5 record-breaking football transfers of all-time

The summer of 2022 saw football clubs breaking the bank and going for their favourite players. If Manchester City got the likes of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, then Barcelona pulled every possible lever to get Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Kounde and a bunch of other guys.

Well, this is not a new thing. During the 2009-10 season, current UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid had the most epic football transfer season of all time. Los Blancos went all guns blazing in the transfer market that summer. They pillaged eight players away to Santiago Bernabeu, including some really high-profile ones, with net expenditure amounting to a staggering €261 million!

The players they bought included Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Raul Albiol, Xabi Alonso, and Karim Benzema, among others. Although the club bought this bunch of players, they couldn’t click as a team. The team managed to reach the Round of 16 stage in the Champions League but got eliminated by Lyon. Also, their fiercest rivals, Barcelona, managed to pip them in La Liga. 

Thus proving that sometimes money is not enough to win. That is the sad truth in today’s world.

Like the record-breaking transfer of Real Madrid in 2009, there have been times when football clubs have broken the bank to buy their favourite players.

In this article, we will be having a look at the 5 record-breaking transfers of all time that broke the Internet.

 

→ Neymar Jr. (Barcelona to PSG)

This was on the expected lines. The Brazilian sensation Neymar Jr. set the streets in Barcelona on fire with his dribbling and goal-scoring abilities. The trio of Messi-Suarez-Neymar were the reason for sleepless nights for a lot of European teams.

So, when the French club Paris St. Germain decided to rebuild their team, they went all the way to get the Brazilian player. During the 2017 summer, the Brazilian left Camp Nou for PSG in a move worth €222m (£200m), ending an impressive four-year stay with Barcelona. 

This is the biggest transfer ever to happen in the footballing world.

 

→ Kylian Mbappe (AS Monaco to PSG)

The wonder kid from France who set the 2018 World Cup stage on fire with his skills managed to follow in the footsteps of Neymar Jr. by joining PSG. PSG paid Monaco €180m when they bought Kylian Mbappe from their Ligue 1 rivals in 2018 after an initial loan spell.

Taking the concept of making a loan switch permanent to new extremes, PSG made Mbappe the most expensive European player of all time in the summer of 2018.

→ Phillippe Coutinho ( Liverpool to Barcelona)

Spanish giants Barcelona have made some disastrous buys in the recent past that have impacted the club in a very negative way. In the January transfer window of 2018, Barcelona purchased Phillippe Coutinho from Liverpool for a reported fee worth €160m.

However, as time progressed, the midfielder didn’t quite justify his price. Hence, he was sent on a loan to the English club Aston Villa. However, as the English club was impressed by their newest loanee, they decided to buy Coutinho for a fee of €20 million. Barcelona decided to add a sell-on clause of 50% for any future transfer of Phillippe Coutinho.

→ Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona)

You get it why Barcelona are in shambles right now? The club bought a few players at an astonishing price who didn’t quite justify their price tag. Ousmane Dembele was one among them.

The French footballer was a part of the German football team Borussia Dortmund. He was creating quite the noise with his pitch-perfect football skills. Dembele, 25, joined Barcelona in 2017 from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of €140 million ($165 million). It is one of the biggest transfer fees in football history.

However, it is not a successful one. During his stint with Barcelona, the winger was marred with injuries and spent half of his time on the bench. 

→ Eden Hazard (Chelsea to Real Madrid)

Real Madrid is known for going all the way for the players they want. The recent controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe is a prime example of that. 

During the 2019 summer, Chelsea star Eden Hazard made a shocking move to Real Madrid in a transfer worth €100 million (£88m/$112m). It was reported the deal was worth €140m (£124m/$146m) with all the incentives.

As was the case with Barcelona superstar Ousmane Dembele, Eden Hazard, too, spent a lot of time in the hospital dealing with injuries. 

Other notable mentions:

 

Player Name Former Club Club that bought him Year of the transfer Transfer Fee
Joao Felix Benfica Atletico Madrid 2019 €126m
Antoine Griezmann Atletico Madrid Barcelona 2019 €120m
Jack Grealish Aston Villa Manchester City 2021 €117m
Romelu Lukaku Inter Milan Chelsea 2021 €115m
Paul Pogba Juventus Manchester United 2016 €105m
Gareth Bale Tottenham Spurs Real Madrid 2013 €100.8m
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Juventus  2018 €100m
Antony Ajax FC Manchester United 2022 €95m (+€5m)
Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United Real Madrid 2009 €94m

                                                                                                                                            (stats provided by Goal.com) 

Woah, a lot of money was splurged on buying the footballers. The number is going to shoot up as the years go by. 

Who do you think will be the next “superstar” who will become the most expensive signing eclipsing Neymar’s price tag? Drop the names in the comment section.

The Last Dance: Players who will be playing their final FIFA World Cup

The 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off in less than a week. All the teams have landed in the Arabic country and started their preparation. The teams are getting acclimatised to the hot and humid conditions of Qatar.

Well, as the team prepares for the Winter World Cup, there are some players who might be playing their final World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi being the most obvious ones. This might be their last chance to get their hands on the coveted FIFA World Cup. So, they will be leaving no stone unturned to win the big prize.

In this article, we’ll look at those players who will be playing their final FIFA World Cup.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portugal superstar will be making his 5th consecutive appearance at the most prestigious tournament in the world. Pooled in Group H alongside Uruguay, South Korea, and Ghana, Portugal will hope to give their star man a befitting send-off at the grand stage, and it does not get better than aiming for the ultimate prize.

The Manchester United striker has won every possible trophy there is to win. Only the World Cup trophy is missing from his cabinet. If he manages to go till the end, then it will establish him as one of the G.O.A.T.s.

Lionel Messi

The Argentine superstar will also be making his final appearance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. One of the world’s finest players, Lionel Messi, hopes for World Cup glory this time. Following his admission that he will retire from international football after the World Cup, several Argentine teammates, including Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez, swore, “to go to war for Messi to win the World Cup”.

Under the able leadership of Lionel Messi, Argentina are on a hot streak with 24 victories and 11 draws across friendly matches, World Cup 2022 qualifying and, of course, the 2021 Copa América, a trophy they lifted for the 15th time. With such form, things are all set for Lionel Messi to put an end to his World Cup trophy drought.

Neymar Jr.

The Brazilian superstar will be making his final appearance at the World Cup. Neymar is second on Brazil’s all-time top goalscorers list with 74 goals in 119 appearances.

“I think it (2022) will be my last World Cup,” Neymar said. “I am facing it like the last World Cup because I don’t know whether I will be able to, mentally, endure more soccer”, he said in the documentary Neymar & The Line Of Kings, produced by DAZN.

“I will do everything possible to get there very well. I will do all I can to win it with my country and realize my dream, the biggest since my boyhood.”

Luis Suarez

Uruguay’s all-time leading goalscorer will be plying his trade for the last time. The 35-year-old is set to play his fourth World Cup. The superstar will be trying to recreate his magic on the field, like in the 2010 World Cup, where he led his team to fourth place.

Robert Lewandowski

 

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have overshadowed the Poland superstar. The Barcelona main man has quietly kept scoring goals in his club career. At the international level, the former Bayern Munich striker has amassed 76 goals in 134 appearances for Poland but is yet to score at the World Cup.

Edinson Cavani

Uruguay’s most prolific goal scorer, Edinson Cavani, will also be playing his final World Cup. Cavani made his debut in 2008 against Columbia and since then has appeared in 133 games and scored 58 goals.

The striker has appeared in 14 matches and scored five goals in the World Cup.

Luka Modrić

The Real Madrid legend who plies his trade for Croatia will be making his final appearance on the biggest stage. The 37-year-old seems to be getting better with age. The creative midfielder, who led his team to the finals of the 2018 World Cup, will be looking to go all the way and win the trophy for his nation.

Manuel Neuer

The Bayern Munich legend is one of the best goalkeepers the game has ever witnessed. The 36-year-old will be playing his fourth World Cup. He has stood like a rock between the opposing teams and the goalpost.

Thomas Müller

One of the most prolific goal scorers in Germany’s squad, Thomas Müller, will be appearing in his fourth World Cup. The Bayern Munich striker has scored 10 goals in 16 games. Considering this will probably be his final World Cup, he will leave no stone unturned to get his hands on the prestigious trophy.

Other notable mentions: Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud, Sergio Busquets, Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Eden Hazard, Jordi Alba, Hugo Lloris, Angel Di Maria, and Pepe, among many others.

These were a few footballers who will be making their final appearance at the FIFA World Cup. Let us know which footballer will be missed the most in their national colours.

How would the Indian T20 squad for 2024 look like?

Team India, the inaugural champions of the 2007 T20 World Cup, haven’t performed as per expectations in T20 cricket ever since winning the trophy. The team ended as runners-up during the 2014 T20 World Cup while losing out in the semi-finals twice, once during the 2016 edition and once in the most recently concluded one.

It is fair to say that the team hasn’t done well in this format. And as per the talks, there are many changes expected in the squad. A lot of the non-performing guys will be given an exit, and a lot of new faces will be seen in the blue-coloured jersey.

Here’s a quick look at how the team would be for the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Top Order:

Prithvi Shaw, Ishan Kishan, Shubhman Gill

The current top order featuring the likes of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma has been dismal. They have failed to provide starts, and their strike rate has been a disaster for the team. The top order needs a makeover. The team needs batters who can accelerate at will and display an aggressive style of batting.

Prithvi Shaw is the opener team India needs. He has the ability to score runs at will and has been doing the job for the Delhi Capitals and his domestic team. Partnering Shaw can be Ishan Kishan. The Mumbai Indians player has been in terrific form lately. The wicketkeeper-batter delivered one of his finest T20 knocks during the team’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2022 fixture against Odisha by slamming an unbeaten 102 runs off just 64 deliveries.

The third option in the opening department can be Shubhman Gill. The right-hander was the highest runs scorer for Gujarat Titans in the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League. Also, he had an excellent Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. The opener scored 260 runs in 6 matches.

 

Middle Order:

Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer

Though Virat Kohli is scoring tons of runs, no one is sure that he will continue till the next T20 World Cup. If he continues, nothing like it. But if he doesn’t, then the responsibility falls on the able shoulders of Suryakumar Yadav.

The batter has showed his range of shots and consistency in the recently concluded T20 World Cup. So he becomes an automatic selection for the team.

Deepak Hooda has been knocking on the team’s door for quite a while. And it’s high time everyone should take notice of this talent. The Rajasthan player has amassed 293 runs in 13 games.

 

Wicketkeepers:

Sanju Samson, Rishabh Pant

Currently, the team is persisting with Rishabh Pant in all formats of the game. And he is also performing as expected. So, I think there won’t be much tinkering in the wicket-keeping department.

But, there has been a resurgence of sorts for Sanju Samson. The Kerala-based batsman has been the most improved batter in recent times. After having a terrific IPL, the batter impressed everyone with his batting skills in the ODI series against South Africa.

 

All-rounders:

Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar

Well, if we believe the noise, there is going to be a new skipper to lead the T20 team. And the new captain of the Indian T20 team is none other than Hardik Pandya. Pandya will be the perfect choice as the next skipper of the Indian team. He has tasted success with his stint with the Gujarat Titans in IPL.

Ravindra Jadeja is the best all-rounder in the Indian team. The man can bat, bowl and save runs in the field. Also, his records in T20 are worth mentioning. In 64 matches, he has scored 457 runs at a strike rate of 124.52 and took 51 wickets at an economy of 7.04.

Washington Sundar is the third player that makes this lot. The off-spinner has been decently in whatever opportunities he has got.

Spinners:

Ravi Bishnoi, Yuvvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav

Yuzvendra Chahal should be the automatic selection for this Indian team. I couldn’t understand why he was left out of playing XI in the 2022 T20 World Cup. He is a wicket-taking bowler and should have played at all costs. The leg-spinner has taken 85 wickets in 69 matches with an average of 24.64.

The duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, fondly called “KulCha”, was one of the deadliest spin combinations in the team. But as time progressed, Kuldeep Yadav lost his golden form and eventually lost his place. However, the left-arm chinaman bowler has made a return to the national squad.

Ravi Bishnoi takes the place of the backup spinner in the T20 squad. The right-arm leg spinner has played 70 T20 matches and taken 85 wickets at an economy of 7.07.

Pace Bowlers:

Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna

The likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh get automatically picked for the 2024 T20 World Cup squad. Although Bhuvaneshwar Kumar has performed fairly well, picking Deepak Chahar instead of him will add balance to the squad. Deepak Chahar is a great bowling option in the powerplays and can contribute well with the bat.

The next edition of the T20 World Cup will be held in West Indies and the USA. And a tall, lanky pacer in the Caribbean islands will be a great option. Hence, I have included Prasidh Krishna in the squad.

India’s likely playing XI at the 2024 T20 World Cup

Prithvi Shaw
Ishan Kishan
Virat Kohli
Suryakumar Yadav
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Hardik Pandya (C)
Ravindra Jadeja
Deepak Chahar
Yuzvendra Chahal
Jasprit Bumrah
Arshdeep Singh

So, that’s it. That’s the likely playing XI for the 2024 T20 World Cup from my end. Do let me know your thoughts on the current selection and which players should be dropped from the squad.

7 most innovative cricket shots

Cricket is one of the oldest sports in the world. It is said that cricket has been played since the late 16th century. The first international match was played in the 19th century, and the first Test match was held in the year 1877. Cricket has been passed on by many generations, and the game has evolved in every stage of it. 

From Test cricket to 60-over ODIs to 50-overs to the new T20 format, cricket has undergone a massive change throughout its existence. A new rule is invented with each passing decade, and as we all know, technology plays a big part in the modern era of cricket. 

Just like the formats and rules, the style of playing cricket has also changed significantly. Professional players are not sticking to the traditional way of playing cricket now. There is a change in their batting, bowling, and also their fielding. 

From MS Dhoni’s helicopter shot to Lasith Malinga’s unique bowling action, cricketers are redefining the meaning of this legendary game. Innovation is the key to progress in any field of work. 

Bowlers always had many variations under their belt, but batters had to stick to their classic cricketing roots. However, as the years progressed, even the batters started adapting to the unconventional style of cricketing shots. 

Batters like AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, and Suryakumar Yadav are the perfect examples of how inventing new shots can make a player immune to any type of bowling. Let’s have a look at the 7 most innovative cricket shots to date. 

7 most innovative cricket shots to date 

1) MS Dhoni’s Helicopter shot 

The legendary skipper who handed India two World Cups also gifted the cricketing universe an antidote for yorkers. As we all know, yorkers are one of the toughest balls to face. A batter has to go all defensive while facing a yorker. However, the legendary MS Dhoni fears no bowler. 

MS Dhoni introduced the helicopter shot to the world. The helicopter shot is when the batter flicks the ball while playing a yorker or a full-length delivery, with the bat being circled overhead. The batter has to use his bottom hand to generate all the power for the shot. If a batter masters the shot, he/she can use it to convert difficult yorkers into boundaries. 

It is said that MS Dhoni learned this iconic shot from his childhood friend Santosh Lal. However, legendary cricketers like Mohammad Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, Kevin Pietersen, Chamara Silva, Aravinda Silva, and Abdul Razzaq have also played similar strokes to the helicopter shot in the past. Players like Hardik Pandya and Mohammad Shahzad can be seen playing the Helicopter shot every now and then.

PS: Execution is the key. 

  1. Dilshan’s Dil-scoop 

The Dil-scoop is named after the famous Sri Lankan cricketer Tillakaratne Dilshan. The Sri Lankan ace was known to play this unorthodox shot during his glorious cricketing career. The Dil-scoop shot is played by going on one knee to a good length delivery and flick or, as the name suggests, “scoop” the ball over the head past the wicketkeeper. 

This shot is mostly played against a fast or a medium-fast bowler. Dilshan mastered this shot and majorly used it in the T20 format during the power-play overs. 9 out of 10 times, the ball clears the boundary rope as there is no fielder played behind the keeper. The rest of the time, well, it lands in the hands of the wicketkeeper. 

  1. The reverse sweep 

No batter has claimed the reverse sweep shot, but many have learned it to perfection. You might have often seen the likes of Glenn Maxwell, AB de Villiers, or Kevin Pietersen going for a reverse sweep shot. However, former England skipper Eoin Morgan was known to play the best reverse sweep shots in the business. A reverse sweep shot is an efficient way to manipulate the field setting. As the name suggests, a reverse sweep shot is played in the opposite direction of a normal sweep shot. 

A batter executes the shot by sweeping the ball in a horizontal arc from leg to off. A batter usually plays this shot while kneeling. The shot is majorly played to clear the boundaries and put the bowler under pressure to re-think his field adjustments. The reverse sweep is generally played against a spinner. 

  1. The Upper Cut 

The first two names which pop to our mind when we hear “the Upper Cut” shot is none other than the two Indian greats, Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. Both of the giants of Indian cricket absolutely aced this shot. Sehwag used to play the Upper Cut shot at every given opportunity. The Upper Cut shot is a work of art. 

In the Upper Cut shot, the ball is directed towards the third-man boundary. The Upper Cut is played against a short ball that is pitched outside the off stump. Batters tend to try this shot when the third-man fielder is fielding inside the ring. This shot does not require any power, just timing and placement. 

  1. The AB de Villiers Sweep 

AB de Villiers is one of the main protagonists of the unorthodox style of playing. Even now players are termed as the “next ABD” when we see a glimpse of creativity in them. The latest example is the Indian batter Suryakumar Yadav, who is called the new “Mr.360” for his massive range of shots.

ABD’s sweep is one of the most difficult shots to master or even attempt to play. ABD used to move across the offside, showing all three stumps to the bowlers. The South African used to deceive the bowlers into bowling a good-length delivery which Mr. 360 used to convert into boundaries by sweeping it over the fine or the square leg. 

  1. Kevin Pietersen’s Switch Hit 

What is a switch hit? Something which Glenn Maxwell tries to play every second ball. Yes, and it is not a joke, Australia’s “Big Show” is obsessed with the switch hit. Kevin Pietersen was the first player to play this shot in international cricket. The Switch hit is the process of changing the stance from a righty to a lefty or vice-versa before the bowler delivers the ball. This shot is commonly played to get the better of the fielding placements. 

 

It is a very risky shot as it can make you look like an utter fool if you miss it. Australia’s David Warner got clean bowled while trying to play the switch hit against Afghanistan in the T20 World Cup 2022. However, one of David Warner’s switch-hits has also touched the top self of the MCG. India’s Ravichandran Ashwin was Warner’s victim in 2012. 

  1. The Marillier Hit 

One of the most iconic shots in the history books of cricket is The Marillier Hit. Named after the Zimbabwean cricketer Doug Marillier, the Marillier Hit has been played for decades.

The Marillier Hit is also known as the ramp shot, and Doug Marillier is known to be the first player to try this shot. The Marillier Hit is a type of scoop shot in which the batter snaps the ball over the keeper and the fine leg.

So that’s it. Here are the 7 most innovative cricket shots. Do let us know in the comments section which one is your favourite cricket shot.

The best playing XI of the 2022 T20 World Cup

After four weeks of entertaining the audiences, the 2022 T20 World Cup is nearing its end. We have our two finalists, i.e. England and Pakistan. While England had a smooth sailing in the world cup, Pakistan had a very nerve-wracking campaign. The 1992 ODI World Cup champs were the last team to qualify for the semi-finals, but due to their outstanding batting performance became the first team to qualify for the finals.

This T20 World Cup was really a special one. This World Cup saw a lot of upsets. In the Qualifier stage, Namibia beat the current Asia Cup champs; Sri Lanka. There was another huge upset in the Qualifiers stage. The 2012 & 2016 T20 World Cup champions, West Indies, got defeated by Ireland. It was a humiliating defeat for the Caribbean team.

That wasn’t all. While Ireland defeated the 2019 ODI World Cup champs England in a rain-curtailed match, Zimbabwe defeated Pakistan by the narrowest margin to bring their fans joy. After facing such a humiliating defeat, Pakistan was all but out of the tournament. But South Africa’s loss to the Netherlands gave them a new lease of life. And now they are in the final of the tournament.

Australia has always been kind to the Pakistan team. The team won the 1992 ODI World Cup in Australia under the leadership of Imran Khan. And guess what? Their opponent in that final was England. What a coincidence!!

This T20 World Cup saw a string of amazing individual performances. From Virat Kohli’s brilliant knock against Pakistan to Sam Curran’s controlled pace bowling against Afghanistan, the players have lit up this World Cup. In this article, we’ll be having a look at the best playing XI of the 2022 T20 World Cup.

Alex Hales: 

The England batter had a fantastic comeback to the national team. After being overlooked for many years, the right-handed batsman made a return to the national squad. And he didn’t disappoint too. The opener scored 212 runs in 6 matches at an average of 42.40and a strike rate of 147.22.

 

Max O’Dowd: 

The Netherlands opener had a dream T20 World Cup. The right-hander scored 242 runs in 8 matches at an average of 34.57 and a strike rate of 112.56. He scored 22 boundaries, and eight balls went over the boundary ropes.

 

Virat Kohli: 

 

After showing signs of form in the Asia Cup, Virat Kohli showed everyone why he is rightly called “King Kohli”. In the match against Pakistan, the batter scored 82 valuable runs in 53 balls. It was one of the greatest knocks in T20 cricket. Overall, the batter had an excellent T20 World Cup, as always!! He scored 296 runs in 6 matches at an average of 98.66 and a strike rate of 136.41.

Suryakumar Yadav: 

The current world number one T20 batsman showed his consistency in the shortest format. His unorthodox shots behind the square were on full display in the 2022 T20 World Cup. The new “Mr. 360” scored 239 runs in 6 games at an average of 59.75 and a strike rate of 189.68.

 

Jos Buttler (C & WK): 

The current white ball skipper of England had a good outing at the T20 World Cup. The three lions skipper scored 225 runs in 6 games at an average of 45.00 and a strike rate of 144.23. The way the English skipper led his team after their defeat to Ireland was really commendable. Only he could be the skipper of this team.

 

Glenn Philips: 

The New Zealander established himself as one of the best T20 batsmen currently in the world. He became the first batsman to hit a century in the 2022 T20 World Cup. The right-handed batter scored 201 runs in 5 games at an average of 40.20 and a strike rate of 158.27.

 

Sikandar Raza: 

The best all-rounder of the T20 World Cup, without a doubt! The Zimbabwean star scored 219 runs in 8 games and took ten wickets at an average of 15.60. His performance in the game against Pakistan was really fantabulous. 

 

Sam Curran: 

The left-arm pacer took 13 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 11.38. He is the only bowler to take a five-for in the 2022 T20 World Cup. His figures of 5-10 against Afghanistan were the best in the entire tournament.

 

Wanindu Hasaranga: 

The Sri Lankan spinner continued his amazing form. After winning over the fans with his match-winning performances in the 2022 Asia Cup, the leg-spinner had another extraordinary campaign. With 15 wickets in just 8 games, he became the most wicket-taker in the 2022 T20 World Cup. 

 

Anrich Nortje:



The South African pace sensation left an impact on the T20 World Cup. The right-arm pacer took 11 wickets in just 5 games at an average of an astonishing 8.55. He is the only bowler to take two four-fors in the 2022 T20 World Cup. 

 

Shaheen Shah Afridi:

The Pakistani speedster had a poor start to the 2022 T20 World Cup. But he came back stronger. After being hit all over the ground in the first two games, he managed to take 11 wickets in 7 games at an average of 14.09.

The 7 greatest FIFA World Cup individual performances

It is difficult to forget certain things in your life. Your first kiss, your first heartbreak, and an exceptional performance from a top athlete. Whether you are a Real Madrid or a Barcelona fan, Ronaldo’s bicycle kick in the 2018 Champions League semi-finals against Juventus will be eternally etched in your memory. A great performance never ends on the field; it is written and talked about for years to come. We are still talking about Virat Kohli’s match-winning knock against Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2022. 

The biggest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, is just around the corner. Almost every legend has been featured in this grand event representing their respective country over the years. But somehow, only some of them have given us the performances to remember. Let’s have a look at seven such memorable renditions in the history of the FIFA World Cup. 

Zinedine Zidane vs Brazil, 1998 Final 

Zinedine Zidane became a benchmark for midfielders with his blistering performance against Brazil in the finals of the 1998 World Cup. The legendary midfielder took the Stade Velodrome stadium by storm with his two clutch goals within the first 45 minutes of the match. 

Zidane defined the meaning of grace every time he touched the ball that night. Each of his passes pierced through Brazil’s defence. France won the World Cup 3-0 against Brazil, with Emmanuel Petit scoring the final goal for the hosts. Zidane was named the “Man of the Match” and the rest is history. 

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Spain 2018 Group Stage

Cristiano Ronaldo has carried his side a lot of times in his glorious career. But to do it in a World Cup match against a team like Spain makes it more special. The Portuguese skipper scored a mesmerizing hattrick against Spain to steal a point against them in the group stages of the 2018 World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo also became the first player in history to score in eight consecutive international tournaments. 

Ronaldo grabbed his maiden World Cup hat trick when his side needed him the most. What makes this performance more special is Ronaldo’s 88th-minute free-kick to equalize the score against Spain. A once-in-a-generation show by the greatest of all time. 

James Rodriguez vs Uruguay, 2014 Round of 16 

The 2014 World Cup was a life-changing campaign for James Rodrigues. 22-year-old James Rodriguez won it for his side against Uruguay with a spectacular brace in the Round of 16 stage. The former Real Madrid player became an overnight success as Colombia went on to

win the match 2-0 against Uruguay. Rodriguez created history with his performance as he carried Colombia to their first-ever World Cup quarter-finals. 

Rodriguez’s first goal against Uruguay, which was an exceptional volley, was described as “one of the greatest goals the World Cup has ever seen” by none other than Uruguay’s manager of the time, Oscar Tabarez. James won the Golden boot in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and was soon signed by Real Madrid after the World Cup for a historic sum of 90m euros (£71m), making him the 4th costliest player of the time. 

Diego Maradona vs England, 1986 Quater-final 

“A little with the head of Maradona and a little with the hand of God,” this might be the most iconic line said by any footballer in the history of the sport. We don’t actually need to say who said it and when. Diego Maradona is coined as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, footballers to ever grace this beautiful sport. He was passionate, a genius, and a serial winner. He was loved by all, except, umm, some of the English fans for obvious reasons. 

Maradona scored the infamous “hand of God” goal against England to knock them out of the quarter-final of the 1986 World Cup. However, the “hand of God” wasn’t the only talking point about Argentina’s win over England. Maradona also scored arguably the best goal of his career just 4 minutes after his first goal. Maradona’s second goal against England in 1986 was also named the ‘Goal of the century’. Gary Linekar scored a consolation goal for England in the 81st minute. 

Pele vs France, 1958 Semi-final 

“So you think you are Pele? a very common line used in the 70s and 80s, even by someone who has never watched a game of football. Pele was the first real superstar of the game and was globally known for his majestic aura in the world of sports. Pele was born to play football, and he has the stats to prove it. There are many songs written about his greatness, and his performance against France in the 1958 semi-final is just one of them. 

France was leading Brazil in that particular semi-final of the 1958 World Cup until Pele stepped in. A 17-year-old Pele, the youngest player in that World Cup, scored a hattrick to carry Brazil to the finals. Pele also scored a brace during Brazil’s 5-2 win against Sweden in the 1958 FIFA World Cup finals. Pele scored a total of six goals in just four appearances in the World Cup of 1958 and never looked back. 

Ronaldo vs Germany, 2002 Final 

The 2002 World Cup is fairly remembered for “that” haircut by the Brazilian Ronaldo. The legendary striker inspired almost an entire generation of teenagers to pick that haircut unintentionally. The real reason why Ronaldo adopted that look was to distract the media from writing about his ever-lasting knee injury. Against all odds, Ronaldo made it to Brazil’s squad in the 2002 World Cup after recovering from a severe knee injury.

Ronaldo was the star performer for Brazil in the finals against Germany, where he scored both goals to win for his team. Ronaldo comeback from a career-ending injury and became the highest scorer of the 2002 FIFA World Cup with a total of 12 goals. Ronaldo found the net against every opponent except England in the 2002 World Cup. But his performance in the finals against Germany was the best version of the Brazilian ace. 

Kylian Mbappe vs Argentina, 2018 Round of 16 

Kylian Mbappe’s worth is now in gold, and it is not a metaphor. No offer is good enough that will convince PSG to let him go; ask Florentino Perez. Very few players can match Mbappe’s stature in modern-day football, one of them being Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. Kylian Mbappe is touted to be the next legend of this game. Kylian Mbappe is a generational talent, and he has shown glimpses of his greatness since he was a boy. 

Kylian Mbappe became the first teenager after Pele to score a brace in a FIFA World Cup match, a record which stood since 1958. Kylian Mbappe achieved this feat against Argentina in the 2018 Round of 16 clash. Kylian Mbappe’s brace helped France to edge past Argentina in a thrilling 4-3 encounter. Kylian Mbappe was the best player on the pitch that night despite the presence of Lionel Messi.

Is Suryakumar Yadav the new “Mr. 360”?

There is a new batting sensation in the Indian team. No, I am not talking about Virat Kohli and his resurgence in form. While it is commendable how Virat Kohli has resurrected his legendary status in the Indian cricket history books. Today, we will be talking about one of the most unconventional batting superstars in the Indian team. Any guesses? Well, it’s none other than the new Mr. 360, Suryakumar Yadav.

Suryakumar Yadav is going through a purple patch in his professional life. The star India batter has scored 1,026 runs at an average of 44.60 in 28 innings this year. Surya has hit one century and nine half-centuries with the best score of 117. His strike rate has been 186.24.

The 32-year-old is the first Indian to achieve the feat and only the second player ever to do so, following in the footsteps of Mohammad Rizwan in 2021, with the Pakistan opener finishing with 1326 runs last year.

SKY, as he is lovingly called, is going great in the 2022 T20 World Cup. With 225 runs, Suryakumar Yadav is now second only to teammate Virat Kohli (246) in the tournament’s most runs scored list for players who competed only in the Super 12 phase.

Unorthodox and unconventional shots are the USP of SKY’s batting. As per an ESPNcricinfo report, Suryakumar hits a boundary behind square every 7.4 balls he faces, and every 2.4 balls, he goes behind square. Nobody comes close. He has hit 54 sixes behind square, more than anyone else. He has been in control of 91.1% of the boundaries he has hit behind square.

Additionally, he has taken 51 balls from outside off and put them behind square on the leg side for 141 runs. From the line of stumps and outside leg, he has hit 27 balls for 32 runs behind square on the off side.

Suryakumar can play his shots to any part of the ground. As per a The Cricket Monthly report, behind square on the off side, he averages 54.20 and strikes at 203.76. Add up all the areas behind the wicket, and he stands alone. Among all batters to have scored at least 200 runs behind the wicket since his debut, his strike rate of 250.40 is the best in the world.

He scores in a 360-degree pattern. No doubt he is being called the true successor to the term invented by AB de Villiers; “Mr. 360”. In a recent conversation, De Villiers himself approved of those comparisons and said Suryakumar would be “in the golden books of cricket players” if he continues to be consistent.

“Yes, they are [right in comparing Suryakumar with me]. The only thing he will have to concentrate on is his consistency,” de Villiers told PTI. “He will have to do this for five to ten years, and then he will find himself in the golden books of cricket players.”

Suryakumar Yadav has established himself as a white-ball specialist. If he continues the way he is playing, it won’t be long before he is counted among the best of the game.

Let’s take a look at what the experts have to say about Suryakumar Yadav.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suryakumar Yadav is the current number one batsman in the T20s in the world. In the 2022 T20 World Cup, he has been the second most impactful batter, behind only Glenn Philips.

IPL 2023: The list of expected players to be released from every franchisee

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is getting tougher with each year passing by. With the introduction of two new teams: the Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants, winning the prestigious trophy has become more strenuous. A side must have the perfect blend of batters, bowlers, and all-rounders to win the best T20 league in the world. 

There is no denying the fact that the auction is the cornerstone of winning the illustrious IPL trophy. The decision-makers of every franchise need to be thorough with their teams’ necessities before entering the bidding battle in the auction. Having said that, as important as it is for a team to sign a perfect player, at the same time, it is very crucial for them to get rid of some of them. 

Releasing a player before an auction is also a very important step before entering a new season. An out-of-form player with a heavy price tag is enough to drag a whole team back single-handedly. All ten teams will look for some adjustments in their squad before the upcoming season. 

The IPL 2023 auction is set to be held in December. The official date is yet to be announced by the BCCI. However, all the teams are required to submit the list of their retained and released players by November 15. 

Let’s have a look at the list of expected players to be released from every franchisee in IPL 2023: 

Mumbai Indians

“Humiliating” will be an understatement to describe Mumbai Indians’ performance in the IPL 2022. The five-time IPL winners won just four games out of the 14 played in the recently conducted season. What makes it worse is that most of the games were played in Wankhede Stadium, the team’s home ground itself. The MI management has some serious thinking to do and needs to get back on track before it gets too late. 

Players Mumbai Indians can release before the 2023 auction: 

1) Jaydev Unadkat

2) Fabian Allen

3) Tymal Mills 

 

Chennai Super Kings

If Mumbai Indians had a bad season, Chennai Super Kings had a disappointing one as well. CSK looked completely lost in IPL 2022. The MS Dhoni/ Ravindra Jadeja-led side finished 9th a season after winning the IPL. The out-of-favours CSK side also won just four games in IPL 2022. 

The Men in Yellow are expected to bounce back in the upcoming season as it can be the last time MS Dhoni’s last season as a player. CSK will need a perfect team to make MSD’s last dance a special one.

 

Players Chennai Super Kings can release before the 2023 auction: 

1) Chris Jordan 

2) Adam Milne 

3) Robin Uthappa

 

Sunrisers Hyderabad 

SRH kick-started their IPL 2022 with back-to-back losses. However, the team managed to gain momentum by winning five games straight. The Orange Army then looked to lose the plot by going on a 5-game losing streak and eventually finished 8th in the IPL 2022 points table. 

Umran Malik’s outrageous bowling carried the team for most of the season. Other than that, it was just an average performance from the rest of the squad, including their skipper Kane Williamson. Fans are still not over the fact that SRH failed to retain David Warner and Rashid Khan in the same window. 

Players Sunrisers Hyderabad can release before the 2023 auction: 

1) Sean Abbott 

2) Fazalhaq Farooqi 

3) Abdul Samad 

4) Romario Shepherd

Kolkata Knight Riders 

Kolkata Knight Riders experienced a bright start to their IPL 2022 campaign but failed to thrive on it. KKR have a good squad with a promising young skipper in the form of Shreyas Iyer. And with Chandrakant Pandit’s arrival at the coaching helm, we can expect plenty of changes in the KKR’s squad this season. KKR fans were seemingly unhappy with their team’s strategy in the 2022 mega-auction. However, we might see a positive turnout this time. 

Players Kolkata Knight Riders can release before the 2023 auction: 

1) Ajinkya Rahane 

2) Aaron Finch 

3) Shivam Mavi 

 

Punjab Kings


Punjab Kings let go of KL Rahul and appointed Mayank Agarwal as their new captain before the IPL 2022 season. However, the alternations didn’t make much difference for PBKS as it proved to be yet another disheartening season for them. PBKS finished 6th for the 3rd consecutive time under the management of head coach Anil Kumble. 

PBKS has a lot of promising players in their squad, with some big names including Liam Livingstone, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jonny Bairstow, Arshdeep Singh, and Kagiso Rabada. To think of a team consisting of so many big names ending up with just 7 wins in a season is rather dissatisfying. 

Punjab Kings can easily fight for the title in IPL 2023. PBKS will look to offload some deadwood from their squad before the mini-auction takes place. PBKS’ new head coach Trevor Bayliss is expected to bring in some major changes in their team ahead of the IPL 2023 season. Shikhar Dhawan has already been named their new skipper to start with. 

Players Punjab Kings can release before the 2023 auction: 

1) Mayank Agarwal 

2) Sandeep Sharma

3) Benny Howell 

4) Odean Smith

5) Vaibhav Arora 

Delhi Capitals 

Almost every year, Delhi Capitals start as one of the front-runners to win the IPL but ironically fails to turn their long-lasting dream into a reality. Delhi Capital’s star-studded squad, which included the likes of Rishabh Pant, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, and Prithvi Shaw, was expected to crush most of their challengers. 

However, DC finished 5th in the IPL 2022, which perfectly sums up the team’s journey in the Indian T20 tournament. The Rishabh Pant-led team has got all the ingredients to win the IPL. With a little switch, the Delhi Capitals can fix their problems ahead of the 2023 IPL. 

Players Delhi Capitals can release before the 2023 auction: 

1) Shardul Thakur 

2) Mandeep Singh 

3) Tim Seifert

4) Mustafizur Rahman

5) Ripal Patel 

Royal Challengers Bangalore

To think that the great Virat Kohli has never won an IPL will always be an astonishing fact. A team that consisted the likes of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, and Chris Gayle, all at the same time and still never bagged an IPL trophy is a disturbing fact. In an ideal world, Royal Challengers Bangalore should have clinched at least 1 IPL title. However, IPL can not be won by facts but by performances that RCB somewhere lacks in every season. 

RCB managed to amass a great squad in the 2022 mega auction but failed to change their fortunes. We are expecting some minor changes in the RCB’s squad ahead of the 2023 IPL mini-auction. 

Players Royal Challengers Bangalore can release before the 2023 auction: 

1) Sherfane Rutherford 

2) Jason Behrendorff 

3) Karn Sharma 

4) David Willey 

Lucknow Super Giants 

The newly-formed side under the leadership of KL Rahul did pretty well in their maiden season. LSG finished 3rd as they gathered a total of 9 wins in IPL 2022. The Lucknow-based franchise will be motivated by its set of great stints in its very first season and will only look to thrive from it. 

Players Lucknow Super Giants can release before the 2023 auction: 

1) Manish Pandey 

2) Andrew Tye 

3) Evin Lewis 

4) Ankit Rajpoot

 

Rajasthan Royals 

Many would argue that Rajasthan Royals were indeed the best side of IPL 2022. RR looked like the most balanced team out of the 10 in the previous season. The Rajasthan-based team dominated most of their rivals, with Jos Buttler leading the batting from the front. 

Sanju Samson and his “pink army” reached the IPL 2022 finals but couldn’t taste the glory. However, RR will surely be one of the favourites to win the next IPL. Rajasthan Royals won’t be eager to implement many changes in their almost perfect squad. 

Players Rajasthan Royals can release before the 2023 auction: 

1) Nathan Coulter-Nile 

2) Karun Nair

3) Obed McCoy

4) Rassie van der Dussen

 

Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans created history by winning the IPL in their very first season. The Hardik Pandya-led team displayed great courage against some of the best players in the world. Gujarat Titans had a different match-winner in each victory of theirs. GT’s immense individual quality was their X-factor in IPL 2022. Gujarat Titans will want to maintain a similar approach for the seasons to follow as well. We are not expecting any big changes in Gujarat’s squad for the upcoming season. 

Players Gujarat Titans can release before the 2023 auction: 

1) Vijay Shankar 

2) Gurkeerat Singh Mann 

3) Noor Ahmad

4) Varun Aaron

Interesting Facts about FIFA World Cup

11 interesting facts about the 2022 FIFA World Cup

This winter, Christmas is going to arrive early for football aficionados. FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is knocking just around the corner. The hosts Qatar, will contest Ecuador in the opening match of the tournament on 20th November. The stage is set for the biggest sporting event in the world, as millions of fans will be glued to their television screens for a month straight. 

Controversies, protests, and contentions, the hype built around the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are mainly due to the tension surrounding it. Having said that, the 2022 World Cup is also going to get emotional for the fans as two of the greatest footballers in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, might be featuring in their last one. There is a lot to discuss the upcoming sporting jamboree. Let’s have a look. 

11 interesting facts about the 2022 FIFA World Cup 

First World Cup to take place in the Middle East 

Amidst all the controversies, Qatar has done something unimaginable. Qatar will become the first Middle-Eastern country to host the FIFA World Cup. Qatar will be only the second Asian country to organize this grand footballing event. Against all the odds, Qatar is ready to set an example for the world. 

Highest visitors count 

The streets of Qatar are expected to be packed throughout the FIFA World Cup. It is reported that over 1 million tourists and fans from around the world are expected to visit Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Over 1,300+ flights are expected to land in Qatar every day over two months. Qatar is already famous for being a tourist spot, and it’s just going to get bigger. 

The most expensive World Cup to date 

Qatar has reportedly spent over £138 billion (17.60 Lakh Crore INR) to build the infrastructure to conduct the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The infrastructure includes stadiums, hotels, highways, and other facilities. Russia hosted the second costliest World Cup after Qatar, and they spent only £14.2 billion, followed by Brazil (£11.6 billion). 

Qatar’s insane World Cup cost is due to the money spent on building seven brand-new stadiums. To get a wider perspective, South Africa invested a total of $3.5 billion while hosting the World Cup in 2010. 

The lowest number of stadiums

FIFA World Cup 2022 will only be played in 8 stadiums. This is the lowest number of stadiums recorded in the history of the World Cup. However, 7 of the 8 stadiums are newly built just to hold the Qatar World Cup. 8 or more matches will be played in each of the eight stadiums. 

Lusail Stadium is the largest stadium among the eight, which will be hosting over 80,000 fans. Al Bayt Stadium will be hosting over 60,000 fans, while the rest of the stadiums have the capacity of holding 40,000 people or so.

 

The eight stadiums are: 

  1. Lusail Stadium | Capacity: 80,000 seats 
  2. Al Bayt Stadium | Capacity: 60,000 seats 
  3. Al Janoub Stadium | Capacity: 40,000 seats 
  4. Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium | Capacity: 40,000 seats 
  5. Khalifa International Stadium | Capacity: 40,000 seats 
  6. Education City Stadium | Capacity: 40,000 seats 
  7. Stadium 974 | Capacity: 40,000 seats 
  8. Al Thumama Stadium | Capacity: 40,000 seats 

Smallest Country to host the FIFA World Cup 

Qatar will become the smallest country to host the FIFA World Cup by land and also by population of the country. Qatar measures only 11,571 km². Qatar is smaller than most of the states in the USA. The population of Qatar was around 29.3 lakhs in 2021. All eight stadiums are interconnected via the Doha Metro line. 

Uruguay is the next smallest country after Qatar to ever host a FIFA World Cup. Uruguay has a population of around 34.9 lakhs (2021) and is spread across 176,215 km². Uruguay hosted and clinched the first-ever FIFA World Cup in 1930. Qatar this time? No? Ok!. 

First ever FIFA World Cup to be played in the Winter 

FIFA World Cups are mostly played during the summer between June and July. However, Qatar World Cup will be taken place during the winter. The reason is pretty obvious, Qatar’s scathing summer. The temperature in Qatar reaches up to 50℃. The FIFA authorities showed some mercy over the players and shifted the entire tournament to winter. The winter temperature in Qatar loiters between 4℃ to 29℃. 

Alcohol-friendly fan zones 

Access to alcohol is certainly not easy in Qatar, as it is a Muslim-dominated country. However, the hosts have considered the feelings of their beerologist travelling fans, especially the English, and have decided to put up multiple alcohol-friendly “fan zones”. 

Alcohol won’t be available in any of the stadiums. However, fans can consume their drink in the said spots. The prices of the alcohol sold in the “fan zone” will be comparatively lesser than the usual price of alcohol in Qatar. 

Air-conditioned Stadiums 

Qatar will keep no stone unturned to make the 2022 FIFA World Cup a memorable one. Despite the tournament being set in the winter, Qatar has made its stadiums fully air-conditioned. The sub-tropical climate can make a switch anytime, and Qatar has no

intentions of taking any risk. The cooling of a single stadium will require the strength of around 44,000 air conditioners per game. 

Magnificent!. Certain environmentalists will say otherwise, though! 

Costliest Match Tickets in World Cup history 

Watching a FIFA World Cup match in Qatar is not going to come cheap. Qatar has a simple way of recovering its gargantuan investment: how? by increasing the price of match tickets. The best tickets for the 2022 World Cup finals are going to cost around £1,179 (1,09,368 INR). The same ticket was priced at around £807 (74,797 INR) in the finals of the 2018 Russia World Cup. 

The cheapest tickets for the 2022 World Cup finals will be around £513.34 (47,592 INR). The tickets for the group matches will cost around £58.64 (5,436 INR) for the travelling fans. However, the citizens of Qatar can buy the group stage tickets for £8 (741 INR). The opening match of the Qatar World Cup between Qatar and Ecuador will cost around £302 (27,985 INR). 

The Protest 

Countries around the world are protesting against Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup. There are many claims that Qatar has broken most of the human rights norms in the process of getting ready for the 2022 World Cup. A recent report claimed that more than 6,500 migrant workers from countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal had died in Qatar since 2010, the year when Qatar won the rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Many recognized players have also protested against Qatar on and off the field. 

The Last Dance 

The end for which not a single fan of the sport can ever be prepared. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi: the pioneers of modern-day football, might be featuring in their last-ever football World Cup. While the 35-year-old Argentine has already made it public, Ronaldo is yet to comment on his future. 

FIFA World Cup remains the only thing neither of these two demi-gods has won in their prosperous careers. It’s their last dance, their last shot to conquer the dream. Will they? Can they? Destiny awaits.

Which badminton shoes are the best?

Choosing the most ideal badminton shoe is always important. A comfortable and high-performing pair of shoes can enhance your game exponentially, against any opponent. Badminton shoes can be classified into various categories based on the shape, technology, cushion and material. So, to help you out we have listed below the best badminton shoes in 2021.

1. Yonex Eclipsion Z2

Yonex Eclipsion Z2 is a semi-one piece sole and Radial Blade Sole for maximum stability and grip promoting rapid footwork. Moreover, it comes in two colors – Red/Black & Acid Yellow.

Technology:

Power Cushion : Power Cushion absorbs shock then reverses the impact energy for smooth transfer into the next movement. Compared with urethane, the YONEX Power Cushion construction provides 3 times more shock absorbing power. When dropped from 7m above a Power Cushion sheet, an egg will bounce back 4m without damage.

Power Cushion+ : A raw egg can be dropped from 12 meters above the POWER CUSHION+ mat, rebounding to a height of 6 meters without breaking.

Double Russel Mesh : Double Raschel Mesh is an ultra fine mesh that is extremely lightweight and durable. It provides eight times more air-exchange for releasing moisture than ordinary mesh fabric.

Durable Skin : The visually improved upper design technology increases durability whilst maintaining comfort for smoother footwork.

Synchro-Fit Insole : For Quicker Footwork. Synchro-Fit Insole construction allows a closer fit between shoe and foot, keeping power loss to an absolute minimum to achieve smoother movement and quicker footwork. Compared to conventional footwear, the mid to heel area on the insole is lifted to provide a closer-fit between shoe and foot. By holding the heel more firmly against the insole, the gap between shoe and foot is reduced, improving comfort and ensuring the foot does not slip forwards inside the shoe.

 

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