ENGLAND captain Harry Kane will miss Saturday’s friendly against Brazil – and Tuesday’s match with Belgium.

Kane will be at Wembley and is expected to fly back to Germany and continue his treatment after the friendly against the South Americans.

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He suffered an ankle injury after colliding with a post during Bayern Munich’s 5-2 win over Darmstadt last Saturday.

The 30-year-old has been training away from the team since reporting for international duty this week and will not be in danger in either of the friendlies.

Kyle Walker is likely to captain the Three Lions in Kane’s absence.

And Ollie Watkins or Ivan Toney will get the chance to take the lead against Brazil.

Kane has missed just one international in the last two and a half years – the 1-0 win over Australia in October.

But he will not play for England again until the Euro 2024 warm-up matches with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland in June.

England have already lost Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, who has returned to his club due to a minor muscle problem.

Gareth Southgate is expected to field a strong side against the Brazilians, including Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice and Phil Foden.

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On team news, Southgate said: “No Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson or Cole Palmer tomorrow.

‘I would say that Cole and Hendo have a better chance in Belgium than Harry. He would be extremely doubtful.”

Kane, 30, has had an excellent season despite Bayern’s domestic problems.

The eternal Bundesliga champion is ten points behind Bayer Leverkusen after 26 games.

However, the England captain has scored 31 times without missing a single game in the Bundesliga, and has scored a further six goals in eight Champions League games.

Ruturaj Gaikwad was handed the CSK captaincy a night ago when MS Dhoni resigned after 14 years at the helm.

Chennai: Not once did he feel the burden of captaincy, said Ruturaj Gaikwad, the newly appointed skipper of Chennai Super Kings, after the defending champions started their IPL 2024 campaign with a six-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday . The 27-year-old was given the captaincy by Dhoni on Thursday, a move that was planned.

From the toss to the end of the match, Gaikwad kept his composure appropriately and didn’t even seem under pressure, just like Dhoni who led the franchise from 2008 to 2023. “I have always enjoyed it (captaincy). I didn’t feel the extra pressure directly from the state side.

“Not once have I felt pressured by anything. Obviously, Mahi had bhai with me,” Gaikwad said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

LIVE BUZZ | CSK vs RCB, IPL 2024: “Feels good. It’s a privilege and more than that, it’s a huge responsibility, but I’m very excited because of the kind of group we have, everyone has experience so there’s not much to do. Moreover, I have Mahi bhai in the team, also Jaddu bhai, and also Ajju bhai, who has been a great captain. So nothing to worry about, just looking forward to enjoying,” Gaikwad’s first reaction after being appointed as captain from CSK.

Rohit, who also stepped down as captain of Mumbai Indians, took to Instagram and shared a story of himself and Dhoni joining hands at the toss as captains of their respective teams with an emoji.

Mumbai: MS Dhoni dropped a bombshell on Thursday afternoon when it became clear that he has stepped down as captain of Chennai Super Kings. While the world was shocked and reacted to this development on the eve of the IPL 2024 opener between CSK and RCB, it was Rohit Sharma’s reaction that grabbed the attention. Rohit, who also stepped down as captain of Mumbai Indians, took to Instagram and shared a story of himself and Dhoni joining hands at the toss as captains of their respective teams with an emoji. Here is the post that is now going viral on social media:

Story of Indian Captain Rohit Sharma for MS DHONI pic.twitter.com/nlsAOarxgb

— ROHIT TV (@rohittv_45) March 21, 2024

Earlier, Rohit resigned as leader under suspicious circumstances. It was not clear what happened behind the scenes. Multiple reports hinted that Rohit and fans were extremely unhappy with the call.

Ruturaj Gaikwad has been appointed as the new captain of the team. Gaikwad is not new to the role, but he realized that the IPL is a different beast. But then again, at least he will have Dhoni to guide him this season and that will be invaluable.

“It was MS Dhoni’s call, with a lot of focus on the future. The timing was right. It will be a preparation process for Ruturaj Gaikwad,” CSK coach Stephen Fleming said on Dhoni stepping down as leader.

This will be only the second time that Dhoni will not start an IPL season as skipper of CSK after Ravindra Jadeja was named captain in IPL 2022, following which he was replaced by the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman eight matches into the season.

Rishabh Pant will captain Delhi Capitals in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League.

New Delhi: Rishabh Pant will captain Delhi Capitals in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. The wicketkeeper-batsman returns to professional cricket after 14 months and was part of the Delhi Capitals’ pre-season training camp in Vizag.

Speaking on the occasion, DC Chairman and Co-Owner Parth Jindal said, “We are delighted to welcome Rishabh back as our Captain. Perseverance and fearlessness have always dictated his cricketing style, and not surprisingly, even his road to recovery. I can’t wait to see him represent our team again as we look forward to a new season with renewed passion, vigor and enthusiasm.”

Team co-owner Kiran Kumar Grandhi said: “Rishabh worked incredibly hard during one of the most challenging phases of his life. I have no doubt that his teammates will take enormous inspiration from that as they start a new season. Captain Rishabh and the team have our best wishes.”

Delhi Capitals will take on Punjab Kings in their first match of IPL 2024 in Chandigarh on March 23.

DREAM TEAM managers should be aware that Gameweek 28 only features four Premier League matches.

However, six top clubs will take part in the FA Cup quarter-finals this weekend, with players scoring points as normal.

This means that six teams will not miss a single match in the coming Gameweek: Arsenal, Bournemouth, Brighton, Crystal Palace, Everton and Sheffield United.

With this in mind, let’s think about possible Booster strategies and captaincy options.

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It’s probably wise to keep Park the Bus and Max Captain in the holster, as both Boosters are best deployed in a double Gameweek, like Gameweek 29 for example.

The same goes for 12th Man, although this Booster could also serve another function for blunders left wanting by this weekend’s blunders.

Some of Mikel Arteta’s favorites are among the most popular players in the game, so it is likely that many bosses will not be able to field a full XI in Gameweek 28, even after their transfers.

Players such as Pervis Estupinan (£2.7m), Lewis Dunk (£3.1m), Jordan Pickford (£2.7m), Dominic Solanke (£3.8m) and Eberechi Eze (£4m) will also twiddling their thumbs this weekend.

Most gaffers should be able to tolerate one or two inactive players, but those missing half their lineup may feel like they need to activate their 12th Man Booster to bolster their ranks.

Erling Haaland (£7.9m), Mohamed Salah (£6.5m), Darwin Nunez (£4.8m) and Son Heung-min (£4.6m) are all exceptional candidates.

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And it is exactly the same names that lead the conversation about the captaincy.

It’s been months since the classic pitch between Haaland and Salah, but that’s exactly how many blunders it will see this week.

Manchester City host Newcastle, while Liverpool travel to Manchester United for their respective FA Cup quarter-finals.

Neither initially looks like a particularly favorable match, but the Magpies have conceded 16 goals in their last seven games as they drop to 10th in the Premier League.

Current form suggests Eddie Howe’s side are not adequately prepared to withstand an Etihad attack.

Likewise, Erik ten Hag will privately fear a grenade on Sunday, given the nature of his injury-affected defense.

The Red Devils beat Everton last weekend but they gave away plenty of chances and with Liverpool having scored 25 goals in their last eight games, things could get messy for the hosts at Old Trafford.

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Of course, there’s always a chance that the key players will be rested in the FA Cup, but with a place in the semi-finals at stake and an international break to follow, it would be a surprise to see Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp field a weakened line . upwards.

Salah was on his worst form against Sparta Prague on Thursday evening, ending Gameweek 27 with 22 points to his total, but Haaland has the best points per game this season (9.5).

Both are fantastic options, but perhaps the home advantage goes to the Norwegian poacher after all?

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Elsewhere, Son is probably the most attractive alternative.

The Tottenham captain played superbly against Aston Villa last weekend for his 16 points in what was a statement win in a difficult stadium to attend.

The South Korean superstar has averaged a goal or an assist every 90.8 minutes this season and will be keen to improve his numbers against Fulham on Saturday.

Those unsure about the FA Cup line-up should note that Spurs’ visit to Craven Cottage is a Premier League match.

The deadline for Gameweek 28 is Saturday 11:15am – good luck!

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Hardik Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain for IPL 2024.

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya joined the camp on Monday and performed puja in the dressing room, seeking God’s blessings ahead of the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League. Hardik, who spent two seasons with Gujarat Titans in 2022 and 2023, returned home in a mega all-cash trade deal as he returned to the five-time champions soon after the auctions were held in December last year. Mumbai Indians had to pay Rs 15 crores to Gujarat Titans for Pandya, who replaced Rohit Sharma as team captain.

I think I #A family #MumbaiIndians @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/XBs5eJFdfS

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 11, 2024

In a video shared by Mumbai Indians, Pandya was seen setting up a mandir and placing a garland on the photo of the deity. Then Mumbai Indians head coach Mark Boucher broke a coconut as a good luck ritual. Pandya also offered sweets to the God before hugging everyone.

Unknownly, Pandya was injured midway through the ODI World Cup against Bangladesh and did not play any form of cricket until earlier this month. The India all-rounder spent some time at the NCA for his recovery before training in Baroda for the upcoming IPL.

He announced his comeback to cricket after an injury in the DY Patil T20 Cup in Mumbai, a corporate tournament. Meanwhile, the five-time IPL champions have been shopping quite well in Dubai during the auctions. They strengthened their pace attack with the addition of South Africa’s Gerald Coetzee and Sri Lankan pace duo Dilshan Madushanka and Nuwan Alsohara.

While Madhushanka was Sri Lanka’s highest wicket-taker in the ODI World Cup, Aldushara is known as Malinga 2.0 for his swinging action. Mumbai Indians are sorted in terms of batting, with the likes of Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Rohit Sharma in the top five.

Mumbai Indians players bought in IPL 2024 auction: Gerald Coetzee (Rs. 5 crore), Dilshan Madushanka (Rs. 4.60 crore), Shreyas Gopal (Rs. 20 lakh), Nuwan Aldushara (Rs. 4.80 crore), Naman Dhir (Rs. 20 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (Rs. 4.80 crore), Naman Dhir (Rs. 20 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (Rs. 5 crore). 20 lakh), Mohammad Nabi (Rs. 1.5 crore), Shivalik Sharma (Rs. 20 lakh).

Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2024: Rohit Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, N. Tilak Varma, Tim David, Vishnu Vinod, Arjun Tendulkar, Shams Mulani, Nehal Wadhera, Jasprit Bumrah, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jason Behrendorff, Romario Shepherd, Hardik Pandya (c), Gerald Coetzee, Dilshan Madushanka, Shreyas Gopal, Nuwan Alsohara, Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammad Nabi, Shivalik Sharma.

MS Dhoni accepted the young fan’s artwork, showing due respect to the artist for his hard work.

Chennai: A fan on Sunday gifted Chennai Super Kings captain MS Dhoni two works of art, the photo of which went viral on social media. The young Dhoni fan named Yash Prajapati painted two faces of the former India captain: one with long hair and another with short hair. As down-to-earth as he can be, Dhoni accepted the artwork and posed with the youngster, making his day unforgettable.

A beautiful work of art gifted to MS Dhoni by Yash Prajapati. pic.twitter.com/aEk60oTQea

— Johannes. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 10, 2024

Dhoni participated in the CSK training earlier this week. The 42-year-old, who has been in rehabilitation for the past six to seven months for his injured knee which he had undergone surgery last year, hit the nets in his vintage new look, which sent the internet into a frenzy. Before joining the CSK camp, Dhoni was pictured in Jamnagar with his wife Skshi and several other Indian cricket legends during Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding festivities.

Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Chahar are among the local stars who took part in CSK training before Dhoni. The five-time champions will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL 2024 opener in Chennai on March 22.

Players CSK bought in the IPL 2024 auction: Rachin Ravindra (Rs. 1.8 crore), Shardul Thakur (Rs. 4 crore), Daryl Mitchell (Rs. 14 crore), Sameer Rizvi (Rs. 8.40 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (Rs. 2 crore), Avanish Rao Aravelly (Rs. 2 crore), 20 lakh).

CSK’s complete squad for IPL 2024

Wicketkeepers: MS Dhoni, Devon Conway, Avanish Rao Aravelly.

Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shaik Rasheed, Ajinkya Rahane, Sameer Rizvi.

All-rounders: Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Ajay Mandal, Nishant Sindhu, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Shardul Thakur.

Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Mustafizur Rahman, Mukesh Choudhary.

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has given her ‘full support’ to Sam Kerr as she addressed her superstar striker’s trial on Wednesday.

On Monday evening, the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that Kerr will face a criminal trial in February next year after being accused of racially abusing a police officer.

The 2018 Young Australian of the Year will seek to have the charges, which arose from an alleged dispute over a taxi fare, dismissed out of court.

It later emerged that Kerr had called PC Lovell a ‘stupid white PC’ and threw up in the taxi.

And speaking to the media ahead of Chelsea’s upcoming match against Manchester City, Hayes said the club fully supports the 30-year-old.

“Sam has our full support, she knows that,” she said. ‘It’s a difficult time for her. Of course I can’t comment, you know that.

Asked if she was aware of the criminal proceedings before Monday’s news broke, Hayes said: “I cI say that I know she has pleaded not guilty and I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize anything for Sam by talking about it. For that reason, I am sure you can understand that this is all I am going to say on this matter.

“But she has our full support, she knows that. It is very important that I convey that, it is something that I really appreciate.’

This development adds to a frustrating year for Kerr, who has been sidelined due to injury. Hayes said everyone at the London club is supportive.

“There are tough moments, tough times and that’s what my role is at this football club, to make sure I look after our people,” she added. I want to make it clear that Sam will be supported by me and everyone else.”

Hayes’ comments come after Football Australia and Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson revealed they knew nothing about the Twickenham incident.

Speaking to media in Sydney on Tuesday afternoon, Gustavsson confirmed he had not been informed of the allegations before the news broke that morning.

“I heard about it for the first time this morning,” he said.

‘I was informed this morning and was obviously surprised and had some time to talk to the federation [Football Australia] about the.

‘And as you know, the federation has issued a statement. Because it is a legal process, I have to refer to that statement.

‘Unfortunately I can’t say more than that.

“But I can make it very clear that today was the very first time I heard about it.”

Gustavsson was asked about Kerr’s character and whether the alleged crime was consistent with her personality.

“I cannot comment on the violation as it is a legal matter at this time,” he said.

“All I can say is [on] is my experience and interaction with Sam, as a person, as a football player.

‘And I have only had positive experiences with that.’

When asked if he would support Kerr during the proceedings, Gustavsson gave a blunt answer.

“I think FA was very clear about that too, in terms of supporting our players on and off the pitch,” he said.

‘With the respect and sensitivity that it is. And I understand why there are a lot of questions about it.

‘Of course, as a human being I will always support it [her].’

Kerr was charged on January 21 this year but did not inform Football Australia (FA), chief executive James Johnson said.

“I woke up this morning like everyone else did with the news,” Johnson told reporters in Adelaide.

“And then Football Australia heard about this disturbing event.

‘We are currently trying to get to the bottom of it.

‘We have our own questions that we would like to know, we need to find out what really happened.

“But we also want to say that there is a process going on in Britain and that process must take its course.”

MS Dhoni joined his Chennai Super Kings teammate at the team hotel on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League.

Chennai: A Chennai Super Kings (CSK) staff touched MS Dhoni’s feet as the captain arrived at the team hotel on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. In a video that went viral on social media, a person wearing CSK’s shorts and green T-shirt immediately touched Dhoni’s feet with both hands as the skipper came out of his car at the team hotel. Meanwhile, the person touching Dhoni’s feet is believed to be CSK manager Russell Radhakrishnan, according to social media.

Royal Checkin #MSDhonipic.twitter.com/rTkR26LX3q

— Hustler (@HustlerCSK) March 5, 2024

The defending champions posted a photo of Dhoni, who led them to their fifth title last season, getting out of a vehicle on social media, captioning it “#THA7A Dharisanam!” Speculation is rife that this season will be Dhoni’s last as a player. Last year, the 42-year-old mainly came to bat towards the end of the CSK innings.

CSK started their pre-season training camp on Saturday, with the first batch of CSK players landing here a day earlier. The players who have arrived so far include Deepak Chahar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Simarjeet Singh, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Mukesh Choudhary, Prashant Solanki, Ajay Mandal, Shaik Rasheed and Nishant Sindhu (all-rounder).

CSK will open their IPL 2024 campaign against Royal Challengers Bangalore here on March 22. Dhoni, one of the only two captains to win the IPL five times, played with a leg injury last year. The 42-year-old opted for surgery immediately after IPL 2023 and was in rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, CSK bought six players at the auction held in Dubai last year, with Kiwi duo Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell grabbing all the attention. The defending champions also secured the services of all-rounder SHardul Thakur, besides spending hugely on the uncapped Sameer Rizvi.

Players CSK bought in the IPL 2024 auction: Rachin Ravindra (Rs. 1.8 crore), Shardul Thakur (Rs. 4 crore), Daryl Mitchell (Rs. 14 crore), Sameer Rizvi (Rs. 8.40 crore), Mustafizur Rahman (Rs. 2 crore), Avanish Rao Aravelly (Rs. 2 crore), 20 lakh).

CSK’s complete squad for IPL 2024

Wicketkeepers: MS Dhoni, Devon Conway, Avanish Rao Aravelly.

Batters: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shaik Rasheed, Ajinkya Rahane, Sameer Rizvi.

All-rounders: Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Santner, Ajay Mandal, Nishant Sindhu, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Shardul Thakur.

Bowlers: Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Maheesh Theekshana, Mustafizur Rahman, Mukesh Choudhary.