Wolves are now expressing an interest in signing a Man City player, with one of their squad members potentially set to leave in January.

Wolves nailed on for relegation barring Rob Edwards miracle

The Old Gold face the most perilous situation in the Premier League, rooted firmly to the bottom of the table with just two points from 14 games.

Wolves appear destined for Championship football unless Rob Edwards can orchestrate an almighty turnaround during the second half of the campaign.

Edwards arrived from Middlesbrough in mid-November, leaving a promotion-chasing outfit second in the Championship to tackle one of football’s most daunting rescue missions.

Wolves still remain winless, sitting 12 points adrift of safety – a margin that already carries significant historical weight.

No team has ever survived relegation after collecting merely two points from their opening 14 games, and at their current rate, they would finish the season with just seven points — threatening to eclipse Derby County’s infamous 11-point record from the 2007-08 campaign.

Huddersfield Town (18/19)

16

Sheffield United (23/24)

16

Sunderland (05/06)

15

Southampton (24/25)

12

Derby County

11

The appointment of Edwards represents a desperate gamble by chairman Jeff Shi, who acknowledged the club needs a complete philosophical refresh.

Edwards’ deep connections to Molineux — having made over 100 appearances as a player before serving in various coaching capacities — offer hope that he understands the DNA required to navigate this crisis.

Wolves plotting January bid for "prolific" £17.5m striker with 29 G/A last season

The Old Gold are looking to bring in a centre-forward this winter, in order to bolster their survival hopes.

ByDominic Lund Nov 27, 2025

However, his task is monumental. Vitor Pereira managed just a 36.8 per cent win rate before his sacking in early November, inheriting a squad stripped of its best talent through successive transfer windows.

The pattern has become devastatingly familiar.

After selling Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes in 2023, then Pedro Neto and Max Kilman in 2024, Wolves lost Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri last summer without securing adequate replacements.

Cunha’s departure to Man United for £62.5 million removed their most reliable goalscorer, 17 goals in all competitions last season, while Ait-Nouri joined Manchester City for £31 million.

The club’s attacking output has obviously collapsed as a result, with just seven goals scored so far — the division’s worst record and only team failing to reach double figures.

However, according to Football Insider and journalist Wayne Veysey, Shi and Fosun do have a succession plan for goalkeeper Jose Sa.

Wolves express James Trafford interest with Jose Sa set to leave

Indeed, it is believed that Wolves have expressed interest in signing Man City’s James Trafford on loan in January as Edwards searches for solutions.

The 23-year-old England youth international finds himself behind Gianluigi Donnarumma in Pep Guardiola’s pecking order after the Italian’s summer arrival, which is bad timing ahead of the World Cup next year.

After starting the campaign as City’s number one following Ederson’s departure to Fenerbahçe, Trafford has managed just three appearances since August and is eager to continue his development elsewhere.

Wolves face mounting concerns between the posts, with current number one Sam Johnstone enduring a difficult spell.

His error against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday proved costly, failing to connect properly with Omari Hutchinson’s cross and allowing the winning goal.

Meanwhile, second-choice Sa is ‘potentially set to leave’ next month, with West Ham monitoring the Portuguese ahead of a potential winter swoop.

Trafford enjoyed an outstanding 2024-25 Championship campaign with Burnley before returning to City, keeping 29 clean sheets in 45 appearances with an impressive 84.6 per cent save percentage.

His promotion-winning pedigree under Scott Parker could prove invaluable as Edwards desperately seeks reinforcements capable of mounting an unlikely survival bid during the second half of the season.

However, they’ll have to contend with competition for Trafford’s services, with Tottenham also believed to be exploring a move for the ‘top talent’.

With several months between matches and a World Cup on the horizon, MLS players are finding different ways to stay sharp through the winter to ensure they get off to a strong start

For several years, the concept of an offseason has been a hot topic in global soccer. As players play more games than ever, there are fewer breaks and moments to shut the body down to recover. Major League Soccer, generally, has had the opposite problem.

The reality is that those who missed the postseason are staring down just about four months without a club match. That's a long time in comparison to the leagues in Europe, where the offseason can be less than a month when factoring in friendlies played over the summer. The best professionals know how to navigate that time in a way that gets them the rest they need and the training required to stay sharp.

Staying sharp is always paramount, but even more so this year. When the MLS season kicks off in February, it'll be just a three-month sprint before World Cup rosters are selected. Those on the fringes will know that, and they'll know there will be no time to waste. Starting the season strong will be more important than ever before, and to do that, players will need to understand a vital fact: this is no regular offseason.

 "I'll treat this preseason and offseason the same way I treat every single one and come back from preseason knowing that 2026 is going to be a huge, huge year," U.S. men's national team and Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream said. "I have goals I want to reach, and it's what you do when no one's looking that allows you to reach those goals."

So how are players approaching it? What are they doing to stay fit? GOAL, in partnership with Catepillar, takes a look…

Getty Images SportThe initial days

Diego Luna's season ended much earlier than he wanted. Real Salt Lake were knocked out in the Wild Card round of the MLS Cup Playoffs on Oct. 22, ending their campaign, in Luna's mind, wildly prematurely. With a few weeks between that loss and the U.S. men's national team's final camp of 2025, Luna had to stay sharp. As a result, he spent a whole bunch of time training on his own to ensure he kept his legs for USMNT camp.

"I show up every single day at the RSL facility with a bag of balls to run my butt off for three weeks straight of grinding. No one there; just me in the dark, lights off," Luna told GOAL. "It's three weeks of hard work that no one is noticing, but everyone's thinking 'Diego's done this' or 'Diego's done that'. I show up against Uruguay and put in a performance, but people don't see the hard work that was done before."

Luna's work, ultimately, paid off. He dazzled against Uruguay, scoring a goal in the 5-1 win. He was joined on the scoresheet that day by another player who endured something similar: Alex Freeman. The Orlando City star scored twice against Uruguay, having gone through a similar process in Florida. After falling in the Wild Card round himself, the fullback grinded on his own in South Florida for a few weeks before earning his own USMNT call-up.

With the international break now over, though, there are no immediate games to train for. It's easier to stay motivated for a few weeks when you know that national team camp is around the corner. With that over, though, the hard work really begins.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportStaying fit

Tim Ream has been doing this for a while. It's fair to say he's done this longer than most. Now 38, the Charlotte FC star has had a whole bunch of offseasons in his career, so he knows what it's like not just to shut down, but get back going again.

As he's gotten older, that second part has become more difficult. In his eyes, resting is important, of course, but it's vital not to let the levels drop too much, simply because getting them back requires more work than ever.

"I think I hit 45 games between club and country this year at 38 years old," Ream said. "It's been a lot, especially when you throw in the travel. Listen, when you finish here, it's about rest and recovery. I'm one of those who struggle with too much time off, so I'll take 10 days off, completely shut the body down, then get back on the bike and get back to running and doing the things that I know work for me in the offseason. As you get older, you actually need or should be taking less time off. I've found, for me, that's the approach."

That's not just the approach for wily veterans. Ethan Sonis, who works with stars like Christian Pulisic, Rafael Leao, and Sergio Aguero with S.A.T. Soccer, says he'll work with between 20 and 30 players this winter to help them stay in shape during these colder months.

Luna's approach is similar: he'll be training extensively throughout this offseason "break." 

"This is maybe my most exciting offseason yet," Luna says. "It's definitely my most important offseason. I'm seeing it as my preseason to my preseason. I'm not treating it like an offseason. I'm going to manage it well. I'm going to clear the space from 10 months of soccer, but I'm going to be working my butt off."

Historically, some of the league's biggest players have worked their butt off in a different way: by going on loan. It'll be an option for some, but those situations have become far less common in recent years.

Getty ImagesAre loans in consideration?

During previous World Cup years, MLS stars like David Beckham famously spent time with AC Milan, Landon Donovan crushed it for Everton. Thierry Henry famously got one final swansong with Arsenal in his final years, giving fans one last goal and one last memory. Those three are among those to have spent an MLS offseason on loan, and you can understand the allure: competitive games in big leagues at a time when, normally, you wouldn't have much going on.

Son Heung-Min, one of the biggest names in MLS, had been rumoured for a loan of his own. He's not interested, he insisted. His focus on rest, recovery, and Los Angeles FC as he heads into his weeks-long break without the intention of moving.

“I’ve never spoken to any club about a winter move. Such talk is simply untrue,” Son said, reported TV Chosun. “For me, showing respect to my club and giving everything where I play – that’s what matters most. That won’t change. I won’t leave LAFC this winter, or ever, while I’m here. I respect this club deeply. As long as I’m wearing this badge, there will be no such thing as a loan or a move. Never.”

“I’ll rest well, recharge, and get myself in the best condition for the World Cup,” Son added. “My focus is fully on LAFC and my country – nothing else."

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ImagnResetting and starting new

At the end of the day, staying fit is vital, but players are human, too. Because of that, there is a necessity to restart the body and mind. For someone like Freeman, who enjoyed an award-winning breakout 2025, the offseason is a natural conclusion.

"I think everyone knows I probably need a reset, and maybe not even a reset, but a rest. I want to see family, maybe travel a little," Freeman told GOAL. "Maybe even go visit my national team teammates in different countries. For me, it's going to be a reset. I'm going to train and be fit as well, but it's been a long year for me, and I want to share this time with he people that have been supporting me."

Colorado Rapids star Paxten Aaronson will be doing the same. He's blending work with pleasure as he plans to spend his offseason going back to where it all began: training with his dad.

"I think some of the best preseasons I've come into at my sharpest have been when I've just been able to train with my dad," he said. "I haven't really been able to with the European off-season, just because they're so condensed. So yeah, I think off-season is a great time to kind of just work on the things you don't get to in the real season – just because you're so focused on the match minutes and your body's always fatigued."

Everyone will have a different approach and a different system. The key thing is finding whatever works for each particular player.  Everyone, though, will be eager to start the 2026 campaign hot, and that campaign doesn't start in February. In many ways, it's already started.

"This is not an offseason for me," Luna says, "but a season where I get to combine having fun with my family with the work ethic and understanding that this year is a huge year that could be an amazing year. That's the mindset."

Manchester City have now moved into pole position in the race for an “incredible” star, with Pep Guardiola captivated by him.

Man City's January transfer plans taking shape

It is clear that Man City could do with bringing in some additional attacking firepower this January, given that Erling Haaland has scored more than half of their 27 Premier League goals this season, although Phil Foden is showing signs he could be getting back to his best.

City survived a scare to defeat Leeds United 3-2 on Saturday, with their academy graduate bagging a brace, scoring the all-important third goal in stoppage time.

However, with Haaland perhaps still in need of additional support in attack, the Blues are looking to sign a new forward, and they are now exploring a move for AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

Semenyo is not the only target though, with Guardiola’s side setting their sights on a new midfielder, amid Rodri being unable to overcome his injury woes, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.

According to a report from Spain, Man City are now the clear favourites to sign Anderson, but they will have to shell out one of the highest transfer fees in their history to get a deal done, with a €100m (£88m) asking price being touted.

Guardiola has been left captivated by the midfielder, who has attracted interest from some of the world’s biggest clubs, including Manchester United and Liverpool, but City have now moved into pole position in the race for his signature.

The Blues’ financial resources should also give them the edge, and there is every indication he would be a fantastic addition to Guardiola’s squad…

"Incredible" Anderson has earned move to top club

The central midfielder has been nothing short of a revelation for both club and country this season, most recently putting in a top performance against Brighton & Hove Albion, despite Forest losing 2-0, winning more duels and completing more dribbles than any other player.

Elliot Anderson’s key statistics	Number completed
Dribbles	6
Duels (won)	17 (12)
Accurate passes	62/71 (87%)
Crosses (accurate)	13 (6)

Lauded as “incredible” by journalist Konstantinos Lianos, the Forest star has also received high praise from England manager Thomas Tuchel, who said: “He is an elite player with the right attitude and a lot of talent. He is fulfilling his role in the best way possible so we are very happy with him.”

Man City now frontrunners to sign "world-class" £80m star, Pep's a big fan

There has been a new update on City’s pursuit of a new forward, who Pep Guardiola has dubbed “extraordinary”.

By
Dominic Lund

Nov 27, 2025

With Rodri still struggling on the injury front, it would be ideal to bring in a new midfielder who could help keep the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race, and Anderson has proven himself as a top player this season.

Former wicketkeeper-batter Mark Greatbatch has been elected as New Zealand Cricket (NZC) president, the board said in a release on Wednesday. A press release from the board also announced a profit of NZ$ 2.2 million for this financial year, turning around a projected deficit of NZ$ 6.8 million.Greatbatch, who played 41 Tests and 84 ODIs for New Zealand from 1988 to 1996, has also served as head coach and selector for the national men’s team. He replaced Lesley Murdoch, who completed her three-year term.”I want to convey my enormous gratitude to Lesley for her professionalism as the NZC President over the past three years, and for her great support for the game as well as the organisation,” NZC chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said.”I also want to welcome and congratulate Mark as our new President and wish him well in the role. We are fortunate in New Zealand cricket to have such strong figures wanting to contribute and give back to the game.”NZC had returned a surplus of NZ$ 8 million in 2024. Wednesday’s press release said NZC’s “reserves [were] at a record $37m, supported by strong broadcasting agreements, high-value playing programmes, and a solid commercial base.””NZC’s financial position is a strong one,” Puketapu-Lyndon said. “A small net surplus represents a significant outperformance against budget, reflecting prudent management and disciplined oversight – through what was a challenging operating environment.”Cricket here has never been a one-size-fits-all affair and NZC places great value in the ability of our Major and District Associations, and clubs to understand what works best in their regions and catchments.”We’re committed to working closely with them to ensure they’re well equipped to service the grassroots environment upon which our entire game is based.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Brasil e Jamaica se enfrentam neste sábado (1º), em jogo amistoso. A bola vai rolar a partir das 17h (de Brasília), na Arena Pernambuco, em Pernambuco (RE), com transmissão da TV Brasil, Sportv e Canal GOAT.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol NacionalFilha de pai brasileiro é disputada por três seleções e projeta carreira internacionalFutebol Nacional31/05/2024Seleção BrasileiraMeia da Seleção Brasileira, Paquetá abre o jogo sobre envolvimento com apostasSeleção Brasileira31/05/2024Seleção BrasileiraDorival terá trunfo em preparação da Seleção Brasileira para a Copa AméricaSeleção Brasileira31/05/2024

Confira todas as informações que você precisa saber sobre o confronto entre Brasil e Jamaica (onde assistir, horário, escalações e local).

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
BRASIL X JAMAICA
AMISTOSO
🗓️ Data e horário: sábado, 1º de junho de 2024, às 17h (de Brasília);
📍 Local: Arena Pernambuco, Pernambuco (RE);
📺 Onde assistir: TV Brasil, Sportv e Canal GOAT;
🟨 Árbitro: sem informações;
🚩 Assistentes: sem informações;
🖥️ VAR: sem informações.

⚽ PROVÁVEIS ESCALAÇÕES:

BRASIL (Técnico: Arthur Elias)
Lorena; Antônia, Lauren, Tarciane e Tamires; Júlia Bianchi, Angelina, Jaque Ribeiro e Marta; Gabi Portilho e Debinha.

continua após a publicidade

JAMAICA (Técnico: Lorde Donaldson)
Rebecca Spencer; Konya Plummer, Allyson Swaby, Chantelle Swaby e Naya Cardoza; Sampson; Davia Richards, Drew Spence e Jody Brown; Davia Richards e Kameron Simmonds.

Tudo sobre

Futebol NacionalJamaicaSeleção BrasileiraSeleção Feminina

تحدث الإعلامي أحمد شوبير عن أزمة انضمام لاعبي نادي بيراميدز إلى صفوف منتخب مصر، وذلك في ظل مشاركتهم المنتظرة مع فريقهم في بطولة كأس القارات (الإنتركونتيننتال)، مؤكدًا أن الموقف يحتاج إلى تنسيق واضح بين اتحاد الكرة وإدارة النادي.

وقال شوبير في تصريحاته الإذاعية: “لدينا مشكلة فيما يخص لاعبي بيراميدز، فهناك حديث مستمر حول انضمامهم من عدمه، سيضم المنتخب أحمد الشناوي ومحمد حمدي ومهند لاشين ومصطفى فتحي، لكنهم سيشاركون أولًا مع فريقهم في مباراة نصف نهائي كأس القارات (الإنتركونتيننتال) أمام الفائز من مباراة كروز آزول وفلامينجو البرازيلي، المقرر إقامتها في ملعب أحمد بن علي بقطر. وإذا فازوا فسيتأهلون لمواجهة باريس سان جيرمان في النهائي”.

وتابع: “سيكون هناك تنسيق بين المهندس هاني أبو ريدة وإدارة بيراميدز، لكن سنرى اليوم ما إذا كان اللاعبون سيسافرون أم لا، وعندما تسألني، أقول نعم، يجب أن يسافروا ويلعبوا مع فريقهم”.

وأضاف: “تخيلوا لو كان النادي الأهلي في الموقف نفسه! الأهلي شارك في كأس العالم للأندية دون لاعبيه الدوليين، ومع ذلك فاز على مونتيري المكسيكي وحصلنا في تلك البطولة على المركز الثالث، لكن وقتها كانوا في منتصف بطولة كأس الأمم الإفريقية، وكان هذا خطأ متكررًا من الفيفا”.

طالع أيضًا | شيكابالا: أنتظر تكرار سيناريو الأرجنتين مع منتخب مصر في كأس العرب

واستكمل: “لكن هنا الوضع مختلف؛ فمباراة المنتخب الودية مع نيجيريا ليست رسمية، ومن حق لاعبي بيراميدز أن يذهبوا مع ناديهم لأنه في مهمة تاريخية، يجب أن يسافروا ويشاركوا، ثم يعودوا للانضمام إلى المنتخب الأول، خاصة أن النهائي – إذا وصلوا – سيكون قبل دخول المنتخب في إطار المباريات الرسمية”.

وواصل: “أتمنى أن يسافر لاعبو بيراميدز بسلام، وأن يشاركوا بنجاح، ثم ينضموا بعدها مباشرة إلى المنتخب الوطني، مباراة مصر ونيجيريا في النهاية ليست سوى مباراة ودية، ولا يجب أن تتعارض مع مهمة رسمية يخوضها نادٍ يمثل الكرة المصرية”.

واختتم: “ذكرت لكم من قبل أننا كنا نستعد لمباراة فاصلة بين الأهلي والزمالك في ختام الدوري، لكن اتحاد الكرة أصر على سفرنا لمعسكر في يوغسلافيا، وذهبنا ولم نجد فرقًا نخوض أمامها مباريات ودية، ولعبنا ضد فرق ضعيفة للغاية وفزنا بنتائج مبالغ فيها، كانت معاندة لا داعي لها، وفي النهاية فقد الأهلي اللقب، والمنتخب خسر البطولة العربية، لذلك، أنا مؤيد تمامًا لسفر لاعبي بيراميدز، وأن يشاركوا في مباراتهم أو المباراتين ثم يعودوا للانضمام لمنتخب مصر”.

Game 1 of the National League Championship Series came down to one deciding at-bat on Monday night and the person in the batter's box would have done something differently if he had the opportunity.

With the Dodgers holding onto a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning, Brewers' Brice Turang encountered a bases-loaded, two-out opportunity against L.A. reliever Blake Treinen. Turang quickly fell down 1-2 in the count and went into battle mode. The next delivery broke inside and potentially would have hit him on his back leg for a game-tying HBP, but Turang instead avoided it. Treinen would go on to notch a strikeout, ending the proceedings and giving the Dodgers a 1-0 series league.

Turang was asked about the pitch and his avoidance after the game and couldn't quite explain it.

"Well, if you see me look in the dugout, I'm thinking, 'Damn.' I know it. Everybody knows it. I couldn't tell you why I did it, I just got out of the way. That's how it is."

Turang didn't wear the breaking ball because he was in the biggest at-bat of his life and instinct kicks in when someone is throwing pure heat with incredible movement. It would have been nice for Brewers fans had he simply stood his ground and made the score 2-2 but it's much, much easier to make decisions given more than .1 of a second to consider them.

The Padres bowed out of MLB postseason play in disappointing and early fashion yet again, losing a three-game wild card series to the Cubs. Now big change is coming to the club.

On Monday, San Diego skipper Mike Shildt announced his retirement. Shildt, 57, helmed the Padres over the last two seasons and led the team to a 183-141 record over two seasons to pair with two postseason appearances. Last year the Padres bowed out in the NLDS to the eventual champion Dodgers.

Shildt spent many seasons as a coach and manager in the minor leagues before joining the big leagues in 2017. He succeeded Mike Matheny as the Cardinals manager in 2018 as his first MLB managerial gig; Shildt joined San Diego in 2022 before he took over the managing job in 2024.

In an email to the San Diego Union-Tribute, Shildt said the grind of the long baseball season has taken a "severe" toll on him.

"It is with a full but heavy heart that I am announcing my retirement from managing the San Diego Padres," Shildt wrote. "It is a decision that I thought about during the season and became at peace with over the last 10 days. I gave every fiber of my being to help achieve Peter Seidler's vision of bringin a World Series Championship to San Diego. We fell short of the ultimate goal but I am proud of what the players, staff and organization were able to accomplish the last two seasons.

"The grind of the baseball season has taken a severe toll on me mentally, physically and emotionally. While it has always been about serving others, it's time I take care of myself and exit on my terms. I am extremely appreciate to the Padres, Peter Seidler, the Seidler family, Erik Greupner, AJ Preller and staff for the trust and confidence to lead this team. I'm confident I left things in a better place. However, I am most grateful for our players. San Diego is rightfully proud of the Padres players. It is a group that conducts themselves with class, is dedicated to each other and the common goal of winning a World Series. I love our players and will miss them dearly!!

"After 34 years of dedicating myself to the rigors of coaching and managing, I can with great enjoymnet look back upon achievin gmy two primary goals: To help players get the most out of their God given ability and become better men. Also, to win games. I move forward with a smile on my face, contentment in my soul and genuine excitement for what God has next.

"To the Friar Faithful, thanks for all the support and keep rocking Petco Park. It's the best home field advantage in Major League Baseball. The team is on its way to that World Series Championship you so deserve."

The Padres will now look for another manager to take advantage of a talented roster. It makes for one of the more appealing open gigs in MLB with the offseason about a month away. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Mason Miller make up a great core, if anything, but the Padres have been disappointing in the playoffs for two straight years. The new manager's first priority will be to ensure that doesn't happen again.

The end of an era in San Diego. A new one will begin later this year as the Padres' hunt for Shildt's successor begins.

Matheesha Pathirana, who last played at the Asia Cup this September, has been hampered by injuries in recent times

Nagraj Gollapudi15-Nov-2025In a late move, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have decided to release Sri Lankan fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana from their squad ahead of IPL 2026. ESPNcricinfo has learned that CSK have been deliberating their future with Pathirana, who they had bought ahead of IPL 2023 and retained before the 2025 mega auction for INR 13 crore.This emerged on Saturday – the IPL retention window closes at 3pm.With his slingy action and ability to find swing consistently at 140-plus clicks, Pathirana announced himself at IPL 2023, when CSK won the title, picking 19 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 8.01. Then captain MS Dhoni, though, had warned that Pathirana would need to be carefully managed by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) in order for him to have a long career. Dhoni’s words were not far off the mark – Pathirana has struggled with various injuries over the years.Related

CSK set to release Conway and Ravindra

RR trade Samson to CSK for Jadeja and Curran

Pathirana, who last played at the Asia Cup this September, had a curtailed IPL 2024 owing to a hamstring injury and then left for home midway into the SA20, where he playes for Joburg Super Kings. In IPL 2025, he was under par, taking 13 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 10.13.CSK’s head coach Stephen Fleming had said during the season that the franchise was concerned by Pathirana’s drop in impact, which he suspected had to do with the SLC tweaking the bowler’s release point which was causing him troubles.CSK have now decided to release Pathirana with a possibility of buying him back at the auction, which will take place in Abu Dhabi on December 16.CSK had been the only team Pathirana has played for in the IPL, with his overall numbers in the three seasons being 47 wickets in 32 matches at an average of 21.61 and economy of 8.68.CSK are set to be among the few teams to go into the auction with a big purse, having also decided to release a host of players including the New Zealand pair of Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra. They have also traded Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran to Rajasthan Royals for Sanju Samson.

The hosts had victory within reach but their tournament now stands on the edge with two huge games ahead

S Sudarshanan20-Oct-20253:15

Review: How did India lose this game?

A bizarre thing happens at the Holkar Stadium in Indore every time it hosts an international match. A small part of the wall between the adjoining basketball court and the stadium is demolished to facilitate entrance to the north stand that houses the press box. Once the game (or series) is over, the wall is rebuilt. It is not a makeshift entrance as there is a permanent grill gate, which becomes operational once the wall is broken down.This can be loosely used as an analogy to explain India’s situation at the Women’s World Cup 2025 – the more the things have changed, the more they have remained the same.Against South Africa, India’s top and middle order failed and the lower order got them to a decent score but the bowlers couldn’t defend it. Against Australia, the top- and middle-order gave them the platform but the lower order didn’t contribute and their bowlers crumbled under the pressure.Related

• New Zealand in must-win territory with rain in the Navi Mumbai air

• The biggest hurdle for India at the Women's World Cup

• 'The emotions took over' – Mandhana takes blame for Sunday heartbreak

• England in semi-finals after India unravel in tense finish

• Knight and Smith stay cool in the heat of the battle

Now chasing 289 against England, India had seven wickets in hand, a set batter in, 57 runs needed off 57 balls – comfortable, right? Nine times out of ten, the chasing team would be backed to win in such a scenario. Sunday was the tenth occasion. India slipped from there to a third straight defeat at this World Cup.It was Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur’s calculated assault that helped set the chase up after India were 42 for 2 in ten overs. Mandhana started off scratchily, faced only 18 deliveries in the first 12 overs and scored her first four off the 23rd ball, courtesy of an outside edge. Harmanpreet played her most fluent innings this tournament as India’s senior duo chose their battles carefully. All this after India’s bowlers led by Deepti Sharma helped drag England back after they seemed on course for a 320-plus total.England had two left-arm spinners, a bowling style that has been India’s undoing in recent times. But they were kept wicketless until the 42nd over. Whenever England bowled anything wide outside off, both Mandhana and Harmanpreet used the loft over extra cover to release the pressure. Their 125-run stand came off only 122 balls. Before Sunday, England were the most economical bowling unit (3.31 runs per over) in overs 11 to 30; India went at 6.05 runs per over in this phase in Indore.Amanjot Kaur and Sneh Rana walk off after India’s defeat•Getty ImagesIndia had dropped a batter (Jemimah Rodrigues) and brought in an extra bowler (Renuka Singh). So it was imperative for one of Mandhana and Harmanpreet to see the chase through. Mandhana took the onus upon herself by being patient and, as she later said, avoiding aerial shots. Till the rush of blood in the 42nd over.Linsey Smith chose the around-the-wicket angle with square leg, midwicket, long-on and long-off in the deep. Extra cover was clear and Mandhana was tempted to explore that region to get India’s ask under six an over. But Smith got the ball to drift away a little, which meant Mandhana lost control of her stroke and holed out to long-off.”Smriti’s wicket was a turning point for us, but we still had many batters,” Harmanpreet said after the game. Those other batters were Deepti, Richa Ghosh, Amanjot Kaur and Sneh Rana – all of whom have contributed with the bat in this tournament.England were unrelenting thereon. They pressed both Smith and Sophie Ecclestone into service, and India could score only 31 for 2 in the six left-arm spin overs in the third powerplay. The squeeze was truly on. Case in point being Deepti’s progress: she faced only 14 dots off her first 39 balls and scored 36 before Mandhana’s fall, and 10 dots in the 18 balls since then.Deepti Sharma started briskly but couldn’t keep up the temp•ICC/Getty Images”I don’t know how things went the other way,” Harmanpreet said. “It is a bad feeling, when you put so much hard work and take the game to the end. But the last five-six overs didn’t go to plan. I am at a loss of words but [it is] definitely a heartbreaking game.”Smith and Ecclestone used the Jess Jonassen model of stifling batters by denying them the bat-swing. They bowled from over the wicket to right-handers with three fielders deep on the leg side and cramped the batters for room. India did not collapse; they just could not break loose out of England’s stranglehold.It is not all doom and gloom for India. Their campaign is far from being over. They have two more games – against New Zealand and Bangladesh – at DY Patil, a venue they have recently played a lot at. They needn’t look beyond their latest victors for inspiration: England had lost each of their first three games at the 2022 World Cup and still qualified for the semi-final and finished runners-up.They might have a relook at their team combination again. Do they need that sixth proper bowler? Or can they do with the extra batter and squeeze some overs from the part-timers? Can they hold their nerves in a tense finish after three such outings?There are cracks in the wall. India need to ensure they fix it before it all crashes down on yet another home World Cup.