Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is once again forced into playing without a natural striking option following Viktor Gyokeres’ injury, and while the early signs have been fairly positive that it’s nothing too serious, supporters could have reason to be slightly worried.

Gyokeres is currently undergoing scans on the problem as the north Londoners await results of more definitive testing.

The Sweden international, who was left out of Graham Potter’s national team squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Switzerland and Slovenia this month, missed Arsenal’s 3-0 win away to Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday after being hauled off against Burnley last weekend.

Mikel Merino, who has scored 11 goals in all competitions this calendar year, deputised as a makeshift number nine once again to great effect as the Spaniard’s brace helped to clinch all three points in the Czech Republic.

However, Arteta won’t want to rely on Merino for an overly extensive period as he did last season, despite the midfielder’s excellent performances up top, as Arsenal’s manager has been adamant that Gyokeres makes his side even more unpredictable.

This injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Gyokeres personally, as the £55 million summer signing was just hitting a good run of form with three goals in his last three games — just after the centre-forward went seven matches without scoring in all competitions.

Arsenal 5-0 Leeds United

8.84

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

7.97

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

7.68

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

6.69

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

6.68

via WhoScored

The former Sporting CP star, according to insider Hand of Arsenal and other reliable sources this week, is expected back in time for Arsenal’s crunch North London derby clash against Tottenham near the end of this month — which will come as music to the ears of fans.

Journalist explains why he's worried for Viktor Gyokeres at Arsenal

That being said, Arteta has still admitted that he’s quite concerned, potentially suggesting the aforementioned timeframe isn’t set in stone as Gyokeres awaits further test results.

Taking this into account, journalist Charles Watts has told Sports Mole that he’s still “worried” about Gyokeres’ condition and Arsenal face a “massive blow” if it is indeed hamstring-related.

Once Gyokeres does return to full fitness, which Arteta hopes will be in time for Tottenham, it is also imperative that the striker isn’t rushed back unnecessarily.

His readiness to be thrust straight back into action will be key and Arsenal won’t be keen on taking any chances, especially after their plethora of attacking injuries lately.

The Haryana quick talks about idolising Glenn McGrath, bowling Travis Head off a no-ball, and learning what it takes to bowl on flat pitches

Shashank Kishore18-Sep-2024Anshul Kamboj wasn’t even born when Haryana won their first (and only) Ranji Trophy crown in 1990-91. And he didn’t know until his debut in 2022 what it took to succeed in first-class cricket. Two years on, Kamboj has built on a superb 2023-24 season, in which he was Haryana’s leading wicket-taker during a victorious Vijay Hazare campaign.Last week, Kamboj, 23, picked up an eight-wicket haul for India C in the 2024-25 Duleep Trophy. On a surface where his side racked up 525, Kamboj, who describes himself as a hit-the-deck bowler, ran through India B after their openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and N Jagadeesan put on 129.Test batter Sarfaraz Khan, Musheer Khan and T20 star Rinku Singh were among those Kamboj dismissed. His 8 for 69 in 27.5 overs are currently the second-best figures by a fast bowler in Duleep Trophy history. Three batters were bowled, and two – the Khan brothers – lbw.Related

• Kamboj takes eight-for, Gaikwad hits fifty as India C eke out draw

• Suryakumar Yadav fit to play final round of Duleep Trophy

• Mulani, Kotian share seven wickets in India A's big win

“On a pitch where there wasn’t much help, my job was simple: attack the stumps to bring bowled and lbw into play,” Kamboj tells ESPNcricinfo.”You can’t overcomplicate things. It’s easy as a fast bowler to say, ‘there’s no help in this pitch, what can we do.’ As a fast bowler, your challenge is to always look to create opportunities. That’s what I’m learning to do.”Kamboj loves watching videos of Glenn McGrath. But the time he spent watching him bowl on YouTube has been matched on the field by trying to emulate McGrath’s virtues.”He was known to keep hitting the deck with the perfect seam,” Kamboj says. “That’s what I’ve grown up learning to do. Pace is one aspect, but if you can be accurate and hit the perfect seam, you can make the ball talk.”Kamboj comes from boxing heartland, Karnal in Haryana, and began playing on open fields. It wasn’t until he was 14 that he began to take the game seriously. And in less than a decade, Kamboj hasn’t just progressed to his state team but has also broken into the IPL.”The turning point was in 2019,” he says. “I had just played for India Under-19. That was when I discovered what it takes to be a professional. While I could play just one series [for India Under-19], it was an eye-opener in terms of the areas I needed to improve – the fitness, the skill aspect, conditioning, everything.”

“The two IPL games gave me a lot of learnings on what it takes to play at this level. Nothing prepares you for it. When you’re in the middle, the experience and lessons you learn by playing – you can’t get it anywhere.”Anshul Kamboj

Kamboj has played a lot of his cricket in Lahli, renowned to be a swing bowler’s paradise. But it’s here he learnt two things about fast bowling. “The importance of not getting carried away when everything is going your way, and the need to vary lengths as per the surface,” he says promptly.Earlier this year, Kamboj earned his maiden IPL contract when Mumbai Indians signed him at the auction. Having waited right until the end of the season for his opportunity, Kamboj had a memorable initiation.”I’ve replayed that a fair few times in my head,” he laughs when asked of his IPL debut.After being slapped for six off his second delivery, Kamboj flattened Travis Head’s off stump three balls later, only to find out he had overstepped. Head would dispatch him to the boundary off the next two deliveries.”It was heartbreaking, I felt so bad. Everyone tried to calm me down quickly and told me to forget about it. How could I? You dream of playing in this tournament and when your first wicket is off a no-ball, it’s a terrible feeling.”There was more frustration in store when Head was dropped off his bowling in his second over. But agony turned into ecstasy two balls later, when he clean bowled Mayank Agarwal – “with a hit-the-deck delivery” – for his maiden IPL wicket.”The two IPL games gave me a lot of learnings on what it takes to play at this level. Nothing prepares you for it. When you’re in the middle, the experience and lessons you learn by playing – you can’t get it anywhere.”It’s almost always assumed a young player talks up his India ambitions when asked of the road ahead, but Kamboj is different.”We’ve won the Vijay Hazare, the Ranji Trophy is the next big goal,” he says. “We’ve won the title only once. I want to help us win another Ranji crown. And if I can keep improving from every game, it’ll go a long way in this journey towards contributing to Haryana’s success.”

West Ham chiefs are already working to try and save Nuno Espírito Santo when the January window opens for business, with Brazil international defender Alexsandro now a key winter target.

According to recent reports, and amid the Hammers’ dire start to 2025/2026, David Sullivan, Karren Brady and the board are ready to back Nuno to the hilt with new additions mid-season.

Sky Sports reported last week that Nuno has got confirmation funds will be available to spend in January, and West Ham are actively targeting a new defender, midfielder and forward.

Much has been made of their glaring need for a new striker, with Real Madrid sensation Endrick rumoured to be on West Ham’s January shortlist as the east Londoners ponder a loan deal.

However, long-term injuries to Konstantinos Mavropanos and Ollie Scarles have left West Ham desperately short at the back too.

West Ham’s results in the Premier League so far
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
West Ham 0-2 Brentford
Leeds 2-1 West Ham

Mavropanos is expected to be out for up to six weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Brentford, while Scarles was forced to undergo surgery on his collarbone and could be missing until 2026 (ExWHUemployee).

If West Ham’s desire for a star new defender to shore up their leaky backline wasn’t already there, it definitely is now.

So far, West Ham have conceded more goals than any other side in the Premier League, and it is crystal clear that Nuno needs to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

Bearing this in mind, Nuno has now got his eyes on Alexsandro.

The 26-year-old has been a mainstay for Lille and his impressive performances in France even attracted attention from Premier League title frontrunners Arsenal in the summer.

Before Mikel Arteta’s side eventually signed Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera as their central defensive additions, credible South American news outlet UOL reported that Arsenal held initial talks over Alexsandro, which eventually went nowhere.

This is good news for West Ham, as Nuno is believed to be extremely keen.

Alexsandro makes key demand to join West Ham in January

According to Hammers News, the Irons boss wants him in the first week of January after identifying Alexsandro as the club’s priority defender signing this winter.

A deal is described by one transfer source as having a “good” chance of happening, and early talks have already been held over the centre-back’s potential arrival.

However, Alexsandro has apparently set out a key condition to join West Ham.

It is believed the Ligue 1 star wants “assurances” that there will be a route out of the London Stadium if West Ham enter the doomsday scenario of relegation, so it appears he’s looking for a safety net before committing.

While Alexsandro has been excellent for Lille overall, as evident by the Gunners’ reported interest earlier this year, he has real disciplinary issues.

Last season, the player was handed a seismic 13 bookings in all competitions, picking up three yellow card suspensions in the French top flight alone.

Nuno would need to try and work this out of Alexsandro’s game if the defender moves to Rush Green at the start of next year, but according to ESPN, he could be available for just £26 million.

West Ham have also held talks to sign two more players from the same club

The MLB 2025 All-Star rosters were officially released on Sunday ahead of the game on Tuesday, July 15.

While there are plenty of players who will be returning to the All-Star Game after receiving multiple bids in their careers, there are many players who will be making their All-Star debuts this summer. There's been quite a few standout stars in MLB this season already, like Cal Raleigh and Pete Crow-Armstrong to name two examples. And, they will now get to show off their talents on a national stage.

In total, 18 MLB stars were named to their first All-Star Game this year. Here's a breakdown of all those players, including which ones are rookies this season.

American League First-Time All-Stars

Player	Team	Position
Cal Raleigh	Seattle Mariners	Starting Catcher
Ryan O’Hearn	Baltimore Orioles	Starting Designated Hitter
Jacob Wilson	Athletics	Starting Shortstop
Jeremy Peña	Houston Astros	Reserve Infielder
Jonathan Aranda	Tampa Bay Rays	Reserve Infielder
Shane Smith	Chicago White Sox	Starting Pitcher
Hunter Brown	Houston Astros	Starting Pitcher
Bryan Woo	Seattle Mariners	Starting Pitcher

National League First-Time All-Stars

Player	Team	Position
Pete Crow-Armstrong	Chicago Cubs	Starting Outfielder
Brendan Donovan	St. Louis Cardinals	Reserve Outfielder
James Wood	Washington Nationals	Reserve Outfielder
Kyle Stowers	Miami Marlins	Reserve Outfielder
Hunter Goodman	Colorado Rockies	Reserve Catcher
Yoshinobu Yamamoto	Los Angeles Dodgers	Starting Pitcher
Matthew Boyd	Chicago Cubs	Starting Pitcher
Mackenzie Gore	Washington Nationals	Starting Pitcher
Jason Adam	San Diego Padres	Relief Pitcher
Randy Rodríguez	San Francisco Giants	Relief Pitcher

Rookies Named to All-Star Game

There's only two rookies who were named to the All-Star rosters this year: Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson and Chicago White Sox pitcher Shane Smith.

Wilson was called up right after the All-Star break last summer, so this is his first full season with the team. He is the first fan-elected rookie shortstop to earn the All-Star starting bid in MLB history—pretty impressive. In 84 games so far this season, he's averaging .335/.377/.468 with nine home runs and 42 RBIs.

Smith's pitched in 17 games this season, posting a 3-7 record in that span. He's etched a 4.20 ERA over 83.2 innings pitched. He's thrown 76 strikes and given up 74 hits.

Are Newcastle United finally clicking into gear this season?

It appears that way, with Eddie Howe’s Magpies now three wins from their last three matches in all competitions, which included an excellent 2-0 EFL Cup win being picked up over Thomas Frank’s challenging Tottenham Hotspur last time out at St James’ Park.

Still, the Toon only have three wins next to their name in the Premier League from their opening nine clashes, meaning more positive results need to be picked up in the bread and butter of the top-flight soon, with away trips to West Ham United and Brentford now on their agenda.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s men will, no doubt, be fearful of Newcastle’s attack as they loiter near the bottom of the tough division, with Nick Woltemade helping himself to yet another goal against Spurs to add to his ever-increasing Magpies back catalogue.

Woltemade's unbelievable Newcastle start

Woltemade would ensure his new side would progress through to the quarter finals of the EFL Cup when he headed this effort past a hapless Antonín Kinský.

He hasn’t just reserved his goals this season for when he comes up against stand-in goalkeepers, however, with Woltemade also boasting a mightily impressive four strikes back in league action, which has even led to opposition managers such as the Brighton and Hove Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler hailing him as “special” in what he can uniquely offer the Tyneside giants.

Indeed, it isn’t just a lethal edge that the 6-foot-6 marksman can provide, whether that be when he’s racing through on goal, or being positioned intelligently to head home a cross, with Woltemade also often in the correct spaces to progress his side’s efforts going forward with a killer pass.

He was at the heart of Harvey Barnes’ goal against Benfica in the Champions League, for example, as his ingenious flick then led to the number 11 firing home, after Anthony Gordon had played it into his path.

To put it simply, acquiring the ex-Stuttgart striker for £69m – although looking rather steep at the time – has now gone down as a “first class” signing, as his manager has recently stated.

Howe and Co. could well look to this coming January in trying to win more attacking firepower in a similar vein to their new star-man, as one move is reportedly eyed up…

Newcastle's search for another striker

After all, although William Osula has looked dangerous off the bench for Newcastle in recent matches, there is a lack of depth in the striker spot at St James’ Park – with Yoane Wissa still sidelined.

This might spark the Magpies into attempting to seal Alexander Sorloth’s signature in January, as Ross Wilson plots what his first bit of business at his new club will be as the fresh sporting director.

Newcastle could do far worse than landing Sorloth if rumours are to be believed, with Spanish outlet Marca – via Sport Witness – that eyes are very firmly on the Norwegian’s exploits at Atletico Madrid between now and the transfer window swinging open, with scouts from Newcastle previously watching the 29-year-old in action back in September.

The similarities between Woltemade and the Scandinavian are immediately obvious, with Sorloth coming in at a gigantic 6-foot-4 frame himself.

On top of that, despite some wobbles this season under Diego Simeone, he has been a reliable source of goals for most of his stay in Spain to date, leading to the fiery Simeone lauding him as a “phenomenal” finisher.

Sorloth’s recent record

Season

Games (starts)

Goals + Assists

25/26

9 (3)

2 + 0

24/25

35 (15)

20 + 2

23/24

34 (30)

28 + 6

22/23

34 (28)

12 + 3

21/22

33 (20)

4 + 0

Stats by Sofascore

Looking at the table above, it’s clear that Sorloth possesses the same split-second instinct Woltemade possesses when finishing off chances, with this season seeing him bag three goals, despite only averaging 40 minutes of action in La Liga per game.

In total, the 66-time Norway international now has 61 Spanish top-flight strikes next to his name, which far outweighs his German counterpart’s Bundesliga tally of 14 goals.

Away from clearly being potent, Simeone has also noted that Sorloth is “important in every moment and context of the game you can imagine”, with an eye for an assist and carving out an opening also clear, with Howe very much ready to use him as a focal point like Woltemade, knowing he’s a similar team player.

It’s unlikely that he would usurp Woltemade from the get-go, but as another second-in-command option for a potential £27m fee, it feels like a no-brainer to chase after.

Related Saved by Woltemade: Newcastle star is looking like 2023 Gordon under Howe

This Newcastle recruit has not hit the ground running in Eddie Howe’s team.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Oct 30, 2025

England are expected to be handed a triple injury blow ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi is likely to miss out after seeing a blow to his foot leave him on crutches, while Newcastle duo Anthony Gordon and Nick Pope are also poised to be ruled out of Thomas Tuchel’s plans with the Three Lions.

• Palace defender Guehi nursing bruised bone

  Tuchel named his squad on Friday, with there already fears at that point regarding Guehi’s potential involvement. He figured for Palace the previous day in their Conference League clash with AZ Alkmaar.

  The defender suffered bruising to the bone of his foot during that fixture and was unable to line up for the Eagles in their Premier League date with arch-rivals Brighton. With no risks being taken on his fitness, official withdrawal from the England camp is likely to be confirmed shortly.

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• (C)Getty Images
  

  Medical tests revealed extend of Guehi's injury

  Palace boss Oliver Glasner told reporters when delivering a fitness update on Guehi heading into the meeting with Brighton at Selhurst Park: “He can't even walk at the moment so the last two days he was on crutches. That's why he can't play. I don't know how this develops over the next couple of days. At the moment, it looks like he can't play for England as well.”

  BBC Sport claims that Guehi underwent scans on Friday to assess the full extent of his injury. Significant bruising was identified at that stage, much to the 25-year-old’s frustration. He will now be denied the opportunity to add to his collection of 26 senior international caps.

• Why Gordon & Pope are set to miss out with England

  It appears as though Gordon and Pope will face a similar fate. The former did not travel with the Newcastle squad for their 3-1 defeat at Brentford, while the latter was replaced 77 minutes into that contest after a heavy fall when coming to collect a high ball.

  Magpies boss Eddie Howe confirmed that a hip problem would be keeping Gordon out of England duty, while Pope requires a period of rest after suffering concussion. Howe said: “Nick Pope suffered a concussion and that’s why we took him off. As soon as we were made aware of that, he was withdrawn. Initially, I wasn’t told anything in the sense that he was concussed and then a message came that he wasn’t feeling too well and he had to come off. He won’t go with England. It’s 12 days (recovery), I think. Anthony has a minor injury, so he’ll miss England.”

  Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Palace keeper Dean Henderson are the other shot-stopping selections at Tuchel’s disposal. It remains to be seen whether cover will be drafted in for Pope, with three options always favourable.

  England remain well stocked in the forward department, despite losing Gordon, with Eberechi Eze, Jarrod Bowen, Phil Foden, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford able to fill berths on the flanks. Gordon was, however, another option to cover for captain Harry Kane down the middle as Tuchel has only selected one out-and-out central striker, as the likes of Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney have been overlooked.

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• Getty Images
  

  Will Tuchel bring in cover for late withdrawals?

  With Guehi absent, former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah – who is now in Germany with Bayern Leverkusen – could move up the pecking order as he waits on his senior bow. Dan Burn, Ezri Konsa and John Stones are the other options to line up at centre-half. Tuchel must again decide whether he wants to make late additions to his ranks.

  The Three Lions are in a position where they can experiment, with qualification for the 2026 World Cup having already been secured. They have been faultless through the group stage, picking up maximum points from six games while being yet to concede a goal. They are now looking to maintain momentum.

  Serbia will be welcomed to Wembley Stadium on Thursday, before England then travel to Albania three days later to wrap up their campaign. Tuchel has selected three uncapped players, with Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and Manchester City full-back Nico O’Reilly falling into that category alongside Quansah.

Nottingham Forest are on the lookout for solidity under Sean Dyche and could now be set to make an intriguing move courtesy of owner Evangelos Marinakis.

The Tricky Trees had a fairly ominous start to the Premier League campaign that culminated in the departure of Nuno Espirito Santo, which was followed by Ange Postecoglou’s short tenure at the City Ground that ended under acrimonious circumstances.

Now, Dyche is the man at the helm and there is a feeling that improvement is starting to take shape on the River Trent, characterised in clear fashion by their convincing victory over Leeds United before the international break.

Ultimately, Forest are still in the relegation zone and have their work cut out to ensure they survive in the top-flight this campaign, though the fact that players such as Elliot Anderson are earning rave reviews from Thomas Tuchel is a reason for some optimism in the East Midlands.

Paying tribute to the Three Lions midfielder, the England coach labelled him as ‘one of the best midfielders in the Premier League’ before a routine victory in World Cup qualifying over Serbia, emphasising the value of his services that the Tricky Trees have at their disposal.

Even then, a tricky fixture at Anfield awaits for Forest on the other side of the international break before a quickfire double header against Malmö and Brighton, requiring squad rotation to make sure Dyche has fresh options to choose from.

Stability is something that hasn’t always been easy to come by at the City Ground, and club owner Marinakis doesn’t wait around when it is time to make a decision, something he could again demonstrate in January.

Nottingham Forest set for intriguing Christos Mouzakitis pursuit

According to Tuttosport, Nottingham Forest are among a clutch of clubs that are keen on Olympiacos star Christos Mouzakitis, who is also wanted by Arsenal, Manchester United, Aston Villa, AC Milan and Napoli.

Intriguingly, the Greek giants are owned by Marinakis, and he is said to be the one who will have the final say on his next destination amid their £30 million asking price for the 18-year-old midfielder.

Mouzakitis is described by Tuttosport as a player who’s ‘already one of the greatest talents in Greek football history’, with a clutch of Premier League sides taking notuce.

However, Forest may well have an edge given their close ties to the teenager via their owner.

Known to idolise AC Milan veteran Luka Modrić, Mouzakitis is a recipient of the TuttoSport Goldenboy Web Award and has registered two assists in 13 appearances this season across all competitions.

Nevertheless, he is under contract until 2029, and Olympiacos will hold the cards should a bidding war start to take place for his services, making it a tough ask for any suitors to land their man for anything less than a premium.

Either way, Marinakis could be the defining factor for Nottingham Forest in this one, and it may be worth keeping an eye to see what developments occur over the coming weeks and months.

Nottingham Forest could also be set to allow a surprise departure

Their bowling issues haven’t been spoken about quite as much as their batting woes, but they may have played just as big a role in the predicament they find themselves in

Karthik Krishnaswamy02-May-20253:03

Have SRH been the most disappointing team this season?

There are partnerships that go at more than two runs per ball, and there are partnerships that delight cricketing purists. Rarely do you get one that ticks both boxes.The 87-run stand between Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan in Friday’s game between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) was a rare example. It came off just 41 balls, and it included 13 fours and two sixes. All those boundaries came inside the powerplay, and they came off these shots, as per ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data: six pulls, three flicks, two cover drives, a straight drive, a steer, a dab and a cut.That the sixth-highest powerplay score of IPL 2025 (82 for no loss) came up without any slogs, scoops or reverse hits was remarkable, and the first instinct of the viewer might be to hail the quality of the batting. And that wouldn’t be wrong: Gill and Sai Sudharsan have both been in stellar ball-striking form throughout the season, and Friday’s partnership overflowed with silken timing and pinpoint placement.Related

There's a 'serious question mark' over Mohammed Shami

Prasidh: 'My control over lengths has been good'

Gill, Buttler and Sai Sudharsan leave SRH on the brink of elimination

Watch those highlights again, though, and you’ll also see that so much of the timing and placement came off bad bowling from SRH. Mohammed Shami set the tone in the first over with a half-volley drifting onto Gill’s toes – duly flicked for six – and the errors in line and length kept coming, over after over.Shami gave Sai Sudharsan width and then overcompensated during a 20-run third over. Then SRH captain Pat Cummins came on and bowled three floaty half-volleys to Gill in the fourth, before Harshal Patel delivered a half-volley, a full-toss and a hip-high short ball angling down leg to Sai Sudharsan in the fifth.Cummins put an extraordinarily high number to the cost of SRH’s bad balls through the powerplay.”Our powerplay with the ball wasn’t too great,” he said on the broadcast. “I’m probably as guilty as anyone there. [We] probably let them get 20 or 30 extra just with some bad balls. Maybe hang on to one or two catches throughout the middle, again I’m guilty there, and maybe chasing 200 looks a bit more realistic.” As it happened, SRH had to chase 225.Cummins was then asked about the challenge of bowling to Sai Sudharsan and Gill, who now sit first and fourth in the Orange Cap standings.2:36

Chopra: If Shami struggles, his England ticket will be in doubt

“They’re class batters,” Cummins said. “They don’t do anything outlandish. If you bowl bad balls they just put it away, and we probably dished up too many bad balls. They’re quality, they know this venue well, so yeah, we just weren’t quite at our best.”Gill and Sai Sudharsan are hugely gifted batters, but they are throwbacks of a sort. They score quicker than the kind of batter who would have been called an anchor five years ago, but they are still more reluctant than many other IPL opening pairs to relinquish control in the search for accelerated boundary-hitting.On Friday, the perfect storm of finely tuned batting rhythm, excellent batting conditions and ordinary bowling gave them the best of both worlds: 15 boundaries within the powerplay as well as a control percentage of nearly 92. At one point, Sai Sudharsan was batting with a strike rate of 244 and a control percentage of 100.Of the 12 powerplays this season that have ended with 75-plus scores, GT’s on Friday was the only one with a 90-plus control percentage.!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var t in a.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r,i=0;r=e[i];i++)if(r.contentWindow===a.source){var d=a.data[“datawrapper-height”][t]+”px”;r.style.height=d}}}))}();