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Rahul has not been among the luckiest batters in recent years, but when he got a life on Monday at Headingley, he cashed in and made it count

Sidharth Monga23-Jun-20251:18

The curious case of KL Rahul

A total of 335 batters have had reprieves in Test cricket since 2020, which is when ESPNcricinfo started maintaining a log for such things. Ben Stokes has been missed 31 times, Marnus Labuschagne 26, and Rishabh Pant 24. This is catches and stumpings put together, of all kinds: regulation, tough, half-chances.When Harry Brook dropped KL Rahul on 59 in the second innings at Headingley – a return gift of sorts after having been missed twice himself, though not by Rahul – it was only the seventh time in 23 Tests since 2020 that Rahul had been given a life. Arguably, nobody deserved a chance more than Rahul.Bear with this repetition for a second. In terms of skill, Rahul has been the second-best India batter of the Virat Kohli era, but it is inexplicable that he had averaged 33.57 coming into this Test, his 59th. Even allowing for the notably bowler-friendly conditions that have prevailed in recent years, particularly since the WTC came into being in 2019, it is a bit underwhelming. The overall batting average for the top six in the Tests he had played was 33.88. A player of great innings, yes – seven of his eight hundreds came away from home – but a pretty average player overall.Related

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Rahul has indeed failed to fill his boots at times – including in the first innings here – but he is not the luckiest batter going around either. And that is not insignificant. Forty-seven batters have offered 30 or more catches since 2020, and 24 of them have had a lower percentage of catches held than Rahul. The luckiest batters happen to be Pant, Labuschagne and Stokes. Rahul was being dismissed every 11.67 mistakes, leaving 22 luckier batters than him out of 57 that have been dismissed by a bowler 30 or more times.Of course, you’ll never hear players complaining about a lack of luck, even though they know the role that it plays, especially in Test batting. They won’t say it because they don’t want to stop improving, they don’t want to stop repeating their processes.Rahul, filthy with himself for throwing it away on 42 in the first innings, pulled himself up and repeated his processes all right. Actually, what Rahul did in the first innings also was part of a process. Through that breezy first-innings knock, he played more cover drives than he usually does outside Asia and the Caribbean. It seemed to be a plan: being slightly proactive denied England the freedom to keep bowling a good length. The ball that got him was full enough for the drive. What hurt him more was that he had done the hard work, then failed to convert the start into a big one.In the second innings, when the bounce became a bit more uneven, he went to stumps on day three unbeaten with 95% control and 47 off 75. He had put out all the best hits in that evening session. A back-foot punch off Chris Woakes in front of point, three gorgeous cover drives, one square drive on one knee, an on-drive and a pull off Shoaib Bashir.On the fourth morning, the uneven bounce and nip off the surface increased. India lost Shubman Gill in the first full over. Pant tried to counter the movement and the new ball in his own idiosyncratic manner. Rahul, at the other end, was a proper, classic Test batter. In the first hour he scored just 7 off 44 balls, with a control rate of 89%.3:12

Rahul: ‘I’ve forgotten what my batting position actually is’

When it got difficult, Rahul trusted his method and processes to take him past the new ball. Or, in the event he didn’t succeed, at least his efforts would give the incoming batters an older, softer ball. He also just about managed to nudge Pant when he tried one slog too many. Not everyone has the tact to speak to Pant. He famously got upset with Cheteshwar Pujara for asking him to be watchful in Sydney 2020-21 in the last over before the new ball. He still tried to hit a six to get to his hundred before the new ball, but maintained that the doubt planted in his mind caused the mis-hit for him to be caught on 97.Rahul managed to get through to Pant. He spoke three languages: Tamil with B Sai Sudharsan, Hindi with Pant, Kannada with friend and fellow Bangalorean Karun Nair. The real language he spoke was that of proper Test batting, playing the ball on its merit because he has the ability to do so. He shifted gears seamlessly as the ball got older. When he was scoring the first 47 off 75 or the next 7 off 44 or the next 46 off 83 or 37 off the 44 after reaching his hundred, you couldn’t look and tell he was doing anything out of character. Every tempo seemed natural to him, in his own bubble, almost a meditative state.In the last five tours outside Asia and the Caribbean, Rahul now has had superb starts: 84 and 129 in the first two Tests in England in 2021, 123 in the first Test in South Africa later that year, 101 in Centurion in the same fixture in South Africa two years later, 26 and 77 late last year in Perth, and now this century in the most difficult conditions in this Test so far. However, incredibly, he doesn’t have a single blockbuster series. The highest he has ever aggregated in a series is 393.Rahul acknowledged how disappointed he was that, despite batting well in Australia on the last tour, he didn’t have that defining series. He also said he knows that effort, preparation, skill and application don’t always translate into results in this game. That, if you let the outcomes play on your mind, you will be paralysed playing this game. How sweet it will be, though, if he can use this rare stroke of luck and finally go on to chalk up that big 500-run series.

Ahead of Rob Edwards’ arrival, The Athletic’s David Ornstein has already shared one problem that the new Wolverhampton Wanderers boss will face in the January transfer window.

It has been a disastrous start for those in the Midlands, who recently sacked manager Vitor Pereira after less than a year in charge. Since returning to the Premier League in 2018, their top-flight status hasn’t looked as at risk as it is now. They currently sit eight points adrift of safety after 11 games and remain the only side in the league yet to pick up a win.

Turning things around from here will be far from easy, but it’s Rob Edwards who looks set to be handed that very task. The Middlesbrough boss wasn’t in the dugout for Boro’s victory over Birmingham City on Saturday and the club confirmed that he’s set to join Wolves, much to their reluctance.

The Championship side said in a statement: “Middlesbrough Football Club have, subject to the completion of an agreement with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, given head coach Rob Edwards permission to speak to Wolves.

“We initially rejected an approach from Wolves on the basis that Rob signed a three-year contract with MFC less than six months ago. Following discussions with Rob we were disappointed to learn that he wanted to speak with Wolves regarding their head coach vacancy. We have now agreed terms with Wolves, subject to completion of the relevant paperwork.”

Gary O'Neil favourite is on borrowed time at Wolves after Edwards arrival

Rob Edwards could look to immediately ditch this Wolverhampton Wanderers flop when he enters the Molineux dug-out.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 9, 2025

Edwards now also has the chance for some Premier League redemption, having been relegated with Luton Town the last time that he was in England’s top tier. Guiding Wolves to safety from this point would more than put those demons to bed.

With a new manager on the way, Wolves should be ones to watch in the January transfer window, but the reality is that they’re already facing one frustrating problem.

Ornstein reveals first transfer problem for Edwards at Wolves

Speaking on NBC Sports ahead of the manager’s arrival, Ornstein revealed that Edwards may only be able to sign homegrown players at Wolves in the January transfer window.

It’s a move that will immediately limit the new manager, but one that – according to Ornstein – will be made to prepare Wolves for any potential Championship campaign next season.

Just who arrives as a result is the big question. Edwards could yet return to Middlesbrough in an attempt to lure some of his former stars to the Premier League, but whether they’d join a side who look destined for relegation remains to be seen.

Every Premier League and EFL manager sacked in the 2025/26 season

Mumbai batter Ayush Mhatre will be leading India Under-19 at the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup in Dubai from December 12. The BCCI announced a 15-member squad for the tournament, with the side also including aggressive opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Vihaan Malhotra will be Mhatre’s deputy at the competition.Mhatre, meanwhile, hasn’t been in good form recently. He had impressed for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025, where he was called up to replace Ruturaj Gaikwad, with 240 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of nearly 189. But since then, he has been inconsistent with his returns.Mhatre got just 27 runs in four one-day matches on the England tour, but hit back to be the top-scorer with 340 runs in the two Youth Tests. In Australia, after that, he got just ten runs in three one-day games and 38 runs in the Youth Tests against Australia Under-19. In four first-class matches during India’s domestic season, which included a game for India A against South Africa A, Mhatre managed only 156 runs at an average of 26. In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy fixture that followed, he scored 18 against Railways, though he did record an unbeaten 53-ball 110 against Vidarbha on Friday, leading Mumbai to a seven-wicket win.At the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup, which will be played in the one-day format, India are in Group A with Pakistanand two qualifying teams while Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and another qualifier are in Group B. India open their campaign December 12 against one of the two qualifiers.

India squad for Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup

Ayush Mhatre (capt), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra (vice-capt), Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), Yuvraj Gohil, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Naman Pushpak, D. Deepesh, Henil Patel, Kishan Kumar Singh*, Udhav Mohan, Aaron George*Subject to fitness clearanceStandby players: Rahul Kumar, Hemchudeshan J, B.K. Kishore, Aditya Rawat

Australia achieved the highest successful chase in women’s ODIs

Shashank Kishore12-Oct-20253:54

Review: Healy was Australia’s bedrock

Alyssa Healy’s epic 142 powered Australia to the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history, leaving a packed Visakhapatnam stadium thinning very quickly towards the close as World Cup hosts India suffered a second successive heartbreak.Two nights after failing to defend 252 against South Africa, India’s decision to play just the five specialist bowlers will be debated long and hard after they were unable to work with a total of 330. Australia won with six balls to spare, and three wickets in hand; Ellyse Perry hoisting her WPL team-mate Sneh Rana down the ground to seal victory.Perry, who remained unbeaten on 47, had suffered a bout of cramps that forced her to retire hurt with Australia cruising at 154 for 1. Then she returned at the fall of Ash Gardner’s wicket with Australia needing 32 off 36. When Amanjot Kaur had Sophie Molineux lbw at the start of the 46th over, Australia were seven down.This is when Kim Garth joined forces with Perry to put on 28 crucial runs off 23 balls to see Australia home. Garth finished unbeaten on 14, including a superbly executed reverse-paddle off Rana in the penultimate over with Australia needing 13 off 11. The win, Australia’s third in four games, puts them on top of the table halfway through the World Cup.Ellyse Perry and Kim Garth walk off after Australia sealed the highest chase in women’s ODI history•Getty ImagesIndia were eventually left to rue the seven balls they didn’t play after a late and sensational collapse – they lost 9 for 138 in the last 30 overs to finish with 330 when they looked set to scale 350. Unlike Australia, who had Healy go on to convert her start into a maiden century as captain, and third in a World Cup, India were left waiting for their big innings, with both Smriti Mandhana (80) and Pratika Rawal (75) falling short of three-figures.Except left-arm spinner N Shree Charani, who displayed terrific control to put the brakes on Australia with figures of 3 for 41, the others wilted against Healy’s assault in trying conditions. Shree Charani bowled out in the 39th over, by which time Australia’s required rate was a-run-a-ball.It didn’t help that Kranti Gaud, full of bristling promise, had a second off day, conceding 73 in nine wicketless overs, while Sneh Rana, one of India’s form bowlers, went for 85 from her full quota. The make-up of India’s attack meant Harmanpreet Kaur had few alternatives on what was among the best batting surfaces of the tournament.Australia began cautiously, scoring just 25 off the first five overs before switching gears to ransack 57 in the next five. Healy’s fast hands were on display as she took 18 off Gaud’s fourth over, while Phoebe Lichfield cracked three consecutive boundaries off Amanjot Kaur before a missed stumping chance briefly spared her. India didn’t have to wait long, though, as Litchfield fell reverse-sweeping Shree Charani to Rana at point to end an 85-run opening stand off just 11.2 overs.Smriti Mandhana made 80 off 66•Getty ImagesFrom overs 6.6 to 10 alone, Australia hammered eight fours and two sixes, most from Healy, who dismantled India’s spinners with sweeps to every part of the leg side. Perry, scratchy early on, found rhythm alongside her, even resorting to reverse sweeps to unsettle Rana. Their fifty stand came in 55 balls, but India sensed an opening when Perry retired hurt and Beth Mooney and Annabel Sutherland, who celebrated her birthday earlier in the day with a five-for, fell in quick succession.Healy briefly reined herself in before surging to a brilliant century off 84 balls, managing the chase almost single-handedly despite struggling with cramps. Her dismissal, caught off a sliced drive to point was adjudged clean after a tight review where stand-in third umpire Kim Cotton looked in two minds. When she finally felt Rana’s hands were underneath the ball, it ended a stunning innings that comprised 21 fours and three sixes. It gave India a fleeting lift, but Perry’s return and Garth’s composure soon quashed any hopes of a late twist.India would look back on their batting performance with mixed emotions. They displayed the kind of sustained aggression they’ve long spoken about but rarely executed, yet the recurring collapses would be worrisome for the team management. From 192 for 1 at the 30-over mark, they looked set for 350-plus but fell woefully short, as they failed to capitalise on a superb 155-run opening stand between Mandhana and Rawal.India have lost two matches in a row now at the 2025 World Cup•Getty ImagesAfter three ordinary outings, Mandhana returned to her fluent self, reaching fifty off 46 balls. Her six off Molineux made her the first woman to score 1000 or more ODI runs in a calendar year, and she later became the fastest to 5000 runs in the format. While Mandhana took on Molineux, Rawal targeted Gardner, though their partnership was interspersed with spells of caution – like the passage that produced just 15 in five overs after they finished the powerplay at 58 for 0.This was largely down to Rawal’s cautiousness. That forced Mandhana to take more risks, producing audacious shots like a ramp over Healy’s head. Rawal’s 69-ball half-century helped post the second-highest World Cup partnership by any side against Australia before Mandhana fell for 80.Harleen Deol (38), Harmanpreet (22) and Jemimah Rodrigues (33) injected urgency unseen so far in this tournament but couldn’t convert their starts. The burden of providing the late surge yet again fell on Richa Ghosh, whose 94 against South Africa had bailed India out earlier. Here, though, a Sutherland slower ball undid her, triggering a collapse from 309 for 6 to 330 all out.Sutherland’s clever changes of pace and length earned her a maiden ODI five-for and throttled India’s momentum, leaving them disappointed at not making the most of the platform they had built so well.The loss now leaves India without a win against South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia at a World Cup (50 overs and T20 included) for five years now. And with England up next in a week in Indore, they’ll need to regroup quickly to keep pushing for the semi-finals.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been tipped to excel as a taekwondo kickboxer after investing in MMA promotion WOW FC, with boxing star Ryan Garcia insisting the Al-Nassr icon’s elite footwork could translate directly into the cage. Garcia praised Ronaldo’s “LeBron James–like longevity” and remarkable physique, fuelling fresh debate over the 40-year-old’s potential future beyond football.

Ronaldo forays into MMA as WOW FC shareholder

Ronaldo made headlines this week after officially joining the world of mixed martial arts as a shareholder in WOW FC, the Spanish promotion co-owned by UFC champion Ilia Topuria. His move into MMA investment has sparked widespread reaction, including from high-profile combat athletes who see a natural crossover in his athletic profile. Among them is Garcia, who believes Ronaldo’s famed explosiveness and footwork could translate into a competitive taekwondo-based discipline.

Ronaldo’s arrival at WOW FC coincides with the organisation’s rapid expansion across Europe and LATAM, fuelled by soaring live attendance and ambitious plans to innovate in fan-athlete interaction. The company views Ronaldo as both a global face and a strategic driver of growth, aligning with the sport’s increasing mainstream popularity. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportRyan Garcia believes CR7 could become a 'taekwondo kickboxer'

Speaking to Covers.com, Garcia reacted enthusiastically after meeting Cristiano Ronaldo in Saudi Arabia, suggesting the Portuguese star has the ideal attributes to succeed in taekwondo-style kickboxing. He said: “[Cristiano Ronaldo] has got feet for a reason, not hands. Anything with your feet, maybe he could be a Taekwondo kickboxer.” He highlighted Ronaldo’s agility, balance, and lower-body power as key reasons he could adapt to the sport’s technical demands.

Garcia also praised Ronaldo’s personality, recalling their meeting at the Usyk vs Dubois fight. He explained: “When I met him he was a charming fellow, a very strong figure, and a very sweet dude, a gentleman. He’s inspirational.” 

The boxer then compared Ronaldo to one of the greatest athletes on the planet, saying: “For him to keep his body intact, and perform at such a high level at his age is… he’s like LeBron James.” He added that Ronaldo’s example gives him personal inspiration, concluding: “Hard work, discipline, and belief could take you anywhere.”

Ronaldo reportedly has a body age of 28.7

Ronaldo’s foray into MMA has come at a time when his physical condition continues to defy all conventional expectations for a 40-year-old footballer. According to advanced biometrics collected by WHOOP, his body performs more like that of an elite athlete aged just 28.7, a finding grounded in data spanning sleep quality, recovery rate, heart-rate zones and metabolic efficiency. 

The company’s analysis suggests the Al-Nassr forward possesses exceptional metabolic control that enables sustained high-intensity performance. WHOOP highlighted elite haemoglobin levels and oxygen delivery efficiency, attributes that underpin both explosive movement and long-duration endurance. That profile helps explain why Ronaldo, even in his forties, continues to perform at a world-class level while maintaining a professional workload that rivals much younger players.

Ronaldo himself responded humorously to the findings, posting “The data doesn’t lie” on X as fans reacted to the revelation. His ability to maintain low inflammation, rapid recovery cycles and consistent energy output has long been seen as a fundamental part of his branding as the sport’s model athlete. It also strengthens the argument made by Garcia; if any footballer could theoretically adapt to the physical demands of combat sports, it might be Ronaldo.

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AFPRonaldo to promote MMA in key regions

Ronaldo’s investment in WOW FC will see him play a key strategic role as the promotion expands into new global markets across Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. His involvement is expected to boost visibility, attract sponsors and help develop new athlete-fan experiences as the company looks beyond Spain. While speculation about a career switch remains playful, no such transition is expected, and Ronaldo’s immediate future lies in football and shaping WOW FC’s rise within the MMA landscape.

Glamorgan squander promising position at 199 for 3 as offspinner finds life in Old Trafford deck

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay29-Jul-2025Glamorgan 260 for 8 (Tribe 61) vs Lancashire Australian spinner Chris Green managed to take six wickets on the much-criticised Emirates Old Trafford pitch as Lancashire had the better of the first day of their Rothesay County Championship Division Two clash with Glamorgan.After just four wickets fell during the last day-and-a-half of the recent Test match between England and India, the home side’s bowlers looked to be facing another uphill task in Manchester until the introduction of Green turned the proceedings the Red Rose’s way with the Welsh outfit 260 for 8 at the close of play.For Glamorgan, half-centuries from opener Asa Tribe (61) and Kiran Carlson (77) had put them in a relatively good place and from a position of 199 for 3 after winning the toss and electing to bat they will be rueing their inability to cope with Green’s off spin which claimed 6 for 82 off 34 overs.Earlier and under leaden skies, the decision to bat looked a brave one, but opening bowlers James Anderson and Tom Bailey failed to make much headway against a resolute first wicket pair of Zain-ul-Hassan and Tribe.George Balderson, who received his county cap before play from legendary Pakistani allrounder Wasim Akram, also sent down five fruitless overs and it took until the introduction of Green for Lancashire to threaten the Glamorgan openers. Zain was the first to fall, caught behind by Phil Salt for 31, ending a partnership of 76 runs for the first wicket.Green was suddenly threatening the wickets with every ball, extracting turn and bounce and inducing a number of false shots from Tribe and skipper Sam Northeast, who became the Australian’s second victim when he was trapped in front for 10.Tribe fell 22 balls later soon after completing a well-made half century which should really have been more but for the Channel Islander picking out Bailey perfectly on the leg-side boundary with a sweep.With Tom Hartley tying down the other end, Glamorgan looked in peril but Carlson and Colin Ingram took the opportunity to counter attack with 86 runs coming from the fourth-wicket pair either side of tea until Green raised hopes of taking all 10 for by snaring the latter lbw for 33.Bailey returned to dash that dream when he clean bowled Ben Kellaway for a duck to leave the lower middle order exposed and Green needed no further invitation to complete his third career five-for when Carlson’s innings ended with an edge to Luke Wells.The visitors were subsiding quickly and Chris Cooke was the next to walk after he was stumped by Salt to hand Green his sixth wicket with Glamorgan having suddenly lost four wickets for 30 runs and in danger of undoing their day’s work.With 10 overs of the day left James Harris was dropped by Salt off Bailey while on 8 as he and Mason Crane painstakingly looked to eke out some runs after Lancashire took the second new ball. But after surviving one chance Harris played across the line to Hartley and lost his off stick to the England spinner who is fresh from taking 10 wickets in his last outing for Lancashire.Crane and Ned Leonard managed to see out the remaining overs but Lancashire will be hoping to begin their reply sooner rather than later come the second morning.

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