Tag Futebol

The NZ quick injured his hamstring while playing in the UAE’s ILT20

Deivarayan Muthu07-Feb-2025New Zealand fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is under an injury cloud, ahead of the the tri-series in Pakistan and the Champions Trophy, after hurting his hamstring while playing in the UAE’s ILT20.In the first qualifier on Wednesday, captaining Desert Vipers against Dubai Capitals, Ferguson left the field without completing his allotment of four overs. There was only one ball left, in both his spell and the innings, and Mohammad Amir stepped in to deliver it.With Capitals needing one off the final ball, Sikandar Raza whipped Amir away for four to seal DC’s spot in the final. At the post-match presentation, Ferguson said, “just a little hamstring issue, unfortunate. Tough night; wish I could’ve bowled the last ball.”Ferguson underwent a scan the next day, according to New Zealand head coach Gary Stead, to determine the severity of the injury. New Zealand are still awaiting more details.”Lockie had a scan yesterday [Thursday] in the UAE,” Stead said on the eve of the tri-series opener. “We’ve got the images here and [we are] waiting for our radiologist to give us a report on the extent of it. Small hamstring injury, by the look of it, so we’re just waiting on a timeline of advice around that before we make a decision on whether Lockie travels here [Pakistan] or whether we do have to replace him for the Champions Trophy.”Ferguson is the most experienced quick in New Zealand’s squad for the Champions Trophy and his potential absence might disrupt their prep for the competition. Ben Sears, the Wellington tearaway, is working his way back from knee surgery, which had sidelined him for the Test tour of India and then the home series against Sri Lanka and England. Sears has played 17 T20Is and one Test so far but is uncapped in ODI cricket.Ferguson also missed the Eliminator against Tim Southee’s Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20 on Friday, handing over the captaincy duties to Sam Curran. During the toss, Curran stated that Ferguson was injured but didn’t reveal the extent of problem.In his first stint at the ILT20, Ferguson featured in only eight of Vipers’ 12 matches so far, with his workload being monitored.”We have tried to manage the players with rotation of quicks as much as we possibly can,” Tom Moody, Vipers’ director of cricket, said in the Vipers Voices podcast in January. “Lockie Ferguson, Mohammad Amir and Luke Wood, today, have all had a chance to rest and freshen up. But yes, it is a pretty tough schedule and there is an element of physical fatigue but probably, more importantly, mental fatigue.Lockie Ferguson captained Desert Vipers in the ILT20•ILT20″And there has not been that chance to really disengage and freshen up mentally. But that is the reality of tournament cricket. Everyone is trying to fit in a tournament within a certain window. And what comes of that is a pretty heavy schedule. And we came in expecting that, knowing that.”With the Champions Trophy less than two weeks away – New Zealand face Pakistan in the opener on February 19 in Karachi – Stead hinted that they would also rotate the seamers in the tri-series starting Saturday. New Zealand will also play a day game against South Africa in Lahore on February 10; all other matches in the tri-series are day-night fixtures.”I think it [selection] will depend on how people shape up, especially the bowlers after this first game and what their loads are like and then what the conditions are like as well,” Stead said. “It’s not quite as hot as you think it would be in Asia. It still gets pretty cold here in the evenings, so but if you bowl in the heat of the day, it might take more out of the bowlers. So, we will just manage that and be smart around it, understanding that the big tournament is the Champions Trophy. We want to make sure everyone is fit and firing for that.”New Zealand, though, will be bolstered by the return of Kane Williamson and Devon Conway who have both linked up with the national side in Lahore after finishing their franchise commitments with Durban’s Super Giants (DSG) and Joburg Super Kings (JSK) respectively. Seamer Jacob Duffy, who had already been added to the squad as standby for Ferguson, could be in the selection frame, if the senior quick continues to remain on the sidelines.Ferguson had originally been named in New Zealand’s squad for the Champions Trophy despite opting out of a central contract and despite having not played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup.While all eight teams have already named their Champions Trophy squads, they still have until February 12 to make changes if needed.

MatériaMais Notícias

Principal reforço do Fluminense na temporada, Marcelo deixou o gramado durante o primeiro tempo do clássico com o Flamengo, no Maracanã, ao sentir um incômodo muscular na panturrilha. Com isso, precisou ser substituído aos 38 minutos e deu lugar ao lateral Guga, no duelo válido pela ida das oitavas da Copa do Brasil.

RelacionadasFluminenseFluminense de Diniz é citado pela imprensa sueca como inspiração para o Malmö, líder do campeonato: ‘Novidade no país’Fluminense16/05/2023Fora de CampoJustiça derruba decisão que absolvia acusados de agredir Pedro Scudi, torcedor do FluminenseFora de Campo16/05/2023ListasFla-Flu na Copa do Brasil: relembre os placares dos últimos 20 clássicosListas16/05/2023

Após a partida, em entrevista coletiva, o técnico Fernando Diniz afirmou que o ala não teve lesão, mas que a substituição foi por precaução. Segundo o treinador, o ala “teve um enrijecimento da panturrilha”.

+ Confira a tabela da Copa do Brasil

O jogador já passou por algo semelhante na partida contra o The Strongest, da Bolívia, também no Maracanã, pela Copa Libertadores. Na ocasião, foi substituído aos 30 minutos depois de também sentir dores musculares. 

Vale lembrar que Fernando Diniz não pôde contar com o volante Alexsander, que sofreu um estiramento no ligamento colateral medial do joelho esquerdo. Além dele, Keno teve uma lesão na coxa esquerda e também desfalcou a equipe.

Essa foi a nona partida de Marcelo como titular desde que retornou ao Fluminense. Revelado nas divisões de base do clube carioca, o jogador fez sucesso no futebol europeu com a camisa do Real Madrid e permaneceu 17 anos no Velho Continente.

Manchester United’s summer transfer window has already been a success for manager Ruben Amorim, but there is still plenty of work left to do before the September 1st deadline.

The 40-year-old has already cleared out some of the deadwood on the books at Old Trafford, releasing Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans at the end of their respective contracts.

Other outgoings will undoubtedly take place over the next couple of weeks, which could allow for added funds to be reinvested into the side ahead of the upcoming Premier League campaign.

Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have all joined the Red Devils, costing £200m combined, completing a deadly trio at the top end of the pitch.

However, other areas of the side are still in desperate need of reinforcements, which could result in numerous players being landed in an attempt to rise up England’s top-flight.

Man Utd preparing move for Carlos Baleba alternative

Carlos Baleba has been one of United’s key targets in recent days, after talks were held between the Red Devils and the player’s entourage over a potential switch.

Despite the interest in the Brighton midfielder, a deal could now be unlikely given the Seagulls’ reluctance to allow the youngster to leave, subsequently putting a £100m price tag on his head.

However, not landing a deal for the 21-year-old may not be the end of the world, with the hierarchy also currently exploring a move for Sevilla star Lucien Agoume, according to TBR Football.

They report that despite their keen interest in Baleba, alternatives to the former Lille star have been drawn up, with the Frenchman just one player in their sights.

It also states that he’s seen as a cheaper alternative this summer, potentially able to follow a similar path over the next few years and become their own £100m talent.

Why United’s Baleba alternative would be their next Pogba

Just a handful of years ago, United’s midfield department was home to numerous elite-level talents, one of which was Paul Pogba – who cost a club-record £89m in the summer of 2016.

The Frenchman rejoined the club just a few seasons after leaving on a free transfer to join Juventus, moving back to Old Trafford as a completely different player.

He registered over 200 appearances during his second spell in the North West, often producing a spectacular effort, helping the side win the Europa League in his first season back in England.

However, he would leave on a free transfer in 2022, ultimately tailing off after his excellent start, with his attitude and commitment towards the Red Devils often coming into question.

Regardless of his struggles, Pogba will forever be remembered in Manchester as a player who made the game look easy, often dominating the opposition, with Agoume having the chance to follow in his compatriot’s footsteps in 2025/26.

The 23-year-old has endured an erratic start to his career, featuring for seven clubs in seven years, but he appears to have found his home in Seville over the last few months.

He made 35 appearances in LaLiga last season, often catching the eye with his displays, which has seen journalist Zach Lowy comparing him to former fan-favourite Pogba.

Games played

35

Goals & assists

4

Pass completion rate

82%

Progressive passes

5.8

Tackles made

2.9

Interceptions made

1.8

Take-on success

73%

Passes into final third

5.4

Agoume, who’s been labelled “extraordinary” by former boss Enrique Sanchez Flores, completed 82% of the passes he attempted last season, with 5.8 of which being defined as progressive – able to thrive in possession, just as Pogba did during his time at United.

He also made 2.9 tackles per 90 and 1.8 interceptions per 90, with the latter tally ranking him within the top 2% of all players in Spain’s top-flight – handing Amorim the perfect box-to-box option in midfield.

Added talent across the board is highlighted in his tally of 73% take-ons completed, able to glide past opposition players, emulating the skillset of his compatriot in the process.

There’s no denying that, given Baleba’s two-year spell in England’s top-flight that he would be many of the fans’ first choice to bolster the midfield department this window.

However, given the money spent in other areas, cheaper options will have to be considered, with Agoume arguably being a bargain addition if he can match Pogba’s success at the Theatre of Dreams.

A dream for Cunha & Mbeumo: INEOS submit bid to sign £69m star for Man Utd

Manchester United have once again splashed the cash during the current summer window.

1 ByEthan Lamb Aug 14, 2025

Ajax wonderkid Aaron Bouwman is reportedly attracting interest from a host of Premier League sides and a European giant.

Bouwman next big hope for AjaxBarcelona interested in defenderPremier League sides in transfer raceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to TEAMtalk, the 18-year-old is being tracked by Chelsea, Manchester United, Barcelona, Liverpool, and Manchester City. The centre-back has already made his debut for Ajax and has been tipped for a bright future.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The report adds that Bouwman is part of the next lineage of 'Dutch defensive gems destined for stardom'. If all these footballing giants are interested in signing the 6ft 2in defender, the Netherlands Under-18 international must be a prodigious talent.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Haarlem-born player joined Ajax in 2018 and made his debut for Jong Ajax, Ajax's second team, in the 2023-24 season. After making 15 appearances for them, the youngster, who has a Dutch father and a Jamaican-English mother, has graduated to the first team. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?

Transfer speculation aside, Bouwman will likely be focusing on getting as much game time with the Dutch giants this season. More first-team minutes could come his way on Saturday when Ajax host PEC Zwolle in the Eredivisie.

نجح منتخب مصر لشابات كرة اليد، في الفوز على غينيا بنتيجة 25-22، في المباراة النهائية ببطولة إفريقيا، التي جمعت بينهما اليوم السبت، ليتوج الفراعنة باللقب.

وكان منتخب مصر لشابات كرة اليد قد تأهل للمباراة النهائية، بعد الفوز على أنجولا في لقاء نصف النهائي بنتيجة 26/25.

ويعد فوز الفراعنة على غينيا هو التتويج الأول في تاريخ مصر بالبطولة التي أقيمت في الجزائر، خلال الفترة من 6 إلى 13 سبتمبر الجاري.

طالع أيضاً.. ترتيب الدوري المصري بعد فوز الزمالك على المصري البورسعيدي

رغم الإنجازات العالمية لمنتخب اليد على كافة الأصعدة، إلا انها المرة الأولى التي يتوج فيها ببطولة إفريقيا في هذه الفئة العمرية، ويتأهل رسميًا لكاس العالم.

ترأس البعثة الكابتن عمرو فتحي الذي كان له دور هام في قيادة البعثة في الجزائر وتحقيق الإنجاز.

وتضم قائمة شابات كرة اليد، كل من: “جهاد وائل، جنة نور الدين، جيداء كامل، جودي محمد، نهى إيهاب، شهد صفي الدين، سما يامن، جنى محمود، شروق محمود، جودي وليد، سلمى أسامة، بسملة أحمد، رقية ياسر، سرمدة دعبس، ندى تامر، ملك طه، جنى ياسر، ملك عمرو”.

ويضم الجهاز الفني لمنتخب الشابات كل من: “حلمي مصبح المدير الفني وأحمد عبدالجواد المدرب العام ومنة الله كرم  المدير الإداري وديانا يحيى أخصائي علاج طبيعي ومحمد عبدالمنعم مدرب الحراس ومحمد كمال محلل الأداء”.

It’s all change at Tottenham Hotspur at the moment.

Despite leading the club to their third European title in the Europa League last month and ending their almost two-decade trophy drought, Ange Postecoglou was officially given the boot on Friday afternoon.

While this is undoubtedly a divisive decision among the fanbase, it’s not hard to see why it was made, as the Australian oversaw just 11 wins out of a possible 38 in the Premier League this term.

Interestingly, while no announcement has been made just yet, it is looking increasingly likely that the man to replace Ange will be Brentford boss Thomas Frank, and that could be very good news indeed for a certain youngster in the squad.

Spurs' winners and losers under Frank

Before getting to the player in question, let’s take a look at some of the potential winners and losers at Spurs under a possible Frank tenure, starting with those who might not be so lucky, like Brennan Johnson.

Now, it might sound mad to suggest that the club’s top scorer this season could be in trouble next year, but if Frank is able to convince the board to sign Bryan Mbeumo, as reports suggest he’s trying to, then there is every chance the Welshman’s game time would dramatically decrease.

Likewise, it could be the end of the road for Yves Bissouma, becuase as well as he played in the club’s Europa League run, he’s shown himself to be a liability in the league time and time again.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Expand Collapse

You only need to look at games like Fulham away, when he was hooked at halftime and given a 3/10 match rating by Alasdair Gold, or at home against Chelsea when he lost his head and gave away a needless penalty.

However, it’s most certainly not all doom and gloom, as there are more than a few players we think could flourish under the Danish manager, such as Lucas Bergvall.

The 19-year-old was incredible for much of this season and even won the club’s Player of the Year award.

So, when he recovers from his injury, it’s not inconceivable to imagine him taking yet more steps forward under Frank.

Likewise, while Dominic Solanke wasn’t exactly prolific, he’s been one of the club’s hardest-working attackers this season and an integral part of the frontline.

Therefore, under a manager who helped turn Brentford into a lean, mean goalscoring machine, we could see him turn the former Bournemouth man into a seriously dangerous striker.

There is another Spurs ace who could become something really quite special under the incoming boss, someone he wanted to sign in West London.

The Spurs gem Frank could transform

If you were following Tottenham’s transfer dealings last summer, then you’ll have probably worked out that the player in question is none other than Archie Gray.

Before making his way to North London, the former Leeds United gem looked destined to join Brentford, with reports in late June claiming that the player had agreed personal terms with the Bees and was set to have a medical.

However, the Lilywhites swooped in and picked up the incredibly talented youngster for around £30m just a few days later.

While he missed out on him last summer, we can only imagine that Frank is just as excited, if not more, about the teenager’s potential now and the chance to finally work with him.

There are a few reasons why we think the Dane could help turn the 19-year-old ace into the “future £100m” superstar that data analyst Ben Mattinson claimed he could be.

The first is that after spending this season being moved around here, there, and everywhere, there is a real chance for the Durham-born midfielder to actually play in, well, midfield.

Moreover, while he didn’t spend a whole lot of time there in 24/25, he was still able to produce some fairly impressive underlying numbers for someone so young.

Gray’s Midfield Scout Report

Statistics

Per 90

Percentile

Shots on Target %

100.0%

Top 1%

Shots Blocked

0.73

Top 4%

Clearances

2.81

Top 5%

Passes Completed (Medium)

28.09

Top 7%

Pass Completion % (Medium)

92.8%

Top 10%

Progressive Passing Distance

285.69

Top 13%

Dead-ball Passes

4.86

Top 13%

Carries

45.28

Top 13%

All Stats via FBref

For example, according to FBref, he sits in the 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for percentage of shots on target, the top 4% for shots blocked, the top 5% for clearances, the top 7% for medium passes completed, the top 13% for progressive passing distance, carries and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while it’ll take some time for the “sensational” prospect, as dubbed by one analyst, to reach his full potential, we have no doubt that Frank will be a brilliant manager for Gray to do it under.

Related He's another Bergvall: Spurs enter race to sign "extraordinary" wonderkid

The promising youngster could be a star at Spurs.

Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 7, 2025

Already thinking ahead about potential summer reinforcements, Aston Villa have now reportedly made contact over a deal to sign a £25m sensation who recently dominated England’s U21 side.

Aston Villa join race to sign France U21 star

Whilst it has seemed as though they’ve endured a season full of inconsistency at times, Aston Villa find themselves in an FA Cup semi-final, a Champions League quarter-final and in with every chance of qualifying for Europe’s top competition for a second season running in the Premier League. And that qualification would undoubtedly play a large part in their pursuit of summer targets.

Monchi now wants Aston Villa to sign £83k-p/w Real Madrid ace this summer

Aston Villa are the latest team to join the race…

ByBrett Worthington Mar 31, 2025

On that front, a number of potential reinforcements have already emerged, including the likes of Arda Guler. The Real Madrid youngster has struggled for game time in Spain in the face of such talented competition and has now reportedly attracted the attention of Villa sporting director Monchi.

The Turkish international would certainly be quite the coup. Although he has struggled to steal the headlines at Madrid, Guler could become an instant star in the Midlands just as Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford have fresh from their own struggles.

He’s not the only young star that the Villans have set their sights on, however. According to The Boot Room, Aston Villa have now made contact to sign Rayan Cherki, asking Lyon to be kept informed about the winger’s transfer status in the coming months.

Available for just £25m this summer, Cherki is likely to be one of the bargains of the window and has already attracted a list of interested parties as a result. Joining Villa in the race for his signature is reportedly Manchester United, Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur in what should prove to be a hectic battle to welcome one of Europe’s rising stars when the summer arrives.

"Magnificent" Cherki is a rising star

The interest in Cherki from the Premier League should come as little surprise after he put on the show of all shows against England U21s during the international break, scoring once and assisting twice in a 5-3 victory for France. It was an evening stroll for a player whose quality belongs and is destined for the highest level.

It’s not the first time that the 21-year-old has impressed this season either, having scored eight goals and assisted an eye-watering 18 in all competitions for Lyon to earn the praise of Jacek Kulig. The scout/analyst described Cherki’s campaign as “magnificent” at the beginning of March and has seen him get better and better ever since.

As the race for his signature heats up, Cherki looks destined to have a decision to make which could yet end in a summer switch to Villa Park.

After England threaten in powerplay, Australia’s middle-order answer SOS with 180-run stand

S Sudarshanan22-Oct-2025

Ash Gardner reached a 69-ball hundred as she and Annabel Sutherland sealed a dominant win•Getty Images

Ashleigh Gardner played out three dot-balls after completing her century. One of those was a full toss. But there were cheers from the 8,531-strong crowd at the Holkar Stadium, and laughs and high-fives in the Australia dugout. Australia were four runs away from handing England their first defeat at the Women’s World Cup 2025. Annabel Sutherland was five away from what would have been a well-deserved century.Sutherland couldn’t get to her hundred in the next over despite a dropped catch. Gardner then finished off the chase by lofting Sophie Ecclestone over mid-off to maintain Australia’s clean slate in this competition.Sutherland and Gardner came together when Australia were 68 for 4 in their 245-run chase. They conjured an unbroken 180 for the fifth wicket and, in the process, gave plenty of lessons to England’s batters. Here’s an example.Sutherland had just laced Lauren Bell, England’s fastest bowler on the park, through extra cover for a four using her long stride. So wicketkeeper Amy Jones came up to the stumps. It did not bog Sutherland down as she was swiftly off strike and Gardner, with the keeper still up, picked up a second four of the over with a slash through backward point.Related

• England's lucky break masks deeper batting issues

• Healy and Australia ride the upswing after shoddy fielding show

• Alyssa Healy to miss England match with 'minor calf strain'

• New Zealand in must-win territory with rain in the Navi Mumbai air

• Gardner 104*, Sutherland 98* star as Australia lay marker for knock-outs

A score of 68 for 4 is dire enough to opt for a cautious approach. More so with England pressing their spinners into service. But playing out a dot was the last option in Australia’s operating manual. In their entire innings, England faced 169 dot-balls – that is about 28 overs’ worth. Australia played out only 107 dots (fewer than 18 overs) and finished their chase with 57 balls to spare. The Sutherland-Gardner partnership lasted 148 balls: only 51 of those were without a run.The black-soil pitch in Indore had started to slow down a little and the ball held up just a touch, as evidenced by Ellyse Perry’s wicket. She was early into her flick and popped a catch back to left-arm spinner Linsey Smith. This was in contrast with how Australia’s left-arm spinner Sophie Molineux had dismissed Heather Knight lbw earlier in the afternoon, getting one to skid in with the arm from a similar length, beating her for pace on the inside edge.Sutherland realised quickly that hanging back in her crease, especially against spin, was fraught with danger. She had almost paid the price for it by punching the ball aerially back towards Ecclestone in the 14th over. Ecclestone’s weight was on the right foot and she couldn’t take that half-chance, and had her right hand on mouth in disbelief.Sutherland knew that she would have to create pace on the ball. She used her feet very well, either to come down the track to intercept the ball early or to just shuffle across her crease to nudge the ball into the outfield. The intention was not always to take the aerial route but rely on ones and twos. When she did choose to go big, there were no half-measures. Such as the moment when she put Smith away over deep square leg for Australia’s only six of the innings.Tammy Beaumont produced a good innings but chewed up dot-balls between her boundaries•ICC/Getty ImagesGardner was more happy to use her feet against spin. She was unafraid to take the aerial route, too. With a maximum of only four fielders allowed outside the inner circle from the 11th over to the end, it is actually tough to restrict boundaries against a high-intent batter like Gardner. And she hit 16 off them on the way to a 69-ball century, her second at this World Cup. Only Karen Rolton (57 balls) and Belinda Clark (64 balls) have a century quicker than Gardner in ODI World Cups. Together, they ran 67 singles, six twos and a three.Now Sutherland and Gardner were able to do this despite Australia not having a strong platform. Which points towards a missed opportunity for England. Their openers had added a second successive half-century partnership. England were 55 for 0 in just eight overs, already their best powerplay performance of the tournament. They had a plethora of boundaries by then, with Tammy Beaumont leading the charge. But what she, and by extension England, did between those boundary hits is what hampered them.Beaumont sped to a 59-ball half-century. A perfectly acceptable pace in this era of ODI cricket. But 39 of those were dot balls. It was a pattern that extended throughout her stay. Beaumont scored 78, her first fifty-plus score since June, and fell when Sutherland pre-empted her attack by having her caught at long-on with a slower ball.It was a welcome return to runs for Beaumont, but by chewing up 66 dots of the 105 balls she faced (close to 63%), England were denied the momentum from the early overs on a flat track. It was imperative for a set batter to make up for those dot-balls, given that – prior to this game – England’s Nos. 5, 6 and 7 had an average of 9.25, the lowest among all teams this World Cup.There can be an argument that legspinner Alana King made runs hard to come by for England. She had the ball on a string and, on visual evidence, extracted the most turn from the black-soil surface. Nat Sciver-Brunt tried to take her on and paid the price. England’s reluctance to use the sweep against her was surprising, too. That meant England were in the mire before Alice Capsey, one of the under-fire batters, and Charlie Dean pushed England towards some respectability.”When you come up against Alana King in the middle overs, she had it on a piece of string,” Sciver-Brunt said. “She bowled really well and challenged us a lot. She obviously made it very difficult for us to accelerate through those middle overs. But it’s a balance, isn’t it? In 50-over cricket, going too early and then being all out for 160-180 versus trying to stay in the game for as long as possible.”Sutherland’s unbeaten 98 followed up her three-for as she took home the Player-of-the-Match honours. In the process, she laid down a template for England’s batters to ponder.

After scoring a hundred for India A in South Africa, he’s gearing up to impress against England Lions and in the Ranji Trophy

Deivarayan Muthu11-Jan-2024He was tipped to be the next big batter from Tamil Nadu, even before B Sai Sudharsan emerged on the scene. After scoring hundreds for a giggle in age-group cricket, he made a serene half-century on Ranji Trophy debut against Delhi in Chennai in 2019. But then Covid-19 hit and put his career on pause.Four years on, Pradosh Ranjan Paul’s career is in fast-forward. After his first full Ranji Trophy season in 2022-23, where he was Tamil Nadu’s highest run-getter with 631 runs in nine innings at an average just under 55, he broke into the India A sides in first-class and List A cricket. On India A debut in Potchefstroom, the 23-year-old scored 163 off 209 balls against a South Africa A attack that included Dolphins swing bowler Eathan Bosch and Lions allrounder Evan Jones.Paul had a skittish start with Siya Plaatjie hitting the outside edge near shoulder of the bat, but he responded with crisp back-foot punches and drives. He is particularly strong at driving and flicking on the front foot, but on a bouncy Senwes Park pitch, he adapted to the conditions and scored on the back foot. Even during the 50-over Vijay Hazare Trophy, which preceded India A’s tour of South Africa, Paul had trained with the red ball to fine-tune his back-foot game.Related

Nitish Kumar Reddy wants to walk the Hardik Pandya path

Iyer shows good intent on Ranji return ahead of England Tests

Rahul Chahar: 'Red-ball cricket has always been an ambition; if I don't deserve a call-up, that's on me'

Suthar and Narang are India A's lead spinners for first two England Lions games

England Lions to play three four-day matches against India A in Ahmedabad

“I knew that there would be lots of bounce on the South Africa wickets compared to Indian pitches,” Paul told ESPNcricinfo. “I was prepared and understood that there would be scoring options on the back foot – and not much on the front foot.”I actually feel preparing with the red ball also helps my white-ball game. It was more or less the mindset shift for playing in South Africa. It’s about choosing what shots you want to play and what not to play.”The left-handed Paul lined up Bryce Parson’s left-arm fingerspin, jumping out of his crease and sweeping him flat and hard over the leg side. Paul’s century gave India A the first-innings advantage after South Africa A had scored 319. During the tour, Paul also realised his dream of taking a picture with his idol Virat Kohli, who was with the senior team in South Africa.”From my childhood, he [Kohli] has been my inspiration and I was lucky enough to talk to him and get some ideas from him,” Paul said. “It was the first time I clicked a picture with him. I’ve always dreamt about it. I’ve had opportunities during NCA camps in Bangalore, but in my mind, I was always adamant that the first time I click a picture with him will be when I become his team-mate. So, it was emotional when I clicked that picture and spent time with him.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pradosh Ranjan Paul (@pradosh_paul)