Left-arm spin-bowling allrounder will work with a brand new coaching staff as DC aim for first title

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Mar-2025Axar Patel has been appointed captain of Delhi Capitals (DC) for IPL 2025. He has been with DC since 2019 and was their top retention for INR 16.50 crore ahead of the mega auction last November. While his captaincy experience isn’t extensive, he was named India’s T20I vice-captain in January this year.Axar, 31, has led his state team Gujarat in 23 matches across formats, most recently in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2024-25. He captained DC in one IPL match last year – a must-win fixture that they lost to RCB to miss out on the playoffs – when Rishabh Pant was serving a ban for a slow over-rate.With Pant’s exit from the DC franchise ahead of the mega auction, Axar was their most experienced player. He’s played 82 games for them across six seasons; last year he scored 235 runs at an average of nearly 30 and took 11 wickets with an economy rate of 7.65.Related

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“It is my absolute honour to captain the Delhi Capitals, and I’m deeply grateful to our owners and support staff for placing their faith in me,” Axar said in a DC statement. “I’ve grown as a cricketer and a human being during my time here at the Capitals, and I feel ready and confident to lead this side going forward.”Our coaches and scouts have done a superb job at the mega auction by putting together a balanced and robust squad which has tremendous potential. We have plenty of leaders in the group, which is also very helpful for me, and I can’t wait to join the team as we look forward to a very successful season for the Capitals, backed by the immense love and support of our fans.”The squad has KL Rahul and Faf du Plessis, who have both led other IPL teams in the past, and Mitchell Starc among the senior international players.”We are delighted to appoint Axar as the Delhi Capitals captain. He has been an integral part of the Capitals family since 2019 and embodies the values that this team is built on,” DC chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi said, “This decision reflects the natural progression for him as a leader – from being our vice-captain for two seasons to now leading the team, he has always stepped up to the occasion for us. Axar has the full support of our coaching staff and the experienced leadership group, and I wish him the very best for this new role which I am confident he will excel in.”DC co-owner Parth Jindal said, “I have witnessed Axar’s progression as a cricketer and a leader first-hand at the Delhi Capitals,” said. “Having personally picked Axar in 2019, my relationship with him is one that goes beyond cricket. Having seen him as the vice-captain of the team over the last two years, it is safe to say that he is a much-loved character in the dressing room and is someone who I am sure will motivate the players in the squad.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”From being an economical spinner who had an immediate impact when he came onto bowl, Axar has blossomed into a brilliant, mature cricketer whose all-round prowess was on full display in India’s T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy winning campaigns recently. I wish him good luck as he starts a new innings in his cricketing journey. With seniors like KL Rahul, Faf du Plessis and Mitchell Starc being part of our leadership group, I believe this is the start of something special for the Delhi Capitals.”Axar comes into this IPL season having played an important role in India’s triumphant Champions Trophy campaign. Axar took five wickets with an economy rate of 4.35 and made vital contributions batting at No. 5 in the tournament.Of the IPL’s original eight franchises, DC are one of three – along with Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru – to have never won a title. They finished sixth last season, having won and lost seven games each. This year, Axar will work with a new team management at DC, comprising Hemang Badani (head coach), Venugopal Rao (director of cricket) and Matthew Mott (assistant coach). They begin their IPL 2025 campaign by hosting LSG in Visakhapatnam on March 24.With DC announcing Axar, all five teams that needed a new captain after the mega auction have named their leaders: RCB will be led by Rajat Patidar, Kolkata Knight Riders by Ajinkya Rahane, Lucknow Super Giants by Rishabh Pant, and Punjab Kings by Shreyas Iyer.

Kerr was also the women’s T20I and ODI Player of the Year, while Henry won the honours for Test and ODIs too

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Apr-2025

Amelia Kerr and Matt Henry won top honours at the New Zealand Cricket Awards on Wednesday. Kerr won the Debbie Hockley Medal for being the women’s cricketer of the year while Henry took away its men’s counterpart, the Sir Richard Hadlee Medal.Kerr, 24, won the top honour for an unprecedented third consecutive year in a row. She starred in New Zealand’s maiden Women’s T20 World Cup win last year. She finished with 15 wickets, the most in the competition, and 135 runs, the third-most for New Zealand. She was named Player of the Match in the final and took home the Player-of-the-Tournament award as well and later was named ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year, winning the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy.At the NZC awards, Kerr also swept away the Women’s ODI and T20I Player of the Year awards. She averaged 33 with the bat and returned 14 wickets in ODIs. She captained Wellington Blaze to the title, and her 441 runs along with 15 wickets earned her the Women’s Super Smash Player of the Year.”Melie’s consistency, skill, and passion for the game are an inspiration to us all, and I couldn’t be prouder to see her name etched alongside mine once again,” Debbie Hockley said while announcing the winner.Apart from the men’s cricketer of the year honours, Henry was also named New Zealand Men’s Test Player of the Year. He picked up 25 wickets at an average of 20.08 in five matches, including eight wickets in the Bengaluru Test against India last year. Henry was also named the ODI Player of the Year, thanks to his 24 wickets at an average of 15.50. He was instrumental in New Zealand finishing runners-up at the Champions Trophy.Matt Henry completed 100 Test wickets on the tour of India•BCCI

Jacob Duffy was named the Men’s T20I Player of the Year after his 21 wickets at 9.71 made him No. 1 in the ICC men’s T20I bowler rankings. Kane Williamson won the Redpath Cup for men’s first-class batting, while Henry won the Winsor Cup for men’s first-class bowling.Eden Carson picked up 40 wickets in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, New Zealand’s 50-over domestic competition for women, and starred with an unbeaten 59 off 43 balls for winners Otago in a thrilling final. That saw her being named the Women’s Domestic Player of the Year.The Bert Sutcliffe Medal for outstanding service to cricket was awarded to historian Francis Payne. It was in recognition of his contributions to the documentation and preservation of New Zealand cricket history, most notably through his long-standing, 42-year role as co-editor of the New Zealand Cricket Almanack, a publication regarded as the definitive resource for followers of the Kiwi game.Chris Gaffaney, who is in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires for 2025-26, was named the Umpire of the Year.2025 New Zealand Cricket Awards winnersDebbie Hockley Medal – Amelia Kerr
Sir Richard Hadlee Medal – Matt Henry
Bert Sutcliffe Medal for Outstanding Services to Cricket – Francis Payne
Test Player of the Year – Matt Henry
Men’s ODI Player of the Year – Matt Henry
Women’s ODI Player of the Year – Amelia Kerr
Men’s T20I Player of the Year – Jacob Duffy
Women’s T20I Player of the Year – Amelia Kerr
Men’s Domestic Player of the Year – Brett Hampton
Women’s Domestic Player of the Year – Eden Carson
Super Smash Men’s Player of the Year – Tom Bruce
Super Smash Women’s Player of the Year – Amelia Kerr
Redpath Cup (men’s first-class batting) – Kane Williamson
Ruth Martin Cup (women’s domestic batting) – Maddy Green
Winsor Cup (men’s first-class bowling) – Matt Henry
Phyl Blackler Cup (women’s domestic bowling) – Eden Carson
New Zealand Umpire of the Year – Chris Gaffaney

Fermin Lopez joked Real Madrid were not among the clubs trying to sign him in the summer as he admitted that he received more offers than just Chelsea's late bid. The midfielder insisted that leaving Barcelona was never an option, though, as he looks to become a crucial figure for Hansi Flick's side following another injury upset.

• Lopez rejected Chelsea bid as he stays at Barcelona

  The Blues reportedly tabled a €40 million (£37m/$50m) bid, including potential add-ons, in a bid to bolster their midfield before the transfer window closed. While the offer prompted Lopez to consider his options, he ultimately chose to remain at Camp Nou, prioritising continuity and development under Barca's management.

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  Lopez confirms transfer offers amid Chelsea interest

  The midfielder made it clear that he had no intention of leaving the club he has supported since childhood. “I didn’t consider the offer and I don’t think they wanted to sell me either,” he said in an interview with He further admitted that he had received several approaches from elsewhere, adding: “I received some, yes, but I don’t think any came from Real Madrid.”

• Fermin staying loyal to Barcelona roots

  Lopez underlined his deep ties to Barcelona, stressing that playing for the club was always his dream. 

  “I’ve been a Barca fan all my life. Since I was a child. Everything comes from an uncle of my mother’s, Miri, who has always been a Barca fan,” he explained. His attachment to the club influenced his stance on transfer speculation, as neither he nor Barca saw a move away as realistic. Despite not yet being an undisputed starter, the academy graduate has already shown his ability to impact key matches, including a brace against Valencia earlier in the season.

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  Injury setback as PSG clash looms

  Lopez’s promising start to the season has been interrupted by injury, with the midfielder suffering a muscle issue in his left iliopsoas during Barca's recent 3-0 win over Getafe. He left the pitch in tears, sparking fears of a lengthy absence. Initial tests, however, confirmed a three-week recovery timeline. 

  “The problem is not major,” he clarified, insisting he will return soon. Unfortunately for Barca, the setback means he will miss the Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain, as well as upcoming La Liga fixtures against Oviedo and Real Sociedad.

  The injury to Lopez comes at a difficult moment for Barca, who are also without Gavi, sidelined after being forced to undergo knee surgery. While Fermin is expected back by late October, his absence will test Flick’s depth options in midfield. Chelsea’s interest has underlined Lopez’s rising reputation across Europe, but for now his focus remains on recovery and fighting for a bigger role at Camp Nou.

Veteran allrounder brings valuable experience to Trent Bridge following the loss of Alex Hales

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Feb-2025Australian allrounder Moises Henriques has joined Notts Outlaws for the 2025 Vitality Blast.Henriques, who has made 10 appearances in the competition for Surrey across two stints, the most recent coming in 2017, has been capped 44 times for his country, with the majority (24) coming in T20Is.The 38-year old brings a wealth of experience, with 282 matches in the T20 format. As Sydney Sixers captain, he has led his side to two Big Bash League titles, and is the leading appearance maker in Australia’s domestic competition, as well as being the fourth highest runscorer in its history.A stalwart of the global franchise scene, Henriques has featured in nine editions of the Indian Premier League, and played a prominent role in Sunrisers Hyderabad’s triumph in 2016. He has also won the now-defunct T20 Champions League twice with New South Wales.”I can’t wait to get over to Nottingham this season to play in the Blast,” Henriques said. “Trent Bridge is an iconic cricket ground and I’m looking forward to playing in front of their amazing crowds.”On a personal note, I’ve made some great friends over the years with both past players and staff from Notts and their values as people I’m sure represent their time there, which I can’t wait to experience.”Notts have had a lot of success over the last decade and I’ll be looking to add to that. The current squad looks extremely talented and young and hopefully with my experiences of T20 cricket around the world I can add a bit of value to the group both on and off the field.”Henriques will fill Outlaws’ second overseas spot, joining fellow Australian Daniel Sams, and is a welcome boost following the news that veteran opener Alex Hales will skip the English season to take up franchise opportunities overseas during the summer.Nottinghamshire finished bottom of the North Group in 2024, and have not made the latter stages of the T20 Blast since winning it for the second time in 2020.”Moises’s experience and quality as a player will add a huge amount to our squad, while he’ll be another leader in the group,” said head coach Peter Moores. “His reputation as a captain precedes him. He’ll provide great support for Joe (Clarke) as he continues to grow into that role.”His ability to negotiate a run chase or set a score with the bat has been well proven over the years, providing experience and stability in a new look batting line up. Crucially he’s used to playing in a winning set up, which is exactly the mentality we’re looking to build as we move forward as a team.”

DC chose to bowl first in their season opener against LSG

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Mar-20252:25

Cricinformed: Should Pant bat higher up?

KL Rahul’s Delhi Capitals (DC) debut will have to wait as he missed the team’s opening match against his former franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Visakhapatnam to be at the birth of his first child.New DC captain Axar Patel called correctly and had no hesitation in bowling first because they “don’t want to take a risk with the dew later on”.Axar’s counterpart was his former team-mate Rishabh Pant and the camaraderie between them was was evident at the toss. This is Axar’s first stint as full-time DC captain, though he did lead the team for one match last season.DC’s four overseas players were Tristan Stubbs, Mitchell Starc, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Faf du Plessis. They are likely to bring in either Ashutosh Sharma or Karun Nair for the chase.”We have a very good squad and I am very excited. There is dew, but it is different everyday,” he said. “It is a big challenge [captaincy], but I have been with DC for a while and was in the leadership group. But I have to focus on myself. That is my thought process.”Pant, who until this season had only played for DC, said there was a “lot of emotion” with his old team, but is looking forward to a different experience. LSG named Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran and David Miller as their four overseas players. Their bowling attack had suffered huge blows with injuries to Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan and Akash Deep, and had an inexperienced look for the season opener. They are likely to bring in a fast bowler – Akash Singh or Rajvardhan Hangargekar – when bowling second.Vizag, which is DC’s second home ground has been a high-scoring venue. In the two matches here in IPL 2024, the first-innings scores were 191 and 272.Lucknow Super Giants: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Mitch Marsh, 3 Nicholas Pooran, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Ayush Badoni, 6 David Miller, 7 Shahbaz Ahmed, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Prince Yadav, 11 Digvesh RathiDelhi Capitals: 1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Jake Fraser-McGurk, 3 Abishek Porel (wk), 4 Sameer Rizvi, 5 Axar Patel (capt), 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Vipraj Nigam, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 Mukesh Kumar

Rasmus Hojlund produced a statement performance for Napoli in the Champions League, scoring twice against Sporting CP and celebrating by pointing to the competition’s badge. The on-loan Manchester United striker seemed to send a message to his parent club, who are enduring a season without European football under Ruben Amorim, which has not been going down well in Manchester.

Hojlund sends message to Man Utd with Napoli brace

Napoli secured a crucial 2-1 victory over Sporting CP at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with Hojlund playing a starring role. The Danish forward opened the scoring after being teed up by Kevin De Bruyne before adding a second header late on. His celebration — pointing to the Champions League emblem — was seen as a pointed reminder to Manchester United.

AdvertisementStriker speaks out after bagging brace

Hojlund spoke about his celebration after the game. He told UEFA: "I celebrated touching the Napoli badge because I’m happy to play here and the Champions League badge because I love to score in Europe. It was the night you dream of, playing in the Champions League. I don’t like to talk about my performance, but about the team. Playing with an exceptional talent like Kevin De Bruyne is special. I just need to get into space and he’ll get me the ball."

GettyHojlund back in form under Antonio Conte

Hojlund’s brace marked his most decisive outing since joining Napoli on loan in the summer. The 21-year-old had managed just one goal prior to this game but now appears to be finding his feet under Antonio Conte. His growing connection with former Manchester City star De Bruyne has also caught attention, particularly given United’s attacking struggles this season.

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Napoli have obligation to buy Hojlund next summer

The loan agreement between United and Napoli includes a £5 million fee and a reported £38 million obligation to buy if the Italian side qualify for next season’s Champions League. Hojlund’s resurgence comes at a time when United are languishing in the lower half of the Premier League table and struggling to score consistently.

Arsenal have revealed details of the injury suffered by Martin Odegaard in their Premier League win over West Ham, with the Gunners’ club captain sustaining medial collateral ligament damage. He will not be heading off with Norway during the international break, as medics in north London get to work, with no timeline being put in place for his recovery – after seeing fitness setbacks become an unfortunate theme in 2025-26.

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  Unwanted history made by Arsenal captain Odegaard

  Odegaard has made unwanted history in the English top-flight by becoming the first man to be subbed off before half-time in three successive starts. Mikel Arteta also had to haul his skipper off early in meetings with Leeds and Nottingham Forest. A shoulder issue was causing problems at that stage, with it proving difficult to make a full recovery.

  With one issue seemingly clear, another has been picked up. Odegaard was replaced with half-an-hour on the clock against the Hammers. He had tried to play through obvious discomfort, but was ultimately forced to accept that he was in no position to continue. It remains to be seen how long he is sidelined for.

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• Odegaard injury: Details of fitness setback

  It has been confirmed that Odegaard will not be linking up with Norway for their 2026 World Cup qualifier against Israel and a friendly date with New Zealand. He will remain at Emirates Stadium for treatment, with Arsenal yet to speculate on when their skipper could be called upon again.

  A statement on the Gunners’ read: “Martin Odegaard has been withdrawn from the Norway national team for their upcoming matches against Israel and New Zealand after sustaining a medial collateral ligament injury to his left knee during the first half in Saturday’s win over West Ham United. Martin will continue to be assessed and treated by our medical team at Sobha Realty Training Centre during the international window, with the aim of a return to action as soon as possible.”

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  Arsenal also saw Rice pick up a knock

  Arteta admitted after a 2-0 win over West Ham that the outlook appeared bleak for his captain, with the Arsenal manager telling reporters when asked for an update on Odegaard: “I just spoke to him. He's not positive about it. He's got a brace on. We'll have to wait and see from the doctors, but we haven't been very lucky with that either.

  “We haven't had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other. The shoulder twice and then this injury. We'll have to wait and see the extent of that injury, and we'll find solutions, but obviously he's our captain and is a player that gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attacking.”

  Arsenal also had to replace Declan Rice against the Hammers, after seeing him score against his former club. Arteta was slightly more optimistic when it came to the England international, saying: “He’s not alright because he asked me to come off, so that’s a shame. He had pain in his back and he could not carry on, which is something very unusual for Declan, so we’ll have to assess him and see how he is.”

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• Arsenal fixtures: Next up after international break

  Rice is still expected to link up with the Three Lions ahead of their friendly date with Wales and a World Cup qualifying clash with Latvia. A decision will be made in that camp regarding how many minutes he sees. Arsenal will be eager to ensure that no unnecessary risks are taken on another key component of their midfield. Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino were introduced in place of Odegaard and Rice against the Hammers.

  Arsenal have, as a result of Liverpool’s uncharacteristic struggles, moved to the top of the Premier League table – one point clear of the reigning champions after seven matches. They will hope to be at something close to full strength when returning to action after the international break with a short trip to London neighbours Fulham on October 18.

Manchester United flop Marcus Rashford has been hailed as Barcelona's best player as he lit up the Champions League again and led the Catalan giants to a thumping 6-1 win over Olympiacos on Tuesday. Rashford, deployed as a No.9 in the absence of Ferran Torres and Robert Lewandowski, delivered with a brace as the Spanish champions returned to winning ways in Europe.

Rashford shines again for Barcelona

Despite missing star names like Lewandowski, Torres and Raphinha in the starting lineup, Barcelona looked the more dominant side against Greek champions Olympiacos. Fermin Lopez opened the scoring for Barcelona before increasing the goals tally minutes before the half-time whistle. Eight minutes after the hour mark, Lamine Yamal joined the party as he netted the Blaugrana's third goal from a penalty. Rashford then chipped in with a brace in quick succession, while Lopez completed his hat-trick as the Catalan side registered a dominating 6-1 win.   

AdvertisementRashford hailed as 'Barcelona's best player'

A Manchester United fan named Darren wrote on X after Barcelona's domination: "Marcus Rashford has been Barcelona's best player since Raphinha got injured ngl."

Another United fan, Okumagba Onakome added to Darren's comment as he wrote: "Rashford's time in Barcelona is obviously going to be a successful one. I hope they sign him permanently and pay us good money."

A fan with the X handle @tosinmm posted: "Marcus Rashford thriving at Barcelona is so beautiful to see. Go ahead and shine."

Another fan with the handle @speeds_c wrote: "Rashford with confidence is the best left winger in the world, there isn’t a better ball striker than him idc."

A fan named Vartico saluted Rashford's fight to become a top player again as he wrote: "From being an outcast to becoming the face of Barcelona. Rashford never gave up." 

Rashford deployed in new role

After making a dream start to his journey with Barcelona, since completing a loan move from boyhood club United in the summer transfer window, Rashford has already earned Flick's trust. Under the German coach, he has rediscovered his game and has slowly established himself as a regular starter. The attacker has already recorded five goals and as many assists in 12 matches across all competitions for the Catalan club and has also earned a call back to the England national team.

Ahead of the Olympiacos clash, Flick had mentioned that he fully trusts Rashford to fill in the No.9 position, as the Barca boss had stated: "Rashford is a good option as a No. 9, but he can also play as a No. 11. That's what we thought when we signed him: he can play as a No. 9 or No. 11, and it's great to have him in our team. He's improved a lot in recent weeks. He gives us a lot of positives, and of course, he can play as a No. 9."  

After the Champions League clash on Tuesday, it is safe to say that the 27-year-old has further cemented his place in Flick's lineup as he proved his versatility in the attacking third. 

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Getty Images SportBarcelona ready for El Clasio test

The Catalan side started October on a disappointing note as they suffered back-to-back losses against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and a 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Sevilla in La Liga. The reigning champions looked a bit out of form and rattled as their injury crisis deepened. However, the club are now back to their best and the win over Olympiacos will provide a massive boost to Flick's side, who now prepare to face arch-rivals Real Madrid in the season's first El Clasico on Sunday. Rashford will also aim to bring out his best in the first El Clasico of his professional career.    

India’s T20I captain “can’t wait to be back” with the team set to tour Bangladesh in August 2025

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jun-2025

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav had a successful hernia surgery in Munich, Germany and is currently in recovery.Suryakumar was last seen at IPL 2025, where he was a crucial part of Mumbai Indians’ run into the playoffs. The 34-year-old middle-order batter set a new world record for consecutive 25-plus scores (16). On the back of that, he finished with a total of 717 runs, the highest by a non-opener in IPL and the highest by an MI batter in a single season.India’s immediate assignments are the ongoing Test tour of England, which carries on until August 4. Then they shift focus to a white-ball tour of Bangladesh, which contains three ODIs and three T20Is. Suryakumar isn’t a regular for India in 50-overs cricket – he hasn’t played the format since the 2023 World Cup final. Given this schedule, he had some free time on his hands to complete the surgery and his recovery before he takes charge of the T20 line-up in Chattogram on August 26.