Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has cleared the air over his "serve drinks" remark about young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Ashwin said the comment was not made in a negative way and his intention was to highlight the importance of learning for the 15-year-old by spending time around the team.Ashwin clears the airAshwin had earlier said that Sooryavanshi could "serve drinks" or sit out if he was not picked in the playing XI. However, the former spinner explained that his words were misunderstood.Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said: I had said earlier that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi can spend time, can serve someone drinks, can sit outside.' It was not in a derogatory manner."Explaining his point, he added, I was saying that he will get so much to learn. He has such a huge learning curve to go through that if he observes it while sitting outside, he'll become even better. Don't talk about dropping or picking - let him be, let him evolve. He'll be a really phenomenal player."Sooryavanshi returns to form against ZimbabweSooryavanshi made his international debut during India's T20I series against England but failed to make a big impact. The teenager scored 14, 13 and 15 in the three matches he played.The youngster, however, quickly bounced back in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. He scored a half-century in the opening match, followed it with a 20-run knock and then smashed a brilliant 81 in the final game.The left-hander finished the series with 151 runs from three matches at an average of 50.33 and an impressive strike rate of 196.10. His performances earned him the Player of the Series award.'We can't write his obituary immediately'Ashwin also spoke about Sooryavanshi's struggles against England fast bowler Jofra Archer, who dismissed him with short deliveries during the T20I series in England.Who do you think is the strongest batsman against the short ball? Ricky Ponting? Did he never get out on a short ball? He got out too. So we have to understand everyone has strengths, everyone has weaknesses. These things are common in international cricket. It's simple show your strengths, hide your weaknesses, and keep working on them behind the scenes. All these questions How many times did he play against Jofra Archer at Trent Bridge? These are all experiences. We can't write his obituary immediately. Can't write someone off just like that," Ashwin said.Ashwin also pointed out that Sooryavanshi's strong IPL performances have increased expectations around him. 132706032He's such a young kid. The problem is, we rate him so highly; he performed so well in the IPL, expectations skyrocketed. We expect him to perform like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma every match, to be consistent. That's not how it works. There will be ups and downs in life, in cricket too," he said.

Official: Leverkusen talent Natali joins AZ Alkmaar permanentlyBayer Leverkusen prospect Andrea Natali will continue his career permanently at AZ Alkmaar, both clubs have officially announced.After a one-year loan spell last season, the Eredivise side have signed the 18-year-old permanently from Leverkusen.The centre-half has signed a contract at Alkmaar until summer of 2031 and cost between 2 and 3 million in total.Natali never played for the Rhinelanders' first team, but made a combined 29 appearances for the Leverkusen U-17 and U-19 sides.I am incredibly happy to be back here and to finally play for AZ Alkmaar. Last year I received a very warm welcome from the team."So too, the entire coaching staff and all employees, so its great to be able to work with everyone again, said Natali upon his return.

Photo Illustration by Pavlo Gonchar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe MLS has produced some good players in recent years who have gone on to play in Europe, but one talent they failed to pick up on is now expected to join Spanish giants Real Madrid.Just this week, Championship club Middlesbrough have signed USMNT midfielder Sebastian Berhalter from Vancouver Whitecaps.He has joined former MLS talents Aidan Morris and Adilson Malanda in swapping America for England as they aim to secure promotion to the Premier League.All three are good players and could have bright careers ahead of them outside of the MLS, but none really come close to Yan Diomande, who began playing football in America but never got a chance to feature in their main division.Photo by Joosep Martinson FIFA/FIFA via Getty ImagesYan Diomande played soccer in USA but never joined MLSDiomande, who is currently on the books of German side RB Leipzig, actually began playing high school soccer in Florida at Yulee High School after moving from the Ivory Coast.He is now expected to join Real Madrid in a deal worth around 100 million, yet he was never picked up by the MLS.Diomandes journey has now been explained ahead of his move to Spain by one account on X:In 2023, he was still playing high school soccer in Florida at Yulee High School and DME Academy after moving from Ivory Coast.That same year, playing for AS Frenzi, he won the UPSL national championship and even earned a $1,000 check as the playoffs top scorer.In November 2024, he signed with Legans B. Just four months later, he made his La Liga debut for Legans against Real Madrid.After impressing in just 10 La Liga appearances, RB Leipzig signed him in a deal worth around $23 million.At the 2026 World Cup, he became the youngest player ever to represent Ivory Coast at the tournament and helped the nation reach the knockout stage for the first time.Now, just three years after playing high school soccer in Florida, hes set to join Real Madrid in a deal worth more than 100 million.Had the Ivorian ended up being scouted by the MLS, he could have improved one team a great deal and probably netted them a sizeable transfer sum once he eventually moved to Europe.But MLS fans who have seen the winger in action, perhaps at the 2026 World Cup, will wonder how the league ended up missing out on such a top player.Read more:World Cup tourist finally leaving US after 45 days gives glowing review of AmericaUK PM Andy Burnham issues warning to Gianni Infantino over controversial $20bn FIFA World Cup planMarc Cucurella fulfils insane Luis de la Fuente tattoo promise after Spain won 2026 FIFA World Cup

MUNICH, GERMANY - DECEMBER 20: Harry Kane of FC Bayern Mnchen in action with Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Mnchen and RB Leipzig at Allianz Arena on December 20, 2024 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Simon Hofmann/Bundesliga/Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images)According to a report from Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), Bayern Munich could seek to add a striker in 2027 even if it inks Harry Kane to a new contract in the coming weeks or months. In addition, head coach Vincent Kompany once liked the possibility of playing Kane and then-RB Leipzig striker Benjamin eko together, before the latter transferred to Manchester United: Extending Harry Kanes contract would not necessarily rule out Bayern signing another top striker in summer 2027. The club had already explored the possibility of signing Benjamin eko before the latters move to Manchester United. Vincent Kompanys vision even then was to establish a flexible, attacking system that allows him to sometimes play with two strikers. eko was viewed as the ideal solution for that role back thenKane, meanwhile, is said to be fully aware that he could gradually switch into a deeper role at Bayern in the future. With his passing range and playmaking ability, he can continue to showcase more of his strengths there.BFW AnalysisWell, well, well Kompany has a mad scientist mode and it is very interesting. While future planning at the striker position makes sense, it is fascinating to learn that Kompany has some innovative ideas about how to use his attackers. Obviously, eko made the move to Manchester United instead of Bayern Munich, but maybe this could open the door to something similar next summer. Wouldnt that be intriguing?Join the conversation!Sign up for a user accountand get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreatecommunity postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 06: A detailed view of the UEFA Champions League trophy is seen prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between FC Bayern Mnchen and Paris Saint-Germain at Football Arena Munich on May 06, 2026 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) | Getty ImagesBayern Munichs global reach continues to grow, and CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen believes the club has entered a new level of international relevance.Speaking about the impact of Bayern Munichs Champions League campaign, Dreesen highlighted the enormous worldwide attention generated by the clubs matches against Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.The second leg of the quarter-final against Real Madrid was reportedly watched by almost a billion people worldwide. The first leg against Paris broke all streaming records. Thanks to the matches against Real and Paris, weve gained over five million new followers on social media. When Bayern is discussed so intensively even in the US and in major international media, it shows that global interest in Bayern has reached a new level. Thats important for our fans, but of course also for our partners and sponsors, Dreesen told FCBayern.com. The numbers underline the extraordinary global appeal of Bayern Munich.A Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid reaching almost one billion viewers worldwide, combined with record-breaking streaming numbers for the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, shows the scale of the audience watching Bayern Munich on the biggest stage.The club also gained more than five million new social media followers as a result of those matches. That kind of growth demonstrates that Bayern Munich is reaching new audiences far beyond Germany and Europe.For Dreesen, the increased attention is important not only from a sporting perspective. Greater international interest creates new opportunities for Bayern Munich to connect with fans around the world while also increasing the value of the club to its partners and sponsors.The message is clear: Bayern Munich is no longer simply one of the biggest clubs in Europe. Its global audience continues to expand, and the clubs biggest nights on the Champions League stage are helping take its worldwide profile to another level.Join the conversation!Sign up for a user accountand get:New, improved notifications system!Fewer adsCreatecommunity postsComment on articles, community postsRec comments, community posts

Cash App Guide What Time Does Cash App Direct Deposit Hit? If you rely on Cash App Direct Deposit to receive your paycheck, tax refund, government benefits, or other recurring payments, knowing what time Cash App direct deposit hits is essential. Many users expect their funds to arrive at the exact same time every payday, but the deposit schedule can vary depending on several factors,...

Body Worn Sensors Market According to the latest report published by Data Bridge Market Research, the Body Worn Sensors Market body worn sensors market size was valued at USD 137.70 million in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 794.91 million by 2032, at a CAGR of 24.5% during the forecast period The market expansion is primarily driven by the...

Sometimes the most enjoyable games are the ones that are easy to understand but still take practice to master. Slice Master is a good example of this style. It is a casual slicing game where players control a moving blade, aim for satisfying cuts, and try to reach the finish line while collecting points. The game is simple enough for a short break, yet it can become surprisingly...

  According to the latest report published by Data Bridge Market Research, the Ready to Eat Food Market  CAGR Value Global ready to eat food market size was valued at USD 182.92 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 364.97 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 9.15% during the forecast period of 2025 to 2032 The reliable Ready to Eat Food Market research report...