, who had a stint with Hull County Cricket Club in England following the IPL last year.Lions will kickstart their season without Ravindra Jadeja, who has been in imperious form recently•BCCI

What have their players been up to?

• Jadeja had unflattering returns of eight wickets from 40.1 overs in the IPL last year. But his form during India’s home season still makes him an integral member of the side. Jadeja bagged 71 wickets in 13 home Tests – the third-highest ever in a season – and scored 556 runs. However, he will miss the first couple of weeks, having been advised rest by the BCCI medical staff.
• Dinesh Karthik was the driving force behind Tamil Nadu clinching the Vijay Hazare and Deodhar Trophy titles. Karthik amassed 854 runs in 12 innings – the fourth-highest in a List A season in India. He notched up match-winning centuries in both finals, in addition to four half-centuries in his last nine 50-over games. Earlier, his 704 runs in ten matches steered Tamil Nadu to the Ranji Trophy semi-final.
• With improved rhythm and added pace, Kulkarni took a hat-trick for India B in the Deodhar Trophy opener against India A. He then ran through Tamil Nadu’s top order in the final with a five-for and topped the tournament’s bowling charts with 11 wickets in three games.
• Aaron Finch, Lions’ second-highest run-scorer in their debut season, has been prolific both at the international and domestic levels. He was second on the batting charts in the latest Big Bash League, with 354 runs in eight games. He then churned out 108 runs in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. His purple patch extended into first-class cricket, too, with 581 runs in the Sheffield Shield, including a second-innings 83 in the final that propelled Victoria to their third consecutive title.

Overseas-player availability

Bravo’s hamstring injury, sustained in the BBL last year, will keep him out for the first few matches. Chirag Suri, IPL’s first recruit from the UAE, is likely to be available throughout, including Lions’ first two fixtures, against Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, despite UAE’s Intercontinental Cup match against Papua New Guinea, beginning on April 7. Jason Roy will leave on May 1 as England tour Ireland for an ODI series.

Home and away record in 2016

With five victories in seven matches, Lions had a marginally better away record than at home, where they won four in seven. While they earned six wins from their first seven matches, their form took a hit with back-to-back losses in Rajkot – their original home – against Kings XI Punjab and Delhi Daredevils. Successive wins after shifting base to Kanpur gave them a top-two finish.

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