Celtic have been rocked by something Mark Lawwell did before his recent departure from the club, acting as a potential "disaster" for the Hoops.

Lawwell leaves Celtic

Last weekend, Lawwell made the decision to leave his role as Head of Recruitment at Parkhead, having been an important member of the backroom team. He and his deputy Joe Dudgeon have both been placed on gardening leave.

It means the search is now on to find a successor to the 33-year-old, who started his job at Celtic in May 2022, having previously been the youth chief scout at Manchester City, highlighting his pedigree. Brendan Rodgers seemingly valued Lawwell's impact at the club, saying after his departure: "As part of the Club’s recruitment team, Mark and Joe have worked tirelessly to bring success to Celtic, and I would like to wish them both the very best for the future."

This news cannot afford to affect Celtic's focus on the pitch, as they look to overcome rivals Rangers in the Scottish Premiership title race this season, and the right replacement needs to come in as soon as possible, in order to have time to target players ahead of the summer transfer window.

Celtic suffer "disaster" with striker update

According to a fresh update from Football Insider, the fact Lawwell didn't include an option for Celtic to sign Adam Idah permanently is seen as a "disaster" by those within the club now.

Norwich City "will look" to move him on for a big fee at the end of the current campaign once he returns to Carrow Road, so the Hoops will now find it tough to snap him up compared to if a clause was in place.

Not having an option to buy has to be considered a big error from Lawwell prior to his exit last week, with Idah's impact since arriving on loan at Celtic in January making the decision look even worse.

10 key Mark Lawwell signings at Celtic	Success?
Alistair Johnston	Yes
Nat Phillips	No
Aaron Mooy	Yes
Yang Hyun-Jun	Yes
Marco TIlio	No
Yang Hyun-Jun	Yes
Luis Palma	Yes
Kwon Hyeok-kyu	No
Gustaf Lagerbielke	No
Adam Idah	Yes

The 23-year-old has scored five goals in just four Scottish Premiership starts – only six appearances overall – and he has also won an average of 1.5 aerial duels per game in that time. Rodgers clearly rates him, too, recently saying: "The ability he has is incredible, really; he has every tool that you want to play at the highest level. He’s obviously doing that internationally, and it’s been a wee bit hit-and-miss for him at Norwich."

The hope is that Idah is enjoying his spell at Celtic enough to want to move there permanently once the summer arrives, but if other offers arrive from elsewhere, especially from England, there is the risk that his head could be turned by a fresh challenge.

Reporter drops “huge” Celtic transfer plan involving marquee striker

Dermot Desmond is not messing around.

By
Henry Jackson

Mar 9, 2024

His impact between now and the end of the season is going to be vital if the Hoops are to secure title glory, but the hope is that this is only the start of his time at Parkhead.

Newcastle United have made a number of big-money additions to their playing squad since PIF completed their takeover from Mike Ashley in 2021.

The Magpies have moved to sign the likes of Sandro Tonali, Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, and Chris Wood for sizeable fees, with varying degrees of success.

This new era of spending is not the first time the club have splashed the cash in modern history, though, as they did break their transfer record to sign Michael Owen from Real Madrid back in the summer of 2005.

They signed him for more than they bought Alan Shearer for in 1996 when the legendary striker arrived for a world-record £15m from Blackburn Rovers, and messed up badly as Owen flopped at St. James' Park.

Alan Shearer's Newcastle stats

The club smashed the world record when they signed him from Ewood Park in 1996 and he proved himself to be a value-for-money signing with an exceptional goal record with his boyhood side.

Shearer, who won the Premier League with Blackburn, racked up a staggering 206 goals and 58 assists in 405 appearances for the Magpies in all competitions.

That record included a return of 148 goals and 30 assists in 303 top-flight matches for Newcastle, with four 20+ goal seasons in the division in total for the club.

He ended his career as the top goalscorer in Premier League history with 260 strikes, which is a record that still stands to this day – with Harry Kane in second with 213. Shearer is also the top goalscorer in the club's history with his 206 goals.

How much Newcastle paid for Michael Owen

Unfortunately, Owen did not live up to the hype that his transfer fee created after Newcastle splashed out a staggering £17m club-record fee in the summer of 2005 to sign him from Real Madrid – £2m more than they paid for Shearer.

He was also on a reported wage of £105k-per-week across his four years on Tyneside, which worked out at around £21.8m in wages over the course of his contract. This meant that the deal to sign the centre-forward was worth around £38.8m in total.

The Sunday Mirror's Brian McNally once described Owen as an "embarrassing flop" for the Magpies and his return of 30 goals in four years for £38.8m – without adjusting for current inflation – suggests that his comment was not all that harsh.

Michael Owen at Newcastle
Premier League	Appearances	Goals
2005/06	11	7
2006/07	3	0
2007/08	29	11
2008/09	28	8
Stats via Transfermarkt

The former Liverpool star never scored more than 11 Premier League goals in one season for the Magpies, compared to Shearer's four 20+ goal campaigns, and only made 14 league appearances across his first two years at the club due to injury.

He missed 96 competitive games through injury in his four years at St. James' Park, compared to just 79 outings on the pitch in all competitions.

His career on Tyneside ended in the summer of 2009 as his £105k-per-week contract expired, and he left on a free transfer, to join Manchester United, which meant that the club earned £0 back on the money they spent on him.

These statistics suggest that Newcastle messed up with the signing of the Real Madrid centre-forward as they smashed their transfer record to sign him, and he spent more time on the treatment table than he did on the pitch, whilst costing the Magpies a huge sum of money in the process.

Liverpool stars were spotted at a Major League Baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees.

Article continues below

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• Liverpool stars attended MLB clash
• Phillies hosted Yankees
• Salah among players who watched the game

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After facing Real Betis in their first friendly match in the United States in Pittsburgh, the Reds have now travelled to Philadelphia where they are scheduled to face Arsenal on August 1. Upon reaching 'The City of Brotherly Love', some of the Liverpool players, including stars like Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Dominik Szoboszlai, visited the Citizens Bank Park where the Phillies hosted the Yankees in an MLB clash.

  Mohamed Salah Instagram

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• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Salah and Szoboszlai were on song as the duo combined in the club's 1-0 win over Real Betis in their first pre-season friendly during the weekend. The Hungary international scored the winning goal after receiving a delicate pass from the Egyptian talisman.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Salah has been linked with a move away from Anfield since last summer with Saudi Pro League clubs reportedly keen on signing him. The Reds have reportedly identified their star player's replacement as they look to seal a move for Anthony Gordon this summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  The Merseyside giants will next travel to South Carolina where they will play their final friendly match of their U.S. tour against Manchester United before heading back home.

An update on Nottingham Forest's summer transfer business has been forthcoming on Friday, courtesy of sources in Spain.

Forest handed relegation boost

A vital 3-1 win over Fulham, combined with defeats for Luton Town and Sheffield United and a draw for Everton, handed Nottingham Forest and Nuno Espirito Santo a much-needed boost in their bid for Premier League survival this season.

The four point deduction that the club received over the international break as a result of breaching financial fair play regulations left them in the relegation zone with time running out in the season. However, a first half blitz against the Cottagers means that Forest end the week three points clear of the drop with seven games left to play, including games against three of the sides around them in Sheffield United, Burnley and Everton.

Nottingham Forest's great escape

Gameweek

Opponent

32

Tottenham (A)

33

Wolves (H)

34

Everton (A)

35

Manchester City (H)

36

Sheffield United (A)

37

Chelsea (H)

38

Burnley (A)

Still a mammoth 15 points clear of the 40-point barrier that usually ensures safety, wins against those also scrapping for survival will go a long way towards keeping them in the top flight.

After that, they face an off the pitch battle as more financial uncertainty has left them seemingly needing to sell their stars once more this summer, amid speculation surrounding both Morgan Gibbs-White and impressive defender Murillo.

Nottingham Forest eye another Brazilian gem to solve their biggest issue

He produced an impressive display during the international break.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 28, 2024

As per the Daily Mail, 'Forest are at risk of breaching financial rules again next season if they don't sell one of their top stars in the summer', which could mean a quiet summer on the incoming front for the City Ground side as they look to avoid further punishment. With that in mind, they have come to a decision on one of their players.

£9.5m saved with transfer decision

This comes in the form of World Cup winner Gonzalo Montiel. The Argentine defender was signed on loan from Sevilla last summer, but has struggled to nail down a starting spot at the City Ground. The last of his nine Premier League outings came as a second half substitute against Bournemouth at the beginning of February, and he has been an unused substitute for both of Forest's last two games.

As per Spanish sources, this has made his purchase impossible. That is because the obligation to buy the Argentine defender only became active if he played half of Forest's games this season, but even if he were to start all eight of their remaining fixtures he would not reach that threshold. That obligation stood at 11m euros (£9.5m), which would have seen Sevilla break even on the Argentine.

However due to his lack of game time he is set to return to Sevilla, where he is under contract until 2026. The report adds that he will have to accept a reduced salary than the one Forest had agreed to pay him were the move to become permanent this summer, with the defender set to revert to his £25,000 a week deal in the south of Spain.

For Forest though, it will come as a major win, with the club avoiding having to shell out for a play Nuno clearly doesn't value.

There are plenty of things up in the air with Liverpool Football Club ahead of the 2024/25 season. Manager Jurgen Klopp is set to leave the club, and they are yet to find a replacement, although Sporting manager Ruben Amorim is the man linked with the role.

Of course, this throws into question the number of new signings whom Amorim or any other candidates would both want and need to tailor the squad to their style of play.

The future of key player Mohamed Salah is not 100% certain yet, either. Whilst fans will surely hope their talisman stays another year at Anfield, there are strong rumours that the Egyptian could follow suit with Klopp and depart the club at the end of the season.

If the Premier League legend does leave Liverpool next summer, it of course means the Reds will need a replacement, and it would likely have to be a marquee player to fill the very big void left by Salah in his potential departure.

Liverpool eyeing dream Salah replacement

According to reports in Spain, via Football Transfers, the man linked with a move to Anfield in the event of Salah’s departure is one of the world’s deadliest wingers, Vinicius Junior.

The Real Madrid man is said to be of major interest to Liverpool when Kylian Mbappe inevitably joins Los Blancos this summer, thus becoming their key man ahead of Vini.

The fee quoted to Liverpool is huge and would be both a club record and a Premier League record. Darwin Nunez’s £85m move to Liverpool from Benfica in 2022 is the current Liverpool record, with Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo the Premier League’s record transfer, when he cost the Blues £115m last summer from Brighton.

Liverpool would need to pay a huge £171m fee to Real Madrid should they wish to acquire the services of Vini ahead of next season, but they might recoup a lot of that from the sale of Salah.

According to reports, Saudi club Al Ittihad made a bid of at least £80m for the Egypt captain last summer and could make a similar offer this time around.

How Vinicius and Salah compare

There is no doubt Vini is one of the best players in the world, a sentiment which Sadio Mane agrees with. The former Liverpool man even believes Vini is one day capable of winning a Ballon d'Or.

The Brazilian has scored 18 goals and registered eight assists for Real Madrid this season in all competitions. Salah, however, has outdone him in terms of goal involvements. The 31-year-old has netted 23 goals and has 13 assists to his name, a remarkable return.

The pair are not very similar players stylistically. Vini is a superb ball carrier, using his pace to get in behind opposition defences and driving at defenders in one-on-one scenarios. In contrast, Salah is less of an explosive dribbler, thriving more in combination play and operating mainly in the final third.

The numbers suggest this estimation is correct. According to Fbref, Vini is one of the world’s best dribblers. Per 90 minutes, he averages 6.31 progressive carries which places him in the top 3% of positionally similar players in Europe, 4.41 carries into the penalty area, which puts him in the top 1% and 3.44 carries into the final third, which ranks him in the top 12%.

In comparison per 90 minutes, Salah completes 3.85 progressive carries, placing him in the 59th percentile, 2.26 carries into the final third, which puts him in the 51st percentile, and 2.65 carries into the penalty box, which ranks him in the best 8%, according to Fbref. The difference between each player with the ball at their feet is clear to see.

Where Salah excels over Vini is with his progressive passing. As per Fbref, the Eygpt international sits inside the best 4% of wingers for passes into the penalty area, with 2.6 per 90 minutes, and in the 81st percentile for progressive passes, with 5.47 per 90 minutes.

In comparison, Vini makes 1.09 passes into the penalty area per 90 minutes, ranking him in the 25th percentile, and 2.67 progressive passes per 90 minutes, placing the Brazilian in the 80th percentile. The comparison is stark.

There is no doubt that, whilst different, both players are elite wingers. Should Liverpool move for Vini in the event of Salah’s departure, it would be interesting to see how he fits in, given he is a better dribbler than Salah, but less creative in the final third.

Should the Reds sign the Madrid superstar, they will certainly be bringing in one of the best players in the world. It would be exciting to see such a talented player in the Premier League, and fascinating to how he would fill the boots of Salah.

After Xabi Alonso announced that he would be staying at Bayer Leverkusen this summer, Liverpool have been forced to turn to another candidate who is reportedly well aware of where he stands.

Liverpool's next manager

Alonso's announcement came as quite a shock, with the lure of either Liverpool or Bayern Munich this summer one that looked too good to turn down on paper. However, with his Leverkusen side on course to enjoy a historic invincible season to win the Bundesliga and finally dethrone Bayern, Alonso doesn't want to jump a ship potentially sailing towards even greater success next season.

Back to the drawing board, Michael Edwards and Liverpool must now look elsewhere to complete the impossible task of replacing Jurgen Klopp this season, who could end his time at Anfield with a treble of trophies in the Premier League, Europa League and FA Cup.

Whoever comes in next will have the biggest shoes to fill in Merseyside for a long time, and they will need time to do exactly that. That man to fill those shoes, now it won't be Alonso, could well be Sporting CP's Ruben Amorim.

Journalist: “Incredible” player could be Salah replacement at Liverpool

He is “on the list” for the Reds this summer.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 31, 2024

According to Sunday's edition of Correio da Manha, via Sport Witness, Amorim is aware that he's now becoming the main candidate to replace Klopp at Liverpool this summer, but wants to secure the domestic double in Portugal before anything.

A deal to welcome the manager won't come cheap, however, with Jason Burt and Chris Bascombe of The Telegraph reporting that Amorim could cost the Reds as much as £12.8m this summer. Those at Anfield will hope that it's a cost worth paying and not one they regret if they push on and make the 39-year-old their Klopp replacement.

"Talented" Amorim can make Bradley even better

As good as Conor Bradley has been since coming into Klopp's Liverpool side in the second-half of the season, Amorim's 3-4-3 system has the potential to take the Northern Irishman up an even further level, perhaps whilst allowing Trent Alexander-Arnold to step into midfield.

Given the success that he has had at right-back, it's easy to imagine the attacking benefits that Bradley could provide as a wing-back under Amorim. The Sporting manager is certainly someone who's highly rated around Europe too, with Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig calling him a "very talented coach" back in 2020.

With that said, whilst there will undoubtedly be disappointment over their failure to welcome Alonso, Amorim could be a more than adequate second choice for Liverpool. If given time, the young manager has the chance to begin what could quickly prove to be an outstanding managerial legacy.

Manchester City are monitoring the situation of a "magnificent" Premier League player ahead of a summer move to the Etihad, according to a new transfer rumour.

Man City transfer news

Pep Guardiola could soon be eyeing exciting new signings in the summer transfer window, and some top-quality players have been linked with moves to the Etihad recently.

Bayern Munich superstar Jamal Musiala has emerged as a target at the end of the season, as he continues to outline his status as one of the best young players in world football currently. The 21-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season for the Bundesliga giants, registering 16 goal contributions (10 goals and six assists) in 21 league appearances.

Another hot prospect is also reportedly being looked at by City this summer, with Bayer Leverkusen ace Florian Wirtz linked with a switch to join Guardiola's side. He has played a massive role in his side topping the Bundesliga table by 10 points currently, bagging 10 assists and scoring seven goals in the league in 2023/24 to date.

Joshua Kimmich is another German player who has been touted as an option for the Citizens once this season has come to an end, with Guardiola knowing him extremely well after their time together at Bayern.

Now, a new transfer report has emerged, with City believed to be turning their attention to an impressive Premier League ace.

Man City eyeing move for "magnificent" Premier League ace

According to The Daily Mail, Manchester City are monitoring £60m-rated Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite ahead of a potential move this summer, but there are other clubs keen, too, including Manchester United who have been leading the push.

The report states that the Englishman's "performances have attracted attention from a number of top sides and City have also posted their interest". It goes on to add that "in their intent to keep competition high they are keeping an eye on Branthwaite's progress, particularly with him being homegrown, his age, and showing technical traits similar to John Stones who has been deployed in midfield this season."

Branthwaite looks like an enormous prospect currently, standing out for a struggling Everton side this season, and boosting his chances of making England's Euro 2024 squad. Across 25 league appearances, the 21-year-old has averaged impressive stat in a number of areas.

Appearances

25

Goals

2

Clearances per game

4.2

Aerial duel wins per game

2.6

Tackles per game

2.0

Interceptions per game

1.6

Pass completion rate

79.4%

Newcastle United legend and BBC pundit Alan Shearer has waxed lyrical over the Englishman, too, saying of him recently: "Magnificent at the back. Nothing got past him against West Ham."

Wow: Man City set to launch move for generational superstar this summer

They want him in their 2024/25 squad.

ByHenry Jackson Mar 23, 2024

The fact that there are comparisons between Branthwaite and John Stones suggests that Guardiola could feel he can mould the former into a similarly elite level player, and his long-term potential is enormous, making him a strong option to bring in.

علق حلمي طولان مدرب الزمالك الأسبق، على الهجوم الكبير والاتهامات الموجهة ضد الحكام المصريين في مباريات الدوري المصري.

وكان مجلس إدارة اتحاد الكرة، عقد اجتماعًا طارئًا الخميس الماضي، لمناقشة الأحداث الأخيرة بعد مباراة الزمالك والبنك الأهلي، وقرر خلاله إقالة لجنة الحكام، وتشكيل لجنة جديدة برئاسة ياسر عبد الرؤوف.

وقال حلمي طولان في تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “حزين لما يحدث للحكام، بداية غير موفقة بالمرة، وهجوم كاسح عليهم وإرهاب التحكيم ليس في محله، لن نأتي بحكام من الخارج أو من البلاد التي حولنا”.

طالع أيضاً.. “توقف عن ذلك”.. فرج عامر يوجه رسالة قوية لـ الهاني سليمان بعد خطأه أمام الزمالك

وأكمل: “يجب أن نعطي الثقة للحكام ولا نحاول أن نؤثر عليهم وعلى قراراتهم، التحكيم دائمًا هو الشماعة اللي نعلق عليها الأخطاء، التحكيم دائمًا مدان”.

وأتم: “أتمنى أن تهدأ الأمور بعض الشيء، ونعطي الثقة للحكام، لأنه كلما لعبوا تحت ضغط ستكون هناك أخطاء كثيرة”.

Thunder exacted revenge against crosstown rivals Sixers with a dominant performance at the Sydney Showground Stadium

The Report by Tristan Lavalette18-Jan-2020Sydney Thunder exacted revenge against crosstown rivals Sydney Sixers with a dominant bowling performance in a rain-affected match at Sydney Showground Stadium on Saturday.After electing to bowl, Thunder’s seamers relished ideal bowling conditions and took advantage of two short rain delays to rout the Sixers, who only had two batsmen reach double figures, in their lowly total of 76. Chasing an amended 75 from 16 overs, the Thunder struggled against probing bowling from Jackson Bird but a potentially thrilling chase was ruined by inclement weather.Thunder gained revenge on second-placed Sixers after losing a Super Over nerve-jangler in the Sydney Smash at the SCG earlier in the tournament.Thunder dominate in seaming conditionsThunder made the most of a green-tinged pitch under overcast skies and were helped by a horrible mix-up from openers Daniel Hughes and Josh Philippe. Chris Morris pounced in his follow-through with a clever football-style tap to run out Hughes in the first over.The Sixers slumped to 2 for 1 when Philippe was trapped lbw to Gurinder Sandhu’s first delivery, as the ball menacingly hooped around in the favourable bowling conditions. The Sixers were momentarily reprieved when rain interrupted play after 11 deliveries but slid further on resumption after Moises Henriques got a pearler from Morris as the game resembled something closer to red-ball cricket.Daniel Sams celebrates a wicket•Getty ImagesNormal service resumed after another short rain delay when James Vince fell in typical tame fashion. The Sixers needed Tom Curran to conjure the type of heroics he produced in the last Sydney Smash but he was dismissed after another ham-fisted run out to leave the Sixers lurching at 6 for 26 after 8 overs.Avendano counterattacks but lower-order crumble Sixers’ meek tally received a timely boost when Justin Avendano broke the shackles with a blow into the stands off Nathan McAndrew in a rare counterattack. He found a willing partner in Ben Dwarshuis, who struggled to consistently land blows against the accurate Sixers seamers but the pair added a vital 45-run partnership in the backend.Avendano launched in the 14th over with a baseball-like bash over bowler McAndrew’s head and over the sightscreen. Dwarshuis finally managed to find the middle with some lusty hits before holing out in the penultimate over, as the Sixers regained total control by then dismissing danger man Avendano.There was little resistance from there and fittingly, the Sixers mediocre innings finished with a run out of Steve O’Keefe.Bird menaces before rain ensures early finishThe Sixers needed early wickets and Bird provided the tonic with a short delivery to bedevil Alex Hales first ball. The conditions were tailor-made for Bird, who bowled a nagging shortish length that he has mastered during a formidable red-ball career.Usman Khawaja and Callum Ferguson cautiously saw him off and attacked Curran at the other end until the former drove loosely to be caught at slip.Ferguson and Daniel Sams tapped the ball around to ensure the Thunder were ahead of the DLS par score as rain drizzled before the required five-over mark needed for a guaranteed result.The Thunder breathed a sigh of relief as play continued until midway through the sixth over when the rain became stronger. It failed to abate and washed away the Sixers’ hopes.

India shedding their conservative approach and being more flexible could be their biggest takeaway from this series

Deivarayan Muthu in Mumbai12-Dec-2019

Rohit Sharma goes down the ground•BCCI

India haven’t gone hard at the opposition while batting first in T20Is of late, but they hung up caution and unleashed a no-holds-barred assault on West Indies in the series decider in Mumbai on Wednesday. More than three years after West Indies had overpowered India in the T20 World Cup semi-final at this very venue, India swapped their safety-first approach for all-out attack. And they attacked relentlessly to floor Kieron Pollard’s men.On the eve of T20I series decider, Rohit Sharma, India’s limited-overs vice-captain, reckoned that the hosts might not have to do a West Indies to beat West Indies. However, on a flat Wankhede pitch and a quick outfield, India’s batsmen pulled out one big hit after another, West Indies-style, to rack up 240 for 3 in their 20 overs – their third-highest total in the shortest format.ALSO READ: Stats – Kohli’s fastest fifty, and Wankhede’s highest T20I totalIn a similar scenario – a series decider – against South Africa in Bengaluru in October, Virat Kohli had challenged India to bat first and break out of their comfort zones. After India managed just 134 for 9 and watched South Africa mow it down with considerable ease, Kohli had said: “In the past, in certain games in T20 cricket, we have been 20-30 runs short batting first. That has cost us the game. So, the idea again as I said at the toss, was to come out of our comfort zone and then try to get that big score because we are batting till No. 9. But quickly we realised the pitch didn’t allow us to keep doing that.”The bash-through-the-line Wankhede track and its short boundaries allowed India to keep landing the punches on West Indies after they were asked to bat first on Wednesday. They didn’t hold back at any point, with all of Rohit, Kohli and KL Rahul repeatedly executing the big hits to near-perfection.ALSO READ: India find T20 pulse with Dube’s promotion to No.3The carnage began when Rohit opened up his stance and regularly threw his hands at the ball, taking more risks than he usually does at the start of his innings. Left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell found some inswing with the new ball, but Rohit didn’t care, laying down the marker with a hard-handed jab-punch through extra-cover.In the second over of the game, Jason Holder swung the ball away from Rahul, but he didn’t care either. He cleared his front leg and his head fell over, but he still swiped at the ball and edged it past the keeper to the third-man boundary. Then Rahul hit five boundaries in six balls, including three on the trot off seamer Kesrick Williams, to vault India to 72 for no loss at the end of the powerplay. It never stopped.Rohit then lined-up left-arm fingerspinner Khary Pierre and clouted him for 6, 6, 4 to take India past 100 by the end of the eighth over. In the recent past, India have opted to sit back in such scenarios, but in the third T20I, they just didn’t take their foot off the gas.Facing up to Holder, Rohit swung for the hills – so much that he nearly swung himself off his feet – and wound up nicking it past the wicketkeeper to the third-man fence. High-risk, high-reward.After Rohit holed out for a 34-ball 71 off Williams, while attempting a pull, India bumped a power-hitter to No. 3 for the second successive game. Enter Rishabh Pant. This, after allrounder Shivam Dube had muscled 54 off 30 balls in the second T20I in Thiruvananthapuram.Pollard tricked Pant with a slower cutter and removed him for a two-ball duck, but that didn’t stop India from continuing to go after West Indies’ bowlers. Kohli launched his fifth ball – from legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr. – over the wide long-on boundary and kept clearing his front leg to ping the leg-side boundaries.Virat Kohli brings all his bottom-hand power into a slog•Associated Press

Holder and Pollard tried out their variations, but Kohli still found enough power and manufactured pace for himself to send them in the arc between long-on and midwicket. Williams, though, had greater control over his lines and lengths, and even used the crease tactfully, to keep Kohli quiet briefly.However, once Williams missed his length by the slightest of margins, Kohli cleared his front leg and shovel-whipped him into the stands beyond long-on. It was only fitting that he capped India’s innings with a six, his seventh and the 16th overall for the hosts on Wednesday evening.In response, West Indies could hit only 12 sixes, and they ultimately lost the game by 67 runs and the series 2-1. In 2016 in semi-final, India had mustered a mere four sixes in comparison to West Indies’ 11. How the tables have turned.”There’s one thing talking about getting a big score, but when you do it on the field you remember how you did it,” Kohli told at the post-match presentation. “I think two guys in the middle with clarity – Rahul and Rohit – the way they played… I think that’s the key for us.”Batting first, we’ve been too tight and hesitant in terms of should we go for it or not. But this pitch allowed us to play freely. It’s a good lesson for us and now we need to remember that. You don’t really feel much pressure when you have 20-25 extra runs on board and boundaries play a major part. In a span of three-four balls, you can maximise that phase for your team.”It might not be as easy to find the boundary consistently on the larger grounds in Australia next year, but India shedding their conservative style of play and being more flexible could well be their biggest takeaway from this series against the reigning world champions in the shortest format.