Dropping catching standards in IPL – repeat offenders, biggest beneficiaries, and more

So far this season, roughly one out of four chances have been put down

Namooh Shah22-Apr-20253:05

IPL 2025 so far: CSK’s Chepauk shocker, Shreyas’ impressive captaincy

Batting standards have been continuously improving in the IPL with more sixes and higher run rates being achieved every year, but the same can’t be said about the fielding standards. After 39 games this season, 103 out of 431 chances have been spilled, resulting in a catching efficiency of just 76.1%, the worst the league has seen at a similar stage in the last five years.In fact, catching efficiency has dropped season-on-season over the last five years. In 2021, 85.5% of total catching chances were taken. That number has now gone down considerably. This season has already seen two matches where nine catches were dropped: in the Rajasthan Royals (RR) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) game in Jaipur, and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Chennai Super Kings (CSK) match in Mullanpur. According to ESPNcricinfo’s logs, those are the most catches dropped in a match in IPL history. The previous worst was eight, in the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) game at Eden Gardens in 2023.

Which teams have struggled the most?

The teams at the bottom of the points table are also the ones struggling to hold on to their catches. CSK have an abysmal 64.3% catching efficiency, while RR haven’t done much better either. For CSK, some of those missed chances have cost them heavily: PBKS’ Priyansh Arya was dropped second ball and went on to score a hundred, while RCB’s Rajat Patidar was reprieved on 18 and scored a half-century. Both went on to win Player-of-the-Match awards.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The butterfingered fielders

Among those who have had four or more catching chances, Yuzvendra Chahal (PBKS), Vijay Shankar (CSK) have fared the worst. Just below them are Abdul Samad (Lucknow Super Giants) and Vaibhav Arora (KKR). One of the chances Chahal missed was of SRH’s Abhishek Sharma, on 57; he went on to score 141 in a successful chase of 246.

The luckless bowlers

KKR’s Harshit Rana and RR’s Sandeep Sharma have had the misfortune of seeing five chances off their bowling go down, adding to their teams’ struggles. One of the drops off Sandeep’s bowling was of Virat Kohli. He was dropped on 7 by Riyan Parag and went on to score an unbeaten 62 to win the game for RCB.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Batting sides who have been lucky

RR have been the luckiest side so far with 17 chances of their batters being put down. That has given their batters the luxury of second, and sometimes third, lives. Those chances haven’t done too much to lift their standing in the points table, though. Gujarat Titans (GT), Delhi Capitals (DC) – both of whom are in the top four in the points table – and Mumbai Indians (MI) have also benefitted a lot from poor fielding.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

The lucky batters

Arya and RR’s Shimron Hetmyer have turned out to be the luckiest batters so far this season, being reprieved five times each. Three of Arya’s reprieves came during his hundred against CSK. KL Rahul (vs RCB), Ashutosh Sharma (vs LSG) and Abhishek Sharma (vs PBKS) also capitalised on dropped chances to turn the game around.

The venue factor

In Jaipur, more catches have been dropped (12) than taken (nine), with RR accounting for six drops in two games. The 42.9% catching efficiency makes it the worst venue for fielders. The next on the list is the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi with a catching efficiency of 54.2%.

Champions League finalist now emerging as early candidate for Celtic job

The search for Celtic’s next manager is now officially underway following Brendan Rodgers’ shock exit and a number of names are already emerging as early candidates for the job.

Celtic's manager search: The early candidates

Following defeat against Hearts at the weekend, Rodgers has officially resigned as Celtic manager to bring an end to his second spell in charge. Tensions had been boiling both behind the scenes and in public since a disappointing summer transfer window and the manager decided that was that on Monday evening.

Given the reaction of majority shareholder Dermot Desmond too, the chances of Rodgers ever taking a third spell in charge are now fairly slim. Desmond didn’t hold back once, claiming that Celtic did offer their manager a new deal and anything that has suggested otherwise, including the words of Rodgers, is “simply untrue”.

The fallout will undoubtedly continue in the coming days, but so will Celtic’s managerial search. Having appointed Martin O’Neill on an interim basis, the Bhoys have bought themselves some time to assess their options.

Several names are already beginning to emerge, including former manager Ange Postecoglou. The Australian was recently sacked by Nottingham Forest less than two months after he was appointed and desperately needs the chance to fix his reputation.

As someone who has won the Scottish Premiership twice at the club, Postecoglou represents a top option that Celtic should consider. Despite his recent failure, there’s no doubt that the former Tottenham Hotspur boss knows how to get the job done.

That said, Postecolgou isn’t the only candidate at this early stage. Joining him on the list of options at Celtic is a Champions League finalist who is still searching for his next job.

Edin Terzic now a candidate to replace Rodgers

As reported by The Daily Record, Edin Terzic is now an early candidate to take the Celtic job and replace Rodgers. The former Borussia Dortmund manager has been out of a job since leaving the Bundesliga giants in the summer of 2024 and could now make a return to the dugout courtesy of the Bhoys.

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At 42 years old, the German is one of the most interesting candidates. It was only in 2024 that he led Dortmund to a Champions League final, where they lost against Real Madrid, and he also cut Bayern Munich incredibly close in the Bundesliga. This is very much still a young manager full of potential that Celtic could unlock in full.

Terzic’s arrival would also spark an intriguing dynamic in the Old Firm derby between the young German manager and recent Rangers hire Danny Rohl, but it remains to be seen whether Celtic explore that possibility.

Their new Son: Spurs have held advanced talks to sign a future £100m player

This week, Tottenham Hotspur fans will get to see Heung-min Son again. On Tuesday, he will be there, down N17, beaming and emotional as he waves goodbye to the club he devoted the prime years of his iconic career.

Poetry has a funny way of weaving its way into so many narratives in football, and there was certainly something romantic about the South Korean legend sealing silverware on his final game for Spurs, ending the endless drought.

Tottenham haven’t really replaced their former captain, just as someone on a level with Harry Kane at number nine has not been signed either.

That may change in 2026.

Spurs lining up new forwards

In October, Tottenham announced a £100m equity injection. What this pertains to could go on interminably, but it effectively means Frank’s first-team squad will be seeing some improvements in the near future. Investment is imminent.

And it’s clear that additions are needed up top, with the potency Son provided – even on the decline, the 32-year-old scored 24 goals and assisted 19 more across his final two Premier League campaigns – yet to be matched.

Should the Lilywhites win the race for RB Leipzig prospect Yan Diomande, with their interest confirmed by Caught Offside, Frank might just land the talisman he is looking for.

The report claims Spurs are among the myriad of top clubs to have sent scouts to watch the 19-year-old winger this season, and such competitive intrigue indicates a market value or around €80m (equating to £68m).

The news comes just days after it was revealed by separate sources that Spurs were in ‘very advanced talks’ with the player’s agents last week to sign the player.

Why Spurs should sign Yan Diomande

Diomande might be in the hatchling stage of his career, but already, he is proving that he can throw down with the heavyweights, having made an electric start to his career in Germany with Leipzig, scoring seven goals and supplying four assists across 15 matches this term, having joined from

The Ivorian winger’s technical skills stand out, and a slippery dribbling style makes him a force to be reckoned with. Coach Harry Brook believes he will “be worth £100m plus” in the not-too-distant future, and so it’s worth Tottenham snapping him up promptly.

Already, we can observe startling progress across a range of areas for Diomande. He is physical and he is fast, and he is also fostering a natural-born clinical edge in front of goal, with his defensive work-rate not leaving much to be desired either.

Remind you of anyone? This could be the new Son, especially since he hails from the Bundesliga, with Tottenham signing their departed hero from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015.

Goals scored

0.36

0.31

Assists

0.21

0.31

Shots taken

2.08

2.75

Shot-creating actions

5.23

4.51

Touches (att pen)

7.16

5.55

Pass completion (%)

81.2

76.4

Progressive passes

3.44

4.25

Progressive carries

6.66

4.30

Successful take-ons

4.01

1.61

Ball recoveries

6.01

3.16

Tackles + interceptions

2.72

0.83

Diomande is showing signs of elite balance in output. He’s got an eye for goal, but that doesn’t detract from his playmaking, and nor does it mean he shirks away from defensive duties, from using his speed to cover plenty of ground and influence in different areas.

Son, in many ways is irreplaceable, and perhaps that’s why the board opted against trying to find a carbon copy, as they did with Kane.

But now, real quality, bona fide quality, is needed up top, else Tottenham will find themselves struggling to match the might of rivals at the top of the Premier League.

Diomande has talent in spades, and he might just find himself developing into a winger of a similar level with Son, following that Korean legend’s footsteps from Germany over to English shores.

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Jazz Chisholm Jr. Makes Bold Declaration About Yankees' World Series Chances

The Yankees were riding high on Memorial Day, as the club held a seven-game lead in the American League East. Since that point, the Yankees have been decidedly mediocre, playing to a 39-40 record, falling in the standings to the second wild card spot in the American League, and at times, not passing the eye test as a playoff-caliber club while making puzzling mistakes on the base paths and in the field.

Of course, it's the New York market, so everything—good or bad—will be dissected ad nauseum under the microscope. And the prognosticators have largely determined that this Yankees team doesn't measure up as a World Series contender.

Just don't tell that to Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Chisholm, following the Yankees' 10-4 romp of the White Sox on Thursday, was asked if winning the division is still a target goal in the eyes of he and his teammates.

"We're never satisfied with second place or third place," Chisholm said. "We just lost the World Series last year—that's second place and we still wasn't satisfied so I don't think we're gonna be satisfied with coming in second or third in the division. That would be even more upsetting than losing the World Series.

"We're gonna go out and win that [the division] and then we're gonna go and win the World Series."

Bold words from Chisholm, but the confidence is admirable. In order to achieve the first of Chisholm's goals, the Yankees will need to do something they thus far haven't been able to do: beat the teams ahead of them in the division, the Blue Jays and Red Sox.

New York's upcoming schedule will give them an opportunity to do just that, as they'll take on Toronto and Boston in a particularly tough stretch of games to begin September.

Swansea open talks with "incredibly skilled" 37 y/o manager; they're "keen" to hire him

Having made the decision to sack Alan Sheehan after just six months in charge earlier this week, Swansea City have now reportedly opened talks with Kim Hellberg.

The South Wales outfit felt a change was needed following a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Ipswich Town on Saturday which left them as low as 18th in the Championship. Sheehan lasted just six months at the club and ended his tenure with 17 wins in 39 games.

Ultimately, despite a positive start to life at Swansea last season, it was Sheehan’s recent four-game losing run which acted as the nail in the coffin for his tenure. The international break also hands the club some much-needed time to get their next appointment right.

Swansea owners Brett Cravatt and Jason Cohen told the club website after announcing their decision: “Alan has been instrumental in helping improve the club through two periods of time. Alan has a tireless work ethic, an honest approach and a positive attitude.

“He has put his full effort into the job on behalf of the club. The club would like to place on record its thanks to Alan for all of his hard work during his time at Swansea City. We wish Alan and his family all the best for the future.”

Those in Wales will hope to have an appointment through the door by the time that they return from the international break to face Bristol City on 22 November. They’ll also be desperate to hire a manager that lasts longer than six months and can provide a long-term solution to their current struggles in the Championship.

Swansea hold talks with Kim Hellberg

As reported by Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Swansea have now held talks with Hellberg, who is currently in charge of Swedish side Hammarby IF. The Swans are reportedly “keen” to hire the 37-year-old and have identified him as one of the early leading candidates to take their vacant role.

Whilst Hellberg isn’t the most experienced manager that Swansea could find, he is impressive in his own right.

The young manager has earned plenty of praise from those in Sweden, including IFK Varnamo sporting director Enes Ahmetovic, who worked with Hellberg at the club and said: “An incredibly skilled football coach. He spends a huge amount of time on every detail. I’m completely convinced that Hellberg will coach much bigger clubs than IFK Värnamo.”

Operating in a 4-2-3-1 system, Hellberg would also suit Swansea’s current squad who are used to the formation thanks to their time working under Sheehan.

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

Tottenham now approached to sign Rodrygo as Real Madrid future update emerges

Tottenham Hotspur have now been approached over a January move for Rodrygo, with a new update emerging on the forward’s future at Real Madrid.

Tottenham were in contact to sign the Brazilian during the summer transfer window, but ultimately missed out, with Thomas Frank bringing in the likes of Xavi Simons, Randal Kolo Muani and Mohammed Kudus to bolster his attacking options instead.

As the only new attacker with any Premier League experience, Kudus has adapted well to life in north London, chipping in with one goal and five assists in ten top-flight outings, but it would be fair to say the other two additions have failed to hit the ground running.

Jamie Carragher has suggested Simons in particular is finding it tough to adapt to life in England, saying: “It has been really interesting with him and Florian Wirtz too, they’re just finding it tough to get up to the speed of the Premier League.”

With Kolo Muani yet to score his first goal for Spurs, Frank may now have one eye on the January transfer window, at which point he could be offered the opportunity to sign a new forward with plenty of top-level experience…

Tottenham approached over January move for Rodrygo

According to a report from The Boot Room, Tottenham have now been approached over a January move for Rodrygo, with it emerging that the forward is considering his future at the Santiago Bernabeu once again.

The Brazil international has fallen down the pecking order at Real Madrid this season, and intermediaries have now informed the Lilywhites that he could be available this winter.

Journalist Graeme Bailey provides a further update on the situation, saying: “I am told that Rodrygo is again considering his options, and one possibility is a switch to the Premier League, which could become a real option in January. He is certainly one to watch as we approach the New Year.”

Despite being lauded as a “world-class superstar” by former teammate Luka Modric, the 24-year-old has found game time hard to come by so far this season, featuring for just 244 minutes across nine appearances in La Liga.

However, the former Santos man certainly caught the eye at times in the 2024-25 campaign, chipping in with 25 goal contributions in all competitions, displaying his ability to compete at the top level by scoring five goals in 12 Champions League outings.

While the Osasco-born forward hasn’t done enough to force his way into Xabi Alonso’s plans as of late, he remains an important player for Brazil, scoring a brace in an emphatic 5-0 victory against South Korea last month.

At this stage of his career, Rodrygo needs to be a regular starter, and he certainly has the talent to be a difference-maker for Tottenham, amid Simons’ and Kolo Muani’s struggles.

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MLB World Can't Believe How the Phillies' Season Ended vs. Dodgers

There aren't many worse ways to end a season than what happened at Dodger Stadium on Thursday night.

Tied 1-1 in the 11th inning with two outs and the bases loaded, Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering did his job. He got Andy Pages to tap a soft grounder back to the mound for what should have been an easy third out.

Well, it wasn't. Kerkering panicked and couldn't decide if he was going to throw the ball to first base or to home plate for the force out. At the last possible moment, he awkwardly fired an errant throw past catcher JT Realmuto, and base runner Hyeseong Kim—who initially missed the bag—tapped home plate for a walk-off 2-1 win.

The Dodgers are heading to the NLCS, and the Phillies are packing their bags for vacation—all because of one errant throw.

According to Jayson Stark, the Phillies' series loss to the Dodgers in four games is the first postseason series in MLB history to end on a walk-off error.

The MLB world could not believe their eyes:

Just a brutal way to end a season, especially for a championship-contending team like the Phillies.

The Dodgers will face the winner of the NLDS series between the Brewers and Cubs in the NLCS.

ليفربول يأمل شيئًا ما بعد استدعاء محمد صلاح لقائمة منتخب مصر

يأمل فريق ليفربول، بقيادة المدرب آرني سلوت، في شيء ما يتعلق بالنجم محمد صلاح بعد اختياره ضمن تشكيلة منتخب مصر المشاركة في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا هذا الشهر.

وتستضيف المغرب نهائيات بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا، وذلك في الفترة بين 21 ديسمبر 2025 و18 يناير 2026.

وأعلن المدير الفني لمنتخب مصر، حسام حسن، قائمة منتخب مصر التي ستشارك في المعسكر الاستعدادي لبطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا، والذي سينطلق يوم الأربعاء المقبل، وتواجد بها محمد صلاح.

وسيخوض منتخب مصر كذلك مباراة ودية يوم 14 ديسمبر الحالي ضد نيجيريا، قبل السفر إلى المغرب بعد ثلاثة أيام.

اقرأ أيضًا.. مانشستر سيتي يخاطر بإثارة غضب منتخب مصر بسبب عمر مرموش

وذكرت شبكة “ليفربول إيكو” الإنجليزية أنه بينما يبدأ التدريب هذا الأسبوع، ليس من الضروري على ليفربول السماح لـ محمد صلاح بالمشاركة مبكرًا.

وأوضحت أن ليفربول يأمل في الاحتفاظ باللاعب البالغ من العمر 33 عامًا لمباراة الفريق ضد برايتون يوم السبت 13 ديسمبر، قبل لحاقه بمنتخب مصر للمشاركة في البطولة.

وأشارت إلى إنه مع ذلك، ينتظر ليفربول حاليًا قرار الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم (فيفا) بشأن موعد السماح للاعبين بالسفر للمشاركة في البطولة المذكورة، حيث من المتوقع أن يتمثل قراره في السماح للاعبين بالسفر قبل أسبوعين من انطلاق البطولة.

وهذا يعني أن محمد صلاح سيغيب عن مباراتي ليفربول ضد إنتر ميلان وبرايتون، يومي 9 و13، كما يعني أن آخر مباراة له مع النادي ستكون مواجهة ليدز يونايتد على ملعب إيلاند رود يوم السبت 6 ديسمبر.

England legend Alan Shearer 'delighted' for Elliot Anderson after meteoric rise to becoming Three Lions regular since leaving Newcastle

Alan Shearer has revealed he is happiness for Elliot Anderson after the midfielder's departure from Newcastle for Nottingham Forest sparked a rapid rise to becoming an England regular. With Manchester United now linked with a big-money move, Anderson has gone from Tyneside home-grown hope to one of the Premier League's most in-demand talents.

Anderson's meteoric rise post his Newcastle departure

Anderson left Newcastle United in the summer of 2024 as the Magpies were forced to make sales to stay within PSR limits, despite the academy graduate being admired for his potential. He joined Nottingham Forest in search of consistent minutes, stepping into a key creative role and rapidly elevating his performances in the Premier League. That form has led to him becoming a regular in Thomas Tuchel's England squad and attracting serious interest from Manchester United, who need midfield reinforcements.

Due to his home-grown status, Anderson was a more valuable sale from a PSR perspective, consideed 'pure profit' in the accounts. At Forest, he immediately became a key midfielder under Nuno Espirito Santo with the responsibility to carry the team’s attacking play. His growth has been so striking that he is now widely viewed as one of the most complete players outside the traditional title challengers.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportShearer 'delighted' for the England international…

Shearer praised Anderson, admitting that the transfer — though shaped by Newcastle’s financial restrictions — was crucial for his development. He told podcast: "It was the best thing. Although it was tough for Newcastle and it wouldn't have happened if it wasn’t for PSR."

Shearer highlighted that Anderson would never have received the same trust and responsibility at Newcastle. He continued: "But it was the best thing that happened to him, to get out and play. He wasn't going to get in Newcastle's midfield. You've got to give him credit. He wouldn't be far away now [from getting in Newcastle's midfield], I agree with that."

The Newcastle legend finished by acknowledging the scale of Anderson's growth. "He wouldn't have been able to do what he has done and is doing at Newcastle. Good for him. I'm delighted for him. He's gone from being a bit-part player at Newcastle to being one of the main guys at Forest and one of England's."

Anderson likely to be a starter at the 2026 World Cup

Anderson has long been seen as one of the brightest academy talents Newcastle had produced in years, earning the nickname the 'Whitley Bay Figo' during his youth days. His ability to operate as either a No.8 or a No.10 made him valuable, but that same versatility also left him without a fixed role in a squad packed with expensive signings. Nottingham Forest gave him the tactical clarity and first-team trust he needed to reach his full potential.

At Forest, Anderson quickly became one of the Premier League's standout transitional midfielders thanks to his ball-carrying, creativity and pressing intensity. His numbers surged, with double-digit goal contributions putting him firmly in the England conversation. By 2025, he had not only won his first caps but established himself as a regular starter under Tuchel.

Heading into the Three Lions' final World Cup qualifier, Tuchel also announced that Anderson is currently his main choice to partner Declan Rice in the midfield for the 2026 World Cup. The German said: "Elliot and Declan are at the moment ahead in midfield. They are a very good pair and complement each other very well. They are performing at the highest level for club and country. Biggest complement to both of them. We took Declan out [of the last match] after 65 minutes to have the chance to play again, Elliot played 90 minutes and it is his first season to play international games as well as for Nottingham Forest, he is a key player there too."

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Getty Images SportMan Utd linked with move for Anderson

Manchester United are tipped to pursue a move in 2026 as they plan a rebuild in midfield with Casemiro ageing and Bruno Fernandes playing in a deeper role. Forest will fight to keep their star man but are realistic that interest from the league's biggest sides will eventually force a major decision. The competition for his signature is already shaping up to be fierce.

England, meanwhile, continue to benefit from Anderson's upward curve as he cements his place heading toward the 2026 World Cup in North America. Tuchel sees him as a long-term midfield option alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, giving the Three Lions a formidable core for years to come.

London Spirit investors believe Hundred can rival IPL

Nikesh Arora believes tech consortium can help Hundred become “multi-billion dollar product”

Matt Roller07-Aug-2025The head of the Silicon Valley technology consortium that bid £144 million (US$193 million approx.) for a 49% stake in London Spirit in January believes that the Hundred can become “a multi-billion dollar product” to rival the IPL.Nikesh Arora, the CEO of cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks, leads Cricket Investor Holdings Limited – better known as the ‘Tech Titans’ – and is a newly-appointed board member at Spirit after they completed their lucrative deal for a minority stake. They will run the franchise as a joint venture with MCC, who hosted the consortium at Lord’s this week.The consortium has grown in number since seeing off significant competition from Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG Group in a virtual auction earlier this year, with Arora estimating that 15 of its members were at Lord’s to watch the Hundred’s opening match day – which saw Spirit’s women beat Oval Invincibles, but the men’s team bowled out for 80.Related

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Titans land at Lord's as London Spirit sink to new low

They met Justin Langer and Kane Williamson at a training session on Monday, and dined in the pavilion that evening before lining a hospitality suite in the Edrich Stand on Tuesday. The CEOs of Adobe, Google and YouTube are all involved; Satyan Gajwani, the vice-chairman of Times Internet, suggested that not even the World Economic Forum could bring them all together.Arora and Gajwani walked across the outfield and posed by the pitch after Tuesday night’s games, a display of power which laid bare the new era that awaits English cricket. “This is a way to get involved with one of the most storied and hallowed grounds in the world,” Arora said at Lord’s, while watching his new team for the first time. “It’s like bringing our passions to our work.”We’ve never had buyer’s remorse. We’ve never been stressed about what we paid. I have more people who want to be part of the consortium now than I had before I made the investment, so it’s not a problem. Many of them are here; they flew from the US to come watch it. This is a passion for every one of us… It’s going to be fun.”Chair Mark Nicholas has promised MCC members a “major relaunch” of the franchise once the joint venture assumes operational control from the ECB on October 1. The London Spirit name is expected to remain for the time being but new sponsors and new kits have been lined up, potentially incorporating egg-and-bacon trim or piping as a nod to the club’s famous colours.Justin Langer, David Warner and Kane Williamson arrive before the game•Getty ImagesThe eight Hundred franchises were sold at a combined valuation of around £975 million ($1.3 billion approx.) earlier this year. Six deals have now been signed off, with Cain International and Reliance Industries expected to complete their purchases of stakes in Trent Rockets and Oval Invincibles respectively after the 2025 season is complete.Arora believes that the arrival of eight new investors simultaneously can “optimise” the Hundred and turn it into a “product” that rivals the most lucrative league in the world: “The IPL started from nowhere, and became a multi-billion dollar product. Why couldn’t this be that product? It’s not just us, there are eight new shareholders, give or take, across eight new franchises.”They all have successful businesses or cricket operations somewhere in the world. If that energy, that passion, that creativity, that innovation is brought to this, imagine what they could do? The ECB incubated it, which is great. But I’m sure there are ways to optimise things a bit better. I don’t think the Hundred is a bad product… It’s about creating the excitement around it.”

Gajwani, a co-founder of Major League Cricket, agrees. “Bringing in stakeholders beyond governing bodies has almost always improved products,” he said. “You’ve got eight best-in-class investors, operators; people who understand business, consumer, sport, globally, locally. You’ve got all of it in terms of the membership that’s going to be on the board of the Hundred.”Relative to almost every other sport, cricket has less private power… The NBA is run privately, the NFL is privately, La Liga, EPL (English Premier League football) are private. Generally, the influx of diverse views, different stakeholders, these are things that will bring innovation in its own form.”Gajwani believes that the Hundred’s “core” audience will always be based in the UK, rather than overseas: “It starts with a strong domestic product.” But Richard Thompson, the ECB chair, said last week that it is “a matter of time” before India men’s players feature in the Hundred, a change which would create a significant spike in the value of overseas broadcast rights.”It’s a question for some of the people in the BCCI, and maybe the ICC,” Gajwani said. “But as these leagues outside of the IPL become interesting, more meaningful and more substantial, I can tell you personally, there are a number of players in India that are super excited about the idea of playing out here. The economics, commercials, contracts and all that stuff is complicated.”Nikesh Arora heads the ‘Tech Titans’ consortium that has bought a 49% stake in London Spirit•Robert Perry/PA Images via Getty ImagesThe Tech Titans only hold three out of seven director seats on Spirit’s new board: Arora, Gajwani and Egon Durban (co-CEO of private equity fund Silver Lake) will join Robert Lawson (MCC chief executive), Julian Metherell (incoming committee member), Eoin Morgan (incoming chair of cricket) and one other MCC nominee, with Metherell acting as chair.Arora emphasised his consortium’s status as minority partners: “They [MCC] are 51% shareholders. We let them take the lead, which is good. They understand their cricket, they understand the stadium, they understand the locals. From our perspective, we bring a) passion, for sure; and b) knowledge and experience.”Arora and Gajwani followed India’s last-gasp win over England at The Oval remotely on Monday, and both describe themselves as genuine cricket fans. “I would have been the first to say everything’s moving this way [towards short-form cricket],” Gajwani said. “But the last month has shown how much frickin’ energy there can be behind Tests.Eoin Morgan is a director on London Spirit’s new board•Getty Images”Cricket has this interesting tension between history and future, probably more than other sports… They are different audiences. You look around here, I’d say the average age is younger, more family-oriented, more female. Test cricket is probably more of a classical and more traditional crowd overall, but they both have their place.”And Arora insists that his consortium’s investment in the Hundred is nothing to fear for traditionalists who have no interest in the shorter formats. “Don’t underestimate the fact that around 50% of our consortium grew up in India 30-35 years ago,” he said. “We grew up watching people like Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, and we like watching Ben Stokes now.”Part of it is just being able to associate with your idols; being able to associate with a sport that you grew up watching in the middle of the night. We still watch cricket in California at 3am or 4am. This is our sport.”

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