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Liverpool are the champions of the Premier League once again. And what’s more, Arne Slot has been backed by FSG this summer as they prepare to do it all over again.

While the bulk of transfer activity has been dealt with already on Merseyside, there’s more to come, with Darwin Nunez the centre of ongoing talks between Liverpool and Napoli after an opening €55m (£48m) bid was rejected.

Many would hope that FSG are gearing up to splash out the cash on Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, but the “world-class” goalscorer, as he has been described by pundit Alan Shearer, will likely prove too expensive.

And anyway, Slot has proven his ability to grow exciting talents into superstars. See the 22-year-old Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo.

Now, the Dutch coach is hoping to sign his next version of the former, whose meteoric rise last season led to him being crowned the Premier League Young Player of the Season.

Liverpool's next top transfer targets

After missing out on Dean Huijsen, who swapped Bournemouth for Real Madrid after his £50m release clause was met, it was clear from the early stages of the transfer window that Liverpool are interested in signing a centre-back.

Marc Guehi is the man at the top of the shopping list, and while developments appear to be minimal at the moment, expect FSG to try their luck before the summer window slams shut.

Liverpool need a new central defender, to be sure, but Slot knows that the 33-year-old Mohamed Salah will need greater attacking support than he received last term, practically engineering the incredible Premier League success of 2023/24.

And indeed, Nunez’s forthcoming sale will demand that sporting director Richard Hughes signs a successor, one who is fit to serve as Liverpool’s out-and-out frontman over the coming years.

Well, the Reds have just the player in mind, and their interest is beginning to get stronger and stronger.

Liverpool with growing interest in new striker

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool’s interest in Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike is indeed getting more intense as Nunez edges closer to a transfer to Napoli.

The Premier League champions have been among the frontrunners for the 23-year-old in recent months, with Chelsea and Manchester United also keen on bagging his signature.

However, the sticking point is that Frankfurt are happy to play hardball, seemingly unwilling to budge on their €100m (£85m) valuation.

What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Liverpool

In 2022, Paris Saint-Germain signed a teenage Ekitike from Ligue 1 rivals Reims for a fee in the region of £30m. Newcastle had come close to a deal but failed to close it.

The Frenchman might not have brought it all together for PSG, only scoring four times across 33 senior matches, but he’s certainly built himself back up in Germany, with analyst Ben Mattinson hailing him as “one of the best strikers out there” after his 2024/25 term with Frankfurt.

Notching 36 goal involvements across all competitions for Frankfurt last season, Ekitike is clearly a “special talent”, as has been noted by journalist Bence Bocsak.

But it’s his dynamism and fluency that makes him such an attractive option for a club like Liverpool, finishing the 2024/25 season ranked among the top 6% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 20% for ball recoveries per 90, as per FBref.

The fact that he’s more complete than Gravenberch was when he joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in August 2023 bodes well for his potential at the highest level of the European game.

As you will see in the table below, Gravenberch bloomed into a midfielder of remarkable quality and confidence last term, sitting deep in the centre of the park in spite of early career criticisms that he lacked the temperament and composure for such a role.

Looking at the Dutchman’s gains under Slot’s wing last season, as opposed to his less defined role when a part of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, it’s very easy to see that Slot’s tactical grasp brought out the best in his young compatriot.

Matches (starts)

26 (12)

37 (37)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

4

Touches*

28.8

66.5

Pass completion

83%

89%

Key passes*

0.6

0.9

Dribbles*

0.9

1.0

Ball recoveries*

2.8

5.2

Tackles + interceptions*

1.5

3.5

Total duels (won)*

2.8 (47%)

5.0 (57%)

The same could be said for Gakpo, of course, but given that Ekitike is an exciting young player from the Bundesliga who has previously struggled to bring it together after a big-money move to a European superpower, he could emulate the silky holding midfielder.

And without a doubt, Ekitike has the technical ability to become the kind of all-encompassing centre-forward that Slot wants to connect his frontline.

Given the high regard Ekitike is held in already, it’s frightening to consider what Slot might manage to achieve in elevating the weaker points of his game and polishing any blemishes which a rising talent is naturally going to bear.

Gravenberch, certainly, has improved, having been branded a “passenger out of possession” by journalist Danny Corcoran during his maiden term in English football.

He’s now a player of smooth ability, one of the finest in Europe. Slot has earned his flowers, all right, and he’ll receive a whole bouquet if allowed to tinker away at Ekitike’s mechanics, shaping him into a world-beater.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed that the Die Adler star “could reach world-class striker levels” after his excellent campaign, and if he moves to Liverpool, his chances of this happening will increase tenfold.

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Things are finally starting to fall into place for Arsenal this summer.

After watching their Premier League rivals sign talent after talent, the Gunners have sprung into life in the last couple of weeks.

Kepa Arrizabalaga is through the door, Christian Norgaard looks set to follow him, and reports indicate the North Londoners are making good progress in their pursuit of goalscoring extraordinaire Viktor Gyokeres.

That’s not all, though, as after months of waiting, Martin Zubimendi looks set to be announced any day now, although his signing could be overshadowed by another in no time at all.

Arsenal target more exciting signing than Zubimendi

Arsenal were linked with Zubimendi as far back as January 2023, but in reality, the most significant story regarding his move to the club emerged this January, courtesy of Sami Mokbel.

Transfer Focus

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

Since then, there has been a near-constant trickle of updates about the move, but finally, it looks like the Spaniard will be officially announced any day now, and for a fee of around £51m.

It’s easy to see why the Gunners were so keen to land the “world-class” ace, as dubbed by journalist Alexandra Jonson, as not only does he have an abundance of experience under his belt, but he’ll provide Arteta with far more options to adjust his midfield setup when needed.

However, while the Real Sociedad star could well be a transformational addition, the North Londoners now appear to be closing in on someone who’d be an even more exciting signing: Eberechi Eze.

At least that is according to journalist Ben Jacobs, who, speaking on the latest episode of the Highbury Squad podcast, revealed that the Gunners were still very much interested in the Crystal Palace star.

In fact, Jacobs said he is “expecting a bid” from the North Londoners “within the next two weeks” that will be slightly below the Englishman’s £68m release clause.

In more good news, the player himself is “keen” to join Arteta’s outfit, and therefore, this does feel like a deal which will happen, and for our money, it’ll be a more exciting one than Zubimendi’s.

Why Eze would be a more exciting signing than Zubimendi

The first thing to say is that Zubimendi is undoubtedly an excellent and very important signing.

However, when it comes to pure excitement, we have to side with the addition of Eze.

After all, what is it that actually gets fans on their feet? In most cases, it’s goals and thrilling attacking phases of play, which are things the Palace star can and likely will provide in spades at the Emirates.

Appearances

43

Minutes

3303′

Goals

14

Assists

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

132.12′

For example, despite playing for a mid-table side, he was able to amass a brilliant tally of 14 goals and 11 assists in 43 appearances, totalling 3,303 minutes.

That means the former QPR ace averaged a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes.

Moreover, he isn’t someone who statpads by scoring meaningless goals, as he opened the scoring in the FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa, and then scored the winner in the final.

Additionally, while the 27-year-old “magician,” as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, spent much of last season playing in an attacking midfield role, he is also more than capable of playing on the left wing and could therefore help solve multiple problems in the Gunners’ squad.

Ultimately, Zubimendi will likely be an incredible signing for Arsenal, but for our money, Eze will be the more exciting addition, should this transfer happen.

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A “fantastic” Leeds United player is now believed to have reached an agreement over a £7.2m exit, as his Elland Road career edges towards its conclusion.

Players who could leave Leeds this summer

While much focus is on the shiny new signings who could join the Whites in the summer transfer window, there are current players who are expected to move on to pastures new in the coming weeks and months.

There is no guarantee that Illan Meslier will still be a Leeds player come the opening game of next season, for example, following a 2024/25 campaign that included some dreadful mistakes.

Elsewhere, left-back Junior Firpo is heading to La Liga outfit Real Betis, following four years with the Whites. He played there prior to his move to Barcelona back in 2019.

Mateo Joseph is another player who reportedly wants to leave Leeds this summer, following a frustrating 2024/25 season for him, in terms of playing time. Only 11 starts came his way in the Championship, and he may feel that now is the right time for a new challenge.

"Fantastic" Leeds ace reaches agreement over £7.2m move

Speaking to LeedsUnited.News, journalist Gramae Bailey has claimed that Leeds youngster Joseph is now also heading to Betis in an initial £7.2m move this summer, with an agreement reached.

“Leeds have agreed to let him leave. I am told the overall deal could be around the €10m [£8.5m] mark including add-ons. There were a few teams keen, but the player made it clear he wanted Betis. It has moved on from that point. Leeds would have been more than happy for him to fight for his place, but Joseph wanted the move back to Spain.”

It would be a shame to see Leeds lose Joseph, considering what a talented young player he is, with scout Jacek Kulig describing him as “fantastic” in the past.

As mentioned, the attacker has struggled to be a genuine key starter under Daniel Farke, and while he has still featured lots from the substitutes’ bench, he may see his playing time further limited in the Premier League next season.

For that reason, there is clear sense in allowing Joseph to leave Leeds in the summer window, and the fact that they have a sell-on clause included in the contract acts as a positive.

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2

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There is a risk in the Whites allowing him to move on, given his potential – he has scored eight goals in just 11 caps for Spain’s Under-21s – but at this point, it is understandable why he would want to be a star man elsewhere.

Birmingham City are now “pushing hard” for the signing of a League One forward this summer, according to Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett.

Blues summer transfer plans taking shape

While the Blues were always expected to secure promotion this season, having spent big on the likes of Jay Stansfield and Christoph Klarer last summer, they managed to do so in spectacular fashion, amassing a whopping 111 points to win the title.

Promotion to the second tier was the first task for Tom Brady and co, but the long-term goal is to seal promotion to the Premier League, as underlined by the fact the American owners are set to target similar players to Ipswich Town, Southampton and Leicester City this summer.

Although the season only recently came to a close, work has already started on signing new players, with a move for AFC Bournemouth goalkeeper Mark Travers being plotted, while Torino striker Che Adams is also of interest.

Birmingham are also looking to strengthen their wide options this summer, according to Dorsett, with the reporter recently taking to X to reveal they are now “pushing hard” to sign Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku.

Poku’s contract is set to expire this summer, but given that he is just 23-years-old, compensation will be required, should the two clubs be unable to agree a fee, and arbitration is a situation everyone involved is looking to avoid.

Peterborough chairman Darragh MacAnthony has also endorsed the winger making the move to St. Andrews, saying: “If he went there it’s probably the best move of his life and he could go to the Premier League in a year.”

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ByKelan Sarson May 8, 2025 Poku could be "outstanding" signing for Birmingham

With Birmingham looking to kick on in the Championship next season, it could be a solid strategy to recruit some of the third tier’s top players, and the Peterborough star could well be in that category, given his impressive attacking record this season.

Competition

Appearances

Goals

Assists

League One

27

12

8

EFL Trophy

2

0

1

FA Cup

2

0

2

Having amassed a combined 23 goals and assists in all competitions, there are clear signs the Ghana international could be capable of making the step-up to Championship next season, and potentially the top flight if he continues his current trajectory.

Not only that, but the Peterborough star was named as the Posh’s player of the year, which led to high praise from members of the Ghanaian media.

Poku could be a fantastic signing for Birmingham this summer, with Davies looking to build a squad capable of winning another promotion.

Chelsea booked their place in the Europa Conference League final last night with a routine 1-0 victory over Swedish outfit Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half strike was enough to secure a 5-1 aggregate win, with Enzo Maresca’s side facing Real Betis in the final at the end of the month.

The Blues have reached their eighth major European final, looking to add to their two Champions League and two Europa League triumphs in previous years.

Given their form in the competition, it would be a surprise to no one that Maresca’s men are the favourites to go all the way – topping off a superb first year in the role for the Italian.

Numerous players impressed during the second leg victory, potentially handing the manager a selection headache ahead of the remaining Premier League fixtures.

Chelsea’s star performers against Djurgarden

Alongside scoring the goal that clinched another win, midfielder Dewsbury-Hall enjoyed an evening to remember, producing numerous impressive figures throughout.

The 26-year-old created three chances – the most of any player in the match – whilst also completing 100% of the dribbles he attempted, showcasing the threat he carried in attacking areas.

He wasn’t the only star to impress at the Bridge last night, with 16-year-old academy graduate Reggie Walsh getting the opportunity to start from the off after his cameo last week.

The teenager impressed with the opportunity, completing 91% of the passes he attempted, whilst winning four fouls and posing a serious threat to the opposition despite his tender age.

However, despite the showings by the aforementioned duo, one other Blues star managed to impress, with the boss simply unable to drop him from the side after such a positive showing.

The Chelsea star who now looks undroppable after Djurgarden

The Europa Conference League run has been extremely beneficial for Maresca over the last few months, handing the manager the opportunity to fully evaluate the players at his disposal.

Many players, like Walsh, have taken the chance handed to them with both hands, but the same can’t be said for others, with departures likely over the summer window.

That being said, investment is also to be expected in West London as the club looks to push towards the summit of the Premier League during the 2025/26 campaign.

However, such events shouldn’t affect youngster Josh Acheampong, who’s managed to go from strength to strength after originally being frozen out during the early stages of the Maresca reign.

The 19-year-old featured for the entirety of the clash once again last night, thriving in the side as the Blues booked their place in the final of yet another final.

He registered a staggering 122 touches on the ball, completing 85 passes at a completion rate of 91% – not looking out of place in the first-team ranks despite his youthful years.

Acheampong also managed to make 10 passes into the final third and won two tackles, having a huge impact at both ends of the pitch during the triumph – leading to journalist Nizaar Kinsella labelling him as “Chelsea’s best player”.

Minutes played

90

Touches

122

Passes completed

85/93 (91%)

Passes into final third

10

Tackles won

2

Fouls won

4

Duels won

9

To top off his magnificent showing, the teenager was handed a 7/10 match rating by The Express’ Dom Smith, highlighting how impressive he was during the meeting at the Bridge.

After such a display, Maresca can’t drop the academy gem, handing him a selection headache ahead of the weekend’s huge clash with Newcastle United.

The Blues need an excellent end to the campaign if they are to secure Champions League football for next season, with Acheampong deserving of the opportunity to help the club in their quest.

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While the pitch may only start turning on day three, both captains will look to unleash their fast bowlers in the early exchanges at a venue where the new ball usually swings

Karthik Krishnaswamy12-Nov-20251:43

Philander on whether Rabada can make an impact in India

When you’re about to play a Test match on an Indian pitch, the question to ask the curator isn’t it will turn but . Spin, at most venues, is a given.This is probably true of Eden Gardens too, where both India and South Africa are likely to line up with three-spinner attacks during the first Test that starts on Friday.But from all pre-match indications, and the even, straw-coloured look it wore two days before the match, this Kolkata pitch looks like one that will only really start turning on day three or thereabouts, and possibly later given the mild weather the city is experiencing. All signs point to a classic Eden Gardens surface with the potential for big first-innings totals, which will mean a lot of work not just for the spinners but the fast bowlers too.”I think, just from the early looks at the wicket, it looks a good wicket that should spin later,” India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said on Wednesday. “So yes, it’s not just going to be about the spin.”Importantly, the batters as well, they have to bat really well on the first few days when batting should be slightly easier, and of course, both teams have got quality sets of fast bowlers. So I guess the challenge for both teams is the combinations we go in with.”But certainly, we are going to be relying a lot on our seamers to make early inroads in the first couple of days. And I guess that’s what you want from a really good Test wicket, where it’s not just reliant on one of the facets being too important to the game. But I do think spin is going to be important on this pitch in the long run.”Related

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In the short run, on days one and two, it could well be the quicks that both captains look at as attacking weapons, to be unleashed when the conditions give them small windows of help. The new ball usually swings in Kolkata, aided by breeze from the Hooghly, which is only a short distance beyond the uncovered stands at the stadium’s northwest. There could be early moisture in the first sessions, from the pitch perspiring under the covers. Reverse-swing is a possibility, given the practice pitches on the outfield and their roughening effect on the ball.And history suggests that Eden Gardens is probably India’s most pace-friendly venue. Among all the Indian grounds that have hosted at least five Tests since the start of 2010, it has the best fast-bowling average (27.44, with Bengaluru next-best at 30.04) and strike rate (47.1, with Bengaluru, once again, next-best at 53.6). And fast bowlers have taken 19.14 wickets per Test here, which is significantly better than Mohali’s 13.80 in second place.Now these figures are skewed by three outlier Tests. In 2016, a newly relaid surface offered India and New Zealand both seam movement and uneven bounce. In 2017, the desire to prepare for an imminent South Africa tour led India to prepare a greentop against Sri Lanka, in a Test match beset by wet weather. In 2019, India prepared another seaming pitch for a pink-ball Test against Bangladesh. Across those three Tests, fast bowlers picked up a combined 85 wickets.Shubman Gill and Gautam Gambhir take a look at the Kolkata pitch•Associated PressThe Eden Gardens pitch of 2025 looks nothing like those pitches, and will certainly not play in a similar way. But fast bowlers could still come into play, given how often they’ve made a telling impact even on normal Kolkata pitches. Umesh Yadav, playing just his second Test match, was India’s most successful bowler with seven wickets in the 2011 Test against West Indies. In 2012, James Anderson and Steven Finn bowled match-shaping spells of reverse-swing in both innings in a historic England win. In 2013, Mohammed Shami made an eye-catching debut on his home ground, picking up match figures of 9 for 118 against West Indies.”I think everybody talks about spin in India, but on both sides they’ve got world-class fast bowlers,” South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad said. “And again, if history is to be believed, then there’s always something for the fast bowlers at Eden Gardens. So I expect the fast bowlers on both sides to have an impact on the game, especially in the first couple of days, and for spin to come in slightly later.”So, yeah, there’s so many battles within the Test match, within this big war. Fast bowlers, you’re talking [Jasprit] Bumrah, [Kagiso] Rabada, [Marco] Jansen, [Mohammed] Siraj. You’ve mentioned the spinners, and then the batting match-ups. It’s certainly a mouthwatering contest, and if you’re a fan of cricket, I know what you’re going to be doing [over the next few days]. So there’s so many exciting battles to look forward to, and you’ve got to earn the right to get to the spin by taking care of the fast bowlers properly.”Take care of the fast bowlers before you get to spin. If any team knows this about India tours, it’s South Africa, whom India whitewashed 3-0 on flat pitches that called for bowlers of all kinds to get through a lot of work. And that result came down, perhaps even more than India’s spin superiority, to their fast bowlers taking 26 wickets at 17.50 vis-a-vis South Africa’s quicks taking 10 at 70.20. Seventeen versus seventy.Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj will have a role to play with the new ball as well as the old one in Kolkata•Associated PressRabada was on that tour, his second Test tour of India, and bowled better than figures of seven wickets at 40.71 would suggest. He bowled testing new-ball spells in all three Tests, but where he only picked up three new-ball wickets (first 30 overs) while drawing 43 false shots (14.3 false shots per wicket), Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav and Ishant Sharma took a combined 19 new-ball wickets from 84 false shots (4.4 false shots per wicket). And India had the good fortune of winning every toss, batting big each time, and declaring late on day two to give themselves two cracks at South Africa’s top order with the ball still new and their quicks still fresh.It wasn’t all luck, of course. Over the years, India’s fast bowlers have tended to outbowl visiting counterparts in a few key respects including attacking the stumps more, harnessing reverse-swing better, and just having a more intuitive understanding of Indian pitches. They’ve also tended to have better spin-bowling support, which means they get longer breaks between spells, and tend to bowl more often in more favourable situations. In that series, Shami and Umesh were lethal for all these reasons.This series begins with South Africa looking in better health than in 2019-20 in many respects. One of them is the depth of their pace and spin departments, and the experience Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer bring from both past India tours and recent subcontinent tours.They could be dangerous opponents for that reason, and India will be more than wary, with the bruises from last year’s 3-0 loss to New Zealand still to fully heal. This could be an exceedingly tight series if South Africa’s sails can catch the winds of form and luck. And from their perspective, it couldn’t begin at a better place than Kolkata.

India’s wicketkeeper-batter has been remarkably good at what is less remarked on

Andrew Fidel Fernando01-Nov-20231:58

Kumble: KL Rahul looks like he’s back to his original self

Someone to help you move your books to a new apartment, an ear to vent to about your battles at work, a pick-up from the side of the highway when your vehicle breaks down, an arm around your shoulder after a break-up. For these and other wholesome acts of friendship, call KL Rahul.Not seriously, because obviously he doesn’t have time for the likes of you. Although, you sense, perhaps he’d like to.It’s been that sort of World Cup for Rahul – a player who even at his strokemaking finest has the bearing of someone producing the sweetest and most thoughtful support act. In the match against England, as Rohit Sharma took the lead on raising India from 40 for 3, Rahul was massaging his way to a 39 off 58 as the two produced the most consequential stand of the match. Their 91 together was more than the scores of England’s top seven combined.Related

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Against New Zealand, his 27 off 35 had helped arrest a potential slide, against Pakistan he made a perfectly adequate 19 not out in a small chase. Memorably, against Bangladesh, he had partnered Virat Kohli in the late stages of a chase. When Kohli was nearing a 48th ODI hundred, and only a few runs were remaining to complete the chase, Rahul convinced Kohli that they shouldn’t take singles off his own bat, to leave Kohli with enough remaining runs to get to 100.Kohli, we’re told, had refused at first. But how could you say no to Rahul? “I said, I mean it’s not won but still I think we’ll win quite easily. So if you can get to the milestone, why not? You must try it,” this is what Rahul told soon after the match ended. “I wasn’t going to run the singles anyway.”Sometimes it’s not enough to just offer buddies your support. Occasionally, you must insist that they need you. You got your hundred in the end, didn’t you, big guy? See? Knew you had it in you.With gloves on, Rahul has occasionally been memorably spectacular, but mostly spectacularly unmemorable. The former when he dived down leg to pouch in the tips of his left glove’s webbing, a catch off the inside half of Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s bat that had been travelling especially rapidly. The latter, pretty much anytime else, gobbling the remaining five catches that have come his way, plus effecting a straightforward stumping against England.KL Rahul has stepped up with the bat in crucial times in India’s World Cup campaign•AFP/Getty ImagesPerhaps you could point to the six byes across six matches, or the missed half-chance off the bat of Daryl Mitchell off Ravindra Jadeja in the 30th over of New Zealand’s innings in Dharamsala. But that was a catch beyond the reflexes of all but the wicketkeeping geniuses.Rahul has instead willed himself to excel at the the dull stuff: keeping low, reading from the hand, getting himself into strong positions by making footwork the foundation of his keeping. When you keep this way, you dive only occasionally, draw little attention, but generally end up with the ball inside your mitts.In that Dharamsala match, he had also fired in an excellent under-arm throw to run out Lockie Ferguson, as New Zealand attempted a bye. Typically this came after Mohammed Shami had already completed his five-wicket haul earlier that over. Don’t steal your bro’s thunder; never leave ’em hanging.If Rahul’s keeping has not made major splashes elsewhere, it has certainly had recognition within the team. He has twice been the recipient of the “best fielder of the match” medal, for which India have had increasingly elaborate presentation ceremonies. It has also allowed India to strengthen their batting against spin, Suryakumar Yadav coming in following the injury to Hardik Pandya, with India happy enough with Rahul’s keeping to keep Ishan Kishan – who keeps wicket more often than Rahul at the lower levels – not required in the XI.Rahul is much more than just a support player of course; his 97 not out off 115 against Australia had been among the first rumblings of India’s campaign, which has since become an avalanche. In fact, this year the guy averages 74.70, with a strike rate of 84.69 – not beta numbers. There was also the hundred that came against Pakistan, in the Asia Cup.But when team-mates have bossed the limelight, and all that was required of Rahul was to do the little things that keep a team ticking, he has been remarkably good at what is less remarked on.

There is a clear frontrunner but the selectors also have other options to look at

Nagraj Gollapudi15-Jan-20222:06

Is Rishabh Pant a dark horse to be India’s next Test captain?

Rohit Sharma
Rohit is the frontrunner mainly because he was appointed the Test vice-captain by the Indian selectors ahead of the recently concluded South Africa series. However, a hamstring injury ruled him out of the series. Rohit had taken over the vice-captaincy role from Ajinkya Rahane, who has struggled for fluency with the bat for the past few years despite an impeccable Test-captaincy record. In contrast, Rohit has emerged as India’s best batter since he returned to the Test team in January 2021 for the final two Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. In those two matches, Rohit also served as Rahane’s deputy when Kohli returned home after the first Test for the birth of his child. India went on to beat Australia 2-1 to secure a historic triumph. The selectors’ strong faith in Rohit reflected in their decision to appoint him as India’s white-ball captain ahead of the South Africa tour. With the second edition of the World Test Championship final as well as the ODI World Cup coming up in 2023, the selectors might not mind having Rohit lead in all three formats as that could help with stability in the decision making.