Category Uncategorized

It’s a new era at Tottenham Hotspur, and the imminent departure of iconic captain Heung-min Son perhaps best encapsulates the changing of the guard.

After winning the Europa League in May, Daniel Levy decided to dismiss Ange Postecoglou and bring in Brentford boss Thomas Frank, who has done such good work in west London.

Ange left a hero, but it was probably the correct decision, for Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League and looked so susceptible defensively.

But he made a promise, and he kept that promise.

It’s a new era, but Tottenham’s pre-season preparations with Frank at the helm haven’t been without their disruptions. Son is set to play his football away from N17, and James Maddison faces a lengthy return to the infirmary.

Pre-season blows at Spurs

Son, having won silverware in his final competitive month at Tottenham, has established legendary status at the club. However, he will leave having restored title-winning success, closing in on a move to LAFC in the United States.

This has been coming, but the departure of a key attacking talent has been exacerbated by the cruel injury suffered by Maddison in pre-season last weekend, stretchered off against Newcastle United with a suspected knee injury.

Following the Morgan Gibbs White debacle, failing in their pursuit of the Nottingham Forest playmaker after being accused of an illegal approach, this is a bleak setback for Frank’s project in its infancy.

And Son’s exit too highlights the need for reinforcements, with the new Premier League season less than two weeks away.

All in all, though, banking £20m for a player who is on the decline, no matter how influential, is decent business for the Lilywhites, but they will need to sign a replacement, even having landed West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus for a £55m fee.

Spurs lining up deal for CL superstar

According to Spanish outlet Defensa Central, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, 24, withis set for face-to-face talks with president Florentino Perez as his future continues to be a talking point amid Tottenham interest.

Despite interest from Arsenal and Liverpool this summer, it’s beginning to look like Spurs are the most likely destination for the Brazil international, should he jump ship this summer.

Son’s departure opens up a window of opportunity for the outfit, who are now expected to formally pursue a deal and secure Frank a marquee man at the beginning of his tenure.

Why Spurs must push for Rodrygo

Kudus is a fantastic winger who will add some electric athleticism to Tottenham’s senior set-up, but he’s not yet proven himself to be a goalscoring presence in the vein of Son.

Rodrygo, however, is “terrifyingly good” in front of goal, so says Sky Sports reporter Sam Tighe, having scored 50 goals across the past three campaigns with Real Madrid despite having routinely played out of position on the right flank.

Because of this, Rodrygo’s natural aptitude for making the net bulge suggests that he could fit right into life at Tottenham as Son’s successor, for he actually clinched six goals and six assists apiece over just 12 games as a left-sided forward in 2024/25, limited in his natural position due to Vincius Junior’s presence.

The South Korean has been recorded to have been the statistical best finisher in football since 2014, one year before his Tottenham career commenced, and is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous Premier League wingers of his generation.

Big boots to fill, but that’s why Rodrygo is perfect. The Brazilian is accustomed to pressure, having played out the lion’s share of his senior years at the biggest club in the world, and is dynamic enough that his goalscoring ability, described as “unstoppable” by Madrid columist Kiyan Sobhani when at its slickest, is built atop a wide-ranging skill set.

As you can see below, the two forwards actually rank up rather similarly over the past year, so he could dovetail right in, especially with Frank being something of an expert at raising the level of his wide forwards.

Goals

0.35

0.32

Assists

0.22

0.32

Shots taken

2.54

2.46

Shot-creating actions

4.56

4.89

Pass completion

85.7%

78%

Touches (att pen)

5.84

4.70

Progressive passes

4.69

4.28

Progressive carries

5.07

5.41

Successful take-ons

2.15

1.59

However, Rodrygo’s tactical dynamism and propensity for success across a range of positions have also seen him likened to Maddison by data-powered site FBref, along with Son.

Maddison, 28, faces the unknown once again, and the potential loss of his creativity and passing for a large chunk of the upcoming term is a concerning thought indeed.

However, Rodrygo has the skill set to add some sparkle to the playmaking side of the Tottenham system, averaging just north of a key pass per game across the entirety of his Real Madrid career, as per WhoScored.

Let’s not forget, Maddison blew the Premier League away upon signing for Tottenham, picking up the division’s Player of the Month award for August 2023 as he served as the fulcrum of Postecoglou’s staggering start to life at the helm.

The Real Madrid man’s 85.7% pass completion average further bespeaks his ability to promote fluency and control through deeper build-up phases of play, something Frank will undoubtedly look to capture and direct as he implements a slower, more controlled style of football than that of his predecessor.

Ultimately, Tottenham have suffered a setback through the injury to Maddison. It’s not what was needed as Son prepared for his poignant send-off.

However, there remains almost a month of the market being open for business, and if Levy can pull off a deal for Rodrygo, there’s no question that this football club will be primed for success on an even grander stage than the 2024/25 season.

Legspinner Usman Qadir has retired from Pakistan cricket. Four years after returning from Australia and committing his international future to Pakistan, Qadir, 31, announced on social media that his days as a Pakistan cricketer were behind him.”Today, I am announcing my retirement from Pakistan cricket,” Qadir said. “As I reflect on this unforgettable journey, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. It has been an immense honour to represent my country, and I’m thankful for the support of my coaches and team-mates who have been with me every step of the way.”Qadir played one ODI and 25 T20Is for Pakistan, making his debut in a T20I home series against Zimbabwe. His career got off to a flying start as he took eight wickets for 60 runs in three matches, and was declared the Player of the Series. At his peak, he was considered Pakistan’s primary legspinner, briefly keeping Shadab Khan out of the T20I side.That Qadir would ever send down an international ball for Pakistan was unlikely as recently as 2018, when he declared his desire to represent Australia. He made his debut for Western Australia in 2018, and played for the Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder in the BBL.Despite a bright start, inconsistency dogged his performances, with disciplinary concerns also hampering his time in Australia; in 2019, he was caught driving well over the speed limit, and summoned to court.In late 2019, almost out of nowhere, Misbah-ul-Haq named him in a Pakistan squad for a series in Australia, before Qadir had even publicly committed to playing for Pakistan. Just weeks earlier, Qadir’s father and Pakistan’s most famous legspinner Abdul Qadir, had died of a sudden cardiac arrest. Usman would later say his father’s passing was a significant factor in him committing to the country of his birth.Qadir continued to be dogged by inconsistency with Pakistan, too. He last played for Pakistan at the Asian Games in October 2023, though he played two games in the the recently concluded Champions One-Day Cup with the Markhors. In the last year, his relationship with the PCB was at breaking point, and he accused the board of mismanaging his injury in May, stating he had screenshots and other evidence to prove it.Qadir did not specify in the statement what his future plans were, but paid tribute to the man whose surname invariably weighs heavy on his shoulders. “As I step into this new chapter, I will be continuing my dad’s legacy, embracing both my love for cricket and the lessons he instilled in me. I carry with me the spirit of Pakistan cricket and the cherished memories we created together.”

Wolverhampton Wanderers are now closing in on a deal to sign a “highly-rated” player, who “wants” to move to the Premier League this summer, it has been revealed.

Wolves looking to bolster options in defence

Vitor Pereira oversaw a remarkable turnaround at Molineux in the second half of the 2024-25 season, but the manager is likely to be concerned by the fact his side shipped a total of 69 goals in the Premier League, despite recording an xG against of 59.01.

Having let in 10 more goals than they were expected to throughout the campaign, there are clearly some problems with the Wolves backline, and the manager is looking to upgrade his defensive options this summer.

Direct contact has been made with Brighton & Hove Albion centre-back Igor Julio, but the Brazilian is thought to be prioritising a move to La Liga side Real Sociedad, so the Old Gold may be forced to move on to alternative options.

It could be a more sensible idea to target a player with aspirations of playing in the Premier League, and there has now been a positive development in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ pursuit of Rennes defender Christopher Wooh.

According to a claim from the Turkish media (via Sport Witness), Wolves are now closing in on a deal for Wooh, having previously been reported to be ready to make a €5m (£4.3m) offer for his services.

Trabzonsor president Ertugrul Doğan has revealed the Turkish club had also struck a deal for the Rennes defender, but a move to the Super Lig seems unlikely at this stage, given that the defender has made it clear he wants to move to England.

Wolves make first approach to sign £34m Club World Cup goalscorer

He’s been in excellent form at the Club World Cup.

ByTom Cunningham Jun 27, 2025

Doğan said: “We’d reached an agreement with Rennes for Wooh. We signed a preliminary protocol. However, the player wants to go to the Premier League. He’s negotiating with another team. We are trying to overcome this problem.”

With Pereira’s side now preparing an offer for the 23-year-old, they appear to be in the driving seat, and Trabzonspor’s chances of winning the race look slim.

"Highly-rated" Wooh could be solid signing for Wolves

U23 scout Antonio Mango described the Rennes ace as “highly-rated” a little under two years ago, and the centre-back has since gone on to establish himself as a regular first-team player, putting in some impressive performances over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

2.23 (92nd percentile)

Interceptions

1.42 (82nd percentile)

Aerials won

2.60 (76th percentile)

The Cameroon international has also proven himself as an attacking threat for his country, most notably scoring an injury-time winner against Gambia to send his side through to the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 in 2024.

With Wolves clearly in need of upgrading their defence, given their struggles last season, Wooh could be a savvy addition to Pereira’s squad, and a deal for the 6-foot-3 colossus is unlikely to break the bank.

Manchester City are enjoying themselves on Club World Cup duty, but that doesn’t mean work isn’t going on in the background to secure reinforcements at the Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City's balancing act with transfers and Club World Cup

Al Hilal await Manchester City in the last 16 of the Club World Cup after Pep Guardiola led his side to three straight victories over Wydad Casablanca, Al Ain and Juventus in the group stages.

Reverting to traditional full-backs to control the middle of the park with tight interchanges in and around the penalty area, the former Barcelona boss has made the Citizens one of the favourites to claim the trophy Stateside, which would be the perfect end to an otherwise disappointing 2024/2025.

Buying into Manchester City’s recent hype, Guardiola praised his side for showing a ruthless edge against Juventus that he believes could be a sign of things to come as his side aim to replicate their success of the last decade.

He stated: “This is just one game but I think the players felt again what it was like to be a good team. It’s the first time we’ve performed the way we can.

“We won the last two but we adjusted a few things. I’m really pleased because the players realise what we have to do to get back to what we were in the last decade. The belief always comes from your performances, not your past.”

Related How to Watch the FIFA Club World Cup for Free

Everything you need to know about the Club World Cup.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Jun 13, 2025

Nevertheless, there is still plenty of transfer activity going on at the Etihad, with Manchester City’s pursuit of Real Madrid star Rodrygo now public knowledge.

After losing out to Liverpool last term, Guardiola appears determined to take the fight to the reigning champions this season and is now pursuing one of England’s brightest talents.

Manchester City preparing bid to sign Tino Livramento

According to GIVEMESPORT, Manchester City are preparing a bid to sign Newcastle United star Tino Livramento, and Guardiola’s side are reportedly convinced that he wants a move to the Eastlands.

Citing his ability to operate in either full-back position, the Sky Blues are growing in confidence that they could land the England Under-21 international despite Eddie Howe having no desire to lose the Croydon-born man, who is currently out on duty at the European Championships.

Five similar players to Tino Livramento (FBRef)

Denis Appiah

Saint-Ettiene

Joe Scally

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Destiny Udogie

Tottenham Hotspur

Pep Chavarria

Rayo Vallecano

Gideon Mensah

Auxerre

Earning £50,000 per week in the North East, Livramento notched a solitary assist in 45 appearances across all competitions for Newcastle last campaign and helped them claim EFL Cup glory and qualify for the Champions League.

Three other unnamed players are under consideration at Manchester City, but it appears that the “excellent” former Southampton man is their prime target at this point in time.

Arriving potentially with the added carrot of being a homegrown player, helping them navigate squad regulations, completing a deal would make a lot of sense for Guardiola in the cold light of day.

It all comes down to tonight for Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou’s side might be coming towards their worst domestic campaign in a generation and sit 16th in the Premier League, but much of that will be forgotten if they can get to the Europa League final.

However, for that to happen, the North Londoners need to make the most of their 3-1 lead from the first leg and progress against FK Bodo/Glimt tonight.

That said, it won’t be an easy task, and following another dire display over the weekend, Ange must make several changes to the startling lineup, like dropping Wilson Odobert and one of their future superstars.

Why Postecoglou must drop Odobert

Now, there may be some of you scratching your heads and wondering why the manager would want to drop arguably one of the few players who looked good on Sunday and a man whose goal ensured that the loss column didn’t tick over to 20.

Well, the simple answer, which is partly down to his injury problems, is that he’s yet to prove he can be a reliable source of goals.

For example, the strike against the Hammers was just his third for the club in 18 appearances across all competitions, and the other two came in a single game, at home to AZ Alkmaar.

Therefore, in a game that could come down to incredibly fine margins, the manager should have his most prolific player starting in his preferred position: Brennan Johnson.

The Welsh international might still divide opinion among fans and pundits alike, but his numbers speak for themselves when it comes to a game like this.

For example, in 47 appearances this term, the former “frightening” winger, as dubbed by content creator HLTCO, has scored 17 goals and provided six assists, which comes out to a pretty impressive average of a goal involvement every 1.95 games.

Finally, it was Johnson who opened the scoring in the first leg, so he’s more than earned his place back in the side, as has another star from the home leg, which means dropping a future superstar.

The future Spurs star Ange must drop

While a few players should probably be dropped based on Sunday’s game, the starter in question was middling at best against the Hammers and took the place of one of the stars of last Thursday: Archie Gray.

Now, it has to be said that the Englishman is simply not a right-back, with respected analyst Ben Mattinson going as far as calling him a “future £100m cm,” so an underwhelming performance at full-back is nothing to be alarmed about for the long term.

However, with journalist Alasdair Gold awarding him just a 6/10 match rating and writing that he ‘didn’t do much wrong while not particularly shining either,’ he also shouldn’t keep his place in the team.

We say this because Postecoglou can’t afford to have players coasting in a game as crucial as tonight, especially not when he can replace them with others who can make a big difference, like Pedro Porro.

The Spanish right-back was arguably one of the best players in the first leg, with his lung-busting runs and exceptional passes making life impossible for the Norwegian champions.

In fact, it was his pinpoint, accurate cross that led to James Maddison scoring the North Londoners’ second on the night.

Moreover, while the former Sporting CP ace has been criticised for some questionable defending in the past, he was solid when it really mattered that night and entirely deserving of the 9/10 match rating he received from Gold at full-time.

Ultimately, in a game like tonight, when there might not be too many chances for his side to score, Postecoglou has to start Porro and Johnson, as the former has the ability to craft chances, and the latter can finish them.

Huge Richarlison upgrade: Spurs prepare offer to sign £30m "wrecking ball"

The up-and-coming marksman would be an incredible signing for Spurs.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 7, 2025

West Bromwich Albion now want to appoint an “outstanding” 3-4-3 coach to replace the sacked Tony Mowbray, according to a recent report.

West Brom sack Tony Mowbray

The Baggies appointed Mowbray as their new head coach in January, as a replacement for Carlos Corberan, who left to join La Liga side Valencia. Mowbray joined the Midlands side on a two-and-a-half-year deal, and it was his second spell at The Hawthorns after he led the club to the 2007/08 Championship title.

Related West Brom can finally axe Diangana by unleashing “special" 21-year-old star

Tony Mowbray could forget about Grady Diangana by unleashing this special West Bromwich Albion prospect.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Apr 17, 2025

This was Mowbray’s first job in football since his recent illness that saw him leave Birmingham City. West Brom hoped that his arrival would help them not only remain in the play-off race but also help them get back into the Premier League. However, just five wins in 18 games have seen the Baggies fall way short of the play-offs, and with them six points behind the top six, with two games to go, the West Brom hierarchy have decided a change is needed once again.

West Brom said in a statement: “The club would like to place on record its thanks to Tony and Mark for their efforts – but has made the decision to part company following a series of poor results.

“Tony and Mark will forever be welcome at The Hawthorns, and their contributions to the club winning the 2007-08 Championship title will never be forgotten.”

West Brom want 3-4-3 Spurs coach to replace Mowbray

Former Albion midfielder James Morrison has been placed in interim charge, but going forward, the Baggies are keen to bring in a highly-rated coach to take them forward. According to reliable reporter Alan Nixon, relayed by West Brom News, West Brom have placed Tottenham’s Ryan Mason as their top target to replace Mowbray.

It is stated that Mason, who is a former midfielder for Spurs and has been caretaker manager for the Premier League side on a few occasions, is at the top of the Baggies’ wishlist for new managers. The report goes on to add that West Brom may have to wait to appoint Mason, though, as Spurs’ involvement in the Europa League means he will likely see out the campaign with the London side.

But West Brom could be willing to wait to appoint Mason, whose preferred formation as a coach is 3-4-3. Since retiring from football in 2018, Mason has been working at Spurs in various roles. He worked with the club’s academy for a couple of years before being promoted to the first team as coach, working under managers such as José Mourinho, Antonio Conte, and now Ange Postecoglou.

Ryan Mason’s managerial record

Games

13

Won

6

Drawn

1

Lost

6

Mason has impressed a lot of people while working at Spurs, with Postecoglou labelling the 33-year-old “outstanding” for his work on set-pieces.

Postecoglou said: “Ryan Mason is in charge of set pieces; he’s done an outstanding job all year, and Mile [Jedinak], I thought in defensive set pieces we were brilliant again because they have a threat there.”

Durbar Rajshahi, meanwhile, became the first team to not field an overseas players after they boycotted a game over non-payment issues

Mohammad Isam02-Feb-2025Chittagong Kings’ second-place finish in the BPL points table was the biggest surprise at the end of the tournament’s league phase. They had to win at least two out of their last three games this week, and they ended up winning all three: against Rangpur Riders, Sylhet Strikers and Fortune Barishal.They set up the first qualifier with Barishal, who topped the table with 18 points. Khulna Tigers meanwhile won the race to qualify as the fourth team, after beating Rangpur and Dhaka Capitals in their last two league matches. They were equal on 12 points with Durbar Rajshahi, but Khulna had the superior net run rate.In the eliminator match, Khulna will take on Rangpur who lost their way after making an impressive start to the season. Rangpur lost their last four matches after winning eight in a row. Rajshahi, Dhaka and Sylhet are out.Best batter: Mohammad NaimMohammad Naim had the most impact as a batter after his century guided Khulna to a crucial win against Rangpur. Naim pummeled an unbeaten 111 off 62 balls, including seven fours and eight sixes.Dawid Malan was also in great form for Barishal, hitting a couple of sixties this week and an unbeaten 16-ball 37.What would be most encouraging for the Champions Trophy-bound Bangladesh team, is the form of Tanzid Hasan and Parvez Hossain Emon. They played some destructive knocks this week, with Tanzid hammering seven sixes in his 58 off 37 balls against Khulna. He finished the tournament with 485 runs at a 141.39 strike-rate, and hit 36 sixes – the most by a Bangladeshi batter in the BPL. He also finished the league stage as the tournament’s leading run-scorer.Parvez’s 75 off 41 balls against Barishal included a four and eight sixes, which helped Chittagong to a score of 206.Khaled Ahmed returned a four-wicket haul against Sylhet Strikers•Chittagong KingsBest bowler: Faheem AshrafFaheem Ashraf’s resurgence, including figures of 5 for 7 against Sylhet, played a huge role in his Pakistan return to the Champions Trophy side. He now has 20 wickets for Barishal, second only to Taskin Ahmed who finished the competition with 25 wickets at an average of 12.04.Chittagong got the full service of their local pacers when Shoriful Islam and Khaled Ahmed both took four-wicket hauls against Sylhet. Left-arm quick Mrittunjoy Chowdhury took four wickets against Rangpur, while offspinner SM Meherob also registered a crucial four-wicket haul against Sylhet.Unusual playsRajshahi became the first team to play without overseas players, breaking the BPL’s rule in the process. Their overseas players refused to appear against Rangpur on January 26, after the team owners missed several pay deadlines.Barishal bowled out Dhaka for just 73 runs, the lowest total in this edition, beating Rajshahi’s 80 all out against Chittagong.Chittagong meanwhile were at the other end of the batting scales, becoming the first team to get four 200-plus scores in the league phase. They also struck 17 sixes in their last game against Barishal, breaking their own franchise record in the season.Akif Javed has taken 19 wickets at an average of 14•Rangpur RidersStarlets who caught the eyeAkif Javed, the uncapped Pakistani left-arm fast bowler, was the most impressive young player during the league stage. He has taken 19 wickets averaging 14, with an economy rate below seven.Mahidul Islam Ankon and Shamim Hossain were impressive young big-hitters, with high strike-rates having scored more than 200 runs lower down the order. Tanzid had already caught the eye with his big scoring in the top order while fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib was Sylhet’s only shining light.

The Rajasthan Royals fast bowler went unsold this IPL season and only found his way back as a replacement player, but he’s grabbed the chance to make an impact

Shashank Kishore12-May-2023″Learn to bowl yorkers and come next year. [Or you’ll get thrashed by the batters]”Virender Sehwag was point-blank in his assessment of Sandeep Sharma in 2014.Sandeep, then all of 21, had gained a reputation as a swing bowler. Two years earlier, he was an Under-19 world champion. Adam Gilchrist, his first IPL captain, at Kings XI Punjab, had spoken glowingly about this young kid who could hoop the ball around.Related

Sandeep Sharma, the metamorphosis man

Royals hold off Dhoni and Jadeja in grandstand finish

Rahane, Chawla, Mishra and others with surprise comebacks at IPL 2023

Royals stick to the sexy but their yorker plan goes bust, as it often does

Sehwag wasn’t as generous, and his brutal honesty shook Sandeep. The joy of picking up 18 wickets in a season in which Kings XI finished runners-up quickly dissipated and he was back to the drawing board.”There’s nuance, skill, reading the batter’s mind, understanding your own limitations, so many things,” Sandeep, now 30, says. It’s a day off for him, but Sandeep has got a rundown of plans he wants to immediately discuss with Lasith Malinga, the Rajasthan Royals bowling coach.This season almost didn’t happen for Sandeep. He went unsold at the auction last December, and only found himself in the Royals camp because fast bowler Prasidh Krishna was ruled out of the league this year with a lumbar stress fracture.”It’s all about preparation,” Sandeep says. “Whatever I’ve been able to do so far this season is because of preparation.Sandeep defended five runs off the final ball to defeat CSK in Chennai, but couldn’t replicate the feat against Sunrisers Hyderabad a few matches later•R Parthibhan/Associated Press”It was a rude shock to go unsold, but I knew if my chance comes, I shouldn’t be in a position where I am not considered due to my fitness or rhythm. When I got a call from Sanju Samson [Royals captain] asking if I’d be available to join the camp so that they could assess me, I was very confident. That was what I’d been training for.”In only his second game back, against Chennai Super Kings, Sandeep was thrown into the cauldron. He was defending five runs off the final ball against MS Dhoni. He had just been mowed for two sixes off low full tosses in the over, but he held his composure to deliver a pinpoint yorker and win the Royals their first game at Chepauk since 2008.”When I stood at the top of my mark, I told myself, ‘You’ve bowled so many yorkers. If you bowl some other ball and it goes for six, you’ll be very angry.’ If I bowl a yorker and it backfires, I’ll still take it because I’ve worked hard to master it. I had that clarity.”Memories of that night seem quite long ago now. A playoff spot that seemed a very real possibility after six games is suddenly uncertain – Royals are in a mid-table logjam and clutching at straws.Last week Sandeep thought he had delivered another final-over masterclass, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, his former team. With five to defend, he thought he’d bowled a fine yorker off the very last ball to close out the game when the no-ball siren went off. Sunrisers were gifted a free hit that Abdul Samad walloped for six, and Royals lost a game that was in the bag only moments before.Deflated as he was by that loss, Sandeep is looking to accentuate the positive. “It’s all about how you’re made to feel in the team,” he says. “They didn’t look at me as a replacement player. The camp is positive, the management people are good. Sometimes in a tournament like this, you will lose games from winning positions, you will win games from situations where nobody gives you a chance.In his six seasons with Punjab Kings, Sandeep picked up 73 wickets, 40 of which came in the powerplay and 20 at the death•BCCI”If you can remain balanced, it helps. Whatever happens, if you have a management that always keeps the dressing room positive, and the vibes are good, it works wonders. That’s what this management has done. They’ve kept things very positive.”Having been called on to bowl the final over often, is it more satisfying to deliver at the death than at other times in the innings?”No, no, powerplay,” he says decisively. “Every team is coming hard at you. If you do well in those overs, it’s very satisfying. I’ve bowled so many overs in this phase; it’s very hard, especially if you’re playing in Bangalore or Mumbai. On those grounds, it’s even harder.”Sandeep’s 55 wickets are the second most in the powerplay after Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who he spent considerable time with at Sunrisers. This, Sandeep believes, has led to a perception that he is largely a powerplay specialist.”In the first five years with Kings XI, I mostly bowled two overs upfront and two at the death. But when I moved to Sunrisers, Bhuvneshwar was at his peak, we had Siddarth Kaul, Khaleel Ahmed, T Natarajan. Then there was Rashid Khan, who would invariably come into the game in the second half.”Over time this perception [of being a new-ball specialist] kept getting stronger, even though at a personal level I was as confident of delivering in the death as I was with the new ball. This year, I’ve been fine; I won’t say I’ve been great. It’s just that the death bowlers ahead of me in the queue were so good that I didn’t have a chance then. I’m getting those chances now.”